B
IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer, and the man behind it is Ingvar Kamprad, one of the world’s most successful businessmen. Born in Sweden in 1926, Kamprad was a natural businessman. As a child, he enjoyed selling things and made small profits from selling matches, seeds, and pencils in his community. When Kamprad was 17, his father gave him some money as a reward for his good grades. He used it to start up a business—IKEA. IKEA's name comes from Kamprad's initials (I.K.) and the place where he grew up ('E' and 'A').
IKEA first began to sell furniture through a mail-order book in 1947. The furniture was all designed and made by manufacturers near Kamprad’s home. Initial sales were very encouraging, so Kamprad expanded the product line．Furniture was such a successful aspect of the business that IKEA became a pure furniture company in 1951.
In 1956 Kamprad saw a man disassembling a table to make it easier to transport. Kamprad was inspired. The man had given him a great idea: flat packaging. Flat packaging would mean lower shipping costs for IKEA and lower prices for customers. IKEA tried it and sales boosted. The problem was that people had to assemble furniture themselves, but over time, even this grew into an advantage for IKEA. Nowadays, IKEA is often seen as having meanings of self-sufficiency. This image has done wonders for the company, leading to better sales and continued expansion．
Today there are over 200 stores in 32 countries. Amazingly, Ingvar Kamprad has managed to keep IKEA a privately-held company. In 2004 he was named the world’s richest man. He currently lives in Switzerland and is retired from the day-to-day operations of IKEA. IKEA itself, though, just keeps on growing.
The author states in Paragraph 4 that flat packaging___________.
| A．needs large space to store furniture |
| B．is a business concept inspired by Kamprad |
| C．helps reduce transportation costs |
| D．makes the company self-sufficient |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Ingvar Kamprad established IKEA and succeeded. |
| B．IKEA is the world’s largest furniture retailer. |
| C．The advantages of IKEA’s furniture. |
| D．Ingvar Kamprad was a natural businessman. |
What can you learn about IKEA form the passage?
| A．The starter kept IKEA a company operated by a few people |
| B．The furniture was made by manufacturers in Kamprad’s home |
| C．The starter made a big fortune when he was a child |
| D．The goods sold in IKEA are limited and not welcomed |
The passage is written mainly in terms of ___________.
| A．examples that illustrate a problem |
| B．order of events |
| C．analysis of a process |
| D．comparison and contrast |
A robot is a computer-controlled machine that is programmed to move and handle objects. Robots are able to perform repetitive tasks more quickly, cheaply, and accurately (精确的) than humans. In 1995, about 700,000 robots were used－including over 500,000 in Japan, about 120,000 in Western Europe, and about 60,000 in the United States－all in the industrialized world. Many robots applications are designed for tasks that are either dangerous or unpleasant for human beings. Now, robotic technology can be used in more and more fields. Experts say in the future robots will be able to make new highways, constructsteel frameworks of buildings, clean sewage (污水系统), and such physical work. Besides, another possibility is the development of robotic technology in medical surgery operations.
Perhaps the greatest changes in future robots will improve from their increasing ability to reason. The field of artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from university labs to practical application in industry, and machines of a new kind of robots are being developed, which can perform something involved in the process of understanding and planning, such as the management of a battlefield. Even the control of a large factory will be performed by intelligent computers. And there might be a possibility that these computers can design and make robots of their own.
Is there anything dangerous involved in this artificial intelligence progress then? Robot technology has been making people nervous ever since it was invented. Is it unreasonable to worry that robots will someday become too clever? Is it impossible that these human-like robots will start to think and plan for themselves? Will robots take over the world and force humans to give them energy to survive?
In 1995, about 700,000 robots were working in _____________.
| A．Japan | B．the United States | C．Western Europe | D．the industrialized world |
Which of the following do experts say robots won’t be able to do in the future?
| A．Take care of roads. | B．Be used as medicine. |
| C．Used as underground pipeline cleaner. | D．Take up jobs of building construction. |
What does the underlined word “which” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．Greatest changes in future robots. | B．The field of artificial intelligence. |
| C．Machines of a new kind of robots. | D．Practical application in industry. |
What can we know from the 2nd paragraph？
| A．It is possible that robots will be able to think like human beings. |
| B．It is sure that robots might be able to manage battlefields. |
| C．There is no doubt that computers can design and make robots of their own. |
| D．It is proved that computers can’t reason like human beings. |
Which of the following makes people worried most?
| A．Future robotic technology might cause dangers. |
| B．Future robotic technology might make people too clever. |
| C．Future robotic technology might help to do all dangerous jobs. |
| D．Future robotic technology might not survive because of its shortage of energy. |
Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments (才艺）, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patienceand intelligence. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our future. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be “Daddy’s little girl.” While growing up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbours without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children’s lives. In my early life my father continuously pushes me to excel, so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or having a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but not to the point they will begin to take advantage of you. His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, enthusiasm for work and people around, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved man, but to everybody’s surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in.What is the best title for the passage?
| A．How my father loved me as “Daddy’s little girl”. |
| B．My father – the person I admire most. |
| C．I am the apple on my father’s palm. |
| D．My father – the person who loved me most. |
Which of the following could NOT be used to describe the writer’s father?
| A．Considerate and humourous. | B．Affectionate and open-minded. |
| C．Energetic and helpful. | D．Knowledgeable and sociable. |
Which of the following can best explain the underlined word “excel” in Paragraph 2?
| A．Be more powerful than others. | B．Be richer than others. |
| C．Do better than others. | D．Be more charming than others. |
By saying “you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but not to the point they will begin to take advantage of you” in Paragraph 2, the father was telling the writer to ______.
| A．think for others and help them, but not to be made use of in negative ways |
| B．think for others and help them, so that you can make use of them to serve you |
| C．try to make use of those who want to do so to you |
| D．try to be good to those who are worth making friends with |
What can we infer about the writer?
| A．She appreciated her father because he solved all the problems for her. |
| B．She was outstanding in work because her father pushed her too hard. |
| C．She considered her father silly and often laughed at him. |
| D．She has a strong sense of sympathy towards other people. |
B
Sydney is Australia's most exciting city.The history of Australia begin here.In 1788,Captain Arthur Philips arrived in Sydney with 11 ships and 1 024 passengers from Britain(including 770 prisoners).Today there are 2.5 million people in Sydney.It is the biggest city in Australia,and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
There are over 20 fine beaches close to Sydney.Its warm summer climate and cool winter have made it a favorite city for immigrants(移民)from overseas.There are three things that made Sydney famous－its beautiful harbor(港口),the Sydney Harbor Bridge,and the Sydney Opera House.
But there are many more interesting things in Sydney:beautiful shops and restaurants,for example,rows of interesting old houses built in the 19th century,and everywhere,the sea.Summer or winter,day or night,Sydney is an outdoor city.
Some Americans think it is very British.Some British visitors think it is like America.There is some truth in both these opinions,because Sydney takes from both the Old World—Europe,and the New World—America,and makes it into something that is neither British nor American but truly Australian.
6.What is Sydney?
A.The capital of Australia.
B.The biggest city in Australia.
C.The oldest city in the world.
D.The biggest harbor in the world.
7.In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillips arrived in Sydney_________.
A.with some ships and more than one thousand passengers from Britain
B.with eleven ships and seven hundred prisoners
C.with one thousand and twenty-four passengers besides seven hundred prisoners
D.with more than ten ships and some sailors
8.What made Sydney famous?
A.There are many immigrants from different countries,the beautiful beaches and interesting old houses.
B.There are beautiful shops,the beautiful harbor and large ships.
C.There are the Sydney Opera House,modern restaurants and many overseas.
D.The beautiful Harbor,the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House.
9.The climate in Sydney is_________.
A.warm in summer and cold in winter
B.warm all the year round
C.neither too hot nor too cold
D.cool all through the year
10.The writer thinks Sydney is_________.
A.mostly like America
B.is very British
C.is neither British nor American but truly Australia
D.taking from the Old World and New World
六、Reading comprehension(阅读理解)20分
A
For years,business people in Western Europe were worried.They knew they could not compete(竞争)against business from the U.S.The United States is much larger and had many more resources than any Western European country.
Some European people realized that the European nations need to join together to help each other.If they could forget their language differences and the differences in customs(风格),they might become strong competition against other countries.
In 1958,six of the European countries-Belgium;the Netherlands,Luxembourg,France,Germany and Italy got together and decided to cooperate(合作).They called their group the European Economic Community,or the Common Market.These countries agreed to join their resources together.Within a few years,the European Economic Community had worked so well that its members were more prosperous(繁荣)than many other European nations.
Soon,other nations began to realize the advantages(好处)of the Common Market.Today the Common Market includes most of the important countries in Western Europe.It is helping Western Europe to again take its place as a leader among the industrial nations of the world.
1.From the passage we know the U.S.is much richer than _________in resources.
A.any other Western Europe countries
B.any other country in Western Europe
C.any country in Western Europe
D.every country in Europe
2.The members of the European Economic Community have developed fast because they_________.
A.share their resources and produce more goods
B.can again take the place as a leader
C.forget the differences in their languages and customs
D.have become strong competition against the U.S.
3.Which statement is true?
A.The Common Market is only a political association(联盟).
B.The Common Market is an economic and political association.
C.The Common Market is only an economic association.
D.The Common Market is neither an economic association nor a political one.
4.In order to _________ the Western European countries decided to cooperate.
A.join together to found a united country
B.help each other to smooth away the differences in customs
C.work and act together for common purpose
D.fight against the U.S.
5.Today the Common Market has helped _________ again take the place as a leader among the industrial nations of the world.
A.Belgium,the Netherlands,Luxembourg,France,Germany and Italy
B.Belgium,the Netherlands,Luxembourg,France,Germany,Italy and other countries
C.Belgium,the Netherlands,Luxembourg,France,Germany,Italy and other European countries
D.Belgium,the Netherlands,Luxembourg,France,Germany,Italy and other Western European nations
Reading is thought to be a kind of conversation between the reader and the text．The reader puts questions，as they were．to the text and get answers．In the light of these he puts further questions，and so on．
For most of the time this“conversation”goes on below the level of consciousness．At times，however，we become aware of it．This is usually when we are running into difficulties，when mismatch is occurring between expectations and meaning．When successful matching is being experienced，our questioning of the text continues at the unconscious level．
Different people converse with the text differently．Some stay very close to the words on the page；others take off imaginatively from words，interpreting，criticizing，analyzing and examining．The former represents a kind of comprehension that is written in the text，while the latter represents higher levels of comprehension．The balance between these is important，especially for advanced readers．
There is another conversation that from our point of view is important，and that has not to do with what is read but with how it is read．We call this a“process”conversation as opposed to a“content”，conversation．It is concerned not with meaning but with the strategies we employ in reading．If we are skilled readers，our ability to hold a content conversation with a text is usually pretty well developed．Not so our ability to hold a process conversation．It is just this kind of conversation that is of importance when we are seeking to develop our reading to meet the new demands being placed upon us by studying at a higher level．
40．Reading as a kind of conversation between the reader and the text becomes conscious only when .
A．the reader’s expectations agree with what is said in the text
B．the reader asks questions and gets answers
C．the reader has trouble understanding what the author says
D．successful matching is occurring
41．At a lower level of comprehension，readers tend to .
A．read a text slowly
B．read without thinking hard
C．interpret a text in their own way ．
D．concentrate on the meaning of words only
42．A“process”conversation has to do with .
A．the development of our ability to check the details
B．determining the main idea of a text
C．what reading material is read
D．the application of reading strategies
43．From the passage we know .
A．it’s important for readers to have conscious and unconscious levels of comprehension
B．readers should take a critical attitude towards the author’s ideas
C．readers should learn to use different approaches in reading different texts
D．readers should pay more attention to the content of a text
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