B
At 3,500 metres, La Paz, Bolivia, is the highest capital in the world．Many roads are in bad condition and accidents are frequent．One road in particular, is considered the most dangerous in the world．On one side there is a sudden drop, which is so great that anyone inside the vehicle is lucky to survive．
But thanks to one man, the death toll （人数） has fallen．Timoteo Apaza is a man who lives in a village near the most dangerous part of the road, known as "the Devil's Bend"．Timoteo has an unusual job — he is a human traffic signal．Every morning he stands on the bend and directs the traffic．When two vehicles approach from opposite directions, they can't see each other, but they can see Timoteo．Actually no one pays him to do the job．Sometimes drivers give him a tip so that he has just enough money to live on．But often they just pass by, taking the human traffic signal for granted．
So why does he do it? Before Timoteo volunteered to direct the traffic, he had been a driver．Then one day he was driving a lorry load of bananas when he came off the road at a bend and fell three hundred metres down the mountain．Somehow he survived, but was in hospital for months．Then, a few years later, he was called out in the night to help pull people out of a bus crashed at the Devil's Bend．This last experience had a profound effect on Timoteo．He realized that he was lucky to be alive himself, and felt that it was his mission in life to help others．So every morning, week in, week out, from dawn to dusk, Timoteo takes up his place on the bend．
60．Where does Timoteo work?                                                    
A．In a small mountainous village．   B．At the busiest part of a road．              
C．On a farm growing bananas．      D．At the side of a dangerous road．
61．The road is so dangerous mainly because ______．                              
A．it is steep and in bad condition        B．it is high up in the mountain                
C．there is heavy traffic                D．it is often very foggy
62．What does Timoteo get for his job?                                              
A．No payment at all．
B．A small salary from the government．              
C．A small amount of money from some drivers．
D．An award from the local people．
63．Why does Timeteo voluntarily direct the traffic?                                    
A．He loves to be a traffic policeman．     
B．He feels it his duty to help the drivers．
C．He isn't qualified to do anything else． 
D．He can't drive the lorry any more．

B
At the middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.
Mathcounts Club
Mathcounts tries to increase excitement towards mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Local competitions are held in February with winners progressing to state competitions and then on to the national level. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.
Envirothon
The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography. The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics. Students work and learn in middle school clubs and can compete at the local and state level.
Future Problem Solvers
Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who are in the talented and gifted program, who like to “think out of the box,” or who enjoy thinking about futuristic problems may like this club. Teams comprised of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.
Builders Club
Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. Each Builders Club is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club and the middle school. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a "Teacher of the Year" program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt a highway, tutor, etc.
Middle school academic clubs offer students a place to explore interests or talents. The clubs they join in middle school can help guide choices in high school and beyond.
59．The students who are not interested in competitions woudld like to choose        .
A．Mathecounts Club    B．Builders Club
C．Future Problem Solvers   D．Envirothon
60．Why do some of the students choose Mathcounts Club?
A．To be successful in science careers.
B．To enjoy solving future problems.
C．To perform community service.
D．To study wildlife and soils.
61．What is the common feature of the four clubs?
A．Competitions.            B．Sponsorship.   
C．Scientific researches.       D．Teamwork.
62．The passage mainly talks about         .
A．the state academic competitions     B．middle school clubs
C．extra – curricular activities        D．the gifted students

B

       At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible site for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.

       The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.

       The real attractions of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded (相邻) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition of the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apple trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.

       I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t think I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (无牵挂的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.

46.   What do we know about the author?

       A. He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he live.

       B. He made a study of many farms before buying.

       C. He made money by buying and selling farms.

       D. He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.

47.   Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?

       A. It was of good market value.                  B. It was next to the highway.

       C. It was is a good position.                       D. It was behind a nice garden.

48.   Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?

       A. He was afraid the owner might change his mind.

       B. He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.

       C. He wanted to keep the farm as it was.      D. He was eager to become a farm owner.

49.   The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ________.

       A. the money the author lost in buying the farm

       B. the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place

       C. the removal of the trees around the house

       D. the failure to possess the Hollowell place

50.   What does the author believe as important in life?

       A. To own a farm.                                           B. To satisfy his needs.

       C. To be free from worries.                        D. To live in the countryside.

B

       At 3,500 metres, La Paz, Bolivia, is the highest capital in the world．Many roads are in bad condition and accidents are frequent．One road in particular, is considered the most dangerous in the world．On one side there is a sudden drop, which is so great that anyone inside the vehicle is lucky to survive．

       But thanks to one man, the death toll （人数） has fallen．Timoteo Apaza is a man who lives in a village near the most dangerous part of the road, known as "the Devil's Bend"．Timoteo has an unusual job — he is a human traffic signal．Every morning he stands on the bend and directs the traffic．When two vehicles approach from opposite directions, they can't see each other, but they can see Timoteo．Actually no one pays him to do the job．Sometimes drivers give him a tip so that he has just enough money to live on．But often they just pass by, taking the human traffic signal for granted．

       So why does he do it? Before Timoteo volunteered to direct the traffic, he had been a driver．Then one day he was driving a lorry load of bananas when he came off the road at a bend and fell three hundred metres down the mountain．Somehow he survived, but was in hospital for months．Then, a few years later, he was called out in the night to help pull people out of a bus crashed at the Devil's Bend．This last experience had a profound effect on Timoteo．He realized that he was lucky to be alive himself, and felt that it was his mission in life to help others．So every morning, week in, week out, from dawn to dusk, Timoteo takes up his place on the bend．

60．Where does Timoteo work?                                                    

       A．In a small mountainous village．   B．At the busiest part of a road．              

       C．On a farm growing bananas．       D．At the side of a dangerous road．

61．The road is so dangerous mainly because ______．                              

     A．it is steep and in bad condition         B．it is high up in the mountain                

       C．there is heavy traffic                 D．it is often very foggy

62．What does Timoteo get for his job?                                              

       A．No payment at all．

       B．A small salary from the government．              

      C．A small amount of money from some drivers．

       D．An award from the local people．

63．Why does Timeteo voluntarily direct the traffic?                                    

       A．He loves to be a traffic policeman．     

       B．He feels it his duty to help the drivers．

       C．He isn't qualified to do anything else． 

       D．He can't drive the lorry any more．

B

       At the middle school level, there are many academic clubs in which students can participate. Students can choose clubs that focus on an area of interest.

Mathcounts Club

       Mathcounts tries to increase excitement towards mathematic achievement. It hopes to provide students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Schools select individuals and teams to participate in competitions. Local competitions are held in February with winners progressing to state competitions and then on to the national level. Mathcounts works to challenge student math skills, develop self-confidence and give rewards for their achievements.

Envirothon

       The Envirothon program focuses on natural resources knowledge and exposes students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography. The ecology field competition for five-member middle school teams offers competitions in wildlife, soils, forestry, current environmental issues and aquatics. Students work and learn in middle school clubs and can compete at the local and state level.

Future Problem Solvers

       Future Problem Solvers is an academic club that uses a six-step process to solve problems that may happen in the future. Students who are in the talented and gifted program, who like to “think out of the box,” or who enjoy thinking about futuristic problems may like this club. Teams comprised of four students read future scenes and write up solutions in a booklet using the six-step process. Teams that score high enough can go to the state competition and then to the international competition.

Builders Club

       Builders Club is open to any middle school student who wishes to perform community service. Each Builders Club is co-sponsored by a Kiwanis club and the middle school. The members learn by doing, and they learn organization, teamwork, and leadership. Builders Clubs can sponsor a "Teacher of the Year" program, provide a recycling collection point, organize canned food and clothing drives to support local shelters, adopt a resident at a local senior citizens home, adopt a highway, tutor, etc.

       Middle school academic clubs offer students a place to explore interests or talents. The clubs they join in middle school can help guide choices in high school and beyond.

59．The students who are not interested in competitions woudld like to choose        .

       A．Mathecounts Club    B．Builders Club

       C．Future Problem Solvers   D．Envirothon

60．Why do some of the students choose Mathcounts Club?

       A．To be successful in science careers.

       B．To enjoy solving future problems.

       C．To perform community service.

       D．To study wildlife and soils.

61．What is the common feature of the four clubs?

       A．Competitions.             B．Sponsorship.   

       C．Scientific researches.       D．Teamwork.

62．The passage mainly talks about         .

       A．the state academic competitions     B．middle school clubs

       C．extra – curricular activities         D．the gifted students