Oscars organizers promised a new progress to this month’s Academy Awards to greet this year’s nominees (被提名人).
After years of falling view that ended in last year’s 80th Oscars recording low view rate，the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has to make a fresh start for Hollywood’s yearly show.
The co­producers of the February 22 show，Bill Condon and Laurence Mark，have so far kept full details of their planned changes to the Oscars’ tried­and­tested method secret.
Oscars organizers have already made sure of one change by announcing Australian actor Hugh Jackman as the host of the show.
Among the changes reported to be considered are the decision to leave out the ceremony’s opening monologue(独白).
The names of the invited on the awards night have also been kept secret while in earlier years the Academy made presenters to the ceremony public before weeks.
The NewYorkTimes reported on Monday that the producers are trying to improve the show by asking studios to provide scenes from films.
At the same time Ganis also advised nominees to give some thought to make their acceptance speeches memorable-and short.
“As for the acceptance speeches-you know what’s required，” Ganis said.“Be brief，be personal and be heartfelt.You_have_an_impressive_speech_total_of_45_seconds.”
This year’s Oscars are expected to be a great event. Many films will touch you，“Slumdog Millionaire”has 10 nominations，and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with 13.In the past the film with the most Oscar nominations is the one that has succeeded in box office.

1. 1.

   Oscars organizers want to improve the ceremony of Academy Awards because ________.

   1. A.
      the view rate of it is falling
   2. B.
      the nominees don’t like to attend
   3. C.
      people in Hollywood are against it
   4. D.
      the 80th Oscars was best organized
2. 2.

   The Oscars’ tried­and­tested method ________.

   1. A.
      has been known by most of the actors
   2. B.
      is kept a secret by now
   3. C.
      is known only by hosts
   4. D.
      hasn’t been decided at all
3. 3.

   From the underlined sentence we can learn ________.

   1. A.
      the winners must speak for 45 minutes
   2. B.
      the speech of winners must be moving
   3. C.
      the speech must be brief，impressive and moving
   4. D.
      the speech of winners must be easily understood
4. 4.

   The main idea of the passage should be ________.

   1. A.
      Oscars leaders announce new film
   2. B.
      films with most nominations
   3. C.
      Oscars organizers are waiting for actors
   4. D.
      Oscars leaders promise “brave，fresh”show

Five thousand years ago, people thought that illnesses were the result of evil living in human bodies. They also believed that gods and superior spirits were punishing people through diseases. The practice of magic and witchcraft (巫术) was popular among many tribes, and charms (符咒) and images of gods to drive away the evil spirits were often used.

People also started using herbal(草药的) medicine and by trial and error (反复试验，不断摸索) learned how to cure stomachaches and fevers. They had a witch doctor in the community. He would treat people with simple herbal medicine and magic. Early medicine was practiced the way north tribal Indians did hundreds of years ago and the way some tribes practice it today.

The ancient Chinese believed that the body was ruled by two forces, which they called “yin” and “yang”. The body would become ill if one force overcame the other and the balance between them was changed. Acupuncture (针刺疗法) was the way to bring back the balance between the two.

Also sand painting was an important part of Navaho medicine. The medicine man paints loosely upon the floor of an earth-covered house, where the ceremony takes place, or on a buckskin (鹿皮) or a piece of cloth, by letting the colored sands flow through his fingers with control and skill.

Ancient Mesopotamians believed that diseases come either from an evil spirit or a physical problem, such as worms. The doctor would decide from which source the illness has come from and send the patient either to a herbalist or to a witch doctor.

Egyptians had a very advanced medicine. They would sometimes rely on the god’s power to receive healing, but they also treated illnesses and operated on minor health problems like snake bites. They sucked the blood from the wound and bound the affected limb to stop the poison from spreading.

66. The practice of magic and witchcraft was popular in ancient times because ________ .

A. people could avoid being punished by gods and superior spirits by doing this.

B. people thought they could avoid getting diseases in this way.

C. people believed the evil spirits could be driven away in this way.

D. people often got diseases and this way was very effective.

67. How many places are mentioned where early medicine existed in the passage?

A. Three.     B. Four.      C. Five.      D. Six.

68. From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ________.

A. people can cure lots of diseases by combining herbal medicine and magic.

B. herbal medicine is so effective that it can cure all kinds of diseases.

C. witch doctors treated people only with herbal medicine.

D. people tried lots of times to cure illnesses with herbal medicine.

69. Ancient Chinese people believed that ________.

A. diseases were the result of evil living in human bodies.

B. people would fall ill if the balance in human bodies was disturbed.

C. a medicine man could cure people’s diseases by sand painting.

D. diseases not only came from evil spirits but also were physical problems

70. The passage mainly tells us ________.

A. why ancient people became ill.

B. about the most advanced medicine in ancient times.

C. about the development of herbal medicine.

D. how ancient people cured their diseases.

D

Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Director’s Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a fiery two-car accident.

The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on a rain-soaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the passengers trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.

Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith, 9, from the wreckage.

The girls’ mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bowbin.

Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had upon receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.

Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.

“I was nervous,” Bozeman said. “I don’t feel like I’m a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me.”

Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlife-threatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs(股骨), and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis(骨盆), ankle and foot.

The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.

In addition, Bozeman got to meet accident victim Anthony Russo in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed(刻;雕 )with “Thank you,” Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.

“Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday’s ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers,” Beckie Smith said, “We’re calling it The Miracle on Highway 6.”

53. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident.

B. Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes.

C. Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars.

D. A car accident occurred on a rain-soaked State Highway 6.

54. Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?

A. Clemmons.           B. Anthony Russo.          C. Bozeman.      D. Bonge.

55. Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?

A. Kind.                  B. Modest.                           C. Excited.       D. Smart.

56. It can be inferred from what Beckie Smith said that _______.

A. she regarded the accident as a wonder

B. she was frightened by the serious accident

C. she thought highly of the rescuers

D. she called on others to learn from the rescuers