第一部分 听力（略）

第二部分 阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）

第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分）

阅读下列短文，从所给题的四个选项中，选出最佳选项，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。

A

Jerome Kern is often called “The father of American musical theater (音乐剧)”. Kern is remembered for the hundreds of songs he wrote for musical plays and movies. Music historians say that Kern gave artistic importance to American popular music for the first time.

Jerome Kern was born into a middle-class family in New York City in 1885. Jerome’s mother, Fanny, loved the piano. She began to teach Jerome how to play it when he was very young. He became a fair piano player, but not so good that anyone expected him to become a great musician.

Jerome was a quiet boy. When he completed high school, his father said he would have to work in the family’s store. Mr. Kern said his son could never make money by writing music. But he later came to believe that Jerome might do better in music than in business after all. So he let the boy go to Europe to study music, as almost all serious young musicians did at the time.

Jerome Kern began his career as a songwriter in theaters in London and later in New York City. Success came quickly. By the early 1920s, Kern was a successful young composer for Broadway musical comedies. In one three-year period alone, he wrote music for 19 shows.

Other people wrote the words for Kern’s songs. Kern wrote only the music. And he worked on each song endlessly until he was satisfied that the music was perfect. He almost never changed his music to fit the words.

One critic wrote this about his music: Kern’s songs are like black and white drawings. They need no color,no decoration. His song is always in balance, perfect in form and pleasing in design.

21. Jerome Kern does best in .

A. directing movies B. singing songs

C. writing songs for musical theater D. writing plays and movies

22. What do we know about Kern’s childhood?

A. He received little education. B. He was born into a poor family.

C. His mother influenced him a lot. D. His father expected him to become a musician.

23. What’s mainly talked about in the fourth paragraph?

A. Kern’s hope about his future. B. Kern’s achievements.

C. The awards Kern gained. D. The advantages Kern had.

24. According to the critic’s comments in the last paragraph, .

A. Kern’s works are pure without any unnecessary decorations

B. Kern’s works will be better with more colors and decorations

C. Kern’s works always present sadness and other bad emotions

D. Kern’s works are looked down upon by critics

B

My friend Jessie and I have known each other since we were very young. Friendships get more precious as we get older, and when we reached our forties, we decided we needed to put in a little more work to keep our friendship strong, healthy and growing. We pick out one Saturday a month and promise to do something together. Sometimes we have a long lunch out. Other times we go to see a movie or shopping. But at least once a quarter, we have an adventure.

In some adventures we drove to our favorite places. In other adventures we spent a night in a place sharing a festival like Christmas or sometimes we just drove, stopping wherever we wanted. We have headed out of the state to Tennessee. We have tried out new restaurants and new shops.

One of our adventures took us to a very small town in south Georgia. It was one of those watermelon or cotton or peanut festivals, and we enjoyed buying the handmade gifts and eating the terrific foods. The most impressive was a parade（游行）, with local school marching bands and service groups. We joined the parade and began smiling and waving! Everyone smiled and waved back! Of course, their smiling faces turned confused and puzzled as we passed in our car. “Who are these women?” they must have wondered. Finally, we turned a corner and a serious-looking policeman directed us back to the highway. We really had a great day!

Fun is always on the menu, whether it’s a weekend trip or a couple of hours over lunch. We talk and have influence on each other’s life. We share our struggles and our happiness. We ask for and receive advice. And we laugh!

Don’t keep promising yourself that “someday soon” you will get together with them. Do it now. Pick up your phone and make a plan for this weekend. You need it. Your friend needs it. You’ll be a happier, healthier person for it!

25. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A. The writer is nearly forty years old now.

B. They usually went out together on Sunday.

C. They had at least a date every month.

D. Both of the writer and Jessie have no job.

26. Which of the following activities is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A. Driving to favorite places. B. Sharing festivals in a place.

C. Going shopping together. D. Surfing the net together.

27. How does the writer feel when traveling together with her friend?

A. Tired. B. Busy. C. Confused. D. Happy.

28. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A. An adventure in south Georgia

B. Keeping our friendship strong and healthy

C. Having lunch out with a friend

D. Getting together once in a quarter

C

The SAT is one of two major tests for the entrance to American colleges and universities. The other test is called the ACT. More than 2 million students take the SAT yearly, including about 100,000 foreign students. The organization of the SAT will change the entrance test in 2016. The College Board announced that the new SAT will no longer test students on rarely used words. But it will include passages from American historical documents or from writings on freedom and human rights.

The College Board says words on the new test will be related to usage. Students will be asked to tell the meaning of words according to the context of the reading passages. Nigerian student Peace Umoru is in her first year at Howard University. She says the rarely used words are the hardest part for international students. The new test will be easier because of the reform（改革）.

Eddie West is with the College Board. He says the new test will better predict a student’s performance in college. The changes are moving the test in a positive direction. The new SAT pays more attention to skills and abilities that students need to succeed. The addition of material about American historical documents could make the test harder for international students. After all, they live in different countries with different cultures. But it’s a good chance for them to understand the Declaration of Independence (《独立宣言》) or Martin Luther King’s work, or anything else that might be tested.

Students from other countries, particularly those who did not grow up learning English, may feel it is more difficult. For them, the test is in a foreign language. But the College Board says it has formed a free, online educational service. Khan Academy will provide preparation material linked to the newly designed SAT.

29. What will be removed from the new SAT?

A. Words that are often used. B. Words that are seldom used.

C. Passages about human rights. D. Material about American historical documents.

30. What will be tested in the new SAT?

A. All the different meanings of a word.

B. The rare usage of the common words.

C. The difficult words for foreign students.

D. The proper meaning of the words in the passages.

31. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?

A. Eddie West is against the changes to the SAT.

B. The SAT is an entrance test just for foreign students.

C. The SAT is the only entrance test to American colleges.

D. The foreign students should make great efforts to pass the SAT.

32. What’s the main idea of the text?

A. How to prepare for the new SAT.

B. The SAT will change the entrance test in 2016.

C. Advice for foreign students on passing the SAT.

D. Tests for entrance to American colleges and universities.

D

Thousands of jobs come into our Job Center and Employment Office every week, but they get snapped up quickly. So although we shall do all we can to help you, it's important for you to do all you can to help yourself. This passage tells you how.

Registered for work

Once you have registered (登记) for work, we will match you with available vacancies. You must also register for work at the Job Centre in order to claim unemployment benefit. But you actually apply for and claim it at the local Unemployment Office.

Getting a job through self-service

Jobs that come in are put on self-service show as soon as possible. Half the people who find jobs through Job Centers and Employment Offices find them through self-service. You can call in at any time to look at the jobs shown.

If you want further help with finding a job

If you want more help or advice, don't forget that's what we're here for. Our Employment Advisers can help you with things like：

●thinking about the different sorts of jobs you could do and which are best for you

● jobs available locally or elsewhere

●your suitability for a TOPS training course with a tax-free allowance(津贴)

●funds to help you look for, and move to, work in other parts

Even though you have a clear idea of the sort of job and pay you want, you may find that something different will suit you quite well. Keep this in mind when you're talking with the Employment Advisers.

If you don't find a job on your first visit

Go into self-service as often as you can to look at the jobs on show there. Good vacancies are coming in all the time just because you've been registered for employment.

If you can't get to the office easily, come in whenever you can. It'll help you to find a job faster if you keep in touch.

33. The underlined word “vacancies” in the second paragraph means________.

A. rooms that are not used B. lack of interests

C. jobs that are available D. seats that are not occupied

34. Jobless people can actually demand benefi