Few men have influenced the development of American English to the extent that Noah Webster did. Born in West Hartford, Connecticut, in 1758, his name has become synonymous（与……同义）with American dictionaries. Graduated from Yale in 1778, he was admitted to the bar in 1781 and thereafter began to practise law in Hartford. Later, when he turned to teaching, he discovered how inadequate the available schoolbooks were for the children of a new and independent nation.

In response to the need for truly American textbooks, Webster published A Grammatical Institute of the English Language, a three-volume work that consisted of a speller, a grammar, and a reader. The first volume, which was generally known as The American Spelling Book, was so popular that eventually it sold more than 80 million copies and provided him with a considerable income for the rest of his life. While teaching, Webster began work on the Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, which was published in 1806.

In 1807 Noah Webster began his greatest work, An American Dictionary of the English Language. In preparing the manuscript（手稿）, he devoted ten years to the study of English and its relationship to other languages, and seven more years to the writing itself. Published in two volumes in 1828, An American Dictionary of the English Language has become the recognized authority for usage in the United States. Webster’s purpose in writing it was to demonstrate that the American language was developing distinct meanings, pronunciations, and spellings from those of British English. He is responsible for advancing simplified spelling forms: develop instead of the British form develope;theater and center instead of theatre and centre; color and honor instead of color and honor.

In 1840 Webster brought out a second edition of his dictionary, which included 70 000 entries instead of the original 38 000. This edition has served as the basis for the many revisions that have been produced under the Webster’s name.

1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Webster’s Work

B. Webster’s Dictionaries

C. Webster’s School

D. Webster’s Life

2. The word “distinct” is closest in meaning to______.

A. new

B. simple

C. different

D. exact

3. According to this passage, which one of the following spellings would Webster have approved in his dictionaries?

A. Develope.

B. Theatre.

C. Color.

D. Honor.

In response to the need for truly American textbooks, Webster published A Grammatical Institute of the English Language, a three-volume work that consisted of a speller, a grammar, and a reader. The first volume, which was generally known as The American Spelling Book, was so popular that eventually it sold more than 80 million copies and provided him with a considerable income for the rest of his life. While teaching, Webster began work on the Compendious Dictionary of the English Language, which was published in 1806.

In 1807 Noah Webster began his greatest work, An American Dictionary of the English Language. In preparing the manuscript（手稿）, he devoted ten years to the study of English and its relationship to other languages, and seven more years to the writing itself. Published in two volumes in 1828, An American Dictionary of the English Language has become the recognized authority for usage in the United States. Webster’s purpose in writing it was to demonstrate that the American language was developing distinct meanings, pronunciations, and spellings from those of British English. He is responsible for advancing simplified spelling forms: develop instead of the British form develope;theater and center instead of theatre and centre; color and honor instead of color and honor.

In 1840 Webster brought out a second edition of his dictionary, which included 70 000 entries instead of the original 38 000. This edition has served as the basis for the many revisions that have been produced under the Webster’s name.

1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Webster’s Work

B. Webster’s Dictionaries

C. Webster’s School

D. Webster’s Life

2. The word “distinct” is closest in meaning to______.

A. new

B. simple

C. different

D. exact

3. According to this passage, which one of the following spellings would Webster have approved in his dictionaries?

A. Develope.

B. Theatre.

C. Color.

D. Honor.

.

第二节：阅读短文，根据上下文翻译。（共5小题；每小题2分,满分10分） 

I.  Henry, an American businessman, arrived in London by accident. He was hungry and penniless. One day, 86________________________(他正在街上溜达) when he was called into a big house, where he got one million pound bank note. With the note, he had a big meal without paying anything, because nobody could change it. 87_____________________(尽管他衣衫褴褛), the owner of the restaurant asked him to come whenever. It seemed as if he could survive with the help of the bank note.

II. 88____________ (根据一个被广泛接受的理论), the universe began with a “Big Bang”. As the earth cooled down, water appeared. 89____________. (水的存在让生命的发展成为了可能) Then, the first small plants appeard and encouraged the later development of early shellfish and all sorts of fish. Next, green plants began to grow on land, followed by land animals. After that, some huge animals called dinosaurs appeared but 90____________ (他们为什么突然灭绝仍然是一个谜). When the age of dinosaurs ended, mammals began to develope, including humans.

IV. 阅读理解  30%

阅读下列短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

A

When Cathleen Gardiner’s twins were born 17 years ago, doctors told her that they were a pair in a million. One had Down syndrome(低能综合症), while the other did not. Here, Cathleen tells their touching story.

Since Sean was born 17 years ago, I have always thought that he is just as wonderful as his brother and sister. Though he had a disability(残疾), we have never viewed him as a burden. He has always been a blessing. The doctors explained that though they were twins, they came from two different eggs. Lisa could walk at 11 months old, while Sean didn’t take his first steps till he was three. By two, Lisa was talking a lot, but Sean wasn’t able to speak until he was nearly four.

For the first five years of his life, Sean needed a great deal of care. Looking after him was my full-time job, though I also worked as a technical adviser in a computing company. We never treated them differently. We gave them the same toys and spoke to them in the same way. We encouraged Sean to keep up with Lisa, even though he never could, and we would help him develop his abilities. We sent them to the same primary school even after doctors advised us that Sean should go to a school for the disabled.

We had to explain to Lisa that he wouldn’t learn as quickly as she would. She told us that she’d help him with his school work. Having a non-disabled twin has really helped Sean develop. The love they share has given him a great deal of support. Now Sean and Lisa are both about to finish high school. I don’t think he would have done nearly as well today without Lisa’s help.

56. At least how many children does Mrs. Gardiner have?

A. Two.     B. Three.      C. Four.   D. One.

57. The third paragraph mainly tells us that _______.

A. the couple treated the twins equally

B. Cathleen did all she could to look after Sean

C. the couple didn’t follow the doctor’s advice

D. the couple encouraged Sean to grow up

58. All of the following statements are true except_________.

A. Sean couldn’t develope so well without his parents’great effort.

B. As a twin sister,Lisa gave Sean a lot of help.

C. As a mother of a disabeled child,Cathleen must have suffered a lot.

D. Cathleen loved Sean more than Lisa because of his disability.

59. This passage tells us that _________.

A. love can do wonders           B. nobody is foolish or clever

C. being stupid doesn’t matter       D. all men are born equal

IV. 阅读理解  30%
阅读下列短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
When Cathleen Gardiner’s twins were born 17 years ago, doctors told her that they were a pair in a million. One had Down syndrome(低能综合症), while the other did not. Here, Cathleen tells their touching story.
Since Sean was born 17 years ago, I have always thought that he is just as wonderful as his brother and sister. Though he had a disability(残疾), we have never viewed him as a burden. He has always been a blessing. The doctors explained that though they were twins, they came from two different eggs. Lisa could walk at 11 months old, while Sean didn’t take his first steps till he was three. By two, Lisa was talking a lot, but Sean wasn’t able to speak until he was nearly four.
For the first five years of his life, Sean needed a great deal of care. Looking after him was my full-time job, though I also worked as a technical adviser in a computing company. We never treated them differently. We gave them the same toys and spoke to them in the same way. We encouraged Sean to keep up with Lisa, even though he never could, and we would help him develop his abilities. We sent them to the same primary school even after doctors advised us that Sean should go to a school for the disabled.
We had to explain to Lisa that he wouldn’t learn as quickly as she would. She told us that she’d help him with his school work. Having a non-disabled twin has really helped Sean develop. The love they share has given him a great deal of support. Now Sean and Lisa are both about to finish high school. I don’t think he would have done nearly as well today without Lisa’s help.
56. At least how many children does Mrs. Gardiner have?
A. Two.     B. Three.      C. Four.   D. One.
57. The third paragraph mainly tells us that _______.
A. the couple treated the twins equally
B. Cathleen did all she could to look after Sean
C. the couple didn’t follow the doctor’s advice
D. the couple encouraged Sean to grow up
58. All of the following statements are true except_________.
A. Sean couldn’t develope so well without his parents’great effort.
B. As a twin sister,Lisa gave Sean a lot of help.
C. As a mother of a disabeled child,Cathleen must have suffered a lot.
D. Cathleen loved Sean more than Lisa because of his disability.
59. This passage tells us that _________.
A. love can do wonders           B. nobody is foolish or clever
C. being stupid doesn’t matter       D. all men are born equal