60. The writer wants to tell us ______ in American everyday expressions.

A. the most popular colors　　 　　　　 B. different meanings of colors

C. how to use colors correctly　　　 　 　　　D. why Americans like to use colors

B

That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater. With opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me.

As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers. Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.

　　 About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.

　　 Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired any more. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.

　　 Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, “Alisa Camacho?” I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, holding up a small square shape.

　　 It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had got my wallet back. I also had got back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.

59. In the writer's eyes, what is related to a black day?

A. Being sent a beautiful gift　　　 　　　　 　B. Passing a very difficult test

C. Being refused during an important interview　　

D. Being invited to an exciting party

58. When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she _______.

A. enjoys himself in boating　 　　 　　　B. is hit by a high wave

C. has a stomachache　　 　　　　　　 D. likes trees and grass

57. People use ‘‘in the pink" to express they are in good health because ______.

A. the expression has a very long history　　　 　　　　

　B. the color pink makes people feel happy

C. people think the color pink is gentler than red

　D healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

56. Americans use “red hot" to describe the following EXCEPT ______.

A. something unfair　 　　 　B. small hot-tasting peppers found in Mexican foods

C. the person who is very angry　 　 D. popular music like Dixieland jazz

47. 　A. in bed　　　　　　　　 B. in the hall　　　 C. in school　　　　　 D. in the classroom

SECTION C　 (12 marks)

Directions: Complete the following passage by filling in each blank with one word that best fits the context.

A proverb says: “Time is money”. But in my opinion, time is even 48 ______ precious than money. Why ? 49 ________ when money is spent, we can earn it back. However, when time is lost, it will 50 _______ return. It is known to all 51_________ the time we can use is limited. Therefore we should make full use 52 __________ our time to study hard so as to serve our country in the future. But it is a pity that there are a lot of people 53 __________ do not realize the value of time. 54 ___________ spend their precious time smoking, drinking and playing. In a word, we should form the good habit of saving time. Do not put off 55 _________ can be done today till tomorrow.

PART THREE　 READING COMPREHENSION　 (30 marks)

Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A,B,C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.

A

Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.

Red is a hot color. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery(辣的) taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.

Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.

The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. A blacklist(黑名單)is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.

Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the black side of the paper money.

46. 　A. moving　　　　　　　 B. laughing　　　　 C. crying　　　　　　　 D. singing

45. 　A. happy　　　　　　　　 B. excited　　　　　 C. surprised 　　　　 D. upset

44. 　A. looked up 　　　　 B. gave up　　　　 C. put up　　　　　　　 D. made up

43. 　A. Money　　　　　　　　 B. Food　　　　　　　　 C. Time　　　　　　　　　 D. Water