Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves.That’s because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why?
We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch .someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it’s so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most.
Fortunately, .some of us have found our way to the old. And we have discovered that they often save the young.
A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbours and had her children deliver it and visit. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. “My children have never been less lonely,” the reporter said.
The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn’t gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure.
Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, “my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end.”
Grandchildren speak of attention they don’t get from worried parents. “My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down,” one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting.Now in an American family, people can find that ____.
| A．children never live with their parents |
| B．not all working people live with their parents |
| C．aged people are supported by their grandchildren |
| D．grandchildren are supported by their grandparents |
The reason why old people are left alone may be that ____.
| A．the old don’t like to live in a big family |
| B．the young can’t get enough money to support the old |
| C．different generations have different lifestyles |
| D．the old are too weak to live with the young |
The fact that the reporter told us shows that ___.
| A．old people in America lead a hard life |
| B．old people in America enjoy banana bread |
| C．she had no time to take care of her children |
| D．old people are easy to get along with |
Seeing a baby, the old people get excited because ____.
| A．they had never seen a baby before |
| B．the baby was clever and beautiful |
| C．the baby brought them the image of life |
| D．the baby’s mother would take care of them |
Why do children not get attention from their parents?
| A．Because they often make trouble and make their parents disappointed. |
| B．Because their parents are too busy to take care of them. |
| C．Because their parents have to take care of their grandparents. |
| D．Because their parents have been out of work for a long time. |
Malaria, the world's most widespread parasitic(寄生虫引起的) disease, kills as many as three million people every year—almost all of whom are under five, very poor, and African. In most years, more than five hundred million cases of illness result from the disease, although exact numbers are difficult to assess because many people don't (or can't) seek care. It is not unusual for a family earning less than two hundred dollars a year to spend a quarter of its income on malaria treatment, and what they often get no longer works. In countries like Tanzania, Mozambique, and the Gambia, no family, village, hospital, or workplace can remain unaffected for long.
Malaria starts suddenly, with violent chills, which are soon followed by an intense fever and, often, headaches. As the parasites multiply, they take over the entire body. Malaria parasites live by eating the red blood cells they infect (感染). They can also attach themselves to blood vessels in the brain. If it doesn't kill you, malaria can happen again and again for years. The disease passed on to humans by female mosquitoes infected with one of four species of parasite. Together, the mosquito and the parasite are the most deadly couple in the history of the earth—and one of the most successful. Malaria has five thousand genes, and its ability to change rapidly to defend itself and resist new drugs has made it nearly impossible to control. Studies show that mosquitoes are passing on the virus more frequently, and there are more outbreaks in cities with large populations. Some of the disease's spread is due to global warming.
For decades, the first-choice treatment for malaria parasites in Africa has been chloroquine, a chemical which is very cheap and easy to make. Unfortunately, in most parts of the world, malaria parasites have become resistant to it. Successful alternatives that help prevent resistance are already available, but they have been in short supply and are very expensive. If these drugs should fail, nobody knows what would come next.
51. According to paragraph 1, many people don't seek care because___.
A. they are too poor B. it is unusual to seek care
C. they can remain unaffected for long D. there are too many people suffering from the disease
52. People suffering from malaria___.
A. have to kill female mosquitoes B. have ability to defend parasites
C. have their red blood cells infected D. have sudden fever, followed by chills
53. Which of the following may be the reason for the wide spread of the disease?
A. Its resistance to global warming.
B. Its ability to pass on the virus frequently.
C. Its outbreaks in cities with large populations.
D. Its ability to defend itself and resist new drugs.
54. It can be inferred from the passage that___.
A. no drugs have been found to treat the disease
B. the alternative treatment is not easily available to most people
C. malaria has developed its ability to resist parasites
D. nobody knows what will be the drug to treat the disease
55. Which of the following questions has NOT been discussed in the passage?
A. How can we know one is suffering from malaria?
B. How many people are killed by malaria each year?
C. Why are there so many people suffering from malaria7
D. What has been done to keep people unaffected for long7
People often think that having a million dollars would make all their dreams come true. There are TV game shows that give contestants the chance to become millionaires. When asked the question "What would you do with a million dollars?", most people tend to give similar answers: “Quit my job.”, "Buy my dream house," or “Go traveling.” Twenty years ago, it was possible to realize these dreams. However, things are not so easy today.
In many developed countries, the cost of living is higher than ever. Over the last twenty years, for example, housing prices in many of the world's cities have soared. In the U. S., luxury homes in the state of Arizona sold for about $ 800, 000 in 1995. These same homes now cost more than $ 1.5 million. Now, because more people live in the area, the cost of property has risen.
Apartments in many city centers are also more expensive now than in the past. Today, people want to be closer to their workplace, and many are now moving back into the city center. As a result, living in or near this area costs more than ever. Apartments in London's Mayfair district or in Manhattan in New York City often sell for over a million dollars.
Inflation is another important reason for the rise in the cost of living. Over the last 150 years, as prices have gone up, the value of money has gone down, so we now need more money to buy things. In 1850, for example, $50,000 had as much buying power as $1 million dollars does today. Of course, people now earn more money than they did 150 years ago, but they also spend more on necessities such as food, medicine, and housing.
In order to live well after you stop working, you should begin saving for retirement early. Experts suggest that after you retire, you will need 75 percent to 80 percent of your salary to live on every month. This calculation assumes that you have no mortgage on a house to continue paying, or any other major expenses.
Due to increased demand for housing, higher inflation, and longer life expectancy, a million may not be enough to live on. To be able to retire early, travel the world, and build your dream home, you may have to appear on that game show and win more than once!
46. What is the main cause of high housing price?
A. People generally make more money today.
B. There are more luxury homes than apartments.
C. There is less housing available there for sale or rent.
D. People would rather live in the suburbs than in the city.
47. The word "inflation" in the 4th paragraph refers to _____
A. the amount of money required for life's necessities
B. a continuing increase in prices over time
C. a bank loan for a house or piece of land
D. things that one must pay for regularly
48. If you make $ 4,000 per month, you will need _______ per month after you retire.
A. $2,250~$2,400 B. $ 3,000~$ 3,200
C. $3,500~$3,750 D. $2,550~ $ 2,700
49. What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph?
A. You will be so lucky that you can win another million dollars.
B. Don't expect too much for just a million dollars that cannot change your life completely.
C. A million dollars is too little to travel around the world.
D. To win another million dollars is the only way to make you live better after retirement.
50. The passage mainly tells us _______.
A. what a million dollars can buy
B. higher housing prices have become a social problem to deal with
C. how much money you will need in order to live well after retirement
D. we should not neglect the fact that money may not be as that much as before
Ⅲ阅读(共两节，满分40分)
第—节阅渎理解(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读—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。
How should one invest a sum of money in these clays of inflation (通货膨胀)? Left in a bank it will hardly keep its value, however high the interest rate. Only a brave man, or a very rich one, dares to buy and sell on the Stock Market. Today it seems that one of the best ways to protect your savings, and even increase your wealth is to buy beautiful objects from the past. Here I am going to offer some advice on collecting antique clocks, which I personally consider are among the most interesting of antiques.
I sometimes wonder what a being from another planet might report back about our way of life. "The planet Earth is ruled by a mysterious creature that sits or stands in a room and makes a strange ticking sound. It has a face with twelve black marks and two hands. Men can do nothing without its permission, and it fastens its young round people's wrists so that everywhere men go they are still under its control. This creature is the real master of Earth and men are its slaves."
Whether or not we are slaves of time today depends on our culture and personality, but it is believed that many years ago kings kept special slaves to tell the time. Certain men were very clever at measuring the time of clay according to the beating of their own hearts. They were made to stand in a fixed place and every hour or so would shout tire time. So it seems that the first clocks were human beings.
However, men quickly found more convenient and reliable ways of telling the time. They learned to use the shadows cast by the sun. They marked the hours on candles, used sand in hour- glasses, and invented water-clocks. Indeed, any serious student of antique should spend as much time as possible visiting palaces, stately homes and museums to see some of the finest examples of clocks from the past.
Antique clocks could be very expensive, but one of the joys of collecting clocks is that it is still possible to find quite cheap ones for your own home. After all, if you are going to be ruled by time, why not invest in air antique clock and perhaps make a future profit?
41. According to the passage, collecting antique clocks____.
A. can hardly keep the value of your savings B. will cost much of your savings
C. may increase your wealthD. needs your bravery
42. By quoting (引用) the remark of a being from another planet, the author intends to____.
A. suggest human beings are controlled by a clock
B. describe why clocks can rule the planet Earth
C. tell readers what clocks look like
D. compare chicks to human beings
43. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a way to measure the time?
A. Counting the beating of one's own heart.
B. Making use of candles, sand and water.
C. Observing shadows cast by the sun.
D. Keeping slaves busy day and night.
44. The underlined phrase stately homes in paragraph 4 means
A. state-owned houses B. houses in very good condition
C. grand houses open to the public D. houses where statesmen meet regularly
45. The purpose of the passage is
A. to introduce the culture of antique clocks
B. to offer some advice on collecting antique clocks
C. to compare different ways to make a future profit
D. to explain convenient and reliable ways of telling time
Faced with a tough job market, fresh graduates are dreaming of running, their own businesses instead. But a recent survey has showed that such dreams lack the required support. The Shanghai Municipal Employment Promotion Center survey of 1,276 graduates in several universities and colleges in the city showed 59.78% of the interviewees (被调查者) considered the possibility of setting up a company or at least a small store. But they just stop at the thinking stage because of a shortage of money and a lack of business opportunity. They also listed lack of business experience and social networks, the need for advanced study and disagreement from family members as factors (BM) that stood in their way.
More than 90% would rather take up a job after graduating and then consider starting their own business two or three years later.
Guo Bing, a senior student in Shanghai International Studies University majoring in English, decided he wanted to be his own boss last year. But he is looking for a job first "If I fail to find a satisfying job, I would like to set up a company in exhibition services," Guo said. The Shanghai native has some relatives working in a local printing plant. With their help, Guo hopes to produce exhibition booklets (小册子) at a low price. He is also sure that his English language skills can help him do well in the industry. "Social networking is an important factor leading to-business success," said Guo, "and the shortage of graduate jobs is the main reason driving more university students to set up a business right after their graduation. "
Parents are willing to help their children start up alone, the survey showed. "Once you win the support of your family, you have won half the battle," .Guo added.
57.____ of the interviewees preferred to find a job right after graduation.
A. Over nine-tenths B. Nearly three-fifths C. Around two-fifths D. Only one-tenth
58.____may stop graduates having their own business.
A. Advanced language skills B. Social networks
C. Parents’ support D. Lack of business experience
59. The underlined sentence probably means that ____in building one’s own business
A. the family’s support plays an important role
B. fresh graduates have to face fierce challenge
C. graduates have to rely completely on the family"
D. half the money needed will come from the family
60. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
A. Dream to have a job. B. Dream for further study.
C. Dream to be a boss. D. Dream for money support
Women have jumped ahead of men for the first time in using the Internet to do their holiday shopping, according to a study published last week in the US.
For years men have been more likely to shop on the Internet than women, but during the
2007 holiday season 58 percent of those shopping online were women, "it shows how popular
the Internet is becoming," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet and American Life
Project group, which carried out the study. Rainie said it was only a matter of time before
women shoppers caught up with men. This is because women traditionally make decisions about
spending.
Users were more likely to shop online to save time. Internet users between the ages 18 and
29 were responsible for some of the surprising increase in the online gift-buying population this
time around. However, three-quarters of the US Internet users did not buy holiday gifts online
in 2007. They worried about credit card security (安全), or just compared online prices with
off-line prices, then dashed off to the shops to get the best deals.
"But even if shoppers don't buy online, websites are becoming promotion (^g)tools for
stores," said Dan Hess, vice president of ComScore Networks Inc. Hess said that actually most
stores' websites can make customers fully believe the security of their credit card numbers.
And most are able to ensure that gifts arrive on time. " It' s all about making the shopping
experience more efficient, more reliable and more comfortable. " Hess said.
45. Which of the following statements is true?
A. There were fewer women online shoppers than men in 2007.
B. Most of the Internet users between the ages of18 and 29 are women.
C. People in the US were more likely to buy gifts online.
D. More women shopped online than men in 2007.
46. We can infer from the passage that____.
A. men usually decide how to spend money in the family
B. women usually decide what to buy in the family
C. the Internet is used in all the shops
D. shopping online will be more popular in years
47. According to Dan Hess, shopping online ____.
A. is unsafe B. is convenient C. is a waste of money D. is cheaper
48. Which of the following is the best title?
A. Women turn to online shopping. B. Men stop online shopping.
C. More young people shop online. D. Shopping off-line provides better service.