One summer my friend and I decided to go to Italy for a holiday and we decided to travel there without going through a travel agency. You know, you would be submerged (淹没) in crowds of tourists and lose lots of opportunities to get familiar with the country more closely. We started to think over our trip and managed to come up with a f
ree tour of Italy.
The trip was not very long but it was still very impressive. We look forward to going there again! Of course, we spent lots of time arranging the trip, but it was well worth it! Of course I was afraid that something would go wrong and I was especially anxious about my visa, but everything went quite smoothly in the end.
The most difficult part was getting a visa without an invitation. In the Italian consulate(领事馆), one must hand in some official paper proving that one has a hotel booked for oneself in order to get the visa. Then we had to solve the ticket problem. Airlines often sell cheap tickets a
nd we bought ours far in advance. The next step was to book a hotel. We finally booked a hotel about thirty km away from the heart of Rome and it was the perfect choice for our trip.
Every day we took a train that carried us to the heart of Rome. Our big house, which was surrounded by the forest, was a rare girl for the fresh air and absolute silence, beautiful views, hospitable (好客的) hosts, comfortable living conditions delighted us to no end. Besides this, we were very lucky that our mistress was Russian. She gave us a lot of advice that was of great use. She told us what transport to choose and where the best places to go.
Don’t
be afraid to arrange your trip by yourself. It’s not difficult! The only thing I'll say right now is that we really enjoyed traveling by ourselves. We walked with a map and a guide-book to wherever we wanted and we even met some of our fellow countrymen on the way just two or three times. So, if you're also planning a "single" trip, don't forget to take a Russian-Italian phrasebook as people in Italy prefer to speak in their native tongue.Why does the author want to go to Italy again?
| A．He had a great time there. |
| B．Italy has a lot of attractions. |
| C．His friend invited him there. |
| D．He didn't stay in Italy long enough. |
What does the author think was the hardest in preparing for his Italian trip?
| A．Buying cheap airline tickets to Italy before the traveling |
| B．Getting a visa without an invitation from the Italian consulate. |
| C．Booking a comfortable hotel on his own in Rome. |
| D．Solving the ticket problem far in advance. |
In the fourth paragraph the author mainly explains
| A．the reason why he chose to live in the center of Rome |
| B．the reason why the hotel he booked was the right choice |
| C．what transport they chose to travel in their Italian trip |
| D．the reason why the mistress gave them some advice |
Which of the following questions has NOT been answered in the passage?
| A．Why did the author decide to go to Italy for a holiday for the first time? |
| B．Why did the author decide not to follow a travel agency? |
| C．How did the author prepare for his trip? |
| D．What tools did the author use for his traveling? |
From the text we can know the author
A. enjoy
s traveling everywhere in the world
B. likes being accompanied by tour guides
C. advises us to arrange trips by ourselves
D
Laptop computers are popular all over the world．People use them on trains and airplanes, in airports and hotels．These laptops connect people to their workplace．In the United States today, laptops also connect students to their classrooms．
Westlake College in Virginia will start a laptop computer program that allows students to do schoolwork anywhere they want．Within five years, each of the 1500 students at the college will receive a laptop．The laptops are part of a ＄10 million computer program at Westlake, a 110-year-old college．The students with laptops will also have access to the Internet．In addition, they will be able to use e-mail to “speak” with their teachers, their classmates, and their families．However, the most important part of the laptop program is that students will be able to use computers without going to computer labs．They can work with it at home, in a fast-food restaurant or under the trees-anywhere at all!
Because of the many changes in computer technology , laptop use in higher education, such as colleges and universities, is workable．As laptops become more powerful, they become more similar to desktop computers．In addition, the portable computers can connect students to not only the Internet, but also libraries and other resources．State higher-education officials are studying how laptops can help students．State officials are also testing laptop programs at other universities, too．
At Westlake College, more than 60 percent of the staff use computers．The laptops will allow all teachers to use computers in their lessons．As one Westlake teacher said, “ Here we are in the middle of Virginia and we’re giving students a window on the world．They can see everything and do everything．”
68．The main purpose of the laptop program is to give each student a laptop to ________．
A．use for their schoolwork B．access the Internet
C．work at home D．connect them to libraries
69．Why is the word “speak” in the second paragraph in quotation marks（引号）?
A．They don’t really talk．B．They use the computer language．
C．Laptops have speakers． D．None of the above reasons is correct．
70．Which of the following is true about Westlake College?
A．All teachers use computers． B．1500 students have laptops．
C．It is an old college in America． D．Students there can do everything．
71．A window on the world in the last paragraph means that students can ________．
A．attend lectures on information technology
B．travel around the world
C．get information from around the world
D．have free laptops
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours．This kind of loneliness is not serious．In fact, it is quite normal．For some people, though, loneliness can last for years．Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness．
The first kind of loneliness is temporary（暂时的）．This is the most common type．It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention．The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation--- for example, a family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place．Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year．The third kind of loneliness is the most severe．Unlike the second type, chronic（长期的）loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause．People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others．Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition．
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease．While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, chronic loneliness can be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition．
56．How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage ?
A．Talk to friends． B．Just ignore it．
C．Go to see a doctor．D．Ask your teachers for guidance．
57．“ It” in the last sentence of the second paragraph refers to ______．
A．temporary loneliness B．situational loneliness
C．a new placeD．sleeplessness
58．Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people ?
A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems．
B．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness．
C．Chronic loneliness can not be overcome．
D．Such people are harmful to society．
59．What is the best title for the passage ?
A．Three kinds of loneliness B．Loneliness and Diseases
C．Loneliness and Social Contacts D．Chronic Loneliness
C
When we can see well, we do not think about our eyes often．It is only when we can not see perfectly that we come to see how important our eyes are．
People who are nearsighted can only see things that are very close to their eyes．Many people who do a lot of close work, such as writing and reading, become nearsighted．Then they have to wear glasses in order to see distant things clearly．
People who are farsighted face just the opposite problem．They can see things that are far away, but they have difficulty reading a book unless they hold it at arm’s length．If they want to do much reading, they must get glasses too．
Other people do not see clearly because their eyes are not exactly the right shape．This, too, can be corrected by glasses．Some people’s eyes become cloudy because of cataracts．Long ago these people often became blind．Now, however, it is possible to operate on the cataracts and remove them．
When night falls, colors become fainter to the eyes and finally disappear．After your eyes have grown used to the dark, you can see better if you use the side of your eyes rather than the centers．Sometimes, after dark, you see a small thing to one side of you, which seems to disappear if you turn your head in its direction．This is because when you turn your head, you are looking at the thing too directly．Men on guard duty sometimes think they see something moving to one side of them．When they turn to look straight at it, they can not see it any more, and they believe they were mistaken．However, this mistake happens because the center of the eye, which is very sensitive in daylight, is not as sensitive as the sides of the eye after dark．
64．We don’t know that our eyes are of great importance until ________．
A．we think about our eyes B．we cannot see clearly
C．we wear glasses D．we have to do much reading
65．According to the passage, a ________ is more likely to be nearsighted．
A．student B．doctor C．guard D．painter
66．People who are farsighted ________ ．
A．can do a lot of close work without glasses
B．can only see things that are very close to their eyes
C．have difficulty reading a book if they hold it at arm’s length
D．can correct their eyes by glasses
67．To see a small thing at night, it is better to look ________ ．
A．with wide open eyesB．with half shut or narrowed eyes
C．straight at it D．in a slightly different direction
B
Most musicians agree that the best violins were first made in Italy．They were made in Cremona, Italy, about 200 years ago．These violins sound better than any others．They even sound better than violins made today．Violin makers and scientists try to make instruments like the old Italian violins．But they aren’t the same．Musicians still prefer the old ones．No one really knows why these old Italian violins are so special, but many people think they have an answer．
Some people think it is the age of the violins．They say that today’s violins will also sound wonderful someday．But there is a problem here．Not all old violins sound wonderful．Only those from Cremona are special．So age cannot be the answer．There must be something different about Cremona or those Italian violin makers．
Other people think the secret to those violins is the wood．The wood of the violin is very important．It must be from certain kinds of trees．It must not be too young or too old．Perhaps the violin makers of Cremons knew something special about wood for violins．
But the kind of wood may not be so important．It may be more important to cut the wood in a special way．Wood for a violin must be cut very carefully．It has to be the right size and shape．The smallest difference will change the sound of the violin．Musicians sometimes think that this was the secret of the Italians．Maybe they understood more than we do about how to cut the wood．
Size and shape may not be the answer either．Scientists measured these old violins very carefully．They can make new ones that are exactly the same size and shape．But the new violins still do not sound as good as the old one．Some scientists think the secret may be the varnish, which covers the wood of the violin and makes it look shiny．It also helps the sound of the instrument．No one knows what the Italian violin makers used in their varnish．So no one can make the same varnish today．
There may never be other violins like the violins of Cremona．Their secret may be lost forever．Young musicians today hope this is not true．They need fine violins．But there aren’t very many of the old violins left．Also, the old violins are very expensive．Recently, a famous old Italian violin was sold for about US $ 300,000!
60．This passage is about _______．
A．making violins B．musical instruments
C．scientific ideas D．the old Italian violins
61．The best violins _______．
A．are made with modern techniques B．were lost many years ago
C．were made in Italy 200 years ago D．were made by scientists．
62．Some people think that modem violins ______．
A．will sound better in the future B．will sound worse in the future
C．sound wonderful naturally D．will never be as old as those from Cremona
63．Violins made today _______．
A．look the same as the old ones
B．sound the same as the old ones
C．are better than the old ones
D．have the same varnish as the old ones
B
Early in the 16th century men were trying to reach Asia by traveling west from Europe. In order to find Asia they had to find a way past South America. The man who finally found the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific was Ferdinand Magellan (麦哲伦). Magellan sailed from Seville in August, 1519 with five ships and about 280 men. Fourteen months later, after spending the cold winter on the coast of Patagonia, he discovered the channel which is now called Magellan Strait(海峡). In November, 1520, after many months of dangers from rocks and storms, the three remaining ships entered the ocean on the other side of South America. They then continued, hoping to reach Asia. But they did not see any land until they reached the islands off the coast of Asia. Before they arrived at these islands, later known as the Philippines (菲律宾), men were dying of starvation (饥饿). While they were staying in the Philippines, Magellan was killed in battle. The remaining officers then had to get back to Spain. They decided to sail round Africa. After many difficulties, one ship with eighteen men sailed into Seville three years after leaving. They were all that remained of Magellan’s expedition. However, their achievement was great. They were the first men to sail round the world.
61. The purpose of Magellan’s expedition was to ________.
A. sail round the world
B. find a seaway from the Atlantic to the Pacific
C. make a voyage to Asia
D. carry men to Philippines
62. How long did Magellan and his sailors spend before they reach Magellan Strait?
A. 1519 B. Fourteen months C. 280 D. 1520
63. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage concerning the expedition?
A. Lack of equipment.
B. Cold winter in Patagonia.
C. The death of Magellan.
D. Dangers from rocks and storms.
64. The number of the ships lost on the whole expedition was ________.
A. two B. three C. four D. five
65. The best title for this passage is ________.
A. The Discovery of Magellan’s Strait
B. The Discovery of the Philippines
C. The Most Dangerous Expedition
D. The First Expedition to sail round the world