The most important use of drifting (漂流) bottles is to find ocean currents. When the position and direction of currents are known, ships can use the forward movement of a current or stay away from currents that would carry them off their course. Benjamin Franklin was one of the first to use bottles in the study of currents. He wondered why British mall ships needed a week or two longer than U.S. ships needed in order to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Franklin thought the Gulf Stream (墨西哥湾流) might explain this difference.

Franklin talked with captains of U.S. ships. He found that they knew each turn of the Gulf Stream. They used the current in every possible way. From his talks with the captains. Franklin made his first map of the Gulf Stream. Then he checked his map by using sealed (密封的) bottles. The map that he finally made is still used, with only a few changes, today. 

Why are drifting bottles used?

A. To determine the position of a ship                                  

B. To carry message across the ocean

C. To predict the direction of a ship.                                

D. To find the direction of a current

What led Franklin to talk with U.S. captains?

A. U.S. ships were longer than British ones.

B. British ships could sail the Atlantic faster than U.S. ones.

C. U.S captains knew more about maps.

D. U.S. ships could sail the Atlantic faster than U.S. ones.

What did Franklin make after his talks with U.S. captains?              

A. A map of the Atlantic Ocean.     B. A map of the Gulf Stream..

C. A map of ocean currents.         D. A map of his first voyage.

What did Franklin do in order to make an exact map?

A. He compared his own map with other maps                               

B. He talked with many U.S. captains.

C. Both B and C.                           

D. He used drifting bottles to check his map.

In American schools there is something called Home-coming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a homecoming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation(毕业) or commencement(授奖典礼) day. Students plan homecoming day for many weeks in advance(预先).

Several days before Homecoming, students start to decorate(装饰) the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Homecoming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.

The members of school clubs build booths(摊位) and sell lemonade, apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors.

During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.

Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the band comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Home-corning Queen or King appears. All the students vote a most popular student Homecoming Queen or King. It is a great honor to be chosen.

Homecoming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the team loses, the students still enjoy Homecoming. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering.

The most important event of the year in high schools and colleges is ________.

    A. homecoming   B. the football game        C. graduation   D. winning the game

When do students begin to arrange everything for Homecoming?

    A. The day before Homecoming.   B. Many weeks before the day.

    C.  when the guests arrive. D. In the days before Homecoming.

Which of the following is NOT done on Homecoming?

    A. To see old friends.      B. To call on teachers they remember.

    C. To watch the football game.  D. To go home to see their family.

The underline words “vote” in the fifth paragraph means ________.

    A. attend a meeting         B. elect or choose     

    C. hold a celebration(庆祝) D. have a football match

Who can probably become Homecoming Queen or King?

    A. The students who is liked most by the others.   

B. The guest who is most popular with the students.

    C. The students who is most liked by the guests.   

D. The player who plays best in the football game. 

It seems that politicians around the world are thinking about the health of their countries. While in China, Chen Zhu has announced his plans for a universal（全体的，普遍的）health service and reform across health services. Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, has also announced he is planning to make some changes in our health service.

    The crux（关键）of Mr. Brown's proposals are related to giving the NHS (National Health Service) a greater focus on prevention, rather than just curing patients.

    He is planning to introduce increased screening for common diseases such as heart disease, strokes（中风）, and cancer, for example, breast cancer. In Britain there are 200,000 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes, many of which might have been avoided if the condition had been known about.

    Initially, the diagnostic (诊断的) tests will be available for those who are vulnerable, or most likely to have the disease. One example is a plan to offer all men over 65 an ultrasound test to check for problems with the main artery (动脉), a condition which kills 3,000 men a year.

The opposition have criticized Mr. Brown's proposals, saying that they are just a trick, and claiming that there is no proper timetable for the changes. They also say that Mr. Brown is reducing the money available for the treatment of certain conditions while putting more money towards testing for them.

    The NHS was founded in 1948, and is paid for by taxation. The idea is that the rich pay more towards the health service than the poor. However in recent years there has been a great increase in the use of private healthcare, because it’s much quicker. NHS waiting lists for operations can be very long, so many people who can afford it choose to pay for medical care themselves.

The underlined word vulnerable in the fourth paragraph probably means ________.

   A. sick     B. weak     C. wounded     D. old

All the following statements are true except that _________.

   A. all people should pay for their healthcare at the NHS.

   B. some people are against the reform of the healthcare.

   C. the writer is likely to come from Britain.

   D. more money will be spent on testing people than before.

Which of the following is the reason for the increasing private healthcare?

   A. People are paying more attention to their own health.

   B. People are well off enough to pay their healthcare.

   C. The NHS was not available for most of the people.

   D. It’s not so convenient for people to go to the NHS for their healthcare.

According to the passage, the purpose of the health reform plan in the UK is to _______  

   A. encourage more private healthcare.

   B.focus on the prevention rather than on curing the patient.

   C. deal with the main artery problems.

   D. fight against the opposition in the UK.

The author of this passage intends to tell us _________.

   A. the NHS should be reformed right away.

   B. more and more people are dying from diseases.

   C. the plan to reform the NHS in the UK.

   D. the criticism of Mr. Brown's proposals.

My grandfather came from Hungary and was the only one in his family who settled down in the United States. The rest of his family remained in Europe. When World War I broke out , he seemed to have become another man, downhearted. Such obvious change was not born out of his welfare, but out of fear if his only son, my uncle, had to go to war, it would be cousin fighting against cousin.

One day in 1918, my Uncle Milton received his draft notice. My grandparents were very upset. But my mother, at the age of 10, felt on top of the world about her soldier brother going off to war. Realizing how he was regarded by his little sister and all of her friends, my uncle bought them all service pins, which meant that they had a loved one in the service. All the little girls were delighted.

The moment came when my uncle and the other soldiers, without any training but all in uniforms, boarded the train. The band played and the crowd cheered. Although no one noticed, I’m sure my grandmother had a tear in her eye for the only son. The train slowly pulled out, but not about a thousand yards when it suddenly paused. Everyone stared in wonder as the train slowly returned to the station. There was a dead silence before the doors opened and the men started to step out. Someone shouted, “The war is over.” For a moment, nobody moved, but then the people heard someone bark orders at the soldiers. The men lined up in two lines, walked down the steps, and with the band playing, marched down the street, as returning heroes, to be welcomed home. My mother said it was a great day, but she was just a little disappointed that it didn’t last a tiny bit longer.

What the grandfather was most worried about was           .

  A. the spread of the world war      B. the safety of his living two cousins

  C. a drop in his living standards     D. his relatives killing each other

The underlined phrase “draft notice” means “        ”.

  A. order for army service          B. train ticket for Europe

  C. letter of rejection              D. note of warring

What did the “service pins”(in Para.2)stand for in the eyes of the little girls?

 A. Strength.       B. Courage.      C. Victory.        D. Honor.

Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?

A. Disappointing.   B. Unexpected.    C. Uncertain.     D. Inspiring.

完形填空 （满分20分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后下列各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该选项标号涂黑。

When Carol was diagnosed, her cancer had   21   to her bones. We calmly talked about what to expect. I reviewed choices for   22  and printed out new research. But   23   , I cried and struggled. Only half the patients are alive two years after diagnosis.

Carol began treatment afterwards. She felt almost   24   and went right back to work. Carol hates the idea of being   25   as a “sick” person. She likes her life   26   . Last winter, Carol suddenly found   27   difficult to swallow. She slept a lot and was slow to wake in the morning. There was continuous pressure in her chest and   28   I saw her looking thoughtful. One day, she told me, “I think I   29   never leave the hospital,” she continued, “I just want to enjoy the little things---   30   is out of the window.” We had never spoken of that before.   31   we began an African safari, a trip she had dreamed of for years.

Morning and afternoon, we went diving and rolled into the clear water    32   down like peas in honey. In the evenings, we spent time on the pier, watching the sun set. One of the young couples on the island wondered if we were sisters. We laughed. “Friends for 34 years,” I said. I could see by their   33   that they didn’t really understand that kind of time. We have been friends   34   than they have been alive.

   35   dives, we talked about where to go next. I made lists    36   she slept. Our plans were now more theoretical, and the big trip to the South Pacific one day seemed a long way off. Cancer has become part of our   37  . We are well aware that our bodies are temporary gifts. Not knowing what comes next means   38   is possible. Perhaps I will be hit by a truck, or my heart will stop. Life is   39   .

We took our last dive of the trip. When we reached the deep blue water, we spread our arm out like wings and pretended to   40   .      

. A. spread        B. delivered       C. developed           D. sent   

A. directions B. medicine        C. instructions        D. treatment

A. in danger    B. in tears       C. in private          D. in trouble

A. same       B. common      C. usual               D. normal

A. looked      B. considered      C. thought         D. felt

A. as it is        B. to good purpose C. of general interest  D. in a way

A. this       B. one         C. it              D. that

A. now and then B. more or less   C. here and there      D. sooner or later

A. should          B. might       C. must                D. need

A. what        B. which       C. that                D. when

A. Still      B. Yet         C. Then                D. Even

A. sinking        B. swimming        C. dropping            D. disappearing

A. words      B. voices      C. faces               D. actions

A. longer     B. older           C. closer          D. elder

A. Among      B. With         C. Between         D. Beyond

A. because        B. though      C. since               D. while

A. leadership B. scholarship C. friendship          D. membership

A. everything B. nothing     C. anything            D. something

A. dangerous  B. colorful        C. difficult           D. different

A. enjoy      B. dance           C. sing                D. fly