第二部分 阅读理解（共20小题：每小题2.5分，满分50分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
Edinburgh Zoo makes plans to bring a pair of giant pandas from China to Scotland. Representatives from Edinburgh Zoo have recently returned from China, where they signed a letter of intent(意向书)making a promise to bring giant pandas to the zoo.
It has been suggested that the breeding pair should be on loan(暂借)to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) for 10 years and it is hoped they would give birth to babies during that time. Edinburgh Zoo would be the eighth zoo in the Western hemisphere(半球)to care for the species if the project goes ahead.
Zoo chiefs said that looking after the endangered animals could benefit conservation. David Windmill, chief executive(主管)of RZSS, said, “It is an opportunity to work on a global level with other conservationists to gain a better understanding of the giant panda, the threats they face, and what we can do to ensure their survival.”
At present, there are currently only around 1,500 giant pandas in the wild. RZSS has been working on the project for almost a year, and hopes to have giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo by 2009, the year of the society’s centenary(一百年纪念日).
Mr. Windmill said that the project has received strong support from the UK and Scottish Governments and that this must continue if the zoo is to reach an agreement with the Chinese. As part of the proposed agreement with the Chinese government, Edinburgh Zoo will cooperate on research projects benefiting conservation in the wild.
RZSS will also provide considerable money to support giant panda conservation projects in the wild. Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China and feed almost wholly on bamboo, which makes up 99% of the their diet.
36. What result did zoo representatives get from China?
A. A breeding pair is on loan to RZSS for ten years.
B. China promised to sell two giant pandas before 2009.
C. They signed a letter of intent about giant pandas to be loaned to Edinburgh Zoo.
D. China promised to offer the money but not the experts for research into giant pandas.
37. If Edinburgh Zoo can borrow giant pandas, what will happen?
A. RZSS will celebrate its centenary in 2009.
B. Scotland will be the eighth country to have giant pandas.
C. RZSS will have a better understanding of living habits of giant pandas.
D. Edinburgh Zoo will be the eighth zoo to have Chinese pandas in the world.
38. The underlined part “the project” in Paragraph 4 refers to “__________”.
A. the celebration of RZSS’s centenary
B. introducing giant pandas to RZSS’s collection
C. the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland itself
D. borrowing giant pandas from China for conservation
39. At present what seems to be the key factor for giant pandas to successfully go to Edinburgh Zoo?
A. RZSS’s attitude. B. The Chinese government’s attitude.
C. Edinburgh Zoo’s support. D. The Scottish government’ attitude.
40. The best title for this passage would be “___________”.
A. Edinburgh Zoo expects giant pandas from China
B. Edinburgh Zoo does research into giant pandas
C. Scotland supports giant panda conservation
D. Giant pandas live happily at Edinburgh Zoo
In England three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop. They studied the information on the post sign and decided which bus to take. About five minutes later the bus they wanted came along. They prepared to get on. Suddenly people rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted insulting remarks about the foreigners. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus so that the first person who arrived at a bus-stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn’t enough. If you want to ensure a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your hosts. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man apparently（显然地）shaking his head at another and assume (认为) that he is disagreeing. But in many parts of India a rotating (旋转) movement of the head is a gesture that express agreement or acceptance. Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty. In that country you shake your head to express “yes” — a nod means “no”.
In Europe it is quite usual to cross your legs when sitting talking to someone, even at an important meeting. Doing this when meeting an important person in Thailand, however, could cause offence (冒犯). It is considered too informal an attitude for such an occasion. Also when in Thailand avoid touching the head of an adult — it’s just not done.
Attitudes to women vary considerably（相当地）around the world. In Japan, for example, it is quite usual for men to plan evening entertainments for themselves and leave their wives at home.
Knowing about customs and attitudes is useful when you are travelling, but you also need to know the language used to express different degrees of formality (礼节).The three foreign gentlemen looked puzzled and ashamed because __________________.
| A．they didn’t know the English language |
| B．someone called their names |
| C．they didn’t know the custom of lining up for a bus |
| D．they knocked someone down while getting on the bus |
According to the passage, which attitude to women is usual in Japan?
| A．Men always go to parties with women. |
| B．Men plan evening entertainments for their wives. |
| C．Men and women have equal rights to go to parties. |
| D．Men plan evening entertainments for themselves, while their wives stay home. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “insulting” in Para. 1 ?
| A．善意的 | B．咨询的 | C．商量的 | D．无礼的 |
From the passage, we know that shaking head means Yes in ______________.
| A．India and Thailand | B．India and Bulgaria |
| C．Bulgaria and Thailand | D．Thailand and Japan |
The underlined sentence “Nodding your head when offered a drink in Bulgaria is likely to leave you thirsty.” means ____________.
| A．It’s probably that you are thirsty if you nod your head |
| B．You’re possibly eager to have a drink if you nod your head |
| C．You probably refuse to drink when you nod your head |
| D．You’d like to have a cup of tea because you nod your head |
"S. H.E. is going to sing at the CCTV annual Spring Festival Evening Party, is that true?" cried out Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl in Shanghai and die-hard S. H.E. fan.
After checking it on the Internet, Peng quickly phoned friends to spread the news. For fans like her, S. H. E. ’s performance is perhaps the only part of the old fashioned evening to get excited about.
The Taiwanese band is made up of Selina, Hebe and Ella. Their name comes from the first letter of each of the singers' English names.
Last week S. H. E. announced they would perform in Las Vegas, US, over Christmas and then in Guangzhou on January 15.
At their Shanghai show on October 30, hundreds of parents waited outside the Hongkou Stadium. Inside, thousands of teenagers sang, cried and shouted as the band performed.
"I love their music, healthy image and everything related to them. Thank God that, although my parents don't understand why I love them so much, they still bought me a ticket for that show," said Peng about the Shanghai performance.
It is not just on the mainland that the three girls have made audiences much excited. In the past year the band has passed through Taiwan, Hong Kong and even Singapore and Malaysia.
When the three high school girls entered a singing contest in Taiwan in 2000, none of them ever dreamed of being a superstar. "We had never met before, and we didn't talk at all at the beginning," recalled Ella.
When asked about the secret of their success, she said, "Our average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep us close to our fans. We are happy to be the girls next door, your singing sisters."
"It's really a magical journey, from day-dreaming high school girls to singers performing on the same stage as our idols(偶像). Nothing but magical," she said.Why was Peng Weiye, a Senior 2 girl, so excited?
| A．S.H.E. band will get the old fashioned evening exciting. |
| B．S. H.E. will perform in Las Vegas over Christmas. |
| C．Her parents bought her a ticket for S. H. E.’s Shanghai show. |
| D．S. H.E. will perform on the CCTV Spring Festival Evening Party. |
How did the Taiwanese band get the name?
| A．Their fans gave the name to them. |
| B．Their idols had a deep influence on them. |
| C．A singing contest gave their idea of the band name. |
| D．The first letters of Selina, Hebe and Ella form the band name. |
What do you know about Peng Weiye?
| A．she stayed outside the Hongkou Stadium to listen to S. H. E. 's performance. |
| B．She will watch the performance in Guangzhou on January 15. |
| C．She pays close attention to everything about S. H. E. |
| D．She was grateful that her parents understood and supported her. |
Which is true about S. H. E. ?
| A．The secret to their success is their pretty faces and lovely clothes. |
| B．They were close friends when they entered a singing contest. |
| C．They caused a storm of excitement in Southeast Asia. |
| D．They have well prepared to perform with their idols. |
Which do you think is NOT the reason for S. H. E’s popularity among their fans?
| A．Their music and their healthy image. |
| B．They can make audience much excited. |
| C．Their success meets their fans’ day dream of becoming others’ idols. |
| D．Their average looks and not-so-expensive clothes keep them close to their fans. |
Most Americans believe that someone isn’t grown-up until the age of 26 and they should complete their education, have a full-time job, have a family to support and be financially independent. They also believe that becoming a real grown-up is a process which begins at about the age of 20 and takes about five years, according to the report from the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center.
The findings are based on a representative sample of 1,398 people over the age of 18 who were surveyed in person. The survey found that people expect the transitions to grown-up status to be completed at the following ages: age 20.9 self-supporting; age 21.1 no longer living with parents; age 21.2 having a full-time job; age 22.3 education completed; age 24.5 being able to support a family financially; age 25.7 getting married; and age 26.2 having a child.
“There is a large degree of agreement across social groups on the relative importance of the seven transitions,” said Tom Smith, director of the survey. The only obvious pattern of differences is on views about supporting a family, having children and getting married. Older adults consider these more important than younger adults do. This probably shows in large part a change in values across generations away from traditional family values. The most valued step toward reaching adulthood, the survey found, is completing education, followed by full-time employment, supporting a family, financial independence, living independently, and marriage. According to the first paragraph, someone is a grown-up when he _______.
| A．has found a full-time job |
| B．has finished his study in university |
| C．can make money and support himself after completing his education |
| D．can support a family and be financially independent after graduation |
A young man of 24 may be busy ________.
| A．finding a job | B．finding a girl friend |
| C．making money | D．preparing for his wedding |
The underlined word “status” in the second paragraph probably means “________”.
| A．position | B．rank | C．level | D．situation |
From the passage, we learn that _________.
| A．being grown-up is just a matter of age |
| B．being grown-up is a process which takes some time |
| C．all people think completing education means being grown-up |
| D．the survey found everyone had a different view about being grown-up |
The best title for the passage should be “________”
| A．It takes a long time to grown up. |
| B．Are we grown-up yet? |
| C．Getting married means being grown-up. |
| D．Completing education means being grown-up. |
Hank Viscardi was 26 years old when he put on his first pair of long trousers and his first pair of shoes. For the first time he saw himself as he had always wanted to be a full five feet eight inches tall.
Hank had been born without legs. Until he was seven, his world was a world of repeated operations. At last he had not legs, but stumps（残肢）that could be fitted with a kind of special boots.
Out of the hospital, Hank often found people staring at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him “Ape Man” because his arms dragged（拖）on the ground.
He went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years instead of the usual twelve.
After graduation, Hank worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, Hank had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. Hank would soon have to use a wheel chair.
Hank felt himself go cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial（人造的）legs.
Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror and saw himself for the first time, five feet eight inches tall.
But this was not the end yet. He had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed the stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.
When World War Ⅱ came, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, the man without legs.It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches tall is .
| A．an average height for an adult（成人） |
| B．too tall for an average person |
| C．too short for an average person |
| D．none of the above |
Children laughed at Hank and called him “Ape Man” because .
| A．he didn’t talk to them |
| B．he kept away from them |
| C．when he moved his arms touched the ground |
| D．his arms were too long |
The writer implies in the story that .
| A．the Red Cross was only too glad to give him a job |
| B．the Red Cross gave him a job because he was a good soldier. |
| C．the Red Cross gave him a job after he talked to somebody he knew in the organization |
| D．the Red Cross was not willing to give him a job at first |
When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers .
| A．he did everything the other soldiers did |
| B．he did most of the things the other soldiers did |
| C．he did some of the things the other soldiers did |
| D．he took some special training |
The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi .
| A．had no friends at all |
| B．was a man with a strong will |
| C．had lost his legs in an accident |
| D．was not satisfied with his artificial legs |
A thief entered the bedroom of the 30th President of the United States, who met him and helped him escape punishment．
The event happened in the early morning hours in one of the first days when Calvin Coolidge came into power, late in August, 1923．He and his family were living in the same third-floor suite (套房) at the Willard Hotel in Washington that they had occupied several years before．The former President’s wife was still living in the White House．
Coolidge awoke to see a stranger go through his clothes, remove a wallet and a watch chain．
Coolidge spoke, “I wish you wouldn’t take that．”
The thief, gaining his voice, said, “Why?”
“I don’t mean the watch and chain, only the charm (表坠)．Take it near the window and read what is impressed on its back, “ the President said．
The thief read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidge．”
“Are you President Coolidge ? “ he asked．
The President answered, “Yes, and the House of Representatives (众议院) gave me that watch charm．I’m fond of it．It would do you no good．You want money．Let’s talk this over．”
Holding up the wallet, the young man said in a low voice, “I’ll take this and leave everything else．”
Coolidge, knowing there was ＄80 in it, persuaded the young man to sit down and talk．He told the President he and his college roommate had overspent during their holiday and did not have enough money to pay their hotel bill．
Coolidge added up the roommate and two rail tickets back to the college．Then he counted out ＄32 said it was a loan (借款)．
He then told the young man, “There is a guard in the corridor．” The young man nodded and left through the same window as he had entered．What caused the thief to meet the President?
| A．He knew the President had lots of money． |
| B．He knew the President lived in the suite． |
| C．He wanted to be a rich businessman． |
| D．He wanted to steal some money． |
Why did Calvin Coolidge live at the Willard Hotel in those days?
| A．Because the former President was still living in the White House． |
| B．Because the former First Lady hadn’t left the White House． |
| C．Because the First Lady liked to live there． |
| D．Because he liked there． |
Coolidge counted out ＄32 ______．
| A．in order not to be killed by the thief |
| B．in order to be out of danger |
| C．so as to help the young student overcome his difficulty |
| D．because he had no more money |
The young man’s roommate went back to the college ______．
| A．by air | B．by water | C．by bus | D．by train |
Which of the following might happen afterwards?
| A．The young student repaid the＄32． |
| B．The thief was put into prison． |
| C．The President told many reporters the thief’s name． |
| D．The President ordered the young man to repay the money． |