Anyone who works in an office knows the power of technology. When it works, life is wonderful. Information files across the world in seconds. It saves time and makes our jobs easier. But when technology goes wrong, everyone hates it.
In March, Peter Golota received a gas bill for $0.00. He threw it away. In April, he received another bill for $0.00. He threw that one way, too. In May, the gas company sent him a letter which said he had to pay his gas bill. If he didn’t pay it, they were going to cut off his gas. He called and told them the bill was for $0.00. They said it was a computer error. But the bills continued. Finally, he sent a check for $0.00. This caused the bank’s computer to crash. After a lot of angry phone calls and the letters between the man, the gas company, and the bank, the case went to court. The gas company lost, and had to pay Peter Golota $8,000. It all happened because of a bill for $0.00.
A man from Colorado appeared on the news when he shot his computer because it crashed all the time. The man, who owned a bar, put the “dead” laptop on the wall for everyone to see. The police said, “It’s the first time someone shot a computer because he was angry with it.” They arrested him.
In December, Margaret Smart, of Energies Solutions, stood up in front of 2,000 people in Taxes. As she began to speak, her microphone stopped working. They found another one. After two minutes, that one also died. When she decided to show her notes on PowerPoint, the computer refused to start up. The title of her presentation was “Technology: The way Forward”.
64. Why did the bank’s computer crash?
A. Because it kept sending gas bills for $0.00.
B. Because Peter Golota sent a check for $0.00.
C. Because the gas company sent a letter to the bank.
D. Because the gas bill case went to court.
65. Who got angry with his computer and shot it?
A. A bar owner. B. A policeman.
C. Peter Golota. D. A bank manager.
66. Margaret Smart’s computer refuses to start up probably because ________.
A. there was a power failure B. it worked too long
C. it went wrong D. someone shot her computer
B
Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.
In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins（毒素）better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.
Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.
It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.
The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption（消耗）of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”
The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.
The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.
40．What’s the key message delivered in the passage?
A．Drinking too much water might bring harm.
B．Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.
C．Drinking too much water may cause headaches.
D．Average, healthy people should drink more water.
41．We can learn from the passage that 8 glasses of water every day_______ .
A．proves good for the body B．has scientific proof of harm
C．is sure to reduce headaches D．is generally considered necessary
42．Who may agree that drinking lots of water helps to lose weight?
A．The two experts. B．The Indian doctor.
C．The general public. D．The website.
43．According to the passage, we know that_______.
A．the website medheadlnes.com is developed by an Indian doctor
B．the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor
C．the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania
D．drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases
第二部分：阅读理解（共20小题。每小题3分，共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。
A
We thought we had it all---a beautiful house, three healthy children and one more on the way,
two cars, a couple of four-wheelers for entertainment---and we loved it. Then, the market turned and my husband’s job at a construction company was gone. The company was closing down for good.
We both started looking for jobs right away, but there weren’t any to be found. With each passing day we were getting increasingly worried and we continued to work together in order to pull our family through. The more we pulled together, the closer we got. I felt feelings of admiration for my husband that I hadn’t felt in years.
That’s why it was so hard for me to watch him blame himself for our present situation. I continually asked him to stop, but he seemed to want to punish himself for not having a job.
Finally, one afternoon I pulled him aside and said, “We have four healthy children and each other. That’s what’s important. That makes you a rich man.”
“ But what if we lose the house? They’ll hate me—you’ll hate me,” he replied.
I smiled at him and put my hands on both sides of his face to make him look me in the eye. “No matter where we live I will be happy –as long as I have you.” I smiled again. In all the struggling together I had found that deep love for him that I had on the day we said “I do”.
I could see his shoulders and neck relaxed. He held me close and we were able to talk and plan and dream together in a way that we hadn’t for quite some time. It was a turning point for us as a couple and a family.
We are still struggling for out better life, but I consider us well-off because we have something that money can’t buy and no one can take away from us.
36．The underlined sentence in the second paragraph means that________.
A．they became closer as they struggled together
B．they hoped to find jobs in the same company
C．neither of them had the courage to ace difficulty
D．they were trying to make their relationship closer
37．We can learn from the passage that________.
A．they both found good jobs at last.
B．both of them were worried about joblessness.
C．her husband was to blame for the unemployment
D．they didn’t love each other when they got married
38．Which of the following can best describe their present life?
A．Bitter but easy. B．Comfortable and happy.
C．Hard but warm. D．Well-off and relaxing.
39．The best title of the passage might be________ .
A．We Have It All B．We Find It Again
C．A Perfect Couple D．A Hard Time
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。
A
One night, Mrs. Riley, an elderly woman, was walking along a dark London street. She was carrying her handbag in one hand and a plastic carrier bag in the other. There was nobody else in the street except two youths. They were standing in a dark shop doorway. One of them was very tall with fail hair, the other was short and fat with a beard.
The youths waited for a few moments, and then ran quickly and quietly towards Mrs. Riley. The tall youth held her from behind while the other youth tried to seize her handbag.
Suddenly, Mrs. Riley threw the tall youth over her shoulder. He crashed into the other youth and they both landed on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs. Riley struck both of them on the head with her handbag and walked calmly away.
The two surprised youths were still sitting on the ground when Mrs. Riley crossed the street towards a door with a lighted sign above it. Mrs. Riley paused, turned round, smiled at the youths and walked into the South West London Judo（柔道）Club.The two youths stood in a dark shop doorway because _____.
| A．they had nothing to do |
| B．they were homeless |
| C．they meant to rob somebody |
| D．they were guarding the shop |
What did Mrs. Riley do to the two youths?
| A．She hurt them seriously. |
| B．She taught them a lesson. |
| C．She reported them to the police. |
| D．She sent them to a judo club. |
The story tells about an elderly woman who _____.
| A．often went shopping at night |
| B．was brave and wise |
| C．worked in a shopping center |
| D．had a skill of self–defense |
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。
A
One night, Mrs. Riley, an elderly woman, was walking along a dark London street. She was carrying her handbag in one hand and a plastic carrier bag in the other. There was nobody else in the street except two youths. They were standing in a dark shop doorway. One of them was very tall with fail hair, the other was short and fat with a beard.
The youths waited for a few moments, and then ran quickly and quietly towards Mrs. Riley. The tall youth held her from behind while the other youth tried to seize her handbag.
Suddenly, Mrs. Riley threw the tall youth over her shoulder. He crashed into the other youth and they both landed on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs. Riley struck both of them on the head with her handbag and walked calmly away.
The two surprised youths were still sitting on the ground when Mrs. Riley crossed the street towards a door with a lighted sign above it. Mrs. Riley paused, turned round, smiled at the youths and walked into the South West London Judo（柔道）Club.The two youths stood in a dark shop doorway because _____.
| A．they had nothing to do | B．they were homeless |
| C．they meant to rob somebody | D．they were guarding the shop |
What did Mrs. Riley do to the two youths?
| A．She hurt them seriously. | B．She taught them a lesson. |
| C．She reported them to the police. | D．She sent them to a judo club. |
The story tells about an elderly woman who _____.
| A．often went shopping at night | B．was brave and wise |
| C．worked in a shopping center | D．had a skill of self–defense |
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。
A
One night, Mrs. Riley, an elderly woman, was walking along a dark London street. She was carrying her handbag in one hand and a plastic carrier bag in the other. There was nobody else in the street except two youths. They were standing in a dark shop doorway. One of them was very tall with fail hair, the other was short and fat with a beard.
The youths waited for a few moments, and then ran quickly and quietly towards Mrs. Riley. The tall youth held her from behind while the other youth tried to seize her handbag.
Suddenly, Mrs. Riley threw the tall youth over her shoulder. He crashed into the other youth and they both landed on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs. Riley struck both of them on the head with her handbag and walked calmly away.
The two surprised youths were still sitting on the ground when Mrs. Riley crossed the street towards a door with a lighted sign above it. Mrs. Riley paused, turned round, smiled at the youths and walked into the South West London Judo（柔道）Club.The two youths stood in a dark shop doorway because _____.
| A．they had nothing to do | B．they were homeless |
| C．they meant to rob somebody | D．they were guarding the shop |
What did Mrs. Riley do to the two youths?
| A．She hurt them seriously. | B．She taught them a lesson. |
| C．She reported them to the police. | D．She sent them to a judo club. |
4The story tells about an elderly woman who _____.
| A．often went shopping at night | B．was brave and wise |
| C．worked in a shopping center | D．had a skill of self–defense |