第三部分阅读理解（共15小题，每小题2分，共30分。）
阅读下列短文，从每题中的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。
A NATIONWIDE BESTSELLER
It’s likely that everything you learned about America’s ancient history is wrong.
The new book, 1491, completely changes our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.
DID YOU KNOW?
When Columbus landed there were probably more people in the Americas than there were in Europe.
The peoples of North America had such healthy life-styles that as late as the 19th century they continued to be the tallest people on earth.
Facts have shown that the Americas were populated as long as 33,000 years ago.
4,000 years ago Mesoamerican farmers developed corn in a feat (技艺) of genetic engineering that still isn’t completely understood.
COMMENTS ON 1491
“In the tradition of Jared Diamond & John McPhee, a totally new view of pie-Columbian America”                                                    --Richard Rhodes
“Attractively written and really absorbing ... Charles C. Mann has produced a book that’s part detective story, part epic (史诗) and part tragedy. He has taken on a vast topic: thousands of years, two huge continents, and cultures.”
-- Charles Matthews, San Jose Mercury News
“Powerful and challenging”
--Alan Taylor, Washington Post
“A pleasure to read as well as a wonderful education”              -- Howard Zinn
56. On the whole, 1491 is a book mainly about America’s_______ .
A. life-styles       B. population       C. history         D. agriculture
57. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the comments on the book 1491 ?
A. It is interesting and instructive.        B. It is attractive and culturally related
C. It is challenging and revolutionary.     D. It is humorous and persuasive.
58. From this passage, we can learn______ .
A. people settled in the Americas a little earlier than 1492
B. North Americans were the tallest in the 18th century in the world
C. Mesoamerican farmers knew genetic engineering 5,000 years ago
D. the population in the Americas was smaller than that in Europe in 1492

_________ to the efforts by the headmaster, I can go back to school now.

II 阅读（共两节，满分40分）

第一节：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳答案。

A

We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.

    So, you have to give a speech-- and you’re terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank goodness, it’s over. I’m just no good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again. ”

    Cheer up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of time doing your research. Then spend plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

    Just remember: be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to -person contact with your audience.

    If you follow these simple steps, you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.

26. The main idea of this article is _________.

    A. you can improve your speaking ability  B. a poor speaker can never change

    C. always make a short speech           D. it is hard to make a speech

  27. Paragraph 2 implies that ________.

    A. many people are afraid of giving a speech  B. many people are happy to give a speech

    C. many people do not prepare for a speech   D. many people talk too long

  28. The phrase “talk over their heads” means ________.

    A. speak too loudly      B. look at the ceiling

    C. look down upon them   D. use words and ideas that are too difficult

  29. All of the following statements are true except that ___________.

    A. few people know how to make good speeches

    B. a lecturer does not need to organize his speech

C. research is important in preparing a speech

D. there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

30. The title for this passage may be _______.

    A. Do Not Make a Long Speech  B. How to Give a Good Speech

C. How to Prepare for a Speech   D. Try to Enjoy a Speech               

第三部分 阅读理解（共15小题，每小题2分，共30分。）

阅读下列短文，从每题中的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

A

A NATIONWIDE BESTSELLER

It’s likely that everything you learned about America’s ancient history is wrong.

   The new book, 1491, completely changes our understanding of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.

                DID YOU KNOW?

   When Columbus landed there were probably more people in the Americas than there were in Europe.

   The peoples of North America had such healthy life-styles that as late as the 19th century they continued to be the tallest people on earth.

   Facts have shown that the Americas were populated as long as 33,000 years ago.

   4,000 years ago Mesoamerican farmers developed corn in a feat (技艺) of genetic engineering that still isn’t completely understood.

                        COMMENTS ON 1491

     “In the tradition of Jared Diamond & John McPhee, a totally new view of pie-Columbian America”                                                    --Richard Rhodes

     “Attractively written and really absorbing ... Charles C. Mann has produced a book that’s part detective story, part epic (史诗) and part tragedy. He has taken on a vast topic: thousands of years, two huge continents, and cultures.”

                                          -- Charles Matthews, San Jose Mercury News

     “Powerful and challenging”

                                                 --Alan Taylor, Washington Post

     “A pleasure to read as well as a wonderful education”              -- Howard Zinn

56. On the whole, 1491 is a book mainly about America’s_______ .

A. life-styles       B. population       C. history         D. agriculture

57. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the comments on the book 1491 ?

A. It is interesting and instructive.        B. It is attractive and culturally related

C. It is challenging and revolutionary.     D. It is humorous and persuasive.

58. From this passage, we can learn______ .

A. people settled in the Americas a little earlier than 1492

B. North Americans were the tallest in the 18th century in the world

C. Mesoamerican farmers knew genetic engineering 5,000 years ago

D. the population in the Americas was smaller than that in Europe in 1492

四、阅读理解（本题有两节，共16小题，每小题2分，共32分）

第一节：阅读下列材料并做后面的题目。从每题多给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳答案。

   A

I was walking along Orchard Road when I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon.

To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped, he stopped too.

I began to be rather worried and decided to try to lose this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way along Orchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi.

By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me.  At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened(威胁) to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a news reporter and that he was writing an article on how elderly people in Singapore spend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article. 

46. What is strange about the man who followed the writer?

  A. He seemed to be wearing too much.           B. He was out on such a hot day.

  C. He walked quickly behind.                       D. He was a tall young man.

47. What did the stranger do when the writer jumped into a taxi?

  A. He got into another taxi.                          B. He tried to stop the taxi.

  C. He almost gave up following him.             D. He made his way along Orchard Road.

48. How did the writer have the stranger admit(承认) he was following him?

  A. He threatened to take him to the police.            B. He called the police.

  C. He said he would call the police.                             D. He talked to the police.

49. Why did the stranger follow the writer?

  A. He was interested in elderly people.                  B. He often does such things.

  C. He was writing a book about young people.           D. He needed materials for his article.