第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题3分，满分60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。
Sarah Williams went to a boarding school. Here is one of the letters she wrote to her parents from the school:
Wentworth Girls’ school
Beachside
July 20th
Dearest Mom and Dad,
I’ m afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school principal is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer.
The trouble started last night when I was smoking in bed. This breaks the rules, of course. We are not supposed to smoke at all.
As I was smoking, I heard footsteps coming towards the room. I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking, so I threw the cigarette away.
Unfortunately, the cigarette fell into the waste-paper basket, which caught fire.
There was a curtain near the waste-paper basket which caught fire, too. Soon the whole room was burning.
The principal phoned for the fire department. The school is a long way from the town and by the time the fire department arrived, the whole school was in flames. Many of the girls are in the hospital.
The principal says that the fire was all my fault and you must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars.
I’m very sorry about this.
Much love,
Sarah
P. S. None of the above is true, but I have failed my exams. I just want you to know how bad the things could have been!
56．Sarah wrote home to .
A．tell her parents about the fire B．ask for a lot of money
C．tell her parents she had failed her exams D．tell her parents she had to leave school
57．Why did Sarah tell her parents the story about the fire?
A．She wanted to worry them.
B．She wanted to make them laugh.
C．She wanted to make them less angry at the real news.
D．She wanted to warn them about what the principal was going to do.
58．The letter before the P. S. was ________.
A．mostly true B．partly true C．all true D．completely untrue
59．Sarah said the principal was angry because ________.
A．she had failed her exams B．it was her fault that had caused the fire
C．she had not made the phone call in time D．she had been caught smoking in bed
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, an
d knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed
all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words. "PAID IN FULL".
How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
Sometimes we don't realize the good fortune we have or we could have because we expect "the packaging" to be different. What may appear as bad fortune may in fact be the door that is just waiting to be opened.According to the passage we can infer that _________.
| A．the author’s father was once very rich. |
| B．the author’s father didn’t love him. |
| C．the author’s father had not enough money to buy a run car. |
| D．the author’s thought was wildly unrealistic. |
When author graduated from his school, his father sent him _________.
| A．a beautiful run car | B．a new leather-bound Bible |
| C．a gift he hoped for | D．only an empty box |
After graduation, author _________ before his father died.
| A．often went to see his father | B．had never gone home |
| C．went home once in the while | D．always contacted his father by phone |
The passage can imply that _________.
| A．Good fortune lies within bad, bad fortune lurks within good. |
| B．The author’s father didn’t understand his child. |
| C．where there is a will, there is a way. |
| D．Every man is the son of his own works. |
One fine day, an old couple around the age of 70, walks into a lawyer's office. Apparently, they are there to file a divorce. Lawyer was very puzzled, after having a chat with them, he got their story.
This couple had been quarreling all their 40 years of marriage nothing ever seems to go right. They hang on because of their children, afraid that it might affect their up-bringing. Now, all their children have already grown up, have their own family, there's nothing else the old couple have to worry about, 
all they wanted is to lead their own life free from all these years of unhappiness from their marriage, so both agree on a divorce.
While they were signing the papers, the wife told the husband. “I really love you, but I really can't carry on anymore, I'm sorry.” "It's OK, I understand." said the husband. Little did she know that, over the years, the husband has been trying all ways to please her, little did she know that drumsticks were the husband's favorite. Little did he know that she never thought he understands her at all, little did he know that she hates drumsticks even though all he wants is the best for her.
That night, both of them couldn't sleep, toss and turn, toss and turn. After hours, the old man couldn't take it anymore, he knows that he still loves her, and he can't carry on life without her, he wants her back, he wants to tell her, he is sorry, he wants to tell her, "I love you." He picked up the phone, started dialing her number. Ringing never stops. He never stops dialing.
On the other side, she was sad, she couldn't understand how come after all these years, he still doesn't understand her at all, she loves him a lot, but she just can't take it any more.
Phone's ringing, she refuses to answer knowing that it's him. "I want to keep it this way, if not I will lose face. "She thought. Phone is still ringing. She has decided to pull out the cord. Little did she remember, he had heart problems.
The next day, she received news that he had passed away. She rushed down to his apartment, saw his body, lying on the couch still holding on to the phone. He had a heart attack when he was still trying to get through(接通) her phone line.The old couple wanted to file a divorce because __________.
| A．they had no child. | B．their children didn’t like  them. |
| C．they didn’t understand each other actually. | D．the old man didn’t love the old woman. |
Why didn’t they file a divorce before they were at the age of 70?
| A．Because they were loving each other then. |
| B．Because they had no time to lawyer’s office. |
| C．Because they wanted to make their divorce open. |
| D．Because they didn’t wish to affect their children’s up-bringing. |
According to the passage we can know that ______.
| A．the old man still loved his wife really. | B．the wife didn’t love her husband at all. |
| C．their children still lived with old couple. | D．they were in harmony over 40 years. |
After the last paragraph the old woman would be _______.
| A．wild with joy | B．wild with grief | C．un concern about it |
D．angry at that |
Unfortunately, I believe that happiness escapes mostly because they misunderstand the process and journey of finding it. I have heard many people say that, “I’ll be happy when I get my new promotion.” or “I’ll be happy when I earn that extra 20 pounds.” The list goes on and on. You probably have a few of your own you could add if you want.
This thinking is dangerous because it presupposes that happiness is a “response” to having, being or doing something. In life, we all experience stimulus and response. Stimulus is when a dog barks at you and bares his teeth. Response is when your heart beats
faster, your palms get sweaty and you prepare to run. Today, some people think that an expensive car is a stimulus. Happiness is a response. A great paying job is a stimulus. Happiness is a response. A loving relationship is a stimulus. Happiness is a response. This belief leaves us thinking and feeling: “I’ll be happy when…”
It has been my finding that actually the opposite is true. I believe that happiness is a stimulus and response is what life brings to those who are truly happy. When we are happy, we tend to have more success in our work. When we are happy, people want to be around us and enjoy loving relationships. When we are happy, we more naturally take better care of our bodies and enjoy good health. Happiness is NOT a response — rather, it is a stimulus.
Happiness is a conscious choice we make every day of our lives. For unknown reason to me, many choose to be painful, unsuccessful and angry most of the time. Happiness is not something that happens to us after we get something we want — we usually get things we want AFTER we choose to be happy.
I have made only one simple rule for my own happiness: Every day above ground is a GOOD day. Therefore, I tend to have a lot of good (and happy) days continually.The second paragraph mainly tells us that people seek happiness_______.
A．in the same way |
B．in different ways | C．by working hard | D．by taking drugs |
What does the underlined phrase “This thinking” refer to?
| A．The thinking of being promoted. |
| B．The giving up of happiness. |
| C．The process and journey of finding happiness. |
| D．The misunderstanding of happiness. |
The underlined word “stimulus” in para.4 probably means_______.
| A．something causes an action | B．somethin g helps to expand |
| C．attention | D．improvement |
The purpose of
the author in writing this passage is to________.
| A．tell people how to enjoy happiness |
| B．encourage people to seek happiness |
| C．express his attitude towards happiness |
| D．criticize the wrong ideas about happiness |
Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti(涂鸦)-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁画) have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.
The walls that were once ugly with graffiti are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens are very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. "When people ask me what our program is about," she says, "I answer them with one word: hope." Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.
The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sen
se of community (社区). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been "Safe Streets," "Love and Care," and "Peace Walk."
The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.
"The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history" says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.What is the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia aimed at?
| A．Helping the young find jobs. | B．Protecting the neighborhood. |
C．Fighting against graffiti. |
D．Attracting more visitors. |
How does the MAP decide on the message for a mural?
| A．By having discussions with people in the community. |
| B．By seeking advice from the city government. |
| C．By learning from the young graffiti writers. |
| D．By studying the history of the city. |
Which of the following words best describes the work of the MAP?
| A．Difficult. | B．Dangerous. | C．Experimental | D．Successful. |
Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.
Born in September, 1987, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their o
wn school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sévigné in Paris.
Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepa
re for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgrum. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government.
Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity, Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.Why was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal?
| A．Because she received a degree in mathematics. |
| B．Because she contributed to saving the wounded. |
| C．Because she won the Nobel Prize with Frederic. |
| D．Because she worked as a helper to her mother. |
Where did Irene Curie meet her husband Frederio Joliot?
| A．At the Curie Institute. | B．At the University of Paris. |
| C．At a military hospital. | D．At the College of Sevigne. |
In which of the following aspects was Irene Cuire different from her mother?
| A．Irene worked with radioactivity. |
| B．Irene combined family and career. |
| C．Irene won the Nobel Prize once |
| D．Irene died from leukemia. |