Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (30 marks)
Directions： Read the following three passages. Each passages is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked with A， B， C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
A
As we all know， the Dragon Boat Festival is our country’s traditional festival， but do you know there is also a Dragon Boat Festival in South Korea， which also falls on May 5 of the lunar calendar(阴历)？ It has been reported that South Korea will apply to United Nations Educational， Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO 联合国教科文组织) to make the celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival its own intangible cultural heritage (非物质的文化遗产). If successful， people from other countries may see the Dragon Festival as a Korean creation.
As the birthplace of the yearly event more than 2,000 years ago， China is not happy with the situation. “It would be a shame if another country successfully made a traditional Chinese festival part of its own cultural heritage ahead of China，” said Zhou Heping， deputy(副) culture minister. The Chinese Ministry of Culture is even thinking of making its own application(申请) to UNESCO， covering all traditional Chinese festivals， including the Dragon Boat event. It is thought that the festival is held in memory of the great poet Qu Yuan (340－278 BC)， who lived in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period. Qu was known to be a patriot (爱国者) and admired by ordinary people.
He is said to have jumped into Miluo River， because he had lost hope in his country’s future. When people heard about Qu’s death， they sailed up and down the river searching for his body. They also beat the drums to frighten away the fish and threw Zongzi into the water to stop the fish touching Qu. Dragon boat racing is said to come from this search for the poet’s body.
Over the years， the Dragon Boat Festival has spread throughout the world. In Japan and Vietnam， as well as South Korea， the festival has mixed with and become part of the local culture.
The Dragon Boat Festival .
| A．is also kept by South Korea |
| B．comes from South Korea |
| C．was created by South Korea |
| D．is South Korea’s cultural heritage |
What is the reaction(反应) of the Chinese Ministry of Culture to South Korea’s planning to make the Dragon Boat Festival its own cultural heritage？
| A．Fighting against South Korea. |
| B．Telling South Korea it’s not right to do so. |
| C．Considering to do the similar thing. |
| D．Asking South Korea not to do so. |
What is the purpose of holding the Dragon Boat Festival？
| A．In memory of Qu Yuan. |
| B．In memory of all the patriots of China. |
| C．To frighten away the fish. |
| D．In honor of QuYuan’s birthday. |
After Qu Yuan’s death， Zongzi was thrown into the water to .
| A．feed him |
| B．protect his body from going bad |
| C．prevent the fish biting his body |
| D．attract his soul |
Now， the Dragon Boat Festival has become activity.
| A．a nationwide | B．a worldwide |
| C．an Asian | D．a foreign |
“Mum, can I invite my classmate Brett over to stay tomorrow night, please? It’s Friday, and we don’t have any ___ .Can I, please?” Mum was sitting at the kitchen table. Dad was ___ next to her, resting his head on his arms. Mum could ___ that James wanted so badly to have his friend over.
“I’m so sorry, James,” she said.
“I’m never allowed to have friends come to the house? Why, Mum?” James asked sadly, almost in __ .
“I know it’s __ for you,” Mum said softly. “But I’m just worried other people might think we’re a little… strange. And then they would make fun of you.”
“No, they wouldn’t, Mum,” James protested. “We’re not _ at all. We’re just ordinary people.”
Mum sighed heavily. “ To tell you the truth, James, my neck has been so painful that it’s given me a heavy __ . And your poor father –he doesn’t feel _ . He really needs a rest.”
“I can help, Mum!” James said. “__ I can make you and Dad feel better, can Brett come over? Please?”
“Well…”Mum began.
“Great ! Thanks ,Mum!” James almost shouted. “ Just sit there, don’t move.” He rushed over to the kitchen drawer and _ what he needed two spanners（扳手）. “ Hang on, Mum,” he said. “ This won’t take a second.” After some _ , James was finished. With a smile of ___ on his face he said, “ There! How does that feel?” “ Oh, James,” Mum said. “ That’s a much better! How did you do it?”
“Easy,” James said _ .” Dad had tightened your neck bolts (螺栓) too much! I just_ them slightly ! I learned that in robotic science at school.”
“What about you father? Can you __ _ him?” asked Mum.
“I’ll try,” James replied. He ___ up Dad’s hair at the back of his neck. and plugged the electric wire into Dad’s head. Then he turned the __ _on. Dad opened his eyes and _ immediately . “ He just let his ___ run too low, that’s all,” James said, “Shall I tell Brett to come over straight after school tomorrow?”
“I guess so,” replied Mum. “ Your friends will just have to ___ that we are a very unusual family. Thanks, son !”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. sympathy B. satisfaction C bitterness D. politeness
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why do Americans struggle with watching their weight, while the French, who consume rich food, continue to stay thin? Now a research by Cornell University suggests how life style and decisions about eating may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel full. However, Americans tend to stop when their plate is empty or their favorite TV show is over.
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their life style. They enjoy food and therefore spend a fairly long time at the table, while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans lose the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and frozen foods for the week. The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.
After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to write about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid food. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym.
In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent life style changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity — or extreme overweight — among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains acceptance and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17% — and is growing. In what way are the French different from Americans according to Dr. Joseph Mercola?
| A．They go shopping at supermarkets more frequently. |
| B．They squeeze eating between the other daily activities. |
| C．They regard eating as a key part of their lifestyles. |
| D．They usually eat too much canned and frozen food. |
This text is mainly the relationship between _________.
| A．Americans and the French |
| B．life style and obesity |
| C．children and adults |
| D．fast food and overweight |
The text is mainly developed __________.
| A．by contrast |
| B．by space |
| C．by process |
| D．by classification |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A TV interview |
| B．A food advertisement |
| C．A health report |
| D．A book review |
President Jiang Zemin’s state visits to Thailand，Australia and New Zealand have ushered China’s relations with these countries into a new stage of development，Chinese Deputy(代理人，代表） Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said yesterday.
During his visits from September 2 to 16，President Jiang had a in-depth exchange of views with leaders of the three countries on bilateral(双方的，双边的）ties and important international and regional issues and reached extensive common ground on the issues discussed，Yang told reporters aboard a special plane on their way home yesterday. Yang accompanied(陪伴） President Jiang during the visits.
All the leaders expressed their satisfaction over the recent development of bilateral relations and called for further progress in their relationship in the new century，Yang said.
China and Thailand have decided to establish and develop a good neighborly and closer relationship of all round co-operation oriented towards the 21st century，while China and Australia，and China and New Zealand have agreed to foster a 21st century-oriented relationship of long-term stability，health development and all round co-operation，he said.
Jiang and other APEC leaders have also decided to strengthen high-level dialogues and visits，create regular meeting mechanism and further develop traditional trade，Yang added，China and Australia signed five agreements on consulate matters，mining，energy，crackdown on crime and other areas.
Reports from China Daily on Oct，5，1999 Jiang Zemin visited these states this time except______.
| A．the U.S.A |
| B．Thailand |
| C．Australia |
| D．New Zealand |
Jiang and other APEC leaders ______.
| A．satisfied with the recent development of bilateral relations |
| B．decided to strengthen high-level dialogues |
| C．reached extensive common ground on the issues discussed. |
| D．A，B and C are all correct |
The main idea of this passage is ______.
| A．Jiang Zemin has visited three countries |
| B．Australia signed five agreement of China |
| C．APEC leaders decided to visit China soon |
| D．Jiang’s visits strengthen foreign relations |
“Foster” (in para 4) means ______.
| A．decrease |
| B．develop |
| C．control |
| D．grow |
When I told my father that I was moving to Des Moines, Iowa, he told me about the only time he had been there. It was in the 1930s, when he was an editor if the literary magazine of Southern Methodist University（SMU）in Dallas, Texas. He also worked as a professor at SMU, and there was a girl student in his class who suffered from a serious back disease. She couldn;t afford the operation because her family was poor.
Her mother ran a boardinghouse in Galveston, a seaside town near Houston, Texas. She was cleaning out the attic（阁楼）one day when she came across an old dusty manuscript（手稿）. On its top page were the words, “By O. Henry”. It was a nice story, and she sent it to her daughter at SMU, who showed it to my father. My father had never read the story before, but it sounded like O. Henry, and he knew that O. Henry had once lived in Houston. So it was possible that the famous author had gone to the beach and stayed in the Gainestown boardinghouse, and had written the story there and left the manuscript behind by accident. My father visited an O. Henry expert at Columbia University in New York, who authenticated the story as O. Henry’s.
My father then set out to sell it. Eventfully, he foud himself in Des Moines, meeting with Gardner Cowles, a top editor at the Des Moines Register. Cowles loves the story and bought it on the spot. My father took the money to the girl. It was just enough for her to have the operation she so desperately needed.
My father never told me what the O. Henry story was about. But I doubt that it could have been better than his own story. Who found the O. Henry’s manuscript?
| A．The girl’s mother. |
| B．The author’s father. |
| C．The girl. |
| D．The author. |
Which of the following might explain the fact that the manuscript was found in the attic?
| A．O. Henry once worked in Houston. |
| B．O. Henry once stayed in Galveston. |
| C．O. Henry once moved to Des Moines. |
| D．O. Henry once taught at SMU. |
The underlined word “authenticated” in Paragraph 2 probably means __________.
| A．named |
| B．treated |
| C．proved |
| D．described |
According to the text, why did the author’s father go to Des Moines?
| A．To sell the O. Henry story. |
| B．To meet the author himself. |
| C．To talk with the O. Henry expert. |
| D．To give money to the girl. |
Samuel Osmond is a 19-year-old law student from Cornwall, England. He never studied the piano. However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. He learns a piece of music by listening to it in parts. Then he thinks about the notes in his head. Two years ago, he played his first piece Moonlight Sonata（奏鸣曲）by Beethoven. He surprised everyone around him.
Amazed that he remembered this long and difficult piece of music and played it perfectly, his teachers say Samuel is unbelievable. They say his ability is very rare, but Samuel doesn’t even realize that what he can do is special. Samuel wanted to become a lawyer as it was the wish of his parents, but music teachers told him he should study music instead. Now, he studies law and music.
Samuel can’t understand why everyone is so surprised. “I grew up with music. My mother played the piano and my father played the guitar. About two years ago, I suddenly decided to start playing the piano, without being able to read music and without having any lessons. It comes easily to me ---I hear the notes and can bear them in mind---each and every note,” says Samuel.
Recently, Samuel performed a piece during a special event at his college. The piece had more than a thousand notes. The audience was impressed by his amazing performance. He is now learning a piece that is so difficult that many professional pianists can’t play it. Samuel says confidently, “It’s all about super memory---I guess I have that gift.”
However, Samuel’s ability to remember things doesn’t stop with music. His family says that even when he was a young boy, Samuel heard someone read a story, and then he could retell the story word for word.
Samuel is still only a teenager. He doesn’t know what he wants to do in the future. For now, he is just happy to play beautiful music and continue his studies. What is special about Samuel Osmond?
| A．He has a gift for writing music. |
| B．He can write down the note he hears. |
| C．He is a top student at the law school. |
| D．He can play the musical piece he hears. |
What can we learn from Paragraph 2?
| A．Samuel chose law against the wish of his parents. |
| B．Samuel planned to be a lawyer rather than a musician. |
| C．Samuel thinks of himself as a man of great musical ability. |
| D．Samuel studies law and music on the advice of his teachers. |
What can we infer about Samuel in Paragraph 4?
| A．He became famous during a special event at his college. |
| B．He is proud of his ability to remember things accurately. |
| C．He plays the piano better than many professional pianists. |
| D．He impressed the audience by playing all the musical pieces. |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号