四、阅读理解（共40分）
A
Linda Evans was my best friend －like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, and horseback riding.
When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special time －like my wedding and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back, stamped “Address Unknown”. I had no idea how to find Linda.
Over the years, I missed Linda very much, I wanted to share stories of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.
One day I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked a lot like Linda and whose last name was Wagman－ Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans,” I thought, but I still wrote to her.
She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs. Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagman is my mother.”
Minutes later I heard a voice that I knew very much, even after 40 years, laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled, and there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: we won’t lose each other again!
56. The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans_______.
A. at the age of 13 B. before she got married
C. after they moved to new homes D. before the writer’s family moved away
57. They didn’t often write to each other because they_______.
A. got married B. had little time to do so
C. didn’t like writing letters D. could see each other on special time
58. There was an empty place in the writer’s heart because she______.
A. was in trouble
B. didn’t know Linda’s address
C. received the card that she sent
D. didn’t have a friend like Linda to share her happiness or sadness
59. The writer was happy when she_________.
A. read the newspaper
B. heard Linda’s voice on the phone
C. met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda
D. wrote to the woman whose last name was Wagman
These days, if you still think the cell phone is just for talking, you’ll get laughed at. Yes, it’s true, voice-only handsets have become out of date. Today’s do-it-all mobiles have a lot in common with the computer. The only difference may be that they fit in your pocket and you pay by the minute to use them. Some of the things a cell phone can do for you will be available this year:
Surf at speed
Cell phones 
that let you use the Web have been around for years. So, what’s new? Well, faster third-generation (3G) networks that let you surf at anywhere. This then allows a carrier to send video, music, and games to your phone. Possible choices are from LG Electronics VX 8000 and Motorola V1150.
Listen as you go
The problem with most cell phone MP3 players is that they hold only a handful of songs. But, that’s about to change. Sony Ericsson’s new W800i can hold around 150 songs in its 500 MB memory. And Samsung’s SPH-V5400 even comes with a 1.5 GB hard drive. Mobile phones may eventually replace mini-MP3 players, especially for teens.
Say cheese
Camera cell phones are not new either. But, most of them have limitations: around 1-megapixel (百万像素). But new technology has made 2-megapixel units more common, and 3-megapixel units are showing up soon. Some 2-megapixel models, like Sony Ericsson’s K750i, offer limited zoom and focus controls. Others, like LG’s recent A7110, can even capture 30 minutes of full-motion video.
Portable TV
You say you like “watching TV”? That’s what Samsung MM-A700 wants to give you. The new model lets users watch popular TV programmes — for a fee. Other choices are Nokia’s 6620, Sanyo’s MM7400 and NEC’s N940. The NEC model lets you watch public TV — no fee.
The above are just a handful of what you’ll see in the coming months. Further down the road, your mobile phone may play a host of other roles, such as mobile credit card, position locator ... So what is there that a cell phone can’t do?
68. Which of the following models should you choose to listen to the music?
A. Samsung’s SPH-V5400 and Nokia’s 6620.
B. Sony Ericsson’s W800i and Samsung’s SPH-V5400.
C. Sony Ericsson’s W800i and NEC’s N940.
D. Sanyo’s MM7400 and NEC’s N940.
69. What’s the difference between NEC’s N940 and other models?
A. It allows you to surf the Internet at a high speed.
B. It can capture 30 minutes of full-motion video.
C. It can hold as many as 150 songs.
D. It lets you watch public TV for free.
70. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. All the functions of the models 
mentioned in the passage are completely new.
B. Camera cellphones of 3-megapixel units will appear soon.
C. It is certain that a cellphone can do anything in the near future.
D. Today’s do-it-all mobiles have nothing in common with the computer.
71. This passage may be ________.
A. an introduction to some new models of cellphones
B. an advertisement trying to persuade you to buy new cellphones
C. a science fiction trying to attract readers’ attention
D. a survey to find the development of cellphones
A young woman carrying a three-year-old child got on a bus. The conductor hurried to give her a warm welcome and then kindly asked the other passengers to make more room for the woman and her child. On seeing this, people began to talk. “You know this conductor used to be very rude. Now suddenly he has changed his bad behavior,” said a middle-aged man.
“Yes, he should be praised and we must write a letter to the company,” said a second passenger. “That’s right,” another lady said, “I wish a newspaper reporter were here so that more people could learn from this conductor.”
Just then a gentleman who looked like a teacher turned to the conductor and said, “Excuse me, but can I know your name, please? Your excellent service must be praised...”
Before he could open his mouth, the three-year-old child sitting on the young woman’s lap interrupted, “I know his name. I call him Dad.”
64. One passenger suggested writing a letter to the company to ______ .
A. make a demand for more buses
B. thank the conductor for his good service
C. criticize the conductor for his rude behavior
D. invite a newspaper reporter to write about the conductor
65. What was the gentleman?
A. A teacher.
B. A newspaper reporter.
C. Not known from the story.
D. The conductor's friend from his company.
66. The word “him” in the last paragraph refers to _______.
A. the gentlemanB. the conductor
C. the middle-aged man D. the three-yea
r-old child
67. It is clear from the story that the conductor _______.
A. has changed his attitude towards his work
B. has now been kind and polite to all passengers
C. has not changed his rude behavior to passengers
D. has now been kind and polite to women with children
It is sometimes said that the English are polite people. This can make life difficult for
foreigners. Suppose a foreign boy asks an English girl to go out with him and she says, “If I finish my work, I’ll meet you in the cafe at 7 o’clock.” Is she saying “yes” or “no” to his invitation?
In grammatical terms, she is using the conditional structure (表示条件的句式). By using the conditional, speakers of English can avoid giving a “yes” or “no” answer to a question. It enables people to be diplomatic (婉转的). If the girl doesn’t want to go out with the boy, she won’t turn up at the cafe. She will let him understand she is still working. If she wants to go out with him, but doesn’t want to appear too easy to catch, she has achieved that with her reply. But in this case, as she uses the first conditional which shows probability, she is quite likely to turn up at the cafe. Being polite can make life very difficult!
The conditional is often used by people in the news -- politicians, for example -- who wish to avoid speaking out their ideas. This is very important if they are on their way to discuss an agreement. No one wants to give away his or her points before he or she starts. A government spokesman might say to a group of work
ers, “If we could pay you more, we would.” The use of the conditional here makes room for argument although the speaker is using the second conditional form, which shows improbability. So it is unlikely the workers will get their rise.
“If ” is a small word, which appears often in the English language. It can show politeness, reported speech and conditionals such as the First -- probability -- if I can come to your party, I will; the Second -- improbability -- if I saw you tomorrow, I’d give you the book; and the Third -- impossibility (meaning it is too late to change something that has happened ) -- if you have told me, I would have helped you.
60. The using of the conditional can make a speech _________.
A. clearer B. quicker C. more polite D.more exciting
61. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Language used in the news should make room to argue.
B. Usually English girls are not easy to catch.
C. English people never speak out their ideas in public.
D. The word “ if ” can show different meanings.
62. In the passage, “If we could pay you more, we would.” probably means __________.
A. the workers will make more money
B. the spokesman doesn’t give any promise
C. the spokesman keeps his word
D. the workers’ problems aren’t difficult
63. This passage is mainly talking about _________.
A. the conditional in communication
B. how to invite a girl in Britain
C. British people and their life
D. some language points in daily English
第三部分：阅读理解（共20题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
From age eight to eleven, I attended a small school in Bath, England. It was a small school of four classes with about twenty-five children in each class according to age. For the most part, one teacher had to teach all subjects to the children in the class. However, sometimes the headmaster, Mr. Ronald Broaches, would come in and spend an hour or so, teaching some subjects in which he was especially interested. He was a large man with a very happy nature. He had a sense of humor and would delight in telling the children small stories that would make us laugh. He was a very fair man and had a great influence on many of the children. In my own case, I found that he took great interest in me and he quickly found that I enjoyed puzzles. He would often stop me as I was going to class and take a piece of paper out of his pocket, often with a puzzle already on it. The puzzles were usually mathematical or logical. As time went on, they slowly got more difficult, but I loved them. Not only that, they made me interested in math and problem solving that stays with me to this day. They also served to show me that intellectual activity was rewarding when the correct answers were found, but perhaps more importantly it was great fun. To this day, I can remember Mr. Broaches’ cheerful cry of “Well done!” whenever I got a problem right. The simple communication with a man whom I loved greatly has had a deep influence on my life. I shall forever be thankful that our paths crossed. Mr. Broaches died just two weeks after I had won the 1993 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Unluckily, I had no chance to speak to him before he died. I learnt later that he had heard of my success and I will always hope that he knew the deep influence he had made on my life.
56. There were ________ children in each class when Richard was in the school in Bath, England.
A. 4 B. 8 C. 11 D. 25
57. From the text, we can learn that __________
_.
A. the puzzles made the students laugh
B. the students were afraid of the headmaster
C. the puzzles made Richard enjoy math
D. the headmaster never taught in the school
58. The writer felt sorry because __________.
A. Mr. Broaches had passed away before he won the Nobel Prize
B. he didn’t express his thanks before Mr. Broaches died
C. he couldn’t find Mr. Broaches after he grew up
D. Mr. Broaches didn’t know his success
59. What is the best title（标题）for the text ?
A. The Story of Mr. Broaches.
B. The Story of Richard J. Roberts.
C. My Early School Life.
D. An Important Teacher in My Life.
Do you dream of being a reporter or an editor? Are you a good writer who loves the news? If so, then you may have what it takes to be a winner in the TFK Kid Reporter Talent Search.
We’re looking for 12 students from around the nation to be members of the TFK Kid Reporter Team for the 2008-2009 school year. Next year’s team will continue the tradition of reporting local and regional news stories for TIME FOR KIDS magazine and TIME FOR KIDS online.
Professional（职业的）journalists from TIME magazine and TIME FOR KIDS will select this exclusive team. In the past, TFK kid Reporters have
★Interviewed national leaders, celebrities and other newsmakers.
★Written news stories, reviews and opinion pieces for TIME FOR KIDS.
★Appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Today and The Tonight Show with another famous kid Jay Leno to talk about their work.
How to Enter
Get the official rules at time for kids. com/contest.
Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 20, 2008. Good luck!This ad is written for ___________________.
| A．professional reporters and editors |
| B．student reporters and editors |
| C．kids who are interested in politics |
| D．kids who love to write news |
If you want to become a TFK Kid reporter, you must _________________.
| A．write news stories for local newspapers |
| B．sign up through TFK’s official website |
| C．post your entries before Dec 20, 2008 |
| D．know a lot about the newspaper and its style |
Winners of the talent search will be able to do all the following EXECPT _____.
| A．write reports on celebrities and other newsmakers |
| B．become a professional journalist for TIME magazine |
| C．write down their opinions for TIME FOR KIDS |
| D．share their working experiences with other kids on famous media |