D) has sharply increased so as to become the center of public attention

4. People tend to ignore the delayed effects of exposure to chemicals because ______. A) the present is more important for them than the future

B) humans are capable of withstanding small amounts of poisoning C) the danger does not become apparent immediately

D) Limited exposure to them does little harm to people‘s health 5. It can be concluded from Dr. Dubos‘ remarks that ________. A) diseases with obvious signs are easy to cure

B) people find invisible diseases difficult to deal with C) attacks by hidden enemies tend to be fatal

D) people tend to overlook hidden dangers caused by pesticides Passage 22

If you say, ?The cat‘s out of the bag‘ instead of ?The secret is given away (泄露)‘, you are using an idiom. The meaning of an idiom is different from the actual meaning of the words used. ?An apple a day keeps the doctor away‘ is a proverb. Proverbs are old but familiar sayings that usually give advice. Both idioms and proverbs are part of our daily speech, and many are very old and have interesting histories. Now let‘s see the following two examples.

?Saved by the bell‘: In 17th-century England, a guard at Windsor Castle was accused (指控)of falling asleep at his post. He claimed he was wrongly accused and could prove it. He had heard the church bell chime thirteen times at mid-night. Townspeople supported his claim and he was not excused. Today we think of the bell that ends a round in boxing (拳击), often saving the boxer from injury, or the bell at the end of a class period, saving you from more work. Regardless of it origin, this idiom means rescue (救援) from a situation at the last possible moment.

?A close shave‘: In the past, student barbers (理发师) learned to shave on customers. If they shaved too close, their clients might be cut or even barely escape serious injury. Today, we use the idiom if a person narrowly escapes disaster. (231 words)

1. The purpose of this article is to ________. A) compare idioms and proverbs

B) explain the meaning of some interesting everyday expression

C) show the importance of using proverbs and idioms in your writing D) The difference between the idioms and proverbs 2. It can be inferred from the article that ________. A) it is difficult to guess the meaning of idioms B) you should not use idioms in your writing C) proverbs are more common than idiom

D) you should be careful to use proverbs and idioms

3. Which of these statements is an example of ?a close shave‘? A) My brother bought a new bicycle to ride to school. B) A car nearly hit me on my way to school. C) No one in my school has ever been to Canada. D) A barber cut his clients seriously.

4. What does the word ?chime‘ (third line, paragraph 2) mean ________. A) strike the hour B) sing the song

C) sound the alarm D) give beautiful sound 5. What is the best title of the passage? A) Everyday expressions B) Idioms

C) Proverbs D) The difference between idioms and proverbs Passage 23

Most dog owners feel that their dogs are their best friends. Almost everyone likes dogs because they try hard to please their owners. One of my favorite stories is about a dog that wanted his owner to please him.

One of my friends has a large German shepherd named Jack. These dogs are often very intelligent. Every Sunday afternoon, my friend takes Jake for a walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much.

One Sunday afternoon, a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time, and he talked and talked. So it was time for my friend to take Jack for his walk, but the visitor didn‘t leave. Jack became very worried about his walk in the park. He walked around the room several times and then sat down directly in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention. He continued talking. Finally, Jack couldn‘t stand it any longer. He went out the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor, but this time he held the man‘s hat in his mouth.

German shepherds aren‘t the only intelligent dogs. Another intelligent dog is a Seeing Eye dog. This is a special dog, which helps blind people walk along the streets and do many other things. We call these dogs Seeing Eye dogs because they are the ―eyes‖ of the bland people and they help them to ―see‖. Seeing Eye dogs generally go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people. (266 words) 1. The writer tells the story about the dog Jack that ________. A) like many other dogs, tried to please its owner master B) unlike many other dogs, wanted its master to please it C) was more intelligent than many other dogs D) was the most faithful dog of his friend‘s

2. Jack came to sit in front of the visitor in order to ________. A) please him B) be pleased

C) ask him to leave immediately D) invite him for a walk

3. ―Finally, Jack couldn‘t stand it any longer‖ means that Jack ________. A) could no longer put up with the visitor

B) could no longer stand but he might sit down C) was very tired and wanted a rest D) was very angry with the visitor 4. Seeing Eye dogs ________.

A) are more intelligent than German shepherds B) have only one eye

C) help blind people go to special schools D) help and see for blind people

5. Which of the following titles would be the most suitable for this passage? A) Dogs – A Great Help to People B) Dogs – Our Faithful Companions C) An Introduction to Dogs D) Famous Dogs in Germany Passage 24

In ancient times, people thought that their gods lived on the tops of mountains. They therefore believed that anything above them was nearer to their gods than they. Naturally, they thought that birds were messengers from the gods. People also believed that birds carried their souls to the gods when they died. There were many beliefs about how to treat birds. Some people even believed that killing a bird was an act against the gods and would bring bad luck. In some parts of the United States, people still believe that if they hear an owl (猫头鹰) in the early evening, it means

death. Another link with these past beliefs is in an English expression. People no longer believe that birds are messengers of the gods, but when someone knows a secret about another person, he or she might say, ―A little bird told me about it.‖

We know, of course, that birds can‘t talk and that owls don‘t really mean death, yet we still have these superstitions. Many sailors believe that if they see an albatross (信天翁), it will bring bad luck to their ship. People all over the world use the dove (鸽) as a symbol of peace and feel good when they see one. North Americans think of the eagle as a symbol of freedom, and some people still hold that dreaming a bird means that they are seeing the loss of a soul. (235 words) Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Primitive people thought that ________. A) their gods lived on tree tops B) their gods lived high above them C) their gods could fly high D) birds would bring bad luck

2. Ancient people considered the birds as messengers because ________. A) birds could carry their letters to the gods B) birds would sent their souls to the gods C) birds lived higher above them D) birds also lived in the mountains

3. When people say ―A little bird told me about it‖, they ________. A) do not really mean that birds can talk

B) mean they do believe the message is brought by a bird C) mean that it was a bird that told them the secret D) are only joking

4. The birds mentioned in the passage which refer to bad luck are ________. A) eagles and doves B) eagles and albatrosses C) owls and eagles D) albatrosses and owls

5. The passage talks about superstitions ________. A) in the United States B) in Europe and America C) in England

D) all over the world Passage 25

One of the most difficult problems a young person faces is deciding what to do. There are individuals, of course, who from the time they are six years old ―know‖ that want to be doctors or pilots or fire fighters, but the majority of us do not get around to making a decision about an occupation or career until somebody or something forces us to face the problem.

Choosing an occupation takes time, and there are a lot of things you have to think about as you try to decide what special courses you have to take to qualify for a particular kind of work, or what actual work experience you will need to qualify for a particular job.

Fortunately, there are a lot of people you turn to for advice and help in making your decision. At most schools, there are teachers who are professionally qualified to give advice and information about job qualifications. And you can talk over your ideas with family members and friends who are always ready to listen and to offer

suggestions. But even if you get other people involved in helping you make a decision, self-evaluation is important part of the decision making process.

Here are six basic questions to think about: 1. What are my abilities? 2. What are my special interests? 3. What are my physical abilities and limitations? 4. What are my previous experiences? 5. Am I willing to accept chance? 6. What are my educational plans for the future?

If you give serious thought to these questions, your self-evaluation should give you a clearer picture of your interests and abilities, and you should be able to start thinking of one or more occupations that will fit you as an individual.

1. According to the author, what is important in making a decision about a profession? A) Suggestions from your teacher. B) Knowledge of the profession.

C) Discussion with your family and friends. D) Self-evaluation.

2. What qualifications must a person often have for a particular job? A) Actual work experience. B) Self-evaluation.

C) Special training for the job. D) Both A) and C).

3. Knowing your interests and abilities helps you ________. A) to talk with others about your job B) to decide which job fits you C) to qualify for a job

D) to listen to your teacher‘s advice

4. The author‘s purpose of offering the six questions is ________. A) to summarize his point

B) to give information about job qualifications

C) to help you to know yourself better so that you can choose a suitable occupation D) none of the above

5. This passage implies that ________.

A) Some young children know their abilities quite early

B) Most of us are forced to think about which profession to choose C) you should think about your interests and abilities earlier

D) you must work hard to qualify for the profession you have chosen Passage 26

What kind of car will we be driving in 2010? Rather different from the type we know today, with the next 20 years bringing greater change than the past 50. The people who will be designing the models of tomorrow believe that environmental problems may well quicken the pace of car development. Today they are students on the transport design course at London‘s Royal College of Art.

Their vision is of a machine with three wheels instead of four, electrically powered, environmentally clean, and able to drive itself along ?intelligent‘ roads equipped with built-in power supplies. Future cars will pick up their fuel during long journeys from a power source built into the road, or store it in small quantities for traveling in the city.

Instead of today‘s seating arrangements – two in front, two or three behind, all facing forward – the 2010 car will have a versatile (通用的) interior with adults and children in a family circle.

This view of the future car is based on a much more sophisticated (复杂的) road system. And cars will not need drivers, because computers will provide safe driving