The issue of privacy versus openness is a paradox, particularly when it comes to the American home. “Lots” or “yards” (gardens) can be large and many are not enclosed by the walls, fences or hedges so popular in other cultures. Similarly, “window treatments” frame the window. but the use of European-style net curtains to screen out nosy neighbors is rare. In the same style, first-time visitors to an American home may be proudly given the full tour; even walk-in closets and en suite bathrooms are not considered off-limits. They may also be encouraged to help themselves to a soda from the fridge. All this gives an impression of openness.
Yet Americans do value their personal space and privacy. A Brazilian expatriate (侨民) who dropped in on her usually friendly Connecticut neighbors unannounced got the clear impression she should have called first. Similarly while a typical suburban home features large, shared areas, such as an open-plan kitchen and family room or “den”, ample private space is also allowed in the floor plan. A visit to a family home in the evening would likely find the family members dispersed, each independently watching TV, on the phone, surfing the Internet, or otherwise recharging batteries in the privacy of their own bedroom.
American individualism, expansiveness, and abundance are expressed in lifestyle. Despite the fact that the average household size has declined over the past thirty years from3.1 people to 2.6 people per household, the average size of a new family home increased during the same period from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet.
A common observation is just how outsized everything is. The beds are king-sized, the TVs have giant screens, the burgers are “whoppers (庞然大物),” appliances are “industrial” size. The largest popcorn or soda at the movies can be “supersized.” Closets are “walk in,” and some cars are the size of a military vehicle.The passage suggests that Americans__________.
| A．are rich enough to afford large size houses and luxurious electricity appliances |
| B．are very shy when talking about keeping their privacy and their personal space |
| C．would like to express their lifestyles in public to show them off |
| D．enjoy openness as well as individualism although they seem to contradict each other |
Why can we say that American individualism, expansiveness, and abundance are expressed in their lifestyle?
| A．Because the average size of a new house has increased during the past thirty years. |
| B．Because Americans often use European-style net curtains to screen out nosy neighbors. |
| C．Because many houses are equipped with walk-in closets. |
| D．Because the house size, outsized household furniture and independent living habits have proved it. |
The underlined phrase in the passage means________.
| A．filling a battery with electrical power |
| B．recovering your strength and energy by resting for a while |
| C．changing your batteries again |
| D．obtaining new batteries because old ones are running out |
According to the passage, if you drop in on an American family which is usually friendly to you in the evening, you________.
| A．will be deeply impressed by their family get-together scene |
| B．will be invited to a party which is well-prepared |
| C．will find family members scattered, and enjoying themselves individually |
| D．will be warmly welcomed even if they don’t get informed of your visit earlier |
I still remember the day when my mom said, “Let’s get you some new clothes.” You can imagine that to any little girl that would mean the world, but to me it meant the universe, because we were not very rich. After she said that, all I could think about was what kinds of clothes I would choose. To my surprise, my mom allowed me to pick out three dresses: a pink one, a blue one and a yellow one. The yellow one was my favorite.
I had a best friend named Seema, whose family was even poorer than ours. We played and studied together, and spent the best days of our childhood laughing at the silly stories we made up. I was excited to show her my three beautiful new dresses. She loved them all and was happy for me, but tearfully explained to me that her father could only afford to buy her clothes for her birthday. I felt sorry, and then did something that surprised even myself: I asked her to pick out one of my dresses for herself. To my disappointment, she picked up my favorite—the yellow one. Please remember, I was only seven years. My heart almost popped out (跳出) of my chest. But as she held it against her body, and I saw how brightly she smiled, I stopped feeling any hurt. I told her it looked lovely on her.
I’ll always remember Seema’s smile, and how at that moment nothing mattered more. When you value your friendships, nothing else matters! We’re still best friends today.Why did the new clothes mean the universe to the author?
| A．She loved dressing up more than anything else. |
| B．She thought they would make her more beautiful. |
| C．Her family was poor, and new clothes were very rare. |
| D．Her mother only bought her new clothes for her birthday. |
The author let Seema pick out one of her dresses because she wanted to _______.
| A．show her pity for Seema’s family | B．show off her family’s wealth |
| C．make Seema become her best friend | D．exchange it with Seema’s dress |
When Seema chose the yellow dress, the author was disappointed because ________.
| A．she was not generous | B．she didn’t expert to lose her favorite dress |
| C．Seema chose her favorite dress on purpose | D．Seema was careless about her feelings |
What can we conclude from the passage?
| A．Getting a best friend means losing other things. | B．Being generous is not easy. |
| C．Children like sharing their favorite things. | D．Friendship is precious (珍贵的). |
Everybody knows that words can carry messages. People communicate with words. Books, magazines, TV ，radio and films all help us to know what is going on in the world and what people are thinking about.
Do you think you can communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy or friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you put up your hand in class, the teacher knows that you say something or ask a question. You shake your head, and people know you are saying “No”. You nod and people know you are saying “Yes”.
Other things can also carry messages. For example, a sign at the bus stop helps you to know which bus to take. A sign on the wall of your school helps you to find the library. Signs on doors tell you where to go in or out. Have you ever noticed there are a lot of signs around you and you receive messages from them all the time? People can communicate in many ways without words. For example, an artist can use his drawings to tell about beautiful mountains, seas and many other things.
46．Choose the best title for this passage.
A. Ways for Communication.
B. The Best Way for Communication.
C. The Only Way for Communication.
D. Words Can Carry Messages.
47．How can people communicate with each other?
A. With words only
B. Only without words.
C. Either with words or without words.
D. Just by using different kinds of signs.
48．Which of the following is NOT a way for communication without words?
A.A cry for help B.A smile on your face
C. Making a face D. Nodding your head
49．What does the road sign P tell people?
A. You can go into the park. B. You can please everybody.
C. You can leave your car there. D. You can cross the street there.
50．How can a musician (someone who writes music) communicate with people?
A. By saying something. B. By playing some music.
C. By writing letters. D. All of the above are right.
One day newly wedded Nancy lost her ring while helping to plant potatoes. Friends were called and the field was searched long but in vain. Later, when the potatoes were harvested, Everyone looked out for the ring but it remained lost. Another year came round and all the farmers working in the field kept their eyes open. The following year was the same. And year after year, whoever had business in the field aways had Nancy’s ring in his mind.
Then the farm changed hands but it went no farther than to cousins. So the memory of the lost ring remained alive until thirty-eight years had passed. Then came a spring day when a man was ploughing the field behind a pair of horses. Even after thirty-eight years he still looked out for the ring, and knew just which part of the field Nancy had lost it in. At this time, when he came there, he found it .He picked it up, put it carefully into his pocket, left his horse, and ran all the way down to the village and placed it into Nancy’s hand.
56．How did Nancy come to lose her ring?
A. She lost it while helping to harvest tomatoes in the field
B. She lost it while watering the plants in the field.
C. She lost it while working in the field.
D. She lost it while helping to plant potatoes in the field.
57. What was done so that the lost ring could be found?
A. Friends were asked to join in the search.
B. The field was searched for a long time.
C. Dogs were called to look for it.
D. Both A and B
58. Why did people keep looking for the ring even after the farm changed hands?
A. It was a very expensive ring B. They all wanted to solve the mystery.
C. They all loved Nancy. D. Everybody wanted to have this ring.
59. What did the ploughman do after finding the ring?
A. He picked it up and put it in his pocket.
B. He ran back to tell everybody in the village.
C. He placed it in a secret spot.
D. He returned it to the owner.
60. What can you infer from the story?
A. The ring was invaluable.
B. People on the farm were honest and helpful.
C. The ring’s mysterious disappearance was the work of supernatural power.
D. Nancy no longer expected that her ring would be found again.
The first newspapers were handwritten sheets which were posted in pubic places. The earliest recorded newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700’s the world’s first printed newspaper was developed in China. The paper was printed from carved(雕刻的) wooden blocks and sent out among the citizens. Europe didn’t have a regularly(定期的) published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.
The fist regularly published newspaper in the English language was printed in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published weekly. The first daily English newspaper was the Daily Courant, which didn’t appear until March 1702.
In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But the local(当地的) government soon stopped its publication. In 1704, John Campbell started The Boston News-letter, the first newspaper to be published daily in America. By 1760, the whole America had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1800 daily papers in the United States.
Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation(发行量) in the world. The largest circulation for a newspaper, however, is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, which sells over eleven million copies every day.
51．In Europe, the newspaper was first regularly published_____.
A .in England B. in Germany
C. in France D. in London
52．The first English newspaper printed and sold every day appeared _________.
A. in 1620 B. in 1609
C. at the end of the 17th century D. at the beginning of the 18th century.
53．How many years earlier was the newspaper printed in China than in America?
A. 9 or 10 centuries. B. More than 1000 years.
C. 700 years or so D. Less than 800 years.
54．Which of the following newspapers have the largest number of readers in the world?
A. Italian language newspapers.
B. German language newspapers.
C. English language newspapers.
D. Japanese language newspapers.
55．Which title best gives the main idea of the passage?
A. The World’s First Newspaper.
B .History of Newspaper.
C. The First Daily Newspaper in American.
D. A Remarkable Man-Benjamin Harris.
第三部分：阅读理解（共两节 第一节20小题，每小题2分，第二节5小题，每小题1分,满分45分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项
Hunting with birds is a very old sport. In some countries the golden eagle is used for hunting wild animals. They are used for hunting foxes and wolves.
Training an eagle to hunt takes a long time. Hunters catch young eagles in nets made of hair. After being trained the eagle is taken to a field. A blindfold over the bird’s eyes keeps it quiet until the hunter is ready.
The eagle sits in the arm of the hunter. The hunter’s arm is covered with a long, special glove to protect it from the sharp claws of the bird. In the field, as soon as the hunter sees a fox or a wolf, he removes the blindfold. The eagle quickly flies into the air and began to look for the wild animal.
The eagle sees the animal and catches it with claws like steel. Its beak and claws are strong enough to hold the animal. Usually, the bird carries the animal back to the hunter. Sometimes fast animals with good eyes can get away.
41．A hunting eagle is trained when_________.
A. it is still young
B. it is taken to a field
C. its eyes are covered with a blindfold
D. the hunter is ready
42．Hunters use nets made of hair to ________.
A. train young foxes B. catch young wolves
C. train young eagles D. catch young eagles
43．The trained eagle_______.
A. carries the hunter home
B. wears a blindfold when hunting an animal
C. is covered with a long, special glove
D. has strong claws like steel
44．A hunter wears a special glove to _______.
A. protect his arm from the sharp claws of a trained eagle
B. protect his arm from the sharp claws of a young fox
C. protect his arm from the sharp claws of a young wolf
D. protect his arm from the sharp claws of wild animals
45．According to the text, which of the following is true?
A. Fast animals with sharp eyes are sometimes difficult to catch
B.As soon as the blindfold is removed, the eagle flies into a tree
C. Hunters always blindfold young eagles before training them.
D. Sometimes hunters train young foxes they have caught.