It doesn' t feel like it, but we got a raise this week. The sliding price of oil, which made OPEC decide to announce a production cut, has put money in the pockets of consumers, who worry about the world - wide recession(经济衰退).

      The high price of gasoline has greatly changed driving patterns, perhaps permanently "We are seeing changes in habits. " says Julian Lee from the Center for Global Energy Studies in London. People now prefer to buy small cars instead of gas - guzzling SUVs. If we see this change it becomes a much longer term issue with long - term demand destruction.

     In the short term, there' s simple math. The price slide could save drivers a great deal of money. However, because the U.S. is out of its peak summer driving season, there' s not too much of an encouragement to drive a lot more just because gas prices are down.

     Oil demand in the U.S. has dropped 10% in the few weeks, continuing a year long

trend. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Americans drove 15 billion fewer miles in August, or 5.6% less than they did the year before. DOT says it' s the largest ever year -to -year decline recorded in a single month.

      Due to falling worldwide demand, oil price dropped to its lowest level in more than a year.For months leaders of oil - rich countries have watched nervously as world oil prices have been more than 50% lower than the all - time high in July.

      All of which spells disasters for OPEC. Iran and Venezuela have pushed fellow OPEC members to make big enough cuts in production to change the plunge in prices in Vienna on Thursday for OPEC' s emergency meeting. OPEC countries' method of fixing their combined out - put has for years hugely influenced world prices, since OPEC' s 13 members account for about one - third of the world' s total oil supplies.

7l. According to the passage, "we got a raise dais week" because __  

     A. the consumers seldom use their cars at present

     B. we' II face financial problems in the recession

     C. the OPEC countries will buy us gasoline fro cars

     D. we' II spend much less money on gasoline for cars

72. In the writer's opinion, the reason people prefer to small ears is that __  

     A, small cars are more beautiful than SUVs

     B. SUVs will cause much more air pollution

     C. small cars cost much less on gasoline than SUVs

     D. SUYs waste too much energy and pollute the air

73. The following statements are all true except __  

     A. Americans drove about 15 billion fewer miles this year

     B. oil demand in America has been dropping for one year

     C. "DOT"" stands for the U.S. Department of Transportation

     D. more cars are on the road in summer than in other seasons

74. The underlined word "plunge" in the last paragraph most probably means　

     A. the action of pulling up              B. delaying or putting off

 C. sudden~ moving downward          D. severe financial problem

75. The OPEC countries cut the oil production so as to______  

     A. stop the decline of world economy

     B. deal with the problem of oil prices

     C. put more money into consumers' pockets

     D. help the car industry with their problems

Americans with small families own a small car or a large one. If both parents are working, they usually have two cars. When the family is large, one of the cars is sold and they will buy a van(住房汽车)

　　A small car can hold(容纳)four persons and a large car can hold six persons but it is very crowded(拥挤). A van hold seven persons easily, so a family three children could ask their grandparents to go on a holiday travel. They could all travel together.

　　Mr.Hagen and his wife had a third child last year. This made them sell a second car and bus a van. Their children sixth and seventh seat are used to put other things, for a family of five must carry many suitcases(衣箱)when they travel. When they arrive at their grandparents' home, the suitcases are brought into the two seats can then carry the grandparents.

　　Americans call vans motor homes. A motor home is always used for holidays. When a family is traveling to the mountains or to the seaside, they can live in their motor home for a few days or to the seaside, they can live in their motor home for a few days or weeks. All the members of a big family can enjoy a happier life when they are traveling together. That is why motor homes have become very popular. In America there are many parks for motor homes.

1. From the passage, a van is also called ____________.

A. a motor car　　　B. a motor home　　　　C. a motorbike　　　　D. a big truck

2.Before Mr. Hagen and his wife bought a van, they__________.

A. sold their old house

B. moved to their grandparents' house

C. built a new place for a van

D. sold their second car

3.Americans usually use motor homes____________.

A. to travel with all the family members of holiday

B. to do some shopping with all the family members

C. to visit their grandparents at weekends

D. to drive their children to school every day

4. Motor homes have become popular because___________.

A. they can take people to another city when people are free

B. they can let families have a happier life when they go out for their holidays

C. some people think motor homes are cheap

D. big families can put more things in motor homes

Ambassador Hotel：

Welcome to the Ambassador Hotel. To make your stay as enjoyable as possible, we hope you will use our facilities to the full.

Dining Room

Breakfast is served in the dining mom from 8 a. m. to 9: 30 a.m. Alternatively, the room staff will bring a breakfast tray to your room at any time after 7 a.m. In this case, please fill out a card and hang it outside your door when you go to bed.

Lunch: 12:00a.m. to2:30p.m.

Dinner: 7:30 p. m. to 9:00 p.m.

Room Service

This operates 24 hours a day; phone the Reception Desk(前台), and your message will be passed on to the room staff.

Telephones

To make a phone call, dial 0 for Reception and ask to be connected. We apologize for delays in putting calls through when the staffs are very busy. There are also public telephone booths near the Reception Desk. Early calls should be booked with Reception.

Laundry

We have a laundry in the hotel, and will wash iron and return your clothes within 24 hours. Ask the room staff to collect them.

Bar

The hotel bar is open from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.

1.You would see this notice _________ .

A. in a hotel bar

B. in a hotel dining room[来源:学.科.网Z.X.X.K]

C. in a bedroom of a large international hotel

D. at the entrance of a small family hotel 

2. What should you do if you have arrived to stay at the hotel at 2 a.m. and want something to eat?

A. Go to the hotel shop.　　                B. Go to the hotel bar.

C. Hang a message outside your door.　　    D. Phone the Reception Desk.   

3. What should you do when you come back to the hotel to make an important call and see a lot of people around the Reception desk?

A. Go to your room and phone from there.

B. Ask at the Reception Desk.

C. Use one of the telephones in the entrance hall.

D. Go out again and look for a public phone box

4.What do you think a room staff’s last job is before he goes off duty at 6 p.m.?

A. Lay the tables in the dining room.

B. Check the bedroom doors.

C. Start preparing the breakfast.

D. Wake any of the guests who have asked for early calls.