Since my retirement(退休) from teaching music in 2001 , I have spent a good deal of time painting as an artist . I actually began drawing again in the summer of 1995 when my father died , so perhaps I was trying to recover from the loss of my father , or maybe it was just that it brought back memories of him . In any case , I drew pen and ink animals and landscapes(风景画) much influenced by Krenkel and St. John for five years .
For some strange reason , I had been waiting until my retirement to start doing watercolors again , but as soon as I walked out of the school door for the last time I picked up my brushes and rediscovered Andrew Wyeth , who quickly became my favorite artist . I had looked through all the art books I had on my shelves and found his watercolors to be the closest to how I thought good watercolors should look . So I painted landscapes around Minnesota for three years and tried out many other types of painting . However , watercolors remained my first choice , and I think I did my best work there , showing my paintings at a number of art exhibitions .
Art is now together with my piano playing and reading . There is a time of everything in my world , and it is wonderful to have some time doing what I want to do . As Confucius once said , “ At seventy I can follow my heart’s desire .”
1. What is the text mainly about ?
A. Learning to paint in later life . B. How to paint wathercolors .
C. An artist-turned teacher . D. Life after retirement .
2. The author started drawing again in 1995 because__________.
A. he hoped to draw a picture of his father
B. he couldn’t stop missing his father
C. he had more time after retirement
D. he liked animals and landscapes
3. We can infer from the text that the author_______.
A. had been taught by Krenkel and St.John
B. painted landscapes in Minnesota for 5 years
C. believed Wyeth to be the best in watercolor
D. started his retirement life at the age of seventy
4. How does the author probably feel about his life as an artist?
A. Very enjoyable B. A bit regretful C. Rather busy D. Fairly dull
Not long ago , Richard Denniston found himself suffering the same pain that millions of other pet owners have faced . His little Scottish dog had a brain tumor（肿块）and would soon die. Like others who faced the problem before him , Denniston just wanted to end his pet’s suffering . However , he took one step further.
Deniston , an expert who studies animals , collected a tiny skin sample from the dog and took it to his laboratory at Louisiana State University. There he cultivated it and froze it in liquid nitrogen.
From that idea , Denniston started a new technology .Denniston’s company will save pet’s DNA ＄500，plus a monthly storage fee of Us ＄10, until cloning becomes a reality .
Thanks mostly to the contribution of a California multimillionaire , that day may not be so far off.
“It could happen extremely soon if everything went on well.”says Mark Westhusin , a professor leading a dog cloning team . Most experts put successful dog cloning a year to five years down the road . The cost is bound to be expensive at first , but it would eventually drop to a few thousand dollars.
Since Dolly , the sheep which was first cloned in 1997 ,cattle ,goats ,mice and monkeys have been cloned in labs . Pets are likely to be next.
“I really believe that the technology is going to become available for many species in the near future ,”Denniston says .
1. After his pet died ,Richard Denniston_______.
A. did something more than the ordinary pet owners
B. did as other pet owners
C. did nothing but feel very sad
D.could not help feeling lonely without his dear pet
2. Richard Denniston_________in liquid nitrogen for an experiment.
A. was a doctor who put his dog
B. was an animal expert who put a piece of his dog’s skin
C.was an expert at collecting skin samples who then put them
D.took great interest in freezing things
3. The underlined word “cultivated ”in Para . 2 probably means_________.
A. bought B.discovered C.caught D.trained
4. Cloning will cost people_______.
A. a lot of money in five years .
B. much in the beginning and then be reduced to a thousand dollars.
C. much and then will surely be reduced to thousands of dollars.
D.much at first and then might be reduced to a few thousand dollars.
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1. The ad is intended for those who .
A. prefer listening to pop music B. are fond of playing video games
C. like reading novels D. want to look up new English words
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A. whose eyesight is very bad B. whose English is not very good
C. who are blind and deaf D. who are very slim
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B. you have to pay some fees when you download a whole book
C. the battery can only last a few hours before recharging
D. you can get a book downloaded in less than half a minute
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第三部分：阅读理解（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Louis Armstong had two famous nicknames（绰号）. Some people called him Bagamo . They said his mouth looked like a large bag . Musicians often called him Pops , as a sign of respect for his influence on the world of music .
Born in 1901 in New Orleans , he grew up poor , but lived among great musicians . Jazz was invented in the city a few years before his birth . Armstrong often said , “ Jazz and I grew up together .”
Armstrong showed a great talent for music when he was taught to play the cornet(短号) at a boy’s home . In his late teens , Armstrong began to live the life of a musician . He played in parades , clubs , and on the steamboats that travelled on the Mississippi River . At that time , New Orleans was famous for the new music of jazz and was home to many great musicians . Armstrong learned from the older musicians and soon became respected as their equal .
In 1922 he went to Chicago . There , the tale of Louis Armstrong begins . From then until the end of his life , Armstong was celebrated and loved wherever he went . Armstrong had no equal when it came to playing the American popular song .
His cornet playing had a deep humanity(仁爱) and warmth that caused many listeners to say , “ Listening to Pops just makes you feel good all over .” He was the father of the jazz style and also one of the best-known and most-admired people in the world . His death , on July 6 , 1971 , was headline news around the world .
1. Armstrong was called Pops because he .
A. looked like a musician B. was a musician of much influence
C. showed an interest in music D. travelled to play modern music
2. The third paragraph is developed .
A. by space B. by examples C. by time D. by comparison
3. Which statement about Armstrong is true ?
A. His tale begins in New Orleans .
B. He was born before jazz was invented .
C. His music was popular with his listeners .
D. He learned popular music at a boy’s home .
4. Which would be the best title for the text ?
A. The Invention of the Jazz Music .
B. The Father of the Jazz Style .
C. The Making of a Musician .
D. The Spread of Popular Music .
第二节：完形填空（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
I know I should have told the headmaster at the time . That was my real 36 .
He had gone out of the study for some 37 , leaving me alone . In his absence I looked to see 38 was on his desk . In the 39 was a small piece of paper on which were written the 40 “English Writing Prize 1949 : History Is a Series of Biographies(人物传记)”.
A(n) 41 boy would have avoided looking at the title as soon as he saw the 42 . I did not . The subject of the English Writing Prize was kept a 43 until the start of the exam so I could not 44 reading it .
When the headmaster 45 , I was looking out of the window .
I should have told him what had 46 then . It would have been so 47 to say : “ I’m sorry but I 48 the title for the English Writing Prize on your desk . You’ll have to 49 it .”
The chance passed and I did not 50 it . I sat the exam the next day and I won . I didn’t 51 to cheat , but it was still cheating anyhow .
That was thirty eight years 52 when I was fifteen . I have never told anyone about it before , 53 have I tried to explain to myself why not .
The obvious explanation is that I could not admit I had seen the title 54 admitting that I had been looking at the things on his desk . 55 there must have been more behind it . Whatever it was , it has become a good example of how a little mistake can trap(使陷人) you in a more serious moral corner(道德困境).
36. A. plan B. fault C. grade D. luck
37. A. reason B. course C. example D. vacation
38. A. this B. which C. that D. what
39. A. drawer B. corner C. middle D. box
40. A. names B. words C. ideas D. messages
41. A. honest B. handsome C. friendly D. active
42. A. desk B. paper C. book D. answer
43. A. question B. key C. note D. secret
44. A. resist B. consider C. practise D. forget
45. A. disappeared B. stayed C. returned D. went
46. A. existed B. remained C. happened D. continued
47. A. tiring B. easy C. important D. difficult
48. A. saw B. gave C. set D. made
49. A. repeat B. defend C. correct D. change
50. A. take B. have C. lose D. find
51. A. remember B. learn C. mean D. pretend
52. A. past B. ago C. then D. before
53. A. either B. never C. nor D. so
54. A. by B. besides C. through D. without
55. A. But B. Though C. Otherwise D. Therefore
There is much chance______Bill will recover from his injury in time for the race .
A. that B. which C. until D. if
