【2015·湖南】Section A (10 marks)
Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information from the passage
Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
Not all print dictionaries are the same, as you will notice when you select one. To make a wise selection, you should know how to distinguish among three kinds of print dictionaries: pocket, desk, and unabridged. You should also know the copyright date of your dictionary, and check is special features.
A pocket dictionary is small. Generally, it contains no more than 75000 entries, making it hardly to carry to class and efficient to use. However, a pocket dictionary doesn't contain enough entries to be adequate for college reference homework. In addition, the information about each word in a pocket dictionary is generally limited. A desk dictionary is medium sized, generally containing over 100,000 entries as well as extra features. For college work, you should own a current desk dictionary. An unabridged dictionary is a complete dictionary. Abridged dictionaries, such as pocket and desk dictionaries, are shortened. Because unabridged dictionaries contain nearly all English words, they are large and heavy. They are often used by schools and libraries.
If the copyright date of your current dictionary shows that it was published five or more years ago, consider investing in a more recent edition. English is a dynamic language that admits new words and recognizes changes in meaning, spelling, and usage of familiar words. This is reflected in an up-to-date dictionary.
In selecting a dictionary, check the features it offers besides vocabulary definitions. Many editions contain signs, symbols and foreign words. Some also contain CD-ROMs and access to special online features.
Will there always be 31 water? When you consider how necessary water is to each and every one of us and to all 32 (live) things, and when you observe how man has mismanaged other 33 (nature) resources, you may have reason to worry. Man has badly polluted his sources of water 34 Earth. And he uses more and more water each day. Can man learn to treat 35 (pollute) water for reuse fast enough 36 (keep) pace with the world’s technology and 37 (grow) population?
At the present time there is no serious shortage of water in the United States. Water, however, is not 38 able to meet all the local needs. Some areas, such as the southwestern part of our country, get less rain than 39 . In these areas, water must be brought in from 40 outside. Los Angeles, for example, must obtain its water from sources hundreds of miles away in the Colorado River and the rivers of northern California.
The Internet is an amazing information resource. Students, teachers, and researchers use it 31 an investigative tool. Journalists use it to find information for stories. Doctors use it to learn more about unfamiliar diseases and the 32 (late) medical development. Ordinary people use it for shopping, banking, bill-paying, and 33 (communication) with family and friends. People all over the world use it to connect with individuals from 34 countries and cultures.
35 , while there are many positive developments 36 (associate) with the Internet, there are also certain fears and concerns. 37concern relates to a lack of control over 38 appears on the Internet. With television and radio there are editors to check the accuracy or appropriateness of the content of programs, and with television there are restrictions 39 what kinds of programs can 40 (broadcast) and at what times of the day. With the Internet, parents cannot check a published guide to determine what is suitable for their children to see.
Alice always wanted to be a singer. Music was the 31 important thing in her life but, to tell you the 32 (true), she took lesson for years, practised every day, 33 in spite of all this, her voice didn't improve. Honestly, it didn’t get better, it just got 34 (loud).
Her teacher finally gave 35 and stopped the lessons, but Alice refused to quit, and one day she decided to give a concert and invited her former teacher to attend.
The teacher was very worried about 36 to say after the performance. She knew it 37 be terrible and it was. She didn't want to tell a lie, but she didn’t want to hurt Alice’s feelings 38 . Finally, she got an idea and went backstage to greet her former pupil.
“Well”, said Alice, “what did you think of 39 performance?”
“My dear,” said the teacher, “you’ll 40 be better than you were tonight.”
In France, most of the people want to have a very long time for lunch. In Britain it doesn’t seem to be important 31 people take a cup of tea and a very quick sandwich and it’s OK.
Another very 32(surprise) thing for the foreigner is the way the people obey the law — you seem to have much more discipline 33 in France, and you respect the police 34 more than we do. For instance, people park their car 35 , and they know it is forbidden 36 they do it — in Britain people don’t do that.
In England, it’s 37 (easy) to feel alone. People don’t bother you, don’t look after you or worry 38 you so much, so it’s easy to get lost or to hide away here. When you’re in the United States people want to know 39____________ you are, they tend to speak to you, to find out who you are,40 you’re doing.
We may look at the world around us, but somehow we manage not to see it 31 whatever we’ve become used to suddenly 32 (disappear). Take, for example, the neatly-dressed woman I used to see.
For three years, no matter 33 the weather was like, she was always waiting at the bus stop around 8:00 a.m. On 34 ________ (snow) days, she wore heavy clothes and a pair of 35 ____________ (wool) gloves. Of course I remember all 36 _______ only after she was seen no more .It was 37 that I realized how much 1 expected to see her each morning.
“Did she have an accident? Something 38 ______ ?” I thought to myself about her disappearance. Now that she was gone, I felt that I 39 __________ (know) her. I began to realize that part of our daily life probably includes such chance meetings 40 _________ familiar strangers: the milkman you see at dawn, and the twin brothers you see at the library. Such people are important markers in our lives. They add weight to our sense of place and belonging.