阅读理解

　　In the 1970s, with ever-increasing international travel and tourism, the United States Department of Transportation decided to design a set of symbols(符号)for airports, stations, and public facilities(设施). The aim was to design symbols that would be clear to people in a hurry and to those who can not read English. Therefore, the set of symbols shown below was designed. Then the designers planned an experiment with an international sample(抽样调查) of 8-year-old children from Sweden. Japan, France, Canada, and Britain. The purpose of the experiment was to determine how clear the symbols would be to the children, who were not experienced international travelers.

　　The children were shown the set of sample symbols, and were then asked to explain to the experimenters what the symbols meant. The researchers thought that if the international sample of children could understand them, the grown-up travelers would probably also recognize their meanings. The following graph(图表) shows the percentages of correctly explained symbols.

　　The experiments discovered that most of the children easily understand the telephone receiver and cigarette symbols. However, there were some interesting differences in their answers to the other four symbols. The Japanese children most easily understood the symbol standing for“coffee shop”. The experimenters thought that this fact showed children in Japan are more familiar with such shops than children in Sweden and Canada. The Japanese, French, and Canadian children all equally recognized the idea of“information”showed by the question mark.

　　Interestingly, the French and Canadian children understood the symbol referring to“campground(露营地)”better than the other children. Again, the researchers thought that recognition of a symbol shows how common the activity is in a country.

　　One particularly difficult symbol was that of the umbrella and glove used for“lost and found”, which was correctly explained by less than 50％ of the children in four of the five countries. On the basis(基础) of this finding, the experimenters decided to add a question mark to make this symbol easier to understand.

1．Which of the following shows the correct meaning of(X), (Y), and (Z) in the graph above?

[　　]

A．Campground, Coffee Shop, Lost and Found.

B．Lost and Found, Campground, Coffee Shop.

C．Coffee shop, Lost and Found, Campground.

D．Telephone, No smoking, Information.

2．If we compare the Japanese and French children's understanding of the question mark and cigarette symbols, then we can find a difference of _____ between these symbols.

[　　]

A．0％　　　B．10％

C．80％　　 D．90％

3．The _____ symbol was the most difficult for the Japanese children to understand.

[　　]

A．cup　　　B．question mark

C．tent　　　D．umbrella and glove

4．Which of the following statements is TRUE?

[　　]

A．The experimenters thought Japanese children drink coffee.

B．The most difficult symbol was changed to make it clearer.

C．The question mark symbol is the least difficult in all five countries.

As an engineering student, I had a degree and three good job offers. I couldn’t help trembling when I heard about studies which showed that women are at a (n) 　1 when it comes to math. However, I discovered: just because a subject is 　2 to learn, it does not show you are not good at it. You just have to grit your teeth and work harder to get good at it. 　3 you do, there’s a (an) 　4 chance you will enjoy it more than anything else.

In eighth grade I took algebra (代数). On one test I got only 1 percent of the 　5 answers. I failed the next one, too. I started to 　6 maybe I’m just not good at this. I was lucky enough to have a teacher who didn’t take my bad grades as a judgment of my 　7 , but 　8 as an indication that I should study more. He 　9 me aside and told me he knew I could do better. Success grows out of struggles to overcome difficulties. I 　10 the following tests, and pulled my grade up to an A.

I studied a lot in college, too. I had moments of fear while sitting below the fluorescent lights in the 　11 library on Saturday afternoons, when I 　12 that the estrogen (雌性激素) in my body was 　13 me from understanding thermodynamics (热动力学). But the 　14 in my class had to work just as hard, and I knew that I couldn’t 　15 to lose confidence in myself. I didn’t want to choose between my femininity (女人气) and a good career. 16 I reminded myself that those 　17 , the ones that say math comes more naturally to men, are faulty.

Here’s a secret: math and science don’t go 　18 to most people. No one was 　19 born knowing calculus (微积分). But as a famous saying goes: Y nothing is difficult if you put your heart into it. A woman can learn anything a man can, but first she needs to know that she can do it, and then takes a leap of 　20 .

1．A．advantage　 B．disadvantage　　 C．trouble　　 D．discomfort

2．A．enjoyable　 B．humorous C．simple　　 D．difficult

3．A．Once　 B．Where　　 C．Although　 D．Until

4．A．strong B．poor C．impossible D．few

5．A．wrong B．complete　 C．correct　　 D．missing

6．A．think　 B．astonish　 C．know　　　 D．decide

7．A．marks B．standards C．characteristics D．abilities

8．A．extremely　 B．simply　　 C．slightly　　 D．especially

9．A．pulled B．led　　 C．put　 D．pushed

10．A．designed　 B．attended　 C．got　 D．took

11．A．chemistry B．engineering　　　 C．biology 　 D．geography

12．A．worried　 B．agreed　　 C．knew D．realized

13．A．protecting B．awaking　 C．preventing D．attempting

14．A．girls B．boys C．students　 D．classmates

15．A．afford　　　 B．try　　 C．help　 D．manage

16．A．Also B．But　 C．Though　 D．So

17．A．studies　　 B．grades　　 C．students　 D．experiments

18．A．actively　　 B．easily C．difficultly D．gradually

19．A．never B．ever　 C．even D．often

20．A．honesty　 B．knowledge　　　 C．reality　　　 D．faith

As an engineering student, I had a degree and three good job offers. I couldn’t help trembling when I heard about studies which showed that women are at a (n) 　1 when it comes to math. However, I discovered: just because a subject is 　2 to learn, it does not show you are not good at it. You just have to grit your teeth and work harder to get good at it. 　3 you do, there’s a (an) 　4 chance you will enjoy it more than anything else.

In eighth grade I took algebra (代数). On one test I got only 1 percent of the 　5 answers. I failed the next one, too. I started to 　6 maybe I’m just not good at this. I was lucky enough to have a teacher who didn’t take my bad grades as a judgment of my 　7 , but 　8 as an indication that I should study more. He 　9 me aside and told me he knew I could do better. Success grows out of struggles to overcome difficulties. I 　10 the following tests, and pulled my grade up to an A.

I studied a lot in college, too. I had moments of fear while sitting below the fluorescent lights in the 　11 library on Saturday afternoons, when I 　12 that the estrogen (雌性激素) in my body was 　13 me from understanding thermodynamics (热动力学). But the 　14 in my class had to work just as hard, and I knew that I couldn’t 　15 to lose confidence in myself. I didn’t want to choose between my femininity (女人气) and a good career. 16 I reminded myself that those 　17 , the ones that say math comes more naturally to men, are faulty.

Here’s a secret: math and science don’t go 　18 to most people. No one was 　19 born knowing calculus (微积分). But as a famous saying goes: Y nothing is difficult if you put your heart into it. A woman can learn anything a man can, but first she needs to know that she can do it, and then takes a leap of 　20 .

1．A．advantage　 B．disadvantage　　 C．trouble　　 D．discomfort

2．A．enjoyable　 B．humorous C．simple　　 D．difficult

3．A．Once　 B．Where　　 C．Although　 D．Until

4．A．strong B．poor C．impossible D．few

5．A．wrong B．complete　 C．correct　　 D．missing

6．A．think　 B．astonish　 C．know　　　 D．decide

7．A．marks B．standards C．characteristics D．abilities

8．A．extremely　 B．simply　　 C．slightly　　 D．especially

9．A．pulled B．led　　 C．put　 D．pushed

10．A．designed　 B．attended　 C．got　 D．took

11．A．chemistry B．engineering　　　 C．biology 　 D．geography

12．A．worried　 B．agreed　　 C．knew D．realized

13．A．protecting B．awaking　 C．preventing D．attempting

14．A．girls B．boys C．students　 D．classmates

15．A．afford　　　 B．try　　 C．help　 D．manage

16．A．Also B．But　 C．Though　 D．So

17．A．studies　　 B．grades　　 C．students　 D．experiments

18．A．actively　　 B．easily C．difficultly D．gradually

19．A．never B．ever　 C．even D．often

20．A．honesty　 B．knowledge　　　 C．reality　　　 D．faith

One day, Raul was miles away from the small ranch（牧场）house in a large valley. 36 seemed to be all right, yet he felt strange and somewhat uneasy. The wind had picked up, and angry, dark clouds 37 across the sky. He could smell the rain coming. And it did. 38 , the lightning flashed through the clouds, nearly 39 Raul. The thunder（雷声）was so loud that he buried his 40 in his hands and rubbed his eyes. Then he heard it. Hoofbeats（蹄声）. He 41 . There before him stood a tall, white 42 . An old man stared down at him from its back.

“Wh-wh-who are y-y-you?” asked Raul. “My name is Gray Cloud,” the old man answered 43 . “Come with me.”

Raul followed on his horse. A 44 feeling came over him. All 45 them the rain was pouring down, 46 not a drop fell on them. They seemed to be 47 back toward Raul’s home. Raul lost track of time. Then all at once he found 48 at the ranch gate. The old man turned his horse, 49 his hand, and smiled. Lightning flashed again. The old man and his horse were 50 .

Raul’s father ran out across the yard to 51 him. “We have been 52 about you. Are you okay? Hurry. Let’s get in out of the 53 .”

“Wait”, said Raul. “Have you ever heard of an old man called Gray Cloud?”

“Can’t say I…wait. I 54 my great-grandfather used to tell stories about a man called Gray Cloud. He died a long time ago. They say he was 55 by lightning during a terrible thunderstorm. Why do you ask?”

36．A．Something　　　 B．Everything　　　　 C．Anything　　　　 D．Nothing

37．A．dropped　　　　 B．fell　　　　　　　 C．rolled　　　　　 D．covered

38．A． Suddenly　　　 B．Strongly　　　　　 C．Quickly　　　　 D．Hardly

39．A．beating　　　　 B．blinding　 　　 C．burning　　　　 D．touching

40．A．nose　　　　　 B．hair　　　　　　 　 C．neck　　　　　 D．head

41．A．looked up　　　 B．woke up　　　　 　 C．lay down　　　　 D．sat down

42．A．tiger　　　　　 B．horse　　　　　 　 C．lion　　　　　　 D．elephant

43．A．lazily　 　　　 B．angrily　　　　　 　 C．coldly　　　　　 D．slowly

44．A．natural　　　　 B．common　　　　 　 C．strange　　　　 D．bad

45．A．around　　　　 B．beside　　　　 　　　 C．through　　　　 D．above

46．A．yet　　　　　　 B．for　　　　　　 　 C．so　　　　　　 D．or

47．A．walking　　　　 B．leading　　　　 　　 C．heading　　　　 D．returning

48．A．them　　　　　 B．themselves　　　 　　 C．him　　　　　　 D．himself

49．A．shook　　　　 B．waved　　　　　 　 C．held　　　　　　 D．took

50．A．gone　　　　　 B．left　　　　　　 　　 C．followed　　　　 D．lost

51．A．see　　　　　 B．meet　　　　　 　　 C．beat　　　　　　 D．ask

52．A．waited　　　　 B．thought　　　　 　　 C．worried　　　　　 D．excited

53．A．yard　　　　　 B．wind　　　　　 　　 C．grass　　　　　　 D．rain

54．A．believe　　　　 B．consider　　　 　　 C．doubt　　　　　 D．forget

55．A．defeated　　　 B．caught　　　　　　 C．damaged　　　　 D．struck

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

I ran into a stranger as he passed by. “I'm so sorry!” was my reply. Then he said, “Excuse me too... I wasn't　 36　 watching for you.” We were very polite, this stranger and I. Then we went 37 our way after saying goodbye.

　 But at 38 , a different story is told. How we treat our loved ones, young and old. Later in the kitchen, as I 39 our meal, my daughter walked up to me, very still. When I turned, I 40 knocked her down. “Get out of the way!” I shouted with a frown(皱眉). She stepped away silently, with her little heart 41 . I didn't realize how harshly(苛刻地) I had spoken.

That night, when I lay 　42 in bed, God's quiet voice spoke to me and said, “While 43 with a stranger, you are calm and polite, but with those you love, you are QUICK to excite... Go look around on the kitchen floor, you'll find some flowers there by the 44 . Those are the flowers she brought for you. She 45 them herself-- pink, yellow, and your favorite blue. She stood there quietly, and you never saw the 46 in her eyes.”

　 By this time, I felt sad and small and now my own tears had begun to fall. I quietly went and knelt by her 47 : “Wake up, my dear,” I said, “Are these the flowers you picked up for me?” She smiled, “I found them out by the tree. I 48 them in a napkin（餐巾）, just for you. I knew you'd like them, especially the 49 .” I said, “I am so sorry that I missed them today... And I 50 have fussed（慌乱）at you that way.”

　 And she whispered, “Mommy, that's okay... I still love you 51 .” I hugged her and said, “I love you, too and I LOVE the flowers.”

　 Do you know that: if you die tomorrow, the 52 you are working for could easily replace you in a matter of （大约）days. But the family you leave _53 will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into our 54 than into our families--an unwise investment(投资) indeed.

　 Remember that 55 = (F)ATHER -- (A)ND--(M)OTHER -- (I)--(L)OVE--(Y)OU.

36. A. ever　　　　　 　　　 B. just　　　　　 　　　　 C. even　　　　　　 　　　 D. right

37. A. to　　　　　　 　　　 B. on　　　　　　　 　　 C. in　　　　　　　 　　　 D. for

38. A. school　　　　 　　　 B. home　　　　　　 　　 C. work　　　　　　 　　 D. office

39. A. cooked　　　 　　　 B. had　　　　　　　 C. ate　　　　　　　 　　 D. took

40. A. nearly　　　 　　　　 B. hardly　　　　　　 　 C. rudely　　　　　　 　　 D. already

41. A. lost　　　　 　　　　 B. missed　　　　　　 　 C. beaten　　　　　　 　　 D. broken

42. A. awake　　　　 　　　 B. asleep　　　　　 　　　 C. afraid　　　　　　 　　 D. alive

43. A. dealing　　　 　　　　 B. meeting　　　　　 　 C. going　　　　　　 　　 D. talking

44. A. floor　　　　 　　　 B. kitchen　　　　　 　 C. door　　　　　 　　　　　 D. window

45. A. grew　　　　 　　　 B. bought　　　　　　 　 C. picked　　　　　　 　　 D. fetched

46. A. joy　　　　 　　　　　 B. expressions　　　　 C. smiles　　　　　　 　　　 D. tears

47. A. desk　　　　 　　　 B. knees　　　　　　 　 C. body　　　　　　　 　　 D. bed

48. A. wrapped　　　 　　　 B. covered　　　　　 　 C. put　　　　　　　　 　 D. help

49. A. pink　　　　 　　　　　 B. yellow　　　　　　 　 C. blue　　　　　　　 　 D. black

50. A. shouldn't　　　 　　　 B. needn't　　　　 　　　 C. mustn't　　　　　　 　 D. can't

51. A. indeed　　　 　　　　 B. anyway　　　　　 　　 C. anything　　　　　 　　 D. besides

52. A. country　　 　　　　　　 B. company　　　　　 　 C. place　　　　　　　 　 D. state

53. A. for　　　　　 　　　　 B. behind　　　　　　 　 C. with　　　　　　 　　　　 D. to

54. A. stranger　　　 　　　　 B. loss　　　　　　　 　 C. meal　　　　　　　 　　 D. work

55. A. RESPECT　　 　　　　 B. WARMTH　　　　 　 C. FRIEND　　　　　 　　 D. FAMILY