How men first learned to invent words is unknown, in other words, the origin of language is a mystery. All we really know is that men, unlike animals, somehow invented certain sounds to express thoughts and feelings, actions and things, so that they could communicate with each other; and that later they agreed upon certain signs, called letters, which could be combined to represent those sounds and which could be written down. Those sounds, whether spoken, or written in letters, we call words.
The power of words, then, lies in their association—the thing they bring up before our minds. Words become filled with meaning for us by experience; and the longer we live, the more certain words recall to us the glad and the sad events of our past; and the more we read and learn, the more the number of words that mean something to us increase.
Great writers are those who not only have great thoughts but also express these thoughts in words which appeal powerfully to our minds and emotions. This charming and telling use of words is what we call literary style. Above all, the real poet is a master of words. He can convey （表达，传递）his meaning in words which sing like music, and which by their position and association can move men to tears. We should, therefore, learn to choose our words carefully and use them accurately, or they make our speech silly and vulgar.（粗俗的）
48. Which of the following about a real poet is NOT true?
A. He is less than a master of words.
B. His style is always charming.
C. His poem can move men to tears.
D. He can express his ideas in words that sing like music.
49. Where does the real power of the words come from?
A. From the words themselves.
B. From their characteristics.
C. From their curiosity.
D. From their association.
50. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The importance of choosing words.
B. Where the real power of words come from.
C. What great writers are like.
D. We should learn to choose words carefully.
WILD WEATHERMAN
Name: Sam Champion
Hot job: TV Weatherman
Where: ABC-TV, New York City
When you were a child, did you plan to forecast wind, rain, and snow on TV?
I wanted to be a foreign journalist. I took courses in weather science at Eastern Kentucky University, but I majored in broadcasting news.
How did you finally become a weatherman?
My first job in the early 1980s was at the local TV station in Paducah, Kentucky. I did everything from turning on the lights in the morning to writing and delivering morning news. I put together weather forecasts, and became interested in them.
Back then, how did you forecast weather?
Independent companies collected computer information that showed, for example, how a single weather system might split into snow or snow mixed with rain. The information was often opposite and the job of a weatherman was to study the information and make the best educated guess about the storm.
Has weather forecasting changed much with new technology?
Advanced computers, satellites, and Doppler radar (sound waves used to track storms) have made forecasting more exact. But we still know very little about how weather is shaped. So far, we just have theories.
Any advice for children who’d like to become weather scientists?
To me, weather is the most exciting field in the world. There are still so many more questions about weather than answers. After all, if we can’t foresee floods or hurricanes, how safe a society are we? Weather forecasting is wide open for scientists who love to solve puzzling problems. The next generation of meteorologists (weather scientists) will unlock many of Earth’s weather secrets. So get a general knowledge of Earth science, and study meteorology in college.
Thanks, Sam.
40. Judging from the writing style, the text is _________.
A. a diary B. an interview C. a news story D. an announcement
41. As a child, ABC-TV’s Sam Champion wanted to be a____________.
A. space scientist B. weatherman C. news reporter D. meteorologist
42. Present weather forecasting technology___________.
A. has made weather report more exact than ever
B. is still not perfect
C. hasn’t changed much in the last 50 years
D. both A and B
43. The study of weather science is called____________.
A. meteorology B. forecasting C. geography D. Earth science
My mother through her fine example instilled(慢慢灌输) within me the desire to help others. She taught me to notice those whom others ignore.
The railroad tracks were within a mile of our house. Beggars frequently would knock at the doors in our neighborhood in summer asking for food. They were often turned away. Others simply ignored the knocks.
My mum always went to the door smiling. She would invite them to stay and have something to eat. She would have me open up the card table and carry a chair out onto the covered side porch(走廊). There was a nice view into the flower gardens, and it was cool even on the hottest days.
She would bring a red and white tablecloth and set the table as carefully as she did for any company. She would pour their coffee and pile their plates with food and dessert. Usually she sent a packed lunch with them when they were ready to go, too. Sometimes she would take the newspapers to those who asked about work.
She listened to those who wanted to talk. She never asked what would lead them to be in this difficult situation. It did not matter. She saw only the need. Some thought she did too much for them. She would say, “In the depression(萧条时期) when my father was searching around for any work to feed us, thoughtful people fed him. I am just repaying their kindness. I cannot offer them money, but I can see they do not leave hungry and discouraged,” My mum was quite a lady.
36. The writer’s house was frequently visited by beggars because___________.
A. they seemed to be very rich B. his mother was known to be generous
C. they lived near a railway station D. there was a railway near their house
37. How did the writer’s mother treat beggars?
A. She was on guard against them. B. She looked down upon them.
C. She respected them equally. D. She took pride in them.
38. The writer’s mother sometimes took out newspapers_________.
A. for the beggars to kill the time B. to teach the beggars how to read
C. to help the beggars who asked about work
D. to help the beggars to find their families
39. Which of the following can make an explanation for the mother’s attitude to beggars?
A. Her father was once helped by others.
B. Her father liked to help beggars.
C. She was once a beggar herself.
D. Her mother taught her to help beggars.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
John stood up and studied the crowd of people who were making their way through the station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he16 , the girl with a(an) 17 . The story had begun twelve months before in a 18 . Taking a book off a shelf he found himself 19 by the notes penciled in the margin(空白处，白边).The soft handwriting20 a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the 21 owner’s name, Rosanna.
During the next year the two grew to know each other through the 22 . Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. The day finally came for their first 23 —7:00p.m. at the station.
A beautiful young girl in a green suit was coming toward him, whose 24 was (were) tall and slim. John started to walk towards her with delight, entirely forgetting to 25 that she was not wearing a rose. He 26 made one step closer to her, and then saw Rosanna, a short and fat woman well past 40, with a rose on her coat was standing almost directly 27 the girl. The girl in the green suit quickly walked away.
John felt 28 he was split(撕开) in two, and there he stood. His fingers gripped（紧握） the worn leather copy of the 29 that was to identify him to her. He knew this would not be 30 something perhaps even better than love. John felt choked by the bitterness of his 31 . “I’m John, and you must be Rosanna. I am so glad you could meet me, may I take you to 32 ?”
The woman’s face broadened into a big smile. “I don’t know what this is about, son,” she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit who just 33 begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said 34 you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big 35 across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”
|
16. A. hadn’t |
B. haven’t |
C. couldn’t |
D. didn’t |
|
17. A. rose |
B. flower |
C. book |
D. notes |
|
18. A. restaurant |
B. meeting room |
C. library |
D. station |
|
19. A. absorbed |
B. surrounded |
C. interested |
D. persuaded |
|
20. A. reacted |
B. reflected |
C. responded |
D. repeated |
|
21. A. previous |
B. nice |
C. thoughtful |
D. beautiful |
|
22. A. phone |
B. telegram |
C. book |
D. mail |
|
23. A. dining |
B. meeting |
C. walking |
D. talking |
|
24. A. legs |
B. face |
C. figure |
D. hair |
|
25. A. observe |
B. know |
C. notice |
D. say |
|
26. A. carefully |
B. eagerly |
C. luckily |
D. easily |
|
27. A. behind |
B. past |
C. beside |
D. before |
|
28. A. as long as |
B. even though |
C. no matter how |
D. as though |
|
29. A. newspaper |
B. book |
C. magazine |
D. note |
|
30. A. a meeting |
B. happiness |
C. love |
D a dinner |
|
31. A. excitement |
B. sorrow |
C. disappointment |
D. unwillingness |
|
32. A. a walk |
B. your home |
C. a party |
D. dinner |
|
33. A. went by |
B. followed me |
C. came here |
D. went in the restaurant |
|
34. A. when |
B. if |
C. unless |
D. since |
|
35. A. market |
B. restaurant |
C. building |
D. library |
An offer of a reward has caused many students in our school _____ actively in the competition.
|
A．participate |
B．participated |
C．participating |
D．to participate |
_____ alone in the dark room, the little girl was so frightened as to cry loudly.
|
A．Leaving |
B．Left |
C．Having left |
D．To be left |
