The man with the bullhorn encouraged the runners as they made their way up the hill. “Two hours, fifteen minutes, forty seconds ...”His deep, loud voice boomed toward us.
It was mile 17 of the marathon.
“Hey, great stride!” a bearded viewer yelled to me. He clapped loudly. “You’re looking strong. Keep going—go, go, go!”
You bet I’m looking strong, I thought, as I followed my younger sister, Laura. I just got started. She had been diligently clocking eight-minute miles since the race had begun downtown. Initially in the middle of a pack, which was several thousand people, she had been steadily passing other runners for the past 10 miles or so. We were now on the relatively steep rise to the St. Cecelia Bridge. Once we crossed, we would begin heading back into town, running along the east side of the Rincon River. Laura had asked me to run the most difficult section of the marathon with her. Not having trained for anything more challenging than a quick walk, and with no experience running in organized events, I figured I might be good for two or three miles.
Up ahead, steel drums were playing. A group of drummers was beating their drums, chanting, and encouraging us with their music and smiles. Crossing the bridge, I recalled the advice in the Marathon Handbook. During my preview of the route, it had seemed like a babyish thing to do. But now it seemed like a fine idea, and I spat magnificently over the side of the bridge.
“I read the handbook, too!” said a woman behind me, who also let loose over the side of the bridge. We had now started a chain reaction of bridge spitters. It was quite a sight, but I had other things to occupy my attention, namely the back of Laura’s sweater.
Easing off the bridge, and heading south on Avila Boulevard, Laura and I found our pace together again. Here we could hang to the left of the group and enjoy some brief conversation. “You keeping up okay?” she asked. Being her older brother, and therefore unable to admit weakness, I nodded convincingly.
“Hey, Lee!” yelled a waving man on the sidewalk. Immediately pleased that my marathon efforts had been recognized by someone I knew, I waved back and reflected on the importance of wearing tie-dyed clothing to a road race of this size. It made it a lot easier to be spotted!
The town marathon is a “people’s” marathon in that it tends to be a family affair, with the runners and spectators creating a festival atmosphere. I managed to run six miles before bowing out, and Laura finished the entire race in under four hours. I now pride myself on telling people that I ran in a marathon. The distinction between having run a marathon and having run in a marathon seems unimportant. If pressed, however, I’ll admit that I only ran one-fourth of one.
Inspired by this year’s experience, I plan to walk the course--really fast--next year. It’s not because I’m jealous of my sister’s accomplishment. This is not some silly competition in which I must do whatever she does. Rather, Laura got free cookies at the finish line, and the promise of that will lead me to any goal.Why did the author write this story________?
| A．to explain how marathons are won |
| B．to tell about the history of marathons |
| C．to tell a story about a marathon experience |
| D．to show how difficult running in a marathon can be |
Why was Lee glad he wore a tie-dyed shirt?
| A．It helped people locate him easily. |
| B．The shirt brought him good luck. |
| C．It added to the festival atmosphere. |
| D．The shirt was a favorite of Laura’s. |
Which of the following words best describes Laura as she is presented in this passage?
| A．competitive | B．foolish | C．comical | D．carefree |
The tone of this passage is best described as _______.
| A．tense and anxious | B．light and friendly |
| C．matter-of-fact | D．uninterested and bored |
阅读理解(共30分)
第一节,阅读下列材料，从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳答案，并把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。(共15小题,每小题2分, 共30分)
A
Europe is now the biggest market for organic food in the world, having grown by 25 percent a year over the past 10 years. Denmark’s agriculture minister is herself an organic farmer. The UK market for organic food grew by 55 percent in 2000, while the food market as a whole grew by only one percent. Yet only seven percent of British shoppers account for nearly 60 percent of organic sales. However popular the idea of organic farming may be, it is still an interest for only a few people.
So what makes the idea of organic farming popular? Organic farming means farming with natural materials, rather than with man-made fertilizers or pesticides. Organic farmers rely on many methods — such as crop rotation (农作物的轮作) and the use of resistant（有抵抗力的） varieties, because they are necessary for organic farmers to compensate for the shortage of man-made chemicals.
Organic farming is often supposed to be safer than traditional farming for the environment. Yet after a long research on organic farming worldwide for a number of years, science continues to be against this opinion. The House of Commons committee on agriculture publicized that, even with complete research work, it would fail to find any scientific evidence to prove “that any of claims （宣称） made for organic farming is always true”.
However, the talk about the benefits of organic farming is going on. This is partly because many people depend on their individual farm, the soil, the weather, and so on.
51. The first paragraph mainly tells us _____.
A. organic farming has been performed only in Europe over the past 10 years
B. governments of European countries have cared less about organic farming
C. organic farming is far from being as popular as expected
D. European countries need organic food more than the other countries in the world
52. The underlined words “compensate for” in the second paragraph probably mean “________”.
A. argue for B. care for C. struggle for D. pay for
53. What can we know about organic farming?
A. It refers to farming with natural materials, instead of chemical fertilizers.
B. It refers to farming with chemical fertilizers rather than natural fertilizers.
C. It refers to farming with soil rather than any other thing.
D. It refers to growing crops with man-made fertilizers and pesticides.
54. According to the third paragraph, _____.
A. organic farming is safer than traditional farming for the environment
B. the idea that organic farming is safer has not been proven by science
C. organic farming is accepted by the UK’s House of Commons committee
D. organic farming is preferred to traditional farming
55. Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?
A. The UK’s agriculture minister is an organic farmer.
B. Organic farming is popular with young people.
C. Farmers make use of many different kinds of methods to improve the organic sales system.
D. Ninety-three percent of British shoppers don’t buy organic products.
C
Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son’s soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son’s team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.
With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son’s teammate, Mickey O’Donnel. With shouts of “Kick it!” echoing(回响) across the playground, Mickey turned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted (沸腾). O’Donnel had scored!
Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a total hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome(综合症) and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted, “I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!” For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, “Way to go Minkey! Way to go Mickey!” Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal.
Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied, “It was a tie. Everybody won.”
51. What was the score of the soccer match?
A. Two to two, equal to both the teams.
B. Three to one in Mickey’s team’s favor.
C. Two to one in the opposite team’s favor.
D. Everybody won because of Mickey’s goal.
52. The underlined word “hush” in paragraph 3 means__________.
A. cheer B. cry C. laughter D. silence
53. What did the author worry about when Mickey scored and hugged his son?
A. The result of the match would fail his son.
B. His son would shout at Mickey for his goal.
C. Mickey would again hug the opposing players.
D. His son would understand Mickey’s wrong goal.
54. It can be inferred from the passage that __________.
A. both teams liked and respected Mickey
B. both teams were thankful to Mickey for his goal
C. Mickey didn’t mind though his goal was wrong
D. Mickey was a kind-hearted boy and hoped everybody won
55. The purpose of the author in writing the passage is __________.
A. to tell a joke to make readers laugh
B. to suggest we should not mind losing
C. to show enjoying a game is more than winning a game
D. to present his son’s fine qualities of understanding others
B
Guandong province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best student of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsingbua University; when the highest enrollment （录取）rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.
Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Peking or Tsinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.
It’s no doubt to call this HK craze（狂热）,which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves.
How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua and attract so many mainland students?
First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarship, especially for the top students who can receive the sum of scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.
Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual（双语）education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.
Further more, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.
Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK? Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.
The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.
At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees（学费）are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.
46．What is the passage mainly talking about?
A．Some thought brought by the enrollment of HK universities.
B．Higher education in Hong Kong.
C．The competition between HK University and Peking University.
D．The fall of mainland universities.
47. Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because .
A．many students now would love to study aboard to get a better experience
B．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities
C．HK universities offer higher scholarship, better environment and more opportunities for their further study
D．Peking university has lost its worldwide reputation
48．What is the author’s attitude toward the competition brought by HK universities?
A．The government should take relevant measures to stop this unfair competition.
B．Mainland universities had better lower their tuition fees and win back the top students.
C．Universities both in mainland and in HK would get an entire improvement during the competition.
D．It may probably cause a complete loss both sides in the end.
49．From the passage we can see HK universities .
A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland
B．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular
C．have strict enrollment rules and only 1 out of 48 students can get the chance to study there
D．are proud of their teaching staff and facilities
50．What does the author mean by saying “It’s time to move” in the last paragraph?
A．Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students.
B．The opportunities come for top students to study abroad.
C．Mainland universities should make full preparations to challenge mainland universities.
D．Top students should be offered further education free of charge.
第三部分阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）
第一节：阅读理解（共20小题，每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
A teenage girl is fighting for her life today after being struck by lightning as severe thunderstorms swept across Britain. The girl was one of four teenage girls from London who were hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park during a storm. Earlier, Joseph Wharton, 14, died as he was struck by lightning while camping in his friend’s backyard in the West Midlands.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said the girl remained in serious condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. She had stooped breathing by the time the first paramedic arrived on the scene just two minutes after the strike at 5:40 p.m. yesterday.
The other three girls hit by the bolt all had injuries, and were taken to University College Hospital. Their conditions were not serious, the spokesman added. The strike lifted the girls into the air and then dropped them to the ground, a witness reported.
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said paramedics risked their lives to treat the girls. “The storm was still overhead and lightning was still coming down while they were treating the patients,” he said. “All staff involved acted very professionally in providing fast treatment to these patients in very difficult circumstances.” Scotland Yard said the incident was being looked into by officers from the Royal Parks’Operational Command Unit.
Joseph Wharton of Byland Way, Bloxwich, was hit during the extended thunderstorm which struck the region yesterday morning. He was pronounced dead at Walsall Manor Hospital.
He had been sleeping in a tent while staying with school friend Michael Lees at a house on nearby Cresswell Crescent.
West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics were called at 7:50 a.m. and unsuccessful attempts were made to revive the sports-mad teenager. A spokesman for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents said four or five people die each year as a result of lightning strikes in the UK.
41.All four girls _______________.
A were killed by the lightning B were seriously injured
C were being treated at the same hospital D were lifted up and dropped to the ground
42 The underlined word “bolt” probably means “ ______________”
A thunder B rain C storm D lightning
43 Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A The boy was killed after the four girls had been hit.
B The paramedics began to treat the girls after taking them to the hospital.
C First-aid was given to the girls during the storm.
D The boy was hit by lightning in the Parade Ground area of Hyde Park.
44 It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A many British people die from lightning strikes every year
B the writer blames the government for the accident
C the paramedics could also have been hit by lighting while aiding the girls.
D Joseph had been playing in the open air before the strike
45 This passage is probably taken from a _______.
A magazine B newspaper C science fiction D weather report
C
If you gaze（凝视）through a telescope at a distant galaxy（星系）, it may glow brightly with the light of hundreds of millions of stars. Despite（尽管，不顾） all that light, most scientists think that at the center of a big galaxy lies something very dark: a black hole. A black hole is a region of space with gravity so strong that nothing can escape, not even light.
Astronomers recently announced they had observed a faraway galaxy that may have at its center two black holes, very close together. Based on their observations, the stargazers suspect one of the black holes has more mass than the other. The more mass something has, the stronger its gravitational force, so a larger black hole has a stronger gravitational attraction. The smaller black hole orbits（作轨道运行） the larger black hole, just as the earth orbits the sun.
The biggest galaxies in the universe form when two smaller galaxies collide（碰撞）. If two galaxies merge（合并）, then all of their stars start orbiting a common center. The black holes at the galaxies’ centers should come together, too. Galaxies are colliding all the time, so we should be able to find lots of black hole pairs. But that’s easier said than done—astronomers rarely find these in deep space.
To find a black hole is complicated. A black hole doesn’t produce any light, so how can you find one in space? Astronomers think when something (like dust) falls into a giant black hole, a jet of radiation, a form of energy, may stream away. If this radiation is strong enough, it forms a quasar（类星体）.
The Arizona astronomers looked at more than 17,000 quasars and finally found a galaxy that may have a double black hole at its heart. Though the finding of their research is still unconfirmed, and they may be mistaken, the truth will be revealed in the future.
63. Which of the following is TRUE about black holes?
A. A black hole is a region in galaxies with nothing in it, even a bunch of light.
B. Black holes are used by astronomers to study how quasars come into being.
C. When different galaxies meet in space, the black holes become bigger and bigger
D. Some scientists think there’s one black hole in a galaxy, but others think there’re two.
64. From the second paragraph we can infer that ________.
A. a larger black hole pushes a smaller black hole away
B. a larger black hole pulls a smaller black hole toward it
C. the places of black holes are fixed, so we can see them clearly
D. a smaller black hole moves around a larger one because of radiation
65. According to the passage, astronomers think that there should be many black hole pairs because____________.
A. a black hole can produce light
B. black holes can attract one another
C. different black hole pairs come into being with the meeting of galaxies.
D. a big black hole can usually be divided into two small black holes