America is growing older. Fifty years ago, only 4 out of every 100 people in the United States were 65 or older. Today, 10 out of every 100 Americans are over 65. The aging of the population will affect American society in many ways — education, medicine, and business. Quietly, the aging of America has made us a very different society — one in which people have a quite different idea of what kind of behavior is suitable at various ages.
A person’s age no longer tells you anything about his/ her social position, marriage or health. There’s no longer a particular year in which one goes to school or goes to work or gets married or starts a family. The social clock that kept us on time and told us when to go to school, get a job, or stop working isn’t as strong as it used to be. It doesn’t surprise us to hear of a 29-year-old university president or a 35-year-old grandmother, or a 70-year-old man who has become a father for the first time. Public ideas are changing.
Many people say, “I am much younger than my mother or my father was at my age.” No one says “Act your age” any more. We’ve stopped looking with surprise at older people who act in youthful ways.
1. It can be learned from the text that the aging of the population in America ________.
A. has made people feel younger B. has changed people’s social position
C. has changed people’s understanding of age D. has slowed down the country’s social development
2. The underlined word “one” refers to ________.
A. a society B. America C. a place D. population
3. “Act your age” means people should ________.
A. be active when they are old B. do the right thing at the right age
C. show respect to their parents young or old D. take more physical exercises suitable to their age
4. If a’ 25-year-old man becomes general manager of a big firm, the writer of the text would most probably consider it _________.
A. normal B. wonderful C. unbelievable D. unreasonable
E
Just days after the January 4 premiere (首映) of Hollywood blockbuster Avatar in China, the box offices across the country had gone beyond 100 million yuan (around $14.7 million), thanks to the enthusiasm of huge number of Chinese movie fans. China Film Group Corp. Estimates are that the total box office may finally reach 500 million yuan.
Though almost every movie theater in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai gives Avatar top billing（最优先的档期）, with as many as 20 show times a day, Chinese audience still find it tough to get a ticket. In Beijing, the Wanda Movie Theater in Shijingshan, the first IMAX theater in Asia, is the first choice for Avatar moviegoers. The theater shows the 3D IMAX version of Avatar five times a day, and tickets are generally sold out a day in advance.
In Shanghai, to get an IMAX ticket for Avatar can mean waiting in freezing weather all night for a show three days later. Shanghai local media reported that on Friday, around 500 people were queuing for tickets at 8 a.m. in front of the downtown Peace Cinema, including some who had waited for 12 hours. Movie fans came equipped with quilts, wooden stools and snacks, in a scene reminding of that at train ticket windows before the New Year, when huge numbers of Chinese travel to be with family.
For the 3D version of Avatar, ticket prices varied for different theaters and time slots(场次), ranging from 60 yuan to 120 yuan. Meanwhile, illegal tickets traders asked as much as 600 yuan for the IMAX version in Shanghai. The Peace Cinema is planning to raise the ticket price for the IMAX version to as much as 200 yuan from the current 150 yuan from Jan. 14 for some time slots.
A report by the People's Daily owes the difficulty in getting tickets partly to the lack of 3D screens in China. There are only 11 IMAX commercial theaters in nine cities across China. Because of this, people are traveling long distances to see the movie. In southern China, the IMAX-equipped Dongguan Wanda theater has seen a huge coming of people from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Wednesday afternoon, due to a technical breakdown of the system, the movie was stopped for an hour, and the sound didn't come together with the picture. In the end, the general manager of the theater had to beg forgiveness on his knees twice to lessen the angry audience who drove a long way to see the movie. The theater had to pay back each audience member the full ticket price as well as 200 yuan for traffic expenses.
The world-wide gross（总收入） for "Avatar" is now at $1.335 billion, second only to the $1.843 billion pulled in by "Titanic," another film directed by Cameron. But how long will 'Avatar' manage to hold its death grip around the number one spot?
57. The behavior of movie fans in Shanghai shows that __________.
| A. the time slots of the film are not enough |
| B. people are too enthusiastic about the film Avatar |
| C. Chinese seldom have chances to enjoy Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar |
| D. the tickets for the film are harder to get than train tickets before the New Year |
58. Chinese audience still find it difficult to get a ticket for Avatar because __________.
| A. the weather is freezing and the queue is too long |
| B. the cinemas have raised the ticket price for Avatar |
| C. not many 3D screens are available in China |
| D. there are many illegal tickets traders in different cities |
59. From“how long will 'Avatar' manage to hold its death grip around the number one spot?”in the last Paragraph, we learn that the writer __________.
| A. thinks the film is sure to hold the number one spot |
| B. questions the truth of the number one spot of the film |
| C. concludes that the film Avatar is not better than Titanic |
| D. doubts whether the film can keep its popularity with the people |
60. The best title of the passage should be __________.
| A. Hollywood Blockbuster Avatar Hitting China |
| B. Chinese People Kneeling Down for a Film |
| C. Lack of IMAX Theaters in China |
| D. Difficulty in Seeing Avatar in China |
D
Wouldn't it be great if you could just look up at the sky and read the weather forecast right away?
Well, you CAN. The forecast is written in clouds. If you can read that writing, you can tell something about the atmosphere. With some practice, you can become a pretty good weather forecaster. Who knows, you might even do as well as meteorologists (气象学家).
Meteorologists use much more information than just the appearance of the clouds to make their forecast. They collect data from all over the world. Then they put it into powerful, high-speed computers.
This does give meteorologists an advantage, because they can track weather patterns as they move from west to east across the country.
But you have an advantage, too. You have your brains. You can look at the sky and get your data directly. A meteorologist uses a computer forecast that’s several hours old to make a local forecast.
What are you seeing when you look at a cloud? “A picture of what moisture (水气) is doing in the atmosphere,”says meteorologist Peter Leavit. There’s moisture throughout the atmosphere. Most of the time you don't see it, because it's in the form of an invisible gas called water vapor.
Sometimes, the temperature of the air gets cold enough to cause the water vapor to change to liquid water. That’s called condensation, and we see it happen all the time, for example, when humid air from the shower hits the cold glass of a mirror. When enough water vapor condenses, droplets form in the air. These droplets scatter light. A cloud is seen.
Watching clouds over a day or two tells you a lot more than a single cloud about the weather to come. Changes in clouds show changes in the atmosphere.
You should begin to notice patterns. Certain clouds, fol1owing each other in order, can signal an approaching storm. But don’t take our word for it; see for yourself.
53. According to the passage, ordinary people can tell the weather because __________.
| A. they can look up at the sky |
B. they can read weather writings |
| C. information is stored in computers |
D. clouds signal the weather to come |
54. Your advantage in weather forecast is that __________.
| A. you can keep weather patterns in mind. |
| B. you have more powerful computers at home |
| C. your brain works as well as a high-speed computer |
| D. meteorologists give their data to you as soon as they get them |
55. A cloud is formed when __________.
| A. there are droplets in the air |
B. light is scattered |
| C. moisture exists in the form of invisible gas |
D. water vapor changes to liquid water |
56. This passage mainly tells us about how__________.
| A. to become a weather forecaster |
B. to collect data directly |
| C. to be an assistant to a meteorologist |
D. to keep an eye on the weather |
C
Jiang Nan, a full-time mother in Beijing, keeps a dozen or so cloth bags at home, carefully selecting one or two before heading out to get groceries. “Most of them were giveaways from advertising marketing campaigns, but
others had been handed out in the street by various environmental protection organizations,” she explained.
Since June 2008 China has forbidden the production,
sale and usage of plastic bags thinner than 0.025 millimeter (毫米), and retailers(零售商) are not allowed to provide free plastic bags to their customers, regardless of the thickness.
Many Chinese consumers like Jiang have learned to refuse plastic bags whenever possible in their shopping. “A plastic bag may only cost a few jiao, but it’s more about how bad they are for the environment,” Jiang said.
The plastic ban is for the most part well carried out in big cities, and has been distinctly effective in reducing white waste. On the first anniversary of the plastic ban Global Village of Beijing, an NGO environmental organization, shows that during the year of the ban the consumption of plastic bags fell by about 40 billion pieces in chain supermarkets alone, saving more than 1.2 million tons of petroleum.
However, enforcement shows considerably less muscle in smaller cities, towns and country-
side. In a remote town like Lichuan, the awareness of environmental protection is not as strong as that in big cities. Street vendors(街头小贩) worry that they are likely to lose customers if they charge them for plastic bags. Seeing no significance in the issue, local government often turn a blind eye to banned bag traffic in the market.
There are still those who don’t have an interest in living green. Cui Lin, another Beijinger, often forgets to bring a cloth bag when shopping, and has to buy plastic bags. “Anyway I think plastic bags are neater and cleaner, and I don’t mind paying a couple more jiao,” he shrugged.
Mrs Yu, a vegetable vendor in Lichuan County, Jiangxi Province, recalled that before plastic bags became popular in the early 1990s, Chinese people always carried a bamboo basket when they visited the market. “Plastic bags are more convenient,” she comments, and her view might be that of the tens of millions of people in the nation who still cling to plastic bags, paid or free. This is suggested by her trade where piles of plastic bags are still passed out every day.
49. In Paragraph 1, the writer uses Jiang Nan’s case to __________.
| A. introduce a topic |
B. tell a story |
| C. describe a person |
D. offer an argument |
How did Jiang Nan get her cloth bags?
| A. She bought them at a low price. C. She borrowed them from her relatives. |
B. She got them for free. D. She made them herself. |
51. Which is NOT the reason why some people still use plastic bags when shopping?
| A. Cloth bags are difficult to get and heavy to carry. |
| B. People’s awareness of environmental protection is not strong enough. |
| C. People don’t mind paying a couple more jiao for plastic bags. |
| D. Street vendors worry that they are likely to lose customers if they charge them. |
52. What message does the writer mostly convey in the passage?
| A. To reduce white waste is urgent. |
| B. The plastic bag ban has achieved great success. |
| C. There is still a long way to go for the plastic bag ban. |
| D. People’s awareness of environmental protection should be stressed. |
B
Below is a web page from http://www.tvguide.com/.
Tonight’s TV Hot List: Sunday January 31, 2010
Grammy Awards 8/7c CBS
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are ready to take home a lot of hardware tonight as they lead all artists with 10 and eight nominations. The ladies also perform, along with fellow Album of the Year nominees the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and the Dave Matthews Band. In addition, Bon Jovi, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Maxwell, Pink and Zac Brown Band will also take the stage. But perhaps the most expected moment is the Michael Jackson tribute(吊唁礼物), which features the 3-D mini-movie "Earth Song" and will be highlighted by performers Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood and Usher.
Maurer 9/8c NBC
A mysterious company named Sabre, headed by an attractive, stubborn CEO (Kathy Bates), appears out of nowhere and buys out Dunder Mifflin. As Michael is unwilling to follow Sabre's new policies, Andy and Erin write a welcome song to greet the company. Meanwhile, Pam and Jim hope to get accepted into a desired local day-care center.
Surviving Survivor 8/7c CBS
It 's hard to believe it's been 10 years since the first season of Survivor. But tonight ten of the game's most iconic players, including previous winners Richard Hatch, Parvati Shallow and Tom Westman, discuss the series in detail and provide insights into how the game is actually played and the impact it's had on their lives. In addition, updates on beloved former castaways, like Ethan Zohn, Rupert Boneham and Elisabeth Hasselbeck, are given.
Private Practice 10:01/9:01c ABC
So Maya's pregnant and wants to have the baby. What to do now? Dink (Stephen Lunsford), the boy who did his part to get her into this mess, has a solution: He wants to marry her. You can imagine how Sam and Naomi will feel about that. And if that won't raise the histrionic level enough for you, how about this: A couple has two dying daughters, and only one can be saved. Their choice. And Brian Benben is back, so expect more Pete-Violet- Sheldon angst.
45. Edna is crazy about pop stars, so she will most likely choose __________ to enjoy.
| A. Grammy Awards |
B. Maurer |
C. Surviving Survivor |
D. Private Practice |
46. From the passage, we can learn that Dunder Mifflin is __________.
| A. a CEO |
B. a company |
| C. an employee in the company |
D. a piece of office equipment |
47. According to the passage, Surviving Survivor is most probably __________.
| A. a musical play |
B. a game show |
C. a love story |
D. a cultural documentary |
48.The above programs __________.
| A. are loved by all viewers |
B. are on the top list for the week |
| C. are broadcast on the same channel |
D. are accessible on the same night |
第二部分：阅读理解（共25小题，每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节：阅读下列短文，然后从所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。
A
The best Mother’s Day gift I ever received was a magnolia(木兰)tree. At first, it was a tired little thing, but it was mine, and I know I would treasure it.
Magnolia trees were my mother’s favorite. We had one in the front yard of our house when I was growing up. I can still remember Mom’s pleasure upon seeing the buds. “Oh, look,” she’d cry out every year, “the magnolia tree is going to bloom(开花)—just in time for my birthday.” And sure enough, on April 19, her birthday, the graceful pink-and-white flowers would be all over the branches, announcing the arrival of spring.
Back then, I didn’t find the blooming of a tree to be an event worthy of celebration. A new toy, a pretty dress or a trip to the amusement park—those were exciting. But my mother had a way of appreciating the smallest things as wonders. A baby’s smile, or a call from an old friend filled her with happiness.
On the first Mother’s Day following her death six years ago, I wasn’t sure how I’d manage. Reminders of my mother’s absence seemed to be everywhere.
That Sunday morning I awoke to a quiet house, with warm sun streaming through the windows. I wondered where my husband had gone with our two daughters, Kira,4, and Sophie, 9 months. As I was relaxing in bed, enjoying the peace, Kira suddenly burst through the bedroom door.
“Look outside, Mommy!” she ordered. There, in the yard, David was digging a hole. Next to him was a little tree whose roots were wrapped.
“It’s a magnolia tree,” Kira said, though I didn’t need to be told. I raised the window and called out to David. “Happy Mother’s Day!” he said.
It was. Although I didn’t have my mother any longer, I had her tree, and each year since, I’ve had her enthusiasm(激情). Now when we pull up to our house on a bright spring day, I say to my daughters, “Oh look! The magnolia’s about to bloom.” And when it does, we admire its beauty and use it as a chance to talk about my mother and her love for flowers.
What time does the magnolia bloom according to the passage?
| A. In spring. |
B. In summer. |
| C. During the writer’s birthday. |
D. Around Mother’s Day. |
42. What impresses the writer most about her mother was __________.
| A. her care of children |
B. her love for flowers |
| C. her devotion to family |
D. her appreciation of life |
43. By saying “I had her tree” (Paragraph 8), the writer most probably implies that _______.
| A. the magnolia tree was just her mother’s favorite |
| B. she owned the same kind of tree as her mother once had |
| C. the same kind of tree could often remind her of her mother |
| D. the tree could take the place of her mother in her memory |
44. The writer’s purpose in writing the passage is to __________.
| A. describe her happy family life |
B. recall her childhood experiences |
| C. show how she loves magnolia trees |
D. express her love for her dead mother |