第二部分阅读理解（共20小题。每小题2分；满分40分）
第一节   阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（ABC和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黒。
A
Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.
The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.
Observers noted down the referees' errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.  
The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyze the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.
There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.
If FIFA, football's international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.
He also says that FIFA's insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.  
41. The number of refereeing errors in the experimental matches was _______.
A. slightly above average                            B. higher than in the 1998 World Cup
C. quite unexpected                                   D. as high as in a standard match
42. The findings of the experiment show that _______.
A. errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball
B. the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors
C. the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur
D. errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot
43. The word "officials" (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to _______.
A. the researchers involved in the experiment
B. the inspectors of the football tournament
C. the referees of the football tournament
D. the observers at the site of the experiment
44. What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?
A. The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.
B. Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.
C. A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.
D. An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical                condition.

Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing the disputed refereeing decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.

The researcher organized an experimental tournament involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.

Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.

The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.

There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.

If FIFA, football’s international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.

He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.

1.The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to ________.

A．review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup

B．analyse the causes of errors made by football referees

C．set a standard for football refereeing

D．reexamine the rules for football refereeing

2.The number of refereeing errors in the experimental matches was ________.

A．slightly above average                    B．higher than in the 1998 World Cup

C．quite unexpected                       D．as high as in a standard match

3.The findings of the experiment show that ________.

A．errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball

B．the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors

C．the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely errors will occur

D．errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot

4.The word “officials” (Para. 4) most probably refers to ________.

A．the researchers involved in the experiment

B．the inspectors of the football tournament

C．the referees of the football tournament

D．the observers at the site of the experiment

5.What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?

A．The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.

B．Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.

C．A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.

D．An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition.

It seems that the Englishman just cannot live without sports of some kind. A famous French humourist once said that this is because the English insist on behaving like children all their lives. Wherever you go in this country you will see both children and grown-ups knocking a ball about with a stick or something, as if in Britain men shall always remain boys and women girls! Still, it can never be bad to get exercise, can it?

Taking all amateur（业余）and professional sports in Britain into consideration, there can be no doubt that football is at the top of the list. It is called soccer in the United States. The game originated in Britain and was played in the Middle Ages or even earlier, though as an organized game, or “association football”, it dates only from the beginning of the 19th century.

The next is rugby, which is called “football” in the United States. It is a kind of football played by two teams of fifteen players rather than eleven. The rugby, in which an oval-shaped ball is used can be handled as well as kicked. It is a pretty rough game.

In summer, cricket is the most popular sport. In fact, it has sometimes been called the English national game. Most foreigners find the game rather slow or even boring, but it enjoys great popularity among the British.

Tennis rates high on the list, too. It was introduced into England from France in the 15th century, but it was from England that it spread to practically every country in the world.

Table-tennis or “ping-pong” surely is not played on a great scale as it is in China or in Japan. Basketball and volleyball were introduced into Britain during the late 19th century from America and are gaining popularity. Horse-back riding, swimming, rowing and golf all attract a lot of people.

The main purpose of paragraph one is to tell us that the English_______.

   A. are all sports lovers               B. behave like children

   C. like to kick a ball around           D. can remain young all their lives

According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about football and rugby?

   A. They differ in the shape of the ball

   B. They are played by different numbers of players

C. They both can be handled

D. They both can be kicked

From the second and the third paragraph, we know that_____.

   A. Americans love football most of all

   B. British people love rugby most of all

   C. Americans and British people may call the same thing differently

   D. football originated in Britain in the 18th century

If you like bicycling as much as you like playing ball and can’t seem to decide between the two sports, you may want to consider cycle ball—a fun sport that adopts the key attributes from both activities and transforms it into a totally new game..
Also known as red ball, the game was invented in 1893 by German laborers who wished to play polo(马球), but could not afford horses. While the sport has not caught on in North America, it is very fashionable in Europe and even Japan.
Played in an indoor court, cycle ball is similar to soccer in many ways—the aim is to score as many goals as possible, and only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball.
The one big difference? Use of legs is forbidden. Instead, players have to guide the ball across the court, using the front wheels of their bicycles or with their heads. In fact, if a player even touches the floor with his feet during the 14-minute game, it is considered a foul(犯规) and the opposing team gets a free kick.
While the game was initially(最初) played with normal bikes, things are a little different now. The seats of these specialized bikes are positioned over the back tire and they sport a single fixed gear, making it easier for the rider to control the constant back and forth movement required for the game. The handlebars(车把) also point straight up so that the competitors can sit upright while playing and they are about twice the weight of normal bikes, which helps with the stability.
While cycle ball may sound a little strange, it is a fast-paced sport that requires much training, skill, and, is also really fun to watch.
【小题1】What does the passage mainly talk about?

Long after the 1998 World Cup was won, disappointed fans were still cursing(咒骂) the disputed refereeing (裁判) decisions that denied victory to their team. A researcher was appointed to study the performance of some top referees.

    The researcher organized an experimental tournament (锦标赛) involving four youth teams. Each match lasted an hour, divided into three periods of 20 minutes during which different referees were in charge.

    Observers noted down the referees’ errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number.

    The researcher then studied the videotapes to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 meters away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 meters. The research shows the optimum (最佳的) distance is about 20 meters.

    There also seemed to be an optimum speed. Correct decisions came when the referees were moving at a speed of about 2 meters per second. The average speed for errors was 4 meters per second.

    If FIFA, football's international ruling body, wants to improve the standard of refereeing at the next World Cup, it should encourage referees to keep their eyes on the action from a distance, rather than rushing to keep up with the ball, the researcher argues.

    He also says that FIFA’s insistence that referees should retire at age 45 may be misguided. If keeping up with the action is not so important, their physical condition is less critical.

1.The experiment conducted by the researcher was meant to _______.

A. reexamine the rules for football refereeing

B. analyse the causes of errors made by football referees

C. set a standard for football refereeing

D. review the decisions of referees at the 1998 World Cup

2.The findings of the experiment show that _______.

A. errors are more likely when a referee keeps close to the ball

B. the farther the referee is from the incident, the fewer the errors

C. the more slowly the referee runs, the more likely will errors occur

D. errors are less likely when a referee stays in one spot

3.The word “officials” (Line 2, Para. 4) most probably refers to _______.

A. the researchers involved in the experiment                  

B. the inspectors of the football tournament

C. the referees of the football tournament                     

D. the observers at the site of the experiment

4.What is one of the possible conclusions of the experiment?

A. The ideal retirement age for an experienced football referee is 45.

B. Age should not be the chief consideration in choosing a football referee.

C. A football referee should be as young and energetic as possible.

D. An experienced football referee can do well even when in poor physical condition.