Passage 55

Hundreds of years ago, life was harder than it is today. People didn’t have modern machines. There was no modern medicine, either.

Life today has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. Water pollution has made our rivers and lakes dirty. It kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us talk louder and become angry more easily. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution to all living things in the world.

Cars, planes and factories all pollute our air every day. Sometimes the polluted air is so thick that it is like a quilt (被状物) over a city. This kind of quilt is called smog.

Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. Factories must now clean their water before it is thrown away, and they mustn’t let dirty smoke go into the air.

We need to do many other things. We can put waste things in the dustbin and do not throw them on the ground. We can go to work by bus with our friends in the same car. If there are fewer people driving, there will be less pollution.

Rules are not enough. Every person must help to fight pollution.

1.Hundreds of years ago, life was much harder than it is today because _______.

A. there were not modern machines B. there was no modern medicine

C. both A and B D. there were not many people

2.______ is the biggest pollution in today’s life.

A. Water pollution B. Air pollution C. Noise pollution D. Pollution

3.The most serious kind of pollution is ________.

A. noise pollution B. air pollution C. water pollution D. A, B and C

4.Factories must clean their water ________.

A. before they are thrown away B. when they are thrown away

C. after it is thrown away D. before it is thrown away

5.From the passage, we know that _______.

A.a few years ago, there was no smog at all

B.today people don’t have to talk to each other loudly

C.we can drink water from the polluted rivers and lakes

D.people are making rules in order to (为了)fight pollution

Passage 56

Building a house costs quite a lot of money. Suppose you plan to build a house. Your first step will be to find a right piece of land. Your choice (选择) will depend on many different things. You will probably try to find a sunny place, with pleasant surroundings (环境) near shops and bus stops, not too far from your friends and the place where you work.

Next you will find a good builder, and together with the builder you will work out a plan. The builder will draw the plan. It will show the number of rooms, their position and size, and other parts, which must be noticed, such as windows, doors, and electric outlets. The builder will work out how much money is needed to build your house .He will work out the cost of the wood, bricks, the glass, and everything else that must be used in building the house. Later on, when he starts to build, this estimate (预算) must be corrected and revised (修订).His estimate is based on existing prices, but prices of such things may change, and many other things may happen between the time when he makes the estimate and the time when he builds the house.

When the builder gives his estimate, you may wish to change your plan. (You may also wish to change your builder, if his estimate is too high!) You may find that the house you wanted at first costs too much, or that you can spend a little more and add something to your plan. The builder's estimate depends on the plan, but the final plan depends on the builder's estimate.

1.The best title of this passage is ___________.

A. Building a House Costs Much Money B. Estimate Is Important

C. Planning a House D. Depend on the Builder

2.The first thing for a person to build a house is _________.

A. to get as much money as possible B. to find a suitable piece of land

C. to work out a plan D. to make an estimate

3.The phrase “draw a plan” in this passage means _________.

A. making a picture of a building or a room B. making a plan

C. working out a plan D. pulling a picture out of a room

4.When the builder starts to build a house, his estimate will have to be corrected and revised because _________.

A. it is wrongly worked out by a workman

B. the future owner of the house thinks the estimate is so high that he cannot afford the building.

C. The prices of building materials and the expenses (费用) of labor may be different from the original prices and expenses

D. Estimates are usually mistaken in the beginning

5.What is the relationship(关系) between the estimate and the plan?

A. The plan depends on the estimate.

B. The estimate depends on the plan.

C. The plan has nothing to do with the estimate.

D. The estimate and the plan depend on each other.

Passage 57

Do you love the holidays, but hate the increase (增加) in weight (体重) that follows? You are not alone.

Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. But many people are worried about the weight that comes with these delicious foods.

With proper (合适的) planning, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don’t have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following advice may be of some help to you.

Do not miss meals. Before you leave home for a party, have a small, low-fat meal or fast food. This may help you to keep you from getting too excited before the delicious foods.

Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate; a large plate may make you eat more than enough.

Better not have high-fat foods. Choose lean (瘦的) meats. Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.

If you have a sweet tooth, try mints (薄荷) and fruits. They do not have fat like cream and chocolate.

Don’t let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help you burn off excess calories (多余的热量).

1.Holidays are happy days with pleasure but they may ______.

A. bring weight problems B. bring you much trouble in your life

C. make you worried about your life D. make you hate delicious foods

2.Enjoy your holidays without putting on weight, and you’d better ______.

A.drinking much water and have vegetables only

B.not eat much food in high fat

C.not take part in the parties

D.turn away from delicious foods

3.According to the passage, ______ is a necessary part to stop you from putting in weight.

A. vegetables B. water C. salad D. taking exercise

4.Many people can’t help putting on weight after the holidays because they ______.

A. can’t control themselves B. go to too many parties

C. enjoy delicious foods D. can’t help turning away from the foods

5.Excess calories can be found in your body in the form of (以……的形式) ________.

A. energy B. fat C. food D. water