42. We can infer from the passage that 　　　　　　.

A. the writer’s success is partly due to his father

B. the writer’s family was very poor

C. the writer succeeded easily

D. the writer’s first record was a total failure

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　 　　　　　　　　　　　　C

More than 30,000 drivers and front seat passengers are killed or seriously injured each year. At a speed of only 30 miles per hour it is the same as falling from a third-floor window. Wearing a seat belt saves lives; it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than half.

Therefore drivers or front seat passengers over 14 in most vehicles must wear a seat belt. If you do not, you could be fined up to ￡50. It will not be up to the drivers to make sure you wear your belt. But it will be the driver’s responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind.

However, you do not have to wear a seat belt if you are reversing(倒开)your vehicle; or you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle; or if you have a valid(有效) medical certificate(证书)which excuses you from wearing it. Make sure these facts request you before you decide not to wear your seat belt. Remember you may be taken to court for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove to the court that you have been excused from wearing it.

41. What made the writer proud of himself？

A. His ability to live independently.

B. His sense of responsibility in whatever he did.

C. His courage in the face of rejections.

D. His hard work in his early days.

40. Who first recognized his talents and helped make his career successful？

A. Warner Brothers. 　　 B. His manager. 　　　　　

C. His father. 　　　　　　　 D. A businesswoman.

39. Why was the writer once known as the singing cook？

A. Because he was a cook at a country-music club.

B. Because he sang for guests while he worked as a cook.

C. Because he often sang while cooking.

D. Because he liked singing better than cooking.

38. The new College English Curriculum Requirements to be released is for college students 　　　　　　.

A. for English-speaking countries　　　　　　　

B. majoring in English

C. majoring in subjects other than English　

D. majoring in trade only

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B

I grew up in a small town. My father raised chickens and ran a construction company. I was barely 10 years old when my dad gave me the responsibility(责任) of feeding the chickens and cleaning up the stable. He believed it was important for me to have those jobs to learn responsibility. Then, when I was 22, I found a job in Natchbill at a country music club called the Natchbill Palace. I washed dishes and cooked from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm and then went on stage and sang until 2:00 in the morning. It wasn’t long before I became known as a singing cook. I had been rejected so many times by record companies that it was hard not to be discouraged. One night, a woman executive(董事) from a company named Warner Brothers Records came to hear me sing. When the show was over, we sat down and talked and after she left, I said to myself it was one more rejection. A few weeks later, my manager received a phone call-Warner Brothers wanted to sign me to a record deal. Soon after, I released my first record in June 1986. It sold over 2 million copies. My best efforts had gone into every job I’ve ever held. It was the sense of responsibility that made me feel like a man. Knowing that I had done my best filled me with pride. I still feel that way today, even though I have become a well-known singer.

37. The new multimedia system introduced in the text was created by　 　　　　　.

A. four leading publishing houses　　　　　　　

B. Tsinghua University in Beijing

C. Ministry of Education of China　　　　　　　　　　

D. more universities in China

36. In which section is this article probably taken from？

A. World. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Business. 　

C. Life &People. 　　　　　　　　 D. Nation.

34. A. energy　 B. work　　　　　 C. courage　　　 D. mind

33. A. need　　 B. could　　　　 C. dare to　　　 D. have to