2010年职称英语综合类(B级)考试阅读理解真题(3)

　　第3篇
　　Britain's Solo Sailor
　　Ellen MacArthur started sailing when she was eight，going out on sailing trips with her aunt．
　　She loved it so much that she saved her money for three years to buy her first small sailing boat．When she was 18．she sailed alone around Britain and won the"Young Sailor of the Year"award．
　　But Ellen really became famous in 2001．Aged only 24，she was one of only two women who entered the Vendee Globe round the world solo race，which lasts 100 days．Despite many problems，she came second in the race out of 24 competitors and she was given a very warm welcome when she returned．
　　Ambition and determination have always been a big part of Ellen's personality．When she wasyounger，she lived in a kind of hut(棚屋)for three years while she was trying to get sponsorship tocompete in a transatlantic race．Then she took a one-way ticked to France，bought a tiny seven meter class mini yacht，slept under it while she was repairing it，and then she raced it 4，000 kilometers across the Atlantic in 1997，alone for 33 days．
　　Ellen has had to learn many things，because sailing single-handed means that she has to beher own captain，electrician，sail maker，engineer，doctor，journalist，cameraman and cook．She also has to be very fit，and because of the dangers of sleeping for long periods of time she' in themiddle of the ocean，she has trained herself to sleep for about 20 minutes at a time．
　　And she needs courage．Once，In the middle of the ocean，she had to climb the mast(桅杆)of a boat to repair the sails-at four o'clock in the morning，with 100 kph winds blowing around her．It took her many hours to make the repairs．Ellen says。"1 was exhausted when I came down．It'shard to describe how it feels to be up there．It's like trying to hold onto a big pole，which for me isjust too big to get my alTOS around，with someone kicking you all the time and trying to shakeyou off．"
　　But in her diary，Ellen also describes moments which make it all worthwhile(值得的)："Abeautiful sunrise started the day，with black clouds slowly lit by the bright yellow sun．I have a verystrong feeling of pleasure，being out here on the ocean and having the chance to live this．I just feellucky to be here．"
　　41．In the Vendee Globe race，Ellen won________．
　　A．a gold medal
　　B．the"Best Women Sailor"award
　　C．the second place
　　D．the"Young Sailor of the Year"award
　　42．Ellen lived in a kind of hut for three years___________．
　　A．because she was interested in country life
　　B．because she was ambitious for the coming race
　　C．while she was learning how to repair sails
　　D．while she was trying to get financial support for a race
　　43．The word"solo"in the title could be best replaced by___________．
　　A．self-starter
　　B．single-handed
　　C．one performer
　　D．seIf-made
　　44．According to paragraph 4，which of the following statements is NOT true?
　　A．She has to be her own teacher．
　　B．She has trained herself to sleep for about 20 minutes at a time.
　　C．She has to be very fit．
　　D．She has to learn to repair sails．
　　45．How does Ellen feel about the Vendee Globe race?
　　A．It is surprising．
　　B．It is relaxing．
　　C．It is dangerous．
　　D．It is enjoyable．