Believe it or not, optical(视觉的) illusion(错觉) can cut highway crashes. Japan is a case in point. It has reduced automobile crashes on some roads by nearly 75 percent using a simple optical illusion. Bent strips(带状物), called chevrons(人字形), painted on the roads make drivers think that they are driving faster than they really are, and thus drivers slow down.

Now the American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington D.C. is planning to repeat Japan’s success. Starting next year, the foundation will paint chevrons and other patterns of strips on selected roads around the country to test how well the patterns reduce highway crashes.

Excessive(极度的) speed plays a major role as much as one fifth of all fatal(致命的) traffic accidents, according to the foundation. To help reduce those accidents, the foundation will conduct its tests in areas where speed-related hazards(危险) are the greatest ---- curves, exit slopes, traffic circles, and bridges.

Some studies suggest that straight, horizontal(水平的) bars painted across roads can initially(最初) cut the average speed of drivers in half. However, traffic often returns to full speed within months as drivers become used to seeing the painted bar.

Chevrons, scientists say, not only give drivers the impression that they are driving faster than they are but also make a lane look narrower. The result is a longer reduction in highway speed and the number of traffic accidents.

72. The passage mainly discuss .

A. a new way of highway speed control.

B. a new pattern for painting highways.

C. a new approach to training drivers.

D. a new type of optical illusion.

73. On roads painted with chevrons, drivers tend to feel that .

A. they should avoid speed-related hazards.

B. they should slow down their speed.

C. they are driving in the wrong lane.

D. they are approaching the speed limit.

74. The advantage of chevrons over straight, horizontal bars is that the former .

A. can keep drivers awake.

B. can cut road accidents in half.

C. will look more attractive.

D. will have a longer effect on drivers.

75. The American Automobile Association Foundation for Traffic Safety plans to .

A. change the road signs across the country.

B. try out the Japanese method in certain areas.

C. replace the straight, horizontal bars with chevrons.

D. repeat the Japanese road patterns.

Crime has its own cycles, a magazine reported some years ago. Police records that were studied for five years from over 2,400 cities and towns show a surprising link between changes in the season and crime patterns.

The pattern of crime has varied little over a long period of years. Murder reaches its high during July and August, as do rape(强奸) and other violent attacks. Murder, moreover, is more than seasonal: it is a weekend crime. It is also a nighttime crime: 62 percent of murders are committed between 6 pm. and 6 am.

Unlike the summer high in crimes of bodily harm, burglary has a different cycle. You are most likely be robbed between 6 pm. and 2 am. on a Saturday night in December, January, or February. Which is the most un-criminal month of all? May except for one strange statistic. More dog bites are reported in this month than in any other month of the year.

Possibly, soaring thermometers(温度计) and high humidity(湿度) bring on our strange and terrifying actions, but police officials are not sure. “There is, of course, no proof(证据) of a connection between humidity and murder,” they say. “Why murder’s high time should come in the summertime we really don’t know.”

68. The passage is about

A. police records.

B. crime patterns.

C. the links between seasonal changes and the crime patterns.

D. the summer high in crimes.

69. For many years, which of the following does not reach its high during the summer?

A. Rape.        B. Burglary.

C. Murder.       D. Other violent attacks.

70. In which month(s) are more dog bites reported?

A. May.         B. January.

C. December.     D. June and July.

71. The word “soaring” in the last paragraph means

A. flying    B. blowing   C. rising    D. dropping

    1. Needed: Full-time secretary position available. Applicants should have at least 2 years’ experience and be able to type 60 words a minute. No computer skills required. Apply in person at United Business Ltd., 17 Browning Street.

2. Are you looking for a part-time job? We require 3 part-time shop assistants to work during the evening. No experience needed. Applicants should be between 18 and 26. call 366-76564 or you can apply in Lincoln Street No. 64.

3. Computer trained secretaries: Do you have experience working with computers? Would you like a full-time position working in an exciting new company named United Us? If your answer is yes, give us a call at 565-987-7832.

4. Teacher needed: Tommy’s Kindergarten needs 2 teachers/trainers to help with classes from 9 am to 3 pm. Applicants should have appropriate teaching licenses. For more information visit Tommy’s Kindergarten in Leicester Square No. 56. Call 366-45623 for more information.

5. Part-time work available: We are looking for retired adults who would like to work part-time at the weekend. Responsibilities include answering the telephone and giving customers information. For more information contact(联系) us by calling 897-980-7654 or visit us in Peace Square No. 79.

6. University positions open: The University of Cumberland is looking for 4 teaching assistants to help with homework correction. Applicants should have a degree in one of the following: Political Science, Religion, Economics or History. Please contact the University of Cumberland for more information.

63. Jane recently retired and is looking for a part-time position. She would like to work with people and enjoys public relation work. She should call

A. 366-76564       B. 565-987-7832

C. 366-45623       D. 897-980-7654

64. Jack graduated from the University of Trent with a degree in Economics two years ago. He would like an academic position. Which place is the best for him?

A. United Business Ltd.            B. Tommy’s Kindergarten.

C. The University of Cumberland.    D. United Us.

65. Margaret is 21 years old and would like a part-time position to help her pay her university expenses. She can only work in the evenings. Then she can go to

A. United Business Ltd.       B. Lincoln Street No. 64.

C. Leicester Square No. 56.    D. Peace Square No. 79.

66. Alice was trained as a secretary and has six years of experience. She is an excellent typist but doesn’t know how to use a computer. She is looking for a full-time position. The best job for her is

A. the 1st one.       B. the 2nd one.

C. the 5th one.       D. the 6th one.

67. If Peter has been hired by Tommy’s Kindergarten, what kind of license must he have got?

A. the teacher qualification certificate.   B. driving license.

C. master degree.                    D. Doctor degree.

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special.

However, the idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father’s Day while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon(布道) in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a selfless and loving man. Sonora’s father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Rose are the Father’s Day flowers, red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.

When children can’t visit their father or take them out to dinner, they send a greeting card. Traditionally, fathers prefer greeting cards that are not too sentimental(感伤的). Most greeting cards are too special so fathers laugh when they open them. Some give heartfelt thanks for being there whenever the child needed Dad.

59. The United States is special in Father’s Day because

A. many people celebrate the day.

B. only America celebrates the day.

C. America makes it an official day.

D. all men are honored in America.

60. At first, Father’s Day was fixed on June 19 because

A. Sonora honored her father’s birthday.

B. Sonora’s birthday was June 19.

C. it was decided by the president at that time.

D. Sonora’s mother died on June 19.

61. According to the passage, on Father’s Day

A. people will wear the same flowers to honor their fathers.

B. only daughters wear red flowers to honor their fathers.

C. children must go home to honor their fathers.

D. fathers are often honored in many different ways.

62. According to the passage, we can infer that Henry Jackson Smart

A. was very kind to anyone.

B. did a lot for his daughter.

C. was the first father honored in 1924.

D. always helped others by giving money.

Every time I passed boys who were playing basketball, I stopped silently to watch them. I really envied them. But as a girl, I once thought that I could never play basketball.

I like playing basketball though I’m not good at it. I’ve had a basketball since I was a child. At first, I could play freely because no one cared when I was just a kid. But as I grew up it seemed harder and harder for me to enjoy basketball.

At school, it was always the boys who played basketball during P.E. classes. The girls were only allowed to play volleyball or badminton.

My parents did not let me play basketball at home. “Basketball is not for girls,” they said. Even when I went to play basketball with my friends, boys stared at me on the court as if I were an alien.

I was feeling down and had hope of playing basketball. Unexpectedly, something changed the first day of high school. I made some friends who also enjoyed playing basketball. They encouraged me to get back on the court.

One of them told me with a smile, “Go your own way, let others talk.” This girl would always play basketball with me. Even the boy who sat next to me in class talked about basketball with me almost every day.

I was inspired by them. Confidence and passion (激情) returned to my heart. I am ready to stand up and play. I will play as well as I can, and for me, even the sky is boundless.

Basketball has become an important part of my life. I am interested in it. I watch and play almost every day. Through basketball, not only do I feel happy and confident, but also learn a lot.

I have heard the NBA star Tracy McGrady say “Nothing is impossible.” It is from an advertisement on TV. I have come to realize that life is just like playing basketball. You should have an aim. After that, just be confident and keep going. Never give up and you will make it sooner or later.

I love the motto of the NBA. It can express my strong feelings for basketball, “I love this game!”

56. The writer often stopped to watch the boys playing basketball because

A. she envied them.

B. the boys were top players.

C. the boys were her classmates.

D. she liked to play basketball.

57. It can be inferred from the text that

A. P.E. teachers think girls are good at playing volleyball and badminton.

B. parents and teachers think basketball is not suitable for girls.

C. parents and teachers think girls hate basketball.

D. parents and teachers think only basketball is suitable for boys.

58. In paragraph 9, the words “make it” probably mean

A. succeed        B. produce it

C. make a fortune   D. make a NBA player

　 I’m just a senior in high school. I work part-time at a local store called Baskin Robbins    ３６    I can make a little money. In and outside of work, I always wear a    ３７    and try to be nice to others.

     But recently, I’ve been   ３８     by some people who always help others. So, today, when I went to work, I decided I would take my first big step and truly help a    ３９     .

      Two young girls came into the    ４０    and looked around. I offered them my    ４１     “Welcome to Baskin Robbins” greeting. A couple of minutes later   ４２     of them finally decided upon the flavor(味道) of ice cream ---- chocolate. So then, I made a big spoon, put it in a cone(锥形蛋卷筒) and    ４３     it to her. Sadly, though, the other girl didn’t get anything even though I could   ４４     she was looking at the many kinds of   ４５     and wanted to have one.

      It was at this time that the other girl, who obviously was the young sister,   ４６     , “I wish I could have one”. I knew when I heard this comment that it was my   ４７     to do something for her. So, I told her that I would   ４８      her ice cream. She immediately calmed down though she didn’t believe what she   ４９     . I asked her what flavor she wanted and handed her the treat. I then   ５０     out the $3 for it and placed the money in the counter.

      She was so   ５１    and her  older sister was surprised. It was    52     good to help this girl and made her feel special for a moment. I turned around and found that my   53     all looked at me like I was crazy. But, I didn’t   54     that I spent a little, because the feeling I    55    from my action was worth a million dollars.

36. A. even though  B. as if       C. not until    D. so that

37. A. hat         B. tear        C. tie         D. smile

38. A. noticed     B. persuaded   C. moved      D. changed

39. A. stranger     B. friend      C. student     D. child

40. A. club        B. school      C. restaurant   D. store

41. A. real        B. usual       C. final        D. shy

42. A. both       B. one         C. none       D. either

43. A. handed     B. threw       C. lent        D. returned

44. A. remember  B. expect       C. tell         D. think

45. A. drinks     B. chocolate     C. guests      D. ice cream

46. A. cried out   B. passed by     C. looked up   D. laughed aloud

47. A. duty       B. fault         C. chance     D. dream

48. A. wait for    B. pay for       C. leave for    D. ask for

49. A. saw       B. wanted       C. needed      D. heard

50. A. took        B. sent          C. ran         D. checked

51. A. interested    B. happy        C. upset       D. afraid

52. A. truly        B. hardly         C. nearly      D. suddenly

53. A. family      B. classmates      C. workmates   D. boss

54. A. understand   B. care            C. realize      D. plan

55. A. hid        B. borrowed        C. left         D. received

 Stop wasting time. There is no        repeating that again and again.

A. point   B. value   C. importance   C. benefit

---- What made your father throw up last night?

---- I think the large quantities of wine　　　 .

A. was　 B. might　 C. make　　 D. did

 In the modern information times, we should try to        with what’s happening so as not to fall behind.

A. keep on   B. keep off   C. keep up   D. keep back

 Living in this flat, you have a good       of the Changjiang River.

A. sight   B. view   C. scene   D. scenery