Danielle Steel, America's sweetheart, is one of the hardest working women in the book business. Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time, she can work on up to five. Her research time before writing takes at least three years. Once she has fully studied her subjects, ready to dive into a book, she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk.
Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education. After graduation, she worked in the public relations and advertising industries. Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for. Her achievements are unbelievable: 390 million copies of books in print, nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels, and a series of "Max and Martha" picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death, new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out. Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films. She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight.
Not content with a big house, a loving family, and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource(资源) and has kept in touch with them by e-mail. While she is often compared to the heroines(女主人公) of her own invention, her life is undoubtedly much quieter. But, if she does have anything in common with them, it is her strength of will and her inimitable(独特的) style. There is only one Danielle Steel.
60. Danielle Steel is different from other writers in that ____.
A. she can write several books at the same time
B. she often does some research before writing a book
C. she is one of the most popular American women writers
D. she can keep writing for quite a long time without a break
61. Children who have read "Max and Martha" picture books may know ______.
A. how to deal with affairs at school B. what to do if Max and Martha die
C. what to do when new babies are born into their families
D. how to solve the difficult problems in their writing classes
62. One of Danielle Steel's achievements is that ______.
A. some TV plays were based on her books B. her picture books attracted a lot of young men
C. one of her books became a best-seller in 1998
D. she wrote the Guinness Book of World Records
63. We can learn from the passage that Danielle Steel _____.
A. lives an exciting life B. values her readers a lot
C. writes about quiet women D. is pleased with her achievements
I don’t ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it’s like to work in a field dominated (controlled) by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space, time and the nature of black holes.
At 19, when I began studying astrophysics (天体物理学), it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers, awards—was viewed through the lens of gender politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus right brain, or nature versus nurture (培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.
Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations (挑衅): I don’t talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn’t want to deal with gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don’t study sociology or political theory.
Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women’s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don’t take account of those concerns. Still, I don’t tell them “war” stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant (怀孕的) doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that’s a sight worth talking about.
59．From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would attribute (把……归因于) the author’s failures to ________.
A. the very fact that she is a woman
B. her involvement in gender politics
C. her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist
D. the burden she bears in a male-dominated society
60．What did the author constantly fight against while doing her Ph.D. and post-doctoral research?
A. Lack of confidence in succeeding in space science.
B. Unfair accusations (accusing sb.) from both inside and outside her circle.
C. People’s fixed attitude toward female scientists.
D. Widespread wrong understanding about nature and nurture.
61．Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class?
A. Female students no longer have to bother about gender issues.
B. Her students’ performance has brought back her confidence.
C. Her female students can do just as well as male students.
D. More female students are pursuing science than before.
62．What does the image that the author presents to her students suggest?
A. Women students needn’t have the concerns of her generation.
B. Women have more difficulties on their way to academic success.
C. Women can balance a career in science and having a family.
D. Women now have fewer problems pursuing a science career.
●CAFE DISPLAY
●OUR JOURNEYS
●12 April-29 May 2008
Young people explore how they have adapted to life in Oxford.
“When I first came here,” says one young African woman, “I just wanted to cry all the time. And now I have learned to laugh again.” Working with photographer Rory Carnegie and writer Nikki van der Gaag, young men and women explore their journey from the time they first arrived in a strange place to where they find themselves today. Organised by The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival (10－17 April 2008). Supported by the Maggie Black Trust and Oxford City Council.
●ACTIVlTlES FOR CHlLDREN AND FAMILIES
●MODERN ART TROLLEY FREE
Art activities for children every weekend during the exhibition in the Entrance Space from 2 p. m. to 4 p. m. Just drop in. Children must be led by an adult.
●WORKSHOP FOR 8 TO 12 YEAR OLDS
Thursday 7 April, 10：30 a. m. to 1：30 p. m.
Looking at themes from the exhibition and exploring pictures based ideas through group discussion and using digital cameras. Led by Judie Waldmann.
●BOOK LAUNCH FREE
The Drawing Book by Sarah Simblet is a practical approach to drawing the world around you. Sarah Simblet, who teaches at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, University of Oxford, will be present to give a short talk about the development of her book. Special price of￡18 on copies purchased in the evening.
Booking recommended on 01865 813802
●TEACHERS’EVENING FREE
Thursday 21 April, 5 p.m. to 7：30 p. m.
Lecture by Susan Bright, independent writer and lecturer, at 5：30 p. m. followed by an opportunity to view the exhibition. FREE Education Notes will be provided for teachers attending the evening.
●WORKSHOP FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS
Saturday 7 May, 10：30 a. m. to 1：30 p. m.
Workshop for primary teachers who would like to develop their practical art skill as well as gain an understanding of modern art practice. Led by Judie Waldmann, artist and former primary school teacher.
●TALKS AND WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS
Exhibition talks and artist-led workshops to create work in response to the exhibition are available for pre-booked school groups.Suitable for primary and secondary schools, to check availability and discuss details call Sarah Mossop on 1865 813816.
55．If you are a teacher and interested in art, you probably would like to go to ________.
A. TEACHERS’EVENING
B. MODERN ART TROLLEY
C. WORKSHOP FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS
D. TALKS AND WORKSHOPS FOR SCHOOL GROUPS
56．What can we learn from the passage？
A. Susan Bright will give a short talk at the launch of the Drawing Book.
B. Rory Carnegie and Nikki will teach young people how to take photos.
C. The workshop led by Judie is intended for the secondary school students.
D. The children who go to the Modern Art Trolley must be led by an adult.
57．Which of the following would be the best title of the text？
A. FREE JOURNEYS B. SPRING EVENTS
C. WEEKEND ACTIVITIES D. ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS
58．The passage makes you believe that __________.
A. if you attend “BOOK LAUNCH”, you can get the book at a low price.
B. school groups can attend talks and workshops for them at any time.
C. almost all the young people have difficulty in adapting to life in Oxford.
D. TEACHERS’ EVENING is only accessible to teachers.
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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
For Senior 3 students, choosing which college to attend can be the most exciting and thrilling time in their entire school lives. This is also true for an American girl named Melanie in the film, College Road Trip, which was released in the US on March 7.
Melanie’s dad, James Porter, is the chief of police for a Chicago suburb. Incredibly security obsessed（困扰）, he wants Melanie to attend nearby Northwestern University, where she’s already been accepted. But Melanie, 17, really wants to go to Georgetown in Washington, D.C., where she’s been wait-listed.
When she gets an unexpected interview, she decides to take a road trip with a few close female friends. Melanie believes it is her first step toward adulthood.
But despite the fact that this trip is “girls only”, James isn’t comfortable with the prospect of his little princess exploring the world without him. He wants to protect her.
James joins the girls and hopes he can convince her to go to Northwestern. While Melanie’s father only has the best of intentions, his presence leads to an endless series of comic encounters.
After following their faulty GPS device deep into the backwoods, James and Melanie discover her little brother and his pet pig have been hiding in the spare tire compartment（隔间）. What should be a simple tire change results in the expensive car rolling down a mountain, forcing them to hike to a nearby hotel. There the pig ruins an outdoor wedding reception after eating an entire bag of coffee beans.
All these disasters add spice to their trip while along the way a father and a daughter finally get the chance to really talk to each other.
The film explores the parent-child relationship in a comic way: The discrepancy（不同） between how close James thinks he is to Melanie and how little he actually knows of her plans makes us laugh first and then think.
All parents, whether they have college students or not, can relate to the bittersweet realization that their kids are growing up. Like what Melanie and James have done in the film, we all can find the delicate balance between staying connected and letting go.
51．According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A．It’s unclear whether Melanie could be accepted by Northwestern University.
B．Northwestern University isn’t so famous as the university in Washington D.C..
C．There is no hope that Melanie will be accepted by the university in Georgetown.
D．Melanie’s father prefers her to stay not too far away from him.
52．We can infer from the passage that ________.
A．their car rolled down the mountain, ruining the wedding reception
B．a hotel was destroyed by Melanie’s brother and his pet pig
C．Melanie and her father got to understand each other better after so many encounters
D．the girls had to give up their trip because of the incidents on the way
53．What does the underlined word “released” mean?
A. set free B. known C. shown D. developed
54．The main purpose of the passage is to _______.
A．introduce the newly-released film
B．call on parents to learn to balance the relationship with their children
C．tell a story which happened between an American girl and her father
D．explore the differences in parent-child relationship between the west and the east
Unusual incidents are being reported across the Arctic. Inuit(因纽特人)families going off on snowmobiles to prepare their summer hunting camps have found themselves cut off from home by a sea of mud .There are also reports of sea ice breaking up earlier than usual, carrying seals beyond the reach of hunters. Climate change may still be a rather abstract (抽象的) idea to most of us ,but in the Arctic it is already having great effects –if summertime ice continues to shrink at its present rate ,the Arctic Ocean could soon become almost ice-free in summer .The knock –on effects（连锁反应）are likely to include more warming, cloudier skies ,and higher sea levels .Scientists are increasingly eager to find out what’s going on in the Arctic.
For the Inuit the problem is urgent. They live in unsteady balance with one of the toughest environments on earth. Climate change, whatever its causes, is a direct danger to their way of life. Nobody knows the Arctic as well as the locals, which is why they are not content simply to stand back and let outsider experts tell them what’s happening. In Canada, where the Inuit people are trying hard to guard their hard-won autonomy in the country’s newest land, Nunavut, they believe their best hope of survival in this changing environment lies in combining their ancestral knowledge with the best of modern science. This is challenge in itself.
The Canadian Arctic is a vast , treeless polar desert that’s covered with snow for most of the year. Adventure into this area and you get some idea of the hardships facing anyone who calls this home. Farming is out of the question and nature offers few pickings. Humans first settled in the Arctic a mere 4,500 years ago, surviving by taking advantage of sea fish. The environment tested them to the limits: sometimes the settlers were successful, sometimes they failed and disappeared. But around a thousand years ago, one group appeared that was uniquely well adapted to deal with the Arctic environment. These Thule people moved in from Alaska, bringing dogs, iron tools and the like. They are the ancestors of today’s Inuit people.
72．Which of the following is not likely to be the effect of climate change?
A．Shorter and shorter summertime.
B．Ice-free summer around the Arctic.
C．Higher sea levels.
D．More cloudy skies.
73．The Inuit people believe the solution to the climate change problem is _____.
A．to change their way of life
B．to use their ancestral knowledge
C．to make the best of modem science
D．to use their ancestral knowledge and modern science
74．It can be concluded from the last paragraph that__________
A．the first settlers in the Arctic survived by taking advantage of sea fish
B．it’s hard to farm in the Arctic due to the climate change
C．the ancestors of Inuit people stood out among the settlers
D．the Thule people from Alaska invented iron tools
75．Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
A．Climate change and the Inuit
B．Climate change around the Arctic
C．Global warming around the world
D．The Inuit and their ancestors around the world
Dear College Dean
It is my understanding that this college has received a large donation to be used to enhance (improve) the quality of life for students: expand the bookstore or add computers to the computer lab. It is the tradition of this school to promote education and to be in the vanguard of new technology. That is why I strongly argue in favor of the addition of more computers to the computer lab.
Although expanding the campus bookstore to include CDs, gifts, and a snack bar will give a nicer look to the college, we have to think about a greater goal and a more practical way to enhance the quality of life for students. What do we want for our students and our college? Do we want our college to be known as a place with a great bookstore where you can find CDs and gifts, or as a place where the students can explore and research in their field using the best tools provided by technology? In addition, there are already several snack bars on campus, and there are music stores nearby, so students do not depend on the college bookstore for these things.
We live in a highly technological world and computers play an increasingly important role in how we live. As a learning institution, this college has the responsibility to offer its students the best technology to help them prepare for their future. Many students will be expected to be familiar with the latest software and other tools when they go on to work or to graduate school.
While they are in college, students find they are expected to use computers. Many professors expect students to use computers to do homework or to complete projects. Students are asked to create PowerPoint presentations and use spreadsheets and database programs, as well as to research many topics on the Internet. Since students are competing for good grades, those who have limited access to computers are at a great disadvantage. Furthermore, being able to do projects using the computer enhances the process of learning, giving students the opportunity to find information that without a computer would be much more difficult to find.
If there are more computers, students will also be able to complete their work more efficiently. No more will they have to wait in line, paper and disk in hand, while scanning the room for an empty chair and computer. No longer will they have to sit and wait while an outdated computer struggles to follow their commands. Having more new and faster computers available will enable students to finish their work more quickly.
The more computers are used in society the more colleges will depend on them as a tool of teaching and learning. Making computers more available to students facilitates their learning process by making the process easier, more interesting, more engaging, and in the process enhancing their quality of life
68．The purpose of the author in writing the passage is__________
A．to describe the problems caused by lack of computers
B．to explain why students are in great need of computers
C．to tell us what benefits students can gain from computers
D．to persuade the Dean to purchase more advanced computers
69．From the passage we can infer that______
A．present computers in the college cannot meet the demands of the students
B．computers in the college will be updated to meet the student’s demands soon
C．the college has the responsibility to help the students to prepare for their future
D．it is also necessary to expand the college bookstore by using part of the donation
70．In paragraph 4, the author mainly wants to tell us that_______
A．computers are beneficial to students’ academic success
B．computers are helpful to student’s competition for success
C．students find it convenient to do assignments by using computers
D．students wish to use the money to buy more advanced computers
71．Which of the following shows the organization of the passage?
CP: Central Point P: Point SP: Sub-point（次要点） C: Conclusion
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