Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge (剧增)of women in the workforce may portend a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse(反面)of this concern is that the prospects of becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriage. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to putting off marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy comes to life, the number of marriages also rises.
The increase in divorce rates follows to the increase in women working outside the home. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife’s work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible (似是而非的). Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. By raising a family’s standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family’s financial and emotional stability.
Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.
Also, a major part of women’s inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities. The word “portend” (Line 2, Para.1) is closest in meaning to“_____”.
| A．defy |
| B．signal |
| C．suffer from |
| D．result from |
It is said in the passage that when the economy slides_____.
| A．men would choose working women as their marriage partners |
| B．more women would get married to seek financial security |
| C．even working women would worry about their marriages |
| D．more people would prefer to remain single for the time being |
If women find fulfillment through work outside the home,_____.
| A．they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners |
| B．their husbands are expected to do more housework |
| C．their marriage ties can be strengthened |
| D．they tend to put their career before marriage |
One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that_____.
A. they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom
B. they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands
C. they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations
D. they tend to suspect their husbands? loyalty to their marriage
D. The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case.
Some say everyday miracles(奇迹) are predestined(注定的)----the right time for the appointed meeting. And it can happen anywhere.
In 2001, 11-year-old Kevin Stephan was a bat boy for his younger brother's Little League team in Lancaster, New York. It was an early evening in late July. Kevin was standing on the grass away from the plate, where another youngster was warming up for the next game. Swinging his bat back and forth, giving it all the power an elementary school kid could give. The boy brought the bat back hard and hit Kevin in the chest. His heart stopped.
When Kevin fell to the ground, the mother of one of the players rushed out of the stands to his aid. Penny Brown hadn't planned to be there that day, but at the last minute, her shift(换班)at the hospital had been changed to see her son’s performance. She was given the night off. Penny bent over the senseless boy, his face already starting to turn blue, and giving CPR, breathing into his mouth and giving chest compressions. And he revived in the end.
After his recovery, he became a volunteer junior firefighter, learning some of the emergency first-aid techniques that had saved his life. He studied hard in school and was saving money for college by working as a dishwasher in a local restaurant in his spare time.
Kevin, now 18, was working in the kitchen when he heard people screaming, customers in confusion, employees rushing toward a table. He hurried into the main room and saw a woman there, her face turning blue, her hands at her throat. She was choking.
Quickly Kevin stepped behind her, wrapped his arms around her and clasped his hands. Then, using skills he'd first learned in Scouts. The food that was trapped in the woman's throat was freed. The color began to return to her face.
"The food was stuck. I couldn't breathe," she said. She thought she was dying. "I was very frightened."
Who was the woman?
Penny Brown.
63. The author wrote the passage to show us that_______.
A. miracles are predestined and they can happen anywhere
B. whoever helps you in trouble will get a reward one day
C. God will help those who give others a helping hand
D. miracles won’t come without any difficulty sometimes
64. Why did Penny Brown change her shift and was given the night off that night?
A. She was invited to give the players directions
B. She volunteered to give medical services
C. She was a little worried about his son’s safety
D. She came to watch her son’s game and cheered him
65. The underlined word “revived”(paragraph3) most likely means______.
A. came back to life B. became worse C. failed D. moved
66. When Kevin knew the woman was Penny Brown, probably he first felt _____.
A. happy B. surprised C. sad D. worried
The Diet Zone: A Dangerous Place
Diet Coke, diet Pepsi, diet pills, no-fat diet, vegetable diet…… We are surrounded by the word “diet” everywhere we look and listen. We have so easily been attracted by the promise and potential of diet products that we have stopped thinking about what diet products are doing to us. We are paying for products that harm us psychologically and physically（身体上）.
Diet products significantly weaken us psychologically. On one level, we are not allowing our brains to admit that our weight problems lie not in actually losing the weight, but in controlling the consumption of fatty, high-calorie, unhealthy foods. Diet products allow us to jump over the thinking stage and go straight for the scale （秤）instead. All we have to do is to swallow or recognize the word “diet” in food labels.
On another level, diet products have greater psychological effects. Every time we have a zero-calorie drink, we are telling ourselves without our awareness that we don’t have to work to get results. Diet products make people believe that gain comes without pain, and that life can be without resistance and struggle.
The danger of diet products lies not only in the psychological effects they have on us, but also in the physical harm that they cause. Diet foods can indirectly harm our bodies because consuming them instead of healthy foods means we are preventing our bodies from having basic nutrients (营养成分). Diet foods and diet pills contain zero calorie only because the diet industry has created chemicals to produce these wonder products. Diet products may not be nutritional, and the chemicals that go into diet products are potentially dangerous.
Now that we are aware of the effects that diet products have on us, it is time to seriously think about buying them. Losing weight lies in the power of minds, not in the power of chemicals. Once we realize this, we will be much better able to resist diet products, and therefore prevent the psychological and physical harm that comes from using them.
59. From Paragraph 1, we learn that ______.
A. diet products fail to bring out people’s potential
B. people have difficulty in choosing diet products
C. diet products are misleading people
D. people are fed up with diet products
60. One psychological effect of diet products is that people tend to ______.
A. try out a variety of diet foods
B. hesitate before they enjoy diet foods
C. pay attention to their own eating habits
D. watch their weight rather than their diet
61. In Paragraph 3, “gain comes without pain” probably means ______.
A. losing weight is effortless
B. it costs a lot to lose weight
C. diet products bring no pain
D. diet products are free from calories
62. Diet products indirectly harm people physically because such products ______.
A. are over-consumed
B. lack basic nutrients
C. are short of chemicals
D. provide too much energy
On Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.
This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators and more than 150,000 participants filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the oldest.
Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye, into the water.
Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit "A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland," at his official library.
Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday.
55. What’s the best title of the passage?
A．History of Saint Patrick’s Day B．An Official Holiday in US
C．The Largest Parade in the World D．Celebrations across the Country
56. What do you think is the official color of St. Patrick’s Day?
A．Green B．Red. C．Black. D．Yellow.
57. The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A．the cruel slave trade. B．Saint Patrick’s contribution.
C．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day D．Ireland’s Patron Saint
58. Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?
A．Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day.
B．Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday.
C．Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion.
D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over two centuries.
Hey, all you Muggles, witches, and wizards—are you ready for the grand finale of the Harry Potter series? J. K. Rowling announced on Thursday the title for book seven—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Book seven in the Harry Potter series will pick up where book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, left off. With the last chapter of book seven, the magical adventures of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and friends will come to an end.
“I am alternately delighted and worried,” says Rowling on her official Web site. She made the announcement of the book title on the Web site. Rowling is currently busy putting the finishing touches on the book.
“I’m now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more,” says Rowling. Rowling adds that she has been working very hard on this final installment in the series. With the title now set, she assured fans that she will indeed finish this book.
“I both want, and don’t want, to finish this book,” Rowling says.
It’s not too late to catch up on the rest of the series. You can also reread your favorite books while waiting for the last one. The publication date for book seven has not been set. To make the waiting a little easier, there’s always the next Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which is scheduled for release in July 2007.
51. What’s the name of the last issue of the Harry Potter series?
A．Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
B．Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
C．Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
D．Harry Potter and J. K. Rowling
52. Muggles, Harry, Hermione and Ron could probably be _____.
A．the best friends of J. K. Rowling
B．the characters of the Harry Potter series
C．the fans of Harry Potter
D．the publishers of the Harry Potter series
53. Which statement is true according to the passage?
A．Harry Potter series will be published on the Website.
B．Book Seven of Harry Potter series will be published before July 2007.
C．Book Seven is being written as planned years ago.
D．Harry Potter will come to the end of his life.
54. In the last paragraph, the writer _____.
A．encourages readers to act out a play following the Harry Potter movies
B．persuades readers into reading their favorite book rather than Harry Potter series
C．states that seeing the Harry Potter movies is the best way to catch up the series
D．advises readers to wait for the publication of Book Seven patiently
When his wife died，the baby was two．They had six other children--three boys and three girls，ranging in age from 4 to 16．A few days later he became a widower, the man’s parents and his wife’s parents came to visit the family．“We’ve been talking，”they said，“about how to take care of all these children and work to make a living．So，we’ve arranged for each child to be placed with a different uncle and aunt．We’re making sure that al1of your children will be living right here in the neighborhood，so you can see them anytime…”
The man appreciated their thoughtfulnessbut refused their kindness. Over the next few weeks the man worked withhis children，assigning them chores(杂务)and giving them responsibilities．
But then another misfortunehappened．The man developed arthritis (关节炎)．His hands swelled，and he was unable to hold the handles of his farm tools. He would not be able to continue the work on his farm. He sold his farming equipment, moved the family to a small town and opened a smallbusiness．
The family was welcomedinto the new neighborhood．Word of his pleasant personality and excellent customer service began tospread in the town．People came from far and wide to do business with him．And the children helpedboth at home and at work．Their father’s pleasurein his work brought satisfaction to them，and he drew pleasure from their successes．
The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went to college and they were married. The children’s successes were a source of prideto the father．Then came grandchildren.No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became older, he invited them to his workplace and his small home. They brought each other great joy. Finally, the youngest daughter, the baby, who had been two years old at her mother death, got married. Finally，the man，with his life’s work completed，died．
This man’s work had been the lonely butjoyful task of raising his family．This man was my father．
I was the 1 6-year—old，the oldest of seven．
71. How old was the writer when his mother died?
A. 4B. 2 C. 16D. not mentioned
72. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. There were six children in the family.
B. The father wanted to give his children to his relatives.
C. The father didn’t farm any longer because of his illness..
D. The father’s life work was lonely and sadly.
73. The underlined word “widower” means ________.
A. a workerB. a farmerC. a man with many childrenD. a man without wife
74. The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. The father’s life work: raising his family
B. Why the father wanted to raised his family
C. How the children grew up after their mother died
D. the father’s sadness and happiness in his life
75. what is the writer’s attitude to his father?.
A. unconcernedB. critical C. doubtfulD. respectful