第三部分: 阅读理解 (共20小题；每小题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。
Liverpool, with its half a million citizens, is a big city. It's a city with variety and options.
Every year, tourists from all over the world go to Liverpool, most of whom head straight for the stadium to catch the city's two football teams in action. Liverpool and Everton are both world－famous clubs with fans from all corners of the World, as well as a good number of home grown supporters.
Another big draw to the city is the four local boys. Paul, John, George and Ringo, collectively famous as The Beatles. The pop group first put Liverpool on the world map in the 1960s. The Beatles Story, situated at the Albert Dock, is a huge draw for fans, and you'll find the Beatles shop and ever－popular Cavern Club, the “birthplace of the perfect Four”, in the Cavern Quarter of the city. Fans can also join one of the coach trips around the sights associated with the band, from the houses they grew up in, to the places including Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.
But Liverpool is about more than music and sport. It is rich in history, with some of the most shocking architecture in the UK. The city has two great cathedrals: Anglican－the largest of its kind in Europe; and the more modern－styled Metropolitan. The famous waterfront, with the Pierhead and the Albert Docks, is also worth a visit. Many of the city's great museums are situated here, including the Walker Art Gallery, the Liverpool Maritime Museum, and the Tate Gallery, which is home to the largest modern art collection in the North. The nightlife in the city also has a lot to offer. With more than 250 bars, pubs and restaurants, there is always something for everyone to do in Liverpool. Music, museums, shopping, history, pubs and bars——it's all there. It is the world in one city, a place truly deserving of the Capital of Culture title.
51. Liverpool and Everton are_____________clubs.
A. architecture B. music C. tourist D. football
52. What made Liverpool first known to the world?
A. The Beatles Story. B. Cavern Club. C. The Beatles. D. The Beatles shop.
53. Compared with Metropolitan, the cathedral Anglican is___________
A. more traditional B. more shocking C. better－known D. smaller
54. Why does the author say “It is the world in one city” in the last paragraph?
A. Liverpool belongs to the world.
B. Liverpool is world famous now.
C. Liverpool owns lots of museums well－known in the world.
D. Liverpool is a lively city with various cultures.
Despite the high technology and investment in flood defences by the Environment Agency, there is no way to stop all flooding -- sooner or later nature will produce something that will beat even the strongest defences．
Warning people of this danger is very important if we are to prevent the great loss of life seen fifty-three years ago．Indeed if the Flood Warning System that currently exists had been around on that cold, stormy night in January 1953, many lives would have been spareD．
The Environment Agency took over the role of flood warning in 1995 from the police who had to go door to door or sound alarms to get the news out．The service is being constantly improved and a combination of better technology and increased investment following the Easter Floods of 1998 has led to the creation of Floodline and an automatic messaging system that can warn thousands of people in very little time．
Floodline 0845 988 1188 offers information and advice 24 hours a day and if warnings are in place, callers can get information either from local updates or by using a quickdial code for their areA．
The Flood Warning team in Kent has also sent letters to the people living close to the rivers or the sea and invited them to join the AVM (automated voice messaging) system．Anyone choosing to take up this free service will receive a recorded message directly to their home, business or pager telling them of the level of warning, giving them as much time as possible to carry out their flood plan and save items that cannot be replaced if lost or damaged, such as photographs or children’s favorite toys．Choose the correct statements from the following according to the passage．
A． Many people lost their lives in the flood in 1953
B． The Flood Warning system was already in use in 1953
C． Flood defences can stop all flooding
D． The Environment Agency began to warn people of flood in 1995
e．Floodline was created after the Easter Floods of 1998
A． a, b, c B． b, c, d C． a, d, e D． a, c, eWhat does the underlined word "pager" mean in the passage?
| A．A piece of equipment designed to receive and show messages |
| B．A boy employed to carry luggage in hotels |
| C．A page of papers written to offer messages |
| D．A person, invited to write pages of messages |
People can easily get information and advice about flood any time of the day from____．
| A．automatic messaging system |
| B．automated voice messaging system |
| C．the Flood Warning team in Kent |
| D．Floodline 0845 988 1188 |
The best title for this passage may probably be ____．
| A．Environment Agency |
| B．Flood Warning System |
| C．Technology In Flood Defences |
| D．Easter Floods |
Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans．Alan Beck, an expert in human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction．“No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated（刺激）,” Edwards points out．“The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help．A robotic dog could be a solution．”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone．Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks．These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO．Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner．
“I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady．“When I'm watching TV, he'll stay in my arms until he wants down．He has a mind of his own．”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders．The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people．Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it．A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns．
“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry,” Beck says．“But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief．”
“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper．They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms．AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people's minds．”The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to______．
| A．understand human-animal relationship |
| B．find the causes of old people’s loneliness |
| C．make lonely old people’s life better |
| D．promote the animal-assisted research |
In the research, the old people are asked to______．
| A．note the activities of AIBOs |
| B．keep AIBOs at home for 12 weeks |
| C．analyze the collected information |
| D．record their feelings and activities |
What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
| A．It can watch TV with its owner |
| B．It can help the disabled people |
| C．It responds to all the human orders |
| D．It is easier to keep at home |
The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may______．
| A．keep old people active |
| B．cure certain diseases |
| C．change people's beliefs |
| D．look more like real dogs |
The historic center of Vienna has been added to UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list．Thus, St．Stephen's Cathedral, the Imperial Palace and many other historic buildings are now recognized as being among the 700 outstanding cultural and natural monuments of mankind - others include the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur, the historic center of Rome, the Kremlin with the Red Square, the Chinese Wall, the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon．
Vienna's historic center, in its unity, is considered one of the most beautiful city landmarks in Europe．Three eras left their mark on the former residence of the Habsburgs: the Middle Ages with Gothic St．Stephen's Cathedral whose spire points toward heaven, one of Vienna's landmarks; the Baroque whose most important achievement is the Imperial Palace with its sumptuous cupolas（奢华的圆顶）．And the Ring Boulevard era of the late nineteenth century, when such splendid buildings as the Vienna State Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts were built to replace the former city walls．
The imperial flair of the center of Vienna is enhanced (加强) by numerous churches, mansions and parks, as well as by rich art collections gathered by wealthy rulers．And the centuries-old musical tradition ranges from the Court Chapel of the Imperial Palace to Mozart's immortal（不朽的）music and the waltzes of Johann Strauss．Also inseperably linked to the center of the city are the delights of Viennese cuisine, the gemütlichkeit of Viennese coffeehouses and nostalgic shopping at former purveyors（伙食承办商）to the imperial court．Which of the following is not mentioned as cultural and natural monuments of man-kind?
| A．the Taj Mahal |
| B．the Pyramid Fields |
| C．the Kremlin with the Red Square |
| D．the Court Chapel |
The second paragraph is developed mainly by ____．
| A．following the order of place |
| B．providing examples |
| C．making comparisons |
| D．analyzing causes |
What does the underlined words “imperial flair” in the last paragraph mean?
| A．culture atmosphere |
| B．art style |
| C．royal style |
| D．royal palace |
What is the passage mainly about ?
| A．The universal value of the world heritage in Vienna |
| B．Vienna’s becoming one of the cultural and natural monuments of mankind |
| C．The introduction of the historic center of Vienna |
| D．The special culture atmosphere of the historic center of Vienna |
Experience the newly opened Grand Canyon（大峡谷）West Skywalk in Colorado．Departing from Grand Canyon's South Rim by Airplane to Grand Canyon's West Rim, you will land and take a ground tour to the Skywalk! Walk on air for 70 feet over the edge of Grand Canyon West．
This Skywalk has been open since March 28, 2007．Daily visitorship to the Skywalk has been over 4,000 people．Please be patient to enjoy your moment on the Skywalk．
After you have experienced the one and only Grand Canyon Skywalk Glass Bridge, you will return to the Grand Canyon West Airport and take your Airplane for a flight back to the South Rim of the Canyon．This is a tour never to be forgotten as you will have walked on air over the Grand Canyon．
Tour Itinerary（行程）
This advertisement is for ____．
| A．Grand Canyon West |
| B．the Skywalk |
| C．Grand Canyon |
| D．Grand Canyon South |
The package fee does NOT cover the cost of ____．
A． |
B． |
C． |
D． |
The Grand Canyon Skywalk Bridge is made of glass because ____．
| A．it looks stranger |
| B．it is cheaper to build |
| C．it gives you a better view |
| D．it looks more beautiful |
According to the Tour Itinerary, the route is ____．
| A．South Rim→West Airport→Guano Point→Eagle Point→West Airport→South Rim |
| B．South Rim→Guano Point→West Airport→Eagle Point→West Airport→South Rim |
| C．South Rim→West Airport→Eagle Point→Guano Point→West Airport→South Rim |
| D．South Rim→West Airport→Eagle Point→West Airport→Guano Point→South Rim |
“Soon, you’re going to have to move out!” cried my neighbor upon seeing the largest tomato plant known to mankind, or at least known in my neighborhooD．
One tiny 9-inch plant, bought for $1．25 in the spring, has already taken over much of my rose bed, covering much of other plants, and is well on its way to the front door．
Roses require a good deal of care, and if it weren’t for the pleasure they give, it wouldn’t be worth the work．As it is, I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year．Bushes must be pruned(剪枝) in early spring, leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later．It was the space available in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant．A big mistake．
Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out to be even more perfect for tomatoes．The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing(施肥) have turned the little plant into a tall bush．The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long since disappeared under the thick leaves．
Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is two fold（方面）：First, I have to find the red ones among the leaves, which means I almost have to stand on my head, and once found I have to reach down and under, pick the tomatoes and withdraw my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won．Second, I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June, but they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light．
Here I am faced with a painful small decision: To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses．Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind, I’ll think about that tomorrow．What are the requirements for the healthy growth of roses?
| A．Frequent pruning and fertilizing |
| B．Tomato plants grown alongside |
| C．Cages placed around the roots |
| D．A lot of care and the right soil |
The writer planted the tomato because_______．
| A．there was room for it in the garden |
| B．it cost only $1．25 |
| C．the soil was just right for it |
| D．the roses’ branches needed to be covered |
This year the writer’s roses were _______．
| A．removed from the rose bed |
| B．picked along with the tomatoes |
| C．largely hidden under the tomato plant |
| D．mostly damaged by too much sunlight |
By saying “the prize so dearly won” in paragraph 5, the writer wants to_______．
| A．show the hardship of growing the roses |
| B．show the difficulty in picking the tomatoes |
| C．express her liking for the roses |
| D．express her care for the tomatoes |