阅读理解

　　In the United States, most children begin attending school when they are five years old. Public education is free and most children go to school near their homes. School in these early years is fun. The children learn to read and write. But they also play games and go on trips. There is no reason at such an early age for them to hit the books.

　　The situation changes as children become older. The subjects become more difficult. Students must learn about world history, algebra(代数), and the life sciences. Tests become more common. Pressure is growing to hit the books, study hard, and advance. However, most serious students only really begin hitting the books for long hours when they reach high school.

　　High school students who hope to continue their education at a college or university must take a special national test called the S－A－T. The test has two parts. The first part tests the student’s ability with numbers and mathematical skills. The second part tests the student’s ability in the English language.

　　The S－A－T test is very important. A high school student who gets a high score on the two parts of the test has a good chance to enter a top American college. For this reason, many students hit the books for months to prepare for the S－A－T.

1．From the test, we can see“hitting the books”means ________.

[　　]

A．working hard for the future

B．studying a subject carefully

C．reading books in a hurry

D．reading books with great effort

2．Which of the following statements can best express the main idea of the text?

[　　]

A．The S－A－T is the most important test.

B．Education is not easy in the United States.

C．“Hitting the books”is very important for the students who want to have a bright future.

D．The more you want to learn, the more tests you have to pass.

3．American children don’t have ________ if they want to study in public school.

[　　]

A．to work hard at their lessons

B．to pay for the education

C．to hit the books

D．to take many tests

4．The students in high school ________.

[　　]

A．have to take the S－A－T

B．are free and happy

C．have to hit the books if they want to go on to college

D．don’t hit the books until they pass the S－A－T

5．Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

[　　]

A．In America the students have to pass certain tests to continue their education.

B．Young children needn’t work hard at their lessons because education is free.

C．Those who fail in the S－A－T cannot go to college.

D．The students must spend a lot of time preparing for the S－A－T.

If there is one thing I’m quite sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we still be reading newspapers. Not those newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of the news from the television or have the radio switched on in the background or in the car. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The basic British character won’t change, and one of the characteristics of the British is that we don’t much like talking to each other when we get up. So what better way is there to keep yourself thinking in the morning than to wrap yourself in a newspaper?
Over the past couple of centuries, human beings have developed a close relationship with the newspaper. It has become as natural as breathing or enjoying the sun. And it is not just the British who love newspapers. On suburban trains in Calcutta, for instance, just one person in the whole car will buy a newspaper and read aloud the best bits to his fellow passengers, much to everybody’s enjoyment.
The nature of what is news may change. What essentially (本质上) makes news is what affects our lives and the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do, whether it’s love or depression. We develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspaper will be transmitted electronically from the national equivalents of Fleet Street (伦敦的舰队街，以报馆集中而著称) and printed out in our own homes. In fact, I’m pretty sure that that is how it will happen in future. You’ll be probably selecting from a menu, making up your own bespoke newspaper by picking out the things you want to read and say. You might even have an intelligent screening device (装置) to do the job for you.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about the competition between the different media. They actually have a relationship, feeding off each other. It was once predicted that television would kill off newspapers, which hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page is more enduring (持久的) than pictures on a flickering screen or sound lost in the sky. And as for the Internet, it’s never really satisfying to read something just on a screen.
【小题1】The author of the passage is most probably from _______________.

A．Russia

B．India

C．Britain

D．America

【小题2】According to the passage, the future of newspapers ____________.

A．will be mainly connected with scientific research

B．will report more important political activities

C．will directly cover more on scientific research

D．will build a bridge between different people

【小题3】The underlined part “bespoke newspaper” of the passage probably refers to _____________.

A．a newspaper which dares to report the truth

B．a newspaper edited to one’s own interest

C．a newspaper edited and published for the public

D．a newspaper which only covers the life of family members

【小题4】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．It was centuries ago that newspapers came into being .

B．Televisions have taken the place of newspapers .

C．The Internet will gradually take the place of newspapers.

D．The nature of news may remain the same over generations.

I got my first driver’s license in 1953 by taking driver education in my first year at Central High School in Charlotte，North Carolina．Four years later when it was time to renew my license I was a married woman．Henry and I were living in Baltimore，Maryland．Two weeks before my 20th birthday，Henry drove me to the motor vehicle office on a hot July afternoon．When I got to the office and showed to the man behind the counter my North Carolina driver’s license，ready to renew，the man told me that I was under age by Maryland law since I was not yet 21．“Mr. Henry Smith，your husband，will have to sign for you,” he said．
I argued，pointing to a very large belly(肚子) of mine，“I am married．I am having a baby．Why should I have to have someone sign for me to drive?”He answered coldly．“It’s the law，madam.”
Henry encouraged me to calm down，just go ahead and get the license and be done with it．“No，”I said．I refused to have him sign for me．So I left without a Maryland license．
I called the North Carolina Motor Vehicle office and renewed my NC license by mail--using my name Susan Brown．And thus it was for the next twelve years．Since Henry was in the army I could drive under my home state license．By the time Henry left the army we were once again living in Maryland，and I had to take the Maryland driver’s exam．Since then I just go in and renew every four years--sign the name Susan Brown，have my new picture taken, and walk out with a license to drive．
【小题1】Susan got her first driver’s license_______．

A．before she got married to Henry

B．when she was twenty years old

C．after she finished high school

D．when she just moved to Maryland

【小题2】Susan failed to renew her license the first time in Maryland because_____．

A．she was forbidden to drive by Maryland law

B．she lacked driving experience in Maryland

C．she was to give birth to a baby soon

D．she insisted on signing for herself

【小题3】We can infer from the text that in the U.S.___________．

A．American males should serve in the army

B．different states may have different laws

C．people have to renew their licenses in their home states

D．women should adopt their husbands’ family names after marriage

Part I
If you are hunting a chance to improve yourself in English, TOP ENGLISH CITY will be a smart choice. We are members of "the International Language Workshop" and enjoy both of the good honor in English teaching and high quality of our teaching team. We are devoted to providing affordable, excellent English training programs for those who want to improve both their English knowledge and their language skills.
In TOP ENGLISH CITY, you will be a top English-speaker among your competitors and enjoy the advantage that your competitors have not. You will be proud of being a member of TOP ENGLISH CITY.
Courses designed:
Basic Studies… Sat. 8:00-10:00 a. m.
Intermediate（中级）Spoken English… Sun. 8:00-10:00 a. m.
Standard Spoken English… Sat. 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Basic Business English… Sun.8:00-10:00 a.m.
Intermediate Business English… Sun. 7:00-9:00 p.m.
TOEFL Super Studies… Sun. 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Children's Weekend… Sat. &. Sun. 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
For more information, please contact:
Room 806 American Plaza Tianhexi Rd, 510150 Guangzhou
Tel: 86668888-8806
Part II
ENGLISH SALON
A place for you to practise your English, to exchange your English learning experiences, to know more about the culture of English-speaking countries, to make more friends who can speak very good English.
You will have free talks, famous English films and songs appreciation, English lectures and games; all are for you to improve yourself in English in the special, full-of-fun Salon.
How to Join:
We are a group with membership system, so if you want to join our group, please make an application to the Tianhe Office of Top English City, filling in the applying forms. You will be given a salon ID card, and becomes our member.
The Qualifications(条件):
You must be fluent in English-speaking or / and an English lover. Those who are now learning English in the Top English City will be advantageous.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Jiu Chan           at: 47129198
English Salon, your best friend! Join Right Now!
【小题1】Which of the following can be the best title for Part I?

A．Top English, your smart choice!

B．If you want to learn English, we can teach you!

C．Top English, the best English!

D．We have what you want!

【小题2】If you work in a joint Venture(合资)Company, you probably take the course:

A．Standard Spoken English	B．Intermediate Business English
C．TOEFL Super Studies	D．Children's Weekend

【小题3】Which of the following courses can be learned by the same person?

A．Basic Studies and Standard Spoken English.

B．Intermediate Spoken English and Basic Business English.

C．Standard Spoken English and TOEFL Super Studies.

D．Intermediate Business English and TOEFL Super Studies.

【小题4】If you want to join the English Salon, you should at least        .

A．be a university graduate

B．be a student learning English in the Top English City

C．be an English lover or can speak English well

D．make more friends and know more about the culture of the English