第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
A
As a child growing up, I have very few memories of the times when we gathered as a family to sit down and eat dinner together. I grew up in a home where both of my parents worked. My mother taught in the school, and my father worked during the night at a local chemical plant. There was not much time available for us to sit down to eat dinner together due to my parents’ conflicting（冲突的）work schedules and the afterschool activities in which my sister and I participated.
It wasn’t until I got married and had two children of my own that I began to realize the important of eating dinner together. In my family there are elements that take us away from each other, day in and day out, but as a mother I feel it is my duty to bring us all back together again at the end of the day. In my house, dinner time is a time of thanks. I give thanks for us to share our day, but I am more thankful for the family I share it with. Dinner time is a time for us to share our day, and reflect on our thoughts. Above all it is a time when my family are able to connect with the ones they love.
As I look at the bread basket which sits on my kitchen table, I am reminded of how the basket’s tight weave resembles the tightly woven strands（股）of my family. I believe that through our family dinners, we will not only pass around the meat and potatoes, but we will also pass along virtues that will shape us so that we can forever embrace one another just as the basket embraces the bread.
56. What is the main idea of the passage？
A. It is pleasant to spend time with your family.
B. It is necessary to participate in family activities.
C. It is vital to balance work and family time.
D. It is important to have family dinner together.
57. According to the author, during dinner time .
A. we should remember the one who prepares the dinner
B. we can learn all sorts of knowledge from other people
C. communication among family members will be improved
D. it is healthy for people to express their opinions
58. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A. The family B. The food C. Dinner time D. My house
59. The author concludes the passage by .
A. making comparisons B. telling her own story
C. summarizing the main idea D. presenting facts
My topic today is the Internet. It was prompted(引出)by the first letter, which I am unable to answer fully for the reasons given!
Dear David,
I’m a middle school student. Now I am preparing for a writing competition. Could you please check the mistakes in my article about using the Internet and
Give me some advice? No name 
David writes: I’m very sorry to say that I think it would be very unfair for me to help you win a competition--- unfair to the other competitors!
But I’ll say that your article is very interesting and I wish you good luck.
Dear David,
I’m now learning English by myself. Can you introduce some useful websites where I can make friends with foreigners? Please help me.
Moonlight
David writes: Well, dear moonlight, I think you made a good choice by using the Net in your self-studies. Two very good websites I’d suggest to you are:
www.britishcouncil.org.cn and www.britishcouncil.org.cn/learn.
By the way, for those readers interested in the teaching of English, there is an Internet
discussion group called ELTCSChi-L (English Language Teaching Contacts Scheme China List).
And also, a healthy warning to all my readers: If over-used, the Internet can be a WOMBAT—A Waste of Money, Brains and Time!David is probably a ________.
| A．language expert | B．computer expert |
| C．college student | D．club chairman |
What is the reason why the first letter is unable to be fully answered?
| A．David is unable to think out good advice. |
| B．David thinks it is expected to play fair in the competition. |
| C．David is going to talk on another topic-Internet. |
| D．David finds no mistakes in that article. |
“www.britishcouncil.org.cn” is a (an)________.
| A．English newspaper for students and language teachers. |
| B．website where one can join a discussion group. |
| C．newspaper column for answering readers’ questions . |
| D．website where one can make foreign friends. |
A recent trend(趋势) in Californian restaurants shows new eating habits among those people out to have an interesting dining experience. Appetizers(开胃品)seem to be the name of the games as diners turn away from the more traditional three-course meal in favor of smaller snacks served in various types of restaurants, bars and cafes. In this way, in the course of an evening out, you might go to a restaurant for a tasty dish to eat at one end of town, to a bar with some live music at the other end, then for a coffee, and finally back to the restaurant for a further appetizer.
Reasons for this trend are the fact that so many different types of restaurants have been set up recently, each with their own particular type of food and special atmosphere, together with the increased specialty in the type of snacks being offered. Gone are the cheese sticks of the old days, when appetizers were not really taken seriously. Some favorite snacks of the moment are slices of hot pizza, creamy fish-based dishes and crispy cakes and so on.
Prices for appetizers are not equal to a full meal; however, their new popularity has meant that they are by no means as cheap as they used to be. Certainly, for that special occasion, a meal in a nice restaurant, complete with the piano performance, is hard to beat. However, if we see this trend for “butterfly eating”---moving around several different places in one evening continues, then all the traditional style restaurants may well have to provide their own appetizer bars as well!How are the eating habits of the Californians changing?
| A．People are dining out less. |
| B．Californian restaurants are becoming less popular. |
| C．Most people eat less than they used to. |
| D．A full restaurant meal is less popular. |
All the places that serve appetizers _.
| A．have much the same menu |
| B．have their own particular characteristics |
| C．have a bar with live music |
| D．are located at the end of the town |
If you go out for an evening of appetizers, you are likely to _.
| A．need a car or take a bus or other transport |
| B．be bored with some kinds of snacks |
| C．spend more time for a full meal than you would |
| D．eat too much meat |
Appetizers used to be seen as .
| A．relatively important | B．a full meal |
| C．a cheap meal | D． an expensive meal |
“Football is a very short-term career. Football really prepares you for almost nothing. The only thing I got out of football was the ability to work hard.” says Gales Sayers. So what do you do after your glory days on the field are over? Here’s what one of the top players, Gales Sayers did after he put down the pigskin.
Gales Sayers: #40, Chicago Bears, Running Back.
Gales Sayers became famous in 1965. After recovering from a serious knee injury in 1968, Sayers returned to the Bears in 1969 and was awarded the George Halas Award as “the most courageous player in professional football.” At the award ceremony, he owed his prize to his friend and teammate Brian Piccolo, who was dying of cancer.
Sayers couldn’t get away from the injuries, though, and another blow to his knee put an end to his football career in 1971. His personal life was unfortunate as well, as he and his wife, Linda, split up that year. Shortly after that, Sayers started a new life and career as an assistant athletic director in the University of Kansas. By 1976 he was moving up the ladder at Southern Illinois University, becoming the first African-American athletic director at a major university.
Sayers started a computer supplies company in 1984 with his second wife, Ardie, whom he married in 1973. The couple was looking for a field with a future, and computers seemed to have it all. Seventeen years later, the company that bears his name is a national provider of technology solutions, with 10 locations and over 350 employees across the country. Just like in the old days the honors started rolling in. Sayers was listed into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship(企业家) Hall of Fame in 1999.What does the underlined sentence “he put down the pigskin” mean?
A
. Sayers ended his football career.
B
. Sayers was too tired to go on playing.
C. Sayers intended to start a new career.
D. Sayers only wanted to rest for some time.How many times was Sayers honored in his life?
| A．Only once as a football star. |
| B．Only once as a businessman. |
| C．Twice in all. |
| D．We are not quite sure. |
Sayers started his new career mainly because of _______ .
| A．the first knee injury in l 968 |
| B．his unfortunate personal life |
| C．another more serious knee injury |
| D．a friend’s being deadly ill |
What can be learned from this passage?
| A．Football players are not successful all the time. |
| B．A successful businessman should be a ball player first. |
| C．A retired football player can easily make money. |
| D．Whatever you do, working hard is the most important. |
As we grow up, we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs. These are influenced by society, our family, the education we receive and so on. Once this value system is set up, it’s not easy to change later in life. Financial experts say that everyone also has his own belief of how to manage his money. According to our different values, experts put us in three catagories---the ant, the cricket(蟋蟀) and the snail.
★ The ant — work first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter, these people don't care about enjoying the moment. They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire. The ant loves to save, but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
★ The cricket — fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future. They even borrow money when they really want something. Many young people now belong to this group. These people have little savings. When they get old, they might have problems. They should learn to save and buy insurance.
★ The snail — life under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves. They take big long-term loans(贷款) from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses. They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure they can afford them. This can cause problems in the future. They should plan more carefully.One’s values may________.
| A．be his ways of managing money |
| B．be his beliefs about society |
| C．be connected with his education |
| D．influence his behavior |
Mr. Smith always enjoys spending a weekend with his friends, fishing, hunting and playing cards. Besides, he spends money in a very luxurious way. So_______.
| A．Mr. Smith belongs to the ant type |
| B．Mr. Smith belongs to the cricket type |
| C．Mr. Smith belongs to the snail type |
| D．it’s hard to tell which kind of person Mr. Smith is |
The writer of the passage intends _______.
| A．to introduce to us the three types of people with different life style |
| B．to show us his special attitude to the different people |
| C．to tell us life is full of joy and happiness all the time |
| D．to warn us how to live a better life in a new way |
According to the passage, the most suitable title would be _______.
| A．Nature of Spending |
| B．What Comes First |
| C．How to Understand Your Belief |
| D．Work and Fun |
Scientists in the United States say plant life has increased on Earth in the past twenty years and that in every area of plant growth the increase is the result of weather conditions.
Eight scientists from across the Uni
ted States did the study. The space agency NASA and the Department of Energy paid for it. The findings were published in the magazine Science.
The researchers spent one and a half years examining weather satellite information. The information was recorded from 1982 to 1999. That period was one of the warmest on record. Researchers found that rainfall generally increased during that time.
The satellites measured the number of leaves on plants and the amount of sunlight taken in. The scientists used that information to estimate what is called net primary production. This is total amount of carbon stored in land plants.
The scientists report a 6% increase in stored carbon since 1982. They say gains were high in equatorial areas, especially around the Amazon River in South America. The area alone had a 1% increase in the net primary production.
Ramakrishna Nemani of the University of Montana in Missoula headed the study. He says reduced cloud cover led to growth in Amazon area. He also says the lack of clouds allowed more sunlight to get through. More sunlight meant increases in photosynthesis(光合作用). That is the process by which plants use energy from sunlight to produce the chemicals they need to grow.
Northern Canada, the north-central United States and northern Europe were second in increased plant growth. Ramakrishna Nemani says a rise in temperature helped plants there.
All together, the report says 25% of areas of plant life on Earth experienced increases. But the scientists also note increase in the number of people on Earth and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Ranga Myneni of Boston University in Massachusetts, another study scientist says humans use about half the net primary production on Earth. And he notes that the world population grew by 36% during the period of time studied.Which of the following is in charge of the study?
A．The spa ce agency NASA of the US. |
| B．The Department of Energy of the US. |
| C．Ramakrishna Nemani in Missoula. |
| D．Ranga Myneni in Massachusetts. |
What’s the main cause of the plant growth put forward by the study?
| A．Growth in population. |
| B．Regional features. |
| C．Seasonal variation. |
| D．Weather conditions |
Why do scientists believe that reduced cloud cover has led to the plant growth in the Amazon area?
| A．Because plants could take in more sunlight. |
| B．Because plants could get more rainfall. |
| C．Because plants could enjoy cooler air. |
| D．Because plants suffer less from natural disasters. |
Which of the following descriptions about the years from 1982 to 1999 is TRUE?
| A．It was the warmest on record. |
| B．Rainfall decreased little by little. |
| C．World population grew by 25%. |
| D．Stored carbon increased by 6%. |