Domestic (馴養(yǎng)的) horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses weren’t tame (馴服的) enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.

Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication.

As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals’ genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of houses would show more of these chosen characteristics.

Modern day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn’t exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds―typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts (礦井) with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.

The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horse were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new from of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world

59. Before domestication horses were ______.

A. caught for sports                          B. hunted for food

C. made to pull ploughs                       D. used to carry people

60. The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show ______.

A. it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse

B. horse used to have gentle personalities

C. some horses have better shaped than others

D. horses were of less variety before domestication

61. Horses contributed to the spread of culture by ______.

A. carrying heavy loads

B. changing farming methods

C. serving as a means of transport

D. advancing agriculture in different areas

62. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. why humans domesticated horses

B. how humans and horses needed each other

C. why horses came in different shapes and sizes

D. how human societies and horses influenced each other

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.

I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.

I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”

“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”

“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.

“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(臨終醫(yī)院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(計(jì)價(jià)器).

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”

We drove in silence to the address she had given me.

“How much do I owe you?” she asked.

“Nothing.” I said.

“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto e tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”

56. The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.

A. show she was familiar with the city

B. see some places for the last time

C. let the driver earn more money

D. reach the destination on time

57. The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.

A. wanted to do her a favor

B. shut off the meter by mistake

C. had received her payment in advance

D. was in a hurry to take other passengers

58. What can we learn from the story?

A. Giving is always a pleasure.

B. People should respect each other.

C. An act of kindness can bring people great joy.

D. People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.

   The small number of new born babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear a word invented in Japan. which means Double Income Kids(小孩).

    In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a ****** is extremely high. A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $3000,000 (though prices have fallen). For a flat with one bedrooms, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay about $900 a month. What’s more, if they want to have a child, the child’s education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5.000 a year. In such a situation, it’s difficult to afford children.

    The number of married women who want to continue working because they enjoy their jobs. However, if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to contimue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs.

     In a word, Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

72. What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

   A. The small number of newborn babies.

   B. The changing social situation of women.

   C. The high prices of houses and education.

   D. The necessary steps of Asian government.

73. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

   A. It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia.

   B. The prices of in Asia are quite low now.

   C. Fewer and fewer married women wan to have a job.

   D. The word “DINKS” appeared in an Asian country.

74. To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten, how much will a couple pay each year?

   A. 85,000      B. 85,900      C. $10.800      D. $15.800

75. The seems to believe that Asian governments should ________.

   A. let women stay at home and have a baby

   B. allow one of the parents to go out to work

   C. care for the growing needs of women for job.

   D. the companies that permit women to leave.

  Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?

   Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbooks (平裝本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.

   Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全書), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books., science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.

68. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

   A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge

   B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information

   C. reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun

    D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself

69. What does the sentences “Television has not killed reading, however ” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?

   A. People only need reading, though.         B. Reading is still necessary today.

   C. Reading is more fun than television.        D. Watching television doesn’t help reading.

70. What can we learn from the passage?

   A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books.

   B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home.

   C. Books with hard covers sell better than paperbooks.

   D. More people like TV programs about famous men.

  People believes that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(體育館). Here, people are learning on  climbing. The climbing wall goes straight up and small holding places for hands and feet.

    How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and (保護(hù)帶) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes(繩索)tied to your. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult is an your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.

    Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.

64. What can we infer from the passage?

   A. People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays.

   B. It is impossible to build up one’s body by climbing.

   C. People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors.

   D. It is always easy to see holding places in climbing.

65. The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _______.

   A. to tie ropes to your                B. to control your fear

   C. to move away from the wall         D. to climb straight up

66. The word “workout” underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _________.

   A. settlement           B. exercise       C. excitement        D. tiredness

67. Why does the author write this passage?

   A. To tell people where to find gyms.       B. To prove the basic need for climbing

   C. To encourage people to climb mountains.   D. introduce the sport of wall climbing

60. If you want to work in an office, where can you get the forms to fill in?

   A. jobweb.com

   B. Atlantic City Beach Office.

   C. 368 Cooper Square, New York, NY

   D. 866 United, New York, NY 10017.

61. What does a person need most to be the one-hour weekday job?

   A. He should he cheerful, dependable, and easy-going.

   B. He has to work from Monday to Friday.

   C. He can remain calm in a difficult situation.

   D. He can welcome guests and deal with phone calls.

62. According to the above information, what is the right thing to do when you?

   A. To keep close to the beach.         B. To dive into unknown waters.

   C. To use floating toys on the water.     D. To swim soon after lunch.

63. The best title for the last piece of information would be_________.

   A. Tips on Showing Interest in a Job         B. Stops to a Successful Interview

     C. Advice on Introducing Yourself Politely       D. of Body Language in an Interview

When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm, in the winter especially, we wear quite out off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that my life has its  too.

    One big disadvantage is money. It costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma(哮喘), and  the air is so  that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of traveling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it became of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.

    Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever you tastes in culture or entertainment(娛樂活動(dòng)). Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising --- and , what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.

    Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is , when you are in your teens(十幾歲)or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.

  There are many different ways of seeing a town for the first time. One of them is to walk around it, guide-book   36   hand. Of course, we may   37   with our guide-books the history and   38   developments of a town and get to know them.   39   then, if we take out time and   40   in a town for a while, we may get to know it better. When we   41   it as a whole, we begin to have some   42   ,which even the best guide-books do not answer. Why is the town just   43   this, this shape, this plan, this size? Why do its streets   44    in this particular way, and not in any   45   why?

    Here even the best guide-book   46   us. One can’t find in it the information about how a town has developed to the   47   appearance. It may not describe the original (最初的)   48   of a town. However, one may get some idea of what I   49   look like by walking around the town. One can also imagine   50   the town was first planned and  built .Then one can learn more about in what direction the town   51   to develop.

   What is the   52   of studying towns in the way? For me, it is   53   that one gets a greater depth of pleasure by visiting and seeing a town with one’s own eyes. A   54   visit to a town may help one better understand why it is attractive   55   just reading about it in a guide-book.

36. A. in                  B.to                       C. by                  D. on

37. A. write             B. study                 C. tell                  D. remember

38. A. strange          B. similar                C. separate          D. special

39. A. But               B. Before                C. Since              D. Until

40. A.look at           B. work                   C. stay               D.wail

41. A. look at          B. look after             C. look for          D. look up

42. A. ideas            B. opinions               C. feelings           D. questions

43. A. of                B. for                      C. like                  D.as

44. A. open            B.are                       C. begin               D. move

45. A. one              B. more                   C. other               D. such

46. A. helps            B. tricks                  C. fails                 D. satisfies

47. A. old               B.  normal                C. first                 D. present

48. A. capital          B. meaning               C. design              D. change

49. A. used to         B. seemed to            C. had to               D. happened to

50. A. what            B. how                    C. when                D. where

51. A. stops            B. appears               C. starts                D. continues

52. A. point             B. view                   C. problem           D. difficulty

53. A.nearly            B. simply                 C. generally          D. badly

54. A.costly            B. formal                 C. group              D. personal

55. A. from            B.than                      C. through           D. with

Teenagers        their health because they play computer games too much

A. have damaged     B. are damaging      C. damaged     D. will damage

--I am afraid I can’t return the book to you before Friday.

---       

A.      Don’t be afraid    B. Be careful     C. Not at all     D. Take your time