第三部分：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，选出最佳选项。

Having divorced (离婚) my dad, my mom had to move frequently in order to find a job that would provide her with enough money to support the big family. For three years, we lived in the town of Parkersburg. On the first Christmas there, my brothers and I had been well prepared for a holiday without presents. But we had a surprise on Christmas Eve.

At midnight, we were woken up by someone shouting at our front door, “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” We jumped up and ran to the door to find no one there, but several boxes and bags! Not only were there gifts, which were our favorite, but there were also clothes and food. Each of us kids, as well as Mom, had gifts with our names on them. And the clothes all fit us!

Another year went by and on Christmas Eve, we again got boxes and bags full of goodies. The next year we moved. We were in the same town but across the other side. Mom was beginning to get on her feet. Since we had moved and Mom had a better job, we were quite certain that “Santa” wouldn’t visit us that year. But we were wrong!

Those “Santa” visits restored in me the belief in the goodness of mankind, though to this day we don’t know who our helper was.

When we grew up, Mom moved to Virginia. She had some extra money one Christmas. She sent it to me and let us know her decision. We then took action. My husband and children had so much fun buying and wrapping presents for the needy family we had chosen. On Christmas Eve, we allowed the excited kids to stay up late to be part of our secret “Santa” project.

Such satisfaction there was in being able to pass on the gift of love to others who needed it. And the gift goes on!

56. From the first paragraph, we can learn that ______.

A. the writer’s family didn’t like to celebrate Christmas

B. the writer felt sorry about not having Christmas presents

C. the writer’s mother couldn’t afford any Christmas presents

D. the writer knew that something surprising would happen

57. The presents that the writer’s family received must be from _______.

A. someone who has no children        B. someone who knew them well

C. the church in the neighborhood       D. the richest family in the town 

58. What decision did the writer’s mom make in the fifth paragraph?

A. To give her extra money to a poor family.   

B. To thank the person who once helped her family.

C. To give some Christmas presents to a poor family in secret.  

D. To invite a poor family to spend Christmas with her family.  

59. This passage is written to ______.

A. show pity to the poor people        B. show human kindness  

C. thank the helper                 D. show the advantages of being rich

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，共40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

We cannot feel speed. But our senses let us know that we are moving. We see things moving. We see things moving past us and feel that we are being shaken.

We can feel acceleration, an increase in speed. But we notice it for only a short time. For instance, we feel it during the takeoff run of an airliner.

We feel the plane’s acceleration because our bodies do not gain speed as fast as the plane does. It seems that something is pushing us back against the seat. Actually, our bodies are trying to stay in the same place, while the plane is carrying us forward.

Soon the plane reaches a steady speed. Then, because there is no longer any change in speed, the feeling of forward motion stops.

56. We can feel that we are moving by _____.

A. watching things move past     B. feeling the speed

C. feeling ourselves being shaken  D. both A and C

57. In the second paragraph, the underlined word “ acceleration” means _____.

A. an increase in speed     B. a steady speed

C. any kind of movement   D. the movement of a plane

58. During the takeoff of a plane, we feel that we are being _____.

A. thrown forward        B. pushed back against the seat

C. lifted out of the seat     D. pushed down into the seat

59. We feel the plane’s acceleration because our bodies gain speed _____.

A. just as fast as the plane      B. faster than the plane

C. more slowly than the plane   D. before the plane

60. This feeling stops when _____.

A. the plane stops climbing            B. the plane lands

C. there is no longer a change in speed   D. we begin to feel speed

What will man be like in the future — in 5,000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time.

Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is a relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain’s capacity (容量). As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change too: the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger.

Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over a very long period of time it is likely that man’s eyes will grow stronger.

On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life.

But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald.

Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own.

56. The size of man’s forehead will probably grow bigger because _______.

A. he will use his brain more and more as time goes on

B. he makes use only 20% of the brain’s capacity

C. his brain has grown larger over the past centuries

D. the other 80% of his brain will grow in due time    

57. What serves as the evidence that man is changing?

A. Man has got stronger eyes now than he ever had.

B. Man has been growing taller over the past 500 years.

C. Man’s hair is getting thinner and thinner.

D. Man’s arms and legs have become lighter and weaker.

58. What will be true about a human being in the future?

A. He will be hairless because hair is no longer useful.

B. He will have smaller eyes and will wear better glasses.

C. His fingers will grow weaker because he won’t have to make use of them.

D. He will think and feel in a different way.

59. It is implied that __________________.

A. human beings will become more attractive in the future

B. body organs will become poorer if they are not used often

C. human beings hope for a change in the future life

D. future life is always predictable

60. The passage mainly tells us that _______________.

A. man’s life will be different in the future  B. man is growing taller and uglier as time passes

C. future man will look quite different from us

D. human beings’ organs will function weaker

B
When a rather dirty, poorly dressed person kneels at your feet and puts out his hands to beg for a few coins, do you hurry on, not knowing what to do, or do you feel sad and hurriedly hand over some money? What should our attitude to beggars be? There can be no question that the world is full of terribly sad stories. It must be terrible to have no idea where our next meal is going to come from. It seems cruel not to give some money to beggars.
Certainly, most of the world’s great religions (宗教) order us to be open-hearted and share what we have with those less fortunate than ourselves. But has the world changed? Maybe what was morally (道德方面) right in the old days, when one knew exactly who in the village had suffered misfortune and needed help, is no longer the best idea. Quite a few people will not give to beggars. Let us look at their arguments.
First, some believe that many city beggars dress up on purpose to look pitiable and actually make a good living from begging. Giving to beggars only encourages this sort of evil (恶行). Secondly, there is the worry that the money you give will be spent on beer, wine or drugs. Thirdly, there is the opinion that there is no real excuse for begging. One might be poor, but that is no reason for losing one’s sense of pride and self-dependence.
Related to this is the opinion that the problem should be dealt with by the government rather than ordinary people. Some people think beggars should go to the local government department and receive help.
It is hard to come to any final conclusion; there are various cases and we must deal with them differently. A few coins can save a life in some situations, and even if the money is wasted, that does not take away the moral goodness of the giver.
59. What is mainly discussed in the passage?
A. Moral deeds of people.         B. Religious activities of the church.
C. Moral goodness of the giver.     D. Arguments on giving to beggars.
60. What can we infer from the sentence “But has the world changed?” in the second paragraph?
A. People no longer know who suffers misfortune in the village.
B. Some people will not do what was morally right in the past .
C. We don’t meet with those who need help any more.
D. Now it is the government’s duty to help the beggars.
61. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Some people dress up to pretend to be beggars.
B. Some beggars want money to help their children go to school.
C. Some beggars use the money to buy drugs.
D. Some beggars have no excuse for begging.
62. In the last paragraph, the writer thinks that it is hard to come to any final conclusion, because______.
A. the cases can be so different
B. there are so many beggars
C. there is so much money wasted
D. there are so many different arguments

第三部分：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，选出最佳选项。
Having divorced (离婚) my dad, my mom had to move frequently in order to find a job that would provide her with enough money to support the big family. For three years, we lived in the town of Parkersburg. On the first Christmas there, my brothers and I had been well prepared for a holiday without presents. But we had a surprise on Christmas Eve.
At midnight, we were woken up by someone shouting at our front door, “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” We jumped up and ran to the door to find no one there, but several boxes and bags! Not only were there gifts, which were our favorite, but there were also clothes and food. Each of us kids, as well as Mom, had gifts with our names on them. And the clothes all fit us!
Another year went by and on Christmas Eve, we again got boxes and bags full of goodies. The next year we moved. We were in the same town but across the other side. Mom was beginning to get on her feet. Since we had moved and Mom had a better job, we were quite certain that “Santa” wouldn’t visit us that year. But we were wrong!
Those “Santa” visits restored in me the belief in the goodness of mankind, though to this day we don’t know who our helper was.
When we grew up, Mom moved to Virginia. She had some extra money one Christmas. She sent it to me and let us know her decision. We then took action. My husband and children had so much fun buying and wrapping presents for the needy family we had chosen. On Christmas Eve, we allowed the excited kids to stay up late to be part of our secret “Santa” project.
Such satisfaction there was in being able to pass on the gift of love to others who needed it. And the gift goes on!
56. From the first paragraph, we can learn that ______.
A. the writer’s family didn’t like to celebrate Christmas
B. the writer felt sorry about not having Christmas presents
C. the writer’s mother couldn’t afford any Christmas presents
D. the writer knew that something surprising would happen
57. The presents that the writer’s family received must be from _______.
A. someone who has no children        B. someone who knew them well
C. the church in the neighborhood       D. the richest family in the town 
58. What decision did the writer’s mom make in the fifth paragraph?
A. To give her extra money to a poor family.   
B. To thank the person who once helped her family.
C. To give some Christmas presents to a poor family in secret.  
D. To invite a poor family to spend Christmas with her family.  
59. This passage is written to ______.
A. show pity to the poor people        B. show human kindness  
C. thank the helper                 D. show the advantages of being rich