(打瞌睡)

(打瞌睡) Reading Comprehension Test I Passage 1,1 After a day of work and play, the body needs to rest. Sleep is necessary for good health. During this time, the body recovers from the activities of the previous day. The rest that you get while sleeping enables your body to prepare itself for the next day. There are four levels of sleep, each being a little deeper than the one before. As you sleep, your muscles relax little by little. Your heart beats more slowly, and your brain slows down. After you reach the fourth level, your body shifts back and forth from one level of sleep to the other. Although your mind slows down, from time to time you will dream. Scientists who study sleep state that when dreaming occurs, your eyeballs begin to move quickly (although your eyelids are closed). This stage of sleep is called REM, which stands for rapid eye movement. If you have trouble falling asleep, some people recommend breathing very slowly and very deeply. Other people believe that drinking warm milk will help make you drowsy. There is also an old suggestion that counting sheep will put you to sleep. 1. A good title for this passage is________. A) Sleep B) Good Health C) Dreams D) Work and Rest 2. The word "drowsy" in the last paragraph means________. A) sick B) asleep C) a little sleepy D) noisy 3. This passage suggests that not getting enough sleep might make you________. A) dream more often B) have poor health C) nervous D) breathe quickly 4. During REM,________. A) your eyes move quickly B) you dream C) you are restless D) both A and B 5. The average number of hours of sleep that an adult needs is______ A) approximately six hours B) around ten hours C) about eight hours D) not stated here Passage I-2 About the year 1900, a small, dark-haired boy named Charles Chaplin was often seen waiting outside the back entrances of London theatres. He looked thin and hungry but his blue eyes were determined. He was hoping to get work in show business for he could sing and dance. His parents were music hall artists and he had been born into the life of the stage. And, although his own boyhood was painfully hard, he knew how to make people laugh. His own father had died from drinking too much. And his mother wasn?t really able to look after Charles and his elder half-brother, Sid, because she was often sick in mind and had to be sent into hospital. Even when she was home with them she seemed to live in a different world. Her illness makes the boys very sad. As young men, he and his brother traveled to American in a small company of actors and acted in various cities. One day Charles was invited to join a new company that was making film comedies. He accepted the offer and soon became popular. By the time he was thirty, Chaplin was the greatest, best known, and best loved comedian in the world. He had formed his own film-making company and was writing and producing his own films. He was welcomed by excited crowds who surrounded him wherever he went. But he worked very hard and had few close friends. 1 6. Charles Chaplin lived in ______ when he was a boy. A. America B. Ireland C. London D. a different world 7. Chaplin hoped ______ even in his childhood. A. to sing and dance B. to produce film C. to travel to America D. to be an actor 8. From the passage, we know that Chaplin?s mother ________. A. was a dance artist B. had some mental illness C. stayed at home everyday D. could look after her family 9. After he accepted the offer by_________, Chaplin became successful and popular. A. a comedy film company B. his elder brother Sid C. a small company of actors D. a famous company 10. When he was ________, he had his own film---making company. A. a child B. going to America C. about thirty years old D. very old Test II Passage II,1 Some psychologists maintain that mental acts such as thinking are not performed in the brain alone, but that one?s muscles also participate. It may be said that we think with our muscles in somewhat the same way that we listen to music with our bodies. You surely are not surprised to be told that you usually listen to music not only with your ears but with your whole body. Few people can listen to music that is more or less familiar without moving their bodies or, more specifically, some parts of their bodies. Often when one listens to a symphonic concert on the radio, he is tempted to direct the orchestra even though he knows there is a competent conductor on the job. Strange as this behavior may be, there is a very good reason for it. One cannot derive all possible enjoyment from music unless he participates, so to speak, in its performance. The listener "feels" himself into the music with more or less pronounced motions of his body. The muscles of the body actually participate in the mental process of thinking in the same way, but this participation is less obvious because it is less pronounced. 1. Some psychologists maintain that thinking is _________. A) not a mental process B) more of a physical process than a mental action C) a process that involves the muscles as well as the whole body D) a process that involves the muscles as well as the brain 2. The process of thinking and that of listening are similar in that _________. A) both are mental acts B) muscles participate in both processes C) both processes are performed by the entire body D) we derive equal enjoyment from them 3. The pronounced body motions are a listener?s way of _________. A) "feeling" the music B) participating in the performance C) deriving enjoyment from the music D) all of the above 4. Body movements are necessary in order for the listener to _________. A) hear the music B) appreciate the music 2 C) enjoy the music fully D) completely understand the music 5. The best title for this selection is _________. A) An Ear for Music B) Music Appreciation C) How Muscles Participate in Mental Acts D) A Psychological Definition of the Thinking Process Passage 1I,2 According to figures from the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly income for a woman in 1983 was $ 260. For the same year, men had average weekly earnings of $393. For some people, these figures are clear evidence that there is still sex discrimination in the area of pay in the U. S. . However, I would argue that this explanation is too simple. In order to get an accurate picture of the situation, we must examine the types of jobs which are typically held by men and by women. When we do this, we find that certain occupations seem to be primarily female while others seem to be primarily male occupations. In the medical and legal professions, for example, statistics show that 85% of all doctors and lawyers are men (although this situation is changing). More than 90% of all engineers are men. Women, however, have been the majority for a long time in other occupations. For these statistics, it is clear that women tend to enter certain occupations and not others. The occupations which they enter are often in service industries and often have one common feature; they do not pay well. It can be argued that this is the principal reason for the difference in earnings between men and women. In addition, we can expect the pay situation to change in the future, because more qualified women are beginning careers in medicine, law, business, scientific research, and engineering. 6. What jobs have typically been held by women? A) Jobs as doctors and lawyers. B) Jobs in service industries. C) Jobs in areas without sex discrimination. D) Jobs in areas where women are respected. 7. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A) The majority of people working in medical professions are male. B) There is still a difference between the earnings of men and women. C) The difference between men?s pay and women „s pay will become larger and larger. D) Women and men will exchange their jobs in most areas. 8. In the opinion of the writer, why do women still earn less money than men? A) Some professions are not suitable for women. B) The principle of "equal pay for equal work" isn?t observed. C) It is very difficult to change people's attitude towards the roles of women. D) Women are often in the majority in low-paying jobs. 9. According to the passage, what can we expect in the legal profession in the future? A) There will be more male lawyers. B) The number of female lawyers will rise. C) The salaries of female lawyers will increase. D) Male and female lawyers will get equal pay. '10. What is the authors attitude towards the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics? A) Critical. B) Supportive. C) Negative. D) Encouraging. 3 Test Three Passage III,1 It is a well-known fact that those who suffer from stress at work are often unskilled workers doing uninteresting, repetitive jobs, especially those on production lines. Many of them have already turned to medicines to fight against sleeplessness and fear about the future, two of the signs of long-term stress and depression. In Britain, people spend 650 million pounds a year on different kinds of medicines. About one-third of this is spent on those medicines dealing with stress and depression. People take three million sleeping tablets (药片) every night. Although these "drugs of mind" can be extremely useful in cases of crisis, most patients would be better off without them. There are many causes of stress; uninteresting work , unemployment, poor housing, family problems, over-crowding and financial worry are all important factors. Nevertheless, doctors believe that if people learnt to breathe properly, took more exercise, used their leisure time more actively and expressed their anger instead of holding it in, they would not depend so much on drugs, which treat only the outward signs and not the cause of the stress. If doctors refused prescriptions (处方) more often and discouraged patients with minor illnesses from visiting the doctors, the country would have more money to spend on improving leisure facilities and adult education, which are at present inadequate in many parts of the country. Moreover, doctors would have more time to spend on those patients in real need of their help. 1. The passage tells us that _______. A) unskilled workers are more likely to suffer from stress B) about one-third of the British workers worry about the future C) most patients feel uncomfortable with medicines D) people spend 650 million pounds on sleeping tablets every year 2. The word "depression" (Line 4, Para. 1) means _______. A) burden B) low spirit C) decline D) balance 3. According to the writer, _______. A) some medicines have a long-term effect on the mind B) the ways to treat the cause of the stress remain unknown C) those who suffer from stress need to have a good rest D) taking medicines is not a good way to overcome stress 4. The word "it" (Line 4, Para. 2) refers to _______. A) stress B) mind C) exercise D) anger 5. In this passage, the writer states that _______. A) patients should visit their doctors whenever they feel unwell B) the government should spend more money on peopled health C) nowadays people spend too much time on their leisure activities D) doctors offered patients medicines more often than necessary Passage III,2 Packaging is an important form of advertising. A package can sometimes motivate someone to buy a product. For example, a small child might ask for a breakfast food that ; comes in a box with a picture of a TV character. The child is more interested in the picture than in breakfast food. Pictures for children to color or to cut out, games printed on a package or small gifts inside a box also motivate many children to buy products, or to ask their parents for them. Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing. Food products sold in reusable containers are example of this. Although a similar product in a plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free. However, the cost of the 4 container is added to the cost of the product. The size of the package also motivates a buyer. Maybe the package has "Economy Size" or "Family Size" printed on it. This suggests that the large size has the most products for the least money. But that is not always true. To find out, a buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit. The information on the package should provide some answers. But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement. The words and pictures do not tell the whole story. Only the product inside can do that. 6. As used in the passage, the word "motivate" most probably means _______. A) making one deep in thought B) supplying a thought or feeling that makes one act C) providing a story that makes one moved D) making one believe what he does is just 7. "A buyer will get something for nothing" most probably means that _______. A) a buyer will get something useful free of charge B) a buyer will get what he pays for C) a buyer will gain more than he loses D) a buyer will not get what he wants 8. People are likely to buy the product sold in a glass or dish because _______. A) they believe the cost of the container is included in the cost of the product B) the container is too attractive C) they think they can get the container for free D) they have no other choice 9. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage? A) Package is often a successful advertisement. B) Children are often made to buy a product by its package with attractive pictures. C) A buyer is also attracted by the size of the container. D) On seeing a well-designed container, a buyer often neglects what is inside it. 10. What suggestion does the author give in the passage? A) The quality of the container has nothing to do with the quality of the product. B) Don?t buy the product which is sold in a glass or dish. C) A buyer should get what he needs most. D) The best choice for a buyer is to get a product in a plain package. Test IV Passage IV,1 When we talk about intelligence, we do not mean the ability to get good scores on certain kinds of tests or even the ability to do well in school. By intelligence we mean a way of living and behaving, especially in a new or unsetting situation. If we want to test intelligence, we need to find out how a person acts instead of how much he knows what to do. For instance, when in a new situation, an intelligent person thinks about the situation, not about himself or what might happen to him. He tries to find out all he can, and then he acts immediately and tries to do something about it. He probably isn't sure how it will all work out, but at least he tries. And if he cannot make things work out right, he doesn?t feel ashamed that he fails, he just tries to learn from his mistakes. An intelligent person, even if he is very young, has a special outlook on life, a special feeling about life, and how he fits into it. If you look at children, you?ll see great difference what we call "bright" children and "not bright" children. 5 They are actually two different kinds of people, not just the same kind with different amount of intelligence. For example, the bright child really wants to find out about life --- he tries to get in touch with everything around him. But the unintelligent child keeps more to himself and his own dream world; he seems to have a wall between him and life in general. 1. According to this passage, intelligence is the ability to _______. A) get some high scores on some test B) do well in school C) deal with life D) know what to do 2. In a new situation, an intelligent person _______. A) knows more about what might happen to him B) is sure of the result he will get C) concentrates on what to do about the situation D) cares more about himself 3. If an intelligent person failed, he would _______. A) try not to feel ashamed B) learn from his experiences C) try to find all he could D) make sure, what result he would get 4. Bright children and not bright children _______. A) are two different types of children B) are different mainly in their degree of cleverness C) have difference only in their way of thinking D) have different knowledge about the world 5. The author of this passage will probably continue to talk about _______. A) how to determine what intelligence is B) how education should do about it C) how to solve intelligent problems D) how an unintelligent person should be taught Passage IV,2 How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letter, we call words. The power of words, then lies in their associations --- the things they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meanings for us by experience and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase. Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appear powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they will make our speech silly and vulgar. 6. The origin of language is _______. A) a legend handed down from the past B) a matter that is hidden or secret C) a question difficult to answer D) a problem not yet solved 7. One of the reasons why men invented certain sounds to express thoughts and actions was that _______. 6 A) they could agree upon certain signs B) they could write them down C) they could communicate with each other D) they could combine them together 8. What is TRUE about words? A) They are used to express feelings only. B) They can not be written down. C) They are simply sounds. D) They are mysterious. 9. The real power of words exists in their _________. A) properties B) characteristics C) peculiarity D) representative function 10. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A) The more we read and learn, the more ignorant we are. B) The more we read and learn, the more confused we will be. C) The more we read and learn, the more learned we are. D) The more we read and learn, the more snobbish we become. Test V Passage V, 1 Stress may be defined as the response of the body to any demand. Whenever people experience something pleasant or unpleasant, we say they are under stress. We call pleasant kind "eustress", the unpleasant kind "distress". People sometimes compare our lives with that of the cave man, who didn?t have to worry about the stock market or the atomic bomb. They forget that the cave man worried about being eaten by a bear or about dying of hunger --- things that few people worry about today. It?s not that people suffer more stress today; it's just that they think they do. It is inconceivable that anyone should have no stress at all. Most people who are ambitious and want to accomplish something live on stress. They need it. But excessive stress is by all means harmful. Worse, chronic exposure to stress over a long time may cause more serious diseases and may actually shorten your life. The most frequent causes of distress in man are psychological --- lack of adaptability, not having a code of behavior. So the secret of cooping with stress is not to avoid it but to do what you like to do and what you were made to do, at your own rate. For most people, it is really a matter of learning how to behave in various situations. The most important thing is to have a code of life, to know how to live. 1. The modern man is suffering _______. A) more stress than the cave man B) less stress than the cave man C) different stress from the cave man D) same stress as the cave man 2. Which of the following is not an example that causes distress? A) Lacking in adaptability and code of life. B) Killing a bear in hunting. C) The failure to pass final examinations. D) Having an economic problem. 3. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? A) Every one will suffer certain kinds of stress in his life. B) Chronic exposure to stress may shorten your life. C) Excessive stress is especially harmful to health. D) Most people can learn to avoid stress. 7 4. In the second sentence of the third paragraph, "live on stress" implies that _______. A) stress is necessary to them B) they can control stress C) stress is by all means harmful to them D) they have too much stress 5. According to the passage, one should _______. A) try to avoid as much stress as possible B) cope with stress in different ways C) learn to do things at his own rate D) have the response of the body to any demand Passage V,2 Like most people, I was brought up to look upon life as a process of getting. It was not until in my late thirties that I made this important discovery; giving-away makes life so much more exciting. One discovery I made about giving-away is that it is almost impossible to give away anything in this world without getting something back, though the return often comes in an unexpected form. One Sunday morning the local post office delivered an important special delivery letter to my home, though it was addressed to me at my office. I wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation. More than a year later I needed a post-office box for a new business I was starting. I was told at the window that there were no boxes left, and that my name would have to go on a long waiting list. As I was about to leave, the postmaster appeared in the doorway. He had overheard our conversation. "Wasn?t it you that wrote us that letter a year ago about delivering a special delivery to your home?" I said it was. "Well, you certainly are going to have a box in this post office if we have to make one for you. You don?t know what a letter like that means to us. We usually get nothing but complaints. 6. At first the author looked upon life as a process of getting. He formed this view of life because _______. A) other people were selfish B) he thought it exciting to get from others C) of his early education D) of his character 7. The author wrote a note of appreciation to the post office because _______. A) he knew what such a note would mean to the post office B) he had discovered giving-away made life all the more exciting C) he believed he would get something back by doing so D) the postman delivered an important letter in time 8. When the author needed a post-office box, _______. A) he wrote the postmaster a note of appreciation B) he asked to put his name on a waiting list C) he tried to see the postmaster D) many had applied for post-office boxes before him 9. The postmaster promised _______. A) to make a new post-office box for the author B) to let the author have a post-office box C) to include the author?s name on the list D) to deliver the author?s mail to his home 10. The postmaster interfered because _______. A) he was thankful for the letter the author had written B) he overheard their conversation C) he was proud of their good service D) he received a lot of complaints for lack of post-office box 8 Test VI Passage VI,1 In 99 cases out of 100, insomnia (失眠) is caused by a disturbance of the natural sleep rhythm. The reasons why the rhythm has been disturbed are many and they range from drugs that are being taken to treat a separate medical condition to anxiety. A sudden change in lifestyle or climate could do it, or just that you've fallen into the habit of dozing off (打瞌睡) in front of the television. Certainly the body must have enough sleep. Tests that deprived people of sleep have proved lack of it can cause fairly rapid physical and mental deterioration (恶化). But on the other hand, it doesn?t need too much. So if you're sleeping in front of the TV, you won?t sleep soundly at night. Similarly, if you're holidaying in Spain, and spending your days sleeping on the beach, chances are that you?ll be wide awake at bedtime. Of course, the problem for my summer insomniacs is that, despite an almost overwhelming urge to put their heads down on their desks in the afternoons, they aren?t getting any extra sleep to compensate for their wakeful nights. For the worst sufferers I sometimes prescribe (开药方) a mild sleeping pill which, after a few nights, reestablishes the body?s natural sleep rhythm, conditioning it to accept the heat. 1. From the passage, insomnia results from __________. A) the interrupting of the ordinary sleep pattern B) being unable to sleep C) keeping awake at night D) drugs to treat a special disease 2. Lack of sleep will lead to__________. A) a sudden change in lifestyle B) a good condition in body C) the habit of being sleep in front of the television D) a quick drop in both body and mind condition 3. A mild sleeping pill can help a person well __________. A) spend time sleeping B) recover their normal sleep C) keep awake at night D) compensate for their missing sleep 4. The problem for the authors summer insomniacs is that they __________. A) can?t make up for the sleepless nights B) sleep in the afternoons C) can have extra sleep at night D) can never sleep well 5. It can be inferred that the writer is a __________. A) singer B) sufferer C) doctor D) tourist Passage VI,2 Doctors believe that second-hand smoke may cause lung cancer in people who do not smoke. Nonsmokers often breathe in the smoke from other people's cigarettes. This is second-hand smoke. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that about fifty-three thousand people die in the United States each year as a result of exposure to second-hand smoke. It is harder for children to avoid second-hand smoke. In the United States, nine million children under the age of five live in homes with at least one smoker. Research shows that these children are sick more often than children who live in homes where no one smokes. The damaging effects of second-hand smoke on children also continue as they grow up. The children of smokers are more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer when they are adults as children of nonsmokers. The risk is even higher for children who live in homes where both parents smoke. People are becoming very aware of the danger of second-hand smoke. As a result, they have passed laws that 9 prohibit people from smoking in many public places. Currently, 45 states in the United States have laws that restrict, or limit smoking. The most well-known law doesn't allow people to smoke on short native airline flights, i.e. flights within the country. 6. Compared with nonsmokers' children, the children whose parents both smoke are likely to______. A) grow up more slowly B) be sick under the age of five C) develop lung cancer more often D) become smokers more easily 7. Why are there laws made against smoking in public places in the U. S. ? A) Because people have realized the danger of second-hand smoke. B) Because more and more people don't like smoking now. C) Because parents don't want their children to become smokers. D) Because the government wants to limit the production of cigarettes. 8. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A) The number of smokers' children is twice greater than that of nonsmokers' children. B) People are now not allowed to smoke on airline flights in the U.S. C) Adults whose parents smoked when they were children get cancer more frequently. D) Second-hand smoke is not as dangerous as first-hand smoke. 9. From the passage we can conclude that______. A) the main cause of lung cancer is second-hand smoke B) most people know nothing about the danger of second-hand smoke C) public places are dangerous for people to stay D) children suffer most from second-hand smoke 10. This passage is mainly about______. A) how people get cancer B) who can get cancer easily C) what should be done with smoking in public D) whether second-hand smoking can be harmful Test VII Passage VII-1 A rapid means of long-distance transportation became a necessity for the United States as settlement (新拓 居地) spread ever farther westward. The early trains were impractical curiosities, and for a long time the railroad companies met with troublesome mechanical problems. The most serious ones were the construction of rails able to bear the load, and the development of a safe, effective stopping system. Once these were solved, the railroad was established as the best means of land transportation. By 1860 there were thousands of miles of railroads crossing the eastern mountain ranges and reaching westward to the Mississippi. There were also regional southern and western lines. The high point in railroad building came with the construction of the first transcontinental system. In 1862 Congress authorized two western railroad companies to build lines from Nebraska westward and from California eastward to a meeting point, so as to complete a transcontinental crossing linking the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific. The Government helped the railroads generously with money and land. Actual work on this project began four years later. The Central Pacific Company, starting from California, used Chinese labor, while the Union Pacific employed crews of Irish laborers. The two groups worked at remarkable speed, each trying to cover a greater distance than the other. In 1869 they met a place called Promontory in what is now the state of Utah. Many 10 visitors came there for the great occasion. There were joyous celebrations all over the country, with parades and the ringing of church bells to honor the great achievement. The railroad was very important in encouraging westward movement. It also helped build up industry and farming by moving raw materials and by distributing products rapidly to distant markets. In linking towns and people to one another it helped unify the United States. 1. The major problems with America's railroad system in the mid 19th century lay in _____. (A) poor quality rails and unreliable stopping systems (B) lack of financial support for development (C) limited railroad lines (D) lack of a transcontinental railroad 2. The building of the first transcontinental system _____. (A) brought about a rapid growth of industry and farming in the west (B) attracted many visitors to the construction sites (C) attracted laborers from Europe (D) encouraged people to travel all over the country 3. The best title for this passage would be ______. (A) Settlements Spread Westward (B) The Coast-to-Coast Railroad: A Vital Link (C) American Railroad History (D) The Importance of Trains in the American Economy 4. The construction of the transcontinental railroad took ______. (A) 9 years (C) 4 years (B) 7 years (D) 3 years 5. What most likely made people think about a transcontinental railroad? (A) The possibility of government support for such a task. (B) The need to explore Utah. (C) The need to connect the east coast with the west. (D) The need to develop the railroad industry in the west Passage VII-2 In only two decades Asian Americans have become the fastest-growing U.S. minority (少数民族). As their children began moving up through the nation's schools, it became clear that a new class of academic achievers was emerging. Their achievements are reflected in the nation's best universities, where mathematics, science and engineering departments have taken on a decidedly Asian character. This special liking for mathematics and science is partly explained by the fact that Asian-American students who began their educations abroad arrived in the U.S. with a solid grounding in mathematics but little or no knowledge of English. They are also influenced by the promise of a good job after college. Asians feel there will be less unfair treatment in areas like mathematics and science because they will be judged more objectively. And the return on the investment in education is more immediate in something like engineering than with an arts degree. Most Asian-American students owe their success to the influence of parents who are determined that their children take full advantage of what the American educational system has to offer. An effective measure of parental attention is homework. Asian parents spend more time with their children than American parents do, and it helps. Many researchers also believe there is something in Asian Culture that breeds success, such ideals that stress family values and emphasize education. Both explanations for academic success worry Asian Americans because of fears that they feed a typical racial (种族的) image. Many can remember when Chinese, Japanese and Filipino immigrants (移民) were the 11 victims of social isolation. Indeed, it was not until 1952 that laws were laid down giving all Asian immigrants the right to citizenship. 6. While making tremendous achievements at college, Asian-American students ______. (A) feel they are mistreated because of limited knowledge of English (B) are afraid that their academic successes bear a strong Asian character (C) still worry about unfair treatment in society (D) generally feel it a shame to have to depend on their parents 7. What are the major factors that determine the success of Asian Americans? (A) A solid foundation in basic mathematics and Asian culture (B) Hard work and intelligence. (C) Parental help and a limited knowledge of English. (D) Asian culture and the American educational system. 8. Few Asian-American students major in human sciences mainly because ______. (A) their English is not good enough (B) they are afraid they might meet with unfair judgment in these areas (C) there is a wide difference between Asian and Western cultures (D) they know little about American cultures and Western cultures 9. Why do the two "explanations" (Para. 3, Line 1) worry Asian Americans? (A) They are afraid that they would again be isolated from American society in general. (B) People would think that Asian students rely on their parents for success. (C) Asian American would be a threat to other minorities. (D) American academic achievements have taken on too strong an Asian character. 10. The author's tone in this passage is _____. (A) sympathetic (B) doubtful (C) critical (D) objective Test VIII Passage VIII-1 Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there?s a big difference between being a writer and writing. In most cases they are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at a typewriter. “You?ve got to want to write,” I say to them, “not want to be a writer.” The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. Only a few writers were kissed by fortune, however there are thousands more whose work is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard to become a freelance writer, I had no prospects at all. What I did have was a friend who found me my room in a New York department building. I didn?t even care that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used typewriter and felt like a good writer. After a year I still hadn?t got a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that I hardly made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn?t going to be one of those people who did wondering “What if”. I would keep putting my dream to the test, even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the Shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. 1. The passage is meant to . A. warn young people of the hardships that a successful writer has to experience B. advise young people to give up their idea of becoming a professional writer C. show young people it?s unrealistic for a writer to pursue wealth and fame D. encourage young people to pursue a writing career 12 2. What can be concluded from the passage? . A. Good writers often find their work interesting and rewarding B. Writer?s success depends on luck rather than on effort C. Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation D. The chances for a writer to become successful are small 3. Why did the author begin to doubt himself after the first year of his writing career? . A. Because he wasn?t able to produce a single book B. Because he hadn?t seen a change for the better C. Because he wasn?t able to have a rest for a whole year D. Because he found his dream would never come true 4. The word “people” in the sentence “…people who did wondering…” in Paragraph 3 refers to those . A. who think a lot without making a decision B. who regret giving up their career halfway C. who think too much of the positive side of life D. who are full of imagination even upon death 5. “Shadowland” in the last sentence refers to . A. the wonderful land one often dreams about B. the bright future that one is looking forward to C. the state of uncertainty before one?s final goal is reached D. a word that exists only in one?s imagination Passage VIII-2 If we were asked exactly what we were doing a year ago, we should probably have to say that we could not remember. But if we had kept a book and had written in it an account of what we did each day, we should be able to give an answer to the question. It is the same in history. Many things have been forgotten because we do not have any written account of them. Sometimes men did keep a record of the most important happenings in their country, but often it was destroyed by fire or in a war. Sometimes there was never any written record at all because the people then did not know how to write. For example, we know a good deal about the people who lived in China 4, 000 years ago, because they could write and leave written records for those who lived after them. But we know almost nothing about the people who lived even 200 years ago in central Africa, because they had not learned to write. Sometimes, of course, even if the people cannot write, they may know something of the past. They have heard about it from older people, and often songs and dances and stories have been made about the most important happenings. And these have been sung and acted and told for many generations for most people are proud to tell what their fathers did in the past. This we may call „remembered history?. Some of it has now been written down. It is not so exact or so valuable to us as written history is, because words are much more easily changed when used again and again in speech than when copied in writing. But where there are no written records, such spoken stories are often very helpful. 6. Which of the following ideas is not suggested in the passage? . A. Where there are no written records, there is no history B. “Remembered history”, compared with written history, is less reliable C. A written account of our daily activities helps us to be able to answer many questions D. Written records of the past play an important role in our learning of the human history 7. We know very little about the central Africa 200 years ago because . A. there was nothing worth being written down at that time B. the people there ignored the importance of keeping a record 13 C. the written records were perhaps destroyed by a fire D. the people there did not know how to write 8. “Remembered history” refers to . A. history based on a person?s imagination B. stories of important happenings passed down from mouth to mouth C. songs and dances about the most important events D. both B and C 9. “Remembered history” is considered valuable only when . A. it is written down B. no written account is available C. it proves to be true D. people are interested in it 10. The passage suggests that we could have learned much more about human history than we do now if the ancient people had . A. made more songs and dances B. not burnt their written records in wars C. kept a written record of every past event D. told exact stories of the most important happenings Test IX Passage IX-1 It is said that mathematics is the base of all other sciences, and that arithmetic, the science of numbers, is the base of mathematics. Numbers consist of whole numbers which are formed by the digits 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 0, and by combinations of them. Parts of numbers smaller than 1 are sometimes expressed in terms of fractions (分数), but in scientific usage they are given as decimals (十进位). This is because it is easier to perform the various mathematical operation if decimals are used instead of fractions. The decimal, or ten-scale, system is used for scientific purposes throughout the world. It is even accepted in countries whose national systems or weights and measurements are based upon other scales. The other scale in general use nowadays is the binary, or two-scale. In such a scale, numbers are expressed by combinations of only two digits, 0 and 1. This scale is perfectly adapted to the “off-on” pulses of electricity, and so it is widely used in computers. It is because of its simplicity that the scale is often called “the lazy schoolboy?s dream”. A knowledge of statistics is required by every type of scientists for the analysis of data. Moreover, even an elementary knowledge of this branch of mathematics is sufficient to enable the journalist to avoid misleading his readers. It is also useful in helping the ordinary citizen detect the attempts which are constantly made to deceive him. 1. From the first paragraph we know that parts of numbers smaller than 1 are given ____ in scientific usage. A. as fractions B . as combinations of digits C. as digits D. as decimals 2. The word “This” in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to _____. A. using fractions in scientific fields B. forming a number by the digits C. performing the mathematical operations D. expressing fractions as decimals 3. According to the passage, why is the binary system often called “the lazy schoolboy?s dream”? A. Arithmetic operation in this system are relatively easy. B. The two-scale mathematical operations are interesting. C. The schoolboy likes the digital computers. D. This system is not required to by learned in school. 4. From the passage, which scale is widely used in computers nowadays? 14 A. Ten-scale B. Binary C. Decimal D. Fractions 5. Journalists can use the statistics to ________. A. mislead readers B. avoid guiding readers wrongly C. avoid deceiving readers D. avoid deceiving attempts -2 Passage IX To drive any motor vehicle in Britain you must have a valid driving license and insurance. The minimum age for a driving license is seventeen for a car or motor cycle. During your first year your own overseas driving license or International Driving Permit (许可证) will qualify you to drive. If you are from a European Community country, you can exchange your existing full license for a full British one as long as you apply within the first 12 months of taking up residency. A learner driver must display the prescribed „L? plate on any vehicle the driver is driving and must be accompanied by a supervisor who holds a full license for that type of vehicle. You will need to read and know the British Highway Code which summarizes the traffic laws. Most important, in Britain we drive on the left and overtake (超车)on the right. It is compulsory for anyone on a motor cycle to wear a regulation crash helmet (头盔)and for both the front seat occupants in a car to wear seat belts. There are also strict laws about drinking (alcohol) and driving. If you intend to drink then do not drive a motor vehicle, but take public transport instead! 6. If a French driver moves to live in Britain, he needs to ______. A. exchange his driving license within the first year B. not exchange his driving license C. exchange his driving license before he moves in D. apply at any time 7. If the learner drives a truck, the supervisor should hold _______. A. any kind of license B. „L? plate C. the International Driving Permit D. the license for truck 8. The two persons sitting on front seats in a car need to wear ______. A. no-slipping shoes B. seat belts C. drive home D. glasses 9. The driver drinks a lot of alcohol before driving and he should ______ . A. take the public bus B. drive on the right C. drive home D. sleep in the bar 10. We can make a conclusion that this passage is _______. A. about how to drive B. a driver guide in Britain C. about traffic laws D. an international drive guide Text X Passage X-1 So why didn?t people just translate those operas into English? Unfortunately, when translated, the great European operas can be a mess. As anyone who has ever studied a foreign language can tell, a word-to-word translation can never communicate the emotional overtones (含意) of the language. To make matters worse, every syllable of text in an opera is matched up with a note of music—so when translating a foreign opera into English, you have to not only maintain the number of syllables in the sentence, but also make sure that the accented syllables land on accented musical notes. Furthermore, any arias (唱段) are written in rhymes (韵律), and rhymes can?t be translated without changing their meaning or abandoning their rhyme. For nearly two centuries, opera goers have had an unpleasant couple of choices: either hear operas performed in a language that they didn?t understand, or have them translated into English. Wasn?t there any solution? 1. According to the passage, it is ____ to translate great European operas to English. A. difficult B. easy C. valuable D. necessary 2. The great fault in the word-to-word translation is that ______, 15 A. it changes the syllables B. it requires the audience to learn a foreign language C. it can not express the emotional overtones D. the audience can not understand the translated opera 3. The two difficulties in opera translation is _____. A. sentence and music B. music and syllables C. music and rhymes D. syllables and rhymes 4. How long has the problem of opera translation existed? A. For less than tow centuries B. For over two hundred years C. For about two hundred years D. For about one century 5. Until now the problem of opera translation _____. A. has found solution B. is far from being solved C. has not been solved D. can never be solved PassageX-2 Cambridge University provides opportunities for educational achievement which are probably unequalled. This is, above all, the place for students with inquiring minds who want to extend their mastery of an educational discipline. The admission standard is high—the great majority of entrants(入学者) have at least AAB grades at GCE A-level (or the equivalent), but learning ability is the only quality they all share. Students at Cambridge come from a wide range of educational and social backgrounds. Whatever your background, you yourself have to make the decision to apply, and you, as an individual, will be considered for admission. At Cambridge, Open Days are arranged to help you to experience the atmosphere and see the facilities in a college. Admissions and teaching staff will be there to answer any questions about educational matters, your qualifications, life in a college and so on. This would be the moment to discuss your school courses, if they are in any way different from conventional academic A-levels. If you cannot come to an Open Day, an informal visit to a college can often be arranged, by contacting the Admission Office well beforehand. Cambridge graduates traditionally go into a very wide range of occupations. Usually over a quarter will continue with some form of further study, either for a higher degree or for a vocational (职业的) qualification. 6. The Cambridge University is the place _____. A. where students can extend their mastery of a major. B. where students can learn a practical skill C. where only the rich students can go for study D. whose admission standard is low 7. According to the passage, the only quality shared by the students in Cambridge is _____. A. educational backgrounds B. learning ability C. social backgrounds D. smartness 8. As a rule, when can you go to experience the atmosphere and see the facilities in the Cambridge? A. Every day you can B. The time arranged in advance. C. On the Open Day. D. After you are a student at Cambridge. 9. On the Open Day you can get the information on ______. A. life in the college B. educational matters C. your qualifications D. all the above 10. Cambridge graduates can work _______. A. in a small range of occupations B. in a quarter of occupations C. in a variety of occupations D. in the advanced occupations 16 17