Most American students said goodbye to expensive fruits these days. In school canteens across the country, cheaper fruits like apples and oranges heave replaced them. “People are afraid to spend now” said Linda Morrow, who owns a shoe and handbag store. “They basically don’t know what the future will bring and keep waiting till after the Presidential Election.”
The current financial crisis(金融危机), during which several of the country’s biggest banks have been forced to sell or close, has made lots of Americans unwilling to buy expensive goods.
Samira Martino, a restaurant owner in Miami, found everyone is ordering water instead of juice and more people are sharing meals. In more than two dozen interviews with the Associated Press across the country last month, American talked about their concerns, from worries about small businesses to doubts about simply making ends meet.
The crisis began last year. Experts blame it on U.S. banks lending money too easily. A lot of people and companies, who borrowed money, have found themselves unable to pay it back. This left the banks, as well as the people who put their money in the banks, without money. Since the banks borrowed money between themselves and even across borders, the whole world’s financial markets were involved.
This month the U.S. government agreed on a $ 700 billion plan to try to save the financial market. But a turn-around(转机) is not sure. President George W. Bush has warned it will take some time for the full effects of the plan to take hold in an economy that has had a world of trouble.
Last week top finance officials from 20 major economies promised to work together to find a way out of the money trouble. They believe the current crisis is the worst since the Great Depression in 1929. And they all think international cooperation is the key to solve it.
56. From the first paragraph, we can infer that______
A. apples and oranges become more expensive
B. people are worrying about the Election
C. people are expecting a turn-around after the Election
D. expensive fruits are in short supply in American markets
57. Samira Martino’s restaurant is mentioned in the passage in order to ______
A. show that people cut down their expenses.
B. attract more people to come to his restaurant
C. show how hard he is trying to run his business
D. encourage people to start businesses like him
58. What is the cause of the current financial crisis of America?
A. The Presidential Election
B. U.S. banks lending money too easily.
C. The decreasing economy.
D. America’s rapid development.
59. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Many students can not eat expensive fruits in school canteens.
B. Americans are very worried about their lives.
C. The international cooperation is most needed.
D. The current financial crisis is the worst in American history.
60. This passage mainly talks about______
A. the terrible life of Americans
B. the situation of the financial crisis
C. the way to go through the crisis
D. the world financial market
E
WHERE TO STAY IN BOSWELL YOUR GUIDE TO OUR BEST HOTEL |
||||
Name / address |
Number of the Rooms |
Single Room |
Double Room |
Special Attraction |
First Hotel 222 Edward Road Tel:414-6433 |
120 |
25 |
35 |
Air-conditioned rooms,French restaurant,Night Club,Swimming pool,shops ,coffee shop and bar ,telephone,radio and TV in each room ,close to city center |
Fairview Hotel 129 North Road Tel:591-5620 |
50 |
12 |
18 |
Close to the airport,telephone in each room,Bar ,Restaurant ,garage ,swimming pool |
Orchard Hotel 233 Edward Road Tel:641-6646 |
120 |
15 |
20 |
Facing First Hotel ,European restaurant,coffee shop,dry-cleaning ,shops TV,Night-club |
Osaka Hotel 1264 Venning Road Tel:643-8820 |
180 |
30 |
50 |
Air-conditioned rooms,Japanese and Chinese restaurant ,shops ,swimming pool,large garden |
72.The number of the double rooms in the best hotels in Boswell is.
A.82 B.105 C. 123 D.470
73.If a Japanese traveler likes to eat in French restaurant, is the right place for him to go.
A.233 Edward Road B.222 Edward Road
C.1264 Venning Road D.129 North Road
74.It is convenient for you to stay at if you enjoy walking in the downtown in the evening
A.First Hotel or Orchard Hotel B.Fairview Hotel or Osaka Hotel
C.First Hotel or Fairview Hotel D.Orchard Hotel or Osaka Hotel
75.A group of 26 old people who want to stay in a quiet place and don’t want to share moms with others are visiting Boswell.Which is the most suitable hotel for them to choose?
A.First Hotel B.Fairview Hotel C.Orchard Hotel D.Osaka Hotel
Everybody hates it,but everybody does it.A recent report said that 40%of Americans hate tipping.But why do tips exist?
The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality.It is believed that the better the service is,the bigger the tip will be.
But according to a new research from Cornell University,tips no longer serve any useful function.The paper analyzes number they got from 2,547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants.The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak.
Tipping is better explained by culture than by the money people spend.In America,tipping is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service.In New York restaurants,failing to tip at least 15%could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers Hairdressers can expect to get 15%一20%.and the mall who delivers your fast food should be paid$2.In Europe,tipping is less common.In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge In many Asian countries,tipping has never really caught on at a11.Only a few have really taken to tipping。
According to Michael Lynn,the Cornell papers’author,countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more.tie says,“In America,where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others,tipping is about social approval If you tip badly,people think less of you .Tipping well is a chance to show off.”
68.This passage is mainly about
A.different kinds of tipping in different countries
B.the relationship between tipping and countries
C.the origin and present meanings of tipping
D.the reason why American people hate tipping
69.Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase“caught on”in paragraph 4?
A.been hated B.become popular C.been stopped D.been permitted
70.Eating in a well—known restaurant in New York,who is likely to tip most?
A.A Frenchman. B.A Chinese.C.A Japanese.D.An American.
71.We can infer from this passage that.
A.tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves
B.tipping has something to do with people’s character
C.tipping in America can make service better now
D.tipping is no longer popular in New York
Compassion(同情)is a desire within us to help others.With efforts,we can translate compassion into actions.An experience last weekend showed me this is true.
I work part—time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly These old people are our main customers,and it’s easy to lose patience over their slowness.But last Sunday,one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson.This untidy marl walked up to my register(收款机)with a box of biscuits.He said he was out of cash,had just moved into his room,and had nothing in his cupboards.He asked if we could let him have the food on trust.He promised to repay me the next day.
I couldn’t help staring at him.I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before,and what he would be like if luck had gone his way.I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul,all alone in the world.I told him that I was sorry,and the store rules didn’t allow me to do so.I felt stupid and unkind saying this,but I valued my job .Just then,another man,standing behind the first,spoke up.if anything,he looked more pitiable,“Charge it to me,”was all he said.
What I had been feeling was pity.Pity is soft,safe and easy.Compassion,on the other hand,is caring in action.I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed,either.Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion.
64.The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits.
A.promised to obey the store rules
B.forgot to take any money with him
C.hoped to have the food first and pay later
D.couldn’t afford anything more expensive
65.How did the aged gentleman possibly feel when he was refused by the writer?
A.Warm and lucky. B.shameful and lonely
C.Thankful and excited D.Hurt and disappointed.
66.The writer followed the store rules because.
A.he wanted to keep his present job
B.he felt no pity for the old gentleman
C.he considered the old gentleman dishonest
D.he expected someone else to pay for the old gentleman
67.What does the writer 1earn from his experience?
A.Wealth is most important.
B.Helping others is easier said than done.
C.Experience is better gained through practice.
D.Compassion shows in actions
You either have a sense of direction,or you don’t.But why is it that some people could find Their way across the Sahara without a map,while others can lose themselves in the next street?
Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction,but it is not properly understood how it works.One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it.Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it,we lose it.
“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around.”says Jim Martland,Research Director of the project.“However,if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car,they never develop the skills”
Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction.He makes the following suggestions:
●If you are using a map.turn it so it relates to the way you are facing.
●If you leave your bike in a strange place.put it near something like a big stone or a tree.
Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike.When you return,go back along the same route.
●Simplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town,streams,or walls in the countryside to guide you.Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which Call help to find out where you are.Now you will never get lost again !
60.Scientists believe that.
A.some babies are born with a sense of direction
B.people learn a sense of direction as they grow older
C.people never lose their sense of direction
D.everybody possesses a sense of direction from birth
61.What is true of seven—year—old children according to the passage?
A.They never have a sense of direction without maps
B.They should never be allowed out alone if they lack a sense of direction.
C.They have a sense of direction and can find their way around.
D.They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car.
62.If you leave your bike in a strange place,you should.
A.tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen
B.draw a map of the route to help remember where it is
C.avoid taking the same route when you come back in it
D.remember something easily recognizable on the route
63.According to the passage the best way to find your way around is to.
A.ask policemen for directions
B.use walls,streams or streets to guide yourself
C.remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs
D.count the number of landmarks that you see
第三部分阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
从A、B、C、D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
A group of graduates,highly established in their careers,got together to visit their old university professor.
The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and in life.offering his guests coffee,the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and a variety of cups——plastic,glass,crystal(水晶),some plain—looking,some expensive,some fine——telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand,the professor said:“If you noticed,all the nice—looking,expensive cups were taken up,leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves,that is the source of your problems and stress.”
“What all of you really wanted was coffee,not the cup,but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other’s cups.”
“Now consider this:Life is the coffee and the jabs,money and position in society are the cups.They are just tools to hold and contain life,and do not change the quality of life.Sometimes,by concentrating only on the cup,we fail to enjoy the coffee.So,don’t let the cups drive you...enjoy the coffee instead.”
56.Why did the conversation soon turn into complaints?
A.Because there was no coffee to drink.
B.Because there was nothing to talk about except complaints
C.Because life was not easy for everyone.
D.Because there was nothing better than to complain.
57.The professor brought in a variety of cups because.
A.he was richer than his students
B.he was fond of collecting cups
C.there were too many people to drink coffee
D.the cups would play an important part in his talk
58.In the author’s opinion.
A.it is necessary to have a variety of cups to meet the needs of different guests
B.one should concentrate on main things in life
C.the students liked drinking coffee mole than anything else
D.cups are more important than coffee
59.We can infer that.
A.in our daily life most people want only the best for themselves
B.coffee was as important as a cup
C. a teacher should have a11 kinds of cups at home
D.whether coffee is nice to drink depends on the cup