阅读理解

　　Over thirty thousand years ago people from northern Asia (亚洲北部) went to America. Today, we call these people Indians (印第安人).

　　The Indians went to America because the weather began to change. Northern Asia became very cold. Everything froze. They had to move or die. How did the first Indians go to America? They walked!

　　Later Columbus found the New World in 1492. At first, only a few Europeans followed (跟随). They traveled to America in boats. For the next three hundred years, about 500,000 people went there. Then the number grew very quickly. From 1815 to 1915, over thirty-two million Europeans left their countries and went to the United States. The biggest groups were from Germany and Italy (意大利), These Europeans spoke many different languages. Most of them took almost no money. They went to America so that they could find a better life.

(1)________ went to America first.

[　　]

A．People from northern Asia

B．People from Europe

C．People from Germany

D．Columbus

(2)Why did the Indians go to America? Because ________.

[　　]

A．northern Asia became very hot

B．northern Asia became very hot

C．they were interested in America

D．they liked traveling

(3)The New World was ________.

[　　]

(4)The first Europeans went to America ________.

[　　]

(5)These Europeans ________.

A．didn't speak the same language

B．spoke English only

C．spoke German only

D．spoke both English and German

阅读理解

　　If had to select a word that best describes the majority of American parents, that word would be GUILT-RIDDEN (内疚的). How sad it is to see parents become the willing victims (受害者) of the “give-me game”, only to discover that no matter what they do, it isn't enough. In the end, they are blamed when their spoiled children get into trouble. With this in mind, I shall first answer the question,“What do parents owe their children?”, and I shall start with what they don't owe them.

　　Parents don't owe their children every minute of their day and every ounce of their energy. They don't owe them round-the-clock car service, singing lessons, tennis lessons, expensive bicycles, a motorcycle or a car when they reach sixteen, or trip to Europe when they graduate.

　　I take the firm position that parents do not owe their children a college education. If they can afford it they can certainly send them to the best universities. But they needn't feel guilty if they can't. If the children really want to go, they'll find a way. There are plenty of loans and scholarships for the bright and eager who can't afford to pay.

　　After children marry, their parents do not owe them down payment on a house or money for the furniture. They do not have an obligation to baby-sit or to take their grandchildren in their home when the parents are on vacation. If they want to do it, it must be considered a favor, not an obligation.

　　In my opinion, parents do not owe their children an inheritance, no matter how many money they have. One of the surest ways to produce a loafer is to let children know their future is assured (有保证).

(1)Whom is the author blaming in the passage?

[　　]

A．The guilty parents

B．The spoilt children

C．All the American parents

D．Both the parents and the children

(2)According to the author, __________.

[　　]

A．parents ought to send their children to colleges as a duty

B．parents needn't feel guilty if they are unable, for whatever the reason, to send their children to college

C．if they can't afford, parents should take loans to send their children to go to college

D．parents must support their children even after their marriage

(3)The underlined word“loafer”in the last paragraph most probably refers to ________.

[　　]

A．a poorly-educated person

B．a well-educated person

C．a hard-working person

D．a lazy person

(4)The author's attitude towards the parents is ________.

[　　]

(5)The author mainly talks about in this passage that ________.

[　　]

A．why children look down upon their parents

B．the difference between duties of the parents and the children

C．over-devotion to the children results in trouble for the parents themselves

D．why American children get into trouble

阅读理解

　　The Mississippi is a romantic (传奇的) river whose relationship with man goes back beyond its discovery by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Indians used the river as a highway and as a source of food, and it was they who gave it its name--“misi”, meaning“great”and“sipi”meaning“water”.

　　When the length of its great tributary (支流), the Missouri, is added to it, the Mississippi becomes the third longest river in the world. From the source of the Missouri to the tip of the delta (三角洲), it is 2,480 miles long. Its head waters have been compared to a healthy, thickbranched tree, healthy because its main branches, or tributaries, are navigable (可通航的) for most of their length.

　　The Indians paddled (划浆) up and down the river in their canoes. The first streamer was launched (下水) in 1810. It had a single great paddle-wheel at the stem, and was known as a“paddle-wheeler”. Throughout the 19th century these unique ships were queens of the Mississippi. They have become part of American history and American literature. The noted writer, Mark Twain, immortalized (使不朽的) the river in his greatest novel, Huckleberry Finn, and Oscar Hammerstein immortalized it in his song Old Man River, which was made popular all over the world by the great black American singer and actor, Paul Robeson.

(1)The Mississippi was discovered by the ________.

[　　]

A．Americans

B．Indians

C．Spaniards

D．queens of the Mississippi

(2)Indians gave ________ the name“misi and sipi”meaning“great water”.

[　　]

(3)Because most of the Mississippi's length can be navigated, it has been compared to a ________

[　　]

(4)During ________ the single paddle-wheel ships were queens of the Mississippi.

[　　]

A．the 16th century

B．the 19th century

C．the 17th century

D．the 15th century

(5)________ wrote the great song Old Man River.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　A lawyer friend of mine has devoted herself to the service of humanity. Her special area is called“public interest law”.

　　Many other lawyers serve only clients who can pay high fees. All lawyers have had expensive and highly specialized training, and they work long, difficult hours for the money they get. But what happens to people who need legal (法律上的) help and cannot pay these lawyers' fees?

　　Public interest lawyers fill this need. Patricia, like other public interest lawyers, gets less money than some lawyers, because she is willing to take less money. Her clients have the help they need, even if they can pay nothing at all.

　　Some clients need legal help because stores have cheated them with bad goods. Others are in unsafe houses. Their cases are called“civil”cases. Still others are criminals (刑事犯罪), and they go to those public interest lawyers who are in charge of“criminal”cases.

　　These are just a few of the many situations in which the men and women who are public interest lawyers serve to extend justice (正义) throughout our society.

(1)A person who needs and uses legal help is called a ________.

[　　]

(2)Public interest lawyers serve ________.

[　　]

A．the public only

B．only stores and houses

C．people who can pay high fees

D．people who can pay little or nothing

(3)If only the rich could be helped by lawyers, the justice system would be ________.

[　　]

A．nothing but cheating

B．modern

C．fair and reasonable

D．in need of no changes

(4)Public interest law includes ________.

[　　]

A．civil cases only

B．criminal cases only

C．criminal and civil cases

D．rich clients' cases

(5)Which of the following is NOT a matter for a civil case? ________.

[　　]

A．A tenant (客房) is turned out from a house.

B．A landlord refuses to fix a dangerous house.

C．A thief is caught by the policemen.

D．A store sells a radio which doesn't work.

阅读理解

　　YOU may think that inventions are far away from your everyday life. But in fact, almost everyone can invent. It's just that they do not recognize that their ideas could be the start of an invention.

　　Once inventors see their ideas have some practical value, they don't let them slip away.

　　For example, the inventor of the dishwasher, American Josephine Cochrane, loved to give dinner parties. But she found it took long to wash her dishes by hand and too many of them broke. She decided that a machine could do the job faster and with fewer mistakes. So, in 1886, she set out to make one for herself.

　　Like Cochrane's, most inventions are created to solve a problem. So, the first and most important step is to find the problem.

　　You can start by looking at what is wrong with things you use now. * You can ask grandparents or neighbors if they remember ever saying:“I wish someone would invent something for...”* Or you can look at people in different areas--such as on the street, or at school. Then you might notice situations or things in need of improvement. * Remember to record you ideas and work. * This will help you develop your invention and protect (保护) it when it is completed.

　　The next step is to think about possible solutions. An invention is a new way of solving a problem. So think of many, varied (各种各样的), and unusual ways.

　　You can often come up with a solution for a problem by looking at it from a different angle (角度) or thinking about it in a new way.

　　Example 1-instead of thinking of shoes as protecting your feet from the ground, think of using something to protect the ground from you feet.

　　Example 2-instead of thinking about how you can carry oranges home from a store, think of how they can come to you--by delivery or growing your own.

　　Example 3-instead of experimenting with only one solution, can you put two or three solutions together, or arrange them in different orders?

　　And if one solution doesn't work, can it be put to other uses? That was how yellow post-it notes (N次贴) came about ----a“failed”adhesive (粘合剂) experiment proved a weak adhesive had good uses too!

　　After all, most inventions are not brand new (全新的). * They do not come out of nowhere, but come out of things or ideas that already exit (存在).

　　And the hardest part of inventing, even for a lot of inventors, is coming up with a problem and finding a solution. Once you have an idea, you can always get help building your invention.

　　This problem-solving technique can also work in your everyday lives. So, why not try it in your studies, in your relationship with others, or even in the way you look at the world?

　　Choose the best choice according to the story.

(1)The main idea of this story is ________.

[　　]

A．how to improve the world around you

B．that you can invent and how you will be able to do so

C．problem-solving technique

D．how inventors invent

(2)What makes inventors different from other people is probably that _______.

[　　]

A．they consider every new idea as an invention

B．they are full of creative ideas

C．they enjoy solving problems

D．they look for problems and try to solve them in a new and better way

(3)What made Josephine Cochrane decide to invent the dishwasher?

_______.

[　　]

A．Her love of parties.

B．Her dislike of dishwashing.

C．Her desire for something that could do the dishwashing better.

D．Her love of inventing.

(4)Which of the following is one of the ways to find a problem?

[　　]

A．Look at the world from a different angle.

B．Find out thing that people are not satisfied with.

C．Do experiments.

D．Never let a practical idea slip away.

The underlined phrase“came about”probably means to _______.

[　　]

阅读理解

Dear Editor,

　　I used to be a doctor in the children's department of a hospital. Sometimes I treated children who had been poisoned by medicine for older family members. The children didn't know the medicine was dangerous; they just knew it tasted sweet. Children easily open the bottle that we now use in China.

　　Some days ago I talked about medicines with an American. He showed me a sort of plastic bottle. The design was quite simple and I'm sure our Chinese factories could produce these bottles. The top of the bottle licks but can be opened by pressing down on it while turning. This is difficult for most young children to do, though grown-ups can open these bottles very easily.

　　I'm certain that the expense of making such tops would be very small. As a doctor, I'd love to see this done. And most parents would be grateful (感激的).

Sincerely yours,

Li Hua

(1)The letter writer's job in the hospital was mainly to _________.

[　　]

A．treat sick children

B．treat poisoned children

C．give medicine to people

D．give medicine to children

(2)From the letter one can conclude that _________.

[　　]

A．some children like to take adults' medicine

B．some adults' medicines cause danger to children

C．all children like to take sweet medicines

D．all adults' medicines are dangerous to children

(3)The doctor seems to be _________.

[　　]

A．happy about China' a hospital

B．sorry for what has happened

C．eager to disclose the affair

D．anxious to solve the problem

(4)The doctor thinks that we should _________.

[　　]

A．learn from the Americans

B．buy this kind of bottle

C．produce this kind of plastic bottle

D．turn to Americans for advice

(5)The letter was written to the editor in order to ask for _________.

[　　]

A．money from the newspaper

B．the plastic bottles from the readers

C．advice from the editor

D．support from public opinion

阅读理解

　　Joe was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stocking hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt disappointed. Then she remembered her mother's promise, and slipping her hand under her pillow (枕头), she drew out a little crimson-covered (深红色封面) book. She knew it well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Joe felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim (虔诚教徒) going the long journey. She woke Meg with a “Merry Christmas” and told her to look what was under her pillow. A green covered book appeared with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes.

　　Presently Beth and Amy woke and found their little books also, one dove coloured (灰色), the other blue; and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day.

(1)Why was Joe disappointed for a moment? ________

[　　]

A．Because she couldn't find her stockings.

B．Because her stocking hung at the fireplace disappeared.

C．Because she couldn't find her parents' present.

D．Because she woke up too early.

(2)What were the four colours for the covers? ________

[　　]

A．Crimson, green, gray and blue.

B．Red, black, white and gray.

C．Green, yellow, gray and blue.

D．Crimson, green black and blue.

(3)The book was precious because ________.

[　　]

A．it was a beautiful old story

B．it was a true guidebook

C．there were a few words written by their mother

D．all of the reasons above

(4)How many girls are named in the passage? ________

[　　]

(5)Which is the best title for the passage? _________

[　　]

A．Precious Books

B．Mother's Presents

C．The Morning of a Family

D．Christmas Morning

阅读理解

　　Mr. Briggs got a job with an insurance company (保险公司) after he left school and went around visiting people in their homes to sell them life insurance. One day, after he had been working for the company for about a year, the insurance manager sent for him and said, “Mr. Briggs, I have been looking at your record as a salesman with our company, and there is one thing that surprises me about it. Why have you been selling insurance only to people over 95 years old, and why have you been giving them such generous (宽厚的) conditions? You'll ruin our company if you go on like that.”

　　“Oh, no sir,” answered Mr. Briggs at once,“ Before I started work, I looked at the figures (数字) for deaths in this country during the past ten years, and I can tell you that few people die at the age of 95.”

(1)Before he worked in an insurance company, what was Mr. Briggs? ________

[　　]

A．He was a worker.

B．He was an official.

C．He was a student.

D．He was a business man.

(2)The word“ruin”in the second paragraph means ________.

[　　]

(3)As a salesman with the company, Mr. Briggs ________.

[　　]

A．visited people to ask them to work with him

B．called on people to make them join the company

C．saw old people in order to help them

D．visited many people so as to offer insurance

(4)What was it that surprised the manager? ________

[　　]

A．Mr. Briggs sold life insurance only to 95 people.

B．Mr. Briggs sold insurance only to people of more than 95.

C．Mr. Briggs had ruined the insurance company.

D．Mr. Briggs gave people generous conditions.

(5)Which of the following is true according to the passage? ________

[　　]

A．Mr. Briggs had studied the figures for deaths for several years.

B．Mr. Briggs began to look at the figures after he started work.

C．A great number of very old people die every year.

D．The number of the very old people who died every year is small.

阅读理解

　　There are many types of reports. A report is simply an account of something that has happened. The commonest are news reports. We get them in themselves, over radio and on television. Sometimes cinemas also show us newsreels. The main purpose of a newspaper is to provide news. If you examine a newspaper closely, you will find that there are all types of news: accidents, floods, fires, wars, fashions (服装), sports, books, etc. The news covers everything that happens to people and their surroundings. Sometimes there are news items which are very amusing.

　　A news report is usually very short, except when it is about something very important, but it contains (包含) a lot of information. It is also written in short paragraphs, the first paragraph is in fact a summary (总结) of the news item. It gives all the necessary information, what, when, where, how and why. The other paragraphs give full details of the subjects. There may also be interviews with people. The words actually spoken by them are within inverted commas (引号). Often there are photographs to go with the news to make it more interesting.

(1)The easiest way to get today's news is ________.

[　　]

A．to go to the cinema

B．to watch a color TV

C．to read today's newspapers

D．to listen to the music over radio

(2)Newspapers sell well mainly because ________.

[　　]

A．they cost very little

B．they are easy to get

C．they have got pictures to go with the news

D．they provide all sorts of news in them

(3)If you want to get enough information about yesterday's traffic accident within a very short time, you'd better ________.

[　　]

A．read the first paragraph of the news report in today's newspaper

B．start from the second paragraph of the news report in today's newspaper

C．look through the whole news report in today's newspaper

D．talk with people who have seen the accident

(4)To interest more people, a news reporter ________.

[　　]

A．usually produces amusing news

B．always writes very short news reports

C．often prints pictures to go with the news

D．sometimes provides long and important news

(5)This passage mainly talks about ________.

[　　]

A．different types of reports

B．news reports

C．happenings to people and their surroundings

D．the length of a news report

　　For many years, Hawaii has been a magic name to people who like to travel. People on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, in Japan and in America, dream of seeing these beautiful islands in the middle of the ocean. Their dreams always include at least one scene of a sunset over the ocean. In the tropical lands, the sun drops, like a ball of golden fire, into the sea, and it drops so quickly that you can almost see it move. The sun leaves behind a glow that lights the skies and shines in the quiet water.

　　People often have a quiet, peaceful time--perfect for a leisurely walk along the water. This scene is not too different from the dramatic beauty that greeted the first strangers to these islands centuries ago. They were Polynesian people who came from Tahiti in canoes not much bigger than small boats. They found the beautiful white sand beaches and the waving palm trees, but there were no giant hotels like the ones we see nowadays. The first people came to Hawaii nearly two thousand years ago, but skyscraper hotels were only built in the last 25 years. Now jet airplanes make it possible to fly to Hawaii for a weekend from Tokyo or San Francisco or Los Angeles. Wherever the people come from, they really want to see the original beauty of Hawaii. They want to see the lovely beaches and the mountain called Diamond Head which is almost hidden by the tall hotels.

(1)Hawaii is a name ________.

[　　]

A．given by people who like to travel

B．attracting a lot of travelers

C．with a magic story behind it

D．liked by both the Japanese and Americans

(2)On these beautiful islands, one thing that every traveler won't miss is ________.

[　　]

A．to swim in the quiet water

B．to see the tropical plants

C．to see the sunset

D．a leisurely walk along the beach

(3)Which of the following does NOT belong to“the original beauty of Hawaii”? ________

[　　]

A．White sand beaches.

B．Waving palm trees.

C．Tall hotels.

D．The Diamond Head Mountain.

(4)The last paragraph suggests ________.

[　　]

A．the scenery nowadays is not too different from the original beauty

B．it's not quite easy to see the original beauty, because some of the scenery is almost hidden by tall hotels

C．it is easy to see the original beauty, but only by taking jet airplanes

D．it is not easy to see the original beauty because things have completely changed in the last 25 years

(5)The best title of the passage is ________.

[　　]

A．Islands Scenery

B．Hawaii--A Magic Name

C．Traveling In Hawaii

D．The Dramatic Beauty