Sometimeinthenextcentury,thefa-优题课

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题,每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下面短文, 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。
There was room for all of us, and the sleeping bags kept the night coldness away. We would listen to the sound of the river, and hear the coyotes (土狼) howling along the hills not far away.
Those were the cool summer nights of the mid-nineties in Southern Alberta, Canada, when the four children were young and we would lie on the trampoline (蹦床) in the backyard late at night, for the sun would not set till late in July and August. We would look at the stars up above and never grow tired of it.
These were the times when I would tell the stories of my own childhood and teach the kids life’s lessons that have been remembered to this day. I chuckle (轻声地笑), as I recall the time when we heard a coyote not far away, and then I started a story about a bear approaching the trampoline. The bear came close (in the story), and the kids snuggled up to mom and me, until suddenly I’d let out a howl and grab all the kids and they would be frightened and jump up and then all laugh, “Daddy, you scared us!”
Now the children are in their mid and late teens, but they fondly remember the starry nights on that trampoline. Recently my oldest daughter on her wedding day sang a song for her parents, entitled “I’ll always be your little girl”. She wrote the music and words and yes indeed: it included a memory of those starry nights.
I have learned as a parent that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children as they are growing up is the time to tell them stories, or if telling stories is not that simple, perhaps read them a story. They can read their own books, but telling or reading them a story will create a close relationship with pleasant memories such as those late summer nights under the starry sky.
56. The passage is mainly about _____.
A. coyotes’ effects on children B. the relationship between children
C. the author’s unforgettable experiences D. the author’s memories of starry nights
57. The underlined part “snuggled up” probably means _____.
A. lay down B. got close C. gave in D. struggled forward
58. How do the children feel about their childhood?
A. Very enjoyable. B. A bit regretful. C. Rather busy. D. Sort of dull.
59. In the last paragraph, the writer mainly wants to express _____.
A. it is easy to tell stories to children
B. kids should read stories themselves
C. it is important to tell or read stories to kids
D. it’s necessary to spend summer nights with kids

This year will mark the 120th birthday of the Eiffel Tower. What gift will the Paris monument get? It will be given a fresh coat of brown paint. About 60 tons of paint to be exact, in a specially mixed color called “Eiffel Tower Brown”.
The landmark (标志性建筑) gets a new coat of paint every seven years. In the past the tower has gone from reddish brown to yellow, brownish-yellow and dark red, before operators settled in 1968 on the current color.
“This is the color that suits the tower best－its most elegant （优雅的）dress,” said Jean-Bernard Bros, head of he company that operates the tower. “So we have decided to keep the brown for good.”
The Eiffel Tower is the world’s most visited tourist attraction. It was designed and named after the French architect (建筑师) Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who was also responsible for the frame of the well-known Statue of Liberty in the US.
However, when the tower was first built, it was highly controversial (有争议的). Artists and politicians, including Maupassant (莫伯桑) and Alexandre Dumas (大仲马), spoke out against it. They described it as ugly and said its presence lowered French taste.
67. What’s the best title of the passage?
A. The Eiffel Tower. B. Birthday gift for the Eiffel Tower
C. How to celebrate the birthday of the Eiffel Tower D. The history of the Eiffel Tower
68. How often does the Eiffel Tower get a new coat of pain?
A. Every year. B. Every two years. C. Every six years. D. Every seven years.
69. According to the passage, which of the following is WRONG about the Eiffel Towel?
A. It is a place of interest which is most visited in the world.
B. A French architect named Alexandre Gustave Eiffel designed it.
C. Some people expressed their dislike about it when it was first built.
D. The Eiffel Tower was once painted black.
70. The underlined phrase “for good” in the third paragraph means ______.
A. forever B. temporarily C. beneficially D. properly

This movie is very interesting. Besides giving people pleasure, the movie tells people that one does great things they think they can’t because of their own problems.
In the movie, Eliot, Sedgewick and George are three vegetable friends who work as waiters at Pirate (海盗) Times Dinner Theatre. They are not happy about their dirty and boring job, so they all day desire to have the day when they can give up their job and do something great like becoming stars in the pirate show. But with Elliot’s shyness, Sedgewick’s laziness and George’s lack of self-confidence, their dream may seem to be only a dream.
However, things will always change. Lucky things will also come to those good for nothing. One day a magic ball from the sky falls at their feet. It is a “Helpseeker (寻找助手)”, sent from another period and place to look for heroes. After watching the three friends carefully, it sets in motion (让……动起来) events that will send them back to the 17th century to go on a pirate adventure to rescue a royal family from a tyrant (暴君). They get rid of a lot of dangers and difficulties while rescuing the royal family. At last they defeat the tyrant and rescue the royal family. As a result, they become the most unlikely heroes you have ever seen. Through the experiences, the three friends find out that a hero doesn’t have to be strong, tall or smart and a vegetable can become a hero.
Which description about the three vegetable friends in the movie is wrong?
A. Elliot is shy. B. Sedgewick is lazy. C. George lacks self-confidence.
D. They are strong, tall and smart.
65. When working at Pirate Times Dinner Theatre, they think their job is ______.
A. exciting B. interesting C. dull D. lovely
66. According to the last paragraph, we know the three vegetable friends ______.
A. are sent back to the 19th century B. go on a pirate adventure to rescue a tyrant
C. manage to overcome many dangers and difficulties while rescuing the royal family
D. are unlikely heroes

History Has Arrived
Nine-year-old Barack Obama was looking through a magazine But the African-American boy was shocked by a series of photos. The pictures were of a black man who destroyed his skin with chemicals that promised to make him white.
For the first time, the boy began to doubt who he was. “I stood in front of the mirror and wondered if something was wrong with me,” Obama said.
However, now the boy who used to struggle with his identity doesn’t see it as a problem any more, but an advantage for his career. In January, 2009, Obama made history by being elected as the first black president of the US. He defeated John MaCain in a landslide(压倒性的) victory.
Obama’s story starts in opposite corners of the world. His white mother was born in the heartland of the US. His black father grew up in a tiny village in Kenya. They met in Hawaii, but his father left the family when Obama was just two years old and his mother moved to Indonesia.
At 10, Obama moved back to live with his white grandparents in Hawaii where his sense that he didn’t belong grew. At his class a white boy asked Obama if his father ate people. Out of embarrassment, Obama lied to his classmates that his father was prince. “I kept asking who I am and I ended up trying drugs and drinking,” Obama recalled.
Things came to change after the young man made friends with those with a similar background at college. Their experiences back in Africa helped Obama to finally face up to his African origin. He worked hard to become a star at Harvard Law School and the third black senator(参议员) in US history.
At the beginning of his campaign for the White House, few people viewed Obama favorably(赞同地).Many doubted his unusual background, which left him neither “ black” enough nor white enough.
But Obama turned his pain of growing up into a tool to make Americans believe: “There is not a black America, an Asian America. There’s the United States of America.”
Barack Obama’s victory is “a historic victory that promised change and overcame centuries of prejudice(偏见)。 His success fulfilled Martin Luther King’s dream that a man be judged not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character,” wrote ABC news.
60. From the above passage we can know that Barack Obama was born in _____.
A. Kenya, Africa B. Hawaii, the USA C. Indonesia, Asia D. an unknown city, in Latino America
61. He lied to his classmates that his father was prince because _______.
A. he felt ashamed of his African origin B. he had unusual background—neither black nor white
C. his black father deserted him when he was very young
D. he didn’t have the sense of belonging
62. Put the following things in order of time.
a. Obama is the third black senator in US history
b. Obama’s mother settled down in Indonesia with Barack Obama
c. Obama stood out among his classmates in Harvard Law School
d. Obama lived with his white grandparents in Hawaii.
e. Obama’s balck father left him and his mother.
A. c,d,a,b,e B. e, d, b, c, a C. d, b, a, e, c D. e, b, d, c, a
63. What does the title “History has arrived” probably mean?
A. Barack Obama eventually defeated his white opponent, John MaCain in a landslide victory.
B. Barack Obama’s victory has given blacks and other minorities a true national role model.
C. Barack Obama has become the first African-American President, overcoming centuries of prejudice(偏见).
D. Through his great efforts, Barack Obama became the third black senator in the US history.

IV. 阅读理解：
Farris Hassan, a 16-year-old high school student from Florida, decided to visit Iraq and left for the country on December 11th, 2005 alone, without having informed his parents.
After catching a connecting flight in Amsterdam, he arrived in Kuwait City on December 13th. He called his parents on the telephone and informed them of where he was and his intention to visit Iraq. This was the first time his parents learned of his plans. He then attempted to cross the Kuwait –Iraq border by taxi, because of tight security for the upcoming elections he was unable to pass though and spent a week in Beirut, Lebanon. Then on December 25th, he flew to Baghadad International Airport. Relatives picked him up from the airport and put him at a hotel known to frequently house American citizens.
He paid for the trip and made all the arrangements himself with money that he had saved up. The inspiration for his journey was the result of attending a class on “step into journalism” at his school. He was working on an assignment on the war in Iraq and he wished to experience his subject matter first-hand.
Hassan’s parents were born in Iraq, but he does not speak any Arabic, making him easily stand out as a foreigner in Iraq, where kidnappings(绑架)of Americans and violence are an everyday occurrence. His parents planned to take him to see Iraq once the war was over.
He turned in his assignment via e-mail and was due to be back home over the New Year’s Day weekend.
56. From the passage, we can know _____.
A. Farris Hassan can speak only a little Arabic
B. Farris Hassan’s parents have learned of his plan before
C. Farris Hassan successfully finished his assignment
D. Farris Hassan made arrangements for his trip with the help of his teacher
57. The underlined word “house” in the second paragraph probably means “_____”
A. a building for people to live in B. all the visitors living together
C. provide a place for people to live in D. provide a place for people to visit
58. Why did Farris Hassan travel to Iraq?
A. Because his parents wanted him to do so
B. Because he wanted to experience the war in Iraq
C. Because he wanted to get some information for his assignment
D. Because he had saved enough money for his journey to Iraq.
59. What’s the passage mainly about?
A. An American teenager’s life in Iraq
B. A brave American teenager in Iraq
C. The best way to complete an assignment is to experience it
D. An American teenager’s experience about trying to go to Iraq