E

Are you angry? Are you unhappy in your job? Wish you had a means of expressing those feelings? Well, if you lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, you could go to Break Club. It’s made up of people who get together to break things as a way to release (释放) their feelings. They can throw bottles at the wall, or break an old computer into pieces.

Mora, a club member, is a 22-year-old media (媒体) producer who works hard and is always stressed out. She says, “I have to deal with so many people and things every day, which drives me mad. I have a paper heart and my nerves are at the breaking point.　 Well, now it’s time to break something.” She wears overalls (工装裤), thick gloves and glasses. In her hands there’s a baseball bat ready for action. After destroying an old computer monitor, Mora is almost out of breath but has a smile on her face. “I feel like a new person. I’m happy! I’m ready for anything!” she says.

The club’s creator, Guido Dodero, says most of the members are young women. Dodero explains, “This is still quite a manly country. Women feel angry and they also want to play an important role in society. They need to break from that every now and then and the club is the place for that.” Some members bring a picture of the former (以前的) husband to destroy. Others bring a picture of… well, it could be of you or me.

Dodero says Break Club is the only one of its kind in Argentina, but there are many similar clubs in Spain, Japan and the US. With the development of society, Break Club may become a necessary part of daily life. There might be one near you soon. Do you feel like breaking things?

51. People in Buenos Aires go to Break Club to 　　　.

　　 A. have a drink　　　　　　　　 B. destroy the club　　　　

　　 C. meet some new friends　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. release their anger or unhappiness

52. What has actually caused Mora to go to Break Club?

　　 A. Her stressful job.　　　　　　 B. Her broken heart.　　　　

　　 C. Her terrible nerves.　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. The wild thought in her mind.

53. How does Mora feel after she has destroyed an old computer monitor?

　　 A. She feels very sorry.　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. She feels better than before.　　　

　　 C. She feels puzzled but happy.　 D. She feels alone but comfortable.

54. Who are the club’s main visitors according to the club’s creator?

　　 A. Men who control the country.　 B. Young and very angry women.　　　　

　　 C. Women who are important to society.

　　 D. Women whose marriages fail.

55. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

　　 A. People can destroy anything in Break Club.　　　

　　 B. Break Club is very common in Argentina.

　　 C. People often hurt themselves while breaking things.　　

　　 D. Break Club may become popular all over the world.

D

Sitting in her yard in Hartford, Connecticut, nine-year-old Alice Cogswell watched the children playing games. From their faces she could tell that they were laughing. But she couldn’t hear their voices. Alice had been deaf, living in a quiet world since a serious illness took away her hearing when she was 2.

The year was 1814, and few opportunities (机会) were given to children like Alice. Unable to hear or talk, she didn’t attend school. There were no teachers to teach deaf children across America. In those days, most people believed that deaf children couldn’t learn at all.

One day, her neighbor, Thomas Gallaudet, noticed that Alice wasn’t playing with other kids. When he tried to speak to her, he realized that she couldn’t hear. But he couldn’t miss her bright and curious eyes. Placing his hat on the ground, he spelt the letters h-a-t. Alice understood, and soon Gallaudet became her teacher.

Gallaudet had learnt about schools for the deaf in Europe. He thought, “Why shouldn’t Alice and other deaf children in the United States have such a school?” Encouraged by Alice’s progress, Gallaudet decided to go to Europe to learn their ways. After 15 months there, Gallaudet returned to Connecticut, together with Laurent Clerc, a teacher from a famous school for the deaf in Paris, France.

Gallaudet and Clerc opened the country’s first deaf school in 1817. There were 33 teachers and students at the very beginning, including Alice. They created the American Sign Language, which was based partly on the French sign language and partly on signs the students invented. Deaf students could now learn subjects like reading, history and math, as well as skills like shoemaking and cabinetmaking (家具制造) for boys and housekeeping for girls.

47. Which of the following about deaf children in the US before 1814 is TRUE?

　　 A. They were treated as normal kids in schools.

　　 B. They communicated with others with the help of a sign language.

　　 C. It was almost impossible for them to receive an education.

　　 D. They weren’t allowed to play games with normal kids.

48. Gallaudet taught Alice to learn the first word by 　　.

　　 A. using a sign language　　 　　　　 B. combining a thing with a word

　　 C. playing games together with her　

　　 D. telling her how to write the letters on her own

49. What can be learned from the passage?

　　 A. Alice made some progress in her studies.

　　 B. Alice was deaf when she was born.

　　 C. Laurent Clerc created the American Sign Language.

　　 D. Only boys were allowed to learn the skill in making shoes in America.

50. The passage is mainly about 　　.

　　 A. American people’s concern about deaf kids

　　 B. the life of an American girl Alice Cogswell

　　 C. the development of the American Sign Language

　　 D. the founding of the first school for deaf children in America

C

Who are your favorite teachers? My classmates and I were asked this question on the first day at the university many years ago. It was a great way to begin my career in teaching—thinking about people in the profession who had the most positive (积极的) influence on me. We were asked to write down our answers. I thought of Sister Mary Margaret and Sister Mary Anne, who taught me in the kindergarten. I thought of Mrs. Padgett and Mrs. Kofford, English teachers, and Mr. Kutras, a history teacher, in high school. Then I thought of Dr. Lincoln and Dr. Campbell, history professors, and Dr. Kirk, an English professor, who taught me in college. Then came this question, “What do they all have in common?” My hand went up first and I said, “They all loved what they were doing. They had great enthusiasm (积极性) for teaching.” All of my fellow graduate students nodded their heads.

That was the right answer Dr. McSweeney expected. He said, “I ask these questions every year, and I always get the same answers.” He went on to explain that he opened with these questions because they were proved to make things have a good start, and they would make future teachers think about what separates the great teachers from the not-so-great. He said, “We all remember our favorite teachers—the ones who had passion (激情) and enthusiasm, the ones who loved and enjoyed what they were doing. I want each of you to become that kind of teacher. Always remember those special teachers.” It was a statement I never forgot during my thirty-five years in the classroom.

43. According to the passage, an excellent teacher should have 　　.

　　 A. much experience in teaching　　 　　 B. a wide range of knowledge　　

　　 C. passion and enthusiasm for teaching D. abilities to ask questions

44. The author thinks that teachers who are liked best by students 　　.

　 　 A. live a positive life　　　　　　 　　　　　 B. are mostly women teachers

　 　 C. teach very well　　　　　　　　　　 　　

　　 D. have positive influence on students

45. By starting with those questions Dr. McSweeney wished his students to 　　.

　　 A. become great teachers　 　　　　　　 B. enjoy his lesson

　　 C. remember him forever　 　　　　　

　　 D. tell great teachers from common ones

46. What can we learn about the author from the passge?

　　 A. He works in a university.　　　　 　　　　 B. He is actually a teacher.

　　 C. He likes Dr. McSweeney best.　　　

　　 D. He was always the best student in school.

B

“The British and Americans are two peoples separated by a common language.” — Oscar Wilde

Though American English has become much different from British English, more and more British words and phrases are becoming common in American English. Here are some examples.

Bloody

If there is anything Americans like, it’s a good word to express their great anger. For example, “It’s bloody cold out there! What a bloody and costly failure!” Bloody is now well accepted by most Americans. It’s a way of swearing (咒骂) in America.

Chat up

The British expression “chat up” for flirting (搭讪) is much gentler than the American expression “hit on”. That may be why more Americans are using “chat up” especially when talking about their own actions.

Ginger

Before the first Harry Potter book came out, Americans only used the word ginger when referring to the spice (调味品). Ginger has almost always been a color as well as a spice for the British. Now more and more Americans are talking about “ginger cats” and “ginger hair”.

Sell-by date

More and more American members of the media are using this British term in place of the American term “expiration date” on which something, such as a license, is no longer in effect. American products are also using this term, which is a bit more descriptive than “expiration date”.

Spot on

In the 1970s, the American expression “right on” was popular, which had the same meaning as “exactly right”, but it has become out of date. Now, the British expression “spot on” has taken the place of “right on”.

39. The British will complain about the cold weather by saying “　　”.

　　 A. it’s bloody cold today　　　　　　　　 B. the weather chats up

　　 C. the weather has too much blood　　　 　　 D. what a bloody day

40. According to the passage, “a ginger cat” refers to a cat that 　　.

　　 A. enjoys eating ginger　　　　　　　　　 　　　 B. has yellow fur

　　 C. smells like ginger　　　　　　　　　 　 D. likes the color yellow

41. What does the “sell-by date” of the products mean?

　　 A. The price of the products.

　　 B. The rights that the producers should have.

　　 C. The date when the products are produced.

　　 D. The date after which the products should not be sold.

42. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

　　 A. English—a common language

　　 B. How does American English develop?

　　 C. British English is entering American English

　　 D. Differences between American English and British English

第二节 完形填空(共20小题; 每小题1.5 分, 满分30分)

Michael wanted a bicycle. If he had a bicycle, he would not walk to school anymore. However, Michael’s dad was very poor and did not have much 　16　 . Instead, Michael got a book at last. Though he was a bit 　17　 , he didn’t complain to his dad.

One day while Michael was walking on his way to 　18　 , he saw a big boy on a bicycle. The bicycle was too 　19　 　for the big boy. 　20　 　the boy was turning around a corner, he 　21　 　a tree on the street. The boy 　22　 　on the ground.

To his surprise, the boy was William. Michael had seen him before at school. He was very popular. William seemed to have 　23　 　his leg. Michael 　24　 　William’s bike and rode to the nearby 　25　 　to get help. A few minutes later, an ambulance (救护车) came and brought William to the hospital. Michael quickly rode William’s bicycle to school so he would not be 　26　 　for class.

After school, Michael 　27　 　rode the bicycle to the hospital. William was not 　28　 　hurt. He was allowed to 　29　 　the hospital a few days later.

To Michael’s 　30　 , William got a new bike on his birthday and Michael could have William’s 　31　 　bike. Michael was very 　32　 . From then on, Michael and William became good friends. He 　33　 　William every day till William’s leg 　34　 . Since then they rode to school every day together 　35　 .

16. A. time　　　　　　 B. energy　　　　　 C. money　　　　　　 D. patience

17. A. afraid　　　　　 B. quiet　　　　　　 C. calm　　　　　　　　 D. sad

18. A. home　　　　　　 B. school　　　　　 C. work　　　　　　　 D. shop

19. A. heavy　　　　　 B. light　　　　　　　 C. small　　　　　　　 D. fast

20. A. When　　　　　 B. If　　　　　　　　　 C. Unless　　　　　　 D. So

21. A. hit　　　　　　　　 B. met　　　　　　　 C. cut　　　　　　　　　 D. climbed

22. A. tried　　　　　　 B. fell　　　　　　　 C. played　　　　　　 D. waited

23. A. burned　　　　　 B. broken　　　　　 C. moved　　　　　　 D. lifted

24. A. repaired　　　　 B. bought　　　　　 C. picked up　　　　 D. got up

25. A. building　　　　 B. street　　　　　　 C. store　　　　　　　　 D. hospital

26. A. late　　　　　　　 B. ready　　　　　　 C. sorry　　　　　　　 D. bad

27. A. hardly　　　　　 B. easily　　　　　　 C. slowly　　　　　　 D. quickly

28. A. exactly　　　　　 B. simply　　　　　 C. completely　　　 D. seriously

29. A. leave　　　　　　 B. stay　　　　　　　 C. check　　　　　　　 D. reach

30. A. mind　　　　　　 B. heart　　　　　　 C. surprise　　　　　　 D. best

31. A. old　　　　　　　 B. new　　　　　　　 C. useless　　　　　　 D. special

32. A. proud　　　　　 B. glad　　　　　　　 C. angry　　　　　　　 D. patient

33. A. helped　　　　　 B. visited　　　　　 C. missed　　　　　　 D. appreciated

34. A. suffered　　　　 B. touched　　　　 C. returned　　　　　 D. recovered

35. A. bravely　　　　 B. lovingly　　　　 C. happily　　　　　　 D. gradually

15. — What do you think of the painting by Picasso?

　　 — 　　　, it’s of value, but I can’t figure out what it means easily.

　　 A. I’m afraid　 　　　 B. To tell the truth　　　　　　　　　 C. Unfortunately 　　　 D. My God

14. When reading, you’d better make a mark 　　　　you have any questions.

　　 A. what　　　　 　　 B. how　　　 　 C. where　　　　 　　 D. that

13. Up to now, no one knows 　　　　came first, the chicken or the egg.

　　 A. where　　　 　　　 B. what　　　 　 C. how　　　　 　　 D. which

12. Kate, together with two friends, 　　　　a visit to the Great Wall this summer.

　　 A. is going to pay　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. are going to pay

　　 C. pays　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. pay