阅读理解（共20小题，满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该项涂黑

In the past, people who graduated from college felt proud of their academic（学业的）achievements and confident that their degree would help them to find a good job.

　　However, in the past four years the job market has changed greatly. This year’s college graduates are facing one of the worst job markets. For example, Ryan Stewart, a graduate of San Jose State University, got a degree in religious studies, but he has not gotten any job offers. He points out that many people already working are getting laid off and don’t have jobs, so it’s even harder for new college graduates to find jobs.

　　Four years ago, the future looked bright for his class of 2006. There were many high-tech(“dot com”) job opportunities, graduates received many job offers, and they were able to get jobs with high salaries and benefits such as health insurance and paid vacations. However, “Times have changed. It’s a new market,” according to an officer of the university.

　　The officer says students who do find jobs started preparing two years ago. They worked during summer vacations, they have had several short-time jobs, and they majored in fields that are still paying well, such as accounting or nursing.

　　Even teaching is not a secure profession now. Ryan Stewart wanted to be a teacher. But instead he will probably go back to school in order to become a college teacher. He thinks college teaching could be a good career even in a bad economy.

　　In conclusion, these days a college degree does not automatically lead to a good job with a high salary. Some students can only hope that the value of their degree will increase in the future.

1. What did a college degree mean to people in the past?

　　A. It was a proof of their professional skills.　　

B. It would guarantee their quick promotion（升职）.

　　C. It built up their confidence in the job market.　　

D. It would help them to start an academic career.

2. Why does Ryan Stewart want to be a college teacher?

　　A. Teaching jobs are well-paid.　　B. He majored in teaching in the university.

　　C. College teaching is less challenging than high-tech jobs.

　　D. College teaching career won’t be influenced by economy.

3.It can be concluded from the passage that _____.

　  A. the value of a college degree has decreased now　

B. new college graduates today can’t find any job

　  C. a college degree can still lead to a good job　　

D. graduates must prepare early to find jobs

We now think of chocolate as sweet, but once it was bitter. We think of it as a candy, but once it was a medicine. Today, chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or just a snack. Sometimes it’s an ingredient(配料) in the main course of a meal. Mexicans make a hot chocolate sauce called mole and pour it over chicken. The Mexicans also eat chocolate with spices(香料) like chili peppers.

Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys say “Ugh!” and run away. Workers must first dry and then roast the beans. This removes the bitter taste.

The word “chocolate” comes from a Mayan word. The Mayas were an ancient people who once lived in Mexico. They valued the cacao tree. Some used the beans for money, while others crushed them to make a drink.

When the Spaniards came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they started drinking cacao too.Because the drink was strong and bitter, they thought it was a medicine. No one had the idea of adding sugar. The Spaniards took some beans back to Europe and opened cafes. Wealthy people drank cacao and said it was good for the digestion.

In the 1800s, the owner of a chocolate factory in England discovered that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao. It quickly became a cheap and popular drink. Soon afterwards, a factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate. Later on, another factory mixed milk and chocolate together. People liked the taste of milk chocolate even better.

Besides the chocolate candy bar, one of the most popular American snacks is the chocolate chip cookie. Favorite desserts are chocolate cream pie and, of course, an ice cream sundae with hot fudge sauce.  

1. It was ________that discovered sugar could remove the bitter taste of cacao.

A. The workers in the chocolate factory       B. The Spaniards

C. The people in England                  D. The owner of a chocolate factory

2. According to the passage which of the following statements is true?

A. Nobody had the idea of adding sugar until the sixteenth century.

B. The word “chocolate” comes from a Mexican word.

C. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys like them.

D. Workers must dry and roast the beans to remove the bitter taste.

3. The Spaniards think that cacao was a medicine because________

A. it was strong and bitter.    B. it was good for digestion.

C. it cured man’s diseases.     D. it was a kind of drink for good health.

4. Which is the right time order of the events regarding chocolate?

a. Chocolate became a cheap and popular drink in England.

b. A factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate.

c. The Spaniards started drinking cacao.

d. It was found that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao.

e. A factory mixed milk and chocolate together.  

A. a-b-c-d-e　           B. c-d-e-b-a　　   C. c-d-a-b-e　　         D. c-d-b-e-a

5. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or a candy bar

B. Mexicans like chocolate very much

C. chocolate is a product of the cacao tree

D. people liked the taste of chocolate mixed with milk

Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, "But, Dad, you can't be healthy if you're dead."

　　Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt-- a mistake 75% of US population make every day. The big question is why.

　　There have been many myths (神化,虚构的事) about safety belt ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.

　　Myth the Number One: It's best to be "thrown clear" of a serious accident.

　　Truth: Sorry, but any accident serious enough to "throw you clear" is able going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances are you'll have traveled through a windshield (挡风玻璃)or door to do it. Studies show that chances of dying after a car accident are twenty-five times in cases where people are "thrown clear".

　　Myth Number Two: Safety-belts "trap" people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.

Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situation, not to be trapped in them.

　　Myth Number Three: Safety belts aren't needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour (mph).

　　Truth: When two cars traveling at 30 mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 metres.

1.Why did Elizabeth say to her father, "But, Dad, you can't be healthy if you're dead"?

A．He didn't have his safety belt on.

B．He was running across the street.

C．He was driving at great speed.

D．He didn't take his medicine on time.

2.he reason father was in a hurry to get home was that he __________.

A．wasn't feeling very well                   B．hated to drive in the dark

C．wanted to take some exercise              D．didn't want to be caught by the people

3.According to the text, to be "thrown clear" of a serious accident is very dangerous because you ________.

A．may be knocked down by other cars.

B．may get serious hurt thrown out of the car

C．may find it impossible to get away from the seat

D．may get caught in the car door

4.Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belt because they believe _______.

A．they will be unable to think clearly in an accident

B．the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident

C．they will be caught when help comes

D．cars catch fire easily

5.What is the advice given in the test?

A．Never drive faster than 30 miles an hour.

B．Try your best to save yourself in a car accident.

C．Drive slowly while you're not wearing a safety belt.

D．Never forget to wear the safety belt while driving.

Go and get your coat. It’s 　　you left it.

A. there                B. where                C. there where          D. where there

Go and get your coat. It’s 　　you left it.