Once they were in space, Joe had to go outside to make some repairs. When the repairs were done, he tried to get back inside the spaceship. But the door was locked. He knocked but there was no answer. He knocked again, louder this time, and again no answer came. Then he hit the door as hard as he could and finally a voice said, “Who’s there?” “It’s me! Who else could it be?” shouted Joe. Sam let him in all right but you can imagine that Joe never asked to go on a trip with Sam again!

1. Most of the astronauts were unwilling to go on the trip because _______.

A. it wasn’t exciting enough

B. they weren’t experienced enough

C. they thought they might be killed

D. there was little chance of being selected

2. Why were Sam and Joe chosen?

A. The boss wanted them to get more experience.

B. The boss trusted them more than anyone else.

C. They were the last people who were fit to go.

D. They were the only men who offered to go.

3. What did Sam and Joe think the trip would be like?

A. It would be exciting. 　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. It would be long and tiring.

C. There wouldn’t be any danger. 　　　　　　  D. There would be serious problems.

4. Joe didn’t want to work with Sam again probably because he thought Sam_______.

A. didn’t know how to operate door

B. was less experienced than he was

C. didn’t know how to do repairs

D. was very slow and possibly deaf

5. The writer tells the story to _______.

A. show the dangerous side of the astronauts’ life

B. show the funny side of the astronauts’ life

C. make people laugh

D. make people think

One pioneer, in particular, who disagrees, is David Tebbutt, the founder of Computertown UK. Although many people see this as a successful attempt to bring people closer to the computer, David does not see it that way. He says that Computertown UK was formed for just the opposite reason, to bring computers to people and make them “people-literate”.

David Tebbutt thinks Computertowns are most successful when tied a computer club but he insists there is an important difference between the two. The clubs are for people who have some computer knowledge already. This frightens away non-experts, who are happier going to Computertowns where there are computers for them to experiment on, with experts to encourage them and answer any questions they have. They are not told what to do, they find out. The computer experts have to learn not to tell people about computers, but have to be able to answer all questions people ask. People don't have to learn computer terms(术语), but the experts have to explain in plain language. The computers are becoming “people-literate”.

1. Which of the following is David Tebbutt’s idea on the relationship between people and computers?

A. Computer learning should be made easier.

B. There should be more computer clubs for experts.

C. People should work harder to master the use of computer.

D. Computers should be made cheaper so that people can afford them.

2. We can infer from the text that “computer-literate” means _______.

A. being able to afford to buy a computer

B. being able to write computer programs

C. working with the computer and finding out its value

D. understanding the computer and knowing how to use it

3. The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to the idea that Computertowns _______. 

A. help to set up more computer clubs

B. bring people to learn to use computers

C. bring more experts to work together

D. help to sell computers to the public

4. David Tebbutt started Computertown UK with the purpose of _______.

A. making better use of computer experts

B. improving computer programs

C. increasing computer sales

D. popularizing computers

5. What does Computertown refer to in the passage?

A. A town where computers are made.

B. A place where people can learn how to use computers.

C. The name of a town.

D. A computer room.

On the contrary, Americans often declare their intention to protect their privacy. Their understanding of privacy is that others have no right to pry into things that belong to themselves and have nothing to do with others. One who is too curious and who spreads rumors is said to violate the right to privacy.

In the evening, Sonia and I went to a bar for dinner. In China, when people mention bars, something bad usually comes to mind. But here, the bar was a quiet and tastefully laid out place. People spoken softly, afraid of interrupting their neighbors, and sat face to face as they drank, sometimes three or five persons sitting together.

This sort of atmosphere was totally different from my preconception（传统观念）, so I wanted to take a picture. Sonia stopped me:“Don’t you see these people are pouring out their hearts? Maybe they are colleagues, friends, or secret lovers. They came here looking for a peaceful place free from interruption by others. They wouldn’t want to leave any trace of their having come here. So taking their pictures would be a serious violation of their right to privacy.

Is there privacy between husband and wife? One of Sonia's friends married a talented Chinese man, but recently she became so angry that she wanted to a divorce（离婚）. The reason was that her husband had opened one of her letters and looked through her purse. The husband didn’t realize that this is not tolerated in the US. He thought being a couple was like being one person; why couldn’t he see the letter or the contents of the purse? Truly, everyone, even those living as a couple, needs room－not only in three-dimensional(三维的)space, but in the heart.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

A. The understanding of “privacy” is different in China and America.

B. There is privacy between husband and wife in America.

C. Everyone has the right to privacy.

D. Everyone in every country needs room for himself.

2. Sonia stopped me when I wanted to take a picture in the bar because_______.

A. taking pictures in a bar was not allowed in America

B. taking pictures in a bar would interrupt the neighbors

C. people who came here are colleagues, friends or secret lovers

D. taking pictures in a bar would violate other people’s right to privacy

3. One of Sonia’s friends wanted a divorce because_______.

A. she thought her husband was not clever enough

B. her husband always opened her letter

C. her husband didn’t respect her right to privacy

D. her husband always looked through her purse

4. Which of the following statements is NOT the Americans’ understanding of privacy?

A. Privacy is connected with something that is unfair and bad.

B. Other people have no right to pry into his or her affairs.

C. There is privacy even between couples.

D. The right to privacy shouldn’t be violated by others.

5. According to this text, we can infer that in America we can do all the following except_______.

A. declaring that we have privacy

B. asking your friends about their marriage

C. going to a bar with friends

D. taking pictures in a national park

Both Bing Crosby and Elvis Presley reached fame when quite young and became very rich. And both developed their own musical styles-styles which were at first not accepted but later studied as new forms of popular songs. The difference between the two mirrors the changing values in American life. Crosby was singing to wartime America. His admirers always said how “relaxing” he was. When Presley began singing, the whole country had become relaxed and easy-going. Its young people, without any memory of troubled times, were hungry for excitement. They welcomed Elvis, who was bringing something new and exciting. Crosby's songs, sweet and sentimental(伤感的), were saying something; their “message” was as important as the music. Although many of Presley’s songs were sentimental too, it was mostly the sound that moved the audiences. Rock'n'roll was just “sounds”. Songs stopped being songs and turned into noise. The Crosby generation has trouble with rock’n’ roll because it makes the mistake of trying to understand the words, while the Presley generation has trouble with Crosby because it finds the music unexacting and the words empty.

1. Elvis Presley belonged to _______.

A. a younger generation than Crosby’s

B. an older generation than Crosby’s

C. a more relaxed age than Crosby’s

D. the same age as Crosby’s

2. Both Crosby and Presley were singers of _______.

A. wartime America　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. popular songs

C. rock’n’roll　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. songs with words

3. To Crosby’s admirers, rock’n’roll may sound _______.

A. sentimental　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. noisy

C. exciting　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. mistaken

4. The difference of the two singers’ styles may be sign of _______.

A. how much values have changed in American life

B. how deeply we now distrust the value of words

C. how far America has been away from troubled times

D. how different the two styles are

5. In which circumstances（情景) are you most likely to hear one or two Crosbies?

A. Seeing an American movie produced in the 1940’s.

B. Attending a concert of rock’n’roll.

C. In a shop selling records of American music.

D. At an exhibition of modern American life.

They claim they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new directions in music. But somehow they all end up crowded round listening to the same record. Their reason for thinking or acting in thus-and -such a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out of their cocoon(蚕茧) into a larger cocoon.

It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his or her own way. Industry has firmly carved out a teenage market. These days every teenager can learn from the advertisements what a teenager should have and be. And many of today’s parents have come toward high marks for the popularity of their children. All this adds up to a great barrier for the teenager who wants to find his or her own path.

But the barrier is worth climbing over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don’t care to share at once with your classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come with the people who respect you for who you are. That’s the only kind of popularity that really counts.

1. The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to tell _______.

A. readers how to be popular with around

B. teenagers how to learn to decide things for themselves

C. parents how to control and guide their children

D. people how to understand and respect each other

2. According to the author, many teenagers think they are brave enough to act on their own, but, in fact, most of them _______.

A. have much difficulty understanding each other

B. lack confidence

C. dare not cope with problems single-handed

D. are very much afraid of getting lost

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. There is no popularity that really counts.

B. What many parents are doing is in fact hindering their children from finding their own paths.

C. It is not necessarily bad for a teenager to disagree with his or her classmates.

D. Most teenagers claim that they want to do what they like to, but they are actually doing the same.

4. The author thinks advertisements as _______.

A. convincing　　　　　　   B. instructive　　　　　　    C. influential　　　　　　　　 D. authoritative

5. During the teenage years one should learn to _______.

A. differ from others in as many ways as possible

B. get into the right season and become popular

C. find one’s real self

D. rebel against parents and popularity waves

Ernest learned about nature, hunting, and fishing from his father. The Hemingways spent their summers on Walloon Lake in Northern Michigan, and Ernest was soon able to shoot, fish, and swim very well. He entered first grade a year younger than usual, so he had to work hard to keep up with his older classmates. Ernest read a great deal. He especially liked adventure stories and science. He learned to play the cello(大提琴) so he could take part in family concerts. In high school he got straight A's, edited the school paper, and played in the orchestra(管弦乐队). Some of his stories were printed in the school annual(年报).

After high school Ernest got a job as a reporter for the Kansas City Star. But World War Ⅰ was on in Europe, and Ernest wanted very much to go. He tried to enlist, but his eyesight was too poor. So he joined the Red Cross and was sent to Italy. He was wounded when distributing supplies to frontline troops and returned home a hero.

In 1953 Hemingway’s short novel The Old Man and the Sea (1952), about an old Cuban fisherman, was given a Pulitzer Prize. The book also brought Hemingway the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. Hemingway had been living in Cuba but he left in 1960 and settled in Ketchum, Idaho. He was ill and depressed. On July 2, 1961, he shot himself.

1. This passage is most likely taken from _______.

A. a newspaper report　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. biography

C. a history book　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. a magazine

2. Which of the following adjectives can best describe Hemingway according to the second paragraph?

A. Versatile (多才多艺的). 　　　　　　　　　　    B. Haughty.

C. Clever. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. Honest.

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. Ernest Hemingway was the most important writer of the 20th century.

B. Hemingway was once a doctor.

C. Hemingway was an excellent student in high school.

D. Hemingway’s long novel The Old Man and the Sea was given a Pulitzer Prize.

4. Why couldn't Hemingway join the army when World War Ⅰ was on in Europe?

A. Because his parents didn’t allow him to enlist.

B. Because he was too weak.

C. Because he had poor eyesight.

D. Because he was wounded.

5. What can you infer from the last paragraph?

A. Hemingway led an unhappy life in old age.

B. Hemingway was murdered.

C. Hemingway didn’t like Cuba.

D. Hemingway was given the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1954.

Some people who read very rapidly may say, “I am a rapid reader. I can read an entire book in one evening. ”Someone who reads slowly may say, “I read slowly, but I know what I read. I don’t miss a thing. ”

The rapid reader may be a good reader when he reads a story book for fun. But he may not be able to slow down enough to read directions carefully. He may read so rapidly that he does not take time to understand fully the ideas and information which it is important to remember.

The very slow reader may be a good reader when he reads directions for making something. But he may take altogether too much time to read a simple story that is meant to be enjoyed but is not important enough to be remembered.

So you see neither the reader who reads everything rapidly nor the one who reads everything slowly is really a good reader.

If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important things to remember about rate, or speed of reading.

1. Knowing why you are reading and what you are reading to find out will often help you to know whether to read rapidly or slowly.

2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing something; science and history books, which are full of importance. You must read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.

3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment; news, letters from friend’s items or bits of news from local or home town papers, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.

4. In some of your reading, you must change your speed fast to slow and slow to fast, as you go along. You will need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful reading when you come to important ideas, which must be remembered.

1. Is a slow reader or a rapid reader really a good reader according to this passage?

A. A slow reader　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B.A rapid reader.

C. Both. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. Neither.

2. How fast should you read?

A. Rapidly. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. Slowly.

C. It depends on what we are reading. 　　   D. 200 words a minute.

3. What should be read slowly?

A. Something full of important information.

B. Newspapers and magazines.

C. Letters.

D. Novels.

4. What should be read rapidly?

A. Directions for making something.

B. Text book.

C. Science and history books.

D. Story books, newspapers, letters and so on.

5. What is the important rule you should keep in mind about speed of reading?

A. Read as fast as possible.

B. Fit your speed to your needs.

C. Read as slowly as possible.

D. Keep a speed at 200 words a minute.

Men as a group smoke more than women. Among both men and women， the age group with the highest proportion(比例) of smokers is the age group 24~44.

Income, education and occupation(职业) play a part in determining a person's smoking habits. City people smoke more than people living on farms. Well-educated men with high incomes are less likely to smoke cigarettes than men with fewer years of schooling and lower incomes. On the other hand, if a well-educated man with a higher income smoke at all, he is likely to smoke more packs of cigarettes every day.

The situation is somewhat different for women. There are slightly more smokers among women with higher family incomes and higher education than among the lower income and lower educational groups. These more highly educated women tend to smoke more heavily.

Among teenagers(青少年) the picture is similar. There are fewer teenage smokers from upper-in-society, well-educated families, and from families living in farm areas. High school students who are preparing for college are less likely to smoke than those who do not plan to continue their education after school. Children are most likely to start smoking if one or both of their parents smoke.

1. Why does the author say that cigarette smoking is a widespread habit in America?

A. Because over seventy percent of Americans smoke cigarettes.

B. Because more than seventy percent of American adults smoke today.

C. Because no small proportion of American adult men and adult women smoke regularly.

D. Because more and more American young people start smoking.

2. What notable thing makes the author feel quite encouraging?

A. The number of smokers no longer increases.

B. Those who smoke less.

C. Those who smoke have given up smoking habit.

D. Not a few people who once smoked have stopped smoking.

3. Who in the United States smoke most according to the passage?

A. Adult men. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. Men at the age of 24 to 44.

C. Adult women. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. Young people.

4. Who are less likely to smoke cigarettes?

A. Well-educated men with high income.

B. More highly educated women.

C. Men with low education and low income.

D. Women with high family income.

5. Who among the teenagers are likely to smoke?

A. Children from well-educated families.

B. Those living in farm areas.

C. Those who don’t want to receive higher education.

D. Those whose parents once smoked.

The research, which followed 200 students in four years, found that women consistently(一贯地) out-performed men in their studies even though they had started their courses with almost identical(完全相同的) A-level grades.

An analysis(分析) of the results showed that, while 65 percent of female graduates were rewarded(授予奖赏), only 35 percent of males did as well. Girls are known to outperform boys at school, but this research shows that the trend continues at university.

Fiona Smith who led the study said, “The survey shows that the difference has to do with school in general. ”

“It also shows something about the inequality for working women in terms of pay and promotion(晋升). Women work harder at school, harder at university, and do better at both, yet they still receive less pay. ”

The survey found that female students were more faithful, less likely to miss lectures, and more likely to believe that their marks reflected their ability than male students. Female students were also more likely to ask for and receive support from their professors.

Women were also likely to choose their universities because they liked the courses being offered.

In contrast, men were more likely than women to miss lectures due to “other affairs” and  “laziness”, and to believe that playing sports was an important part of university life.

Generally people think that women's success comes from more emphasis(强调)on coursework, but the survey shows that female geographers at Brunel did better in their exams than in their coursework.

Dr.  Smith said, “Most women feel that getting good grades is the most important part of university life. They believe that they need to work harder in order to compete in the male-dominated(男性主导的)environment they will encounter(遭遇) at work. Good grades are viewed as an insurance policy for success. Men, on the other hand, prefer going out and playing sports to academic work. ”

“This survey shows how important it is to get all young people working hard and teach them the value of higher education. ”

1. Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Girls are always better, both at school and at university.

B. Men were more likely than women to miss lectures due to “other affairs” and laziness.

C. Female students were more faithful and less likely to miss lectures.

D. Women work harder than men at university but seldom get better degrees as a result.

2. The cause of women performing better at university than men is that__________.

A. female students did better at school before entering university

B. women will not find jobs unless they work harder at university

C. women get more help and support from their teachers

D. more female students think good grades at university will benefit them in the future

3. The underlined word “It” in Paragraph five probably refers to__________.

A. a middle school phenomenon

B. the survey

C. the educational sex gap

D. the previously held opinion

4. The main purpose of the survey is__________.

A. to give the government some advice on higher education

B. to show the sex difference in higher education

C. to show us some information about higher education

D. to make all the students work hard and realize the importance of higher education

A man named Walter Scott had the first “diner” in 1872. It wasn’t really a diner. It was only a food cart. People on the street walked up to the cart to buy food. These carts served late-night workers who wanted a cup of coffee and a late-night meal. The meal was a sandwich and boiled eggs. In 1887, Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside. However, they did not sit down. Later, people built diners with counters and stools（凳子）, and people sat down while they ate.

Before long, many diners stayed open around the clock. In other words, people were able to eat in a diner at any time. Diners changed in other ways, too. The original menu of sandwiches and coffee became bigger. It included soup, favourite dishes, and a breakfast menu. In addition, diners soon became permanent（永久的）buildings. They were no longer carts on wheels.

Diners today look similar to the diners of the early 1900s. They are usually buildings with large windows. Inside, the diners have shining counters with stools, booths, and tables and chairs. People can eat all three meals in a modern diner.

Today, many people eat in fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s and Burger King. However, the diner remains an American tradition, and thousands of people still enjoy eating there. It was popular a century ago, and it is still popular today.

1. A man named Walter Scott had the first “diner” in 1872. Why is diner in quotation marks(引号)?

A. Because it is spelled differently from “dinner”.

B. Because the first diner was not a real diner.

C. Because diner was a new word.

D. Because it is special kind of restaurant.

2. What meals did the first diners serve?

A. Only breakfast.　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   

B. Only lunch.　　  

C. Only night-meals.　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

D. All of the above.

3. According to Paragraph 3, diners changed in__________.

A. two ways　　  　　　　　　

B. three ways　　  　　

C. four ways　　  　　　　　　

D. five ways

4. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Diners existed before fast-food restaurants.

B. The menu included more food than sandwiches and coffee.

C. Burger King is a fast-food restaurant.

D. Sandwiches became bigger.

5. The main idea of the passage is__________.

A the diner is a traditional, popular place to eat in the United States

B. Samuel Jones built the first diner big enough to allow the customers to come inside

C. American diners serve many types of food 24 hours a day to their customers

D. diners are different from fast-food restaurants in many ways