第二部分：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。
Alice always wanted to be a singer. Music was the most important thing in her life and, to tell you the truth, she took lessons for years, and practised every day, but in spite of all this, her voice didn’t improve. Honestly, it didn’t get better, it just got louder.
Her teacher finally gave up and stopped the lessons, but Alice refused（拒绝）to give in, and one day she decided to give a concert and invited her teacher to attend.
The teacher was very worried about what to say after the concert. She knew it would be terrible and it was. She didn’t want to tell a lie, but she didn’t want to hurt Alice’s feelings, either. Finally, she got an idea and went backstage (后台) to greet her pupil.
“Well,” said Alice, “what did you think of my singing?”
“My dear,” said the teacher, “you’ll never be better than you were tonight.”
46. Alice wanted to be a singer because she .
A. was good at singing
B. could do nothing but sing
C. had a good teacher
D. was most interested in music
47. Alice’s teacher stopped the lessons because .
A. Alice didn’t make any improvement in singing
B. Alice’s voice became louder and louder
C. Alice didn’t work hard enough
D. Alice was so proud and wouldn’t listen to her
48. What made Alice decide to give a concert?
A. She wanted to prove that her teacher was wrong.
B. She wanted to please her teacher.
C. She was sure that she could sing beautifully.
D. Somebody else wanted her to do so.
49. What is really meant by saying “You’ll never be better than you were tonight.”?
A. You gave a wonderful concert tonight.
B. You won’t make any improvement in future.
C. You have never sung so well before.
D. You did much better before than tonight.
Our love of music and appreciation of musical harmony is learnt and not based on natural ability, a new study by University of Melbourne researchers has found. The researchers said previous theories about how we appreciate music were based on the physical functions of sound, the ear itself and a born ability to hear harmony.
The study shows that musical harmony can be learnt, and it is a matter of training the brain to hear the sounds. So if you thought that the music of some foreign culture (or Jazz) sounded like the crying of cats, it’s simply because you haven’t learnt to listen by their rules.
The researchers used 66 volunteers with a range of musical training and tested their ability to hear combinations of notes(音符) to determine if they found the combinations familiar or pleasing. They found that people needed to be familiar with combinations of notes. If they found the notes unfamiliar they also found the sound unpleasant. This finding put an end to centuries of theories claiming that physical functions of the ear determine what we find attractive.
The study found that trained musicians were much more sensitive to unpleasant notes than non-musicians. When they couldn’t find the note, the musicians reported that the sounds were unpleasant, while non-musicians were much less sensitive. This shows the importance of training or nurturing(培养) the brain to like particular sound of combinations of notes, like those found in jazz or rock.
Depending on their training, a strange chord(和弦) sound was pleasant to some musicians, but very unpleasant to others. This showed us that even the ability to hear a musical note is learnt.
To confirm this finding, they trained 19 non-musicians to find the notes of a random selection of western chords. Not only did the participants’ ability to hear notes improve rapidly, afterward they reported that the chords they had learnt sounded more pleasant -- regardless of how the chords were played.
The question of why some combinations of musical notes are heard as pleasant or unpleasant has long been debated. “We have shown in this study that for music, beauty is in the brain of the beholder(观看者)”, a researcher said. According to the study, people find foreign music quite unpleasant because_____.
| A．they hear the music much too often |
| B．they don’t like the person playing it |
| C．they have no idea about how to listen |
| D．they have no born musical ability at all |
Although non-musicians were less sensitive to music, they can still_____.
| A．be trained to like particular music |
| B．make friends with real musicians |
| C．find the beauty of chords without training |
| D．enjoy the beauty of music when played by musicians |
The 19 non-musicians were trained in order to show_____.
| A．the brain likes particular combinations of notes |
| B．not a strange note was pleasant to all musicians |
| C．how the chords were played was very important |
| D．people’s ability to hear a musical note can be learnt |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Love of musical harmony can’t be taught. |
| B．Love of music is not natural but nurtured. |
| C．Listening to music can improve your brain. |
| D．You can be a musician without being trained. |
J.K. Rowling set children’s imaginations on fire. Can the creator of Harry Potter do the same for a grown-up audience? The British author will find out on September 27, when more than 2 million hardcover(精装书) copies of her first novel for adults hit bookstores in the UK and the US, along with the digital edition. Set in a little English town, The Casual Vacancy is about an election held after an unexpected death.
Michael Pietsch, Rowling’s US publisher, says the novel reminded him of Dickens “because of the humanity, the humor, the social concerns, the intensely real characters”. No magic though, apparently: “This book isn’t Harry Potter”, says Pietsch. “It is a completely different concern”. As with Harry Potter, there are no advance copies for the media, no early reviews. To date, the seven-book series has sold more than 450 million copies worldwide, and it became one of the most successful movie franchises in July 21, 2007.
Back then, fans could buy books at midnight parties hosted by bookstores. But recent years have seen a great challenge for brick-and-mortar(实体的) bookstores. People are still buying books, indeed more books than in 2007, according to figures released by the Association of American Publishers. But they are reading them in a new format(样式)—the e-book. The Harry Potter series just became available digitally for the first time in April. It will be different for The Casual Vacancy, with the publisher simultaneously releasing an e-book. For Rowling fans who once queued up for Harry Potter, this means that instant satisfaction is now only a click away.
Moving from children’s books to adult literature is a big transition. Will Rowling’s new book be successful? Arthur Levine, the US co-editor of the Harry Potter books, seems confident: “If you read or re-read the Harry Potter books, you can see that Rowling has all the strengths she needs for great success as a fiction writer –you have great characters, an involving plot, a sense of humor and great empathy”.In Paragraph 2, what Michael Pietsch says means that_____.
| A．Dickens’ works are too impressive to forget. |
| B．J.K. Rowling has all the strengths of Dickens. |
| C．The new book is similar to Dickens’ works in some way. |
| D．The new book is quite different from the works of Dickens. |
The underlined word “simultaneously” has the closest meaning with“______”.
| A．willingly | B．meanwhile | C．especially | D．eventually |
What’s the main purpose of Paragraph 3?
| A．To explain why the new book will have a digital edition. |
| B．To show the Harry Potter series are popular with readers. |
| C．To compare J.K. Rowling’s old books and her new book. |
| D．To clarify the great challenges for brick-and-mortar bookstores. |
What do the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy have in common?
| A．They are both intended for children. |
| B．They both show the author’s great talent. |
| C．Their characters both have magical power. |
| D．Both of them won’t be read on the Internet. |
There are two things I can count on my dad asking every time he calls me: “Is there anything I can do for you?” and “How’s the car?” I guess he asks what he can do for me because his dad (an air force officer) was never really there for him, and he’s determined to provide me with the support he lacked. During my youth he never missed a school play or softball game. In fact, he was so supportive that I sometimes longed for one of those dads who dressed better and cared less. But my dad would forever be the guy wearing shorts with dress shoes and black socks, cheering me on, expecting greatness.
His other standard question—How’s the car? -- used to strike me as a waste of long-distance dollars from a man who once suggested making a list of what you want to talk about before calling someone out of state. What I now realize is that “How’s the car?” is not about the car. It’s a father’s way of asking his adult daughter how she is doing. The advantage is that if there’s something wrong with the car, he knows what to do about it and how much it will cost, whereas if you’re having problems about marriage or doubting a career choice, he might have to act Mom on the line.
At age thirty I finally took the plunge(跳进) into adulthood by renting a car without my dad’s help or advice. I’m sure my dad was hurt rather than proud. Though a daughter’s independence is evidence of a job well done, it still implies the job’s done, and many fathers are unwilling to retire. Even when my dad was overworked, he’d happily jump on a plane if I said I needed help. His frequent question “Is there anything I can do for you?” underlines the fact that he wishes there was still something he could provide. It’s interesting: Even though we’re tied by blood and I love him no matter what, he still seems to need a concrete function -- suggesting stocks, finding the cheapest plane fare -- to feel he has a role in my life. In the author’s opinion, her father always attended her school plays or softball games to_____.
| A．satisfy any demand she made to him |
| B．show his interest and watch them for fun |
| C．make up what he was previously short of |
| D．expect his daughter would be great in games |
The author has learned that by asking “How is the car?”, her father is actually_____.
| A．reminding her not to waste money |
| B．asking how his daughter is getting along |
| C．expressing his concern for her daughter’s safety |
| D．asking his daughter if the car breaks down or not |
According to the author, her father, like many other fathers, is unwilling to retire probably because_____.
| A．he wants to continue to earn money |
| B．he is doubtful of children’s independence |
| C．he won’t put an end to caring for his children |
| D．he is afraid of losing connection with children |
We can safely draw a conclusion from the story that in the author’s eye her father_____.
| A．has a strong passion for his work |
| B．has the deepest love for his children |
| C．has great interest in his daughter’s car |
| D．has too much control over his children |
I prefer Lynne Truss’s phraseology: I am a grammar “sticker”. And, like Truss – author of Eats, shoots & Leaves – I have a “zero tolerance” approach to grammar mistakes that make people look stupid.
Now, Truss and I disagree on what it means to have “zero tolerance”. She thinks that people who mix up basic grammar “deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked (砍) up on the spot and buried in an unmarked grave”, while I just think they deserve to be passed over for a job – even if they are otherwise qualified for the position.
Everyone who applies for a position at either of my companies, iFixit or Dozuki, takes a compulsory grammar test. If job hopefuls can’t distinguish between “to” and “too”, their applications go into the bin.
Of course, we write for a living. iFixit.com is the world’s largest online repair manual (指南), and Dozuki helps companies write their own technical documentation, like paperless work instructions and step-by-step user manuals. So, it makes sense that we’ve made a strong strike against grammar errors.
But grammar is relevant for all companies. Yes, language is constantly changing, but that doesn’t make grammar unimportant. Good grammar is credibility, especially on the Internet. And, for better or worse, people judge you if you can’t tell the difference between “their” “there” and “they’re”.
Good grammar makes good business sense – and not just when it comes to hiring writers. Writing isn’t in the official job description of most people in our office. Still, we give our grammar test to everybody, including our salespeople, our operations staff, and our programmers.
Grammar signifies more than just a person’s ability to remember high school English. I’ve found that people who make fewer mistakes on a grammar test also make fewer mistakes when they are doing something completely unrelated to writing – like stocking shelves or labeling parts. It is the same with programmers. Applicants who don’t think writing is important are likely to think lots of other things also aren’t important.The author agrees with Lynne Truss in that ________.
| A．grammar mistakes can’t be tolerated |
| B．books on grammar make people stupid |
| C．people need to learn basic grammar |
| D．grammar mistakes are absolutely unavoidable |
What’s the author’s “zero tolerance” approach to these job seekers who mix up basic grammar?
| A．They should be left out for a job. |
| B．They have to correct their mistakes. |
| C．They aren’t qualified for their jobs. |
| D．They must be severely punished. |
Which of the following is TRUE of iFixit and Dozuki?
| A．Only one of them has a compulsory grammar test. |
| B．They are companies where one learns grammar. |
| C．Grammar is quite important for their existence. |
| D．They depend on grammar correction for a living. |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．Companies giving grammar tests may have no good business sense. |
| B．Grammar becomes unimportant as language is constantly changing. |
| C．A “zero tolerance” approach to grammar errors might seem a little unfair. |
| D．People who pay attention to writing may pay attention to other things. |
Christmas, Easter and birthday parties can be difficult times for grandmothers and parents as they rush around trying to arrange the perfect celebration or making everyone as happy as possible! What’s better than a birthday party that makes your grandchild smile throughout or a celebration that impresses relatives and close friends?
That is why Granny Look has supplied in this section, one of the most comprehensive guides to making these special occasions that happen perhaps once a year a real success.
From a selection of Advent calendars to party planning or Christmas-stocking fillers we have all the possibilities covered so that your children and grandchildren will really have a memorable time with attractive gifts and original ideas.
Bring that festive spirit to all those traditional days, and ensure you are always ready for any possibility. Granny Look’s extensive links are bound to make every special occasion an entirely different experience from the year before and allow everyone to feel entertained and content.
CHRISTMAS-STOCKING FILLERS
Look no further! Granny Look helps the family to prepare in time for FATHER CHRISTMAS. Give SANTACLAUS some ideas. He can fill all the children’s Christmas-stockings with goodies! Unique Christmas gifts for children –– stocking fillers.
A Granny Look favorite!
ADVENT CALENDARS
All children love the build-up to CHRISTMAS! What is better than choosing one of Granny Look’s selection of Advent Calendars! Here you will find a list of websites to buy traditional or fun Advent calendars for children at Christmas time.
A Granny Look favorite!
BIRTHDAYS
LOOKING for a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT? Explore Granny Look’s selection of PRESENTS, PARTYPLANNING, PARTY TOYS and PARTY GAMES for your Children and Grandchildren’s BIRTHDAYS.
Plan and organize the KIDDIE’S PARTIES ahead of time!!
Don’t forget the PERSONALISED INVITATIONS!
CHRISTMAS
LOOK and BOOK now!! Granny Look’s selection of CHRISTMAS GIFTS for children.
Some guides to “What’s on in your area”… for the kids, PANTOS, SHOWS, THEATRES… at Christmas time!
UNIQUE Christmas gifts for Children. Spend QUALITY TIME with your Children’s Children this FESTIVE SEASON (圣诞节期间)!If you want to send some invitations to your daughter’s classmates, where will you search for the information?
| A．At Christmas. | B．At Birthdays. |
| C．At Advent Calendars. | D．At Christmas–stocking fillers. |
According to the passage, we can infer _______.
| A．you can only get special ideas for Christmas, Easter and birthday parties |
| B．in Granny Look you can buy many traditional or fun Advent calendars for children at Christmas time |
| C．there is no personalized invitation in Granny Look for you to select |
| D．Granny Look provides a wide range of links for people to prepare for special occasions |
From the text, we know that “Granny Look” is ______.
| A．a website that helps you to prepare for special occasions |
| B．a company that sells all sorts of products on the Internet |
| C．a person who guides you to make your yearly celebration a real success |
| D．a magazine that helps the family to prepare for special occasions |