Maggie was very glad that James was not a frequent visitor to the house. So far as the children were concerned, they had a mystery about him that stirred their imagination. He stirred Maggie’s anger, however, so that she often said to her husband, “It’s mercy that brother of yours doesn’t come oftener.”
In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o’clock in the evening, and he stayed for six hours of close discussion with his brother. His arrival was a signal to the children that their bedtime would be delayed. Not that he ever spoke to them or played with them. He took no notice of them, as if he was unable to see children, at least until the time came for him to go. Instead, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add, “You’ll be getting on with the supper, Maggie.” Such was his regard for her.
Maggie paid him back in her own way. She kept the children up, the four of them, to keep her company, she said, but of course they sang and made a noise and broke the endless sound of James’s voice. Very late, they dropped off to sleep in their chairs. Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to part with four shillings before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was mean. He always went home by the last train, just after two o’clock.
Maggie’s children secretly stared at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother’s words, “lost two wives and taken a third, ” They wondered about those two unfortunate lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate had been, and if neither could ever be found again. James never brought his third wife with him nor ever mentioned her. The children decided that he must be so frightened of losing her that he never allowed her outside the door. The underlined word “mercy” in the text most probably means _______.
| A．loss | B．wonder | C．lucky thing | D．terrible thing |
Maggie never prepared anything special for James because _______.
| A．he was a man difficult to please |
| B．she never knew when he was coming |
| C．she was too busy looking after her children |
| D．he never stayed long enough for a meal |
What do we know about James’ behavior?
| A．He was a kind man, with love for the family. |
| B．He was generous, especially towards his brother. |
| C．He was anxious to please the family, especially the kids. |
| D．He was rude to his sister-in-law. |
Maggie felt pleased when _______.
| A．she paid James the money that she owed him |
| B．James gave some money to the children |
| C．she had to wake James up to catch his train |
| D．James thanked her for the nice supper |
D
Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Director’s Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a fiery two-car accident.
The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on a rain-soaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the passengers trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.
Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith, 9, from the wreckage.
The girls’ mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bowbin.
Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had upon receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.
“I was nervous,” Bozeman said. “I don’t feel like I’m a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me.”
Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlife-threatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs(股骨), and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis(骨盆), ankle and foot.
The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
In addition, Bozeman got to meet accident victim Anthony Russo in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed(刻;雕 )with “Thank you,” Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
“Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday’s ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers,” Beckie Smith said, “We’re calling it The Miracle on Highway 6.”
68. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident.
B. Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes.
C. Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars.
D. A car accident occurred on a rain-soaked State Highway 6.
69. Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?
A. Clemmons. B. Anthony Russo. C. Bozeman. D. Bonge.
70. Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?
A. Kind. B. Modest. C. Excited. D. Smart.
71. It can be inferred from what Beckie Smith said that _______.
A. she regarded the accident as a wonder
B. she was frightened by the serious accident
C. she thought highly of the rescuers
D. she called on others to learn from the rescuers
C
Jamie Oliver has been invited by Gordon Brown to prepare a banquet at No. 10 for President Barack Obama and other leaders of the G20, offering a cut-price menu to reflect times when trade and industry are far from prosperous and the rate of employment is decreasing.
Downing Street sources say Oliver, the well-known chef, will cook using “honest high-street products” and avoid expensive or “fancy” ingredients (材料).
The prime minister is trying to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment last year when he sat down to an 18-course banquet at a Japanese summit to discuss world food shortages.
Obama, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and other leaders will be served by apprentices (学徒) from Fifteen, the London restaurant Oliver founded to help train young people in poverty in order to make a living by mastering a skill.
Brown wants the dinner to reflect the emphasis of the London summit, which he hopes will lead to an agreement to lift the world out of recession. “To be invited to cook for such an important group of people, who are trying to solve some of the world’s major problems, is really a privilege,” said Oliver.
“I’m hoping the menu I’m working on will show British food and produce is some of the best in the world, but also show we have pioneered a high-quality apprentice scheme at Fifteen London that is giving young people a skill to be proud of.”
The chef has not yet finalized the menu, but is expected to draw inspiration from his latest book, Jamie’s Ministry of Food, which has budget recipes for beef and ale stew (啤酒炖菜) and “impressive” chocolate fudge cake.
64. The underlined word “recession” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to “_______”.
A. business B. opposition C. discussion D. depression
65. What can we learn about Oliver from the text?
A. He is a well-known American cook.
B. He is invited to attend the G20 summit.
C. He has founded the Fifteen London.
D. He is one of the apprentices serving leaders of the G20.
66. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A. Oliver is honored to be invited to cook for the G20 leaders.
B. Altogether three presidents are mentioned in the text.
C. President Barack Obama offers the cut-price menu.
D. The menu for the G20 dinner banquet has been decided.
67. What is the Fifteen London?
A. an apartment in London B. a luxurious restaurant in London
C. a restaurant as well as a t
raining center D. a famous avenue
B
Hilton English Language Center
Information for New Students
CLASS TIME: 8:30a.m.—10:00a.m., 10:30a.m.—12:00a.m., 1:30p.m.—3:00p.m..
The Language Center is open Monday to Friday. Each class has one afternoon free per week. On the first day, go to the lecture hall to check your timetable.
SELF-ACCESS: The language laboratory (Room 1110) is open Monday to Friday from 3:15p.m. to 5:00p.m. for all full-time students.
You can learn how to use computers for language games or word-processing（文字处理）. There are tapes for students to borrow to practice their English. Go in and ask the teacher to show you. If you plan to take public examinations, there are dictation and listening comprehension tapes for you to practice with. There are cloze exercises on the computers. Ask your class teacher for a list of past exam essays. Students can borrow tapes to take home but they must be returned after two days.
ATTENDANCE（出勤）：All students are expected to attend classes as it is required. Students who do not attend classes will be reported to OSS. Eighty percent attendance is required for students to receive their certificates（证书）when they finish their courses. It is also required by OSS for an extension to your visa.
BOOKS: If students are given course books, the books are their responsibility. If a book is lost, the student will be expected to pay for it.
If students wish to buy books, there is a bookshop in the college specializing in English books (Room 3520).
60. When do classes begin and end on a full day?
A. 8:30a.m.—1:30p.m..B. 8:30a.m.—3:00p.m..
C. 8:30a.m.—3:15p.m..D. 3:15p.m.—5:00p.m..
61. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. No teachers are in the language lab.
B. 90% attendance is required for the students.
C. Books can’t be taken out of the center.
D. Students can prepare for exams by listening to tapes.
62. Timetable can be seen in _____.
A. the lecture hall B. Room 3520 C. the classroom D. Room 1110
63. The books which the students wish to buy are in the _____.
A. library B. bookshop in the college C. street D. classroom
第三部分：阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。
A
Ruth Mckenney was born in 1911 in Mishawaka, India. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and at the age of fourteen she got her first job working nights in a printer’s shop. She also worked as a waitress, but after dropping two fruits salads on the floor, she was fired.
While Miss Mckenney was studying in an Ohio State University, she found an outside job as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch. In fact, she left college before she got her degree in order to devote all her time to newspaper work. She later worked on papers in Akron, Ohio, and New York City.
In New York, Miss Mckenney began to write stories about the amusing experiences she shared with her sister. These were published in the New York magazine, and later in a book called “My Sister Eileen”. This book was an immediate bestseller, and soon became a hit play. Miss Mckenney has also written a guide to England and a number of serious books on American labor.
Miss Mckenney married Richard Bransten in 1937. They had one daughter. It came as no surprise when the author named her Eileen.
Ruth Mckenney died in 1972.
56. The Columbus Dispatch is the name of _____.
A. a department of Ohio State University B. the printer’s shop
C. a state of the United States D. a newspaper
57. Ruth Mckenney started her newspaper work _____.
A. after she left college B. when she was a university student
C. after she got her degree D. when she worked in New York City
58. Which of the following was a great success?
A. My Sister Eileen. B. The hit play.
C. Miss Mckenney’s newspaper work. D. The New York magazine.
59. Why do you suppose it came as no surprise when the author named her daughter “Eileen”?
A. Because the best-selling book made her famous and its heroine’s（女主角）name was Eileen.
B. Because this name could help her to remember her sister forever.
C. Because she had only one daughter and she loved her so much.
D. Because she wished her daughter would be as successful as she had been.
B
Save the Animals
Animals are natural resources that people have wasted all through our history.
Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers(羽毛), for food, for sport, and simply because they were in the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the earth forever. Hundreds more are on the danger list today. About 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in danger.
Why should people care? Because we need animals. And because once they are gone, there will never be any more.
Animals are more than just beautiful or interesting. They are more than just a source of food. Every animal has its place in the balance of nature. Destroying one kind of animal can create many problems.
For example, when farmers killed large numbers of hawks (鹰), the farmers’ stores of corn and grain were destroyed by rats and mice. Why? Because hawks eat rats and mice. With no hawks to keep down their numbers, the rats and mice multiplied (繁殖) quickly.
Luckily, some people are working to help save the animals. Some groups raise money to let people know about the problem. And they try to get the governments to pass laws protecting animals in danger.
Quite a few countries have passed laws. These laws prohibit the killing of any animal or plant on the danger list.
61. Animals are important to us mainly because __________.
A . they give us a source of food B. they are beautiful and lovely
C. they keep the balance of nature D. they give us a lot of pleasure
62. What has happened to the animals on the earth?
A. About 170 kinds of animals have disappeared forever.
B. Thousands of kinds of animals are gone forever.
C. A few kinds of animals have died out.
D. All kinds of animals are in danger.
63. Why do people kill animals?
A. They kill animals for something they need.
B. They kill animals to raise some money.
C. Animals destroy their natural resources.
D. Animals create many problems.
64. What does the underlined word “prohibit” mean in the last paragraph?
A. prevent B. stop C. forbid D. allow
65. What can we infer(推断) from the fact that quite a few countries have passed laws protecting animals in danger?
A. Animals in danger will be kept away from people.
B. Animals in danger will not be killed any more.
C. The number of some animals in danger will increase.
D. Every person will know the importance of protecting wild animals.