The private automobile(私家车) has long played an important role in the United States. In fact, it has become a necessary and important part of the American way of life. In 1986, sixty-nine percent of American families owned at least one car, and thirty-eight percent had more than one. By giving workers rapid transportation, the automobile has freed them from having to live near their place of work. This has encouraged the growth of the cities, but it has also led to traffic problems.
For farm families the automobile is very helpful. It has made it possible for them to travel to town very often for business and for pleasure, and also to transport their children to distant schools.
Family life has been affected(影响) in various ways. The car helps to keep families together when it is used for picnics, outings, and other shared experiences. However, when teenage children have the use of the car, their parents can’t keep an eye on them. There is a great danger if the driver has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs, or showing off by speeding or breaking down traffic laws. Mothers of victims(受害者) of such accidents have formed an organization called MADD(Mothers Against Drunk Driving). These women want to prevent further tragedies(悲剧). They have worked to encourage the government to limit the youngest drinking age. Students have formed a similar organization, SADD(Students Against Drunk Driving) and are spreading the same message among their friends.
For many Americans the automobile is a necessity. But for some, it is also a mark of social position and for young people, a sign of becoming an adult. Altogether, cars mean very much to Americans.
1.Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?
A. Cars have encouraged the growth of the cities.
B. Cars can bring families together when they go for picnics.
C. Cars have enabled people to live far from their place of work.
D. Cars help city families to transport their children to faraway schools.
2.What has been done to deal with the problem of drunk driving?
A. Parents have paid more attention to their children.
B. Some organizations have been set up against drunk driving.
C. Mothers have tried to persuade their children not to drink alcohol.
D. University students have asked the government to solve the problem.
3.We can infer from the text that in America.
A. it will be more difficult for people to get new cars
B. parents will not allow their children to have their own cars
C. the government will encourage people to use public transportation
D. cars will still be popular though they have caused many problems
Handshaking, though a European practice, is now often seen in big cities of China. Nobody knows exactly when the practice started in Europe. It is said that long long ago in Europe when people met, they showed their unarmed (无武器的) hands to each other as a sign of goodwill. As time went on and trade in cities grew rapidly, people in cities began to clap each other’s hands to make a deal or to reach an agreement. The practice was later changed into shaking hands among friends on meeting or leaving each other. “Let’s shake (hands) on it” sometimes means agreement reached.
Do the Europeans shake hands wherever they go and with whomever they meet? No. Sometimes the Chinese abroad reach out their hands too often to be polite. It is really very impolite to give your hand when the other party, especially when it is a woman,
shows little interest in shaking hands with you and when the meeting does not mean
anything to him or her. Even if, for politeness, he holds out his unwilling hand in answer to your uninvited hand, just touch it slightly. There is generally a misunderstanding(误解) among the Chinese that westerners are usually open and straightforward, while the Chinese are rather reserved (保守的) in manner. But in fact some people in western countries are more reserved than some Chinese today. So it is a good idea to shake hands with a westerner only when he shows interest in further relations with you.
1. In the old days in Europe, people put out their unarmed hands to each other.
A. to make a deal B. to greet each other
C. to show friendliness D. to reach an agreement
2.The first paragraph mainly tells us ______.
A. where handshaking was first practised
B. how handshaking came about
C. about the relationship between handshaking and trade
D. about the practice of handshaking both in Europe and in China
3.According to the text, which of the following statements is true?
A. Westerners are more reserved than the Chinese.
B. Westerners are unwilling to shake hands.
C. We should make a judgement before shaking hands.
D. We shouldn’t shake hands with European women.
4.The main purpose of the text is______.
A. to tell us some differences between the East and the West
B. to offer us some important facts about handshaking
C. to introduce us to some different customs in the West
D. to give us some advice before we travel abroad
My teenage son Karl became withdrawn after his father died. As a single parent, I tried to do my best to talk to him. But the more I tried, the more he pulled away. When his report card arrived during his junior year, it said that he had been absent 95 times from classes and had six falling grades for the year. At this rate he would never graduate. I sent him to the school adviser, and I even begged him. Nothing worked.
One night I felt so powerless that I got down on my knees and pleaded for help.“
Please God, I can’t do anything more for my son. I’m at the end of my rope. I’m
giving the whole thing up to you.” I was at work when I got a phone call. A man introduced himself as the headmaster. “I want to talk to you about Karl’s absences.” Before he could say another word, I choked up and all my disappointment and sadness over Karl came pouring out into the ears of this stranger. “I love my son but I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get Karl to go back to school and nothing has worked. It’s out of my hands.” For a moment there was silence on the other end of the line. The headmaster seriously said, “Thank you for your time”, and hung up.
Karl’s next report card showed a marked improvement in his grades. Finally, he even made the honor roll. In his fourth year, I attended a parent-teacher meeting with Karl. I noticed that his teachers were astonished at the way he had turned himself around. On our way home, he said, “Mum, remember that call from the headmaster last year?” I nodded. “That was me. I thought I’d play a joke but when I heard what you said, it really hit me how much I was hurting you. That’s when I knew I had to make you proud.”
1. By saying “Karl became withdrawn”, the author means that the boy changed entirely and ______.
A. preferred to stay alone at home B. lost interest in his studies
C. refused to talk to others D. began to dislike his mother
2.There was silence on the other end of the line because______.
A. the speaker was too moved to say anything to the mother
B. the speaker waited for the mother to finish speaking
C. the speaker didn’t want the mother to recognize his voice
D. the speaker was unable to interrupt the mother
3.The sentence “he even made the honor roll means that______”.
A. he was even on the list to be praised at the parent-teacher meeting
B. he was even on the list of students who made progress in grades
C. he was even on the list of students who had turned themselves around
D. he was even on the list of the best students at school
4.What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Children in single-parent families often have mental problems.
B. Mother’s love plays an important role in teenagers’ life.
C. Being understood by parents is very important to teenagers.
D. School education doesn’t work without full support from parents.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从第36至第55小题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Washoe is a young chimpanzee(黑猩猩). She is no 36 chimpanzee, though. Scientists are doing a research 37her. They want to see how civilized(驯化)she can 38 Already she does many things a human being can do.
For example, she has been learning how to exchange 39with people. The scientists are teaching her 40language. When she wants to be picked 41, Washoe points up with one finger. She rubs her teeth with her finger 42she wants to brush her teeth. This is done after every meal.
Washoe has also been 43to think out and find answers to problems. Once she was put in a 44with food hanging from the ceiling. It was too high to 45 . After she considered the 46 she got a tall box to stand 47The food was still too high to be reached.Washoe found a 48pole. Then she climbed onto the49, grasped the pole, and 50 down the food with the pole.
Washoe 51 like a human, too. The scientists keep her in a fully furnished(家具齐全的)house. After a hard 52in the laboratory, she goes home. 53 she plays with her toys. She 54 enjoys watching television before going to bed.
Scientists hope to 55 more about people by studying our closest,relative(亲属)—chimpanzee.
1. A.foolish B.ordinary C.special D.simple
2. A.for B.by C.to D.on
3.A.experience B.change C.develop D.become
4. A.actions B.views C.messages D.feelings
5.A.sign B.human C.spoken D.foreign
6.A.out B.at C.on D.up
7.A.when B.until C.since D.while
8.A.raised B.trained C.ordered D.led
9.A.cave B.zoo C.room D.museum
10.A.pull B.see C.eat D.reach
11.A.problem B.position C.food D.ceiling
12.A.by B.on C.up D.with
13.A.straight B.strong C.long D.big
14.A.wall B.box C.ceiling D.pole
15.A.knocked B.picked C.took D.shook
16.A.lives B.acts C.thinks D.plays
17.A.task B.lesson C.day D.time
18.A.Here B.There C.So DThen
19.A.quite B.already C.even D.still
20.A.observe B.discover C.gain D.learn
I like this house with a beautiful garden in front, but I don’t have enough money to buy______.
A. one B. it C. this D. that
Thank you for your help and I hope I can do something for you_____.
A. in return B. in turn C. in reply D. by turns
