Chicago, a city in the State of Illinois, is the second largest in the United States. It stretches for 29 miles along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. Its splendid centre faces the lake behind a pleasant park. The Chicago River flows through the heart of the city. The city of Chicago, 713 miles west of New York and 1858 miles east of San Francisco, is located at the conjunction(连接) of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system and surrounded by the productive farmlands of the Midwest. This makes the city the crossroads of the nation and the “ bread basket” of the nation. From its beginning as a frontier fort(要塞) settlement in 1803, commerce(商业) has been the key to Chicago’s development, especially since the railroads and stockyards(牲畜围栏) were built in the 1840s and 1850s. Thousands of foreigners, attracted by the promise of steady jobs, have lived and worked there since the second half of the 19th century; thousands more come to visit its famous fairs, and millions of others cross it every day by road or railway. Chicago is the world’s biggest road and railway centre, and it should claim(要求得到身份或权利的承认) the world’s busiest airport.

66. If you go to New York from Chicago, you go _____ for _____ miles.

A. east…713   B. west…713   C. east…1858   D. west…1858

67. From the passage, we can see that there is _____.

A. a lake right in the middle of the city

B. the Mississippi River in the middle of the city

C. a park in the middle of the city

D. a lake 29 miles away from the city

68. Chicago is called the “ bread basket” of the nation because _____.

A. there is a river flowing through the city

B. it is located at the conjunction of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system

C. it is near the city of New York

D. there are rich farmlands around the city

69. _____ the city developed fastest.

A. Early in the 19th century

B. Around the middle of the 19th century

C. At the end of the 19th century

D. During the second half of the 19th century

70. Since the late 19th century thousands of people have kept coming to Chicago _____. Which of the following is wrong?

A. on business     B. for a visit

C. for better jobs   D. to claim the world’s biggest seaport

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．

Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．

All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．

It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．

However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．

1.The hotheaded are people who ________．

A．spend more money than they have

B．spend less money than other people

C．save money

D．make money

2.The disadvantage of credit cards is ________．

A．to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash

B．to encourage people to spend more money

C．to be always useful in emergencies

D．to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty

3.Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________．

A．the amount of credit granted　　

B．the number and range of outlets

C．the possibility of loss of money

D．the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards

4.The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________．

A．floating with the tide of

B．going through a difficult period of

C．rising and falling with the tide of

D．attempting to go against the tide of

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．
Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．
All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．
It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．
However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．
【小题1】The hotheaded are people who ________．

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．
Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．
All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．
It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．
However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．
【小题1】The hotheaded are people who ________．

The route from north to south is a general picture of Norwegian nature: thundering waterfalls, rushing mountain streams and roads that run along glaciers, after having gone through thick pine forests and coastal lakes and fiords(峡湾)．

The inner part of the country is very rugged and almost one third of it is covered with trees. Despite its northern latitude, the Norwegian weather is in fact maritime(海洋性的) and damp, because it is affected by the mitigating (调节)action of the warm Gulf Stream, coming from the Gulf of Mexico, which flows up the coast preventing the formation of sea ice.

Bergen, a port lying in the southeast of the country, is crowded with brightly colored houses, which belonged to German traders of the powerful Hanseatic League. Despite several fires, the area keeps the atmosphere of the “old port” and Commercial City from the Middle Ages. UNESCO (联合国教科文组织) recently declared it a World Heritage Site and included it in the list of monuments that are to be preserved.

There is a large park in the center of Bergen which is taken up almost completely by a large lake, around which, lie some of the main museums in the city.

The Hakonshallen, the most beautiful monument in the city, lies within the walls of Bergen's fortress. The great 13th century Gothic hall was built for the parties and the receptions in the days of the city's control over trade in the North Sea.

You get the best view over Bergen, the fiords and the surrounding pine－covered mountains from the belvedere(观景台). It's easy to admire Norwegians for their unique(独特的) way of respecting the nature!

From north to south, from Lapland to Oslo and Bergen, Norwegian people has proved, with time, that human beings, as the most advanced yet most vulnerable (脆弱的) in the great family of nature, can live in harmony (和谐) with all its other members.

6. The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A. introduce the whole natural scenery of Norway

B. show people the fact that human beings can live in harmony with nature through respecting nature

C. tell people Norway's natural environment is so beautiful and attracts more tourists

D. inform people that Bergen has been declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO

7. In Norwegian winter, there is no sea ice because ________.

A. Norway lies in Northern Europe with high latitude

B. one third of Norway is covered with thick pine trees

C. the Gulf Stream from the Gulf of Mexico keeps the Norwegian coast warm all year round

D. the weather depends upon the mountainous areas in Norway

8. The underlined word “it” in the second paragraph refers to ________.

A. the warm Gulf stream  B. the Norwegian weather

C. the northern latitude  D. the Gulf of Mexico

9. Which of the following statements about Bergen is NOT true?

A. Bergen is a port with a large park in its center.

B. The Hakonshallen, the most beautiful monument in Bergen was once controlled by German merchants in the 13th century.

C. The Hakonshallen was meant for the commercial needs at that time.

D. UNESCO has decided to preserve Bergen because of its real atmosphere of the “old port” and Commercial City from the Middle Ages.

10. It can be inferred from this passage that ________.

A. Norway is a neighbor of Mexico

B. Germans play an important part in the Norwegian economy

C. the south of Norway is covered with thick forest

D. the Hanseatic League is a commercial organization

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．

Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．

All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．

It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．

However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．

1.The hotheaded are people who ________．

2.The disadvantage of credit cards is ________．

3.Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________．

4.The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________．

   Chicago, a city in the State of Illinois, is the second largest in the United States. It stretches for 29 miles along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. Its splendid centre faces the lake behind a pleasant park. The Chicago River flows through the heart of the city. The city of Chicago, 713 miles west of New York and 1858 miles east of San Francisco, is located at the conjunction(连接) of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system and surrounded by the productive farmlands of the Midwest. This makes the city the crossroads of the nation and the “ bread basket” of the nation. From its beginning as a frontier fort(要塞) settlement in 1803, commerce(商业) has been the key to Chicago’s development, especially since the railroads and stockyards(牲畜围栏) were built in the 1840s and 1850s. Thousands of foreigners, attracted by the promise of steady jobs, have lived and worked there since the second half of the 19th century; thousands more come to visit its famous fairs, and millions of others cross it every day by road or railway. Chicago is the world’s biggest road and railway centre, and it should claim(要求得到身份或权利的承认) the world’s busiest airport.

66. If you go to New York from Chicago, you go _____ for _____ miles.

   A. east…713   B. west…713   C. east…1858   D. west…1858

67. From the passage, we can see that there is _____.

   A. a lake right in the middle of the city

   B. the Mississippi River in the middle of the city

   C. a park in the middle of the city

   D. a lake 29 miles away from the city

68. Chicago is called the “ bread basket” of the nation because _____.

   A. there is a river flowing through the city

   B. it is located at the conjunction of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system

   C. it is near the city of New York

   D. there are rich farmlands around the city

69. _____ the city developed fastest.

   A. Early in the 19th century

   B. Around the middle of the 19th century

   C. At the end of the 19th century

   D. During the second half of the 19th century

70. Since the late 19th century thousands of people have kept coming to Chicago _____. Which of the following is wrong?

   A. on business     B. for a visit

C. for better jobs   D. to claim the world’s biggest seaport

Familiar stories can be told differently or extended in interesting and humorous ways. The 1  of the famous fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” is well known to all: the tortoise wins the race against the hare. The moral lesson is that  2   wins the race. We all have grown up with this popular  3 , but the same fable can be extended with different twists. At the  4   of the hare, a second race is arranged and this time, the hare runs without taking a  5  and wins. The moral lesson is that fast and  6   will always beat slow and steady. Then it is the tortoise that 7  the hare to a third race along a different route in which there is a river just before the final 8  . This time, the tortoise wins the race because the hare can not  9 . The moral lesson is “First identify your  10  , and then change the playing field to suit them.” But the story continues.  11   competitors know their own drawbacks and limitations very well;  12  , they jointly decide to have one last race— 13  to decide who the winner or loser is, but just for their own pleasure and satisfaction. The two cooperate as a  14 . Firstly, the hare carries the tortoise on its back to the river.  15  , the tortoise carries the hare and swims to the   16   bank of the river. Lastly, the hare carries the tortoise  17  on its back. Thus they reach the  18  line together. Overall, many moral lessons from the last match are highlighted. The most obvious one is the importance of 19  .Another moral which also means a great deal is “competition against situations  20  against rivals（对手）.”

1．A．title                       B．idea                     C．beginning            D．end

2．A．slow and steady     B．kind and honest    C．short and fat        D．wise and diligent

3．A．trend                    B．lesson                 C．version                D．issue

4．A．side                      B．request                C．sight                   D．order

5．A．rest                      B．bath                    C．guide                  D．map

6．A．confident              B．considerate          C．consistent            D．conservative

7．A．charges                 B．cheers                 C．chooses              D．challenges

8．A．departure              B．destination           C．desert                 D．dilemma

9．A．swim                    B．climb                  C．jump                   D．dive

10．A．disadvantages      B．feelings               C．strengths             D．interests

11．A．All                      B．Neither                C．Some                  D．Both

12．A．otherwise            B．therefore             C．finally                 D．generally

13．A．not                     B．as                       C．enough                D．only

14．A．class                   B．result                  C．team                   D．rule

15．A．Again                  B．Then                   C．There                  D．However

16．A．pretty                  B．green                  C．nearby                D．opposite

17．A．again                   B．away                   C．over                    D．up

18．A．fishing                B．waiting                C．finishing              D．shipping

19．A．homework           B．teamwork            C．hard work           D．network

20．A．but also          B．as well as         C．more than       D．rather than

       Familiar stories can be told differently or extended in interesting and humorous ways.  The 36  of the famous fable of “The Tortoise and the Hare” is well known to all: the tortoise wins the race against the hare.  The moral lesson is that  37   wins the race.  We all have grown up with this popular  38 , but the same fable can be extended with different twists.  At the  39   of the hare, a second race is arranged and this time, the hare runs without taking a  40  and wins.  The moral lesson is that fast and  41   will always beat slow and steady.  Then it is the tortoise that 42  the hare to a third race along a different route in which there is a river just before the final 43 .  This time, the tortoise wins the race because the hare cannot  44 .  The moral lesson is “First identify  your  45  , and then change the playing field to suit them. ” But the story continues.   46   competitors know their own drawbacks and limitations very well;  47  , they jointly decide to have one last race― 48  to decide who the winner or loser is, but just for their own pleasure and satisfaction.  The two cooperate as a  49 .  Firstly, the hare carries the tortoise on its back to the river.   50  , the tortoise carries the hare and swims to the   51   bank of the river.  Lastly, the hare carries the tortoise  52  on its back.  Thus they reach the  53  line together.  Overall, many moral lessons from the last match are highlighted.  The most obvious one is the importance of   54  .  Another moral which also means a great deal is “competition against situations  55  against rivals(对手). ”

-- You'd better fill your tank. There is no gas station along the road.

--_________. The supermarket sells gas , too.

　 A. Sounds good　 B. A1l right　　 C. No problem　　 D. Take care

Chicago, a city in the State of Illinois, is the second largest in the United States. It stretches for 29 miles along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. Its splendid centre faces the lake behind a pleasant park. The Chicago River flows through the heart of the city. The city of Chicago, 713 miles west of New York and 1858 miles east of San Francisco, is located at the conjunction（连接） of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system and surrounded by the productive farmlands of the Midwest. This makes the city the crossroads of the nation and the “ bread basket” of the nation. From its beginning as a frontier fort（要塞） settlement in 1803, commerce（商业） has been the key to Chicago’s development, especially since the railroads and stockyards（牲畜围栏） were built in the 1840s and 1850s. Thousands of foreigners, attracted by the promise of steady jobs, have lived and worked there since the second half of the 19^th century; thousands more come to visit its famous fairs, and millions of others cross it every day by road or railway. Chicago is the world’s biggest road and railway centre, and it should claim（要求得到身份或权利的承认） the world’s busiest airport.

1. If you go to New York from Chicago, you go _____ for _____ miles.

A．east…713             B．west…713            C．east…1858           D．west…1858

2. From the passage, we can see that there is _____.

A．a lake right in the middle of the city

B．the Mississippi River in the middle of the city

C．a park in the middle of the city

D．a lake 29 miles away from the city

3. Chicago is called the “bread basket” of the nation because _____.

A．there is a river flowing through the city

B．it is located at the conjunction of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system

C．it is near the city of New York

D．there are rich farmlands around the city

4. _____ the city developed fastest.

A．Early in the 19^th century

B．Around the middle of the 19^th century

C．At the end of the 19^th century

D．During the second half of the 19^th century

5. Since the late 19^th century thousands of people have kept coming to Chicago _____. Which of the following is wrong?

A．on business                                            B．for a visit

C．for better jobs                                          D．to claim the world’s biggest seaport

       Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）．Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money．Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards．

Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies．

All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit．Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further．

It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen．A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card．

However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty．

1．The hotheaded are people who ________．

       A．spend more money than they have         B．spend less money than other people

       C．save money                                         D．make money

2．The disadvantage of credit cards is ________．

　   A．to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash

　   B．to encourage people to spend more money

　   C．to be always useful in emergencies

       D．to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty

3．Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________．

       A．the amount of credit granted

       B．the number and range of outlets

　   C．the possibility of loss of money

       D．the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards

4．The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________．

       A．floating with the tide of                      B．going through a difficult period of

       C．rising and falling with the tide of            D．attempting to go against the tide of

Chicago, a city in the State of Illinois, is the second largest in the United States. It stretches for 29 miles along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan. Its splendid centre faces the lake behind a pleasant park. The Chicago River flows through the heart of the city. The city of Chicago, 713 miles west of New York and 1858 miles east of San Francisco, is located at the conjunction(连接) of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system and surrounded by the productive farmlands of the Midwest. This makes the city the crossroads of the nation and the “ bread basket” of the nation. From its beginning as a frontier fort(要塞) settlement in 1803, commerce(商业) has been the key to Chicago’s development, especially since the railroads and stockyards(牲畜围栏) were built in the 1840s and 1850s. Thousands of foreigners, attracted by the promise of steady jobs, have lived and worked there since the second half of the 19th century; thousands more come to visit its famous fairs, and millions of others cross it every day by road or railway. Chicago is the world’s biggest road and railway centre, and it should claim(要求得到身份或权利的承认) the world’s busiest airport.

1. 1.

   If you go to New York from Chicago, you go _____ for _____ miles.
   

   1. A.
      east…713  
   2. B.
      west…713  
   3. C.
      east…1858  
   4. D.
      west…1858
2. 2.

   From the passage, we can see that there is _____.
   

   1. A.
      a lake right in the middle of the city
   2. B.
      the Mississippi River in the middle of the city
   3. C.
      a park in the middle of the city
   4. D.
      a lake 29 miles away from the city
3. 3.

   Chicago is called the “ bread basket” of the nation because _____.
   

   1. A.
      there is a river flowing through the city
   2. B.
      it is located at the conjunction of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River system
   3. C.
      it is near the city of New York
   4. D.
      there are rich farmlands around the city
4. 4.

   _____ the city developed fastest.
   

   1. A.
      Early in the 19th century
   2. B.
      Around the middle of the 19th century
   3. C.
      At the end of the 19th century
   4. D.
      During the second half of the 19th century
5. 5.

   Since the late 19th century thousands of people have kept coming to Chicago _____. Which of the following is wrong?
   

   1. A.
      on business    
   2. B.
      for a visit
   3. C.
      for better jobs  
   4. D.
      to claim the world’s biggest seaport

According to popular folk tales, many animals are smarter than they appear. Dogs bark before earthquakes; cattle predict rainful by sitting on the ground. But cattle may have another hidden talent of being able to tell which direction is north.

    Small animals__ including birds__ are known to use the Earth’s magnetic （磁场的） fields in migration （迁徙）, like a natural GPS （ Global Position System ）. Dr. Begall and her colleagues wanted to know whether larger animals also have this magnetic sense. They investigated this possibility by studying images of 8,510 grazing （吃草） and resting cattle in 308 plains across the globe on Google Earth, a website that puts together satellite photographs to produce an image of the Earth’s surface.

    Grazing animals are known to orient （使朝向） themselves in a way that minimizes wind cold from the north and maximizes the warmth of the sun when they are cold. The study ruled out the possibility that the sun position or wind direction were major influences on the orientation of the cattle. The researchers therefore had to study a lot of cows grazing in lots of different places at different times of day, in order to average out these factors and see whether cattle could act like compass needles.

    The researchers concluded that cattle do generally orient themselves in a north-south direction. This north-south preference has also been noted in flies and honeybees. But unfortunately, even the high resolution of Google Earth is not powerful enough to tell which end of the cow is its head, and which its tail. The researchers were therefore unable to answer their research questions of whether cattle prefer to look north or south, and whether that differs in the northern and southern hemisphere.（半球）

1. Which of the following factors might affect Dr. Begall’s research result?

    A. Rainful.                B. Earthquakes.           C. Location.                       D. Cost.

2. What is the major finding of Dr. Begall’s study?

    A. Cattle orient themselves along a north-south axis.

    B. Magnetism cannot be studied scientifically.

    C. Animals prefer to look south.

    D. Google Earth is a reliable research tool.

3. Why were the researchers unable to get the answers to their research questions?

    A. Many cattle in their study were sitting on the ground.

    B. The cattle constantly change directions to avoid wind cold.

    C. There is a magnetic difference between the two hemispheres.

    D. They could not tell a cow’s head from its tail in the satellite pictures.

Although credit cards are becoming a more acceptable part of the financial scene, they are still regarded with doubts by many as being a major part of the “live now pay later” syndrome（综合症）.Along with hire-purchase, rental and leasing schemes（租赁项目）, they provide encouragement to spend more money.Of course, it is only the hotheaded who give way to the temptation to live, temporarily at least, beyond their means, and such people would no doubt manage to do so even without credit cards.
Advertising campaigns have, however, promoted a growing realization of the advantages of these small pieces of plastic. They prevent need to carry large amounts of cash and are always useful in emergencies.
All the credit card organizations charge interest on a monthly basis which may work out as high as 25 per cent a year, yet sensible purchasing using a card can mean that you obtain up to seven weeks, interest-free credit.Using the card abroad, where items frequently take a long time to be included on your account, can extend this period even further.
It is worthwhile shopping around before deciding on a particular credit card. It is necessary to consider the amount of credit granted; interest rates, which may vary slightly; the number and range of outlets（经销店）, though most cards cover major garages, hotels, restaurants and department stores; and of course, what happens if your card is lost or stolen.A credit card thief may be sitting on a potential goldmine particularly if there is a delay in reporting the loss of the card.
However, if used wisely, a credit card can cost nothing, or at least help to tide you over a period of financial difficulty.

1. 1.

   The hotheaded are people who ________.

   1. A.
      spend more money than they have
   2. B.
      spend less money than other people
   3. C.
      save money
   4. D.
      make money
2. 2.

   The disadvantage of credit cards is ________.

   1. A.
      to enable you to buy things without carrying large amount of cash
   2. B.
      to encourage people to spend more money
   3. C.
      to be always useful in emergencies
   4. D.
      to help people tide over a period of financial difficulty
3. 3.

   Deciding on a particular credit, you do not have to consider ________.

   1. A.
      the amount of credit granted
   2. B.
      the number and range of outlets
   3. C.
      the possibility of loss of money
   4. D.
      the department stores where you are going to use your credit cards
4. 4.

   The underlined words in the last paragraph probably means ________.

   1. A.
      floating with the tide of
   2. B.
      going through a difficult period of
   3. C.
      rising and falling with the tide of
   4. D.
      attempting to go against the tide of

More than 27,000 people from around the UK set off at dawn from London to begin the cycle route through Surrey to the Sussex coast.

The annual（一年一度的）54-mile ride raises money for the British Heart Foundation（BHF）  and is Europe’s largest charity cycling event. Cyclists began the exhausting journey at Clapham Common at 6 a. m. , hoping to reach Brighton seafront within an average of six hours.

Money from today's event will help the charity to continue its vital work through heart research and the development of its care and support services. Among those taking part was BBC Breakfast's resident（居民）Dr Rosemary Leonard and several colleagues.

BHF spokeswoman Gemma Cloke said, “It was quite cold this morning, but everyone set off without any problems.” Those taking part range in age from 14 to those in their 70s. Last year cyclists raised￡4. 1 million for the charity, and have raised more than￡50 million since the BHF became involved in the event in 1980. The first ride was held in 1976. It is hoped this year's fund raising total could reach￡4. 5 million. She added : “We have a lot of people taking part, from the more experienced cyclists to those cycling with friends and family in memory of someone and to raise money through sponsorship.”

“People are always pleased knowing the money is going to a good cause. There is so much support along the route, with local residents watching the ride. ”

“One of the highlights for participants（参加者）is coming along the seafront while people are clapping, which can really help when they've been in the saddle (自行车车座) for a long time. ”

51. What can we know about the cycling event from the text?

A. It is the world’s largest charity cycling event.

B. Cyclists may raise more money than last year.

C. The first event was held by the BHF in 1980.

D. The route of the event is 54 kilometers long.

52. What can we learn from what Gemma Cloke said?

A. Cyclists will receive encouragement from local people.

B. Some people doubt whether the money is properly used.

C. Most of the cyclists are professional.

D. Local people have little interest in cycling events.

53. The local residents’ attitude towards the ride is         .

A. doubtful               B. unconcerned       C. worried          D. supportive

54. What is the text mainly about?

A. Cyclists have raised over￡50 million for the BHF.

B. More than 27,000 people like travelling by bike in the UK.

C. Charity cycling event wins support from local people.

D. More than 27,000 people in the UK join in the charity bike ride.

Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural (乡下的) areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.

In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, too. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.

In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see many huge skyscrapers (摩天大楼) and office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.

But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.

1.The underlined phrase “a residential area” means an area ________.

A. where people can buy things             

B. which is near a city center

C. where people can do business            

D. which is suitable for living in

2.Why do people move to live in cities or towns?

A. Because they can live more comfortably there.    

B. Because they mainly want to find work there.

C. Because they are sure of having a better life there.

D. Because they like noisy life better than peaceful life.

3.What can we know about the business district?

A. Big companies usually have their main offices in the business district.

B. People usually work and live in the skyscrapers in the cities.

C. A business district usually lies not far away from the city center downtown.

D. It’s reasonable for a business district without a park for children to play in.

4.We can infer that this movement from rural to urban areas ________.

A. has been going on for more than 2,000 years 

B. will surely continue in the future

C. may not continue in the future              

D. has now stopped already