Passage 38

Most people have flown kites or have seen one or ride and dip in a strong spring wind. Not so many people know that kites were first made in China thousands of years ago. The ancient (古代的) Chinese were making and flying kites even before they were writing.

A long time ago, the Chinese made kites to use in wars. They would fly these war kites in the dark. The kites were fixed so that they made strange sounds. Men who were at war with them would hear these sounds and run away. The thought those sounds were made by gods in the sky.

The ancient Chinese also flew kites to bring good luck and to make their crops grow rich and tall. Sometimes they tied long strings (绳子) and hooks (钩) to their kites. Then they would fly the kites over water, letting the hooks hang down to catch fish.

The Chinese use sticks, strings and paper for their kites. Some of these kites look like animals or trees. Others look like birds or houses.

1.The main idea of the first paragraph is that _______.

A.kites were first made in China　B.most of us have flown or seen one

C.the ancient Chinese were making kites before they were writing

D.the ancient Chinese were good at making kites

2.In ancient China kites could be used for _______.

A.catching fish B. helping people fly　C. watering the crops D. helping people walk in the dark

3.The ancient Chinese used kites in wars because the kites ______.

A. could bring good luck B. looked like animals　C. could help them win a war D. could fly high

4.The Chinese usually use ______ for their kites.

A.sticks, strings and grass B. strings, hair and wood

C. paper, strings and sticks D. paper, ropes and hooks

5.What is the best title of this passage?

A. Lucky Kites B. Strange Kites　C. Beautiful Kites D. Chinese Kites

Passage 39

Shanghai: Car rentals (出租) are becoming more and more popular as an inexpensive way of taking to roads. Business people, foreign and families alike are making good use of the growing industry (工业).

The first car rental company opened in Shanghai in 1992 and now 12 car rental players are in the game, with more than 11,500 cars in their books.

The largest player-Shanghai Basher Tourism Car Rental Center offers a wide variety of choices—deluxe sedans, minivans, station wagons, coaches. Santana sedans are the big favorite.

Companies can attract (吸引) enough customers (消费者) for 70 percent of their cars every month. This figure (数字) shoots up during holiday seasons like National Day, Labor Day and New Year’s Day, with some recording 100 % rental.

The main market force rests in the growing population of white-collar employees (白领雇员), who can afford the new service, said Zhuang Yu, marketing manager of Shanghai Angel Car Rental Co.

1.The words “deluxe sedans,” “minivans” and “station wagons” used in the text refer to(指)_____.

A. cars in the making B. car rental firms C. cars for rent D. car makers

2. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

A. 70% of the cars can be rented out on holiday.

B. 70% of the customers are white-collar employees.

C. More firms are open for service during holiday seasons.

D. Some firms rent out all their cars during holiday seasons.

3. Shanghai’s car rental industry is growing so fast mainly due to_________.

A. better cars supplied by producers B. fast service offered by car rental firms

C. the increasing number of white-collar employees

D. people’s growing interest in traveling during holidays

Passage 40

The cost of medical care in the United States is very high. More time and money that doctors spend on their medical education is probably one reason for this problem.

A visit to a doctor’s office costs from 15 to 50 dollars. It is almost impossible for people to pay for the medical care they need. Many people in the United States think that doctors are overpaid. Most doctors, however, disagree. They say that they were required (要求) to study medicine for a long time. Tuition for many years of medical education costs a lot of money. Doctors say that it is necessary for most medical students to borrow money from bank to pay their tuition. Because their money must be repaid to the bank, young doctors need to receive a lot of money for their work. So, they charge (收费) people high prices for medical care.

Therefore, it is possible that the high cost of medical care in America is unnecessary, because high tuition is one cause of high costs. One way to lower costs would be to have medical schools that are free or have low tuition.

1.The word “tuition” in the passage probably refers to ____.

A. teaching the students B. studying the courses　C. payment for education D. living at school

2.The reason for the high medical cost told in the passage is that _________.

A.tuition in medical schools is high B. the price of medicine is high

C. doctors are overpaid D. doctors must pay money to the banks

3.One way to lower the cost of medical care would be ____ .

A. not to see a doctor B. to pay doctors less money

C. to let medical students have free or partly free medical education

D. to forbid doctors to ask their patients for too much money

4.The main idea of the article is that　____ .

A. a visit to a doctor’s office may cost as much as $15 to $50 in the United States

B. the cost of medical care is the main reason for the high costs in the United States

C. medical care in the United States costs a lot of money because doctors want to be rich

D. the high cost of tuition in medical schools is one reason for the high cost of medical care in America

5.The cost of medical care in the United States is very high. What does the writer think about it?

A. He agrees that doctors are overpaid.

B. He thinks it a big problem and suggests a way to settle it.

C. He doesn't think the medical students should borrow money from banks.

D. He doesn't think it necessary for the medical students to study for a long time.

Passage 41

You will have a lot of reading to do in this grade this year. You can do more of it in less time if you learn to read rapidly.

Perhaps you have been told about some habits (习惯) which keep a person from reading fast and have been strongly asked to break those habits which you might have.

Do you still have any of these bad habits? Check yourself by answering “yes” or “no” to these questions.

(1) Do you move your lips (嘴唇) when reading silently?

(2) Do you point to words with your finger as you read?

(3) Do you move your head from side to side as you read?

(4) Do you read one word at a time?