Passage seven(Stricter Traffic Law can Prevent Accidents)
From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once fatal illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and surgery. It is almost certain that one day remedies will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the incredible slaughter of men, women and children on the roads. Man versus the motor-car ! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They swear, they are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-years-olds and utterly selfish. All their hidden frustrations, disappointments and jealousies seem to be brought to the surface by the act of driving.
The surprising thing is that society smiles so benignly on the motorist and seems to condone his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable because of heavy tragic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is desecrated by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.
It is high time a world code were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are notoriously lax and even the strictest are not strict enough. A code which was universally accepted could only have a dramatically beneficial effect on the accident rate. Here are a few examples of some the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through stringent annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can impair a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be mad much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be imposed on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications for manufacturers, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound inordinately harsh. But surely nothing should be considered as to severe if tit results in reducing the annual toll of human life. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars.
1.The main idea of this passage is
A.Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists.
B.Thousands of people the world over are killed each year.
C.The laws of some countries about driving are too lax.
D.Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.
2.What does the author think of society toward motorists?
A.Society smiles on the motorists.
B.Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns.
C.Victims of accidents are nothing.
D.Society condones their rude driving.
3.Why does the author say:’ his car becomes the extension of his personality?’
A.Driving can show his real self.
B.Driving can show the other part of his personality.
C.Driving can bring out his character.
D.His car embodies his temper.
4.Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?
A.Build more highways.
B.Stricter driving tests.
C.Test drivers every three years.
D.raise age limit and lay down safety specifications.
5.The attitude of the author is
A.ironical B.critical C.appealing D.militant
C
Do you want to improve the way you study? Do you feel nervous before a test? Many students say that a lack of concentration (注意力) is their biggest problem. It seriously affects their ability to study, so do their test results.
If so, use these tips to help you.
Study Techniques
You should always study in the same place. You shouldn’t sit in a position that you use for
another purpose. For example, when you sit on a sofa to study, your brain will think it is time to relax. Don’t watch TV while you are studying. Experts warn that your concentration may be reduced by 50 percent if you attempt to study in this way. Always try to have a white wall in front of you, so there is nothing to distract (make less concentrated) you. Before sitting down to study, gather together all the equipment you need. Apart from your textbooks, pens, pencils and knives, make sure you have a dictionary. If your study desk or table is needed when you are not studying, store all your equipment in a box beside it .
Your eyes will become tired if you try to read a text which is on a flat surface. Position your
book at an angle of 30 degrees.
Be realistic and don’t try to complete too much in one study period. Finish one thing before
beginning another. If you need a break, get up and walk around for a few minutes, but try not to telephone a friend or have something to eat.
Test-taking Skills
All your hard work will be for nothing if you are too nervous to take your test. Getting plenty
of rest is very important. This means do not study all night before your test! It is a better idea to have a long-term study plan. Try to make a timetable for your study which lasts for a few months.
Exercise is a great way to reduce pressure. Doing some form of exercise every day will also
improve your concentration. Eat healthy food too.
When you arrive in the examination room, find your seat and sit down. Breathe slowly and
deeply. Check the time on the clock during the test, but not too often. Above all, take no notice of everyone else and give the test paper your undivided attention.
54. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. You should study in a different place every day, so you don’t get bored.
B. Your concentration will improve if you study and watch TV at the same time.
C. Check the time during the exam at a certain time.
D. Staying up all night and studying is tiring, but you will learn a lot using this method.
55. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in the 3rd paragraph?
A. Your study desk or table. B. Your textbook.
C. Your dictionary. D. The equipment you need.
56. What can be inferred from the passage?
A. You shouldn’t look at everyone else during the test.
B. You will have enough energy to deal with your study and exams by eating healthy diet.
C. You’ll concentrate more if there is nothing to distract you.
D. If you feel tired during study, you can walk around for a few minutes.
B
There are many best –selling authors in Europe and one of them is a 15-year –old girl from Paris. She is Flavia Bujor. Flavia is selling more books than people three times her age.
She started writing her novel at the age of 12. At 14, she had her book published. Her best-seller is called The Prophecy of Stones (<<石头的预言>>). The Prophecy of Stones is a story about a girl in hospital. In the story, the girl imagine another world and in that world three heroines work together to save their land with magical stones. So far, the book has sold 20,000 copies in France and Italy and 30,000 in Germany! Flavia Bujor says that “writing is my passion(最爱)”, but she still enjoys being 15. She takes piano lessons and likes hanging out with friends. The French girl plans to spend her money on her college education,
50.The Prophecy of Stones tells about things happening in _______________.
A. our real world B. an imaginary world C. the outer space D. both A and B.
51.The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means ______________.
A. She likes to do things people of her age do
B. She feels happy to be a 15- year –old best –selling author.
C. She does not wish to grow up.
D. She thinks15 is the best age for her as an author
52.What may be the best title for the article?
A. The Prophecy of Stones attracts most attention.
B. A 15-year –old girl becomes best-selling author.
C. Good school girl and best – selling author
D. Young author has more readers.
53.This passage probably appears _____________.
A. in a story book B. in a textbook
C. in a newspaper D. in a fashion magazine
五．阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
A
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible(有责任感的) citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地). On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.
46. Which of the following is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
A. Parents bring up children.
B. Parents give love and care to children.
C. Parents educate children to be good persons.
D. Parents pass away before children grow up.
47. What do you think “florists” do?
A. They sell flowers.
B. They make and sell bread.
C. They offer enough room for having family parties.
D. They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
48. What do you know from the passage?
A. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May.
B. Fewer women worked outside the home in the past.
C. Not all the children respect their parents.
D. Fathers are not as important as mothers at home.
49. On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, .
A. people usually have family parties B. everyone goes to visit the cemetery
C. children always go to parents’ home D. hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts
E
In New York, there is now a school with no daily lessons, no class teachers, not even a school building. The “school” is a project. It is called “City-as-School” and the name means just that, the city itself is the place where 350 students, between the age of 15 and 18, learn their lessons.
Students choose areas of work which interest them and then they help to do that work. For instance, one girl spends her week in the offices of a Congresswoman — an elected official — helping the public with problems such as pensions（养老金），housing, etc. Then she goes to help in a theatre for a day and she spends one day a week taking first-year courses at college.
City-as-School is 30 years old. The education system in New York accepts it now, as an alternative to final years at school. But can it replace ordinary lessons? Well, students have to pass maths and science exams before they enter the “school”. These subjects are not easy to provide for in “ City-as-School”. Teachers monitor the progress of the students. 80 to 85% of the students go to college (or university, as it is called in Britain) after their time at “City-as-School”. The success rate is high. And the students are enthusiastic about their “school”. They like the responsibility of their work, and the sense of purpose it gives them.
When the students leave “City-as-School”, they don’t have a normal academic education; but they do know a lot about different kinds of work in the city!
53. “City-as-School” is special because it is ________.
A. in New York, one of the most famous cities in the world
B. not a common school we usually see and know
C. a school having special students
D. free of charge for the citizens
54. What do the teachers at “City-as-School” do?
A. To monitor the progress of the students.
B. To give lessons to the students.
C. To evaluate the students’ performance.
D. To protect the students.
55. What is the author’s attitude to “City-as-School”?
A. Agreeable. B. Doubtful. C. Neutral (中立的). D. Disagreeable.
D
If you are in town in a western country, you will often see people walking with their dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful animal in the world, but the reason why one keeps a dog has changed. Once upon a time, a man met a dog and wanted it to help him in the fight against other animals，and he found that the dog listened to him and did what he told it to. Later people used dogs for the hunting of other animals, and the dogs didn't eat what they got until their masters agreed, so dogs were used for driving sheep and guarding chickens. But now the people in the towns and cities do not need dogs to hunt other animals. Of course they keep them to frighten thieves, but the most important reason is that people feel lonely in the city. For a child, a dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For a young wife, a dog is her child when she doesn't have her own. For old people, a dog is also a child when their real children have grown up and left. Now people do not have to use a dog but they keep it as a friend, just like a member of the family.
49. In town in a western country, dogs are often seen to ________.
A. walk with hunters B. walk with their masters
C. fight against other animals D. play with other animals
50. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. People used to keep dogs to protect their house birds.
B. Dogs were used to hunt other animals.
C. Dogs will eat what they've got.
D. Dogs can perhaps drive thieves away.
51. The main reason why people in towns and cities raise dogs now is that ________.
A. they want dogs to frighten thieves for them
B. they use dogs for the hunting of other animals
C. they train dogs to drive sheep
D. they want to keep the dogs as friendly members of their families
52. The sentence "Now people do not have to use a dog" means ________.
A. a dog is not as useful as it was before
B. that it isn't necessary for people to use dogs to serve them
C. it isn't necessary for people to keep dogs any longer
D. people don't feel lonely now