It is surprising that he＿＿＿＿at the meeting.

A. was     B. be     C. is     D. were

There are many famous writers in the English world, among whom Jane Austen  (1775—1817) has been popular with all ages. But then Jane Austen wrote her novels in England, she was writing about a world that most of us would not recognize.

But today Austen’s books are in greater demand than ever. In the last ten years, five of the six novels have been made into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be bestsellers. So why is Austen still popular?

    Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University, argues that her novels still appeal to people because they focus on issues that are as relevant today as they were when she wrote them. Her novels are about women trying to find a perfect husband, but also explore issues surrounding marriage, friendship and the family. “The plots are fairly timeless stories about human interaction which are familiar to us,” Jenkyns says.

    The most famous book Austen wrote is Pride and Prejudice, a love story between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. At first the two characters do not get on. They finally fall in love, but still have to overcome opposition (反对) to their relationship from their families.

    All of Austen’s books are easy to read, making them popular with children and adults, but they work on different levels so people can take what they need from them, author Kate Henry says.

Austen is often praised as the greatest romance writer in the English language, so it is surprising she remained unmarried. “Maybe she was too much of a romantic, waiting for a perfect man,” Henry says.

1.Which of the following can NOT explain why Austen is still popular?

A. Her novels are all about love and marriage.

B. Her novels still make sense to today’s people.

C. All her novels are easy to read.

D. Her novels benefit people of different reading levels.

2. The underlined word “relevant” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______.

A. strange   B. related     C. funny      D. unimportant

3.According to Henry, Austen remained unmarried because ______.

A. she was used to the life of being single

B. the perfect man didn’t appears in her life

C. she was too busy to think of marriage

D. she was afraid of marriage

4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. More and more people like reading Austen’s novels.

  B. Austen died when she was 42 years old.

  C. Pride and Prejudice is a novel about love.

  D. Austen is often regarded as the greatest writer in the English language.

Section B

Directions: Read the following four passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in  the passage you have just read.

(A)

       Matsushita, the world’s largest provider of consumer electronics, has decided to move in on Hollywood. Last weekend, Matsushita company leaders met with movies VIPs from MCA, Inc., the entertainment community that produced the movies as “Jaws” and “E.T. the Extra-terrestrial”. If the negotiations are successful, Matsushita will pay somewhere between $6 billion and $7.5 billion for MCA, by far the largest U.S. buying by a Japanese company.

       The deal is larger than last year’s $5 billion buying of Columbia Pictures by Matsushita’s competitor, Sony Corporation. The movement by the Japanese companies shows Tokyo’s growing interest in the entertainment world. It is surprising for both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Why does a disciplined, no-nonsense nation like Japan want to get into show business? The answer is quite simple: To make money. Japanese corporation leaders feel the global potential of the entertainment business and recognize that there is an increasing market for movies and television in the rapidly industrializing world.

1.    The movement of buying American entertainment companies by the Japanese shows       that____     _.

      A. American movies are better than Japanese

      B. Japan has growing interest in the entertainment world

      C. Japanese market is larger than American market

      D. Japanese people are richer

2.    A disciplined nation like Japan wants to get into show business because _____

      A. they want to make money

      B. they want to learn from American people

      C. they want to entertain their people

      D. they want to win in the competition

3.    Matsushita would pay ______ for MCA.

      A.$5 billion

      B.$6 billion

      C.$7.5 billion

      D. Somewhere between $6 billion to $7.5 billion

Americans are proud of their variety- and individuality, yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform. whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

     Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a barber, or a waiter to lose professional identity (身份) than to step out of uniform ?

     Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes.  They save on laundry bills.  They are tax- deductible ( 可减税的). They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

     Primary among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they tend to think, speak, and act similarly, on the job at least.

     Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

【小题1】It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality ___________.

A. still judge a man by his clothes     

B. hold the uniform in such high regard

    C. enjoy having a professional identity

    D. will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

【小题2】 The chief function of a uniform is to ___________.

    A. provide practical benefits to the wearer

    B. make the wearer catch the public eye

    C. inspire the wearer's confidence in himself

    D. provide the wearer with a professional identity

【小题3】 According to the passage, people wearing uniforms _____________.

    A. are usually helpful             B. have little or no individual freedom

    C. tend to lose their individuality   D. enjoy greater popularity

【小题4】The best title for this passage would be ____________.

    A. Uniforms and Society

      B. The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

      C. Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform

      D. Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

When Jane Austen (1775--1817) wrote her novels in England, she was writing about a   21 that most of us would not recognize.
But today Austen’s books are in great   22  than ever. In the last ten years, five or six novels have been   23  into Hollywood films, while her books continue to be bestsellers. So why is Austen still   24 ?
Richard Jenkyns, a professor of English at Oxford University argued that her novels still  25  people because they  26 the same issues today as they were when she wrote them.
Her novels are about women   27 to find a perfect husband, but also  28 issues surrounding marriages, friendships and the family. “The plots are fairly timeless about human interaction   29 are familiar to us,” Jenkyns says.
The most famous book Austen wrote is Pride and Prejudice, a   30  story between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. At first the two   31 do not get on. They   32  fall in love, but still have to   33  opposition to their relationship from their families.
All of Austen’s books are   34  to read, making them popular with children and adults,
  35 they work on different levels so people can take  36 they need from them, author Kate Henry says.
“You can choose to see the politics and feminism(男女平等思想) in them,  37 you don’t want to take on those issues you can turn a blind eye to it,” she says.
  38 is often hailed(赞扬) as the greatest romance writer in the English language, so it is surprising she remained  39 . “Maybe she was too much of a romantic, waiting for a    40
man,” Henry says.