第二部分 阅读理解
第一节 从A、B、C、D中选出最佳选项：（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
Robert Spring, a 19th century forger (伪造者), was so good at his profession that hs was able to make his living for 15 years by selling false signatures of famous Americans. Spring was born in England in 1838 and arrived in Philadelphia in 1858 to open a bookstore. At first he prospered(繁荣)by selling his small but genuine collection of early US autographs (亲笔签名). Discovering his ability at copying handwriting he began imitating the signatures of George Washington and Benjimin Franklin and writing them on the title pages of old books. To lessen the chance of detection (被发现). He sent his forgeries to England and Canada for sale, Forgers have a hard time selling products. A forger cannot approach a respectable buyer but must deal with people who don’t have much knowledge in the field. Forgers have many ways of making their works look real. For example, they buy old books and use the aged paper of the title page, and they can treat paper and ink with chemicals.
In Spring’s time, right after the Civil War, Britain was still fond of the southern states, so Spring invented a respectable young lady known as Miss Fanny Jackson, the only daughter of General “Stonewall” Jackson. For several years Miss Fanny’s financial problems forced her to sell a great number of letters and manuscripts (手稿) belonging to her famous father. Spring had to work very hard to satisfy the demand. However, all this activity did not prevent Spring from dying in poverty, leaving sharp-eyed experts the difficult task of separating his forgeries from the originals.
41．Robert Spring spent 15 years ________.
A．running a bookstore in Philadelphia B．as owners of old books
C．selling real signatures of famous Americans D．as a forger
42．Why did Spring sell his false autographs in England and Canada?
A．There was less chance that his forgeries would be discovered there.
B．The prices were much higher in England and Canada.
C．There was a greater demand there than in America.
D．Britan was Spring’s birthplace.
43．After the Civil War there was a great demand in Britain for ________
A．Civil War battle plans B．southern manuscripts and letters
C．the signatures of George Washington and Ben Franklin D．southern money
44．Which of the following about Miss Fanny Jackson is TRUE?
A．She was Robert Spring’s customer.
B．She was an imaginary person created by Spring.
C．She was a little-known girl who sold her father’s papers to make money.
D．She was the only daughter of General Stonewall Jackson.
Just 25 years ago, the top three career hopes for young people in Britain were teacher, banker and doctor. Now, they want to be sports star, pop star and actor, according to a survey by the Guardian newspaper.
Rachel, a character in the popular TV show Glee, may be said to speak for British teenagers. “ Nowadays being nobody is worse than being poor，"he said.
Emma Brockes, a reporter in the Guardian, believes it is “ the bad influence of celebrity (名人）culture” that is to blame. “ When children wanted to be doctor, it wasn't because they were really more interested in the functions of human organs than they are now ；you go where the respect is. "she wrote.
It could explain why there has been such an increase in levels of anxiety and depression. Dr Carlo Strenger, of Tel Aviv University, studied the sense of self for his new book The Fear of Insignificance \ Searching for Meaning in the list Century. He told the Daily Mail that young people now are" affected by the close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and rating people according to wealth and celebrity inta an obsession (痴迷). “
"As humans, we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village. We are comparing ourselves with the most ‘ important' people in the world and finding ourselves wanting，“ he said. Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media.
The way out? Simply stop measuring your achievement through a fantasy of wealth and celebrity. Dr Strenger said that it is a process called “ active self-acceptance through a constant search for self-knowledge through life”.
“The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement，” he said. Nowadays, young people in Britain want to __________.
| A．choose jobs based on interests |
| B．become famous |
| C．be teacher, banker and doctor |
| D．earn more money |
According to Emma Brockes, what causes the increasing level of anxiety?
| A．Choices of future careers. |
| B．Access to the global network. |
| C．Bad influences of celebrities. |
| D．Endless comparison with others. |
Which of the following is TRUE of Dr Carlo Strenger?
| A．He is a newspaper reporter. |
| B．He is the spokesman of teenagers. |
| C．He tells success stories on TV. |
| D．He is against ranking people with wealth. |
Dr Carlo Strenger suggests that young people should __________.
| A．seek active self-acceptance |
| B．stick to their own dreams |
| C．make great achievements |
| D．search for the secret of wealth |
World Carnival has wrapped up its 52-day stay in the Chinese capital, and with it goes all the thrills, laughter, and fun of the fair. For nearly two months, sounds like this could be heard miles away from Beijing.
In International Sculpture Park, where the Carnival has been taking place, attractions included 50 rides, ranging from the world's largest mobile ferries wheel to some of Europe's most exciting roller-coasters.
Although organizers estimated it rained half the time when the Carnival was in Beijing, that didn't stop over 40，000 daily visitors. So what's the secret charm of the Carnival for Beijingers? 23-year-old Zhang Wei says all the attractions are exciting, which relaxes her from her daily routine and helps her forget unhappiness.
It was also a surprise for Zhang's boyfriend. He says he didn't know she could be so daring and brave.
Of course, what is the better way for young lovers to snuggle up tight than on a hair-raisingly, stomach churning roller-coaster? Over one third of the patrons were couples under 25.
However，15-year-old Qi Jianping has different reasons for en-joying the fair： She says it's very difficult to win a toy from the games, but it teaches her not to give up.
Of course, huge cuddly toys were big stars at the carnival—and brought big profits for organizers. It costs 25 Yuan, or 3 dollars, to play once, and only one in four gets to win. In other words, a stuffed animal, which costs around 10 Yuan in local markets, had a price tag at the Carnival of some 150 Yuan or about 17 dollars.
In Shanghai, sales of these toys brought in 37 million Yuan in profit. In Beijing, the supply of toys was doubled. The profit? Well, do the math! That World Carnival took place in China was __________.
| A．attracted many people from all over the world |
| B．accepted by Chinese people |
| C．of great benefit to visitors most |
| D．the only biggest event in China |
World Carnival took place in __________.
| A．International Sculpture Park |
| B．Chang'an Street in Beijing |
| C．Chinese Pavilion in Shanghai |
| D．more than 50 places in Beijing |
The newly-married couple like most __________ in the carnival.
| A．mobile ferries wheel |
| B．game machine |
| C．stomach churning roller coaster |
| D．a stuffed animal |
Amid Italy's rapid recovery, Christmas was celebrated on Friday with greater enthusiasm and optimism compared to last year.
The mood in the country is brighter. This year's festivities were less gloomy (忧郁的）than those in 2008，with consumer confidence and expenditures on the rise.
" I have spent much more money on gifts，" said the 27-year-old Martina Dello Russo, a communication expert.
"When I went shopping last week many boutiques (专卖店）had sold out several items and for the first time in months people were actually buying，" she added, explaining that it was a good sign demonstrating the recovery of consumer confidence and purchasing power.
The center-right government under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has recently issued positive data on the state of Italy's economy, despite long-lasting effects of the downturn such as high unemployment.
Christmas in Italy is a traditional religious festivity when families stay at home and gather, rather than go out eating or go on holiday.
This year, Italians spent about 2. 8 billion euros in “intelligent gifts" such as food, wine and other typical Made-in-Italy goods, ac-cording to a survey by farmers' association Coldiretti.
For Italians the cook traditions are very important and we prefer spending on food rather than on clothes or other things, said the61-year-old businessman, Mario Corradi.
The traditional Christmas lunch is a three-course menu ： home-made meat ravioli(馄饨），lamb, artichokes(洋蓟）and fried fish. The celebration on Friday for Christmas is full of __________.
| A．flowers and smiles |
| B．men and women |
| C．exciting activities |
| D．enthusiasm and optimism |
The atmosphere of festivities tell us that __________.
| A．Italians welcome another new Christmas |
| B．Italians hope for a good coming luck |
| C．Consumer confidence and purchasing power is beginning to recover |
| D．Italy has made great progress in all the fields |
What will Italians do on Christmas Day?
| A．They will gather all friends to have a big deal. |
| B．All the family members gather to celebrate the festival at home. |
| C．All the members of family will go out eating. |
| D．They will do something they like at home or other places. |
One thing Italians must do on Christmas Day is __________.
| A．showing their culinary skills |
| B．showing their latest fashion |
| C．telling their contributions |
| D．making out their future plans |
When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to have breakfast. The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the " Deaths" first, and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought his bread, already buttered for him. Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say，" I love you very much, Edith. I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides. "He read the paper all through the breakfast. Two knocks on the table meant " I am ready for my tea. " If a single knock followed, that meant " More bread, please. "
After breakfast he said，" Boots. " The paper was spread (展开）for him over the back of an arm-chair. Yesterday's paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing at the same time putting on his boots. With one boot finished he said，" Bus. " At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there. Her job was to stop a bus when it came. It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father. " Overcoat, hat. " One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat. Now she held it open for him. Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed. " Handkerchief, pipe (烟斗）" They were brought and put, with his tobacco (烟草），into his pocket. He looked out of the window and said either " Walking stick" or " Umbrella". It was handed to him. Ready now, he was still reading the paper. He didn't put it down until he heard the shout " Bus coming ！ " Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed freely.
How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home! When the father made the first knock, he meant __________.
| A．he had begun to read the morning newspaper |
| B．he was made to feel sad by the " Deaths" news |
| C．he would start to read the other parts of the paper |
| D．his breakfast should begin |
What does "Edith" mean?
| A．A kind of bread. | B．One of the writer's sisters. |
| C．The writer. | D．The writer's mother. |
All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because __________.
| A．their father never helped them |
| B．their father always gave different instructions at the same time |
| C．each of them had to start and finish her job just on time |
| D．they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs |
What was the father's favorite?
| A．Reading newspaper. |
| B．Having bread buttered on both sides. |
| C．Giving instructions. |
| D．Being clean and tidy. |
Does a drink a day keep heart attacks away? Over the past 20years, numerous studies have found that moderate alcohol consumption, say, one or two beers, glasses of wine or cocktails daily helps to prevent coronary heart disease. Last week a report in the New England Journal of Medicine added strong new evidence in support of that theory. More importantly, the work provided the first solid indication of how alcohol works to protect the heart.
In the study, researchers from Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvad Medical School compared the drinking habits of 340 men and women who had suffered recent heart attacks with those of healthy people of the same age and sex. The scientists found that people who sip one to three drinks a day are about half as likely to suffer heart attacks as nondrinkers are. The apparent source of the protection ： those who drank alcohol had higher blood levels of high density lipoproteins (脂蛋白），the so called good cholesterol (胆固醇），which is known to prevent heart disease.
As evidence has mounted (增长），some doctors have begun recommending a daily drink for patients of heart diseases. But most physicians are not ready to recommend a regular happy hour for everyone. The risks of teetotal ling (绝对戒酒）are nothing compared with the dangers of too much alcohol, including high blood pressure, strokes and liver troubles—not to mention violent behavior and traffic accident. Moreover, some studies suggest that even moderate drinking may increase the incidence of breast and colon cancer. Until there is evidence that the benefits of a daily dose(吸收剂量）of alcohol outweigh the risks, most people won't be able to take a doctor's prescription to the neighborhood bar or liquor store. The report mentioned in the first paragraph indicates __________.
| A．the way in which alcohol can help the heart |
| B．that a couple of cocktails daily can help stop heart problems |
| C．why alcoholic drinks are dangerous to one's health |
| D．that reports on the advantages of alcohol were misled |
Experiments showed that nondrinkers had __________.
| A．larger amounts of good cholesterol |
| B．smaller amounts of good cholesterol |
| C．higher blood pressure |
| D．lower blood pressure |
According to the passage, moderate drinking __________.
| A．is recommended by most doctors for heart patients |
| B．should be allowed on prescription |
| C．is still not medically advisable |
| D．is not related to liver problems |
The main theme of this passage is __________.
| A．the change in recent drinking habits |
| B．the connection between cancer and alcohol |
| C．whether moderate drinkers outlive nondrinkers |
| D．whether alcohol may be good for one's health |