American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country, cities reflect the values of the culture. American cities are changing, just as American society is changing.

　　After World War II, the population of most large American cities decreased; however, the population in many Sun Belt cities increased. Los Angeles and Houston are cities where population shifts(转移) to and from the city reflect the changing values of American society. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, city residents (居民) became wealthier. They had more children so they needed more space. They moved out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs(郊区).

Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. Many, unlike their parents, want to live in the cities. They continue to move to Sun Belt cities and older ones of the Northeast and Midwest. Many young professionals are moving back into the city. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; or they just enjoy the excitement and possibilities that the city offers.

This population shift is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future .Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is sure：many dying cities are alive again.

What does the author think of cities all over the world ?

   A. They are alive .    B. They are hopeless.   C. They are similar      D. They are different.

Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War Ⅱ?

   A. Because older American cities were dying.

   B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

   C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

   D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.

According to the 4^th paragragh, a great many poor people in American cities ______. 

   A. are faced with housing problems       B. are faced to move to the suburbs

   C. want to sell their buildings            D. need more money for daily expenses

We can conclude from the text that ______.

   A. American cities are changing for the worse   B. people have different views on American cities

   C. many people are now moving from American cities D. the population is decreasing in older American cities

When you walk along a street in a big city in the United States， you may see clocks in most stores. Radio announcers give the correct time during the day. People there think that it is important to know the time. Most Americans have watches. They want to do certain things at certain times. They do not want to be late. Not all people all over the world value time. Suppose you visit a certain country in South America. You would find that people living there do not like to rush. If you had an appointment（约会）with someone， he would probably be late. He would not care for arriving on time. In some countries in South America， even the radio programs may not begin right on time， nor do the radio announcers think it important to announce the right time. Many people regard a clock as a machine. It seems to them that a person who does everything on time is controlled（控制）by a machine. They do not want a clock or any machine to have that much power over their lives.

1.There are clocks in most stores in the US cities because ______.

A. people in the stores want to sell these clocks

B. people think it important to know the time

C. bosses want to make their stores beautiful

D. they needn't wear watches when they are away from home

2.The underlined word “rush” in the passage most probably means ______.

A. “run”        B. “race”      C. “move”      D. “hurry”

3.If you had an appointment with someone in some place in South America,he might not arrive on time，and this is because ______.

A. he didn't have a watch with him

B. he didn't think it important to arrive on time

C. he forgot to have a look at a watch or a clock

D. he didn't like an appointment with someone

4.In some countries in South America ______.

A. the radio programs many start a bit early or late

B. the radio announcers do think it important to announce the exact time

C. many people think a clock has much power

D. most people do not want to be controlled by others

American cities are similar to other cities around the world. In every country cities reflect the values of the culture. Cities contain the very best aspects of a society: opportunities for education employment and entertainment. They also contain the very worst parts of a society: violent crime, racial(种族) conflict and poverty. American cities are changing just as American society is changing.   　　

After World War II city residents became wealthier. They had more children. They needed more space. They move out of their apartments in the city to buy their own homes. They bought houses in the suburbs areas near a city where people live. These are areas without many offices or factories. During the 1950s the American “dream” was to have a house in the suburbs.

　　Now things are changing. The children of the people who left the cities in 1950s are now adults. They unlike their parents want to live in the cities. Many young professionals, doctors, lawyers and executives(主管人员) are moving back into the city. Many are single; others are married but often without children. They prefer the city to the suburbs because their jobs are there; they are afraid of the fuel shortage; or they just enjoy the excitement and opportunities which the city offers.

    This population shift(转变) is bringing problems as well as benefits. Countless poor people must leave their apartments in the city because the owners want to sell the buildings or make apartments for sale instead of for rent. In the 1950s, many poor people did not have enough money to move to the suburbs; now many of these people do not have enough money to stay in the cities.

     Only a few years ago, people thought that the older American cities were dying. Some city residents now see a bright, new future. Others see only problems and conflicts. One thing is for sure：many dying cities are alive again.

1. What does the author think of cities all over the world?

   A. They are alive.                   B. They are hopeless.

   C. They are similar                  D. They are different.

2.Why did American city residents want to live in the suburbs after World War II?

   A. Because older American cities were dying.

   B. Because they were richer and needed more space.

   C. Because cities contained the worst parts of society.

   D. Because they could hardly afford to live in the city.

3. According to the 4^th paragraph, a great many poor people in American cities ___________. 

   A. are faced with housing problems

   B. are faced to move to the suburbs

   C. want to sell their buildings

   D. need more money for daily expenses

4. We can conclude from the text that ____________.

   A. American cities are changing for the worse

   B. people have different views on American cities

   C. many people are now moving from American cities

   D. the population is decreasing in older American cities

第三部分      阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出一个最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The key to happiness is how quickly you can get back your focus on what`s important.
——Anonymous
Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here`s what happened. I hopped in a taxi，and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when，all of a sudden，a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes，skidded，and missed the other car`s back end by just inches!
The driver of the other car，who almost caused a big accident，started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean，he was friendly.  So，I said，"Why did you just do that？This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital！"And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call "The Law of the Garbage Truck. "
Many people are like garbage （rubbish）trucks. They run around full of garbage，full of frus-tration， full of anger，and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up，they need a place to dump it. And if you let them，they`ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you，don`t take it personally. You just smile，wave，wish them well，and move on. You`ll be happy with what you did.
I started thinking，how often do I led Garbage Trucks run right over me？And how often do I　take their garbage and spread it to other people ai work，at home，or on the streets？It was that day
I said，"I`m not going to do anymore. "
Successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you？If you let more garbage trucks pass you by，you`ll be happier. Life`s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So，Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don`t.
56.What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi？
A.The taxi almost hit another car.
B.The taxi driver was injured.
C.The author scolded the driver of the other car.
D.The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck.
57.How did the taxi driver respond to the behaviour of the driver of the black car？
A.He yelled back at the driver.
B.He sent the driver to the hospital.
C.He was friendly towards the  driver.
D.He dumped some garbage in front of his car.
58.What does the taxi driver think of people according to Paragraph 3？
A.Many people like to drive garbage trucks.
B.Many people dump garbage wherever they like.
C.Many people are warm-hearted to make others happy.
D.Many people tend to be very much depressed.
59.What can we infer from Paragraph 4？
A.The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks.
B.The author used to complain a lot.
C.The author used to have a lot of money.
D.The author used to be a good manager.
60.According to the passage，what should you do if people "dump garbage" on you？
A.Ignore them and go on with our own work.
B.Try our best to persuade them not to do that again.
C.Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place.
D.Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else.

One Saturday afternoon in February, 1943, a farmer in Mexico stopped working for a moment and looked across his fields of corn. Suddenly he saw a thin line of white smoke curling up out of his field, about 200 feet from where he stood. As he went toward the smoke to see what it was, he heard a strange noise. The line of smoke became bigger. It looked as if some great force were pushing it up into the sky.

The farmer rushed home to get his wife. While he was urging his wife to hurry from the house, the earth shook violently. When he stood up after the earth stopped shaking, he looked across the field and saw that great flames were rising from his cornfield. A volcano was being born!

They hurried across the shaking earth to the village of Particutin, which was toward their farm. They found the village was seriously destroyed and the road from the village was filled with frightened people hurrying to safety.

Particutin did not become dark that night. The volcano lighted up the sky for miles around. Flames rushed out of the ground. The volcano threw hot stones a thousand feet through the air. Great explosion shook the earth and heavy black ashes fell from the sky, covering the roofs in Mexico city, 180 miles away.

But that was not all. On the third evening a float of lava（火山岩）began to boil up from the centre of the volcano. It came over the edge in a heavy flow, 2,000 feet wide, and travelled slowly across the valley, bringing certain death to everything that could not move from its path.

1..

. From the passage we can conclude EXCEPT that         .

A. the volcano threw out a lot of ashes and hot stones  

B. the volcano lasted several days 

C. many people had to escape from the village  

D. it caused many deaths and great loss 

2..

. You can find the passage in a         .

A. newspaper                             B. government report

C. leaflet for travellers                       D. handbook 

3..

. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. At the beginning the farmer heard a strange cry. 

B. The farmer was working in the field when the disaster happened.  

C. The farmer’s wife was working in the field at that moment. 

D. The village was badly damaged. 

4..

 What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. The damage of a volcano.         B. A terrible volcano.

C. An unforgettable memory.          D. A farmer’s experience.