We feel at ease and justified simply because this is a way of US, a way which has been practiced by so many people. But is this massive practice really right?
25. Why did the elderly gentleman tap the watermelon before buying it? A. Because he expected to hear something. B. Because he was a fool.
C. Because he just wanted to follow the crowd.
D. Because it was his habit and it was hard for him to give it up.
26. Which word can replace the underlined word “justified” in the last paragraph? A. reasonable
B. embarrassed
C. excited
D. disappointed
27. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? A. It may be safe to do what most people do.
B. People should live for others and forget their own heart.
C. The writer felt unexpected when her friend wanted to get married. D. The use of We or I will give speakers themselves quite different senses. 28. In which section of a magazine can you read the passage? A. Nature and Art
C
The modem open office was originally designed for team building but now it is mostly distinguished by its high noise levels and lack of privacy.
The noise of the open office is one of employees’ chief plaints, and research shows that the constant noise can actually destroy our motivation. In a study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, 40 female workers suffered from open - plan office noise for three hours. Another group experienced three hours of blessed quiet. Afterwards, both groups were given puzzles which had no solution. The participants who’d been treated to a quiet work setting kept working hard at the puzzles， while the participants who’d stood the noisy conditions gave up after fewer attempts.
Look around any open - plan office today and you will see that many workers deal with this problem by wearing earplugs or headphones. Although it might seem that importing one’s own noise wouldn’t be much of a solution, experts say that this approach could be effective in at least one aspect.
Another frequent plaint is the lack of privacy in an open office. Designers and managers believed that workers would be more likely to have casual conversations that can inspire new
B. Sport and Health D. Culture and Society
C. Science and Technology
ideas. However, research shows conversations among employees in open offices tend to be short and skin - deep.
The original promoters also hoped that the setting would make co - workers available to help one other. That’s great for the help seeker; not so great for the help giver who has her own work to do.
29. What was the original purpose of open - plan offices? A. To spare more room.
B. To promote cooperation. D. To save office expenses.
C. To reduce work stress.
30. What’s experts’ opinion about wearing earplugs? A. It will make more noise. C. It is helpful in a way.
B. It destroy workers’ motivation.
D. It will fix the problem pletely.
31. What can we learn about open offices? A. Conversations seldom lead to creativity.
B. They create more sincere municating opportunities. C. Help seekers are disturbed too much. D. Help givers enjoy more respect.
D
Up to 60 Shanghai maths teachers are to be brought to England to raise the UK maths teachers’ standards, in an exchange arranged by the Department for Education. The announcement es as a campaign that is launched to raise adult maths skills. A survey of 2,300 adults for the numeracy campaign found that over a third thought their level of maths had held them back. An acpanying economic analysis said that a lack of maths skills cost the UK 20 billion pounds per year.
The plan to bring 60 English - speaking maths teachers from Shanghai is an attempt to learn from a city that has been the top performance in the OECD’s Pisa tests. The OECD says that children of poor families in Shanghai are on average better at maths than middle class children in the UK. The Shanghai teachers, expected to arrive from the autumn, will help share their teaching methods, support pupils who are struggling and help to train other teachers.
“ We have some smart maths teachers in this country but what I saw in Shanghai - and other Chinese cities - has only strengthened my belief that we can learn from them,” said education minister, Elizabeth Truss, who has recently visited Shanghai, acpanied by head teachers from England. “They have a can - do attitude to maths - and I want us to match that, and their performance.” She stressed the economic significance of raising maths standards, for individuals and the country. ‘‘As part of our long term economic plan, we are determined to
drive up standards in our schools and give our young people the skills they need to succeed in the global race. Good maths qualifications have the greatest earning potential and provide the strongest protection against unemployment,” said Elizabeth Truss. 32. Poor maths skills have caused serious consequences in England. A. academic
B. economic
C. culture
D. political
33. What is the main reason for Shanghai teachers’ success in maths teaching? A. Their students are from poor families. B. Their students have a talent for maths. C. They have a positive attitude to teaching. D. They teach in a highly developed city.
34. According to Elizabeth Truss, raising standards can be helpful in . A. equipping young people with global petitiveness
B. promoting the students’ international test performance C. teaching how to earn money in the global market D. discovering one’s maths talents at an early age 35. What can be the best title for the passage? A. Good Maths Skills Are about Hard Work B. Why Are English Maths Standards Left Behind? C. Why Are Shanghai Maths Teachers Getting Popular?
D. Chinese Teachers Bring the Art of Maths to English Schools 第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 It’s impossible to achieve plete balance in life. 36 Here are five ways you can follow to find happiness. 1. Give to others.
Many people are pletely absorbed in their own problems. But helping others is really satisfying. In the 21st century, people are always busy with their own business. They never know the true feeling of helping others. If you can give a little time, you may feel happiness you never thought possible.
2. Take up an activity.
Everyday life can be extremely stressful, between kids, work and home life. People always plain that their time is limited. Taking part in something as an individual seems hard. 37 It can be a sport, night class or even just going for a run. A hobby can help you feel happy.
3. 38
Not only does your body need to relax, but your mind also needs to relax and this won’t happen with the family around.
4. Don’t focus on the negatives.
A negative attitude is often the reflection of someone who is overall not happy with his or her life. Adopting a negative approach is not good for anyone. 39 If we can look at things from a different perspective, we may find that life is not that bad. There are still some happy things around us.
5. Be grateful for what you have
40 A man without a penny to his name can be just as happy as a man who has plenty of money. Instead of thinking about what you don’t have, look at what you do have and in turn you will not only be a happy person, but you will be filled with confidence.
True happiness is hard to achieve. But if you put these ideas into practice, you will see what the oute will be.
A. However, you should always make time to take up at least one hobby. B. Obviously, being happy is everyone’s dream. C. Rest and stay with your family.
D. Instead, try to find the positive in most situations. E. Find time for yourself.
F. However, a feeling of happiness can be found through simple things. G. Happiness has nothing to do with material things.
第三部分 英语知识运用（共两节，满分45）
第一节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I was always plaining about wind or rain and I didn’t thought I sounded 41 . Although it was nothing unusual for the arrival of wind or rain, it caused inconvenience for me to go out, and sometimes it 42 created an awful atmosphere, so I 43 it strongly.
On a rainy day a meteorologist (气象学家) I met was very 44 at my great anger caused by 45 that made a little inconvenience for me.
He asked, “Have you ever experienced typhoon?” I shook my head. “Everybody blames it 46 the destruction it brings to mankind, but do you know what would happen to the world if there were no typhoon?”