There are various ways in which individual economic units can interact with one another. Three basic ways may be described as the market system, the administered system, and the traditional system.
　　In a market system individual economic units are free to interact among each other in the marketplace. It is possible to buy commodities from other economic units or sell commodities to them. In a market, transactions may take place via barter or money exchange. In a barter economy, real goods such as automobiles, shoes, and pizzas are traded against each other. Obviously, finding somebody who wants to trade my old car in exchange for a sailboat may not always be an easy task. Hence, the introduction of money as a medium of exchange eases transactions considerably. In the modern market economy, goods and services are bought or sold for money.
　　An alternative to the market system is administrative control by some agency over all transactions. This agency will issue commands as to how much of each good and service should be produced, exchanged, and consumed by each economic unit. Central planning may be one way of administering such an economy. The central plan, drawn up by the government, shows the amounts of each commodity produced by the various firms and allocated to different households for consumption. This is an example of complete planning of production, consumption, and exchange for the whole economy.
　　In a traditional society, production and consumption patterns are governed by tradition; every person’s place within the economic system is fixed by parentage, religion, and custom. Transactions take place on the basis of tradition, too. People belonging to a certain group or caste（阶级） may have an obligation to care for other persons, provide them with food and shelter, care for their health, and provide for their education. Clearly, in a system where every decision is made on the basis of tradition alone, progress may be difficult to achieve. An inactive society may result.
【小题1】What is the main purpose of the passage?

Weddings in the United States vary as much as the people do. There are church weddings with a great deal of fanfare； there are weddings on mountain-tops with guests barefooted； and there have been weddings on the ocean floor with oxygen tanks for the guests. But many weddings, no matter where or how they are performed, include certain traditional customs.
　　Before a couple is married，they become engaged. And then invitations are sent to those who live nearby, their close friends and their relatives who live far away. When everything is ready，then comes the most exciting moment.
　　The wedding itself usually lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. The wedding party enters the church while the wedding march is played. The bride carrying a bouquet enters last with her father who will "give her away". The groom enters the church from a side door. When the wedding party is gathered by the altar， the bride and groom exchange vows. It is traditional to use the words "To have and to hold from this day forward， for better， for worse， for richer， for poorer， in sickness and in health， to love and to cherish， till death do us part". Following the vows， the couple exchange rings. Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand is an old custom.
　　After the ceremony there is often a party, called a "reception" which gives the wedding guests an opportunity to congratulate the newlyweds.
The car in which the couple leaves the church is decorated with balloons, streamers and shaving cream. The words "Just Married" are painted on the trunk or back window. The bride and groom run to the car under a shower of rice thrown by the wedding guests. When the couple drives away from the church， friends often chase them in cars， honking and drawing attention to them. And then the couple go on their honeymoon.
【小题1】 What’s the main idea of the passage?

书面表达

　　假如你是李华，家住江苏南京上海路80号，1999年暑假参加了全国中学生英语夏令营.请根据所给要点，用英语给加拿大的笔友Thomas写一封信，谈谈夏令营的情况和你的感受.写信日期：2000年8月10日.

　　注意：(1) 信须包括表格提供的内容要点，可以适当增减细节，使信意思连贯：

　　　　  (2) 词数：100左右；

　　　　  (3) 信的开头已写在下面，不计入总词数.

生词：全国中学生外语能力竞赛：NEPCS

比赛：competition

交流：exchange

80 Shanghai Road

Nanjing Jiangsu，PRC

Aug．10，1998

Dear Thomas,

　　Nice to hear from you again．__________________________________

______________________________________________________________

阅读理解

　　The trend towards globalization began in earnest in the early 1970s when the system of fixed exchange rates, set up after World War Ⅱ, was dismantled, This meant that the value of currencies would now be determined by the markets instead of individual governments. Over the next two decades, countries slowly began to remove their exchange controls. By 1990, nearly all world’s major economies had got rid of restrictions on how much money could be moved in and out of their countries.

　　Other factors contributing to the rise of globalization are new communications technologies, and better transportation systems. These have enabled companies to grow into multinationals (跨国公司) producing goods on one side of the planet and selling them on the other. Lower costs have also helped the price of telephone calls, for instance, is cheaper now than at any time in history.

　　But adjusting to this new“economic order”is proving difficult. In the developed world, and in particular the European Union, globalization is facing widespread public resistance. Critics complain that, without the protection of trade barriers, jobs are being lost to workers in poorer countries, and wages for employees in rich countries are falling. Opponents in the European Union point to the effects that globalization has had in the US and Britain. In those countries, wages are stagnant (停滞不前) except for a privileged few and taxes and welfare benefits have been reduced to help companies compete with industries in the developing world.

　　Opponents of globalization also point to its effects on workers in poorer countries. They agree that multinationals may be helping to reduce unemployment in the developing world but they argue that the jobs are hardly worth having since they are low-paid and exploitative. Those in favor of globalization accuse their critics of being short-sighted protectionists. They claim a more intergrated global economy will ultimate benefit everyone because it will enable countries to specialize in those areas where they perform best.

1．What does the passage mainly talk about?

[　　]

A．The system of fixed exchanged rates.

B．Globalization.

C．The European Union.

D．Computer.

2．According to the passage, what enabled many companies to grow into multinationals?

[　　]

A．Globalization.

B．Better transportation systems.

C．New communications technologies.

D．Both B and C.

3．What does the new“economic order”in paragraph 3 refer to?

[　　]

A．Producing goods on one side of the earth and selling them on the other.

B．Earning less money in the developed countries.

C．Unemployment in the developing countries.

D．Globalization.

4．In which of the following countries is globalization facing widespread public resistance?

[　　]

5．Why are some people in the developed countries against globalization?

[　　]

A．The workers in their countries lose their jobs and their wages are lower.

B．They don’t like the people form the developing countries.

C．This makes their countries poorer.

D．The society is not safe.

Two weeks after the opening ceremony, the Games are over. The last of the three hundred gold medals has been awarded and the flags of the winners have been raised for the last time.

The final event is the closing ceremony. This occasion is always sad and happy at the same time. It is a sad occasion because the tremendous excitement is over, and it will not happen again for four years. Those who have made friends will have to say goodbye, perhaps for ever. It is also a happy occasion because the competition is over and the athletes can really show their friendship for one another.

The closing ceremony is rather like the opening. But now the Olympic flame goes out and the Olympic flag, with its five rings, is lowered. The person who closes the Games calls upon the youth of the world to meet again in four years’ time. The scoreboard lights up with the name of the city for the next Games and the band starts to play. Then the celebration starts.

All the athletes try to be at the closing ceremony. They have forgotten all their fears and worries. It does not matter whether they have done well or not. All the teams walk round the stadium together. Everybody is laughing and joking. The band plays and people start to dance.

After that, everybody in the Village clears up and gets ready to leave. Everyone is hunting for souvenirs. People exchange track suits, hats, running vests and badges. There is a last chance to take photographs and get addresses of new friends. Then each team starts its journey home.

1.The last event of the Olympic Games is ______.

A．to award the last gold medal               B．to raise the flags of the winners for the last time

C．to hunt for souvenirs　　　               D．the closing ceremony

2.At the closing ceremony, it is found that ______.

A．all are called on to meet again in four years’ time

B．there is no music

C．the name of the city for the next Games is showed

D．Olympic flame is taken out of the stadium

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE about the athletes at the closing ceremony?

A．All of them are not present at the ceremony.

B．They are competitors rather than friends.

C．They can’t help worrying about losing the games.

D．They exchange clothes for fun.

4. The underlined phrase “ clear up” in the last paragraph means ________.

A．pack up           B．go away           C．make clear        D．do the cleaning