It all starts with a tree．In fact, it starts with several trees．Since the first modern guitars were made in northern Spain over 150 years ago, crafts persons have known the wood to be used is important in making a guitar.

Every guitar is made of several different kinds of wood．Each piece is carefully chosen and then cut to fit the part of the guitar for which it is designed．The most important part of a guitar is the soundboard--the piece of wood with a large hole that lies under the strings(弦,线)．Guitar makers are careful to make the soundboard just the right shape and thickness．Then they fix stripes（长条）of wood across the inside in a special pattern, which helps strengthen the soundboard and improves the tone of the guitar.

Wood for the curvy (弯曲的) sides of the guitar must be soaked (浸湿) in water and bent over a hot iron pipe．When all the pieces of the guitar are ready, they are carefully stuck together with glue．Special woodworking tools are used to shape and smooth the neck of the guitar．The craftsperson must make sure that the neck is perfectly centered over the soundboard.

Then it is time to use varnish(亮光漆)．This brings out the beauty of the wood．Varnish also improves the sound of the guitar but too much varnish makes the guitar sound flat and dull.

Finally guitar strings are attached and tightened to make just the right musical tones．Then it’s time to play a song．(273 words)

1.The best title for this passage may be _____.

2.In order to make the soundboard strong, _____.

3.Which of the following doesn’t affect the sound of a guitar?

4.What will happen to the guitar if too much varnish is used to the wood?

_____ soft and smooth, the cloth _____ well．

第Ⅱ卷（共35分）

第四部分写作（共两节，满分35分）

第一节短文改错（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）

　　假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语文错误，每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除和修改。

　　增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写该加的词。

　　删除：把多余的词用斜线（）划掉。

　　修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

　　注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

　　　　　2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。　　

　　A concert was given to several famous singers last Saturday.Tickets were very hardly to get. Since I enjoyed attending that concert,I bought one at the hight price. For the first half hour the concert went on smooth.The nice shows of the stars singers were warmly welcomed by the listeners.Many of them couldn't help burst into tears.Before long the microphone went wrong.Some people began to make voice. The members of the theatre tried to keep in order, but failed. They had difficulty in continuing the concert.Thus, a perfectly good concert caused to be no value by some uneducated people.

_____ soft and smooth, the cloth _____ well．

A．Felt; washes                         B．Feeling; washes     

C．Felt; is washed                      D．Feeling; is washed

President Clinton’s decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji packing without an agreement on China’s entry into the World Trade Organization seemed to be a massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much of the press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet and Whit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furious over the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage” to reach an accord. And when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a renewed effort at negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop.

In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal. A lot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reached. And without the Administration’s goal of a “bullet-proof agreement” that business lobbyists can enthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up in partisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.

THE HARD PART. Many business lobbyists, while disappointed that the deal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be had. And Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin, National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advised Clinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, “we’re not there yet,” according to senior officials.

Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy part. Although Clinton can signal U.S. approval for China’s entry into the WTO himself, he needs Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of a broad trade accord. And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may prove over-whelming. Zhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. And Senators Jesse A. Helms (R-N.C.) and Emest F. Hollings (D-S. C.) promised to introduce a bill requiring congressional approval of any deal.

The hidden message from these three textile-state Southerners: Get more protection for the U. S. clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, the Administration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinese securities market and insisted on “cultural” restrictions on American movies and music. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet financing.

BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presale any eventual agreement, but what they’ve heard so far isn’t encouraging. Republicans, including Lott, say that “the time just isn’t right” for the deal. Translation: We’re determined to make it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoring human, religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology; and the sale of missile parts to America’s enemies. Beijing’s fierce critics within the Democratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of Minnesota and House Minority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, won’t help, either.

Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear on Apr. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline their Republican allies. With business and the White House still trading charges over who is responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade negotiating legislation in 1997, working together won’t be easy. And Republicans—with a wink—say that they’ll eventually embrace China’s entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate America. Though not long before they torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and if Congress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege. Business must make this much dear to both its GOP allies and the Whit House: This historic deal is too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling

1.    The main idea of this passage is

[A]. The Contradiction between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party.

[B]. On China’s entry into WTO.

[C]. Clinton was right.

[D]. Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.

2.    What does the sentence “Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood, Detroit” convey?

[A]. Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.

[B]. The three places overdid criticism.

[C]. They wanted more protection.

[D]. They are in trouble.

3.    What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward China’s entry into the WTO?

[A]. Contradictory.              [B].Appreciative.

[C]. Disapproving.              [D]. Detestful.

4.    Who plays the leading part in the deal in America?

[A]. White House .              [B]. Republicans.

[C]. The Democratic Party.        [D]. Businessmen.

5.    It can be inferred from the passage that

[A]. America will make concessions.

[B]. America will hold out for a better WTO

[C]. Clinton has the right to signal U. S. approval for China’s entry.

[D]. Democratic party approve China’s entry into the WTO.