第一部分：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，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A

My grandmother Adele loved culture and was generous with its gifts. When I was a child, she took me to museums, restaurants, dances. She showered me with gifts from her travels around the world. But I can only remember her giving me one book—a book that, to this day, I have not read. She presented me with her own favorite childhood book: Hans Brinker. My grandmother was happy to share this book with me. She even decorated the title page with her proud writing.

I tried to read it. I adored reading, and would dive into a new pile of books from the library all at once. But something about Hans Brinker just wouldn’t let me in. The story was set in Holland, a long time ago. It felt dull and unfamiliar—even though I was a fan of classics of other times and places. I simply read the first pages over and over. I could not progress.

Standing on a bookshelf in our living room, the book was like something I avoided. It scolded me for not being interested, for not trying hard enough, for disappointing my grandmother.

The book started to fit in, almost forgotten, until Adele asked. Had I read it? Did I like it? Always determined, she wanted to know the answer. I would make some kind of excuse, feel bad, and open it again, hoping for a new reaction. The book weighed on me.

Years passed and finally Adele and I both accepted that I would never read Hans Brinker. Eventually I cleared the book from the shelf. The Hans Brinker experience led me to set a rule that I’ve lived by ever since: Do not ask about a book given as a gift. Don’t ask, despite your desire to discuss it to grow closer. The desire for such connection is what gives book-giving with special meaning—and increases the owner’s possibility to be a letdown.

Guilt is basically the same as for all gifts, though. If the giver doesn’t have the pleasure of seeing or hearing about the gift being enjoyed, and asks whether it is, then the owner—unless she can truthfully say “yes”—either has to admit to not liking the present, or else lie on the spot. Neither is pleasant. So, don’t ask.

21. When the author was a kid, his grandmother ________.

A. took him to travel around the world a lot

B. loved to take him to museums and stores

C. shared her childhood stories with him

D. gave him many gifts

What does the author think about the book his grandmother gave him?

A. Boring. B. Interesting. C. Puzzling. D. Disappointing.

23. The underlined sentence “The book weighed on me” in Paragraph 4 probably means _______.

A. the book is too heavy for the author to carry

B. the author feels stressed facing the book

C. the book is full of powerful viewpoints

D. the author keeps reading the book

24. The author learns from the Hans Brinker’s experience that never________.

A. give others books as gifts

B. lie to people who give you gifts

C. get close to others through gifts

D. ask about the books given as gifts

B

Deciding whether to lend money to a friend or family member is tough. On the one hand, you want to help a person you care about, but on the other hand, you wonder if it is really a good idea to lend money to this person. The two main things to remember when deciding whether or not to lend money are to think before you do it and not to lend money that you need yourself.

First, realize that you don’t need to feel guilty if you don’t want to lend your money to anyone, even a friend or relative. If there is a reason behind the guilt, for example, they did something for you and helped you out when you needed it then you may really want to lend them money. If you have the money and want to do it, then you can do it.

If you do decide that you want to lend money, be sure to write up an agreement. Whether it’s your sister or the best friend you’ve known for decades, a clear agreement signed by both parties is important. It’s not a matter of trust, but a clear understanding of what is expected. The agreement should have dates and specific amounts for repayment.

If you are low on money yourself, you simply may not be in the position to lend money. You really should never lend money that you need yourself. If something happens and your friend or family member can’t pay back the money, you’ve put yourself in a dangerous position. A friend or relative that cares about you should understand that and not make you feel pressured to lend money to him or her.

Many financial experts say that the only circumstance in which a person should ever lend money is that they really don’t need the funds and really won’t expect the money back. Otherwise the lender is at risk. You can also decide on the reason for the money. A single mom struggling between paychecks is one thing, while money needed to buy a big-screen TV is a totally different thing.

25. We can learn from the passage that ______.

A. deciding whether to lend money to your best friend or your sister is easy

B. you should feel guilty if you don’t want to lend your money to a friend

C. if you are low on money yourself you don’t need to lend money to others

D. a relative that cares about you won’t understand your not lending money to them

26. What may be included in an agreement according to the passage?

①dates for repayment ②specific amounts for repayment

③measures for not repaying ④signature of a judge

A. ①② B. ②③ C. ②④ D. ①④

27. Many financial experts advise that a person can lend others money when _______.

A. he doesn’t need the money now and in the future

B. he still expects the money back in the near future

C. his friend needs his help to buy a big-screen TV

D. his family members promise to pay back more

C

Human beings have a natural desire to explore the unknown. People with a strong interest in space like to say it is the last place left to explore. But scientists are warning that space exploration for long periods is not going to be easy. They say the human body is not designed to stay in space over an extended period.

The New York Times recently published a report about scientists who are preparing astronauts for a trip to the Moon. The newspaper said the scientists want to make sure that their crews return home in good health. But there are many problems to be solved before people are ready for long trips to the Moon, an asteroid or even the planet Mars.

Humans developed on a planet with a surface that is more than 70 percent water. Our bodies are also about 70 percent water. When there is no gravity that water moves up toward the head, raising pressure in the skull. Arms and legs grow weaker at what is called zero gravity because they no longer need to push against the force of gravity.

Five years ago, astronauts who spent weeks in space reported a change in their eyesight. These astronauts were members of the crew on the International Space Station. Research showed a change in the shape of their eyes. Normally-round eyeballs had become flat during time in space. The research also showed that the right eye was affected more than the left, and that men were more affected than women. Scientists could not find an explanation for the differences.

Bone loss was one of the problems first reported by astronauts returning to Earth after longer stays in space. So scientists designed exercise machines to use on the space station. Tests showed that the exercise equipment helped space travelers keep their bones almost as strong as when they left Earth.

There are other health issues for astronauts who spend a long time in space. They may have problems eating and sleeping. But the biggest health issue is exposure to radiation. On Earth, human beings are protected by the atmosphere and the planet's magnetic field. In outer space, there is no such protection.

28. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. People shouldn’t explore space.

B. Scientists are trying to find out how to protect astronauts.

C. Space is dangerous to human beings.

D. Long periods in space will affect the health of astronauts.

29. What will happen to human bodies in space?

A. Arms and legs grow stronger at what is called zero gravity

B. Blood moves up toward the head.

C. Pressure in the skull will be raised.

D. All of the above

30. Why did scientists design exercise machines to use on the space station?

A. To make sure that their crews return home in good health.

B. To help astronauts keep their bones almost as strong as when they left Earth.

C. To help astronauts get ready for long trips to the Moon, an asteroid or even the planet Mars.

D. To let astronauts adapt to the environment of space.

31. What is true according to the passage?

A. Men were more affected than women.

B. Research showed a change in the size of their eyes.

C. The right eye was affected less than the left.

D. The biggest health issue is exposure to Sunshine.

D

Belittle was first used by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.

Many years ago, a French naturalist, the Count de Buffon, wrote some books about natural history. The books were a great success even though some critics（批评家）did not like them．Some critics said, “ Count Buffon is more of a poet than a scientist.”

Thomas Jefferson did not like what the Count had said about the natural wonders of the New World. It seemed to Jefferson that the Count had spoken of natural wonders in America as if they were unimportant.

This troubled Thomas Jefferson．He too was a naturalist, as well as a farmer, inventor, historian, writer and politician. He had seen the natural wonders of Europe. To him, they were no more important than those of the New World.

In 1788, Thomas Jefferson wrote about his home state, Virginia. While writing, he thought of its natural beauty and then of the words of Count de Buffon．At that moment, Jefferson created a new word – belittle. He said, “ The Count de Buffon believes that nature belittles her produc