There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.
When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”
Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.
Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.
Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.
The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front 
of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.
How many hand signs do you use every day? The passage is mainly about ______.
| A．a famous priest in France | B．the importance of sign language |
| C．an introduction to sign language | D．how to use sign language |
If you want to express the idea
that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.
| A．raise your hand | B．put one hand onto the other |
| C．make a roof with your hands | D．smile to the person |
Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?
| A．It is a special language used in a few countries in the world. |
| B．It is a way to express one’s ideas without words. |
| C．It is only used by the deaf. |
| D．It can be heard. |
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California is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by land area, after Alaska and Texas. California is located on the West Coast of the United States, bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast, Arizona to the southeast, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. The state is home to the nation’s second and sixth largest census statistical areas as well as eight of the nation’s fifty most populous cities. California has a varied climate and geography, and a diverse population.
California’s geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east, to Mojave desert areas in the southeast and the Redwood — Douglas fir forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. California is the most geographically diverse state in the nation, and contains the highest (Mount Whitney) and lowest (Death Valley) points in the contiguous United States. Almost 40% of California is forested, a high amount for a relatively arid state.
Beginning in the late 18th century, the area known as Alta California was colonized by the Spanish Empire. In 1821, Mexico, including Alta California, became the First Mexican Empire, beginning as a monarchy, before shifting to a republic. In 1846 a group of American settlers in Sonoma declared the independence of a California Republic. As a result of the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California to the United States. It became the 31st state admitted to the union on September 9, 1850.
In the 19th century, the California Gold Rush brought about dramatic social, economic, and demographic change in California, with a large influx of people and an economic boom that caused San Francisco to grow from a hamlet of tents to a world-renowned boomtown. Key developments in the early 20th century included the emergence of Los Angeles as center of the American entertainment industry, and the growth of a large, state-wide tourism sector. In addition to California’s prosperous agricultural industry, other important contributors to the economy include aerospace, petroleum, and information technology. If California were a country, it would rank among the ten largest economies in the world, with a GDP similar to that of Italy. It would be the 35th most populous country.
46. Which of the following is TRUE about California?
A. The population in California is larger than that in any other state in the US.
B. A state of Mexico lies to the southeast of California.
C. Eight biggest cities in California are among the most developed ones in North America.
D. Few races of people live in California except the white and black people.
47. What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. California’s culture B. California’s history
C. California’s location D. California’s geography
48. How did the United States admit California as its 31st state?
A. By occupying the land. B. By colonizing the land.
C. By winning a war against Mexico. D. By offering aids to Mexico.
49. Why did San Francisco grow from a hamlet of tents to a world-famous boomtown?
A. Because it became the center of the American entertainment industry.
B. Because it had the best growth of a large, state-wide tourism.
C. Because a large number of people rushed there in search of gold.
D. Because it developed many such important contributors to economy as IT.
50. What if California were a country?
A. It would be richer than Italy, a European country.
B. It would be one of the ten richest countries.
C. Its population would be larger than that of 34 countries.
D. It would have a better economy than it has now.
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III 阅读（共两节, 满分40分）
第一节阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30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。
Carl’s parents had started a small grocery store and had built it over the years into a major supermarket. Carl now worked there full time.
He liked working at his parent’s business; it was an honest business. He had been brought up to be honest, to tell the truth, and more — he knew that there was such a thing as truth. A year ago, his homeroom teacher had said in front of the whole class:
“There is no such thing as truth.”
Carl Savinski had stood up and said, “That would make your statement false.”
“Huh?”
“That would make your statement false,” Carl had repeated. “If there is no such thing as truth, then your statement is not true. To say that there is no such thing as truth is absurd — you dumb piece of shit!”
Carl was expelled from school for two weeks. He didn’t go back. He joined his parent’s business instead.
In the past year he had learned that to be honest was not only the right thing to do but also the practical thing to do. He saw how his parents had built this business. He saw that they had made reasonable rules for the staff and employed them equally without favoritism. The staff liked working there and his parents had gained a competent work force that cared about the future of the company.
His parents had gained more customers by treating them honestly, by being fair, by giving them more value for their money. If produce was too old, they threw it out; they didn’t sell three-day old bread as fresh.
They stuck to terms with their suppliers: if payment was required in thirty days, they paid in thirty days. If a supplier accidentally shipped more than they were invoiced for, they paid for the extra; but if this happened too often, they changed suppliers. They built up honest relationships with their suppliers. And they gained: they were first to be offered a commodity in short supply, and first to receive a discount if a supplier was over stocked.
In the past year Carl Savinski saw with his own eyes, in his day-to-day job, that being honest paid. He saw that to be reasonable, to be honest, to tell the truth was practical — that one did not suffer a loss by being honest, but made a gain.
41. How long had Carl worked in his parents’ supermarket?
A. For half a year. B. For more than a year.
C. For a year. D. For years.
42. What does the underlined word “expelled” mean?
A. cut off B. driven off C. set off D. warned of
43. Why did the staff like working for Carl’s parents?
A. Because the staff were all equally paid without favoritism.
B. Because Carl’s parents made strict rules for their business.
C. Because the future of the company was really promising.
D. Because the regulations were effective and the staff were equally treated.
44. Which of the following can be seen as an honest operation of the company?
A. They gave more discounts by raising the price.
B. Their butcher cut more fat off the meat.
C. They changed suppliers for cheaper goods.
D. Their contracts are occasionally not carried out.
45. What does this story mainly tell us?
A. Being honest pays off. B. Being honest makes a loss.
C. Not all people believe in truth. D. People have a false belief in truth.
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Besides relevant theories and keen logic, a scientist who does research in economic psychology and who wants to predict the way in which consumers will spend their money must study consumer behavior. It’s vital for his credit as a qualified economist. He must obtain numbers and material both on the resources of consumers and on the efforts that tend to encourage or discourage money spending.
If an economist were asked which of the three groups borrow most——people with rising incomes, stable incomes or declining incomes——he would probably answer: those with declining incomes. Actually, in the past 5 years, the answer was: people with rising incomes. This shows us that traditional assumptions about earning and spending are not always reliable. Another traditional assumption is that if people who have money expect prices to go up, they will hurry to buy. If they expect prices to go down, they will postpone buying. But research surveys have shown that this is also not always the case. Their expectations of price increases may not stimulate buying. One typical attitude was expressed by the wife of a mechanic in an interview at a time of rising prices. “In a few months,” she said, “we’ll have to pay more for meat and milk. We’ll have less to spend on other things.” Her family had been planning to buy a new car but they postponed this purchase. Furthermore, the rise in prices that has already taken place may be hated and buyer’s resistance may be caused. This is shown by the following typical comment of the wife: “I just don’t pay these prices: they are too high.”
Traditional assumptions should be investigated carefully, and factors of time and place should be considered. The investigations mentioned above were carried out in America. Research conducted at the same time in Great Britain, however, produced results that were more in agreement with traditional assumptions about saving and spending patterns. The condition most beneficial to spending appears to be price stability. If prices have been stable and people have become accustomed to considering the current prices “right”, they are likely to buy. Thus, in a society of good economy which maintains consumer confidence, it appears that the common business policy of maintaining stable prices with occasional sales or discounts is based on a correct understanding of consumer psychology.
72. According to the passage, it is essential for a successful economist to ______.
A. know about economic theories
B. be capable of logical thinking
C. predict the latest national economy
D. to understand consumers’ spending habits
73. The example of the mechanic’s wife is intended to show that ______.
people tend to buy more when prices are expected to fall
people tend to buy less when prices are expected to fall
people tend to buy more when prices are expected to rise
people tend to buy less when prices are expected to rise
74. Findings in investigations in Britain show _____.
consumer behaviour may vary in different places
Britain and America share similar saving and spending patterns
Britain is important in economic research
occasional discounts and sales are important
75. According to the passage, what is most helpful in promoting spending?
A. Big discount. . B. Good consumer confidence.
C. Steady price. D. Positive consumer psychology.
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| The Sunday Times “Expect the Unexpected Australia Adventure” Three ‘Expect the UNEXPECTED AUSTRALIA Adventure’ Packages for 2 must be won! Three instant travel correspondents(回信者) will each get to explore the surprising side of Australia with their partners together with Radio 94 FM DJs Jeanie Austin & Maggie Tan(The Morning Show) and Ronny Henry & Andre Lim (The Unmarried Guys)! This is your chance to discover Australia and, after the journey, to share your adventures on “live radio”.
|
69. Other than the four DJs, how many people will be going to explore the surprising side of Australia?
A. 2 B. 3 C. 6 D. 10
70. Timmy has just got married. Which one of the adventure packages might he choose for his honeymoon?
A. Sydney B. Melbourne C. Queensland D. Tasmania
71. In which way are the winners expected by the organizer to tell about their adventures in Australia?
A. Contact the organizer through email.
B. Post a homemade video on YouTube.
C. Login to www.asiaone.com
D. Report your adventures on “live” radio.
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Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
At the beginning of every school year, I feared coming home with the heavy homework of the first day after a summer of fun. And I feared getting another teacher who had a long list of rules and a stare that could kill a cat.
But there was always one part of beginning a new school year that I enjoyed. I always liked going to the store to arm myself with new school supplies-even if I didn’t need them.
Sure, my pencils, erasers and notebooks from the previous school year may have had some life left in them. But this didn’t matter. Every year, Dad would pile us into the car, take us to Wal-Mart and let us buy the newest and coolest pencils, rainbow-colored erasers and spiral notebooks.
Besides school supplies, many parents also take their kids on annual shopping spree for new clothes and book bags just in time for school. During the whole process, children are in high spirits, buying a lot of stuff and are back home exhausted.
Every year, most of my classmates and I show up to school on the first day with something smelling like a new car. We’d put our new stationery on top of the desks, just to make sure others see them.
Leftover supplies from past years were always stuffed into the living room desk. Used clothes that had lost their appeal were sent to second-hand shops, where they would be sold for 50 cents a piece.
However, all of the new stuff could only make us excited about going to school for one week, after which the usual boredom and fear come back.
65. What is NOT TRUE about the author at the beginning of a new school year in the passage?
A. He often has to face a new teacher.
B. He doesn’t enjoy the load of work from school.
C. He doesn’t appreciate strict teachers
D. He obtains new school supplies from the school.
66. Why do the students look forward to getting new pencils every year?
A. Because the old ones are used up.
B. Because new pencils help them to study better.
C. Because they want to show their new stuff off.
D. Because it’s required by the school.
67. The underlined word “spree” in the passage probably means ______.
A. competition B. considerable embarrassment
C. wild celebration D. emotional pain
68. How are the old supplies dealt with?
A. They are put aside and forgotten. B. They are given to poorer children.
C. They are sold online. D. They are treasured by the students.
