E
Devon, 17, is used to paying her own cell phone and car expenses. But lately it's been harder. The family she baby-sits for hasn’t been calling as much as usual and she couldn't find a job over the summer. Devon's dad said it's a sign of the tough economy. He told her he's feeling the pinch too and that he had to use her college fund to pay the loan(货款).
This kind of money troubles isn't strange to common families these days. In fact, it's hard to avoid news about the economy on the screen of the TV or the computers recently. It can seem a bit worry and some families are hit really hard.
For most people, the big problem is that things cost more at a time when they have less money to spend. But higher prices aren't the only problem. Many people are having a tough time making payments on some types of home loans.
Therefore, some families are cutting back on what they spend. For example, eating out less, staying home instead of going on vacation, moving to a less expensive house and so on.
However, as discouraging as things may seem now, the good news is that the economy always gets back on track after a while. Jobs may be hard to find, but the slow economy can open up new opportunities. The couple Devon babysat for might cut back on evening's out, but they could be interested in hiring her for after-school care. Perhaps it's time to sell her old toys and baby gear (设备)in the basement(地下室) or help others sell these items online if she is-good at it. She could charge them a fee to sell their old stuff(东西).
72. What does the underlined phrase in the first paragraph refer to?
A. Getting hurt. B. Short of money.
C. Out of work. D. Receiving less calls.
73. According to the passage, what constantly appears on the screen nowadays?
A. News on the tough economy. B. Devon's family troubles.
C. Advertisements for babysitters. D. Information on yard sales.
74. What do people do to overcome the tough economy?
A. To strike for high pay. B. To open a new store to sell toys.
C. To cut down their expense. D. To move to other places for vocations.
75. The passage is mainly about ．
A. Devon's own family money troubles B. family troubles' made by tough economy
C. ways of solving the slow economy D. the increasing prices and expenses
第三部分阅读理解(共15小题，每小题2分，满分30分)
A
Our first winter in Canada was the happiest we have ever experienced. We were living in the countryside then and had just arrived from Hong Kong that autumn. One evening in mid December snow began to fall. When we looked out of the window and saw that it was snowing, we all cheered. It was the first snow we had ever seen and we were excited. We could hardly wait for the snow to stop so that we could go out lo play. Next morning when we woke up,it was still snowing. We switched on the radio and learned that more than ten inches of snow had fallen during the night and that since the roads were blocked, there would he no school that day. We jumped up and down for joy and beg mother to let us go outside to play in the snow, She said we could go out after breakfast if we dressed warmly and promised to come back as soon as we felt cold. When we went out, the snow had almost stopped. The roads, paths, gardens, and playgrounds were all hidden under a white blanket of soft snow. It was the most beautiful sight we had ever seen. Just then we saw some neighbours, children coming out to play. We ran over to join them. Together we built a snowman and a snow house. After that, we took turns sliding down a hill on a large piece of carboard. We were having so much fun when supper time came. Mother almost had to force us to go in and eat.
56. The children in the story had come from Hong Kong______ before the event described in the story happened
A. a year B. the summer C. a few weeks D. the winter
57. The children were jumping with joy when they saw the snow because .
A. they would go to school the following day
B. it was the first time they had seen snow
C. their mother would buy them warm clothes
D. they liked cold winter
58. When the children asked their mother lo let them go out to play, she ____.
A. asked them to go to school B. refused to let them go outside
C. told them to switch on the radio . D. told them to wait until after breakfast
E
An old sea captain was often seen opening a small locked box, and looking inside. The crew’s curiosity grew and, on the day he retired, they rushed to cut the lock. There they found a sheet of paper that read, “Left—port(左舷). Right--- starboard(右舷).”
Are you afraid to make a mistake? If you made mistakes recently, maybe you need to hear about Roy Riegels.
The story is told about Roy and the 1929 Rose Bowl championship football game between Georgia Tech and the university of California. Shortly before halftime, Roy Riegels made a huge mistake. He got the ball for California and somehow became confused and started running in the wrong direction! One of his teammates tackled(抢断) him after he had run 656 yards, just before he would have scored for the opposing team. Of course, Georgia Tech gained a distinct(明显的) advantage through the error.
After the first half was over, Riegels sat in a corner, put his face in his hands and wept.
Coach Nibbs Price struggled with what to do with Roy. He finally looked at the team and said simply, “Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second.”
All the players except Roy went to the field. Though the coach looked back and called to him again, he remained seated in the corner. Coach Price went to him and said, “Roy, didn’t you hear me?”
“Coach,” he said, “I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you; I’ve ruined the school; I’ve ruined myself.”
But the coach Price put his hand on Riegels’ shoulder and said,” Roy, get up and go on back; the game is only half over.”
Roy Riegels went back and those Tech men will tell you that they have never seen a man play football as well as Roy Riegels played that second half.
The next time you make a mistake, it might be good to remember the ABC method.
A—Acknowledge(admit) your error and accept responsibility for it. Don’t try to fix the blame on other people or circumstances(客观环境). When you fix the blame, you never fix the problem.
B—Be gentle with yourself. The game is only half over. This is not the first mistake you ever made, nor will it be the last. You are still a good and caring person. Besides, later you may laugh at the mistake, so try to lighten up a bit now.
C—Correct it and move on. Correcting mistakes may also mean to amends(弥补过错），if necessary.
Now, go make your mistakes. And if you practice the ABC method, you’ll live to laugh about many of them.
67. The old captain kept a sheet of paper to_____.
A. give his men a lesson
B. arouse his crew’s curiosity
C. prove he was a good captain
D. tell “port” and “starboard” apart
68. From the passage we learn Coach Price______.
A. insisted on replacing Roy
B. decided to punish Roy after the match
C. criticized Roy for his serious mistake
D. encouraged Roy to finish the match
69. How was Riegels’ performance in the second half?
A. Very disappointing B. Rather excellent C. Fairly ordinary D. Quite bad
70. The ABC method_____.
A. advised you to try to forget mistakes
B. helps you deal with mistakes
C. helps find out the causes of mistakes
D. advised you to be strict with yourself.
D
A proverb(谚语) is a short , well-known saying that expresses a common truth or belief. Proverbs are popular around the world. Many proverbs give advice on how to live. Some proverbs are hundreds of years old, but they are still used today.
For example, my son is just like his father in many ways. We often say the two of them prove the proverb that the apple does not far from the tree.
My daughter is very short. She would like to be taller. But I tell her that good things come in small packages. Some valuable things are very small, like diamonds and other jewels. But I also tell my children that all that glitters is not gold. Something may look valuable, but may not really be valuable. Also, I tell them do not judge a book by its cover. You should not judge something only by its appearance.
Sometimes I tell my children to cooperate to solve a problem. After all, two heads are better than one. But another proverb says too many cooks spoil the soup. If too many people try to do something, then the job will not be done well.
I also tell my children that two wrongs do not make a right. You should not do something bad just because someone did the same to you.
Some people are pessimists while other people are optimists. Pessimists always think about how bad things are or will be; optimists might say that every cloud has a silver lining and they always look on the bright side. Other people are both pessimists and optimists. They hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Some people often worry about what they will do in a situation that might happen in the future. We could tell them do not cross that bridge until you come to it.
It is usually much better to prevent a problem from happening than it is to find ways to solve it. So we say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
63. The author often comforts her daughter with the proverb that ____.
A. the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
B. good things come in small packages
C. too many cooks spoil the soup
D. two heads are better than one
64. If someone says “two heads are better than one”, he means____.
A. jobs will be done better if two work together
B. a problem will be solved easily by many people
C. jobs won’t be done well if there are too many people
D. you can’t do something bad even if someone else does it
65.The underlined word “pessimists” in the sixth paragraph refers to those people_____.
A. who always look on the bright side
B. who always expect bad things to happen
C. who are always full of hope for the future
D. who always make preparations for the worst
66. Which of the following are optimists likely to say?
A. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
B. We hope for the best and prepare for the worst
C. Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.
D. Every cloud has a silver lining
C
We are so used to having a cup of tea before heading off to work, during work or after getting back from work. Tea breaks are more like a custom that takes place regularly several times a day. This tea break tradition has been happening during the past 200 years or so. Tea just happens to be a wonderful drink for most of us. The day simply feels incomplete without a hot cup of tea. However, is tea good for you?
In 2006, the papers were flooded with the news of research showing that drinking 2-3 cups of tea a day is as beneficial as drinking water, with even some additional health benefits. Another report published in November 2009, stated that drinking up to eight cups of tea a day is good for you. The research conducted by nutrition expert Dr. Carrie Ruxton, debunked (揭示…的真相)the popular stories about caffeinated(含咖啡因的)drinks like tea, coffee and cocoa. According to Dr. Ruxton, the caffeine present in tea tends to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. She says that drinking 8 cups of tea a day gives the drinkers “the best levels of health-giving substances” present in tea and other caffeinated drinks.
Contrary to popular belief that tea does not contain more caffeine than coffee, it actually contains almost half the amount. Caffeine is a natural thing found in many types of food and drink. It’s also something that can give you a much needed lift for a demanding and tiring afternoon ahead. Research shows that proper amounts of caffeine are safe for most people.
So why not take full advantage of your tea breaks at work, or make time for afternoon tea while out shopping at the weekend? And remember that tea is not just a great drink, but it helps to keep you looking and feeling healthy.
59. What is mainly talked about in the first paragraph?
A. The types of tea. B. The tea custom C. How to drink tea D. When to drink tea.
60. Reports in the newspapers show that ______.
A. drinking tea is a healthy habit B. new ways of drinking tea appear
C. drinking tea is harmful to health D. people don’t like to drink tea any more
61. Caffeine in tea ____.
A. can make you energetic B. gives you a good rest
C. may cause heart attacks D. is more than that in coffee
62. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Tea and disease B. Tea—a healthy drink
C. Tea, coffee and cocoa D. Drink tea or coffee
B
It is natural that children are curious (好奇的) about the world around them. For example, they want to know how their hearts beat. They want to know why the ocean water tastes salty.
As children grow up, they become curious about different kinds of things. When they are babies, they are interested in the parts of their bodies and in the smiles of their mothers. They become interested in the physical world around them: the plants, the animals, the sky. Later, they become interested in the things that people have made: wheels, bicycles, cars. And when they are adults, their curiosity continues. Sometimes this curiosity leads to a career (生涯、职业) in science.
Scientists spend their lives trying to find out about the world．Those who work with the earth sciences study the earth, the oceans, and the sky. Other scientists who study living things work with the biological sciences. A third group of scientists study the physical sciences, e. g. physics, chemistry .
These scientists have already discovered a lot about our world．For example, they tell us why your heart beats fast when you run. They say that when you are quiet, your heart normally beats sixty-five or seventy-five times a minute. Your heart is a pump (泵) that pumps blood to all parts of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrition. When you run, your muscles work very hard and use the nutrition that the blood carries to them. The muscles need oxygen, too . So your brain sends a signal to the heart. The signal means that the muscles need more nutrition and oxygen. Then the heart beats fast and sends blood quickly to the muscles. It may beat 90 to 140 times a minute.
Of course, scientists cannot answer all of our questions. If we ask, “Why does the ocean water taste salty” scientists will say that the salt comes from rocks. When a rock gets very hot or very cold, it cracks. Rain falls into cracks. The rain then carries the salt into the earth and into the rivers. The rivers carry the salt into the ocean. But then we ask , “What happens to the salt in the ocean? The ocean does not get saltier every year.” Scientists are not sure about the answer to this question.
We know a lot about our world, but there are still many answers that we do not have, and we are curious.
55．According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
A．People are curious in the same way.
B．People in different countries are interested in different things.
C．Men and women are curious about different things.
D．People of different ages are interested in different things
56．Scientists who work with the biological sciences study____.
A．the earth , the oceans and the sky B．man-made things
C．plants and animals D．ocean water
57．When you run, your muscles need ____.
A．more nutrition and oxygen B．more signals C．more salt D．water
58．People are always curious because ____.
A．they cannot explain many things B．they know nothing about the world
C．they know little about the world D．they want to be scientists