For many people, the name Baskin-Robbins is linked to sweet memories of eating ice cream．Irvine Robbins, who helped create this famous company, died in May at the age of ninety．His life's work of making fun and exciting ice cream flavors changed the way Americans enjoy this food．
Irvine Robbins opened his first ice cream store in 1945 in California．At the time, there were no stores that sold only ice cream．His sister's husband, Burton Baskin, also opened his own ice cream stores．
In 1948 they combined their six stores into one business．Baskin and Robbins realized that they were too busy to operate each store well．So, they decided to sell part of each operation to the manager of that store．This permitted the company to grow quickly．
By 1953, they renamed their company Baskin-Robbins．They advertised that they sold 31 kinds of ice cream to show the many choices buyers had．There was one flavor for every day of the month．
Robbins and Baskin sold "Lunar Cheesecake" the day after astronauts landed on the moon in 1969．Other flavors included "ChaChaCha", for cherry chocolate chip, and Robbins' personal favorite "Jamoca Almond Fudge"．They said: "We sell fun, not just ice cream．"
By 1967, there were 500 Baskin-Robbins stores in the United States．The business partners sold their company that year．Today, there are more than 5,800 Baskin-Robbins stores around the world．
【小题1】What is the main idea of the passage?

For many people, the name Baskin-Robbins is linked to sweet memories of eating ice cream．Irvine Robbins, who helped create this famous company, died in May at the age of ninety．His life's work of making fun and exciting ice cream flavors changed the way Americans enjoy this food．

       Irvine Robbins opened his first ice cream store in 1945 in California．At the time, there were no stores that sold only ice cream．His sister's husband, Burton Baskin, also opened his own ice cream stores．

       In 1948 they combined their six stores into one business．Baskin and Robbins realized that they were too busy to operate each store well．So, they decided to sell part of each operation to the manager of that store．This permitted the company to grow quickly．

       By 1953, they renamed their company Baskin-Robbins．They advertised that they sold 31 kinds of ice cream to show the many choices buyers had．There was one flavor for every day of the month．

       Robbins and Baskin sold "Lunar Cheesecake" the day after astronauts landed on the moon in 1969．Other flavors included "ChaChaCha", for cherry chocolate chip, and Robbins' personal favorite "Jamoca Almond Fudge"．They said: "We sell fun, not just ice cream．"

       By 1967, there were 500 Baskin-Robbins stores in the United States．The business partners sold their company that year．Today, there are more than 5,800 Baskin-Robbins stores around the world．

What is the main idea of the passage?

       A．The managers of Baskin-Robbins．     B．The start of Baskin-Robbins．

       C．The production of Baskin Robbins．     D．The great success of Baskin-Robbins．

From the text we learn that _____．

       A．Baskin-Robbins was the only shop selling ice cream in 1945

       B．Baskin-Robbins was famous for their special ice cream flavors

       C．Baskin-Robbins grew quickly because they combined their other stores together

       D．there had been more than 5,800 Baskin-Robbins stores around the world by 1967

What was probably the main reason for Baskin-Robbins' success?

       A．They sold not only ice cream, but fun．

       B．They renamed their company．

       C．They put all their hearts into the business．

       D．They sold "Lunar Cheesecake"．

It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that

       A．Jamoca Almond Fudge is Baskins' favorite

       B．Cherry chocolate chip sells best

       C．Robbins and Baskin were good at inventing new ice creams

       D．Lunar cheesecake was invented for the astronauts

完形填空(共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分)

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从31-50各题所给的四个选项中选出最佳答案。

There was once a boy who suffered from a deadly disease and could die anytime. One day, he 31  a CD store and saw a young girl about his age and he knew it was love at first  32  . He opened the door and walked in. she looked up and asked, “ 33  I help you?”

He said, “Uh…Yeah…Umm…I would like to  34  a CD.”

He picked one out and gave her  35  for it.

“Would you like me to  36  it for you?” she asked, smiling her cute smile.

He nodded and she went to the back.

She came_37_with the wrapped CD and gave it to him. _38  , he went to that store every day and bought a CD. He was still too 39  to ask her out and he really wanted to. His mother found out about this and  40  him to just ask her.

So the next day, he took all his courage and went to the store. He bought a CD 41  he did every day and when she wasn’t looking, he  42  his phone number on the desk and ran out…

RING…The mother  43  the phone and said, “Hello?”

It was the girl! She asked for the boy and the mother started to cry and said, “He passed  44    yesterday…”

The mother went into the boy’s room. She was face to face with piles and piles of  45 CDs. She picked one up and started to open it.

46  , there was a CD and as took it out of the wrapper, out 47  a piece of paper. The mother picked it up and started to read it.

It 48  : Hi…I think U R really cute. Do U wanna go out with me? Love, Jacelyn.

The mother opened  49  CD…Again there was a piece of paper with the  50  words.

For many people, the name Baskin-Robbins is linked to sweet memories of eating ice cream．Irvine Robbins, who helped create this famous company, died in May at the age of ninety．His life's work of making fun and exciting ice cream flavors changed the way Americans enjoy this food．

         Irvine Robbins opened his first ice cream store in 1945 in California．At the time, there were no stores that sold only ice cream．His sister's husband, Burton Baskin, also opened his own ice cream stores．

         In 1948 they combined their six stores into one business．Baskin and Robbins realized that they were too busy to operate each store well．So, they decided to sell part of each operation to the manager of that store．This permitted the company to grow quickly．

         By 1953, they renamed their company Baskin-Robbins．They advertised that they sold 31 kinds of ice cream to show the many choices buyers had．There was one flavor for every day of the month．

         Robbins and Baskin sold "Lunar Cheesecake" the day after astronauts landed on the moon in 1969．Other flavors included "ChaChaCha", for cherry chocolate chip, and Robbins' personal favorite "Jamoca Almond Fudge"．They said: "We sell fun, not just ice cream．"

        By 1967, there were 500 Baskin-Robbins stores in the United States．The business partners sold their company that year．Today, there are more than 5,800 Baskin-Robbins stores around the world．

1.What is the main idea of the passage?

         A．The managers of Baskin-Robbins．        B．The start of Baskin-Robbins．

         C．The production of Baskin Robbins．        D．The great success of Baskin-Robbins．

2.From the text we learn that _____．

         A．Baskin-Robbins was the only shop selling ice cream in 1945

         B．Baskin-Robbins was famous for their special ice cream flavors

         C．Baskin-Robbins grew quickly because they combined their other stores together

         D．there had been more than 5,800 Baskin-Robbins stores around the world by 1967

3.What was probably the main reason for Baskin-Robbins' success?

         A．They sold not only ice cream, but fun．

         B．They renamed their company．

         C．They put all their hearts into the business．

         D．They sold "Lunar Cheesecake"．

4.It can be inferred from Paragraph 5 that

         A．Jamoca Almond Fudge is Baskins' favorite

         B．Cherry chocolate chip sells best

         C．Robbins and Baskin were good at inventing new ice creams

         D．Lunar cheesecake was invented for the astronauts

The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It’s said that it’s the day that store ledgers(分类账)move into the black and companies become profitable（有利可图的，有益的）. On that day, retailers（零售商）slash prices to get consumers to buy.  It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee tells us how the economy may affect consumers on that bargain day.

 “It’s just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser（较少的，较小的）price,” said Sandy Thomas, a shopper. But it’s a nightmare（噩梦）for others. “I think it’s crazy. I’ve done all of my shopping throughout the week so I don’t have to go out on Friday,” she said. It’s called Black Friday, the start of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States. Every year it’s the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise and there are deep discounts everywhere you look.

While the lead up to Christmas is known as the season of giving, Black Friday can get ugly.

Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-mart（沃尔玛公司）worker in a New York suburb. This year, many stores are increasing security while they slash prices. “This is a huge time for the retail stores,” said Fred Joutz from George Washington University. “This is when they begin making their profits for the year.”

Economics professor Fred Joutz says how Americans spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.

With the unemployment rate above 10 percent, Joutz says Americans are saving more and spending less. “Credit is still strictly controlled whether through credit cards or through borrowing from banks,” he said. Some retailers are attracting consumers by opening on Thanksgiving Day, when shops are traditionally closed.  Other stores open their doors anywhere from midnight to four in the morning.

And shoppers will be lining up in front of the doors in order to be one of the first ones to walk through and get a big discount. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually the first items to go. Sandy Thomas says it’s an annual family tradition and well worth it. “I just save maybe half of what I would have spent on a regular, you know, shopping trip,” she said.

Economists say U.S. consumers will spend money this Black Friday, but they will spend it more carefully.     

1. The underlined word “slash” in the first paragraph probably means _________.

 A. reduce         B. raise         C. increase        D. change

2.The sentence “This day should be a shopper’s dream.” should be placed between ________.

 A. paragraph two and paragraph three        B. paragraph one and paragraph two

 C. paragraph three and paragraph four      D. paragraph five and paragraph six

3.Why are many stores increasing security according to the passage?

 A. Because there are too many people saving more and spending less.

 B. Because it’s a time when they begin making their profits for the year.

 C. Because last year a crowd of bargain-hunters caused an accident.

 D. Because many stores open their doors from midnight to four a.m.

4.What can we learn from the passage?

 A. Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception.

 B. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually least discounted.

 C. The economy only affects consumers on that bargain day.

 D. Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.