第三部分:阅读理解(共2节,满分35分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑(共15小题,每小题2分,满分30分).
ARGENTINA’S new government faced public anger over its recent decision to greatly reduce the dollar value of its citizens’ bank savings. More than two-thirds of Argentine bank savings were in US dollars. The country’s recession (衰退),which is in its fourth year, has left a third of Argentine’s 36 million people in poverty.
A few angry people took the streets on January 21, beating pots and pans in protest. And a group of unemployed Argentines demanding jobs blocked a major highway into Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires.
Argentines fear they could lose up to half the dollar value of their savings. Some on the street said the country’s fifth president in the past month has already failed them.
After three weeks in power, President Eduardo Duhalde has broken his first and biggest promise. He said he would return people’s savings in the currency in which were deposited(开户). Duhalde aims to make exports more competitive. But this is expected to have a serious effect on ordinary families, for the simple reason that in Argentine, 80 percent of loans and mortgages(抵押) are in dollars. The government froze all the bank savings made in dollars, worth US$45 billion in total to stop a run on banks. This cause huge street protest earlier this month and contributed to the downfall of two governments. “Most of my life savings were just taken away from me, “ said Jose, a 38-year-old citizen. “I was going to move to Italy but now I can’t because my money is trapped here. Argentina is like a prison.”
The government loosened the new banking rules a little bit on January 17. However, people still don’t have free access to their bank account. They are only allowed to take out rapidly devaluing pesos, even though their savings are in US dollars.
The banking controls will remain in place for about three months, with a few exceptions for the elderly or people with sever illnesses who need crash.
56. How many people have been left in poverty because of Argentina’s economic recession?
A. all Argentines people B. 24 million people
C. 12 million people D. 36 million people
57. What cause Argentines to protest in the streets earlier this month?
Argentina’s economic recession.
Argentina’s new government made its people angry.
Argentina’s government froze all the bank savings made in US dollars.
Two of Argentina’s governments failed to make exports more competitive.
58. What does the sentence… my money is trapped here” mean_____?
My bank savings have been frozen by the government.
I don’t want to take my money away.
I don’t have any money in the bank.
My money has been taken by the Italian government.
59. According to the article, which of the following sentences is correct?
people can get their money from the bank freely.
People are only allowed to get US dollars from the bank.
The government will only allow people to get pesos from the bank.
The banking controls will loosen a little in three months’ time.
60. Argentines cannot get US dollars from the bank unless they are_____.
A. ordinary people B. rich or government officials
C. poor people D. old or seriously ill
Do you love holidays but hate the increase weight that follows? You are not alone.
Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.
With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.
Do not miss meals. Before yon leave home for a feast(宴会),have a small, low-fat snack(小吃). This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods. Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.
Better not have high-fat foods. Dishes that look oily or creamy have much fat in them.
Choose lean meat(瘦肉 ).Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.
If you have a sweet tooth, try mints (薄荷) and fruits. They don’t have fat content as cream and chocolate.
Don’t let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off excess(过多的) calories.Holidays are happy days with pleasure but they may ______
| A.bring weight problems |
| B.bring you much trouble in your life |
| C.make you worried about your foods |
| D.make you hate delicious foods |
In order to really enjoy your holidays without putting on weight, you'd better__
| A.drink much water and have vegetables only |
| B.not eat the food in high fat |
| C.not accept invitations to feasts |
| D.turn away from delicious foods |
According to the passage, ___ is a necessary part to stop you from putting on weight.
| A.physical exercise | B.water |
| C.calories of energy | D.vegetables |
Many people can't help putting on weight after the holidays because they _______ .
| A.enjoy delicious food |
| B.go to too many feasts |
| C.can't control themselves |
| D.can't help turning away from the foods |
Once there was a poor farmer and his farm belonged to(属于) a rich man. One day he brought a basket of apples to the rich man’s house. On the doorsteps, he met two monkeys dressed like children. They jumped onto the basket to eat the apples and threw some on the ground. The farmer politely took off his hat and asked the monkeys to get off. They obeyed(服从) and the farmer went into the house. He asked to see the rich man. A servant took him to the room where the rich man was sitting.
"I have brought you the basket of apples you asked for," he said.
"But why have you brought a half-empty basket?" the rich man asked.
"I met your children outside, and they stole(偷) some of the apples." Why did the farmer bring apples to the rich man? Because
| A.he was poor |
| B.he liked the rich man |
| C.the rich man’s children liked apples |
| D.his farm belonged to the rich man |
What did the monkeys do when the farmer was on the doorsteps?
| A.They jumped and jumped. | B.They played. |
| C.They ran away. | D.They ate some of the apples. |
. The monkeys left the basket because
| A.they had thrown apples on the ground |
| B.the farmer had politely asked them to get off |
| C.they were afraid of the hat |
| D.the farmer was angry with them |
. How did the rich man feel when he saw the basket? He felt
| A.pleased | B.moved(感动) |
| C.excited | D.unhappy |
Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter (住所) as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you're cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
If they are left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet's water. Sometimes owners don't realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can't get anything to drink. Animals that don't have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them. What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?
| A.Thy are often forgotten by their owners |
| B.They like to stay in warm places. |
| C.They build their own shelter. |
| D.They are used to living outdoors. |
. Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are out in cold weather?
| A.To keep them company |
| B.To keep them from eating bad food. |
| C.To know when to bring them inside |
| D.To help them find shelters. |
If pets are left on their own outdoors in cold weather, they may ________.
| A.run short of clean water | B.dig deep holes for fun |
| C.dirty the snow nearby | D.get lost in the wild |
What is the purpose of this text?
| A.To give practical advice. |
| B.To solve a problem. |
| C.To tell an interesting story. |
| D.To present a research result. |
When I was young I wanted to be a model,so when a national contest was staged,I convinced my parents to take me for an audition (试演).I was selected and told I had potential. They said that for only $900 I could attend a weekend event which dozens of the most prestigious (有声望的) modeling agencies from around the world would attend. At 13,my hopes of fame and fortune clouded all judgment and I begged my parents to let me go. We have never been rich,but they saw my enthusiasm and agreed.
I imagined being signed by some famous model companies. For months,any boredom or disappointment I faced was pushed aside because I knew I would soon have the chance to be real model. I thought I would grace the covers of famous magazines!
Of course,I wasn't signed,but what hurt the most was being told that if I grew to 5′9″(about 1.75 metres) I could be a success. I prayed for a growth spurt (冲刺) because I could not imagine giving up my dream. I made an appointment with a local modeling agency and the agent demanded $500 for classes. $500 for a photo shoot,and $300 for other expenses. My parents only agreed after hours and hours of my begging.
The agency sent me out on a few auditions,but with every day I didn't receive a call,I grew more depressed. The_ finalstraw came in July after I had decided to focus on commercial modeling. There was an open call in New York City. We spent hours driving and another few hours waiting,only to be told that I was too short. I was devastated (极度不安的).
Years later,I realized that the trip to New York was good as it made me notice I didn't actually love modeling,just the idea of it. I wanted to be special and I was innocently determined to reach an impossible goal. The experience has made me stronger and that will help me in the future.What's the author's parents' attitude toward her dream?
| A.Encouraging. | B.Worried. |
| C.Doubtful. | D.Enthusiastic. |
What was it that made the author end her attempt to become a model?
| A.Her parents were strongly against it. |
| B.She realized that it was impossible for her. |
| C.Even a local modeling agency turned her down. |
| D.She realized that she didn't actually love the idea of modeling. |
The underlined phrase “The final straw” probably means ________.
| A.the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset,angry,etc... |
| B.the final result that she was admitted by the model company. |
| C.the final audition given by the agency. |
| D.the decision that she made at last not to be a model any more. |
What did the author learn from her experience of struggling to be a model?
| A.Where there's a will there's way. |
| B.Being a model is not that easy. |
| C.We should have our own judgment and should not just follow others. |
| D.We might set unpractical goals but the experience can help us grow. |
Below is adapted from an English dictionary. Use the dictionary to answer the following questions.
figure / fīgə / noun, verb
● noun
1. a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade / sales figures
2. a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary
3. (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers
4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history.
5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly
6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it
7. the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure
8. a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating
* be / become a figure of fun: be / become sb. that others laugh at
* cut a…figure: sb with a particular appearance: He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket.
* put a figure on sth: to say the exact price or number of sth.
* a fine figure of man / woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person
* figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect
* figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority)
● verb
1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning.
2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn’t seem to figure at all.
3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth: We figured that attendance at 150,000.
* figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel?
* figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home so late.
* figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost?
* It / That figures!: That seems reasonable.According to the information above, which of the following sentence is not right?
| A.This year’s sales figures were quite excellent. |
| B.I couldn’t figure out what the teacher was talking about. |
| C.She was the leading figure in British politics in the 1980s. |
| D.He was about to speak but she put a figure on his lips to stop him. |
— She was coming late again for the work.
— ______! That’s typical of her. You just can’t do anything to stop her doing that.
| A.It figures her out | B.She is a figure of fun |
| C.It cuts a poor figure | D.It figures |
The phrase “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure.” means “______”.
| A.add the numbers | B.have sports |
| C.try not to get fat | D.watch games |
Which sentence is used as figure of speech?
| A.John is fond of animals and raises a rabbit as a pet. |
| B.In some countries, bamboo can be used to build houses. |
| C.We all regard Mr. Smith as an important figure in our company. |
| D.I didn’t really mean my partner was a snake. |