第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题2分，满分40分）
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。
I was walking along Orchard Road when I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon.
To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped, he stopped too.
I began to be rather worried and decided to try to get rid of this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way along Orchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi.
By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me. 
At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened (威胁) to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a journalist (news reporter) and that he was writing an article on how elderly people in Singapore spend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article.
56. What is strange about the man who followed the writer?
A. He seemed to be wearing too much.
B. He was out on such a hot day.
C. He walked quickly behind.
D. He was a tall young man.
57. Why did the writer get into a taxi?
A. To test the young man. B. To call the police.
C. To lose the young man. D. To get home earlier.
58. What did the stranger do when the writer jumped into a taxi?
A. He tried to stop the taxi.
B. He got into another taxi.
C. He almost gave up following him.
D. He made his way along Orchard Road.
59. The stranger followed the writer because ______.
A. he was interested in elderly people
B. he often did such things
C. he was writing a book about old people
D. he needed materials for his article
Your dog is as smart as any two year old, according to a new study. Dogs bring much happiness to their owners, and even improve human health. Most two year olds keep us busy in life — an important part of living a long and happy life. According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D.of the University of British Columbia, our dogs are smarter than we thought.
Dr.Coren reviewed many studies to find out that dogs are as smart as 2 to 2.5 year olds. Forget about one word orders — according to Coren, the smartest dogs can learn up to 250 words. Most dogs understand an average of 165 words. “The upper limit of dogs” ability to learn language is partly based on a study of a Border Collie (博得牧羊犬) named Rico who showed knowledge of 200 spoken words, and ‘fast-track learning’, which scientists believed to be found only in humans and language-learning apes(猿)。
Dogs are also great at tricking. During play, they have the ability to trick humans and other dogs in order to get treats. “And they are nearly as successful in tricking humans as humans are in tricking dogs, saysCoren.
Dogs can also count to four or five, which might explain how they know when their toys are missing. Coren explains,“Their astonishing flashes of smartness and creativity are reminders that they may not be Ensteins, but are sure closer to humans than we thought.”
Animals can do much to keep us happy, health, and protect us from harm. Stories of dog heroes can be found using a simple Internet search. Pets teach us sense of duty, keep us from loneliness, and can help with treatment of the disabled. Dogs are smarter than we thought — as smart as a two year old.How do dogs bring happiness and health to humans according to the author?
| A．By doing funny tricks. |
| B．By keeping humans busy. |
| C．By serving their owners. |
| D．By playing with their owners. |
What makes Rico special?
| A．He seldom uses one word orders. |
| B．He uses words like a 2.5 year old. |
| C．He is Corn’s favorite subject for study. |
| D．He shows a high level of language ability. |
What does Dr. Coren say about a dog’s counting ability?
| A．It is as good as an ape’s. |
| B．It is close to human’s. |
| C．It leaves a lot to be studied. |
| D．It helps them keep their toys. |
For someone interested in knowing more stories about dogs, the author suggests that he.
| A．train a dog |
| B．search the Internet |
| C．watch a two year old |
| D．visit a hospital for the disabled |
While car sharing is a concept that’s catching on, old-fashioned carpooling where a group of people take turns driving each other to work has always faced a resistance (抗拒). In a study on traffic problems by ABC News, 84% of those who drive to work say that they still do it alone. More than half those lone riders insist that carpooling is just too inconvenient, and 18% say they simple don’t know anyone to share a ride with.
Now technology makes carpooling easier and more fun. NuRide, a company provided an online carpooling service last year, offers daily travelers in the Washington area not just a web-based list of would-be carpoolers but also a way to arrange a trip online. Here’s how it works: rider seekers enter the positions where their trip will begin and end, the time they want to leave and if they’re willing to drive or just ride in someone else’s car. The website’s search engine then looks for matches and makes lists of the names of traveling companions, along with the car model and the exact time and place to meet for each trip. People who want to share the ride can show their interest in joining in online and then meet their car mates when it’s time to go.
NuRide users aren’t riding with total strangers. They are required to provide the name of their employer and a work e-mail address, both of which need to be checked before being listed on the website.
To attract users, NuRide offers a frequent rider prize: anyone who shares a ride gets a $1 credit. So far, 2,300 people have signed up. NuRide CEO Rick Steele said that more than 50,000 rides have been arranged on the website, resulting in 1.4 million fewer miles driven and 650 fewer tons of automobile emissions (机动车排放).What has the study found about people’s opinion on carpooling?
| A．Most people think it is inconvenient. |
| B．Only 18% can find their road mates. |
| C．Some people consider it dangerous. |
| D．Half of the people accept the idea.. |
What can NuRide do for you when you use the service?
| A．Decide a car model for you to drive. |
| B．Help you arrange a shared car trip. |
| C．Find your car matestrue names. |
| D．Give you a list of car owners. |
One who wants to share a ride with NuRide users must.
| A．give information about his interest |
| B．meet his car mates before the trip |
| C．offer the name of his employer |
| D．provide his home address |
We may infer that NuRide has helped in.
| A．improving air quality |
| B．reducing driving speed |
| C．promoting safety of driving |
| D．increasing job opportunities |
McEvan’s Supermarket to Mark its Twentieth Anniversary(纪念日)
on October 24!
We would like you to join us on October 24. On this special day, we will be giving you even more ways to save. And there will be music, some free food, and games for children throughout the day. There are more reasons than ever to come to McEvan’s on October 24.
We will offer:
great discounts on hundreds of things from nearly every department, including the bakery, the dairy (奶制品) farm, fruit corner, the vegetable garden and electronics center.
Discount vouchers (代金卷) for $10.00, $15.00, or $20.00 to the first 100 customers.
McEvan’s Supermarket games for children whose parents are shopping that include free T-shirts and other giveaways.
To learn more about the special events planned for October 24, go to our website at www.mcevan-supermarket.com or ask any one of our 200 employees for more information.
Please tear the voucher out.
| Happy 20th! McEvan’s Supermarket October 24 only $20.00 discount Please present to cashier at time of shopping Title First Name Last Name Mailing Address (including apt. number) City StateZip Code Would like to Receive Mail from McEvan’s? Yesno Specials and information through E-mail?Yes no E-mail Address We promise to keep your information to ourselves.It will not be sent to any third party. In the event that your own information changes, please call us at (520)555-0318 or email us at info@mcevansupermarket.com. |
What is the text about?
| A．A supermarket sale. | B．A thank-you party. |
| C．A food exhibition. | D．A new product. |
How can a customer receive a voucher?
| A．He is the winner of the game on October 24. |
| B．He has been shopping at McEvan’s for 20 years. |
| C．He has been an employee of the shop for 20 years. |
| D．He is one of the first 100 customers on October 24. |
What can children get at McEvan’s for free?
| A．Electronic products. | B．Vegetable |
| C．T-shirts | D． Milk. |
Whatwould you do if you were a fifth grader facing a huge homework load every night, and you found out that there was a machine that would do all the work for you? That’s the situation presented to Sam, Kelsey, Judy and Brenton in Dan Gutman’s entertaining new book for young readers, The Homework Machine.
The four children, all fifth graders in Miss Rasmussen’s class at Grand Canyon School, are as different as any four 11-year-olds could be, but they have one thing in common — all are somewhat separated from their classmates. Sam is a newcomer and has had his share of school trouble before; Kelsey quietly carries her pain at losing her father; Judy’s sense of justice (正义感) always annoys others; and Brenton…well, he is another story entirely. Brenton is easily the smartest child in school, so smart that even his parents and teachers have trouble keeping up with him. When Brenton and his three classmates are put into the same study group by their teacher, the others discover that Brenton has made a time-saving gadget (装置) to do his homework for him. While the boy genius(天才) is perfectly able to do the homework himself, Sam, Kelsey and Judy could use the help.
Having perfect grades is something new for these three, and as they meet every day to “do homework”, they find that they’re learning a lot — about each other. Such a good thing can’t last though, and when a secret man starts trying to get in touch with them, the children begin to get nervous. Soon there’s an even more frightening problem — why can’t the Homework Machine be turned off?
Told in different voices (as all the children make statements to the Grand Canyon Police), the story develops in an interesting fashion. Gutman is a gifted who has written dozens of children’s books, each with a funny and impressing tale that should be equally liked by boys and girls.What type of text is it?
| A．A book review. | B．A school report |
| C．A science story | D．A student’s diary |
What is one common thing that all four children have to deal with at school?
| A．Getting along with classmates. |
| B．Overcoming sad feelings. |
| C．Following school rules. |
| D．Keeping good grades |
What can we learn about Brenton?
| A．He is careless. | B．He is clever. |
| C．He is brave. | D．He is quiet. |
Why did the children get frightened?
| A．They had no idea how to stop the machine. |
| B．They lost the connection with each other. |
| C．They were questioned by a strange man. |
| D．They were tracked down by the police. |
As a contestant on The X Factor, 13-year-old Rachel Crow seemed to have exactly what it took to win: strong praise from judges, a beautiful voice, and a lovable personality. Then she was voted off.
When the results were read, Rachel broke down, sobbing and screaming for her mom, who had to rush onstage to comfort her.
It was a humiliating moment for Rachel, but a great moment for The X Factor — just the kind of drama TV audiences love.
Some fans said Rachel’s breakdown proved she was too young to be on the show. And though there was nothing exceptional about someone Rachel’s age being on reality TV — children and teens appear in everything from Dance Moms to The Biggest Loser — Rachel’s meltdown did raise an important question: Should kids be on reality TV at all? Many psychologists are saying “No”.
It’s well known that early fame can be harmful and that many former child stars struggle as adults. Being followed by photographers 24/7 and having everything they do reported in newspapers and blogs can be hard for young people to deal with. It can make them feel as though their worth depends on what others say. Reality TV takes the pressure of early fame to a whole new level. Kids on reality TV don’t play characters. They play themselves. Cameras expose their most private moments for our entertainment.
Laws exist that protect child actors, making sure they go to school and limiting the hours they can work. In many states, though, these laws do not apply to kids on reality TV, because they are not considered actors.
Dangers aside, there’s no doubt that reality shows do offer exciting opportunities and the potential to make money. A 7-year-old girl who attends a TV show earns about $36,000 per season. After competing on The X Factor, One Direction went on to become international stars. Even Rachel made out OK. She released an album and voices a character in the movie Rio 2. And she showed resilience (适应力). “I’m not feeling great, but I’ll be fine,” she told reporters after breakdown. “I’m Rachel still.”The underlined word “humiliating” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to “ _______”.
| A．exciting | B．precious |
| C．important | D．embarrassing |
We can learn from Paragraph 4 that some of Rachel’s fans thought that she _______.
| A．was not good enough |
| B．deserved better results |
| C．should have been much stronger |
| D．shouldn’t have been on the show |
Paragraph 5 is mainly about _______.
| A．how kids should deal with pressure |
| B．why early fame can be harmful to kids |
| C．the importance of kids being themselves |
| D．what some former child stars have achieved |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A．Kids should look for more challenges. |
| B．Reality shows may change a kid forever. |
| C．Reality shows can benefit kids in some ways. |
| D．Kids can earn little money from reality shows. |