53. According to the passage, the new invention _______.

　 A. will soon get a name　　　　　　　　　　　 B. can go almost anywhere

　 C. is lighter than air　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. was uncommon a century ago

C

　The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit-card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal website. Websites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with card. On line, shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number-or sell the information over the Internet.

　Computer hackers have broken down security system and that raises questions about the safety of card-holder information.

　Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD universe, an on-line music retailer (批发商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit-card numbers were posted on a website after the retailer refused to pay US $157,828 to get back the information.

Credit-card firms are now fighting against online fraud. Master-card is working on plans for web-only credit-card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping online. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.

　Ask about your credit-card firm’s online rules: Under British law, cardholders are responsible for the first US $ 78 of any cheating spending.

And shop only at secure sites: Send your credit-card information only if the website offers advanced secure system.

If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand comer of your screen. The website address may also start https://-the extra "s" stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit-card information over the telephone.

　Keep your password safe: Most on-line sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your password with care.

52. The passage tells us that the new invention __________.

A. is more important for industry than for transport.

B. will one day be used instead of aeroplanes.

C. makes it possible to travel without using roads.

D. will replace wheeled vehicles using roads.

51. The phrase “with the touch of a finger” in the third paragraph means______.

　 　 A. without difficulty　　　　　　　　　 B. by electricity .

C. without friction　　　　　　　　　　 D. by hand.

50. The first paragraph tells us that______.

A. the wheel was man’s earliest invention.

B. the wheel’s usefulness has yet to be proved.

C. wide wheels have a variety of important uses.

D. a new invention may make wheels less important.

49. From the text, we can learn that the writer was 　　　　.

　　 A. honest 　　　　　　　　 B. careful 　　　　　　　 C. smart　　　　　　　　 D. funny

B

The wheel was one of man’s first inventions and yet it has also proved one of the most useful. So wide and varied are the uses of the wheels, in machines and vehicles of all kinds, that it is difficult to imagine what the world would be like without them. It is surprising to hear it said, therefore, that the wheel’s importance will perhaps be greatly reduced by the end of the century by an invention so new as to be still unnamed.

The invention is a machine the floats above any surface on a cushion of air. The cushion is formed when air is blown into this saucer, the machine rises to a height that may vary from a few inches to a few feet.

Industry is already using one form of the inversion to deal with heavy loads. It can lift them. with ease and since there are no wheels, and therefore no friction , they can be put into motion with the touch of a finger.

The new invention, however , is having a great effect on transport, Not only does it make expensive road systems unnecessary, but it enables vehicles to travel well over land or water. This unique to reach most destinations has given rise to the prediction that wheeled vehicles may be uncommon at the end the century as aeroplanes were at the beginning.

48. How much did the writer pay?

　　 A. £5.　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. £7.　　　　　　　　　　　 C. £20.　　　　　　　　　　 D. £27.

47. The expression “the penny dropped” in the last paragraph means the shopkeeper 　　　.

　　 A. changed his mind 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. accepted the offer

　　 C. saw the writer’s purpose 　　　　　　　　　 D. decided to help the writer

46. We can learn from the text that in the first shop the writer 　　　.

　　 A. was rather impolite 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. was warmly received

　　 C. asked the shopkeeper to buy his chair 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. asked the shopkeeper to repair his chair

44.A. why　　　　　　　　　　 B. that　　　　　　　　　 C. how　　　　　　　　　 D. what