Three months after the government stopped issuing（发放）or renewing permits for Internet cafes because of security（安全）concerns, some cafe owners are having financial（经济的）concerns of their own.

 The permits were stopped suddenly three months ago by the government until new safeguards could be put in place to prevent misuse of the information superhighway, but for cafe owners it’s a business breakdown with no fix in sight.

 “I handed in a request to open up an Internet cafe and received the conditions,” said the businessman Obeidallah. “I rented a place in the Sharafiah district at SR45,000 and prepared the place with equipment that cost me more than SR100,000. When I went to the local government after finishing everything, I was surprised to find that they’d stopped issuing permits for Internet cafes.”

   Having an Internet cafe without Internet is much like having a coffee shop without coffee. “I’m avoiding closing the place, but it’s been more than three months with the situation ongoing as it is.” Obeidallah said. “Who will bear the losses caused by the permit issue?”

 The decision took many cafe owners by surprise. “I asked to open an Internet cafe, and I was handed a list of all the things that were needed to follow through, such as a sign for the place, filling out forms,” said Hassan Al-Harbi.

“I did all that was asked and rented a place. And after the Haj vacation I went to the local government and they surprised me, saying that there are new rules that forbid the issuing of any more Internet cafe permits and that one can’t even renew his permit. I’ve lost more than SR80,000,” Al-harbi added.

 As for the government, officials say a method to deal with it is on the way. But security concerns come before profit（盈利）.

The government stopped issuing or renewing permits for Internet cafes       .

  A．to prevent misuse of new safeguards in Internet cafes

  B．to make cafe owners earn less profit from their business

  C．to stop the use of the information superhighway on Internet

  D. to make sure of the proper use of the information superhighway

The government’s decision led to the fact that many cafe owners            .

  A．suffered heavy financial losses    

  B．asked to open up Internet cafes

  C．continued to operate Internet cafes   

  D．asked the government for payment

The underlined phrase in the last paragraph “on the way” means             .

  A.to be studied  

  B．to be put into practice

  C. to be changed    

  D．to be improved

The cafe owners found the government’s decision          .

  A．surprising and unacceptable   

  B．understandable and acceptable

  C. reasonable but surprising    

  D．surprising but acceptable

Iceland has the highest birth rate in Europe, the highest divorce rate, and the highest percentage of women working outside the home. Such statistics are often evidence of a miserable, chaotic（混乱的）society, with loads of children, broken homes and absent mothers. But Iceland is the exception – its citizens are the happiest in the world.

Perhaps the country's geographic location contributes to Icelanders' happiness. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic, with Greenland as its nearest neighbor, Iceland is free from the taboos（禁忌）that cause so much trouble elsewhere. For instance, people who divorce are not looked down upon by society.

Icelanders are offsprings（后代）of the Vikings, a north European people who invaded European coasts from the 8th through the 10th century. This tradition of getting out into the world lives on in modern-day Iceland. Practically all Icelanders have studied or worked abroad, and most speak English.

Perhaps as a result, Iceland's economic policies blend the best of those from Europe with the US to create its own welfare system.

"Many of us have lived in the US, and studied there," said the Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde. "We have both taken from them and found that naturally we share the can-do attitude—— that if you work hard, anything can be done."

Indeed, the country is rich in writers, painters, film makers and musicians. There's Sigur Ros, a post-rock band, and also a national symphony orchestra that plays to the highest standards all over the world. Half the population appears to have written a book.

"Iceland has harsh（恶劣的） nature, with its bitter ever-changing weather,” said Haraldur Jonsson, a painter, sculptor and video and performance artist. “We cannot escape it. So we find ways________. We have to have a rich internal（内在的）life to fill the empty spaces."

57．It is commonly believed that high birth rate and divorce rate will bring about ________.

       A．social problems              B．happiness

       C．a unique welfare system     D．modern way of life

58．The underlined word "blend" in the fourth paragraph means            .

       A．combine       B．correct          C．compare       D．compete

59．Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for Icelanders’ happiness?

       A．Geographic location.       B．A rich internal life.

       C．National pride.     D．Freedom from taboos.

60．The most suitable phrase to fill in the blank in the last paragraph is             .

       A．to get rid of it    B．to have it changed  C．to get away from it        D．to live with it

Iceland has the highest birth rate in Europe, the highest divorce rate, and the highest percentage of women working outside the home. Such statistics are often evidence of a miserable, chaotic（混乱的）society, with loads of children, broken homes and absent mothers. But Iceland is the exception – its citizens are the happiest in the world.
Perhaps the country's geographic location contributes to Icelanders' happiness. Located in the middle of the North Atlantic, with Greenland as its nearest neighbor, Iceland is free from the taboos（禁忌）that cause so much trouble elsewhere. For instance, people who divorce are not looked down upon by society.
Icelanders are offsprings（后代）of the Vikings, a north European people who invaded European coasts from the 8th through the 10th century. This tradition of getting out into the world lives on in modern-day Iceland. Practically all Icelanders have studied or worked abroad, and most speak English.
Perhaps as a result, Iceland's economic policies blend the best of those from Europe with the US to create its own welfare system.
"Many of us have lived in the US, and studied there," said the Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde. "We have both taken from them and found that naturally we share the can-do attitude—— that if you work hard, anything can be done."
Indeed, the country is rich in writers, painters, film makers and musicians. There's Sigur Ros, a post-rock band, and also a national symphony orchestra that plays to the highest standards all over the world. Half the population appears to have written a book.
"Iceland has harsh（恶劣的） nature, with its bitter ever-changing weather,” said Haraldur Jonsson, a painter, sculptor and video and performance artist. “We cannot escape it. So we find ways________. We have to have a rich internal（内在的）life to fill the empty spaces."

1. 1.

   It is commonly believed that high birth rate and divorce rate will bring about ________.
   

   1. A.
      social problems            
   2. B.
      happiness
   3. C.
      a unique welfare system   
   4. D.
      modern way of life
2. 2.

   The underlined word "blend" in the fourth paragraph means            .
   

   1. A.
      combine     
   2. B.
      correct        
   3. C.
      compare     
   4. D.
      compete
3. 3.

   Which of the following is NOT mentioned as the reason for Icelanders’ happiness?
   

   1. A.
      Geographic location.      
   2. B.
      A rich internal life.
   3. C.
      National pride.    
   4. D.
      Freedom from taboos.
4. 4.

   The most suitable phrase to fill in the blank in the last paragraph is             .
   

   1. A.
      to get rid of it  
   2. B.
      to have it changed 
   3. C.
      to get away from it      
   4. D.
      to live with it

Three months after the government stopped issuing（发放）or renewing permits for Internet cafes because of security concerns, some cafe owners are having financial concerns of their own.

The permits were stopped suddenly three months ago by the government until new safeguards could be put in place to prevent misuse of the information superhighway, but for cafe owners it’s a business breakdown with no fix in sight.

“I handed in a request to open up an Internet café and received the conditions,” said the businessman Obeidallah. “I rented a place in the Sharafiah district at SR45,000 and prepared the place with equipment that cost me more than SR100,000. When I went to the local government after finishing everything, I was surprised to find that they’d stopped issuing permits for Internet cafes.”

Having an Internet cafe without Internet is much like having a coffee shop without coffee. “I’m avoiding closing the place, but it’s been more than three months with the situation ongoing as it is.” Obeidallah said. “Who will bear the losses caused by the permit issue?”

The decision took many cafe owners by surprise. “I asked to open an Internet café, and I was handed a list of all the things that were needed to follow through, such as a sign for the place, filling out forms,” said Hassan Al-Harbi.

“I did all that was asked and rented a place. And after the Haj vacation I went to the local government and they surprised me, saying that there are new rules that forbid the issuing of any more Internet cafe permits and that one can’t even renew his permit. I’ve lost more than SR80,000,” Al-harbi added.

As for the government, officials say a method to deal with it is on the way. But security concerns come before profit.

64．The government stopped issuing or renewing permits for Internet cafes   _   .

       A．to prevent misuse of new safeguards in Internet cafes

       B．to make cafe owners earn less profit from their business

       C．to stop the use of the information superhighway on Internet

       D．to make sure of the proper use of the information superhighway

65．The government’s decision led to the fact that many cafe owners            .

       A．suffered heavy financial losses              B．asked to open up Internet cafes

       C．continued to operate Internet cafes        D．asked the government for payment

66．The underlined phrase in the last paragraph “on the way” means             .

       A．to be studied                                       B．to be put into practice

       C．to be changed                                      D．to be improved

67．The cafe owners found the government’s decision          .

       A．surprising and unacceptable                  B．understandable and acceptable

C．reasonable but surprising                      D．surprising but acceptable