閱讀理解

　　In November 1965, New York was blacked out by an electricity failure. The government officials promised that it would not happen again. Pessimists(悲觀者) were certain that it would occur again within five years at the lastest. In July 1977, there was a repeat performance which produced different degrees of disorder throughout the city of 8,000,000 people. In 1965, the failure occurred in the cool autumn and at a time of peace and good situation. In 1977, the failure was much more serious because it came when the number of people out of work was large and the city was suffering from one of its worst heat waves.

　　In 1965, there was little stealing during the darkness, and fewer than 100 people were caught by the police. In 1977, hundereds of stores were broken into and stolen. They broke shopwindows and helped themselves to jewellery, clothes or television sets, nearly 400 people were sent to the police but far more disappeared into the darkness of the night. The number of the policemen at hand was far from enough and they were wisely stopped from using their guns against the mobs(暴徒)that were far more than them and that included armed men.

　　Hospitals had to treat hundreds of people cut by glass from shop windows. Banks and most businesses remained closed the next day. The blackout started at 9:33 p. m. when lightning hit and knocked out vital cables(關(guān)鍵的電纜). Many stores were thus caught by surprise.

　　The vast majority of New Yorkers, however, tried to help strangers, handed out candles, and tried to get through the dark world without traffic lights, refrigerators, water and electrical power. For 24 hours, New York realized how helpless it was without electricity.

1．Look at the 1st paragraph, who were right, the government officials or the pessimists?

[　　]

2．In what way was the blackout of 1977 different from that of 1965?

[　　]

A．There was much more disorder.

B．This time the electricity supply failed.

C．It was quite unexpected.

D．It came in the cool autumn.

3．Why did many persons manage to escape the police?

[　　]

A．The police could not see them in the darkness.

B．Many of them carried guns.

C．There were not enough policemen to catch them all.

D．They were hidden inside big buildings.

4．The 1997 New York electricity failure lasted ________.

[　　]

 (06·山東)

One summer day my father sent me to buy wire for our farm. At 16, I liked 36 better than driving our truck, 37 this time I was not happy. My father had told me I’d have to ask for credit(賒賬) at the store.

Sixteen is a 38 age, when a young man wants respect, not charity. It was 1976, and the ugly 39 of racial discrimination was 40 a fact of life. I’d seen my friends ask for credit and then stand, head down, while the store owner 41 whether they were “good for it.” I knew black youths just like me who were 42 like thieves by the store clerk each time they went into a grocery.

My family was 43 . We paid our debts. But before harvest, cash was short. Would the store owner 44 us ?

At Davis’s store, Buck Davis stood behind the cash desk, talking to a farmer. I nodded 45 I passed him on my way to the hardware shelves. When I brought my 46 to the caskh desk, I said 47 , “I need to put this on credit.”

The farmer gave me and amused, distrustful 48 . But Buck’s face didn’t change. “Sure,” he said 49 . “Your daddy is 50 good for it.” He  51 to the other man. “This here is one of James Williams’s sons.”

The farmer nodded in a neighborly 52 . I was filled with pride. James William’s son. Those three words had opened a door to an adult’s respect and trust.

That day I discovered that the good name my parents had  53  brought our whole family the respect of our neighbors. Everyone knew what to 54 from a Williams: a decent person who kept his word and respected himself 55 much to do wrong.

36. A. something         B. nothing                 C. anything          D. everything

37. A. and              B. so                      C. but              D. for

38. A. prideful           B. wonderful               C. respectful         D. colorful

39. A. intention          B. shadow                 C. habit             D. faith

40. A. thus              B. just                    C. still              D. ever

41. A. guessed           B. suspected               C. questioned         D. figured

42. A. watched           B. caught                  C. dismissed          D. accused

43. A. generous          B. honest                   C. friendly           D. modest

44. A. blame            B. excuse                  C. charge            D. trust

45. A. until             B. as                      C. once              D. since

46. A. purchases         B. sales                    C. orders            D. favorites

47. A. casually          B. confidently               C. cheerfully         D. carefully

48. A. look             B. stare                    C. response          D. comment

49. A. patiently          B. eagerly                   C. easily            D. proudly

50. A generally          B. never                     C. sometimes        D. always

51. A. pointed          B. replied                    C. turned           D. introduced

52. A. sense            B. way                      C. degree           D. mood

53. A. earned             B. deserved              C. given              D. used

54. A. receive            B. expect                 C. collect             D. require

55. A. very              B. so                     C. how              D. too

On the one hand, the robots sent to the planets have not yet found any 24.________ (跡象) of life on Mars, but they have found evidence that water 25.________ freely over the planet's surface millions of years ago. 26.________ addition, water in the form of ice exists below some 27.p________ of the Martian surface today.

On the other hand, 28.d________ life on Mars would change the present view of the Universe and also give a big push toward man's work there. But a group of experts 29.o________ by President Barack Obama told him last October that US 30.________ (太空) policy should now focus on sending human beings to Mars instead of 31.________ (又一，再一) moon landing. Michael Griffin, a former head of NASA, believes 32.________ a human trip to Mars could be 33.p________ by 2037.

 (06·山東A篇)

Short and shy, Ben Saunders was the last kid in his class picked for any sports team. “Football, tennis Cricket—anything with a round ball, I was useless, “he says now with a laugh. But back then he was the object of jokes in school gym classes in England’s rural Devonshire.

It was a mountain bike he received for his 15th birthday that changed him. At first the teen went biking alone in a nearby forest. Then he began to cycle along with a runner friend. Gradually, Saunders set his mind building up his body, increasing his speed, strength and endurance. At age 18, he ran his first marathon.

The following year, he met John Ridgway, who became famous in the 1960s for rowing an open boat across the Atlantic Ocean. Saunders was hired as an instructor at Ridgway’s school of Adventure in Scotland, where he learned about the older man’s cold-water exploits(成就).Intrigued, Saunders read all he could about Arctic explorers and North Pole expeditions, then decided that this would be his future.

Journeys to the Pole aren’t the usual holidays for British country boys, and many peiole dismissed his dream as fantasy. “John Ridgway was one of the few who didn’t say, ‘You are completely crazy,’”Saunders says.

In 2001, after becoming a skilled skier, Saunders started his first long-distance expedition toward the North Pole. He suffered frostbite, had a closer encounter(遭遇) with a polar bear and pushed his body to the limit.

Saunders has since become the youngest person to ski alone to the North Pole, and he’s skied more of the Arctic by himself than any other Briton. His old playmates would not believe the transformation.

This October, Saunders, 27, heads south to explore from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, an 1800-mile journey that has never been completed on skis.

56. The turning point in Saunders’life came when _____

A. he started to play ball games

B. he got a mountain bike at age 15

C. he ran his first marathon at age 18

D. he started to receive Ridgway’s training

57. We can learn from the text that Ridgway _______.

A. dismissed Saunders’ dream as fantasy

B. built up his body together with Saunders

C. hired Saunders for his cold-water experience

D. won his fame for his voyage across the Atlantic

58. What do we know about Saunders?

A. He once worked at a school in Scotland.

B. He followed Ridgway to explore the North Pole.

C. He was chosen for the school sports team as a kid.

D.He was the first Briton to ski alone to the North Pole.

59. The underlined word “Intrigued” in the third paragraph probably means_____.

A. Excited    B. Convinced   C. Delighted    D. Fascinated

60. It can be inferred that Saunders’ journey to the North Pole ______.

A. was accompanied by his old playmates

B. set a record in the North Pole expedition

C. was supported by other Arctic explorers

D. made him well-known in the 1960s

 (06·山東C篇)

FILM DESCRIPTIONS

Back to the Future

With the help of a local inventor’s time machine, Marty travels back to the 1950s. There his 80s hipness stands out, and he inadvertently interferes with the fledgling romance of his parents-to-be. Can Marty keep them together? He’d better, or his own future will fade away. Featuring: Christopher Lloyd, Michael J.Fox. A universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 55 min.

Beethoven’s 2nd

In this sequel to the popular Beethoven, our canine hero falls for Missy, who soon has puppies. Missy’s greedy owner, Regina, who sees only money in the little purebreds, separates mom and pups from Beethoven. His owners rescue the puppies, but Regina still has Missy. Featuring: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt. A Universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 26 min.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Despite the popularity of his treats, candy maker Willy Wonka shuts himself inside his factory. But then Willy holds a contest, offering five lucky children the chance to see his company. Poor but pleasant Charlie Bucket finds a ticket, as do four less-deserving children. Featuring:

Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore. A Warner Bros. Release, 1 hr. 56 min.

Cinderella Man

Based on actual events, this film follows the life of Jim Braddock, a boxer in New York City during the Great Depression. After a series of losses, Braddock is forced into retirement. But he never gives up his boxing dream, and neither does his manager. Featuring: Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger. A Universal Pictures release, 2 hr. 14 min.

Liar Liar

Lawyer Fletcher Reede has never told the truth in his life. Then his son makes a birthday wish that his dad would stop lying for 24 hours. Suddenly, Fletcher’s mouth spouts everything he thinks. His compulsion brings disaster to courtroom, where he must defend a client whose case was built on lies. Featuring: Jim Carrey, Justin Cooper. A Universal Pictures release, 1 hr. 25 min.

65. Which of the following is probably the name of a dog?

A. Marty.             B. Missy.             C. Fletcher.          D. Charlie

66. Willy Wonka is _______.

A. a boxer who suffers a series of losses

B. a lawyer who has never told the truth

C. a man who runs a chocolate factory

D. a man who invents a time machine

67. Which film is about the life of a real person?

A. Beethoven’s 2nd                         B. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

C. Cinderella Man                          D. Liar Liar