B
　　Although man has known asbestos for many hundreds of years, it was not until 160 years ago that it was mined for the first time on the North American continent. H. W. Johns, owner of a New York City Supply Shop for roofers, was responsible for he opening of that first mine.
　　Mr. Johns was given a piece of asbestos which had been found in Italy. He experimented with the material and then showed its surprising powers to his customers. After putting on a pair of asbestos gloves, which looked much like ordinary work gloves, he took red-hot coals from the fireplace and played with them in his hands. How astonished the customers were to discover that he was not burned at all. You can well imagine that he had increasing business in asbestos roofing materials. However, because it was very expensive to transport them from Italy to the United States, Mr. Johns sent out a young scientist to seek a source nearer home. This young man found great vein in the province of Quebec in Canada.
　　Ever since 1881 Quebec has led the world in the production of this unusual mineral, which is made up of magnesium, silicon, iron, and oxygen. When it is mined, the asbestos is heavy, just as you would expect a mineral to be. When it is separated, a strange thing happens; the rock breaks down into fine, soft, soapy fibers .
　　Scientists do not know why the rock can be separated easily into threads,but they have found thousands of uses of this fireproof material, of the so-called “cloth of stone”.
　60. Which title best expresses the main idea of this passage?
　   A. Asbestos mined in Canada                  B. Fireproof matter
C. A “wonder” mineral                           D. A new roofing material
　61. Johns proved his ability as a salesman by_______.
　   A. going into roofing business              
B. carrying asbestos from Italy
　   C. sending a trained scientist                 
D. showing the use of asbestos gloves
　62. Which is the most important character of asbestos that the author wants to show us?
　   A. It is like thread.                               B. It feels soapy.
C. It burns easily.                                 D. It is unusually heavy.
　63. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage was to _______.
　   A. show the need for more scientists
　   B. compare asbestos with other minerals
　   C. increase the sales of asbestos
　   D. present facts about asbestos

阅读理解

　　The basic flag of the United States is one of the world's oldest national flags．Only the basic flags of Austria，Denmark，Great Britain，the Netherlands，Sweden，and Switzerland are older．

　　During the discovery and settlement of hat is now the United States，the flags of various European nations were flown over the land，as symbols of possession．later，in the Colonial and Revolutionary War periods，flags representing famous persons，place，and events were flown in the American Colonies．

　　The first official flag of the United States was created by Congress on June 14，1777．It consisted of 13 alternate red and white stripes and 13 white stars in a field of blue，representing the 13 colonies that had declared their independence in 1776．Congress adopted a new flag of 15 stars and 15 stripes in 1795，to give representation to the two new states admitted into the Union，Vermont and Kentucky．

　　By 1817，there were 20 states in the Union，and it became apparent that adding one stripe for each new state would destroy the shape of the flag．As a result，Congress in 1818 restored the original design of 13 stripes and provided that each state was to be represented by one star．In 1912 President William H．Taft made the first official provision for the arrangement of the stars．He ordered that there be six even rows of eight stars each Previously the arrangement of the stars had been left to the flag-maker fancy．

　　The evolution of the Stars and Stripes reflects the growth of the United States．After the admission of Hawaii into the Union in 1959，the flag was officially changed for the 26th time since its creation．

There are many government flown in the United states in addition to the national flag．Among them are the president's and vice-president's flags and those of the federal departments and some federal agencies．Each state in the Union has an official flag．The United States Navy uses special flags for signaling．

1．According to the passage，which of the following possesses one of the world's oldest national flags？

[　　]

2．In the United States，why were the flags of various European nations were flown over the land initially？

[　　]

A．Because then the United States was the European nations'colony．

B．Because they were representing famous person，place and events．C．Because the United States wanted to show friendship to the European nations．

D．The passage don't tell us．

3．From the passage，which of the following is not true？

[　　]

A．Congress designed the first national flag．

B．Because of the two new states admitted into the Union，the national flag became fifteen stars and fifteen stripes．

C．From the evolution of the stars and stripes，we can understand the history of the United States．

D．The flag was officially changed for the 26th time before the Hawaii admitted into the Union．

4．Which flags now don't exist in the United States？

[　　]

A．The president's and vice-president's flags．

B．Each state's official flag in the Union．

C．Children's flags．

D．The United States Navy's flags．

                                        B

　　Although man has known asbestos for many hundreds of years, it was not until 160 years ago that it was mined for the first time on the North American continent. H. W. Johns, owner of a New York City Supply Shop for roofers, was responsible for he opening of that first mine.

　　Mr. Johns was given a piece of asbestos which had been found in Italy. He experimented with the material and then showed its surprising powers to his customers. After putting on a pair of asbestos gloves, which looked much like ordinary work gloves, he took red-hot coals from the fireplace and played with them in his hands. How astonished the customers were to discover that he was not burned at all. You can well imagine that he had increasing business in asbestos roofing materials. However, because it was very expensive to transport them from Italy to the United States, Mr. Johns sent out a young scientist to seek a source nearer home. This young man found great vein in the province of Quebec in Canada.

　　Ever since 1881 Quebec has led the world in the production of this unusual mineral, which is made up of magnesium, silicon, iron, and oxygen. When it is mined, the asbestos is heavy, just as you would expect a mineral to be. When it is separated, a strange thing happens; the rock breaks down into fine, soft, soapy fibers .

　　Scientists do not know why the rock can be separated easily into threads,but they have found thousands of uses of this fireproof material, of the so-called “cloth of stone”.

　60. Which title best expresses the main idea of this passage?

　   A. Asbestos mined in Canada                   B. Fireproof matter

C. A “wonder” mineral                            D. A new roofing material

　61. Johns proved his ability as a salesman by_______.

　   A. going into roofing business               

B. carrying asbestos from Italy

　   C. sending a trained scientist                  

D. showing the use of asbestos gloves

　62. Which is the most important character of asbestos that the author wants to show us?

　   A. It is like thread.                                B. It feels soapy.

C. It burns easily.                                    D. It is unusually heavy.

　63. The author’s main purpose in writing this passage was to _______.

　   A. show the need for more scientists

　   B. compare asbestos with other minerals

　   C. increase the sales of asbestos

　   D. present facts about asbestos