E
It is difficult in the modern world to do anything other than a basic job without  being able to read. Reading as a skill is the key to an educated workforce, which in turn is the bedrock of economic advancement, particularly in the present technological age. Studies have shown that by increasing the literacy skill of primary school children in the UK, the benefit to economy generally is in billions of pounds. The skill of reading is now no mere just an intellectual （知识的） or leisure activity, but rather a completely developed economic force.     
Part of the problem with reading is that it is a skill which is not appreciated in most developed societies. This is an attitude that has forced a large number of the population in most Western nations to illiteracy (文盲). It might surprise people in countries outside the West to learn that in the United Kingdom, and indeed in some other European countries, the literacy rate has fallen to below that of so-called less developed countries.
There are also forces against reading in our modern society. It is not seen as cool among a younger generation more at home with computer screens or e-libraries.
And reading is not very appealing. Students at school, college or university, who read a lot are called bookworms. The term indicates the contempt (轻蔑) in which reading and learning are held in certain circles or subcultures. It is a criticism, like all such attacks, driven by the insecurity of those who are not literate or are semiliterate. Criticism is also a means, like all bullying, of keeping peers（同辈） in place so that they do not step out of line. Peer pressure among young people is so powerful that it often kills any attempts to change attitudes towards habits like reading.
But the negative senses apart, is modern Western society standing Canute-like (自以为是地) against an uncontrollable drop? I think not.
57．What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?
A．Reading plays an important role in education.
B．People can't find a job without being able to read.
C．The skill of reading has become an economic power.
D．More intellectual activities are needed in the technological age.
58．What problem exists in most Western nations?
A． Younger generations are addicted to modern technology.
B．The literacy skills have weakened their financial benefit.
C．Literacy rate has decreased because of people' s attitude.
D．School children spend more money on leisure activities.
59．What does the underlined sentence probably mean?
A．Criticism may help the young make reading a habit.
B．The contempt makes peers refuse to change their reading habit.
C．Peer pressure stops bully boy from stepping out of line.
D．Criticism strongly influences the young' s behavior towards reading.
60．What is the author' s purpose in writing this passage?
A．To explain his own attitudes.
B．To describe the decrease in reading.
C．To draw people' s attention to reading.
D．To criticize negative attitudes towards reading

A. The presidium(主席团)
Our job includes the formation of an overall work plan and organization of activities; preparation for a communication platform between students and teachers; and co-ordination(协调) for the departments. We will try our best to serve all in our school.
B. Department of Culture and Propagation(宣传)
We design posters for all big events and activities on campus; we announce plans and activities; we distribute notices from the school and Students’ Union.
C. Department of Art and Sports
Our job is to arrange arts and sports activities and competitions. We are devoted to the encouragement of all in our school to show their talents, as well as to enjoy rich school lives.
D. Department of School Life Management
Our department aims to solve the problems that appeared in our students’ school life. We listen to opinions and suggestions about the school services and equipment. We report these suggestions to the school.
E. Department of Associations(社团;协会)
We are the organizers of the students’ associations. Our job is to manage activities of the students’ associations. We provide a rich and challenging after-school program for all of the students.
F. Department of External Relations
We are the connection between our school and our brother schools. We are the window to show our students’ talents. We demonstrate our advantages and characteristics through promotion and activities. Our target is to spread our reputation all over the country and overseas.
阅读下面学生会待聘人员信息，然后匹配人员与相关部门：
【小题1】Simon has got many pen friends and net friends home and abroad. He loves this school and wishes that he could do something to have more people know about it, those excellent teachers and students, the activities, and its glorious achievements.
【小题2】As an excellent basketball player, Jonathan plays an active part in all of the school’s activities. He thinks sport can help people keep healthy and everybody should take part. He wishes to arrange some activities that everybody could join in.
【小题3】Frank showed his ability of organization when he was still a very young boy. As a student, he wishes he could do something to improve the relationship between the teaching staff and the students. And, as a matter of fact, he has that ability.
【小题4】Jennifer is a kind and helpful girl who is always willing to offer a helping hand to whoever needs it. As a student, she knows that many of her schoolmates need help and care. She wishes that she could do something for them.
【小题5】Flora’s majoring in fine arts and has a part-time job in an advertisement company. She once successfully designed a few movie posters and got much appreciation from the manager of the company. Now she wants to do something for Students’ Union.

信息匹配（每小题2分，满分10分）（请考生把答案写在答题卷上）
请阅读下列短文和相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。
首先，请阅读以下学生会部门信息：
A. The presidium(主席团)
Our job includes the formation of an overall work plan and organization of activities; preparation for a communication platform between students and teachers; and co-ordination(协调) for the departments. We will try our best to serve all in our school.
B. Department of Culture and Propagation(宣传)
We design posters for all big events and activities on campus; we announce plans and activities; we distribute notices from the school and Students’ Union.
C. Department of Art and Sports
Our job is to arrange arts and sports activities and competitions. We are devoted to the encouragement of all in our school to show their talents, as well as to enjoy rich school lives.
D. Department of School Life Management
Our department aims to solve the problems that appeared in our students’ school life. We listen to opinions and suggestions about the school services and equipment. We report these suggestions to the school.
E. Department of Associations
We are the organizers of the students’ associations. Our job is to manage activities of the students’ associations. We provide a rich and challenging after-school program for all of the students.
F. Department of External Relations
We are the connection between our school and our brother schools. We are the window to show our students’ talents. We demonstrate our advantages and characteristics through promotion and activities. Our target is to spread our reputation all over the country and overseas.
阅读下面学生会待聘人员信息，然后匹配人员与相关部门：
【小题1】
Simon has got many pen friends and net friends home and abroad. He loves this school and wishes that he could do something to have more people know about it, those excellent teachers and students, the activities, and its glorious achievements.
【小题2】
As an excellent basketball player, Jonathan plays an active part in all of the school’s activities. He thinks sport can help people keep healthy and everybody should take part. He wishes to arrange some activities that everybody could join in.
【小题3】
Frank showed his ability of organization when he was still a very young boy. As a student, he wishes he could do something to improve the relationship between the teaching staff and the students. And, as a matter of fact, he has that ability.
【小题4】
Jennifer is a kind and helpful girl who is always willing to offer a helping hand to whoever needs it. As a student, she knows that many of her schoolmates need help and care. She wishes that she could do something for them.
【小题5】
Flora’s majoring in fine arts and has a part-time job in an advertisement company. She once successfully designed a few movie posters and got much appreciation from the manager of the company. Now she wants to do something for Students’ Union.

对话填空（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）

T=Todd    A=Adrienne

T: I was looking at your photos, and I found you can play the violin. Tell [来源:学,科,网]

me about it.

A: I really (76) e______ playing the violin. I’ve been playing for many years         76________

since I was a five-year-old girl.

Everyone in my family plays an (77) i_________,                                            77_________

so it’s part of what we do together as a family.

T: So when you were (78) l _________ you practiced every day , didn’t you?          78_________

A: Yes, I did, my mom made me. I didn’t have a (79) c__________.                 79_________ 

T: Did you have a (80) t________ come over to your house?                                  80_________

A: No, I had a lesson at the violin school once a week

and I (81)a__________ group lessons too, so it was once a week with a private    81________

and once a week with a group.

T: When did you stop playing?

A: I haven’t stopped.

T: Oh, you (82)s_______ practice.                                                                       82________

A: Yeah, although I don’t have my violin here in Japan right now.

T: Is it (83) h_______ to be away from your violin?                                              83_________

A: It’s sometimes, I (84) m________ the time when I played with my family.         84_________

T: So are you going to play the violin for me sometime?

A: Sure! If you can (85) f________ a violin, I will.                                             85________

.

Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955. He and his two sisters grew up in Seattle. Their father, William H. Gates II, was a Seattle lawyer. Mary Gates, their late mother, was a school teacher.

Gates attended public elementary school before moving on to the private Lakeside School in North Seattle. It was at Lakeside that Gates began his career in personal computer soft- ware, programming computers at age 13.

In 1973, Gates entered Harvard University as a freshman, where he lived down the hall from Steve Ballmer, who is now Microsoft's president. While at Harvard, Gates developed a version (版本) of the programming language BASIC for the first microcomputer---the MITS Astair. In his junior year, Gates dropped out of Harvard to devote his energies full-time to Microsoft, a company he had started in 1975 with his boyhood friend Paul Allen. Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desk-top and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers.

Gates' foresight has led to the success of Microsoft and the software industry. He plays an important role in the technical development of new products. Much of his time is devoted to meeting with customers and staying in touch with Microsoft employees around the world through e-mail.

In the dozen years since Microsoft went public, Gates has donated more than $ 800 million to charities (慈善机构), including $ 200 million to the Gates Library Foundation to help libraries in North America make use of new technologies and the Information Age.

50. Where did Bill Gates begin his career in personal computer software?

A. At public elementary school.                  B. At the private Lakeside School.

C. At Harvard University.                           D. At Microsoft Company.

51. Why did he drop out of Harvard?

A. To change school.                                 B. To spend all his energies to Microsoft.

C. To find a full-time job.                          D. To earn money.

52. How does Gates spend much of his time?

A. Meeting with people.                            B. Travelling around the world.

C. E-mailing some friends.  

D. Meeting with customers and e-mailing Microsoft employees.

53. What does the underlined word "donated" in the last paragraph mean?

A. gave.                B. earned.              C. made.               D. received.