第二部分阅读理解(共25小题。第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分)
第一节阅读下列短文，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。
AThere’s a man in the habit of hitting me on the head with an umbrella. At first I couldn’t stand it, now I’m used to it.
I don’t know his name. I know he’s average in appearance, wears a gray suit, and has a common face. I met him five years ago one hot morning when I was sitting on a tree-shaded bench in Palermo Park, reading the paper. Suddenly I felt something touch my head. It was the very same man who now, as I’m writing, keeps hitting me, mechanically (机械地) and impassively, with an umbrella.
On that occasion I turned around filled with anger. He just kept on hitting me. I asked him if he was crazy, he didn’t even seem to hear me. Then I threatened to call a policeman. Calmly, cool as a cucumber, he stuck with his task. After a few moments of hesitation, and seeing that he was not about to change his attitude, I stood up and hit him on the nose. The man fell down, but he immediately got back on his feet, obviously with great effort, and without a word again began hitting me on the head with the umbrella. His nose was bleeding and, at that moment, I felt sorry for him. I felt regret for having hit him so hard. After all, the man wasn’t exactly hitting me; he was merely tapping me lightly with his umbrella, not causing any pain at all. Of course, those taps were extremely bothersome. As we all know, when a fly lands on your forehead, you don’t feel any pain; what you feel is annoyance. Well then, that umbrella was one huge fly that kept landing on my head time after time.
Convinced that I was dealing with a madman, I tried to escape. But the man followed me, wordlessly continuing to hit me. So I began to run (I should point out that not many people run as fast as I do). He took off after me, trying to land a blow. The man was out of breath so that I thought, if I continued to force him to run at that speed, he would drop dead right then and there.
41. When the man began to strike the author with an umbrella, the author ________.
A. became angry
B. called the police
C. turned around and escaped
D. turned around and fought back
42. The author would most probably agree that the man was ________.
A. deaf B. blind C. dead D. mad
43. The author felt sorry for the man because ________.
A. the man formed a bad habit of beating others
B. he hit the man so hard that his nose bled
C. the man couldn’t catch up with him
D. there was a fly on the man’s head
44. It can be learned from the passage that the man ________.
A. shouted loudly while hitting the author
B. wanted to tell the author something
C. ran after the author breathlessly
D. acted as if he were a fly
If you look for a book as a present for a child. You will be spoiled for choice even in a year when there is no new Harry Potter. J.K Rowling’s wizard is not alone: the past decade has been a harvest for good children’s books, which has set off a large quantity of films and in turn led to increased sales of classics such as The Lord of the Rings.
Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children. According to statistics, in 1997 23% said they didn’t like reading at all. In 2003, 35% did. And around 6% of children leave primary school each year unable to read properly.
Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games. Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile. Either way, Chancellor Gordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class .In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most.
Reading Recovery is aimed at six-year-olds, who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher. An evaluation earlier this year reported that children on the scheme made 20 months’ progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months’ progress, and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age.
International research tends to find that when British children leave primary school they read well, but read less often for fun than those elsewhere. Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can expect lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success. According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage. Which of the following is true of Paragraph 1?
| A．Many children’s books have been adapted from films. |
| B．Many high-quality children’s books have been published. |
| C．The sales of classics have led to the popularity of films. |
| D．The sales of presents for children have increased. |
Statistics suggested that.
| A．the number of top students increased with the use of computers |
| B．a decreasing number of children showed interest in reading |
| C．a minority of primary school children read properly |
| D．a large percentage of children read regularly |
What do we know about Reading Recovery?
| A．An evaluation of it will be made sometime this year. |
| B．Weak readers on the project were the most hardworking. |
| C．It aims to train special teachers to help children with reading. |
| D．Children on the project showed noticeable progress in reading. |
Reading for fun is important because book-loving children _________.
| A． take greater advantage of the project |
| B．show the potential to enjoy a long life |
| C．are likely to succeed in their education |
| D．would make excellent future researchers |
The aim of this text would probably be _________.
| A．to overcome primary school pupils’ reading difficulty |
| B．to encourage the publication of more children’s books |
| C．to remind children of the importance of reading for fun |
| D．to introduce a way to improve early children reading |
A month after Hurricane Katrina, I returned home in New Orleans. There lay my house, reduced towaist-high ruins, smelly and dirty.
Before the trip, I’d had my car fixed. When the office employee of the garage was writing up the bill，she noticed my Louisiana license plate. “You from New Orleans?”she asked I said I was, “No charge.”She said, and firmly shook her head when I reached for my wallet. The next day I went for a haircut, and the same thing happened.
As my wife was studying in Florida, we decided to move there and tried to find a rental house that we could afford while also paying off a mortgage (抵押贷款〉on our mined house. We looked at many places, but none was satisfactory. We’d began to accept that we*d have to live in extremely reduced circumstances for a while, when I got a very curious e-mail from a James Kemmedy in California. He’d read some pieces I’d written about our sufferings for State, the online magazine and wanted to give us (""no conditions attached’）a new house across thelake from New Orleans.
It sounded too good to be true, but I replied, thanking him for his exceptional generosity, that we had no plan to go back. Then a poet at the University of Florida offered to let his house to me, while he went to England on his one-year paid leave. The rent was rather reasonable. I mentioned the poet’s offer to James Kemdedy, and the next day he sent a check covering our entire rent for eight months.
Throughout this painful experience, the kindness of strangers has done much to bring back my faith in humanity. It’s almost worth losing your worldly possessions to be reminded that people are really nice when given half a chance.The garage employee’s attitude toward the author was that of
| A．unconcern | B．sympathy |
| C．doubt | D．tolerance |
What do we know about James Kemnedy?
| A．He was a writer of an online magazine. |
| B．He was a poet at the University of Florida |
| C．He offered the author a new house free of charge. |
| D．He learned about the author’s sufferings via e-mail |
It can be inferred from the text that
| A．the author’s family was in financial difficulty |
| B．rents were comparatively reasonable despite the disaster |
| C．houses were difficult to find in the hurricane-stricken area |
| D．the mortgage on the ruined house was paid off by the bank |
The author learned from his experience that
| A．worldly possessions can be given up when necessary |
| B．generosity should be encouraged in some cases |
| C．people benefit from their sad stories |
| D．human beings are kind after all. |
Understanding the process of making career choices and managing your career is a basic life skill that everyone should understand.
Your career decisions have such a profound effect on all aspects of your life. It’s important to have the knowledge and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions. Whether you are looking for a new job, aiming to take the next step at your current job or planning your retirement options, you are making career decisions. Using good resources and the guidance of a career counselor can help you to make those decisions well.
Many people mistakenly believe that choosing a career is a one-time event that happens some time in early adulthood. However, career management is actually a life-long process, and we continue to make consequential (重大的) career choices over the years. When people want to take action in their career, career management and job search are about so much more than writing a good resume. If you learn about and act on the following areas of career management, you’ll be rewarded throughout your career.
Your interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities should all be taken into account in any career decision making process. You spend countless hours at work, and it impacts your life in so many ways; it makes sense that you should be fully informed before making such profound decisions.
Do you know how many different career choices are available to you? Both The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (American) and The National Occupational Classification (Canadian) list well over 20,000 different job titles. So unless you’ve actively explored a variety of career options, there’s a very good chance that there are great possibilities available to you, and you don’t even realize they exist.
Match your understanding of yourself with your understanding of possible career options. Once you have developed a good understanding of yourself, you will be able to combine that self-knowledge with your career and labor market research to determine potential careers that are a great fit for you.
When you’ve made a well informed decision, then you’re ready to make it happen. Making use of good career guidance and resources will help you to acquire the education, skills, and experience needed to get the job and learn and implement (实施) effective job search strategies.
Time spent understanding your needs, researching your career options and developing outstanding job search skills, guided by great career resources, is a powerful investment in your future.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．In the process of making career decisions, people should consider interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities. |
| B．All the people should have a good knowledge of how to make career choices and manage their career. |
| C．Career decisions have a great impact on people’s life. |
| D．There are various possibilities available to you of making career decisions. |
How many tips does the author give on career management?
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
It can be inferred that _______.
| A．career decision is misunderstood by many people because they don’t take it as a life-long process |
| B．your career will be definitely successful if you make a well informed decision |
| C．making yourself understood can help you make a final choice |
| D．writing a good resume can find a good job |
Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Your interests in the occupation you choose are vital. |
| B．Good career guidance and resources can help you gain the skills and experience. |
| C．You are to make significant decisions without good resources and the guidance of a career adviser. |
| D．Planning your retirement options is related to career management. |
Dublin City Hall
Inside City Hall is an interesting exhibition about Dublin’s history, with historical items from the old city and multimedia presentations. The building, which dates from 1779, once badly damaged, was recently renovated. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:15 p.m., Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~5:00 p.m. Admission is €6.50. Phone 672- 2204.
Dublin Castle
This is a joy for anyone interested in archaeology or history. Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century on top of the foundations of a Viking structure. The castle served as a military fortress, prison, court of law and the core (核心) of British administration in Ireland until 1922. It’s now used for state functions and government conferences. Guided tours are available. Open Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m.~4:50 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday and holidays 2:00 p.m.~4:50 p.m. Closed during state functions. Admission is €4.50. Phone 677- 7129 or 677- 7270.
Trinity College
The sole college of the University of Dublin, Trinity was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. The reason most visitors venture to Trinity is to take a look at the Book of Kells, which is on display at the Old Library. The ticket price includes admission to the Long Room, a striking space that contains 200,000 of the college’s oldest books. Open Monday to Saturday 9.30am~5pm, Sunday noon~4:30 p.m. (from 9:30 a.m. June to September). College Green. Phone 608 -1177.
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Housed in the beautifully restored (修复) Royal Hospital Kilmainham (which was modelled (复制) on Les Invalides in Paris), the museum exhibits contemporary art and has an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces representing the cutting edge of Irish and international art. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.~5:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays noon~5:30 p.m. The museum has no admission charge. Military Road, Kilmainham. Phone 612- 9900.
James Joyce Centre
James Joyce is one of Dublin’s most famous 20th century writers. Author of such works as Dubliners, Ulysses and his autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Joyce’s name is forever linked to the city of Dublin. The James Joyce Centre is dedicated to promoting the life and works of James Joyce to novices and scholars alike. Open Tues.~Sat. 10:00 a.m.~5:00 p.m., Sun. 1: p.m.~5:00 p.m., admission costs €5.00 for adults. North Great George’s Street. Phone 878- 8547. According to the passage, we can know ________.
| A．Dublin Castle was used for government conferences |
| B．the sole college of the University of Dublin was established by Queen Elizabeth II |
| C．Dublin Castle served as a court of law in the 1930s |
| D．the novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is about James Joyce’s life |
The underlined word “renovated” in the first paragraph means ________.
| A．reviewed | B．recreated | C．repaired | D．destroyed |
Which place do you pay the least money to visit?
| A．Dublin City Hall. | B．Dublin Castle. |
| C．Irish Museum of Modern Art. | D．James Joyce Centre. |
A is for always getting to work on time.
B is for being extremely busy.
C is for the conscientious（勤勤恳恳的） way you do your job.
You may be all these things at the office, and more. But when it comes to getting ahead, experts say, the ABCs of business should include a P, for politics, as in office politics.
Dale Carnegie suggested as much more than 50 years ago: Hard work alone doesn’t ensure career advancement. You have to be able to sell yourself and your ideas, both publicly and behind the scenes. Yet, despite the obvious rewards of engaging in office politics—a better job, a raise, praise—many people are still unable or unwilling—to “play the game”.
“People assume that office politics involves some manipulative（工于心计的） behavior,” says Deborah Comer, an assistant professor of management at Hofstra University, “But politics derives from the word ‘polite’. It can mean lobbying（游说）and forming associations. It can mean being kind and helpful, or even trying to please your superior, and then expecting something in return.”
In fact, today, experts define office politics as proper behaviors used to pursue one’s own self-interest in the workplace. In many cases, this involves some forms of socializing within the office environment—not just in large companies, but in small workplaces as well.
“The first thing people are usually judged on is their ability to perform well on a consistent basis,” says Neil P.Lewis, a management psychologist. “But if two or three candidates are up for a promotion, each of whom has reasonably similar ability, a manager is going to promote the person he or she likes best. It’ s simple human nature.”
Yet, psychologists say, many employees and employers have trouble with the concept of politics in the office. Some people, they say, have an idealistic vision of work and what it takes to succeed. Still others associate politics with flattery(奉承), fearful that, if they speak up for themselves, they may appear to be flattering their boss for favors.
Experts suggest altering（改变） this negative picture by recognizing the need for some self-promotion.“Office politics” （Line 2,Para.4） is used in the passage to refer to____.
| A．the political views and beliefs of office workers |
| B．the interpersonal relationships within a company |
| C．the various qualities required for a successful career |
| D．the code of behavior for company staff |
Why are many people unwilling to "play the game" (Line 4, Para. 5) ?
| A．They believe that doing so is impractical. |
| B．They feel that such behavior is unprincipled(不道德的). |
| C．They are not good at manipulating colleagues. |
| D．They think the effort will get them nowhere. |
To get promoted, one must not only be competent but____.
| A．avoid being too outstanding |
| B．get along well with his colleagues |
| C．honest and loyal to his company |
| D．give his boss a good impression |
It is the author’ s view that____.
| A．self-promotion does not necessarily mean flattery |
| B．hard work contributes very little to one’ s promotion |
| C．many employees fail to recognize the need of flattery |
| D．speaking up for oneself is part of human nature |