The concept of solitude(独处) in the digital world is almost non-existent. In the world of digital technology, e-mail, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be 　36 . Solitude can be hard to discover 　37 it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have 　38 our culture.

The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) 　39 as we’ve known it. People have become so 　40 in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted 　41 they’d rather not be. Today we can talk, text, e-mail, chat and blog(写博客), not only from our 　42 , but from our mobile phones as well.

Most developed nations have become 　43 on digital technology simply because they’ve grown accustomed to it, and at this point not 　44 it would make them an outsider. 　45 , many jobs and careers require people to be 　46 . From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a 　47 to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.

I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who 　48 wants it. Computers can be shut 　49 and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected” and “on” has many 　50 , as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up 　51 on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel 　52 and forced to answer unwanted calls or 　53 to unwanted texts.

Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society 　54 across generations. Some find today’s technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone’s view on the subject, it’s hard to imagine what life would be like 　55 daily advancements in technology.

36. A. updated　　 　　 B. received　 　　　 C. shared　　 　 D. collected.

37. A. though　　 　　 B. until.　　 　　　 C. once　　　 　　 D. before.

38. A. respected　 　　 B. shaped　　 　　 C. ignored　 　　 D. preserved.

39. A. edge　　　 　　　 B. stage　　　 　　 C. end　　　 　　　 D. balance.

40. A. sensitive　 　　　 B. intelligent　 　　 C. considerate 　　 D. reachable.

41. A. even if　 　　　　 B. only if　　 　　 C. as if　 　　　　 D. if only

42. A. media　　 　　　 B. computers 　　　 C. databases 　　　　 D. monitors

43. A. bent　　 　　　　　 B. hard　 　　　　　 C. keen　 　　　　 D. dependent

44. A. finding　 　　　　　 B. using　 　　　　　 C. protecting 　　 D. changing

45. A. Also　　 　　　　　 B. Instead　 　　　 C. Otherwise 　　 D. Somehow

46. A. connected 　　　 B. trained 　　　　 C. recommended D. interested

47. A. pleasure 　　　　 B. benefit 　　　　　 C. burden 　　　 D. disappointment

48. A. slightly　 　　　　 B. hardly　　 　　　 C. merely　 　　　　　　 D. really.

49. A. out　 　　　　　 B. down 　　　　 C. up　 　　　　 D. in

50. aspects　 　　　　 B. weaknesses 　 C. advantages 　　　 D. exceptions.

51. A. hidden　 　　　　　 B. lost　 　　　　　　 C. relaxed　 　　　　 D. deserted

52. A. trapped 　　　　 B. excited 　　　　 C. confused 　　　　　　 D. amused

53. A. turn　 　　　　　　 B. submit 　 　　 C. object　 　　　　 D. reply

54. A. vary　 　　　　　 B. arise　 　　　　　 C. spread　 　　　　 D. exist

55. A. beyond 　　　　 B. within　 　　　　 C. despite 　　　　　 D .without

 ----If I stay at home, I’ll help you with your project if you like.

----Thank you for your ____________.

       A. help                 B. offer                 C. mercy                   D. word

 If we ____________ virtual reality holidays, we ____________ any problems with the weather.

       A. had; will have                             B. had; would have

       C. have; would have                          D. had had; would have had

 Do you think it is ____________ for Wang Lin to be accused of illegal practice of medicine?

       A. likely                B. maybe               C. possible                D. probable

 Paper cutting is something ____________ he learned to do from an early age.

       A. that                 B. which               C. who                    D. from which

 In 1997, one of Chen Yifei’s painting sold ____________ US$ 503,000 where a young woman sits alone and is deep ____________ thought.

       A. in; into               B. into; in               C. for; in                   D. at; for

____________ in beautiful costumes, they skipped back and forth to the rhythm of loud drums.

A. Dressing　　　 　　 B. dressed　　　 　　 C. Being dressing　　 　　　 D. having dressed

 The history of Auckland ____________ 650 years ____________ the Maoris settled in the area.

       A. goes back to; when                        B. went back; while

       C. was dated back to; when                   D. dates back to; while

 If ____________ in class, you will have to clean the classroom for a week as a punishment.

       A. caught sleeping                                  B. caught to sleep

       C. catching sleeping                                 D. to catch to sleep

 Those days many people prefer staying at home            the hot weather.

       A. on behalf                 B. in spite of           C. in terms of                D. in consequence of