Reading Comprehension

Read the following passages, and choose the best answer that can answer the question.

　　One of New York's most beautiful and valuable buildings is in danger. The New York Public Library, in the heart of the city at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue, may have to close its doors.

　　The library is a very special place. Even though it is in the busiest part of the city, it has grass and trees around it, and benches for people to sit on. Even more unusual in crowded New York, its rooms are very large. The roof of the main reading room is fifty－one feet high. Here, a reader can sit and think and work in comfort.

　　And what books there are to work with. The library has over thirty million books and paintings. It owns one of the first copies of a Shakespeare play, a Bible printed by Gutenberg in the 15th century, and a letter written by Columbus in which he tells of finding the new world.

　　Every New Yorker can see and use the library's riches－ free. But the cost of running the library has risen rapidly in recent years, and the library does not have enough money to continue its work. In the past, it was opened every evening and also on Saturdays and Sundays. Now it is closed at those times, to save money.

　　The library is trying in every possible way to raise more money to meet its increasing costs. Well－known New York writers and artists are trying to help. So are the universities, whose students use the library, and the governments of New York City State. But the problem remains serious.

　　Yet a way must be found to save the library because, as one writer said, “The Public Library is the most important building in New York City－it contains all our knowledge.”

1．What part of New York City is the Public Library at?

[　　]

A．It's very far from the heart of the city.

B．It's at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue in the heart of the city.

C．It's opposite the 42nd Street and the 5th Avenue crossing.

D．Its doors face 42nd Street and other Avenues.

2．Which of the following statements is true?

[　　]

A．There are so many books to work with in the library.

B．It's possible to grow grass and trees in the heart of New York.

C．The Library's costs are going down.

D．The library needs more books and paintings.

3．When is the library open now?

[　　]

A．It's open every day from morning to evening.

B．It's open every day except Sunday from morning to evening.

C．It's open every day except weekends from morning to afternoon.

D．It's closed every evening.

4．How much does a New Yorker have to pay to use the library?

[　　]

A．He doesn't have to pay anything to use the library.

B．He used to pay nothing but now, has to pay a little money to use the library.

C．He has to pay its increasing costs.

D．Every New Yorker can visit the library's riches－ free, and use it without paying.

5．Why is it important to save the library?

[　　]

A．Because it is one of New York's most valuable buildings.

B．Because it contains all our knowledge.

C．Because there are a lot of rooms, which readers can sit and think in comfort in.

D．Because well－known New York writers and artists are trying to use it.

       Direct ions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with the word that best fits the context．

       Tom went to the seaside to spend his holiday last summer with his family．One day, he was swimming in the river when someone shouted, “Look out , there is 48．     shark not far away!” hearing the shout, Tom was scared to death 49      he was scared of its dangerous characteristic." Don’t worry, Tom！" His father said, "50     we’d better go back to our hotel in order to avoid being harmed.”

       51.      stayed in the seaside for several weeks. Though the weather was much hotter, Tom got used to it. Every morning, he got up52.       than his parents and went for breakfast ahead of time. Then he went to have a chat with his new friend, Jack．Not only53．      Jack familiar with the seaside, but he was also a man with good qualification．They became very good friends soon．After parted, they kept writing to each other．Now, Tom still often hears54．       Jack．

They talked in their letters about things and persons55．       they remembered in the seaside．

Grandpa Nybakken loved life—especially when he could play a trick on somebody. At those times, his large Norwegian frame shook with laughter while he pretended innocent surprise, exclaiming, “Oh, forevermore!” But on a cold Saturday in downtown Chicago, Grandpa felt that God played a trick on him, and grandpa wasn’t laughing.

Grandpa worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some boxes for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage abroad. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. He remembered putting them there that morning, so he drove back to the church．His search proved fruitless.
Suddenly, he realized what had happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!
The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning.
“It’s not fair,” he told God as he drove home in frustration. “I’ve been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this.”
Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on vacation in the United States．He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather’s small church in Chicago．Grandpa and his family sat in their usual seats among the small congregation（教堂会众）.
“But most of all,” he said, “I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year.”
“Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses．Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-workers and I were much in prayer about this．Then your boxes arrived．When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on the top.” After a long pause, he continued, “Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!”
The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses．But the director surely must have confused their church with another, they thought, there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.
But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.
56．Which of the following is NOT true about Grandpa Nybakken according to the passage?

A．He was an outgoing man and held an active attitude towards life.

B．He had a large family to support.

C．He was a carpenter working in the church.

D．He was a loyal Christian.

Grandpa Nybakken loved life—especially when he could play a trick on somebody. At those times, his large Norwegian frame shook with laughter while he pretended innocent surprise, exclaiming, “Oh, forevermore!” But on a cold Saturday in downtown Chicago, Grandpa felt that God played a trick on him, and grandpa wasn’t laughing.

Grandpa worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some boxes for the clothes his church was sending to an orphanage abroad. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. He remembered putting them there that morning, so he drove back to the church．His search proved fruitless.

Suddenly, he realized what had happened. The glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the boxes, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China!

The Great Depression was at its height, and Grandpa had six children. He had spent twenty dollars for those glasses that very morning.

“It’s not fair,” he told God as he drove home in frustration. “I’ve been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this.”

Several months later, the director of the orphanage was on vacation in the United States．He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him, so he came to speak on Sunday night at my grandfather’s small church in Chicago．Grandpa and his family sat in their usual seats among the small congregation（教堂会众）.

“But most of all,” he said, “I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year.”

“Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses．Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my co-workers and I were much in prayer about this．Then your boxes arrived．When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses lying on the top.” After a long pause, he continued, “Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom-made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that!”

The people listened, happy for the amazing glasses．But the director surely must have confused their church with another, they thought, there were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas.

But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

56．Which of the following is NOT true about Grandpa Nybakken according to the passage?

    A．He was an outgoing man and held an active attitude towards life.

    B．He had a large family to support.

    C．He was a carpenter working in the church.

    D．He was a loyal Christian.