Cars are an important part of life in the United States. Without a car most people feel that they are poor. And even if a person is poor , he doesn’t feel really poor when he has a car.

Henry Ford was the man who first started making cars in large numbers. He probably didn’t know how much the car was going to change American culture. The car made the United States a nation on wheels. And it helped make the United States what it is today.

There are three main reasons why the car became so popular in the United States. First of all, the country is a big one and Americans like to move around it. The car makes the travel the most comfortable and cheapest. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money.

The second reason cars are popular is the fact that the United States never really developed a practical and cheap public travel system. Long distance trains have never been as common in the United States as they are in other parts of the world. Now there is a good system of air-service provided by planes. But it is too expensive to be used often.

The third reason is the most important one, though. The American spirit of independence is what really made cars popular. Americans don’t like waiting for a bus, or a train or even a plane. They don’t like to have to follow an exact timetable. A car gives them the freedom to plan their own time. And this is the freedom that Americans want most to have.

Less oil has caused a big problem for Americans. But the answer will not be a bigger system of public transportation. The real answer will have to be a new kind of car, one that does not use so much oil.

1.We can learn from this passage that Americans ______.

A.spend a lot of money traveling by car        B.travel a lot in their cars

C.seldom travel by plane                   D.use public traffic often

2.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A.In the United States even the poor own cars.

B.In the United States all the poor have no cars.

C.When an American has a car, he will never be poor.

D.An American will feel poor unless he has a car.

3.In the writer’s opinion, cars are popular in the United States mainly because ___.

A.Americans like to plan their own time

B.The United States does not have enough public transportation

C.Americans will not feel poor when they travel in their cars

D.Americans cannot move around without their own cars

4.“A nation on wheels” in the second paragraph means that _______.

A.everyone in the United States owns a car

B.the United States produces most of the cars in the world

C.cars play an important part in American’ life

D.the United States depend on car industry for its development

 

任务型阅读(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)

请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词.注意:每个空格只填1个单词.请将答案写在答题卡上相应题号的横线上.

Living in a foreign country is fun, but it isn’t always easy. There are many differences between cultures and although some of these differences are unimportant, they can cause a lot of embarrassment. I spoke to a few foreign friends about how they experienced culture shock in China.

Aubin arrived two months ago from Europe to take part in a language programme in Shanghai. Before he left, he was actually taught the differences between European and Chinese cultures, including everything from table manners to classroom behavior. However, some things have still taken him by surprise. For example, he couldn’t understand why waiters did not want to accept the tips he gave them after meals in restaurants. I had to explain to him that people don’t usually tip in China and that this comes from the Confucian idea that one must avoid accepting any undue(不适当的) income.

Another friend, Julia, came to Guangzhou from London to teach at a language school. After a month, she told me that she was really let down by her students. I asked her why and she told me that they were so quiet that she was the only person talking in class and it felt like the children were punishing her by making her talk to the walls! I explained to her that the children were simply respectful, but she said that it would be more respectful if they answered her questions.

And it is not only the West and the East that have cultural differences. Even Korea and China, two countries that are very close to each other, have differences too. “I thought Chinese and Korean people were similar in some ways,” said my friend Ji-Hyun in perfect Chinese, “but I was wrong. In ancient times the Chinese used to take their shoes off before entering a house. They don’t do that anymore, but Korean people still do! I keep getting that wrong even though I’ve been here for five years!”

Luckily, whether we take our shoes off or not, or leave unnecessary tips, the world still runs perfectly. In my opinion, cultural differences should simply be seen as a way of making life interesting. Imagine how boring it would be if we all did everything in exactly the same way! Learning to understand and respect differences is, after all, what life is all about.

(注意:请将该题的答案填写到答题卷对应的空格上!)

Living with differences

Theme

People will meet a 1._____ culture while living in a foreign country, which can make them feel 2._____.

3._____ of foreign friends in China

Aubin couldn’t understand why waiters 4._____ to accept the tips he gave them after meals in restaurants.

Julia felt really 5._____ because no one talked in class except herself and thought that if the students 6._____ her, they should answer her questions.

Ji-Hyun believed there were some 7._____ between Chinese and Korean people and thought it was wrong that people 8._____ their shoes when they entered a house.

Conclusion

We should 9._____ cultural differences as a way to make life interesting.

We would be 10._____ with life if we did everything in the same way.

 

 

The first time Luca heard the Island of Inventions, he was very young, but the wonders he heard about sounded so unbelievable to him that they were forever kept in his memory. Since then, he never stopped searching clues which might lead him to that place of wonder. He read widely to collect information.

   Taking a little from here and there, he got quite a clear idea of what the Island was really like. It was a secret place, where all the great men learn and invent together. To be able to join that select club, you had to have created great inventions. Only then could you receive the invitation.

   To get a chance, Luca spend the years studying and inventing. Every new idea he got, he made it into an invention, and if there were anything he didn’t understand, he would seek help. Soon he met other brilliant inventors too, and he told them of the secrets of the Island. These young inventors would likewise dream of being sent “the letter”.

   As time passed, the disappointment of not being sent the letter gave rise to even greater cooperation and help between them. Their inventions soon became known throughout the world.

   But no invention came.

   They didn’t lose heart. They continued learning and inventing, trying to come up with better ideas. Fresh talent was added to their group. One day, Luca, already very old, was speaking with a brilliant young man who had written to join their group. Luca told the young man the secrets of the Island, and of how he was sure that they would receive an invitation. Surprised, the young inventor said: “What? You mean this isn’t really the Island of Inventions?”

   It inspired Luca and he realized that his dream had become true.

1.Luca read widely to ________.

   A. get information about the great inventions

   B. get clear ideas about the island for vacations

   C. seek massages about the secret club of inventions

   D. get more knowledge for the benefit of his inventions

2.Luca and other brilliant inventors around him shared a dream of _______.

   A. being great inventors of worldwide fame

   B. being accepted as members of the Island of Inventions

   C. being inventors envied by members of the Island of Inventions

   D. being remembered for the contribution to scientific development

3.What is the effect of their not being given “the letter”?

   A. They were disappointed, while it encouraged them to work harder.

   B. They became desperate and decided to have another way of living.

   C. They changed their strategy and promote their inventions publicly.

   D. They gave up their dream while continued their inventions together.

 

I was on a bus one March evening. The driver didn’t  36  to start the bus soon because it was not yet  37 . A middle-aged woman got on. Tired and sad, she told her story  38 , not to anyone in particular. On her way to the station, half of her  39  was stolen. The other half was hidden under her blouse, so she  40  still had some left. A few minutes later, she stopped crying, but still looked  41 .

When all the seats were taken, the driver started the engine. The conductor began to collect fares(车费). When she came to an old man in worn-out clothes, he  42 that he had spent all his money when he had accidentally got on a wrong bus and now he was trying to go home. On hearing this, she ordered the old man to  43  the bus. The old man was almost in tears as he  44  her to let him take the bus home. The driver took the conductor’s side and repeated the conductor’s  45  .

The woman was watching the incident.  46  the driver and the conductor raised their voices at the old man, she interfered(干预).

“Stop  47  him! Can’t you see he’s only trying to get home?”

“He doesn’t have any money! ” the driver  48  .

“Well, that’s no  49  to throw him off the bus,” she insisted.

Then she reached inside her blouse, look out her  50  money, and handed it to the conductor. “Here’s his fare and mine. Just stop giving him a  51  time.”

All heads turned to the woman. “It’s only money,” she shrugged.

She rode the rest of the way home  52  a happy smile, with the money she’d lost earlier  53  .

On the road of life, the help of strangers can  54  our loads and lift our spirits. How much sweeter the  55  will be when we make it a little smoother for others!

36. A. try  B. care  C. decide  D.  intend 

37. A. empty  B. full  C. crowded  D. ready 

38. A. tearfully  B. seriously  C. carefully  D. calmly 

39. A. fare B. possession  C. money  D. wealth 

40. A. strangely B. happily  C. secretly   D. fortunately 

41. A. unsatisfied  B. weak   C. unhappy   D. excited 

42. A. explained  B. declared  C. admitted   D. found 

43. A. get off  B. start   C. get on   D. stop 

44. A. begged  B. scolded  C. praised   D. thanked 

45. A. request  B. action   C. suggestion   D. command 

46. A. Unless  B. Although  C. Until   D. When 

47. A. attacking  B. bothering  C. blaming   D. wronging 

48. A. warned  B. whispered  C. shouted   D. repeated 

49. A. problem  B. need  C. matter   D. reason 

50. A. spending  B. collected   C. remaining   D. borrowed 

51. A. busy  B. cold   C. hard   D. fearful 

52. A. giving  B. wearing   C. taking   D. forcing 

53. A. forgotten  B. used   C. earned  D. returned 

54. A. move  B. increase   C. lighten   D. carry 

55. A. world  B. journey   C. smile   D. friendship 

 

完形填空(共20小题;每小题1.5分,满分30分)

阅读下面短文,掌握其大意,然后从36~55各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡将该项涂黑。

Lang Lang is a world-class young pianist who grew up in Shenyang.He went to a piano school in Beijing when he was just eight.“You need   36  ,”his father said.“But if you don’t work hard,no fortune will come.”

What made him sad was   37   his piano teacher in Beijing didn’t like him.“You have no talent(天赋).You will never be a pianist.”   38   a nine-year-old boy,Lang Lang was badly   39  .He decided that he didn’t want to be a   40   any more.For the next two weeks he didn’t touch the piano._   41  ,his father didn’t push,but waited.

Luckily,the day came when his teacher asked him to    42     some holiday songs.He didn’t want to,but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys,he   43   that he could show others that he had talent   44  .That day he told his father   45   he had been waiting to hear—that he wanted to study with a new teacher.   46   that point on,everything turned around.

He started   47   competitions(比赛).In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition,when it was   48   that Lang Lang had won,he was too   49   to hold back his tears.Soon   50   was clear that he couldn’t stay in China forever—he had to play on the world’s big   51  .In 1997 Lang Lang   52   again,this time to Philadelphia,U.S.There he spent two years practising,and by 1999 he had worked hard enough for fortune to take over.After his   53   performance at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival,gigs(特邀演出) in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall started   54   in.Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spots(发现) him,and lets him   55  .

36.A.exercise                B.fortune                      C.knowledge                 D.wealth

37.A.whether                B.why                          C.when                        D.that

38.A.Like                     B.With                         C.To                                   D.As

39.A.hurt                            B.weakened                  C.ruined                       D.frightened

40.A.singer                   B.pianist                       C.conductor                  D.player

41.A.Hopefully             B.Patiently                   C.Wisely                      D.Painfully

42.A.play                            B.sing                          C.write                        D.study

43.A.seemed                 B.admitted                    C.noticed                      D.realized

44.A.in all                    B.above all                   C.after all                            D.at all

45.A.that                      B.what                         C.which                       D.when

46.A.From                   B.At                                   C.Since                        D.After

47.A.receiving                     B.accepting                   C.winning                    D.beating

48.A.told                      B.mentioned                 C.announced                 D.recognized

49.A.excited                 B.encouraged                C.shocked                     D.satisfied

50.A.this                      B.it                              C.that                           D.what

51.A.concerts                B.tours                         C.competitions              D.stages

52.A.started                  B.left                           C.moved                      D.performed

53.A.successful             B.cheerful                    C.respectful                  D.meaningful

54.A.pulling                 B.breaking                    C.falling                       D.pouring

55.A.brighten               B.shine                         C.admire                      D.develop

 

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