阅读理解

　　The fast English dictionary was published in 1604. The dictionary was actually nothing more than a list of about 3,000 difficult words, each followed by a one - word definition (定义). The author (作者), Robert Cawdrey, made no attempt to include everyday words in his dictionary. No one, he reasoned (推理), would ever have to look up a word in a dictionary if he already knew the meaning of the word. During the 1600’s more dictionaries were published. Each followed Cawdrey’s lead and presented a few thousand hard words. Around 1700 one dictionary maker, John Kersey, did define (下定义) easy words as well as hard words. But until the 1750’s all the dictionaries were rather crude (粗制滥造的) and not very valuable (有价值的).

　　A man named Dr. Samuel Johnson changed all this. In 1755 Dr. Johnson produced the first modern dictionary. He included in his dictionary all important words, both easy and hard, and he gave good meanings, He also gave good sentences to show how each word was actually used in speech and in writing. By the end of the 1700’s most dictionary makers had followed Johnson’s example. Dictionaries were getting better and better.

　　The 1800’s saw the greatest improvement (改善) in the quality of dictionaries. In England scholars (学者) planned and prepared the Oxford English Dictionary, a twenty volume (卷) work. One of the most interesting features (特点) of the Oxford Dictionary is its word histories. It traces (追溯) the history of each word from its earliest recorded use up to the time of the printing of the dictionary.

1．The first English Dictionary ________.

[　　]

A．defined easy words as well as hard ones

B．was just a list of difficult words with one - word definitions

C．included a number of everyday words

D．was considered to be a very valuable one

2．According to the passage, before 1755 all English dictionaries ________.

[　　]

A．were of no value

B．only defined hard words

C．defined both easy words as well as well as hard words

D．were far from being perfect

3．Which of the following is not true about Dr. Johnson’s dictionary?

[　　]

A．It was not very valuable.

B．It was the first modem English dictionary.

C．It included easy words as well as hard ones.

D．It gave sentences to show the usage of words.

4．The most interesting feature of the Oxford Dictionary was that ________.

[　　]

A．it had a complete list of difficult words

B．it gave sentences showing how each word was actually used

C．it was a 20 - volume work

D．it showed the history of each word

5．This passage is mainly about ________.

[　　]

A．the difference of English Dictionaries

B．the origin of English Dictionaries

C．the development of English Dictionaries

D．the features of English Dictionaries.

阅读理解

　　The early adolescent (青春期少年) seems to be in a state that is difficult for most adults (grown - ups) to understand. Parents, in particular, are often at lass to be able to deal with someone they thought they knew but who seems changed. Change ability and contradiction arc true to young people at this time. They want to depend on themselves and refuse to accept their parents’ control, appearing at times rebellious (叛逆的). At the same time they almost foolishly follow other young people’ s standards of dress, music and manners. They seem to be completely self - centred materialistic one moment, then suddenly change themselves to an unselfish giving of themselves in the service of some social and political cause. They can be extremely thoughtless or inexperienced one day, terribly sensitive the next. Their spirits can change within minutes from being on top of the world to feeling that everything is hopeless. Consistency is totally missing, and these rapid changes and contradictions seem hard to understand.

1．From the information given in the article, we know parents find adolescents hard to understand because ________.

[　　]

A．they are always self - centred and thoughtless

B．they want to depend on themselves

C．the parents fed lost

D．they lack consistency

2．The topic sentence says, “The early adolescent seems to be in a state that is difficult for most adults to understand. “What do you think the state is like?

A．Foolish.

B．Rebellions.

C．Changeable.

D．Easy to be angry.

3．Adolescents are at times extremely rebellious towards their parents, yet foolishly accept other young people’s standards. This is an example of ________.

[　　]

A．not knowing right from wrong

B．political service

C．lack of consistency

D．independence

4．The writer probably thinks ________.

[　　]

A．adolescents are sensitive

B．adolescents are treated too - softly in today’s society

C．adolescence is a difficult period

D．parents should be more strict with their adolescent children

阅读理解

　　For almost three years now, Mary Rodas has been a vice president at a company in New York City. Mary works in a big office, is driven in a car and makes important business decisions.

　　But she still has to do her homework every day. That’ s because Mary is a 16 - year - old high school student.

　　How did a teenager get to be a vice president? It all started when she was a little girl in Union City, New Jersey. One day, she was watching a worker, Donald Spector, put in new tiles (瓷砖). He laid the tiles in the correct pattern everywhere but behind the kitchen door.

　　“Mister,” she said, walking right up to him. “You’re doing it all wrong.”

　　“It’s okay, Mary,” Spector said “Nobody will see the tiles behind the door.”

　　“But it’s wrong,” Mary insisted. “You have to do it right even if nobody sees it.”

　　Spector was impressed she spoke her mind. Mary and Donald became friends that day, and it changed their lives. Donald Spector is an inventor and one of the founders of a company that makes toys. As Mary got a little older, Spector started to show her his ideas for new products. He wanted Mary’ s opinions. And she gave it to him straight.

　　Mary has come up with a lot of good ideas for the company. Take, for example, Balzac. This is a cloth ball with a balloon inside it that can be filled with air or water. In 1989, it became one of the hottest toys in the U.S. It was Mary’ s idea to fill a Balzac partly with water so that it would fly crazily (疯狂地) when you threw it. And it was Mary who thought of putting pennies or rice inside so it would make noise when it bounced (弹起) around. She also told Spector that she didn’t like its color.

　　“I was 13 when Donald showed it to me,” Mary says. “It was fun to play with, but I thought the colors were boring. I told him to use neon (氖)colors, and to put them in crazy patterns.”

　　When Balzac hit the market, the results blew Spector away. It did so well, now stores are selling a whole bunch of Balzac products.

　　Donald Spector knew how much Mary was helping his company. So on Christmas Day in 1989, he gave her a present. He asked her to be the vice president of marketing in his company.

1．Why did Spector ask Mary to be the vice president of his company?

[　　]

A．Because she was a teenager.

B．Because she liked playing with all kinds of toys.

C．Because she had offered him many helpful suggestions.

D．Because she asked for less pay than anyone else.

2．Which question is not answered in the passage?

[　　]

A．How did Mary meet Donald?

B．How much money does Mary earn?

C．What does Mary do at work?

D．What was Balzac?

3．You can infer from the passage that Mary ________.

[　　]

A．is very shy

B．does not go to school

C．is smart

D．doesn’t like any colors

4．Which of the following can be chosen as the best title for the passage?

[　　]

A．You Must Do Everything Right

B．Toys in the United States

C．The Success of Balzac

D．A Young Vice President

阅读理解

　　Glynis Davis：

　　I first piled on the pounds when I was in the family way and I couldn’t lose them afterwards. Then I joined a slimming club. My target (aim) was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I’d lose the weight at slimming classes in the new year…but it didn’t happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I’d lost will power and tried to believe that the odd bags of fish and chips didn’t make any difference but the scales don’t lie.

Roz Juma:

　　To be honest, I never weigh myself any more—I’ve learnt to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that 1 would be sorry for every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn’t be too much thinking about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super - thin body. This is obviously the size I meant to be end, most of a11．I am happy with it.

Lesley Godwin:

　　I was very happy after winning Young Slimmer of the Year. I’d look in the mirror unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem - perhaps from then on I didn’t pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though, because you feel a complete failure because I’ve put on weight again.

Ros Landford:

　　Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I’d always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant housework went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every year so often I try to go on a diet…I’m really good on a few days, then end up having the children’s leftover or eating happily chocolate - - - my weakness. I’d like to be slim, but right now my duty is the children and home. I might take more exercise when my kids are older.

1．What is the subject discussed in the text?

[　　]

A．Four women’s opinions about slimming matter.

B．Four women’s ideas about their life after marriage.

C．Four women’s work as a housewife.

D．Different diets they prefer.

2．Where are these short passages most likely to be taken from?

[　　]

A．Talks On the air.

B．Advertisements on the wall.

C．Books in a library.

D．Magazines for children.

3．What does the underlined word“scales”possibly mean?

[　　]

A．The coach in the slimming club.

B．Some tools to measure weight.

C．Glynis Davis’ dear husband.

D．The salesperson in a food shop.

4．Which of the following best describe each of the four women’s attitudes towards slimming?

①Glynis Davis

a．I put on weight soon after I got married.

②Roz Juma

b．Fame doesn’t necessarily mean success.

③Lesley Godwin

c．Facts speak much louder than works.

④Ros Landford

d．I like myself as I am. And to be what you are.

[　　]

阅读理解

　　By far the most common snake in Britain is the adder (蝰蛇). In Scotland, in fact, there are no other kinds of poisonous snakes. It can be found almost anywhere, but it prefers sunny hillsides and rough open country, including high ground. In Ireland there are no snakes at all.

　　Most people regard snakebites as deadly, but not an bites are serious, and very few are deadly. Sometimes attempts at emergency treatment turn out to be more dangerous than the bite itself, with someone heroically, but mistakenly, trying do - it - yourself surgery and other unnecessary measure.

　　All shakes have small teeth, so it follows that all shakes can bite, but only the bite of the adder presents any danger. British snakes are shy animals and are far more frightened of you than you could possibly be of them .The adder will attack only if it feels threatened, as can happen if you take it by surprise and step on it accidentally, or if you try to catch it or pick it up, which it dislikes intensely. If it hears you coming, it will normally get out of the way as quickly as it can, but adders cannot move very rapidly and may attack before moving if you are very close.

　　The effect of a bite varies considerable. It depends upon several things, One of which is the body - weight of person bitten. The bigger the person, the less harmful the bite is likely to be, which is why children suffer far more seriously from snake bites than adults. A healthy person will also have better resistance against the poison.

　　Very few people actually die from snake bites in Britain, and though these bites can make some people very ill, there are probably just as many eases of bites having little or no effect, as there are of serious illness.

1．Adders are to be found ________.

[　　]

A．in many parts of Britain and Ireland

B．everywhere in Britain except Scotland

C．on wild land throughout Britain except Ireland

D．in shady fields in Scotland

2．If you are with someone who is bitten by fin adder, you should ________.

[　　]

A．try to catch the adder

B．make no attempt to treat the bite by yourself

C．not worry about the victim

D．operate On him as soon as possible

3．We are told that adders are ________.

[　　]

A．normally friendly towards people

B．unlikely to bite except in self - defence

C．fond of attacking anyone in their territory

D．not afraid of human beings

4．In general, British people think snakes are ________.

[　　]

A．not very common in Britain

B．not all very dangerous

C．capable of killing people by their bites

D．no threat to human beings

阅读理解

　　Audiences used to dislike compilation (汇编) albums (专辑). The only option (选择之事物) for fans wanting a variety of songs from different artists was movie soundtracks (电影录音带).

　　But now compilation discs (唱片) have come of age. Mindful of the success of the“Now That’s What I Call Music!” series in Europe  record companies are succeeding with the same thing in the Unites States. They are persuading hot artists like Britney Spears and Destiny’s Child to lend them their current hits (成功的尝试或表演).

　　The rule is simple; “Just get a bunch of hit songs in one record,” said 98 Degrees member Drew Lachey. His band (乐队) has been featured on at least two compilations this year.

　　“There’s no gamble (冒险事业) involved,” said Antonio Reid, president of Artista Records. “When you know exactly what you’re getting, you’re getting the top hits by the top stars, so it’s a great value.”

　　With the music and media (大众传播工具) worlds split (分割) into so many different factions (派系) these days, it’s harder for one artist to capture mass attention and keep it. “It’s what customers prefer, it’s what teenagers prefer,” Red said.“It’s supply and demand.”

　　Part of the reason the United Sates was so far behind Europe with successful compilations was because artists resisted (反对) lending their hits, fearing that could hurt sales of their own albums. But once that record became a success, record companies notice that many of the artists actually saw sales increase.

　　Fans who buy a compilation record because they like the Blackstreet Boys or Sisqo may then turn around and buy an album by a lesser - known artist.

　　“Soundtracks will always have the advantage,” said Bruce Resnickoff, president of Universal Music Enterprises.“Because of the budgets (预算) that go behind marketing (销售) the movies.”

1．This passage might be taken from ________.

[　　]

A．a science fiction

B．a popular magazine

C．a textbook of music

D．a report of a social investigation

2．From the passage. we know that a “compilation record” means record of ________.

[　　]

A．hit songs

B．movie soundtracks

C．a variety of Songs from different artists

D．a bunch of songs by one artist

3．Why was the United States so far behind Europe with successful compilations?

[　　]

A．Because American artists were persuaded to lend their current hits.

B．Because American artists wer not popular.

C．Because American artists feared that the compilations could hurt sales of their own albums.

D．The reason is not stated.

4．It can be learned from the passage that ________.

[　　]

A．marketing soundtracks will cost more than marketing the movies

B．audiences preferred compilation records in the past

C．nowadays it’s not easy for one artist to capture mass attention

D．compilation records will hurt the sales of the artists’ own albums

5．The main point discussed in the passage is ________.

[　　]

A．advantages of albums

B．changing tastes of teenagers

C．hot hit songs

D．successful sales of compilation records

阅读理解

　　Like most people I was brought up to look upon life as a process of getting. It was not until in my late thirties that I made this important discovery: giving - away makes life so much more exciting. You need not worry if you lack money. This is how I experimented with giving away. If an idea for improving the window display of a neighborhood store flashes to me, I step in and make the suggestion to the storekeeper. If an incident takes place, the story of which I think the local police could use, I call him up and tell him about it, though I am not in charge here. One discovery I made about this world without getting something back, though the return often comes in an unexpected form. One Sunday morning the local post office delivered an important special delivery letter to my home, though it was addressed to me at my office. I wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation. More than a year later I needed a postoffice box for a new business I was starting. I was told at the window that there were no boxes left, and that my name would have to go on a long waiting list. As I was about to leave, the postmaster appeared in the doorway. He had overheard our conversation. “Wasn’t it you that wrote us that letter a year ago about delivering a special delivery to your home?” I said it was. “Well, you certainly are going to have a box in this postoffice even if we make one for you. You don’t know what a letter like that means to us. We usually get nothing but complaints.”

1．From the passage we know that ________.

[　　]

A．the author was brought up to look upon life as a process of getting

B．the author liked most people who were brought up that way

C．because most people were brought up that way, the author was, too

D．the author liked most people as they looked upon life in the same way

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

[　　]

A．Most people looked upon life as a process of giving.

B．The author was similar to most people in looks.

C．His early education affected him greatly in his later life.

D．Giving away made the author’s life special and exciting.

3．When the author needed a post - office box ________.

[　　]

A．he was asked to leave his address on a waiting list

B．he wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation for his help

C．many had applied for post - office boxes before him

D．the postmaster promised to get nothing but complaints

4．In reply to the postmaster’s question ________.

[　　]

A．he thought the special delivery was important and necessary

B．he remarked the post - office box was hard to get

C．he declared the service was better than ever

D．he admitted he wrote the appreciation

阅读理解

　　Britain’s oldest man made his first visit to London yesterday at the age of 110．Mr. John Evans had never found the time or money to make the trip from his home in Forestfach, near Swansea. But, when British Rail offered him an all - expense - paid birthday treat to the capital he just could not refuse.

　　He arrived at Paddington Station and smartly turned out in his best suit, favorite Panama hat and a red rose in his buttonhole. “It’s very exciting. There’s no doubt about it.” he said.

　　Until yesterday he had never been far from home, except for one trip to Aberdeen. “But I’ve been on the seas to that faraway land called lifracombe 21 miles from home,” he joked.

　　Mr. Evans, who spent 60 years working as a miner in South Wales, almost made the journey to London once before, at the turn of the century. “There was trip to the White City but it was ten shillings return from Swansea - too much I thought. All my money went to the family then,” he said.

　　During the next two days, Mr. Evans will be taken on a short tour of London to see the sights. Top of his list is a visit to the Houses to Parliament organized by his MP, Mr. Gareth Wardell.

　　The only arrangement he does not care for is the wheelchair provided for him if he get tired. “I don’t like the chair because people will think I am getting old.” he said.

　　His secret for a long and healthy life has been well publicized - no wine, no tobacco and no anger. Before setting off from Swansea with his 76 - year - old son, well, he said jokingly, “I’m glad to see they’ve given me a return ticket.”

1．The very reason that Mr. Evans didn’t go to see the world is that ________.

[　　]

A．he had already been on the seas to lifracombe

B．he was too busy to go too far away from home

C．he couldn’t afford both the time and the money

D．he believed “East or west, home is the best”

2．Mr. Evans didn’t like the wheelchair simply because ________.

[　　]

A．he was not used to traveling in it

B．the wheelchair was of poor quality and not easy to operate

C．he actually preferred walking to sitting in it at home

D．he thought he was still young enough to manage the trip

3．Which if the following is NOT true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．Mr. Evans hnd to work hard to raise his family when young.

B．The trip of London excited Mr. Evans very much.

C．Mr. Evans could not really enjoy the trip because of his age.

D．Humor was one of Mr. Evans’ characters.

4．The probable explanation to Mr. Evans’ long life lies in ________

[　　]

A．his good living habits

B．his hard working for the family

C．his sticking to his hometown

D．his living conditions near the Swansea

阅读理解

　　When a group of children politely stop a conversation with you, saying：“We have to go to work now,” you’re left feeling surprised and certainly uneasy. After all, this is the 1990s and the idea of children working is just unthinkable. That is, until you are told that they are all pupils of stage in a theatre.

　　Stage schools often act as agencies (代理) to supply children for stage and television work. More worthy of the same “stage school” are those few places where children attend full time, with training for the theatre and a general education.

　　A visit to such schools will leave you in no doubt that the children enjoy themselves. After all, what lively children wouldn’t settle for spending only half the day doing ordinary school work, and acting, singing or dancing their way through the other half of the day?

　　Then of course there are times for the children to make a name and make a little money in some big shows. Some stage schools give their children too much professional work at such a young age. But the law is very tight on the amount they can do. Those trader 13 are limited to 40 days in the year. those over 13 to 80 days.

　　The schools themselves admit that not all children will be successful in the profession for which they are being trained. So what happens to those who don’t make it? While all the leading schools say they place importance on children getting good study results, the facts seem to suggest this is not always the case

1．People would stop feeling uneasy when realizing that the children they’re talking to ________.

[　　]

A．attend a stage school

B．are going to the theatre

C．have got some work to do

D．love singing and dancing

2．In the writer’s opinion, a good stage school should ________.

[　　]

A．produce star performers

B．help pupils improve their study skills

C．train pupils in language and performing arts

D．provide a general education and stage training

3．“Professional work” as used in the text means ________.

[　　]

A．ordinary school work

B．money - making performances

C．stage training at school

D．acting, singing or dancing after class

4．Which of the following best describe how the writer feels about the stage schools?

[　　]

A．He thinks highly of what they have to offer.

B．He favors an early start in the training of performing arts.

C．He feels uncomfortable about children putting on night shows.

D．He doubts the standard of ordinary education they have reached.

阅读理解

　　Maybe ten - year - old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, “But, Dad, you can’t be healthy if you’re dead.”

　　Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt - the mistake 75% of the US population make every day. The big question is why.

　　There have been many myths about safety belts ever since their first appearance in ears some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.

　　Myth Number One: It’s best to be “thrown clear” of serious accidents.

　　Truth：sorry, but any accident serious enough to “throw you clear” is also going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances are you’ll have traveled through a windshield or door to do it. Studies show that chances of dying after a ear accident are twenty - five times greater in cases where people are“thrown clear”.

　　Myth Number Two: Safety belts “trap” people in ears that are burning or sinking in water.

　　Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious (昏迷) due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situations, not to trapped in them.

　　Myth Number Three: Safety belts aren’t necessary at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour (mph).

　　Truth: When two ears traveled at 30 mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to driving headfirst into the ground from the height of 100 meters.

1．Why did Elizabeth say to her father, “But, Dad, you can’t be healthy if you’re dead?”

[　　]

A．He was driving at great speed.

B．He was running across the street.

C．He didn’t have his safety belt on.

D．He didn’t take his medicine on time.

2．The reason Father was in a hurry to get home was that he ________.

[　　]

A．Wasn’t feeling very well

B．hated to drive in the dark

C．wanted to take some exercise

D．didn’t want to be caught by the police

3．According to the text. to be “thrown clear” of a serious accident is very dangerous because you ________.

[　　]

A．may be knocked down by other ears

B．may get seriously hurt being thrown out of the ear

C．may find it impossible to get away from the seat

D．may get caught in the ear door

4．Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belts because they believe ________.

[　　]

A．the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident

B．they will be unable to think clearly in an accident

C．they will be caught when help comes

D．ears catch fire easily

5．What is the advice give in the text?

[　　]

A．Never drive faster than 30 miles an hour.

B．Try your best to save yourself in a ear accident.

C．Never forget to wear the safety belt while driving.

D．Driving slowly while you’re not wearing a safety belt.