For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as ＄ 145 a performance, opera goers also had a certain appearance in people’s mind: rich, well-dressed and old.

But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.

Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to associate opera with common people. That means no formal suits, old-style theatre or bank breaking ticket prices. And because young people don’t or won’t come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such usual places as parks, libraries and public schools.

The Houston Grand Opera’s choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas”, shortened version of child-friendly operas. This summer’s production is Hansel ￡Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists’ Training Program.

72. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?

A.　 Opera is famous for is history.　　　　　　　

B Opera is only for rich people.

C. Opera companies are trying to keep operas alive.

D. Young people are not interested in operas.

73．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.

A. breaking up the old rules　　　　　 B. changing the dresses

C. making the audience at ease　　　　 D. advertising themselves

74. The San Francisco Opera employs young students in order to ________.

A. attract young people　　　　　　　　 B. reduce the cost

C. celebrate its 75^th anniversary　　　　　 D. make Cinderella popular

75．What can you infer from the passage?

A.　 The tickets for opera are very expensive at present.

B.　 Opera is performed in a language difficult to understand.

C.　 Opera is not so popular an art form today.

D.　 Students enjoy performing operas very much.

When I was young I loved taking part in high school musicals．I loved to 　31 in front of hundreds of people．In one production, I auditioned（试音）like 32 else. My music teacher was to 　33 that I would get a particular part in the music drama. The part I thought I had was a 　34 lead who sang some of the most beautiful love songs.

But one day the show director pulled me aside. I was 　35 to be offered the leading role. To my disappointment, he said, “Bob, I found a boy with an excellent voice. I need to give the 　36 to him.”

From that moment on I began hating music class. I 37 that I didn’t like what we were singing. My music teacher didn’t know why. She 38 me in front of the class and told me I had changed. She didn’t know what I had been told. But when they 39 the finalists I was given a 　40 role. For some time my pride was 　41 with having to do something I didn’t think I should be doing. But I didn’t it. The minor rold I had 　42 to be much more fun than I had expected. My performance even 　43 my brother who was also in the audience.

Life is really like a 　44 and although we do not audition for the role, each of us is 　45 by the director to play a certain part in it. The 46 is that we sometimes don’t like the part we are given. Like me in high school I became 　47 –if I couldn’t be the lead, I wouldn’t show up for rehearsal（彩排）.

Then we wonder why we feel so 　48 . Sometimes we don’t even feel like we are a part of the “Big Show. ” Everyone does indeed have a role. Some are in front of the curtain, some are behind, but all are 49 for the show to go on All 　50 to success no matter how minor the part is.

31．A．debate　　　　　　　　 B．broadcast　　　　　　　　　 C．sing　　　　　　　　　　　 D．show

32．A．someone　　　　　　 B．everyone　　　　　　　　　 C．anyone　　　　　　　　　 D．no one

33．A．prejudiced　　　　　 B．concerned　　　　　　　　 C．unexpected　 　　　 D．convinced

34．A．romantic　 　　 B．ridiculous　　　　 C．mysterious　 　　　 D．sensitive

35．A．attempting　 　　 B．expecting　　　　 C．volunteering　　 　 D．pretending

36．A．part　　　 　　 B．deal　　　　　　　 C．favor　　　　 　 D．item

37．A．assessed　　 　　 B．advocated　　　　 C．concluded　　 　 D．complained

38．A．warned　　 　　 B．scolded　　　　　 C．informed　　　 　 D．suspected

39．A．presented　　 　 B．identified C．announced D．delivered

40．A．specific　　 　 B．super　　　　　　 C．slight　　　 　　　 D．small

41．A．struggling　 　　 B．competing　　　　 　 C．swinging　　 　　　 D．changing

42．A．happened 　　　　 B．proved　　　　　 C．expanded　　　 　 D．switched

43．A．terrified: 　　　　　 B．disappointed　　　 C．surprised　　 　　 D．embarrassed

44．A．joke　　 　　　　 B．journey　　　　　 C．stage　　　 　　　 D．play

45．A．appointed　 　　　 B．attached　　　　　 C．employed　　 　　 D．instructed

46．A．reason　　　 　 B．problem　　　 　　　　 C．balance　　　 　　 D．focus

47．A．curious　　 　　 B．helpless　　　 　　　　 C．angry　　　 　　　 D．positive

48．A．exhausted　　 　 B．lost　　　　 　　　　　 C．delighted　　 　　 D．thrilled

49．A．necessary　　　　　 B．dependent　　　　　　　　　 C．natural　　　　　　　　　 D．perfect

50．A．react B．adjust C．refer D．contribute

I was angry ____ him_____ being so late.

A. for; about 　 B. for; with　 C. to; a 　 D. with; for

People are being lured (引诱）onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they're paying for it by giving up their personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data to advertisers that want to send targeted messages.

Most Facebook users don't realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they're paying for Face book because people don't really know what their personal data is worth.

The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you keep everything private. That was the great thing about facebook-you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things— your city, your photo, your friends' names—were set, by default (默认)to be shared with every one on the Internet.

According to Facebook's vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don't share information, they have a "less satisfying experience".

Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the pages totally. Who wants to look at ads when they're online connecting with their friends?

The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. "I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them," Schrage admits.

I think that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it's only the beginning. That is why I'm considering deactivating (撤销）my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I'm upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don't trust. That's too high a price to pay.

43.　 Why do people give their personal information to Facebook according to Paragraph 1?

A.　 Because they can get some money from Facebook.

B.　 Because their information is not important.

C.　 Because they are promised to have a fun and free service.

D.　 Because they can also get other people's information.

44.　 What does the author say about most Facebook users?

A.　 They are unwilling to give up their personal information.

B.　 They don't know their personal data enriches Facebook.

C.　 They don't identify themselves when using the website.

D.　 They care very much about their personal information.

45.　 Why does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage?

A. To give better service to its users.　 B. To obey to the Federal guidelines.

C. To improve its users' connection.　　 D. To expand its business.

46.　 Why does Senator Charles Schumer support publicly?

A.　 Setting guidelines for advertising on websites.

B.　 Banning the sharing of users' personal information.

C.　 Making regulations for social-networking sites.

D.　 Removing ads from all social-networking sites.

I believe that families are not only blood relatives, but sometimes people who show up and love you when no one else will.

In May 1977, I was living in a Howard Johnson’s motel off Interstate 10 in Houston. My dad and I 21 a room with two double beds and a bathroom which was too 22 for a 15-year-old girl and her father. Dad’s second marriage was 　23 and my stepmother had 　24 us both out of the house the previous week. Dad had no　 25_ what to do with me. And that’s when my other family 　26 .

Barbara and Roland Beach took me into their home 　27　 their only daughter, Su, my best friend, asked them to. I 　28 with them for the next seven years.

Barb washed my skirts the same as Su’s. She 　29 I had lunch money, doctors’ appointments, help with homework and nightly hugs. Barbara and Roland attended every football game where Su and I were being cheerleaders. 30 I could tell, for the Beaches there was no 31 between Su and me; I was their daughter, too.

When Su and I 32 college they kept my room the same for the entire four years I attended school. Recently, Barb presented me with an insurance policy they bought when I first moved in with them and had continued to pay on for 23 years.

The Beaches knew 33 about me when they took me in – they had heard the whole story from Su. When I was seven, my mother died and from then on my father relied on other people to _34 his kids. Before I went to live with the Beaches I had believed that life was entirely 　35__ and that love was shaky and untrustworthy. I had believed that the only person who would take care of me was me.

36 the Beaches, I would have become a bitter, cynical (愤世嫉俗的) woman. They gave me a(n) 37 that allowed me to grow and change. They kept me from being paralyzed(使瘫痪 ,使麻痹 ,使无能力)by my _38　 , and they gave me the confidence to open my heart.

I 　39 family. For me, it wasn’t the family that was there on the day I was 　40　 , but the one that was there for me when I was living in a Howard Johnson’s on Interstate 10.

16．A. lived　　 B. shared 　　 C. possessed　　　　 D. bought

17．A. cheap　　 B. noisy　　　 C. small　　　　　　 D. limited

18．A. in trouble B. in sight 　　 C. in place 　 D. in parts

19．A. struck　　　　 B. removed　 C. kicked 　　 D. knocked

20．A. plan　　　　 B. choice 　　　 C. chance 　　 D. idea

21．A. looked after　 B. showed up　　 C. turned over 　　 D. came cross

22．A. so　　　　　 B. because　　　 C. until 　　　　 D. while

23．A. worked　　　 B. traveled　　　 C. lived 　　　　 D. learned

24．A. worked out　　 B. called up　　 C. watched out　　　 D. made sure

25．A. As long as B. As far as　　 C. As soon as 　　　 D. As many as

26．A. change 　　 B. problem 　 C. conflict 　 　　D. difference

27．A. set off　　　　　 B. left for　　　　 C. entered into 　　 　　　 D. admitted into

28．A. all 　　 B. little 　 C. something D. nothing

29．A. supply B. teach C. encourage D. raise

30．A. different 　 B. unfair 　　　 C. easy　　 　　　 D. hopeful

31．A. Thanks to B. In spite of C. Except for 　　　 D. But for

32．A. home 　　　 B. house 　　　 C. ability 　　　 　　D. lesson

33．A. choice 　　 B. failure 　　　 C. past　 　　 　　D. present

34．A. doubt about 　　 B. call on 　　 C. center on　　 D. believe in

35．A. born B. accepted 　 C. educated　　 D. deserted