IV. 阅读理解 （共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

When I was at university, I studied very hard. But a lot of my friends did very little work. Some did just enough to pass exams. Others didn't do quite enough. Fred Baines was one of them. He spent more time drinking in the Students' Union than working in the library.

      Once, at the end of the term, we had to take an important test in chemistry. The test had a hundred questions. Beside each question, we had to write "True" or "False". While I was studying in my room the night before the test, Fred was watching television. Fred usually worried a lot the night before a test. But on that night he looked perfectly calm. Then he told me of his plan.

      "It's very simple. There are a hundred questions and I have to get fifty correct to pass the test. I'll take a coin into the examination room. I haven't studied a chemistry book for months, so I'll just toss the coin. That way, I'm sure I'll get half the questions right."

      The next day Fred came cheerfully into the examination room. He sat tossing a coin for half an hour as he marked down his answers. Then he left, half an hour before the rest of us.

      The next day, he saw the chemistry professor in the corridor .

      "Oh, good," he said. "Have you got the result of the test? What mark did I get?"

      The professor looked at him and smiled.

      "Ah, it's you, Baines. Just a minute."

      Then he reached into his pocket and took out a coin. He threw it into the air, caught it in his hand and looked at it.

      "I'm terribly sorry, Baines," he said, "you failed."

1. Fred Baines _______.

A. spent quite some time working in the Students' Union

B. worked hard at his lessons but he failed again and again

C. often failed his tests

D. wouldn't work hard so long as he could pass a test

2. Fred looked perfectly calm before the chemistry test because _______.

      A. he was already well prepared for it

      B. he didn't think the test was so important for him

      C. someone had promised to help him out

      D. he believed he had found out a way to pass the test without any difficulty

3. The professor told Baines the result of the test by tossing a coin because _______.

      A. he hadn't marked all the papers yet

B. he couldn't remember the mark Baines got

      C. he wouldn't hurt Baines' feeling by telling him the truth

      D. he wanted to teach Baines a lesson

With the rapid expansion of mass transit system (公交体系), big cities like Shanghai should be able to ease the congestion（拥挤）and pollution caused by an excessive number of cars.

Statistics show that Shanghai’s subway lines will reach 350 km by the end of this year, making the city No. 3 in the world in terms of subway length. Shanghai could be ranked No. 1 when the length is extended to 430 km next May in time for the World Expo. This means about 5.5 million people each day could use the city’s subway system, thereby reducing traffic bottle-necks and air and noise pollution in downtown Shanghai.

At present, Shanghai suffers from severe traffic congestion, during not only rush hours and weekdays but also off-peak hours and weekends.

For years, car emissions (尾气) have been blamed for contributing 60 percent of the air pollution in the city center, causing various respiratory (呼吸道) diseases.

What’s more, Shanghai has not met its target of noise reduction for five years, which has become a major source of public complaints. Starting from August 1, cars that are considered highly polluting will be banned from entering the city centre.

Shanghai also plans to carry out the China IV emission standards, equivalent to Euro IV, on November 1, ahead of the 2011 national deadline. In addition, Shanghai is building 16 parking lots with 8,000 spaces near subway terminals so that people can park and ride the mass transit system instead of driving their cars into the city center.

Much more needs to be done for truly easing the traffic jams and air and noise pollution caused by automobiles. For example, the ban on using the horn, which was made effective from June 1, 2007, has hardly been enforced.

Many local people still regard owning and driving a car as a kind of demonstration of their wealth, without realizing the traffic and environmental hazards it can cause. When the subway system can take people to their destinations, driving a private car in downtown Shanghai could become a moral issue.

Shanghai should also show courage in leading Chinese cities to adopt the congestion charge system, which the city has been studying for the last eight years. A similar schedule, practiced in London and Singapore, has proved to be effective in reducing pollution and congestion in the city center.

Once Shanghai shows the way, other cities, like Beijing, too, may adopt the practice.

64. The best title for the passage may be___________.

A. Efforts to Ease Congestion & Pollution    B. Benefits of Public Transit System

C. Possibilities to Charge On Congestion     D. Ways to Reduce Car Emission

65. The following is true EXCEPT that Shanghai _________.

   A. plans not to carry out the Euro IV emission standards

 B. could be No. 1 in terms of subway length next May

C. has problems with crowding not only in rush hours

D. has strong public complaints about noise pollution

66. Guess the correct meaning of the underlined word “hazards”.

   A. sudden changes   B. violent forces     C. public dislikes   D. dangerous results

67. The writer of the passage intends to tell us________. 

  A. though many plans have been carried out, the situation is hopeless

  B. difficult as the situation seems, Shanghai is sure to overcome it

C. whether the problems will be solved depends on people’s action

D. environmental problem should be regarded as a moral issue.

With the rapid expansion of mass transit system (公交体系), big cities like Shanghai should be able to ease the congestion（拥挤）and pollution caused by an excessive number of cars.

Statistics show that Shanghai’s subway lines will reach 350 km by the end of this year, making the city No. 3 in the world in terms of subway length. Shanghai could be ranked No. 1 when the length is extended to 430 km next May in time for the World Expo. This means about 5.5 million people each day could use the city’s subway system, thereby reducing traffic bottle-necks and air and noise pollution in downtown Shanghai.

At present, Shanghai suffers from severe traffic congestion, during not only rush hours and weekdays but also off-peak hours and weekends.

For years, car emissions (尾气) have been blamed for contributing 60 percent of the air pollution in the city center, causing various respiratory (呼吸道) diseases.

What’s more, Shanghai has not met its target of noise reduction for five years, which has become a major source of public complaints. Starting from August 1, cars that are considered highly polluting will be banned from entering the city centre.

Shanghai also plans to carry out the China IV emission standards, equivalent to Euro IV, on November 1, ahead of the 2011 national deadline. In addition, Shanghai is building 16 parking lots with 8,000 spaces near subway terminals so that people can park and ride the mass transit system instead of driving their cars into the city center.

Much more needs to be done for truly easing the traffic jams and air and noise pollution caused by automobiles. For example, the ban on using the horn, which was made effective from June 1, 2007, has hardly been enforced.

Many local people still regard owning and driving a car as a kind of demonstration of their wealth, without realizing the traffic and environmental hazards it can cause. When the subway system can take people to their destinations, driving a private car in downtown Shanghai could become a moral issue.

Shanghai should also show courage in leading Chinese cities to adopt the congestion charge system, which the city has been studying for the last eight years. A similar schedule, practiced in London and Singapore, has proved to be effective in reducing pollution and congestion in the city center.

Once Shanghai shows the way, other cities, like Beijing, too, may adopt the practice.

1.The best title for the passage may be___________.

A. Efforts to Ease Congestion & Pollution    B. Benefits of Public Transit System

C. Possibilities to Charge On Congestion     D. Ways to Reduce Car Emission

2.The following is true EXCEPT that Shanghai _________.

   A. plans not to carry out the Euro IV emission standards

 B. could be No. 1 in terms of subway length next May

C. has problems with crowding not only in rush hours

D. has strong public complaints about noise pollution

3.Guess the correct meaning of the underlined word “hazards”.

   A. sudden changes   B. violent forces     C. public dislikes   D. dangerous results

4.The writer of the passage intends to tell us________. 

  A. though many plans have been carried out, the situation is hopeless

  B. difficult as the situation seems, Shanghai is sure to overcome it

C. whether the problems will be solved depends on people’s action

D. environmental problem should be regarded as a moral issue.

Amazing Rafting Adventures
White water rafting is one of the classic, wild activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers—and rafting outfitters—that are perfectly suited to the entire family.
Here are three of the best:
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.
READ MORE: Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors—and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from “roughing it.” Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day’s activities.
Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation.
【小题1】What is the common feature of the three rafting adventures?

Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son's soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son's team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.
With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son's teammate, Mickey O’ Donnel. With shouts of "Kick it!" echoing（回响）across the playground, Mickey turned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted（爆发）. O'Donnel had scored!
Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a total hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome (唐氏综合症) and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted, "I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!" For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five（致礼）salute and started chanting, "Way to go Mickey! Way to go Mickey!" Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal. Mike happily and everyone sent their wishes to him.
Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied, "It was a tie. Everybody won."
【小题1】Which is the most correct description of the author’s too? He was/had       .