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.

Stepping into a pool of water is common enough, but who could ever imagine stepping into a pool of fish? In February of 1974, Bill Tapp, an Australian farmer, saw a rain of fish that covered his farm. How surprised he must have been when he heard many fish hitting against his roof!

　　 What caused this strange occurrence? This is a question that had long puzzled people who study fish. The answer turned out to be a combination of wind and storm.

　　When it is spring in the northern part of the world, it is fall in Australia. Throughout the autumn season, terrible storms arise and rains flood the land. The strong winds sweep over Australia like huge vacuum cleaners, collecting seaweed, pieces of wood, and even schools of fish. Strong winds may carry these bits of nature for many miles before dropping them on fields, houses, and astonished people.

　　Although they seem unusual, fish-falls occur quite frequently in Australia. When Bill Tapp was asked to describe the scene of fish, he remarked, “They look like millions of dead birds falling down.” His statement is not surprising. The wonders of the natural world are as common as rain. Nature, with its infinite wonders, can create waterfalls that flow upward and fish that fall out of the sky.

　　56. What is this passage about?

　　A. A sad story. 　　　　　　　　　　　　B. A rain of fish.

　　C. Australia’s northern part.　　　　　D. The damage done by floods.

　　57. Fish-falls occur in Australia_________ .

　　A. quite often 　　　　　　B. on large farms

　　C. only in winter　　　　　D. when the air is calm

　　58. It is a known fact that ________.

　　A. one should watch where one steps

　　B. Bill Tapp is a scientist who studies farming

　　C. the natural world can never create waterfalls that fall upward

　　D. the seasons in the southern part are different from those in the northern part

 　59. The word “infinite” is closest in meaning to _________.

　　A. easy 　　　B. difficult 　　　C. countless 　　　D. dangerous

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?

______ met, it won’t be easily forgotten.

　 A. If you 　 B. when it  C. once 　 D. Once you were

Every day，the news of the world reaches people by over 300 million copies of daily papers，over 400 million radio sets，and over 150 million television sets.　Additional news is 　1　by　motion（动作） pictures，in theatres and cinemas all over the world.　As more people learn what the important events of the day are，　2　still only care for the events of their own household.　Nearly four hundred years ago the English writer John Donne said，“No man is an island.”This 　3　is more appropriate（恰当的）today　than it was 　4　Donne lived.　In short，wherever he lives，a man 　5　to some society；and we are becoming more and more aware（清楚的） that ?　6　happens in one particular society affects，somehow，the life of mankind.?

Newspapers have been published in the 　7　world for about four hundred years.　Most of the newspapers 　8　today are read in Europe and North America.　However,　　9　they may be read in all parts of the world，　10　to the new inventions that are changing the techniques of newspaper 　11　.?

Electronics and automation（自动化） have made it 　12　to produce pictures and texts far more quickly than before.　Photographic（照相的） copying doesn't 　13　to use type（铅字） and printing machines.And fewer specialists（专家），　14　type?setters，are needed to produce a paper? or magazine by the 　15　method.　Therefore，the publishing of newspapers and magazines can 　16　more money.　Besides，photocopies can be sent over great 　17　now by means of ?television　channels and satellites such as Telstar.　Thus（因此），　18　can be brought to the public　more quickly than before.?

Machines that prepare printed texts for photocopies are being used a great deal today.　Film，　 19 　 light and small，can be sent rapidly to other places and used to print copies of the text 　20　they are needed.　Film pictures can also be projected（投影） easily on a movie or television screen.?

1.A.　taken　　　　 B.　shown　　　　 C.　seen　　　　 D.　known

2.A.　fewer　　　　 B.　higher　　　 C.　lower　　　　 D.　less?

3.A.　study　　　　 B.　argument　　 C.　knowledge　　 D.　idea?

4.A.　that　　　 B.　while　　　　 C.　when　　　　 D.　then?

5.A.　moves　　　 B. goes　　　　 C.　belongs　　　　 D.　comes?

6.A.　it　 　　　 B.　whatever　　 C.　something　　 D.　anything?

7.A.　common　　 B.　modern　　　 C.　ordinary　　 D.　usual?

8.A.　bought　　 B.　printed　　　　 C.　found　　　　 D.　discovered?

9.A.　fast　　　 B.　suddenly　　 C.　immediately　　 D.　soon?

10.A.　has　　　 B.　brings　　　 C.　thanks　　　 D.　imagines?

11.A.　delivering B.　making　　　 C.　selling　　　　 D.　publishing

12.A.　clear　　 B.　possible　　 C.　bright　　　 D.　successful?

13.A.　want　　　　 B.　need　　　　 C.　like　　　　 D.　hope?

14.A.　including B.　besides　　　　 C.　such as　　　　 D.　except?

15.A.　advanced　　 B.　easy　　　　 C.　unusual　　　　 D.　suitable?

16.A.　make　　　　 B.　earn　　　　 C.　save　　　　 D.　get?

17.A.　places　　 B.　distances　　　 C.　cities　　　 D.　villages

18.A.　pictures　　 B.　newspapers　　　 C.　letters　　　　 D.　words?

19.A.　becoming　　 B.　feeling　　　　 C.　turning　　　　 D.　being?

20.A.　where　　 B.　there　　　　 C.　which　　　　 D.　because of