大学英语课程考试阅读材料1级

Directions: There are 30 reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer to each question. Passage 1:

Colds are very common. The symptoms of the common cold include a sore throat, runny nose, stuffed-up nose（鼻塞）, and tiredness. Colds are caused by viruses（病毒）, but scientists cannot explain the exact cause. There is no cure. Many people, however, believe that they know the causes of and cures for the common cold. For example, they believe that it is possible to get a cold if we get chilled, if we get extra tired, or if we are too close to a person with a cold. In other words, if we want to prevent catching cold, we should stay warm and dry; we should avoid getting too tired, and we should not be in close contact with people who have colds.

Meanwhile, there are probably hundreds of \world for the common cold. For example, the following suggestions are popular in quite a number of societies: (l ) drink plenty of water; (2) get extra rest; (3) take a lot of vitamin C, (4) take aspirin; (5) keep warm.

Each year people spend a lot of money on cold medicines -- pills, liquids, lozenges (含片).But these medicines do not cure colds they can only relieve cold symptoms. In other words, they make us feel better. 1. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. looking for the common cold B. some facts about the common cold C. introducing some patients

D. new medicines for curing the common cold

2. According to the passage, people with colds feel ______.

A. quiet

B. active D. tired

C. thirsty

3. To prevent catching cold, you ______.

A. should keep away from a person who has a cold B. should wash your hair in cold weather C. should go out on a rainy day D. should make yourself tired

4. Which of the following is NOT a \

A. Take a lot of vitamin C. B. Drink plenty of water.

C. Put on as many clothes as possible. D. Get more rest.

5. Which of the following is true about the common cold?

A. Scientists are close to finding a cure for colds. B. There are hundreds of symptoms of the common cold. C. Many people know what causes the common cold. D. There are no medicines that can cure colds.

Passage 2:

Every human being, no matter what he is doing, gives off body heat. The usual problem is now to get rid of it. But the designers of the Johnstown campus of the University of Pittsburgh set themselves the opposite problem -- how to collect body heat. They have designed a collection system which uses not only body heat, but the heat given off by such objects as light bulbs（灯泡） and refrigerators(冰箱) as well. The system works so well that no fuel is needed to make the campus's six buildings comfortable. Some parts of most modern buildings -- theaters and offices as well as classrooms -- are more than sufficiently heated by people and lights and sometimes must be air-conditioned even in winter. The technique of saving heat and redistributing it is called \buildings recover heat, but the University's system is the first to recover heat from buildings and reuse it in others.

Along the way, Pitt has learned a great deal about some of its producers. The harder a student studies, the more heat his body gives off. Male students send out more heat than female students, and the larger a student is, the more heat he produces. It is tempting to conclude that the hottest prospect for the Johnstown campus would be a hard-working overweight male genius（天才）.

1. What is characteristic of the buildings on Johnstown campus of the University of Pittsburgh?

A. They collect body heat to regulate the temperature inside. B. They are more comfortable to live in than other buildings. C. They use light bulbs to heat the classrooms. D. They consume less fuel to keep the classrooms cool.

2. According to the passage, the technique of heat recovery is used _____ .

A. to provide a special form of air-conditioning in the city B. to provide heat for the hot water system C. to collect heat and reuse it D. to find out the source of heat

3. The phrase \hottest prospect\in this passage refers to ______. A. the person who suffers most from heat B. the person who gives off most heat C. the person who needs more heat than others D. the person who makes better use of body heat

4. Which of the following statements is NOT true according the passage?

A. The harder a student works, the more heat he or she produces. B. The bigger a student is, the more heat he or she sends out. C.. A 1arge and hard-working boy student gives off the most heat. D. A girl student sends out more heat than a boy student. 5. Which of the following may be the best title for this passage? A. Recovery of Body Heat B. Body Heat and Sex

C. Modern Building’s Heat System D. Ways of Heating Buildings Passage 3.

Not everyone in the world requires the same amount of living space. The amount of space a person needs around him is a cultural difference, not an economic one. Knowing your own psychological(心理上的) space needs is important because they strongly affect your choices, including, for example, the number of bedrooms in the home. If you were brought up in a two-child family, and both you and your sister or brother had your own bedrooms, the chances are, if you have two children or more, that you also will offer separate bedrooms for them. In America, for example, they train people to want to have their own rooms by giving them their own rooms when they are babies. This is very rare in the world. In many other countries, the baby sleeps in the same bed with his parents or in a bed near them.

The space in the home also shows a lot about psychological space needs. Some families gather closer to each other and the size of their house has nothing to do with it. Others have separate little corners where family members go to be alone.

Although it is true that psychological space needs are not decided by economic reasons, they sometimes have to be changed a little because of economic pressures. It is almost impossible, however, to completely change your psychological space needs.

1. The passage is chiefly concerned with _________ . A. American way of living

B. living requirements in different cultures C. living conditions in developed countries

D. space and economic factors

2. According to the author, the amount of living space a person needs is decided by ____ . A. his financial situations

B. the relationship between the family members C. his cultural background

D. how many rooms there are in his house

3. The example of American families seems to suggest that ______ . A. psychological space needs are developed when one is very young B. Americans are more eager to be alone when they are at home C. it is advisable to let the baby sleep with his parents D. it is advisable to let the baby sleep with his sister 4. Some families gather close to each other at home because _______ . A. it satisfies their psychological space needs B. they have no living space

C. they have been brought up in a small family D. they have small corners for themselves

5. According to the author, psychological space needs ______ . A. will change greatly as one's incomes are reduced B. will change if you move to a smaller house

C. can hardly be changed altogether D. can be changed at will Passage 4.

Do you believe that only boys do well in science? Does it seem to you that girls have better vocabularies than boys? In your opinion, are boys better at building things ? If your answer to each of those questions is “Yes,” you are right.

On the average, males score higher on tests that measure mathematical reasoning, mechanical ability, and problem-solving skills. Females show superior ability in tests measuring vocabulary, spelling, and memory.

It is known that bones, muscles（肌肉） and nerves（神经） develop faster in baby girls. Usually, too, baby girls talk at an earlier age than boys do. Scientists think there is a physical reason for this. They believe that the nerve endings in the left side of the brain develop faster in girls than in boys. And it is this side of the brain that strongly influences an individual's ability to use words, to spell, and to remember things.

By the time they start to schoo1, therefore, little girls have an advantage that boys do not have. Girls are physically more ready to remember facts, to spell, and to read. These, of course, are skills that are important in elementary school.

But what have the boys been doing in the years before starting school? They have been developing something called aggression (进攻 ). An aggressive person has courage and energy. He feels strong and independent. He is often the first one to start fight.

1. Scientists believe that the differences between boys and girls are

determined by ___.

A ) their personal abilities B) their physical condition C ) their courage and independence D) their age and sex

2. Which of the following is Not true?

A ) Girls remember things more easily.

B ) Boys score higher on tests that measure mathematical reasoning.

C ) Boys are more skillful at building things.

D) Girls are better at facts which measure problem solving ability.

3. According to this passage, boys are ______.

A ) more ready to spell

B) more ready to remember facts C ) stronger and more independent D) quicker at learning

4. The word \this\

A ) the difference between boys and girls B. the ability to solve problems

C ) the development of brains

D) the age when babies begin to talk

5. The author's view of the difference between boys and girls is

based on_______. A ) scientific facts B ) personal experience C ) social behaviors D ) logical reasoning

Passage 5:

Third World countries often mistakenly decided to permit rapid industrialization.

When this industrialization occurs, many new factories open, and workers get jobs. Unfortunately, many of these new jobs are not permanent. The leaders of an industry want their factories to be as productive as possible, and they will do anything to achieve that goal. Whenever they can, they take advantage of automation, which means that workers are replaced by a more efficient machine. As a result, a worker trained for a specific factory job becomes unemployed, and the profits of the factory owners are maximized.

Many experts in Third World economics are concerned about rapid

industrialization because it brings problems as well as progress. Citizens of these countries need jobs that will last, not jobs that are temporary. In the opinion of these economists, the leaders of Third World countries should be aware of the dangers as well as the advantages of rapid industrialization.

1. The rapid industrialization in Third World countries could mean _______.

A) more progress to the state

B) more profits to the factory owners C) more problems to the government D) all of the above

2. Of the following four points, which one do leaders of an industry consider first?

A) More jobs for the workers.

B) Rapid development in all the fields. C) Better pay for the workers. D) Highest productivity.

3. According to the passage, automation could lead to _________.

A) more jobs and therefore more pay

B) fewer machines and therefore more workers C) more machines and therefore fewer workers D) fewer machines and therefore more workers

4. In the sentence “Citizens of these countries need jobs that will last”(Para.2), the word “last” means ________.

A) follow all the rest B) go on C) become late

D) be most recent

5. The author wrote the passage in order to _________.

A) tell us an interesting story B) reveal a fact

C) tell us the disadvantages of automation D) give a warning to some Third World countries Passage 6:

If we were asked exactly what we were doing a year ago, we should probably have to say that we could not remember. But if we had kept a book and had written in it an account of what we did each day, we should be able to give an answer to the question.

It is the same in history. Many things have been forgotten because we do not have any written account of them. Sometimes men did keep a record of the most important happenings in their country, but often it was destroyed by fire or in a war. Sometimes there was never any written record at all because the people of that time and place did not know how to write. For example, we know a good deal about the people who lived in China 4, 000 years ago because they could write and leave written records for those who lived after them. But we know almost nothing about the people who lived even 200 years ago in central Africa, because they had not learned to write.

Sometimes, of course, even if the people cannot write, they may know something of the past. They have heard about it from older people, and often songs and dances and stories have been made about the most important happenings, and these have been sung and acted and told for many generations. For most people are proud to tell what their fathers did in the past. This we may call “remembered history.” Some of it has now been written down. It is not so exact or so valuable to us as written history is, because words are much more easily changed when used again and again in speech

than when copied in writing. But where there are no written records, such spoken stories are often very helpful.

1. Which of the following ideas is not conveyed in the passage?

A) “Remembered history”, compared with written history, is less reliable. B) Written records of the past plays a most important role in our learning of the human history.

C) A written account of our daily activities helps us to answer some questions.

D) Where there are no written records, there is no history.

2. We know very little about the central Africa 200 years ago because . A) there was nothing worth being written down at that time B) the people there ignored the importance of keeping a record C) the written records were perhaps destroyed by a fire D) the people there had not known how to write 3. “Remembered history” (Line 6, Para, 3) refers to A) history based on a person’s imagination

B) stories of important happenings passed down from mouth to mouth C) songs and dances about the most important events D) both B) and C)

4. “Remembered history” is regarded as valuable only when . .

A) it is written down

B) no written account is available C) it proves to be true D) people are interested in it

5. It can be inferred (推论) from the passage that we could have learned much more about our past than we do now if our ancestors (祖先) had A) kept a written record of every past event B) not burnt their written records in wars

C) told exact stories of the most important happenings D) made more songs and dances

Passage 7:

The water level of oceans rises and falls alternately (交替地) twice a day. This movement of water is called the tide (潮汐). Tides are caused by the pull of the sun and the moon on the earth’s surface; since the moon is closer, it affects the tides more than the sun. When the moon is directly overhead, it actually pulls on the water that is below it. This causes the water level to rise because the water is pulled away from the earth. As the moon disappears (消失) over the horizon (地平线), the pull lessens and the water level settles back towards the ocean bottom.

When the water reaches its highest level, we have high tide. And when the water comes to its lowest level, we have low tide. From its lowest point, the water rises gradually for about six hours until it reaches high tide. Then it begins to fall

continuously for about six hours until it reaches low tide. Then the cycle begins again.

1. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?

.

A) The Moon and Oceans. B) The Moon and the Tide C) Water Levels

D) The Pull of the Moon and the Sun

2. The pull of the moon on the earth’s surface is stronger than that of the sun

b .

e

c

a

u

s

e

A) the moon is directly over the earth

B) the moon pulls the water away from the earth C) the moon is closer to the earth D) the moon moves around the earth 3. Water level reaches its low point when A) the moon is hidden by clouds B) the moon’s effect is indirect C) the moon moves far away D) the sun is overhead

4. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A) Weather sometimes affects tides.

B) The force directly affecting the earth’s surface comes from the moon only C) The effect of the sun on the ocean water can be neglected

. D) Tides are the result of the pull of the moon and the sun.

5. In the sentence “As the moon disappears over the horizon, the pull lessens...” (Line 6, Para.1), the word lessens most probably means A) rises

B) arrives

D) spreads

.

C) decreases

Passage 8:

The ideal (理想的) teacher may be young or old, tall or short, fat or thin. He should know his subject, but he can make mistakes if he is willing to learn. His personality (人格) is as important as his scholarship (学识). The ideal teacher must be enthusiastic (热情的). He must never teach anything he himself is not interested in. He should be a bit of an actor and he should not be afraid to show his feelings and express his likes and dislikes. He must like his students and respect them, but he must also respect himself and take pride in his work. Otherwise, he cannot respect his students and win respect from them. The ideal teacher should have an understanding of his students and be able to relate to them. He needs students’ understanding, too. The ideal teacher should be kind, encouraging, and helpful and he should motivate (激发) his students to seek (探索) knowledge. The ideal teacher should see his students as individuals (个人) and acknowledge (承认) their differences. He must know how to encourage the self-development and growth of each of his students. The ideal teacher is one who grows, learns, and improves himself along with his students.

So what about the teachers around you?

1. Which of the following is the least important in judging an ideal teacher according to the passage?

A) His age and appearance. B) His scholarship.

C) His personality.

D) His attitude towards his students. 2. Can an ideal teacher make mistakes?

A) No. He should be very careful not to make any mistakes. B) Yes. Because no one can be perfect.

C) No. He should always be the authority (权威) to his students. D) Yes. But he should be willing to learn.

3. What relationship should be set up between an ideal teacher and his students

according to the passage?

A) Mutual (相互的) respect and understanding. B) Mutual encouragement and help. C) Mutual aid and affection (慈爱) D) Mutual support and inspiration (激励) 4. An ideal teacher views his students .

A) as talented (有才能的) young people B) as different from each other C) as self-centered individuals

D) as understanding, respectful individuals

5. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A) An ideal teacher should always set an example for his students.

B) Teachers and students benefit from each other in the process of teaching and learning

C) Students should never expect their teachers to be ideal.

D) Those who are trying to improve themselves constantly (不断地) are ideal teachers.

Passage 9 :

The Golden Gate Bridge joins the beautiful city of San Francisco with the suburbs to the north. Each day, about one hundred thousand automobiles cross the bridge taking people to and from the city. Fully half of them cross the bridge during the morning and evening rush hours; with traffic so heavy, the trip is hardly a pleasure.

Now, however, there is at least one group of happy commuters. These are the people who travel under the bridge instead of on it. They go to work by boat and enjoy it so much that most of them say they will never go by car again.

The ferry (渡船) they take is the roomy, quiet, comfortable “Golden Gate”. Commuters can enjoy the sun on deck. In the morning they can have breakfast in the coffee shop, and in the evening they can order a drink in the bar while watching San Francisco’s famous skyline and the nearby hills.

The trip takes only thirty minutes and is not very costly. But best of all, being on a boat seems to make people friendlier toward each other. There has already been a marriage of two commuters who met on the “Golden Gate”.

Because the experiment has been successful, there are plans to use other, still larger boats. There is also a proposal for a high-speed boat that will make the trip in fifteen minutes.

1. When are the rush hours on the Golden Gate Bridge?

A) From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. B) Around 6:00 a.m. and 6:00p.m. C) Each day from spring to fall. D) In the morning and at noon.

2. According to the passage, _____________.

A) it is a nice thing to travel in the rush hours on the Golden Gate Bridge

B) it is very happy for people to go to work to travel on the Golden Gate

C) the people on the bridge are very pleased to watch San Francisco’s famous skyline and the nearby hills

D) fully half of the people cross the river on the bridge instead of under it

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A) The trip takes only half an hour and is hardly pleased.

B) Above all, being on a boat seems to make people friendlier toward each other.

C) Every one is not happy to get back and forth faster.

D) To use a high-speed boat is a good idea for people who go to work by boat.

4. What is most probably the meaning of the word “commuter”?

A) A person who travels car. B) A person who travels by boat.

C) A person who crosses a river every day.

D)A person who makes regular journey of some distance between home and work.

5. Which of the following can serve as the title of this passage?

A) The Golden Gate Bridge. B) The Happy Way to Get to Work. C) Pleasure Trip.

D) The Hope to Cross the Bridge Quickly. Passage 10.

More than 30,000 drivers and front seat passengers are killed or seriously injured each year. At a speed of only 30 miles per hour it is the same as falling from a third-floor window. Wearing a seat belt saves lives; it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than half. Therefore drivers or front seat passengers over 14 in most vehicles must wear a seat belt. If you do not, you could be fined up to ￡50. It will not be up to the drivers to make sure you wear your belt. But it will be the driver's responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind. However, you do not have to wear a seat belt if you are reversing your vehicle; or you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle; or if you have a valid medical certificate which excuses you from wearing it. Make sure these circumstances apply to you before you decide not to wear your seat belt. Remember you may be taken to court

for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove to the court that you have been excused from wearing it. 1. This text is taken from ________.

A. a medical magazine B. a police report C a legal document

D. a government information booklet 2. Wearing a seat belt in a vehicle ________. A. reduces road accidents by more than half

B. saves lives while driving at a speed up to 30 miles per hour C. reduces the death rate in traffic accidents D. saves more than 15,000 lives each year 3. It is the driver's responsibility to ________. A. make the front seat passenger wear a seat belt

B. make the front seat children under 14 wear a seat belt C. stop children riding in the front seat D. wear a seat belt each time he drives

4. According to the text, which of the following people riding in the front does not

have to wear a seat belt?

A. Someone who is backing into a parking space.

B. Someone who is picking up the children from the local school. C. Someone who is delivering invitation letters. D. Someone who is under 14.

5. For some people, it may be better ________.

A. to wear a seat belt for health reasons B. not to wear a seat belt for health reasons

C. to get a valid medical certificate before wearing a seat belt D. to pay a fine rather than wear a seat belt

Passage 11

Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time; if corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language those around him use. Bit by bit, he makes the necessary changes to make his language like other people’s. In the same way, children learning to do all the other things they learn to do without being taught to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle --- compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes for himself, let alone correct them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the teacher. Let him do himself. Let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it, what this word says, what the answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not.

If it is a matter of right answers, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can’t find the way to get the right

answer. Let’s end all this nonsense of grades, exams, marks. Let us throw them all out, and let the children learn what all educated persons must some day learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know.

1. What does the author think is the best way for children to learn things? A) By copying what other people do.

B) By making mistakes and having them corrected. C) By listening to explanations from skilled people. D) By asking a great many questions.

2. What does the author think teachers to which they should not do? A) They give children correct answers.

B) They point out children’s mistakes to them. C) They allow children to mark their own work D) They encourage children to copy from one another.

3. The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are __________.

A) not really important skills B) more important than other skills

C) basically different from learning adult skills D) basically the same as learning other skills

4. Exams, grades and marks should be abolished because children’s progress should only be estimated by ___________.

A) educated persons B) the children themselves C) teachers D) parents 5. Why should children learn to judge their own work?

A) Because most children don’t like their teachers. B) Because their parents ask them to do so.

C) Because they can learn much more things in this way. D) None of the above. Passage 12:

Every animal is a living radiator —— heat formed in its cells is given off through its skin. Warm blooded animals maintain a steady temperature by constantly replacing lost surface heat; smaller animals, which have more skin for every ounce of body weight, must produce heat faster than bigger ones, Because smaller animals burn fuel faster, scientists say they live faster.

The speed at which an animal lives is determined by measuring the rate at which it uses oxygen. A chicken, for example, uses one half cubic centimeter of oxygen every hour for each gram it weighs. The tiny shrew uses four cubic centimeters of oxygen every hour for each gram it weighs. Because it uses oxygen eight times as fast, it is said that the mouselike shrew is living eight times as fast as the chicken. The smallest of the warm blooded creatures, the hummingbird, lives a hundred times as fast as an elephant.

There is a limit to how small a warm blooded animal can be. A mammal or bird that weighed only two and a half grams would starve to death. It would burn up its food too rapidly and would not be able to eat fast enough to supply more fuel.

1. The selection says that every animal is a living radiator because it

.

A) produces heat in its body cells

B) burns fuel to produce heat C) gives off heat through its skin D) requires oxygen to produce heat

2. Small animals are said to live faster than big ones because they

.

A) have more skin for every ounce of body weight B) replace lost heat faster C) burn fuel faster

D) maintain a higher body temperature

3. The speed at which an animal lives is determined by measuring

.

A) the amount of food it eats B) its body temperature

C) the rate at which it uses oxygen D) the amount of oxygen it uses

4. The amount of oxygen an animal uses depends on

A) its body weight B) the food it eats

C) its general size and shape D) the length of time it lives

5. An animal weighing less than 2 1/2 grams would starve because

it would not be able to .

.

A) get enough oxygen

B) maintain its body temperature C) burn its food fast enough D) eat fast enough to supply fuel Passage 13:

People everywhere agree on what a mountain is. The fact is that definitions vary. Everyone admits, for example, that Everest is a mountain, the highest of them all, with an altitude of almost 30,000 feet. But what about Snowdon, the loftiest peak in Wales? It rises a mere 3000 feet, yet it is also called a mountain. Comparison, a little matter of relativity, is the key. To the average person living \Great Plains, Vermont's Green Mountains look lofty indeed, but to anyone from the Rocky Mountains, the Green Mountains seem nothing more than hills.

Geographers generally agree that, to be a mountain topographically (在地形学方面) , a landmass must reach an altitude of 3000 feet above the level of the sea. Mount Everest, for instance, is 30,000 feet above sea level, but only 15,000 feet above the neighboring Tibetan plateau. Geologists restrict the definition even more, maintaining that a mountain is a mountain by virtue of its geological structure. Some rugged highlands are not really mountains, while some flat, low-lying rock surfaces are true mountains. They are low now because of centuries of erosion. There are even mountains under the sea, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, for example. Like all true mountains, they were originally formed by large-scale movements of the earth's crust.

1. How high a mountain looks to the average person depends on what he

A) compares it with C) reads about geology B) knows about the climate D) thinks of topography

2. Everest is the highest mountain in

A) the world B) Europe

C)North America

D) Africa

3. Geographers measure mountains by comparing them with

A) the surrounding land C) the level of the sea B) the height to which clouds rise D) other mountains

4. Geologists are not primarily concerned with a mountain's

A) history B) height

C) structure

D) formation

5. Most flat, low-lying mountains are

A) very old

C) exceptionally beautiful

D) covered with snow

B) found in the ocean

Passage 14:

Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree. In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for fifteen weeks; while attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year. It is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice. For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this imposes a constant pressure and strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually performed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for

example, by cheating has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him later in his career.

1. Normally a student would at least attend ____ classes each week. A. 3

B. 12

C. 15

D. 20

2. According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed _____.

A. to live in a different university

B. to take a particular course in a different university C. to live at home and drive to classes

D. to get two degrees from two different universities 3. American university students are usually under pressure of work because _________.

A. they want to run for positions of authority B. they are heavily involved in student affairs C. they have to observe university discipline

D. their academic performance will affect their future careers 4. Some students are enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably

because ________.

A. they hate the constant pressure and strain of their study.

B. they will then be able to stay longer in the university C. such positions help them get better jobs D. such positions are usually well paid

5. The student organizations seem to be effective in _______.

A. dealing with the academic affairs of the university B. ensuring that the students observe university regulations C. evaluating students' performance by bringing them before a court

D. keeping up the students' enthusiasm for social activities

Passage 15

When an art museum wants a new exhibit, it buys things in finished form and hangs them on its walls. When a natural history museum wants an exhibit, it often must bui1d it realistically---from a mass of materia1 and evidence brought together by careful research.

An animal, for examp1e, must first be skinned. Photographs and measurements are used to determine the animal's structure in a natural position--fighting, resting, or feeding. Then muscle forms are built and a plaster shell is made. Final1y the skin is pulled over the shell like a wet g1ove. This comp1etes the animal subject.

Displaying such things as stone heads, giant trees, and meteorites is basically

mechanical. Most other natural history exhibits present more difficult problems. For instance, how can a creature be exhibited when it is too small to be seen clearly? In these cases, 1arger-than-life models are bui1t. The American Museum of Natura1 History has models of fleas, houseflies, and many other insects enlarged up to

seventy-four times. The mode1s show the stages of the insects' deve1opment and the workings of their bodies.

l. Natural history exhibits differ from art exhibits in that they

_____.

A. are never borrowed

B. are not displayed to the public C. often must be constructed D. do not require research

2. What is the last step when exhibiting an animal?

A. to skin the animal B. to build the muscle forms C. to make a plaster shell D. to cover the shell by skin

3. The items that are most difficult to display are _____.

A. objects such as meteorites B. large animals

C. creatures too small to be seen clearly D. creatures of the sea

4. The best title for this passage is _________.

A. Constructing an Animal Subject B. Prob1ems of Exhibiting Natura1 History C. Natural History

D. Building a Museum Exhibit 5. Which of the following is implied?

A. Nothing in a natural history museum is alive. B. Some creatures cannot be disp1ayed. C. Meteorites come from outer space.

D. Natural history exhibits often must be bui1t.

Passage 16

Both labor and laborers can be classified into three groups: skilled, partly skilled, and unskilled. There are certain qualities which are particular to each group and which show the differences between it and the other two groups. These qualities are the degree of skill and training needed for the job and how specific a task the worker performs.

Skilled labor is of two kinds. The first kind has expert knowledge in a particular area, like making tools or printing. The second kind has received advanced education and special training. Doctors, teachers and lawyers are examples of this kind of skilled labor.

A partly skilled worker is a person who has gained a very large amount of skill over a very limited number of activities. Such workers can be trained very quickly. Someone who welds (焊接) in a plant where automobiles are put together is an example. In the same way, one person who makes business machines believes that a person can be completely trained to operate one of these machines in two days.

Unskilled workers, or workers who are not skilled, as their name suggests, need hardly any specialized training. Skills can be obtained on the job itself, and as the workers become used to the work, they become more productive. For example, when the canals (运河) were built in Britain, and later when the railroads were laid, the entrepreneurs who built them found that it took a full year for strong healthy farm boys to become diggers. These young men had to use their energy economically so that they could work long hours without tiring. A lot of special training was not needed, but the strong body and character that the job required was not produced in a single day.

1. A tool maker and a teacher can be put together because ________. A) their jobs are the same in nature B) both of them do skilled labor C) neither of them works outdoors D) they belong to laboring class

2. A partly skilled worker is the one who ________. A) works part-time

B) is a professional

C) is skillful at only a few activities D) mainly does physical labor 3. An unskilled worker ________.

A) is hard to train because of his dullness B) refuses to learn on the job

C) may work very well only on farms D) can be very productive

4. According to the passage, to be an unskilled worker, which of the following is NOT necessary?

A) any kind of training B) special training C) a strong body

D) a long time practicing

5. The sentence used to summarize the article can be found in paragraph ________. A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

Passage 17

A new plan for getting children to from school is being started by the education authorities (当局) in part of Eastern England. This could end the worries of many parents fearful for their children’s safety on the roads.

Until now the County Council have only been prepared to provide bus services for children living more than three miles from their school, or sometimes less if special reason existed.

The new plan is to be tried out this term for children living at Milton who attend Impington school. The children live just within the three-mile limit and the Council has said in the past it would not provide free transport to the school. But now they have agreed to organize a bus service from Milton to Impington and back, a plan which has the support of the school’s headmaster.

Between 50 and 60 parents have said they would like their children to take part. Final calculations have still to be carried out, but a Council official has said the cost to parents should be less than ￡6.50 a term.

They have been able to arrange the service at a low cost because there is already an agreement with the bus company for a bus to take children who live further away to Impington. The same bus would now just make an extra journey to pick up the Milton children. The official said they would get in touch with their parents, to see if they would like their children to take part in the new place.

1.The children the Council ran buses for in the past were those ________. A) whose parents were worried about them? B) who would have had to walk otherwise C) who could not walk

D) who had to travel a long way

2. Taking part in the Council’s trial plan are children who ________. A) live in Milton and go to Impington school

B) live in Impington and go to Milton school C) live in Milton and go to Milton school

D) live in Impington and go to Impington school 3. The new bus service will run________. A) on morning journeys to school only B) in connection with an existing service

C) only for children living more than three miles away D) only in wet weather

4. Agreement to pay for the new bus service has been obtained from ________. A) the school’s headmaster B) the education department C) the bus company D) the parents

5. The parents the Council is now going to contact are those ________. A) who had not yet answered letters B) who did not want to pay C) who would like to pay less

D) whose children lived further away from school

Passage 18

Some people think they have an answer to the problems of automobile crowding and pollution in large cities. Their answer is the bicycle, or “bike”.

In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They claim that if more people rode bicycles to work there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown section of the city and therefore less dirty air from car engines.

For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example, they want the city to paint special lanes for bicycle one some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there may be accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.

But no bicycle lanes have been painted yet. Not everyone thinks they are a good idea. Taxi drivers don’t like the idea – they say it will slow traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don’t like the idea – they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business. And most people live too far from downtown to travel by bike. The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park – the largest open space in New York – is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown. Until that happens, the safest place to bicycle may be in the park.

1. Some people founded Bike for a Better City because ________. A) there are no bikes in New York City now B) they wanted to reduce the traffic and pollution

C) there are no bike lanes in New York City now D) traffic has been too slow

2. Some people are against the idea of bicycle lanes because they think ________. A) they will not reduce the traffic B) there will be traffic accidents

C) they will make traffic less and slower D) traffic moves slowly in bike lanes 3. Which of the following does this passage NOT support?

A) If more people rode bikes, there would be cleaner air and fewer automobiles. B) On weekends, cars can not drive through Central Park.

C) The city government has not done anything for the bike riders yet.

D) The city government doesn’t know what to do concerning the issue of bikes. 4. The last sentence of this passage means ________. A) Riding bicycles isn’t safe now

B) After bike lanes are painted, the park will be safe C) before now, it is safe in the park

D) If there is fighting, the park will be a safe place to hide

5. What is the attitude of the author towards painting bike lanes? A) Welcome B) Negative C) Interested D) Neutral

Passage 19

In the early days people could not count as we do. Their method was very simple. At first, they did all their counting with small stones. Later, they learned to use their fingers in counting. Since man has ten fingers, the number ten became the foundation of all counting in many parts of the world. This decimal system led gradually to a branch of mathematics. We call it arithmetic.

Accurate measurement and exact computation are the bases of modern engineering and scientific research. For example, scientists usually test their theories by practical experiments, and they have to make computations before they can say that the results of their experiments are correct. Scientists will have to work day and night for the computation, but the computer can do them quickly and accurately. For instance, a spacecraft cannot leave the earth and go to the moon without computers. In recent years more and more people have used computers not only in production and technology, but also in everyday life, for the simple reason that they are far more efficient than man. They have much better memories and can store large amounts of information. No man alive can do 500,000 sums in one second but a computer can. In fact, computers can do many of the things we do faster and better. They can control machines in factories, work out tomorrow’s weather, and even do translation work. In the future we are going to use computers for almost everything we do.

1. Why did the number ten become the foundation for all counting in many parts of the world?

A) Because the early people could not count. B) Because early people’s methods are simple. C) Because man has only ten fingers. D) Because ten is a good number.

2. The word ‘decimal’ in the first paragraph probably connects with ________. A) man’s fingers B) number ten

C) counting with stones D) arithmetic

3. With the help of computers, scientists can ________. A) test their theories by practical experiments. B) shorten the time for their work C) say that their theories are good. D) improve their memories

4. The reason why a spacecraft cannot leave the earth without computer is that ________.

A) The computers can help scientists do the complex computation quickly and accurately

B) The computers can do almost everything C) The computers have much better memories

D) The computers will work out the coming weather

5. In the passage , what does the author imply by writing the last sentence in last paragraph?

A) The computers will replace the man

B) The computers will be faster and more accurate C) The computers will do everything for man D) The computers will be in wider use

Passage 20

On June 17, 1774, the officials from Maryland and Virginia held a talk with the Indians of the Six Nations. The Indians were invited to send boys to William and Mary College. In a letter the next day they refused the offer as follows:

We know that you have a high opinion of the kind of learning taught in your colleges, and that the costs of living of our young men, while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced that you mean to do us good by your proposal and we thank you heartily. But you must know that different nations have different ways of looking a thins and you will therefore not be offended if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same as yours. We have had some experience of it. Several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges of the northern provinces; they were taught all your sciences; but when they came back to us they were bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, they were totally good for nothing.

We are, however, not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we refused to accept it , and to show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take care of their education, teach them in all we know and make men of them.

1. This passage is about ______ .

A） the colleges of the northern province

B） the problems of the Americans in the mid 18th century C） the educational values of the Indians

D） the talk between the Indians and the officials

2. According to the letter, the Indians believed that _______ . A) they were being insulted by the offer

B) they knew more about science than the officials

C) it would be better for their boys to receive some schooling D) they had a better way of educating young men

3. The Indian’s chief purpose in writing the letter seems to be to _______ . A) politely refuse a friendly offer B) describe Indians customs

C) express their opinions on equal treatment D) show their pride

4. Different from the officials’ view of education, the Indians thought _______ . A) they taught different branches of science

B) they should teach the sons of the officials first C) they had different goals of education D) young women should also be educated

5. The tone of the letter as a whole is best described as ________ . A) pleasant B) polite C) inquiring D) angry

Passage 21

Where do pesticides (杀虫剂) fit into the picture of environmental disease? We have seen that they now pollute soil, water, and food, that they have the power to make our streams fishless and our gardens and woodland silent and birdless. Man, however much he may like to pretend the contrary, is part of nature. Can he escape a pollution that is now so thoroughly distributed throughout our world?

We know that even single exposures to these chemicals, if the amount is large enough, can cause extremely severe poisoning. But this is not the major problem. The sudden illness or death of farmer, farm workers, and other exposed to sufficient quantities of pesticides are very sad and should not occur. For the population as a whole, we must be more concerned with the delayed effects of absorbing small amounts of the pesticides that invisibly pollute our world.

Responsible public health officials have pointed out that the biological effects chemicals are cumulative (积累的) over long periods of time, and that the danger to the individual may depend on the sum of the exposures received throughout his lifetime. For these very seasons the danger is easily ignored. It is human nature to shake off what may seem to us a threat of future disaster. “men are naturally most impressed by diseased which have obvious signs.” Says a wise physician, Dr. Rene Dubos, “yet some of their worst enemies slowly approach them unnoticed.” 1. What is the author’s attitude towards the environmental effects of pesticides? A) Defensive B) Pessimistic C) Indifferent D) Concerned

2. Which of the following is closet in meaning to the sentence “Man, … is part of nature.” （Para.1）

A) Man acts as if he does not belong to nature.

B) Man can avoid the effects of environmental pollution.

C) Man can escape his responsibilities for environmental pollution. D) Man appears indifferent to what happens in nature.

3. In the author’s view, the sudden death caused by exposure to large amounts of pesticides _____.

A) now occurs most frequently among all accidental deaths

B) is not the worst of the negative consequences resulting from the use of pesticides C) is unavoidable because people can’t do without pesticides in farming 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 control and route finding. All the drivers will have to do is say where to go and the computer will do the rest. It will become impossible for cars to crash into one another. The technology already exists for the car to become a true automobile. (233 words) 1. What factor may increase the speed of the car’s development? A) Different types of cars. B) Environmental problems.

C) Transport design.

D) More sophisticated road system.

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A) Future cars will have three wheels. B) Future cars will have four wheels

C) Future cars will be environmentally clean.

D) With future cars it is not necessary to take a lot of fuel during long journeys. 3. We may inferred from the passage that ________. A) Future cars have been designed

B) Drivers will lose their jobs in the future C) Future cars will be much safer

D) Cars developed slowly in the past 50 years

4. The future car will not need drivers because ________. A) The computers will do most of their job B) The road system is complicated. C) The road is intelligent

D) cars will not crash into one another

5. The best title of this passage is ________. A) Sophisticated Road System B) New Technology for Cars C) Cars of the Future

D) Different Types of Cars

Passage 27

Thomas Jefferson was inaugurated (举行就职演说) on March 4, 1801. He was the first president to take the oath of office (就职宣誓) in the nation’s permanent capital, Washington D.C. Although Washington was a new city, it was already familiar to President Jefferson. In fact, Jefferson had helped plan the capital’s streets and public buildings. Besides being a city planer and architect, the new president was a writer, a scientist, and an inventor of several gadgets (小装置) and tools.

After his inauguration, Jefferson moved to the presidential palace. The palace was more than a home: it contained offices for the president and some of his staff and advisers. It also included dining and reception rooms, where the president could entertain congressmen. However, President Jefferson did not give many formal parties. This was partially because there was no First Lady; Jefferson’s wife had died in 1782. But it was also because Jefferson liked to live in a simple fashion. Once, he showed up for an important meeting wearing old clothes and slippers. Neither Washington nor Adams would ever have dressed so casually.

Jefferson was different from the first two presidents in other ways, too. He disagreed with them about how the country should be run, and about what part a president should play in turning it. (216 words)

1. Which of the following statements about Washington D.C. is true? A) The President Palace was not located there. A) It contained many old buildings in 1801.

B) It was not the first capital of the United States. C) Thomas Jefferson was a newcomer there in 1801. 2. Which of the following is NOT true? A) Jefferson was a capable man.

A) Jefferson’s wife died before he became the President.

B) Jefferson was different from other two former presidents in many ways. C) Washington D.C. was not new to Jefferson.

3. The Presidential Palace was built to be _________.

A) used only as home for the President B) an office building and home C) an office building D) an place for giving formal parties

4. From the passage we know one reason Jefferson did not entertain very often was that ________.

A) he did not enjoy formal parties

B) he and his wife did not have appropriate clothes C) he wanted to be different from other presidents D) he could not understand foreign languages

5. It can be inferred from the passage that George Washington and John Adams both ________.

A) lived for a long time in Washington D.C. B) were rather formal gentlemen C) traveled to many foreign countries

D) encouraged Jefferson to run for the presidency

Passage 28

There is no ways to learn the material for college courses without spending time and effort in studying. There is no shortcut in getting that knowledge. You must spend time and effort in the process. A certain number of hours of hard work is required. But you can make better use of that time through some common sense suggestions.

Consider some practical suggestions for the arrangement of your study schedule. In other words, you need a plan to arrange your time. It will pay a lot if you will set aside (留出) a few minutes or an hour as soon as possible after classes each day. Use this time to review the material covered in the class periods of the day. Remember that you will forget a large portion within twenty-four hours after you hear or read it for the first time. Try to find a time at the end of your regular school day or in the middle of it, if you have a vacant period. You can review what was covered in each of the day’s classes before it has had time to slip out of your mind.

This plan is common sense. It is clearly easier to review something familiar and fix it firmly in your mind than to relearn the material you have forgotten. So find a few minutes to review today’s work before you go on to tomorrow’s. This is the time when you reorganize your day’s notes, if needed, and fill in the gaps (填补空白). These few minutes of review shortly after your classes may well give you more learning and more memory for less time and less effort than any other study time you spend. (284 words)

1. The sentence “It will pay a lot …” in paragraph 2 means that ________.

A) you will have to pay a lot B) it will be very helpful C) it will be important D) you will get a lot of money

2. The author suggests that after class each day we should ________. A) rest for a few minutes B) preview what you will learn C) make a good plan D) review what you have just learned

3. The passage clearly states that the best plan for study is to ________. A) review as soon as the class is over B) relearn the material you have forgotten C) reorganize your notes and fill in the gaps D) fix what is covered in class in your mind

4. The main idea of this passage is that ________. A) it’s easier to review something than to relearn it

B) you will learn better if you make good use of your reviewing time C) without spending time and effort in studying, you can not learn well D) to review after class is more important than to learn in class

5. The clause “… before it has time to slip out of your mind” can be replaced by ________.

A) “before your memory is improved” B) “before you keep it in your mind” C) “before you read it again” D) “before you forget it”

Passage 29

Friends play an important part in our lives, and although we may take the friendship for granted, we often don’t clearly understand how we make friends. While we get on well with a number of people, we are usually friends with only a very few – for example, the average among students is about 6 per person. In all the cases of friendly relationships, two people like one another and enjoy being together, but beyond that, the degree of intimacy (亲密关系) between them and the reasons for their shared interest vary enormously. As we get to know people we take into account things like age, race, economic condition, social position, and intelligence. Although these factors are not of prime importance, it is more difficult to get on with people when there is a marked difference in age and background.

Some friendly relationships can be kept on argument and discussion, but it is usual for close friends to have similar ideas and beliefs, to have attitudes and interests in common –they often talk about “being on the same wavelength”. It generally takes time to reach this point. And the more intimately involved people become, the more they rely on one another. People want to do friends favours and hate to break a promise. Equally, friends have to learn to put up with annoying habits and to tolerate differences of opinion.

In contrast with marriage, there are no friendship ceremonies to strengthen the association between two people. But the supporting and understanding of each other that results from shared experiences and emotions does seem to create a powerful bond, which can overcome differences in background, and break down barriers of age, class or race. (272 words)

1. According to the author, ________.

A) all those who get on well with each other are friends

B) friends are closer than people who just get on well with each other C) everyone understands clearly how to make friends D) every student has 6 friends

2. When we make friends, we should consider such things as age, race, and background, because ________.

A) it is not easy to have a friendly relationship with people when there is a great difference in age and background

B) The degree of friendship between two people and the reason for their shared interest can vary greatly

C) Friends need to know all these things

D) These are the most important factors to make friends

3. In para.2, “being on the same wavelength” means ________. A) using the same frequency while talking

B) keeping the same friendly relationship as other people do C) having similar ideas, beliefs, attitudes and interests D) having the same background

4. Which of the following is NOT correct according to the passage? A) Even friends may have differences of opinions B) Friends never argue with each other

C) It generally takes time for people to become close friends D) Someone’s habits may annoy his friends.

5. To strength friendly relationship, people ________. A) must hold friendship ceremonies

B) have to eliminate differences in background

C) should make friends with those who are of the same age and of race

D) should support and understand each other through shared experiences and emotions

Passage 30

Most people are unaware of the fact that a new ailment has developed among subway users. Called “subway syndrome (地铁综合症),” it causes people to turn pale and cold and even to faint. Commuters misdiagnose the symptoms – acute chest pains and disgust – and rush to hospital emergency rooms in the belief that they are about to die of a heart attack. Hearing that their heart attack is only a case of nerves makes them feel better.

What makes people get sick on subways? One is that they rush off to work in the morning without having eaten a proper breakfast. Sudden dizziness attacks them. A second cause is the overcrowding and following feeling of claustrophobia (幽闭恐症), which brings on stress and anxiety. In addition, they are so afraid of mechanical failure, fire, and crime that they show signs of panic – men by having chest pains and women by becoming hysterical. Contributing especially to their stress are other factors: overcrowding of both sexes, continual increase in the number of passengers, and people’s inability to avoid interacting with strangers.

Noise, lack of space, summer heat, fear of entrapment (陷阱) underground – it is a wonder that more people don’t have subway syndrome. What treating measures can a commuter take to protect himself or herself from the disease? Eat a good breakfast, concentrate on pleasant thoughts as you stand surrounded, bounce a bit on your toes, and roll your head. Thus, mind and body will be restored to an appearance of normality despite the adverse conditions of subway transportation. (256 words) 1. Subway riders think they might be having a heart attack because ________. A) they are overcrowded B) they are afraid

C) they suffer from chest pains D) they don’t eat breakfast

2. By saying “it is a wonder that …” (the last para.), the author means ________. A) It is surprising that only limited number of people get subway syndrome B) It is interesting that more people don’t have subway syndrome C) I wonder why more people don’t have subway syndrome

D) It is wonderful that more people don’t have subway syndrome

3. According to the passage, if you don’t have a good breakfast, you might get ________.

A) cold B) pale C) afraid D) dizzy

4. The author suggests that subway riders will feel better if they ________.

A) exercise a little B) eat breakfast C) think about pleasant things D) all of the above

5. A good title for this passage might be ________. A) How to Ride the Subway B) A Case of Nerves

C) The Subway Syndrome

D) Overcrowding on the Subways

(End of Passages and Questions)

Keys to All Passage Questions:

1: BDACD 2: ACBDA 3: BCAAC 4: BDCDA 5: DDCBD

6: DDDAC 7: BCCDC 8: ADABB 9: BDBDB 10: DCBAB

11: AADBC 12: CCCAD 13: AACBA 14: BBDCB 15: CDCBA

16: BCDBA 17: CBBAD 20: CDACB

21: DCABC 22: BABAA BDBCB

26: BDCAC 27: CBBAB CADDC (The End)

DABDD 23: BCADB 28: BDABD 29: BACBD 18: BCCAA 24: BCADD 19: 25: 30: