So much to do, so little time．So much information, so little time to read．In this age there is more information than ever before．There is not enough time to read everything we want to read．However, you can take in and understand more information in shorter time through speed-reading．This article will not make you read 3,000 words per minute, but it will show you how to increase your speed greatly．You will also learn the basic techniques of speed reading, along with the dos and don’ts of speed-reading．
When you first learned to read, you would say the word out loud and sound it out．Then you might whisper the word because people can become annoyed when you read aloud．The stage you are now at is saying the word in your head．Most people tend to read this way．Saying the word in your head will cut your reading speed tremendously （极大的）．
How do you calculate your reading speed? The speed is measured by how many words per minute you can read．Get some reading material, preferably a book．Find out how many words are on the page．Time yourself one minute．Start your timer and start reading．When the timer sounds, stop at once．If you counted 500 words on the page and you read half of the page, then you are probably reading at 250 words per minute．
The first thing about speed-reading is looking at the word and recognizing it．Don’t say the word in your mind, just look at it and recognize its appearance．Later you will recognize groups of four words or more to increase your speed．This is the first and most important step in speed-reading．
The next step is technique．As with any other skill, speed-reading requires technique．You should first be sitting up straight with your book on a horizontal （水平的） surface, such as a table or desk．Next, should be able to see the entire page．This is necessary if you want to recognize clumps of words．Lastly, you should be focused．It’s hard to read with a lot of noise．Find a quiet place to read．This will help your understanding of the text．You need something to guide your eyes while reading．Then right, you should use your hand．Remember when you were little, you would read using your finger．That is a great technique, only now you’re using your hand to underline each line．Move your finger smoothly across page．No need to go rush, start out slow．Keep your eyes focused on words as you recognize them while using your hand as a guide．This will increase your speed．
The third step is practice．Practice makes perfect．Set time intervals．Read using different techniques,
but make sure you understand what you’re reading．Which of the following statements is true according to the text?
| A．Now there is limited information than ever before． |
| B．Now conditions ask people to use less time to know more information． |
| C．Now people can read what they like． |
| D．The less you read, the more time you will spend． |
The underlined sentence “you should be focused” in the fifth paragraph means that ______．
| A．a person should devote his attention to it while reading |
| B．your feelings will be hurt while reading |
| C．a person should smooth away difficulties while he reads |
| D．you should pay attention to your faults while you are reading |
To speed up your reading, you should_________．
| A．sit up straight with your book flat and use something to guide your eyes |
| B．say every word out loud and sound it out |
| C．know it is necessary to read quickly |
| D．underline some important words while you say them |
D
Here’s an unusual story: a diamond right was recently found in an egg. The magician, Liu Qian, discovered it, in front of an audience of rail lions at CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala. Liu’s magic tricks have made the centuries-old art of magic fashionable once again, and made him the hottest magician in China.
As a seasoned young magician from Taiwan, Liu is popular worldwide for his magic shows. Countries he has performed in include the United States, Japan, South Korea and the UK.
Witnessing something impossible happen right before your eyes is the root of people’s love for magic.
Liu is known for his interaction (acting together) with his audiences. He has a unique understanding of showmanship (演出技巧).
“It’s actually thinking, rather than one’s operation skills, that is more important to achieving a successful magic show. We think carefully about how to design the shows creatively, to make them appear more interesting. ” Liu said.
Liu Qian’s success dates back to his childhood. Born in 1976 in Taiwan, he found himself attracted to a magic toy in a shop when he was seven years old. At the age of 12, he won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest, which was judged by the great American magician, David Copperfield.
Yet, Liu never planned on becoming a professional magician. He studied Japanese literature at university and only hoped to be an amateur magician in his spare time. However, his failure to find a proper job after graduation pushed him towards magic as a career.
To improve his performing skills, he has performed on streets, roads and fields, for passers-by, policemen and farmers.
“Street shows are the biggest challenge for us magicians. We have to deal with unexpected situations and tough crowds,” Liu said.
68．The story is about________.
A．how Liu Qian became China’s hottest magician
B．why people love magic
C．what magic tricks are
D．how fashionable magic is
69．People love to watch magic because________.
A．they can’t figure out the secret of magic
B．it arouses their curiosity
C．they love watching magicians make the impossible happen
D．it is a centuries-old art
70．Which of the following is the key reason that Liu Qian decided to make magic his career?
A．He was interested in magic when he was young
B．He had won Taiwan’s Youth Magic Contest.
C．He became an amateur magician in his spare time.
D．He couldn’t find an acceptable job after graduation.
71．From the story we know that________.
A．Liu Qian competed in many magic competitions
B．Liu Qian often invites audiences to be in his magic show
C．Liu Qian performs on streets in order to increase his fame
D．Liu Qian does street show to make money
C
Business Week ( Oct. 8,2008 )
Introducing Business Week's Power 100, our ranking of the most influential people in the world of sports.
Prospect(展望) ( Oct. 20,2008)
In July, Gordon Brown published a green paper called "The Governance of Britain.” The final section said that we need to be clearer about the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be British. It proposed(倡议) "to work with the public to develop a British statement of values. " We asked 50 writers and intellectuals to give us their thoughts on this statement and what should inform it.
Science( Sep. 28,2008)
In the journal's 28 September 2008 issue, Science, in partnership with the National Science Foundation, is pleased to present the winners and honorable mentions in the fifth annual Science and Engineering Visualization(视觉) Challenge.
Time( Sep. 1,2008 )
From the phone that has changed phones forever, to futuristic cars, to a building made of water, to a remote controlled dragonfly(蜻蜓)—a dazzling display of ingenuity(独创性).
Guardian( Oct. 17,2008)
Against all the odds, and seeing off competition from favourite to win Ian McEwan and Lloyd Jones, rank outsider Anne Enright,45, has been awarded the Man Booker prize for what the judges called a "powerful, uncomfortable and even at times angry book," The Gathering.
64．What do these five books have in common?
A．Each of the articles in each book is introduced in detail.
B．They are all published in the year and have one article digest.
C．Each of them is commented by a great man in the world.
D．They all introduce the most influential people.
65．What would be the best title for the article from Prospect?
A．In Search of British Values.
B．The Final Section.
C．The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship.
D．50 Writers and Intellectuals.
66．Who wins the Man Booker prize according to the passage?
A．Gordon Brown. B．Ian McEwan. C．Lloyd Jones. D．Anne Enright.
67．The passage probably appears in a _______.
A． report B． magazine C． text book D． science book
B
Hong Kong’s movement has urged the Walt Disney company to cut the maximum number of people allowed into its new park after visitors complained about long queues at trial opening over the weekend.
The park admitted about 30,000 guests on Sunday for a rehearsal, but visitors found themselves waiting in line for up to three hours for some popular rides. Many waited for up to half an hour at fast food outlets.
The park, which was built to take a maximum capacity of 30,000 visitors, officially opens next Monday. But Hong Kong Financial Secretary Heary Tang urged the company to consider lowering the upper limit.
“If it takes in 30,000 people, the queues will be very long and buying lunch would take a very long time,” Tang told reporters late on Monday. “Disney has told us that queues at its other parks are also very long during peak periods, but people may not be used to lining up for so long. So we are discussing with Disney on whether it could manage this more flexibly.”
Asked if the full capacity should be lower than 30,000, he said, “We are now examining this. We should handle it flexibly.”
Disney was not immediately available for comment.
Hon
g Kong’s government holds a 57 percent stake in the park and Disney owns the rest. The project was launched during a time when Hong Kong was in recession (衰退) and was widely regarded as a best cure to the city’s economic trouble.
The park is expected to draw massive crowds, particularly from Chinese mainland. But, not all news associated with the park has been encouraging.
60．When visitors where lining up for tickets for a long time, they were____.
A．excited B．upset C．nervous D．dissatisfied
61．What’s the best title for the passage?
A．HK Disney opens up.
B．HK urges Disney to cut visitors capacity at the new park.
C．HK encourages natives to visit Disney.
D．Disney attracts visitors from Hong Kong and Chinese mainland.
62．By mentioning what Tang said, the author wants to show____.
A．visitors showed great interest in Disney
B．Disney will take some measures to limit visitors
C．why HK governments suggests lowering the number of visitors
D．the HK government tried to co – operate with Disney
63．When HK Disney was launched, ____.
A．people though little of its future development
B．people thought it a way to revive (复苏，恢复) HK’s economy
C．Disney hold belief that it could bring more money
D．Disney was in recession across the global
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题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。
A
As a boy, Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors. The nature of his jokes often led to violence. He hated to go to school, and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He was fascinated by that mighty river. He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time just gaze at the mysterious islands and passing boats and rafts. He was nearly drowned nine different times. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and the unusual people who rode up and down it. He never forgot those scenes and those people. He later made them part of the history of America in his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Mark Twain received his genius (天才) from his mother. Obviously he didn’t get it from his father. He after stated that he bad never seen a smile on his father’s face. On the other hand, his mother had the rare ability to say humorous things. The some ability made Mark Twain an extremely hum onus public speaker.
56．Because of the nature of his jokes when he was a child, Mark Twain would____.
A．ran away from school
B．cause his parents to quarrel with others
C．get into trouble with his friends and neighbors
D．like to sit no the bank of the Mississippi River
57．It can be learned from the text that____.
A．Mark Twain’s father was a cruel man
B．Mark Twain never attended school on time
C．Mark Twain often went boating in the nearby river
D．Mark Twain’s mother was something of a humorist
58．In his books Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain wrote much about____.
A．the Mississippi and the people riding on it
B．his friends and neighbors
C．his school life
D．his parents
59．It is implied that what affected Mark Twain’s character mostly was____.
A．his practical jokes B．his father’s seriousness
C．the history of the Mississippi D．his mother’s genius for humor
E
UNICEF is appealing for more than one billion dollars in aid for women and children around the world．The United Nations Children's Fund has released its " Humanitarian Action Report" for two thousand ten． The report lists twenty -eight countries and territories with some of the world's most pressing crisis affecting women and children．
Haiti was considered to be in crisis long before the earthquake in January．The deputy executive director of UNICEF, Hilde Johnson, says the quake has only made the need for aid more immediate．But she says children all over the world have the right to the same assistance as children everywhere else．
The "Humanitarian Action Report" discusses several issues that UNICEF says increasingly threaten the basic rights of women and children．It says climate change has caused droughts and' food insecurity in many areas．High food prices and the global financial crisis of two thousand eight - two thousand nine have only added to poverty and malnutrition （营养不良）．And armed conflict continues to threaten the lives of millions．
Hilde Johnson says children are always the most affected by conflicts and disasters．They face an increased risk of abuse, including sexual violence and other serious rights violations （侵犯）．
UNICEF deals with about two hundred emergencies around the world every year．The greatest need last year was in sub - Saharan Africa．The report says drought, food insecurity and civil unrest affected about twenty - four million people．
Violence and displacements（驱逐）of people were especially bad in Sudan, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic．
In Asia, UNICEF expects its financial assistance needs to more than double this year．This is partly the result of adding Pakistan and the Philippines to the latest report．In Pakistan, it says, more than two million people have been forced from their homes by the conflict in the．Swat Valley and other areas of the northwest．And in the Philippines, more than two hundred thousand people are still living in shelters after severe storms last year．
This years UNICEF report talks about the value of public and private partnerships in helping children and families in emergencies．
And thats the VOA Special English Development Report, written by June Simms．For a link to the UNICEF report listing the twenty - eight countries and territories in crisis, go to unsv.com．I'm Steve Ember．
72．According to Hilde Johnson, the most easily affected persons suffering from conflicts and disasters are __________．
A．women B．children C．the old D．the disabled
73．From this passage we know that the most serious problems in Asia are __________．
A．earthquakes and malnutrition
B．displacements and storms
C．sexual violence and other rights violations
D．droughts and food insecurity
74．By saying "……the quake has only made the need for aid more immediate．" Hilde Johnson probably intends to convey the idea that "__________"．
A．everything must have a beginning
B．grass never grows when the wind blows
C．cloudy mornings turn to clear evening
D．it never rains but pours
75．Which of the following might serve as a suitable title for this passage?
A．Haiti was in crisis due to the earthquake in January,
B．Violence in the twenty -eight countries and territories
C．UNICEF Appeals for Aid for Women and Children
D．the value of public and private partnerships in helping
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