阅读理解阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中选出最佳选项.

　　Considered as a continuous body of fluid (流体), the atmosphere (大气) is another kind of ocean. Yet, in view of the total amount of rain and snow on land areas in the course of a year, one of the most amazing water facts is the very small amount of water in the atmosphere at any given time. The volume (体积) of the lower seven miles of the atmosphere, where weather events take place, is roughly four times the volume of the world's oceans. But the atmosphere contains very little water. It is chiefly in the form of vapor (蒸气), some of which is carried over land by air currents. If all vapor suddenly fell from the air onto the earth's surface, it would form a layer only about one inch thick. A heavy rainstorm on a given area may use up only a small percentage of the water from the air mass that passes over. How, then, can some land areas receive more than 400 inches of rain per year? How can several inches of rain fall during a single storm in a few minutes or hours? The answer is that rain- producing air masses are always moving, and as the driving air mass moves on, new damp air takes its place.

　　The basic source of most water vapor is the ocean. Evaporation (蒸发), vapor transport, and rainfall make up the continuous movement of water from ocean to atmosphere to land and hack to the sea．Rivers return water to the sea．In the underground, flowing bodies of water send out some water directly into rivers and some directly to the sea．

(1)What might have been discussed in the preceding (在前的)paragraphs?

[　　]

(2)It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

[　　]

A．the atmosphere has a lot of water in it when it goes around

B．the water in the atmosphere is purer than that in the world's oceans

C．the amount of water in the atmosphere is greater than that in the oceans in the world

D．the small amount of water in the atmosphere plays an important part in the rainfall on the earth

(3)Which fact does this passage lead us to believe?

[　　]

A．The volume of the atmosphere is four times that of the world's oceans.

B．The water in the oceans is the main source of rain and snow on land areas.

C．The atmosphere is mainly made up of the vapor carried over land by air currents.

D．The earth cannot support the water in the atmosphere if it falls down onto the earth suddenly．

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳答案.

　　Overhead bridges are found in many parts of Beijing, especially in places where traffic is very heavy and crossing the road is dangerous.

　　The purpose of these bridges is to enable pedestrians（行人）to cross roads safely. Overhead bridges are used in very much the same way as zebra crossing. They are more efficient although less convenient because people have to climb up a long flight of steps. This is inconvenient especially to older people. When pedestrians use an overhead bridge, they do not hold up traffic. However, when they cross a busy road using a zebra crossing, traffic is held up. This is why the government has built many overhead bridges to help pedestrians and to keep traffic moving at the same time.

　　The government of Beijing has spent a large amount of money in building these bridges. For their own safety, pedestrians should be encouraged to use them instead of risking their lives by dashing across the road. Old people, however, may find it a little difficult to climb up and down the steps, but it is still much safer than walking across the road with all the danger of moving traffic.

　　Overhead bridges serve a very useful purpose. Pedestrians, both old and young, should make it a habit to use them. This will prevent unnecessary accidents and loss of life.

（1）What is the advantage of overhead bridges mentioned in this passage?

[　　]

A. Taller trucks can pass under them.

B. Pedestrians can climb up and have a view of the city.

C. They are safer for pedestrians and can keep traffic moving at the same time.

D. They are easier and more convenient for the pedestrians.

（2）Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

[　　]

A. Overhead bridges are found in every part of Beijing.

B. Overhead bridges are only found in center of Beijing.

C. Overhead bridges are found in many parts of big cities in China.

D. Overhead bridges are found in places where traffic is heavy.

（3）The underlined words a zebra crossing probably mean ________.

[　　]

A. a safe place across a road for pedestrians to walk across the road

B. a wild animal from Africa that looks like a horse with broad dark brown and white stripes（条纹）on its body

C. a safe place across a road for zebra to walk across the road

D. a safe place across a road for children to play a game

（4）What is the writer's attitude towards overhead bridge?

[　　]

A. It is inconvenient for older people to walk across the road.

B. It is much safer for pedestrians though climbing up and down the steps may be a little difficult.

C. An overhead bridge is more beautiful than a zebra crossing.

D. To build overhead bridges is the business of the government.

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳答案.

　　Six weeks before the 1984 Olympic Games, Mary Lou hurt her right knee. She went to Richmond, Virginia. She had an operation done on it. Doctor told her she wouldn't be able to go to the Games. However, Mary Lou started working hard. Her knees got stronger. She was able to compete in the Games.

　　The last event was the vaulting horse. Mary Lou knew she needed a perfect 10 to win. Ecaterina Szabo, from Romania, was half a point ahead. Mary Lou thought about what she had to do. She was very excited. She raced up to the springboard. She vaulted（跳跃）over the horse and into the air. She wheeled around twice in the air. She landed on both feet. Her score was a 10 ! She was the first American to win the all-round gold medal!

　　Mary Lou was named sportswoman of the year by Sports Illustrated. She was on TV and did lots of commercial（广告节目）. People all over the world wanted to see her.

（1）The story mainly tells about ________.

[　　]

A. Mary's family life

B. Mary Lou's knee operation at Richmond, Virginia

C. how Mary Lou won the gold medal and became world famous

D. Mary Lou was named sportswoman of the year in USA.

（2）Mary Lou had an operation on her right knee ________.

[　　]

A. a few weeks after the 1984 Olympic Games

B. just a few weeks before the 1984 Olympic Games

C. during the 1984 Olympic Games

D. after she won the gold medal

（3）According to the story, which of the following statements is true?

[　　]

A. Mary Lou almost didn't make to the 1984 Olympic Games.

B. Mary Lou missed the 1984 Olympic Games.

C. The United States didn't do well in the 1984 Olympic Games.

D. The 1984 Olympic Games were held in Richmond, Virginia.

（4）The underlined part “the vaulting horse” in paragraph 2 probably means

________.

[　　]

A. a kind of sports game

B. a kind of horse

C. a horse that can vault

D. a horse that can wheel in the air

（5）What can we learn from the story?

[　　]

A. Good luck can bring happiness.

B. Failure is the mother of success.

C. One can easily achieve big success by chance.

D. Hardworking and self-confidence will bring you success.

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳答案.

　　Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life: death and taxes. Many people feel that the United States has the worst taxes in the world.

　　Taxes are the money that people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States: federal（联邦的）, state, and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes.

　　Salaried people who earn more than four to five thousand per year must pay a certain part of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies for different people. It depends on the salaries. The federal government has a two-level income tax: that is, 15 or 28 percent. $17, 850 is the cut off. The tax rate is 15 percent below $17, 850 and 28 percent above.

　　The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, or any of the other forty-eight states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which people buy in the state. Some states use income tax and sales tax to raise their revenues（税收）.

　　The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax（residents who own a home have to pay taxes on it）and excise tax（货物税）, which is collected on vehicles in a city. The cities use this money for education, police, public works, etc.

　　Since Americans pay such nigh taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often say that the government misuses their tax dollars. They all believe that taxes are too high in this country.

（1）In the United States, taxes are collected to provide revenues for ________.

[　　]

A. the federal government

B. the state government

C. the city government

D. the three levels of government

（2）How much money does an American earning $40, 000 per year pay to the federal government as income tax according to the passage?

[　　]

A. 28% of this income.

B. 15% of this income.

C. $17,850.

D. $5,000.

（3）What happens to buyers when a sales tax is collected?

[　　]

A. They have to pay more than what the item costs.

B. They can pay less than what the item costs.

C. They have to pay exactly what the item costs.

D. They will all give up buying the item.

（4）What tax does an American have to pay to the city if he owns a car?

（5）After reading the passage, we might feel that Americans seem to be ________.

[　　]

A. satisfied with their taxes

B. proud of their taxes

C. unhappy about their taxes

D. very angry at their taxes

阅读下面短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳答案.

　　When a magazine for high-school students asked its readers what life would be like in twenty years, they said: Machines would be run by solar power. Building would rotate so they could follow the sun to take maximum advantage of its light and heat. Walls would“radiate light”and“change color with the push of a button”. Food would be replaced by pills. School would be taught“by electrical impulse while we sleep”. Cars would have radar. Does this sound like the years 2000? Actually, the article was written in 1958 and the question was“What will life be like in 1978?”

　　The future is much too important to simply guess about, the way the high school students did, so experts are regularly asked to predict（预言）accurately（准确地）. By carefully studying the present, skilled businessmen, scientists, and politicians are supposedly able to figure out in advance what will happen. But can they? One expert on cities wrote: Cities of the future would not be crowded, but would have space for farms and fields. People would travel to work in“airbuses”, large all-weather helicopters carrying up to 200 passengers, when a person left the airbus station he could drive a coin-operated car equipped with radar. The radar equipment of cars would make traffic accidents“almost unheard of”. Does that sound familiar? If the expert had been accurate it would be, because he was writing in 1957. His subject was “The City of 1982”.

　　If the experts sometimes sound like high-school students, it's probably because future study is still a new field. But economic（经济的）predicting has been around for a long time. It should be accurate, and generally it is. But there have been some big mistakes in this field, too. In early 1929, most predictors saw an excellent future

for the stock market. In October of that year, the stock market had its worst losses ever.

　　One predictor knew that predictions about the future would probably be wrong. In 1957, H.J. Rand of the Rand Corporation was asked about the year 2000,“Only one thing is certain,”he answered.“Children born today will have reached the age of43.”

（1）High-school students' answers to“What would life be in 1978?”sound ________.

[　　]

（2）According to the writer, forecasting is fairly accurate in ________.

[　　]

（3）Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

[　　]

A. Predictions are accurate.

B. Professionals sometimes sound like high school students.

C. There have been some big mistakes in the field of economic forecasting.

D. Predictions about the future will probably be wrong.

（4）The present passage was most probably written ________.

[　　]

A. just before 2000

B. in 1958

C. after 1982

D. in 1957

（5）H.J. Rand's prediction about the year 2000 shows that ________.

[　　]

A. it is easy to figure out in advance what will happen

B. it is difficult to figure out in advance what will happen

C. only experts can figure out in advance what will happen

D. very few experts can figure out in advance what will happen

　　阅读理解

During the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries the London district of Southwark was prosperous (繁荣), and a very important and far-reaching development was taking place at Bankside, an area situated just beside the church now known as Southwark Cathedral. The Rose Theatre, the Swan, the Hope Playhouse and Bear Garden were set up here along with the famous Globe Theatre, in which Shakespeare acted.

　　William Shakespeare is commemorated (纪念) in Southwark Cathedral today by the modern memorial window in the south aisle. The window was designed by Christopher Webb in 1954, after an earlier window had been destroyed in the war, and describes characters from Shakespeare's plays. Below it is a figure of Shakespeare, carved (雕刻) by Henry McCarthy in 1992, set against a background of seventeenth-century Southwark in relief (浮雕), showing the Globe Theatre, Winchester Palace and the Tower of St. Saviour's Church. This memorial was provided by public support and was dedicated (奉献) in 1911, and every year a birthday service, attended by many great actors and actresses, is　held here in honour of Shakespeare's genius. Shakespeare's brother Edmund was buried here in 1607, and, although the position of Edmund's grave is unknown, he is commemorated by an inscribed (刻写) stone.

(1)In Shakespeare's lifetime Bankside in Southwark was well-known for ________.

[　　]

A. the style of its buildings

B. Shakespeare's performances at the Globe Theatre

C. it's influence on public taste

D. the number of plays produced there

(2)The original memorial window to Shakespeare in Southwark Cathedral was ________.

[　　]

A. designed in 1945

B. destroyed by enemy action

C. replaced during the Second World War

D. carved in 1912

(3)Under the window there is a ________.

[　　]

A. painting of seventeenth-century Southwark

B. wooden picture

C. carved figure

D. grave of Shakespear's brother

(4)In Southwark Cathedral, on the anniversary (周年) of Shakespeare a birth, there is ________.

[　　]

A. a commemoration service

B. a drama festival

C. a special service for actors

D. a theatric

(5)This information would most likely be found on ________.

[　　]

A. an advertisement

B. a historical stone

C. a tourist guide

D. a news bulletin(简报)

　　阅读理解

The writers of murder stories go to a great deal of trouble to keep up guessing right up to the end. In actual fact, people often behave more strangely in real life than they do in stories.

　　The following advertisement once appeared in a local newspaper:“An opportunity to earn $ 250 in a few minutes. A man... willing to take chances, wanted for an out- of-the-ordinary job which can be performed only once.” A reader found this offer very nice and write to the advertiser. But being a bit suspicious (怀疑), he gave a false name. Soon afterwards, he received a reply. Enclosed in the envelope was a typed note instructing him to ring a certain number if he was still interested. He did so and learned on the telephone that the advertiser wanted him “to gel rid of somebody” and would discuss it more fully with him the next day. But the man told the police and from then on acted under their instructions.

　　The police saw the two men meet and watched them as they drove away together. In the car the advertiser came to the point at once; he told the man he wanted him to shoot his wife. The reason he gave was that he was suffering from a serious disease and wanted to live in a warmer country, but his wife objected to this. Giving the man some money, the advertiser told him to buy a gun and warned him to be careful of the dog, though it would not bite, it might attract attention. He also gave him a photograph of his wife so that he would be able to recognize her.

　　After that, the advertiser suggested that the man should“do the job”the next morning. At the same time he would prepare his wife by telling her that a young man was going to call. After the murder they would meet again outside a railway station and the money would be paid as arranged. The second meeting never took place, for the advertiser was arrested shortly afterwards and charged with attempting to persuade someone to murder his wife.

(1)The sort of person that the advertisement in the newspaper asked for was a person ________.

[　　]

A. who was not afraid of police

B. who wanted a profitable job

C. who wished to earn $ 500 with two opportunities

D. who was fond of adventure

(2)The reader gave a false name when he answered the advertisement because ________.

[　　]

A. he did not want the police to suspect him

B. he did not fully believe the advertiser

C. the offer of the advertiser was only $ 250

D. the advertiser did not want to discuss the job fully on the phone

(3)The advertiser wanted the reader“to gel rid of somebody”. This implies ________.

[　　]

A. the advertiser was surrounded by the police

B. it was inconvenient for the advertiser to speak directly at the time

C. the advertiser wished to kill his wife the next day

D. the advertiser would hire the man to kill someone

(4)The man told the police of the murder plan so that ________.

[　　]

A. the advertiser was arrested red-handed

B. the man was paid $ 250 as arranged

C. the wife's life was spared

D. the dog would not be alarmed

　　阅读理解

This is your chance to win a Breakaway weekend for two people at any of the 83 Breakaway hotels throughout Britain.

　　To win the Breakaway weekend for two, answer these four questions and send your entry, to arrive not later than 31 July, 1999, to Team House, 24 Church Street, Ashford, Kent, TN 25 5BJ.

　　1. The St Cincent Rocks Hotel, Bristol is on the Avou Gorge which is crossed by the Clifton Bridge. Who designed the bridge?

　　2. The Aerodrome Hotel, Croydon is next to the airfield from which England's solo (单独的) pilot made her record nights the 1930s. Who was she?

　　3.The Talbot Hotel, Oundle, Northants is not far from the village of Fotheringgay and the castle where one of history's most famous queens was imprisoned. Who was she?

　　4. The Larkfield Hotel, Maidstone is a few miles away from one of England's top motor racing tracks. What is the name of the track?

　　The person whose correct entry is picked out first by a computer will win the prize. This decision is final. The winner will be sent an excellent value Breakaway booklet giving details of the 83 hotels from which he/she can choose where to spend the prize weekend

　　Every Breakaway hotel gives you the chance to see something different, while providing you with comfortable surroundings and good food.

　　A Breakaway weekend includes a three-course dinner, accommodation (房间) and a full English breakfast, for two nights. You also get Sunday lunch, either a traditional meal at your hotel, or, if you are planning to go sightseeing, the hotel will provide a packed lunch for you.

　　Breakaway hotels are great places for families. Children can choose from their own special menu, and for those up to12 years old accommodation is free of charge when sharing a room with their parents.

　　A splendid value Breakaway booklet will be sent to you if you dial this number: 025257527.

(1)Entries for the competition which arrive on 31 July, 1999 will ________.

[　　]

A. be too late for the competition

B. be entered with the others

C. have a better chance of winning

D. go to a different address

(2)Question 4 in the competition is different from the others because ________.

[　　]

A. the hotel described is a modern one

B. it asks about a place not a person

C. the hotel can be reached easily by ear

D. the answer is the name of a man

(3)The announcement suggests that the best way to get a Breakaway booklet is to ________.

[　　]

A. enter the competition

B. write to one of the hotels

C. write to Team House.

D. telephone 025257527

(4)The competition will be won by the person ________.

[　　]

A. who sends in the first correct answers

B. whose correct entry is chosen by a computer

C. whose entry arrives first on 31 July

D. whose entry is the final one chosen by the computer

阅读理解　　

Emma Willard Hart (1787--1870) was an American pioneer educator. In her time colleges and universities were for men, and women were not permitted to attend. Emma received advanced education at home from her father and became a school teacher at twenty. She continued to teach at school for several years after her marriage, then began offering college lessons in her home to women students. Later she founded a school in New York stale, which was the first school of higher education in the U. S. for women. Emma Willard also tried to persuade New York State to pass a law to allow women to attend public colleges and universities, though that did not come about until after her death. Some years later people remembered her for her life-long efforts and elected her to the U. S Hall of Fame in 1905.

(1)Women in the USA ________ in Emma Willard Hart's lifetime.

[　　]

A．were allowed to receive higher education

B．went to separate colleges and universities.

C．enjoyed equal rights with men to receive education

D．began to fight for the right to receive higher education

(2)How did Emma's father help her to do what she did? ________

[　　]

A．He permitted her to start a school at home.

B．He urged her to become a school teacher.

C．He taught her college lessons himself.

D．He sent Emma to college.

(3)Which of the following is the right order of the events given in the passage?

a．New York state allowed women to attend public colleges and universities.

b．The first women's school of higher education was set up.

c．Emma Willard Hart died.

d．Emma Willard Hart ran classes in her home.

e．Emma Willard Hart began to be a teacher.

￡．Emma Willard Hart was elected to the Hall of Fame.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　Today remarkable escapes are not unusual. In cinemas and on TV we watch secret agents (特工) using all kinds of modern equipment, escape from impossible situations. If we believe what we read in the newspapers, the world of cinema and TV is not so far from the real world. Yet wonderful and brave as modern agents are, none have succeeded in bettering the remarkable feats of Erich Weiss, known to the world as the Great Houdini.

　　Erich Weiss was born in the U. S. A. in 1874. When he was seven years old he saw his first circus (马戏表演). He wanted to be a magician and conjurer and he began practising every day. He joined an athletic club because he believed that physical fitness was important. When he was eleven he got a job as a locksmith and it was not long before he was able to pick any lock. He was even able lo open handcuffs. In 1893 Erich appeared at the Chicago World Fair as Harry Houdini, Handcuffed King and Escape Artist. This was the start of a remarkable career, which lasted thirty-four years. In this time Houdini and his wife, perhaps the only person who knew the secret of his tricks, traveled all over the world. Houdini performed before millions of people including kings, queens, dukes and millionaires.

　　Houdini was able to make elephants disappear but his special trick was escaping. Once he was handcuffed and put into a packing case. He was them tied with rope, weighed, and thrown into the sea. It took Houdini less than five minutes to come to the surface. He once challenged the police of fourteen countries to keep him handcuffed and locked up. In Russia he was handcuffed and locked in a steel prison van. The door was locked and chained. There was only a well barred window five inches square. The Russians thought it was impossible to escape from this. Houdini had no modern equipment but it took only an hour. There was nothing to show how he did it. Nobody knows how he performed his remarkable tricks but we do know he practised every day of his life. He was always in very good physical condition. His toes could do the work of fingers. He used to tie string in complicated (复杂的) knots (结) and then undo the knots with his toes without looking! He also learned to stay underwater for six minutes and had an ice cold bath every morning so he could work in winter. There have been many excape artists since Houdini but none have been quite so clever.

(1)What is Houdini's special trick?

[　　]

A．Making elephants disappear.

B．Picking locks.

C．Opening handcuffs.

D．Escaping.

(2)Compared with the modern agents and the other escape artiste, Houdini is ________.

[　　]

A．as clever as themp

B．cleverer than most of them

C．the cleverest

D．not so clever as them

(3)He began to finish his career at the age of ________.

[　　]

(4)In the world perhaps ________ knew the secret of his tricks.

[　　]

A．no one

B．only his wife

C．modern agents

D．other escape artists