第四部分：阅读理解（单项选择）

 

短文理解1

 

Blocks of “high-rise” flats have been built in large numbers in London and in many other big cities. Just after the Second World War these big, twenty-to-thirty storey buildings, hundreds of feet in height, were thought to be the ideal solution to the housing problem. For on the one hand, there was severe housing shortage, but on the other hand, there was lack of space to build houses in urban areas. Blocks of “high-rise” flats seemed, at first, to be able to solve the problem, since they can offer space for more families to live in on less land. The beautiful, modern apartments in the high–rises were much sought after by people who lived downtown. Hundreds of the vast blocks had been built before anyone began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not. Are they suitable places for people, children especially, to live in? A well-known British architect, who personally designed many of these buildings, now believes that the high-rises may well make those people who have been housed in them suffer a great deal. Evidence has been collected by social workers, which suggests that people do suffer. They complain about severe loneliness and deep depression living within these great towers. People also talk about lack of communication with others, no easy access to a playground for children, no chances for adults to get familiarized with each other. Many people say that they have lived next door to each other for years in the same building, but they never know who their neighbors are. Some experts say that a large number of people living in the high-rises suffer from mental disorder and have even developed criminal tendencies. As a result of these new discoveries, plans for new high-rise blocks are being reconsidered. We are now building up many high-rises in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Perhaps we should also reconsider the idea too.

 

1.      There was a big housing problem after the Second World War ____________.

A. in London    B. in the rural areas     C. in many big cities   D. in many countries

 

2.  Blocks of “high-rise” flats were thought to be the ideal solution to the housing problem, because ____________.

A. there was severe house shortage in big cities

B. there was less and less land to build houses in big cities

C. they were modern and beautiful and much sought after by city people

D. they were built on less land and were able to house a lot more people

 

3. The sentence “Hundreds of the vast blocks had been built before anyone began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not.” means ____________.

A. it was not until hundreds of the vast blocks had been built, people began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not

B. hundreds of the vast blocks had not been built until anyone began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not

C. people began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not before hundreds of the vast blocks had been built

D. before hundreds of the vast blocks had been built, some people began to doubt about whether they were good solutions or not

 

4.      The author takes a well-known British architect as an example to show us that ____________.

A. he is very proud of his designing of many of the high-rises

B. even a well-known designer of the high-rises believes they are no good for people

C. even a well-known designer of the high-rises suffers personally

D. high-rises are well-designed, modern buildings which meet people’s needs

5. What is the greatest danger for people living in a high-rise according to some experts?

A. Lack of communication with others.

B. No easy access to a playground for children.

C. Developing criminal tendencies.

D. Not knowing the neighbors.

 

短文理解2

 

       Sura Elmer came to Shanghai last July from the Netherlands, and will remain here for the next couple of years. He worked at the Holiday Inn Hotel as a sales manager, “One important part of my job consists in staying in contact with consultant-generals here. With a white face, it is easier for me to persuade people,” he said. Before working in Shanghai, he worked for a Holiday Inn Hotel in Amsterdam. He was transferred here by an arrangement between the hotels in Shanghai and Amsterdam.

 

       Asked to comment on the differences between working in China and Europe, he said: “If anything, Chinese colleagues tend to be more serious, while we Dutch like to crack jokes,” he said. He also said that in Amsterdam everything goes faster and with less people. “In the Netherlands, we have to be efficient because salaries are high and companies cannot employ so many people as they do here in China,” he said. He also said that he earned a bit more here than in the Netherlands, and accommodation and meals are freely available. “I like Shanghai. Before coming here I had no idea what China would be like. Now I have been here for nearly one year, I found people here friendly, though I dislike people spitting on the ground.” He intended to work here for another two or three years, depending on the hotel.

 

6.      From the passage, we know that Sura Elmer is ____________.

A. a Dutch

B. working for a Holiday Inn Hotel in Amsterdam

C. one of the consultant-generals

D. going to stay in Shanghai for quite long

 

7.    Sura Elmer came to Shanghai, ____________.

A. as he signed a contract with Holiday Inn Hotel in Shanghai

B. because he wants to know something about China

C. for he likes Shanghai very much

D. according to an agreement between the hotels in Shanghai and Amsterdam

 

8.    Sura Elmer’s impression on his Chinese colleagues is that they ____________ than his colleagues in the Netherlands.

A. do everything faster    B. are more serious

C. are more efficient      D. earn a little more

 

9.    In the second paragraph, the sentence, “…accommodation and meals are freely available” means ____________.

A. accommodation and meals are offered in free time in the hotel

B. Sura Elmer eats and sleeps in the hotel free of charge

C. Sura Elmer can stay and eat in the hotel anytime he thinks necessary

D. except accommodation, meals are offered freely in the hotel

 

10. The thing that Sura Elmer dislikes in China is ____________.

A. one does not have to work hard to be efficient

B. salaries are lower than what people get in Amsterdam

C. people spit on the ground

D. there are more people doing less work

 

短文理解3

 

Passage 3

I used to think education was the most important thing in my life. Recently my attitude has begun to change, although I still hold that it is essential for everyone in the world today. As a top junior student in my college, I was asked to make a speech on how to learn English well. Standing in front of the audience facing so many freshmen, I was trembling. I didn’t remember any word that I had prepared. I ran out of the conference room without finishing my speech, leaving everyone puzzled. I cried that night in my room, feeling that I was a loser. Studying takes so much of my time that I feel unable to really develop myself. I am just storing knowledge; yet fail to communicate with others. I have received many awards in school, but they don’t necessarily reflect anything about me. I don’t know how to socialize. When I leave school I fear I will be of no use to society.

 

I realize that everyone has her or his own way of living. I want to change my lifestyle. Of course I will keep studying. Yet I plan to look for a part time job, which might turn out to be a good chance to get to know society. I still believe that working my hardest does make me happy. I will still stay on in college, but I will not allow it to shelter me from the real world.

 

11.From this passage, we know that the author ____________.

A. does not think education is the most important thing in her life any more

B. thinks that communication with other people is more important than education

C. realizes that it is more important to really develop oneself than just to store knowledge

D. comes to learn how important it is to make a public speech

 

12. By saying that she is “a junior student” in her college, the author means that she is ____________.

A. a student in her third year in college

B. a very young college student

C. younger than most students in college

D. shorter than others in college

 

13. The author thinks the awards she has received ____________.

A. show that she is a top student

B. show how much time she has spent in learning

C. mean she only knows how to learn, but not how to socialize

D. don’t necessarily reflect her real self

 

14. The author fears that she will be of no use to society, mainly because ____________.

A.she feels she is a loser

B.she does not know how to communicate with others

C. studying takes too much of her time

D.she is unable to develop herself

 

15.Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage, when the author says that she wants to find a part time job?

A. The job might enable her to get to know society.

B. She wants to change her lifestyle.

C. Working part time while studying will make her happy.

D. She wants to get some shelter from the real world.

 

短文理解4

 

35 Forest Avenue

 

Dew’s Parker

 

Adelaide

 

12, Nov.

 

Dear Bob,

 

I’m just writing to let you know our new address and to invite you to our house-warming party next Saturday. I’m sorry about the lack of warning, but we’ve been busy moving house and I’ve had little time for anything else. In any case, we only decided to hold the party last week when we found out that cost of moving was not as high as we thought and we had a little cash to spare.

 

       We moved to here two days ago and we’ve been working non-stop ever since. This evening we decided to have a few hours’ rest, so I’m writing a few invitations to some friends.

 

       You can do the trip from Bedford to Flinders in two hours now the new motorway is open. Dew’s Parker is rather difficult to find though, because it’s a new housing estate and few people know where it is. Give us a ring when you are in the area and I’ll give detailed directions to you then. Our number is 56889590.

 

       Barbara and I hope you can make it in spite of the short notice.

       All the best

 

Charles

 

P.S. We can fix you up with a place to sleep – I guess you can put up with a mattress on the floor!

 

16.This passage is a letter of ____________.

A. an informal invitation    B.  a formal invitation    C. thanks    D. complaint

 

17.When Charles writes, “I’m sorry about the lack of warning”, he means that he is sorry that ____________.

A. he did not give Bob a warning when Bob was once in danger

B. he is short of money, so he is not able to help Bob

C. he should have given Bob a warning when he is in difficulty

D. he is not able to write this letter to Bob earlier

 

18.Charles and his wife decided to hold the house-warming party, mainly because ____________.

A. they decided to have a rest after being busy moving to the new house

B. they still had a little money left to afford the party

C. the new motorway was open

D. they wanted to meet their friends very much

 

19.From the letter we know that the new house that Charles moved in is ____________.

A. very big                        B. two hours away from downtown

C. in a new housing estate            D. easy to find in the map

 

20.In the sentence “Barbara and I hope that you can make it …”, the phrase “make it” is used to say that Bob can ____________.

A. manage to attend their party        B. find their new house in two hours

C. do the trip from Bedford to Flinders  D. put up with a mattress on the floor

 

短文理解5

              Dear Uncle Ric,

 

We were very sorry to hear that you are in hospital again, but I feel sure you’ll be out and about again soon. It doesn’t sound very serious this time according to Auntie Ivy and in any case you have already recovered from the operation so quickly.

 

Malcolm has been working very hard all this year, because he is sitting some examinations this month and he is determined to study History at the University of Oxford. Although the sun has been shining all day today, he has been sitting at home reading about the history of the French Revolution. Fortunately he loves books, especially history books. He spends all his time and money on books.

 

       James is totally different from his brother. He might be too young to know better. He gets bored with school and studying. But he is very keen on games. He never stays indoors when the weather is reasonably fine, and today he has been playing tennis for hours with his friends. He is fond of football, but tennis is his favorite. He said that he wanted to become a professional player. His mother doesn’t really approve.

 

Robin sends you her love. We are looking forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon. I am sending this letter through the e-mail to Auntie Ivy and she will bring it to the hospital with our best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

 

       Lots of love

 

Trevor

 

21．It is certain that Uncle Ric is in hospital ____________.

A. again after having fully recovered from an operation

B. to get some treatment for a serious disease

C. to get an operation for some minor disease

D. to do some check-up after receiving an operation

 

22.It is ____________ who wants to study history.

A. Trevor’s wife                       B. Trevor’s younger son

C. James’s elder brother                 D. Robin

 

23. In the second paragraph, the sentence “…he is sitting some examinations…” means that Malcolm is ____________.

A. sitting at his desk preparing lessons for some examinations

B. sitting at home busy reading for some examinations

C. sitting in an examination place

D. going to take some examinations

 

24. From the letter, we know that James wants to become a professional player, ____________.

A. yet the whole family don’t like the idea

B. but Robin, his mother, does not like the idea

C. his father thinks it’s too bad that he gets bored with school

D. Malcolm feels sorry for his idea, wishing he knows better

 

25. This is a ____________.

A. business letter    B. private letter     C. memo        D. telephone message

 

短文理解6

 

       Good children must be good students at school. They should work hard at all subjects and do what is given to them on time. They should develop the ability to care for themselves, to try not to depend too much on their parents, to think independently and to work in a planned way. They ought to respect teachers, have a cooperative attitude towards schoolmates and always be ready to help others.

 

       At home, good children should be tidy and hard working. Besides schoolwork they should help their parents with housework and be always ready to show respect and gratitude to their parents whenever their parents do something for them. They should also be very considerate towards their entire family. They ought to please their family with something that makes them happy and feel good instead of upsetting them with their personal worries. When it is absolutely necessary to talk to their parents about their personal problems, they should talk nicely and calmly, getting ready to take advice from their parents since they are much more experienced in life. If any disagreement occurs, good children should try to iron out the disagreement by listening to the parents’ opinions. They never take it for granted that they are always in the right. On the contrary, good children learn quickly by listening to others.

 

26. The most suitable title for this passage would be ____________.

A.        Good Children at Home

B.        Good Students at School

C.        What Good Children Should Be

D.       Be Good Students

 

27. One important ability good children are supposed to develop is ___________.

A.        to think independently

B.        to work hard at some subjects

C.        to be good students at school

D.       to have a cooperative attitude toward teachers

 

28. Good children should ____________.

A.        never talk about their personal worries

B.        care for their parents, brothers and sisters

C.        consider something of their own interests

D.       never get upset by their personal problems

 

29. When there is disagreement between parents and children, good children should try to ____________.

A.        get ready to talk nicely

B.        please their parents with something good

C.        use an iron to keep calm

D.       find a good resolution to the problem

 

30. In the last paragraph, the sentence “They never take it for granted that they are always in the right” means they never ____________.

A.        believe that they are always right

B.        make sure that they are right

C.        think it is true that they might not always be right

D.       accept it as a matter of fact that they are always right

 

短文理解7

 

       The AIDS virus has been around for a very long time, but the spread of the disease within the last twenty years or so on such a scale has caused real concern. It seems that in the 1980s the principal carriers of the disease were homosexuals, drug users and prostitutes. Now it is becoming evident that heterosexuals also spread the disease, that children can be born with the virus and that patients in hospitals are being infected too.

 

       Just as the WHO fought the spread of children’s disease throughout the world in the 1960s, so now they must again use education to fight this killer disease. The organization proposes to write newspaper articles and books, and to make videos and TV programmes. These will be translated into the major languages of the world so that as many people as possible can be educated about the danger of AIDS.

 

       However, we are still faced with two big questions. Is educating the public enough if we are to control the spread of AIDS? Does the WHO have enough money and resources for hospitals throughout the world to help and care for sufferers? One fact is becoming clearer and that is that the WHO has not focused enough on the need to educate medical staff. There are still hospitals and health centers in some parts of the world which do not accept AIDS patients, while there are others where too little care is taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

 

31. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A. AIDS is a disease for which a cure has been found.

B. AIDS is a disease which has just been found.

C. AIDS is a disease which has existed for a long time.

D. AIDS is a disease which spreads very slowly.

 

32. Who is easily infected with AIDS?

A. People who use drugs.              B. People who visit prostitutes.

C. Patients who stay in hospital.         D. All of the above.

 

33. In WHO’s opinion, what will help most effectively in fighting against the spread of AIDS?

A. More education.    B. More medicines.   C. More doctors.    D. More equipment.

 

34.  From the passage, we can see that the writer is not happy about ____________.

A. the education the general public get on AIDS

B. the education the medical staff get on AIDS

C. the TV programmes on AIDS

D. the newspaper articles on AIDS

 

35.  Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

A. It is not enough only to educate the general pubic.

B. There are some hospitals in some parts of the world which do not accept AIDS patients.

C. Great care has been taken to prevent the spread of AIDS everywhere in the world now.

D. More money and resources are needed to control the spread of AIDS.

 

短文理解8

 

"Are you the happiest man in the world?" When asked this question, most people would say no. They don't think they are the happiest of the people around them. They would point out that one of their neighbors is happier than any one of them, "Doctor Frank has a career himself. His wife is the most beautiful and well-educated lady in the community. No, I don't think I am happier than Doctor Frank. At least my career is not as successful as his."

 

       Most of us compare ourselves with anyone we think is happier  a relative, a close friend or, often, someone we even hardly know. I once met a young man who struck me as particularly successful and happy. He spoke of his love for his beautiful wife and their daughters, and of his joy at being a TV talk-show host. I remember thinking he was one of the lucky few for whom everything goes effortlessly right. Once we talked about the Internet, he is grateful for its existence. He told me, because he could look up information on diabetes (糖尿病)  the terrible disease that made his wife suffer and could possibly be passed down to his lovely children. When I heard this, I felt like a fool for taking it for granted that nothing unhappy existed in his life.

 

This made me think a lot and I soon drew one of the most significant conclusions about happiness: there is little relation between the situations of people's lives and how happy they are. We all know people who are richer and have an easier life than others, yet they are essentially unhappy. And we know people who have suffered a great deal but generally remain happy. Unhappiness is like looking at something and fixing on even the smallest fault. As a bald man told me, "Whenever I enter a room, all I see is hair."

 

It is hard for us to give up the image of "being perfect." As nothing is perfect, anyone can be unhappy. It takes no courage or effort to be unhappy. True happiness lies in struggling to be happy.

 

36.  According to the author, most people would ____________ they are the happiest in the world.

A. doubt whether     B. like to think that    C. think about whether   D. not think that

 

37.  The author thinks that people quite often compare themselves with ____________.

A. a close friend                        B. a relative          

C. anyone we think is happier             D. someone we even hardly know

 

38.  What is not true about the young man the author once met with?

A. He is a TV talk show host.             B. Everything goes effortlessly right for him.

C. He loves his wife and their daughters.    D. He is very happy with his work and his life.

 

39.  After talking with the young man about the Internet, the author realizes ____________.

A. that he is mistaken in thinking nothing unhappy existed in the latter’s life

B. how grateful the young man is for the existence of the Internet

C. how terribly the young man’s wife suffer from the disease - diabetes

D. that there is a lot of information one can look up in the Internet

 

40.  The significant conclusion the author draws about happiness is that ____________.

A. it is hard for us to give up the image of "being perfect"

B. unhappiness is like looking at something and fixing on even the smallest fault

C. we know people who have suffered a great deal but generally remain happy

D.  true happiness lies in struggling to be happy

 

第四部分：短文理解（单项选择）答案

 

1. C   2. D   3. A.   4.B    5.C

6. A   7. D    8. B   9. B   10.C

11.C   12. A   13.D  14. B  15. B

16. A   17. D   18. B  19. C  20. A

21. A   22. C   23.D   24.B  25.B

26. C   27.A    28. B  29. D   30. D

31. C   32. D    33. A  34. B   35. C

36. D   37. C    38. B  39. A   40.D