四、阅读理解
When I was a stay-at-home mom, there were times I wished I could buy some beautiful flowers, but the money that they would cost was needed in the home. When I walked into town with the family, my youngest daughter, Lily, would always carry a flower stem(花梗). That’s how she got the nickname “Stick Girl”
One day when we passed the flower lady with Lily, the flower lady smiled at her and said, “Come here. I have something for you.” She handed her a beautiful flower. Lily dropped the stem and held on to that flower until we came back home. We placed it in water and enjoyed the beauty of that flower along with the feelings of warmth and kindness from the flower lady.
My neighbors would run to her to get a bouquet of flowers whenever they wanted to, and I used to give directions(为人指路) using the flower lady. I would say, “Walk for three blocks. You’ll see the flower lady. Turn right at that street.”
My mom visits me each year. On her first summer visit this year, she looked at me and asked, “Where’s the flower lady?”
I had no idea. The flower lady had been an icon(偶像) for me for 16 years, but now she wasn’t there any more.
I went on a search and soon found her in another spot, at the Harbor Loop. I was glad to see her and I had to tell her that she was missed!
I have a garden which I admire very much now. Every time I see those bright colors when I come home after a day of work, I remember the generosity of a dear old lady whom I only know as the flower lady.
41. When the flower lady gave Lily a flower, Lily _____.
A. accepted it happily
B. paid for it and walked home quickly
C. accepted it and forgot that other people were laughing at her
D. felt sorry for not being able to pay for it
42. Why did the author give directions using the flower lady?
A. Because the flower lady used to give her daughter many flowers.
B. Because she felt grateful for the flower lady’s generosity and warmth.
C. Because her neighbors usually bought flowers from the flower lady.
D. Because the flower lady ran the flower shop with her and her mother.
43. From the passage, we know that _____.
A. it was the flower lady who taught the author how to grow flowers
B. the author didn’t know the flower lady’s address or name
C. the flower lady used to sell flowers in one place all the time
D. the flower lady might keep on offering the author flowers
44. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. The Stick Girl B. Beautiful Flowers
C. The Flower Lady D. Buying Flowers
The world’s richest man might seem to have it all，but Bill Gates has one regret．The self-made billionaire said he felt stupid for not knowing any foreign languages．
Speaking in his third Ask Me Anything question-and-answer session for online forum Reddit(红迪网)，the Microsoft founder said that he wished he spoke French，Arabic or Chinese．
He said：“I took Latin and Greek in high school and got A's and I guess it helps my vocabulary．I keep hoping to get time to study one of these—probably French because it is the easiest．I did Duolingo for a while but didn’t keep it up．”
Gates，who is worth $79．3 billion，praised Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for surprising an audience in Beijing when he spoke fluent Chinese，“Mark Zuckerberg amazingly learned Chinese and did a Q&A with Chinese students—unbelievable，isn’t it?”he said．
This isn’t the first time for Gates to admit his regret over language．He also showed his habits at home and personal insights．
L
ast February, Gates said he likes to do the dishes himself—to his own special standards every night and also told the interviewer that his wife，Melinda，would likely want Samuel L．Jackson to play her husband in a biopic(传记片)．
He also admitted that he would pick up a $100 bill if he found it on the street．
As he took the top spot on Forbes(福布斯)28th Annual Billionaires list last year for the fourth time，he said he is pretty basic when it comes to so ending on clothes and food，but that he enjoys investing in shoes and racquets(球拍)when he plays tennis．
When asked a life lesson he had to learn the hard way，the billionaire said staying up too late is a habit he is still trying to break．‘‘Don’t stay up too late even if the book is really exciting．You will regret it in the morning．Pam still working on this problem，”he said．Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
| A．Bill Gates’Regret |
| B．The Richest Billionaire |
| C．An Interview with Bill Gates |
| D．How Bill Gates Succeeded |
The underlined part in Paragraph 8 may actually mean that_____．
| A．it is important to lay a good foundation of life |
| B．he never cares about buying food and clothing |
| C．food and clothing are basic needs for people’s life |
| D．he doesn’t spend much money on food and clothes |
What advice did Bill Gates give?
| A．Avoid staying up too late． |
| B．Be a good language learner． |
| C．Do the dishes yourself at home． |
| D．Pick up the $100 bills in the streets． |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Bill Gates is also the founder of Facebook |
| B．Bill Gates topped the list of Forbes 28 times． |
| C．Bill Gates was good at learning languages in high schoo1． |
| D．Bill Gates’wife wants Samuel to play a game with Gates． |
Thick dust rose and a large building collapsed. This was the scene in Zhu Zhou，Hunan Province on May 17. Nine people were killed and 16 injured.
Things were similar in the Sichuan earthquake. Thousands of people were buried in the ruins and lost their lives. What if we could have warned them?
People are always racking their wits to find a way of preventing buildings’ collapse. Better materials and technology help，but they are not a solution.
Just like humans，a building has its own life cycle from “birth” to “death”．If we know when a building is going to collapse，we can repair it in advance or get out of it before it falls. Now，scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a material that turns red before it breaks. The invention could be used in things like climbing ropes or bridge supports. The research was led by Nancy Sottos，a professor at the university’s Beckman Institute，and Douglas Davis，a graduate research assistant.
The secret behind the color—changing material is a type of molecule (分子)．A molecule is a group of atoms held together by chemical bonds. Imagine you and your friends standing in a circle，holding hands. Each person stands for one atom，your hands represent the bonds，and the entire circle represents a molecule. If one person lets go of his or her hands，the molecule changes color. The research team put the molecule into a soft material. When the researchers stretched the material，it turned bright red for a few seconds before it broke into two pieces. When they repeatedly stretched and relaxed the material，without breaking it，it only turned a little red.
The major problem is that light can get rid of the red color. When the team shone bright light on the molecule，the broken bond was fixed，and the color disappeared. Scientists have yet to do more research before the color—changing molecules can be used outside the lab.What does the passage mainly introduce?
| A．The collapse of a large building in Zhu Zhou, Hunan Province. |
| B．A type of molecule that can be put into a soft material |
| C．A material that turns red before it breaks. |
| D．A way of preventing building from collapsing. |
The underlined words “racking their wits” in the third paragraph mean ________.
| A．suffering a lot | B．collecting beyond imagination |
| C．losing a lot | D．thinking very hard |
Which of the following is a WRONG statement?
| A．Thousands of people died from the collapse of buildings in the Sichuan earthquake because they hadn’t been warned. |
| B．There is no building that will never collapse. |
| C．A new material has been applied to buildings to warn people of collapse. |
| D．A color—changing material can turn red before it breaks. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The color—changing molecules are certain to be used outside the lab. |
| B．There will be less collapse with the help of the color—changing material. |
| C．The bright light may make the material’s warning system useless. |
| D．The problem caused by bright light will be solved by scientists soon. |
The U.S. government is facing an increasing bother. Wild pigs, at their worst, can damage crops, spread diseases, attack humans and kill farm animals. And things are getting worse: a study shows that they are likely to double in number over the next 3 years. Why is it so hard to control wild pigs?
Introduced to America in the 16th century, and related to the wild pigs found in Europe, wild pigs can be found in 75% of all states. No single law exists to control them and regulations differ between states: while in Missouri they can only be shot if met by chance, in Texas hunting is actively encouraged; a “pork chopper” law allows Texan hunters to shoot wild pigs from helicopters, and some people in Louisiana have even built their own pig—hunting drone(无人机). As well as being popular with hunters, wild pigs are cheaper for game raisers to breed(饲养)than deer. In Michigan and Pennsylvania suggested bans on the private breeding of pigs for hunting have caused quarrels between game raisers and wildlife officials.
Wild pigs' double nature—considered pests by farmers, but valued by hunters—makes it hard to pass laws to control them. Two other factors also contribute. Nearly 70% of land in America is privately owned. And it is difficult for lawmakers to force breeding and hunting laws on private landowners. Secondly, it is hard to define a wild pig.
In some states, laws are being introduced to redefine the term “wild animal” to keep out wild pigs. This is good news for those raising pigs for hunting, but less are to those who consider them pests whose number should be limited. Meanwhile, discussions continue over how to deal with this problem.People are not permitted to hunt wild pigs freely in ________.
| A．Texas | B．Michigan |
| C．Missouri | D．Louisiana |
Why do the game raisers prefer raising wild pigs to deer?
| A．It's difficult to raise deer. |
| B．Wild pigs are in large numbers. |
| C．Deer are not popular with hunters. |
| D．They can benefit more from wild pigs. |
Which is NOT the reason for the difficulty in controlling wild pigs?
| A．The difficulty of passing effective laws. |
| B．The high percentage of land owned privately. |
| C．The farmers' unwillingness to shoot wild pigs. |
| D．The popularity of raising wild pigs in many states. |
What is the best title of the text?
| A．Why are wild pigs so hard to control? |
| B．Are wild pigs pests or wild animals? |
| C．Wild pigs—an increasing danger in the US. |
| D．How to deal with the problem of wild pigs? |
The tough economy is bringing new shoppers to the secondhand market. Plato’s Closet in Chaelotte, NC is a private company, which mainly buys and sells used clothes. While Charlotte has outstanding secondhand stores offering high-end and graceful brands for women, most of their stock applies to adults. Plato’s closet targets teens and those in their 20s. Plato’s Closet , with stores in Matthews and the university area, sells clothes and accessories(装饰品) that are currently popular at about one third the retail prices(零售价).
The two hottest brands, for buying and selling, are Hollister and Abercrombie &Fitch. Even though the offerings tend to be suitable for young people, there are a variety of shoppers at Plato’s Closet of varying ages. Women in their 30s, 40s, and older could easily find a purse, jacket or piece of jewelry they like.
If you are selling
Unlike higher-end resale stores which usually work on consignment(寄售),Plato’s Closet buys on the spot.
Items can be gently used, but must be in very good condition.
Clothes should be less than two years old and styles should be the same as those still being sold at the shopping center.
There is no negotiation; prices are set company-wide. If what you sell amounts to $30 or less, they’ll give you cash. More than that, you’ll get a Visa cash card.
Secondhand success
Don’t get discouraged if you can’t find something on your first trip. Resale shops are always getting new lists of goods and change their styles with each season.
Be sure to check each piece carefully before buying.
Price comparison
Jackets: New York & Company black blazer, $12; retail: $37
Pants: Express Editor-style pants, $12; retail: $69.90.
Shoes: Nine West black peep-toe pumps, $12; retail: $89.
Jewelry: Necklaces, $3-$5; retail: $18-$30.What is the difference between Plato’s Closet and other resale shops?
| A．They offer service for people of different ages. |
| B．The offerings in Plato’s Closet are more expensive. |
| C．Plato’s Closet only offers high-end brands for women. |
| D．Plato’s Closet also sells books to customers. |
Which of the following about Plato’s Closet is NOT true?
| A．Hollister and Abercrombie &Fitch are the two hottest brands in Plato’s Closet. |
| B．Women in their fifties can’t find proper clothes and accessories in Plato’s Closet. |
| C．Goods in Plato’s Closet are sold at 67 percent off retail prices or so. |
| D．Plato’s Closet targets teens and those in their 20s. |
In Plato’s Closet, which of the following is not accepted?
| A．Items you sell must be in very good condition. |
| B．You can negotiate with buyers about prices of goods. |
| C．The clothes you sell should be less than two years old. |
| D．You can sell your goods on the spot instead of on consignment. |
If you buy a pair of Express Editor-style pants in Plato’s Closet, you can save _______.
| A．57.9 dollars | B．15 dollars |
| C．77 dollars | D．25 dollars. |
A widow’s wish to hear her late husband’s voice again has pushed London’s Subway system to restore a 40-year-old recording of the subway’s famous “ Mind the gap” announcement.
The underground, or the tube, first opened in 1863, tracked down the voice recording by Oswald Lawrence after his widow, Margaret McCollum, told them what it meant to her.
McCollum, 65, said she used to frequently visit Embankment tube station or plan her journeys around the stop to listen to Lawrence’s voice, even before his death. She was taken aback in November when she noticed it had been replaced by a different voice.
“Lawrence was a drama school graduate when he auditioned (试音) for a tour company. For six years after his death, I’d stay on the platform—just sit and listen to it again,” she added.
When Margaret approached the tube, she was told it had a new broadcast system and it couldn’t use the old recording anymore.
Nigel Holness, director of London Underground, said its staff has been so moved by McCollum’s story that they dug up the recording and gave the widow a copy of the announcement on a CD for her to keep. “Tube staff is also working to restore Lawrence’s announcement at the station,” he added. “It is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. The tube’s ‘Mind the gap’ messages, voiced by various actors, have accompanied countless London commuter journeys since the 1960s. Train drivers and staff made the warnings themselves before that.”
“I’m very pleased that people are interested in Oswald’s old recording,” Margaret said. “He was a great London transport user all his life .He would be amused, touched, and delighted to know he’s back where he belonged.”The best title for the passage is________.
| A．A Replaced Recording | B．Mind the Gap |
| C．A Widow’s Wish | D．The Tube’s Struggle |
The underlined phrase “ taken aback” means_________.
| A．disappointed | B．annoyed |
| C．excited | D．shocked |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The tube always uses recordings to remind passengers. |
| B．Oswald’s voice is great comfort to Margaret. |
| C．No recording can be equal to Oswald’s voice. |
| D．Oswald was an outstanding actor in London. |