The West began to take more notice of the East.The fifth volume of an enormous work reassessing the Chinese contribution to science and technology is to be published next year.The first volume,which was published twenty years ago,set the tone for the whole work.In it,evidence was given to show that many inventions which,until then,western historians had claimed forEurope,were made first in China.The attempt to rewrite the intellectual history of the world was not received without protest by some reputable historians.However,the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who were skeptical at first.China’s invention of paper,printing,the magnetic compass and gunpowder has never been disputed,but this new history has added advanced bridge design,mechanical clocks,paddle boats and many other inventions to the list.

In the four volumes published so far no attempt has been made to explain why China has not kept up with the West in science and technology in modern times.It is probable that the answer is to be found in the social and economic history of China,where a static(稳定的) society under a relatively kind regime(政权) of scholar-gentry(贵族) contrasts with the potentially revolutionary and dynamic(有活力的) society of the West at the end of the Middle Ages.In recent years,the Chinese government has been making every effort to catch up with the West again,and there is little doubt that the gap is being reduced year by year.But will China avoid the West’s mistakes?

The first volume was published__________.

A.ten years ago             B.last year                    C.five years ago            D.twenty years ago

In Line 7,the word “skeptical” means _________.

A.doubtful                    B.worried                     C.sad                           D.angry

Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A.Gunpowder.                     B.Needle.                            C.Paddle boats.             D.Bridge design.

The best title for this passage is _________.

A.China’s Inventions

B.Comparisons Between the East and the West

C.China Is Catching Up

D.Situations in China

The West began to take more notice of the East.The fifth volume of an enormous work reassessing the Chinese contribution to science and technology is to be published next year.The first volume,which was published twenty years ago,set the tone for the whole work.In it,evidence was given to show that many inventions which,until then,western historians had claimed forEurope,were made first in China.The attempt to rewrite the intellectual history of the world was not received without protest by some reputable historians.However,the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who were skeptical at first.China’s invention of paper,printing,the magnetic compass and gunpowder has never been disputed,but this new history has added advanced bridge design,mechanical clocks,paddle boats and many other inventions to the list.

In the four volumes published so far no attempt has been made to explain why China has not kept up with the West in science and technology in modern times.It is probable that the answer is to be found in the social and economic history of China,where a static(稳定的) society under a relatively kind regime(政权) of scholar-gentry(贵族) contrasts with the potentially revolutionary and dynamic(有活力的) society of the West at the end of the Middle Ages.In recent years,the Chinese government has been making every effort to catch up with the West again,and there is little doubt that the gap is being reduced year by year.But will China avoid the West’s mistakes?

The first volume was published__________.

A.ten years ago             B.last year                    C.five years ago            D.twenty years ago

In Line 7,the word “skeptical” means _________.

A.doubtful                    B.worried                     C.sad                           D.angry

Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?

A.Gunpowder.                     B.Needle.                            C.Paddle boats.             D.Bridge design.

The best title for this passage is _________.

A.China’s Inventions

B.Comparisons Between the East and the West

C.China Is Catching Up

D.Situations in China

It is a matter of common observation that although money income keeps going up over the years, we never seem to become richer. Prices are rising continuously. This condition is what we call inflation: the money supply is becoming inflated so that each unit of it becomes less valuable. We have got used to higher and higher rates of inflation in recent years. What could be bought twenty years ago for one pound now costs well over 2 pounds. And at present this rate of inflation seems to be rising rather than falling. If in the real world our money incomes go up at the same rate as prices do. One might think that inflation doesn’t matter. But it does ------.When money is losing value it also loses one of the qualities of a good money—stability of value. It is no longer acceptable as a store of value; and it becomes an unsuitable means of delayed payment. Nobody wants to hold a wasting possession, so people try to get rid of money as quickly as possible. Inflation therefore simply stimulates（刺激）our spending and discourages saving.
【小题1】From the passage we can know that inflation is a situation in which________.

A．everyone’s incomes rise

B．money will hold its value

C．we can watch our money grow

D．money constantly loses its value

【小题2】．In the writer’s view, if incomes and prices rise at the same rate, ________.

A．inflation maybe still be a problem

B．we have nothing to worry about

C．inflation is no longer a problem

D．we will become richer and richer

【小题3】．Under inflation people are likely to ________.

A．go to the bank more often than usual

B．save more money since their incomes rise

C．spend money quickly rather than to save it

D．keep money at home instead of going to banks

【小题4】．We can conclude according to the passage that ________.

A．the writer is a government official

B．the writer is worried about inflation

C．the writer encourages people to spend money

D．the writer has become richer because of inflation

【小题5】. Which of the following words is omitted at the end of the underlined sentence “But it does”?

A．matter,

B．goes.

C．rises

D．fall

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict(迷),” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled(皱的).” Today David wears casual clothes — khaki pants and a sports shirt — to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”

More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the changes from formal to casual office wear have been slow. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their workers to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday).This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for workers has really become an everyday thing,” said business adviser Maisly Jones.?

Why have so many companies started allowing their workers to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new workers if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study made by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that casual dress has a side effect on work. Supporters of casual office wear also say that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”?

1.David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because ______________.

A. he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt?

B. he couldn't stand a clean appearance?

C. he wanted his clothes to look tidy and clean all the time?

D. he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes?

2. David Smith wears casual clothes now, because ______________.?

A. they make him feel at ease when working? 

B. he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes?

C. he looks handsome in casual clothes?     

D. he no longer works for any company?

3.According to this passage, which of the following is FALSE?

A. Many workers don’t like a conservative dress code.?

B. Comfortable clothes make workers more productive.?

C. A casual clothes code is welcomed by young workers.?

D. All the employers in the U.S. are for casual office wear.?

4.According to this passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A. Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago.?

B. Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.?

C. “Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.?

D. Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.?

45. In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT ______________.?

A. saving worker’s money                

B. making workers more attractive?

C. improving worker’s feeling               

D. making workers happier

 

阅读短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余项。

     1.    

With the invention of the Internet several decades ago, do you feel that since then it has made us human beings feel more connected to the world and one another, or has it isolated（使孤立）us and made us feel more alone than ever before?

What about you as an individual?

●  2.The Internet enables us to know what’s happening in the world. We couldn't imagine talking to people everywhere in the world twenty years ago.

●3. It unites us because we talk to others from all around our country and tha world, but the Internet can be addicting, and keep us away from people for a while, There is an inherent (内在的) human need for direct human contact (e.g. touching, talking face to face, etc.) that the Internet has all taken away.

●  4. It has given me freedom beyond my imagination. I’m home-bound with many duties to attend to. My life is a bit too crowded. Duties duties duties. I get lost many times not knowing who I really am！This medium is my best friend. It just lets me BE！I can speak here without fear or favour.

●  5. Chatting online is completely different from hanging out with friends outside or hearing their voice over the phone．I find that it’s not just the Internet that has increased this sense of isolation，even iPods，MP3s，such devices kind of separate us，make us lose focus on the everyday happenings of life．

A．I think that the Internet isolates as well as unites us.

B．I believe it unites us more than it isolates us.

C．Do you feel that the Internet unites us or isolates us?

D．What is happening in the world today?

E. The Internet is playing a more and more important role.

F. I think it has isolated us more.

G. I am truly grateful for this new technology.