阅读理解

The names of the hurricanes are chosen from a list of names in alphabetical(字母的)order.Female and male names are chosen alternatively.For example,the first hurricane of the year will be called “Alexandra”,the second “Bernard”,the third “Catherine”,etc.

When newspapers and radio describe the damage caused by a hurricane named Hazel,girls named Hazel are probably teased(取笑)by their friends.To keep out of trouble,the Weather Bureau says,“Any resemblance between hurricane names and the names of particular girls is purely accidental(偶然的).”

Some women became angry because hurricanes are given their names,but many other women are proud to see their names make headlines.They don’t even care that they are the names of destructive storms.Because more women seem to listen to like it than dislike it,the Weather Bureau has decided to continue using girl’s names for hurricanes.

In some ways a hurricane is like a person.After it is born,it grows and develops,and then becomes old and dies.Each hurricane has a character of its own.Each follows its own path through the world,and people remember it long after it has gone.So it is natural to give hurricanes names,and to talk about them as if they were alive.

1.The underlined word “resemblance” probably means .

A.sameness B.difference

C.trouble D.success

2.What happens to girls named Hazel according to the passage?

A.They suffer from hurricanes.

B.The Weather Bureau looks for them.

C.Others often make fun of them.

D.They can’t find boyfriend.

3.According to the passage,which is more reasonable?

A.Some women feel unhappy because hurricanes are given their names.

B.A lot of men complain the Weather Bureau.

C.Many women want to be known.

D.All the hurricanes are caused by women.

4.Public opinions make the Weather Bureau .

A.consider the disagreement of some women

B.go on naming hurricanes after women

C.name hurricanes after men

D.look for a new method to name hurricanes

5.It is natural to give hurricane names because .

A.they become old and die

B.all of them should be remembered

C.each hurricane has its own day to come

D.each hurricane has its own character

完形填空

I shall never forget the day when the earthquake took place.It was about 5 o’clock in the afternoon and I was __________ to my daughter’s school.Our plan was to go __________ together.I’d stopped at a __________ to get some fresh fruit.We like to have some fruit to eat __________ our swim.I was driving along a high road on the way. __________ my road was another road which was built like a __________ .I was hungry so I put the bag of apples __________ me and started to eat one. __________ I saw the cars in front of me start to __________ from side to side.Then my car started to shake!I didn’t know what was happening.Perhaps something had __________ wrong with my car.I drove a little more slowly and then I __________ the car and at the same moment the road __________ onto the cars in front of me.I found myself in the __________.I couldn’t move.My legs and feet were hurting badly and I couldn’t move them.All round me was __________ .But above me I could hear shouts and a lot of noise.Then I memorised what had happened.I had been __________ an earthquake.For about two hours nobody came.Luckily I could reach the bag of __________ ,so at least I had plenty to eat.Then I heard people __________ towards me.A team of people had come to __________ if anyone was under the __________ road.I called out,“I’m here!” I heard a shout.Soon a stranger climbed to my car.“How are you __________?” he asked.“Not too bad,” I said.They didn’t get me out until the next morning.

1.A.driving B.leading C.walking D.running

2.A.shopping B.dancing C.swimming D.sightseeing

3.A.farm B.shop C.park D.school

4.A.after B.during C.since D.once

5.A.Under B.Along C.Over D.Beside

6.A.bridge B.roof C.cover D.top

7.A.under B.along C.inside D.beside

8.A.Finally B.Actually C.Suddenly D.Slowly

9.A.move B.roll C.burst D.jump

10.A.been B.broken C.gone D.done

11.A.parked B.started C.moved D.stopped

12.A.put B.ran C.fell D.jumped

13.A.dark B.afternoon C.sun D.car

14.A.noisy B.dusty C.quiet D.bloody

15.A.on B.at C.by D.in

16.A.food B.sandwiches C.apples D.bread

17.A.climbing B.shouting C.moving D.driving

18.A.know B.tell C.understand D.see

19.A.open B.broken C.lost D.dirty

20.A.sleeping B.feeling C.eating D.going

阅读理解

Florence,Italy

Who should go:Art lovers;Renaissance historians;leather handbag shoppers with high credit limits.

When to go:Spring or fall.Travellers usually avoid summer in Florence.

Paris,France

Who should go:Starving artists;Henry Miler fans;traditional food lovers.

When to go:Spring is the best time.That’s what they all say,anyway.Autumn isn’t bad,either,and I’d rather be rooting around the south of France in search of truffles(松露) in autumn.Summer in Paris isn’t bad,really.

Amsterdam,Holland

Who should go:Lovers of Dutch Masters(artists I mean,like Rembrandt,not cigars);bicyclists—it’s a bike city in a flat land.

When to go:It can rain at any time in Amsterdam,but that’s not a reason for not visiting this fascinating city.Off season tourists will be rewarded with good enough weather to stick around.Summer is good for sun lovers.

Madrid,Spain

Who should go:Night owls—Madrid never sleeps;art lovers—the Prado is second only to the Louvre in presenting serious art;partygoers.

When to go:Spring,when days are warm and the nights are pleasantly cool.Demand for outside eating and drinking starts becoming stronger in March or April.Street life peaks(达到高峰) in June,then slows in July and August as the temperature peaks.Autumn is also good,although you’ll risk some rain.

Venice,Italy

Who should go:Romantic dreamers who like walking through automobile-free streets;your mother(she’ll want you to take her there,trust me);almost anyone who wants to see something really different and romantic.

When to go:February is the time when the famous Venice Carnival is held and the weather is usually cold and foggy—perfect weather for Venice.Summer?A large number of tourists in shorts and whiny children ruin the atmosphere.You’ll greatly enjoy yourself there in spring and early fall.

1.What do the cities Florence,Paris,Amsterdam and Madrid have in common?

A.They are all great cities for female shoppers.

B.They are all famous for their traditional food.

C.They are all great cities for art lovers.

D.They are all famous for cigars.

2.If you are interested in looking for truffles in the south of France,you should go there in .

A.early spring B.autumn

C.summer D.late spring

3.What advice would the writer probably give you if you go to visit Amsterdam?

A.To avoid going there in summer.

B.To avoid going around there by bike.

C.To take some credit cards with high credit limits.

D.To take an umbrella with you whenever you go out.

4.The underlined part“Night owls”in the section about Madrid probably refers to people who like .

A.night life B.serious art

C.drinking wine D.organizing parties

5.According to the section about Venice,the writer would agree that .

A.summer isn’t a good time to visit the city

B.the city is not a good choice for romantic lovers

C.streets in the city are usually too crowded with cars

D.people avoid going there in February because of the weather

阅读理解。

When the Japanese attacked America’s ships at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941,they did it secretly.The makers of the movie Pearl Harbor have behaved differently.

The noise about Pearl Harbor,made by Disney,has reached its highest point with its premiere(首次公演) before the movie opens in cinemas across the US at the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend,a time to recall national heroes who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.

As Ben Affleck is the main star,the movie seems sure to become a success in the United States at least.

At almost three hours in length,it promises to be a good old Hollywood movie.There is a love story.Affleck and his co-star,Josh Hartnett,both fall in love with the navy nurse,Kate Beckinsale and,of course,there is much human courage and love of country.

It’s certain that Disney will be accused of “changing” history.The showing of actual events in a movie always causes arguments.

Bits of the story are deliberately not mentioned in the movie.It does not address the theory held by some historians that President Franklin Roosevelt knew about Japan’s intention to attack the ships in Pearl Harbor.It is said he did nothing,as he was aware that such a blow would allow him to take America into the Second World War.

Japan remains sensitive about being accused of wartime atrocities(暴行).And Disney is sensitive about its business in Japan,where it has a theme park.

Not all the reviews of the movie have been full of praise.A reviewer for Newsweek,who was given an early preview,acknowledged that the 40-minute sequence(连续镜头) showing the attack itself was powerful.The attack comes quite late in the movie,however,and the reviewer was less impressed with the characters and the love story.

“Almost every line of the dialogue sounds like it comes from an old movie,” the reviewer wrote.

1.From the passage we can infer that the Memorial Day refers to .

A.the day when the United States was founded

B.the day when people honour their ancestors

C.a day when people honour those who died in wars

D.a day when people celebrate the victories of World War Ⅱ

2.From the passage we know that Ben Affleck .

A.may be a very popular movie star

B.regarded Josh Hartnett as an enemy

C.experienced the Pearl Harbor Incident

D.was in love with the actress Kate Beckinsale

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE about Pearl Harbor?

A.The movie has made the Japanese angry.

B.The movie will cause a lot of arguments.

C.The movie truly describes the Pearl Harbor Incident.

D.The movie shows that President Franklin Roosevelt knew about Japan’s intention.

4.According to the passage,what does the reviewer for Newsweek think of the movie?

A.The scenes of the attack leave no impression.

B.The dialogue in the movie is original and creative.

C.The characters and the love story are less attractive.

D.The attack scenes occupy too much time of the movie.

完形填空

A land free from destruction,in addition to wealth,natural resources,and labor supply—all these were important _________ in helping England to become the center for the Industrial Revolution. _________ they were not enough.Something _________ was needed to start the industrial process(进程).That “something special” was men—_________ individuals who could invent machines,find new _________ of power,and establish business organisations to reshape society.

The men who _________the machines of Industrial Revolution _________ from many backgrounds and many occupations.Many of them were _________ inventors than scientists.A man who is a _________ scientist is primarily interested in doing his research _________.He is not necessarily working _________ that his findings can be used.

An inventor or anyone interested in applied science is _________ trying to make something that has a concrete _________ .He may try to solve a problem by using the theories _________ science or by experimenting through trial and error.Regardless of his method,he is working to get a _________ result:the construction of a harvesting machine,the burning of a light bulb,or one of _________ other objectives.

Most of the people who _________ the machines of the Industrial Revolution were inventors,not trained scientists.A few were both scientists and inventors.Even those who have _________ or no training in science might not have made their inventions _________ a groundwork(基础工作) had not been laid by scientists years _________.

1.A.cases B.reasons C.factors D.situations

2.A.But B.And C.Besides D.Even

3.A.else B.near C.extra D.similar

4.A.possible B.effective C.necessary D.creative

5.A.production B.sources C.bases D.discoveries

6.A.employed B.created C.operated D.controlled

7.A.came B.arrived C.stopped D.appeared

8.A.less B.better C.more D.worse

9.A.real B.practical C.pure D.clever

10.A.happily B.occasionally C.unwillingly D.wholeheartedly

11.A.now B.and C.all D.so

12.A.seldom B.sometimes C.usually D.never

13.A.plan B.use C.idea D.means

14.A.of B.with C.to D.as

15.A.single B.only C.limited D.particular

16.A.few B.those C.many D.all

17.A.suggested B.developed C.supplied D.offered

18.A.little B.much C.some D.any

19.A.as B.if C.because D.while

20.A.ago B.past C.ahead D.before

阅读理解

Brazil has become one of the developing world’s great successes in reducing population growth—but more by accident than design.While countries such as India have made joint efforts to reduce birth rates,Brazil has had better result without really trying,says George Martine at Harvard.

Brazil’s population growth rate has dropped from 2.99% a year between 1951 and 1960 to 1.93% a year between 1981 and 1990,and Brazilian women now have only 2.7 children on average.Martine says this figure may have fallen still further since 1990,an achievement that makes it the envy of many other Third World countries.

Martine puts it down to,among other things,soap operas and installment(分期付款)plans introduced in the 1970s.Both played an important,although indirect,role in lowering the birth rate.Brazil is one of the world’s biggest producers of soap operas.Globo,Brazil’s most popular television network,shows three hours of soaps six nights a week,while three others show at least one hour a night.Most soaps are based on wealthy characters living the high life in big cities.

“Although they have never really tried to work in a message towards the problems of reproduction(生育),they describe middle and upper class values—not many children,different attitudes towards sex,women working,”says Martine.“They sent this message to all parts of Brazil and made people realise other patterns of family life and other values,which were put into a very attractive package.”

Meanwhile,the installment plans tried to encourage the poor to become consumers.“This led to change in consumption(消费)patterns and consumption did not get along well with unlimited reproduction,”says Martine.

1.The underlined phrase “puts it down to” is closest in meaning to “ ”.

A.considers the cause of it to be

B.finds it a reason for

C.looks it on as

D.compares it to

2.Soap operas have helped in lowering Brazil’s birth rate because .

A.they keep people sitting long hours watching TV

B.they have gradually changed people’s way of life

C.people are drawn to their attractive package

D.they make birth control measures popular

3.What is Martine’s conclusion about Brazil’s population growth?

A.The increase in birth rate will increase consumption.

B.The desire for consumption helps to reduce birth rate.

C.Consumption patterns and reproduction patterns are contradictory.

D.A country’s production is limited by its population growth.

4.Which is the best title of the passage?

A.Brazil:the developing world’s success

B.Soap operas and installment plans

C.Brazil:reducing birth rate by accident

D.Learn from Brazil,one of the Third World Countries

5.From the passage,we can conclude that .

A.India have reduced birth rates by accident,too

B.many other Third World countries are suffering a population growth rate now

C.Brazil government’s achieved a success reducing the birth rate purposely

D.Brazil has successfully reduced population growth—but more by accident than design

阅读理解。

Your house may have an effect on your figure.Experts say the way you design your home could play a role in whether you pack on the pounds or keep them off.You can make your environment work for you instead of against you.Here are some ways to turn your home into part of your diet plan.

Open the curtains and turn up the lights.Dark environments are more likely to encourage overeating,for people are often less self-conscious(难为情) when they’re in poorly lit places — and so more likely to eat lots of food.If your home doesn’t have enough window light,get more lamps and flood the place with brightness.

Mind the colors.Research suggests warm colors fuel our appetites.In one study,people who ate meals in a blue room consumed 33 percent less than those in a yellow or red room.Warm colors like yellow make food appear more appetizing,while cold colors make us feel less hungry.So when it’s time to repaint,go blue.

Don’t forget the clock — or the radio.People who eat slowly tend to consume about 70 fewer calories(卡路里)per meal than those who rush through their meals.Begin keeping track of the time,and try to make dinner last at least 30 minutes.And while you’re at it,actually sit down to eat.If you need some help slowing down,turn on relaxing music.It makes you less likely to rush through a meal.

Downsize the dishes.Big serving bowls and plates can easily make us fat.We eat about 22 percent more when using a 12-inch plate instead of a 10-inch plate.When we choose a large spoon over a smaller one,total intake(摄入) jumps by 14 percent.And we’ll pour about 30 percent more liquid into a short,wide glass than a tall,skinny glass.

1.The text is especially helpful for those who care about .

A.their home comforts

B.their body shape

C.house buying

D.healthy diets

2.A home environment in blue can help people .

A.digest food better

B.reduce food intake

C.burn more calories

D.regain their appetites

3.What are people advised to do at mealtimes?

A.Eat quickly.

B.Play fast music.

C.Use smaller spoons.

D.Turn down the lights.

4.What can be a suitable title for the text?

A.Is Your House Making You Fat?

B.Ways of Serving Dinner

C.Effects of Self-Consciousness

D.Is Your Home Environment Relaxing?

阅读理解。

Every spring Beijing is choked by huge sandstorms.The sky turns a strange and frightening yellow colour as clouds of sand sweep down from the deserts of Mongolia and north-western China.Strong winds blow up the dust and cover everything in sight—in 2006,a storm dumped 330,000 tonnes of dust on Beijing in one night.

The number of sandstorms has grown alarmingly over the years as the deserts have expanded.This is partly man-made and partly because of climate(气候).Many grasslands have been overgrazed(过度放牧)by sheep and goats,or ploughed up,leaving the soil dangerously exposed.Too much water has been taken out of rivers,and the situation is made worse by increasingly long-lasting droughts that have affected the northern half of China as the climate grows warmer and drier.The result is probably the worst loss of rich land to deserts in the world and a dust bowl of extremely large proportions.The nearest sand dunes to Beijing are now only 70 km away and drifting closer each year.At this rate,the desert will reach the city by 2040,and Beijing could become the world’s first modern city to disappear under sand.To hold back the deserts,a huge programme of forest planting called the Great Green Wall has been under way for over 30 years.The barrier(隔离带)is planned to be 4,500 km long when completed in several decades(十年),but the drought is having a very bad effect on the trees and the deserts carry on growing.

1.All the following are the reasons for the expansion of the deserts EXCEPT .

A.the soil of the grasslands is exposed

B.too much water in rivers has been used

C.it doesn’t rain for a long time

D.the climate in northern China is colder and drier

2.At what speed do the nearest sand dunes move towards Beijing according to the passage?

A.More than 15 km a year.

B.More than 2 km a month.

C.More than 2 km a year.

D.More than 15 km a month.

3.What is the purpose of the huge programme“the Great Green Wall”?

A.To protect the Great Wall.

B.To plant as many trees as possible along the Great Wall.

C.To stop the deserts from moving towards Beijing.

D.To plant as many trees as possible in Beijing.

4.In which section can this passage most likely be found in a newspaper?

A.Science and technology.

B.Weather.

C.Environment.

D.Health and life.

阅读理解。

In ancient Egypt,a shopkeeper discovered that he could attract customers to his shop simply by making changes to its environment.Modern businesses have been following his lead,with more tactics(策略).

One tactic involves where to display the goods.For example,stores place fruits and vegetables in the first section.They know that customers who buy the healthy food first will feel happy so that they will buy more junk food(垃圾食品) later in their trip.In department stores,the women’s shoe section is generally next to the women’s cosmetics(化妆品) section:while the shop assistant is going back to find the right size shoe,bored customers are likely to wander over and find some cosmetics they might want to try later.

Besides,businesses seek to appeal to customers’ senses.Stores notice that the smell of baked goods encourages shopping,so they make their own bread each morning and then fan the bread smell into the store throughout the day.Music sells goods,too.Researchers in Britain found that when French music was played,sales of French wines went up.

When it comes to the selling of houses,businesses also use highly rewarding tactics.They find that customers make decisions in the first few seconds upon walking in the door,and turn it into a business opportunity.A California builder designed the structure of its houses smartly.When entering the house,the customer would see the Pacific Ocean through the windows, and then the pool through an open stairway leading to the lower level.The instant view of water on both levels helped sell these $10 million houses.

1.Why do stores usually display fruits and vegetables in the first section?

A.To save customers time.

B.To show they are high quality foods.

C.To help sell junk food.

D.To sell them at discount prices.

2.According to Paragraph 3,which of the following encourages customers to buy?

A.Opening the store early in the morning.

B.Displaying British wines next to French ones.

C.Inviting customers to play music.

D.Filling the store with the smell of fresh bread.

3.What is the California builder’s story intended to prove?

A.The house structure is a key factor customers consider.

B.The more costly the house is,the better it sells.

C.An ocean view is much to the customers’ taste.

D.A good first impression increases sales.

4.What is the main purpose of the passage?

A.To explain how businesses turn people into their customers.

B.To introduce how businesses have grown from the past.

C.To report researches on customer behavior.

D.To show dishonest business practices.

完形填空。

A friend of mine met with an accident driving in darkness.His legs were so hurt that he couldn’t move.What was the ___________ was that he found himself unable to ask for help—his mobile phone went out of ___________ as a result of exhausted (用尽的)battery.Nothing could be done but ___________ in cold wilderness.It was 8 hours later that day broke,and then the ___________ of the rescue.

It was almost ___________ that he could stand the horror in the darkness for so long.Even more surprising was his ___________:“First of all I checked up my___________ conditions and found myself not in deadly danger.As there was no ___________ to call for help,I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from ___________.In this way I dozed (打盹)off.”

His story put an end to my regret for the ___________ of an exploration adventure that happened last year.A group of young men ___________ to explore a mountain cave and got lost. ___________ to find a way out in the dark cave,they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of ___________ .Finally they fell dead in fear and exhaustion.According to the ___________ people that found them,the place where they got lost was only about 10 metres away from the ___________ of the cave.If they stayed on the spot when they lost their way and tried to ___________ themselves,they would probably sense a faint light flashing not far away.

Don’t you think that you can compare it with ___________ itself?When you meet with difficulties in life,you are lost in darkness. ___________ you that it’s unclear yet and you needn’t put up struggle ___________.It seems to be a negative (消极的)attitude, ___________ a person who can do so must have foresight as well as a great courage in the first place.

1.A.hopeless B.worst C.more D.best

2.A.service B.way C.control D.work

3.A.cry B.lie C.wait D.sleep

4.A.delay B.success C.team D.arrival

5.A.untrue B.unimaginable C.possible D.useless

6.A.plan B.decision C.explanation D.excuse

7.A.physical B.mental C.working D.medical

8.A.method B.way C.tool D.strength

9.A.rotting B.spreading C.bleeding D.running

10.A.loss B.failure C.disappointment D.sadness

11.A.had B.managed C.tried D.planned

12.A.Willing B.Unable C.Determined D.Deciding

13.A.hearing B.sight C.feeling D.direction

14.A.rescue B.village C.local D.brave

15.A.end B.top C.opening D.side

16.A.save B.help C.stop D.calm

17.A.adventure B.work C.life D.mankind

18.A.Mind B.Watch C.Imagine D.Warn

19.A.really B.immediately C.carefully D.hopefully

20.A.and B.so C.but D.while