.
In the 19th century, Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing “the Great American Desert” in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and on TV.
In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130°F—165°F. There is less than inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant (very bright) colors.
67．In the 19th century, Americans moved from east to west because they .
A．enjoyed the trip B．wanted to make their home there
C．wanted to find new grassland there D．had no water to drink
68．From this passage. we can conclude that .
A．the western desert is a good place for people to live in
B．there is little water but there are many trees in the desert
C．the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty
D．till now, people know little about the desert
69．In the 1800s, many travelers died in Death Valley because of .
A．illness B．high temperature
C．cold weather D．poisonous water
70．In the desert, animals will die .
A．if they move about B．if they can’t make holes underground
C．if they come out at night D．if they drink much water
If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate, or speed, of reading:
1. Knowing why you are reading—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, arithmetic problems, science and history books, which are full of important information. 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, and letters from friends, items, or bits of news from local, or hometown, paper, telling what is happening to friends and neighbors.
4. In some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow to fast, as you go along. You need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful readings when you come to important ideas which must be remembered.
48. According to the passage, your reading speed depends on ________.
A. whether the reading material is easy or difficult
B. what you are reading
what your purpose in reading something is
D. both B and C
49. If one wants to be relaxed by reading, one should take up ________.
A. a story book B. a book on science and technology
C. news, letters from friends D. some material full of information
50. Which of the following readings should you read slowly and carefully?
A. Fairy tales. B. Aesop’s Fables.
C. Directions for use of a machine D. An evening paper.
51. Which of the following can best express the main idea of the passage?
A. How to decide your reading speed. B. How to raise your reading speed.
C. How to improve your reading skills. D. How to choose your reading materials.
No one could have failed to be moved had he watched the live televised volleyball game between the Chinese and Cuban women's teams. As we sat before the television set, with our eyes fixed on the screen, we experienced every kind of feeling. When the two teams played neck and neck, we were on pins and needles, anxious as to what would come next, and when our team fell behind our hearts were in our mouths. Watching the game between those two teams is not only a matter of great joy. For more than that it provides food for thought. Just see how the Chinese women won the game ──by their co ──operation (合作), by their excellent skill, their effort and strong will. A Chinese saying goes, "When two competent opponents (比赛的双方) meet, the strong ──minded one will win. "This is the spirit of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team. If every Chinese showed some of the spirit, never losing heart in times of difficulty and remaining clear ──minded in times of advantage (优势), then our nation would stand in the vanguard (前列) of the world family of nations, just as the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team has done, is doing and will do.
44. While watching the game, we _____.
A. had feelings of different kind
B. enjoyed a friendly and wonderful game
C. clapped and cheered only for the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team
D. were eager to know what would happen later on
45. The wonderful game _____.
A. brought us great joy
B. provided us with food for our thoughts
C. gave us not only great joy but also food for thoughts
D. give us a valuable amusement
46. The author believed that _____.
A. the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team was the strongest
B. China was sure to become stronger and stronger if only we have that spirit of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team
C. The Chinese must remain clear-minded in time of advantage
D. The Chinese Women's Volleyball Team never lost heart in times of difficulty
47. The best title of the passage might be _____.
A. Watching a Close Volleyball Game
B. The Spirit of the Chinese Women's Volleyball Team
C. Learn from the Members of the Volleyball Team
D. The Strong
──Minded Are the Winners
Mr. Fitzpatrick has given much attention to his “Weight reduction” (减轻体重) programs. Just last year, for example, when he was the main speaker at the company dinner, he said he put on twenty pounds instead of losing thirty he promised he would.
The year before that, he joined a health club. He exercised every day and ate less food. At the end of three months, however, he began making excuses about why he couldn’t go there more often.
After the health club failed to work, he joined Weight Watchers but stopped going because he was the only man there. And he hated following any of the diet programs. Fitz’s latest idea is to join a walking club to “walk off” the weight.
41. Mr. Fitzpatrick was ________ when spoke at the company dinner last year.
A. lighter than the year before B. planning to go on a diet
heavier than the year before D. with the Weight Watchers
42. He did not stay with Weight Watchers because ________.
A. he couldn’t do as the diet programs required him
B. he felt uncomfortable being watched by women
C. the members of Weight Watchers were all women but him
D. both A and C
43. Which of the following can best explain the main idea of the passage?
A. There is no good way to lose weight. B. One can do nothing without a strong will.
C. There are different ways to lose weight. D. Walking is the best way of losing weight.
What makes one person more intelligent than another? What makes one person a genius, like the brilliant Albert Einstein, and another person a fool? Are people born intelligent or stupid, or is intelligence the result of where and how you live? These are very old questions and the answers to them are still not clear.
We know, however, that just being born with a good mind is not enough. In some ways, the mind is like a leg or an arm muscle. It needs exercise. Mental (done with the mind) exercise is particularly important for young children. Many child psychologists (心理学家) think that parents should play with their children more often and give them problems to think about. The children are then more likely to grow up bright and intelligent. If, on the other hand, children are left alone a great deal with nothing to do, they are more likely to become dull and unintelligent.
Parents should also be careful with what they say to young children. According to some psychologists, if parents are always telling a child that he or she is a fool or an idiot, then the child is more likely to keep doing silly and foolish things. So it is probably better for parents to say very positive (helpful) things to their children, such as “That was a very clever thing you did.” or “You are such a smart child.”
36. The words “intelligent” and “brilliant” in the first paragraph probably mean _______ while “dull” in the second paragraph means ________.
A. bright and splendid; slow in thinking and understanding
B. pretty and handsome; ordinary-looking
great and important; common
D. hopeful and helpful; careless
37. According to the context we can guess that a genius is ________ while an idiot is ________.
A. a normal person; a funny person
B. a strong person; a weak persona highly intelligent person; a foolish or weak-minded person
D. a famous person; an ordinary person
38. A person ________ is more likely to become a genius.
A. whose parents are clever
B. often thinking about difficult problemsoften helped by his parents and teachers
D. born with a good brain and putting it into active use
39. It is better for parents ________.
A. to praise and encourage their children more often
B. to be hard on their childrento leave their children alone with nothing to do
D. to give their children as much help as possible
40. Which of the following is NOT true according to the article?
A. Parents play an important part in their children’s growth.
B. The less you use your mind the duller you may become.
C. Intelligence is obviously the result of where and how you live.
D. What makes a person bright or stupid is still under discussion.
What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work.. You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic(认错的) about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.
67．What is the passage mainly about?
A．The importance of working hard at school.
B．Choosing a career according to one’s strengths.
C．How to face one’s weakness. D．The value of school work.
68. The writer thinks that a student have a part-time job is probably ___.
A. a good way to find out his weak points B. one of the best ways of earning extra money
C. of great use for his work in the future D. a waste of time he could have spent on study
69．From the passage we learn that if a student’s school performance is not good, he _______.
A．should pay more attention to learning skills and developing abilities
B．will be regretful about his bad results
C．may also do well in his future work D．should restart his study in school
70. The underlined phrase “be all thumbs” (in Para 3) probably means “_______”.
A. be clumsy at doing things B. be skillful in doing things
C. be not interested in certain things D. be easily bored in doing things
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