阅读理解

Let us say there is something you don’t know how to do.

In the past if you were determined to learn, you might have called a friend or relative, taken a night class or walked down to the local library for a research thereお. But now a host of websites are springing up to provide free practical advice on these subjects and actually anything else you can think of.

In one sense, these “how-to” sites represent(表明) a part of the growing world of online learning. This tradition found one of its earliest forms in the FAQ—or Frequently Asked Questions files—that began on Usenet, the Internet’ s global discussion group. These FAQs, many of which still circulate (go round continuously), took a specific subject—and explained it to complete novices.

But “how-to” sites take the FAQs idea in a somewhat different direction by addressing subjects that aren’t necessarily related to discussion forums(论坛).These sites take the style of a written tutorial (teaching period) and a tone of friendly advice. Possibly the biggest and best known of these sites is learn2.com (www.learn2.com).It offers nearly 1 000 free tutorials and adds new ones frequently for a job interview.

At ehow.com (www.ehow.com) you can learn how to train for your first marathon, how to buy a vacation home, or how to make a movie in eight steps.

1.The purpose of writing the passage is to _____________.

A. introduce new websites to people

B.teach how to take new courses by Internet

C.present new means to learn something you want to know

D.help you to solve any difficulty you meet with

2.“How-to” sites are set up to _____________.

A.explain FAQs to the public

B.help people to learn what they want to

C.tell the difference from discussion forums

D.complete the growing world of online learning

3.The underlined word “novices” in the passage probably means _____________.

A.experts who know a lot

B.hosts of “how-to” sites

C.people without knowledge

D.beginners of “how-to” sites

4.It can be inferred from the passage that _____________.

A.“how-to” sites are specially designed for the disabled

B.people can teach themselves at home by visiting “how-to” sites

C.it is pleasant to listen to the advice on “how-to” sites

D.you can just click your mouse at home to question anything

5.According to the text, if you want to buy a tent for camping you may _____________.

A. visit www.ehow.com

B.visit www.learn2.com

C.visit the discussion forums

D.visit the FAQs

阅读理解

8:30 PM

Outlook

Outlook is back with a new series of reports to keep you up date with all that’s new in the world of entertainment. Stories go all the way from the technical to the romantic, from stage to screen. There will be reports of the stars of the moment, the stars of the future and the stars of the past. The director with his new film, the designer with the latest fashion, and the musician with the popular song are part of the new Outlook. The program is introduced by Fran Levine.

9:00 PM

Discovery

When a 10-year-old boy gets a first class degree in mathematics or an 8-year-old boy plays chess like a future grand master, they are considered as geniuses. Where does the quality of genius come from? Is it all in the genes(基因) or can any child be turned into a genius? And if parents do have a child who might become a genius in the future, what should they do? In this 30-minute film, Barry Johnson, the professor at School of Medicine, New York University will help you discover the answer.

10:00 PM

Science/Health

Is it possible to beat high blood pressure without drugs? The answer is “yes”, according to the researchers at Johns Hopkins and three other medical centers. After a study of 800 persons with high blood pressure, they found that after 6 months, those devoted to weight loss-exercise and eating a low-salt, low-fat food—lost about 13 pounds and became fitter.Plus,35% of them dropped into the “normal” category(范畴).This week, Dr. Alan Duckworth will tell you how these people reduce their blood pressure to a level similar to what’s achieved with Hypertension drugs.

1.The main purpose of writing these three texts is _____________.

A.to invite people to see films

B.to invite people to topic discussions

C.to attract more students to attend lectures

D.to attract more people to watch TV programs

2.From Outlook, you can get a great deal of information about _____________.

A. story tellers

B.famous stars

C.film companies

D.music fans

3.Who will be most probably interested in Discovery?

A. Parents who want to send their children to a school of medicine.

B.Children who are good at mathematics.

C.Parents who want their child to become another Albert Einstein.

D.Children who are interested in playing chess.

4.In Science/Health, “Johns Hopkins” is _____________.

A.a famous university

B.a medical center

C.a well-known doctor

D.a drug company

5.According to the third text, which of the following has almost the same effect as Hypertension drug?

A. Exercise plus a healthy diet.

B.Loss of thirteen pounds in weight.

C.Six months of exercise without drugs.

D.Low-salt and low-fat food.

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In the Caucasus(高加索) region of the Soviet Union, nearly 50 out of every 100 000 people live to celebrate their 100th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100!By comparison, in American only 3 people out of 10 000 reach 100.But these Soviet old people aren’t alone. The Pakistani Hunzas, who live in the Himalaya Mountains and the Uilcabambans of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador, seem to share the secret of long life, too. These peoples remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time. While many elder persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s,some Georgians, aged 110 to 140,work in the fields beside their great great grand children. Even the idea of aging is foreign to them, when asked, “at what age does youth end?” most of these old people had no answer. Several replied, “well, perhaps at 80”, the very youngest estimate was age 60.

What accounts for this ability to survive to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all these long lived people. They begin their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop.

All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work. They all come from mountains regions. This reduced oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel system stronger.

Another factor that may contribute to the good health `of these people is their isolation（隔绝）.To a great extent, they are separated from the pressures and worries of industrial society. Inherited（遗传）factors also play some role.

1.Why does the writer mention some long lived people in the first paragraph?

A.To surprise his readers.

B.To introduce the subject of the article.

C.To tell you the difference between people in the Soviet Union and America.

D.To tell you why Americans don’t live as long as other people.

2.How many factors that contribute to long life of the people are mentioned in the article?

A.One.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.Two.

C.Three.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D.Four.

3.Whom does the underlined word “They” refer to in Paragraph 2?

A.Old people in the Soviet Union.

B.The Pakistani Hunzas.

C.All of the long lived people.

D.Some Georgians.

4.From the writer’s viewpoint, industrial society _____________.

A.is highly developed and beneficial to people

B.is a great advance in human history

C.is full of pressures and therefore bad for people’s health

D.should be replaced by isolated environment because it is bad for people’s health

5.Which of the following is true according to the article?

A.It is beneficial for people to be isolated.

B.People should learn to relax themselves from high pressures of life in industrial society.

C.The more hard physical work you do, the more healthy you will be.

D.The more remote areas you live in, the more healthy you will be.

The “balance of nature”is not an empty phrase. Nature provides a population to occupy a suitable environment and cuts down surplus population to fit the available food supply. One means of reducing surplus population is predators; others are parasitic diseases. Also, population density produces nervous disorders and even drives animals to mass migrations(移民群),like the lemmings of Norway who plunge（冲入）into the sea.

That predatory population increase to control other animals has long been known. Many years ago, the Hudson’s Bay Company records revealed that the fox population went up and down about a year after rabbit population had gone up and down.

Sometimes a situation occurs in which the predatory population is reduced to a level below which nature can readily replace. On Valcour Island in Lake Champlain, a costly campaign resulted in the elimination（消除）of predatory animals only to have birds and small animals increase for four years afterward. Then, lacking predator control, nature resorted to disease to cut down these populations.

Jamaica had an example of nature’s persistence in providing animals for existing habits. Sugar planters, about 75 years ago, imported mongooses（狐猴）to control rats. The mongooses killed off the rats, kids, puppies, and wildlife. Eventually, food became scarce and the mongoose’s population declines.

1. The fact that the number of predators has much to do with that of other animals 　　  .

A. is not recent knowledge　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.has just been learned

C.hasn’t been proved yet　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.is not important now

2. When predator control fails, nature brings animal population into balance by       .

A. eliminating the number of predators

B.seeking the help of disease to reduce other animals

C.increasing the number of other animals

D.replacing the number of predators immediately

3. When the mongooses killed off the rats they 　　  .

A. became problems themselves　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.ate the sugar crop

C.attacked humans　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D.had nothing to eat

4. It is implied in this passage that 　　  .

A. sugar planter imported mongooses to control rats

B.man should never kill animals

C.man has complete control over nature

D.to upset the balance of nature can be troublesome

Israel is a young nation but its people have a long history. The Jews, or Hebrews, first settled on the narrow strip of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea about 3 500 years ago. They lost this homeland in Roman times and did not get it back again until a few decades ago.

Roman soldiers conquered the Jews in 63 B.C., and their land became a Roman province called Judea. Again and again, the Jews rebelled and tried to throw out the conquerors. Finally, in 132 A.D., the Romans ended all resistance by killing many of the Jews and forcing most of the others to leave the country. The Jews who survived were scattered over Europe and Asia. They began a long period of exile (流放).

Wherever they lived, the Jews carefully preserved their religion and laws, their language and customs. They dreamed to their homeland, and planned for the day when they could return to it.

After World War Ⅱ, in 1947,they called for dividing Palestine into two states, one Arab and the other Jewish. The Jewish state became Israel.

1. The province called Judea was ruled by the __________ .

A. Russians　　　　　　　　  B.Romans　　　　　　　　　　 C.Romanians　　　　　　    D.Germans

2. How long was it since the Jews had left their homeland?

A. About 1802 years.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. About 1815 years.

C. About 3500 years.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. About 1884 years.

3. Why did the Jews rebel against the Romans?

A. They wanted to throw out their conquerors.

B.They wanted to protest against Roman customs.

C.They wanted to keep their customs and religion.

D.They wanted to set up a new country.

4. On the whole, the article tells about 　　  .

A. Romans who forced Jews to leave their homeland

B.the history of the Jews and their homeland

C.the United Nations after the Second World War

D.Jewish resistance

Americans are proud of their variety and individuality (个性), yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms, the first one is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian（百姓的）clothes. People have become conditioned to expect higher quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform is likely to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a hairdresser, or a waiter to lose professional identity（职业身份）than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical good points. They are often more comfortable and more lasting than civilian clothes.

Primary among the argument against uniforms is their lack of variety and the loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they are likely to think, speak, and act similarly on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

1. What surprises us is that Americans 　　  .

A. still judge a man by his clothes　　　　　　　　　　   B.think highly of uniforms

C.less prefer wearing civilian clothes　　　　　　　　  D.respect a lift operator in uniform

2. People are likely to think that a man in uniform 　　  .

A. suggests quality work　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.shows his social position

C.appears to be more practical　　　　　　　　　　　　   D.looks more fresh and attractive

3. Those who are against uniforms believe that people wearing uniforms 　　  .

A. are usually helpful　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.have little freedom

C.lose personal character　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.enjoy greater popularity

4. It can be concluded from the passage that 　　  .

A. people generally trust a person in uniform

B.people enjoy wearing comfortable uniform

C.the cost of the uniform is acceptable to people

D.people wear uniforms to show their professions

5. The underlined sentence tells us that 　　  .

A. it’s impossible for people with jobs to lose their identity

B. people’s identity can be recognized more easily by their uniforms

C.nurses and policemen must wear uniforms when working

D.people in those professions act in an easier way without uniforms

In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was to cross the “Great American Desert” in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.

The western desert can be dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers made of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floors. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and on TV.

In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.

There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.

In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130~165 degrees Fahrenheit. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America—925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.

Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes, and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant color.

1. In the 19th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they 　　  .

A. enjoyed the trip　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.wanted to make their home there

C.wanted to find new grassland there　　　　　　　　 D.had no water to drink

2. From the passage, we can conclude that 　　 .

A. the Western desert is a good place for people to live in

B.there is little water but there are many trees in the desert

C.the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty

D.till now, people know little about the desert

3. In the 1800s many travelers died in Death Valley because of 　　  .

A. illness　　　　　　　　　　  B.high temperature　　    C.cold weather　　　　　　  D.poisonous water

4. In the desert, animals will die 　　  .

A. if they move about　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B.if they can’t make holes underground

C.if they come out at night　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D.if they drink much water

New York is one of the last large American cities to have some of its policemen on horseback. The New York Police have 170 horses that they use in certain parts of the city. The horses are expensive to feed, but it is even more expensive to take care of them. Because the horses must walk on the streets, they need special horseshoes. In fact, they need more than 8 000 of them each year. Every police horse in New York gets new shoes every month. Keeping these shoes in good repair is the job of six blacksmiths. There are only about thirty-five of these blacksmiths in the whole United States.

The cost of shoeing a horse is between twenty dollars and thirty-five dollars, and it takes a skilled blacksmith two or three hours to do the job.

A blacksmith’s job is not an easy one. He must be able to shape a shoe from a piece of plain metal and then fit it to the horse’s hoof (蹄). The blacksmith must bend over all the time when he is fitting the shoe and must hold the weight of the horse’s leg while he works. Clearly, a blacksmith must be very strong. But even more important, he must be able to deal with horses—for before the blacksmith can begin his work, he has to get his horse to lift its leg.

1. With the help of the horses, the New York policemen 　　  .

A. go everywhere in the city

B. go to certain places in the city

C. needn’t get cars go to the suburbs of the city

D. can do their work easily and quickly

2. It is rather expensive to take care of the horses because 　　  .

A. the police horses are strong and wild

B. the policemen using them have to wear special shoes

C. the police horses have to wear a great number of special shoes every year

D. the police station has to pay a lot to the six blacksmiths who take care of the horses

3. It usually takes 　　   to shoe a horse well.

A. thirty-five skilled blacksmiths a couple of hours

B. six blacksmiths more than two hours

C. a skilled blacksmith over three hours

D. an experienced blacksmith a couple of hours

4. A blacksmith has to be able to 　　  .

A. make horses’ special shoes from a piece of plain metal to the measure of their hoofs

B. bend over all day and night to work

C. weigh the horse’s leg while he works

D. lift up his own leg and then begin his work

Boston—Thieves dressed as police entered a museum early Sunday and stole 11 paintings, including major works by Rembrandt, Dagas, Manet, and Vermerr, FBI (美国联邦调查局) and the museum officials said.

The first judgment placed value of at least $100 million on the works stolen from the Isabella Teward Gardener Museum, said Boston police spokesman Jim Tordan.

The judgment was a loose one because the paintings have not been sold in nearly a century, authorities said.

But art experts said such well-known works could not be sold in nearly a century, authorities said.

“It was not discovered until the cleaning people did some cleaning at 3 a.m.,” said Paul Cavangah, special FBI agent (法律顾问) in Boston.

“This is one of those thefts (盗窃) where people actually spent some time researching and took specific things,” he said.

He said the investigation (调查) would not be limited to the U.S.

William Robinson, of Harvard University’s Foggel Museum, called the objects stolen “major works”.

1.The best headline for this newspaper article is 　　  .

A.A Theft Took Place in Boston?　　　　　　　　　　 B.Artworks Stolen by Thieves

C.Major Works?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D.Investigation into the Theft

2.The theft was discovered by 　　  .

A. Boston police?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B.art experts

C.the cleaning people?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D.special FBI agent

3.The last time the paintings were sold was about 　　  .

A. nearly a century ago?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.at 8 a.m.

C.early Sunday?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D.over a century

4.Investigation into the theft will take place 　　  .

A. in Boston?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B.in the United States

C.all over the world?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.in the U.S. and over the world

5.The thieves took paintings by 　　  .

A. Jim Jordan?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B.art experts

C.Paul Cavangah?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D.Rembrandt, Dagas, Manet, and Vermerr

We spent a day in the country, picking wild flowers. Our car looked like a flower shop inside! On the way home we had to stop at traffic lights, and then my wife noticed the cupboard.

It was tall and narrow, and it stood outside a furniture shop. “Buy it,” she said at once. “We’ll carry it home on the roof rack (行李架). I’ve always wanted one like that.”

What could I do? Ten minutes later I was ￡20 poorer, and the cupboard was tied on to the roof rack. The police even stopped traffic to let us through. Carrying furniture was a good idea.

After a time my wife said, “There is a long line of cars behind. Why don’t they overtake(超车),I wonder?”

In fact a police car did overtake. The two officers inside looked at us seriously as they passed. But then with great kindness, they led us through the rush-hour traffic. The police car stopped at our village church. One of the officers came to me.

I was puzzled. “Thanks, officer,” I said. “You’ve been very kind. I live just down the road.”? He was staring at our load: first at the flowers, then at the cupboard. “Well, well,” he said, laughing, “It’s a cupboard you’ve got here! We thought it was…er, something else.”

My wife began to laugh. Then the truth hit me like a stone between the eyes. I smiled at the officer. “Yes, it’s a cupboard, but thanks again.” I drove home as fast as I could.

1.The writer writes the story in order to 　　  .

A. praise the police officers　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B.thank the other drivers

C.show people are kind to each other?　　　　　　 D.tell us their funny experience

2.The writer stopped their car on their way home 　　  .

A.to buy a cupboard?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.to pick wild flowers

C.waiting for the lights to go green?　　　　　　    D.when they came to a flower shop

3.The driver behind didn’t overtake because 　　  .

A. they wanted to show their special kindness

B.they were afraid the cupboard would fall down

C.they were admiring the flowers in the writer’s car

D.they wondered what was inside the cupboard

4.The writer’s wife began to laugh because 　　  .

A. she thought the police officers were foolish

B.she was interested in what the police officer said

C.she was glad they were treated kindly

D.she had realized the truth

5.As a matter of fact, the police 　　  .

A. failed to help the writer?　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.did help the writer

C.got the writer into trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D.made the writer angry