第二部分: 阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分,满分30分)
第一节（共10小题；每小题2分，满分20分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
As prices and building costs keep rising，the “do-it-yourself”（DIY）trend in the U. S. continues to grow.
“We needed furniture for our living room,” says John Ross，“and we just didn’t have enough money to buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs. ”John got married six months ago，and like many young people these days，they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for ＄280 at an evening school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory. Last month，he received a car repair bill for ＄420. “I was deeply upset about it. Now I’ve finished a car repair course. I should be able to fix the car by myself. ”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it-yourselfer”，you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don’t have time to take a course，there are books that tell you how to do things yourself.
54. We can learn from the text that many newly married people ____.
A. find it hard to pay for what they need
B. have to learn to make their own furniture
C. take DIY course run by the government
D. seldom go to a department store to buy things
55. When the writer says that Jim has a full time job at home, he means Jim ____.
A. makes shoes in his home
B. does extra work at night
C. does his own car and home repairs
D. keeps house and looks after his children
56. Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when ____.
A. his car repairs cost too much
B. the car repair class was not helpful
C. he could not possibly do two jobs
D. he had to raise the children all by himself
The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the_follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share....What can be the best title for the text?
| A．Wild Bees |
| B．Wax and Honey |
| C．Beekeeping in Africa |
| D．HoneyLover's Helper |
Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their pets 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....What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?
| A．They are often forgotten by their owners. |
| B．They are used to living outdoors. |
| C．They build their own shelters. |
| D．They like to stay in warm places. |
With a PhD in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University, Dr. Siegel teaches mathematics at Central Arizona College. His courses include various makeup classes and a number of lectures for future primary school teachers.
If the course fails to provide complete satisfaction to you, you can easily exchange it for any other course that we offer. Or you can get your money back.Where is the passage most likely to have been taken from?
| A．A news report. |
| B．A book review. |
| C．A lesson plan. |
| D．An advertisement. |
The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives (蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it findsa suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the_follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.What do the words “the follower” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．A bee. | B．A bird. |
| C．A honey seeker. | D．A beekeeper. |
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 nonfrozen water....Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are out in cold weather?
| A．To know when to bring them inside. |
| B．To keep them from eating bad food. |
| C．To help them find shelters. |
| D．To keep them company. |