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2011强化班阅读讲义-顾越

第一部分阅读技巧总论

一..考试分值:50分(由五篇文章构成,分值占总分的一半)

考试形式:A节:四篇文章,总长度为1500词,每篇5题,每题2分

B 节:450-550词的文章,有三种出题形式:

1. 多项对应

2. 小标题对应

3.正误判断

二.阅读理解得分基础:

基础一:文章的理解程度:词汇量:需不需要词汇全部认识???

最低词汇量???

长难句:句子结构分析技巧

基础二:文章完全读懂是否可以全部正确???

文章有部分不懂肯定不能全部正确???

阅读理解题型及相应技巧是关键

◆解题速度

◆解题步骤

二.考试题型及解题技巧:

1.主旨题:

关键词:main idea, topic, title, etc.

●When a consumer finds that an item she or he bought is faulty or in some other way

does not live up to the manufacturer's claim for it, the first step is to present the warranty, or any other records which might help, at the store of purchase. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction.

Q. The passage tells us .

A. how to settle a consumer's complaint about a faulty item

B. how to make an effective complaint about a faulty item

C. how to avoid buying a faulty item

D. how to deal with complaints from customers

2.原因题:

关键词:since, because, because of, for, due to, thanks to, owing to

Prior to the 20th century, many languages with small numbers of speakers survived for centuries. The increasingly interconnected modern world makes it much more difficult for small language communities to live in relative isolation, a key factor in language maintenance and preservation.

Q: Minority languages can be best preserved in __________.

A.an increasingly interconnected world

B.maintaining small numbers of speakers

C.relatively isolated language communities

D.following the tradition of the 20th century

Specialization can be seen as a response to the problem of an increasing accumulation of scientific knowledge. Q. The direct reason for specialization is ________.

A. the development in communication

B. the growth of professionalization

C. the expansion of scientific knowledge

D. the splitting up of academic societies

Anyway, the townsfolk can’t understand why the Royal Shakespeare Company needs a subsidy. The theat re has broken attendance records for three years in a row. Last year its 1,431 seats were 94 per cent occupied all year long and this year they’ll do better.

Q. According to the townsfolk, the RSC deserves no subsidy because _____

A. ticket prices can be raised to cover the spending

B. the company is financially ill-managed

C. the behavior of the actors is not socially acceptable

D. the theatre attendance is on the rise

3. 词义题

(1)To squeeze the most out of each shining hour we have shortened the opera, quickened the pace of the movie and put culture in pocket-sized packages. We make the busy bee look like a lazy creature, the ant like a sluggard. Q. The word "sluggard" means .

A) a slow-moving person C) a hard worker

B) a human being D) an enemy

(2)At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea.

Q. 'Defied' in the 5th paragraph probably means .

A. 'doubted'

B. 'gave proof to'

C. 'challenged'

D. 'agreed to'

(3)If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to "play safe". He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language.

Q. The expression "play safe" probably means .

A) to write as carefully as possible B) to do as teachers say to be safe

C) to use dictionaries frequently D) to avoid using words one is not sure of

(4)…It's theory to which many economists subscribe, but in practice it often leaves railroads in the position of determining which companies will flourish and which will fail. "Do we really want railroads to be the arbiters of who wins and who loses in the marketplace?" asks Martin Bercovici, a Washington lawyer who frequently represents shipper.

Q. The word "arbiters" (line 6, paragraph 4) most probably refers to those ________.

A. who work as coordinators

B. who function as judges

C. who supervise transactions

D. who determine the price

(5)There are a lot of people do not have enough to eat in America, while at the same time a lot of food is wasted. This _____ distribution of resources must be reversed in one way or another.

A. desperate

B. generous

C. inefficient

D. disproportional

4. 推断题

关键词:infer, imply, indicate. 特点是不能跟原文一样,但是要在原文中某句话找到根据。

Thanks to an accident of history, most Americans receive health insurance through their employer, with the government picking up the bill for the poor and the elderly. This curious hybrid(混合物)certainly has its strengths. Americans have more choice than anybody else, and their health-care system is much more innovative. Europeans’ bills could be much higher if American medicine were not doing much of their Research and Development(R&D)for them. But there are also huge weaknesses. The one most often cited—especially by foreigners—is the army of uninsured. Some 46 million Americans do not have cover. In many cases that is out of choice and, if they fall seriously ill, hospitals have to treat them. But it is still deeply unequal. And there are also shocking inefficiencies: by some measures, 30% of American health spending is wasted.

Q: It is implied in the passage that_________.

A. America’s health system has its strengths and weaknesses

B. the US government pays medical bills for the poor and the elderly

C. some 46 million Americans do not have medical insurance

D. Europeans benefit a lot from America’s medical research

5. 作者态度题

关键词:

(A) positive; approval/ supportive; consent; praising; enthusiastic; optimistic; appreciative; affirmative; favorable

(B) negative; disapproval; critical; pessimistic; ironic/ sneering; opposed; hostile; indignant; gloomy; suspicious/ skeptical/ doubtful; concerned/ apprehensive/ anxious; unfavorable/ rese rved

(C) objective; a matter of fact; neutral

(D) indifferent; unprejudiced; impartial; detached

Now there is a similar challenge:global warming. The steady deterioration of the very climate of this very planet is becoming a war of the first order, and by any measure, the U.S. is losing. Indeed, if America is fighting at all, it’s fighting on the wrong side.

What is the author’s attitude toward America’s policies on global warming?

A. critical

B. indifferent

C. supportive

D. compromising

6. 细节题

Everyone,it seems,has a health problem. After pouring billions into the National Health Service,British people

moan about dirty hospitals,long waits and wasted money. In Germany the new chancellor, Angela Merkel, is under fire for suggesting changing the financing of its health system. Canada’s new Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, made a big fuss during the election about reducing the country’s lengthy medical queues. Across the rich world, affluence, ageing and advancing technology are driving up health spending faster than income. Health problems mentioned in the passage include all the following EXCEPT_________.

A. poor hospital conditions in U.K.

B. Angela Merkel under attack

C. health financing in Germany

D. long waiting lines in Canada

历年真题考点分布

第二部分真题演练

Passage one (2009.1)

Henric Ibsen, author of the play "A Doll's House", in which a pretty, helpless housewife abandons her husband and children to seek a more serious life, would surely have approved. From January 1st, 2008, all public companies in Norway are obliged to ensure that at least 40% of their board directors are women. Most firms have obeyed the law, which was passed in 2003. But about 75 out of the 480 or so companies it affects are still too male for the government's liking. They will shortly receive a letter informing them that they have until the end of February to act, or face the legal consequences—which could include being dissolved.

Before the law was proposed, about 7% of board members in Norway were female, according to the Centre for Corporate Diversity .The number has since jumped to 36%. That is far higher than the average of 9% for big

companies across Europe or America's 15% for the Fortune 500. Norway's stock exchange and its main business lobby oppose the law, as do many businessmen." I am against quotas for women or men as a matter of principle," says Sverre Munck, head of international operations at a media firm. "Board members of public companies should be chosen solely on the basis of merit and experience,‖ he says. Several firms have even given up their public status in order to escape the new law.

Companies have had to recruit about 1,000 women in four years. Many complain that it has been difficult to find experienced candidates. Because of this, some of the best women have collected as many as 25-35 directorships each, and are known in Norwegian business circles as the "golden skirts". One reason for the scarcity is that there are fairly few women in management in Norwegian companies—they occupy around 15% of senior positions. It has been particularly hard for firms in the oil, technology and financial industries to find women with enough experience. Some people worry that their relative lack of experience may keep women quiet on boards, and that in turn could mean that boards might become less able to hold managers to account. Recent history in Norway, however, suggests that the right women can make strong directors. "Women feel more compelled than men to do their homework," says Ms Reksten Skaugen, who was voted Norway's chairman of the year for 2007, "and we can afford to ask the hard questions, because women are not always expected to know the answers." (416 words)

41. The author mentions Ibsen's play in the first paragraph in order to .

A. depict women's dilemma at work

B. explain the newly passed law

C. support Norwegian government

D. introduce the topic under discussion

42. A public company that fails to obey the new law could be forced to .

A. pay a heavy fine

B. close down its business

C. change to a private business

D. sign a document promising to act

43. To which of the following is Sverre Munck most likely to agree?

A. A set ratio of women in a board is unreasonable.

B. A reasonable quota for women at work needs to be set.

C. A common principle should be followed by all companies.

D. An inexperienced businessman is not subject to the new law.

44. The author attributes the phenomenon of "golden skirts" to .

A. the small number of qualified females in management

B. the over-recruitment of female managers in public companies

C. the advantage women enjoy when competing for senior positions

D. the discrimination toward women in Norwegian business circles

45. The main idea of the passage might be .

A. female power and liberation in Norway

B. the significance of Henric Ibsen's play

C. women's status in Norwegian firms

D. the constitution of board members in Norway

Passage 2. (2009.2)

While there's never a good age to get cancer, people in their 20s and 30s can feel particularly isolated. The average age of a cancer patient at diagnosis is 67. Children with cancer often are treated at pediatric (小儿科的) cancer centers, but young adults have a tough time finding peers, often sitting side-by-side during treatments with people who could be their grandparents.

In her new book Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips, writer Kris Carr looks at cancer from the perspective of a young adult who confronts death just as she's discovering life. Ms. Carr was 31 when she was diagnosed w ith a rare form of cancer that had generated tumors on her liver and lungs. Ms. Carr reacted with the normal feelings of shock and sadness. She called her parents and stocked up on organic food, determined to become a "full-time healing addict." Then she picked up the phone and called everyone in her address book, asking if they knew other young women with cancer. The result was her own personal "cancer posse": a rock concert tour manager, a model, a fashion magazine editor, a cartoonist and a MTV celebrity, to name a few. This club of ―cancer babes‖ offered support, advice and fashion tips, among other things.

Ms. Carr put her cancer experience in a recent Learning Channel documentary, and she has written a practical guide about how she coped. Cancer isn't funny, but Ms. Carr often is. She swears, she makes up names for the people who treat her ( Dr. Fabulous and Dr. Guru ), and she even makes second sound fun ("cancer road trips," she calls them).

She leaves the medical advice to doctors, instead offering insightful and practical tips that reflect the world view of a young adult. "I refused to let cancer ruin my party," she writes. "There are just too many cool things to do and plan and live for.‖ Ms. Carr still has cancer, but it has stopped progressing. Her cancer tips include using time-saving mass e-mails to keep friends informed, sewing or buying fashionable hospital gowns so you're not stuck with regulation blue or gray and playing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" so loud you neighbors call the police. Ms. Carr also advises an eyebrow wax and a new outfit before you tell the important people in your illness. ―People you tell are going to cautious and not so cautiously try to see the cancer, so dazzle them instead with your miracle," she writes.

While her advice may sound superficial, it gets to the heart of what every cancer patient wants: the chance to live life just as she always did, and maybe better. (447 words)

46. Which of the following groups is more vulnerable to cancer?

A. Children.

B. People in their 20s and 30s.

C. Y oung adults.

D. Elderly people.

47. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT _______.

A. Kris Carr is a female writer

B. Kris Carr is more than 31-year-old.

C. Kris Carr works in a cancer center.

D. Kris Carr is very optimistic.

48. The phrase "cancer posse" (Line 4, para.3 ) probably refers to ________ .

A. a cancer research organization

B. a group of people who suffer from cancer

C. people who have recovered from cancer

D. people who cope with cancer

49. Kris Carr make up names for the people who treat her because ________.

A. she is depressed and likes swearing

B. she is funny and likes playing jokes on doctor

C. she wants to leave the medical advice to doctor

D. she tries to leave a good impression on doctor

50. From Kris Carr's cancer tips we may infer that ________ .

A. she learned to use e-mails after she got cancer

B. she wears fashionable dress even after suffering from cancer

C. hospital gowns for cancer patients are usually not in bright colors

D. the neighbors are very friendly with cancer patients

Passage 3 (2009.3)

Should a leader strive to be loved or feared? This question, famously posed by Machiavelli, lies at the heart of Joseph Nye's new book. Mr. Nye, a former dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and one-time chairman of America's National Intelligence Council, is best known for promoting the idea of "soft power", based on persuasion and influence, as a counterpoint to "hard power", based on coercion (强迫) and force.

Having analyzed the use of soft and hard power in politics and diplomacy in his previous books, Mr. Nye has now turned his attention to the relationship between power and leadership, in both the political and business spheres. Machiavelli, he notes, concluded that "one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved.‖ In short, hard power is preferable to soft power. But modern leadership theorists have come to the opposite conclusion.

The context of leadership is changing, the observe, and the historical emphasis on hard power is becoming outdated. In modern companies and democracies, power is increasingly diffused and traditional hierarchies(等级制) are being undermined, making soft power ever more important. But that does not mean coercion should now take a back seat to persuasion. Mr. Nye argues. Instead, he advocates a synthesis of these two views. The conclusion of The Powers to Lead ,his survey of the theory of leadership, is that a combination of hard and soft power, which he calls ‖smart power‖, is the best approach.

The dominant theoretical model of leadership at the moment is, apparently, the ―transformational leadership pattern‖.Anone allergic(反感) to management term will already be running for the exit, but Mr. Nye has performed a valuable service in rounding up and summarizing the various academic studies and theories of leadership into a single, slim volume. He examines different approaches to leadership, the morality of leadership and how the wider context can determine the effectiveness of a particular leader. There are plenty of anecdotes and examples, both historical and contemporary, political and corporate.

Also, leadership is a slippery subject, and as he depicts various theories, even Mr. Nye never quite nails the jelly to the wall. He is at his most interesting when discussing the moral aspects of leadership in particular, the question of whether it is sometimes necessary for good leaders to lie —and he provides a helpful 12-point summary of his conclusions. A resuming theme is that as circumstances change, different sorts of leaders are required; a leader who thrives in one environment may struggle in another, and vice versa. Ultimately that is just

a fancy way of saying that leadership offers no easy answers. (463 words)

51. From the first two paragraphs we may learn that Mr. Machiavelli’s idea of hard power is ______.

A. well accepted by Joseph Nye

B. very influential till nowadays

C. based on sound theories

D. contrary to that of modem leadership theorists

52.Which of the following makes soft power more important today according to Mr. Nye?

A. Coercion is widespread.

B. Morality is devalued.

C. Power is no longer concentrated.

D. Traditional hierarchies are strengthened

53.In his book the Powers to lead, Mr. Nye has examined all the following aspects of leadership EXCEPT_____.

A. authority

B. context

C. approaches

D. morality

54.Mr.Nye's book is particularly valuable in that it _____.

A. makes little use of management terms

B. summarizes various studies concisely

C. serves as an exit for leadership researchers

D. sets a model for contemporary corporate leaders

55.According to the author, the most interesting part of Mr. Nye’s book lies in his _____.

A. view of changeable leadership

B. definition of good leadership

C. summary of leadership history

D. discussion of moral leadership

Passage 4 (2009.4)

Americans don't like to lose wars. Of course, a lot depends on how you define just what a war is. There are shooting wars-the kind that test patriotism and courage-and those are the kind at which the U.S excels. But other struggles test those qualities too. What else was the Great Depression or the space race or the construction of the railroads? If American indulge in a bit of flag—when the job is done, they earned it.

Now there is a similar challenge, global warming. The steady deterioration(恶化)of the very climate of this very planet is becoming a war of the first order, and by any measure, the U.S. produces nearly a quarter of the world's greenhouse gases each year and has stubbornly made it clear that it doesn't intend to do a whole lot about it. Although 174 nations approved the admittedly flawed Kyoto accords to reduce carbon levels, the U.S. walked away from them. There are vague promises of manufacturing fuel from herbs or powering cars with hydrogen. But for a country that tightly cites patriotism as one of its core values, the U.S. is taking a pass on what might be the most patriotic struggle of all. It's hard to imagine a bigger fight than one for the survival of a country's coasts and farms, the health of its people and stability of its economy.

The rub is, if the vast majority of people increasingly agree that climate change is a global emergency, there's far less agreement on how to fix it. Industry offers its pans, which too often would fix little. Environmentalists offer theirs, which too often amount to native wish lists that could weaken American's growth. But let's assume that those interested parties and others will always bent the table and will always demand that their voices be heard and that their needs be addressed. What would an aggressive, ambitious, effective plan look like-one that would leave the U.S. both environmentally safe and economically sound?

Halting climate change will be far harder. One of the more conservative plans for addressing the problem calls for a reduction of 25 billion tons of carbon emissions over the next 52 year. And yet by devising a consistent strategy that mixes and blends pragmatism(实用主义)with ambition, the U.S. can, without major damage to the economy, help halt the worst effects of climate change and ensure the survival of its way of life for future generations. Money will do some of the work, but what's needed most is will. "I'm not saying the challenge isn't almost overwhelming," says Fred Krupp. "But this is America, and America has risen to these challenges before." (450 words)

56. What does the passage mainly discuss?

A. Human wars.

B. Economic crisis.

C. America's environmental policies.

D. Global environment in general.

57. From the last sentence of paragraph 2 we may learn that the survival of a country's coasts and farms, the health of its people and the stability of its economy is__________.

A. of utmost importance

B. a fight no one can win

C. beyond people's imagination

D. a less significant issue

58. Judging from the context, the word "rub"(Line 1, Para.3)probably means_______.

A. friction

B. contradiction

C. conflict

D. problem

59. What is the author's attitude toward America's policies on global warming?

A. Critical

B. Indifferent

C. Supportive

D. Compromising

60. The paragraphs immediately following this passage would most probably deal with___________.

A. the new book written by Fred Krupp

B. how America can fight against global warming

C. the harmful effects of global warming

D. how America can tide over economic crisis

Passage 5 (2005.1)

Working at nonstandard times-evenings, nights, or weekends-is taking its toll on American families. One-fifth of all employed Americans work variable or rotating shifts, and one-third work weekends, according to Harriet B. Presser, sociology professor at the University of Maryland. The result is stress on familial relationships, which is likely to continue in coming decades.

The consequences of working irregular hours vary according to gender, economic level, and whether or not children are involved. Single mothers are more likely to work nights and weekends than married mothers. Women in clerical, sales, or other low-paying jobs participate disproportionately in working late and graveyard shifts.

Married-couple households with children are increasingly becoming dual-earner households, generating more split-shift couples. School-aged children, however, may benefit from parents’ nonstandard work schedules because of the greater likelihood that a parent will be home before or after school. On the other hand, a correlation exists between nonstandard work schedules and both marital instability and a decline in the quality of marriages.

Nonstandard working hours mean families spend less time together for diner but more time together for breakfast. One-on-one interaction between parents and children varies, however, based on parent, shift, and age of children. There is also a greater reliance on child care by relatives and by professional providers.

Working nonstandard hours is less a choice of employees and more a mandate of employer. Presser believes that the need for swing shifts and weekend work will continue to rise in the coming decades. She reports that in some European countries there are substantial salary premiums for employees working irregular hours-sometimes

as much as 50% higher. The convenience of having services available 24 hours a day continues to drive this trend.

Unfortunately, says Presser, the issue is virtually absent from public discourse. She emphasizes the need for focused studies on costs and benefits of working odd hours, the physical and emotional health of people working nights and weekends, and the reasons behind the necessity for working these hours. ―Nonstandard work schedules not only are highly prevalent among American families but also generate a level of complexity in family functioning that needs greater attention,‖ she says. (360 words )

1.Which of the following demonstrates that working at nonstandard times is taking its toll on American families?

A.Stress on familial relationships.B.Rotating shifts.

C.Evenings,nights,or weekends. D.Its consequences.

2.Which of the following is affected most by working irregular hours?

A.Children. B.Marriage. C.Single mothers. D.Working women.

3.Who would be in favor of the practice of working nonstandard hours?

A.Children. B.Parents. C.Employees D.Professional child providers.

4.It is implied that the consequences of nonstandard work schedules are .

A.emphasized B.absent C.neglected D.prevalent

5.What is the author’s attitude towards working irregular hours?

A.Positive. B.Negative. C.Indifferent. D.Objective.

Passage 6 (2005.2)

Most human beings actually decide before they think.When any human being-executive,specialized expert,or person in the street—encounters a complex issue and forms an opinion,often within a matter of seconds,how thoroughly has he or she explored the implications of the various courses of action ?Answer:not very thoroughly. V ery few people,no matter how intelligent or experienced,can take inventory of the many branching possibilities,possible outcomes,side effects,and undesired consequences of a policy or a course of action in a matter of seconds.Y et,those who pride themselves on being decisive often try to do just that. And once their brains lock onto an opinion,most of their thinking thereafter consists of finding support for it.

A very serious side effect of argumentative decision making can be a 1ack of support for the chosen course of action on the pat of the“losing" faction. When one faction wins the meeting and the others see themselves as losing,the battle often doesn’t end when the meeting end. Anger,resentment,and jealousy may lead them to sabotage the decision later,or to reopen the debate at later meetings.

There is a better.As philosopher Aldous Huxley said,“It isn’t who is right,but what is right,that counts.”

The structured—inquiry method offers a better alternative to argumentative decision making by debate.With the help of the Internet and wireless computer technology the gap between experts and executives is now being dramatically closed.By actually putting the brakes on the thinking process,slowing it down,and organizing the flow of logic,it’s possible to create a level of clarity that sheer argumentation can never match.The structured—inquiry process introduces a level of conceptual clarity by organizing the contributions of

the experts,then brings the experts and the decision makers closer together.Although it isn't possible or necessary for a president or prime minister to listen to on every intelligence analysis meeting,it’s possible to organize the experts ’informat ion to give the decision maker much greater insight as to its meaning.This process may some—what resemble a marketing focus group;it’s a simple,remarkably clever way to bring decision makers closer to the source of the expert information and opinions on which they must base their decisions.(427 words)

l.From the first paragraph we can learn that .

A.executive, specialized expert, are no more clever than person in the street

B.very few people decide before they think

C.those who pride themselves on being decisive often fail to do so

D.people tend to consider carefully before making decisions

2.Judging from the context, w hat does the word ―the m‖ (line 4, paragraph 2) refer to?

A.Dec ision makers.

B.The ―losing‖ fac tion.

C.Anger, resentment, and jealousy.

D.Other people.

3.Aldous Huxley’s remark (Paragra ph 3) implies that .

A.there is a subtle difference between right and wrong

B.we cannot tell who is right and what is wrong

C.what is right is more important than who is right

D.what is right accounts for the question who is right

4.According to the author, the function of the structured-inquiry method is .

A.to make decision by debate

B.to apply the Internet and wireless computer technology.

C.to brake on the thinking process, slowing it down

D.to create a level of conceptual clarity

5.The structured-inquiry process can be useful for .

A.decision makers

B.intelligence analysis meeting

C.the experts’ info rmation

D.marketing focus groups

Passage7 (2005.3)

Sport is heading for an indissoluble marriage with television and the passive spectator will enjoy a private paradise. All of this will be in the future of sport. The spectator (the television audience) will be the priority and professional clubs will have to readjust their structures to adapt to the new reality: sport as a business.

The new technologies will mean that spectators will no longer have to wait for broadcasts by the

conventional channels. They will be the ones who decide what to see. And they will have to pay for it. In the United States the system of the future has already started: pay-as-you-view. Everything will be offered by television and the spectator will only have to choose. The review Sports Illustrated recently published a full profile of the life of the supporter at home in the middle of the next century. It explained that the consumers would be able to select their view of the match on a gigantic, flat screen occupying the whole of one wall, with images of a clarity which cannot be foreseen at present; they could watch from the trainer’s stands just behind the batter in a game of baseball or from the helmet of the star player in an American football game. And at their disposal will be the sane option s the producer of the recorded programmer has to select replays, to choose which camera to me and to decide on the sound whether to hear the public, the players, the trainer and so on.

Many sports executives, largely too old and too conservative to feel at home with the new technologies will believe that sport must control the expansion of television coverage in order to survive and ensure that spectators attend matches. They do not even accept the evidence which contradicts their view while there is more basketball than ever on television, for example, it is also certain that basketball is more popular than ever.

It is also the argument of these sports executives that television harming the modest team. This is true, but the future of those teams is also modest. They have reached their ceiling . It is the law of the market. The great events continually attract larger audience.

The world I being constructed on new technologies so that people can make the utmost use of their time and , in their home have access to the greatest possible range of recreational activities. Sport will have to adapt itself to the new world.

The most visionary executives go further. That philosophy is: rather than see television take over sport why not have sports taken over television? ( 439 words )

1.What does the writer mean by use of the phrase ―an indissoluble marriage‖ in the first paragraph?

A.sport is combined with television.

B.sport controls television.

C.television dictates sports.

D.Sport and television will go their own ways

2.What does ―they‖ in line 2 paragraph 2 stand for?

A.Broadcasts. B.Channels. C.Spectators. D.Technologies.

3.How do many sports executives feel with the new technologies?

A.they are too old to do anything.

B.They feel ill at ease.

C.They feel completely at home.

D.Technologies can go hand in hand with sports.

4.What is going to be discussed in the following paragraphs?

A.the philosophy of visionary executives.

B.The process of television taking over sport.

C.Television coverage expansion.

D.An example to show how sport has taken over television.

5.What might be the appropriate title of this passage?

A.the arguments of sports executives.

B.The philosophy of visionary executives.

C.Sports and television in the 21st century.

D.Sports: a business.

Passage 8 (2005.4)

Convenience food helps companies by creating growth, but what is its effect on people? For people who think cooking was the foundation of civilization , the microwave is the last enemy. The communion of eating together is easily broken by a device that liberates households citizens from waiting for mealtimes. The first great revolution in the history of food is in danger of being undone. The companionship of the campfire, cooking pot and common table, which have helped to bond humans in collaborative living for at least 150000 years could be destroyed.

Meals have certainly sated from the rise of convenience food. The only meals regularly taken together in Britain these days are at the weekend, among rich families struggling to retain something of the old symbol of togetherness. Indeed, the day’s first meal has all but disappeared. In the 20th century the leisure British breakfast was undermined by the corn flake; in the 21st breakfast is vanishing altogether a victim of the quick cup of coffee in Starbucks and the cereal bar.

Convenience food has also made people forget how to cook. One of the apparent paradoxes of modern food is that while the amount of time spent cooking meals has fallen from 60 minutes a day in 1980 to 13M a day in 2002, the number of books and television programmer on cooking has multiplied. But perhaps this isn’t a paradox. Maybe it is became people can’t cook anymore, so they need to be told how to do it, or maybe it is because people buy books about hobbies---golf, yachting ---not about chores. Cooking has ceased to be a chore and has become a hobby.

Although everybody lives in the kitchen. its facilities are increasingly for display rather than for use. Mr. Silverstein’s now book, ‖trading up‖look at mid-range consumer’s milling now to splash out. He says that industrial –style Viking cook pot, with nearly twice the heat output of other ranges, have helped to push the ―kitchen as theater‖ trend in hour goods. They cost from $1000 to $9000.Some 75% of them are never used.

Convenience also has an impact on the healthiness, or otherwise, of food ,of course there is nothing bad about ready to eat food itself. Y ou don’t get much healthier than an apple, and supermarkets sell a better for you range of ready-meals. But there is a limit to the number of apples people want to eat; and these days it is easier for people to eat the kind of food that makes them fat The three Harvard economists in their paper ―why have Americans become more obese?‖ point out that in the past, if people wanted to eat fatty hot food, they had to cook it. That took time and energy a good chip needs frying twice, once to cook the potato and once to get it crispy. Which discouraged of consumption of that cost of food. Mass preparation of food took away that constraint.

Nobody has to cut and double cook their own fries these days. Who has the time? (512 words )

1.What might the previous paragraphs deal with?

A.The relationship between meals and convenience food.

B.The importance of convenience food in people’s life.

C.The rise of convenience food.

D.The history of food industry.

2 .What is the paradox in the third paragraph?

A.People don’t know how to cook.

B.The facilities in the kitchen are not totally used.

C.People are becoming more obsess ,thus unhealthy.

D.Convenience food actually does not save people time.

3.What does the passage mainly discuss?

A.The bad effects of convenience food

B.Mr. Silverstein’s new book

C.People’s new hobby

D.Disappearance of the old symbol of togetherness.

4.Why has American become more obese?

A.Because of eating chips.

B.Because of being busy.

C.Because of being lazy.

D.B and C.

5 .Which of the following might the author mostly agree with?

A.There is nothing bad about convenience food.

B.Convenience food makes people lazy.

C.Convenience food helps companies grow.

D.Convenience food is a revolution in cooking.

Passage 9 (2008.1)

Last weekend Kyle MacDonald in Montreal threw a party to celebrate the fact that he got his new home in exchange for a red paper clip. Starting a year ago, MacDonald bartered the clip for increasingly valuable staff, including a camp stove and free rent in a Phoenix flat. Having announced his aim(the house)in advance, MacDonald likely got a boost from techies eager to see the Internet pass this daring test of its networking power. "My whole motto(座右铭)was 'start small, think big, and have fun'," says MacDonald, 26, " I really kept my effort on the creative side rather than the business side."

Y et as odd as MacDonald exchange was, barter is now big business on the Net. This year more than 400,000 companies worldwide will exchange some $10 billion worth of goods and services on a growing number of barter sites. These Websites allow companies to trade products for a virtual currency, which they can use to buy goods

from other members. In Iceland, garment-maker Kapusalan sells a third of its output on the booming Vidskiptanetid exchange, earning virtual money that it uses to buy machinery and pay part of employee salaries. The Troc-Services exchange in France offers more than 4,600 services, from math lessons to ironing.

This is not a primitive barter system. By creating currencies, the Internet removes a major barrier-what Bob Meyer, publisher of Barter News, calls" the double coincidence of wants." That is, two parties once not only had to find each other, but also an exchange of goods that both desired. Now, they can price the deal in virtual currency.

Barter also helps firms make use of idle capacity. For example, advertising is "hugely bartered" because many media, particularly on the Web can supply new ad space at little cost. Moreover, Internet ads don't register in industry-growth statistics, because many exchanges are arranged outside the formal exchanges.

Like eBay, most barter sites allow members to "grade" trading partners for honesty, quality and so on. Barter exchanges can allow firms in countries with hyperinflation or nontradable currencies to enter global trades. Next year, a nonprofit exchange called Quick Lift Two(QL2) plans to open in Nairobi, offering barter deals to 38,000 Kenyan farmers in remote areas. Two small planes will deliver the goods. QL2 director Gacci Waciuma says the farmers are excited to be "liberated from corrupt middlemen." For them, barter evokes a bright future, not a precapitalist past. (407 words)

1. The word "techies"(Line 4, Para1) probably refers to those who are___.

A. afraid of technology

B. skilled in technology

C. ignorant of technology

D. incompetent in technology

2. Many people may have deliberately helped Kyle because they___.

A. were impressed by his creativity

B. were eager to identify with his motto

C. liked his goal announced in advance

D. hoped to prove the power of the Internet

3. The Internet barter system relies heavily on___.

A. the size of barter sites

B. the use of virtual currency

C. the quality of goods or services

D. the location of trading companies

4. It is implies that Internet advertisements can help___.

A. companies make more profit

B. companies do formal exchanges

C. media register in statistics

D. media grade barter sites

5. Which of the following is true of QL2 according to the author?

A. It is criticized for doing business in a primitive way.

B. It aims to deal with hyperinflation in some countries.

C. It helps get rid of middlemen in trade and exchange.

D. It is intended to evaluate the performance of trading partners.

Passage 10 (2008.2)

The lives of very few Newark residents are untouched by violence: New Jersey's biggest city has seen it all. Y et the murder of three young people, who were forced to kneel before being shot in the back of the head in a school playground on August 4th, has shaken the city. A fourth, who survived, was stabbed and shot in the face. The four victims were by all accounts good kids, all enrolled in college, all with a future. But the cruel murder, it seems, has at last forced Newarker to say they have had enough.

Grassroots organizations, like Stop Shootin', have been flooded with offers of help and support since the killings. Y usef Ismail, its co-founder, says the group has been going door-to-door asking people to sign a pledge of non-violence. They hope to get 50,000 to promise to "stop shootin', start thinkin', and keep livin'. The Newark Community Foundation, which was launched last month, announced on August 14th that it will help pay for Community Eye, a surveillance(监视) system tailored towards gun crime.

Cory Booker who became mayor 13 months ago with a mission to revitalize the city, believes the surveillance program will be the largest camera and audio network in any American city. More than 30 cameras were installed earlier this summer and a further 50 will be installed soon in a seven-square mile area where 80% of the city's recent shootings have occurred. And more cameras are planned.

When a gunshot is detected, the surveillance camera zooms in on that spot. Similar technology in Chicago has increased arrests and decreased shootings. Mr. Booker plans to announce a comprehensive gun strategy later this week.

Mr. Booker, as well as church leaders and others, believes (or hopes) that after the murder the city will no longer stand by in coldness. For generations, Newark has been paralyzed by poverty---almost one in three people lives below the poverty line---and growing indifference to crime.

Some are skeptical. Steven Malanga of the conservative Manhattan Institute notes that Newark has deep social problems: over 60% of children are in homes without fathers. The school system, taken over by the state in 1995, is a mess. But there is also some cause for hope. Since Mr. Booker was elected, there has been a rise in investment and re-zoning for development. Only around 7% of nearby Newark airport workers used to come from Newark; now, a year, the figure is 30%. Mr. Booker has launched a New Y ork-style war on crime. So far this year, crime has fallen 11% and shootings are down 30% (through the murder rate looks likely to match last year's high). (445 words)

1. What happened in Newark, New Jersey on August 4th?

A. The Newark residents witnessed a murder.

B. Four young people were killed in a school playground.

C. The new mayor of Newark took office.

D. Four college students fell victim to violence.

2. Judging from the context, the "Community Eye"(Line5, Pare2) is___.

A. a watching system for gun crime

B. a neighborhood protection organization

C. an unprofitable community business

D. a grassroots organization

3. We learn from the passage that Newark has all the following problems EXCEPT___.

A. violence

B. flood

C. poverty

D. indifference

4. Mayor Booker's effort against crime seem to be___.

A. idealistic

B. impractical

C. effective

D. fruitless

5. The best title for the passage may be___.

A. Stop Shootin', Start Thinkin', and Keep Livin'

B. Efforts to Fight against Gun Crime

C. A Mission to Revitalize the City

D. Violent Murders in Newark

Passage 11 (2008.3)

According to a recent survey on money and relationships, 36 percent of people are keeping a bank account from their partner. While this financial unfaithfulness may appear as distrust in a relationship, in truth it may just be a form of financial protection.

With almost half of all marriages ending in divorce, men and women are realizing they need to be financially savvy, regardless of whether they are in a relationship.

The financial hardship on individuals after a divorce can be extremely difficult, even more so when children are involved. The lack of permanency in relationships, job and family life may be the cause of a growing trend to keep a secret bank account hidden from a partner, in other words, an “escape fund”.

Margaret’s story is far from unique. She is a representative of a growing number of women in long-term relationships who are becoming protective of their own earnings.

Every month on pay day, she banks hundreds of dollars into a savings account she keeps from her husband. She has been doing this throughout their six-year marriage and has built a nest egg worth an incredible $100,000 on top of her pension.

Margaret says if her husband found about her secret savings he’d hurt and would interpret this as a sign she wasn’t sure of the marriage. ―He’d think it was my escape fun so that financially I could afford to get out of the relationship if it went wrong. I know you should approach marriage as being forever and I hope ours is, but you can never be sure.”

Like many of her fellow secret savers, Margaret was stung in a former relationship and has since been very guarded about her own money.

Coming clean to your partner about being a secret saver may not be all that bad. Taken Colleen for example, who had been saving secretly for a few years before she confessed to her partner. “I decided to open a savings account and start building a nest egg of my own. I wanted to prove to myself that I could put money in the bank and leave it there for a rainy day.”

“When John found out about my secret savings, he was a little suspicious of my motives. I reassured him this was certainly not an escape fund that I feel very secure in our relationship. I have to admit that it does feel good to have my own money on reserve if ever there are rainy days in the future. It’s sensible to build and protect your personal financial security.”(442 words)

1. The trend to keep a secret bank account is growing because ___.

A.“escape fund”helps one through rainy days

B. days are getting harder and harder

C. women are money sensitive

D. financial conflicts often occur

2. The word “savvy”(Line2, Para2) probably means ___.

A. suspicious

B. secure

C. shrewd

D. simple

3. Which inference can we make about Margaret?

A. she is a unique woman.

B. she was once divorced.

C. she is going to retire.

D. she has many children.

4. The author mentions Colleen’s example to show ___.

A. any couple can avoid marriage conflicts

B. privacy within marriage should be respected

C. everyone can save a fortune with a happy marriage

D. financial disclosure is not necessarily bad

5. Which of the following best summary of this passage?

A. Secret Savers

B. Love Is What It’s Worth

C. Banking Honesty

D. Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Passage 12 (2008.4)

“The word ‘protection’is no longer taboo(禁忌语)”. This short sentence, uttered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy last month, may have launched a new era in economic history. Why? For decades, Western leaders have believed that lowering trade barriers and tariffs was natural goods. Doing so, they reasoned, would lead to greater economic efficiency and productivity, which in turn would improve human welfare. Championing free trade thus became a moral, not just an economic, cause.

These leaders, of course, weren’t acting out of unselfishness. They knew their economies were the most competitive, so they’d profit most from liberalization. And developing countries feared that their economies would be swamped by superior Western productivity. Today, however, the tables have turned—though few acknowledge it. The Western continues to preach free trade, but practices it less and less. Asia, meanwhile, continues to plead for special protection but practices more and more free trade.

That’s why Sarkozy’s words were so important: he finally injected some honesty into the trade debates. The truth is that large parts of the West are losing faith in free trade, though few leaders admit it. Some economists are more honest. Paul Krugman is one of the few willing to acknowledge that protectionist arguments are returning. In the short run, there will be winners and losers under free trade. This, of course, is what capitalism is all about. But more and more of these losers will be in the West, economists in the developed world used to love quoting Joseph Schumpeter, who said that “creative destruction”was an essential part of capitalist growth. But they always assumed that destruction would happen over there. When Western workers began losing jobs, suddenly their leaders began to lose faith in their principles. Things have yet to reverse completely. But there’s clearly a negative trend in a Western theory and practice.

A little hypocrisy is not in itself a serious problem. The real problem is that Western governments continue to insist that they retain control of the key global economic and financial institutions while drifting away from global liberalization. Lock at what’s happening at the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The Europeans have demanded that they keep the post of managing director. But all too often, Western officials put their own interests above everyone else’s when they dominate these global institutions.

The time has therefore come for the Asians—who are clearly the new winners in today’s global economy—to provide more intellectual leadership in supporting free trade: Sadly, they have yet to do so. Unless Asians speak out, however, there’s a real danger that Adam Smith’s principles, which have brought so much good to the world, could gradually die. And that would leave all of us, worse off, in one way or another. (487 words)

1. It can be inferred that “protection”(Line1, Para1) means ___.

A. improving economic efficiency

B. ending the free-trade practice

C. lowering moral standard

D. raising trade tariffs

2. The Western leaders preach free trade because ___.

A. it is beneficial to their economies

B. it is supported by developing countries

C. it makes them keep faith in their principle

D. it is advocated by Joseph Schumpeter and Adam Smith

3. By “the tables have turned”(Para2) the author implies that___.

A. the Western leaders have turned self-centered

B. the Asian leaders have become advocates of free trade

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