The USA is a land of immigrants. Between 1815 and 1914, the world witnessed the greatest peaceful migration in its history: 35 million people, mostly Europeans, left their homelands to start new lives in America. Why did these people risk everything by leaving their homes and families?
First, what forced emigrants to make the decision to leave? One major cause for European farmers to leave was the rise in population which in turn led to land hunger. Another was politics. There was an increased taxation（税收） and the growth of armies, and many young men fled eastern Europe to avoid being forced to join the army.
Physical hunger provided another pressing reason. Following the collapse （衰退）of the economy of southern Italy in the 1860s, hundreds of thousands decided to start a new life in America. Religion also encouraged millions to leave the Old World.
In short, people chose to leave their homes for social, economic and religious reasons. As a result, by 1890 among a total population of 63 million, there were more than nine million foreign-born Americans.
But what were the attractions? First of all, there was the promise of land which was so scarce in Europe. Next, factories were calling for workers, and pay conditions were much better than back home. Men were needed to open up the West and build the long railroads, and new towns needed settlers to live in and to develop business. There was the space for religious people to practice their faith in peace.
This immigration meant that by around the 1850s Americans of non-English had started to be more than those of English. As we know, there were losers. To start with, there were those unwilling immigrants, the slaves who had been used as a source of cheap labour. Nor should we forget the equally unlucky American Indians. By 1860 there were 27 million free whites, four million slaves and a mere 488,000 free blacks.
Nowadays, the USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. As always, it remains an attractive place to those who think it will offer them a second chance.What is not the cause for people to leave their homeland?
| A．The search for religious freedom. |
| B．The search for adventure. |
| C．Unwillingness to join the army. |
| D．Economics. |
Why was life of the 19th Century European farmers difficult?
| A．There was no land. |
| B．There was no peace. |
| C．The population had gone down. |
| D．There were too many of them. |
Which of the following was not an attraction of the USA?
| A．Employment | B．A healthy life |
| C．freedom of religion | D．Business opportunities |
What is the topic of this passage?
| A．The USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. |
| B．The USA is a land of immigrants. |
| C．Religion encouraged millions to leave the Old World. |
| D．About one-eighth of non-native born Americans live in the USA in 1890. |
The American Indians __________.
| A．were as fortunate as the slaves |
| B．were more unfortunate than the slaves |
| C．were the most unfortunate |
| D．were as unfortunate as the slaves |
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale shook Haiti on Tuesday, causing several buildings to collapse in the Western hemisphere's poorest nation and leading to an unknown number of fatalities（死亡）, officials and witnesses said.
The earthquake was centered just 10 miles southwest of the crowded and impoverished（贫困的）capital of Port-au-Prince（太子港）.Making matters worse, the earthquake was relatively shallow, at a depth of five miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said Shallow earthquakes can cause more damage.
“I think it's really a huge catastrophe,” Haiti's ambassador to the U.S., Raymond Alcide Joseph, told Cable News Network.
An Associated Press（美联社）videographer saw the ruins of a hospital in Petionville, near Port-au-Prince. Reuters（路透社）news agency said several buildings had crumbled in the capital and that there were dead and injured trapped in the rubble.
At least 1.8 million people live within the area where the earthquake had its highest intensity, John Bellini, a geophysicist at the USGS, told The Wall Street Journal. “With a strong and shallow earthquake like this in such a populated area, it could really cause substantial damage.” he said.
“The quake was the most powerful to hit Haiti since at least 1770. This isn't normally an earthquake-prone（地震频发）area.” Mr. Bellini added.
Within minutes of the original quake, two aftershocks rolled through the area, measuring 5.9 and 5.5 on the Richter scale.
60. The main purpose of this passage is to ________.
A. tell people some disasters are very dangerous.
B. introduce some common sense of natural disasters.
C. appeal to readers for help, love and support.
D. present some information of Haiti’s earthquake this year.
61.What can we learn from John Bellini’s words?
A. The earthquake which took place in Port-au-Prince was strong and shallow.
B. Thanks to the shallow earthquake, it did little damage to Port-au-Prince.
C. Earthquakes occur frequently in the area of Port-au-Prince,capital of Haiti.
D. At least 1770 people lost their lives in the earthquake.
62. The underlined word catastrophe is closest in meaning to __________.
A. problem B. disaster C. phenomenon D. news
63. How many earthquakes of Haiti are mentioned in this article?
A. None. B. One C. Two. D. At least three.
第三部分阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（共15题；每小题2分，满分30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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American recording artist. She began playing in clubs in the New York City area while also working at Interscope Records as a songwriter for several established musicians, including Akon. After hearing Gaga sing, he signed her to a joint deal with his own company, Kon Live Distribution. She then started to work on her first studio album.
She began working with a collective(组合) called the “Haus of Gaga” in 2008, and released her first album “The Fame”. The album peaked in countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, receiving critical acclaim. So far, the album has spawned（产生）the international number one singles “Just Dance”, nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 51st Grammy Awards（格莱美音乐奖）, and “Poker Face”. After writing songs for New Kids On The Block and the Pussycat Dolls, Gaga began her first tour, headlined “The Fame Ball”.
Gaga has been influenced by fashion and has been appreciated for her provocative（刺激的） sense of style and her influence on other celebrities（名流）. Musically, she is inspired by David Bowie and Queen, as well as pop singers such as Michael Jackson and Madonna.
In which order did the following things happen to Lady Gaga?
Gaga released her first album “The Fame”.
Gaga began playing in clubs in New York city.
Gaga began her first headlined tour.
Akon signed Gaga to join his own company.
56.Her single “Just Dance” was nominated at the 51st Grammy Awards.
A. b a d c e B. b d a e c C. d b e c a D. d c e a b
57. The underlined word “acclaim” means _______.
A. gift B. praise C. complaint D. income
58. According to the passage, who influenced Gaga musically EXCEPT ________.
A. Michael B. Madonna C. David Bowie D. Avril Lavigne
59. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Lady Gaga began playing in clubs in New York city area after she worked at Interscope Records as a songwriter.
B. Gaga’s first album spawned only one international NO.1 single --“Just Dance”.
C. Akon signed Gaga to work for his own company after hearing her singing.
D. “The Fame Ball”is the second single of Lady Gaga.
President Barack Obama had a big pat on the back for his young daughters on Tuesday, saying they have got used to life in the White House.
After more than a year at the US presidential mansion, Malia Obama, 11, and Sasha Obama, 8, have made their dad proud with their ability to balance their private life with life in the public eye, he told NBC television.
"The happiest thing about the past year and a half has been the girls' adjustment (适应). They have just been great. They're doing well in school," Obama said.
"They're not as constrained. They can wander around. Their Secret Service protection is a lot more low key (低调)," he explained. "So they've got soccer, they've got basketball, they go sleep over at their friend's houses.
"Sometimes I've got 12 little girls screaming on the third floor of the White House. And they made a great adjustment."
The president also admitted he was concerned about how his daughters would deal with his public life as they get a bit older.
"Now I get a little worried about them when they're teenagers because I think that's the time when you're already feeling uncomfortable about your parents, and then imagine if your dad's in the newspaper every day and people are calling him a fool. I feel a little worried about that."
"But on the other hand, Malia and Sasha have just turned out to be unbelievably well adjusted kids," Obama said.
"The thing that's most important to me is that they are so respectful of everybody and haven't gotten on any airs (摆架子). It’s all because of Michelle as she wouldn't put up with (容忍) any of that stuff."
61. Why is President Obama so happy according to the passage?
A. His daughters have been great in the public eye.
B. His daughters can balance their life with their study.
C. His daughters have got used to life in the White House.
D. His daughters have been in the White House for over a year.
62. The underlined word “constrained” in Paragraph 4 most probably means__________.
A. devoted B. forced C. puzzled D. concerned
63. President Obama is a little worried about ___________.
A. what his daughters’ life will be like in the future
B. how his daughters will get on with him when they’re a little older
C. how his daughters will make friends with people around in the future
D. how his daughters will deal with his public life when they’re teenagers
64. What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A. Michelle is proud of being Obama’s wife.
B. Michelle allows her daughters to get on airs.
C. President Obama appreciates what Michelle has done.
D. Obama’s daughters are respected by everyone in the USA.
It’s Friday morning in the year 2030, and you’re running late. You got carried away watching the music video that was playing in the corner of your bathroom mirror while you were brushing your teeth. How will you get to your office at Mega Giga Industries on time?
A quick check of your Internet–connected refrigerator tells you your train is a bit behind schedule, too. So you decide to drive your environmentally–friendly fuel cell car instead—or rather, let your car drive you. It’s programmed to know the way and it will get you there without speeding, getting lost, or crashing.
Settling into your office chair, which changes color to match what you’re wearing, you pick up yesterday morning’s newspaper. Printed on reusable electronic paper, it immediately rewrites itself with today’s headlines. Now it’s time for your big meeting. Uh-oh! You’ve left your handwritten notes at home. No problem. The digital ink pen you used has stored an electronic copy of what you wrote.
Your wristwatch videophone (可视电话) suddenly rings. Your best friend’s face pops up on the screen (屏幕) asking what you’re doing this weekend. Will you play virtual soccer with the U.S. Olympic team? No, no. Your friend says, so you have to take the new elevator (made of microscopic fibers many times stronger than steel) 60000 miles into space.
Could this scene really take place in just twenty years? The researchers who are now developing all this stuff think so. These gadgets (小器械) may be as common in 20 years as cell phones and DVD players are today.
57. What is the BEST TITLE for the passage?
A. Life in the Future B. Future Transportation
C. Life Today and Tomorrow D. Development of the Internet
58. Your future car has all of the following features (特点) EXCEPT．
A. being programmed to know the way B. using environmentally-friendly fuel
C. driving you to different places safely D. having an Internet-connected refrigerator
59. How many high-tech products are mentioned in Paragraph 3?
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
60. We can learn from the passage that in twenty years．
A. going to space may be common
B. DVD players will be much more popular
C. playing virtual soccer with Olympic teams won’t be attractive
D. wristwatch videophones will completely take the place of cell phones
The professor stood before his class of 30 senior biology students, about to pass out the final exam. “I have been honored to be your instructor this term, and I know how hard you have all worked to prepare for this test. I also know most of you are off to medical school or graduate school next fall,” he said to them.
“I can well understand how much pressure you are under to keep your grades up, and because I know you are able to understand this material, I am prepared to offer an automatic(自动的) “B” to anyone who would prefer not to take the final.”
In relief a number of students jumped up to thank the professor and left the class. The professor looked at the students who remained, and offered again, “Any other takers? This is your last chance.” One more student decided to go.
There were seven students left. The professor closed the door. Then he handed out the final exam. There were only two sentences typed on the paper: “Congratulations, you have just received an “A” in this class. Keep believing in yourself.”
I never had a professor who gave a test like that. It may seem like the easy way out of grading (评分) a lot of exams, but it’s a test that any teacher in any subject could and should give. Students who don’t have confidence in what they’ve learned are “B” students at best.
The same is true for students of real life. The “A” students are those who believe in what they’re doing because they’ve learned from both successes and failures. They have learned life’s lessons, whether from formal education or the school of hard knocks, and become better people.
Take your cue(榜样) from Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the top of Mount Qomolangma: “It’s not the mountain we conquer (征服), but ourselves.” Don’t let the biggest limit be yourself.
53. The professor offered an automatic “B” to those who would prefer not to take the final exam because _________.
A. he liked the students who wanted to get a “B”
B. he believed they were able to pass the exam
C. he thought any teacher should give them a “B”
D. he thought it was the easy way of grading exams
54. According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. 22 students got a “B” in the final test without doing the paper.
B. Most of the students would go to medical school shortly after the exam.
C. There were actually no problems on the test papers for the students to work out.
D. The way the professor tested his students would not be suitable for other subjects.
55. According to the writer, the test given by the professor was ________.
A. funny B. meaningful C. difficult D. harmful
56. The point of the story is to advise readers _________.
A. to pay attention to what they can do
B. not to miss any final exam at school
C. not to let themselves limit their growth
D. to surround themselves with confident people