Reading comprehension(拟题人：蔡素素)
A.
MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY—An 11-year- old boy who gave up television for a year in a bet (打赌) with his mother says he’ll use some of the money to buy himself
An astronaut’s suit. The bet ended at 9:o1 on Monday morning, but Benjamin Barreaux waited until his mother, Roslyn, handed him five 100-dollar bills in front of a gathering of newspapermen in the afternoon before switching on the TV. During the past year, he has filled his time reading and his grades(分数) have improved from “satisfactory” to “very good”.
( )1. Who lost a bet to whom?
A.The boy’s motyer to his father.
B.Benjamin’s father to Roslyn.
C.Benjamin to his mother.
D. Roslyn to Benjamin .
( )2.For how long had the boy kept himself from turning on the TV?
A. From Monday morning till afternoon.
B.For one year and several hours.
C. For one year and a day.
D. For one year .
( )3.Why did the mother hand the bills to the boy?
A.Because his grades had improved.
B. Because she had won some money.
C. Because he wanted to buy an astronaut’s suit.
D. Because she had given him her promise.
( )4.Why do you think the newspapermen came?
A.They came to judge who should be the winner.
B.They came to congratulate the winner.
C.They cane for the money.
D. They came for the news.
( )5.The mother obviously believed that
A. children shouldn't watch TV too much.
B. children shouldn't have their own money.
C. children shouldn't be regarded as their parents’ equals
D. children ’ interest in space should be encouraged. (1-5.DBDDA.)
B.
Disney decided to build his park in California, and in 1952 he began to buy land． This proved to be a difficult task, since the land he wanted was owned by no fewer than twenty families. In 1954, he sent four members of his staff around the United States looking for ideas at established amusement parks. The only idea on which they found general agreement was that Disney was crazy. Owners of other parks said it was impossible to succeed without dangerous rides and using methods that were at least a little dishonest. However, Disney went on with his plans for a clean, safe park, which he decided to call Disneyland．
At last Disneyland was built and opened to the public． Very quickly, it came to be regarded as one of the wonders of the modern world through its gates.
Disneyland was a personal satisfaction to Disney. It expressed his ideas of all that is true and good and beautiful in this world． He never tired of visiting the park himself, of expanding it and improving it. Even today, Disneyland is kept spotless（无污点的）. Every night, every street and walkway are washed, and workers with knives get down on their hands and knees to scrape out（刮去） chewing gum dropped by visitors.
Disney himself didn’t live long enough to visit his Florida park. Death came in December 1966. On the day of his death, this headline appeared in the New York Times:
Walt Disney, 65, dies on coast
Founded an empire on a mouse
He was a dreamer who had worked hard to make his dreams come true, and he had brought joy to millions.
1．From the first paragraph, we can see _______.
A．isney’s hard effort proved to be useless
B．ome people gave great support to Disney
C．he owners of some parks showed jealousy(嫉妒)to Disney
D．isney was not influenced（影响）by others’ disagreement at all
2．In the first paragraph, the word “crazy” can be replaced by “_______”.
A．widely excited B．mad C．kind D．very interested
3．“Disneyland was a personal satisfaction to Disney.” Means ________.
A．people are satisfied with the park
B．the personal respect for Disney made Disneyland satisfactory
C．Disneyland gave Disney a sense of self-actualization
D．Disney was satisfied with his own work-Disneyland
4.We can infer from the passage that_______.
A．Disney was crazy about building Disneyland
B．Disneyland brought a lot of profit to Disney
C．Disneyland keeps beautiful and clean because the visitors have a good manner
D．Disney lived a happy life in the empire of Mickey Mouse
5.A better conclusion from the passage is that _______.
A．we should do whatever we like
B．other’s opinion should not influence us in making decision
C．it’s our duty to protect Disneyland from being destroyed
D．once we are determined to do something, we should stick to the end(DBCBD)
C
In 1955, Ray Kroc visited a small restaurant in California． The restaurant was built next to the road, so customers could drive up to the restaurant and drive away easily. The restaurant was owned and operated by the McDonald brothers, Dick and “Mac”.
The McDonald brother had developed a new idea for their restaurant. The brother called their ideas a “drive-in” restaurant, and the customers could order food from their cars.
The restaurant also cut down the number of choices on the menu, so the cooks could make the food very quickly. The restaurant specialized in making hamburgers, French fries, and chocolate shakes.
Ray Kroc recognized the potential (潜力) of the McDonald brothers’ restaurant, and he offered to buy the rights to the two brothers’ idea． Mr. Kroc wanted to open his own restaurants and he wanted to use the idea of a drive-in restaurant. He also wanted to use the brothers’ family name. The two brothers agreed and the McDonald’s restaurant chain (连锁店) was born.
At this point, McDonald’s is now the world’s largest restaurant corporation. In the United States, there are more than 5,000 McDonald’s restaurants. The McDonald’s chain also operates in 60 other countries. In 1992, McDonald’s made more than $16 billion from its restaurants around the world．
The largest McDonald’s restaurant is in Beijing, China． This restaurant has 1,000 workers. Also, as many as 700 customers can sit in this restaurant at one time.
1．Who owned and operated the first McDonald’s restaurant?
A．A company. B．Ray Kroc． C．A cook. D．Two brothers.
2. Why was the first McDonald’s restaurant different from other restaurants?
A．It was next to the road． B．Customers could order from their car.
C．The food was made quickly. D．The restaurant served hamburgers.
3. What was the idea that Mr. Kroc wanted to buy?
A．Hamburgers. B．Menu with few choices.
C．Chain restaurants. D．The “drive-in” restaurant.
4. The largest McDonald’s restaurant is in Beijing probably because ____.
A．people in Beijing like the food best
B．the food is cheap enough for Chinese
C．the largest market is in Beijing, China
D．the weather in Beijing is fine all the year round(DBDC)
D
At times, English can sound as different as another language. It is spoken by one out of ten in the world． Yet there are many differences between the “Queen’s English” and American English.
In England, the Queen’s English is the way radio and TV announcers say words. It is thought to be the most correct to pronounce words. When the doctor asks you to say “ah”, you are using the sound that the English use in the words “bath” and “dance”.
Word can have different meanings, too. English children go to a “sweets shop”, American children would visit a candy store. They watch the “telly”, Americans watch TV. The English go to “flicks”, while Americans go to movies.
1．In English the “Queen’s English” is spoken by all ________.
A．the people B．children C．Americans D．announcers
2. The English call it “telly” but the Americans call it ________.
A．candy B．TV C．movie D．flick
3. An American might have trouble understanding the English. It is mainly because _______.
A．some of the words the English use are different
B．American English is only used in America
C．The English speak another language
D．The people in England pronounce just as their Queen does
4. From the passage we can know that _________.
A．the same language always sounds the same
B．Americans can’t understand the Queen’s English
C．English boys and girls never eat candy
D．People watch TV in both England and America(DBAD)
E
Lane waited on the bench nearest the bridge, as he had been instructeD． The strong wind blew straight across the river, and he had to put his overcoat closer about him.
He went over his instructions in his minD． The spy would appear at four o'clock. He would talk to Lane for a while, after which he would get up, leaving his newspaper behinD． The plans would be found inside.
A distant clock began to struck the hour. As if from nowhere, a man appeared and sat down beside Lane, placing his newspaper on the seat between them. He was thin and middle-aged, and seemed in need of a good meal. He didn't look like a successful spy, Lane thought. His talk about the weather was uninteresting.
A few minutes later he got up and continued on his way. Lane picked up the paper which lay on the bench, as if he wanted to read the news. He was excited to see the plans, stuck on the center page. At that moment, however, there was a strong gust of wind which lifted the newspaper into the air, like a kite, and blew it into the river.
1．Which of the following statement is true?
A．Sitting on the bench, Lane repeated his orders to himself.
B．Lane would read about the plans in the newspaper.
C．The man Lane was expecting didn't arrive on time.
D．The man who suddenly appeared was not the one Lane was waiting for.
2．The spy was going to give Lane some important _________.
A．papers B．information C．orders D．advice
3. Lane found the spy very __________.
A．interesting B．strange C．ordinary D．strong
4. The spy left the newspaper _________.
A．by the plan B．by mistake
C．at Lane's request D．out of kindness (AACA)
F
What could be simpler than shaking fruit from a tree? Well, the job is a lot more difficult than you might think. There is surely a right way and a wrong way to shake a fruit tree. And a person who is a good apple shaker may not be a good cherry(樱桃) tree shaker. Different fruits take different shakes. As a rule, a slow hard shake is best. This makes the fruit fall much faster than a light, quick shake. Most fruits have a fixed number of shakes per minute that will do the best job of getting then out of the tree and onto the grounD． To shake down plums(梅子),try shaking the tree four hundred times per minute, moving the tree two inches at each shake. Experts say that you will get three times more fruit from the tree than you will if you shake eleven hundred times per minute at one inch per shake. Cherries, because they are smaller, need more shaking. A good rate of shaking seems to be about twelve hundred shakes per minute. Apples like plums, need four hundred shakes. Of course, keeping track of all the numbers can be enough to drive some people up a tree
1．A smaller fruit usually needs ___________.
A．a ladder B．less shaking
C．two people per tree D．more shaking
2．Good fruit pickers know ______________.
A．how fast or slow to shake a tree
B．most of the fruits will hit the ground hard
C．it makes no difference how you shake a tree
D．too much shaking can change the branches
3．You get far more plums if you shake the tree __________.
A．four hundred times per minute at one inch shake
B．four hundred times per minute at two inches per shake
C．eleven hundred times per minute at one inch shake
D．eleven hundred times per minute at two inches per shake(DAD)
G
“World War II was terrible,” said Sophie. “Do you think countries will ever learn to live together peacefully?”
“They might-one day,” said Jake. “Let’s find out what happens when people leave the Earth and explore other planets.” He typed “SPACE EXPLORATION”.
Whirligig’s voice began:
“The first man-made satellite was launched in October 1957 by the Soviet Union. It was called Sputnik 1. The next month, they sent the first living creature，a dog called Laika into orbit. From then on, it was a race between the USSR and America to put the first man into space. The USSR won the race when some amazing news was reported on 12 April 1961:
Yuri Gagarin had completed a single orbit of the Earth. The American won a different race on July 1969 when their space craft landed on the Moon. As Neil Armstrong walked on to the Moon’s dusty surface, he took “one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.”
“Even in space, countries compete instead of helping one another,” sighed Sophie.
1. What are Sophie and Jake doing?
A. They’re talking about World War II.
B. They’re finding out some information about the World War II.
C. They’re playing with their pet-Whirligig.
D. They’re searching the internet.
2. What do you think Whirligig is?
A. She is a school girl in Sophie’s class.
B. She is a creature with bug eyes in computer.
C. She is nothing but a monitor.
D. She is a printer helps to print documents.
3. The first man-made satellite was set up by ______.
A. The USA B. The USSR C. The PRC D. The UN
4. Who is the first man landed on the Moon?
A. Neil Armstrong B. Sputnik C. Yuri Gagarin D. Laika
5. The sentence “He took ‘one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind’” means ________.
A. the space exploration started
B. people began to leave the Earth and explore other planets
C. the race between the USSR and America took place
D. even in space, countries compete instead of helping one another(DBBAD)
H
Charlie is a polite young man. He’s friendly to his workmates and neighbours and they liked him, too. His friend Harry, with whom he stayed in the army, likes drinking. He often tried to stop him doing it. Sometimes the young man listens to him, but sometimes he can’t control himself. One evening, when Harry had drunk much in a restaurant, he drove his car home. He drove so fast that he hit a big tree and the car was destroyed and he was hurt. He had to be in hospital. He was sorry for it and promised to give up drinking. But soon after that he forget it. One afternoon he hit an old woman who was crossing the street. A traffic policeman fined(罚款) him fifty pounds for it.
Hearing this, Charlie became angry. He said he would break off(绝交) with Harry unless he stopped drinking. Of course Charlie wouldn’t lose his close friend who had saved him in the fight. Harry decided to keep all the laws and rules. And it made his friend happy.
One Sunday afternoon it was hot. Harry was going to swim in the river. He changed his clothes, entered his car and started. When he was coming near the crossing, suddenly he remembered something and got off at once. He began to push his car in the street. It made the policeman curious and asked. “What’s the matter with your car, sir?”
“Nothing, sir,” answered Harry.
“But why not drive it, then?”
“Because I’ve left my license at home!”
1. Charlie and Harry were both ______ before.
A. policemen B. drivers C. soldiers D. players
2. Charlie tried to stop his friend drinking because __________.
A. Harry spent much money on it B. Harry would soon be sent away
C. it hurt Harry’s heart badly D. Harry often had accidents
3. Charlie was angry with Harry because ________.
A. his friend was fined 50 pounds B. his friend hit an old woman
C. his friend broke his promise D. his friend drove carelessly
4. Harry thought that _______, so he kept the laws and rules.
A. Charlie was right B. it was bad to be fined
C. he was poor to pay the fines D. drinking was bad for his health
5. Harry had to get off his car and push it because __________.
A. something was seriously wrong with it B. he had drunk too much again
C. he was afraid to hit someone D. he was afraid to break the rules(CDCAD)
I
Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. If being 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 learn to work, run, whistle, ride a bicycle without being taught. They 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 of 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 it himself, let him work out, with the help of other children if he wants it.
If it is a matter of right answers, as it may be in maths or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. why should we teacher waste time on such work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us he can’t find the way to get the right answer and let the children learn how to measure their own understanding.
The idea that there is a lot of knowledge to be learnt at school and used for the rest of one’s life is out of date in a world as complicated and rapidly changing as ours. Anxious parents and teachers say, “But suppose they fail to learn something necessary, they will fail to get on in the world.” Don’t worry, they will go out into the world and learn it.
1. What does the writer 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 themselves.
C. By listening to explanations from skilled people.
D. By asking a great many questions.
2. Teachers should not ________.
A. give children correct answers
B. always point out children’s mistakes to them
C. allow children to judge their own work
D. encourage children to work out with the help of others
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. Children’s progress should be only measured by _______.
A. educated person B. the children themselves
C. teachers D. parents
5. The writer is afraid that when children grow up, _______.
A. they will be independent B. they’ll be skilled
C. they’ll be unable to use basic skills D. they’ll be unable to think for themselves(BBDBC)
J
LEEDS, England-A Leeds University psychology(心理学) professor is teaching a course to help dozens of Britons forgive their enemies.
“The hatred(痛恨) we hold within us is a cancer,” Professor Ken Hart said, adding that holding in anger can lead to problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
More than 70 people have become members in Hart’s first 20-week workshop in London ---a course he says is the first of its kind in the world.
“These are people who are sick and tired of living with the memory. They realize their bitterness(痛楚) is a poison they think they can pour out, but they end up drinking it themselves, ” said Canadian-born Hart.
The students meet in groups of eight to ten for a two-hour workshop with a visit to an adviser every fortnight.
The course, ending in July, is expected to get rid of the cancer of hate in these people.
“People have lots of negative(否定) attitudes(态度) towards forgiveness,” he said. “People confuse(使混乱) forgiveness with forgetting.”
Hart and his team have created instructions to provide the training needed.
“The main idea is to give you guidelines on how to look at various angers and how they affect you, and how to change your attitude toward the person you are angry with,” said Norman Claring-bull, a senior expert on the forgiveness project.
Hart said he believes forgiveness is a skill that can be taught, as these people “want to get free from the past”.
1. The author wrote this passage in order to ______.
A. persuade us to go to Hart’s workshop
B. tell us the news about Hart’s workshop
C. tell us how to run a workshop like Hart’s
D. help us to look at different angers
2. From the passage we can find that ________.
A. high blood pressure and heart disease are caused by hatred
B. high blood pressure can only be cured by psychology professors
C. without hared, people have less trouble connected with blood and heart
D people who suffer from blood pressure and heart disease must have many enemies
3. If you are angry with someone, you should _______.
A. try your best to defeat him or her
B. never meet him or her again
C. persuade him or her to have a talk with you
D. try to forgive and relax yourself by not thinking of it any more
4. In Hart’s first 20-week workshop, people there can ________.
A. meet their enemies B. change their minds
C. enjoy the professor’s speech D. learn how to quarrel with others
5. If you are a member in Hart’s workshop, you’ll have to _________.
A. pay much money to Hart B. go to the workshop every night
C. attend a gathering twice a month D. pour out everything stored in your mind
(BCDBC)
K
On April 3,1974,a tornado hit Xenia, Ohio. It came at four forty in the afternoon. Of the 26,500 people in Xenia,32 were killed. One thousand more were hurt. Twelve hundred homes were destroyed and 1,400 more houses were badly damaged(毁坏).Besides this,184 stores and other businesses were destroyed or badly damaged.
At first, all that the people, who had lost loved ones, homes, or businesses, could do was to weep(哭泣).some wanted to leave Xenia. But in a few days, they went to work. The government sent in trucks. Hundreds of piles of stones were removed.
The fighting spirit and the will to win took hold of everyone.The people would not let Xenia die. They decided not to go away. Instead, they decided to rebuild Xenia so that it would do better than before. They made a plan for the new town.
1. Where do you think Ohio lies?
A. In England B. In France
C. In America D. In Canada
2. The people would not let Xenia die because they ____________.
A. loved their government
B. loved their own home town and tornado
C. wanted to leave Xenia
D. were inspired by the will to win
3. What do you think the people made a good plan for?
A. Rebuilding the town. B. The new way of life.
C. The new town destroyed. D. The old way of life.
4. Which of the following is the main idea of the passage?
A. Of the 26,500 people thirty-three were killed.
B. 1,400 more houses were badly damaged.
C. To rebuild a destroyed town.
D. Twelve hundred homes were destroyed.
5. What do you think the word "tornado" in the first line means?
A. 战争 B. 炸弹 C. 龙卷风 D. 洪水(DDACC)
L
When a tornado destroys a house, it doesn't blow it down the way a hurricane does. It makes the house explode.
Why does the house explode?
The air that surrounds a house presses against it all the time. It usually has a force about fifteen pounds per square inch. The air inside the house presses out against the wall just as hard.
When a tornado passes over a house, it suddenly takes away the air outside the house. The air inside the house still pushes out against the walls, but now there is nothing pushing back. So the walls are pushed out in an explosion.
Pieces of the house are sucked up into the tornado and carried away. There's little left where the house once stood.
1. When a house is hit by a tornado it explodes __________.
A. outward B. inward C. upward D. downward
2. The walls of a house stay up when ________.
A. air pushes from outside B. air pushes from inside
C. there is no pressure outside D. both A and B
3. The air pressure(压力) outside the house is usually _______.
A. greater than the pressure inside B. the same as the pressure inside
C. less than the pressure inside D. a different kind of pressure
4. The tornado destroys a house by ___________.
A. sucking away the air outside B. taking away the air inside
C. making the house full of air D. pressing the wall from outside
5. A house destroyed by a tornado would look ___________.
A.as a hurricane had hit it
B. as if there had been a fire
C. as if it had been stolen by a lot of thieves
D. none of the above (ADBAD)
L
It is important to know tomorrow’s weather. If we know a storm is coming, we can save lives and property(财产). A few years ago large storms left many people without homes. In some places, a lot of rain fell at one time and caused floods. Weathermen predicted(预报) these storms, and people left their homes in time. Years ago, storms killed larger numbers of people than now.
The weather is important to many people. Pilots have to know whether they can fly their planes around bad weather. Farmers have to know if there is going to be a storm, dry or cold weather. Fishermen have to know if they can take their boats out on the ocean.
Good weather for some people is bad weather for others. A lot of snow makes skiers(滑雪者) happy. But a lot of snow and ice cause problems for bus drivers, and travelers. Everybody likes sunny days, but farmers like summer rain for their crops.
Today weather forecasters use planes and satellites to check the weather. The satellite takes pictures of the earth and its clouds. Weather forecasters study the pictures and predict the weather.
1. The main idea of this passage is that .
A.storms can kill lives and destroy property
B.large storms left many people without homes
C.thanks to weather forecast people could leave their homes in time
C.our life needs weather forecast
2. The writer gave the following examples to show how important the weather is. Which of them is not mentioned?
A.Pupils needn’t go to school if there is a storm.
B.Farmers can know what to do around bad weather.
C.Fishermen won’t go to sea if they know bad weather.
D.Pilots need to know the weather before flying.
3. Which of the following statements is not true?
A.Different people like different weather. B.Different people like the same weather.
C.Farmers prefer summer rain to sunny days.D.Drivers dislike too much snow.
4. In the past, as there was no weather forecast or the forecast was wrong, .
A.few travelers dared to leave their houses
B.large storms often happened
C.a lot of rain caused floods
D.the number of the killed people was larger than now
5. In the last paragraph the writer tried to make us believe that the present weather forecast is than ever before.
A. more necessary B. more important C. more correct D.more seful(DABDC)
M
The journey two naval(海军的) officers made some time ago to the very deepest point on the earth makes us realize how much of the world still remains to be explored(探索). The two men went down seven miles to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean inside a small ball called a “bathyscaphe” to find out if there are any ocean currents(洋流) or signs of life.
It was necessary to set out early, so that the bathyscaphe would come to the surface in daylight, and so be easily found by the mother ship which would be waiting for it. The divers began preparations at dawn and soon afterwards, when all was ready, the steel ball disappeared under the surface of the water.
In time, the temperature dropped to freezing point and the men trembled(抖) inside the ball. They kept in touch with the mother ship by telephone describing how felt. Then, at a depth of 3,000 feet, the telephone stopped working and they were quite cut off from the outside world. At 30,000 feet, the men were surprised by a sudden, loud noise: even the smallest hole in the ball would have meant instant death. Luckily, though, it was only one of the outer windows that had broken. Soon afterwards, the bathyscaphe touched the soft ocean floor raising a big cloud of “dust” made up of different kinds of small, dead sea animals. Here, powerful lights lit up the dark water and the men were surprised to see fish swimming just above them quite untroubled by the very large water pressure. But they did not dare to leave the lights on for long, as the heat from them made the water boil. Quite unexpectedly, the telephone began working again and the weak but clear voices of the officers were heard on the mother ship. After a stay of thirty minutes the men began their journey up, arriving there hours later, cold and wet through, but none the worse for their experience.
1. The officers started their journey at dawn .
A.because they wanted to return to the mother ship in twenty-four hours
B.because the sea then was calm
C.when the sun was not too strong
D.so that they could return before dark
2. What did the officers find out at the bottom of the sea?
A.They only found different dead sea animals.
B.They did find signs of life.
C.There were no signs of any life.
D.There was only bust.
3. At feet, the telephone stopped working.
A. 30,000 B. 3,000 C. 33,000 D. 27,000
4. The journey to the bottom of the sea helped us to realize that .
A.much of the world hasn’t yet been explored
B.there are not any signs of life at the bottom of the sea
C.strong water pressure has a great effect on fish
D.powerful lights can not be turned on at the ocean
5. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “They were cold and wet through, but none the worse for their experience.”?
A.They were cold and wet through, which was the worst thing of all.
B.They were even worse than cold and wet through at the bottom of the sea.
C.Considering what they had just experienced, being cold and wet through was not too bad.
D.For such an experience, being cold and wet through was not bad for them at all.(DDBAB)
N
Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was travelling in France. Once he was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when they came to Dijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper ."I'll strongly protest(抗议) when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor." But do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway."
Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train was in Paris already. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up at Dijon. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him." I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said.
The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train at Dijon," he said loudly.
1. Mark Twain couldn't wake up himself because ________.
A. he was so busy B. he was very tired
C. he was a writer D. he was so heavy a sleeper
2. Mark Twain told the conductor __________.
A. it was difficult to wake him up when he fell asleep
B. he was too heavy to be woken up
C. he was too strong to take any notice
D. he should be helped as he had something heavy with him
3. Mark Twain wanted to go to _________.
A. France B. Paris C. Dijon D. America
4. Why did Mark Twain get so angry?
A. Because the conductor had put someone else off the train.
B. Because the conductor had forgotten to put him off in Paris.
C. Because the conductor had forgotten to wake him up at Dijon.
D. Because Mark Twain had not had enough sleep. (DACC)
O
For a long time people who fish have had to rely on luck to catch fish. Even big fishing ships, fitted with radar and modern equipment, have their share of bad days. Wouldn't it be nice if fish could be trained to come at the call of a whistle the way some dogs do?
Well, the days of "fish whistle" may be just around the corner. Japanese companies are working methods that will train fish to return to harvest areas at the sound of an underwater whistle.
The method works like this: First, fish eggs are hatched in a laboratory. Whenever feeding time arrives, a whistle sounds. The young fish learn to return to their feeding areas at the sound of whistle.
Later, the fish are released(放出) at sea, near specially-made underwater barns(仓库).There, the whistle-plus-feeding program continues.
Being well fed and sheltered(保护),the fish continue to "hang out" and around the "barn". So when fishing time arrives, all the harvesters need to do is to sound the whistle, drop their nets, and haul up a load of fish.
Many countries have closed their offshore fishing waters to ship from other nations. With fish whistles and barns, Japanese hopes to become less dependent on(依赖) importing fish from other countries.
1. This passage as a whole is about __________.
A. hatching fish eggs B. a new fishing method
C. sound of whistles D. feeding fish
2. While not mentioned in this passage, you can tell ________.
A. the whistle sounds all day
B. radar can always help catch a lot of fish
C. men are looking to the sea for more food
D. the days of "fish whistle" perhaps are not far away
3. Which one of these sentences is NOT true?
A. The fish are used to the whistle sound.
B. The fish live near the feeding area.
C. Young fish are trained in the laboratory.
D. Japan hopes to import more fish. (BCD)
P
"We are more than halfway now; it's only two miles farther to the small hotel," said the driver.
"I'm glad of that," answered the stranger. he meant to say more but the east wind blew clear down a man's throat if he tried to speak. The girl's voice was something quite charming(迷人),however, and presently he spoke again.
"You don't feel the cold so much at twenty below zero out in the Western country. There's none of this damp chill(冷湿),"he said, and then it seemed as if he had blamed the uncomplaining young driver. She had not even said that it was a disagreeable day, and he came to see a warm hopefulness of spirit.
"You'll have cold driving going back!" he said anxiously, and put up his hand for the twentieth time to see if his coat-collar was as close to the back of his neck as possible. He had wished a dozen times for the warm old hunting coat in which he had many a day met the worst of weather in the Northwest.
"I shall not have to go back!" shouted the girl, with eager pleasantness, "I'm on my way home now. I drove over early just to meet you at the train, we had word that someone was now coming to the small hotel."
1. From the passage we guess that the two speakers are in _________.
A. the East B. the West C. the South D. the Northwest
2. According the stranger, in the West the winters are ___________.
A. wet and cold B. wet and chill
C. warmer than the east D. dry and cold
3. The driver ________________.
A. had to return to the train station soon
B. lived in the small hotel
C. was going home after leaving the stranger at the small hotel
D. was going away on the train (ADB)
Q
"I can't wear this dress to the party," my wife said. "I wore it last year."
"It looks all right to me," I answered." You have worn it a few times."
"I know," my wife said. "but it's out of fashion. Look at the skirt. It's much too long. And look at this waist-line. It's in the wrong place."
"I thought a person's waist was always in the same place," I said.
"Not in women's fashions," my wife replied cheerfully, "Waist-lines moved up three inches this year."
"In other words," I said, "You want me to give you some money to buy a new dress."
"I am afraid so," my wife replied.
"And what will you do with this dress?" I asked.
"Oh, I'll keep it until the fashion changes again."
"Why can't women be like just men?" I asked." I'm going to wear my
evening suit to the party. Do you know how long I've been wearing
it? Twenty years! And it's still in fashion!"
1. My wife thinks she must buy a new dress _________.
A. once a month B. every two years
C. every year D. this year
2. She can't wear the old dress because ___________.
A. she has become too short for it
B. she finds it out of fashion
C. she doesn't like it
D. her waist-line is moved
3. My wife would keep the dress because ____________.
A. she knew the dress had only been worn a few times
B. she could still wear it
C. she knew it would be in fashion later on
D. she was afraid her husband would get angry
4. Men's fashion ___________.
A. doesn't change together with women's B. doesn't often change
C. changes every twenty years D. change as often as women's
5. When a dress is out of fashion, __________.
A. a woman doesn't like to wear it B. it is thrown away
C. it's waist-line is in the wrong place D. it will never be in fashion again
(DBCBA)
R
Resolute was one of five British exploring ships that became locked in the ice in the Arctic Ocean. She was left there on May 15,1854,andher captain and crew, along with the crews of all the other ships,reached England safely before the end of the year.
On September 15,1855, Captain Buddington, sailed around a southern tip of Baffin Island in the American whaler George Henry. Suddenly he came upon a ship of unusual appearance. It failed to answer or give any signals. And when he came nearer and finally boarded her, no crew was visible. Captain Buddington had discovered the Resolute, as sound as ever.
A little water had leaked into the hold, and most of the articles inside had been damaged. During the days when it was lost the Resolute had sailed two thousand miles by itself and had gained worldwide fame.
1. The word "sound" in the passage means ___________.
A. in good condition B. most of the things were broken
C. the seamen shouted for help D. the machines made a great noise
2. How many months did the Resolute sail on the sea with its crew?
A. Fourteen. B. Sixteen. C. Eighteen. D. Nineteen.
3. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Little water got into it when the Resolute was found.
B. The crew of Resolute returned to England in 1855.
C. George Henry was the name of an island in the Arctic.
D. The unusual appearance of the ship drew Buddington's attention.
4. The Resolute became famous mainly because ___________.
A. it was found after a long time
B. it floated a long way by itself
C. it was one of the exploring ships locked in the Arctic Ocean
D. no crew was seen on it at sea
5. The best title for this passage is ______________.
A. An Exploring Ship B. An Astonishing Voyage
C. A Ship Without Its Crew D. Discovery of the Resolute(ABDBB)
S
There are many songwriters, but none quite like Noralee Dahl from Torrance, California. The 55-year-old songwriter will write a song for anyone. Just give her a call, and in about thirty minutes she will play an original (最初的) song just for you over the telephone.
Noralee calls her operation “phone-a-song.” As soon as she receives a request by telephone, she starts writing. The cost is fifteen dollars a song, plus three dollars for a tape of her song.
Noralee’s songs are a blend (混合) of country and popular music. She does the singing --- which she has been doing since she was three years old --- and the guitar playing. So far, Noralee figures she has wrote about 500 songs.
1. Who does Noralee write songs for?
A.Some pop stars. B. Anyone who calls to ask for songs.
C. Those who love her songs. D. Anyone who telephones her.
2. What does the word “figures” mean?
A. numbers B. wishes C. learns D. hopes
3. The best title is _____.
A. Noralee’s phone-a-song B. Selling songs
C. Over the phone D. Songwriters and Noralee (BAA)
T
Among other buildings in a certain town, there is a house for poor people. They go there when they have no money and no where to live. It’s called a workhouse.
Oliver twist was born there. His mother, a young woman, lay ill in bed. A doctor and an old woman stood by her side.
“Let me see the child, and die,” she said.
“Oh, you must not talk about dying yet,” said the doctor.
“No, dear,” said the old woman. “You are too young to die.”
The young woman shook her head and held out her hand towards the child.
The doctor put the child in her arms. She pressed her cold white lips (嘴唇)to its face, and then fell back --- and died.
“She’s dead,” said the doctor. “Where did she come from?”
“She was brought here last night,” said the old woman. “She was lying in the street. She had walked a long way and her shoes were worn out. Nobody knows where she came from, or where was she going to.”
The doctor said “Goodbye” to the old woman and left. He went home to his dinner.
The old woman sat down on a chair in front of the fire and began to dress the baby. She dressed him in the very old clothes used for a baby born in the workhouse --- a poor child without father or mother, born into a world which had no love or pity for him.
1. People would go to the workhouse when they ________.
A. were out of work B. had no money and no place to live in
C. were very ill D. were dying
2. Before the young woman died, she _______.
A. kissed her child B. walked a long way
C. was lying in the street D. shook her head
3. What kind of life would Oliver lead?
A. A happy life B. A simple life C. A quiet life D. A terrible life(BAD)
U
How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other, and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters , which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words.
The power of the words, then, lies in their associations--- the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience, and the longer we live , the more certain words recall us the glad and sad events of our past, and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increases.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, there, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar.
1.The origin of language is_______
A a legend handed down from the past B.a matter that is hidden or secret
C a question difficult to answer D.a problem not yet solved
2.One of the reasons why men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was
that_______.
A.they could agree upon certain signs
B.they could write them down
C.they could communicate with each other
D. they could combine them
3.In expressing their thoughts, great writers are able ______
A.to confound the readers B to move men to tears
C.to move us to action D to confuse our feeling
4.Which of the following statements about the real poet is NOT true?
A.He is no more than a master of words
B.He can convey his ideas in words which sing like music
C.His style is always charming
D.His poems can move men to tear (BCDA)
V
Nanjing (Xinhua)—Suicides(自杀) are on the increase in China, but anyone who feels like taking that route(路) and who lives in Nanjing can now dial 632977 to talk about it.
China’s first-ever-suicide-prevention centre opened on July the first in the capital of EastChina’s Jiangsu Province.
Professor Zhai Zhutao, head of the centre, said, about 10 percent of the population suffer from
psychological(心理上的) troubles of various kinds, and that suicides are on the rise.
The centre offers telephone, mail and face-to-face advising services while spreading knowledge on how to prevent suicides among people and families.
China Daily
Friday, July 5, 2002
1. When did the centre open?
A. On July 1 every year.
B. On Children’s Day..
C. Three days before the news was published.
D. On the first Monday of July in 1991.
2. What do you learn about the centre?
A.It sends telephones to those who try to suicide.
B.It helps to stop suicide.
C.It writes for those who have suicided.
D.It often telephones those who live in Nanjing, advising them to prevent suicide.
3. According to the news, _______ .
A.a marked increase in suicide has happened in China.
B.Professor Zhai founded the first suicide-prevention centre in the world.
C.You’d better report to the centre on anyone’s suicide
D.Only Jiangsu Province has such a centre
4. The centre’s services will certainly work because ___________ .
A.it spreads knowledge of life-saving
B.one tenth of the people may suicide
C.many people are suffering
D.there must be some psychological explanations for suicides
5. Which is NOT true according to the article?
A.It’s important for all people and families to know how to prevent suicides.
B.It’s necessary to send those who suffer from psychological troubles to the centre.
C.Professor Zhai is in charge of the centre.
D.Professor Zhai may be a psychologist. (DBADB)
W
Betty and Harold have been married for years. But one thing still puzzles old Harold. How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa, talking, go out to a ballgame, come back three and a half hours later, and they’re still on the sofa? Talking?
“What in the world,” Harold wonders, “do they have to talk about?”
Betty shrugs(耸肩)。
“Talk? We’re friends.”
Researching this matter called friendship, psychologist Lillian Rubin spent two years interviewing more than two hundred women and men. No matter what their age, their job, their sex, the results were completely clear: women have more friendships than man, and the difference in the content(内容) and the quality(质量) of those friendships is “marked and unmistakable.”
More than two-thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend. Those who could were likely to name a woman. Yet three quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend, and almost always it was a woman. More married men than women named their wife/husband as a best friend, most trusted person, or the one they could turn to in time of emotional distress(感情危机). “Most women,” says Rubin, “identified(认定) at least one, usually more, trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment, and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives.”
“In general,” writes Rubin in her new book, “women’s friendship with each other rest on shared emotions and support, but men’s relationships are marked by shared activities.” For the most part, Rubin says, interaction(交往) between men are emotionally controlled – a good fit with the social requirements of “manly behaviour”.
“Even when a man is said to be a best friend,” Robin writes, “the two share little about their innermost(最深处) feelings. However, a woman’s female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage, it wasn’t unusual to hear a man say he didn’t know his friend’s marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on the sofa.”
1．What old Harold cannot understand or explain is the fact that ________________
A.he is treated as an outsider rather than a husband
B.women have so much to share
C.women show little interest in ballgames
D.he finds his wife difficult to talk to
2. Rubin’s study shows that for emotional support a married woman is more likely to turn to _____________
A.a male friend B. a female friend C. her parents D. her husband
3. According to the text, which type of behavior is NOT expected of a man by society?
A.Ending his marriage without good reason.
B.Spending too much time with his friends.
C.Complaining(抱怨) about his marriage trouble.
D.Going out to ballgames too often.
4. Which of the following statements(说法) is best supported by the last paragraph?
A.Men keep their innermost feelings to themselves.
B.Women are more serious than men about their marriage.
C.Men often take sudden action to end their marriage.
D.Women depend on others in making decisions.
5. The research done by psychologist Rubin centers around ________________ .
A.happy and successful marriages
B.friendships of men and women
C.emotional problems in marriage
D.interactions between men and women (BBCAB)
X
Do you always understand the directions on a bottle of medicine?
Do you know what is meant by "Take only as directed"? Read the following directions and see if you understand them.
"To reduce pain, take two tablets(药片) with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required. For night-time and early morning relief(缓解疼痛) take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.
For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount(量). For children under six years old, ask for your doctor's advice.
Reduce the amount if you suffer from restlessness or sleeplessness after taking the medicine."
1. How many tablets at most can a person over 12 have in 24 hours?
A. Three. B. Four. C. Six. D. Eight.
2. How many tablets should a nine-year old child normally take in 24 hours?
A. Half a tablet. B. One tablet.
C. Two tablets. D. Four tablets.
3. What is the advice for one who cannot sleep well after taking the medicine?
A. Stop taking the medicine quickly.
B. Continue to take the normal amount.
C. Take more than the normal amount.
D. Take less than the normal amount.
4. It can be inferred from the directions that this medicine _________.
A. helps you fall asleep quickly
B. may be dangerous to small children
C. cannot be taken if one feels sleepy
D. should not be taken by children under six
5. This text is most probably taken from a ____________.
A. textbook B. newsreel
C. doctor's notebook D. bottle of medicine (CCDBA)
Y
People faint(昏厥) when the normal blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut down. This can happen if they are surprised or shocked by sudden news or by something they see suddenly. Some people faint in crowds. Others faint if they are in a room that is hot and stuffy.
If a person faints while standing, lay him down. If his face is pale, lift his feet. If he is sitting down when he faints, place his head between his knees, loosen any tight clothes that might keep him from breathing easily. If possible, place a wet cloth on his forehead.
1. People may faint if they see something ________.
A. nice B. unexpected C. happy D. wonderful
2. If someone has fainted, we must help him _________.
A. not to be surprised B. by moving him slowly
C. not to be frightened D. by returning blood to his brain
3. If someone faints, the best way is to __________.
A. make him sit down B. make him lie down
C. make him not surprised D. give him some blood
4. Raise a fainting person's feet if __________.
A. he sees others hurt B. he is in a hot or stuffy room
C. his face looks pale D. he is standing
5. In this passage, the writer explains _________.
A. why people faint and how we can help them
B. when people faint and when we can help them
C. why people faint and where we help them
D. how people faint and why we help them (BDBCA)
Z
In today’s world, it is easy to cover long distances. Jet planes and trains are safe and fast. But less than 100 years ago, traveling was often dangerous. The railroad was the most widely used means of travel. It was also the most unsafe.
Train accidents happened very often before 1900. The tracks were in poor shape. Signal lights often didn’t work. In 1890, accidents on the railroad caused 10,000 deaths and 80,000 serious injuries. Trains were heated by open iron stoves(炉) . When a train had an accident, the stove would overturn and cause a fire.
Trains almost never ran on time, if they ran at all. A traveler usually found out that a certain would leave “sometime” . In 1888, a rider from Woodstock, Vermont, would need at least two days to get to New York City,325 miles away.
The old trains burned wood for fuel. Smoke and cinders(煤渣) blew back from the front of the train. Passengers were covered with soot(煤灰). Closing the windows didn’t help because the cars were too hot.
1. What is the best title for this selection?
A. Trains in Vermont B. Trains Before 1900
C. Accidents on Trains D. Riding on the Railroad
2. This story is mainly about ____________________-.
A. building train tracks B. going around the world
C. fuel for trains D. unsafe trains in early times
3. Two facts tell about accidents in the year ___________.
A. 1888 B. 1890 C. 1898 D. 1900 (BDB)
a
A seeing-eye dog 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 the dogs are the eyes of the blind man and help him to “see”. These dogs generally go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people.
One day a seeing-eye dog and a blind man got on a bus together. The bus was full of people and there were no seats. One man, however, got up and left his seat. The dog took the blind man to the seat. There was very little space. The dog began to push the people on each side with its nose. He pushed and pushed until the people moved down and finally there was enough space for two people.
Then the blind man sat down and the dog got up on the seat at the side of the blind man. He lay down and put his head on the legs of the blind man. He was very comfortable and soon fell asleep. Everyone on the bus had to smile at the cleverness of the dog in making space for the blind man, at the same time making space for himself.
1. A seeing-eye dog is a dog which ________.
A. is blind B. is trained by police
C. helps the blind D. has good eye-sight
2. When the blind man got on the bus with the dog, ___________.
A. all the seats had been taken
B. the passengers smiled at them
C. a man was getting off the bus
D. some of the passengers gave their seats to them
3. The passengers were ______ to the blind man and his dog.
A. angry B. pleased C. kind D. unfriendly(ADA)
b
Once upon a time there was a wise man that used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had the habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day he was walking along the shore. As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought that someone would dance on the beach. So he began to walk faster to catch up.
Ah he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn’t dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it to the ocean.
As he got closer he called out, “Good morning! What are you doing?”
The young man paused, looked up and replied, “Throwing starfish in the ocean.”
“I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?”
“The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don’t throw them in they will die!”
“But, young man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said. “ it made a difference for that one.”
There is something very special in each and every one of us. We have all been gifted with the ability to make a difference. And if we can know that gift, we will gain through the strength of our visions the power to shape the future.
We must each find our starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well,, the world will be better.
1. one day the wise man saw the young man _____.
A. dancing along the beach B. walking with a dancer
C. picking up starfish for sale D. trying to save as many starfish as possible
2. “Something very special refers to _____.
A. the gifts from friends B. the strength of making decisions
C. our own starfish D. the ability of shaping one’s own future
3. From the last two paragraphs, we can learn that ______.
A. something new and important can be realized from what the young man did
B. it was very foolish of the young man to throw starfish in the ocean
C. the young man had the ability to make a difference
D. to save the starfish is actually to save ourselves
4. The main idea of the passage is _____.
A.how and where we can write good articles
B. everyone can do something for the future
C. wise man are sometimes stupid
D. young people are wiser than old people (DDAB)
c
As she walked round the huge department store, Edith thought how difficult it was to choose a proper Christmas present for her father. She wished that he was as easy to please as her mother, who was always satisfied with a bottle of perfume(香水). Besides, shopping at this time of the year was most unpleasant experience: people stepped on your feet, and almost knocked you over in their hurry to get ahead of you.
Partly to have a rest, Edith paused in front of a counter where she saw some beautiful ties. "They are real silk, the assistant said to her, trying to persuade her to buy one. "Worth double the price." But Edith knew from past experience that her choice of ties hardly ever pleased her father.
She moved on and then stopped where a small crowd of men had gathered round a counter. She found some good quality pipes on sale---and the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitate(犹豫)for long: although her father only smoked s pipe occasionally. She knew that this was a present which was certain to please him.
When she got home, with her small well-chosen present hidden in her handbag, her parents were already at the supper table. Her mother was especially happy. "Your father has at last decided to stop smoking," she informed her daughter.
1. Edith's father ________ .
A. did not like presents B. was difficult to choose a present for
C. never got presents D. liked any kind of presents
2. The assistant spoke to Edith because she ________ .
A. seemed interested in ties B. was a beautiful girl
C. showed no interest in ties D. was in need of talk
3. Edith stayed at the next counter ________ .
A. for not a long time B. for quite some time
C. without buying anything D. and talked to the assistant
4. Edith's father smoked a pipe ________.
A. when he was allowed to B. from time to time
C. when he was pleased D. from then on
5. The present that Edith bought for her father _________.
A. proved to be valuable B. would be of no use
C. pleased her parents D. made her parents sad (BAABB)
d
As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" (DIY)trend (趋势) in the U.S. continues to grow.
"We need furniture(家具) for our living room," says John Ross," and we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs." John got married six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Roses took a 2_week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around house.
Jim Hatfield has free boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420."I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself."
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the countries are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourselfer", you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.
1. We can learn from the text that many newly married people _________.
A. find it hard to pay for what they need
B. have to learn to make their own furniture
C. take DIY courses run by the government
D. seldom go to department store to buy things
2. John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to ________.
A. run a DIY shop B. make or repair things
C. save time and money D. improve the quality of life
3. When the writer says that Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim _________.
A. makes shoes in his home B. does extra work at night
C. does his own car and home repairs D. keeps house and looks after his children
4. Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when __________.
A. his car repairs cost too much B. the car repair class was not helpful
C. he could not possibly do two jobs D. he had to raise the children all by himself
5. What would be the best title for the text?
A. The Joy of DIY B. You Can Do It Too!
C. Welcome to Our DIY Course! D. Ross and Hatfield: Believers in DIY(ABDAB)
e
On the coast of California, on top of a mountain, stands a big castle which looks as if it has been lifted out of the Middle Ages and laid on the site. In fact the castle, called San Simeon, was built for the American newspaper owner, William Randolph Hearst, but it is furnished with objects dating from different historical periods, which were moved from Europe.
It took thirty years to build the castle and even then it was never completed. Throughout this time, over a hundred workmen were always employed on the site and the architect(建筑师),Julia Morgan, was continually obliged to change the design, as often as Hearst changed his mind.
Men were sent all over Europe to find works of art to decorate(装饰) the castle. Old ceilings and fireplaces, furniture, paintings and statues were purchased and shipped to America. A large number of objects were bought but many of them could not be used and were stored in warehouse(仓库),some of them not even unpacked.
Hearst's life was used as the basis for Orson Welles's film "Citizen Kane". Kane, who was meant to stand for Hearst, built a big castle like San Simeon, but in the film it was called Xanadu, the name being taken from the name of the dream palace in a famous poem by Coleridge.
Since Hearst's death San Simeon has been turned into a tourist attraction and the possessions which lay untouched in warehouse are gradually being sold. The castle has been handed over to the American people and finally the contents will also be given to them.
1. The castle of San Simeon ________.
A. was moved from Europe
B. was furnished with works of art from Europe
C. was built by William Randolph Hearst
D. was returned to people in Europe
2. It took a long time to build the castle because _______.
A. only a hundred workmen were employed on it.
B. it was badly designed
C. Julia Morgan wanted to change his designs
D. the owner did not know what he wanted
3. A large number of works of art bought for the castle were not used because ________.
A. Hearst did not like them B. there was not enough room for them
C. they were stored in warehouses D. the workmen did not wanted to work on them
4. The castle in "Citizen Kane" was called Xanadu because ________.
A. Orson Welles thought it was a good name
B. he didn't want people to know he was referring to San Simeon
C. Hearst's idea of building the castle reminded him of a poem
D. Coleridge was the film director.
5. The contents of San Simeon ________.
A. still belong to Hearst's family B. now belong to the American people
C. are kept in warehouses D. have been sold out
6. The underlined word in this passage most probably means _______.
A. bought B. sold C. exchanged D. borrowed(BDBCAA)
f
Valparaiso is the most important port on the Pacific coast of South America and is the home port of many fishing boats.
Valparaiso is in a beautiful natural place. The city is in three parts: the port, with old buildings and narrow, crowded streets; the Almendral, the business part of the city, which is on the coast; and Los Cerros, the place where most people live, high up in the hills behind the coast line. Lifts and railways carry passengers to their houses.
Valparaiso has warm weather all the year round and is a holiday city, especially Vina del Mar, four miles from the city, where there are many beautiful parks.
Valparaiso was discovered about 1536 by the Spanish(西班牙人).It has fought many wars with German and English sailors during its early years. It has suffered from earthquakes and was almost destroyed in 1906 and many lives were lost in 1965.Each time the city has been built again quickly.
1. Where do most people go if they are taking a holiday in Valparaiso?
A. The coast. B. Los Cerros. C. Almendral. D. Vina del Mar.
2. Where would you find most of the banks in Valparaiso?
A. On the coast B. Near the parks
C. At the port D. In the hills
3. From the text, what do you think provides the most income for Valparaiso?
A. The business centre B. The holiday industry
C. The port and fishing D. The parks and railways
4. Why did the people of Valparaiso have to build parts of the city again?
A. Because they fought a war with the English and Germans.
B. Because earthquakes knocked down many of the buildings.
C. Because the city has been separated into three parts.
D. Because the buildings were old and the roads were too narrow.(DACB)