III. Reading Comprehension (35分)
Section A
Directions: For each blank in the following passage, there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
Billions of people across the world use cell phones. Though cell phones can be wonderful, liberating tools of   50  , freeing us from the confines (界限) of an office and providing more leisure time, they often do the exact   51  . Cell phone use has   52   the line between work and non-work time, increasing stress and tension within families and between friends. As Eric Slate, author of Technoslave commented in his essay: "It seems the more '  53  ' we are, the more detached (不相连的) we become."
There is a risk of being too connected. While I was hiking in Spain, I got   54   a few times. I saw new sights and was surprised by   55   landscapes and towns I wouldn't have otherwise come across. Back in the US, whenever I got lost, I would always call a friend for   56   on my cell phone. With a cell phone, you're less   57   to go down the wrong street and see new things or unexpectedly meet new people.
So, when I recently returned home to Burlington, Vermont, I   58   my cell phone and traded in an old, rusty bike for a regular landline telephone that was connected to the wall and everything. Now, I go outside and don't make a phone call or check my phone.   59  , I've seen things in my neighbourhood I   60  noticed before, like a big flower garden around the block and artwork and sculptures down the road. Now that I'm not __61___ my cell phone, I've met new people on the street and at the supermarket, started   62   with neighbours I haven't spoken with before and talk with my friends face-to-face instead of over the phone. .
Instead of   63   me from the world, getting rid of my cell phone has helped me become more in touch with my community. I am no longer a   64   of my cell phone.
50. A. information                B. communication         C. learning                   D. exchange
51. A. opposite                     B. same                        C. wrong                      D. right
52. A. misused                            B. limited                     C. troubled                  D. confused
53. A. affected                            B. separated                  C. connected                 D. satisfied
54. A. exhausted                  B. disappointed             C. lost                          D. attracted
55. A. inaccessible             B. unexpected               C. familiar                    D. similar
56. A. attention                   B. destination                C. direction                  D. action
57. A. eager                         B. likely                       C. willing                     D. interested
58. A. made use of               B. hung up                   C. got rid of                 D. got hold of
59. A. Therefore                   B. However                  C. Besides                    D. Instead
60. A. once                          B. often                        C. never                       D. ever
61. A. happy with          B. crazy about        C. glue to            D. aware of
62. A . interviews             B. arguments         C. visits                     D. conversations
63. A. isolating                    B. saving                      C. protecting                 D. removing
64. A. fan                                   B. master                      C. friend                      D. slave

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为
多余选项。请将答案写在答题纸的指定位置。
What to do if you don’t feel popular?
 【小题1】 Call your friends. Plan to do something. The worst feeling is staying home alone, because it makes you feel even more lonely.
Try to make new friends. Choose friends carefully, not just because you think they’re popular.  【小题2】  
Be yourself. If you want to become friends with someone who’s popular, don’t make yourself into someone you are not just to impress that person.
Be nice. Be friendly. Be outgoing. But don’t overdo it! Talk to close friends if you are feeling really bad. Or you might want to write it down in a diary.
 【小题3】  You could take pictures of your friends, or collect their school pictures. This will remind you, when you are feeling unpopular.
Think up your own ideas. These suggestions might not work for everyone.
What to do if you have a problem with you teacher?
Talk to your parents, or another adult who will listen to you and perhaps can help. Talk to friends.  【小题4】   
Don’t give the teacher a reason to have problems with you. Do your work, complete your task, attend the class seriously and take notes. Maybe you just need to give the teacher a chance.
 【小题5】  
Talk to the teacher if you feel comfortable doing this. Don’t be nasty (闹别扭的), but express your concerns. Listen to the teacher, as well.
Just accept the fact that you’re not going to love all your teachers.

We’re always being sent contributions（稿件） for our popular laughter, The Best Medicine Section. Some of the jokes are obvious winners. Some of the jokes are ancient,  which are unfit for public consumption or just don’t make the grade（符合要求）. And then there are the rest: the jokes that get our editor scratching his chin and wondering, “Is this one good enough to print? ” Now you can help him choose. We’ve picked five jokes from the “Maybe” pile. Vote for the one you think is the best. The top-rated joke as of July 20, 2012 will be published in the magazine—and net its author $150.

(1)

A boy goes to a bookshop with his birthday money and chooses a book titled Advice to Young Mothers. “Why would you want this book? ” the assistant asks him.

“Because I collect moths（飞蛾）. ” the boy explains.

Derek Blew, Lane Cove, NSW

(2)

Father: “So you want to be my son-in-law? ”

Young man: “Actually I don’t, but I want to marry your daughter and I don’t see how I can avoid it. ”

Kimberley McEwan, southland, NZ

(3)

How many politicians does it take to change a light bulb（灯泡）?

None. They only promised they would do it.

Lisa Bluthal, Umina Beach, NSW

(4)

A couple of country boys driving a semitrailer（半拖车） down the highway come to a bridge with a sign saying: “Clearance 3. 1 metres. ” They stop, take out a tape measure and find the truck is 3. 5 metres high. “I don’t see any police around, ” one says. “Let’s go for it. ”

Loretta Fonseca, Otago, NZ

(5)

There are only two people who really know how to run this country. Sadly, one is cutting hair and the other is driving a taxi.

James White, Belmont, NSW

Click here for Poll Archives（投票档案）.

71. The writer’s purpose in writing the passage is to________ .

A. ask readers to judge which joke is the best

B. provide readers with some jokes for entertainment

C. collect contributions for a magazine

D. show us laughter is the best medicine

72. What do the underlined words (in the first paragraph) mean?

A. Jokes which are obvious winners.

B. Jokes which don’t make the grade.

C. Laughter and The Best Medicine Section.

D. Jokes that the editor isn’t sure of printing.

73. We can learn from the first joke that________ .

A. the book is very popular with readers

B. the assistant is very embarrassed

C. the boy misunderstands the title of the book

D. the boy wants to buy the book for his mother

74. What can we infer from the jokes?

A. The young man doesn’t want to marry the girl. (Joke 2)

B. Politicians seldom keep their promises. (Joke 3)

C. The boys often break traffic rules. (Joke 4)

D. People in that country live a happy life. (Joke 5)

75. The passage can most probably be found________ .

A. on the Internet                                                    B. in a newspaper

C. in a story book                                                    D. in a magazine

How do apology languages work? Have you ever tried to apologize, only to be refused? It may be that you were offering a partial apology in a “language” , that was foreign to your listener．The five languages of apology include:
Apology Language 1: “I am sorry.”
List the hurtful effects of your action．Not “I am sorry if …”, but “I am sorry that…”．You might ask if they want to add any points that you have not recognized.
Apology Language 2:“I was wrong.”
Name your mistake and accept fault．Note that it is easier to say “You are right” than “ I am wrong”, but the latter carries more weight.
Apology Language 3: “ What can I do to make it right?”
How are you now? How shall I make amends(弥补) to you? How can I restore your confidence that I love you— even though I was so hurtful to you?
Apology Language 4: “I’ll try not to do that again.”
Engage in problem-solving．Don’t make excuses for yourself such as, “Well, my day was just so…” Instead, offer what you will change to prevent yourself from putting them in the same bad situation again．
Apology Language 5: “Will you please forgive me?”
Be patient in seeking forgiveness．They may need some time or greater clarification of your input from Apology Languages 1-4.
Finally, your apology may not be accepted, but at least you know that you have been faithful in offering a sincere olive branch of peace.
【小题1】The passage mainly talks about___________

Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy wine in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, especially at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings (人行道) and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about rubbish. It isn't lawful to drop rubbish in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put it in your pocket and take it home, or put it in a dustbin.
Finally, as regards (至于) smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact the police, who will be pleased to help you. You can call, write or directly go to ask any policeman.
【小题1】Who do you think is most likely to make the speech?