reading exercise

ABalloons have been used for sport for about one hundred years .There are two kinds of sport balloons: gas and hot air. Hot air balloons are safer than gas balloons, which may catch fire. Hot air balloons are preferred by most balloonists in the United States because of their safety. They are also cheaper and easier to manage than gas balloons and pilots must watch the weather carefully. Sport balloon flights are best early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the wind is light. Over the years, ba lloonists have tried unsuccessfully to cross the Atlantic Ocean. It wasn’t until 1978 that three American balloonists succeeded. It took them just six days to make their trip from their homes in the United States to Paris. Their voyage captured the imagination of the whole world.41. What type of balloons is this writer referring to _______?A. children’s play balloonsB. weather balloonsC. balloons used for safetyD. balloons used for recreation42. Why are gas balloons considered dangerous? _______.A. They are impossible to guideB. They may go up in flamesC. They tend to leak gasD. They are cheaply made43. What is the main reason that most balloonists use hot air balloons?A. They are saferB. They are largerC. They are easier to storeD. They are harder to damage44. At what time of day most balloon flights take place?A. Only in the morningB. During the early afternoonC. In the early morning or the late afternoonD. In the early afternoon or late at night45. What would be ideal weather for flying a balloon?A. A hot day with no windB. A cool, very windy dayC. A clear day with a little windD. A warm rainy dayBWhen a fire begins，we must tell the fireman．Do you know how to do this？Go to the nearest telephone．Dial the number 119．When someone speaks，tell him about the fire．Speak very slowly．A fire engine will arrive quickly．The firemen know what to do．They have long ladders to reach high windows．People who cannot get out are rescued by the firemen．If some people are hurt ，they are taken to hospital in ambulances（救护车）．When all the people have been rescued，the firemen put out the fire．Sometimes this is very difficult．Foolish people sometimes keep things in passages and on stairs．Then the firemen cannot get past to fight the fire．Sometimes foolish peoplekeep a lot of things that burn easily in their homes．This makes the fire much bigger．If you want to be a fireman，you must be strong and healthy．Good health and strength are very important．A fireman has to be able to carry heavy things．He has to be able to climb ladders and to work in high places．He also has to be brave．46．The firemen will ＿＿＿＿＿＿as soon as they reach a burning building．A．put long ladders against the wallB．telephone the ambulanceC．put out the fire immediatelyD．try to rescue the people trapped in the building47．A good fireman must be ＿＿＿＿＿＿．A．healthy，strong and tall B．strong，tall and cleverC．healthy，strong and brave D．strong，clever and tall 48．When you see a house on fire，you'd better ＿＿＿＿＿＿．A．turn to the firefighters B．ring up the hospitalC．run as fast as you can D．put out the fire by yourself49．The underlined word “passages”in the third paragraph means ＿＿＿＿＿in Chinese．A．（文章）段落B．通过C．过道D．楼梯CMost people want to work，but it had become more difficult in today's world to find work for everyone．The economy （经济）of the world needs to grow by 4％each year just to keep the old number of jobs for people．Often this is not possible，and so more people are without work．Some people have no jobs now because new machines can do the work of many people in a shorter time．Also, machines do not ask for more money and longer holidays．In all of the countries of the world machines are taking work from people，not only in factories but also on the farms．One machine can often do the work of forty people．About 75,000 people are moving to the cities a day to look for jobs，but only 60％of them can find jobs．50．It was ＿＿for people to find work before the machines were widely used in the factories．A．more difficult B．easier C．not possible D．difficult 51．If the economy of the world grows by 4％each year，＿＿＿＿．A．people will have no jobsB．4％of the people will have jobs，tooC．people can have the same number of jobs as beforeD．96％of the people will have jobs52．How many people go into cities to look for jobs each day？A．More than 75，000．B．60％of the people．C．About 75，000．D．About 4％of the people in the world．53．Which of the following is NOT true？A．Most people want to have jobs．B．Machines need more money and longer holidays．C．Now more people are without work．D．Machines are taking work instead of people not only in factories but also on the farms．DWe are already familiar with computers—computers work for us at home, in offices, and in factories．But it is also true that many children today are using computers at school before they can write．What does this mean for the future﹖Are these children lucky or not﹖Many people who do not know about computers think of them as machines that children play with．They worry that children do not learn from experience but just from pressing(挤、按) a button(按钮) and that this is not good for them．They think that children are growing not knowing about the real world．But people who understand more about computers say that computers can be very good for children．A computer can help them to learn about the real world more quickly, to learn what they want to learn and think for themselves．And for the future, don't we need people who can think clearly, who know how to get information quickly and use it well﹖What do you think﹖54．“To be familiar with”means to _______．A．be in the same family as B．know about C．dislike D．like 55．According to the passage in which places can you find computers﹖A．At home, in offices, in factories and in schools．B．At home, in schools, in banks and in offices．C．At home, in hospitals, in schools and in offices．D．At home, in shops, in offices and in schools．56．Does everyone think computers are good for children﹖A．Yes，they do．B．No ,not everyone thinks so．C．They don't know．D．They are not sure．57．What can computers help children to do﹖A．To think clearly, to do homework and to write．B．To play games, to do maths and to copy．C．To think clearly, to get information and to use it well．D．To count, to clean the house and to get information．EHong Kong or Beijing and Hong Kong ____.A．by bike. B．by car. C．by plane D．by ship. 59．There are ____ flights from Shanghai to Hong Kong every week.A．3 B．4 C．5 D．6 60．Suppose (假设): on arriving in Shanghai by Cathay Pacific flight one Thursday , you’re told to return to Hong Kong by Cathay Pacific Airway immediately. Now the most proper way is ____.A．to wait until the next dayB．to stay in Shanghai and take the Friday’s flight from Beijing to Hong KongC．t o go to Beijing and take the Friday’s flight.D．to take the same day’s flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong.AAndy rode slowly on his way to school, day-dreaming about the fishing trip that his father had promised him. He was so busy dreaming about all the fish he would catch that he was unaware of everything else around him.He rode along until a strange sound drew him to the present. He came to a stop and looked curiously up to the heavens. What he saw shocked and terrified him. A huge swarm of bees filled the sky like a black cloud and the buzzing mass seemed to be heading angrily towards him.With no time to waste, Andy sped off in the opposite direction, riding furiously—but without knowing how to escape the swarm. With a rapidly beating heart and his legs pumping furiously, he sped down the rough road. As the bees came closer, his panic increased. Andy knew that he was sensitive to bee stings(蜇). The last sting had landed him in hospital—and that was only one bee sting! He had been forced to stay in bed for two whole days. Suddenly, his father’s words came to him. “When you are in a tight situation, don’t panic. Use your brain and think your way out of it. ”On a nearby hill, he could see smoke waving slowly skywards from the chimney of the Nelson family home. “Bees don’t like smoke,” he thought. “They couldn’t get into the house. ” Andy raced towards the Nelson house, but the bees were gaining ground. Andy knew he could not reach the house in time. He estimated that the bees would catch up with him soon.Suddenly, out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted a small dam used by Mr. Nelson to irrigate his vegetable garden. Off his bike and into the cool water he lived, disappearing below the surface and away from the savage insects. After holding his breath for as long as he could, Andy came up for air and noticed the bees had gone. Dragging himself out of the dam, he struggled up the hilly slope and rang the doorbell. Mrs. Nelson took him inside and rang his mother.“You’ll really need that fishing break to help you recover,” laughed his mother with relief. “Thank goodness you didn’t panic!” But Andy did not hear her. He wasdreaming once again of the fish he would catch tomorrow.56. Why did Andy fail to notice the swarm of bees earlier?A. He was riding to school.B. He was listening to a strange sound.C. He was going fishing with his father.D. He was lost in the thought of the fishing trip.57. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the swarm of bees in the passage?A. They crowded like a black cloud.B. They shocked and terrified Andy.C. They tried to attack Andy in a mass.D. They made Andy stay in hospital for two days.58. How did Andy avoid the bees in the end?A. He asked Mr. Nelson for help.B. He did himself under the water.C. He rushed into the Nelson house.D. He rode off in the opposite direction.59. Which of the following can best describe Andy’s escape from the bees?A. No pains, no gains.B. Once bitten, twice shy.C. Where there is a will, there is a way.D. In ti me of danger, one’s mind works fast.BCWUThe communication union Head of ResearchSalary:￡55. 271We are looking for a Head of Research to manage the CWU Research Department and Information Centre. You would be required to exercise control of all research work of the department and manage a team of three researchers and four support staff.The person appointed would be expected to carry out research work of a strategic nature across the range of businesses in which the CWU has or seeks membership and to contribute to the strategic thinking and direction of the union as a whole.You will need: proven line management skills, especially in managing and motivating a team; good research skills, holding a good degree in a related subject or other similar experience; a high level of mathematical and calculating skills; the ability to produce high quality work under pressure; a commitment to and knowledge of the trade union movement and social democratic politics; and knowledge and/ or experience of the postal and/ or telecommunications industry.To apply, please request an application pack by emailing hr@cwu. org or by telephoning HR( Human Resources ) on 020 8971 7482. When applying please state your source.Closing Date for Applications: 4th August 2010Anticipated interview date: 17th August 2010No agencies please60. In which column of a newspaper could we find this advertisement?A. Arts.B. Sales.C. Jobs.D. News.61. One of the duties of the person to be appointed is .A. taking charge of research work.B. seeking membership for the trade union.C. managing a team of three or four members.D. running a telecommunications company.62. If you want to apply for this position, you can do all EXCEPT .A. ask an agency for an application form.B. dial 020 8971 7482 for more information.C. email hr@cwu. org for an application pack.D. send in your application before 4th August 201063. Which of the following applicants is most likely to be employed?A. A school teacher with a master’s degree.B. A university graduate majoring in computer science.C. A director from a research centre with a master’s degree.D. A clerk from a telecommunications company.CKong Zi , also called Confucius (551-479 B. C) , and Socrates (469-399 B. C) lived only a hundred years apart , and during their lifetimes there was no contact between China and Greece, but it is interesting to look at how the world that each of these great philosophers came from shaped their ideas , and how these ideas in turn ,shaped their societies.Neither philosopher lived in times of peace, though there were more wars un Greece than in China. The Chinese states were very large and feudal, while the Greek city-states were small and urban. The urban environment in which Socrates lived allowed him to be more radical than Confucius. Unlike Confucius, Socrates was not asked by rules how to govern effectively. Thus, Socrates was able to be more idealistic, focusing on issues like freedom, and knowledge for its own sake. Confucius, on the other hand, advised those in government service, and many of his students went out to government service.Confucius suggested the Golden Rule as a principle for the conduct of life:” Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you. ” He assumed that all men were equal at birth, though some bad more potential than others, and that it was knowledge that set men apart. Socrates focused on the individual, and thought that the greatest purpose of man was to seek wisdom. He believed that the superior class should rule the inferior(下层的)classes.For Socrates, the family was of no importance, and the community of little concern. For Confucius, however, the family was the centre of the society, with family relations considered much more important than political relations.Both men are respected much more today than they were in their lifetimes.64. Which of the following is TURE according to the first paragraph?A. Socrates and Confucius had much in common,B. Confucius had much influence on Socrates’ ideas.C. The societies ware influenced by the philosophers’ ideas.D. There were cultural exchanges between China and Greece.65. Socrates shared with Confucius the idea that .A. all men were equal when they were bornB. the lower classed should be ruled by the upper classC. the purpose of man was to seek freedom and wisdomD. people should not ask others to do what they did not want to66. What made some people different from others according to Confucius?A. Family.B. Potential.C. Knowledge.D. Community.67. This passage is organized in the pattern of ,A. time and eventsB. comparison and contrastC. cause and effectD. definition and classificationDModern inventions h ave speeded up people’s loves amazingly. Motor-cars cover a hundred miles in little more than an hour, aircraft cross the world inside a day, while computers operate at lightning speed. Indeed, this love of speed seems never-ending. Every year motor-cars are produced which go even faster and each new computer boats (吹嘘) of saving precious seconds in handling tasks.All this saves time, but at a price. When we lose or gain half a day in speeding across the world in an airplane, our bodies tell us so. We get the uncomfortable feeling known as jet-lag; our bodies feel that they have been left behind on another time zone. Again, spending too long at computers results in painful wrists and fingers. Mobile phones also have their dangers, according to some scientist; too much use may transmit harmful radiation into our brains, a consequence we do not like to think about.However, what do we do with the time we have saved? Certainly not relax, or so it seems. We are so accustomed constant activity that we find it difficult to sit and do nothing or even just one thing at a time. Perhaps the days are long gone when wemight listen quietly to a story on the radio, letting imagination take us into another world.There was a time when some people’s lives were devoted simply to the cultivat ion of the land or the care of cattle. No multi-tasking there; their lives went on at a much gentler pace, and in a familiar pattern. There is much that we might envy about a way of life like this. Yet before we do so, we must think of the hard tasks our ancestor faced: they farmed with bare hands, often lived close to hunger, and had to fashion tools from wood and stone. Modern machinery has freed people from that primitive existence.68. The new products become more and more time-saving because .A. our love of speed seems never-endingB. time is limited.C. the prices are increasingly high.D. the manufactures boast a lot.69. What does “the days” in Paragraph 3 refer to ?A. Imaginary lifeB. Simple life in the past.C. Times of inventionsD. Time for constant activity.70. What is the author’s attitude towards the modern technology?A. CriticalB. Objective.C. Optimistic.D. Negative.71. What does the passage mainly discuss?A. The present and past times.B. Machinery and human beings.C. Imaginations and inventions.D. Modern technology and its influence.EEvery day we experience one of the wonders of the world around us without even realizing it. It is not the amazing complexity of television, nor the impressive technology of transport. The universal wonder we share and experience is our ability to make noise without mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each other’sminds. This ability comes so naturally that we tend to forget what a miracle (奇迹) it is.Obviously, the ability to talk is something that marks humans off from animal. Of course, some animals have powers just as amazing, Birds can fly thousands miles by \observing positions of the stars in the sky in relation to the time of day and year. In Nature’s talent show, humans are a species of animal that have developed their own special act. If we reduce it to basic terms, it’s an ability for communicating information to others, by varying sounds we make as we breathe out.Not that we don’t have other powers of communication. Our facial expressions convey our emotions, such as anger, or joy, or disappointment. The way we hold our heads can indicate to others whether we are happy or sad. This is so-called “body language”. Bristling (直立的) fur is an unmistakable warning of attack among many animals. Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal gathering.Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively acquire and display. Is the ability to speak just another sort of instinct? If so, how did human beings acquire this amazing skills ? Biologist can readily indicate that particular area of our brain where speech mechanisms function, but this doesn’t tell us how that part of our bodies originated in our biological history.72. According to the passage, the wonder we take for granted is .A. our ability to use languageB. the miracle of technologyC. the amazing power of natureD. our ability to make noises with mouth73. What feature of “body language” mentioned in the passage is common to both human an animals?A. Lifting heads when sad.B. Keeping long faces when angry.C. Bristling hair when ready to attack.D. Bowing heads when willing to obey.74. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?A. Body language is unique to humans.B. Animals express emotions just as humans do.C. Humans have other powers of communication.D. Humans are no different from animals to some degree.75. This passage is mainly about .A. the development of body language.B. the special role humans play in natureC. the power to convey information to othersD. the difference between humans and animals in language useAThe 1900 houseThe bowler family was one of more than 400 families who applied to 1900 house, a reality TV shout which took a typical family back a hundred years to se how people lived in the days before the internet, computer games and even electricity.The bowler family spent three months in a London home without a telephone, computers, TV, or fast food. The bowlers wore clothes from 1900, are only food available in English at that time, and cooked their meals on a single stove. Paul bowler still went to work every day in a then uniform. The children changed their clothes on the way to and from school and their classmates didn't know about then unusual home life. Joyce stayed at home, cooking and cleaning like a typical housewife of the time, though everything took three times as long.So does Joyce think that people's lives were better in the old days?"I think people in the old days had just ad many troubles and worries," Joyce said. And I don't think their life was better or worse, there were lots of things back then that I'm happy I don't have to deal with nowadays, but on the other hand life was simpler. " "We had a lot more time with our family, and it was hard being nice to each other all the time," eleven-year-old Hilary said.So what did the Bowler family miss most about modern life while living in the 1900 house?Paul, 39:" telephone and a hot shower"Joyce, 44:" a quick cup of tea from a kettle you could just turn on"Hilary, 11:" rock CD"Joseph, 9:" hamburger and computer games"54. While the Bowler family was living in 1900 house, _____.A the mother spent more time on houseworkB the two children wore the then clothes for schoolC they prepared their meals together on a stoveD they ate simple foods they had never seen55. According to Paragraph 4, what's Joyce's opinion about life in 1900?A There were fewer problems for the familyB Life was simpler but worse than it is nowC There were things she liked and dislikedD The family had more time to stay together56. What would Hilary expect most from modern life in the three months?A To play computer games B. To make phone callsC To listen to music D. To chat on the InternetBWhen I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called "Brownie". My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. Ore of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games, Brownie, in return. loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them we always felt better when she was around.One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad's shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, "Bad girl," she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us . People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she'd let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we'd be out walking and a small child would come over and pull pm her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she lovely everyone.Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.41. What would Brownie do when someone was ill in the family?A. Look at them sadly.B. Keep them company.C. Play games with them.D. Touch them gently.42. We can infer from Paragraph 2 that Brownie__________.A. world eat anything when hungryB. felt sorry for her mistakeC. loved playing hide-and-seekD. disliked the author's dad43. Why does the author say that Brownie was more than just a family pet?A. She was treated as a member of the family.B. She played games with anyone she liked.C. She was loved by everybody she met.D. She went everywhere with the family.44. Some people got frightened by Brownie when she__________.A. smiledB. barkedC. rushed to themD. tried to be funny45. Which of the following best describes Brownie?A. ShyB. PoliteC. BraveD. CaringCStop SpamWhen I first got an e-mail account ten years ago, I received communications only from family, friends, and colleagues. Now it seems that every time I check my e-mail, I have an endless series of advertisements and other correspondence that do not interest me at all. If we want e-mail to continue to be useful, we need specific laws that make spamming(发送垃圾邮件) a crime.If lawmakers do not do something soon to prohibit spam, the problem will certainly get much worse. Computer programs allow spammers to send hundreds of millions of e-mails almost instantly. As more and more advertisers turn to spam to sell their products, individual(个人的) e-mail boxes are often flooded with spame-mails. Would people continue to use e-mail if they had to deal with an annoying amount of spam each time?This problem is troubling for individuals and companies as well. Many spam e-mails contain computer viruses that can shut down the entire network of a company. Companies rely on e-mail for their employees to communicate with each other. Spam frequently causes failures in their local communications networks, and their employees are thus unable to communicate effectively. Such a situation results in a loss of productivity and requires companies to repeatedly repair their networks. These computer problems raise production costs of companies, which are, in the end, passes on to the consumer.For these reasons, I believe that lawmakers need to legislate (立法) against spam. Spammers should be fined, and perhaps sent to prison if they continue to disturb people. E-mail is a tool which helps people all over the world to communicate conveniently, but spam is destroying this convenience.57. What does the underlined word "correspondence" in the Paragraph 1 probably mean?A. messagesB. ideasC. connectionsD. programs58. According to the text, what is the major cause of the flooding spam?A. Companies rely on e-mail for communications.B. More people in the world communicate by e-mail.C. Many computer viruses contain spam e-mail.D. More advertisers begin to promote sales through spam.59. According to Paragraph 3, who is the final victim of spam?A. The businessB. The advertiserC. The employeeD. The consumer60. What is the purpose of the text?A. To informB. To educateC. To persuadeD. To instructDGoldie's SecretShe turned up at the doorstep of my house in Cornwall. No way could I ha ve sent her away. No way, not me anyway. Maybe someone had kicked her out of th eir car the night before. "We're moving house.'; "No space for her any more wit h the baby coming." "We never really wanted her, but what could we have done? S he was a present." People find all sorts of excuses for abandoning an animal. A nd she was one of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen.I called her Goldie. If I had known what was going to happen I would hav e givenher a more creative name. She was so unsettled during those first few days. She。