The children loved their day trip, and they enjoyed the horse ride___

A. most        B. more           C. less                   D. little

Violent gangs. Bar fights. Broken bones. No, we aren’t talking about a late night in Downtown Chico; we’re talking about the things that come to many people’s minds when the word, motorcycle, is mentioned.

Many Chico State students have learned of the convenience of small motorcycles and scooters when it comes to parking on or near campus. Motorcycle parking is something that is available when compared to the amount of vacant automotive parking—something especially valuable when running a bit late for class. Motorcycle-riding students have also learned to appreciate the 50 to 80 average miles per gallon, especially today when it seems as if gasoline prices are shooting up faster and more often than a back alley addict.

Still, some people are reluctant to ride the steel horse. Marc Lewis, a 24-year-old Chico State anthropology student, is one of those people. “I’ve had motorcycles in the past. I know what they’re about. I want another one, for recreational purposes,” Lewis said. The only things holding Lewis back are insurance costs and what he refers to as “unsafe drivers”. Safety and insurance costs certainly are important factors.

Chris Kelley, employee of Cost-U-Less Insurance Center at 166 Cohasset Road, Suite 3, admits that motorcycle insurance can get pricey. The average price per month for Chico State students in their 20s is about $100, Kelley said. “The most expensive rate I’ve ever charged was something like $32,000 a year,” Kelley said. “The guy had a horrible record.”

If a motorcycle is something that you’ve always been curious about but have been frightened by the dangerous image it is often given, try rethinking your position. Motorcycling is one of the most diverse activities in existence. Consider the information you find here a brief introduction to several of the more popular aspects of motorcycle riding.

44. When it comes to motorcycles, one tends to think of ____.

A. a late night in Downtown Chico           B. the horse made of steel

C. the money paid for insurance               D. a horrible image motorcycles give

45. According to the second paragraph, which of the following is NOT true?

A. It is very convenient for students to ride motorcycles.

B. The campus has enough parking place for motorcycles.

C. Students are often late for class riding motorcycles.

D. Motorcycles consume less gasoline.

46. Why are some people unwilling to ride the steel horse?

A. Because they often have their bones broken.

B. Because they are worried about the costly insurance and safety problems.

C. Because they have to pay for the pricey gasoline.

D. Because they don’t want to ride it for entertainment.

47. The writer intends to tell us in the last paragraph that ____.

A. we shouldn’t buy a motorcycle due to the danger it causes

B. many people are frightened by the dangerous image

C. we shouldn’t be curious about the motorcycle any more

D. motorcycles are still popular regardless of the disadvantages

         It was a bitter, cold evening in northern Virginia many years ago. The old man was waiting for a ride across the   36  . The wait seemed   37  .

         At last he heard the slight, steady rhythm of approaching hooves (马蹄) coming along the frozen path. Anxiously, he   38   as several horsemen came around the bend (转角处). He let the first one   39  . Then another, and another. Finally, as the   40   rider neared the spot where the old man sat like a snow statue, the old man   41   the rider’s eye and said, “Sir, would you mind giving an old man a ride to the other side? There doesn’t appear to be a passage way by  42  .”

         The rider replied, “Sure.” Seeing the old man was unable to  43   his half-frozen body from the ground, the horseman got down and helped the old man onto the horse. The horseman took the old man not just across the river, but to his destination.

         As they neared the tiny but cozy (舒适的) cottage, the horseman’s   44   caused him to ask, “Sir, I notice that you let several other riders go by without making a(n)   45   to get a ride. Then I came up and you   46   asked me for a ride. I’m curious why, on such a bitter winter night, you would wait and ask the last rider.   47   I had refused and left you there?”

         The old man replied, “I’ve been   48   here for some time. I think I know people pretty good.” He continued, “I looked into the eyes of the other riders and immediately saw there was no   49   for my situation. But when I looked into your eyes,   50   was evident. I knew,   51  , that your gentle spirit would   52   the opportunity to give me help in my time of   53  .”

         Those heartwarming comments   54   the horseman deeply.

         “I’m most grateful for what you have said,” he told the old man. “May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I   55   to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.”

         With that, Thomas Jefferson turned his horse around and made his way back to the White House.

A. town                   B. river              C. country                           D. island

A. meaningless       B. useless        C. careless                          D. endless

A. watched   B. asked      C. waved                       D. approached

A. come over           B. get off               C. pass by                            D. take off

A. coming                 B. leaving         C. next                                 D. last

A. missed                  B. caught         C. avoided                           D. saw

A. bus                        B. car                C. foot                                  D. horse

A. feel             B. push                   C. lift                                     D. stand

A. honesty                B. courage       C. enthusiasm          D. curiosity

A. choice                 B. stop          C. effort                               D. scene

A. immediately  B. hurriedly         C. friendly                            D. strangely

A. What about      B. What if              C. How come            D. If only

A. in                         B. out                C. around                            D. beyond

A. concern    B. doubt                C. chance                            D. reason

A. meaning   B. kindness  C. seriousness          D. help

A. then and there                                    B. for a moment  

                      C. all of a sudden                    D. sooner or later

A. offer                    B. create               C. find                                   D. welcome

A. need                   B. danger              C. fortune                            D. happiness

A. influenced         B. excited              C. touched                          D. hit

A. happen               B. try                      C. disagree                         D. fail

New York is one of the last large American cities to have some of its policemen on horseback. The New York police have 170 horses that they use in certain parts of the city. The horses are expensive to feed, but it is even more expensive to take care of them. Because the horses must walk on the streets, they need special horseshoes. In fact, they need more than 8,000 of them each year. Every police horse in New York gets new shoes every month. Keeping these shoes in good repair is the job of six blacksmiths. There are only about thirty-five of these blacksmiths in the whole Unite States.

The cost of shoeing a horse is between twenty dollars and thirty--five dollars, and it takes a good blacksmith two to three hours to do the job.  

A blacksmith’s job is not an easy one. He must be able to shape a shoe from a piece of metal and then fit it to the horse’s foot. The blacksmith must bend over all the time when he is fitting the shoe and must hold the weight of the horse’s leg while he works. But even more important, he must be able to deal with horses ------ for before the blacksmith can begin his work, he has to get the horse to lift its leg.

One of the blacksmiths in New York is James Corbin. He came to the country form Ireland in 1948.He not only makes horseshoes for the police but also works for a group of horse owners near the city. Corbin became interested in blacksmithing because his father did it, and, as he puts it, “It’s a good way to make a living.”

According to the reading passage, a blacksmith must be likely a         man.

    A. clever               B. rich             C. strong               D. tall

James Corbin became a blacksmith because he        .

    A. was interested in horses.                    B. was needed by the policemen

    C. drew a picture of the horses                 D. had to make a living

In the reading passage “to shape a shoe” is to       .

    A. fit it on the horse’s foot                          B. use it for two or three hours

    C. make the form of a horseshoe from a piece of metal   D. draw a picture of the shoe

The best title for the passage is          .

    A. Policemen on Horseback               B. Blacksmiths and Horseshoeing

    C. James Corbin, a Blacksmith           D. Horseshoeing Is a Good Way to Make a Living

Which of the following is true?

    A. Only a few large American cities have some policemen on horseback.

    B. New York is the only city in America to have some policemen on horseback.

    C. Policemen on horseback enjoy traveling around the United States.

    D. Policemen on horseback are less expensive than those in cars.

Charlie was a rich boy who had more toys than you could imagine. His family had a lot of money, and   1  he liked something, they would buy it for him. Then, he had no idea what things cost, and wouldn't   2  to take care of what he had. Nor did he realise how difficult it was for other children to get toys like the ones he had.

A time came, though, when he was   3  used to all his toys and various stuff that he began to want something   4 . One of his uncles found a fine horse and he gave it to Charlie. Charlie was very   5  at having a horse. He had never got something like that before.

However, he   6  the horse just as badly as he did all his other toys, and it soon started looking   7 . For the first time in his life Charlie became truly   8 . He loved the horse, and the fact that his family had offered to exchange it for a new one meant nothing to him. One day, while in the countryside, he saw a girl with a horse. The girl looked very poor, but the horse seemed happy and looked great.

Wondering how she had   9  this, Charlie secretly followed her, watching everything she did. First he followed them through the forest, where he saw that she never used the whip, and never   10  the horse. Then they came to the stable, and   11  they arrived the girl fed and watered the horse. Then she carefully groomed (照顾) it. Charlie was surprised. This was the   12  of what Charlie had done to his horse.

Charlie wanted to   13  and become like the girl. As no one had shown him how to do this, he 14   to her and asked her to teach him how to look after his horse. After her initial surprise, she happily  15 . With her he learned how to   16  care and effort into things. He learned that he could be much   17  with only a few special things that you truly   18  , than with thousands of toys that were only good for a short time and were then   19  aside. When the horse finally   20  all its strength and health, Charlie was happy that his effort had been worthwhile.

1.                A．whichever      B．whenever       C．whatever D．however

2.                A．refuse         B．bother         C．obey D．hesitate

3.                A．so             B．as             C．quite D．very

4.                A．usual          B．different        C．right D．expensive

5.                A．excited         B．interested       C．annoyed  D．hopeful

6.                A．operated       B．commanded     C．trained   D．treated

7.                A．tired           B．puzzled         C．grateful   D．sick

8.                A．worried        B．patient         C．ashamed  D．doubtful

9.                A．controlled      B．learned         C．managed  D．prepared

10.               A．scratched       B．hit            C．broke D．damaged

11.               A．even if         B．every time      C．now that   D．soon after

12.               A．glory          B．devotion        C．opposite   D．assumption

13.               A．change         B．continue        C．inspect    D．overcome

14.               A．got over        B．turned over     C．took over  D．went over

15.               A．agreed         B．received        C．adopted   D．responded

16.               A．give           B．put            C．spend D．take

17.               A．stringer        B．higher         C．happier   D．smarter

18.               A．cared for       B．cut down       C．poured into    D．looked up

19.               A．picked         B．dropped        C．passed    D．thrown

20.               A．relieved        B．recovered      C．lost   D．grasped