完形填空（20×1=20）

请认真阅读下面短文， 从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中， 选出最佳选项。

The concept of solitude (独处) in the digital world is almost nonexistent. In the world of digital technology, email, social networking and online video games, information is meant to be __1__. Solitude can be hard to discover __2__ it has been given up. In this respect, new technologies have __3__ our culture.

The desire to be connected has brought solitude to a(n) __4__ as we've known it. People have become so __5__ in the world of networks and connections that one can often be contacted __6__ they'd rather not be. Today we can talk, text, email, chat and blog (写博客), not only from our __7__， but from our mobile phones as well.

Most developed nations have become __8__ on digital technology simply because they've grown accustomed to it, and at this point not __9__ it would make them an outsider. __10__， many jobs and careers require people to be __11__. From this point of view, technology has changed the culture of work. Being reachable might feel like a __12__ to those who may not want to be able to be contacted at all times.

I suppose the positive side is that solitude is still possible for anyone who __13__ wants it. Computers can be shut __14__ and mobile phones can be turned off. The ability to be “connected” and “on” has many __15__， as well as disadvantages. Travelers have ended up __16__ on mountains, and mobile phones have saved countless lives. They can also make people feel __17__ and forced to answer unwanted calls or __18__ to unwanted texts.

Attitudes towards our connectedness as a society __19__ across generations. Some find today's technology a gift. Others consider it a curse. Regardless of anyone's view on the subject, it's hard to imagine what life would be like __20__ daily advancements in technology.

1. A. updated B. shared C. received D. collected

2. A. though B. once C. until D. before

3. A. shaped B. respected C. ignored D. preserved

4. A. edge B. end C. stage D. balance

5. A. sensitive B. intelligent C. reachable D. considerate

6. A. if only B. only if C. as if D. even if

7. A. computers B. media C. databases D. monitors

8. A. bent B. hard C. dependent D. keen

9. A. using B. finding C. protecting D. changing

10. A. Somehow B. Instead C. Otherwise D. Also

11. A. interested B. trained C. recommended D. connected

12. A. pleasure B. burden C. benefit D. disappointment

13. A. slightly B. hardly C. really D. merely

14. A. down B. out C. up D. in

15. A. aspects B. advantages C. weaknesses D. exceptions

16. A. lost B. hidden C. relaxed D. deserted

17. A. amused B. excited C. confused D. trapped

18. A. turn B. submit C. reply D. object

19. A. exist B. arise C. spread D. vary

20. A. beyond B. within C. without D. despite

二、阅读理解（25×2=50）

A

Many of Gershwin's songs were first written for musical plays performed in theatres in New York City. These plays were a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of his songs have remained popular as ever. Over the years they have been sung and played in every possible way — from jazz to country.

In the 1920s there was a debate in the United States about jazz music. Could jazz, some people asked, be considered serious music? In 1924 jazz musician and orchestra leader Paul Whiteman decided to organize a special concert to show that jazz was serious music. Gershwin agreed to compose something for the concert before he realized he had just a few weeks to do it. And in that short time, he composed a piece for piano and orchestra which he called Rhapsody in Blue. Gershwin himself played the piano at the concert. The audience were thrilled when they heard his music. It made him world－famous and showed that jazz music could be both serious and popular.

In 1928, Gershwin went to Paris. He applied to study composition (作曲)with the well－known musician Nadia Boulanger, but she rejected him. She was afraid that classical study would ruin his jazz－influenced style. While there, Gershwin wrote An American in Paris. When it was first performed, critics (评论家)were divided over the music. Some called it happy and full of life, to others it was stilly and boring. But it quickly became popular in Europe and the United States. It sill remains one of his most famous works.

George Gershwin died in 1937, just days after doctors learned he had brain cancer. He was only thirty－nine years old. Newspapers all over the world reported his death on their front pages. People mourned the loss of the man and all the music he might have still written.

21．Many of Gershwin's musical works were ________．

A．written about New Yorkers

B．composed for Paul Whiteman

C．performed in various ways

D．played mainly in the countryside

22．What do we know about the concert organized by Whiteman?

A．It proved jazz could be serious music.

B．It attracted more people to theatres.

C．It made Gershwin leader of the orchestra.

D．It caused a debate among jazz musicians.

23．What did Gershwin do during his stay in Paris?

A．He changed his music style. B．He studied with Nadia Boulanger.

C．He argued with French critics. D．He created one of his best works.

24．What do we learn from the last paragraph?

A．The death of Gershwin was widely reported.

B．Many of Gershwin's works were lost.

C．A concert was held in memory of Gershwin.

D．Brain cancer research started after Gershwin's death.

25．Which of the following best describes Gershwin?

A．Friendly and honest. B．Serious and boring.

C．Popular and unhappy. D．Talented and productive.

B

Some people think that success is only for those with talent or those who grow up in the right family，and others believe that success mostly comes down to luck.I'm not going to say luck，talent，and circumstances don't come into play because they do.Some people are born into the right family while others are born with great intelligence，and that's just the reality of how life is.

However，to succeed in life，one first needs to set a goal and then gradually make it more practical.And，in addition to that，in order to ger really good at something，one needs to spend at least 10，000 hours studying and practising. To become great at certain things，it'll require even more time，time that most people won't put in.

This is a big reason why many successful people advise you to do something you love. If you don't enjoy what you do，it is going to feel like unbearable pain and will likely make you quit well before you ever become good at it.

When you see people exhibiting some great skills or having achieved great success，you know that they have put in a huge part of their life to get there at a huge cost.It's sometimes easy to think they got lucky or they were born with some rare talent，but thinking that way does you no good，and there's a huge chance that you're wrong anyway.

Whatever you do，if you want to become great at it, you need to work day in and day out，almost to the point of addiction，and over a long period of time.If you're not willing to put in the time and work，don't expect to receive any rewards.Consistent, hard work won't guarantee you the level of success you may want, but it will guarantee that you will become really good at whatever it is you put all that work into.

26．Paragraph 1 mainly talks about ________．

A．the importance of success B．the meaning of success

C．the standards of success D．the reasons for success

27．In Paragraph 2，the underlined word that refers to ________．

A．setting a practical goal B．being good at something

C．putting in more time D．succeeding in life

28．Successful people suggest doing what one loves because ________．

A．work makes one feel pain B．one gives up his work easily

C．one tends to enjoy his work D．it takes a lot of time to succeed

29．What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Successful people like to show their great skills.

B．People need to achieve success at the cost of life.

C．People sometimes succeed without luck or talent.

D．It helps to think that luck or talent leads to success.

30．What is the main theme of the passage?

A．Having a goal is vital to success.

B．One cannot succeed without time and practice.

C．Being good is different from being great.

D．Luck，talent and family help to achieve success.

C

I have been consistently opposed to feeding a baby regularly. As a doctor, mother and scientist in child development I believe there is nothing to recommend it, from the baby's point of view.

Mothers, doctors and nurses alike have no idea of where a baby's blood sugar level lies. All we know is that a low level is harmful to brain development and makes a baby easily annoyed. In this state, the baby is difficult to calm down and sleep is impossible. The baby asks for attention by crying and searching for food with its mouth.

It is not just unkind but also dangerous to say a four-hourly feeding schedule will make a baby satisfied. The first of the experts to advocate a strict clock-watching schedule was Dr Frederic Truby King who was against feeding in the night. I've never heard anything so ridiculous. Baby feeding shouldn't follow a timetable set by the mum. What is important is feeding a baby in the best way, though it may cause some inconvenience in the first few weeks.

Well, at last we have copper-bottomed research that supports demand feeding and points out the weaknesses of strictly timed feeding. The research finds out that babies who are fed on demand do better at school at age 5, 7, 11 and 14, than babies fed according to the clock. By the age of 8, their IQ (智商) scores are four to five percent higher than babies fed by a rigid timetable. This research comes from Oxford and Essex University using a sample (样本) of 10,419 children born in the early 1990s, taking account of