阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从1～25各题所给的四个选项中，选出一　　 个最佳答案。

　　    There are many different kinds of taxes 1 in the U.S. The most 2 tax is the sales tax. When someone 　　 3 something, he pays the price of his purchase 4 a small additional percentage. This purchase is the sales tax. The revenue (税收) from the sales goes to the state government to help pay 5 public schools, 6 safety, roads, parks　　 and benefits 7 the poor. Each state sets its own tax percentage.　　 Some states are considerably lower than others. In some states there　　 is no sales tax.

　　     A second type of tax is the 8 tax. This tax is a percentage of all the money 9 by a family each year. Americans pay income taxes to the federal government 10 uses the revenue for national expenses 11 defense, help for the needy and other public services. Some states also have a state income tax. The income tax, 12 other taxes, is usually graduated. This means the tax percentage increases 13 a family's income increases.　　 　　

    A third kind of tax is the 14 tax. This tax is paid by anyone who 15 land or a house. The 16 of the tax is based on the property's 17 . The revenue from this tax goes to 　　 18 governments for school and community services.　　 　　

    In addition people must pay the luxury tax 19 they purchase　　 certain things such as cigarettes and alcoholic beverages (酒饮料).

　　     A fifth kind of tax is the inheritance tax (继承税). When someone 20 usually his family inherits the 21 person's wealth and property. However, those who inherit must pay a percentage of this 22 to the government 23 an inheritance tax.

　　 　　   　　 　　 24 we have heard, there are five kinds of taxes that Americans pay. 25 Americans don't want more taxes.　　 　　

　　  (1) A. paying   B. paid  C. to be paid  D. having paid 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (2) A. important　　 B. common　　C. private　　 D. public 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (3) A. sells　　　　 B. steals　　C. loses　　   D. buys 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (4) A. plus　　　　  B. times　　 C. minus　　   D. divided 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (5) A. for　　　　   B. to　　　　C. off　　　　 D. out 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (6) A. private　　   B. public　　C. official　　D. bosses 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (7) A. from　　　　  B. to　　　　C. for　　　　 D. off 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (8) A. salaries　　  B. income　　C. money　　   D. wages 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (9) A. to be earned  B. earning   C. earned　　  D. having earned 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (10) A. what　　　　 B. all what  C. where　　   D. which 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (11) A. for example  B. such as   C. for instance   D. they are 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (12) A. like　　 B. as   C. except　　  D. except that 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (13) A. before　　   B. unless　　C. as　　　　  D. even 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (14) A. houses　　   B. land　　  C. furniture   D. property 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (15) A. buys　　　　 B. owns　　  C. had　　　　 D. sells 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (16) A. amount　　   B. position  C. quality　　 D. reason 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (17) A. value　　　　B. position  C. percentage  D. importance 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (18) A. state　　　　B. local　　 C. federal　　 D. same 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (19) A. when　　　　 B. unless　　C. because　　 D. since 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (20) A. died　　　　 B. will die  C. dies　　　　D. dying 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (21) A. death　　　　B. dying　　 C. deadly　　  D. dead 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (22) A. money　　　　B. wealth　　C. amount　　  D. debt 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (23) A. like　　　　 B. as　　　　C. for　　　　 D. from 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (24) A. As　　　　   B. What　　  C. Which　　   D. That 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］ 　　  (25) A. No　　　　   B. Most　　  C. Few　　　　 D. Fewer 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   ［　　］

Most Americans get what money they have from their work; that is, they earn an income from wages or salaries. The richest Americans, however, get most of their money from what they own — their stocks, bonds, real estate, and other forms of property, or wealth. Although there are few accurate statistics to go by, wealth in American society appears to be concentrated in very few hands. More than 20 percent of everything that can be privately owned is held by less than one percent of the adult population and more than 75 percent of all wealth is owned by 20 percent of American adults. The plain fact is that most Americans have no wealth at all aside from their homes, automobiles, and a small amount of savings.

Income in the United States is not as highly concentrated as wealth. In 1917 the richest 10 percent of American families received 26.1 percent of all income, while the poorest 10 percent received 17 percent, mainly from Social Security and other government payments. The most striking aspect of income distribution is that it has not changed significantly since the end of World War II. Although economic growth has roughly doubled real disposable (可自由使用的) family income (the money left after taxes and adjusted for inflation) over the last generation, the size of the shares given to the rich and the poor is about the same. By any measure economic inequality is great in the United States.

The reality behind these statistics is that a large number of Americans are poor. In 1918, 14 percent of the population was living below the federal government’s poverty line, which at that time was an annual income of $ 9 287 for a nonfarm family of two adults and two children. In other words, about one out of seven Americans over 31 million people was officially considered unable to buy the basic necessities of food, clothes, and shelter. The suggested poverty line in 1981 would have been an income of about $11, 200 for a family of four. By this relative definition, about 20 percent of the population or more than 45 million Americans are poor.

1.What does the majority of the Americans have in terms of wealth?

A．Their income and savings.

B．Their house, cars and small amounts of savings.

C．Everything they own in their homes.

D．Actually, they have no wealth at all.

2.What is the percentage of wealth that is in the hands of most Americans?

    A．Less than 25%.                       B．More than 25%. 

    C．More than 75%.                       D．Less than 20%.

3.Why is economic inequality still great in the US in spite of the economic growth?

    A．Because the economic growth has widened the gap of the family income between the rich and the poor.

    B．Because income in the US is still concentrated in the hands of the richest 10% of American families.

    C．Because the proportion of income received by the rich and the poor remains almost the same as in 1917.

    D．Because some Americans made great fortunes during the Second World War.

4.What can we learn from comparison of the two poverty lines in the last paragraph?

    A. The poverty line of 1918 is more favorable to the poor than that of 1981.

    B. The 1981 line didn’t leave much to the poor.

    C. There were more Americans who were officially poor by the 1918 line.

    D. There were more Americans who were officially poor by the 1981 line.

5.From the last two sentences we can see that 1981 government’s poverty line _______.

    A．was of no good for the poor          B．was officially approved

    C．was not helpful to the poor             D．was not put into operation then

 

第三部分阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)

    阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在

答题爷上将该项涂黑。

Shakespeare’s Birthplace and Exhibition of Shakespeare’s World

  Welcome to the world—famous house where William Shakespeare was born in l564 and

where he grew up The property(房产)remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until

1806 .The House has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world ,for over 250 years.

  ◆Enter through the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly—

praised exhibition Shakespeare's World，a lively and full

introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare

  ◆Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up

  ◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from

 Shakespeare’s period

  ◆Enjoy the traditional(传统的)English garden，planted

 with trees and flower mentioned in the poet’s works

⊙The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car

parks shown on the map；nearest is Windsor Street(3 minutes’

Walk)

⊙The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre，

its exhibition．and the garden are accessible (可进入的)to

wheelchair users

⊙The Shakespeare Coffee House(opposite the Birthplace)

1．How much is the admission for a family of two grown-ups and two children？

A．￡9.80．       B．￡12.00．        C．￡14.20．        D．￡16.40．

2．Where is the nearest parking place to Shakespeare’s Birthplace？

    A．Behind the exhibition hall．

    B．Opposite the Visiturs’Centre．

    C．At Windsor Street．

    D．Near the Coffee House．

3．A wheelchair user may need help to enter__________．

    A．the House       B．the garden     C．the Visitors’Centne      D．the exhibition hall

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有一项为多余选项。

A.　Goods for auction (拍卖) sales

　　B.　Definition of bidding

　　C.　Way to sell more goods by auction

　　D.　Auction sales in history

　　E.　Brief introduction to auctions

　　F.　Making a larger profit as an auctioneer

1.______

Auctions are public sales of goods, conducted by an officially approved auctioneer. He asks the crowd assembled in the auction-room to make offers, or “bids”, for the various items on sale. He encourages buyers to bid higher figures, and finally names the highest bidder as the buyer of the goods. This is called “knocking down” the goods, for the bidding ends when the auctioneer strikes a small hammer on a table at which he stands.

2. ______

The ancient Roman probably invented sales by auction, and the English word comes from the Latin auction, meaning “increasing”. The Romans usually sold in this way the goods taken in war. In England in the eighteenth centuries, goods were often sold “by the candle”: a short candle was lit by the auctioneer, and bids could be made while it stayed alight.

3. ______

Practically all goods whose qualities vary are sold by auction. Among these are coffee, skins, wool, tea, furs, silk and wines. Auction sales are also usual for land and property, furniture, pictures, rare books, old china and similar works of art.

4. ______

An auction is usually advertised beforehand with full particulars of the articles to be sold and where and when they can be viewed by potential buyers. If the advertisement cannot give full details, catalogues are printed, and each group of goods to be sold together, called a “lot”, is usually given a number. The auctioneer need not begin with Lot 1 and continue in the order of numbers: he may wait until he notices the fact that certain buyers are in the room and then produce the lots they are likely to be interested in.

5. ______

The auctioneer’s services are paid for in the form of a percentage of the price the goods are sold for. The auctioneer therefore has a direct interest in pushing up the bidding as high as possible. He will not waste time by starting the bidding too low. He will also play on the opponents among his buyers and succeed in getting a high price by encouraging two business competitors to bid against each other.

 

The 47-year-old singer talks about the new album Symphony（交响乐） that came out of a “very dark time”, including her decision to give up trying to have children. “People have suggested I could adopt,” Brightman says. “But work is central to my life now. And so I am going to put it to one side. After a while not having children becomes the norm and perhaps that might sound alarming, to parents especially, but I have never known anything different. I’m not hurt by not having children. My life and career are incredibly rich.”

Talking about growing up in a large family in Berkhamsted (father a property developer who later committed suicide), she says: “I was gifted as a child, and very musical. I seemed to be good at anything to do with the arts. At 5，I understood the music I was dancing to and had an eye for costume.” She first appeared in a West End musical at 11 and hated boarding school.

Brightman led the saucy dance troupe（辣妹三人舞） Hot Gossip and had her first hit with I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper in 1978. At 18 she married a music manager called Andrew Graham Stewart. “I was probably in love but I can’t remember. Girls change such a lot between 18 and 22. It didn’t really work out.” In 1981 she was spotted by Lloyd Webber. She became his leading lady in Song and Dance, Requiem and Phantom of the Opera. They married in 1984.

Brightman says she felt hostility(敌意) “from the beginning. I haven’t tried to understand it. I’ve done very well everywhere else, especially the US, where I now live, I just accept it for what it is. The more you are away from Britain, the more you appreciate it. But I don’t miss it, although I miss my family. Our profession can be uncomfortable but I enjoy what I do. I get on with it.”

1. The first paragraph tells us that _____.

  A. Brightman is very popular around the world except in America

B. Brightman’s musical style is a mixture of opera, pop and jazz

 C. the British people don’t like her for her style of music

 D. Brightman is much older than Andrew Lloyd Webber

2. Brightman decided to give up having children because _____.

  A. she could adopt one 

B. her life and career were unbelievably rich without children

C. she felt it normal not to have children

D. she was too busy

3.The following statements are true except ______.

  A. Brightman first appeared in a West End musical at 5

  B. Brightman disliked life on the campus

  C. Brightman was very gifted when she was young

D.The saucy dance troupe made Brightman famous

4.The underlined word in the fourth paragraph probably means _____.

A. located     B. admired     C. followed     D. found

5. What does the author try to say in the last paragraph by quoting Brightman’s words?

 A. Brightman has to accept the fact that she is not liked in Britain

 B. Brightman lives in America but she loves her own country

 C. The British coldness towards Brightman led to her hatred to her homeland

D. Brightman was at a loss why she was not welcome in Britain