A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps; for there is a companionship of books as well as of men; and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.

A good book may be among the best of friends. It is the same today that it always was, and it will never change. It is the most patient and cheerful of companions. It does not turn its back upon us in times of difficulty. It always receives us with the same kindness, amusing and instructing us in youth, and comforting us in old age.

Books possess an essence (本质) of immortality (不朽). They are by far the most lasting products of human effort. Temples and statues decay, but books survive. Time is of no account to great thoughts, which are fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds which are fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s minds ages ago. What was then said and thought still speaks to us as vividly as ever from the printed page. The only effect of time has been to sift out (筛选) the bad products; for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good.

Books introduce us into the best society they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived. We hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive; we sympathize with them, enjoy with them, grieve with them; their experience becomes ours, and we feel as if we were in a measure actors with them in the scenes which they describe.

The great and good do not die even in this world. Embalmed（保存） in books, their spirits walk abroad. The book is a living voice. It is an intellect to which one still listens. Hence we ever remain under the influence of the great men of old. The imperial intellects of the world are as much alive now as they were ages ago.

1.A man may usually be known by         .

    A．the books he reads               B．the company he works in

    C．his way of reading books         D．how many old books he keeps

2.Which of the following is NOT a reason why a book may be among one’s best friends?

    A．It will never change.

    B．It is the most patient and cheerful of companions.

    C．It doesn’t turn its back upon us.

    D．It is only with us in times of happiness.

3.Why don’t the great and good ever die?

    A．Because they have a long lifespan.

    B．Because they like books.

    C．Because they are statures.

    D．Because their spirits are embalmed in books.

4.By writing the passage, the author wants to tell us          .

    A．how to make friends              B．books can also be our best friends

    C．the book is a living voice       D．how to read books

阅读理解

　　The United States is the sole superpower in today's world , strong in various aspects （方面）. As some U. S. media have said, the Empire of Rome pales in compairson with today's United States , let alone the former British Empire. It can be foreseen that in the future no other country or group is strong enough to challenge the United States.

　　However, the experiences of history are worthy of being concerned. Former U. S. National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft said , the United States cannot achieve success when other countries hate it. He advised that the country should do its best not to be arrogant （傲慢的）. Some in the U. S. media have recently expressed worries that the current government policy may result in antagonism （对抗） in the rest of the world. They point out that the U. S. status of superpower would decline if Washington's unilateralism （单方面） went unrestrained （不受到限制的） . The United States recently established an office responsible for global propaganda, which reflects its sense of isolation（孤立）.

　　For over one year the United States has launched an anti-terrorism war in Afghanistan where it employed nearly all its advanced weapons and gained support from other countries. But it is still uncertain whether its enemies Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are alive. Their remanent forces , if chance arises , might again cause trouble. In addition , terrorist organizations that have been found in dozens of countries might launch attacks at any time. Under such circumstances, if the United States adopts the doctrine （教条） of “preemptive （先发制人的） action” and risks launching an attack without international cooperation, the results will be unfavorable to the United States. How can 10 fingers catch 10 fleas （跳蚤）?

　　Americans are proud of their country, thinking it a liberal and safe land.

　　However, the September 11 incident shook their beliefs. Now, the American people are worried about their personal security. U. S. tourism authorities informed American citizens not to travel abroad frequently and to pretend to be citizens of other countries if they must go abroad. This reflects the weak soul of their society.

1．The first paragraph of the passage tells us ________.

[　　]

A．the Empire of Rome was stronger than the former British Empire

B．the former British Empire was stronger than the Empire of Rome

C．the United States is the strongest of all the countries in the world

D．the former British Empire was as strong as the former Empire of Rome

2．According to an American Security official , the United States will achieve success

________.

[　　]

A．if it stops launching wars on other countries.

B．if it stops antagonism

C．if it stops hating other countries

D．if it stops the current government policy

3．The United States established an office which is responsible for global propaganda. Why?

[　　]

A．To break away from its isolation.

B．To make its war on terrorism legal.

C．To awaken people to the danger of terrorism.

D．To get more countries to fight terrorism together with it.

4．The author lists the following dangers except that ________.

[　　]

A．probably Bin Laden and Omar are alive

B．their remanent forces might again launch attacks

C．terrorists have had nuclear bombs.

D．terrorist organizations have been found in many countries

5．The warning of U. S. tourism authorities reflects how American people ________.

[　　]

A．are now worried about their personal security

B．are still proud of their country

C．have to pretend to be citizens of other countries

D．have a very weak society

The curtain on the 2008 US presidential election finally rose last month as John McCain and Barack Obama were formally nominated (提名) as candidates of the two major parties. This may be one of the hardest decisions voters have to make between two appealing candidates.

The big question for voters, as they face both an economic downturn and international threats, is: who will they elect? A young first-term senator promising change and new ideas, or a longtime senator with strong military experience and a reputation as a maverick (特立独行的人)?
    American voters have never seen a candidate quite like Obama. He has a white mother from the US and a black father from Kenya who left the family when Obama was very young. He spent part of his youth in Indonesia.
    His supporters say Obama’s childhood gives him the advantage to repair the recent damage done to America’s image abroad. His opponents focus on his inexperience, noting he hasn’t finished his first term in the Senate.   

However, McCain has a very different life story.

He grew up in a Navy family and was a pilot during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. When Obama was in kindergarten in Indonesia, McCain’s plane was shot down over Vietnam and he became a prisoner of war. McCain could have been released if he disowned America but he refused and so was held for five years.

So in the end, the election may hinge on (以…为转移) several factors that are hard to judge: Will Obama’s race matter to a significant number of voters? Will working-class whites who tended to support his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, vote for Obama? And perhaps most important of all, will swing (摇摆) voters be more drawn to Obama’s vision (远景规划) or to McCain’s experience?

Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Whoever walks into the White House on January 20, 2009, will find enormous challenges waiting for him in the Oval Office, both at home and abroad.

72. ______ makes the result of the election hard to predict.

A. Whether working class whites care about Obama’s inexperience

B. The economic trouble the country now faces

C. Who swing voters will finally decide to vote for

D. McCain’s being too old to govern the country

73. The appeal in Obama as a presidential candidate lies in ______.

    A. his multi-cultural background                 B. his belief in tradition

    C. his inexperience in politics                      D. his fantastic promises

74. The word “disown” in Paragraph 6 means closest to ______.

    A. run away from                                     B. turn one’s back on

    C. not keep it private                                  D. expose secrets about

75. The challenges that will face the new president are ______.

A. not mentioned in the text

B. building a strong party and a friendly image

C. the problems of immigrants and economy

D. the problems of economy and international relations

The curtain on the 2008 US presidential election finally rose last month as John McCain and Barack Obama were formally nominated (提名) as candidates of the two major parties. This may be one of the hardest decisions voters have to make between two appealing candidates.

The big question for voters, as they face both an economic downturn and international threats, is: who will they elect? A young first-term senator promising change and new ideas, or a longtime senator with strong military experience and a reputation as a maverick (特立独行的人)?
    American voters have never seen a candidate quite like Obama. He has a white mother from the US and a black father from Kenya who left the family when Obama was very young. He spent part of his youth in Indonesia.
    His supporters say Obama’s childhood gives him the advantage to repair the recent damage done to America’s image abroad. His opponents focus on his inexperience, noting he hasn’t finished his first term in the Senate.   

However, McCain has a very different life story.

He grew up in a Navy family and was a pilot during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. When Obama was in kindergarten in Indonesia, McCain’s plane was shot down over Vietnam and he became a prisoner of war. McCain could have been released if he disowned America but he refused and so was held for five years.

So in the end, the election may hinge on (以…为转移) several factors that are hard to judge: Will Obama’s race matter to a significant number of voters? Will working-class whites who tended to support his primary opponent, Hillary Clinton, vote for Obama? And perhaps most important of all, will swing (摇摆) voters be more drawn to Obama’s vision (远景规划) or to McCain’s experience?

Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Whoever walks into the White House on January 20, 2009, will find enormous challenges waiting for him in the Oval Office, both at home and abroad.

49. _________ makes the result of the election hard to predict.

A. Whether working class whites care about Obama’s inexperience
B. The economic trouble the country now faces

C. Who swing voters will finally decide to vote for

D. McCain being too old to govern the country

50. The appeal in Obama as a presidential candidate lies in ______.

    A. his multi-cultural background

    B. his belief in tradition

    C. his inexperience in politicsD. his fantastic promises

51. The word “disown” in Paragraph 6 means closest to ______.

    A. flee from

    B. turn his back on

    C. not keep it private

    D. expose secrets about

52. The challenges that will face the new president _______.

 A. are not mentioned in the text

 B. include building a strong party and a friendly image

 C. refer to the problems of immigrants and economy

 D. refer to the problems of economy and international relations