You may have never heard of Ladislao Biro, but you have certainly heard of the pen he invented—the ballpoint pen, or biro. Before Biro invented his pen, people wrote with fountain pens. The ink smudged（弄脏) and blotted and the pens sometimes leaked. In the 1930s Biro was a magazine editor in Budapest in Hungary. He noticed that the inks which the magazine’s printers used dried very quickly. Biro wondered if quick-drying inks could be used in pens. He came up with the idea of a tube of ink with a free-moving ball on the end. As a person wrote, the ball collected ink from the tube and rolled it on to the paper. The pen would be cheap and could be thrown away when the ink ran out. Biro began to work on his invention, but before he could patent it the Second World War broke out. Biro left war-torn Europe and fled to Buenos Aires in Argentina. There, he and his brother Georg, who was a chemist, began to improve the pen. In the early 1940s Biro began to manufacture his new pen, the biro. In 1944, he sold his invention to another company, who began to mass-produce the pen for the British and American armed forces. Biro was pleased that his pen was popular, but he did not gain much from his invention. The biro was later sold to the French firm, Bic, who now sell twelve million pens a day. Biro sank into obscurity in South America. His name, however, has become a household word.
The reasons for the popularity of ballpoint pens are these EXCEPT that_______.A. the inks dried very quickly B. they were cheap C. they were easy to carry around D. they were mass-produced
Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Biro？a. applied for patent for first ballpoint pen b. began to manufacture pens c. fled from Hungary to escape Nazis d. sold his invention A. a c d b B. c d a b C. a c b d D. c a b d
The underlined part “sank into obscurity”（last paragraph) is closest in meaning to“_______”.A. became unknown to many people B. became popular with people C. lost interest in business D. lost a lot of money
What does the passage mainly tell us about Biro？A. He is successful in business. B. He is an important inventor. C. He is a famous magazine editor. D. He is a popular writer.
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Have you ever dreamed of having a fashionable watch of great value？
A small watchmaker in Switzerland in 1922 designed the first automatic watch to show the day，month，and date．Only seven of these splendid watches were ever made and these watches were almost lost to history．Today，it is so hard to get an original watch that some watch historians are even willing to offer $ 200，000 for one．
These watches attracted a lot of people for their splendid color，fashionable style，and new uses in the 1920s．The owners of the watches were admired and set apart from the crowd．Because the number of the original watches is very limited，owning such a watch will make you feel very special．
Today，you are offered the same kind of watch with improvement．The watch has a 24-jewel mechanical（机械的)movement，the kind desired by watch collectors．The watchmaker has made the movement of the watch much more modern with an automatic rotor（上弦装置)so that the watch never needs to be wound by hand．The watch comes in a very beautiful case with a crocodile design on it．To get a watch in such a perfect design means to get a chance to know a piece of watch making history and to wear such a watch will show your personal taste and social position．
You can get the watch either in person or by mail at an affordable price．You will also receive good service from the watch seller．If you are not satisfied with the watch after you get it，you may simply return it within 30 days．Don’t miss the chance to realize your dream．
41．The original automatic watches are valuable because .
A．the watches were made many years ago
B．the watches were made by a Swiss watchmaker
C．only rich people can afford the watches
D．only a few watches of the kind were made
42．Watch collectors want to get the improved watch，especially for its ．
A．mechanical movement B．splendid color
C．fashionable style D．new uses
43．The purpose of the passage is to encourage the readers to .
A．buy the watch B．return the watch
C．wear the watch D．receive the service
44．The passage is probably taken from a ．
A．novel B．magazine C．text book D．science book -
第二节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
A. place B. chance C. freedom D. timeA. forced B. ordered C. invited D. toldA. have B. find C. buy D. getA. familiar with B. curious about C. used to D. interested inA. cost B. risk C. loss D. dangerA. play B. food C. sleep D. considerationA. further B. worse C. farther D. deeperA. everything B. anything C. nothing D. somethingA. how B. where C. why D. whetherA. questions B. problems C. phones D. messagesA. walking B. rushing C. stepping D. goingA. school B. youth C. work D. lifeA. silent B. patient C. still D. quietA. Nearly B. Ever C. Just D. AlreadyA. like B. decide C. choose D. needA. activity B. research C. study D. peaceA. Because B. Until C. Once D. UnlessA. frequently B. slowly C. fast D. quicklyA. asking B. sending C. calling D. waitingA. Value B. Miss C. Owe D. Hold
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从16-35各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
In this modern world, we rush around all day, doing things, talking, emailing, sending and reading messages. We are always on, always connected, always thinking, always talking. There is no _\_16__ for stillness.
And when we are _\__17 ___to be still because we’re in line for something, or waiting at a doctor’s appointment, or on a bus or train, we often ___18 ___something to do. Some will play with mobile devices, others will read something. Being still isn’t something we’re ___19 ___.
This comes at a __ 20_\_: we lose that time for ___ 21___, for observing and listening. We lose peace.
And _\_22__ yet: sometimes too much action is worse than no action at all. You can run around crazily, but get ___ 23___done.
Take a moment to think about _\_24__ you spend your days. Are you constantly rushing around？ Are you constantly reading and answering _\__25 ___, checking on the news and the latest stream of information？ Are you always ___26___through your schedule？
Is this how you want to spend your _\__27___？ If so, peace be with you. If not, take a moment to be ___28___. Don’t think about what you have to do, or what you’ve done already. ___29___be in the moment.
Then after a minute or two of doing that, consider your life, and how you’d _\_30__ it to be. See your life with less movement, less doing, less rushing. See it with more stillness, more consideration, more _\__31___.
Then be that vision.
It’s pretty simple: all you have to do is sit still for a little bit each day. _\_32___you’ve gotten used to that, try doing less each day. Breathe when you feel yourself moving too___33___. Slow down. Be present. Find happiness now, in this moment, instead of ___34__ for it.
_\_35 __ the stillness. It’s a treasure, and it’s available to us, always. -
I graduated from the university with a degree of engineering．It is a good field but my heart was not in it．I wanted to be an actor or work in the entertainment industryliving a creative life．My choice of engineering was really a mistake but I realized too late．As soon as I graduated，I moved straight to Los Angeles—the home of the film and television industry!
I tried to get a job in that field．I often worked as an extra in movies and TV shows—standing in the background while actors are in the foreground．This was fun for a while，but I wanted a real acting job，where I was speaking! Sadly，in Los Angeles，there is too much competition．Every race and age is represented：old，young，black，white，Asian，and Midwestern types like me．Being an extra couldst make enough money for me to live in Los Angeles．I had to do something else for money．
After three years of trying，I gave up my dream of being an actor and started a different career．I then tried network marketing，but in the end，that failed．Seven years after graduating from college，I was still in debt，still searching for a satisfactory life．I decided to go back to engineering．
However，I was starting to get disappointed with my life．Why is life not like what I expected？ I expected to have made a lot of money，gotten married，with a house and nice cars，kids，freedom，etc．Millions of people lead lives with their dreams on theshelf , existing but not really living. I wanted my life to be different，more satisfactory，more alive．I wanted a life filled with adventure，romance，friendships，Successes，and dreams realized．But America was not providing that for me．
…
Struggling in the US？
I decided to move to China．
53．What does the underlined sentence mean？
A．A lot of people are living but they are not enjoying their life．
B．A lot of people are living and their life is enjoyable．
C．A lot of people realize their dreams but live a bad life．
D．A lot of people don’t have dreams，nor do they want to live either．
54．What did the writer do before he finally decided to move to China？
A．Marketing→engineering→extra．
B．Extra→marketing→engineering．
C．Engineering→extra→marketing．
D．Extra→engineering→marketing．
55．What can we infer from the passage？
A．Life is difficult in China．
B．Life in the US is easy．
C．There is always somewhere in the world where you can enjoy life．
D．It is certain that more and more Americans will move to China．
56．How can we describe the writer’s attitude toward life？
A．Impractical． B．Passive． C．Disappointed． D．Positive． -
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1．5分，满分30分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（
A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Night after night，she came to wrap me in，even long after my childhood years．Following her longstanding custom，she'd lean down and push my long hair out of the way，then 21 my forehead．
I don’t remember when it first started 22 me—her hands pushing my hair that way．But it did annoy me，for they felt work-worn and rough 23 my young skin．Finally，one night，I 24 her，“Don’t do that anymore your hands are rough!”She didn’t say 25 in reply．But 26 again did my mother close Out my day with that familiar 27 of her love．
Time after time，with the passing years，my 28 returned to that night．By then I missed my mother’s hands； 29 her goodnight kiss on my forehead．Sometimes the incident seemed very 30 ，sometimes far away．But always it hid，in the back of my mind．
Well，the years have passed，and I’m not a little girl anymore．Mom is in her mid seventies，and those 31 I once thought to be so rough are still doing things for me and my family．She's been our doctor， 32 a medicine box to calm a young girl’s stomach．She cooks the best fried chicken in the world．．．gets 33 Out of blue jeans that I never could wash Out．．．
Now，my own children are grown and gone． 34 ，in my memory，for the thousandth time，I 35 the night when my young voice complained，“Don’t do that anymore—your hands are rough!”Catching Morn’s hand in hand，I blurted out（冲口而出) how 36 I was for that night．I thought she’d remember， 37 I did．But Morn didn't know what I was talking about．She had forgotten—and 38 long ago．
That night，I fell asleep with a new appreciation for my 39 mother and her caring hands. And the 40 that I had carried around for so long was nowhere to be found．
21．
A．kiss B．put C．touch D．feel
22．
A．comforting B．encouraging C．annoying D．educating
23．
A．through B．against C．about D．in
24．
A．glared at B．stared at C．laughed at D．shouted at
25．
A．something B．anything C．nothing D．everything
26．
A．ever B．seldom C．often D．never
27．
A．expression B．feeling C．way D．meaning
28．
A．idea B．anger C．thoughts D．words
29．
A．remembered B．missed C．escaped D．faced
30．
A．distant B．tight C．serious D．close
31．
A．hands B．words C．actions D．behaviors
32．
A．getting into B．looking into C．breaking into D．reaching into
33．
A．colors B．spots C．mud D．pictures
34．
A．Moreover B．Therefore C．However D．Thus
35．
A．recalled B．thought C．stuck D．forgot
36．
A．happy B．interested C．upset D．sorry
37．
A．when B．as C．so D．that
38．
A．left B．understood C．forgiven D．followed
39．
A．gentle B．strict C．forgetful D．lovely
40．
A．happiness B．sense C．sorrow D．guilt -
C When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends ahead of homes, jobs, clothes and cars. A true friendship carries a long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected. It is a treasure we should protect. Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you’ll have disagreements. And the result can be what you don’t want an end to the relationship. The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended First, don’t’ let your pride get in your way. Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when you’re wrong – even if you’ve been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged person takes the lead and apologizes. When you apologize, give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your friend’s point of view. And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyles change. Making friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and downs that have an effect on all relationships. My suggestion: Consider friendship an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure and nurture.
What would be the best title for the text？A. Easy Ways to Make Friends B. Ups and Downs in Friendship C. How to Mend a Troubled Friendship D. How to Take the Lead in Making Friends
The “wronged person” underlined in the text refers to a person _______.A. who has been mistaken for another B. who has been blamed unfairly C. who has treated friends badly D. who has admitted his mistakes
According to the text a friendship can last long only if _______.A. we have much in common B. we know our friends’ mistakes C. we treat our disagreements wisely D. we have know one another for long
What should we do if we follow the author’s second suggestion？A. Stick to our own prints of view B. Avoid making mistakes C. Make an apology first D. Change our lifestyles