The man traveling in the back of the ambulance which was running at a high speed along the streets of Baltimore that morning in 2008 had no business to be alive．By everything that was reasonable，and there were plenty of such things before，he should have been very dead indeed．But he wasn’t．As the people in the hospital pointed out after they had examined him，he was only slightly hurt．Yet he had just fallen 150 feet down a hotel lift shaft（电梯通道）!
Unknown to the man，two things had occurred which were to affect his life that day．On the thirteenth f1oor of the hotel, somebody had carelessly left the lift gate open．Down in the basement, a pipe had burst and，it had flooded the bottom of the lift shaft to a depth of two feet．
Modern lifts have all sorts of fail-safe system to prevent accidents，but this was ancient equipment unreliable，slow，dangerous，and suitable material to recycle．
The man had plenty of things to occupy his mind that morning. He had overslept. The hotel had forgotten to call him and now he was late for an important business appointment. He dressed quickly, shaved hurriedly, took hold of his briefcase and hurried off down the hotel corridor.
Good! The life gate was open. The life must be there. He need not press the button and wait while the large, clumsy life made its way upwards. Without looking or thinking, he stepped out into space. The lift cag
e was, in fact, one floor above him on the fourteenth. The would which he had walked was a narrow space of not very fresh sir, ending 150 feet below in two feet of dirty water.
The man fell, making his journey to the ground at a speed he had never dreamed of. Confused patterns, a rush of air, time enough to be afraid, split-second thoughts of death, then-crash!
Perhaps this gave him the record for some sort of high-diving act. No doubt in future he always looked before he jumped. Certainly be learnt that this was no way to save time. The experts said that those two feet of water had saved his life.
59．What do we learn about the man?
A．He fell from the 13th floor. B．He was hit by an ambulance．
C．He got caught in a serious flood． D．He made a record for high-diving.
60．By “……had no business to be alive”，the writer means that the man_______.
A．had missed his business appointment B．was alive with excitement
C．was alive and this was surprising D．didn’t do any business
61．Tile lift did not have a fail-safe system because it was____________.
A．narrow B．slow C．1arge D．old
62．Which of the following was NOT the cause of the accident?
A．A pipe burst． B．The man overslept
C．The hotel forgot to call him D．Someone left the lift door open
B
A popular saying goes，“Sticks and stones may break my bones，but words will never hurt me．”However，that's not really true．Words have the power to build us up or tear us down．It doesn't matter whether the words come from someone else or ourselves—the positive and negative effects are just as lasting．
We all talk to ourselves sometimes．We're usually too embarrassed to admit it，though．In fact，we really shouldn't be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit．
This“self—talk”helps us motivate ourselves，remember things，solve problems，and calm ourselves down．Be aware, though，that as much as 77％of self—talk tends to be negative．So in order to stay positive，we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves．We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back ．The next time you finish a project，do well in a test，or finally clean your room，join me in saying“Good job!”
Often，words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have．But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others．For example，when returning an item to a store，we might use warm，friendly language during the exchange．And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner．Or unkind and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive．
Words possess power because of their lasting effect．Many of us regret something we once said．And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking，we should always ask ourselves：Is it true? Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn't pass this test，then it's better left unsaid．
Words possess power：both positive and negative．Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively．We can offer hope，build self—esteem（自尊） and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things．Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours．
60．The main idea of the first paragraph is that________．
A．words have a lasting effect on us
B．inspiring words give us confidence
C．negative words may let us down
D．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us
61．It is unnecessary to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because______．
A．almost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves
B．talking to ourselves always gives us courage
C．we can benefit from talking to ourselves
D．it does no harm to have“self—talk”when we are alone
62．The underlined part in the third paragraph m
eans that we should also occasionally_____．
A．remind ourselves B．make ourselves relaxed
C．praise ourselves D．give ourselves amusement
63．The author would probably hold the view that_______．
A．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers
B．negative words may motivate us to make more progress
C．people tend to remember friendly words
D．it is better to think twice before talking to others
第三部分：阅读理解(共两节，满分40分)
第一节：选择题(共15小题，每小题2分，共30分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
I was born an albino．No one in my family had ever known what an albino was，what it meant to be an albino，and what had to be done differently because I was an albino.
My parents treated me just like they treated everybody else. That was just about the best thing they could have done. It helped me trust myself，so when the annoyances came along，I could deal with them.
Actually，my photo always looked like a snowball with two pieces of coal for eyes. Kids would tease me，asking if I was joining the circus and calling me “Whitey”. Like most albinos，I had terrible eyesight，and my grades suffered until eventually I overcame my feeling ashamed of myself and realized it was okay to ask to sit in the front of the classroom so I could see the blackboard better. People stared at me when I held reading material right at the tip of my nose so I could see it well enough to read. Even when I was eight or nine. movie-theater clerks started asking me to pay adult prices because I “looked older”.
The worst part for me was that because my eyesight was so bad，I couldn't play sports very well. I di
dn't give up trying，though. And I studied harder. Eventually，I got better at school and loved it. By the time I got to college I was double majoring，going to summer school and devoting myself to every kind of extracurricular activity I could find. I had learned to be proud of being an albino. I did my best to make “albino” a positive word. And I decided to make my living with my eyes.
I couldn't see well enough to play spots，but with a solid education and the drive to do it，I could make a living involved in the field I loved. I've done it now for more than thirty years in print and in video，and now in cyberspace. People make jokes about how I'm the only “blind editor” they know，but most of the time
the jokes are signs of respect. And I make jokes about being an albino.
I was just a proud albino kid from the coal country of Pennsylvania. I now realize that being born an albino helped me to overcome difficulties，gain confidence，and be proud of my personal achievement and humble about my professional accomplishments.
56．According to the passage，an albino refers to a person__________．
A．who has bad eyesight B．who is born with white skin and hair
C．who looks older than his age D．who joins the circus
57．What does the underlined word “It” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A．The fact that the author was born an albino．
B．The way that the author's parents treated him．
C．What had to be done differently to the author．
D．The fact that the author had no idea what an albino was．
58．Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Despite his bad eyesight，the author played sports well．
B．The author paid adult prices for movies when he was still young．
C．The author's study was affected by his eyesight at first．
D．“Albino” has already become a positive word now．
59．In the passage，the author intends to tell us___________．
A．actually being an albino helped him achieve success
B．how an albino studied well
C．what it is like to be an albino
D．how people should treat an albino
E
Now that the recession（经济衰退）is most likely over, it’s time to start looking at which companies, institutions, and individuals developed well during this unpleasant period. In the downturn that began in December 2007, the recession ruined the wealthiest cconsumer markets—the united States, Europe, Japan—there were very few safe shelters. But some countries, such as Peru, managed to grow right through the global recession. And some companies arranged their business so that they resisted the contraction and benefited from the trends affecting their industry. Some even managed to bring more business.
Chief among the Great Recession’s winners is McDonald’s. McDonald’s sales growth in 2008 was greater than in 2006 and 2007. while many restaurants reduced their business operation, it opened nearly 600 stores in 2008. and the chain has achieved same-store sales growth in each of 2009’s first seven months.
In 2008, after a decade of severely trading up to higher quality consumer goods and services, Americans began to trade down with a vengeance（报复）. McDonald’s, which has 44 percent of its 32,000 stores in the United States, was set up to profit from trading down in two ways. Fist, in a recession, people eat out less and at home more frequently. And when they eat out, they eat at cheaper places. McDonald’s is so cheap, efficient, and convenient that it was a practical alternative to cas
ual restaurants like Ruby Tuesday.
In the United States, McDonald’s may be a cheap source of calories in food. In other parts of the world, McDonald’s is an appealing brand, identified with middle-class, westernized consumerism. Much of the world, such as China, India, is still not developed for the Golden Arches. Coincidentally, these are the right places where its business has continued to grow during the global recession. While it faces operational challenges in markets, McDonald’s has benefited form a weakening dollar and rising incomes in Asia.
The question now for investors（投资者）is whether McDonald’s can survive the recovery.
When people feel better-off, will they still stop by? The growth in same-store sales in the United States has come down a little in recent months. And there’s a rising amount of the population that has grown accustomed to eating healthier and better. Going forward, McDonald’s may face larger cultural barriers in the United States than in China.
72．From the passage we can infer that__________in the recession.
A．the developing countries grew wealthier
B．the rich countries became unable to recover 
C．the Western companies suffered a great loss
D．the opportunities were brought as well as challenges
73．McDonald’s managed to remain popular in the recession mainly because of .
A．its good operation B．the American food culture
C．its low price and convenience D．the weak value of dollars
74．The underlined word “contraction” in Paragraph I means.
A．formal written agreement B．influence on industry
C．disappointing management D．process of reduced trade
75．What can be the best title for this passage?
A．Who Won the Recession
B．Who Traded down in the Recession
C．How Western Business Survived the Recession
D．How McDonald’s Kept Growing after the Recession
D
For many of us, printed books are satisfying in ways beyond the words they contain. Billions of printed books have been published, read and saved in the 600 years since movable type was invented, so why mess with a good things?
Sony Electronics is doing just that, betting that readers will be won over by the convenience of readability of its new electronic book devices. Sony's reader, the PRS-505, can hold 160 books in its fixed memory, enough to line the shelves on a good-sized wall in the average American home. The $299 device is about the size of a paperback book, but a half-inch thick and weighs less than a pound.
The Sony book reader is revolutionary not only in its storage capacity. The font（字体） is highly readable and adjustable by size. Unlike laptop computers, you can put the Sony in your purse, read it in direct sunlight and even bookmark the pages. And you can connect it to your PC to download books.
Surprisingly, though the reader has liberated the book from paper, electronic books aren't always a bargain. For example, David Baldacci's "Stone Cold" download retails（零售） for $15.19 at the Sony site, while Amazon（卓越网） will deliver a hard copy to your mailbox for $16.19.
The Sony reader also lets you store and play or display music. So what's not to like about the Sony? Well, for many bibliophiles, they like to have, hold and keep their volumes, which don't need charging. You can write notes in the margins, and enjoy the ambience they provide on your book shelves.
The need for electronic reading devices is likely to grow as more people worried about the billions of tons of paper used for printed material. Many believe the time will come when devices like the Sony reader are as common as printed newspapers and magazines today.
68．What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The age of the electronic book reader is coming
B. Printed books are out of date
C. The Sony reader meets many readers’ needs
D. The revolution in book readers
69．According to the passage, the Sony book reader _________.
A. is as light as a laptop computer B. can hold more than 200 books
C. is convenient to carry around D. cannot be connected to a PC
70．What is the author’s point when he mentions “Stone Cold”?
A. Amazon’s printed books are very cheap
B. “Stone Cold” can be got from the Sony site and Amazon
C. The Sony book reader is not very cheap to use
D. The Sony book reader can benefit its buyers a lot
71．According to the author, what’s the future for the electronic reading devices?
A. They’ll replace printed newspapers and magazines
B. They’ll still be more expensive than printed newspapers
C. They’ll become a must in people’s daily life
D. They’ll become more popular as time goes on
C
You can love them or hate them, but no matter which tourist destination you visit, chances are you’ll see someone
with their head buried in a Lonely Planet guidebook.
Lonely Planet is one of the world’s largest travel guide brands, publishing more than 500 different guides in eight languages. The popular brand also produces television shows, websites and podcasts(播客)all devoted to travel.
Some people praise Lonely Planet books because they make traveling easy and affordable. They also save time and make sure you don’t miss the best things.
They also provide the reviews of hostels(旅店), hotels, restaurants and ticket information about your destination.
This can be great if you’re a nervous traveler, or if you haven’t traveled by yourself before. If you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language, sometimes there’s nothing better than getting into a taxi and opening up a guidebook. You simply point to a map that directs the taxi driver to a hostel that’s cheap and clean, with friendly staff and cold beer.
But others criticize Lonely Planet and other travel guide publishers like them. They say guidebooks take the fun and spontaneity(自发性)out of traveling, and that part of the enjoyment of travel comes from the fact that anything can happen. They also regret that if you follow a guidebook, you’ll end up doing the same thing and having the same experience as everyone else. You might end up seeing the same group of people over and over, because everyone is reading the same book and following the same route.
Another criticism of travel guides is that they have a large impact on local communities. For example, some locals devote their lives to behaving in ways that attract tourists. They pretend to live a traditional lifestyle, wear traditional clothes and live in traditional houses in order to attract the tourist dollar.
64. The Lonely Planet guidebook can bring you the following advantages EXCEPT that __________.
A. you can speak a foreign language when opening a guidebook
B. you can easily find a nice place to stay in a strange city
C. it provides lots of useful information about your destination
D. it can help you save time and money when traveling
65. People criticize the guidebook because __________.
A. it is not as useful as most travelers expect
B. tourist destinations will be crowded if everyone follows the same route
C. travelers may not get the chance to have unexpected adventures
D. local people keep modern lifestyles under its influence
66. What do we know about the Lonely Planet guidebook from the text?
A. It’s a world-famous brand only producing guidebooks for travelers.
B. It’s very useful to a person who’s nervous about touring an unfamiliar place.
C. It’s very useful to a tourist who likes to repeat others’ experiences.
D. It is loved by all travelers because of the convenience it brings to travelers.
67. Which of the following best shows the structure of the text? (①—⑦ stand for Paragraph 1
—Paragraph 7 )
A. ① B. ① C. ① D. ①
② ②③ ④ ② ② ③
③④ ⑤⑥⑦ ⑤ ⑥⑦ ③④⑤ ⑥⑦ ④⑤ ⑥⑦