The best way to improve your reading ability is, of course, to read. The student must make a real effort to improve his speed, and if necessary his comprehension, with each exercise. Too many students read passages passively（被动的） and without judgment: they simply start at the first word and read through to the end. You should read a passage actively, selectively（选择地） and purposely. You must believe that you indeed have the ability to read faster and understand, and that you will.

Reading, like everything else in life, is best done when you’re relaxed. The key to improve it is concentration. You must be willing to break some old habits and form new ones. Extra body movement, such as turning the head from side to side, pointing at the line with a finger or pencil, or moving the lips, should be stopped immediately. Reading is mostly a mental process(大脑活动过程) and body movement helps neither speed nor comprehension. Then you should see words as part of a whole sentence or paragraph, not just in isolation(孤立), This is why a slow, word-by-word student often understands far less, or misses much of the joy and excitement of reading.

The student must learn to improve reading skills on their own, and not just when a teacher is looking over his shoulder. Reading improvement takes discipline（纪律） and effort. Don’t give up.

1. According to the author, how should we not read a passage?

A. actively        B passively.   C. purposely        D. selectively

2. You may conclude that whether you can improve your reading depends on________.

A. your attitude                      B. your good habits of reading

C. discipline                         D. all of the above

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?        

A. When reading, you’d better point at the line with a pencil. 　　

B. When reading, you should turn your head from side to side.

C. When reading, you should pay attention to basic unit of meaning, that is a phrase or sentence that contains an idea.    

D. Body movement will help you to improve reading.

4. The best title for this passage is___________.

A. Reading Faster                         B. Understanding Better

C. How to Improve Your Reading             D. Don’t Give Up

When I was a teenager I volunteered to work at the water station at a 10,000m race. My job was to   34   water to the runners. I remember being so  35   to see all the different kinds of people who passed by and grabbed a cup of water. Some ran past, some walked past and a few wheeled past. I saw so many types of people doing it. I thought maybe I could do it too! So the next year I 36  up for the race.

That first 10,000m race was quite an experience. I jogged, I walked, I jogged and I walked  37  , I didn’t know if I could finish. Then came a defining (决定性)  38  .

At one point near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me, very, very fast, and I felt  39  because I was 50 years younger than he but I couldn’t even keep up with him. I felt  40  for a second.

But then I realized something. He was running his race and I was running mine. He had  41   abilities, experience, training and goals for himself. I had mine. Remember my  42  was only to finish.

After a minute, it  43  me that this was a lesson I could draw from. I learned something about myself in that moment. I turned my embarrassment into 44    .

I decided that I would not give up on running races. In fact, I would run even more races and I would learn how to train and prepare  45 and one day I would be one of those 70-year-old persons who were still running. As I crossed the finish line, I was proud of my accomplishment. In life we all have those moments where we  46  ourselves to others. It’s only natural . Don’t allow those moments to  47  you. Turn them into motivation and let them inspire you. With the proper preparation and training, you can improve your result to 48  anything you want in life.

1.A. bring out    B. pass out    C. take out       D. pick out

2.A. excited      B. worried     C. concerned       D. anxious

3.A. gave       B. made         C. signed    D. dressed

4.A. At times   B. In time      C. In all      D. After all

5.A. victory   B. decision     C. moment      D. conclusion

6.A. embarrassed   B. annoyed    C. moved       D. thrilled

7.A. relaxed      B. defeated    C. puzzled  D. inspired

8.A. special    B. evident      C. common        D. different

9.A. motto      B. plan        C. goal         D. direction

10.A. worried      B. hit      C. reached    D. hurt

11.A. attraction    B. devotion     C. inspiration  D. expectation

12.A. slightly     B. hardly   C. clearly      D. properly

13.A. introduce   B. relate  C. present      D. compare

14.A. weaken     B. wound    C. amuse         D. cheer

15.A. reserve    B. deliver    C. achieve        D. abandon

For many people today, reading is no longer relaxation. To keep up with their work they must read letters, reports, trade publications, interoffice communications: a never-ending flood of words. In getting a job or advancing in one, the ability to read and comprehend quickly can mean the difference between success and failure. Yet the unfortunate fact is that most of us are poor readers.

Most reading faults can be traced to early school training. According to Dr. Betts, two persons out of five in school were forced to read material too difficult for them to understand at the time, a frustration experience which left them with bad reading habits.

Fortunately, almost anyone can learn to read faster and with more comprehension. Age makes little difference. According to a recent study of 138 students at The Reading Laboratory, Inc. , all age groups showed a marked increase in reading rate after training from 93 percent for the 50-90 age group to 142 percent for the 20-29.Dr. Mila Banton Smith, director of New York University’s Reading Institute, says that the average adult student, in 28 training hours, nearly triples (三倍的) his reading speed and boosts(增长) his comprehension by about 30 percent.

The best way to improve your reading, of course, is to enroll(登记) in a reading clinic. If there’s no clinic handy, you can improve your reading ability yourself--- provided you have no eyes troubles. (if reading tires you easily or makes your eyes or head ache, you should consult a doctor.)

1.To many people today, _______.

A. reading quickly is easy

B. reading quickly and comprehending quickly can ensure their success

C. reading is only for fun

D. reading can ensure their success

2.Most reading faults are_______

A. due to early school training

B. a frustrating experience

C. made by reading difficult materials

D. made by reading carelessly

3.Who can learn to read fast and with comprehension?

A. teachers only         B. students only

C. a few people          D. almost everybody

4.According to the passage, what is the best way to improve one’s reading？

A. go to a doctor

B. review what has been learnt at school

C. go to reading remedial class for special training

D. consult a dictionary

第二部分阅读理解（满分20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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
So, you have to give a speech-- and you’re terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank goodness, it’s over. I’m just no good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again. ”
Cheer up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of time doing your research. Then spend plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to -person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.
1. The main idea of this article is _________.
A. you can improve your speaking ability   B. a poor speaker can never change
C. always make a short speech            D. it is hard to make a speech
2. Paragraph 2 implies that ________.
A. many people are afraid of giving a speech   B. many people are happy to give a speech
C. many people do not prepare for a speech    D. many people talk too long
3. The phrase “talk over their heads” means ________.
A. speak too loudly      B. look at the ceiling
C. look down upon them   D. use words and ideas that are too difficult
4. All of the following statements are true except that ___________.
A. few people know how to make good speeches
B. a lecturer does not need to organize his speech
C. research is important in preparing a speech
D. there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability
5. The title for this passage may be _______.
A. Do Not Make a Long Speech   B. How to Give a Good Speech
C. How to Prepare for a Speech   D. Try to Enjoy a Speech  

Suppose you work in a big firm and find English very important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English. Here are some advertisements(广告) about English language training from newspapers. You may find the information you need.
Global English Centre
l General English in all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
l 3-month (700 yuan), 6-month (1,200 yuan) and one-year (2,000) courses.
l Choice of morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day. Mon.~Fri.
l Experienced college English teachers.
l Close to city centre and bus stops.
Tel: 67605272
Add: 105 Zhongshan Road, 100082
Modern Language School
l Special courses in English for business, travel, banking, hotel management and office skills.
l Small classes (12~16 students) on Sat. & Sun. from 2:00~5:00 p.m.
l Native English teachers from Canada and USA.
l Language lab and computers supplied.
l 3-month course: 1,050 yuan; 6-month course: 1,850 yuan.
Write or phone: Modern Language School, 675 Park Road, 100056
Tel: 67353019
The 21^st Century English Training Centre
l We specialize in effective teaching at all levels.
l We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan.
l We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays.
l Entrance exams: June 1 and Dec. 1.
l Only 15-minute walk from city centre.
l Call 67801642 for more information.
The International House of English
l Three/Six-month English courses for students of all levels at a very low cost: 60 yuan for 12 hours per week, convenient (方便的) class hours:
9:00~12:00 a.m. and 2:00~5:00 p.m.
l A four-month evening programme for developing speaking skills (same cost as day classes).
l Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers with experience in teaching English as a second foreign language.
l Free sightseeing and social activities.
l Very close to the Central Park.
For further information call 674322308.
【小题1】 You work from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Which school will you choose?