Mostpeopleseemtobepassiveatwor-优题课

Of all the animals in the animal kingdom, which one (aside from man) is the cleverest?
There are several ways of measuring the intelligence of animals. In one test a scientist sets three same cans on a table. While the animal watches, he puts food under one of the cans. Then he leads the animal away. Some time later, he brings it back to see if it remembers which can has the food. No smelling is allowed; the animal must go directly to the correct can or it fails.
This is called a delayed- response text. The idea is to find out how long an animal’s memory can keep information. The scientists would try showing the cans to the animal one hour later, or two hours later, or even a full day later. They discovered that chimpanzees and elephants had the best memory, and were able to remember the correct can for at least twenty hours. No other animal is close. Dogs came next, but they only remembered for nine hours.
To settle the matter, the scientists designed a huge maze (迷宫) and ran the chimps and elephants through it. The maze was very difficult, with many blind paths and dead ends. It took the chimps (chimpanzees) ten minutes to find their way out. The elephants needed half an hour. Even allowing for the elephants’ slower rate of speed, the test shows that chimpanzees are the cleverest animals.
From this and other tests, the scientists drew the following conclusion: an animal’s intelligence depends on the size of its brain in proportion (比例) to the size of its body. The elephant’s brain weighs ten pounds. But this is only 1/600^th of its 6,000 pounds body. A chimp’s brain weighs about one pound, or 1/120^th of its total body weight. So in proportion to its body size, the chimp has four times as much brain as the elephant----more brain for less body. The chimp is the champ!
51. Which is the best title ?
A. The Elephant’s Memory B. The Cleverest Animal
C. Judging Intelligence D. The Chimp’s Brain
52. The main idea of this passage is that ________.
A. there are several ways of measuring the intelligence of animals
B. chimps and elephants have the best memory
C. intelligence tests show that the chimp is the cleverest animal
D. the scientists designed a huge maze and ran the chimps and elephants through it
53. The delayed-response test is designed to test an animal’s________.
A. eyesight B. intelligence C. learning ability D. memory
54. The passage tells that elephants ________.
A. never forget things B. are more clever than chimps
C. are slower-moving than chimps D. have better memories than chimps
55. According to the passage, a rhinoceros (犀牛) that weighs 2100 pounds, and has a 3-pound brain is
________.
A. as clever as a chimp B. more clever than an elephant
C. less clever than an elephant D. as clever as an elephant

In the past, people who graduated from college felt proud of their academic achievement and confident that their degree would help them find a good job.
However, in the past four years the job market has changed dramatically. This year’s college graduates are facing one of the worst job markets in years. For example, Ryan Stewart, a graduate of San Jose University, got a degree in religious studies, but no job prospects. He points out that many people already working are getting laid off and don’t have jobs, so it’s even harder for new college graduates to find jobs.
Four years ago, the future looked bright for the class of 2003. There were many high-tech job opportunities. Graduates received many job offers, and they were able to get jobs with high salaries and benefits such as insurance and paid vacations. However, “Times have changed and it’s a new market,” according to Cheryl Allmen- Vinnidge of the San Jose State Career Center.
Allmen-Vinniage says students who do find jobs started preparing two years ago. They worked during summer vacations, they have had several internships（实习）, and they’ve majored in one of the few fields that are still hot, like chemical engineering, accounting, or nursing, where average starting salaries have actually increased over last year. Other popular fields (like information system management, computer science, and political science) have seen big declines in starting salaries.
Ryan Stewart (he had hoped to become a teacher) may just end up going back to school. “I’d like to teach college some day and that requires more schooling, which would be great in bad economy.” he said.
In conclusion, these days, to some students a degree may not be a ticket to instant wealth. For now, they can only hope its value will increase over time.
46. The word in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to ________.
A. skill B. interests C. opportunities D. applications
47. Which of the following majors can get a job easily?
A. teaching B. accounting C. political science D. computer science
48. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means ________.
A. the best way to get rich is not to get a college degree
B. most students with degrees will not be able to find jobs
C. having a college degree does not qualify one for travel discounts
D. a college degree does not mean that one will find a well-paid job
49. Ryan Stewart will have to ________.
A. change his major B. get a job teaching
C. go back to school D. become a religious leader
50. The main idea of this passage is that ________.
A. a lot of graduates are losing their jobs
B. Ryan Stewart has not been able to find a job
C. salaries in some fields have increased in the past year
D. the job market has changed dramatically over the past 4 years

III. 阅读（共两节，满分35）
第一节阅读理解 (共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I could make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have three-day passes (通行证) posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers.
It was Christmas Eve when I arrived, and a light snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (装饰物) shining against the green of a pine.
“Where did it come from？” I asked.
“I asked the Gates boy to cut it,” my mother said. “I wouldn’t have had one just for myself, but when you called--- oh, such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon…”
The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Krystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached about a little awkwardly (不够美观地) at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with pleasant smell of Christmas.
“It’s not like the ones you used to find,” my mother went on. “Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn’t know where to look. But I couldn’t be picky.”
“Don’t worry, ” I told her. “It’s perfect.”
It wasn’t, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: all Christmas trees are perfect.
41. From the passage, we can infer that ________.
A. the writer spent his Christmas during the war
B. soldiers did not all go home for Christmas during the war
C. all the soldiers had three-day passes
D. the writer could not go home for Christmas
42. When the writer got home, ________.
A. it was December 23
B. it was snowing heavily
C. he found a Christmas tree in the living room
D. the Gates boy was cutting a Christmas tree for his mother
43. From the passage, we can conclude that ________.
A. the writer used to cut very beautiful Christmas trees
B. his mother didn’t like perfect trees
C. his mother didn’t want to have a tree
D. the writer wouldn’t have a tree cut by someone else
44. “All Christmas trees are perfect”, because they can remind you of ________.
A. the wartime B. the green of a pine C. the pleasant smell D. the sweet home
45. The best title for this passage would be “________”.
A. How to Choose a Christmas Tree B. How Soldiers Spent Christmas
C. The Perfect Christmas Tree D. The Christmas Without a Tree

When Mary Moore began her high school in 1951, her mother told her, “Be sure and take a typing course so when this show business thing doesn't work out, you'll have something to rely on.” Mary responded in typical teenage fashion. “From that moment on, the very last thing I ever thought about doing was taking a typing course,” she recalls.
The show business thing worked out, of course. In her career, Mary won many awards. Only recently, when she began to write Growing Up Again, did she regret ignoring her mum,” I don't know how to use a computer,” she admits.
Unlike her 1995 autobiography, After All, her second book is less about life as an award-winning actress and more about living with diabetes (糖尿病). All the money from the book is intended for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), an organization she serves as international chairman. “I felt there was a need for a book like this,” she says.” I didn't want to lecture, but I wanted other diabetics to know that things get better when we're self-controlled and do our part in managing the disease.”
But she hasn't always practiced what she teaches. In her book, she describes that awful day, almost 40 years ago, when she received two pieces of life-changing news. First, she had lost the baby she was carrying, and second, tests showed that she had diabetes. In a childlike act, she left the hospital and treated herself to a box of doughnuts (甜甜圈). Years would pass before she realized she had to grow up again and take control of her diabetes, not let it control her. Only then did she kick her three-pack-a-day cigarette habit, overcome her addiction to alcohol, and begin to follow a balanced diet.
Although her disease has affected her eyesight and forced her to the sidelines of the dance floor, she refuses to fall into self-pity. “Everybody on earth can ask, 'why me?' about something or other,” she insists. “It doesn't do any good. No one is immune (免疫的) to heartache, pain, and disappointments. Sometimes we can make things better by helping others. I’ve come to realize the importance of that as I’ve grown up this second time. I want to speak out and be as helpful as I can be.”
41. Why did Mary feel regretful?
A. She didn’t achieve her ambition. B. She didn’t take care of her mother.
C. She didn’t complete her high school. D. She didn’t follow her mother’s advice.
42. We can know that before 1995 Mary .
A. had two books published B. received many career awards
C. knew how to use a computer D. supported the JDRF by writing
43. Mary’s second book Growing Up Again is mainly about her _______.
A. living with diabetes B. successful show business
C. service for an organization D. remembrance of her mother
44. When Mary received the life-changing news, she _______.
A. lost control of herself B. began a balanced diet
C. had to get a treatment D. behaved in an adult way
45. What can we know from the last paragraph?
A. Mary feels pity for herself. B. Mary has recovered from her disease.
C. Mary wants to help others as much as possible. D. Mary determines to go back to the dance floor.

The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal Web site. Web sites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care. On-line shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought.
The thieves then go shopping with your card number or sell the information over the Internet.
Computers hackers have broken down security systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25 000 customers of CD Universe, an on-line music retailer(批发商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a Web site after the retailer refused to pay US $157 828 to get back the information.
Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud. Master card is working on plans for Web-only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line.
However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.
Ask about your credit-card firm’s on-line rules: Under British law, cardholders are responsible for the first US $78 of any fraudulent spending.
And shop only at secure sites: Send your credit-card information only if the Web site offers advanced secure system.
If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. the Web site address may also start with https://-- the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.
Keep your password safe: Most online sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.
36. What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?
A. A lot of stolen credit-cards were sold on the Internet. B. Fraud on the Internet.
C. Many Web sites are destroyed. D. Many illegal Web sites are on the Internet.
37. What is the meaning of “fraud”?
A. cheating B. saleC. payment D. safety
38. How can the thieves get the information of the credit-card?
A. The customers give them the information. B. The thieves steal the information from Web sites.
C. The customers sell the information to them. D. Both A and B.
39. How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?
A. Four. 　　　B. Three. C. Five. 　　D. Six.
40. You are shopping on the site: http: //www. shopping. com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest doing?
A. Order the TV set at once. B. Do not buy the TV set on this site.
C. E-mail the site your credit-card information.
D. Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you.