第二部分：閱讀理解(共15小題：每小題2分, 滿分30分)

閱讀下列短文, 從每題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中, 選出最佳選項, 并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

The ability to do several things at once has become one of the great measures of self-worth for 21-century Americans. It is called multitasking, and it takes many forms. As one example, why go out to lunch when you can eat at your desk, talk to a client on the phone, scroll through your e-mail, and scan a memo simultaneously? And why simply work out on treadmill (單調(diào)的工作) when you could be watching television and talking on a portable phone at the same time? What a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment --- three activities for the time commitment of one! Ah, such efficiency. No wonder those who turn “to do” lists into a time-management art form tend to boast (自夸): “Look, me, how many things I can accomplish at once. If I’m this busy, I must be important.”

Yet last week the New York Assembly struck a blow against multitasking, at least behind the wheel, when it approved a bill banning drivers in the state from using handheld cellular phones. Too dangerous, the assembly said, citing research showing that drivers are four times more likely to have a collision when they are talking on a cellphone.

No one can argue against using time effectively. But accompanying the supposed gains are losses. Consider the woman out for an early-morning walk in a suburban neighborhood. She strides briskly, head down, cellphone clamped to her ear, chattering (喋喋不休) away, oblivious of the birds and flowers and glorious sunshine. Did the walk have any value?

More than a decade ago, long before multi-tasking became a word in everyday use, a retired professor of theology(神學(xué)) in Indiana with whom I corresponded (通信) made a case for what might be called uni-tasking — the old-fashioned practice of doing one thing at a time.

Offering the simplest example, he said, “When you wash the dishes, wash the dishes.” Good advice, I’ve found, whatever the task.

Perhaps, too, the ban on phoning-on-the-road will even spark a move away from other forms of dual activity. Who can tell? It could mark the first step in a welcome reconsideration of what really constitutes productivity and accomplishment.

1. The author thinks that multitasking has become one of the great measures of self-worth because ________.

A. it helps people to use time effectively                   

B. it makes people feel they are important

C. it means the ability to do several things at once     

D. people worship speed and desire

2. The bill approved by the New York Assembly is mentioned in the second paragraph in order to ________.

A. demonstrate the danger of multitasking                

B. show the high efficiency of multitasking

C. introduce the legislation system in America   

D. argue against using time effectively

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “oblivious” in the third paragraph?

A. serious                     B. absorbed deeply      

C. not noticing                     D. forgetting

4. We learn from the passage that uni-tasking is ________.

A. the new fashion for 21-century Americans            

B. accepted by most residents in Indiana

C. created by a retired professor of theology

D. the traditional act of doing one thing at once

5. In the eyes of the author, multi-tasking ________.

A. could not be avoided in this fast-changing age

B. should be taken the place of by uni-tasking

C. robs people of time to focus and reflect

D. should not become a word in everyday use

An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same time.

In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit(追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched(發(fā)起) the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book " project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.

In Chicago, the mayor(市長) appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighborhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.

The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity can be achieved. Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.

Ultimately, as Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process, or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.

1.What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?

2.According to the passage, where would the project be more easily carried out?

3.The underlined words “shared a word” in Paragraph 5 probably mean      .

4.According to Nancy, the degree of success of the project is judged by       .

The world has changed and being intelligent isn’t normally equal to being a successful person. Look at the example of the blue whale : it has a huge brain, but it still doesn’t know how to avoid whalers or use its large size and weight to deal with those who try to use their body for profit. Scientists hold an opinion that the blue whale just likes some highly intelligent people who fail to succeed. Those highly intelligent people can’t succeed in life because they can’t communicate well with the world around them.

Intelligence is a word in life that makes you think you are better than others. Intelligence can blind these very people from how others view them. These people also think that the route to power and success results purely from intelligence and they sometimes live in a fantasy world that they create by their supposed brain power.

This is a distance that develops whether or not they realize it and sometimes, a person can be disliked simply because of his or her intelligence. This distance is sometimes so far apart that it gets to the position where they can’t listen to each other. One side thinks the other is stupid and the other thinks he/she is haughty（傲慢的）. And most of the time it is the intelligent people who lose themselves in this situation. They become unpopular with most of the people around them. This affects them in whatever they do and sooner or later they will lose their confidence.

It doesn’t help that they get a culture shock - especially when they leave college and realize success and richness don’t always and sometimes never come naturally with intelligence. While some might think this is a dramatic picture to paint, it is sometimes the end result of some people.

1. The example of “the blue whale” is used to show ____.

2. Those supposed intelligent people often believe that ____.

3. What makes the intelligent people lose their confidence?

4. We can infer that the end result of the supposed intelligent people would be ____.

An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America and beyond. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same tome.

In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as promoting reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched (發(fā)起）the "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book " project in 1998. Her original program used author visits,study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong kong.

In Chicago, the mayor(市長）appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the "One Book, One Chicago" program. As a result, reading clubs and neighbourhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.

   The only problem arose in New York ,where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns,where a greater sense of unity(一致）can be achieved .Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point ,putting all their energy

And passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.

Ultinatel was Nancy points out,the level of sucicess is not meastured by how many people read a book,but by how many people are enriched by the process.or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.

1.What is the purpose of the project launched by Nancy?

A.To invite authors to guide readers.

B.To encourage people to read and share.

C.To involve people in communnity service.

D.To promote the friendship between cities.

2.Why was it difficult for New Yorkers to carry out the projict?

A.They had little interest in reading.

B.They were too busy to read a book.

C.They came from many different backgrounds

D.They lacked support from the locat government

3.According to the passage,where would the project be more easily carried out?

A.In large communities with little sense of unity

B.In large cities where libraries are far from home

C.In medium-sized cities with a diverse population

D.In large towns where agreement can be quickly reached

4.The underlined words“shared a word”in Paragraph 5 probably mean     

A.exchanged ideas with each other

B.discussed the meaning of a word

C.gamed life experience

D.used the same language

5.According to Nacy,the degree of students of the project is judged by

A.  the careful selection of a proper book

B.  the growing popularity of the writers

C.the number of people who benefit from reading.

D.the number of books that each person reads.

閱讀表達：
[1]An 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.
[2]They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck and the boys began to work to make the concert a success.
[3]The big day arrived. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight(困境). They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance(差額) $400. They promised to pay the cheque at the soonest possible.
[4]“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct（扣除）whatever expenses you have spent on. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left”. The boys were surprised, and thanked him a lot.
[5]It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being.
[6]Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” The truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do.
[7]Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was regarded as a great leader in Poland’s history.
【小題1】Why did the student decide to hold the musical concert? (Within 10 words)
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【小題2】What do you know about Ignacy J. Paderewski? (Within 15 words)
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【小題3】Please find a word in the text to replace the word “recital” in Paragraph 2.
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【小題4】How did the boys feel on hearing what Paderewski said? (No more than 5 words)
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【小題5】What should we learn from Paderewski’s words in Paragraph 6? (Within 20 words)
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