III. 阅读理解（16分）Every city in the world has taxis to take tourists to interesting

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III. 阅读理解（16分）
Every city in the world has taxis to take tourists to interesting places. London is the only city in the world where taking a taxi is an interesting experience for tourists. This is partly because of the special black cabs（出租车）, which are found in no other country. But it is also because of the drivers themselves. While British people are famous for being polite and reserved, London taxi drivers are well known of their willingness to talk.
Some customers say that once the door shuts and the cab moves off they are captive audience. It is impossible to get the taxi drivers to stop talking.
“They’re self-confident and free thinking,” says Malcolm Linskey, the author of a history of taxi drivers in London. “They answer to nobody but themselves and that comes across in their conversation.”
They are also expensive. London has the most expensive taxis of any city in the world except Tokyo. That’s why Ken Living-stone, the mayor of London, is planning to make taxi drivers discuss their fares with customers before they take a ride.
Drivers agree that their fares are expensive. That’s because their black taxis cost more than other cars, they say. And the customer is also paying for a more driving expertise than anywhere else in the world.
Before someone can qualify as a London taxi driver, that person has to pass a test known as “The Knowledge”. This involves memorizing the name and location of every street within six miles of a point in the exact center of London. The trainee must also learn the exact location of every important building within these streets. Finally he or she must be able to use this knowledge to work out the shortest distance between any two destinations within this area.
It can take up the three years to pass “The knowledge”. Every day it is possible to see trainee taxi drivers on the streets of London, taking careful notes of popular destinations before finding the route to their next stop. Cab driving is a job often handed down in families. Many taxi drivers take their children out in their spare time to memorize routes they will need to know when it is their turn to do “The Knowledge”.
The effect of this is to make London taxi drivers experts at their job. They also have bigger brains. Recent research by scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London found that the hippocampus—the part of the brain that remembers things—was larger and more developed in cab drivers. They have to fit the whole of London into their heads, so their brains grow bigger.
1．Taking a taxi in London is an interesting experience for tourists because of the following statements except that _______.
A．the special black cabs can’t be found in other countries
B．the drivers are polite and reserved
C．the drivers are talkative
D．the drivers are self-confident and free thinking
2．Taking a taxi in London is very expensive because _________.
A．the drivers answer to nobody but themselves
B．the drivers can discuss their fares with customers before the ride
C．the drivers are the most qualified
D．the black cabs are the safest
3．It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
A．London has the most expensive taxis in the world
B．“The Knowledge”is a test that can be done easily
C．trainee taxi drivers are not often seen on the streets
D．many taxi drivers tend to make their children taxi drivers
4．London cab drivers have bigger brains because _______
A．they are experts at their job
B．they have many streets and routes in their minds
C．their hippocampus is larger and more developed
D．their heads are bigger

答案

小题1:B
小题2:C
小题3:D
小题4:C

解析

举一反三

Many banks are still not lending. They worry that they will not have enough capital to cover losses, but the situation does not allow many businesses to have the money they need to operate, and further slows a struggling economy. In the United States, the government has so far provided almost 150 billion dollars to banks, mainly through buying shares. Yet this may not be enough to save some major banks. By some estimates, banks have at least one trillion dollars in losses that they have not yet reported.
The new administration of President Barack Obama is considering ways to save banks.
One possibility is to expand federal guarantees against losses on some troubled financial assets(资产). The government has already offered guarantees to Bank of America and Citigroup. But the cost of this kind of insurance could be huge.
Another possibility is to create a so-called bad bank. It would take questionable securities held by other banks. The idea would be similar to the Resolution Trust Corporation set up by the government in 1989. It was formed to sell assets from failed savings and loan banks.
But it is difficult to put a price on trouble securities. Taxpayers would lose money if the government pays too much. And if it pays too little, banks could still fail.
Some people see nationalization(国有化) as the answer. That is when a government takes ownership of a private business, often with the idea of selling it back to investors later. Existing shares become worthless.
In the early 1990s, Sweden nationalized some banks and later sold their troubled assets, recovering some costs. But a similar effort in the United States, the world’s biggest economy, could take years. And experts warn that lending and politics do not mix.
Coming up with a plan to fix the banks and the financial system is now the job for Tim Geithner. The Senate confirmed his this week to replace Henry Paulson as Treasury Secretary. Tim Geithner’s last job was head of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Supporters said he is the best person to deal with the financial crisis. But one-third of the Senate,

mostly Republicans, voted against him.
He face rebuke for his failure to pay 34,000 dollars in taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He owed it to “careless mistakes”. As Treasury Secretary he is the nation’s chief tax collector.
51. What is the passage mainly about?
A. The financial crisis in the United States.
B. Possible ways to save US banks.
C. President Barack Obama’s financial policy.
D. The problems US banks are facing now.
52. We can learn from the passage that _________.
A. all the banks in the US have stopped lending money now.
B. American banks have lost less than one trillion dollars
C. the US government has taken some measures to save the banks
D. the American economic situation is getting much better
53. Which of the following is NOT a possibility to help the banks out of trouble?
A. Expanding federal guarantees against loss

es on some troubled financial assets.
B. Creating a bad band to take questionable securities held by other banks.
C. Nationalizing the banks and selling them back to investors later.
D. Confirming Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary to replace Henry Paulson.
54. The underlined word “rebuke” in the last paragraph most probably means “_________”.
A. judgment B. sympathy C. assessment D. blame
55. It can be concluded from the passage that _________.
A. Barack Obama’s government has taken effectively measures to save their banks.
B. Tim Geithner is the best person to deal with the financial crisis
C. each possible way mentioned in the passage has its disadvantage
D. nationalization may be the best way to save US banks

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The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition (U.S.), the Globe and Mail (Canada), the Guardian (U.K.), among other foreign news agencies, have recently published articles on China"s earthquake relief. They have all praised the earthquake relief efforts made by the Chinese government.
The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition published an article on May 21 saying that on the eighth day of the most serious natural disaster to hit China in decades, the main task of rescuing survivors from the ruins had been quickly replaced by the great challenge of helping them. The article said that people overseas have been deeply impressed by earthquake relief efforts by the Chinese government.
The Associated French Press (AFP) reported on May 21 that China has become more open in the whole rescue action.
Aircraft loaded with relief supplies from Ukraine, Russia, the United States, Singapore and many other countries have arrived in disaster areas in southwestern China.

The Associated Japanese Press (AJP) published an article on May 21 reporting that China is making great efforts to deal with a formidable task caused by the earthquake how to provide temporary shelter for so many people. The article said that many tents have been built; and food and medical care are provided to the people whose lives have been completely disrupted(搅乱)by the earthquake.
The Global and Mail of Canada published an article on May 20 that said the rapid earthquake relief work in Sichuan shows China"s powerful economic strength.
An article carried in the British Guardian said that one week after the Sichuan earthquake, China began a three-day national mourning(哀悼) period at 14:28 on May 19, and all Chinese people stood in silence for three minutes in memory of the victims.
The ongoing search and rescue action are still encouraged by one unexpected survivor after another. Chinese officials said that, so far, no epidemic(流行病) had occurred after the earthquake.
61. How many press media are mentioned in the article?
A. 3      B. 4       C. 5     D. 6
62. what is the possible meaning of the underlined word formidable in paragraph 4 ?
A. difficult     B. quick      C. light       D. heavy
63. According to the passage, what is the most difficult and important task in the earthquake-hit areas for the present ?
A. rescuing survivors        B. providing temporary shelter and food for the victims
C burying dead bodies       D. clearing away the ruins
64. What is the best title of the passage?
A. Foreign media praise China"s earthquake relief
B. The rapid earthquake relief work in Sichuan shows China"s powerful economic strength
C. The most serious natural disaster to hit China in decades
D. Tens of thousands of people’s lives have been completely disrupted by the earthquake.
65. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage ?
A. Chinese government made great efforts to relieve the people after the earthquake
B. many countries in the world provide China with the relief sup C. in the earthquake-hit areas, people’s lives have been completely disrupted by the earthquake
D. the ongoing search and rescue action have completely stopped at the present time

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Folklore is the branch of the study of man which deals with local customs, tales and traditions. Everybody is a storehouse of folklore, though not everybody realizes it. Often, in deed, those who have never heard the word folklore have the greatest store of it, for the people with least book education commonly cherish most firmly old ideas and superstitions (迷信) which have been passed on by word of mouth for generations. Everyone has heard stories of ghosts, witches, fairies, and giants. We all know some proverbs and have come across such ideas as, for example, that it is lucky to see black cat and unlucky to see a single magpie (喜鹊). We keep certain seasons of the year as festivals, such as Christmas, and we are familiar with the special customs connected with weddings and funerals. All such things are of interest to those who study folklore.
People who study folklore won’t criticize the old beliefs and practices they come across as silly, childish, or old-fashioned. Instead, they will try to collect accurate records of them and then see how these are connected with other ideas and customs of other places or times. By comparing with what is known of olden times or the folklore of other countries, they try to discover how certain beliefs and practices came into being, and what purpose they serve now or used to serve in the past.
Often we find that the beliefs which seem most peculiar and unreasonable, and the customs which appear least practical, are of the greatest interest and importance because they are commonly the oldest. Sometimes they were part of an ancient ritual (惯例) or served a useful purpose when people’s way of life was different from what it is now. So we not only learn about what people thought and did in the past but are better able to understand present customs. People often keep up customs when they have forgotten the original reason for them, and in the course of time a fresh reason gets attached to the custom. Thus, when some joker ties an old shoe to the back of the taxi taking the bride and bridegroom to the station for their honeymoon, he would say it was “for luck”, but actually a shoe is an old fertility (繁殖力) symbol and has a place in the wedding customs of China and Palestine.
51. According to the text, people usually pass on old ideas and superstitions by _________.
A. putting them in a large storehouse     B. writing them down in books
C. celebrating them as festivals      D. mouth from one generation to another
52. The underlined word “they” (in Para.2) most probably refers to _________.
A. practices and beliefs B. customs and traditions
C. records and tales       D. places or times
53. It is most unlikely for people who study folklore to _________.
A. collect as many records of old beliefs and practices as possible
B. compare the present customs with those of the olden times
C. criticize the old beliefs and superstitions as silly or childish
D. find out the purpose the certain beliefs and practices serve or used to serve
54. Which of the following statements is true about customs?
A. The customs which do not appear practical mean nothing to most people.
B. The reasons for certain customs may change in the course of history.
C. People who practice customs are quite familiar with their origins.
D. The wedding customs in China and Palestine are of great similarity.
55. What would be the best title for the passage?

A. What Does Folklore Really Mean?
B. How Do People Keep Up Customs?
C. Who Studies Tales And Traditions?
D. When Did Some Old Beliefs Begin?

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II.Fill in the blanks(10)
The first and smallest unit that can be discussed in relation to language is the word. In speaking, the choice of words is   16   great importance. Proper _17__(choose) will get rid of one source of likely breakdown in the communication cycle. Too often, careless use of words___18___ (prevent) a meeting of the mind of the speaker and listener. The words used by the speaker may cause __19___(favor) reactions in the listener_20__interfere with his comprehension; hence, the transmission-reception system breaks down. Moreover , inaccurate or indefinite words may make _21__ difficult for the listener to understand the message which __22__(transmit) to him. The speaker_23__does not have specific words in working vocabulary may be unabe to explain or describe in _24_ way ___25_ can be understood by listeners.
III.cloze(15)
Nobody wants to appear fat. Many girls who care too much about their self-image(个人形象) choose to eat less food to 26   themselves from gaining weight. Some even take medicine to achieve their goals. Those unhealthy ways may lead to being   27  to a certain drug and the addiction is usually very   28 . There is little difference to committing suicide (自***). I used to eat   29    a lot, which is said to be high in protein but low in calories. But the moment bird flu   30   out, I stopped eating this kind of meat. To me, health always comes first, because no matter how wealthy you are, your   31   will deprive(剥夺) you of the right to   32   your life, so why should we put ourselves in danger and suffer? However, you’d better keep it in mind that whether you go on a calorie-restricted (限制热量的) diet or not, exercising and   33   eating are excellent ways to keep your body in good   34. Their emphasis is that the healthy way to lose weight is   35   to make permanent changes to your lifestyle.
26. A. protect                     B. make                      C. promise                  D. keep
27. A. used               B. addicted             C. exposed             D. devoted
28. A. painful        B. useful             C. cheerful              D. sorrowful
29. A. fruit           B. vegetable           C. chicken              D. pork
30. A. let             B. set                C. gave                 D. broke
31. A. medicine             B. weight             C. diet                 D. disease
32. A. enjoy          B. make             C. change                D. take
33. A. regular        B. healthy            C. good                 D. normal
34. A. size            B. shape              C. situation             D. style
35. A. usually                B. generally          C. quickly                D. gradually

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After the Summer Olympics are over, when all the athletes and viewers have gone home and the television audience has switched off, another group of athletes and fans will arrive at the host city, and another competition will begin. These are the Paralympics, the games for athletes with a disability. But in Beijing in 2008, for the first time, one of the greatest paralympians will not be taking part.
She is a British athlete by the name of Tanni Grey-Thompson. Born with spina bifida （脊椎裂） which left her paralysed（瘫痪的） from the waist down, Tanni used a wheelchair from the age of 7. At first, she was not keen on sport, apart from horse-riding, which gave her a sense of freedom. But in her teens, she started taking sports more seriously. She tried swimming, basketball and tennis. Eventually she found athletics, and never looked back.
Indeed, Tanni"s athletic career took off. In 1984, when she was 15, she pulled off a surprise victory in the 100 meters at the Junior National Wheelchair Games.
In 1988, Tanni went to her first Paralympic Games in Seoul. She won bronze in the 400 meters. Even greater success followed at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. Tanni won gold in the100, 200, 400 and 800 meters relay, setting two world records in the process. In the same year she achieved the first of her six London Wheelchair Marathon victories.
Tanni"s enduring success has been part motivation, part preparation. “The training I do that enables me to be a good sprinter （短跑运动员） enables me to be good at a marathon too. I train 50 weeks of the year and that keep me prepared for whatever distance I want to race... I am still competing at a very high level, but as 1 get older things get harder and 1 want to retire before 1
fall apart."
Indeed Tanni retired finally after the Visa Paralympic World Cup in 2007. Her wish is to coach young athletes for Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
In spite of ups and downs, she never takes her fate lying down. In her splendid life, she has won an amazing eleven gold medals, four silvers and one bronze in a series of Paralympics— a top level athletic career covering two decades. She has won the London Wheelchair Marathon six times, more than any other competitor, and she has set over thirty world records.
What advice does she have for young athletes? "Work hard at your studies, and then train, train and train again."
41. Which of the following sports did Tanni like before thirteen?
A. Basketball.      B. Swimming.         C. Tennis.         D. Horse-riding.
42. When did Tanni win her first Olympic gold medal?
A. In 1984.        B. In 1988.           C. In 1992.         D. In 2007.
43. The underlined word "that" in the 5th paragraph refers to____.
A. fifty weeks" training                   B. being a good sprinter
C. training almost every day             D. part motivation and part preparation
44. What"s the right order of the events related to Tanni?
a. She works as a coach.
b. She took up athletics.
c. She won four gold medals in Barcelona.
d. She competed in her first Paralympic Games.
e. She achieved a victory in her first London Wheelchair Marathon.
A. b, d, c, e, a      B. a, d, b, c, e      C. a, d, c, e, b        D. b, d, a, e, c
45. What can we learn from Tanni"s success?
A. Union is strength.                      B. Never too late to learn.
C. Well begun is half done.                D. No pains, no gains.

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