III．阅读(共两节，满分40分)
第一节 阅读理解(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题号上将该项涂黑。
Living an Adventurous Life
Nearly ten years ago, I was told that I had a brain tumor (瘤), and this experience changed my attitude about adventure forever. I thought that I was going to die and that all my adventures were over. I did not have a brain tumor, it turned out, but rather multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化症), which meant that, although they were not over,the nature of my adventures could have to change.
Each morning that I wake up is a fresh event, something that I might not have
had. Each gesture that I make carries the weight of uncertainty and demands significant attention: buttoning my shirt, changing a light bulb, walking down stairs. I might not be able to do it this time. If I could not delight in them, they would likely drown me in anger and in self-pity.
I admire the grand adventures of others. I read about them with interest. With Peter Matthiessen I have hiked across the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain. I have walked with Annie Dillard up, down, into, and across Tinker Creek in all Seasons. David Bain has gone with me along 110 miles of Philippine coast, and Ed Abbey has
rowed me down the Colorado River, I enjoy the adventures of these courageous figures, who can strike out on difficult trips - 2 miles, 250 miles, 3000 miles - ready to bear cold and tiredness - indeed not just to bear but to celebrate.
But as for me, I can no longer walk very far from the armchair in which I read. Some days I don't even make it to the backyard. And yet I'm unwilling to give up the adventurous life, the difficulty of it, even the pain, the anxiety and fear, aud the sudden brief lift of spirit that makes a hard journey more attractive.
I refine adventure, make it smaller and smaller. And now, whether I am moving on my hands and knees across the dining room to help my cat, lying wide-eyed in the dark battling another period of sadness, gathering flowers from the garden, meeting a friend for lunch, I am always having the adventures that are mine to have.
41. What happens to the author after her illness?
A. She has a fear of medical treatments.    B. She travels to places she has dreamed.
C. She can't take care of herself any longer   D. She is not drowned in anger and self-pity.
42. Why does the author admire the people mentioned in paragraph 3?
A. Because they write popular novels.    B. Because they are great adventurers.
C. Because they are famous geographers.   D. Because they struggle with hardship in life
43. The author ends the article with a feeling of______
A. sadness      B. sacrifice       C. security      D. satisfaction
44. What does "adventurous life" in the title mean to the author?
A. The struggles of great people against difficulties.
B. Her concern about giving up certain activities.
C. Her adapting to the situation with an illness.
D. The exciting traveling experience of others.
45. What conclusion can we draw from the passage?
A. Travel can enrich a person's life.
B. Reading is an activity that a patient enjoys most.
C. A positive attitude can improve a difficult situation.
D. A person's ability can be improved through reading.

第三部分阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October, 1995 when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90?year?old woman in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes(基因) from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: Sorry, I’m still alive!
56. How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?
A. She is miserable and unhappy.
B. She is cheerful and humorous.
C. She would like to live much longer.
D. She feels she is going to die very soon.
57. We can owe Jeanne Calment's good health and long life to_______.
A. smoking only a little every day
B. her giving up smoking and drinking
C. drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day
D. the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercise
58. Which of the following word could best replace the word "move" in the fourth paragraph?
A. deal     B. trick          C. march     D. sport
59. Why does Jeanne Calment say "Sorry, I'm still alive" to the local lawyer every year on her birthday?
A. Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage.
B. Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed.
C. Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house.
D. Because the house she sold to the lawyer isn’t worth the money he has already paid.

The English are famous for their manners． The phrase, “Manners maketh the man” was coined by Englishman William of Wykeham back in 1324, but they’re just as important today． Books are written on the subject, advice columns in magazines tell people how to behave, and “finishing schools” still exist to ensure that young girls become young “ladies”．
The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue． It is a popular joke in England （the land of sporting failures） to say, “if only queuing was an Olympic sport, we’d win hands down．” No one knows exactly how and when it started, but queuing plays an important role in the English social make-up． School children are taught to queue for roll-call, assembly and lunch, and English people across the land form orderly queues at shops, banks, cinemas and bus-stops every day． The English obviously aren’t the only people who queue, but they seem to do it better than anyone else． As one visitor said, “I have travelled across Europe, the Middle and Far East and nowhere have I seen the single-file queues which are formed in England．”
The English are also famously polite when it comes to language． Whereas many other notions are more direct in their communication, the English prefer a more indirect form of asking for things． For example, an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say, “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat, “Sorry to bother you, but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind, please?”
The English also love to apologize for things． When squeezing past someone, people say “sorry”． And they will apologize if you bump into them, “whoops! Sorry! My fault．” In fact, no one seems to say “sorry” as much as the English: “sorry I’m late． /Sorry I forgot to call you last night．/I’m sorry you didn’t get the e-mail．” And so on． They also like to use “please” and “thank you” a lot． In a shop, they will say, “I’d like a packet of crisp, please． Thanks．” British students thank their lectures, and bosses often thank their employees for doing their jobs．
【小题1】 Why does “finishing schools” still exist to help young girls become “ladies”?

It makes no difference what you read or study if you can't remember it. You just waste your valuable time．1.  One dependable aid that does help you remember what you study is to have a specific purpose or reason for reading．

Why does a clerk in a store go away when your reply to her offer to help is, “No, thank you．I'm just looking.”? Both you and she know that if you aren't sure what you want, you are not likely to find it．But suppose you say instead, “Yes, thank you．I want a pair of sun glasses.” She says, “Right this way, please”

 2.  If you choose a book, “just looking” for nothing in particular, you are likely to get just that--nothing．But if you do know what you want, you are almost sure to get it．Your reasons will vary; they will include reading or studying “to find out more about”, “to understand the reasons for” and “to find out how”．

 3.  Before you start to study, you say to yourself something like this, “I want to know why Stephen Vincent Benet happened to write about America”．Because you know why you are reading or studying, you relate the information to your purpose and remember it better．

4.  At least two important processes go on at the same time．As you read, you take in ideas rapidly and accurately. But at the same time you express your own ideas to

yourself as you react to what you read. You have a kind of mental conversation with the author．

This additional process of thinking about what you read includes evaluating it, relating it to what you already know, and using it for your own purposes．5.  One part of critical reading, as you have discovered, is distinguishing between facts and opinions．Facts can be checked by evidence, opinions are one’s own personalreactions．Another part of critical reading is judging sources．Still another part is drawing accurate inferences．

A．Maybe you have already discovered some clever ways to keep yourself from forgetting．

B．It is important for students to have a positive attitude to their study．

C．You remember better when you know what you' re reading．

D．In other words, a good reader is a critical reader．

E. It’s quite the same with your studying．

F. Reading is not one single activity．

G. This is the way it works．

Elizabeth and I are 18 now, and about to graduate．I think about our elementary-school friendship, but some memories have blurred （模糊）．What happened that day in the fifth grade when Beth suddenly stopped speaking to me? Does she know that I've been thinking about her for seven years? If only we could go back, and discover what ended our relationship．
I have to speak with Beth．I see her sometimes, and find out school is "fine"．It's not the same．It never will be．Someone says that she's Liz now．What happened to Beth?
I can't call her．Should I write? What if she doesn't answer me? How will I know what she's thinking?
Yes, I'll write her a letter．These things are easier to express in writing．" Be-," no, " Li-," no, " Elizabeth," I begin．The words flow freely, as seven year old memories are reborn．I ask her all the questions that have been left unanswered in my mind, and pray she will answer．I seal my thoughts in the perfect white envelope, and imagine Beth looking into her mailbox．Will she know why I'm writing? Maybe she once thought of writing the same letter．
As the mailman takes my envelope from me forever, I wonder if I've made the right decision．Do I have the right to force myself into Beth's life again? Am I simply part of the past? I have taken the first step．Beth has control of the situation now．
One day has passed．Are my words lying on the bottom of the post office floor?
Two days are gone．I'm lost in thought and don't even hear the phone ting．
"Hello? It's Elizabeth．"
【小题1】What can we learn about Beth?