E
No one is sure how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids near Cairo. But a new study suggests they used a little rock‘n’roll. Long-ago builders could have attached wooden pole s to the stones and rolled then across the sand, the scientists say.
“Technically, I think what they’re proposing is possible,” physicist Daniel Bonn said.
People have long puzzled over how the Egyptians moved such huge rocks. And there’s no obvious answer. On average, each of the two million big stones weighed about as much as a large pickup truck. The Egyptians somehow moved the stone blocks to the pyramid site from about one kilometer away.
The most popular view is that Egyptian workers slid the blocks along smooth paths. Many scientists suspect workers first would have put the blocks on sleds(滑板). Then they would have dragged them along paths. To make the work easier, workers may have lubricated the paths either with wet clay or with the fat from cattle. Bonn has now tested this idea by building small sleds and dragging heavy objects over sand.
Evidence from the sand supports this idea. Researchers found small amounts of fat, as well as a large amount of stone and the remains of paths.
However, physicist Joseph West thinks there might have been a simpler way , who led the new study . West said , “I was inspired while watching a television program showing how sleds might have helped with pyramid construction . I thought , ‘Why don’t they just try rolling the things?’“A square could be turned into a rough sort of wheel by attaching wooden poles to its sides , he realized . That , he notes , should make a block of stone” a lot easier to roll than a square”.
So he tried it.
He and his students tied some poles to each of four sides of a 30-kilogram stone block. That action turned the block into somewhat a wheel. Then they placed the block on the ground.
They wrapped one end of a rope around the block and pulled. The researchers found they could easily roll the block along different kinds of paths. They calculated that rolling the block required about as much force as moving it along a slippery(滑的)path.
West hasn’t tested his idea on larger blocks, but he thinks rolling has clear advantages over sliding. At least, workers wouldn’t have needed to carry cattle fat or water to smooth the paths.It’s widely believed that the stone blocks were moved to the pyramid site by ______.
| A．rolling them on roads |
| B．pushing them over the sand |
| C．sliding them on smooth paths |
| D．dragging them on some poles |
The underlined part “lubricated the paths” in Paragraph 4 means____.
| A．made the path wet |
| B．made the path hard |
| C．made the path wide |
| D．made the path slippery |
What does the underlined word “it”in Paragraph 7 refer to?
| A．Rolling the blocks with poles attached. |
| B．Rolling the blocks on wooden wheels. |
| C．Rolling poles to move the blocks. |
| D．Rolling the blocks with fat. |
Why is rolling better than sliding according to West ?
| A．Because more force is needed for sliding. |
| B．Because rolling work can be done by fewer cattle. |
| C．Because sliding on smooth road is more dangerous. |
| D．Because less preparation on path is needed for rolling. |
What is the text mainly about ?
| A．An experiment on ways of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| B．An application of the method of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| C．An argument about different methods of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
| D．An introduction to a possible new way of moving blocks to the pyramid site. |
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。
My teenage son Karl became withdrawnafter his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “Ilove my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands. “For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
56. By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, the author means that the boy changed entirely and________.
A. preferred to stay alone at home B. lost interest in his studies
C. refused to talk to others D. began to dislike his mother
57. There was silence on the other end of the line because________.
A. the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother
B. the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking
C. the speaker didn’t want the mother to recognize his voice
D. the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother
58. The underlined sentence “…he even made the honor roll” means that “________”.
A. he was even on the list to be praised at the parent-teacher meeting
B. he was even on the list of students who made progress in grades
C. he was even on the list of students who had turned themselves around
D. he was even on the list of the best students at school
59. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Children in single-parent families often have mental problems.
B. Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.
C. Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers.
D. School education doesn’t work without full support from parents.
E
| WHERE TO STAY IN BOSWELL YOUR GUIDE TO OUR BEST HOTEL |
||||
| Name / address |
Number of the Rooms |
Single Room |
Double Room |
Special Attraction |
| First Hotel 222 Edward Road Tel：414-6433 |
120 |
25 |
35 |
Air-conditioned rooms，French restaurant，Night Club，Swimming pool，shops ，coffee shop and bar ，telephone，radio and TV in each room ，close to city center |
| Fairview Hotel 129 North Road Tel：591-5620 |
50 |
12 |
18 |
Close to the airport，telephone in each room，Bar ，Restaurant ，garage ，swimming pool |
| Orchard Hotel 233 Edward Road Tel：641-6646 |
120 |
15 |
20 |
Facing First Hotel ，European restaurant，coffee shop，dry-cleaning ，shops TV，Night-club |
| Osaka Hotel 1264 Venning Road Tel：643-8820 |
180 |
30 |
50 |
Air-conditioned rooms，Japanese and Chinese restaurant ，shops ，swimming pool，large garden |
72．The number of the double rooms in the best hotels in Boswell is．
A．82 B．105 C． 123 D．470
73．If a Japanese traveler likes to eat in French restaurant， is the right place for him to go．
A．233 Edward Road B．222 Edward Road
C．1264 Venning Road D．129 North Road
74．It is convenient for you to stay at if you enjoy walking in the downtown in the evening
A．First Hotel or Orchard Hotel B．Fairview Hotel or Osaka Hotel
C．First Hotel or Fairview Hotel D．Orchard Hotel or Osaka Hotel
75．A group of 26 old people who want to stay in a quiet place and don’t want to share moms with others are visiting Boswell．Which is the most suitable hotel for them to choose?
A．First Hotel B．Fairview Hotel C．Orchard Hotel D．Osaka Hotel
Everybody hates it，but everybody does it．A recent report said that 40％of Americans hate tipping．But why do tips exist?
The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality．It is believed that the better the service is，the bigger the tip will be．
But according to a new research from Cornell University，tips no longer serve any useful function．The paper analyzes number they got from 2，547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants．The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak．
Tipping is better explained by culture than by the money people spend．In America，tipping is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service．In New York restaurants，failing to tip at least 15％could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers Hairdressers can expect to get 15％一20％．and the mall who delivers your fast food should be paid$2．In Europe，tipping is less common．In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge In many Asian countries，tipping has never really caught on at a11．Only a few have really taken to tipping。
According to Michael Lynn，the Cornell papers’author，countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more．tie says，“In America，where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others，tipping is about social approval If you tip badly，people think less of you .Tipping well is a chance to show off．”
68．This passage is mainly about
A．different kinds of tipping in different countries
B．the relationship between tipping and countries
C．the origin and present meanings of tipping
D．the reason why American people hate tipping
69．Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase“caught on”in paragraph 4?
A．been hated B．become popular C．been stopped D．been permitted
70．Eating in a well—known restaurant in New York，who is likely to tip most?
A．A Frenchman． B．A Chinese．C．A Japanese．D．An American．
71．We can infer from this passage that．
A．tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves
B．tipping has something to do with people’s character
C．tipping in America can make service better now
D．tipping is no longer popular in New York
Compassion(同情)is a desire within us to help others．With efforts，we can translate compassion into actions．An experience last weekend showed me this is true．
I work part—time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly These old people are our main customers，and it’s easy to lose patience over their slowness．But last Sunday，one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson．This untidy marl walked up to my register(收款机)with a box of biscuits．He said he was out of cash，had just moved into his room，and had nothing in his cupboards．He asked if we could let him have the food on trust．He promised to repay me the next day．
I couldn’t help staring at him．I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before，and what he would be like if luck had gone his way．I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul，all alone in the world．I told him that I was sorry，and the store rules didn’t allow me to do so．I felt stupid and unkind saying this，but I valued my job .Just then，another man，standing behind the first，spoke up．if anything，he looked more pitiable，“Charge it to me，”was all he said．
What I had been feeling was pity．Pity is soft，safe and easy．Compassion，on the other hand，is caring in action．I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed，either．Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion．
64．The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits．
A．promised to obey the store rules
B．f
orgot to take any money with him
C．hoped to have the food first and pay later
D．couldn’t afford anything more expensive
65．How did the aged gentleman possibly feel when he was refused by the writer?
A．Warm and lucky． B．shameful and lonely
C．Thankful and excited D．Hurt and disappointed．
66．The writer followed the store rules because．
A．he wanted to keep his present job
B．he felt no pity for the old gentleman
C．he considered the old 
gentleman dishonest
D．he expected someone else to pay for the old gentleman
67．What does the writer 1earn from his experience?
A．Wealth is most important．
B．Helping others is easier said than done．
C．Experience is better gained through practice．
D．Compassion shows in actions
You either have a sense of direction，or you don’t．But why is it that some people could find Their way across the Sahara without a map，while other
s can lose themselves in the next street?
Scientists say we’re all born with a sense of direction，but it is not properly understood how it works．One theory is that people with a good sense of direction have simply worked harder at developing it．Research being carried out at Liverpool University supports this idea and suggests that if we don’t use it，we lose it．
“Children as young as seven have the ability to find their way around．”says Jim Martland，Research Director of the project．“However，if they are not allowed out alone or are taken everywhere by car，they never develop the skills”
Jim Martland also emphasizes that young people should be taught certain skills to improve their sense of direction．He makes the following suggestions：
●If you are using a map．turn it so it relates to the way you are facing．
●If you leave your bike in a strange place．put it near something like a big stone or a tree．
Note landmarks on the route as you go away from your bike．When you return，go back along the same route．
●Simplify the way of finding your direction by using lines such as streets in a town，streams，or walls in the countryside to guide you．Count your steps so that you know how far you have gone and note any landmarks such as tower blocks or hills which Call help to find out where you are．Now you will never get lost again !
60．Scientists believe that．
A．some babies are born with a sense of direction
B
．people learn a sense of direction as they grow older
C．people never lose their sense of direction
D．everybody possesses a sense of direction from birth
61．What is true of seven—year—old children according to the passage?
A．They never have a sense of direction without maps
B．They should never be allowed out alone if they lack a sense of direction．
C．They have a sense of direction and can find their way around．
D．They can develop a good sense of direction if they are driven around in a car．
62．If you leave your bike in a strange place，you should．
A．tie it to a tree so as to prevent it from being stolen
B．draw a map of the route to help remember where it is
C．avoid taking the same route when you come back in it
D．remember something easily recognizable on the route
63．According to the passage the best way to find your way around is to．
A．ask policemen for directions
B．use walls，streams or streets to guide yourself
C．remember your route by looking out for steps and stairs
D．count the number of landmarks that you see