四、考查阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30 分）

阅读下面的短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Dear Florence,

We arrived in India last week, and the voyage was the worst experience of my entire life. I’m lucky to be alive!

The first part of the journey was terrible, because the ship hit bad weather almost as soon as we left Liverpool. But much, much worse was to come. Later, we were involved in a collision with another boat and we had to abandon ship!

We had been at sea for about two weeks and we were in the Mediterranean. There is now a canal between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea called the Suez Canal, which opened last year. Our boat stopped at Port Said, the Egyptian port at the entrance to the canal. I remember looking through the porthole of my cabin and wishing that I could go ashore and visit this fascinating place, but mummy had ordered that I was to stay in the cabin because I was feeling ill. “you must stay here for at least another two days.” I remember her saying. How wrong she would turn out to be! The ship left the port and headed towards the canal . I was alone in the cabin and I watched the port disappear into the distance. Suddenly there was a loud bang, followed by the most awful crunching（嘎吱的）sound, and the ship shook and turned slightly on its side.

There was an eerie silence for a moment, then people started shouting. Mummy came running into the cabin and told me that we had collided with another boat. She took my hand and we ran along the deck towards the lifeboats. There was a lot of shouting and people were running everywhere, but the crew were all acting calmly, helping people into the lifeboats and telling people not to panic.

Well, clearly we survived, as did all the passengers and crew of the ship. The other boat wasn’t so lucky. It sank and several lives were lost.

I will write about the rest of the journey soon. Please give my love to Aunt Claire and Uncle Eric.

Your loving cousin,

Jane

56．When was the letter written?

       A．Before the author went to India.     B．In the mid – 19th century.

       C．When the author arrived in Egypt.  D．Just after the author arrived in India.

57．Why was the journey to India such a bad experience for the author?

       A．She was sick when it started and nearly died in Egypt.

       B．Her ship left England in bad weather and crashed into another ship near the Suez Canal.

       C．She was seasick when her ship sank.

       D．She was alone when her ship hit another boat and she got sick.

58．The author’s mother didn’t allow her to go ashore and visit the port city, Said because       .

       A．she was homesick at that time B．she didn’t feel very well then

       C．she could meet some danger ashore D．she could see the city through the porthole on board

59．The underlined phrase “eerie silence” in the sixth paragraph means          .

      A．pleasant calm silence       B．long peaceful silence

       C．sudden long silence  D．strange uncomfortable silence

第二部分：阅读理解（20小题, 每小题2分，满分40分）

阅读下列短文, 从每题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中, 选出最佳选项

A New Zealand fishermen caught what may prove to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid(鱿鱼).

In the cold, dark waters of the Antarctic hides a creature with eight arms, two super long tentacles(触须) and eyes as big as dinner plates. Sound like something out of a science fiction movie? Think again.

On February 21, New Zealand fishermen landed a colossal squid the length of a school bus. They had been fishing with long lines for Chilean sea bass in the waters off the coast of New Zealand when they caught the rare squid. With two hours of hard work, the crew skillfully pulled the creature into a net and dragged in aboard their ship.

Scientists evaluate that the animal weighs about a half ton and is about 40 feet long. That would make this colossal squid the biggest on record.

First identified in 1925 after two tentacles were found in a whale’s stomach, the colossal squid has long been a mystery. The animals are not easy to observe because they can go down to ocean depths of 6,500 feet. What scientists do know from studying the bodies of a half dozen colossal squids is that they are fierce hunters.

The recently captured colossal squid has been frozen to keep it for scientific study. It will be transported to New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, in the capital city of Wellington. Experts believe it to be the first adult male ever caught undamaged. Scientists hope to learn more about the colossal squid’s diet, behavior and reproductive(繁殖)patterns.

“Scientists will be very interested in this amazing creature, ”said New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderson. “It adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment. ”

1. Why is it usually difficult for experts to observe the squid?

A. Because it moves too fast                       B. Because it is too large.

C. Because it is dangerous.                      D. Because it can go down to deep ocean.

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The squid is from a science fiction story 

B. The fishermen often meet colossal squids

C. Scientists know much about the colossal squid. 

D. The fishermen had some difficulty catching the large squid.

3. What’s the purpose of catching such a huge squid?

A. To make it into food  B. To set a world record 

C. To do research on it  D. To display it for visitors

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. The biggest squid ever found                      B. Scientific research on squid

C. The lifestyle of the colossal squid         D. How the fishermen caught the squid

IV阅读理解 32%
If you are a 30-plus plain Jane, or if you are not a local fresh graduate, get ready for the embarrassment(尴尬) in the job market. And you are just one of the millions to face discrimination（歧视）.
About 85 percent of the 3,424 people covered by a survey in 10 big cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, said discrimination in work and employment（就业） did exist. Also, the survey results given on Friday showed that 58 percent thought the problem to be severe（严重）.
Appearance, height and gender are the most discriminative categories（范畴）, the Beijing Morning Post reported.
Some requirements could be funny. The newspaper said Beijing citizen Zhang Meng, who had more than 10 years’ driving experience, failed to get a job because his possible employers considered his name to be “unlucky”.
“Meng”, they said, literally(字面上)means “rush” in Chinese, which made him more accident prone（倾向）than others.
Employers discriminate against people from certain regions or areas, such as Central China’s Henan Province, because of the bad impression they have about them. Beijing citizens, too, have their share of bad luck because they are generally considered lazy.
Cai Dingjian, a professor from China University of Political Science and Law, who headed the survey, said such requirements, which are not connected with the job itself, violate（侵犯）people’s equal right to look for a career. “It violates basic human rights,” he said to the newspaper.
Cai said governments should pay attention to such discriminations because they exist not only in companies, but are also practiced by them. One example is that civil servants(公务员) are usually required to have a pleasant personality.
Director of the labour law committee under the All China Lawyers Association
Jiang Junlu said the lack of related laws was at the root of all discriminations.
46. Zhang Meng failed to get a job because __________.
A. he had made more mistakes than others
B. he lacked driving experience
C. he was considered to have an unlucky name
D. he couldn’t find a pleasant employer
47. What is people’s response to discrimination in job market?
A. They think it is unfair but necessary due to the large population of China.
B. It does exist in certain regions, but is not so serious.
C. Something must be done to stop it by governments.
D. It is a local problem and isn’t worth much concern.
48. What can be an effective way to fight against discrimination according to the passage?
A. To fine companies which practice discrimination.
B. To make laws related to discrimination.
C. To stop more people moving into cities.
D. To train people those who are poor in skills.
49. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Discrimination not only exists in companies, but also in governments.
B. Employers nowadays concern more about appearance, height and gender.
C. People in Beijing will never worry about experiencing discrimination.
D. Requirements connected with the job itself should have been put in the first place.

第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分 40分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下列四篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
A
Fun-loving Paul Johnson earned the title of the Scarborough Evening News Teacher of the Year 2008．Mr Johnson, of Hinderwell School, was presented with the award after four of his pupils nominated（recommended） him for the prestigious title．
Evening News editor Ed Asquith presented Mr Johnson with his certificate — and a cheque for £100．His class is also set to enjoy a free trip to the Sea Life Centre which includes being picked up by a complimentary Shoreline Suncruisers open-top bus．
The 30-year-old, who lives in Hunmanby, said: “I am just so shocked．I have been nominated for this award for a few years and I never thought I would win it．It is fantastic．It is completely out of the blue．”
Mr Johnson has worked as a Year 5 teacher at the school for seven years．He also works as an advanced teacher, which involves visiting other schools in the county once a week to offer cross-curricular teaching．
He was chosen as the winner because of his dynamic but educationally engaging approach to teaching, and based on the real way he has demonstrated that every child matters．Each term he picks a theme for his class and the curriculum is based around it．This term they are studying medieval times — and his classroom has a castle in one corner．He also treated his class to a three-day trip to London earlier this year．
His nominators were Lucy and Emily Desborough, Rachel Laverick and Rebecca Miller．Classmate Callum Macdonald, 10, said: “He is the best teacher in the world and he deserves this．He is brilliant with us and he is just so funny．He tells lots of jokes which always make us laugh．” Beth Lawty, nine, added: “Our classroom is the best ever．We have really enjoyed being in his class and I will miss him next year．”
46．Paul Johnson visits other schools in the county to ______．
A．show his teaching experience           B．learn from other teachers
C．improve his teaching skills             D．offer a different course
47．Why is there a castle in one corner of Paul Johnson’s classroom?
A．It is used to train the students’ imagination．
B．It is a prize from the Scarborough Evening News
C．The students can play in it after class．
D．It is probably a symbol of medieval times．
48．The underlined part “out of the blue” probably means ______．
A．of surprise              B．frustrating  
C．of great fame              D．within easy reach