Daniel stays home on workdays. He starts his personal computer in order to connect with the office which is about three hundred miles away in another city. After work, he puts on his headphones, watches a movie on his home video recorder, or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Daniel doesn’t talk to any other human beings, and he doesn’t see any people except the ones on television. Daniel is imaginary, but his lifestyle is very possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off from contact with our fellow human beings.
The world of business is one area in which technology is separating us. Experts say, for example, that many people will soon be able to work at home. With access to a large central computer, employees such as office clerks, insurance agents, and accountants could do their jobs at display terminals (终端) in their own homes. They would never have to actually see the people they’re dealing with. In addition, the way employees are paid will change. Workers’ salaries will be automatically paid into their bank accounts, making paper checks unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks. Personal banking will change, too. Customers will deal with machines to put in or take out money from their accounts. Many companies and consumers have already changed the way they sell or buy products. E-commerce, or business done on the Internet, is becoming more and more popular. This, therefore, makes it possible for people to do shopping without going out of their homes.
Another area that technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for example, was once a group experience. People listened to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now, however, music is an individual experience. Walking along the street or sitting in their living-rooms, they wear headphones to build a wall of music around them. Movie entertainment is changing as well. Movies used to be social events. Now, fewer people are going out to see a movie. Many more are choosing to wait for a film to appear on television or are borrowing videotapes to watch at home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers watch movies in their own living-rooms.
1.After work, Daniel likes to ______.
A. listen to music at the concert hall B. watch a movie in his living-room
C. chat with his friends on the net D. play baseball with his workmates
2.The underlined sentence “Daniel is imaginary, but his lifestyle is very possible” means ______.
A. Daniel is a person full of imagination and he can make his life colorful.
B. Daniel is not a real person but the lifestyle of his kind does exist.
C. Daniel is only an ordinary person but he has his own way of living.
D. Daniel is a model who makes full use of modern technology in life.
3. What will the writer most probably discuss after the last paragraph?
A. Games and sports B. Personal banking
C. Music and films D. International business
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A. We may no longer need to communicate with other human beings.
B. Modern technology seems to be separating human beings.
C. We may no longer need to work in the office.
D. Modern technology makes it possible for us to work and entertain ourselves at home.
The letter was a great disappointment to me. It was from Holy Cross, the only school I really wanted to 41 . I scanned the page, “…. We had a great applicant pool this year. …We can’t offer spaces to 42 … and place you on our waiting list.”
“What does it say, honey?” my dad asked, his voice full of 43 for me.
“I didn’t get in, but I’m on the waiting list.”
“Well, at least it isn’t 44 ,” he said brightly.
“Yeah, but 45 , I don’t want to be on the waiting list; I want to be 46 . No one gets in off the waiting list. It’s a way of saying ‘Thanks for 47 ’.”
“Then let’s go out there and tell them so.”
“That sounds 48 , dad.” I said sadly, “It doesn’t work.”
Upset and annoyed, I 49 myself in my room. However，my father’s advice kept 50 in my head. I thought about it for a few days, finally coming to the 51 that he was right. And the next day I seated myself across from Mr. Luis Soto, my admissions officer.
“What can I do for you, Nacie?” he asked pleasantly.
“Well, sir, I am here to tell you that I love this school and would love a 52 to be here. I just wanted to tell you how much going here would 53 to me—it is my only dream college— and that I would use my time here to the best 54 . I wanted to let you know that if you gave me a chance and reconsidered my application, you wouldn’t 55 it.” The words had poured out 56 I could stop them or check their desperate tone.
Mr. Soto looked me over for a minute before he smiled broadly.
“OK, that is the kind of thing we love to hear. Congratulations, you’re in.”
It was so 57 and I asked, “I’m sorry?”
“We want people in the class who want to be here, who will 58 the best of this education. I’m glad you came to talk 59 to me. I’m happy to offer you a position in the Class of 2009.”
The whole experience taught me a lesson: if you truly want something, never, ever 60 .
1.A. attend B. study C. admit D. visit
2.A. everyone B. anyone C. someone D. no one
3.A. trust B. pity C. anxiety D. curiosity
4.A. admission B. imagination C. restriction D. rejection
5.A. ever B. again C. also D. still
6.A. recognized B. received C. accepted D. permitted
7.A. writing B. trying C. replying D. waiting
8.A. lame B. reasonable C. painful D. practical
9.A. enjoyed B. comforted C. stayed D. buried
10.A. saying B. ringing C. showing D. reminding
11.A. point B. conclusion C. agreement D. arrangement
12.A. chance B. motivation C. degree D. change
13.A. refer B. turn C. mean D. stick
14. A. contribution B. condition C. advantage D. result
15.A. suspect B. disappoint C. refuse D. regret
16.A. as B. when C. until D. before
17.A. unbelievable B. unforgettable C. unbearable D. favorable
18.A. take B. get C. make D. receive
19.A. patiently B. openly C. carefully D. calmly
20.A. get through B. give up C. keep on D. try out
— Did you notice that guy almost hit a kid on a bicycle?
—No. I ______ the other way.
A. was looking B. looked C. have looked D. am looking
“Stop thief! Stop thief!” But the thief was ________ by the crowd and we lost sight of it.
A. drowned B. swallowed C. caught D. stopped
The waters off the Diaoyu islands, first _____ in Ming Dynasty, are our traditional fishing area.
A. discovered B. discovering C. being discovered D. having discovered
When I came to the cinema, the film had already been on. So I _______ my way to the seat.
A. went B. walked C. moved D. felt
