Given Australia’s size and the fact that early settlements were far apart, Australian society is remarkably homogeneous (同种的). Its citizens are fundamentally prosperous and the way of life in the major cities and towns is much the same however many miles divide them. It takes a sharp ear to identify regional accents. However, there is some difference in lifestyle between city dwellers and the country people. Almost 90 per cent of the population lives in the fast-paced cities along the coast and has little more than a passing familiarity with the desert. The major cities preserve pockets of colonial heritage, but the overall impression is modern, with new buildings reflecting the country’s youth. In contrast, the rural communities tend to be slow-moving and conservative. For many years, Australia was said to have “ridden on the sheep’s back”, a reference to wool being the country’s main money earner. However, the wool industry is no longer dominant. Much of Australia’s relatively sound economy is now achieved from natural coal and wheat, and by being the largest diamond producer in the world. Newer industries such as tourism and wine making are also increasingly important. Australians are generally friendly and relaxed, with a self-deprecating sense of humor. On the whole, Australia is a society without hierarchies (等级制度), an attitude generally held to stem from its prisoner beginnings.
Yet, contrary to widespread belief, very few Australians have true prisoner origins. Within only one generation of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, Australia had become a nation of immigrants. Originally coming almost entirely from the British Isles, today one in three Australians comes from elsewhere. Australia’s liberal postwar immigration policies led to an influx of survivors from war-torn Europe, most notably Greeks, Italians, Poles and Germans.
The emphasis has shifted in recent years and today the majority of new immigrants are from Southeast Asia. Today Australia is a ‘blend of nations’ and although some racism exists, it has generally been a successful experiment and the country is justifiably proud to have one of the most harmonious multicultural communities in the world.What does the writer mean by saying “It takes a sharp ear to identify regional accents.” in the first paragraph?
| A．Australians speak Standard English with no local accents whatsoever. |
| B．You have to practice a lot to learn to understand the different accents. |
| C．The Australian regional accents are very difficult to understand indeed. |
| D．There is not much difference between the accents in different areas of Australia. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Most Australians have ancestors who were prisoners. |
| B．The Australian economy is dependent on sheep exports. |
| C．The majority of people living in Australia come from Europe. |
| D．The pace of life is different in the city and in the country. |
The underlined pronoun ‘it’ in the final paragraph refers to “_______”.
| A．Community | B．racism | C．blend of Nations | D．Southeast Asia |
We can infer from the passage that _____.
| A．there are no signs of Australia’s colonial past in its modern cities |
| B．Australia’s recent immigration policy encourages immigrants from Southeast Asia |
| C．immigrants from Southeast Asia have brought racial problems |
| D．“riding on sheep’s back” resulted in slow development in rural communities |
B
This is a dangerous world we live in. The number of murders goes up every year, people are dying of cancer, more people contract HIV, more teens are using drugs, etc. You know this because you have heard all the statistics on the news and in the paper. But do you really have an accurate idea what they mean? The numbers are growing up, but how do they compare to the growth in population? Are more cases of these diseases being reported because of better testing techniques, or are the diseases more common? The fact is that without knowing the background statistics mean very little.
This growing trend of reporting only part of the information is becoming dangerous. For example, several years ago a high school student reported the dangers of the chemical known as dihydrogen monoxide. This chemical, found in most cancerous tumors(肿瘤), is often found in the blood of people drunk on alcohol, and causes complete physical and mental dependence for those who take the chemical even once. After reading his report, more than 75% of his Advanced Placement Chemistry class voted to forbid this dangerous chemical! Every one of the above statements is true, yet this chemical is necessary to all life on earth. The students made the mistake be
cause they voted knowing only a few statements and statistics, rather than the chemical’s full background.
The point of this article is that one should be aware of what is and is not being said. When one finds a new fact or number, one should try to consider other important information before forming an opinion with only half-truths. Always remember that the author is trying to convince you of his or her own view, and will leave out information that is different to his view. For example, look again at the statistics that suggest skiing is safe. Only 32 people may die each year when skiing, while 897 die from lightning strikes, but which is really the most dangerous? If you think about it, you realize far fewer people go skiing each year than the number of people who are in danger of a lightning strike. When you think about it, skiing is more dangerous than you might at first think when looking at statistics. If we teenagers are to be left in this world, we had better be able to think critically, and form our own views, rather than be easily persuaded by another’s. To be warned is to be prepared.
59. In the first paragraph, what problem does the writer want to warn us?
A. We are now living in a dangerous world.
B. We get a lot of false statistics from the media.
C. Statistics alone without full background doesn’t give us an accurate pictures of things.
D. There are around us more and more murders, diseases, etc.
60. Why does the writer use the example in the second paragraph?
A. To argue that high school students are easily persuaded.
B. To show the danger of reporting only part of the information.
C. To prove what is necessary to us might be dangerous.
D. To warn us of the harmful substance around us.
61. Relative information is often left out because__________.
A. Relative information is not that important.
B. too much information will make readers feel confused.
C. the author is trying to show what he or she says is true.
D. readers are not able to analyze so much information at once.
62. What can we learn from the passage?
A. We should learn to think critically and look at problems from all sides.
B. Some measures must be taken to protect our dangerous world.
C. The growing trend of reporting only half-truths is getting out of control.
D. Teenagers ought to improve their ability of telling right from wrong.
Ⅳ 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）
A
The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud．Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal Website. Websites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with card．On line, shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought.
The thieves then go shopping with your card number — or sell the information over the Internet. Computer hackers have broken down security system, raise questions about the safety of card-holder information.
Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD universe, an on-line music retailer (零售商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a Website after the retailer refused to pay US ＄157,828 to get back the information.
Credit-card firms are now fighting against on-line fraud．Master-card is working on plans for Web-only credit-card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping on-line. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.
Ask about your credit-card firm’s on-line rules: Under British law, cardholders are responsible for the first US ＄78 of any fraudulent spending.
And shop only at secure sites: Send your credit-card information only if the Website offers advanced secure system.
If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The Website address may also start the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.
Keep your password safe: Most on-line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your password with care.
56．The underlined word “fraud” in the first paragraph probably means _____.
A．cheating B．sale C．payment D．use
57．Thieves usually get the information of the credit-card _____.
A．because many customers lost their cards
B．by paying money for people working in the information companies
C．because of the carelessness of the customers
D．by stealing the information from Websites
58．The best title for the passage might be _____.
A．How to Beat On-line Credit-card Thieves
B．How to Shop on the Internet
C．Never Use Credit Cards without an Advanced Computer
D．Why Thieves Steal Credit-Card Information
D
| Ticket Types |
Regulations |
Notes |
| Single Day Admission |
* For all visitors * On any Standard Day other than Peak Day * One ticket per person, valid for one entry on the day of admission |
Standard Day tickets refer to the tickets for all visiting days (167 days in total) except for Peak Days during the Expo. |
| Special Admission |
* For tile disabled * For people bom in or before 1950 * For students with valid IDs * For children above 1.2 m * For Chinese military personnel on active duty * Valid IDs are required upon ticket purchase and entry * On any Standard Day other than Peak Day * One ticket per person, valid for one entry on the day of admission |
|
| 3 Day Admission |
* For all visitors * Valid for any three days except Peak Days * One ticket per person, valid for one entry per day |
The tickets are designed to meet the multi-entry demand of visitors. |
| 7 Day Admission |
* For all visitors * Valid for any seven days except Peak Days * One ticket per person, valid for one entry per day |
48. ____________can get a Special Admission ticket for himself/herself.
A. A 56-year-old bus driver B. A school girl with her valid student card C. A policeman in his forties D. A U.S. army officer on active duty
49. If you want to enter the Expo Park once every week in one month and don’t want to bother to buy the ticket each time, you can buy a _______ticket.
A. Single Day Admission B. Special Admission
C. 3 Day AdmissionD. 7 Day Admission
50. The function of the table is to___________
A. remind the public of the difficulty buying the Expo tickets
B. show which groups of people can get admission into the Expo Park
C. provide information about the Expo tickets and regulations
D introduce all the visiting regulations in the Expo Park
C
Jim Carrey is one of the most recognized faces in the world—and certainly because of his rubbery face.
Born in Ontario, Canada on January 17th, 1962 to a poor family, young Jim Carrey led a tough life, yet one good thing came out of it: He developed a great sense of humor to cope with life. At 15, he started performing at a Toronto comedy club. later he moved to LA and soon came to the attention of Rodney and went on his tour.
Jim Carrey got his big break in 1990 oil the comedy show la Living Color. There Carrey perfected many characters, most widely-known one "Fire Marshal Bill", who always went up in flames. The show stopped when critics claimed that it encouraged kids to play with fire. This argument put Carrey' s name in the headlines for the first time.
He broke into feature films in one single successful year, 1994, making it the Year of the Funny Face. First there was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, a surprise hit showing Carrey’s wacky (古怪) style. Next came The Mask, tailor-made for him and a hit with audiences. There was still Dumb and Dumber, which ended up on top of the box office.
Carrey has slowed down, but his films have continued to make waves if not quite of the previous quality. There was Batman Forever, then a sequel to Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, which didn’t quite retake the sparkle (光彩) of the earlier one. Next came Liar, Liar, a terrific success everywhere, putting him back on top. Then came The Truman Show, a film which proved Jim Carrey was more than just a funny face. Snubbed (冷落) by the Oscars, he was clearly considered golden by the fans.
44. All of the following films are considered of excellent quality EXCEPT______.
A. Liar, LiarB. Dumb and Dumber
C. The Truman ShowD. Ace Ventura : When Nature Calls
45. Which of the following statements about Jim Carrey is TRUE?
A. He has achieved his fame completely due to his face.
B. His hard early life helped develop his style of humor.
C. He received universal praises for his part in In Living Color.
D. Not many people like his performing style.
46. The underline word "sequel" in Paragrah 5 probably refers to_______.
A. an adapted film of the original
B. a film that continues a story
C. a comedy show of a strange style
D. a comment on a funny film
47. What can be the best title of the passage?
A. Jim Carrey—More Than a Funny Face
B. Jim Carrey—Famous "Fire Marshal Bill"
C. Jim Carrey’s Great Films
D. Jim Carrey’s Acting Career
B
Sir Richard Branson today offered a $ 25,000,000 prize for scientists who find a way to save the planet from the effects of climate change.
Supported by the former US vice-president A1 Gore and other environmentalists, the boss of Virgin Atlantic airlines called for scientists to come up with a way to take greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
“What we are doing is making sure we get the most carbon dioxide-friendly planes. We promise that 100% of profits we make from our transportation business are put into things like the prize we've offered today. We shall convince people that we are facing a threat which is urgent and there’s no superhero. We have no hope of a meaningful solution unless we find a way to work together.” he said.
Mr Gore said global warming was man-made and was like to the planet suffering from a “fever”. He said, "Humans had slipped into a way of thinking that was centered on ‘short term satisfaction’, and now meet the challenge of ‘transforming ourselves and changing the structures of everything we do’," he said.
Reacting to the launch of the prize, Tony Jupiter, the Friends of the Earth's director, warned against wasting time waiting for new inventions. He said, "Sir Richard' s initiative (初衷) may encourage inventors to develop a wonder technology to deal with carbon dioxide of the atmosphere. But many of the ways, such as energy efficiency and renewables, already exist, and it is essential that these be put into practice as soon as possible. Moreover, Sir Richard must also look at his business activities and the contribution they make to climate change. The world will find it very difficult to settle climate change if air travel continues to expand and space tourism is developed."
40. Sir Richard Branson is ________.
A. a scientist concerned for climate change B. a businessman working for A1 Gore
C. the boss of Virgin Atlantic airlinesD. the director of the Friends of the Earth
41. The purpose of using A1 Gore' s quotation was to_______。
A. ask people to change the way of thinking
B. compare global warming to an Earth's fever
C. show how serious and urgent the problem is
D. call for more attention to the launch of the prize
42. What is file main idea of the passage?
A. It is important for people to save our planet.
B. Humans are to blame for causing climate change.
C. Scientists are trying to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
D. A prize was offered for solutions to global warming.
43. How was Tony Jupiter’s attitude to space tourism?
A. Negative. B. Positive. C. Optimistic. D. Neutral (中立).