39. A. brave　　　　 B. hard　　　　 C. smart　　　　　 D. unfair　

38. A. amount　　　　 B. part　　　　 C. sum　　　　　　 D. rest　

37. A. How　　　　　 B. Why　　　　　 C. Who　　　　　　 D. What　

36. A. cleaned　　　 B. covered　　　 C. counted　　　　 D. checked

C

Though nearly all novelists report what at least some of the characters in their works are thinking about, few writers attempt to recreate all of the thoughts and half thoughts that race constantly through any individual’s mind. Those writers who do rely on a technique called stream of consciousness.

Consider for a moment what goes on in your own mind at any given moment. You may be consciously thinking, for example, of what you are reading on this page. Below this conscious level, however, hundreds of other impressions might be floating about --- a concert you attended last night, a sudden noise outside, a sight in the room as you glance up that makes you think of something related. Most of these images or ideas are half-formed and fleeting, and usually you are barely aware of them. Yet a writer using stream of consciousness attempts to put this jumble of concepts onto the printed page.

Many novels include short snatches of stream of consciousness, usually characterized by long or half-formed sentences and free association from one idea to the next. Few writers attempt to sustain the technique for long stretches, though there are some notable exceptions. James Joyce uses the technique extensively throughout his novel Ulysses, the story of one character’s experiences --- and reflections --- as he wanders through Dublin on a single day. William Faulkner uses it in The Sound and the Fury to probe the thoughts of three characters, including one of limited mental ability. Virginia Woolf uses it in The Waves, as she allows the reader to inhabit the minds of six friends as they pass through the stages of their lives. These works are some of the most challenging yet critically acclaimed novels of the 20^th century.

51. The best title for this passage would be _______.

A. The Genius of Joyce and Faulkner

B. A History of Stream of Consciousness

C. Stream of Consciousness Novels

D. Great Novelists of Stream of Consciousness

52. Ulysses is a novel that _______.

A. traces the stages of its characters’ lives

B. includes short snatches of stream of consciousness

C. is set in England

D. takes place in one day

53. Stream of consciousness is a _______.

A. technique that most readers enjoy

B. difficult technique to pull off successfully

C. technique used by most writers today

D. way of analyzing historical events

54. The writer explains “stream of consciousness” by _______.

A. asking the reader to consider his or her own thought processes

B. giving examples from novels

C. explaining who originated the term

D. giving a dictionary definition

55. The underlined word “acclaimed” in the last sentence means _______.

A. criticized　　 B. praised　　 C. sold　　 D. copied

B

In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since the first half of the twentieth century. Today, a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by installments. In the U.S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain, and people there spend over 10 percent of their income on the installment plan.

　 The price of an article bought on installments is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash. There is a charge for interest. The buyer pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment when the goods are delivered to him. He then makes regular payments, weekly or monthly, until the full price is paid up. The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.

　 Installment buying has advantages and disadvantages. It can help couples with small incomes to furnish their homes and start housekeeping. It increases the demand for goods, and in this way helps business and employment. There is, however, the danger that when business is bad, installment buying may end suddenly, making business much worse. This may result in a great increase in unemployment. If the people on the installment plan lose their jobs, they will probably not be able to make their payments. If great numbers of people are not able to pay their installment debts there is a possibility that businessmen cannot collect their debts and will therefore lose money. If businessmen lose money or fail to make a satisfactory profit, it becomes more likely to have a depression. This is why, in some countries, the government controls the installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment and installments to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.

46. Which of the following is NOT true about the installment plan?

A. A lot of British families use the installment plan.

B. More than 10 percent American families buy things on installments.

C. Americans depend more on installment than British people do.

D. Americans spend one tenth of their income on installment buying.

47. Goods bought on installments are more expensive than goods bought by cash because ________.

A. the buyer has to pay extra money as interest

B. the delivery of the goods charges extra money

C. the buyer has to pay a down payment

D. the service offered by installment plan charged extra money

48. What will happen to a buyer if he fails to make the full payment for an item bought on installments?

A. He might lose his job.

B. He will stop using the item he has bought.

C. He will have to sell what he has bought.

D. He will go into debt.

49. The advantage of installment buying might include all the following EXCEPT that ________.

A. purchasing power is strengthened

B. employment might be increased

C. people develop a good habit of saving money

D. young couples are able to furnish their homes

50. In some countries, the governments control the installment plan to _____.

A. increase employment

B. avoid depressions

C. ensure that businesses make good profits

D. ensure that people can pay for what they buy