（2011·安徽卷）B

Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power sources（来源）, as well as one of the oldest. Evidence shows that windmills（风车）began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.

For many centuries, people used windmills to grind（磨碎）wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio. However, by the 1940s, when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.

During the 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.

60. From the text we know that windmills              .

A. were invented by European armies

B. have a history of more than 2800 years

C. used to supply power to radio in remote areas

D. have rarely been used since electricity was discovered

61. What was a new use for wind power in the late l9th century?

A. Sailing a boat. 

B. Producing electricity.

C. Grinding wheat into flour.

D. Pumping water from underground.

62. One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970s is that             .

A. wind power is cleaner

B. it is one of the oldest power sources

C. it was cheaper to create energy from wind

D. the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs

63. What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?

A. The advantage of wind power.

B. The design of wind power plants.

C. The worldwide movement to save energy.

D. The global trend towards producing power from wind.

【解析】选D。推理判断题。根据末段句子Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind可知，接下来作者应该谈论利用风能发电的情况，因此选择D项。

Life is difficult.

 It is a great truth because once we truly understand and accept it, then life is no longer difficult.

Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties represent(代表) a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation.

What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending on their nature, cause in us sadness or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy.

Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning.

Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of the human spirit, we encourage the human ability(能力) to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.” It is for this reason that wise people learn not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems.

56. From the passage, it can be inferred that ______.

A. everybody has problems          

B. we become stronger by facing and solving the problems of life

C. life is difficult because our problems bring us pain

D. people like to complain about their problems

57.The writer probably used just one short sentence in the first paragraph to ______.

A. save space                B. persuade readers 

C. make readers laugh         D. get reader's attention

58. The main idea of paragraph 3 is that ______.

A. most people feel life is easy     

B. the writer feels life is easy

C. the writer likes to complain about his problems

D. most people complain about how hard their lives are

59. According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to ______.

A. encourage them to learn  

B. teach them to fear the pain of solving problems

C. help them learn to deal with pain

D. teach them how to respect for problems

—I see you got a "D" in biology．_         ?

—Well, I found that subject hard． I think I'II drop it for history．

A．How about that                         B．What for

C．How come                             D．What's your next plan

If you are looking for the place that has everything, there’s only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.

  The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit(成功) shows in one place? Only in New York.

  The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Centre. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance spots found anywhere.

  The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you’ll find in New York.

  The World of Fine Dining: Whether it’s roast Beijing duck in Chinatown, or the finest French coq au vin found anywhere, there’s a world of great taste waiting for you in New York.

  The World of Sights: What other city has a statue of Liberty(自由女神像), a Rocketfeller Centre or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park, only in New York.

1.Which of the following programme can a visitor have only in New York?

A. To enjoy Beijing duck.                    B. To taste the finest French coq au vin.

C. To spend an evening with Beethoven.        D. To see the statue of Liberty.

2. From the text we know that ‘Rembrandt’ is most likely the name of a famous _______.

A. singer    B. painting    C. play    D. painter

3.What the writer really wanted to do is to _______.

A. try to persuade readers to pay a visit to New York 

B. give readers some information about New York

C. supply readers some wonderful programmes in New York

D. help readers to get a better understanding of New York

Mahjong, that favorite pastime of “old folks” in Shanghai, is finding a new audience among younger players, and many university students are becoming mad about this traditional Chinese game. Students at Fudan University have even formed a Mahjong club.

This resurgence of the game, however, is not without its critics. Some people still associate the game with gambling and for many years Mahjong was banned in China. One critic, surnamed Meng, was quoted as saying, “Mahjong is a bad custom that will distract students from studies.” But Yu Guangyuan, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences(中国社会科学院), says Mahjong is a “healthy, scientific, friendly mind game.”

Mr. Yu’s opinion seems to be shared by the majority of Chinese. They see the game as an activity that requires great concentration and intellectual skill. They also see the game as an important part of Chinese culture and a pastime that brings family and friends closer together. This Spring Festival many families will no doubt spend hours around the Mahjong table getting reacquainted with each other. For them, playing Mahjong is a way of spending quality family time. No one knows who invented Mahjong. Some say it was Confucius, others say the current form of the game was developed right here in Shanghai in the late19th century. It is certainly because of Shanghai that the game enjoys its worldwide popularity. It was brought to America in the 1920s and has since spread throughout Europe and other parts of Asia. There is now a World Championship of Mahjong which is held every year. This year’s championship was held in Chongqing and attracted players from America, Europe and Russia, as well as students from Peking University, Tshinghua University and Nankai University. There was no prize money, but the players delighted in using their wits and their understanding of statistics and probability theory(概率论)to defeat their clever opponents.

Of course, Mahjong doesn’t have to always be that intense. For young people it can be a way to relax and to socialize, a chance to get away from their computers and talk to other people face to face. So, this Spring Festival, why not get out the “old folks” tiles: it’s good to be mad about Mahjong!

67. Why do young people in China like Mahjong so much?

A. It’s an activity that requires great concentration and intellectual skill

B. It’s an important part of Chinese culture and a pastime that brings family and friends closer together.

C. It’s a way to relax and to socialize, a chance to stay away from their computers and have face-to-face communication with other people.

D. It’s a healthy, scientific, friendly mind game.

68. Who invented Mahjong?

A. Confucius 　　B. People of Shanghai　 　 C. People of Chongqing 　D. Unsure

69. Why do students from Peking University, Tshinghua University and Nankai University take part in the World Championship of Mahjong?

　 A. Because they can happily use their wisdom and what they have learned to defeat their clever opponents.

B. Because they can win a large amount of prize money.

C. They want to make more friends through Mahjong.

D. Because it’s a thrilling game.

70. What is the best title of the passage?

A. Mad About Mahjong　　　　 B. World Championship of Mahjong

C. The History of Mahjong D. The Favorite Pastime of “Old Folks”