D
Work is a very important part of life in the United States. Americans spend most of their lives working. For most Americans, their work defines them. They are what they do. What happens, then, when a person can no longer work?
Most Americans stop working at the age of sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire, but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Retirement can also bring financial problems. Many people depend on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five have to have savings in the ban or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation is forcing prices higher each year. Social Security checks alone can not cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance, but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
Of course, many senior citizens are happy with their retirement. They have time to spend with their families or to enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executive Association, even help old people to get started in new businesses. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events there are many other opportunities for retirees.
68．Which of the following could be the title of the passage?
A．“Golden Age” groups       　     B．The American Opinion of Work
C．The Importance of Work in America     D．The Problems in Retirement in America
69．Which of the following is NOT true about the retirees?
A．Some retirees feel happy as they can have more time to enjoy themselves.
B．Some retirees have to be careful with their money because of the rising prices.
C．Some retirees like to work without being paid.
D．Some retirees find work in new businesses.
70．It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A．the Americans show their value through their work
B．the American government pays little attention to the life of the retirees
C．the retirees’ former employers offer some assistance to the retirees
D．the Americans can not find much time to travel before their retirement
71．What does the paragraph following the passage most likely discuss?
A．An explanation of why the retirees feel lost.
B．The difficult situation the retirees have.
C．A different opinion of the physical and emotional needs of the retirees.
D．A description of other activities the retirees can have.

D

Work is a very important part of life in the United States. Americans spend most of their lives working. For most Americans, their work defines them. They are what they do. What happens, then, when a person can no longer work?

Most Americans stop working at the age of sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire, but leaving one’s job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Retirement can also bring financial problems. Many people depend on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five have to have savings in the ban or other retirement plans to make ends meet. The rate of inflation is forcing prices higher each year. Social Security checks alone can not cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance, but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.

Of course, many senior citizens are happy with their retirement. They have time to spend with their families or to enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part time, others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executive Association, even help old people to get started in new businesses. Many retired citizens also belong to “Golden Age” groups. These organizations plan trips and social events there are many other opportunities for retirees.

68．Which of the following could be the title of the passage?

A．“Golden Age” groups        　      B．The American Opinion of Work

C．The Importance of Work in America     D．The Problems in Retirement in America

69．Which of the following is NOT true about the retirees?

A．Some retirees feel happy as they can have more time to enjoy themselves.

B．Some retirees have to be careful with their money because of the rising prices.

C．Some retirees like to work without being paid.

D．Some retirees find work in new businesses.

70．It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A．the Americans show their value through their work

B．the American government pays little attention to the life of the retirees

C．the retirees’ former employers offer some assistance to the retirees

D．the Americans can not find much time to travel before their retirement

71．What does the paragraph following the passage most likely discuss?

A．An explanation of why the retirees feel lost.

B．The difficult situation the retirees have.

C．A different opinion of the physical and emotional needs of the retirees.

D．A description of other activities the retirees can have.

Television has changed our lives in many ways．Many people now spend more time watching TV than doing anything else．Researchers in the USA has estimated （估计）that when most students leave school they have spent 11,000 hours in the classroom and 22,000 hours watching television．But what effect does this have?

    Benefits （好处）of television:

    1． Television helps us to learn more about the world and to know and see many new things．Television can often present information to us in a more effective way than books．It can also make things more memorable．

    2． It entertains （使欢乐）us．It is an enjoyable way to relax． For millions of people around the world, television is a source of companionship and helps them to cope with everyday life．

    3． It has increased the popularity of sports and arts．

    4． It has made us aware of our global responsibilities．In 2000, for example, 1．5 billion people in 147 countries watched a TV pop concert and helped to collect more than ＄100 million for people in Africa．

    Dangers:

    1． Television can make us passive （消极的）．We don’t have to think and our brains become lazy．

    2． It encourages us to buy things that we don’t need, and can make us unhappy with our own life．

    3． It takes time away from activities such as reading, conversation, and games．

    4． It gives a false picture of society． A study in 2003 showed that people who watch a lot of TV are more afraid of crime．They also think that there is a lot more crime than there really is．

5． Some critics （批评家）say that television make people violent．A ten-year study in the United States showed that children who watch violent television programs are more likely to be violent themselves．

1． What’s the proper description of the time American students spend on TV and study?

A． They spend twice as much time on TV as in the classroom．

B． They spend twice as much time in the classroom as on TV．

C． They spend as much time on TV as in the classroom．

D． They spend less time on TV than in the classroom．

2． The underlined word “memorable” is closest in meaning to _______．

A． enjoyable to remember                        B． difficult to remember

C． interesting                                  D． meaningful

3． Why does the author say that watching TV too much gives a false picture of society?

A． Because watching too much TV may make people more passive．

B． Because people who watch a lot of television are less afraid of crime．

C． Because watching violent television programs may make children more violent．

D． Because people who watch too much TV may think there is more crime than there really is．

Once there was a very brilliant, creative and educated man. He gained much __1.__ while traveling throughout the world. Unfortunately he lost his legs and left arm in a tragic accident, leaving only a finger and thumb on his right hand. He became so __2.__ that he was afraid he would spend his life __3.__ and would no longer be able to use his life in a(n) __4.__ way.

One day, he remembered how he had always loved getting __5.__. He realized that he still had partial __6.__ of his right hand and could write with __7.__. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need encouragement?”

He __8.__ where he could find those who could be encouraged if they read his letters. He thought of people in __9.__. Many of them had hope of regaining their __10.__. Others would keep feeling depressed and remain put away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to __11.__ them. So he wrote to a prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied that writing to the prisoners would be __12.__. However, it would be against prison rules for the prisoners to write back.

__13.__ with the intention, the man began sending __14.__ messages of God’s love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, __15.__ his strength and ability to the limit. He poured his heart and soul into his words, __16.__ his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.

It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of any__17.__. Frequently, he felt discouraged, wondering if anyone __18.__ read his letters. However, this was his __19.__  chance，so he determined to continue.

At last, he received a letter from the prison officer, which said, “Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they almost fall to __20.__!”

We all have unique experiences, abilities and talents. We can discover ways to reach others in need of encouragement and strength.

21.               A．wealth         B．faith           C．experience D．confidence

22.               A．depressed      B．embarrassed    C．ashamed  D．thrilled

23.               A．writing         B．suffering        C．weeping   D．wandering

24.               A．abnormal       B．regular         C．comfortable    D．meanin5gful

25.               A．presents        B．e-mails         C．letters D．prizes

26.               A．sense          B．strength        C．shape D．function

27.               A．affection       B．caution         C．difficulty   D．confidence

28.               A．evaluated       B．doubted        C．assumed   D．wondered

29.               A．hospitals        B．churches       C．prisons    D．charities

30.               A．families         B．letters         C．freedom   D．conscience

31.               A．release         B．reach          C．defend    D．know

32.               A．acceptable      B．reasonable      C．prohibited D．considered

33.               A．Faced          B．Filled          C．Satisfied   D．Annoyed

34.               A．holy           B．daily           C．one-way   D．round-way

35.               A．holding         B．making         C．doing D．testing

36.               A．sharing         B．learning        C．gaining    D．enriching

37.               A．success        B．reply          C．help  D．progress

38.               A．curiously       B．patiently        C．carefully   D．actually

39.               A．only           B．better          C．extra D．lost

40.               A．ruin           B．pieces         C．the ground D．the bottom

Once there was a very brilliant, creative and learned man. He gained much ____36_____while traveling throughout the world. Unfortunately he lost his legs and left arm in a traffic accident, leaving only a finger and thumb on his right hand. He became so ____37_____ that he was afraid he would spend his life _____38_____ and would no longer be able to use his life in a(n) ____39_____way.

One day, he remembered how he had always loved getting ____40_____. He realized that he still had partial ____41_____ of his right hand and could write with  ____42_____. Then, he had an idea. “Why not write to other people who need encouragement?”

He ___43___ where he could find those who could be encouraged if they read his letters. He thought of people in ____44___. Many of them had hope of regaining their ____45___ . Others would keep feeling depressed and remain put away for the rest of their lives. He decided that he must try to __46____ them. So he wrote to a prison ministry about sending letters to the prisoners. The prison minister replied that writing to the prisoners would be  ____47____. However, it would be against prison rules for the prisoners to write back.

____48_____with the intention, the man began sending   49   messages of God’s love, hope, strength, and encouragement. He wrote twice a week, testing his strength and ability to the ___50____. He poured his heart and soul into his words,  ___51_____ his experience, sense of humor, optimism, and faith.

It was difficult to write those letters, especially without hope of any ___52___. Frequently, he felt discouraged, wondering if anyone  ___53____read his letters. However, this was his ___54____chance，so he determined to continue.

At last, he received a letter from the prison officer, which said, “Please write on the best paper you can afford. Your letters are passed from cell (牢房) to cell until they almost fall to ____55___!”

We all have unique experiences, abilities and talents. We can discover ways to reach others in need of encouragement and strength.