The bicycle is the common sight in our daily life, as a great many Chinese use one every day. But you may not know its role in strengthening international relations, as it did in the case of US President George W. Bush’s visit to China .
President Bush arrived in Beijing on November 19, 2005 after he finished the APEC meeting in South Korea.He met with Chinese top leaders and achieved agreements on trade, Taiwan issue and more.
Although Bush’s trip was short as 40 hours, he managed to spare a moment to do some cycling. On November 20, he rode up and down a steep path at Laoshan Olympic Mountain Bike Course in Beijing’s suburbs.
Six young Chinese cyclists accompanied the president, who was dressed in a Chinese training uniform with the “Beijing 2008” logo (标志). He did not go along the arranged route and chose a more zigzag(曲折的) hiking path.
“How do you say, ‘take it easy on the old man’?” Bush joked to his partners before setting out.
“Compared with my bike path on the Crawford ranch (农场) , this one is greater and really difficult,” said Bush when his 45-minute ride ended. He said he will come to Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
This is not Bush’s first cycle ride in Beijing. In 1975 at the age of 29, he visited the Chinese capital for the first time, when his father was head of the US liaison office (联络处) in Beijing, which Bush described as “fantastic”.
However, observers said Bush’s ride is much more than just his favorite pastime. It expressed friendliness with people in China, where the bicycle is an important part of life and culture.
According to the Washington Post, one of the major newspapers in the US, this was a specially arranged activity by the US Government, for they want to send the Chinese a sign of friendship. “The president is by no means hostile (有敌意的) to China,” it said.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?
A. Every Chinese has at least one bicycle
B. The bicycle is the common sight in our daily life
C. Bicycle can play a role in improving relationship between nations
D. President George W. Bush is fond of cycling
2. President George W. Bush went cycling ______.
A. wearing a T-shirt with the “Beijing 2008” logo
B. up and down a path on Laoshan Mountain
C. accompanied by six young Chinese policemen
D. along a more challenging way without arrangement
3. Bush said “take it easy on the old man” to his partners probably because ______.
A. he wanted to make them easy
B. he wanted to make a joke about them
C. he wanted to tell them it would be a more zigzag hiking path
D. he wanted to show them it would be a easy task for an old man
4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Bush’s first cycle ride was in 1975.
B. Bush’s ride was specially arranged by the Washington Post.
C. Bush’s ride is more a sign of friendship than just his favorite pastime.
D. Bush will come to Beijing to take part in the Olympic cycling games in 2008.
More than 20,000 drivers and front seat passengers are killed or seriously injured each year. At a speed of only 30 miles per hour it is the same as falling from a third floor window. Wearing a seat belt saves lives; it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than half.
Therefore drivers or front seat passengers over 14 most vehicles must wear a seat belt. If you do not, you could be fined up to $50. It will not be up to the drivers to make sure you wear your belt. But it will be the driver’s responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind.
However, you do not have to wear a seat belt if you are reversing(倒退) your vehicle; or you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle; or if you have a valid（正当的） medical certificate（ 证书）which excuses you from wearing it. Make sure these cases supply to you before you decide not to wear your seat belt. Remember you may be taken to court for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove to the court you have been excused from wearing.
1. This passage is probably taken from ______.
A. medical magazine B. a legal document
C. a textbook D. a government information booklet
2. Wearing a seat belt in a vehicle ______.
A. reduces road accidents by more than half
B. reduces the death rate in traffic accidents
C. saves lives while driving at a speed up to 30 miles per hour
D. saves more than 16,000 lives each year
3. It is the driver’s responsibility to ______.
A. make the front seat passenger wear a seat belt
B. make the front seat children under 14 wear a seat belt
C. stop children from riding in the front seat
D. wear a seat belt each time he drives
4. For some people, it may be better to ______.
A. pay a fine rather than wear a seat belt
B. wear a seat belt for health reasons
C. (not to) wear seat belt for health reasons
D. get a valid medical certificate before wearing a seat belt
第三部分：阅读理解（共20题；每小题2分，共40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
You have heard the expression “horse sense”. As you may imagine, it came from the time when the majority of people traveled in vehicles drawn by horses. A horse does have a lot of common sense, and there are many true stories about horses having saved their drivers from danger of death.
Today for the most part, people travel by train, ship, airplane, and car, but very little by the use of horses. Modern vehicles are propelled by engines, and an engine does not have any sense. In case of danger, many horses could be depended on to help. Not so with the engine; the driver must do all the things.
In recent years, the speed of travel has increased greatly. With the increased speed comes greatly increased danger. The driver of a powerful engine needs to be careful. A moment of being careless may cost a life. In order to drive today, a person must be able to see clearly, and he must learn and follow carefully the rules for safety on the road. Greater attention is the price we pay for using a machine instead of a horse.
1. The passage mainly talks about ______.
A. engines B. safe driving C. using horses D. modern machines
2. The underlined word “propel” in the second paragraph means ______.
A. repair B. raise C. push forward D. made
3. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A. a driver must know the rules of safety
B. a driver needs to be able only to tell red from green
C. an eye test is an important part of a driver’s examination
D. greater attention is needed for a driver while driving a machine
4. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. A driver must be able to see and hear well.
B. The driver of a car must follow the rules of safety.
C. Horses are known to have saved their drivers from injury.
D. It is better for vehicles to be pulled by horse than to be pushed by engine.
第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，共30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
London taxi drivers know the capital like the back of their hands. Just 36 into one of the city’s 22,000 distinctive (有特色的)shaped cars and tell the driver your 37 . No matter how small and obscure (模糊的) the street is, 38 will be able to get you there without any 39 .
The reason London taxi drivers are so 40 is that they have all gone through a very rough training period known as “the knowledge” to get the special license （许可证） 41 to drive taxis. During this period, 42 can take from two to four years, the would-be taxi driver 43 learn the most 44 route to every single road and to every important building in London. To 45 this, most learners go around the city 46 small motorbikes, practicing how to move to and from different points of the city.
Going around London on a small motorbike can have its problems, particularly during the winter. Collin Sinclair, 40, who has been a taxi driver for 15 years, described his 47 period as a time of 48 , sweat and tears. “There was thick snow everywhere and I had to 49 my mother’s tights (紧身裤) because I was so cold,” he said.
Learner taxi drivers 50 several times during their training period 51 government officers. Sinclair thought his exams were a nerve-racking (伤脑筋的) experience. “The officers 52 you, ‘How do you get from Buckingham Palace to the Tower of London?’ and you have to take them there in a very direct line. When you get to the Tower, they 53 say, ‘Well done.’ They will quickly 54 the next question. After five or six questions, they’ll just say, ‘See you in two months time,’ and 55 you know the exam is over.”
36.A. jump B. take C. insert D. sit
37.A. name B. address C. destination D. place
38.A. a driver B. the driver C. and the driver D. drivers
39.A. question B. hesitation C. puzzle D. trouble
40.A. kind B. efficient C. gentle D. sensitive
41.A. made B. taken C. needed D. suited
42.A. it B. which C. that D. what
43.A. has to B. wants to C. must D. need
44.A. easy B. fast C. good D. direct
45.A. achieve B. admit C. know D. find
46.A. ride B. by C. take D. on
47.A. driving B. training C. parking D. working
48.A. hope B. convenienceC. flood D. blood
49.A. dress B. put on C. wear D. dress in
50.A. are taught B. are tested C. are fed up D. are tired
51.A. with B. as C. for D. by
52.A. ask B. tell C. order D. teach
53.A. will B. used to C. won’t D. would
54.A. move on to B. rely on C. stand by D. fill out
55.A. when B. what C. then D. that
. We wanted to get home before dark, but it didn’t quite _____ as planned.
A. find out B. turn out C. carry out D. set out
. —Why do you look worried?
—There are so many problems______.
A. remaining to settle B. remained settling
C. remaining to be settled D. remained to be settled
