第二篇

Kobe Bryant

　　After 10 seasons wearing the No 8 on his back,Kobe Bryant will become No 24 next season.The reason for the surprising decision by the Los Angeles Lakers super guard last week has become a hot topic for debate.

　　Bryant wore No 24 when he was in early high school,but he changed to No 33 in his senior year.He switched to No 8 when he was selected by the Lakers in 1996,and has not been changed since.

　　Bryant has refused to explain the decision until the end of the play-offs（季后赛）.So guessing Bryant's motive has become a popular game among NBA fans and newspaper columnists（专栏作家）.

　　There are all kinds of speculations.Many say that Bryant wants to leave the past behind and have a fresh start.He has often been criticized for playing to benefit himself and not the team as a whole.Others say that he may be trying to compare himself to Michael Jordan.Jordan was famous for his No 23 jersey（运动衫）.Some,such as NBC Sport columnist Michael Ventre,argue that it is"all about money".Bryant will make more money by selling new jerseys to his fans.

　　Some speculations are more about fun.For example,there is an opinion that Kobe is actually just a diehard（非常执著的）fan of the popular TV drama "24".

　　All this talk has turned the number change into a major issue.It seems that there is a lot of fuss（大惊小怪）over something that should be pretty simple.

　　Jersey numbers have their own special significance in American sports,especially basketball.Players choose their number when they join a team and they usually stick with that number for the rest of their career.When a great player retires,his team will honor him by retiring his number.

　　To some extent,the jersey is the player,and the player is the jersey.Thus,when you see the famous No 23 for the Chicago Bulls,you immediately think about Michael Jordan.A No 32 Miami Heats jersey recalls the image of Shaquille O'Neal,and the Houston Rockets' No 11 belongs only to Yao Ming.

　　Lots of stories are behind players' jersey number selections.Jordan said that he chose No 23 because it was roughly half of 45.Jordan's elder brother wore the No 45 in college.Yao Ming once revealed that the No 11 stands for two people in love-meaning him and his girlfriend Ye Li.

　　36.Which team has Bryant played for?
　　A.The Los Angeles Lakers.
　　B.The Houston Rockets.
　　C.The Chicago Bulls.
　　D.The Miami Heats.

　　37.How long has Bryant been wearing No 8?
　　A.Since he started to play basketball.
　　B.For ten seasons.
　　C.Since he entered high school.
　　D.Since he left the Lakers.

　　38.Which of the following is NOT a speculation about Bryant's motive to change his number,according to this passage?
　　A.He wants to leave his past behind and have a fresh start.
　　B.He wants to compare himself to Jordan.
　　C.He wants to earn more money.
　　D.He wants to show that he is a man of great importance.

　　39.Why did Jordan choose No 23?
　　A.Because that number would make him famous.
　　B.Because that number would make his fans miss him.
　　C.Because that number was related to the number his brother once wore.
　　D.Because that number was easy to remember.

　　40.What does the number Yao Ming chose stand for?
　　A.Two long legs.
　　B.Two strong arms.
　　C.Two people in love.
　　D.Two big countries.

第三篇

Trying to Find a Parther

　　One of the most striking findings of a recent poll  in the UK is that of the people inbterviewed,one in two believes that it is becoming more difficult to meet someone to start a family with.

　　Why are many finding it increasingly difficult to start and sustain intimate relationships?Does modern life really make it harder to fall in love?Or are we making it harder for ourselves?

　　It is certainly the case today that contemporary couples benefit in different ways from relationships.Women no longer rely upon partners for economic security or status.A man doesn't expect his spouse to be  in sole charge of running his household and raising his children.

　　But perhaps the knowledge that we can live perfectly well without a partnership means  that it takes much more to persuade people to abandon their independence.

　　In theory,finding a partner should be much simpler these days.Only a few generations ago,your choice of soulmate （心上人） was constrained（限制） by geography,social convention and family  tradition.Although it was never explicit,many marriages were essentially  arranged.

　　Now those barriers have been broken down.You can approach a builder or a brain surgeon  in any bar in any city on any given evening.When the world is your oyster （牡蛎）,you surely have a better chance of finding a pearl.

　　But it seems that the old conventions have been replaced by an even tighter constraint:the tyranny of choice.

　　The expectations of partners are inflated（提高） to an unmanageable degree:good looks,impressive salary,kind to grandmother,and right socks.There is no room for error in the first impression.

　　We think that a relationship can be perfect.If it isn't,it is disposable.We work to protect ourselves against future heartache and don't put in the hard emotional labor needed to build a strong relationship.Of course,this is complicated by realities.The cost of housing and child-rearing creates pressure to have a stable income and career before a life partnership.

　　41.What does the recent poll show?
　　A.It is getting more difficult for a woman to find her husband.
　　B.It is getting increasingly difficult to start a familyl.
　　C.It is getting more difficult for a man to find his wife.
　　D.It is  getting increasingly difficult to develop an intimate relationship with your spouse.

　　42.Which of the following is NOT true about a contemporary married couple?
　　A.The wife doesn't have to raise the children all by herself.
　　B.The husband doesn't have to support the family all by himself.
　　C.The wife is no longer the only person to manage the household.
　　D.They will receive a large sum of money from the govemment.

　　43.Which of the following was NOT a constraint on one's choice of soulmate in the old days?
　　A.The health condition of his or her grandmother.
　　B.The geographical environment.
　　C.The social convention.
　　D.The family tradition.

　　44.Which of the following is NOT expected of a partner according to this passage?
　　A.Good looks.
　　B.An impressive career.
　　C.A high salary.
　　D.A fine sense  of humor.

　　45.The word"sustain"（paragraph 2）could be best replaced by
　　A."reduce".
　　B."shake".
　　C."maintain".
　　D."weaken".

　　第5部分：补全短文（第46~50题，每题2分，共10分）
　　下面的短文有5处空白，短文后有6个句子，其中5个取自短文，请根据短文内容将其分别放回原有位置，以恢复文章原貌。

A Heroic Woman

　　The whole of the United States cheered its latest hero,Ashley Smith,with the Federal Bureau of lnvestigation saying it was planning to give a big reward to her for having a brave heart and wise mind.

　　（46）She was moving into her apartment in Atlanta,Georgia early on the morning of March 12,when a man followed her to her door and put a gun to her side."I started walking to my door,and I felt really,really afraid,"she said in a TV interview last week.The man was Brian Nichols,33.He was suspected of killing three people at an Atlanta courthouse（法院）on March 11 and later of killing a federal agent.（47）

　　Nichols tied Smith up with tape,but released her after she repeatedly begged him not to take her life."I told him if he hurt me,my little girl wouldn't have a mummy,"she  said.In order to calm the man down,she read to him from"The Purpose-Driven Life",a best-selling religious book.He asked her to repeat a paragraph"about what you thought your purpose in life was-what talents were you given."（48）

　　"I basically just talked to him and tried to gain his trust,"Smith said.

　　Smith said she asked Nichols why he chose her."He said he thought I was an angel sent from God,and we were Christian sister and brogher,"she said."And that he was lost,and that God led him to me to tell him that he had hurt a lot of peopole."（49）She said Nichols was surprised when she made him breakfast and that the two of them watched television coverage（报道）of the police hunt for him."I cannot believe that's me,"Nichols told the woman.Then,Nichols asked Smith what she thought he should do.She said,"I think you should turn yourself in.If you don't,lots more people are going to get hurt."

　　Eventually,he let her go.（50）A US$60,000 reward had been posted for Nichols' capture.Authorities said they did not yet know if Smith would be eligible（有资格的）for that money.

　　A　The local police were searching for him.
　　B　Smith is a 26-year-old single mother with a daughter.
　　C　Smith tried very hard to kill Nichols.
　　D　She even cooked breakfast for the man before he allowed her to leave.
　　E　And the two of them discussed this topic.
　　F　Then she called the police.

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