C

Americans are proud of their variety and individuality，yet they love and respect few things more than a uniform，whether it is the uniform of an elevator operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are uniforms so popular in the United States?

Among the arguments for uniforms，one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more professional than civilian(百姓的)clothes. People have become conditioned to expect superior quality from a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform tends to inspire more trust than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic(技工) is increased by a uniform. What easier way is there for a nurse，a policeman，a barber，or a waiter to lose professional identity(身份)than to step out of uniform?

Uniforms also have many practical benefits. They save on other clothes. They save on laundry(洗衣店)bills. They are tax-deductible(可减税的).They are often more comfortable and more durable than civilian clothes.

Primary(主要的) among the arguments against uniforms is their lack of variety and the consequent loss of individuality experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms，the wearer of any particular type is generally stuck with it，without change，until retirement. When people look alike，they tend to think，speak，and act similarly，on the job at least.

Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting，often their initial(最初的)expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain(维持，维护)，requiring professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering(洗涤) possible with many types of civilian clothes.

51. It is surprising that Americans who worship variety and individuality______.

A. still judge a man by his clothes

B. hold the uniform in such high regard

C. enjoy having a professional identity

D. will respect an elevator operator as much as a general in uniform

52. People are accustomed to think that a man in uniform ____.

A. suggests quality work B. discards(丢弃)his social identity

C. appears to be more practical D. looks superior to a person in civilian clothes

53. The chief function of a uniform is to ____.

A. provide practical benefits to the wearer B. make the wearer catch the public eye

C. inspire the wearer ' s confidence in himself D. provide the wearer with a professional identity

54. According to the passage, people wearing uniforms ____.

A. are usually helpful B. have little or no individual freedom

C. tend to lose their individuality D. enjoy greater popularity

55. The best title for this passage would be ____.

A. Uniforms and Society B. The Importance of Wearing a Uniform

C. Practical Benefits of Wearing a Uniform D. Advantages and Disadvantages of Uniforms

D

In today's world of cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players, most people have at least one time-telling tool with them. Since these devices are so common, is time running out for the 500-year-old watch? According to some consumers, yes. New Jersey teenager Charlie Wollman says a watch is "an extra piece of equipment with no necessary function." Many young adults agree ─ and use their cell phones to tell time. Louis Galie, a senior vice president at Timex, said that fewer young people wear watches today than five years ago. As a result, some people claim that the watch industry is at a crossroads.

However, watchmakers optimistically say that watches regain popularity when consumers reach their 20s and 30s. By then, they are willing to spend money on a quality timepiece that doesn't just keep good time. Fifty years ago, watchmakers boasted(自夸) about their products' accuracy. But in recent years, the watch industry has transformed itself into an accessory(附件，配件) business. And for many today, the image(外形) a watch communicates has become more important than the time it tells.

"Complications" ─ features that go beyond simple timekeeping ─ are an important part of a watch's image. Today's watches offer a host of features that suit almost any personality. These features include altitude trackers(追踪器), compasses(指南针), lunar calendars, USB drives, and even devices that measure the effectiveness of golf swings!

Creativity is also a key element in today's watches. For example, Japanese watchmaker Tokyoflash makes watches that don't even look like watches. The company's popular Shinshoku model uses different color lights to tell the time. It looks more like a futuristic bracelet(手镯) than a watch. Another Japanese watchmaker, EleeNo, makes a "handless" watch. Using a ring of circles to keep time, this watch makes an excellent conversation piece.

Whether a watch communicates fashion sense, creative flair or a love of sports, consumers want their timepieces to stand out. Nowadays, everyone has the same kind of gadget in their bags, so people want to make a statement with what's on their wrists(手腕). Will this interest in wrist fashion last? Only time will tell!

56. Why aren’t watches popular with young people as before?

A. Because watches cannot keep good time as cell phones, mini laptops and MP3 players.

B. Because watches are featured by the disadvantages of simple function

C. Because watches are too expensive to afford.

D. Because watches don’t have beautiful appearance as other modern time telling tools.

57. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Watching-making is facing a survival crisis challenge.

B. Watching-making is faced with the developing opportunity.

C. Watching-making becomes the sun rising industry.

D. Watching-making has a specific development target.

58. It can be implied that ____________________.

A. people will gradually lose interest in watches as they grow older

B. watchmakers hardly change the development strategy for watches

C. today’s watches are better than those in the past in quality

D. customers used to be more concerned with the quality of a watch than with its image.

59. The following qualities can make a watch popular EXCEPT _________.

A. multifunction B. accuracy C. nice design D. low price

60. What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Watches and Teenagers B. The History of Watches

C. The Accuracy of Watches D. Watches Tell More Than Time

第二节 信息匹配(共5小题;每小题2分，满分10分)

阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。(若选择E，请涂AB;若选择F，请涂CD)。

请阅读某书店各书架的相关信息：

A. Section One: Education---Has a huge range of textbooks and supplementary material covering all the major high school and university subjects. Buyers showing their student cards receive a 15% discount on all purchases from this section.

B. Section Three: Humor Section --- A great selection of joke books, funny stories and wonderful real life adventures that are sure to keep the reader laughing for days.

C. Section Five: Biography --- Find out about the lives of your favorite sports stars, singers, actors and other famous people from today and the past. Learn what they had to go through to become successful and the effect it had on their lives.

D. Section One: Do-It-Yourself Section -- On these shelves customers can find the latest manuals on how to do everything from building a computer to constructing your own home.

E. Section Two: Sports & Leisure Section --- Stocks a large range of the latest books on your favorite sporting teams and events. Pick up the perfect Father's Day present here.

F. Section Four: Business & Finance --- Students, business people or anyone interested in the world of commerce are certain to find the book they are after here. We have special subsection for international trade and e-commerce.

阅读下列关于各书籍的信息，匹配书籍与其所应放置的书架：

61. The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron --- by Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind --- As the title suggests the authors cover the rise of the American electricity company to become one of the 10 richest companies in the world and its spectacular fall into dishonor and bankruptcy. A perfect guide on what not to do in business.

62. The Delighted Eye --- by Prof. John Nash --- The 1994 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics, whose ideas have influenced a generation of the world's greatest economic minds, tells his life story: growing up in a small town in America, becoming one of America's most influential mathematicians and his battles with mental illness.

63. Ready Made--- How to Make (Almost) Everything --- by Shoshanna Berger and Grace Hawthorne --- beautifully written with great factual information. The theme behind this book is re-use, re-claim, re-cycle and there are many detailed easy-to-do projects for the reader to try such as making a photo frame from a book cover or a pot for your plants from plastic shopping bags.

64. Mother Tongue: The English Language --- by Bill Bryson --- Bryson's book is a journey through the history and different aspects of the English language, one that is both informative and hugely entertaining. As with most of Bryson's books, fun comes before facts and readers will be left with a smile on their faces.

65. Into Thin Air --- by John Krakauer --- is a riveting first-hand account of a disastrous race to the top of Mount Everest. In March 1996, Outside magazine sent veteran journalist and experienced climber John Krakauer to join the team led by the famous Everest guide Rob Hall. Despite the expertise of Hall and the other leaders, by the end of the race eight people were dead.

V. 语法填空(共10小题;每小题1.5分，满分15分)

阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卷标号为66-75的相应位置上。

No One Dares to Help

On a recent Sunday, I was buying groceries in a supermarket 66 ___ I heard the sound of a car accident. It was close but not very close, so I continued shopping. As I took a right turn on Munadhama Street, I saw a man 67 ____ (lie) on the ground in a small pool of blood. He wasn’t dead.

68 ____ idea of stopping to help or to take him to a hospital crossed my mind, but I didn’t dare. Cars passed without stopping. Pedestrians and shop owners kept doing 69 __________ they were doing, pretending nothing 70______________ (happen).

I was still looking at the injured man and blaming myself 71 not stopping to help. 72 ______ shoppers peered at him from a distance, sorrowful and sympathetic, but did nothing.

I was on to another grocery store, staying for about five minutes while shopping for tomatoes, onions and other vegetables. During that time, the man managed to sit 73_______________ and waved to passing cars.

No one stopped. No one did 74 ______ . No one lifted a finger.

The injured died on the street. The only reaction came from a woman 75 ______ was in the grocery store. In a low voice, she said,” My God, bless his soul.”

An offer of aid could have saved the man’s life.

Ⅵ. 词型转换 (共10题，每题1分，共10分)

请在空格处用括号中所给词语的适当形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卷号为76-85的相应位置上。

76. At the end of the meeting he nodded with __________________ (approve).

77. Many people enjoy the pleasure and ___________________ (convenient) of living in a city centre.

78. If everyone can make a small ____________________ (contribute), our society will become more harmonious.

79. He was happy to be at home in his familiar ___________________ (surround).

80. He can’t have changed his mind without too much ____________________ (press) from his parents and teacher.

81. We must take every detail into ___________________ (consider) before we make our final decision.

82. The Indians often attacked the _____________________ (settle) of the colonists(殖民者).

83. He came up with an ___________________ (admire) idea.

84.How much the participants liked the food did not have an effect on this ______________(accurate).

85. He worked as an _______________ (assist) to the President.

Ⅶ. 写作(共两节，满分20分)

第一节 基础写作(共1小题，满分15分)

假定你们学校举行一个成人仪式，你将作为代表在仪式上发言。请你按以下内容要点准备一篇英文发言稿。

【写作内容】

1. 过去对成年的向往：做自己喜欢做的事;

2. 现在的感受：事情并非想象中那么顺利;

3. 现在的认识：更多的自由但有更多的责任;

4. 将来的目标：多为家庭和社会做贡献，使自己的生活更加有意义;

5. 要采取的措施：努力学习考上理想的大学。

【写作要求】

只能使用5句子表达全部内容，开头和结尾已经写好，不计入总句数。

参考词汇：责任 responsibility

Good morning, everyone!

The topic of my speech today is “Thoughts on becoming a grown-up”.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for listening.

第二节 短文概括(共1小题，满分5分)

One day, an American Indian found an eagle’s egg and put it into the nest of a chicken. The little eagle hatched with the chickens and grew up with them.

All its life, the eagle thought it was a chicken and did what the chickens did. It searched in the dirt for seeds and insects to eat. It could only fly no more than a few feet off the ground. After all, that’s how chickens were supposed to fly. The eagle never noticed that it was different from the chickens.

Years passed. And the eagle grew very old. One day, it saw a magnificent bird far above in the cloudless sky. It flew high and fast in the sky with its strong golden wings. Even the powerful winds could not stop it.

“What a beautiful bird!” said the eagle to its neighbor, “What is it?”

“That’s an eagle-the master of the birds,” the neighbor told the eagle.

“It’s extraordinary! I want to fly as high as it does,” said the eagle.

“Don’t give it a second thought. You are just a chicken. You could never be like it,” said the neighbor.

So the eagle never gave it a second and it died thinking it was a chicken.

Do you feel sympathetic towards the eagle? If so, give a second thought for who you are and who you want to be. Never let your life pass without realizing your full potential(潜力)and pursuing your dream.

【写作内容】

以约30词概括短文的要点

【写作要求】

不得照抄原文句子

第一节 基础写作(共1小题，满分15分)

Good morning, everyone!

The topic of my speech today is “Thoughts on becoming a grown-up”.

As a child, I always hoped that I could grow up as soon as possible so that I could have whatever I wanted and do whatever I liked. Now I’m a grown-up, but I find things do not go as I expected. Although I can enjoy more freedom, at the same time I realize that being a grown-up not only means this, but also more responsibilities. I hope to do more for my parents and society in the future to make my life more meaningful. To reach the goal, I must first try my best to pass the college entrance examination and enter a good university.

Thank you for your listening.

第二节 短文概括(共1小题，满分5分)

Through a story about how an eagle, born and growing up with chickens, behaved and even died like chickens, the writer asks us to give it a second thought about ourselves and try to develop our potential fully.

【总结】高二英语期中试题就为大家整理到这儿了，同学们要好好学习，为高考做准备。想了解更多有关学习的知识，请继续关注精品学习网。

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