SECTION B

Directions: Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage and the required words limit. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

The unsteady housing market is showing a rare sign of strength: waiting home sales were up significantly in February, a report released Monday said, suggesting that Americans took advantage of a tax credit for home buyers.

Sales rose 8.2 percent in February, the National Association of Realtors(房地产经纪人) said. Analysts had expected sales to stay flat.

Economists said Monday’s data suggested buyers were re-entering the market as the April 30 deadline approached for a government tax credit of up to $8,000. The tax credit drove up sales rapidly in the fall, when it was originally set to end, but it has been slow to push the market this spring.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the association, said Monday’s report “may signal the early stages of a second wave of home sales.”

A separate report on Monday showed the service division in the United States was improving, driven in part by gains in employment.

The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing barometer(晴雨表) rose to 55.4 in March, up from 53 in February, going beyond expectations. Much of the energy came from a rush in new orders and business activity.

It was the highest reading(测量或调查的读数) for the survey since May 2006. While employment rose, it was short of the break-even point, signaling the service division was still losing jobs. Exports also rose significantly.

“This is a very encouraging report, which indicates acceleration in demand growth from both domestic and foreign customers,” Barclays Capital researchers wrote in a note on Monday.

The jump in waiting home sales was a rare bit of good news for the housing market, which remains in a deep rut(车辙). Home prices have shown little change.

Analysts expect the housing market to gradually improve as unemployment becomes less and the broader recovery gains steam. But so far, relief has been slow to come.

Monday’s report showed sales rose even in areas hit hard by poor weather in February. Sales climbed 9 percent in the Northeast and South, which were blanketed by snow in February.

The Realtors association bases its data on signed contracts, which usually take one or two months to translate into final sales.

81. What is the effect of the government tax credit? (No more than 5 words)

__________________________________________________________________

82. Who is chief economist for the National Association of Realtors? (No more than 2 words)

_______________________________________________________________________________

83. What could be a surprise according to Monday’s report? (No more than 10 words)

_______________________________________________________________________________

84. If you are asked to describe the rise in home sales in February, which word do you think is the most appropriate? (No more than 1 word)

______________________________________________________________________________

SECTION C

Directions: Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese

人们在生活中面临各种各样的挑战，请说一说人们为什么喜欢挑战和有哪些新的挑战有待人们探索。

注意：

适当展开想象，语意连贯，结构完整。

词数不少于120（不包括文章的开头）。

For thousands of years, people have accepted challenges in different fields.

第二节摘录信息（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）

阅读下面短文，根据所读内容在文后第53至第57小题的空格里填上适当的单词或短语，并将答案转写到答题卡上。

注意：每空不超过3个单词。

Some beach creatures are wonderful -- like dolphins, but others are dangerous. Here are some examples of harmful beach creatures.

Puffer Fish

Puffer Fish, found in all Japanese seas, have very interesting features. They are very easy to catch but must not be eaten because their flesh and organs contain a poison. Anyone who does eat the flesh can become sick very quickly. They may even stop breathing.

The Blue Bottle

The Blue Bottle is found in most Caribbean waters. Blue Bottles float lightly on the surface of the water but their tentacles (触须) can be as long as 10 metres. Blue Bottles are much less dangerous than some other jellyfish but they can give a swimmer a bad sting (刺) if the swimmer accidentally touches them.

Stingrays

There are many different kinds of stingrays in Mauritius waters. They usually swim and feed on the bottom of the sea. Accidents can happen if people stand on them or try to pick them up. Stingrays have a sting on their tail. These stings have poison on them. If someone is stung the wound can easily become infected.

Title :   53   

. David_________the test for further study in the USA. Let’s have a small party to congratulate him on his success.

A. has passed      B. has been passing                    C. is passing          D. had passed

When and where we are going to hold the ball _____. So we’d better wait until we _____.

. Little ______, with his pet dog taken away from him.

Why not ______ your potential that is hidden in your body? That will be your only chance.

. ______ she said they used to play hide-and-seek was an old temple in the remote village.

. ______ just two hours’ ride from Changsha, the small town is a paradise for tourists.

. Finding his iPad stolen on the bus, ________.