IV. 阅读理解:(共20题,每小题2分,共40分)
A long time ago, before there was any money (coins or paper money), people got the things that they needed by trading or exchanging. Salt was one of the first items used to exchange for other items. Later, some of the common things that were used for exchanging were tea leaves, shells, feathers, animal teeth, tobacco, and blankets. Around 3000 BC, barley, a type of grain, was used for exchanging.
The world’s first metal money was developed by the Sumerians who melted silver into small bars all weighing the same. This was around 1000 BC. About three hundred years later, people started using coins as official money.
Around 640 BC, people in the ancient kingdom of Lydia ( which was in Turkey) created special coins of exact with and purity (纯度). They were made of gold and silver and were stamped with a lion’s head.
Later, other empires such as Greece, Persia, and Rome adopted the concept of coins and started developing their own in many different shapes and different metals.
Around the year 1000, the Chinese started using paper money. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The Europeans discovered this thanks to Marco Polo who went to China in 1295. the Chinese had different values for the paper notes which were made by the Chinese government.
Around 1661, Sweden became the first European country to make paper money. Until 1850, the Spanish dollar was the coin most widely used throughout the world.
1What is the best title for this passage?
| A. | The history of money |
| B. | How people traded in the past |
| C. | The invention of paper money |
| D. | The use of coins around the world |
| A. | barley had always been used for exchanging |
| B. | only a few people knew how to trade with others |
| C. | salt was the most widely used item for exchanging |
| D. | many kinds of things were used for exchanging |
| A. | Around 1300 BC. | B. | Around 1000 BC. |
| C. | Around 700 BC. | D. | Around 640 BC. |
| A. | replaced | B. | changed |
| C. | accepted | D. | invented |
A. Spain B. China C. Sweden D. Lydia
The whole body is covered with skin.The surface of the skin is dead(like the hair and the nails),but it is made from a living layer(层)just under the surface.The outside dead layers wear off(磨损)all the time,with new ones replacing them,and the body forms a totally new skin every three weeks.
The skin protects the body from the outside world and it passes information from the outside.It helps to keep water in the body and to keep the body at the same temperature.Becteria(细菌)can’t get in through the skin unless it is damaged.
If the weather is cold,the blood vessels(血管)in the skin squeeze down,or contract(收缩),so that as little blood as possible comes near the surface.This means that less warmth is lost to the outside.This makes the skin look pale,or even “blue”.At the same time,the hairs on the skin are pulled upright by tiny muscles.
When it is hot,the blood vessels expand(扩大),or get wider again,to allow plenty of blood to run near the surface of the skin.This helps the body to lose heat,and the skin may look red.At the same time,the sweat glands(汗腺)produce more sweat,which cools the skin.
If your skin has ever been numb(麻木的),you will realize how important the feeling from the skin is.Nerves(神经)in the skin are sensitive(敏感的)to heat and cold,sharpness,hardness and softness,wetness and dryness and pain.If one is not able to feel these things,which can act as warnings,he is likely to be burned,cut or hurt in other ways.
The colour of the skin depends on special colour cells(细胞).These are just below the top layers of the skin.They are needed as protection from some harmful ray of the sun.The stronger the sun is,the more important it is to have a dark skin.People with pale skins may “tan”(晒黑)in the sun.This happens when the body produces extra colour cells in the skin for protection.In the sun,the skin produces a vitamin(vitamin D)which is needed for strong bones.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A.Our hair and nails are dead like the surface of the skin. |
| B.There is skin all over our body. |
| C.The skin of our bodies will be completely different in three weeks. |
| D.The surface of the skin is made of a living layer. |
| A.the functions of the skin |
| B.the information from the outside |
| C.the water in the body |
| D.the temperature of the body |
| A.when one’s skin is numb |
| B.when one is ill |
| C.when the skin is cut |
| D.when the sweat glands produce more sweat |
| A.allow more blood near | B.make the skin look blue |
| C.keep warmth | D.help the body lose heat |
| A.the rays of the strong sun | B.colour cells |
| C.top layers of the skin | D.vitamin D |
It is love that makes the world go round. And it is also love that has such power to overcome all difficulties. So we say: “Love will find a way.” As smile is a facial expression showing pleasure, affection, and friendliness, it is the commonest way to show our good will perfectly without saying anything. A Chinese saying runs: “never hit a person who is smiling at you.” It is a time-proven fact that the smile is a language all its own— a universal language—understood by the people of every nation in the world. We may not speak the same tongue as our foreign neighbors, but we smile in the same tongue. We need no interpreter for thus expressing love, happiness, or good will.
One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to be approached by a clerk whose personality contradicted mine. He seemed most unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase. I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store. My anger toward that grew with each step. Outside, standing at the corner, was a dark-complexion young man in his early twenties. His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, dazzling smile covered his face. I gave in immediately. The magnetic power of that shining smile drove away all bitterness within me, and I found the muscles in my own face happily responding. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I remarked, in passing. The, suddenly something inside me sent me turning back. “I really owe you a debt of gratitude,” I said softly. His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer. A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby. The woman stepped forward and eyed me inquiringly. “Carlos, he no speak English,” she volunteered. “You want I should tell him something?” In that moment I felt transformed. Carlos’ smile had made a big person of me. My friendliness and good will to ward all mankind stood ten feet tall. “Yes,” my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said ‘Thank you!’” “Thank you?” The woman seemed slightly puzzled. I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave. “Just tell him
that,” I insisted. “He’ll understand. I am sure!” Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man again, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning.
From that day on, I became smile – conscious, and I practice the diligently, anywhere and everywhere, with everybody. When I got excited in traffic, taking the right – of – way (公路用地) from the other car with my stupid mistake, I’d smile and shrug my shoulders apologetically. This action on my part would always draw a good – natured smile in return. If the other fellow was at fault – and if I could remember my resolution in time! – he’d get a broad smile of understanding. This took a bit of doing at first. I’ll admit it wasn’t always easy, but it was fun. The results were sometimes amazing. Many times, a broad, friendly smile would completely turn aside ill – feeling and tension. I’m wondering now how many tragic add dents could be avoided on our overcrowded highways, if every driver remembered to smile!
【小题1】The author got angry while shopping one day because .
| A.of the clerk’s unfriendliness and lack of concern |
| B.of her misfortune |
| C.she failed to purchase what she intended |
| D.a dark – complexion young man laughed at her |
| A.was well – educated but unwilling to help others |
| B.was able to speak English |
| C.knew some English and was ready to help others |
| D.was familiar with the young man |
| A.many traffic accidents could be avoided |
| B.they would receive a good natural smile in return |
| C.they could get a broad smile of understanding |
| D.they wouldn’t feel any tension |
| A.The Art of Smiling | B.The Universal Language |
| C.The Power of Love | D.The Magic Power of Friendship |