耶鲁专升本阅读理解复习题

耶鲁专升本阅读理解 Passage 1 For some employers, the policy of lifelong employment is particularly important because it means that they can put money and effort into their staff（职员）training and make them loyal to the company. What they do is to select young people who have potential (潜能) and who can be trained. They then give the young people the kinds of skills that will make them suitable employees for company. In other words, they adjust their training to their particular needs. One recently employed graduate says that she is receiving a great deal of valuable training from the company. "This means that I will be a loyal employee," she says, "And it also means that the company will want to keep me. I am an important investment for them. So the policy is a good one because it benefits both the employer and the employees." Recently, however, attitudes towards employment are beginning to change. Employees are slowly beginning to accept the idea that lifelong employment is not always in their best interest and that changing firms can have career advantages. 1. The purpose of lifelong employment is to __________. A) adjust the needs of the company to its employees B) make employees loyal to their company C) select the best skilled young employees D) keep the skilled staff satisfied 2. By training its employees, a company can make them __________. A) do their work more easily B) more interested in their work C) willing to invest money into the company D) possess the necessary qualities for the job 3. Talking about the training she has received, a recently employed graduate has the view that __________. A) it is still well-received by all the staff members today B) it is valuable to the employer and the employees C) it is helpful for attracting young employees D) it is both useful and interesting 4. Attitudes towards lifelong employment are changing because __________. A) job changes have career advantages B) it's boring to work in only one company C) only the employer benefits from such employment D) stable employment seldom offers better opportunities 5. The passage is mainly about __________. A) lifelong training of employees B) policies of lifelong employment C) attitudes towards lifelong employment D) employers' interest in lifelong employment Passage 2 People today are still talking about generation gap (代沟). Some parents complain that their children do not show them proper respects, while children complain that their parents do not understand them at all. What has gone wrong? Why has the generation gap appeared? One important cause is that young people want to choose their own life style. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents like, and often to continue the family occupation. Parents often expect their children to do better than they do, to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, the high wishes that parents place on their children are another cause of the generation gap. Finally, the high speed of the social changes deepens the gap. In a traditional culture, people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society today the knowledge of a lifetime may be out of use overnight（隔夜）. 1. According to the passage, children today expect their parents to __________. A) give them more independence B) choose a good job for them C) live together with them D) make more money     2. Parents often hope that their children will __________. A) make as much money as they do B) be more successful than they are C) choose jobs according to their own will D) avoid doing what their parents can't do     3. The generation gap has become wider than before because of __________. A) the increasing dependence of children on parents B) the influence of traditional culture on children C) the rapid changes of the modem society D) the missing of lifelong occupation 4. In today's society, the knowledge of a lifetime __________. A) is still very much valued B) becomes out of date quickly C) is essential for continuing family occupation D) helps the young generation to find a better job 5. A proper title for this passage would be __________. A) Parents' Viewpoints On Generation Gap B) Relationship Between Family Members C) Generation Gap Between the Young and the Old D) Difference Between Traditional Culture and Modern Knowledge Passage 3 Psychology is the study of the mind and mental activities. For example, psychologists are interested in why some things make you sad, but others make you happy. They want to know why some people are shy, but others are quite talkative. They also want to know why people do the things that they do. They test intelligence. Psychologists deal with the mind and behavior of people. Your mind consists of all your feelings, thoughts, and ideas. It is the result of one part of the brain called the cerebrum （大脑）。 Your behavior is the way you act or conduct yourself. Examples of behavior include shouting, crying, laughing and sleeping. Several people have been instrumental in the field of psychology. Wilhelm Wudt set up the first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian, is noted for his experiments with dogs in which he studied their reflexes (反射作用) and reactions. Around 1900, Sigmund Freud stated his theory that people try to repress any memories or thoughts that they believed were not good. Psychologists should not be confused with psychiatrists. Psychiatrists deal only with mental illness. They are medical doctors who treat people. 1. A good title for this selection is _________. A) Studying the Mind B) Feelings and Behavior of Human Beings C) Psychology and Psychiatry D) Famous Psychologists 2. "Some people are shy." That means _________. A) they are modest B) they are quiet C) they never say a word D) they are ashamed     3. We may conclude that psychologists _________. A) study physical diseases as well B) deal with animals more often than you with people C) are not medical doctors D) are interested in things that make sad 4. Pavlov worked with _________. A) people B) dogs C) mental illness D) abnormal behavior     5. The cerebrum controls _________. A) the mind B) the body C) the whole brain D) The field of psychology     Passage 4 Energy Crisis The energy crisis has been with us for a long time and will be with us for an even longer time. Whether Arab oil flows freely or not, it is clear to everyone that world industry cannot be allowed to depend on so breakable a base. The supply of oil can be shut off unexpectedly at any time, and in any case, the oil wells will all run dry in thirty years or so at the present rate of use. New sources of energy must be found, but it is not likely to result in any situation which will ever restore that sense of cheap and plentiful energy we have had in the times past. To make the situation worse, there is as yet no sign that any slowing of the world's population is in sight. Although the birthrate has dropped in some nations, including the United States, the population of the world seems sure to pass six billion as the twenty-first century opens. Taking all these into account, what might we reasonably estimate supermarkets to be like in the year 2001？ To begin with, the world food supply is going to become steadily tighter over the next thirty years——even here in the United States. By 2001, the population of the United States will be at least two hundred fifty million, and the nation will find it difficult to expand food production to fill the additional mouths. This will be particularly true since energy shortage will make it difficult to continue agriculture in the high-energy American fashion that makes it possible to combine few farmers with high yields. It seems almost certain that by 2001 the United States will no longer be a great exporting nation and that, if necessity forces exports, it will be at the price of belt-tightening at home. In fact, as food items will tend to decline in quality and decrease in variety, people will have to accept more "unnatural food". 1. The passage is mainly concerned with ___________. A) the pressing general problem in the near future B) energy crisis and new sources of energy C) population and food supply in the United States D) crisis in producing and marketing food 2. According to the passage, which of the following statements about energy crisis is true? A) World industry can count on Arab oil for at least half a century. B) Energy supply will be exhausted when the oil wells run dry. C) New sources of energy will be found and there is no need for worrying. D) The future is not happy if the current situation keeps going on. 3. When referring to the world's population, the writer implies that ___________. A) in some nations the birthrate keeps increasing B) in the United States the birthrate keeps decreasing C) the United States is a typical example of population explosion D) in spite of the increased population food supply will be adequate 4. why does the writer mention "supermarkets" in his argument? A) To demonstrate the tightening relation between food supply and population increase. B) To show the important role the supermarkets play in the United States. C) To predict that in the next thirty years the US will surely be short of food. D) To estimate how the supermarkets should be run in the twenty-first century. 5. It can be inferred that by 2001 ___________. A) the United States will possibly still be a great food exporting nation B) food exports will be forced upon the US to settle the population crisis C) American agriculture will have to change its present way of food production D) Food price is likely to decrease with the increasing use of "unnatural food" Passage 5 Crimes in the United States In spite of all stories of prosperity in the United States, not only does poverty exist there, but crimes of various types have been increasing at an alarming rate. Most types of serious crimes increased from 363.5 in every 100,000 people in1970 to 535.5 in 1979. In that one year, there was one murder committed in every24 minutes, one case of robbery in every 10 minutes and one case of rape in every7 minutes. The cases of murder involved a number of 21,456 victims. Most acts of violence were committed by young people. 57% of the criminals arrested in 1979were youth below 25 of age. Everyone agrees that crime is partly a result of bad material conditions: poverty, lack of education, living without a settled home, being parentless, sufferings from other kinds of misfortune, etc. There are also other factors than material conditions which are responsible for the sharp increase of crime rate. In the first place, some state laws provide for a death penalty but some not. Secondly, the Constitution allows every citizen to carry weapons for his own protection. It is, therefore, possible and easy for anyone in the country to get a gun. Finally, there has been too much shown on TV and too much reported in newspaper of all kinds of crimes——the details of which are so accurately described that even children know how to duplicate what they have seen or read. All these have resulted in a higher frequency of crimes committed both by professional criminals and by nonprofessional ones in murder, drug smuggling, robbery, pocket-picking, etc. 1. In this passage, the author intends to tell the reader that ___________. A) the United States is a wealthy country although poverty and crime exist there B) crime has become a serious problem in the United States although it is said to be a prosperous country C) despite the fact that crimes have been increasing rapidly in the United States, it is a country of prosperity D) in spite of stories about poverty and crime in the United States, it is prospering at an increasing rate. 2. In 1979, there was one murder committed ___________. A) inevery 24 minutes B) in every 10 minutes C) in every 100,000 people D) in every 7 minutes     3. Which of the following is not mentioned but implied by the author as responsible for the sharp increase of crime rate? A) Being poor. B) Being parentless. C) Being unemployed. D) Being homeless.     4. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage? A) Everyone agrees that a bad material condition is the only reason for crime. B) The constitution of the U. S. guarantees the right of every citizen to possess weapons for his own protection. C) Too much crime shown on TV has, at least partly, resulted in a higher rate of crime in the U. S. D) More than half of the criminals arrested in 1979 were young people under 25. 5. The tone of the author in this passage is one of ___________. A) anger B) sadness C) matter-of-factness D) hopelessness     Passage 6 Making Use of Waste In an age when waste today means a lack tomorrow, making use of every available resource becomes more and more important. As coal is being used in greater and greater amounts to produce electricity, larger amounts of ash, by-products of coal, are produced. When coal is burned in a boiler, two kinds of ash byproducts are produced: a heavy bottom ash and a fine-as-powder fly ash that is filtered and captured by precipitators. About 10 to 15 percent of the coal by-product is bottom ash which is used like sand on icy city streets and highways and also on highways as paving material. It is the fly ash, however, that is receiving the greater amount of attention. Fly ash may be used as an additive to concrete in the construction of dams, bricks, and roads, and can replace up to 20 percent of the cement used in concrete. As a by-product of burned coal, fly ash requires no additional expenditure of energy to be produced, where cement production requires great amounts of energy. In addition to using fly ash as a concrete, the technology is available to extract the main mineral components——aluminum, silicon, and magnetics. Today, extracting these components is a very expensive process, but the time may come when it is cheaper to extract these products from ash than to mine new supplies. 1. What can be used as a material to pave roads? A) The coal by-product. B) Additive. C) Fine-as powder fly ash. D) Both B and C.     2. What is a by-product of burned coal? A) Aluminum, silicon, and magnetics. B) Paving material. C) Fly ash. D) A concrete additive.     3. Fly ash can partly take the place of__________. A) paving material B) cement C) concrete D) the coal by-product     4. According to the passage, what attracts man's greater attention.'? A) Fly ash. B) The construction of dams, bricks, and roads. C) Extracting aluminum, silicon, and magnetics from ash. D) The available technology. 5. What can be extracted from fine-powder fly ash? A) Aluminum, silicon, and magnetics. B) Additive. C) Paving material. D) Cement.     Passage 7 Early Films The earlier films were short, lasting only one minute or less. People could, for one cent, see simple action films of trains, fire engines, parades, crowds on city streets, and similar subjects. Soon 20-minute pictures of news items were being shown in theaters at the end of the regular stage show. Later, films used a new method ( putting the beginning of one scene upon the end of the scene before) for magical effects and to tie a story together. In 1903 a film was made about a train robbery. Much of the action took place at the same time——the robbers escaping, the men meeting and planning to capture them——and the scenes moved smoothly, back and forth, from one scene to another instead of unnaturally showing each scene separately. This was the earliest successful film in which scenes were filmed at different places and times and then combined to make a logical story. A short time later, theaters showed for five cents a whole hour's entertainment of short films——comedy, travel, and drama. These films were simple and rough, and many were vulgar. Gradually, the tastes of the audiences improved as the techniques improved. Before 1910 actors were employed in films without their names being given, because the producers were afraid that, if an actor became well known, he might demand more money. But later it became known that a film with a popular actor in it could be sold at higher price to theater owners than could a film in which the actor was not known. Soon "movie stars" won fame wherever films were shown. By 1915 the most popular stars were earning as much as $2,000 a week, and large theaters were being built downtown in all the larger cities to show films alone. The films shown in those theaters were of several types: comedies, emphasizing speed, movement, and camera tricks; "westerns", which showed, then as now, the American cowboy fighting on the side of law and justice; murder mysteries and crime stories, and special films on art, music, and other cultural subjects. 1. Pictures of parades shown in the first films went on for no more than __________. A) one minute B) 20 minutes C) 1 whole hour D) about two minutes     2. It was not until 1903 that people began to make films __________. A) by using magical effects B) by naturally joining the scenes together in a story C) at a railroad station D) by putting the beginning of one scene upon the end of another 3. The first successful film in which the pictures were taken at different places and times and then put together logically was about __________. A) a train accident B ) the robbery of a train C) a story of a train D) the capturing of the robbers     4. It was most likely that "movie stars" began to appear __________. A) as early as 1903 B) not until 1910 C) in 1915 D) after 1915     5. This passage is mainly about __________. A) modem movie development B) early movie stars C) various types of films in the early 20th century D) history of film-making Passage 8 Let Children Learn by Themselves Let children learn to judge their own work. A child learning to talk does not learn by being corrected all the time. If corrected too much, he will stop talking. He notices a thousand times a day the difference between the language he uses and the language like other people's. In the same way, children learning to do all the other things they learn without being taught——to walk, run, climb, whistle, ride a bicycle——compare their own performances with those of more skilled people, and slowly make the needed changes. But in school we never give a child a chance to find out his mistakes for himself, let alone correct them. We do it all for him. We act as if we thought that he would never notice a mistake unless it was pointed out to him, or correct it unless he was made to. Soon he becomes dependent on the teacher. Let him do it himself. Let him work out, with the help of other children if  he wants it, what this word says, what the answer is to that problem, whether this is a good way of saying or doing this or not. If it is a matter of right answers, as it may be in mathematics or science, give him the answer book. Let him correct his own papers. Why should we teachers waste time on such routine work? Our job should be to help the child when he tells us that he can't find the way to get the right answer. Let's end all this nonsense of grades, exams, marks. Let us throw them all out, and let the children learn what all educated persons must someday learn, how to measure their own understanding, how to know what they know or do not know. Let them get on with this job in the way that seems most sensible to them, with our help as school teachers if they ask for it. The idea that there is a body of knowledge to be learnt at school and used for the rest of one's life is nonsense in a world as complicated and rapidly changing as ours. Anxious parents and teachers say, "But suppose they fail to learn something essential, something they will need to get on the world?" Don't worry! If it is essential, they will go out into the world and learn it. 1. What does the author think is the best way for children to learn things? A) By imitating what other people do. B) By making mistakes and having them corrected. C) By listening to explanations from learned people. D) By asking a great many questions. 2. What does the author think the teacher should not do? A) They give children correct answers. B) They point out children's mistakes to them. C) They allow children to mark their own work. D) They encourage children to copy from one another. 3. The passage suggests that learning to speak and learning to ride a bicycle are __________. A) not really important skills B) as important as other skills C) basically different from learning other skills D) basically the same as learning other skills 4. Exams, grades and marks should be abolished because children's progress should only be estimated by _________. A) educated persons B) the children themselves C) each other D) parents     5. The author fears that children will grow up into adults who are __________. A) too independent of others B) too critical of themselves C) unable to think for themselves D) unable to use basic skills     Passage 9 The Father and His Child's Achievement A father's relationship to his child's current and future academic success and the level of his or her development in academic potential and scholastic achievement are both factors with some rather interesting implications that educators are beginning to study and appraise. A recent survey of over 16,000 children made by the National Child Development Study in London, England, revealed that children whose fathers came to school conferences and accompanied their children on outings did measurably better in school than did those children whose fathers were not involved in these activities. The study, which monitored children born during a week in March, 1958, from the time of their birth through the years of their early schooling, further revealed that the children of actively involved fathers scored as much as seven months higher in reading and math than did those children whose only involved parent was the mother. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role played by fathers in the raising of a child. It indicated a much higher level of parental involvement by the father than had been anticipated. Over 66% of the fathers were said to have played a major role in parental responsibility. The study also suggested that the greatest level of paternal parenting took place in the families of only children. As the number of children and financial obligations increased, the father's apparent interest and involvement with the children decreased. However, no matter what the size or financial condition of the family, a father's active participation in the child's development made a definite difference in the child's progress. The study further revealed that while the frequency of overnight absences reflected a corresponding deficiency of the child's level in math and reading, a father’s employment on late shifts appeared to have little effect on the child's academic progress. The data from the study was obtained primarily through interviews from parents, teachers and physicians. 1. The main discovery in the study made by some scientists was that __________. A) children in large families tended to do poorly in school B) the father's influence played a significant factor in the level of child's academic progress C) mothers were subjective in evaluating the roles played by fathers D) there was a correlation between socio-economic status and scholastic achievement 2. The data accumulated was most probably obtained through _________. A) observations by social psychologists B) conversations with mothers of the children C) interview, school records and physicians' reports D) observations of fathers with their children 3. All of the children studied __________. A) attended the same school B) lived in the same neighborhood C) were in the same socio-economic class D) were of the same age 4. Children who tended to make greater progress academically were __________. A) those whose mothers gave them the most affection B) those who had been accompanied to school by their father C) those from one-parent family D) those who had no brothers or sisters 5. The percentage of fathers who played a major role in parenting amounted to __________. A) about two-thirds involved in the study B) slightly less than half of those under study C) more than three-quarters of those being surveyed D) slightly more than one-third involved in the observation Passage 10 Bicycles Some people think they have an answer to the troubles of automobile crowding and dirty air in large cities. Their answer is the bicycle, or "bike". In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They claim that if more people rode bicycles to work there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown section of the city and therefore less dirty air from car engines. For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example, they want the city to draw bicycle lanes on some of the main streets, because when bike riders must use the same lanes as cars, there 'are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes more people would use bikes. But no bicycle lanes have, been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea——they say it will slow traffic. Some store owners on the main streets say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business. And most people live too far from downtown to travel by bike. The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. Only on weekends, the Central Park is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown. 1. According to the passage, bicycles _________. A) are more convenient than cars B) are safer traffic tools than cars C) are ridden by most people in the U. S. D) are the solution to some city problems 2. The idea of special bicycle lanes is most favored by __________. A) the city government B) some bike riders C) people living far from downtown D) people living in countryside     3. "Bicycle lanes" probably means __________. A) narrow passages for bicycles between buildings B) roads full of bicycles C) special parts of the road only for bicycle riders D) roads for bicycles only 4. Which of the following is not true according to the passage? A) Bike for a better City members ride bicycles to work. B) Sometimes accidents may occur when cars and bikes are on the same lanes. C) Tile Central Park is situated in the downtown section of New York. D) In some cities of the U. S. , many people use bikes as they have special lanes. 5. The title for this passage can be best replaced by __________. A) Traffic Crowding in New York City B) Air Pollution in New York City by cars C) Special Lanes for Passengers D) A Solution to Traffic Problem in New York Passage 11 The Beginning of Postal Service in America The first postal service in North America began in New England in the 17th century. All mail arriving in Massachusetts colony was sent to the home of an appointed office in Boston. In turn he would deliver the mail from Boston on horseback to its destination, receiving one penny for each good article of mail. Later in the century postal services were established between Philadelphia and Delaware. In 1691, the British crown appointed the first postmaster general to have charge of the mail for all the colonies in North America. Later, Benjamin Franklin served as the postmaster general for the British government and then was made postmaster by the newly formed United States government. Franklin was responsible for establishing the United States postal system on a permanent basis. He increased the number of post offices, introduced the use of stagecoaches to carry mail, and started a package service system. Later, in the nineteenth century, as railroad and steam boats appeared, they were used to carry mail into the towns. Some communities, especially those out west, were far from the services of transportation. To serve them, the post office developed a system called "star routes". Private contractors were paid to deliver mail to the communities from rail ways by horse and wagon. The postal service, which was started over 3 centuries ago, has developed into an extensive government service with post offices in every city, town, and village in the United States. 1. What is the subject of the passage? A) The U.S. postal system. B) The history of the U.S. mail. C) A story of Benjamin Franklin. D) Letter writing.     2. When was the first North American postal service started? A) Two centuries ago. B) Over 300 years ago. C) In 1691. D) In the 16th century.     3. For what did Benjamin Franklin deserve credit? A) He was the first postmaster general in North America. B) He established a government postal service for Britain. C) He served both the British and American governments. D) He governed the postal system in the U. S. 4. Why were" star routes" started ? A) Because the horse and wagon were slow in carrying mails. B) Because the trains were too fast. C) Because transportation was difficult for some towns. D) Because the communities didn't like ordinary post offices. 5. What eventually happened to the postal service? A) It failed to serve people in remote places. B) It developed a transport system. C) It remained the same as it started many years before. D) It developed all over the country. Passage 12 Hawaii Hawaii is an America's island state far out in the Pacific Ocean. Many of Hawaii's people are descendants of immigrants from different parts of Asia. Most of these Asians are of Japanese ancestry. The parents and grandparents of other Hawaiians came from China, the Philippine Islands, and Korea. In addition, there are some Polynesians in Hawaii. Their ancestors came to Hawaii thousands of years before any other people. Hawaii is rich in traditions. Hawaiians are Americans, but they have preserved the ceremonies of their homelands. People from all over Hawaii come to see the Japanese O-bon Festival in memory of dead relatives and friends. This is an important part of the Buddhist religion. The O-bon ceremonies take place in July and August on Oahu, the main is land of Hawaii. There is music of drums and flutes in the courtyards of Buddhist temple. Men and women, wearing traditional clothing called kimonos, do the folk dances of their ancestral land. In the evening the people go to the seashore. They place paper lanterns on hundreds of tiny wood boats. These lights lead the souls of the dead across the dark water to rest until the next year. Chinese Hawaiians have their own way of celebrating the past. For the Moon Festival mid-August, Chinese stores sell delicious round cakes filled with meat. On the night of the full moon, families get together in a garden or open-air space to eat these cakes and drink tea. The cakes are the same shape as the bright moon they see in the sky. Then the people remember how their ancestors won a war by sending secret messages to each .other in round cakes. The Moon Festival is important because it helps Chinese-Hawaiians to recall the story of their brave ancestors. 1. According to the passage, most Asians in Hawaii_________. A) are of Chinese ancestry B) are from the mainland of America C) are descendants of immigrants from Japan D) are from different parts of Asia 2. The first settlers in Hawaii were_________. A) Polynesians        B) Chinese          C) Japanese        D) Europeans 3. The Japanese celebrate the O-bon Festival with_________. A) a feast in a garden B) music and fold dancing C) a boat trip to Japan D) their relatives and friends     4. According to the last paragraph, the ancient Chinese won a war__________. A) by filling round cakes with secrets B) by using round cakes to send messages C) with round cakes as a weapon D) on the night of the full moon 5. What is the main idea of the passage? A) Hawaiians are not pure Americans. B) Hawaii used to belong to Asia. C) Asian-Hawaiians have preserved their traditional ceremonies. D) Hawaii is a place with different religions Passage 13 One or Two Pieces? Joe Biggs was a butcher. His shop was in a village in one of the most beautiful parts of the south of England, and he worked in it for many years while his father was there. Then, when his father reached the age of 65, he stopped working in the shop, and Joe was alone in it, so he had to work harder. Joe worked five and a half days a week. His shop shut at one o'clock on Thursdays, and it was shut the whole Sundays. Saturdays were the busiest days. Most of Joe's meat came to his shop from the nearest town, but sometimes he got up earlier than usual in the morning and drove into the city to choose meat. It was cheaper there. Joe had a big refrigerator in his store, but he tried not to buy too much meat at a time and so sell it before he bought more. One Thursday a woman came into the shop at five minutes to one. "I'm sorry I'm late but some people have just telephoned to say that they are going to come to dinner tonight, and I need some more meat." Joe only had one piece of good meat in the shop. He had sold all the others earlier in the day. He took the piece out and said to the woman, "This is $6.50," "That piece is too small," the woman answered. "Haven't you got anything bigger?" Joe went into the room behind his shop, opened the refrigerator, put the piece of meat into it, took it out again and shut the door of the refrigerator with a lot of noise. Then he brought the piece of meat back to the woman and said. "This piece is bigger and more expensive. It's $8.75." "Good, "the woman answered with a smile. "Give me both of them, please." 1. Joe Bigger had to work alone when __________. A) his father died B) his father was not there C) his father stopped working D) his father fell iii     2. Joe got most of his meat __________. A) from a town near his village B) by driving into the city C) from his big refrigerator D) from the nearest village     3. Joe always tried not to buy too much meat at a time because __________. A) the refrigerator in his shop was not big enough B) there were not many people in the village who liked meat C) he did not sell meat every day D) he wanted to sell fresh meat 4. A woman came to the shop just before it closed because __________. A) she did not have any good meat at home B) some of her friends were coming to dinner C) she knew it was the best time for shopping D) she did not know the shop would close at one 5. The woman wanted to buy both pieces of meat __________. A) because she knew Joe's trick B) so that there would be enough meat for dinner C) because she thought they were fairly cheap D) because her refrigerator was big enough to keep both pieces Passage 14 Hair Care Whether the hair is long or short, it must be regularly brushed and regularly washed. For greasy hair, especially if the owner lives in a town, it may be necessary to wash the head every four to five days. Those with a dry hair can usually go a little longer, but this is a matter for the individual to decide. If a woman is not able to go to hairdresser very often, it is important that she chooses a style she can easily manage for herself, and this nearly always means that the first cut must be very standard. The same applies to permanent waving. Ideally this should be carried out three or four times a year, so that the hair never gets out of hand. One thing should be remembered, though, that is, whatever you apply to the head can have some effects upon the skin and therefore anything strong should be used with care. Or you may use milder products. As for style, this must be studied according to what is the latest fashion and also to suit the individual at different times of her life. Young people who have spots or skin troubles on their faces, should take particular care to ensure that the hair is both clean and does not come into contact with the affected piece of skin. Hair is very difficult to keep completely clean and therefore anyone running their hands through their hair and afterwards touching their face, or letting their hair fall over their faces, might spread infection from one place to another. Good hair does a lot to the effect of a face, so if you want to look charming, please start with your hair. 1. According to the text, the most basic thing to do in hair care is __________. A) to go to hairdressers very often B) to choose better milder products for the hair C) to wash and brush the hair regularly D) to keep the hair away from the skin trouble 2. The best hair style can be achieved by __________. A) having the hair done three or four times a year B) following the latest fashion to suit one's age C) not combing the hair with hand D) not applying anything strong to the head 3. The thing you wash your hair with must be __________. A) used with care                    B) very strong C) extremely mild                  D) fashionable 4. To prevent the hair from infecting the skin, we'd better __________. A) keep the hair completely clean B) wash the hair very often C) have hair cut four times a year D) avoid combing the hair with our hands 5. "Those with a dry hair can usually go a little longer" means if your hair is dry __________. A) you can walk longer B) your hair can grow longer C) you don't have to wash it so often D) you can grow taller Passage 15 Electricity Electricity is such a part of our everyday life and so ordinary a thing nowadays that we rarely think twice when we turn on the light or the radio. At night, roads are brightly lit, making people and traffic move freely.  In the home, many labour-saving devices are powered by electricity. Even when we turn off the bedside lamp and are fast asleep, electricity is working for us, driving our ice-boxes, heating our water, or keeping our rooms warm. Every day, electric trains take us to and from work. We rarely bother to consider why or how they run——until something goes wrong. In the summer of 1959, something did go wrong with the power plant that provided New York with electricity. For a great many hours, life came almost to a stop. Trains refused to move and the people in them sat in the dark, powerless to do anything; lifts stopped working, so that even if you were lucky enough not to be stopped between two floors, you had the unpleasant task of finding your way down hundreds of flight of stairs. People were afraid to leave their houses, for although the police had been ordered to stand by in case of emergency, they were just as confused and helpless as anybody else. The only people who were not troubled by the darkness were the blind. One of the strangest things that occurred during the power-cut was that some fifty blind people led many sighted workers home. When the lights came on again, hardly a person in the city can have turned on switch without thinking how great a servant he had at hand. 1. Which of the following can be the main idea of the first paragraph? A) Electricity has been used in some ways. B) Our life cannot be separated from electricity. C) Electricity enables people and traffic to move easily at night D) We seldom think of how useful electricity is. 2. The word "they" ( Para. 1 ) refers to __________. A) electric trains                    B) labour-saving devices C) ice-boxes                        D) rooms 3. When there was a power-cut in New York; the police __________. A) could do little to deal with the situation B) were not informed of the accident in time C) failed to keep order in the streets D) remained calmer than the other people 4. The example of the power-cut in New York is to prove __________. A) the troubles of the sighted workers B) the blind's readiness to help others C) the great importance of electricity D) the disadvantages of the power plant 5. According to the passage, during the power-cut __________. A) most people had trouble in finding the switches B) many sighted workers returned home with the help of the blind C) servants were also helpful in keeping social orders D) people had to leave the city for some time Passage 16 Women in Britain It is only seventy years since British women got the right to vote. Some people think this is the main reason women are so under-represented in politics, trade unions and big businesses. Others feel it is simply that they are much too busy doing other things. The old saying "a woman's place is in the home" may seem out of date to most people, but the old, fixed image of a woman as a supporting wife and caring mother is certainly still usual——one only has to watch h few television ads. In 1975 the law did not allow women to be paid less than men doing the same work. Certainly it is usually the case nowadays that women doing the same jobs as men get the same money for doing it; but generally women do not do the same jobs: they do different ones that offer lower salaries. The areas women work in are almost all those of "service" : teaching, nursing, catering and cleaning, jobs that can be seen as an extension of the mothering role. Apart from looking after people during the day at work, women often have to take care of a family at home too, which may mean they have less energy to compete in the race for professional development. In almost every field, top positions are more likely to be filled by men. While most teachers are women, for example, most head masters are not. School cooks are women, head cooks are men and even cleaners tend to be watched over and directed by male caretakers. 1. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A) Many women's places are still in the home. B) Women's places are no longer in the home. C) Many women's jobs have something to do with TV. D) Women's jobs are less important than before. 2. Now women are __________. A) doing the same jobs as men B) in need of more new services C) not doing the same jobs as men D) paid more attention to than before 3. In Para. 2, the word "catering" may mean __________. A) preparing meals B) writing articles C) running a school D) watching TV programmes     4. From the passage, we can see that __________. A) it's better for a woman to stay at home B) women need much more education to deal successfully with professional tasks C) there is still a long way for women to go to get equal opportunities D) women should be at the top positions in their working places 5. The writer tells us that __________. A) women are kept busy all day long B) women usually learn things faster than men C) some women teachers cook better than their husbands D) some women have to do cleaning at night Passage 17 Humorous Story The humorous story may be spun out to great length, and may wander around as much as it pleases, and arrive nowhere in particular; but the comic story and the witty story must be brief and end with a point. The humorous story bubbles gently along the other two bursts. The humorous story is strictly a work of art—high and delicate art—and only an artist can tell it; but no art is necessary in telling the comic and witty stories, anybody can do it. The art of telling a humorous story—I mean by word of mouth, not print—was created in America, and has remained at home. The humorous story is told gravely; the teller does his best to conceal the fact that he even dimly suspects that there is anything funny about it; but the teller of the comic story tells you beforehand that it is one of the funniest things he has ever heard, then tells it with eager delight, and is the first person to laugh when he gets through. And sometimes if he has had good success, he is so glad and happy that he will repeat the nub of it and glance around from face to face, collecting applause, and then repeat it again. It is a pathetic thing to see. 1. Which story takes the longest to tell? A) The humorous story. B) The witty story. C) The comic story. D) All three take the same amount of time. 2. Which story has no particular point? A) The humorous story. B) The witty story. C) The comic story. D) All three.     3. The humorous story           . A) was created abroad B) is essentially American C) is also appreciated in other countries D) is more popular in other countries than in the U. S. 4. The teller of a humorous story           A) laughs at his own joke B) repeats it several times C) is very serious when he tells it D) is concerned about the reaction of his listeners 5. The teller of a comic story         A) tells it only once B) tells the listener beforehand that his story is funny C) doesn't care whether his listeners enjoy it or not D) is very serious when telling it Passage 18 Three Economic Systems There are various ways in which individual economic units can interact with one another. Three basic ways may be described as the market system, the administrated system, and the traditional system. In a market system, individual economic units are free to interact among each other in the marketplace. It is possible to buy commodities from each economic units or sell commodities to them. In a market, transactions may take place via barter or money exchange. In a barter economy, real goods such as automobiles, shoes, and pizzas are traded against each other. Obviously, finding somebody who wants to trade my old car in exchange for a sailboat may not always be an easy ,task. Hence, the introduction of money as a medium of exchange eases transactions considerably. In the modern market economy, goods and services are bought or sold for money. An alternative to the market system is administrative control by some agency over all transactions. This agency will issue commands as to how much of each goods and service should be produced, exchanged, and consumed by each economic unit. Central planning may be one way of administering such an economy. The central plan, drawn up by the government, shows the amounts of each commodity produced by the various firms and allocated to different households for consumption. This is an example of complete planning of production, and exchange for the whole economy. In a traditional society, production and consumption patterns are governed by tradition: every person's place within the economic system is fixed by parentage, religion and custom. Transactions take place on the basis of tradition, too. People belonging to a certain group or caste may have an obligation to care for their health, and provide for their education. Clearly, in a system where every decision is made on the basis of tradition alone, progress may be difficult to achieve. A stagnant society may result. 1. What is the main purpose of the passage.? A) To outline contrasting types of economic systems. B) To explain the science of economics. C) To argue for the superiority of one economic system. D) To compare barter and money-exchange markets. 2. In the second paragraph, the word "real goods" could be best replaced by which of the following? A) High quality.        B) Concrete.          C) Utter.        D) Authentic. 3. According to the passage, a barter economy can lead to        A) rapid speed of transactions B) misunderstandings C) inflation D) difficulties for the traders     4. According to the passage, who has the greatest degree of control in an administrative system? A) Individual households. B) Small businesses. C) Major corporations. D) The government.     5. Which of the following is not mentioned by the author as a criterion for determining a person's place in a traditional society? A) Family background. B) Age. C) Religious belief. D) Custom.     Passage 19 Writers' Opinions About Man The more genius a writer has, the more conclusive and precise is his answer. Swift arrives at complete pessimism, considering men to be wretched, unfortunate, ugly, odious and absurd. Addison, on the other hand, maintains himself in a temperate optimism, "All we have to do," he says "is to be easy here, and happy hereafter." Carlyle gives the answer of the Puritan, while Macaulay gives that of the liberal, both with striking and multiplied illustrations. What Fielding saw in man were the spontaneous and primitive forces, the irresistible impulses and temperament of the heart, the violence of egoistic or generous instincts unrestrained by the proprieties of life or by precepts, and which impetuously and unawares leap over all barriers. Richardson saw man's intellectual and moral culture, the sway of religion, the ascendancy of principles and that domination of the conscience, which developed in us by daily self-questioning, by arguing with ourselves, by habit and scruples, installs in our soul, not nearly a witness, an overseer, an ever-living judge, but, again, an armed auxiliary, an almost invincible combatant which reanimates us in our weaknesses. Even when the writer is a dramatic poet, and says nothing in his own name, even when he purposely effaces himself behind his characters, his master thought remains apparent. Three or four times Shakespeare expressed his thought in passing as if he were not aware of it, through some phrase put in the mouth of Hamlet or of Macbeth, of Jacques or of Prospero: but, to divine it, there is no need of seeking it there; it everywhere and spontaneously declares itself in the selection of his figures and characters. Various as these opinions may be, they indicate that we all belong to the same family, good or bad, rich or poor, young or old. 1. Concerning the human race and its potential, Swift and Addison __________. A) had exactly the same views B) varied lightly in their opinions C) were diametrically opposed D) expressed no opinions     2. Fielding believed that man __________. A) concerned himself too much with the proprieties of life B) obeyed the impulses of his heart C) lived in an irresistible way D) used too much force 3. Richardson's idea was that man was __________. A) part of an armed auxiliary B) always just C) guided by his conscience D) very religious     4. Most dramatists __________. A) say what they have to say in so many words B) use their characters as spokesmen C) are not aware of what they are really saying D) have profound thoughts to express 5. According to his article,  a dramatic poet's greatest responsibility is to __________. A) entertain B) be spontaneous C) efface himself D) choose carefully the characters that will represent him Passage 20 Daydreaming Until recently daydreaming was viewed as a waste of time. Or it was considered an unhealthy escape from real life and its duties. But now some people are taking a fresh look at daydreaming. And it may be that more people are suffering from a lack of daydreaming than are suffering from too much of it. It now appears that a person's serf-control and serf-direction may suffer if he or she does not daydream at all. Such a person may become poorly equipped to deal with the pressures of daily life. Dr. Joan T. Freyberg has concluded that daydreaming contributes to intellectual growth. It also improves concentration attention span and the ability to get a long with others, she says. Another researcher reported that daydreaming seemed to produce improved self-control and creative ability. But that's only part of the story. The most remarkable thing about daydreaming may be its usefulness in shaping our future lives as we want them to be. Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser believed that much of his success was due to the positive use of daydreaming. He maintained that "you can imagine your future." Florence Nightingale dreamed of becoming a nurse. The young Thomas Edison pictured himself as an inventor. For these notable achievers, it appears that their daydreams came true. Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick believed that the way we picture ourselves is often the way we turn out. He offered this advice: "Hold a picture of yourself in your mind's eye, and you will be drawn towards it. Picture yourself vividly as defeated, and that alone will make victory impossible. Picture yourself as winning, and that will contribute immeasurably to success. Do not picture yourself as any thing and you will drift." 1. If one does not daydream at all, he may __________. A) have no trouble concentrating B) be better self-controlled C) improve his creative abilities D) not be mentally prepared for the strains of daily life 2. The author is more worried about people's __________. A) imagined adventures B) lack of daydreaming C) having too much of daydreaming D) imagination of the future 3. What Henry Kaiser knew as the positive use of daydreaming is __________.