People nowadays buy a second home for different purposes. If you want to enjoy your vacation in a second home, then you should buy a second home where your family wants to stay during their vacation. And a second home is becoming very important from the real estate (房地產(chǎn)) point of view. It is one of the largest parts of the real estate business. If you want to invest (投資) in a second home, then you should buy one in a great location. When buying a second home, you should select a location where there are great attractions for tourists.
Investing in a second home is becoming very popular now that people have realized the great profit (利潤(rùn)) that can come from second homes. Also you can use your second home as your vacation home until you feel like selling it for a great profit. The price of the second home will always increase as the demand for second homes keeps increasing. Also you can use the second home for rent by buying a second home at a location where there are many attractions for tourists.
If you want to buy or sell second homes, you should contact GMAC Real Estate as it is offering different types of real estate services that will help you to buy and sell your second homes.
1.How many reasons for buying a second home are mentioned in Paragragh1?
A.One       B.Two       C.Three     D.Four
2. According to the author, the price of second homes will always go up because _________.
A.the number of second homes is going down
B.more people use the second homes for rent
C.most second homes are near great attracions      
D.the demand for second homes is increasing
3. The passage is most probably taken from ______.
A.an advertisement    B.a news report
C.a survey report     D.a government report

When I was twenty-seven years old, I was a clerk in San Francisco. I was alone in the world, and had nothing to depend on but my brain and a clean reputation.
My time was my own after the afternoon board on Saturdays, and I would spend the time on a little sailboat on the bay. One day I sailed too far, and was carried out to sea. At nightfall, when hope was almost lost, I was picked up by a small boat, which headed for London. It was a long and stormy journey, and they made me earn my passage as a common sailor. When I stepped on land in London, my clothes were ragged and shabby, and I only had a dollar in my pocket. This money fed and sheltered me for 24 hours. During the next 24 hours I went without food and shelter.
About ten o’clock on the following morning, tired and hungry, I was walking along Portland Place, when a passing child, threw a big pear into the rubbish can. I stopped, of course, and stared at that muddy treasure. My mouth watered for it. My whole body begged for it. But every time I made a move to get it, some passing eyes noticed my purpose, and of course I straightened up, looked calm, and pretended that I hadn’t been thinking about the pear at all. The same thing kept happening and happening, and I couldn’t get the pear. I was just getting desperate enough to face all the shame and get the pear, when a window behind me was opened, and a gentleman said, “Step in here, please.”
1. According to the passage, the young man _______.
A. had a great reputation for his good work
B. worked as a common sailor during the journey
C. was carried out to sea on purpose by a small boat
D. had nothing left in his pocket after landing in London
2. Why didn’t the man pick up the pear at once?
A. Because a gentleman stopped him and let him in.
B. Because he was not so hungry that he could wait.
C. Because the child was watching the pear.
D. Because he didn’t want others to take him as a beggar.
3. The underlined word “desperate” means “_______”.
A. driven by great need or pain to do something
B. being afraid of doing something for a certain reason
C. enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure or joy
D. feeling sorry or sad about something

第二節(jié)完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。
Kino, a poor fisher man, found a pearl (珍珠) which was    36    big as an egg and very beautiful. He set out for the nearest town to    37    it. He needed money very much to get    38    for his sick baby.
　　  The news that Kino had found the pearl spread (傳播) the    39   . Every man suddenly became connected with Kino's pearl, and    40     went into the dreams, wishes and hungers (欲望)  of everyone.  Only one person  stood in the    41    and that was Kino,  who became every man's    42    .
　　   Before Kino reached the town, the pearl buyers somehow    43    he was coming and were    44    for him.
　　 Kino walked into the first shop. An old man    45    to have a look at the pearl. The old man's heart missed a beat (跳動(dòng)) when he saw the pearl, but he took    46    not to show his excitement (激動(dòng)). He looked at it for a moment and then said    47   a sad smile, “I'm sorry, my friend. It's too large. Nobody's going to    48    one like this. I can give you a thousand pesos (比索) for it.”
　　“Go and    49    it to the other buyers, or I can ask them to come here if you    50   .” They soon came. They looked as if they didn't know   51    about the pearl. They    52    five hundred for it.
Kino    53     the pearl and left.    54    he never knew he was followed by a group of men who all had    55    with them.
36. A. so          B. too            C. very       D. as
37.   A. buy       B. sell            C. show      D. go with
38.   A. clothes       B. delicious food    C. sweets     D. medicine
39.   A. town      B. village              C. city        D. street
40.   A. they       B. he              C. it         D. which
41.   A. way       B. street         C. town      D. dream
42.   A. friend     B. enemy         C. follower     D. boss
43.   A. saw       B. realized         C. knew     D. recognized
44.   A. ready     B. worried         C. happy     D. afraid
45.   A. ordered      B. suggested      C. wanted       D. promised
46.   A. care       B. notice         C. attention     D. place
47.   A. on         B. in                  C. with       D. by
48.   A. want      B. get             C. carry      D. buy
49.   A. take       B. show          C. give       D. hand
50.   A. want      B. pleased          C. sell        D. like
51.   A. something  B. everything     C. anything     D. nothing
52.   A. gave      B. offered          C. paid       D. bought
53.   A. fetched      B. carried              C. brought      D. took
54.   A. But        B. Though         C. And       D. However
55.   A. pearls     B. money              C. guns      D. nothing

Dear Earthmen,
I have enjoyed my stay on your interesting unusual planet. I think I understand the life on earth now and I would like to give you my impressions.
First of all you live in boxes. Every morning you leave your big boxes and get into smaller boxes on wheels. All these small boxes race around and around, and finally stop to rest. You then leave these boxes on wheels and go to very large tall boxes.
After testing all days you get back in your little boxes and return to your big boxes. There you sit and stare at tiny glowing boxes with moving pictures on the front.
Only one thing puzzles me. One day, I went to a football game. A bunch of angry boys fought over a little round ball. Everyone yelled for them to stop but they kept on fighting. They were angry, I suppose, about being cooped up（被關(guān)起來）in boxes all day.
Thank you earthmen for this chance to get to know you.
Gratefully,
The man from the Mars（火星）
1. The small boxes on wheels are ________.

	A. toys	B. cars
	C. houses that can be moved	D. boxes in which there are wheels

2. The tiny glowing boxes with moving pictures on the front are ______.

A. cameras

B. cinema screens

C. telescopes

D. TV sets

3. In the football game ________.
A. the players were very angry because there was only one ball on the playground
B. the players were very angry because everyone yelled at them
C. the man from the Mars saw fighting among the angry boys
D. the man from the Mars saw a close match
4. The best title of this passage is ______.

	A. The Man from the Mars	B. Something about Boxes
	C. A Letter from the Mars	D. A football Game

5. The man from the Mars thinks _______.
A. it is interesting to live on our unusual planet
B. there are so many boxes on the earth
C. the tiny glowing boxes are moving pictures
D. the angry boys are too foolish to fight over a little round ball

The use of cars is becoming more and more popular in the twentieth century. A large number of the world's population are now able to buy and use cars.
Having a car gives much mobility（活動(dòng)余地）, enabling the driver to move around freely. The owner of a car is no longer forced to depend on public transport（公共交通）and doesn't, therefore, have to work in a place near his home. Instead, he can choose from a greater variety of jobs and he could change his job frequently.
Travelling to work by car is also more comfortable than having to use public transport; the driver can use the heating in winter and the air conditioning in summer to meet his own need and preference. There is no discomfort caused by waiting for
buses, trains or underground trains etc. With the building of good fast motorways long distances can be covered rapidly and pleasantly. Also, for the first time in the century, many people are able to enjoy their free time to the full by making trips to the countryside or seaside at weekends. This feeling of independence and the freedom to go wherever you please is perhaps the greatest advantage（優(yōu)勢(shì)）of the car.
1. What does the writer think of the public transport?
A. It gives less mobility           B. It is not comfortable at all
C. It enables a variety of jobs       D. It is becoming more popular than before
2. Traveling by bus may be ______.
A. less comfortable than by underground train 
B. more comfortable than by other transport
C. less comfortable than by other public transport  
D. less comfortable than by car
3. What does the underlined word mean?
A. from time to time            B. with difficulty   
C. against his own will         D. never
4. What does the writer think of having a car of your own?
A. It offers lots of advantages.        B. It has lots of independence.
C. It gives the feeling of freedom.     D. It offers free trips.

Well, Mrs. Evans, I’ve done my best to look after David. I’ve tidied his room up every day, got him a meal together whenever he needed one and made sure he’s always had a clean shirt to put on. It’s not been easy, with two of my own to worry about, as well. David had the best of attention, I must say. But now because I asked him to give up bringing that American friend to his home he has got quite miserable and unfriendly. He comes in at all hours and his behavior---- well, it’s quite hard to put up with---- and it’s all because of this friend. I’m sure he’s a bad influence. You see, David’s a visitor and doesn’t fully understand our ways.
He used to study most evenings. He’s got through quite a bit of work. He did up his room quite nicely, with bookshelves and large posters. He’d ask Mr. Smith and me up for a drink and cheer us up with songs from his country. He’s very good at the guitar, you know.
I don’t want to appear as if I’m running after him, but it’s about time we made it up. I’m sure he’s upset because I told him off. It might be a good idea to take him out for a meal, perhaps even with his friend. I don’t know whether it will do any good but we can try. I’m glad I’ve had this little chat with you, Mrs. Evans, and I’ll let you know how I get on.
1. Mrs. Smith believes that David is not the cause of the quarrel but that the main cause is __________.
A. Mr. Smith                                       B. too much homework
C. David’s behavior                              D. David’s friend
2. Mrs. Smith wants to make up the quarrel by _______.
A. cooking a meal                                B. inviting David and his friend out
C. running after David                          D. giving them drinks
3. David’s present attitude to Mrs. Smith is ________.
A. unfriendly             B. cheerful      C. very attentive         D. incomprehensible
4. David is ________.
A. an American friend     B. a singer   C. a visiting student             D. Mrs. Smith’s son

For many years, no one could communicate with people who had been born without hearing. These deaf people were not able to use a spoken language.
But, beginning in the 1700s, the deaf were taught a special language. Using this language, they could share thoughts and ideas with others. The language they used was a language without sound. It was a sign language.
How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, “You are not telling the truth.” They might tap their chins with three fingers. This meant “my uncle.”
The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet (字母). They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute.
Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today, the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are also taught how to speak.
1. The deaf “talked” to other people __________.
A. by moving their hands, faces and bodies
B. by shouting and singing
C. without using any letters         
D. without using any language
2. The deaf could spell out words __________.
A. by reading them aloud
B. by going here and there
C. by expressing the letters with their fingers
D. by watching others
3. Now, the deaf are trained to __________.
A. write sentences quickly
B. understand others by lip-reading
C. be good at mind-reading
D. keep alone happily
4. The story as a whole is about __________.
A. learning to spell                      B. teaching the deaf to speak   
C. how the deaf communicate             D. understanding Indian sign language

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The lead story in tonight’s news concerns the fire which destroyed the major part of Columbia College at 4 a.m. this morning. In only five minutes, more than six hundred girls came out of their dorms to watch their college burn to the ground in the freezing December weather. Fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from the fire. According to the college president, plans are already made to raise more than three million dollars to rebuild the college.
Here is the news from Washington. President Clinton says he is troubled by a scientist’s desire to clone a human and is urging Congress to pass a ban (禁令) on such experiments for at least five years. In his weekly radio address, Clinton noted Chicago-area physicist Richard Seed’s announcement that he is ready to set up a clinic to clone human babies. President Clinton said that the need for passing laws that would ban human cloning for at least five years is more urgent than ever.
A brief look at the weather for the weekend tells us to expect light showers on Saturday and Sunday. The high Saturday will be in the lower 40’s. On Sunday, we can expect the high to be about 65. That’s this evening’s news. Good night from Channel 9 news. Your better news station, and from Alan King, your reporter.
1. When did the fire at Columbia College take place?
A. In December.                        B. In March. 
C. In November.                        D. In April.
2. What does President Clinton hope Congress do?
A. To pass a ban on doing experiment in labs. 
B. To ban cloning humans forever.     
C. To pass laws to support cloning babies.
D. To pass a ban on human cloning quickly.
3. What will the weather be like on weekend?
A. There will be a strong wind.           B. The weather will be fine.
C. It will be freezing cold.               D. It will be rainy.

I know what you’re thinking: pizza（比薩餅）? For breakfast? But the truth is that you can have last night’s leftovers in the a.m. if you want to.
I know lots of women who skip breakfast（不吃早餐）, and they have a ton of different excuses for doing it. Some say they don’t have time; others think they’re “saving” calories（卡路里）；still others just don’t like breakfast food . 
But the bottom line is that eating in the morning is very important when you’re trying to lose weight. “Eating just about anything from 300 to 400 calories would be better than nothing at all,” says Katherine Brooking R.D., who developed the super-easy eating plan for this year’s “SELF CHALLENGE”. And even pizza can be healthy if it’s loaded with vegetables, and you stick to one small piece. 
Breakfast is one meal I never miss, and the same goes for most weight loss success stories. Research shows that eating breakfast keeps you from overeating later in the day. Researchers at the University of Southern California found that breakfast skippers have a bigger chance of gaining weight than those who regularly have a morning meal.
So eat something in the morning, anything. I know plenty of friends who end up having no breakfast altogether, and have just coffee or orange juice. I say, try heating up last night’s leftovers—it may sound crazy, but if it works for you, do it! I find if I tell myself, “You can always eat it tomorrow,” I put away the leftovers instead of eating more that night. Try it. You may save yourself some pre-bedtime calories. And watch your body gain the fat-burning effects.
1. The word “l(fā)eftovers” in Paragraph 1 probably means_______. 
   A. food remaining after a meal         B. things left undone
   C. meals made of vegetables           D. pizza topped with fruit
2. What can we infer from the text?
A. Working women usually have breakfast in a hurry.
   B. Many people have wrong ideas about breakfast. 
   C. There are some easy ways of cooking a meal. 
   D. Eating vegetables helps save energy. 
3. According to the last paragraph, it is important to________. 
A. eat something for breakfast           B. be careful about what you eat
   C. heat up food before eating it          D. eat calorie-controlled food
4. The text is written mainly for those________. 
   A. who go to work early        B. who want to lose weight
   C. who stay up late            D. who eat before sleep

Think for a moment about the teachers you have had at school or at university.  Which one did you like best?  And Why?  Were the teachers you liked best also the ones who were the best teachers, in you opinion?  Before you read any further, consider for a minute the qualities that make a teacher outstanding(出色).
Some very common answers to this question are that teachers need to love their students, that they need to have an expert knowledge of their subjects, and that they should devote themselves completely to their jobs.  All of these ideas are, of course, true to a certain extent(程度)but they are perhaps a little too simple.
It is impossible for anyone to love everyone they know, and teachers deal with a very large number of students over the years.  On the other hand, teachers should certainly be able to make their students feel that they are interested in them as people and in the development of both their characters.  A deep knowledge on to the students effectively-a teacher needs to be trained in the skills of teaching.  These skills include how to control a class, and so on.  Finally, teachers have to devote a lot of time and energy to their work, of course.  However, they are also models that their students must follow;  so it is important that they should be well-balanced people with interests outside their school work-family, friends, hobbies, etc.  A teacher who only lives for work is likely to become too narrow-minded.
1. The author suggests that you think about the teachers you have had at school or at university so that_______
A. you might praise outstanding teachers
B. you might know the qualities of outstanding teachers
C. you might select outstanding teachers
D. you might learn from outstanding teachers
2. The author does not consider it possible for a teacher_______
A. to love all the students he has taught or is teaching
B. to have a good knowledge of the subject he teaches
C. to pass the knowledge of his subjects on to his students effectively
D. to be an example for his students to follow
3. A well - balanced person is one_______.
A. who devotes all his time and energy to his work
B. who devotes most of his time and energy to his family, friend, hobbies, etc
C. who has interests both in and outside his work
D. who has interests neither in nor outside his work
4. From the passage, we can conclude that_______.
A. most teachers are born with such skills as how to explain a lesson clearly
B. it is not necessary of teachers to spend much time and energy on their work if they do have an expert knowledge of their subjects
C. teachers should be trained to love all the students they are teaching or have taught
D. even if a teacher has a good knowledge of his subjects, he can not be a good teacher if he doesn’t have the ability to pass that knowledge on to his students.