阅读理解

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中，选出最佳选项。

　　It would be pleasant to believe that all young girls in the past got married for romantic reasons; but the fact is that many of them regarded marriage as their only chance to gain independence from their parents, to have a provider, or to be assured of a good place in society. A couple of generations ago, an old maid of twenty-five did not have much to look forward to, she was more or less fated to remain with her parents or to live in some relative's home where she would help with the chores and the children. Not so any more. In the first place, women remain young much longer than they used to, and an unmarried woman of twenty-eight or thirty does not feel that her life is over. Besides, since she is probably working and supporting herself, she is free to marry only when and if she chooses. As a consequence, today's women tend to marry later in life. They have fewer children or none at all if they prefer to devote themselves to their profession. The result is a decline in the birthrate.

　　The new role that women have developed for themselves has changed family life. Children are raised differently; they spend more tine with adults who are not their parents; baby-sitters, day-care center personal, relatives, or neighbors. Whether they gain or lose in the process is a hotly discussed question. Some child experts believe that young children must spend all their time with their mother if they are to grow sound in body and mind. Others maintain that children get more from a mother who spends with them “quality time” (a time of fun and relaxation set aside for them) rather than hours of forced and unhappy baby-sitting. And many child experts point out that children kept in day-care centers every day are brighter then those raised at home. No matter what it is, one thing about child raising to be certain of is that the linger the child is with the mother, the better.

1．It can be concluded from the passage that ________.

[　　]

A．women today have developed a new role in family life

B．the birthrate is declining as a result of women's pursuit of careers

C．women have always been dependent on their parents even after marriage

D．children must spend all their time with their mother if they are to grow sound

2．The change in women's attitude towards marriage result in all of the following EXCEPT ________.

[　　]

A．more and more women give up jobs to take care of their children at home.

B．women today tend to marry later than they did

C．women have less time to raise their children

D．more and more families remain childless

3．People have different opinions over the question as to ________.

[　　]

A．how children should be raised

B．where children should be raised

C．whether children should stay with their parents

D．how long children should stay with their parents

4．The author suggests that ________.

[　　]

A．working women should not have children

B．children should be kept in day-care centers all the time

C．young children should stay with their mothers as long as possible

D．women should leave their work to look after their children at home

It would be pleasant to believe that all young girls in the past got married for romantic reasons; but the fact is that many of them regarded marriage as their only chance to gain independence from their parents, to have a provider, or to be assured of a good place in society. A couple of generations ago, an old maid of twenty-five did not have much to look forward to. She was more or less fated to remain with her parents or to live in some relative’s home where she would help with the chores and the children. Not so any more. In the first place, women remain young much longer than they used to, and an unmarried woman of twenty-eight or thirty does not feel that her life is over. Besides, since she’s probably working and supporting herself, she is free to marry only when and if she chooses. As a result today’s women tend to marry later in life. They have fewer children-or none at all―if they prefer to devote themselves to their professions . The result is a decline in the birthrate.

The new role that women have developed for themselves has changed family life. Children are raised differently; they spend more time with adults who are not their parents; baby-sitters, day-care center personnel, relatives, or neighbors. Whether they gain or lose in the process is a hotly debated question. Some child experts believe that young children must spend all their time with their mother if they are to grow sound in body and mind. Others think that children get more from a mother who spends with them “quality time” (a time of fun and relaxation set aside for them) rather than hours of forced and unhappy baby-sitting. And many child psychologists point out that children kept in day-care centers every day are brighter than those raised at home. No matter what it is, one thing about child raising to be certain of is that the longer the child is with the mother, the better.

68．Which of the following is the reason for young girls’ marriage in the past ?

       A．Marriage was one of the chances to get freedom.

       B．They could find happiness through marriage.

       C．They preferred to devote themselves to housework.

       D．They wanted to find a good place in society.

69．We can conclude from the passage a decrease in the birthrate is because         .

       A．a good many women still depend on their parents

       B．raising children is a great burden for many families

       C．many women would like to remain young forever

       D．more and more women are concentrating on their careers

70．The underlined word “sound” means         .

       A．bright                 B．healthy               C．tall                      D．strong

71．Which of the following is being discussed in the passage ?

       A．How long children should stay with their parents?

       B．Where children should be raised?

       C．Whether children should stay with their parents?

       D．How children should be raised?

I had once helped a friend of mine run a watermelon stall. I noticed something interesting. Almost every buyer would lift the melon up to their ear，smartly tap it, apparently trying to listen to something. I wondered what they expected to hear.

Finally I could no longer hold back my curiosity and made bold to ask a customer—an elderly gentleman—about this. Hearing my question，he roared with laughter. Then he replied in a self­mocking(自嘲)tone.“Young lady，I have been doing this for more than fifty years. All I know is that everybody would stare at you as if you were a fool if you just pick up the melon and leave！”

Not long after that，my watermelon stall friend unexpectedly sent me an invitation for her wedding，which really surprised me. I asked her, “How come you are seized by a sudden desire to get married? I don't remember ever hearing you mention that yon've got a boyfriend.” She answered while counting money，“Everyone has to get married anyway，so it is better to get married sooner than later.”

I could think of no word to refute(反驳)her. It seems that everybody is living for everybody else and has forgotten the need of their own heart. It may be safe and save a lot of worries by following others' suit in doing things. The use of We or Us will give one a steady and sure sense of pride. But using the pronoun “I” would often give one a guilty conscience.

I find all these things somewhat funny. We have got used to taking cue from(模仿) others and follow their suit. In turn，we also take it for granted that we should judge the right and wrong of others by our own standard. As a matter of fact，this massive practice is still wrong though we all follow others' suit like this, but we feel at ease and, justified simply because this is the way of us, and so we can have an easy conscience because this has been practiced by so many people.

1.The writer probably feels that it is ________.

A．necessary for the buyer to tap the watermelon

B．foolish of the buyers to buy watermelon without tapping it

C．funny that the buyers will tap the watermelons when buying them

D．wise of the elderly gentleman to tap watermelons before buy them

2.The writer uses the example of her friend's decision of getting married to show that ________.

A．her friend took no account of others's feeling

B．her friend decided to marry just to follow the crowd

C．her friend was a person who has strong personality

D．everybody in the world should marry for  others

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．It may be safe to follow others' suit in doing things.

B．I was surprised to receive my friend's invitation for her wedding.

C．My experience of helping my friend run a watermelon stall was interesting.

D．The use of We or I will give speakers themselves quite different senses.

4.Which word can replace the underlined word“justified”in the last paragraph?

A．Reasonable.       B．Embarrassed.     C．Ashamed.        D．Nervous.

5.In which section of a magazine can you read the passage?

A．Art and Life          B．Sport and Health

C．Culture and Society    D．Science and Technology

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.
Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．
She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．
Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．
One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．
"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"
"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．
His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"
On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．
After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．
Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.
One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．
"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"
Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．
【小题1】From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______．

Hilary Smith belonged to a good family．But by the age of twenty, he had spent all the money the good old family had．He then had some trouble with the bank and was put in prison．He escaped from the prison and ran to Australia without delay.

Hilary did not like Australia. What he could do seemed to be one of two things: die or work．Then he remembered that he was not alone in the world．He had an aunt．

She was his father's only sister, but his father used to say she brought no glory to the family．Hilary, of course, tried to discover what she had done．It seemed that she had failed to marry a nobleman．Instead, she had chosen a husband who was connected with "trade"．Of course as soon as she became "Mrs Parks" ,her brother considered her dead．Later on, Mr Parks died and left her a lot of money; but that did not bring her back to life in her brother's opinion．

Hilary discovered his aunt's address．Fortunately she remained faithful and honest to him even after she fell ill．So Hilary's star shone again, and soon he moved into her house and lived as comfortably as a sailor who had just reached harbour．He had only about a six pence in his pocket．

One thing was soon clear: his aunt was seriously ill, and nothing could cure her illness．Hilary was very worried．Fate had found a home for him, and was now going to throw him out of it．There was only one thing that could save him: her will．

"Will?" she said, "yes, I have made one．That was when I was a girl and had not much money．I left all my money to some religious people．"

"Didn't you make another will when you were married?" Hilary asked．

His aunt shook her head．"No," she said in a low voice, "There was no need．When I finally had a lot of money I found I had no relations．"

On the next day he went to the public library and examined a book of law．It told him what he already believed．When a woman is married, an earlier will lose its value．A new will must be made．If no new will is made, the money goes to the nearest relation．Hilary knew that he was his aunt's only relation．His future was safe．

After a few months had passed, Hilary's problems became serious．He badly needed money．He had expensive tastes, and owed a lot of money to shopkeepers．They trusted him because his aunt was rich; but the debt was terrible．

Unfortunately his aunt did not want to discuss money matters at all．In the end they had a quarrel about the small amount of ten pounds．Hilary was not very angry．He began to wonder about a new problem．Was it kind to want his aunt to live．any longer? Was it not better for her to die now? While he was considering what to do, his aunt told him that she was going to send for her lawyer．So she was going to make a new will, Hilary thought．She might leave all her money to someone else．Soon he reached a clear decision．He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman.

One night when the old servant who had been nursing his aunt went off, he doubled the amount of some medicine．The total amount was too great and it could just put her to sleep forever．

"Thank you," his aunt took the glass from his hand with a grateful look．"I want more than anything to sleep, and never to wake up again．Is that what you wish, Hilary? Don't blame me if I have some doubts about what you intended to do.Sick people get these ideas, you know．One thing I ought to explain to you．Mr Parks never married me．He already had a wife and couldn't marry again．That made your foolish father very angry with me．．．Well, if I am alive tomorrow I shall make another will in your favour．If I die tonight, you'll get nothing．．．No, Hilary, don't try to take the glass away．If you do that, I shall know and I don't want to know．Goodnight, Hilary．"

Then, very carefully, she raised the glass to her mouth and drank．

1.From the story ,we learn that Hilary's aunt was ______．

A．bad-tempered and lonely                 B．kind-hearted and wise

C．careless about money                    D．cruel to her nephew

2.Why did Hilary's father consider his aunt dead?

A．Because they lost contact with each other after her marriage．

B．Because she married a businessman with a wife against his will．

C．Because she broke away from the family for a better life．

D．Because he thought she was a shame to the family

3.The underlined sentence "He must do a great kindness to the poor old woman" in paragraph 11 suggests that Hilary Smith ______．

A．was determined to put his aunt's life to an end

B．decided to do his aunt a favor to call in a lawyer

C．made up his mind to take good care of his aunt

D．would help his aunt to donate all her money to religious people

4.Which of the following is the focus of the story?

A．Hilary's aunt's money．                  B．Hilary Smith's debts．

C．The intended murder．                  D．Hilary's aunt's marriage．

5.According to the law book,_____．

A．Hilary's aunt is not allowed to make a new will．

B．the money will go to Hilary after his aunt dies without a new will．

C．Hilary's aunt must leave the money to the religious people after she dies．

D．Hilary must look after his aunt till her death because he is the only relation．

6.Which detail from the story is the climax（高潮）of the story?

A．Hilary escaped from the prison．

B．Hilary quarelled with is aunt about ten pounds．

C．Hilary's aunt drank the medicine her nephew prepared for her．

D．Hilary's aunt made a will to leave all her money to someone else．