Technology has utterly transformed our ability to communicate with each other. Linking to each other both literally and figuratively, many of us connect through cell phones, email, instant messaging, blogs, and networking web sites, yet we may be less connected to each other than we think.

According to a study, Americans are becoming increasingly socially isolated. The study reveals, for example, that one quarter of Americans say that they have no one to discuss important personal issues with, and that the number of close friends that American have has dropped from three to two. Meanwhile, the Boston Globe reports that this spreading isolation is experienced more sharply among those with less education, people of color, and older Americans. Unsurprisingly, those who are young, white, and well educated tend to have stronger social networks.

From my own experience I have to say that I’ve never felt more connected, thanks to a web of friends, family, and colleagues. One of my closest friends is someone I met through an online discussion group who lives hundreds of miles away from me. We have met face-to-face only twice, yet our regular electronic correspondence and cell phone calls sustain our close friendship. And, speaking of blogging, my blog has introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise and has led to enduring and important friendships.

On the other hand, I recently saw a scene unfold that proved to me how deeply disconnected we as Americans have become. I had just wrapped up a presentation on mediation at a family therapy(治疗) center. As I was leaving, I noticed a mother and her teenage son who had just completed their session with their family therapist(临床医学家). After making their next appointment, they both took out their cell phones, placed calls, and began loud conversations with whoever was on the other end. I walked out behind them to the parking lot to my car. They both jumped into their SUV, and, as I saw them drive off, they were still talking on their cell phones.

But, alas, not to each other.

51. What does the passage lead you to believe?

  A. Americans are more socially connected today.

  B. Americans are more socially isolated today.

  C. Technology plays a bigger role in American society.

  D. Americans don’t make good use of technology.

52. Which of the following has nothing to do with the isolation among Americans?

  A. Age.                   B. Education.                      C. Skin color.                       D. Sex.

53. The author himself _______.

  A. has a wider range of friends because of technology

  B. has failed to take advantage of technology

  C. can only find true friendship through the Internet

  D. can’t make true friends in actual life

54. What is true about the mother and son in the passage?

  A. They came for therapy in the same car.

  B. They were quite close to each other.

  C. There was not much communication between them.

  D. They preferred talking to each other on cell phones.

55. The author probably feels ________ with the mother and son.

  A. puzzled             B. disappointed          C. amused                      D. surprised

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, some high schools in America wanted the students to pledge allegiance（宣誓效忠） to the flag. Is it necessary or not? Let’s see how the kids think of this requirement.

Lea Mouallem, Marymount High School

I believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a way of reminding our country that no matter what happens, we are united. I don’t think our president wants us to go and join the army now, but he wants to tell us that we will be able to overcome the disaster as a whole nation that is working together.

Harry Chin, 15, Culver City High School

I am not for the Pledge of Allegiance and I am not against the Pledge of Allegiance because I just say it so many times that it loses meaning. I say it every day at school in the second period. It doesn’t mean anything any more.

David Tran, 15, Warren High School.

The Pledge of Allegiance is another sign of country. We should have some respect to it. In many schools, we don’t say the Pledge every morning-we just stand up and let the National anthem ring through the silence. We said the Pledge of Allegiance on Sept. 12.

Danny Maryanor, 16, Santa Monica High School

I wonder why we were suddenly asked to recite the Pledge when many of us stopped after elementary school; and the Pledge was recited before the play of “Ode to Joy” （欢乐颂）with recorders. This was not to express patriotism（爱国主义）, or even to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

I feel I cannot support a nation that in this time of crisis looks outward for revenge（报复）instead of inward for peace. Perhaps we should think more about our problems.

1．Saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag first appeared in American schools_______.

         A．after Sept. 11, 2000  B．before Sept. 11, 2001

         C．on Sept. 11, 2001                D．after Sept. 11, 2001

2．Who were for the Pledge of Allegiance?

         A．Lea Mouallem; David Tran         B．Harry Chin; Danny Maryanor

         C．Lea Mouallem; Danny Maryanor       D．Harry Chin; David Tran

3．Which of the following is TRUE?

         A．Harry Chin thought the government required them to join the army.

         B．Lea Mouallem thought the Pledge of Allegiance of no meaning.

         C．Danny Maryanor felt the terrorist attacks happened partly because of America’s own problem.

         D．The Pledge of Allegiance is of another country.

4．According to the passage, it can be imagined that___________.

         A．all high school students say yes to the Pledge of Allegiance.

         B．all high school students say no to the Pledge of Allegiance.

         C．all kids don’t agree to the requirement of saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

         D．all high schools will require their students to pledge allegiance to the flag.

He ________ in American for five years, and now he works in Shanghai.

第二节语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）

阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卷标号为31-40的相应位置上。

In social life, time plays a very important part．In the U．S．A．guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation  31    a dinner party is extended only three or four days  32    the party date．But it is not true in all countries．In       33     areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make  34    appointment too far in advance because plans that are made for a date more than a week away tend   35          (forget)．The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world．Thus, misunderstandings arise between people from cultures  36    time is treated differently．Promptness is valued highly in American life, for example．If people are not punctual, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully   37       (responsibility). In the U.S.A. no one would think of keeping a business associate   38     (wait) for an hour;   39       would be too impolite．A person who is 5 minutes late will say a few words of explanation,   40       perhaps he will not complete the sentence．

阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

What would life be like without television? Would you spend more time  36  , reading, or studying? Well, now it’s your chance to turn off your TV and  37  ! TV-Turnoff Week is here.

  The goal of TV-Turnoff Week is to let people leave their TV sets  38   and participate in activities  39   drawing to biking. The event was founded by TV-Turnoff Network, a non-profit organization which started the event in 1995. In the  40  , only a few thousand people took part. Last year more than 7.6 million people participated,  41   people in every state in America and in more than 12 other countries! This is the 11^th year in which  42   are asking people to “turn off the TV and turn on  43  .” .w.^w.k.&s.5*u.c.#om.

  According to the TV-Turnoff Network, the average  44   in the US spend  45   time in front of the TV (about 1,023 hours per year) than they do in school (about 900 hours per year). Too much TV  46   has made many kids grow fat.  47  , in 2001’s TV-Turnoff Week, US Surgeon General David Satcher said, “We are raising the most  48   generation of youngsters in American history. This week is about saving lives.”

  Over the years, studies have shown that watching a lot of TV  49   poor eating habits, too little exercise, and violence. Frank Vespe of the TV-Turnoff Network said that turning off the TV “is or  50  , part of a healthy lifestyle”. .w.^w.k.&s.5*u.c.#om.

  “One of the great lessons of  51   TV-Turnoff Week is the realization that  52   I turn on the TV, I’m deciding not to do something else,” Vespe said.

  TV-Turnoff Week seems to be making a  53   . Recent US Census（人口普查）data  54   that about 72 percent of kids under 12 have a limit on their TV time. That’s  55   about 63 percent ten years ago. .w.^w.k.&s.5*u.c.#om.

A. drinking               B. sleeping                   C. washing            D. playing outside

A. find out          B. go out                   C. look out            D. keep out

A. away              B. alone                       C. on                    D. beside

A. like                B. as                            C. from                 D. such as

A. end                B. event                       C. beginning          D. total

A. besides           B. except for                 C. including           D. except

A. governments   B. parents                     C. organizers      D. businessmen

A. the light         B. the radio                  C. life                   D. the Internet

A. grown-ups      B. kids                         C. clerks          D. parents

A. less                     B. enough                     C. little                 D. more

A. programmes  B. screen                   C. hours                D. watching

A. However       B. On the contrary      C. In fact            D. As a result

A. overweight  B. overeaten                 C. overgrown     D. overseeing

A. leads to         B. results from                  C. develops            D. keeps away

A. will be          B. should be                 C. may be              D. could be

A. organizing    B. taking part in            C. participating      D. asking for

A. wherever      B. every day                 C. every time     D. this time

A. living           B. choice                   C. difference          D. sense

A. shows           B. says                         C. reads                 D. writes

A. rising           B. down from            C. up to                 D. up from