C

At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”

A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成层). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低气压) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”

Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.

New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.

66. New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by_____.

   A. the pink color of the sun        B. the darkened sky at daytime

   C. the Last Judgment on Friday     D. the American War of Independence

67. What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?

   A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.     B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.

   C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.  D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.

68. According to the researchers, the origin of the event was_________.

   A. an east wind    B. a severe drought   C. some burning fuel   D. low barometric pressure

69. What can we know about the debates after the dark day?

   A. They focused on causes of the event.

   B. They swept throughout the Western world.

   C. They were organized by scientific institutions.

   D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.

70. What can be the best title for the text?

   A. New England’s dark day.       B. Voices of angry prediction.

   C. There is no smoke without fire.  D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

Section C

Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese.

  假设你是李华，今年暑假欲参加英语短期培训班。你在报纸上看到下面的广告并将疑问标记在广告上。请用英语给英国房东写一封120-150词的信，简要介绍你的情况并就你的疑问提出询问。

23. Nowadays, children always complain that their parents are out of date, ______ parents can’t approve of what their children say and do.

A. while       B. thus          C. therefore         D. Otherwise

25. The concert__ to _ some money for those suffering from the earthquake, which __ 2,000 lives.

A. intending ; raise; killed                                 B. was intended; collect; claimed

C. to intend; raise; claimed                                D. intended; raise; killed

28. Dr. Frank failed many times but he finally _____ to find a successful way to solve the problem.

A. broke off                 B. broke up                  C. broke down                     D. broke through

31.   You see the lightning _____ it happens, but you hear the thunder later.

A. for an instant            B. on the instant            C. in a instant               D. the instant

34.   --Have you ever heard of an American president called Chester A.Arthur?

       --No, and he is not mentioned in my history book at all. He seems ______________.

       A. to have been completely forgotten                 B. having completely forgotten

       C. to have completely forgotten                         D. completely forgetting

第二节：完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One early morning, I received a call for a taxi. When I arrived at the building, it was 2:30 am and only one room gave off light. Many   31   

would just shout once or twice and then drive away. But I thought this passenger might need my

  32  . So I walked to the door and   33  . “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly   34  . After a long time, the door opened. A small old woman   35   before me, carrying a small suitcase. I took her suitcase and we walked slowly to the car. She kept thanking me for my kindness.

When we got in the car, she gave me a (n)   36  , and then asked to drive through the city center. But it wasn’t the   37   way. “Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to Westhill Old People’s Home. The doctor says I don’t have much time   38  .

We drove through the city center. She   39   me the building where she once worked. We drove past the church where she got married. Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a building or at a corner and   40   sit looking at the darkness, saying nothing. When the sun began to   41  , we drove in silence to the old people’s home. When we arrived, almost   42   a second thought, I gave her a big hug (拥抱). “You gave an old woman a little moment of   43  . Thank you!” she said tearfully.

I was totally lost in thought for the rest of the day. I can’t imagine what would happen if I   44   

to do what I did? We always think that there are no great moments in our lives, but great moments are just in what others may consider a   45   one.

31. A. drivers  B. workers      C. guests D. passengers

32. A. advice  B. help    C. suggestion  D. attention

33. A. stopped B. breathed     C. worked      D. knocked

34. A. sound   B. noise   C. voice  D. shout

35. A. turned up     B. set up  C. got up D. put up

36. A. order    B. address       C. idea    D. reason

37. A. busiest  B. longest       C. narrowest   D. shortest

38. A. left       B. saved  C. lost     D. spared

39. A. gave     B. passed C. showed      D. made

40. A. could    B. would C. should D. must

41. A. move    B. set      C. rise     D. burn

42. A. after     B. with    C. except D. without

43. A. patience       B. courage      C. joy     D. sadness

44. A. refused B. offered       C. planned      D. regretted

45. A. difficult       B. small  C. strange       D. interesting

第二节：任务型阅读（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）。阅读下面六个选项（A、B、C、D、E和F），选出符合各自需求的最佳选项。选项中有一个是多余选项。

_______ 75. Carter’s daughter is about five years old. She has her own room. Carter wants to paint her room pink because the little girl likes pink. Meanwhile their house needs new wallpaper. Carter wants some professionals to help with the job.

________76. The Millers move into a small house which has a history of 30 years. They are pleased with the environment but not the electrical work. They have a lot of household appliances (家用电器) which require good electrical support. They need help.

________77. Mrs. Hill finds there is something wrong with her shower room. Each time she takes a shower, a lot of water spreads out of the shower room into the living room. She has to find someone to fix the shower room.

________78. Andrew, a carpenter, has a customer who wants to make some furniture for his new house. Andrew can help him, but he needs some wood first.

________79. Edward is considering paving the driveway. He wants know how he can get some stones.

A. We are one of the most famous stone factories. We have specialized in stone for many years, and we have many kinds of stones used widely in building, landscape, etc. all in high quality, filling at the price!

B. Experienced builder and decorator---interior and exterior painting, plastering, wallpapering, flooring, carpet fitting, tiling. Call for free quotation (报价单) and unbeatable prices, 13236467211/07834224451.

C. Building & window designs for electrical work---All electrical work undertaken include rewiring, power upgrades, fault finding, emergencies, extra sockets(插座), door entry systems, interior and exterior lighting. Twenty four hours call out. 48303560

D. EX kitchen offers complete and professional service, all leading brands are available; all associated building works are undertaken. 07092424744.

E. Building / Repair. From shelves to shower rooms, from fitting kitchens / bathrooms to painting and paperhanging. 20-year experience. Friendly, prompt and reliable, qualified. 019035334477.

F. Wood! Wood! Wood! At Bristol Wood Recycling Project. Wide selection, always changing, bargain prices. Hard, soft, flooring & dimensioned wood. Cutting, sanding (砂纸打磨) & delivery service. Tel: 01179723219. Open Mon-Fri.

27. ---Ken, why do you look so tired? 

---I _____ myself _____ the climate since I came here.

A. hadn’t adapted; to                                 B. haven’t adapted; to       

C. don’t adapt; from                                  D. didn’t adapt; from