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。
The Pillow
At the age of sixteen, I joined a volunteer group with my dad. I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that “our family” was living in a trailer(拖车) that was in poor condition. A crew had been working on it for two weeks, but every time they finished one problem, another surfaced.
We decided the only reasonable solution was to build a new house – something unusual but necessary under these circumstances. The family was overjoyed with their new house that was twenty by thirty feet with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen.
On Tuesday of that week, while we ate lunch together, I asked the family’s three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, "What do you want for your new room?" Expecting toys and other gadgets that children usually ask for, we were surprised when Josh responded, "I just want a bed."
The boys had never slept in a bed! They were accustomed to plastic mats. That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.
When we saw the delivery truck coming, we told the family about the surprise. We could hardly contain ourselves. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning.
That afternoon, as we fitted the
frames of the beds tog tether, Eric ran into the house to watch us. Too dirty to enter his room, he observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm from the doorway.
As my
father slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, "What is that?"
"A pillow," she replied.
"What do you do with it?" Eric continued to ask.
"When you go to sleep, you put your head on it,” I answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.
"Oh . . . that's soft," he said, hugging it tightly.
Now, when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems urgent, my Dad gently asks, "Do you have a pillow?"
We know exactly what he means.
1.The writer’s first volunteer project was .
A.working on a poor trailer B.helping a poor family
C.donating beds and bedding D.dealing with a housing problem
2.On bearing Josh’s answer, the writer was shocked because .
A.the family lived in a trailer B.he expected to get some toys
C.he didn’t know what a bed was D.the boys had no bed to sleep in
3.From the passage, we can learn that Eric had never seen before.
A.a trailer B.a truck C.a pillow D.a house
4.By saying “Do you have a pillow?”, the writer’s father means that .
A.what they want to get may be unnecessary
B.they should not waste money on small things
C.they should do more volunteer work for the poor
D.what he will buy is not what they want but a pillow
Today, whether or not you follow the latest trends, one’s fashion and choice of dress is a reflection of one’s individual style and tastes. Can you still remember how you dressed at the start of China’s opening-up? Today’s program is one of a special series commemorating (纪念) the 30th anniversary of reform and opening-up in China. In these two episodes we focused on fashion and style and were honored to invite two special guests to join us in studio—Ms. Zhang Ling from Raffles-BICT Inter-national College and Alex from Esquire magazine.
When we talk about fashion, color is absolutely crucial. A color can reflect the mood of an individual person or the spiritual temperament(性情) of entire society or age. Mrs. Zhang and Alex talked about the colors which have left the greatest impression on them. In the 1960s and 70s, blue and grey were the dominant colors at the time and people had limited choices to dress up. But fast forward to the present, you will find no difficulty in choosing from array(大批) of vivid colors in the market.
We also gave our guests a list of keywords—traditional brands, jeans, DIY, international brands, personal dress for them to choose from in order to represent the fashion of their generation. We find out that for every keyword our guest chose, there was a special story behind it. Some of the stories brought us back to old times—we even brought some vintage(古老的) clothing from the 60s and 70s up on stage and invited some audience members to try them on.
When we mention fashion, we must mention brand. With increasing disposable(可自由使用的) income and purchasing power of the Chinese, many luxury brands have flocked into China. However, you could imagine in 1980s, when the first inter-national brand came to China, it unveiled(展示) a fashion storm among the Chinese. China’s opening-up dates back to _______.
| A.the 1960s | B.the 1970s | C.the 1980s | D.the 1990s |
All of the following EXCEPT _______ are keywords in representing the fashion of our generation.
| A.traditional brands | B.international brands |
| C.personal dress | D.special stories |
The fact that many luxury brands have flocked into China shows that _______.
| A.China has given up its own culture |
| B.Chinese have been tired of array of vivid colors in the markets |
| C.Chinese have increased their disposable income and purchasing power |
| D.China has grown tired of its traditional brands |
In the past few decades, Japanese cuisine(烹饪) has acquired global appeal. Japanese restaurants have sprung up almost all over the world. In Kyoto, the Heihachi Tea House boasts a 430-year-old tradition that the owners have kept all in the family. The tea house has been operated by twenty generations of the Sonobe family.
The Heihachi Tea House, in the northern part of Kyoto, is one of the city’s oldest business establishments. It is said to have opened in 1576. The present owner, Sonobe Heihachi, who is also the chef, represents the 20th generation of the Sonobe family to oversee the tea house.
Sonobe Heihachi, restaurant owner, said, “During the middle of the Edo era, from 1603 to 1868, it became customary for commoners to dine in mat rooms. The Heihachi Tea House specialized in a dish comprised of rice with barley(大麦). It then became an inn and a little later, a restaurant.”
Like every other chef, Sonobe Heihachi’s day often begins at the market where he personally selects ingredients that will be served to his customers. The restaurant specializes in a style of cuisine known as Kaiseki Ryori—possibly the ultimate in Japanese cooking. It offers both fresh and ocean fishes on its menu, including bream and eels. The owner’s son Sonobe Shingo is also an accomplished chef. His skills include the elaborate cutting of a “daikon” radish (萝卜) into strips. Later they will be shredded into thin strands to form part of the garnish(装饰菜) for sashimi.
Sonobe Shingo admits that when it comes to the small details of running the business, father and son have different ways of thinking. Sometimes they clash.
But they share a passion for what they do and continue to preserve an innovative and deeply rooted culinary(烹饪的) tradition. The main idea of this passage is about _______.
| A.Japanese tea house keeps a 430-year-old tradition |
| B.Sonobe Heihachi and his son Sonobe Shingo |
| C.Japanese restaurants springing up almost all over the world |
| D.Sonobe Shingo’s skills in cutting of a radish into strips |
The 21st generation owner of the Heihachi Tea House may be _______.
| A.Sonobe Heihachi | B.the first owner of the Heihachi Tea House |
| C.Sonobe Shingo | D.Sonobe Heihachi’s grandson |
During the middle of the Edo era, from 1603 to 1868, Japanese commoners were used to having all of the following EXCEPT _______.
| A.Chinese tea | B.a dish comprised of rice with barley |
| C.both fresh and ocean fishes | D.a style of cuisine known as Kaiseki Ryori |
We can infer from this passage that Shingo differs with his father _______.
| A.on the small details of running the Heihachi Tea House |
| B.on the main menu of the Heihachi Tea House |
| C.on the ingredients served to the customers |
| D.on the passion of running the business |
As I sit here on the eve of my 3rd year non-smoker anniversary, I’m thinking about that last cigarette I smoked. I was sitting at the kitchen table at 10 in the 16 at home, sick with bronchitis(支气管炎) again. I felt miserable, weak and desperate. I 17 smoking that moring in 2005 without any real confidence that I was smoking my 18 cigarette ever.
Today, there’s one thing about my future that I 19 with absolute certainty: I’ll never smoke again! I know without a shadow of a 20 that I’ll never go back. I’ve changed what cigarettes 21 to me and in the process I’ve gained permanent, true 22 from the habit that held me close for 26 long years!
Our thoughts and feelings control the 23 of our lives. It’s how we think about the experiences in our lives that 24 , not the events themselves.
Most of us smoked for years. We 25 to think of cigarettes as a part of us, even a friend. How do we now 26 changing the meaning that has become so 27 established in our lives? There are specific steps that, when 28 , will help you take control and shape your thoughts in ways that 29 you. Work these techniques into your daily routine and give them some time to 30 and flourish. You’ll be surprised at the positive 31 you can create in your life.
Anything you want to change in your life has to 32 from the should list to the must list. Most of us spent years thinking we should quit smoking. I sure did. 33 right now that quitting is a must for you. This has got to be the first step you take on the 34 to freedom. Don’t worry that you feel shaky and unsure. The steps outlined here will help you turn that 35 into strength of purpose. Make your quit a must—it’s where we all have to begin.
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How good are U.S. drivers?
The CBS TV “National Drivers Test” showed that many U.S. drivers have a lot to learn. Here’s why:
CBS picked 1,799 samples(被实验者) to take the test in TV studios in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. More than two out of five of the drivers failed the test. And the average score was the lowest passing mark-51 points out of a possible 80.
Chicago drivers did best with an average of 53 points. Los Angeles drivers came next with 52 points. New York and Philadephia drivers tied(得同样的分数) with 50 points-a failing score. Drivers with 50 points or less were rated(被评价为) “poorly informed” by the judges.
Here are some of the test results:
(1) Are men better informed drivers than women?-Yes. Men averaged 52 points. Women got average of 49.
(2) Are older drivers better informed than younger drivers?-No. Drivers under 26 averaged 52 points. Drivers from 27 to 45 averaged 51. Driver over 45 failed with 48 points on average.
(3) Does education make a difference?-Yes. College graduates averaged 52 points. High school graduates averaged 50. Those without high school diplomas(文凭) got 48. And people who had taken driver education courses scored an average of 53 points-three more than those who hadn’t.
(4) Does driving experience make a difference?-Yes. Drivers with three or more years’ experience averaged 51 points. Drivers with less experience averaged 49.
Here are some surprising facts brought out by the test:
(1)More than one out of three drivers did not know that a blinking(闪烁) red light means a full stop. (2)Three out of ten drivers did not know that an octagonal (eight-sided) sign means stop.
(3)More than two of three drivers did not know what to do when being “tailgated”(危险地,紧接另一辆驶) The answer: slow down, drive to the right, and let the driver behind pass.
The results of the test were turned over to the National Safety Council. They will help future safety planning.The author’s purpose is to ___________.
| A.prove that men are better drivers than women | B.give you safe driving tips(提示) |
| C.tell you the results of a national drivers test. | D.urge you to get an education. |
From the information in this article, you could say that _________.
| A.older drivers are better informed than younger drivers |
| B.experience makes difference among drivers |
| C.most drivers failed the test |
| D.most people don’t know what a blinking red light means |
Which of the following as a group was rated “poorly informed” by the judges?
| A.Men. | B.High school graduate drivers. |
| C.Drivers from 27 to 45 years of age. | D.Drivers with 3 or more years’ experience. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A.Men are better informed than women. |
| B.Education makes no difference in the pass rate of the drivers. |
| C.Chicago drivers are the best informed drivers in America. |
| D.The test results will be used as a guide for future safety planning. |
We are going to talk again this week about higher education for disabled students who want to study in the United States.As we noted last time,there are no special colleges or universities for blind students.But there are for deaf students.One of them is Gallaudet University in Washington,D.C. Gallaudet is said to be the world’s only liberal arts university where everything is designed for deaf or hard-of-hearing students.About 2,000 students attend Gallaudet.The cost for international students is about 33,000 dollars a year.
Financial aid is available in the form of scholarships,but only after the first year of studies. Most scholarship aid goes to students in financial need who do well in their first year.One scholarship for international students is for deaf students from developing countries.Another is just for students from China.The university also offers an English Language Institute.But Gallaudet says this program does not guarantee (担保)acceptance to the university.
In the past year,students at Gallaudet protested against the administration’s choice of a new president for the university.The protests led to the choice of a different president who is more popular with the students,Robert Davila.He is a former officer of the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.This technical college is in Rochester, New York. It is one of the eight colleges in the Rochester Institute of Technology.
More than one thousand students attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. About one hundred of them are international students.They come from Africa, Asia,Europe and South America.
The cost is about 28,000 dollars a year for an international Technical Institute student.Foreign graduate students pay about 20,000 dollars. Both undergraduate and graduate student can receive limited financial aid. They can also take part in the student employment program.This program makes it possible for students to work at the school. The passage is written for _______ .
| A.blind students | B.deaf students | C.art students | D.dumb students |
The second paragraph mainly shows ________ .
| A.students can get scholarships easily | B.foreign students call receive more scholarships |
| C.some information about Gallaudet | D.the costs in Gallaudet are low . |
Robert Davila is the president who __________ .
| A.is well received there | B.is hated by the students |
| C.has high fame world-wide | D.was appointed by the government |
To those who study in Gallaudet,__________ .
| A.foreign students can earn more | B.the costs are different |
| C.receiving financial aid is easy | D.every student can find a suitable job |