—Having many helpers makes a task easier and faster to complete.

—I think so. _______ .

A. Many hands make light work

B. Too many cooks spoil the broth

C. The early bird catch the worm

D. The more you learn, the more you know

 

第三部分:阅读理解（共20小题;每小题2分, 满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每篇短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal attack--when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who was on his trapped way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam's being late--serious illness at home--he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.

Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room; everyone was hard at work. Sam's supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. "How do you do!" he said. "I'm Sam Maynard. I'm applying for a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?"

The room exploded in laughter, except that the supervisor had to clamp off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job--with the only tool that could win, a laugh.

Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying "no", criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other forum.

51. Why was Sam late for his job?

A. Because he was seriously ill at home.           B. Because he received an ultimatum.

C. Because he was busy applying for a new job.  D. Because he was caught in a traffic jam.

52. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Sam Maynard saved his job with humor     B. Humor is important in our lives

C. Early bird can get the worm               D. Humor can solve racial discriminations

53. The phrase "clamp off" in Paragraph 3 means       .

A. try to hold back    B. pretend to set      C. send off         D. give out

54. Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?

A. Many lose life's battles for they are always late.

B. Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.

C. It wasn't the first time that Sam came late for his work.

D. Humor is the most effective way of solving problems.

 

I bent down in the shade under a sixty-foot-tall cactus（仙人掌）, waiting for them to appear. The time was eight thirty in the morning. For seven mornings I had come to the same distant spot in the Sonoran Desert, in southern Arizona. I was here to watch the roadrunner, a small fast-running bird.

I spotted two birds under a bush with red flowers. The roadrunners rushed out from under it. The birds moved rapidly on long skinny legs. Their feathers were brown and black. Their tails were seven inches long. Roadrunners use the tail for balance when running.

That day, the roadrunners performed a courtship（求婚）dance. They ran in wild circles. Suddenly, one stopped and stood still, its round eyes full of light. The second bird took hold of a small stick off the ground and presented it to the first, a gift serving as a symbol of their partnership.

    I returned to the spot each day, leaving bits of boiled chicken hoping they would return. Roadrunners eat snakes, lizards, mice, beetles, and spiders. Food is in short supply in the desert, so my offerings were welcome. The pair grew used to me.

    Soon after the pair finished building their nest six white eggs appeared in the nest bowl. In about three weeks, six roadrunner chicks, skin as black as coal, cried for food. Their parents brought food such as fence lizards and stink bugs. They fed their young until they were a month and a half old.

    Early one morning, a coyote（丛林狼）came around, nose to the ground, for fresh bird meat. The roadrunners fearlessly drove the coyote away, but it was soon back. After three attacks the coyote went away for good, tail between its legs.

    I stopped watching the nest when the little roadrunners, at two months of age, were ready to live on their own. It was hard to break away from “my roadrunner family.” Whenever I see a roadrunner now, rushing over the ground, I say hello to it as an old friend.

1.The author went to the Sonoran Desert to       .

   A. go on a tour of the desert

   B. carry out research into some animals in the desert

C. make an observation about a kind of bird

   D. enjoy an adventure in southern Arizona

2.What can we learn about roadrunners from the text?

A. They have short tails and legs.        

B. They move at a fast pace.

C. Their feathers are red and brown.      

D. They don’t like boiled chicken.

3.We can learn from the last but one paragraph that the roadrunners were        .

   A. brave         B. clever         C. easily-frightened         D. lazy

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

   A. How do roadrunners seek a partner?

B. My close friendship with roadrunners.

   C. Roadrunner family in the Sonoran Desert.        

D. How did I find roadrunners in Arizona?

 

I bent down in the shade under a sixty-foot-tall cactus（仙人掌）, waiting for them to appear. The time was eight thirty in the morning. For seven mornings I had come to the same distant spot in the Sonoran Desert, in southern Arizona. I was here to watch the roadrunner, a small fast-running bird.
I spotted two birds under a bush with red flowers. The roadrunners rushed out from under it. The birds moved rapidly on long skinny legs. Their feathers were brown and black. Their tails were seven inches long. Roadrunners use the tail for balance when running.
That day, the roadrunners performed a courtship（求婚）dance. They ran in wild circles. Suddenly, one stopped and stood still, its round eyes full of light. The second bird took hold of a small stick off the ground and presented it to the first, a gift serving as a symbol of their partnership.
I returned to the spot each day, leaving bits of boiled chicken hoping they would return. Roadrunners eat snakes, lizards, mice, beetles, and spiders. Food is in short supply in the desert, so my offerings were welcome. The pair grew used to me.
Soon after the pair finished building their nest six white eggs appeared in the nest bowl. In about three weeks, six roadrunner chicks, skin as black as coal, cried for food. Their parents brought food such as fence lizards and stink bugs. They fed their young until they were a month and a half old.
Early one morning, a coyote（丛林狼）came around, nose to the ground, for fresh bird meat. The roadrunners fearlessly drove the coyote away, but it was soon back. After three attacks the coyote went away for good, tail between its legs.
I stopped watching the nest when the little roadrunners, at two months of age, were ready to live on their own. It was hard to break away from “my roadrunner family.” Whenever I see a roadrunner now, rushing over the ground, I say hello to it as an old friend.
【小题1】The author went to the Sonoran Desert to       .

A．go on a tour of the desert

B．carry out research into some animals in the desert

C．make an observation about a kind of bird

D．enjoy an adventure in southern Arizona

【小题2】What can we learn about roadrunners from the text?

A．They have short tails and legs.

B．They move at a fast pace.

C．Their feathers are red and brown.

D．They don’t like boiled chicken.

【小题3】We can learn from the last but one paragraph that the roadrunners were        .

A．brave

B．clever

C．easily-frightened

D．lazy

【小题4】Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A．How do roadrunners seek a partner?

B．My close friendship with roadrunners.

C．Roadrunner family in the Sonoran Desert.

D．How did I find roadrunners in Arizona?

The following is a father’s advice to his son/daughter, who has just graduated(毕业) from high school:

First of all, congratulations on your graduation! Graduation from high school means that a new stage of life is ahead of you. 1._____.

2.      . After you have messed up（弄乱） something, you should learn to clean it up yourself. Cleanliness is indeed close to good manners.

Don’t mistake knowledge for wisdom（智慧）. No matter how much information or knowledge you have, you will never make right judgments if you don’t have wisdom. 3._____. If you can imagine the possible future outcomes of your present decisions and actions, you can avoid mistakes. And if you can reflect(思考) on the mistake you have made, you can avoid making the same mistakes again and again. Such is wisdom.

Don’t complain(抱怨). When you take up a job, do your best to carry it out. 4._____.

Finally, be an early bird. 5.______. And the sight of the rising sun will warm your heart and give you energy for the day ahead. Besides, being an early bird, you have plenty of time to take exercise or do a lot of work.

A．At the beginning of this new stage, I have some advice for you.

B．If you get up earlier than the sun, you can watch it rise up slowly into the sky

C．Once you start a job, you should try your best to do it well.

D．Clean your own room and do your own washing.

E. Don’t waste time complaining about it, no matter how difficult and boring it is.

F. Get up early and go for some morning exercises to build up your body.

G. Wisdom comes from imagination and reflection.