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
Below is adapted from an English dictionary. Use the dictionary to answer the following questions.
figure / fīgə / noun, verb ●noun 1 [C, often pl.] a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade /sales figures 2 [C] a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary 3 [pl.] (informal)the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers 4 [C] a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history.5 [C] the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly 6 [C] a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it7 [C] the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure8 [C] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating[IDM] be/become a figure of fun: be/become sb. that others laugh atcut a…figure: (of a person) to have 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. [PHRV] 1 figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel?2 figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home too late.3 figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost? [IDM] It/That figures! (informal): That seems reasonable, logical and what I expect. |
— She was coming late again for the work.
— ________! It is just like her to be late. You just can’t do anything to stop her doing that.
A.It figures her out | B.It figures |
C.It cuts a poor figure | D.She is a figure of fun |
The phrase “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt(引诱) 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 underlined word in the following sentences is used as figure of speech(修辞格)?
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. |
One warm September night, Mira had come down to the beach to enjoy the night air. She closed her eyes and listened to the waves. Suddenly, she could hear another sound, so she opened her eyes and looked down at the sand. It was moving! All of a sudden she could see a tiny head coming out. Then a turtle(龟) appeared! One by one they struggled out of their underground nests. Mira looked in surprise at the baby turtles.
Mira knew the turtles should head towards the waves and swim away, so she was puzzled when they began to pull themselves towards the dunes(沙丘). Suddenly, she remembered something her grandmother had told her.
“Sea turtles bury their eggs on the beach every year in April and in September. Those baby turtles hatch(孵出) and head back down to the sea. But some of them never make it. Sometimes they die going across the dunes, trying to find those bright lights on the houses. Every day there are more houses being built on the dunes. That means more and more lights to confuse the sea turtles.”
Mira looked out across the dunes at her house. Mira saw her mother and father, sitting on the porch(门廊). She could see them because her house had two bright lights that lit up the porch.
Mira began to run to her house and shouted, “The turtles are hatching! We have to help the turtles!” With these words, Mira ran into the house and turned off the bright porch lights.
In a rush she was off running down the dunes with her whole family following her. They reached the beach just in time to see the tiny turtles slipping silently into the waves. Mira watched as the last turtle entered the water. As the turtle swam away, it looked back at Mira. In the moonlight, Mira thought she saw it smile.Where did the story happen?
A.On a beach at night | B.In a house near the dunes. |
C.On a front porch in the evening. | D.In the shallow water of the ocean. |
How did Mira feel when she saw the baby turtles appear?
A.Proud. | B.Sad. | C.Confused. | D.Surprised. |
How did Mira know the lights confused the turtles?
A.She read it in a book. | B.Her grandmother told her. |
C.She learned about the turtles at school. | D.Her parents taught her about the turtles. |
Why did Mira run to her house?
A.To get a flashlight | B.To turn off the porch light. |
C.To communicate with her parents. | D.To ask her grandmother about the lights. |
This story is mainly about a girl ________.
A.enjoying the ocean | B.turning lights off at night |
C.saving the baby turtles | D.learning from her grandparents |
请阅读下列学位申请者的信息,从A、B、C、D、E和F 6个国家中为每位中请者选出最合适的留学国家,选项中有一项是多余选项。(注意:请将答案涂于答题卡上)
阅读下列应用文及相关信息,并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。首先请阅读下列警方通报查找人员的信息:
A. Name: Ziggy Nizott Height: 1.82 m Weight: 90kg Age: 35 Details:Long history of violent crime including robbery, assault and car theft. ![]() |
B. Name: Dennis Tsokas Height: 1.95 m Weight: 70 kg Age: 28 Details: Well known to local police having been arrested several times for pick-pocketing. ![]() |
C. Name: Michael Clarke Height: 1.7 m Weight: 65 kg Age: 20 Details: Arrested as a youth for car theft and the selling of stolen goods ![]() |
D. Name: Mark Hughes Height: 1.6 m Weight: 60kg Age: 29 Details: Is wanted by police for several armed robbery of grocery stores, banks and post offices. ![]() |
E. Name: Herb Elliot Height: 1.6 m Weight: 90kg Age: 22 Details: Recently released from prison where he served 2 years for selling stolen goods. ![]() |
F. Name: William Daniels Height: 1.6 m Weight: 90kg Age: 32 Details: Arrested 4 times for the selling of drugs and car theft. ![]() |
以下是相关事件及人物的描述,请把描述与相关插图及提示性文字匹配起来。A valuable dog was taken while being walked by its owner in City Park yesterday afternoon. Police wish to talk to a man seen nearby at the time, described by witnesses as short and fat with short light hair and clear glasses.
Yesterday morning at 9.30a.m. a man armed with a gun entered the National Bank and demanded money from the staff, before fleeing when confronted by bank security staff. Security cameras show the man as being short and thin with shoulder length blonde hair.
A tall, strong built man with blonde hair, a thick black moustache and wearing dark glasses knocked a woman to the ground and stole her purse on Main Street last Saturday afternoon. If you see this man, do not approach as he is considered extremely dangerous.
At the football match between Manchester United and Liverpool, several people had their wallets stolen while waiting in line to buy food. The victims did not see or notice the thief but bystanders describe him as very tall and thin, clean shaven with short light hair.
A car was stolen from the supermarket car park on Friday, June 23 this year by a man described as very young, 1.7 meters tall with thin dark hair and carrying a blue backpack. A reward of $500 is offered for the car’s recovery.
ROME: The legend of Leonardo da Vinci is covered in mystery: How did he die? Are the remains buried in a French castle really those of the master? Was the "Mona Lisa" a self-portrait in disguise (伪装)?
A group of Italian scientists believe the key to solving those puzzles lies with the remains, and they say they are seeking permission to dig up the body to conduct carbon and DNA testing.
If the skull is undamaged, the scientists can go to the heart of a question that has fascinated scholars and the public for centuries: the identity of the "Mona Lisa." Recreating a virtual and then physical reconstruction of Leonardo's face, they can compare it with the smiling face in the painting.
"We don't know what we'll find if the tomb is opened. We could even just find grains and dust," says Giorgio Gruppioni, an anthropologist who is participating in the project. "But if the remains are well kept, they are a biological record of events in a person's life, and sometimes in their death." Silvano Vinceti, the leader of the group, said that he plans to press his case with the French officials in charge of the said burial site at Amboise Castle early next week.
Leonardo moved to France at the invitation of King Francis I, who named him "first painter to the king." He spent the last three years of his life there, and died in 1519 at age 67. The artist's original burial place, the palace church of Saint Florentine, was destroyed during the French Revolution and remains that are believed to be his were eventually reburied in the Saint-Hubert Chapel near the castle.
"The Amboise tomb is a symbolic tomb; it's a big question mark," said Alessandro Vezzosi, the director of a museum dedicated to Leonardo in his hometown of Vinci. Vezzosi said that investigating the tomb could help identify the artist's bones with certainty and solve other questions, such as the cause of his death. He said he asked to open the tomb in 2004 to study the remains, but the Amboise Castle turned him down.
The group of 100 experts involved in the project, called the National Committee for Historical and Artistic Heritage, was created in 2003 with the aim of "solving the great mysteries of the past," said Vinceti, who has written books on art and literature.
Arguably the world's most famous painting, the "Mona Lisa" hangs in the Louvre in Paris, where it drew some 8.5 million visitors last year. Mystery has surrounded the identity of the painting's subject for centuries, with opinions ranging from the wife of a Florentine merchant to Leonardo's own mother.
That Leonardo intended the "Mona Lisa" as a self-portrait in disguise is a possibility that has interested and divided scholars. Theories have existed: Some think that Leonardo's taste for tricks and riddles might have led him to hide his own identity behind that puzzling smile; others have guessed that the painting hid an androgynous lover.
If granted access to the grave site, the Italian experts plan to use a tiny camera and radar to confirm the presence of bones. The scientists would then exhume (挖掘) the remains and attempt to date the bones with carbon testing.
At the heart of the proposed study is the effort to discover whether the remains are actually Leonardo's, including with DNA testing.
Vezzosi questions the DNA comparison, saying he is unaware of any direct descendants (后代) of Leonardo or of tombs that could be attributed with certainty to the artist's close relatives.
Gruppioni said that DNA from the bones could also eventually be compared to DNA found elsewhere. For example, Leonardo is thought to have rubbed colors on the canvas with his thumb, possibly using saliva (唾液), meaning DNA might be found on his paintings.
Even in the absence of DNA testing, other tests could provide useful information, including whether the bones belonged to a man or a woman, and whether the person died young or old.
Even within the committee, experts are divided over the identity of the "Mona Lisa."
Vinceti believes that a tradition of considering the self-portrait to be not just a faithful imitation of one's features but a representation of one's spiritual identity may have resonated (共鸣) with Leonardo.
Vezzosi, the museum director, dismissed as "baseless and senseless" the idea that the "Mona Lisa" could be a self-portrait of Leonardo. He said most researchers believe the woman may have been either a wife of the artist's sponsor, the Florentine nobleman Giuliano de Medici, or Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a rich silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo. The traditional view is that the name "Mona Lisa" comes from the silk merchant's wife, as well as its Italian name: "La Gioconda."Why does the author ask a couple of questions in the beginning?
A.To arouse the interest of readers | B.To puzzle Italian scientists |
C.To answer the questions himself | D.To make fun of French officials |
The best title of this story might be “_____”
A.What Is the Purpose of an Investigation? |
B.How Did Leonardo da Vinci Die in France? |
C.Are the Remains Really Those of the Master? |
D.Did Leonardo Paint Himself as 'Mona Lisa'? |
The sentence “he plans to press his case with the French officials” (underlined in Paragraph 4) suggests that Vinceti intends to _____
A.press the French officials to participate in their project |
B.urge the French officials to open the tomb early next week |
C.persuade the French officials to allow opening the tomb |
D.record events in a person’s life with the French officials |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A.Scholars have the same opinion on DNA testing |
B.Scientists doubt if the remains are those of da Vinci |
C.The identity of “Mona Lisa” has already been proved |
D.Alessandro Vezzosi got permission to open the tomb |
We can infer from the last two paragraphs that _____?
A.“Mona Lisa” is the name of the wife of a silk merchant |
B.the “Mona Lisa” is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci |
C.experts divided the committee into several groups |
D.opinions differ of the identity of the “Mona Lisa” |
I live in the land of Disney, Hollywood and year-round sun. You may think people in such a splendid, fun-filled place are happier than others. If so, you have some mistaken ideas about the nature of happiness.
Many intelligent people still equate happiness with fun. The truth is that fun and happiness have little or nothing in common. Fun is what we experience during an act. Happiness is what we experience after an act. It is a deeper, more lasting emotion.
Going to an amusement park or ball game, watching a movie or television, are fun activities that help us relax, temporarily forget our problems and maybe even laugh. But they do not bring happiness, because their positive effects end when the fun ends.
I have often thought that if Hollywood stars have a role to play, it is to teach us that happiness has nothing to do with fun. These rich, beautiful individuals have constant access to glamorous parties, fancy cars, expensive homes, everything that spells“happiness”. But in memoir(回忆录)after memoir, they reveal the unhappiness hidden beneath all their fun: depression, alcoholism ,drug addiction, broken marriages, troubled children and profound loneliness.
Ask a bachelor why he resists marriage, if he’s honest, and he will tell you that he is afraid of making a commitment, for commitment is in fact quite painful. The single life is filled with fun, adventure and excitement. Marriage has such moments, but they are not its most distinguishing features.
Similarly, couples that choose not to have children are deciding in favor of painless fun over painful happiness. They can dine out whenever they want and sleep as late as they can. Couples with infant children are lucky to get a whole night’s sleep or a three-day vacation. I don’t know any parent who would choose the word fun to describe raising children.
Understanding and accepting that true happiness has nothing to do with fun is one of the most liberating(解放性的)realizations. It liberates time: now we can devote more hours to activities that can genuinely increase our happiness. It liberates money: buying that new car or those fancy clothes that will do nothing to increase our happiness now seems pointless. And it liberates us from envy: we now understand that all those rich and glamorous people we were so sure are happy because they are always having so much fun actually may not be happy at all.We can learn from the passage that ________.
A.fun creates long-lasting satisfaction |
B.fun provides enjoyment while pain leads to happiness |
C.happiness is lasting whereas fun is short-lived |
D.fun that is long-standing may lead to happiness |
To the author, the role Hollywood stars play is to ________.
A.write memoir after memoir about their happiness |
B.tell the public that happiness has nothing to do with fun |
C.teach people how to enjoy their lives |
D.bring happiness to the public instead of going to parties |
In the author’s opinion, marriage ________ .
A.affords greater fun | B.leads to raising children |
C.indicates duty and devotion | D.usually ends up in pain |
Which of the following is the best example of“painful happiness”?
A.Winning lottery by accident |
B.A bachelor resisting marriage |
C.Raising children |
D.Buying some fancy clothes |
If one gets the true sense of happiness, he will ________.
A.stop playing games and joking with others | B.keep himself with his family |
C.give a free hand to money | D.use his time to increase happiness |