Arthur Miller (1915—2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s.

　　Miller's most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.

　　When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.

　　Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.

1.Why did Arthur Miller's father move to the USA?

A．He suffered from severe hunger in his home country.

B．He was attracted by the “Great American Dream.”

C．He hoped to make his son a dramatist.

D．His family business failed

2.What can we learn about Willy Loman?

A．He treats his employer badly.

B．He runs the Wagner Company.

C．He is a victim of the American system.

D．He is regarded as a hero by his colleagues.

3.After it was first staged, Death of a Salesman________.

A．achieved huge success

B．won the first Tony Award

C．was warmly welcomed by salesmen

D．was severely attacked by dramatists

4.What is the text mainly about?

A．Arthur Miller and his family.

B．The awards Arthur Miller won.

C．The hardship Arthur Miller experienced.

D．Arthur Miller and his best-known play.

完形填空(共20小题; 每小题1.5分，满分30分)

    阅读短文, 掌握大意, 然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中, 选出一个最佳答案，并在答题卡将该项涂黑。

For Chinese students, the end of their senior year is filled with studying and 36 when they prepare for the college entrance exams in June. But for American high school seniors, the experience 37 be more different. It is a celebration of their time in high school and 38 parties, games and fun.

Seniorities is a commonly used 39 . It means seniors have a disease which 40 them unable to do work. This starts in April, 41 seniors find out whether they have been accepted to university.

Unwilling to do school work, seniors have plenty of 42 activities to focus on.

Many school have a “Senior Show”. Only seniors are allowed to perform in it. Some seniors sing  43 dance but many of them perform skits (滑稽短剧).They 44 their favorite teachers or their friends. For example, a group of boys may 45 and imitate a group of their friends. It is all 46 .

The “Senior Show” is just a part of Senior Week — the week 47 intended for seniors. During this week, seniors usually get academic or athletic 48 for their wonderful jobs in high school. They also vote 49 one of their male and female classmates who they believe 50 the best-looking or funniest or most involved, etc. These are then 51 in the yearbook.

The yearbook is an important part of high school for seniors. There are all their pictures and some words from them in it. Seniors will 52 to get 53 signed by their friends so they can always remember their time together.

The end of 54 is a truly special and wonderful time for American students. It’s 55 they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Arthur Miller (1915—2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the “Great American Dream”. However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s.
　　Miller's most famous play, Death of a Salesman, is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is “burnt out” and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end.
　　When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards.
　　Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance of Death of a Salesman on Broadway.
【小题1】Why did Arthur Miller's father move to the USA?

It was a merry afternoon at the hall. A toy car race was being held, and the final round is a few minutes away. There were only four __36__ left and it was the rule of the game that the toy cars had to be their own handmade.

Among the players __37__ one child whose toy car looked pretty simple. Many of the audience __38__ the toy car's ability to race against the other three. Even so, the owner wasn't less __39__ of his own __40__.

　 When the race started, they pushed and ran along with the car as fast as they could. __41__， the least magnificent?looking toy car __42__ the finish line first. The champion was then asked by the organizer before __43__ his award, “I saw you praying before the final round __44__. You must have prayed to God that you may win, didn't you？” The champion replied, “That was not __45__ I prayed for. I thought it was unfair to ask God to help me __46__ the other players. I only prayed that God __47__ help me not to cry if I lose.”

　 We often pray that our wish may be granted, but do we __48__ that sometimes our wishes are just the __49__ to what the others may pray for? Does God side on one but not __50__？ Would it be appropriate __51__ us to be joyful while the other person might be __52__ and disappointed?

　 In our lives, there are __53__ things more important than just winning or losing. Wouldn't it be better for us to accept whatever the __54__ may be? Be it a defeat or a win, we can still __55__ to be happy.

36．A.judges B．participants

C．lookers?on　　　 D．journalists

37．A.there had　　 B．there were　 C．was　 D．were

38．A.believed　　 B．guaranteed　　 C．considered　　 D．doubted

39．A.proud　　　 B．disappointed　 C．satisfied　　　　 D．ashamed

40．A.recreation　　 B．discovery　　　　 C．creation　　　　 D．collection

41．A.Fortunately　　 B．Surprisingly

C．Expectedly　　 D．Disappointedly

42．A.broken　　　　 B．felt　　　　　　 C．tapped　　　　 D．touched

43．A.receiving　　 B．winning　　　　 C．accepting　　　 D．offering

44．A.cancelled　　 B．finished　　　　 C．paused　　 　　D．started

45．A.how　　　　 B．what　　　　　 C．when　　　　　 D．where

46．A.defeat　　　 B．lose　　　　　　 C．match　　　　　 D．win

47．A.need　　　　 B．ought　　　　　 C．would　　　　 D．should

48．A.remember　　 B．realize　　　 C．remind　　　　 D．recognize

49．A.opposite　　 B．familiar　　　 C．same　　　　　 D．different

50．A.another　　　 B．others　　 C．the other　　　 D．the others

51．A.with　　　　 B．to　　　　　　 C．of　　　　　　　 D．for

52．A.harming　　 B．suffering　　　 C．hurting　　　 　D．ruining

53．A.no　　　　　 B．few　　　　　 C．many　　　　　 D．none

54．A.results　　　 B．influences　　 C．effects　　　　　 D．awards

55．A.struggle　　 B．stick　　　　　 C．prefer　　　　　 D．choose

IV．阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
　　阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A，B，C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
　　With her beautiful looks, cheerful character and strong spirit, Karena Lam（林嘉欣）is making waves among Chinese movie fans and professionals （专业人士）.
　　The Canada - born actress won the Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer awards （金马奖最佳女配角和最佳新人奖）for her role in “July Rhapsody” （《男人四十》）in Taiwan on November 16．She won the same titles at the HongKong Film Awards in April, 2002.
　　Lam played a wifful （任性的）high school girl in the film and her idol （偶像）Jacky Cheung （张学友）played the girl 's middle - aged teacher.
　　Her awards have made her the person to watch in Hong Kong and Taiwan cinema. But the 24-year-old girl thinks the awards have put more pressure on her and given her new challenges （挑战）.
　　Besides Jacky Cheung, Lam has appeared alongside other top Hong Kong stars. Last year she starred with Leslie Cheung （张国荣）in“ Inner Senses ” （《异度空间》）and this year she acted with Nicholas Tse （谢霆锋）in“ Tiramisu” （《恋爱行星》）. Is there anything that can stop Lam's success?
　　“I have learnt that ff someone is trying to hurt you, the best revenge （报复）is to keep living happily and having a good life.That’s what I did, ” she said.
　　She is an optimist （乐天派）and determined to be successful. “I always have a way of finding my own happiness. I know what's going to make me smile, and I go for it, ”she said.
　　Two films—a comedy and a love - story are waiting for her and she plans to release （首次上演）her first Cantonese （粤语）album next summer.
41．According to the passage, which of the following shows the right order of what Lam did or will do?
　　a．To star with Leslie Cheung in“Inner Senses.”
　　b．To win the Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer awards for her role in“ July Rhapsody.”
　　c．To release her first cantones album.
　　d．To act with Nicholas Tse in“ Tiramisu. ”
　　e．To win the Hong Kong Film Awards.
　　A. b, e, a, d, c　　　B. c, a, d, e, b     C. e, b, d, c, a　　　D. a, d, e, b, c
　42．In“Inner Senses” Lam was one of the________performers.
　　A. supporting　　B. chief　　　　　 C. ordinary　　　D. learned
　43．The underlined phrase“make waves” probably means________.
　　A. gain much attention　　　B. make trouble
　　C. sing and dance　　  D. fan the flames of disorder