--- What do you think of _____ suggestion?  

--- Well, ______ most splendid one indeed.  

A. 不填; the          B. 不填; a           C. the; a         D. the; the  

--- I hope you don't mind my turning on the electric fan.  

--- _________.  

A. Never mind.        B. Yes, I won't.        C. That's right.    D. Not in the least.  

假設你是李華，某中學學生，高中畢業(yè)后想到英國的布萊頓大學（University of Brighton）學習英語。請參照下面要點，寫信給該校介紹你的情況，同時詢問有關入學要求和學校提供何種服務。  

要點：  

1．    你現在的愛好和特長以及申請入學的目的；  

2．    詢問有關外國學生入學要求和學校提供何種服務；  

3．    你叔叔在英國的諾丁漢（Nottingham），去年去看望過他；  

4．    你叔叔答應資助學費，無經濟困難。  

注意：  

1．    詞數為100左右；  

2．    信的開頭和結尾已為你寫好（不計入你所寫詞數）；  

3．    參考詞匯：經濟困難 financial problem  

Dear Sir or Madam,  

I am writing to ask about studying English at University of Brighton…  

____________________________________________________________________________

Yours faithfully,  

Li Hua  

“High tech” and “state of the art” are two expressions that describe very modern technology. High tech is just a shorter way of saying high technology. And high technology describes any invention, system or device that uses the newest ideas or discoveries of science and engineering.  

What is high tech? A computer is high tech. So is a communication satellite. A modern manufacturing（制造業(yè)的） system is surely high tech.  

High tech became a popular expression in the United States during the early 1980’s. Because of improvements in technology, people could buy many new kinds of products in American stores, such as home computers, microwave ovens（微波爐）, etc.  

“State of the art” is something that is as modern as possible. It is a product that is based on the very latest methods and technology. Something that is “state of the art” is the newest possible design or product of a business or industry. A state of the art television set, for example, uses the most modern electronic design and parts. It is the best that one can buy.  

“State of the art” is not a new expression. Engineers have used it for years to describe the best and most modern way of doing something.  

Millions of Americans began to use the expression in the late 1970’s. The reason was the computer revolution. Every computer company claimed that its computers were “state of the art.”  

Computer technology changes so fast that a state of the art computer today might be old tomorrow. The expression “state of the art” has become as common and popular as computers themselves. Now all kinds of products are said to be “state of the art.”  

72．What is the purpose of the passage?  

A．To tell how “high tech” and “state of the art” have developed.  

B．To give examples of high tech.  

C．To tell what “high tech” and “state of the art” are.  

D．To describe very modern technology.  

73．What can we infer（推斷） from the passage?  

A．American stores could provide new kinds of products to the people.  

B．High tech describes a technology that is not traditional.  

C．“State of the art” is not as popular as “high tech”.  

D．A wooden plough pulled by oxen is “state of the art”.  

74．Which of the following statements is NOT true?  

A．Since the computer revolution, the expression “state of the art” has become popular.  

B．“State of the art” means something that is the best one can buy.  

C．With the rapid development of computer technology, a state of the art computer may easily become out of date.  

D．All kinds of products are “state of the art” nowadays.  

75．The best title for the passage is ________.  

A．Computer Technology                                  B．High Tech and State of the Art  

C．Most Advanced Technology                         D．Two New Expressions  

What should you think about in trying to find your career（職業(yè)）? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong or weak subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.  

Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metal work or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills.  

If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.  

Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs（拇指） when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is bitter to face any weaknesses than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.  

68．Which of the following best sums up（概述） the first paragraph?  

A．The importance of doing well at school.  

B．Using school performance to help to choose a career.  

C．The importance of being good at all subjects.  

D．The indirect value of school work.  

69．The writer thinks that for a student to have a part-time job is probably _______.  

A．a waste of time that could have been spent on study  

B．useful for his future work  

C．a good way to earn extra money  

D．a good way to find out his weak points  

70．According to the passage, if a student’s school record is not good, he _______.  

A．will be a complete failure in his future work  

B．will not be able to find a suitable job  

C．will regret not having worked harder at school  

D．may do well in his future work  

71．The whole passage centers on _______.  

A．choosing a career according to what one is skilled in  

B．acquiring（獲�。� knowledge by working hard at school  

C．finding one’s strong and weak points  

D．developing one’s abilities useful in school work  

When someone gives you advice, listen without judgment, try to find value in what you’re hearing, and say: “Thank you”. This wise advice is easy to understand yet hard to practice. I’ll give you an example from my life when I totally blew it in terms of practicing what I teach.  

In my work I travel constantly. I always put off going to the airport until the last second. My wife, Lyda, was sitting next to me in the front seat. I was racing along and not paying much attention. Lyda cried out: “Look out! There is a red light up ahead. ”  

Being a trained behavioral science professional―who teaches others the value of encouraging advice―I naturally screamed at her: “I know there is a red light up ahead! Don’t you think I can see?” When we arrived at the airport, Lyda didn’t speak to me. I wondered why she seemed mad at me.  

During the flight to New York, I did a cost-benefit analysis. I asked myself: “What was the cost of just listening when Lyda called out the warning? Zero.” I then reasoned: “What was the potential benefit? What could have been saved?” Several potential benefits came to mind, including her life, my life, and the lives of other people.  

I landed in New York feeling ashamed of myself. I immediately called Lyda and told her my cost-benefit story. I convinced her: “The next time you help me with my driving, I am just going to say, ‘Thank you.’”  

A few months passed, and I had long forgotten the incident. Again, I was racing off to the airport, when Lyda cried out: “Look out for the red light!” I was embarrassed, and then shouted: “Thank you!”  

I’m a long way from perfect, but I’m getting better. My suggestion is that you get in the habit of asking the important people in your life how you can do things better. And be ready for an answer. Some people may tell you things like “Look out for the red light.” When this happens, remember that there is possibly some potential benefit. Then just say: “Thank you.”  

64．What do we know about the author?  

A．He is expert at behavioral science.       B．He is gifted in cost-benefit analysis.  

C．He seldom takes his wife’s advice.    D．He often runs the red traffic light.  

65．The underlined part “blew it” in Paragraph 1 probably means “        ”.  

A．became annoyed with the adviser                               B．forgot the practical method  

C．failed to say “Thank you”                                      D．lost personal judgment  

66．It can be inferred from the passage that people        .  

A．tend to be defensive when given advice     B．intend to follow others’ suggestions  

C．had better study behavioral science           D．should give their opinions patiently  

67．The purpose of the passage is to advise people to        .  

A．do a cost-benefit analysis in daily life                        B．treasure others’ suggestions  

C．learn from the author’s experiences                       D．discover potential benefits  

This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers from all over the world will spend about ten months in U. S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.  

Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America.  

Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study, the language began to come to him. The school was completely different from what he had expected─much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.  

Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.  

“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”  

At the same time, in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. “I suppose I should criticize American schools,” he says. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two.”  

60．This year      teenagers will take part in the exchange programme between America and other countries.  

A．twenty three hundred                      B．thirteen hundred  

C．over three thousand                        D．less than two thousand  

61．The whole exchange programme is mainly to       .  

A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America  

B．send students in America to travel in Germany  

C．let students learn something about other countries  

D．have teenagers learn new languages  

62．What is particular in America schools is that       .  

A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings  

B．there are a lot of outside activities  

C．students usually take fourteen subjects in all  

D．students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car  

63．After experiencing the American school life, Mike thought       .  

A．a better education should include something good from both America and Germany  

B．German schools trained students to be better citizens  

C．American schools were not as good as German schools  

D．the easy life in the American school was more helpful to students  

Handball is a hugely popular sport in Europe and Asia, and it is one of the fastest and most exciting sports in the world. It combines basketball and soccer with the attracting saves of water polo. Handball is played on an indoor court （ the size of two basketball courts ） and there are goals at each end. There are twelve players on each team, two goal keepers and ten field players, but there is a maximum of one goalkeeper and six field players from each team allowed on the court at any one time. The idea is simple: score more goals than the other team.  

The ball is made of leather or a synthetic material and it must be round. The surface must not be shiny or slippery. The size and weight of the ball varies for male and female teams, and adult and junior team’s. Handball has the same freeranging play as basketball, with all players except the goalkeeper constantly moving from attack to defence. The goalkeeper uses hands, feet, head and body to keep out the other team’s shots.  

The origins of handball are unclear. Many people believe that it developed as a training game for soccer, to be played in the off season, or when it was snowing. Now, in countries where handball is popular, players can earn large sums of money, and indoor stadiums seating over ten thousand people sell out regularly. Handball has been played at the Olympics since 1972.  

56．The passage states that handball was most probably developed         .  

A．as a replacement for basketball                            B．by supporters of water polo  

C．for the 1972 Olympics                                       D．as a training game  

57．The statement, “The idea is simple”, emphasizes that in handball the         .  

A．players can change positions                              B．court is clearly marked  

C．game has only one purpose                                D．players can earn a lot of money  

58．It is clear that the writer believes the sport of handball        .  

A．developed as a training game for soccer              B．should only be played in winter  

C．requires an unusually shaped ball                         D．is great fun for the audience  

59．The main purpose of this passage is to         .  

A．describe an interesting sport  

B．show how the rules of handball have changed  

C．list the world champion handball teams  

D．increase the number of teams at the Olympics  

Many of the tourists on board had begun bargaining with the tradesmen, but I decided not to buy anything. I had no sooner got off the    36   than I was stopped by a man who wanted to   37   me a diamond ring. I had no   38   of buying one, but I could not deny the fact that I was   39   by the size of the diamonds. Some of them were as   40   as marbles （玻璃球）. The man went to great lengths to   41   that the diamonds were real. As   42   walked past a shop, he held a diamond   43   against the window and made a deep impression in the   44  . It took me over half an hour to get rid of him.  

The next man to   45   me was selling expensive pens and watches. I   46   one of the pens closely. It certainly looked   47  . At the base of the gold cap, the words “made in the USA” had been clearly   48  . The man said that the pen was worth ￡50, but as a special   49  ,  he would let me have it for ￡30. I   50   my head and held up five fingers indicating that I was willing to pay ￡5. Gesturing wildly, the man acted as if he found my   51   shocking, but he finally   52   the price to ￡10. Shrugging my shoulders, I began to walk away. A moment later, he ran after me and   53   the pen into my hands. Though he kept throwing up his arms in despair, he   54   accepted the ￡5 I gave him. I felt especially pleased with my wonderful   55   ─ until I got back to the ship. No matter how hard I tried, it was impossible to fill this beautiful pen with ink！