第二部分:阅读理解(共25小题;第一节每小题2分,第二节每小题1分,满分45分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从每小题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中,选出最
佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A.
Each Indian tribe had a different language. Many Indians never learned any language except their own. Do you know how Indians from different tribes talked to each other? They had two ways to talk without sound. One way was by sign language; the other way by signals.
Sign language is a way of talking by using signs. Indians used sign language when they met strangers. In this way, they could find out whether the stranger was a friend or an enemy. In the Indian sign language, signs were made with the hands. One sign meant “man”. Another meant “horse”. To tell the time of day when something happened, an Indian pointed to the sky. He showed where the sun had been at the time.
Indians usually used signals when they wanted to send messages to someone far away. To make signals, an Indian might use a pony. He might use a blanket. Or he might use smoke, a mirror or fire arrows.
To signal that he had seen many animals, an Indian rode his pony in a large circle. Sometimes the Indian gave a signal like this and then went away to hide. This meant that there was danger.
The blanket signal was visible from far away. An Indian held the corners of a blanket in his hands. Then he began to swing the blanket from side to side in front of him. An Indian could send many different signals with his blanket.
He could also send many signals with a mirror. He usually used the mirror to warn someone of danger. Or he attempted to get the attention of a person far away. But he also used it to send messages in code. Of course, mirrors could be used only when the sun was shining. At night, Indians used fire arrows for signaling.
An Indian also sent signals with smoke. He made a small fire of dry wood. Then he put grass or green branches on it. He held a blanket over the fire for a minute. When he removed the blanket from the fire, there was a cloud of smoke. The number of clouds of smoke told his message in code.
Now you can see that Indians didn’t need to learn each other’s language. They could talk to one another by using signals or sign language.
41. The whole text is mainly about _______.
A. different tribes have different languages
B. the Indians had many kinds of languages
C. how Indians communicated between different tribes
D. why the Indians used many languages
42. An Indian used a mirror to do all the followings EXCEPT _______.
A. send messages in code
B. get the attention of someone in the distance
C. warn someone of danger
D. to tell a friend from an enemy
43. Sign language is _______.
|
A. to write one’s signature
B. a secret way of talking to some Indian tribes"What's your English name?" I asked in my first oral class. "Goat," came the reply. I tried to keep myself from laughing, as I'm sure the poor boy had no idea of the other meanings associated with the word goat: "a dirty old man" or "a foolish person".
Later, my thoughts turned to why Chinese students take an English name. Obviously, for foreign teachers such as me, English names help us to learn names and recognize students more rapidly. And it's a means of easily setting up communication with Westerners.
Sharon, a student displays her knowledge of western culture and ideas. Once Sharon has graduated, if she is fortunate to find employment that involves regular communication across international boundaries, relationships will be smoothed if others can easily remember her name.
Parents in English-speaking countries do not usually choose words at random to name their child. For every parent who seeks to be truly creative by inventing a unique name, there will be nine others selecting from a recognized book of names. These books have been passed on from generation to generation.
While English names do have meanings,this is rarely of great importance for parents in making their choice. Often,associations with heroes, pop idols will influence a decision.
There are a great many names to choose from,and at any one time some will be more fashionable than others. When our present Queen was crowned,many baby girls were christened Elizabeth,while Princess Diana's marriage to Charles led to a generation of Dianas. Most parents seeking to be original or unique look through lists for names that haven't been used regularly in recent years.
So, if you are thinking of taking an English name, stop and think. You have a unique opportunity to choose a new identity for your English-speaking relationships in the future. Before you accept any old name,make sure you are happy with its sound, its meaning and its associations.How did the author feel when she heard the name "Goat" given by one of the students?
A.Surprised. | B.Funny, |
C.Angry. | D.Disappointed. |
The student named Sharon was mentioned in the third paragraph to show ______.
A.an unsuitable English name can cause trouble in communication |
B.a proper English name can help a person to find a job more easily |
C.English names are easy for foreigners to remember |
D.proper English names help to set up easy international communication |
The underlined phrase in the fourth paragraph probably means ______.
A.in a careful way | B.in a different way |
C.in a careless way | D.with no meaning |
We can conclude from the sixth paragraph that ______.
A.English people admire power and heroes |
B.English people do not consider the meaning when choosing a name |
C.English people are easy to be influenced by fashion in choosing a name |
D.English people prefer to choose a special name |
What would be the best title for this passage?
A.Be Careful in Choosing an English Name |
B.English Names and Their Meanings |
C.How English People Get Their Names |
D.Chinese Names and English Names |
The resounding film Avatar has been very popular in the UK and around the world, becoming the fastest film ever to earn 1 billion dollars(7 billion yuan) in ticket sales.
But as well as being an entertaining feast for the eyes, the sci-fi epic (叙事诗)also introduces the audience to a brand new language invented especially for the film.
The movie is set in an alien planet called Pandora which is inhabited by many strange species. The most humanoid of the planet's inhabitants are the Na'vi, and it is the struggle between the Na'vi and human invader that forms the main story of the film.
The film has been released in 2D and 3D versions.
In order to add a sense of reality to his vision of an alien race the film's director James Cameron asked a professor of language from the University of Southern California to invent a language for the Na'vi.
Professor Paul Frommer worked with James Cameron for four years to build upon the original 30 words or so that the director had already come up with for the language.
According to Professor Frommer, the most important aspect of the Na'Vi language was that it could be pronounced.
"This is an alien language but obviously it has to be spoken by human actors," Professor Frommer told the BBC, "it has to be sounds that human beings are comfortable producing."
The language currently has around 1,000 words but Professor Frommer hopes to expand it in possible sequels (续集)to the film and in video games.
The professor hopes that one day his creation will have a high level of the Klingon alien language from the Star Trek films.
"There's a translation of Hamlet into Klingon," says Professor Frommer.
"If anything happened like this with Na'Vi, I'd be delighted." The underlined word "resounding" in Paragraph 1 means ______ .
A.later | B.scientific | C.hit | D.surprising |
Which of the following is RIGHT according to the passage?
A.A kind of new language was invented especially for the film. |
B.The film Avatar is as good a film as the Star Trek. |
C.The creation in Alien Language is different from that in human beings. |
D.Avatar is one of the excellent films invented by Pandora. |
The most challenging part in the creation of the language is ______ .
A.that Professor Frommer needs to create 1 ,000 words for the film Avatar by himself |
B.that the language is based on that of the Alien planet called Pandora |
C.that James Cameron introduces a new style of language to the audience |
D.that an Alien language is created to be spoken by human beings |
We can infer from the passage that ______ .
A.the film Avatar has been released in 2D and 3D versions |
B.the most important aspect of the Na'vi language was that it could be pronounced |
C.Professor Paul Frommer believes his language creation in the film Avatar is very successful |
D.Professor Paul Frommer worked with James Cameron for four years for a sense of reality of the film |
NEW YORK ( CNNMoney. com) — The U. S. economy lost 20,000 jobs in January, but the unemployment rate fell to 9.7%, much lower than economists' forecasts of 10%. According to a government report released Friday.
The Labor Department said the economy continued to shed (流出)jobs,even as economists surveyed by Briefing, com had expec-ted a net gain of 15,000 jobs in December.
The Labor Department also released an annual revision of U. S. payrolls (薪水账册)on Friday, using data that wasn't initially available. Losses for 2009 alone came to 4. 8 million jobs,more than 600,000 than previously estimated. The revision showed the economy has lost 8.4 million jobs since the start of the recession in December 2007 — 1.4 million more job losses than initially reported.
The payroll number for December was revised to a net loss of 150,000 jobs. The government had previously indicated that 85,000 jobs were lost in December.
But the government said the tepid job growth initially reported in November was actually much stronger than previously believed. Jobs rose by 64,000 in November,up from an initial estimate of 4,000. It is the only month in the past two years in which jobs grew.
Most of the job losses were in the hard-hit construction industry, which shed another 75, 000 jobs in January. The transportation and financial industries also lost in excess of 10,000 jobs,and the government shed a net 8,000 positions in January.
The job report wasn't all bad, as there was job growth in many areas, including the manufacturing industry, which created 11,000 jobs last month. The service industry was the biggest jobs creator, with a net gain of 48 ,000 jobs,42,100 of which came from the retail sector.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign from January's report was that 44, 000 jobs were created in the business services industry, which includes administrators and temporary workers. Economists see professional services as a proxy for overall economic activity, and many employers hire temporary workers before signing on new full-time staff. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A.Job Losses Continue but Rate Falls |
B.An Annual Revision of U. S. Payrolls |
C.The Encouraging Sign from January's Report |
D.The Tepid Job Growth Stronger than Previously Believed |
The underlined word "released" could be replaced by ______ .
A.made secret | B.made public |
C.set free | D.set forth |
Most of the job losses happened in the areas except ______ .
A.the hard-hit construction industry |
B.the government |
C.the transportation and financial industries |
D.the manufacturing industry |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The economy continued to shed jobs, just as economists surveyed had expected a net loss of 15,000 jobs in December. |
B.Losses for 2009 alone came to 4. 8 million jobs, less than 600,000 than previously estimated. |
C.The service industry was the biggest job creators, with a net gain of 48,000 jobs, of which 42,100 came from the retail sector. |
D.Economists see professional services as a proxy for overall economic activity, and many employers hire permanent workers. |
It is the season for long lines and frayed (紧张的)nerves. Here are some ways to survive a holiday flight.
Lighten up
Do yourself a favor and ship your presents. Nearly every U. S. airline charges a fee to check a bag, so shipping gifts is now cheaper and more convenient than carrying them in your luggage.
Weigh your options
Not knowing what you're going to pay for your luggage is annoying. So calculate your overweight-luggage fees at home. You can find the fees out in advance by visiting new site Luggage Limits ,which provides the latest information on more than 90 airlines.
Leave amateurs in the dust
Trust us and get to the airport an extra half-hour early. The check-in and security lines are filled with inexperienced fliers, and it's a hard walking. Plus, if you decide to cut it close you may not get onto the flight at all. To reduce costs, airlines have reduced on flights and routes. The remaining flights are more likely to be oversold , especially on busy travel days. Fliers who check in early are the least likely to get bumped from oversold flights.
Take it public
The rates for renting a car at the airport have more than doubled over the past year because rental lot inventories have decreased dramatically (显著地). True, renting at the airport is convenient, but it's just not worth it anymore. Unless you really need a car,take public transportation, hop a cab,or beg a friend to pick you up at the airport instead.
Say no to bumper cars
Tell the people picking you up to avoid parking their car. They can hang out in their car for free while waiting to get a call from you when you land. Many airports, including JFK and LAX now feature this sensible choice. How does the author think of shipping gifts?
A.Unnecessary. | B.Expensive. | C.Inconvenient. | D.Wonderful. |
Airlines have reduced flights to ______ .
A.deal with crisis | B.reduce the time for leave |
C.lower the cost | D.provide more job chances |
The underlined phrase "in advance" in the third paragraph could be replaced by ______ .
A.in person | B.ahead of time |
C.by accident | D.in addition |
What's the best title for the passage?
A.5 Ways to Survive a Holiday Flight |
B.Good Seasons for Flight |
C.Cars at the Airport |
D.How to Board a Flight |
To master a language one must be able to speak it,understand it when it is spoken, as well as to read and write it. These days more and more foreigners are coming to China and more and more Chinese are going abroad to work or study so that the spoken language is becoming more and more important.
Speaking, of course, can't go without listening. If you want to pronounce a word correctly,you must be able to hear it correctly. The sounds of the Chinese and English language are not exactly the same. If you don't listen carefully, you'll find it difficult or even impossible to understand the native speakers.
Well, what about writing? Like speaking, it's used to exchange ideas. People generally use longer sentences in their writing. The important thing is to make your ideas clear in your head and then write them down in clear language.
Chinese students read far too slowly. If you read faster,you understand better. If you read too slowly,by the time you have reached the end of a page you have forgotten what the beginning is about. When you meet with new words,don't look them up in the dictionary at once. Guess the meanings. If you try to look up every word, you'll never finish a book.
Students of a foreign language need a particular knowledge, the knowledge of the life,history and geography of the people whose language they're studying. They should study these subjects in the foreign language, not only in translation. In this way one can kill two birds with one stone : he can learn the language and some knowledge of the foreign country at the same time.In the first paragraph the writer told us ______ .
A.how to speak English |
B.how to read and write |
C.why English people couldn't understand what foreigners said |
D.why spoken English is important |
In the fourth paragraph the writer gave us some advice on ______ .
A.how to guess the meaning from the context |
B.how to read fast |
C.how to look up new words in the dictionary |
D.how to get the general idea of a passage |
"To kill two birds with one stone" means ______ .
A.to get some particular knowledge |
B.to get more than what one pays |
C.the stone is very useful |
D.the birds are blind enough |