Hank Viscardi was 26 years old when he put on his first pair of long trousers and his first pair of shoes. For the first time he saw himself as he had always wanted to be--five feet eight inches tall.

　　Hank had been born without legs. Until he was seven, his world was a world of repeated operations. At last he had no legs,but stumps（残肢）that could be fitted with a kind of special boots.

　　Out of the hospital, Hank often found people staring at him with cruel interest. Children laughed at him and called him “Ape Man” because his arms dragged（施）on the ground.

　　He went to school like other boys. His grades were good and he needed only eight years instead of the usual twelve.

　　After graduation, Hank worked his way through college. He swept floors, waited on table, or worked in one of the college offices. During all this busy life, Hank had been moving around on his stumps. But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer. Hank would soon have to use a wheel chair.

　　Hank felt himself go cold all over.However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificial legs.

　　Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror and saw himself for the first time, five feet eight inches tall.

　　But this was not the end yet. He had to learn to use his new legs. Again and again he marched the length of the room, and marched back again. There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching. He went out on the street. He climbed the stairs and learned to dance. He built a boat and learned to sail it.

　　When World War II came, he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training. He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers. Few knew that he was legless. This was the true story of Hank Viscardi, the man without legs.

(1)It can be inferred from the story that five feet eight inches is _____.

[　　]

A．an average height for an adult

B．too tall for an average person

C．too short for an average person

D．Hank's real height

(2)The writer implies in the story that the Red Cross _____.

[　　]

A．was only too glad to give him a job

B．gave him a job because he was a good soldier

C．gave him a job after he talked to somebody he knew in the organization

D．was not willing to give him a job at first

(3)When Hank marched and drilled along with the other soldiers _____.

[　　]

A．he did everything the other soldiers did

B．he did most of the things the other soldiers did

C．he took some regular exams

D．he took some special training

(4)The writer suggests that Hank Viscardi ______.

[　　]

A．had no friends

B．never saw himself as different from others

C．was very shy

D．was too proud to accept help from others

　　If you are a fan of the Hollywood blockbuster（大片）Star Wars you must have been enjoying the exciting fights in outer space in recent days. But while you are watching films, the United States is worrying about these fights in real life.

　　White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on May 18 the US may change the way it thinks about space. This may mean the restart of the socalled Stars War Program.

　　The spokesman said the US “is not looking at armed space,” and is just “making sure US satellites are protected”. But even experts from the US say. “No one should be fooled.”

　　Space has become more and more important to the US military. Satellites help soldiers talk to each other, and can show bombs where their targets are.

　　It is reported the US Air Force has already developed weapons in space. In April, they sent up a satellite that can stop other nations' military satellites working. Experts argue that if the US sends more weapons into space an arms race may begin.

　　“Let's think of a world where the US has dangerous satellites everywhere in space that are going over countries every 10 minutes. Do you think other countries are going to accept that?” said Theresa Hitchens, an American defense expert.

　　Many countries have uttered their disagreement, and China is among them. “We are against putting weapons into space,” said Kong Quan, Foreign Ministry spokesman. “We have always held the opinion that space should be used for peace to benefit humankind.”

(1)The subject discussed in this passage is ____.

[　　]

A．the Star Wars movie

B．the US space war program

C．the US satellites

D．the reactions of different countries

(2)What's the excuse for the US to put weapons in space?

[　　]

A．They wanted to defend their satellites.

B．They wanted to fool the world.

C．They are just putting on shows.

D．They want to keep the earth safe from aliens.

(3)What's China's attitude towards the US putting weapons in space?

[　　]

A．China thinks it a great idea.

B．China will declare a war against the US.

C．China will follow the example.

D．China is strongly against it.

(4)The underlined word “uttered” here means “_____”.

[　　]

　　A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.

　　The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20%～40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all piloterror accidents that are related to fatigue.

　　Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device,worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel（方向盘）. A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound and the driver's response.

　　Tiredness is directly related to a driver's response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond, but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.

　　In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver's response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.

　　The device has been delivered to the department's laboratories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months' time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.

(1)According to the text, Driver Alert _____.

[　　]

A．aims to reduce tiredness-related accidents

B．has gone through testing at laboratories

C．aims to prevent drivers from sleeping

D．has been on sale for 12 months

(2)How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?

[　　]

A．By sounding a warning.

B．By touching the wristband.

C．By checking the driving time.

D．By pressing the steering wheel.

(3)We can learn from the text that the driver needs to stop for a break when his response time ______.

[　　]

A．about 400 milliseconds

B．below 500 milliseconds

C．over 500 milliseconds

D．about 4 minutes

(4)When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert _____.

[　　]

A．moves more regularly

B．stops working properly

C．opens the window for the driver

D．sounds more frequently and loudly

　　He is the man who beat Google. His search engine now dominates the world's fastest-growing Internet market.

　　Robin Li (Li Yanhong), Chairman and CEO of China's most popular navigation site Baidu. com, is among the “Top 25 powerful business leaders in China” List issued by China Entrepreneur magazine several months ago.

　　The 37-year-old man has received a lot of attention. He is both heralded as a model entrepreneur and accused of encouraging online music piracy（盗版）.

　　Li has firsthand experience with the American competition（角逐）. A native of Shanxi Province, he went to the US for post-graduate study at the State University of New York in 1991 and worked for Dow Jones in New Jersey and then Infoseek in Silicon Valley.

　　Having seen the Internet at first-hand on both sides of the Pacific, he returned to China in 1999.

　　“As a scientist by training, I am a little bit stubborn and I wanted to know how best I could use my talent,” said Li. The result of his stubbornness was Baidu. com.

　　Asked about Bill Gates' recent comment that Google is becoming more influential, Li says the Microsoft chairman should watch out for the challenge from China.

　　“If he is worried about Google he will probably be more worried about Baidu,” he says. “When the Chinese market stops growing so fast, we will look outside.”

(1)Why did he return to China in 1999?

[　　]

A．He wanted to make sure of his ability.

B．He wasn't used to living abroad.

C．He wanted to set up his own company or he was tired of working for others.

D．He wanted to earn much money.

(2)What does the underlined word “dominate” in the first paragraph mean?

[　　]

(3)According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

[　　]

A．He has a lot of experiences from home and abroad.

B．He is so stubborn that he broke the law.

C．He believes in himself in his career.

D．He has succeeded in building an online empire.

(4)What can we learn from what he said in the last paragraph?

[　　]

A．Bill Gates should watch out for Baidu.

B．He is afraid that Baidu will stop developing.

C．He will compete with Google for the world market.

D．Maybe the future of Baidu will be worse than Google.

　　Life online can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures. Even if you're new to the Net, you've probably heard about multimedia online--listening to audio, watching animations and videos, even playing in three-dimensional space. Sound and movement make information come alive.

　　To experience it, you'll need special pieces of software called plugins. The term “plugin” refers to a small, addon piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser, like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer, turning your computer into a radio or TV.

　　When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plugin which you don't have, you will usually receive a message asking, “If you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.” Most of the time, the installation will be automatic.

　　Occasionally, you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or unzipped before installation. Once installed, plugins run automatically, without you having to do anything.

　　Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically.

　　Shock wave is a good example of this. All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the Active X control. The rest happens automatically. The next time you go to a “shocked” website, the shock wave control loads and plays the movie.

　　Most plugins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet, although not all will work with every system. Some of them, for instance, only work with Windows 95.

(1)Plugins can help us to do all of the following except _______.

[　　]

A．listening to music

B．watching animations and videos

C．playing three-dimensioned games

D．searching for information on the Net

(2)The correct explanation about “plugin” is _____.

[　　]

A．a radio or TV connected with a computer

B．a small, addon piece of hardware which improves your web browser

C．a small, addon piece of software which can turn your computer into a radio or TV

D．a small, addon piece of software like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer

(3)When we go to a “shocked” website a second time, ______.

[　　]

A．we should go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the Active X control

B．the shock wave control loads itself and plays the movie for us

C．we will be asked whether to download the shock wave control or not

D．we have to buy the shock wave control and load it

(4)Most of the time, how can we get a plugin before automatic installation?

[　　]

A．We have to buy it from the developer.

B．We have to borrow it from the developer.

C．We have to rent it from the developer.

D．We can obtain from the developer without paying.

　　The biggest safety threat facing airlines today may not be a terrorist with gun, but man with the portable computer in business class. In the last 15 years,pilots have reported well over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electromagnetic interference（电磁干扰）. The source of his interference remains unconfirmed, but increasingly, experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices such as portable computers, radios and cassette players and mobile telephones.

　　RTCA, an organization which advises the aviation（航空）industry,has recommended that all airlines ban such devices from being used during “critical” stages of flight, particularly takeoff and landing. Some experts have gone further,calling for a total ban during all flights. Currently（当前，时下）, rules on using these devices are left up to individual airlines. And although some airlines prohibit passengers from using such equipment during takeoff and landing, most are reluctant to place a total ban, given that many passengers want to work during flights.

　　The difficulty is predicting how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft's computers. Experts know that portable devices give out radiation which affects those wavelengths which aircraft use for navigation（导航）and communication. But, because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory, they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be dangerous or not.

　　The fact that aircraft may be damaged by interference raises the risk terrorists may use radio systems in order to damage navigation equipment. As worrying, though, is the passenger who can't hear the instructions to turn off his radio because the music's too loud.

(1)The passage is mainly about ____.

[　　]

A．effective safety measures for air flight

B．a possible cause of aircraft crashes

C．the faults of electronic devices

D．a new regulation for all airlines

(2)Few airlines want to place a total ban on their passengers using electronic devices because _____.

[　　]

A．they have other effective safety measures to fall back on

B．they don't believe there is such a danger as radio interference

C．the harmful effect of electromagnetic interference is not yet to be proved

D．most passengers refuse to take a plane which bans the use of radio and cassette players

(3)Why is it difficult to predict the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on an airplane's computer?

[　　]

A．Because experts lack adequate equipment to do such research.

B．Because it is extremely dangerous to conduct such research on an airplane.

C．Because it remains a mystery what wavelengths are easier to be interfered with.

D．Because research scientists have not been able to produce the same effects in labs.

(4)It can be inferred from the passage that the author ____.

[　　]

A．hasn't formed his own opinion on this problem

B．has overestimated the danger of electromagnetic interference

C．regards it as unreasonable to exercise a total ban during flight

D．is in favor of prohibiting passengers'use of electronic devices completely

　　SYDNEY: As they sat sharing sweets beside a swimming pool in 1999, Shane Gould and Jessicah Schipper were simply getting along well, chatting about sport, life and“anything else that came up”.

　　Yet in Sydney next month, they will meet again by the pool, and for a short time the friends will race against each other in the 50-meter butterfly（蝶泳）in the Australian Championships at Homebush Bay.

　　Gould, now a 47-year-old mother of four, has announced she will be making a return to elite competition（顶极赛事）to swim the one event, having set a qualifying（合格的）time of 30.32 seconds in winning gold at last year's United States Masters championships. Her comeback comes 32 years after she won three golds at the Munich Olympics.

　　Schipper, now a 17-year-old from Brisbane with a bright future of going to Athens for her first Olympics, yesterday recalled（回忆）her time with Gould five years ago.

　　“I was at a national youth camp on the Gold Coast and Shane had come along to talk to us and watch us train,”Schipper explained.“It seemed as if we had long been good friends. I don't know why. We just started talking and it went from there.”

　　“She had a lot to share with all of us at that camp. She told us stories about what it was like at big meets like the Olympics and what it's like to be on an Australian team. It was really interesting.”

　　Next time, things will be more serious.“I will still be swimming in the 50m butterfly at the nationals, so there is a chance that I could actually be competing against Shane Gould,”said Schipper, who burst onto the scene at last year's national championships with second places in the 100m and 200m butterfly.

(1)What is the passage mainly about?

[　　]

A．Stories happening in swimming competitions.

B．Two women swimmers winning Olympic golds.

C．Lessons learned from international swimming championships.

D．Friendship and competition between two swimmers.

(2)Gould and Schipper are going to ___________.

[　　]

A．talk about sport and life

B．go back to elite competition

C．set a qualifying time and win gold

D．take part in the same sports event

(3)Gould won her three Olympic golds when she was __________.

[　　]

September 28, 2006

Dear Jenny,

　　We have been talking to each other mostly through e-mails. This time, I choose to write a letter instead, as I feel like writing English with a pen. When I write with a pen, it seems easier for me to express my thoughts and feelings.

　　It is almost a month since school started. I really like being in high school. It's exciting. There are so many new things to do and so many new friends to meet.

　　High school students in China live a busy but colourful life. We have to work hard for the National College Entrance Examinations, which will take place in less than three years.

　　Now I have a large group of friends. We take all of our classes together in the same classroom. It's good to have friends to study with because we can help each other. I'm pretty good at English, so many guys ask me for help with their English. I don't mind. After school we usually go to play sports for a little while. Sometimes we take a walk down the river or visit some bookstores. We have to be back for evening class by 7:30.

　　Among my classmates, there is one guy named Dazhi, whom I like most. I met him on the sports ground one afternoon. He was sitting alone, deep in thought. I went up to him and introduced myself. I learned from our talk that he is from the countryside some two hundred kilometers away from Shijiazhuang. Dazhi's fascinating life attracts me very much, because it has been very different from mine. As time goes on, I find we have many similar interests and hobbies. I think I can learn a lot from him. Being friends means learning from each other. Don't you think so?

　　I have invited Dazhi to come to my home for dinner this Sunday. I think we will have a good time together. We will have lots of things to share（分享）with each other. I am quite happy with this growing friendship. It has opened a door to many new experiences.

　　I must go back to class now.

　　Best wishes!

Yours friendly,

Li Ming

(1)In the passage, the author mainly wants to tell _________.

[　　]

A．the new things he has learned in high school

B．why he writes this letter with a pen

C．friends should learn from each other

D．his school life and how he developed a friendship with Dazhi

(2)Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

[　　]

A．The writer can express his ideas more freely with a pen than through e-mails.

B．The writer is willing to help others with their English.

C．The writer shares some interests and hobbies with Dazhi.

D．The writer got to know Dazhi through e-mails.

(3)The underlined word“fascinating”(in Paragraph 5) probably means _________.

[　　]

(4)From the passage we can know that the author __________.

[　　]

A．is sure to pass the National College Entrance Examinations

B．will experience a lot of new things in this school

C．is quite used to the life in the countryside

D．only works hard at his lessons all day long

　　Making friends is a skill like most skills. It improves with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing to take some action. You must first go where there are people. You won't make friends staying home alone. Join a club or a group. Talking with those who like the same things as you do is much easier. Or join someone in some activity. Many people are nervous when talking to new people. After all meeting strangers means facing the unknown. And it's human nature to feel a bit uncomfortable about the unknown. Most of our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts about ourselves. We imagine other people are judging us or finding us too tall or too short, too this or too that. But don't forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to accept yourself as you are and try to put the other person at ease. You'll both feel more comfortable.

　　Try to act self-confident even if you don't feel that way. When you enter a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall and straight, look directly at other people and smile.

　　If you see somebody you'd like to speak to, say something. Don't wait for the other person to start a conversation.

　　Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will make friends with that person--friendship is based on mutual（互相的）liking and“give and take”. It takes time and effort to develop.

(1)The best title of the passage may be“_________”.

[　　]

A．Friendship

B．How to Make Friends

C．Meeting New People

D．Facing the Unknown

(2)You cannot make friends if you __________.

[　　]

A．take some action

B．go to the people

C．avoid meeting people

D．won't start a conversation

(3)Friendship is based on __________.

[　　]

A．self-confidence

B．meeting more unknown people

C．more talking and smiling to people

D．taking from and giving to people

(4)Which of the following statements is NOT true?

[　　]

A．Making friends needs practising.

B．Making friends needs to be more active in getting in touch with people.

C．When meeting someone, make him feel nice and easy.

D．Before making friends with someone, judge if he's too this or too that.

　　In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly, believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity. Others say that competition is bad; that it sets one person against another; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people.

　　I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied（依赖）on how well they performed at tennis and other skills. For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit（追求）of success, the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten.

　　However, while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed, others take an opposite attitude. In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players, they strongly blame competition. Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people, I often observe in them a desire to fail. They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success. By not trying, they always have an excuse:“I may have lost, but it doesn't matter because I really didn't try.”What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot. Such a loss would be a measure of their worth. Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves. Both are based on the mistaken belief that one's self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others. Both are afraid of not being valued. Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve（缓解）can we discover a new meaning in competition.

(1)What does this passage mainly talk about?

[　　]

A．Competition helps to set up self-respect.

B．Opinions about competition are different among people.

C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition.

(2)Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?

[　　]

A．It pushes society forward.

B．It builds up a sense of duty.

C．It improves personal abilities.

D．It encourages individual efforts.

(3)The underlined phrase“the most vocal”in Paragraph 3 means _________.

[　　]

A．those who try their best to win

B．those who value competition most highly

C．those who are against competition most strongly

D．those who rely on others most for success

(4)What is the similar belief of the true competitors and those with a“desire to fail”?

[　　]

A．One's worth lies in his performance compared with others'.

B．One's success in competition needs great efforts.

C．One's achievement is determined by his particular skills.

D．One's success is based on how hard he has tried.

(5)Which point of view may the author agree to?

[　　]

A．Every effort should be paid back.

B．Competition should be encouraged.

C．Winning should be a life-and-death matter.

D．Fear of failure should be removed in competition.