Passage 2

Questions 6 to 10 are based on the following passage:

When aluminum was first produced about a hundred and fifty years ago, it was so difficult to separate form the ores in which it was found that its price was higher than that of gold. The price remained high until a new process was discovered for refining the metal with the aid of electricity approximately three quarters of a century later. The new method was so much cheaper that aluminum because practical for many purposes, one of which was making pots and pans.

Aluminum is lightweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms. By mixing it with other metals, scientists have been able to produce a variety of alloys, some of which have the strength of steel but weigh only one third as much.

Today, the uses of aluminum are innumerable. Perhaps its most important use is in transportation. Aluminum is found in the engine of automobiles, in the hulls of boats. It is also used in many parts of airplanes. In fact, the huge “airbus” planes would probably never have been produced if aluminum did not exist. By making vehicles lighter in weight aluminum has greatly reduced the amount of fuel needed to move them, Aluminum is also being used extensively in the building industry in some countries.

Since aluminum is such a versatile (多用的) metal, it is fortunate that bauxite (铝土矿), which is one of its chief sources, is also one of the earth’s most plentiful substances. As the source of aluminum is almost inexhaustible, we can expect that more and more uses will be found for this versatile metal.

6. The price of aluminum was sharply reduced when people discovered a new refining process with the aid of .

A. wind B. solar energy C. hydraulic power D. electricity

7. Aluminum is .

A. lightweight, rustproof but not easily shaped into different forms

B. heavyweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms

C. lightweight, rustproof and easily shaped into different forms

D. lightweight and easily shaped into different forms but it is easy to become rusty

8. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Aluminum is widely used in transportation.

B. Aluminum is also used in many parts of airplanes.

C. Aluminum is being used extensively in the building industry.

D. Aluminum is not used in its pure form.

9. Aluminum is found on earth mostly in the form of .

A. pure metal B. bauxite C. gold D. liquid

10. What is the passage talking about?

A. The features of aluminum and its functions. B. The process of aluminum.

C. The discovery of aluminum. D. The promising future of aluminum.

Yesterdaywassucha____daywedecidedtogoforadrive.

Whattheyare____aboutiswhichcomesfirst:thechickenortheegg?

Passage 4

Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

I recently wrote an autobiography in which I recalled many old memories. One of them was from my school days, when our ninth grade teacher, Miss Raber, would pick out words from the Reader’s Digest to test our vocabulary.

Today, more than 45 years later, I always check out “It pays to Enrich Your Word Power” first when the Digest comes each month. I am impressed with that idea, word power. Reader’s Digest knows the power that words have to move people—to entertain, inform, and inspire. The Digest editors know that the big word isn’t always the best word. Take just one example, a Quotable Quote form the February 1985 issue: ”Time is a playful thing. It slips quickly and drinks the day like a bowl of milk.”

Nineteen words, only two of them more than one syllable, yet how much they convey! That’s usually how it is with Reader’s Digest. Small and simple can be profound.

As chairman of a foundation to restore the Statue of Liberty, I’ve been making a lot of speeches lately. I try to keep them fairly short. I use small but vivid words: words like “hope”, “guts”, “faith”, “dreams”. Those are words that move people and say so much about the spirit of America.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not against using big words, when it is right to do so, but I have also learned that a small word can work a small miracle—if it’s right word, in the right place, at the right time. It’s a “secret” that I hope never forget.

16. The passage is mainly about .

A. one of the many old memories

B. using simple words to express profound ideas

C. Reader’s Digest and school speeches

D. how to make effective speeches

17. It seems that Reader’s Digest is a magazine popular with .

A. people of all ages B. teenagers C. school teachers D. elderly readers

18. The example the author gives in the second paragraph might mean .

A. one spends his day playing and drinking

B. don’t waste your time as one does

C. time slips easily if you don’t make good use of it

D. time is just like drinking milk from a bowl

19. The author’s “secret” is .

A. to avoid using big words at any time

B. to use words that have the power to move people

C. to work a miracle by using a small word

D. to use small and simple words where possible

20. Accoeding to the author, well-chosen words can give people .

A. hope, courage and ideas

B. confidence, determination and strength

C. pleasure, knowledge and encourage

D. entertainment, information and power

Questions 16 to 20 are based on the following passage:

PartIReadingComprehension

Passage1

Questions1to5arebasedonthefollowingpassage:

InWashingtonD.C.,1600PennsylvaniaAvenueisaveryspecialaddress.ItistheaddressoftheWhiteHouse,thehomeofthepresidentoftheUnitedStates.

OriginallytheWhiteHousewasgrayandwascalledthePresidentialPalace.Itwasbuiltfrom1792to1800.atthistime,thecityofWashingtonitselfwasbeingbuilt;itwastobethenation’snewcapitalcity.GeorgeWashington,thefirstpresident,andPierreCharlesL’Enfant,aFrenchengineer,chosetheplaceforthenewcity.L’Enfantthenplannedtheycity.Thepresident’shomewasanimportantpartoftheplan.

Acontestwasheldtopickadesignforthepresident’shome.AnarchitectnamedJamesHobanwon.Hedesignedalargethree-storyhouseofgraystone.

PresidentWashingtonneverlivedinthePresidentPalace.ThefirstpresidenttolivetherewasJohnAdams,thesecondpresidentoftheUnitedStates,andhiswifeMrs.Adamsdidnotreallylikehewnewhouse.Inherletters,sheoftencomplainedaboutthecold.Fiftyfireplaceswerenotenoughtokeepthehousewarm!

In1812theUnitedStatesandBritainwenttowar.In1814theBritishinvadedWashington.Theuburnedmanybuildings,includingthePresidentialPalace.

AfterthewarJamesHoban,theoriginalarchitect,partiallyrebuiltthepresident’shomes.Tocoverthemarksofthefire,thebuildingwaspaintedwhite.BeforelongitbecameknownastheWhiteHouse.

TheWhiteHouseisoneofthemostpopulartouristattractionsintheUnitedStates.Everyyearmorethan1.5millionvisitorsgothroughthefiveroomsthatareopentothepublic.

1.TheWhiteHousewasbuiltinWashington.

A.becauseaFrenchengineerwasinvitedtodesignit

B.becausePresidentGeorgeWashingtonlikedtoliveinit

C.becausetheBritishinvaderslivedinitin1812-1814

D.becauseitwastobethenation’scapitalcity

2.ThePresidentialPalacewas.

A.paintedgrayandwhiteB.madeofgraystone

C.madeofwhitestoneD.madeverywarminwinter

3.Thepresident’shomeandthecityofWashingtonwere.

A.builtbytheAmericanarmyB.builtbytheBritishtroops

C.plannedbyGeorgeWashingtonD.plannedbytheFrench

4.Theoriginalhomeofthepresidentneededtoberebuilt.

A.becauseJohnAdam’swifedidnotlikeit

B.becauseitwascoldinwinterevenwith50fireplaces

C.becauseithadburneddownduringthewar

D.becauseGeorgeWashingtonwasnotwillingtoliveinit

5.Thenewpresidentialhomewaspaintedwhiteto.

A.coverthemarksoffireB.attracttouristfromFrance

C.topleaseMrs.JohnAdamsD.keepitwarminwinter