IV.ReadingComprehension(40poin-优题课

Have you ever heard the story of the four-minute mile? Many years ago, people believed that it was impossible for a human being to run a mile in less than four minutes until Roger Banister proved it wrong in1954.
What happens if you put an animal in a pond? Any animal, big or small, will swim its way through. What happens when someone, who does not know how to swim, falls in deep waters? They drown. If an animal who has not learned swimming could escape by swimming, why not you? Because you believe you will drown while the animal does not.
Have you ever wondered why the letters are organized in a particular order on hour keyboard? You might have thought it is to increase the typing speed. Most people never question it. But the fact is that this system was developed to reduce the typing speed at a time when typewriter parts would jam if the operator typed too fast.
These three cases show the power of our beliefs. There is no other more powerful directing force in human behavior than belief. Your beliefs have the power to create and to destroy. A belief delivers a direct command to your nervous system.
I used a snake in my workshops for children to show them how unrealistic some of their beliefs are. Students of a school in India, said snakes were slippery, slimy (黏糊糊的) and poisonous. After doing an exercise for changing beliefs, they handled my snake and found it to be dry and clean. They also remembered that only three types of poisonous snakes exist in India.
Did this story end the way you thought? Review your beliefs now and find out which ones you need to change.
36. In the author’s opinion, if a person in deep water doesn’t know how to swim he will drown because _________.
A. he is afraid of water B. he doesn’t want to live in the world
C. he hasn’t learned to swim before D. he believes he will drown
37. The author thinks that the letters are organized in a particular order on your keyboard in order to _________.
A. reduce one’s typing speed B. satisfy the operator
C. save more space D. increase one’s typing speed
38. The author’s experiment shows that __________.
A. snakes in India aren’t poisonous B. snakes can be caught easily
C. snakes are slimy and poisonous D. snakes are dry and clean
39. According to the passage, we know that ________.
A. students from India have unrealistic beliefs on how to live a better life
B. an animal who has not learned to swim will drown if you put it in a pond.
C. Roger Banister was the first person who ran a mile in less than four minutes.
D. most people don’t like the order the letters are arranged on your keyboard
40. The main idea of this passage should be that _______.
A. beliefs make us seem stupid B. beliefs are very powerful
C. changing your beliefs now if necessary D. people should always believe in themselves

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估计) to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate(足够的) working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present-day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
31. What would be the best title for this passage?
A. The Difficulties of Learning English B. International Communications
C. The Standard Varieties of English D. English as a World Language
32. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.
B. There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.
C. It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.
D. People learn English for a variety of reasons.
33. According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?
A. It was popular during Shakespeare’s time. B. It is used in former British colonies.
C. It serves the needs of its native speakers.
D. It is a world language that is used for international communication.
34. What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?
A. The ability to read a newspaper.
B. It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.
C. Being a multilingual.
D. Being a native speaker.
35. What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?
A. Those geographically close to the United States.
B. Those interested in the culture of the United States.
C. Former colonies of Great Britain.
D. Countries where international conferences are held.

II、阅读（共两节，满分50分）
第一节阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A teenage girl is fighting for her life today after being struck by lightning as severe thunderstorms swept across Britain. The girl was one of four teenage girls from London who were hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park during a storm. Earlier, Joseph Wharton, 14, died as he was struck by lightning while camping in his friend’s backyard in the West Midlands.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the girl remained in serious condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. She had stopped breathing by the time the first paramedic (护理人员) arrived on the scene just two minutes after the strike at 5:40 p.m. yesterday.
The other three girls hit by the bolt all had injuries, and were taken to University College Hospital. Their conditions were not serious, the spokesman added.
The strike lifted the girls into the air and then dropped them to the ground, a witness reported.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said paramedics risked their lives to treat the girls. “The storm was still overhead and lightning was still coming down while they were treating the patients,” he said. “All staff involved acted very professionally in providing fast treatment to these patients in very difficult circumstances.” Scotland Yard said the incident was being looked into by officers from the Royal Parks’ Operational Command Unit.
Joseph Wharton of Byland Way, Bloxwich, was hit during the extended thunderstorm which struck the region yesterday morning. He was pronounced dead at Walsall Manor Hospital.
He had been sleeping in a tent while staying with school friend Michael Lees at a house on nearby Cresswell Crescent.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics were called at 7:50 a.m. and unsuccessful attempts were made to revive（使苏醒）the sports-mad teenager. A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said four or five people die each year as a result of lightning strikes in the UK.
26、All four girls________.
A. were killed by the lightning B. were seriously injured
C. were being treated at the same hospital D. were lifted up and dropped to the ground
27、The underlined word “bolt” probably means “________”.
A. thunder B. rain C. storm D. lightning
28、Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. The boy was killed after the four girls had been hit.
B. The paramedics began to treat the girls after taking them to the hospital.
C. First-aid was given to the girls during the storm.
D. The boy was hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park.
29、It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
A. many British people die from lightning strikes every year
B. the writer blames the government for the accident
C. the paramedics could also have been hit by lightning while aiding the girls
D. Joseph had been playing in the open air before the strike
30、This passage is probably taken from a ________.
A. magazine B. newspaper C. science fiction D. weather report

The 115 islands that sparkle in the middle of the Indian Ocean are one of the world's greatest treasures 'A place where natural purity and simplicity can be found and innocence rediscovered; a place like no other and another world entirely. 92 of those islands consist of Seychelles, which is known as "the last paradise".
For over two centuries, the islands of Seychelles have remained a melting pot of different races, traditions and religions from the four corners of the earth. The Seychellois are a colorful blend of peoples of different races, cultures and religions. .At different times in its history, people of African, European and Asian origin have come to Seychelles, bringing with them their distinct traditions and customs and contributing to the way of life and to Seychellois culture.
Throughout Seychelles, there are many artisans producing works of art that are as varied and diverse as their surrounds and which include stained glass, products made from coconut shell, husk, seashells and corals, clothing, gold, silver and other forms of jewellery, recycled materials, bamboo, metal and pottery. They are probably poorly educated, but they have talent for producing handicraft articles.
Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives are all island countries, but Seychelles is unique. Mr. Alanin, Director of Tourism Marketing of Seychelles Tourism hoard said, "There are a variety of islands in Seychelles. Mauritius has only one island. In Maldives, there are a lot of islands, but they are all coral islands. Seychelles has big granite (花岗岩) islands. In addition, the people are different. We have a mixture of people, and you can see how friendly they are.
Most importantly, all these natural disasters do not exist in Seychelles because we are out of the belt. Nothing will happen to visitors when they are in Seychelles. In Seychelles, harmony is a way of life."
41. The islands of Seychelles are NOT ______.
A. polluted B. world famous C. beautiful D. various
42. Which of the following of Seychelles is not mentioned in the passage?
A. The nature. B. The people.
C. The food. D. The culture.
43. From the 3rd paragraph we can guess that an "artisan" is ______.
A. a professional artist producing works with recycled materials
B. a person whose job requires skills with his hands
C. a factory where handicraft articles are produced
D. an organization who sell natural things
44. Which of the following is a part of the reasons for that Seychelles is unique?
A. Seychelles' islands are all granite ones.
B. Seychelles had more islands than Mauritius and Maldives.
C. Seychelles has more races and the people are friendly.
D. Seychelles is located at a safe position on the earth.
45. What's Mr. Alanin's purpose to say all these words in the last paragraph?
A. To attract visitors to travel in Seychelles.
B. To praise the beauty of Seychelles.
C. To express his feelings to his country.
D. To explain the difference from Mauritius and Maldives.

SHANGHAI-Famed Chinese scientist Qian Weichang died here on Friday morning, saddening millions of his countrymen.
He was 98.
Qian, a pioneer in mechanics and applied mathematics in modern China, was one of the three famous "Qians" in China's science and technology field. He was well known alongside Qian Xuesen, the father of China's space program, and Qian Sanqiang, a nuclear physicist who oversaw the development of China's nuclear program.
Wu Shuqing, former president of Peking University, said Qian was an internationally well-known scholar whose modesty and conduct has set a good example for following generations.
After learning about Qian's death, millions of Chinese people offered their condolences (吊唁) online.
Many students from Shanghai University, where Qian was a former president, burst into tears after hearing the news, saying it was a great loss to the university and to China.
For those off campus for the summer vocation, many visited their university website, which had been turned gray. Some said they planned to return to the campus to mourn him.
Many of those still on campus voluntarily joined preparations for a mourning (哀悼) service that will begin at the university on Saturday.
The university has set up two mourning halls at two of its campuses and publicized the mourning time and phone numbers at the two sites.
Qian was born in Wuxi, Jiangsu, in 1912. Although he was initially not good at science, he chose to study physics at Tsinghua University because he believed science and technology were the keys to strengthening China in the 1930s.
He graduated from Tsinghua in 1935, and earned his PhD in applied mathematics from the University of Toronto in Canada in 1942.
He returned to China in 1946 and became a mechanics professor and later vice-president at Tsinghua University.
Qian made great contributions to the engineering applications of sciences, such as the fluttering of airplanes, armor penetration, the design of instruments and pipe systems.
He is an academician (院士) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
36. Qian Weichang used to work at ______.
A. Tsinghua University and Peking University
B. Shanghai University and Toronto University
C. Peking University and Shanghai University
D. Tsinghua University and Shanghai University
37. According to the passage, the students expressed their sadness to Qian's death in the following ways EXCEPT that they ______.
A. held mourning meetings in the university
B. could not stop crying for losing him
C. went to the university to mourn him themselves
D. offered their help to the mourning service
38. The passage tells us that ______ made Qian Weichang aim at science in his university time.
A. his talents at study
B. his failures at science
C. the family's expectation
D. his love to the country
39. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?
A. Qian Weichang graduated from Tsinghua University.
B. Qian Weichang used to work side by side with Qian Xuesen and Qian Sanqiang.
C. Qian Weichang spent at least four years studying and living abroad.
D. Qian Weichang was not good at science before he went to university.
40. What is the best title of this passage?
A. Respected Scientist Passes on at 98
B. The Great Life of the Scientist-Qian Weichang
C. The Whole Nation Mourn Qian Weichang
D. A 98-year Old Man Passed in Shanghai