The car has many advantages. Above all, it offers people freedom to go where they want to go, when they want to go there. The basic purpose of a car is to get from point A to point B as cheaply, quickly, and safely as possible. However, to most people, cars are also personal dream machines that serve as symbols of power, success, speed, excitement, and adventure. In addition, much of the world’s economy is built on producing cars and supplying roads, services, and repairs for those cars. Half of the world’s paychecks are cars related. In the United States, one of every six dollars spent and one of every six nonfarm jobs are connected to cars or related industries, such as oil, steel, rubber, plastics, car services , and highway construction.

In spite of their advantages, cars have many harmful effects on human lives and on air, water, land, and wildlife resources. The car may be the most destructive machine ever invented. Riding in cars is one of the most dangerous things we do in our daily lives. Since 1885, when Karl Benz built the first car, almost 18 million people have been killed by cars. Every year, cars and trucks worldwide kill an average of 250,000 people. Half of the world’s people will be involved in the tragic car accident--- at some time during their lives.

In 1907, the average speed of horse-drawn cars through New York City was 18.5 kilometers per hour. Today, cars and trucks with the power of 100 to 300 horses travel very slowly along New York City streets at an average speed of 8 kilometers per hour.

Streets that used to be for people are now for cars. Pedestrians and bicyclists in the streets suffer a lot from noise, pollution, stress, and danger.

Cars are the largest source of air pollution. In the United States, they produce at least 50% of the country’s air pollution. What do you think should be done?

1．Which question is NOT answered in the passage?             

       A．How many people work in jobs related to the car industry?

       B．When was the first car built?

       C．Why are there so many car accidents every year?

       D．What effect do the cars have on the environment?

2．We can know from the passage that cars        .      

       A．play an important part in the world’s economy

       B．are becoming less dangerous

       C．will produce less air pollution in the future

       D．are the most dangerous machines ever invented

3．Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?      

       A．Today, there are no horse-drawn vehicles in New York City.

       B．It takes longer to get around New York City today than in the past.

       C．In 1907, the streets in New York City were wider and in better condition.

       D．People will use horse-drawn cars in the near future.

4．What would be the best title for the passage?

     A．Cars---Number One Killer                  B．The Effect of Cars on the Air

     C．Advantages and Disadvantages of cars        D．Cars---Status Symbol

下列句子中错误的一处．

When Karl Marx was young, he was forced leaving his homeland for political

A　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B　　　　 C　　　　　　　　  D

reasons.

My teenage son Karl became withdraw after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m giving the whole thing up to you.”
I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands.” For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “thank you for your time”, and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was I. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
【小题1】By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, the author means that the boy changed entirely and _____.

A．preferred to stay alone at home	B．often escaped school
C．refused to talk to others	D．began to dislike his mother

【小题2】There was silence on the other end of the line because _____.

A．the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother

B．the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking

C．the speaker didn’t want the mother to recognize his voice

D．the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother

【小题3】What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Children in single-parent families often have mental problems.

B．Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.

C．Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers.

D．School education doesn’t work without full support from parents.

What could make Michael Jordon, one of the greatest basketball players in history, shed tears?  It was when he became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame on September 11. The hall is in Springfield, Massachusetts and honors the best basketball players, greatest coaches and other contributors to the game. “The game of basketball has been everything to me ,” said Jordan, 46. “It is the place I have always gone when I needed to find comfort and peace.”
Jordan retired twice in his 15-year career, finishing with 32292 points, the third highest total points in NBA history behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His average of 30.12 points a game is the best in the League.
“One day you might look up and see me playing the game at 50,” Jordan said. “Because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” (假象) In other words, it was motivation that made Jordan such a success..
A great career did not mean a smooth one. His high school coach cut him from the team in favor of a taller player when Jordan was in 10^th grade. His college coach wouldn’t allow him on the cover of Sports Illustration in 1981 with North Carolina’s four other players because Jordan was a freshman. In his first NBA All-Star game, older NBA stars wouldn’t throw him the ball because of jealousy.
“That burned me up,” Jordan said. “But obstacle don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
【小题1】 When Jordan became a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame,_____

A．he found something more encouraging .

B．he was so excited that he couldn’t hold his tears back.

C．he was happy and sad at the same time.

D．he felt very comfortable and peaceful.

【小题2】Who scored the highest total points in NBA history?

A．Michael Jordon.	B．Karl Malone.
C．Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.	D．Kobe Bryant.

【小题3】When in college basketball team, Jordan ______

A．was not experienced enough to be favored by his coach.

B．was the pet of his basketball coach.

C．was the best player in the team

D．was the tallest one of all basketball players.

【小题4】 What does the word “obstacle” mean in the passage?

A．Something that makes you feel uncomfortable

B．The coach who thinks you are not suitable for playing basketball.

C．A wall in the basketball court to stop players in training.

D．Something that makes it difficult for you to achieve your goal.

My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him, but the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card （成绩报告单）arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six failing grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.

One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help. “Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I'm giving the whole thing up to you.” Just then, I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster, “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands.” For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time” and hung up.

Karl’s next report card showed a great improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll（光荣榜）. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-­teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home，he said, “Mum，remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”

1.By saying “Karl became withdrawn” the author means that the boy changed entirely and ________.

A．he preferred to stay at school

B．he stayed at home all day

C．he refused to talk to his mother

D．he began to like his life

2.There was silence on the other end of the line because ________.

A．the speaker was too moved to say anything to his mother

B．the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking

C．the speaker didn't want the mother to recognize his voice

D．the speaker didn’t want to interrupt the mother

3.What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Children in single-­parent families often have mental problems.

B．Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.

C．Being understood by parents is not necessary to teenagers.

D．School education is a failure.

4. Which is not true according to the article?

A．Karl changed a lot after his father died.

B．What Karl did at school showed that he didn’t love his mother.

C．Karl’s mother tried many ways to help him.

D．Karl’s teachers were surprised at his change.