My son and I were trying to sell the house we had repaired but in the barn(谷仓)there were bats(蝙蝠)and they would not leave. The barn was their home. They told us so in their own way. They hung there in the barn and seemed determined to stay for the season. Don’t worry about it, Dad, " Patrick said. They keep down the mosquitoes(蚊子).”
Unfortunately they also kept the buyers away. when we had asked a person to sell the house for us he had refused to show it because of the bats. Bats are popular, “Patrick comforted me. They’re ecological(生态学的).”Isn’t there a machine you can buy that produces high frequency sounds to keep bats away?” “I don’t know,” said Patrick. But I like bats, and whoever buys this house will probably like them too. “Probably?” I hated that word. “How many bats are there ,anyway?” “I counted about 90 last night,” said Patrick. “They were dropping out from under the edge of the roof.” “You mean there are more — outside?” “They’re everywhere, Dad. But look at it this way. When the cold weather comes, they’ll be off to Mexico. Maybe in the spring we can keep them out. Don’t worry about it,” he said for the hundredth time. “It’s not a problem.”
The bat expert I called was even more active than Patrick. I think you’ve got a large number there,” he said in wonder, I’ve been trying to attract bats to our house for 25 years. A single bat eats up his weight in mosquitoes and black flies three times every night. You’re a very lucky man.” I offered to share my luck with him. He could take them away. Bats have a remarkable homing instinct(本能),”he said, “They’d fly straight back even if I transported them 100 miles. Once they have settled, you can’t stop them from coming back.” I was silent.
Finally we managed to rent “(出租)the house to a young family, who were also interested in buying it. What about the bats?” I said to Patrick.
“Oh, they love the bats,” he said. “No mosquitoes. No black flies. It’s one of the things that attracted them.”
“Do you think they will really buy the blouse?”
“Probably.”
“Probably? Well, if they do ,I suppose I’ll have to admit that I was wrong.”
“You mean you’re going to eat your words?”
“Yes, I am.”
36. What was the problem the author had with his house?
A.Bats were living in the barn and wouldn't go away.
B.The author and his son couldn't sleep well because of the bats.
C.The author and his son might be able to stay for the season.
D.The house was still badly in need of repair.
37.What did Patrick suggest the author should do to stop the bats living in the barn?
A.He should buy a high frequency machine.
B.He should move them one hundred miles away.
C.He should reduce the number of mosquitoes.
D.He should close the barn in the spring.
38.Why did the author fall silent when he talked with the bat specialist?
A.He felt sure about the situation.
B.He found out that it would be impossible to remove the bats.
C.He learned that he would be able to share his luck with the expert.
D.He liked the advice given by the expert.
39What happened regarding the house in the end?
A.Some people agreed to rent the house.
B.The author failed to find anybody who wanted to live in the house.
C.The bat expert made the decision to buy the house.
D.The bats left the house for Mexico in the spring.
40.Why did the author think he might have to “eat his words”?
A.He felt sorry for the bats.
B.He might be mistaken about being unable to sell the house.
C.He realized he might be wrong about the bats’ actions.
D.He was happy about selling the house.
Below is adapted from an English dictionary
figure/fīg ə / noun, verb ●noun 1. [C, often pl.] a number representing particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade /sales figures 2. [C] a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary 3. [pl] (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc 4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history. 5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly 6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it 7. [C] the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure 8. [C] a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating [IDM] be/become a figure of fun: be/become sb. that others laugh at cut a…figure: (of a person) to have a particular appearance He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket. put a figure on sth.: to say the exact price or number of sth. |
a fine figure of man/woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority) ●verb 1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning. 2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn’t seem to figure at all. 3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth.: We figured that attendance at 150,000. [PHRV] 1. figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel? 2. figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home too late. 3. figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost? [IDM] It/That figures! (informal): That seems reasonable, logical and what I expect. |
61. I didn’t really mean my partner is a snake; it was just a ______.
A. figure of eight B. figure head C. figure of speech D. a fine figure
62. ---She was coming late again.
---______! That’s typical of her.
A. It figures her out B. It figures C. It cuts a poor figure D. She is a figure of fun
63. What does “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure.” mean?
A. add the numbers B. have sports C. try not to get fat D. watch games
64.No one can figure out the reasons for the Poland president plane crash in 2010. Here figure out means:_________
A.watch out B.work out C.understand well D.break out
65.---Promise you don’t wear this kind of clothes?People will play a joke on you.
---I don’t care whether I am________. I just want to keep warm.
A.a figure of fun B.a healthy figure C.a figure head D.a bad figure
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
Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet.Basically,Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile(简介)which can include your hobbies,hopes for the future,and So on.A photograph is optional,but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile. Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You can even narrow the search down to your area by zip code.Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person.Thousands of people have met,fallen in love,and married through Internet dating.It is an excellent way for shy people to meet.It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others,and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love,there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating.The person you have been talking to on the net may not be someone who he says that he is very aware that there are some people who misrepresent(歪曲)their appearance or private details,such as marital(婚姻的) status,income,and so on,for their own reasons.It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in , and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time.Nevertheless,taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
56.The purpose of writing the passage is to.
A.persuade readers to go dating on the Internet
B.inform us how to date on the Internet
C.warn readers against web love
D.introduce Internet dating to US
57.Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A.A photo. B.A profile.
C.Registration fee. D.Business experience.
58.One advantage of Internet dating is that.
A.you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning
B.you’re sure to find a partner with the same interests
C.you'll find absolutely reliable information of others
D.you’11 gain fame and money overnight
59.The underlined word “pitfalls” in Paragraph 4 most probably means.
A.rules B.trends C.problems D.skills
60.What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A.Traditional dating. B.Hidden advantages.
C.Safety measures. D.Romantic love.
A couple from Miami, Bill and Simone Butler, spent sixty –six days in a life-raft (救生艇) in the seas of Central America after their boat sank.
Twenty-one days after they left Panama in their boat, Simony, they met some whales (鲸鱼). “They started to hit the side of the boat,” said Bill, “and then suddenly we heard water.” Two minutes later, the boat was sinking. They jumped into the life-raft and watched the boat go under the water.
For twenty days they had tins of food, biscuits, and bottles of water. They also had a fishing-line and a machine to make salt water into drinking water— two things which saved their lives. They caught eight to ten fish a day and ate them raw (生的). Then the line broke. “So we had no more fish until something very strange happened. Some sharks (鲨鱼) came to feed, and the fish under the raft were afraid and came to the surface. I caught them with my hands.”
About twenty ships passed them, but no one saw them. After fifty days at sea their life-raft was beginning to break up. Then suddenly it was all over. A fishing boat saw them and picked them up. They couldn’t stand up. So the captain carried them onto his boat and took them to Costa Rica. Their two months at sea was over.
68. Bill and Simone were traveling ______ when they met some whales.
A. in a life-raft B. in Miami C. in Simony D. in Panama
69. During their days at sea, ______ saved their lives.
A. tins of food and bottles of water B. a fishing-line and a machine
C. whales and sharks D. Twenty passing ships
70. After their boat sank, the couple ______.
A. jumped into the life-raft B. heard water
C. watched the boat go under water D. stayed in the life-raft
You have the ability to decide whether you are happy or not. Happiness is a choice.
You can’t depend on someone else to make you happy. That is a lesson I learned early in my marriage. I realized that I couldn’t rely on my husband as my source of happiness. I learned that my happiness depended on myself and not my husband’s actions. I learned that you have to choose to be happy.
You can choose your emotions. True happiness comes from within, and it can’t be forced by outside force. So how do you choose happiness? The same way, you choose to smile or choose to wear a certain outfit(一套衣服). You choose it because that’s what you want to experience in you life.
You want to buy a new pair of shoes so you choose a pair that you like and feels good. You wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes that you don’t like or that doesn’t fit well, right? So why do we keep choosing emotions and feelings that don’t make us feel good?
Choosing to be happy after you realize your anger has shown up (or even choosing to be calm) can be beneficial. We choose our feelings; no one else can do that for us. If we let others get to us, influence our emotions — we are giving them power over us. When others cause us anger or pain, we are giving them our power.
We need to keep our feelings in check and not to react(反应) automatically to what is thrown at us. We need to think our actions out instead of just reacting to what someone says or does.
Remember that we can always choose happiness. At first it will be difficult to just switch(使转变)your thoughts and feelings from anger, self-doubt, or fear to joy and happiness. But it is only a thought away. Don’t dwell on(细想) what happens to you unnecessarily but realize what is causing you to feel that way. Realize that thoughts, feelings and emotions can change. Then move on and choose to be happy.
64. What’s the best title of this passage?
A. Pretend to Be Happy
B. Choose Your Emotions
C. Choose to Be Happy
D. Find Happiness
65. The lesson the writer learned in her marriage is .
A. one can’t depend on someone else to make himself or herself happy
B. balancing the relationship between husband and wife is an art
C. she can depend on her husband to find happiness
D. happiness can be influenced by outside force
66. Why did the writer mention buying shoes?
A. To offer advice on how to choose comfortable shoes.
B. To use it as an example to illustrate(阐述)her point of view.
C. To compare choosing shoes and choosing an outfit.
D. To help move to the next paragraph easily.
67. The writer suggests that we should .
A. let others control our feelings
B. respond immediately to others’ words
C. hold back our feelings properly
D. pay more attention to words than actions
Lots of students shop to reduce stress or just to kill time with their friends. Shopping to get rid of boredom or to escape from life’s pressures may lead to serious problems. When you start to shop out of control, you become a shopping addict.
Shopping addicts show signs that are similar to other addicts. Some students think that shopping, even as little as buying gifts for classmates, can make them feel better and forget their problems. Actually, it can make them feel worse, guilty, or even cause them to run into financial difficulties. Finding yourself in a financial struggle or deep in debt may harm your relationships with friends and parents.
Do you go shopping for just a few things and come home with your wallet empty? Do you always go shopping after an emotional trauma or when life feels tough(艰难的)? Do you regret later what you buy? Or do you buy things that you never use? Maybe your parents or friends have expressed disagreement that leads you to hide items or lie about prices.
Avoid any environment that may make you want to spend money. Never use credit cards. Form some other meaningful and beneficial hobbies. Exercise, yoga and hot baths generally may help you not want to shop. Take a drive through the country where there aren’t any stores. Have patience with yourself and your money, which can benefit you for the rest of your life.
60. According to the passage, shopping addicts ______.
are always rich people B. get well along with friends
C. may suffer financial difficulties D. all the above
61. The third paragraph mainly tells about ______.
ways to get rid of shopping addiction
the signs of shopping addicts
the danger of shopping addiction
why shopping addicts can’t stop shopping
62. The underlined word “trauma” probably means “______”.
hurt B. satisfaction C. enjoyment D. appreciation
63. The intended readers of the passage are ______.
teachers B. doctorsC. students D. education