In 1883. John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought this was an impossible mission and told Roebling to forget the idea, but Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams.'' "It's foolish to chase wild visions." Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged.
One day he was lying on his bed in hospital, seeing the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment with the sunlight streaming through the windows, and a gentle breeze bowing the flimsy white curtains apart when an idea hit him. He decided to make the best use of the only finger he could move. Thus, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm until the bridge was finally completed.Which of the following is true of Washington and his father?
A.They are hardworking and courageous. |
B.They are stubborn and bold. |
C.They are creative and persistent. |
D.They are curious and modest. |
In the third paragraph, the underlined phrase ''wild vision" refers to______.
A.the tragic accident |
B.the building of the bridge |
C.the brain damage |
D.the discussion and persuasion |
From the passage, we know that _______ when Roebling proposed building the bridge.
A.people all over America supported him |
B.almost no bridge experts in the world supported him |
C.his friends were strongly in favor of his idea |
D.many people considered it would be a great project |
The passage suggests that______.
A.NO pains, no gains. |
B.Many hands make light work. |
C.A lighted heart is a good medicine. |
D.Passion creates wonder. |
第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题,每题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
My sister was sick for a long time before they found out what was the matter with her. She had so many tests , and no answers came, till one day we heard the words we were dreading " Your sister has a rare blood vessel cancer, hopefully we can remove it, but we have only seen 5 cases ,and don't even know if she will survive"
My wedding day was in November, and the family spent most of their time going to the hospital ,so I was on my own with all the arrangements. Not that I minded, we were just waiting to find out what was going to become of my sister.
Finally the surgeons decided amputation was the answer after extensive radiation therapy to shrink the tumour. She was tired and lethargic, and tried hard to put on a brave face, but the fear showed in her eyes.
Fortunately, when the surgery came, the doctors found they could remove the tumour without amputation, but at a great cost. The whole leg muscle was removed , and became infected, and it took many months for my sister to become well enough to leave the hospital, but was unable to stand, let alone walk.
The day of our wedding came around, and still my sister remained unwell, and was not coming to the wedding. I felt sad inside at the thought of it, but she had survived the ordeal ,and that was enough for now.
It was the only dark spot on the happiest day of my life.
As the wedding car pulled up, I saw the family moving around the church ,and felt a slight pang....Jayne was not going to be here to share all this... I stepped out of the wedding car, and rearranged my gown and dress... the church started the bridal march... ...and as in a dream, there was my sister, standing up, supported by two crutches, smiling. I think I am the only bride who stopped in the middle of the bridal march to walk over and kiss my sister on the cheek. It cost my sister so much pain to be there ,to stand and even walk a little. She could not manage it for long, but she did it for me, even when her own future looked uncertain. In my bridal book, there is a page for gifts... and next to my sister’s name is the entry..."Jaynes gift...my sister walked on my wedding day"
And her gift is the one we remember most...
51. From the second paragraph, we can learn that ______.
A. The family didn't care much about my wedding
B. I was worried about the arrangement of my wedding
C. I was angry that I had to arrange my wedding by myself
D. I think I should care more about my sister's illness
52. What does the underlined word "amputation" mean?
A. chemical treatment B. removing the tumour
C. cutting off the leg D. removing the whole leg muscle
53. What's only the dark spot on my happiest day
A. my sister's leg was infected.B. My sister could not attend my wedding.
C. My sister was unable to walk.D. My sister failed to survive the cancer.
54. What's the best title of this passage?
A. My sister's gift. B. My sister's illness.C. My brave sister. D. My happiest day.
E
There is a debate going on in America public schools over the best way to teach English to foreign students. Many schools use bilingual education. This means that students study their core subjects such as science, mathematics and social studies in their native tongues. They also take a few h ours of English.
Recently, many educators have begun to criticize bilingual education. Opponents claim that bilingual education slows not only students’ development of language skills but also their adjustment to American life. They often remain separated from the mainstream student body.
These critics have proposed the immersion method (沉浸式语言教学法). This means that students take only English classes until they can function effectively in regular subject classes. Proponents of the immersion theory argue that in order to prepare these foreign students for college or the job market, they must be able to communicate in English.
Despite this disagreement, nearly all educators agree that English is a necessary tool for improving the quality of one’s life in America.
72. In bilingual education programs, students ______.
A. study in their native countries
B. study their core subjects in their native languages
C. study only English until they can function effectively in regular subject classes
D. mainly work on adjustment to American life
73. A proponent is someone who ______.
A. supports a certain idea or policy B. is against a certain idea or policy
C. uses the immersion method of teaching English D. is a school administer
74. According to the article, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Nearly all educators agree that English is important for foreign students.
B. Students in bilingual education programs are often separated from American students
C. Nearly all educators agree that bilingual education is best for teaching English to foreign students.
D. Students with good English language skills have better chances for college or the job market.
75. What is the author’s opinion about the bilingual education in America?
A. He is for it strongly B. He is against it strongly
C. He doesn’t show his own opinion D. He is against all the educators
D
Americanshave neverbeforeexercisedand dieted as eagerly as they are doing today. As a result,they do not only look younger and slimmer,but feel better.Because of increased physical fitness,life expectance in the nation has risen to seventy-three years, with fewer people suffering from heart disease,the nation's number one killer.
Jogging (慢跑),the easiest and cheapest way of improving the body,keeps over 30million people of all ages on the run. For the price of a good pair of running shoes, anyone anywhere can join the race.
Dieting,too, has become a national pastime.Promoters of diets that eliminate eating one thing or another,such as fats or carbohydrates (碳水化合物),promise as much as20- pound weight losses within two weeks. Books describing such amazing diets always head up (居…之首)the best-seller lists because people who are overweight want to lose weight quickly and easily.
Nevertheless,jogging and dieting, carried to extremes,can be harmful.Many confused joggers overdo and finally suffer from ankle and foot damage.Dieting,fortunately,becomes only a temporary means for shedding a few pounds while the body lose the balanced nutrition it requires,so most dieters cannot keep on diets.Above all,common sense should be the keystone for any dieting and exercise plan.
68.The main idea of this passage is that________.
A.both jogging and dieting can improveyour health
B.exercise and improved diet has raisedthe American's life expectance
C.people,who jog and diet wisely,will behealthier than those who do not
D.diet and exercise harm rather thanbenefithealth
69.According to the passage,which of thefollowing statements is TRUE?
A.Jogging can damage the body becauseit is too tough an exercise.
B.Diets are so popular because they areon the best-seller lists.
C.Americans now live to be 73years old.
D.Exercise and diet are more widespreadin America than ever before.
70.It is implied but not stated that ________.
A.heart disease is the number one killeramong Americans
B.exercise and dieting bring about spiritual as well as physical well-being
C.people don't stay on a diet because itdoesn't work
D.a 20-pound weight loss within two weeks is too much for the body
71.The best title for this passage is _________..
A.Jogging and DietB.Exercise and Health
C.Physical FitnessD.Life Expectancy and Diet
The publication of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" gladdens booksellers across China. The British and American editions were No. 1 and No. 3 respectively on the sales chart of the Beijing Xidan Book Building last week. The book's poster is highlighted and news about the book can often be heard on the radio.
Why is the book so attractive to children? With curious mood, the author got a copy of "Harry Potter". Originally, I wanted to glance over it and made some criticisms. But, out of expectation, the author has been deeply attracted by the magic world. On the other hand, one cannot help asking: where is our own "Harry Potter"?
The Chinese nation has a history of 5,000 years, which cannot be regarded as short and its culture as not profound. With a vast market of youngsters, China did publish many books popular among children. However, why are the present works not as good as those imported?
There come two major reasons: Firstly, quite a number of children's books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment. Children often have a feeling of being "educated". No wonder they don't like them. Secondly, children's reading materials involving "idiom stories" and "Chinese talents' stories", though always in different covers, are usually much the same or plagiarized. One knows the ending as early as in the beginning. In final analysis, the authors of the books seldom take children's requirements into consideration.
As a matter of fact, each child has his own wonderful imagination. They long to understand the world and nature. Similarly they have their own choices. They dislike similar stories, even if the stories are excellent. First-class reading for children should be very interesting, which contains knowledge and the essence of national culture, which are presented in children's language.
Market is a touchstone for products. The theory also holds true for cultural products. It is hoped that the authors of children's books can learn something from the good market of "Harry Potter" and write out more and better books loved by children.
64. The disadvantages of our books are the following except_______.
A. they have little sense of interest and entertainment
B. many of our books are of the same
C. the authors didn’t pay much attention to the children’s tastes.
D. Our authors never know what our children need.
65. The reason why the imported book is so popular is that _______.
A. it has no sense of teaching
B. it opens a wonderful world for children to explore
C. it is only written in children’s language
D. it is advertised more on TV or poster.
66. What’s the feeling of the writer when he finishes reading “Harry Potter”?
A. He is so angry that he wants to criticize the book
B. He is also attracted by the book
C. He is shocked by the book, meanwhile he is worried about our books.
D. He can’t help looking for Harry Potter.
67. What does the writer mean by writing “where’s our own Harry Potter”?
A. We are short of books for children
B. We Chinese must produce books as popular as “Harry Potter”.
C. Authors should write books in the same way as “Harry Potter”
D. Our authors are hoped to make the market of our books for children take off
B
Particles from car exhausts generate more persistent clouds but less rain, new research suggests. Furthermore, putting more of these particles into the atmosphere reduces the low-level winds, which could reduce the amount of wind power available in very polluted regions. The dry but populated regions may therefore suffer a triple blow as a result of vehicle pollution:less water, less hydropower and less wind energy.
Scientists studied the effects of aerosol(浮质)pollution from cars and industry. They correlated satellite data on wind speeds and the amount of aerosol particles in the atmosphere above the South Coast Basin in California and above China. Results showed that higher concentrations of aerosols were closely associated with slower ground winds. Scientists then used computer models to support the idea that there was a cause and effect relationship behind this correlation.
Particles floating in the atmosphere block energy from the Sun, preventing it from warming the surface of the Earth. Cooler surface temperatures during the day means the low—level and slow moving air does not rise up and mix with the faster winds at higher altitudes. Slower winds also induce less evaporation from oceans, rivers and lakes. And finally, once clouds have formed, they store less moisture in the form of rain. This is because raindrops form around small particles— dust, for instance, or pollution. With more particles in the atmosphere, it takes longer for enough water to condense(凝结)onto a particle to form a raindrop. And if the cloud of fine droplets(小滴)moves to a drier area before its would-be rain can rail, the moisture evaporates once more and the cloud disappears.
Scientists note their new work does not contradict previous findings that suggest global warming might lead to more tropical storms, because there is far less particulate(微粒的)pollution over the oceans.
60. The first paragraph mainly talks about .
A. the results of vehicle pollution
B. an introduction to particles from car exhausts
C. less wind energy in polluted regions
D. less water caused by vehicle pollution
61. From this passage we can learn that .
A. scientists supported their idea by using material models
B. the new study is contrary to the previous findings
C. if there are more particles in the atmosphere, there will be more raindrops
D. there is a cause and effect relationship between wind speeds and particle pollution
62. The underlined word “induce” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean _ .
A. reduce B. persuade C. cause D. produce
63. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Pollution and Global Warming B. Car, Wind and Rain
C. Industry Pollution D. How Rain Forms