Ⅲ. 阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，
满分30分）
阅读下列短文，从文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出一个最佳答案。
Habits, whether good or bad, are gradually formed. When a person does a certain thing again, he is driven by some unseen force to do the same thing repeatedly, then a habit is formed. Once a habit is formed, it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get rid of. It is therefore very important that we should pay great att
ention to the formation of habits. Children often form bad habits, some of which remain with them as long as they live. Older persons also form bad habits lasting as long as they live, and sometimes become ruined by them.
There are other habits which, when formed in early life, are of great help. Many successful men say that much of their success has something to do with certain habits in early life, such as early rising, honesty and so on.
Among the habits which children should not form are laziness, lying, stealing and so on. These are all easily formed habits. Unfortunately older persons often form habits which could have been avoided.
We should keep away from all these bad habits, and try to form such habits as will be good for ourselves and others.
36. ________ are formed little by little.
A. Good habits
B. Bad habits
C. Both good habits and bad habits
D. Either good habits or bad habits
37. Generally speaking, it's difficult for one___and easy for them____which should be avoided.
A. to form bad habits; to form good habits
B. to form good habits; to form bad habits
C. to form such habits as will be good; to get rid of bad habits
D. to get rid of bad habits; to form good habits
38. Why should we pay much attention to the formation of habits?
A. Because habits are of great help to every one of us.
B. Because a man can never get rid of a habit.
C. Because it's hard and sometimes even impossible to throw away bad habits.
D. Because we are forced to do them again and again .
39. According to the passage, early rising ________.
A. has something to do with success
B. is an easily formed habit
C. is such a habit as should have been avoided
D. is such a habit as will be kept
A new study links heavy air pollution from coal burning to shorter lives in northern China. Researchers estimate that the half-billion people alive there in the 1990s will live an average of 5 years less than their southern counterparts because they breathed dirtier air.
China itself made the comparison possible: for decades, a now-discontinued government policy provided free coal for heating, but only in the colder north. Researchers found significant differences in both particulate pollution of the air and life expectancy in the two regions.
While previous studies have found that pollution affects human health, "the deeper and ultimately more important question is the impact on life expectancy," said one of the researchers, Michael Greenstone, a professor of environmental economics at Massachusetts Institute of 一Technology. "This study provides a unique setting to answer the life expectancy question because the(heating) policy dramatically changes pollution concentrations（含量），，，Greenstone said in an email. "Further, due to the low rates of migration in China in this period, we can know people's exposure over long time periods," he said.
The policy gave free coal for fuel boilers to heat homes and offices to cities north of the Huai Riv饥which divides China into north and south. It was in effect for much of the 1950-198,0 period of central planning, and, though discontinued after 1980, it has left a legacy（遗留） in the north of heavy coal burning, which releases particulate pollutants into the air that can harm human health. Researchers found no other government policies that treated China's north differently from the south.
The researchers collected data for 90 cities, from 1981 to 2000, on the annual daily average concentration of total suspended（悬浮的）particulates. In China, those are considered to be particulates that are 100 micrometers or less in diameter, sent out from sources including power stations, construction sites and vehicles. Among them, PM2.5 is of especially great health concern because it can go deep into the lungs.
The researchers estimated the impact on life expectancies using death data from 1991-2000． They found that in the north, the concentration of particulates was 184 micrograms per cubic meter一or 55 percent higher than in the south, and life expectancies were 5.5 years lower on average across all age ranges.The main idea of this passage is that＿·
| A．research in China finds air pollution shortened life expectancy |
| B．the government provided free coal for heating in North China |
| C．coal burning causes bad air quality across China |
| D．a new study finds different particulates in South China |
According to Greenstone,＿greatly contributed to the high pollution concentrations in North China.
| A．power stations | B．construction sites |
| C．the free heating policy | D．gases from vehicles |
It is implied in the passage that＿·
| A．coal is no longer used for heating in North China |
| B．air quality was comparatively better in South China |
| C．southerners burned coals for heating in the 1980s |
| D．people preferred to live in South China after 1980 |
The underlined word "particulates" most probably means＿．
| A．dirty clouds | B．particular smoke |
| C．harmful dust | D．dangerous bacteria |
"Extra? Extra！Gasoline hits four dollars a gallon!”
No one will really be shocked一except, perhaps, the old-timers who tell about the good old days when gas was three gallons for a dollar, and people drove around "just for the fun of it".
As a matter of fact; the price of gas has been rising fast and steadily for several years, and many adjustments have already been made.
There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However; the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished（兴旺); and many people have found employment there: Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars.
In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust（生锈）in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving.
Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums.
People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather:
These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we were一on wheels. Shall w e wish them success or not?Which of the following is NOT a result of the gas price rising?
| A．More people prefer to travel on public transportation which costs less than driving cars. |
| B．People return to the traditional exercise of walking, which helps them to look healthier. |
| C．People shop in nearby stores without having to drive, so small businesses are declining. |
| D．The auto industry has been forced to develop new models which are more economical. |
The purpose of writing this passage is＿．
| A．to show the chain reaction of the rising gas price |
| B．to discuss whether it's necessary to work on new fuels |
| C．to warn people not to use too much gasoline |
| D．to picture what life will be like if gas runs out |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．New fuels on the way |
| B．Cars or bicycles, that is a question |
| C．End of the good old days |
| D．From wheels to heels |
Cliff House
Top of the world
Near the North Pole
Christmas, 1925
My dear boys,
I am dreadfully busy this year一it makes my hand more shaky than ever when I think of it一and not very rich; in fact awful things have been happening, and some of the presents have got spoilt, and I haven't got the North Polar Bear to help me, and I have had to move house just before Christmas, so you can imagine what a state everything is in, and you will see why I have a new address, and why I can only write one letter between you both．
|K] It all happened like this: one very windy day last November my hood blew off and went and stuck on the top of the North Pole. I told him not to, but the North Polar Bear climbed up to the thin top to get it down一and he did. The pole broke in the middle and fell on the roof of my house, and the North Polar Bear fell through the hole it made into the dining room with my hood over his nose, and all the snow fell off the roof into the house and melted and put out all the fires and ran down into the cellars where I was collecting this year's presents, and the North Polar
Bear's leg got broken.
He is well again now, but I was so cross with him that he says he won't try to help me again一I expect his temper is hurt, and will be mended by next Christmas.
I send you a picture of the accident and of my new house on the cliffs above the North Pole(with beautiful cellars in the cliffs).
That's all. Good Bye！Why can the writer only write one letter to the two boys?
| A．His hand is more shaky than ever. |
| B．He is extremely busy. |
| C．He has got a new address. |
| D．He has to help the North Polar Bear. |
Which of the following is most likely to be the picture of the accident?
The underlined "him'，refers to
| A．the hood | B．the pole | C．the hale | D．the bear |
Although cats may be one of the most popular pets today, little is known about how and when humans and cats set up their close relationship.
The earliest evidence for human–cat interaction dates back to prehistoric Cyprus（史前塞浦路斯）, where the remains of a wild cat and a human — dated 9,500 years old — were found buried together.
A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed the first direct evidence of a human–domestic cat relationship among Chinese farmers 5,300 years ago. Researchers studied the bones of cats, dogs, deer and other animals unearthed in an excavation (挖掘) near a village in Central China. By using some ways, scientists showed that the cats were living on a mostly millet(黍)–based diet, just like the domesticated dogs and pigs from the site.
"The most reasonable explanation for a high consumption of millet–based food is that the cats had formed a stable and mutual relationship with humans and could easily feed on rodents (啮齿动物) around human villages, find leftover food or even have been fed by people intentionally," said Hu Yaowu from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, whose research focuses on the relationship between humans and domesticated animals.
"It is very interesting for us to find the consumption of millet-based foods by the cats, since this kind of evidence had long been missing.” Hu explains. Since cats usually eat meat, such a diet would be unexpected, unless the cats were being fed by people, the study argues. The researchers also found that one of the cats survived to reach old age, implying that it had a safe place to live and enough to eat.
Why the farmers wanted to keep cats nearby or make them "pets" could be answered by other evidence. Chinese archaeologists found some storage containers were specifically designed to keep out rodents — a vermin (害兽) that cats could certainly have helped with.
The simplified theory is that rats were attracted to the food of farmers, and so were harmful to farmers. Cats were attracted to the rats, and so farmers formed a mutually beneficial relationship with cats, taking care of them in return for pest control.The evidence found in the remains dating back to prehistoric Cyprus means .
| A．human made cats pets as early as 9,500 years ago |
| B．human interacted with cats very early |
| C．cats didn’t appear until prehistoric Cyprus |
| D．when cats became domesticated |
Apart from cats, Hu Yaowu and his teams may also study .
| A．the preventions of pests from grains |
| B．the history of Chinese farming |
| C．the dogs and pigs |
| D．the ways to keep pets |
Which of the following is NOT the evidence of Chinese farms’ keeping cats?
| A．Cats didn’t feed on meat. |
| B．The cats consumed large amounts of millet–based foods. |
| C．One of the cats survived to reach old age. |
| D．Some storage containers were specifically designed to keep out rodents. |
What are the reasons for farmers to keep cats?
| A．Helping keep other domesticated animals. |
| B．Not letting cats eat food. |
| C．Supplying meat for human. |
| D．Helping reduce the amount of pests. |
In which part of a newspaper would be the passage most probably appear.
| A．Entertainment | B．Environment |
| C．Human and Science | D．Life and fashion |
The younger daughter of former New York Mayor Richard White has moved her wedding from New Year’s Eve to this Thursday so her mother, who has been fighting against cancer for 11 years, can take part in the ceremony, a family spokesman said on Wednesday, Oct, 12, 2013. Elizabeth Lally White, who turns 28 on Thursday, will marry Sam Peterson in Spiaggia, a restaurant on North Michigan Avenue. The reception also will be held at the restaurant, which had been previously scheduled to host the couple’s engagement party on Thursday. 
Lally White’s mother, Maggie, 68, was reported to have caught breast cancer in 2002. She had an operation in her leg in April and she was hospitalized twice in the weeks following the procedure for treatment of flu-like symptoms that doctors said were not related to the cancer. Maggie, who has used a walker or a wheelchair during most public appearances in recent years, is well beyond the average survival time for someone with breast cancer.
“As the mayor himself has said, she had a pretty difficult summer.” said Jacquelyn Heard, who served Mayor White’s press secretary for years and followed him to the same international law firm that he joined after leaving office in May. “She was not able to get around the way that she normally would do. This year, she has had quite a few setbacks and they’ve been pretty well documented. Lally White decided to reschedule the wedding so that her mom can participate in the festivities (庆祝活动).” Heard said. Lally White is a doctoral candidate at De-Paul University and plans to work with autistic (孤独症) children, and Sam Peterson works in insurance, Heard said.
Richard and Maggie White married in 1972 and had three children in addition to Lally — Nora, Patrick and Kevin. But Kevin was born with a disease and died in 1981 at 33 months.When was Elizabeth Lally White born?
| A．In 1983. | B．In 1987. | C．In 1985. | D．In 1984. |
What can we infer from Paragraph 2?
| A．Maggie, 68, is recovering now. |
| B．Maggie caught breast cancer in 2002. |
| C．The cancer caused some flu-like symptoms on Maggie. |
| D．Average breast cancer patients lived a life shorter than Maggie. |
Why did Lally White reschedule her wedding?
| A．She was afraid that her mother couldn’t participate her wedding on New Year’s Eve. |
| B．She was eager to work with autistic children after wedding. |
| C．Her family will move out of New York. |
| D．Her mother will accept operation because of her disease. |
How many children did the former mayor and his wife give birth to?
| A．3. | B．4. | C．5. | D．6. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The political life of former Mayor. |
| B．The brave wife of former Mayor. |
| C．The wedding of former Mayor’s daughter. |
| D．The family life of former Mayor. |