When Flora Kahlo's paintings were on show in London, a poet described her paintings as "a ribbon (丝带) around a bomb". Such comments seem to suggest Kahlo had a big influence on the art world of her Lime. Sadly, she is actually a much bigger name today than she was during her time.

　 Born in 1907 in a village near Mexico City, Kahlo suffered from polio(小儿麻痹症 )at the age of seven. Her spine(脊柱) became bent as she grew older. Then, in 1925, her back was broken in several places in a school-bus accident. Throughout the rest of her life, the artist had many operations, but nothing was able to cure the terrible pain in her back. However, the accident had an unexpected side effect. While lying in her bed recovering, Kahlo taught herself to paint.

　 In 1929, she got married to Diego Rivera, another famous Mexican artist. Rivera's strong influences on Kahlo's style can be seen in her early works, but her later works from the 1940s, known today as her best works, show less influence from her husband.

　 Unfortunately, her works did not attract much attention in the 1930s and 1940s, even in her home country. Her first one-woman show in Mexico was not held until 1953. For more than a decade after her death in 1954, Kahlo's works remained largely unnoticed by the world, but in the 1970s her works began to gain international fame at last.

55. What does the phrase “a much bigger name” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?

A. a far better artist B. a much more famous person

C. a much stronger person D. a far more gifted artist

56. The terrible pain Kahlo suffered was caused by ______.

A. back injuries B. her bent spine C. polio D. the operations she had

57. Kahlo's style had become increasingly independent since the _________.

A. 1930s　 　　　　　　　 B. 1970s　 　　　　　　　　 C. 1950s　 　　　　　　　 D. 1940s

58. What is author's attitude toward Kahlo?

A. Devotion 　　　　　　　 B. Encouragement 　　 C. Ironic 　　　　　　　　　 D. Sympathy

　Do you still remember the interesting question: why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.

　 Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.

　 Millions of animals die each year on US roads, the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat exist in the US today. The main reason? Road kill.

　 “Ecopassages” may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society.

But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage.

Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.

The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around.

You might see an animal overpass!

51. The writer uses the example of "ocelots" to show that __________.

A. wild animals have become more dangerous

B. the driving conditions have improved greatly

C. the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

D. an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

52. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is __________ .

A. an underground path for cars　　　　　　 B. a fence built for the safety of the area

C. a bridge for animals to get over a river　 　　 D. a pass for animals to cross the road

53. When the writer says that animals seem "to be catching on", he means _______.

A. animals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B. animals begin to learn to use ecopassages

C. animals are crossing the road in groups

D. animals are increasing in number

54. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because 　　　　　 .

A. wild animals may attack cars B. wild animals may jam the road

C. they may see wild animals in the park D. they may see wild animals on ecopassages

Cindy Sydney is the founder of C&S Paving Inc.(铺路公司) in Miami, USA. In the following account, she recalls the job that challenged her 31 and skill but left her flying high.

　 "When the Miami Airport was under 　32 in 1979, we were a new company struggling to make it. National Car Rental wanted to have 2,500 square meters of dirt paved 33 the cars could be on site 34 the airport opened, and the official opening was only ten days away! 　35 other local paving company wanted to do the job, stating it couldn't be done in such a _36__ time.

　 "Because we were new and really needed the work, we were 37 to try harder. We gave National Car Rental our offer and _38 our best effort to get the job finished within ten days. We also 　39 them that if we failed, they would be no worse off, 　40 they had plenty to gain if we succeeded.

　 "We got the job and immediately went into 41 . Working at night needed lights, so I rented a machine to produce electricity for the site. Our 42 challenge was to keep the rock mixture 43　 enough. All the available water wagons(洒水车) were rented out for the airport construction, and we certainly couldn't 44 to buy a new one. Instead, I got a special 45 to rent fire engine hoses(消防水龙带) and connect them to nearby hydrant(消防栓); then I 　46 held one of those hoses to 47 down the rock.

　 "Those ten days were filled with challenges that _48 one creative idea after another. Nine days later, the night before the airport opened, National Car Rental was the only company that had cars on the parking lot.

　 "The key to our success was having the 49 to take on any job and then being 　50 in our approach to getting it done."

31. A. kindness B. patience C. imagination D. experience

32. A. construction　 　　　　 B. repair　　　 　　　　 C. control　　　　 　　 D. development

33. A. after　　　　 　　　　 B. as　　　　　 　　　 C. for　　　　　 　　 D. so

34. A. while　　　 　　　　　 B. since　　　　 　　　 C. where　　　　　 D. when

35. A. Some　　　 　　　　　 B. Any　　　　 　　　 C. No　　　　　　 　 D. Every

36. A. short　　　 　　　　　　 B. vacant　　　 　　　 C. initial　　　　 D. regular

37. A. able　　　　 　　　　　 B. nervous　　　 　　　 C. afraid　　　　 　　 D. willing

38. A. supported　　 　　　 B. promised　　 　　　 C. continued　　　　 D. improved

39. A. asked　　　　 　　　　 B. surprised　　 　　　 C. reminded　　　　 D. demanded

40. A. though　　　 　　　　　 B. but　　　　　 　　　　　　 C. as　　　　　　 　　 D. unless

41. A. discussion　　 　　　　 B. action　　　 　　　　 C. practice　　　　 　 D. production

42. A. next　　　　 　　　　　 B. first　　　　 　　　 C. past　　　　 　　 D. previous

43. A. cold　　　　 　　　 B. wet　　　　 　　　 C. loose　　　　　 　 D. clean

44. A. swear　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B. delay　　　 　　　　　 C. consult　　　 　　　 D. afford

45. A. excuse　　　 　　　　　 B. order　 　　　　　　　　 C. permit　　　　 　 D. reason

46. A. exactly　　　 　　　　 B. personally　 　　　　　 C. angrily　　　　 　　 D. hardly

47. A. pull　　　　 　　　　　 B. knock　　 　　　　　 C. hit　　　　　 　　 D. water

48. A. required　　 　　　　　 B. mixed　　 　　　　　 C. followed　　　　 　 D. formed

49. A. courage　　　 　　　　 B. interest　 　　　　　　 C. hope　　　　　 　　 D. chance

50. A. shabby　　　 　　　　 B. efficient 　　　　　　　 C. creative　 　　　　　 D. urgent

       After the 18th CPC National Congress, many new laws and polices will be       to make sure of the rapid and steady growth of china’s economy.

       A. in power                  B. in control                  C. in authority               D. in force

       What a(n)        coincidence! He should have known your family so well!

       A. odd                          B. concrete                  C. initial                        D. precise

　　　 When it comes to the conflict between China and Japan over Diaoyu Islands, most foreign media little of Japan’s chances of winning on the basis of justice and fairness.

　　　 A. accumulate B. evaluate C. reckon D. estimate

　　　 In this school, each class has a(n) 　　　 of approximately 70 students.

　　　 A. restriction B. register C. prohibition D. accommodation

       There was a time when some western travel agencies were once forced to         their tour prices as much as 33% because of European debt crisis.

       A. decrease                   B. decline                     C. discount                   D. deposit

According to the research, the reason why people are fat is 　　　 caused by overeating.

A. roughly　　　　　　　　　 B. deliberately　　　　　　　 C. sincerely　　　　　　　　 D. partly

       A wise boss must be aware that sometimes a little        can motivate the employees to work harder.

       A. liberty                      B. equality                    C. bonus                      D. boom