In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people. I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten. However, while some seem to be lost in die desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only die winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse: “I may have lost, but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try.” What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve can we discover a new meaning in competition.

65．What does this passage mainly talk about?

       A．Competition helps to set up self-respect.

       B．Opinions about competition are different among people.

       C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

       D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

66．Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?

       A．It pushes society forward.     

       B．It builds up a sense of duty.

       C．It improves personal abilities.

       D．It encourages individual efforts.

67．The underlined phrase “the most vocal” means_______.

     A．those who try their best to win.            

       B．those who value competition most highly.

       C．those who are against competition most strongly.

     D．those who rely on others most for success

68．what is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a “desire to fail”

     A．One’s worth lies in his performance compared with others.

     B．One’s success in competition needs great efforts.

     C．One’s achievement is determined by his particular skill.

     D．One’s success is based on how hard he has tried.

----I’m very _____ with my own cooking. It looks nice and smells delicious.

 　----Mm, it does have a _____ smell.

　    A．pleasant; pleased　  B．pleased; pleased　

       C．pleasant; pleasant　        D．pleased; pleasant

____ you want to remember its usage, you’d better make a sentence with the new word.

　    A．Unless　　　 B．While 　　　  C．Now that 　　　    D．Even if

―How do you find being an ice cream taster?

       ―Fantastic! It is a job ________ you can get paid to taste ice cream．

       A．that   B．where       C．what  D．which

The government held a special meeting，________ people to contribute more to the victims.

       A．appealing                B．appealing to     C.  to appeal                D．to appeal to

The president was deeply _______ the issue and ordered the officials to find out a solution as quickly as possible.

         A. delighted at                   B. fed up with                     C. concerned about          D. pleased with

. Mary was only too ready to help others, seldom, _____, refusing them when they turned to her.

       A. if never         B. if not               C. if any                 D. if ever

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题2分，共40分）

Once a rich woman asked Martin Brown, a famous singer, to her house. She wanted him to sing for her friends, but she didn't ask him to have dinner with them. She told him to eat downstairs with the servants.

    The singer was surprised. But he said nothing and went downstairs. After the meal he stood up and said to the servants, "Now, my good friends, I shall sing for you."

    Of course, the servants were pleased. He sang them several songs. When they asked for more, he sang more. At 9 o'clock the rich woman asked the singer to come up to the sitting room. When he came in, he saw all the friends sitting and looking at him.

    "We are ready now, Mr. Brown," said the woman. "You may begin."

 "Ready for what?" asked the singer.

 "For your songs, of course, "she answered. "But I have sung already!" said Mr. Brown, "and I can't sing twice in one evening."

   "You have sung already!" said the rich woman in surprise. "But when? And where did you sing?" "Just now, downstairs." "Really?" she cried.

 "Yes, madam," said the singer. "I usually sing for the people after I have dinner with them, you know."

 And with a polite "Good night", he left the rich woman's house.

56. Martin Brown was      

 A. a rich woman                     B. a famous singer

 C. a servant                         D. the rich woman's friend

57. The rich woman asked Martin Brown to her house        .

 A. to meet her friends                B. to have dinner with her

 C. to sing for her friends              D. to do some cooking

58. What did the singer do after the meal?

 A. He cleaned the house.

 B. He went upstairs to see his friends.

 C. He went home by bus.

 D. He sang for the servants.

59. How did the rich woman feel when she knew that the singer had sung for her servants?

 A. She was happy.  B. She was angry.

 C. She was surprised.  D. She was sorry.

60. From this story we know         .

A. the rich woman and the singer are very good friends

B. the singer didn't sing for the rich woman's friends

C. the servants didn't like Martin Brown's songs

D. the woman's friends were very pleased to hear the songs

Ever since the first skyscraper(摩天大楼) was built in Chicago in 1883, more and more buildings that reach for the skies have been constructed in the large cities of the world.

For many years, the Empire State Building in New York City was the tallest building in the world. It was 1250 feet high when it was opened in 1931. Then in 1951 a TV transmission⑨ tower was added for radio and television broadcasts. This tower added 222 feet to its height.

Soon other skyscrapers were built. The World Trade Center in New York, 1350 feet high, and Chicago’s Sears Tower, 1450 feet high. No one can say how much higher skyscrapers will go in the future.

Early skyscrapers were built with thick heavy walls of solid brick, stone, or concrete. Now the new skyscrapers are built with a steel framework⑩ that supports the weight of the building. The solid walls are no longer needed, and the framework makes it possible to build to greater heights.

Built at first mainly for offices and shops, some skyscrapers are now becoming homes for people who want to live in the center of the city. The 100-story John Hancock Center, a Chicago skyscraper that opened in 1970, is an example. Between the first and 43rd floor, there are offices and shops. There is a swimming pool on the 44th floor. From the 45th floor to the 92nd there are apartments. The people who live in these apartments can look down on the clouds instead of up at them.

67.What happened to the Empire State Building in 1951?

A. It was no longer the tallest building in the world.

B. A tower was added to it, which increased its height.

C. It was transformed into a radio and television broadcasting station.

D. It provided homes for people who wanted to live in the city center.

68.We cannot know how much taller skyscrapers will become in the future because _______________.

A. a TV transmission tower can be added

B. solid walls of brick, stone or concrete are no longer needed

C. the steel framework makes it possible to build to greater heights

D. some skyscrapers are now becoming homes

69.Originally, skyscrapers were built as _______________.

A. business centers and offices

B. radio and television broadcasting stations

C. apartment complexes

D. apartment and shops

70.How do people benefit from living in the John Hancock Center?

A. They can enjoy looking at the clouds above the building.

B. They have all the city center facilities nearby.

C. They can use the swimming pool on the top of the building.

D. They can work at offices inside the building.

第二节 书面表达（满分25分）

如今，越来越多的外国人对中国文化感兴趣。你的美国朋友Mike请你写篇短文介绍一下中秋节，请根据下列信息完成这篇短文：

时间：阴历（the lunar calendar ）八月十五日；

范围：中国及亚洲其他一些国家；

方式：合家团圆；吃月饼—月亮的象征；赏月……

注意：    1．词数100左右

              2．适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。