4. Only one person at a time could use the car, unless you bought “Car95” or “Car NT”. But then you would have to buy more seats.

3. Sometimes your car would die on the freeway for no reason and you would just accept this, restart and drive on.

2. Every time they repainted the lines on the road you would have to buy a new car.

1. For no reason your car would crash twice a day.

52．In the desert, animals will die ____.

A．if they move about　　　　　　　　　　 B．if they can’t make holes underground

C．if they come out at night　　　　　　 D．if they drink much water

D

At a computer exhibition Bill Gates reportedly compared the computer industry with the auto (汽车)industry and stated: “If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving twenty-five dollar cars that got 1 000 miles to the gallon(加仑).”

In response to Bill’s comments, General Motors announced a news release (新闻稿)stating:

If GM had developed technology like Microsoft, we would be driving cars with the following characteristics:

51．In the 1800s many travelers died in Death Valley because of __.

A．illness　　　　　　 B．high temperature　　 C．mud water　　　　 D．poisonous water

50．From the passage, we can conclude that ____.

A．the western desert is a good place for people to live in

B．there is little water but there are many trees in the desert

C．the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty

D．till now, people know little about the desert

49．In the 19^th century, Americans moved from the east to the west because they __.

A．enjoy the trip　　　　　　　　　　　 　 B．wanted to make their home there

C．wanted to find new grassland there　　 　　　 D．had no water to drink

48. What can’t your skin feel?

A. Sounds.　　　　　　　　　 B. Darkness.　　　　　　　 C. Water　　　　 D. Coins.

C

In the 19^th century, Americans from the eastern states moved to west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the “Great American Desert” in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon. The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears on movies and on TV.

In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch on rainbow bridge rises high above the blue lake. There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.

In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130-165F. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America-925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.

Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Snakes, rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert, plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant colors.

47. “At first, it is not easy to feel these things” because_____.

A. you are too used to them　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　 B. you can’t find a good way

C. you are tired or ill　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. you have difficulty in feeling