第二部分：阅读理解(共二大题。阅读部分共15小题，每小题2分，满分30分)

阅读下列4篇短文，从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

A

Who is better at predicting earthquakes, animals or scientists with instruments? Evidence collected so far suggests that an ordinary animal—a dog, a horse, a pit—may give as reliable a warning of an impending earthquake as scientists.

In 1970,200 instruments failed to predict a California earthquake that shook building in San Francisco, 78 miles away. But in 1974, several months before a big earthquake in China，pigs climbed the walls, hens would not roost(栖息)，trained dogs did not obey commands and farmyard geese refused to fly.The Chinese scientists paid attention to these and other signs, they educated people before the earthquake struck there and saved a hundred thousand lives.

Many nations now have animals-warning centers to try to learn the animal sense so that instruments call be built to detect the same signal.

41.This passage mainly tells us

A.about the big earthquake in San Francisco

B.that animals can predict earthquakes

C.animals are better at predicting earthquakes than scientists

D.that some of the animals arc clever than human beings.

42.In this passage，“an impending earthquake” means an earthquake

A.that will take place very soon  B.that has just taken place

C.that will not take place  D.that will take place in a very longtime

B

Central Park

Outside among the trees，watch the wildlife—both the human and animal varieties.Call (2l 2)360-3465 or(212)360-2726 for daily events and tours.Central Park stretches from 59th to 110th Sts. and from 5th Ave.to Central Park West.

Empire State Building

This is among the most striking buildings m the city, the nation even the world. The observation deck(瞭望台)on the 86th floor is open to the general public，offering a wonderful new of the city.On the second floor you’ll find the New York Skyride，a simulated(模似的) helicopter ride over Manhattan 5th Ave.at 34th St.Midtown/(212)736-3100.

Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum

Five blocks west of Time Square，this museum has hundred5 of air, deep-sea and space exhibits.Walk the flight deck of the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid;see dozens of old and modern aircraft and。ride the Intrepid Navy Flight Simulator.Pier 86，W：46th St.and l2th Ave./(212)245-0072.

Madison Square Garden

If it’s big, it probably happens at the Garden. Check out sporting events, concerts and much more. Tours are available.7th Ave. btwn. 32st and 33rd Sts. Middtown/(212)465-6741.

45.The New York Skyride is for

A.city transportation     B.flight training

C.model plane sports  D.sightseeing

46.If a visited is interested in music，he will probably go to         .

A.Central Park     B.Empire State Building

C.intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum D.Madison Square Garden

47.What is the purpose of these texts?

A.To provide information of living in New York.

B.To provide directions of city traffic in New York.

C.To give visitors a guide to New York.

D.To give a brief introduction to the history, of New York.

C

Ever since humans lived on the earth，they have made BSC of various forms of  communication.Generally, the expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral  speech.When there is a language difficulty, communication is carded out through sign language in which movements stand for letters，words and ideas.Tourists and the people unable to hear or speak have had to use this form of expression.Many of these symbols of whole words are very vivid(生动的)and exact and can be used internationally;spelling，however, cannot.

Body language passes on ideas or thoughts by certain action, either on purpose or not. A wink(眨眼)can be a way of indication that the party is only joking. A nod means one agree, while shaking the head indicates “No”.

Other forms of nonlinguistic language can be found in Braille (a system of raised dots read with the fingertips), signal flags, Morse code(莫尔斯电码)and Smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide, warn, and instruct people. While language is the most common form of communica tion, other system and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.

48.Which of the following statements best gives the general idea of this passage?

A.When there’s a language difficulty, one will find Other forms of communication.

B.Everybody uses only one form of communication，

C.N onlinguistic language is invaluable for foreigners.

D.Although there are other forms，apart from language of communication，they are of little value

49.Which of the following statements is False?

A.There are many forms of communication in the world today.

B.Language is the most common form of Communication.

C.Tourists are not able to use all oral form of communication.

D.Ideas and thoughts can be passed on by body language.

50.Which form could be most commonly used among blind people?

A.Picture signs  B.Braille  C.Body language  D.Sighnal flages

51.In this passage the word “nonlinguistic” means          in Chinese.

A.非语言的   B.口语的     C.手势   D.语言的

D

When I was a boy, I belonged to the boy Scouts(童子军)，so I used to go camping every  summer, and once something happened which I have never been able to explain.

We were camping in a place、above a river.After arriving，.we all rushed down to the river

and had a swim. Standing by the river, we noticed that it was surrounded by cliffs(悬崖). If someone wanted to reach the river at this point, he had to walk past our camp.

Several days later, the scoutmaster had to be away for a day. That afternoon, we had supper early. We were sitting round the fire, eating and talking, when a man walked past and went down towards the river. We all felt that this man looked very strange, but, because each of us was afraid of looking very stupid, no one said anything.

We ate rather slowly, taking as long as possible. After finishing, we collected our plates together so that we could take them to the river where we always washed them. But no one moved towards the river—we stood looking at each other ashamed. Then all shouting at once, we began talking about the man who had walked past us. We agreed how strange he looked and we wondered what he could be doing by the river. We knew that he could only return by passing through our camp.

An hour passed. Then one of the boys suggested we should creep (悄悄移动)down by the river so that we could see what the man was doing. Moving very slowly and keeping in the shadow, we crept down towards the bank. One boy climbed a tree so that he could see everything clearly. He called to us that there was no one there, so we ran down to the bank, looking everywhere carefully.We could not understand where the man had gone.

When it got dark，we went back to our camp feeling unrelieved.We told the scoutmaster what had happened in the evening.Smiling，he doubted that we.had seen the man, but finally suggested we go and look again.We.did，but there was no one there.Many years have passed，

but I still remember it as if it were yesterday.What did we：see? I do not know.

52.The writer in the text mainly tells us

A.the story of his childhood     B.a strange camping experience

C.about a stranger by the river    D.about a good place for camping

53.Why did the boys eat their supper slowly?

A.They wanted to delay going to the fiver bank.

B.They were waiting for their scoutmaster.

C.They had a supper earlier than usual.

D.They were taking while eating.

54.What happened to the mall that they met that afternoon?

A.He died     B.Fish ate him

C.He got ill    D.Not mentioned in the article

55.When he heard what had happened，the scoutmaster            .

A.realized who the man was     B.started to worry about the man.

C.went back to look for the man  D.felt it hard to believe the boys.