Today, children start to use computers, smart phones and tablets from a very young age． Many parents and child experts believe that this is very wrong． They claim that early exposure to technology can make individuals lazy and distracted． That may be true, but there it is practically impossible to change the world we live in now． What we can do is embrace smart mobile technologies the best way we can． That is Microsoft’s Windows 8 App Store． One of its applications is entirely educational, Windows 8． There, students of all ages can find apps that can greatly help them in their studies． We have prepared the 4 best of them．
Wikipedia—Wikipedia is the first place where students search for information． The articles on the popular website are updated regularly and they include many details, figures and resources． With this app, you can access Wikipedia faster than ever．
SAS Flash Cards—One of the most effective ways to learn your school or university material is by using the so-called “flash cards”． This app, however, allows users to create an entire set of cards in a matter of minutes． Also, the cards can be divided into different subject categories, which makes studying easier and more fun than ever before．
Kindle Reader—If you don't have a Kindle e-Book reader, you can use your Windows 8 device． Just install this app and the Kindle word will land in your smart phone, tablet or laptop． With the Kin-die Reader W8 app, you can also organize and store all of your favorite books．
My Study Life—This application is the mobile version of the website My Study Life． The app can be very useful for students in terms of school and university organization． There you can store all the information you want like homework, assignments and papers． In addition, you can create your own school calendar that will remind you of your upcoming exams, for instance．
There is one main reason why these Windows 8 apps are appropriate for students． Apart from useful, they are completely free! All you need to do is go to Microsoft’s Windows 8 App Store, download the applications you want and install them onto your device．The underlined part means we should __________．
| A．update the technologies as often as we can |
| B．accept the smart mobile applications willingly |
| C．purchase a smart mobile with much money |
| D．develop some new smart mobile functions |
If you want to know of Rafael Nadal you can use __________．
| A．Wikipedia | B．SAS Flash Cards | C．Kindle Reader | D．My Study Life |
The function of “flash cards” is __________．
| A．to make your smart phone closely attached |
| B．to update your information every day |
| C．to help you get your favorite reading materials |
| D．to help students learn their subjects easily |
We can learn from the passage that __________．
| A．students can buy the apps at a certain discount |
| B．the applications above are all for nothing |
| C．you should pay much to download the apps |
| D．It’s easy for parents to keep a watch on their children |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．Top Windows 8 Apps for Students |
| B．Windows 8 to Be Updated for Students |
| C．Games Apps in Windows 8 Store |
| D．Microsoft Company and Its Apps |
.
Back in the fifteenth century, in a village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Despite the hopeless condition, two of the children, Albrecht Durer and his elder brother Albert Durer, had a dream. They both wanted to become artists. After many long discussions, the two boys finally worked out an agreement. They would toss (投掷) a coin. The loser would go down to the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy (大学). Then, when that brother completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other at the academy.
Tossing a coin, Albrecht won and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down to the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, supported his brother, whose work at the academy was excellent. By the time Albrecht graduated, he had earned a lot of money for his works of art.
When the young artist returned to his village, Albrecht thanked his brother for the years of support that enabled him to realize his dream. “ And now, Albert, it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to go for your dream, and I will take care of you.”
Tears running down his face, Albert said,” No, brother. I cannot go to Nuernberg. It is too late for me. Look…what four years in the mines has done to my hands! I have been suffering from arthritis (关节炎) so badly that I cannot even hold a wine glass. No, brother ... for me it is too late !”
Later, Albrecht Durer drew his brother’s hands. He called his drawing simply Hands, and later it was renamed The Praying Hands.
More than 500 years have passed. Among the works of Albrecht Durer, The Praying Hands, is probably the most familiar to people. Reproductions of it hang in people’s homes or offices.
Next time you see a copy of that touching painting, take a second look. Let it be your reminder — if you still need one — no one ever makes it alone!
59. Why did the two brothers work out the agreement?
A. They were curious about the result.
B. Their family couldn’t afford their attending the academy.
C. They had to support the other sisters and brothers in the family.
D. Neither of them wanted to study in the academy.
60. Why couldn’t Albert go to the academy after four years?
A. Albrecht changed his mind and refused to support Albert.
B. Albrecht was not able to earn enough money to support Albert.
C. Albert didn’t have a great love for painting any more.
D. Albert couldn’t hold a pen or brush to paint.
61. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. It proved that Albrecht was not good at painting.
B. Albrecht couldn’t earn any money while he was studying at the academy.
C. Years of hard work in the mines brought great suffering to Albert.
D. In the painting “The Praying Hands”, the hands were Albrecht’s.
62. What does the underlined sentence imply (暗示)?
A. You can achieve success all on your own.
B. Cooperation is important if you want to succeed.
C. There is other people’s sacrifice (牺牲) behind your success.
D. No one will succeed without working hard.
.
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A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The most popular food in America was invented because a cook got angry. George Crum was a cook at a restaurant in Saratoga Springs, New York. One day in 1853, a customer who had ordered fried potatoes sent them back to the kitchen. He wanted the cook to slice (切片) them thinner and fry them longer. George Crum had a bad temper (脾气), and he thought the potatoes were fine the way he made them. To teach the customer a lesson, he sliced potatoes very thin and fried them until they were crispy (脆的). But instead of being angry, the customer loved the new fried potatoes. He asked for more. Other people who tried them liked them too and customers kept asking for them. For many years, people called them Saratoga chips after the town where they were first made.
Even now, after more than 150 years, potato chips are very popular. At least one of every ten potatoes grown in the United States is made into potato chips. So if you like potato chips, be thankful that George Crum had a bad temper!
56. The customer sent the fried potatoes back to the kitchen because ______.
A. he wanted to make George Crum angry
B. he liked thinner potatoes fried a longer time
C. he knew the cook would invent potato chips
D. he didn’t want to pay for the food
57. George Crum cooked the potatoes in a special way in order to ______.
A. teach the customer a lesson
B. invent the potato chips
C. make the potato chips crispy
D. please that customer
58. What’s the best title for this story?
A. A cook with a very bad temper.
B. A clever customer.
C. Potato chips — the most popular food in America.
D. The invention of potato chips.
.
SPECIAL EVENTS
THIS WEEKEND
Captain Goodfellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Goodfellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown on Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The Workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold… Don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do you want to hear “The Zoo”?
“The Zoo, a popular group from Australia, will give their first U.S. concert tomorrow night at 8 at Rose Hall, City College.
67. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food ________.
A. at the front entrance of City Hall
B. at the Ballgame
C. at 5:00 p.m.
D. at Central Park on Saturday
68 If you are going on the Walking Tour, don’t forget ________.
A. your worries
B. your beautiful walk
C. your learning about local history
D. your comfortable shoes
69. The Redbirds ballgame ________.
A. is in the afternoon B. is out door C. is at the gate D. might be cold
70. “The Zoo” is ________.
A. a park with lots of animals there
B. U.S. concert
C. a music group
D. going to give the concert at 8 a.m. tomorrow
.
Hank Viscardi was 26 years old when he put on his first pair of long trousers and his first pair of shoes. For the first time he saw himself as he had always wanted to be –a full five feet eight inches tall.
Hank had been born without legs. Until he was seven, his world was a world of repeated operations. At last, he had no legs but stumps (残肢) that could be fitted with a kind of special boots.
Out of the hospital, Hank often found people slating at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him “Ape man” because his arms dragged on the ground. He went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years instead of the usual twelve.
After graduation, Hank worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, Hank had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. Hank would soon have to use a wheel chair.
Hank felt himself go cold all over. However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial (人工的)legs.
Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror and saw himself for the first time five feet eight inches tall.
But this was not the end yet. He had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed the stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.
When World War Ⅱcame, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, the man without legs.
63. It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches is _______.
A. an average height for an adult
B. too tall for an average person
C. too short for an average person
D. Hank's real height
64. The writer implies in the story that the Red Cross _______.
A. was only too glad to give him a job
B. gave him a job because be was a good soldier
C. gave him a job after he talked to somebody he knew in the organization
D. was not willing to give him a job at first
65. When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers _______.
A. he did everything the other soldiers did
B. he did most of the things the other soldiers did
C. he took some regular exams
D. he took some special training
66. The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi _______.
A. had no friends
B. never saw himself as different from others
C. was very shy
D. was too proud to accept help from others
.
You speak, write a letter, and make a telephone call. Your words carry a message. People communicate (交际) with words. But do you think you can communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy and friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you raise your hand in class, the teacher knows you want to say something or ask questions. You shake your head, and people know you are saying “No. ” You nod (点头) , and people know you are saying “Yes. ” Other things can also carry message. For example, a sign (标志) at the bus helps you know which bus to take. A sign on the door tells you where to go in or out. Have you ever noticed that a lot of signs around you and that you receive messages from them all the time?
People can communicate in many other ways. An artist can use his drawing to tell about beautiful mountains, about the blue sea and many other things. Books are written to tell about all the wonderful things in the world and also about people and their ideas.
Books, magazines, TV, radio and films all help us communicate with others. They all help us to know what is going on in the world and what other people are thinking about.
59. Signs can carry as many _______ as words.
A. questions B. examples C. tears and smiles D. messages
60. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as things which help us communicate?
A. Books and magazines. B. TV and films. C. Newspapers. D. Radio.
61. Communication is important because it can help people to _______.
A. understand the world and other people better
B. know what other people are thinking about
C. learn what’s happening in the world
D. A, B and C
62. The passage is mainly about _______.
A. signs carrying messages B. the importance of communication
B. words, signs, drawings D. ways of communication