75．The writer seems to believe that Asian governments should＿＿＿．

A．let women stay at home and have a baby

B．allow only one of the parents to go out to work

C．care for the growing needs of women for jobs

D．punish the companies that permit women to leave

答案　 72.A　 73.D　 74.D　 75.C

Passage 31

(08·北京C篇)

Dear Hamilton,

　　 We are fortunate that in such a large, high-pressure office we all get along so well. You are one of the people who keep the social temperature at such a comfortable setting. I don’t know anyone in the office who is better liked than you.

　　 You can perhaps help with this. The collection of contributions towards gifts for employees’ personal-life events is becoming a little troubling. Certainly, the group sending of a gift is reasonable now and then. In the past month, however, there have been collections for two baby shower gifts, one wedding shower gift, two wedding gifts, one funeral(葬礼)remembrance, four birthday gifts, and three graduation gifts.

　 It’s not only the collected-from who are growing uncomfortable (and poor), but the collected-for feel uneasy receiving gifts from people who don’t know them outside the office, who wouldn’t even recognize their graduating children, their marrying daughters and sons, or their dead relatives.

　　 This is basically a kind gesture (and one that people think well of you for), but the practice seems to have become too wide-ranging and feels improper in today’s office setting.

　　 Thank you for understanding.

74．To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten，how much will a couple pay each

year?

A．$5,000．　　 B．$5,900．　　 C．$10,800．　 D．$15,800.

73．According to the passage，which of the following is true?

A．It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia．

B．The prices of houses in Asia are quite low now．

C．Fewer and fewer married women want to have a job．

D．The word“DINKS”first appeared in an Asian country．

72．What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

A．The small number of newborn babies.

B．The changing social situation of women．

C．The high prices of houses and education．

D．The necessary steps of Asian governments．

67．Why does the author write this passage?

A．To tell people where to find gyms．

B．To prove the basic need for climbing．

C．To encourage people to climb mountains．

D．To introduce the sport of wall climbing．

答案　 64.A　 65.B　 66.B　 67.D

Passage 30

(08·安徽E篇)

The small number of newborn babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia．When people talk about it，you can hear a word invented in Japan，“DINKS”，which means Double Income No Kids(小孩)．

In many major Asian cities like Seoul，Singapore，and Tokyo，the cost of a house is extremely high．A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $300,000(though prices have fallen)．For a flat with one bedroom，one dining-room，a kitchen，and a bathroom，the couple will pay about $900 a month.What’s more，if they want to have a child，the child’s education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5,000 a year．In such a situation，it’s difficult to afford children.

The number of married women who want to continue working increases rapidly because they enjoy their jobs. However，if they want to have children，they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby，they expect women with babies to give up their jobs．In short，if they want to bring up children properly，both parents have to work，but it is hard for mothers to work．Indeed，women who want to continue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs.

In a word，Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

66．The word“workout”underlined in the last paragraph most probably means　　　 ．

A．settlement　　 　　　　　 B．exercise　　 　　　　　 C．excitement 　　　　　　 D．tiredness

65．The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is　　　　 ．

A．to tie ropes to your harness　　 　　　　　　　　　　 B．to control your fear

C．to move away from the wall 　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．to climb straight up

64．What can we infer from the passage?

A．People are fairly interested in climbing nowadays．

B．It is impossible to build up one’s body by climbing．

C．People can only learn the skill of climbing outdoors．

D．It is always easy to see holding places in climbing．

59．How is the passage mainly developed?

A．By inferring．　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．By comparing.

C．By listing examples．　 　　　　　　　　 D．By giving explanations．

答案　 56.C　 57.D　 58.A　 59.B

Passage 29

(08·安徽C篇)

People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb，you’re wrong.　 Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(体育馆). Here，people are learning on special climbing walls．The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet．

How do people climb the wall? To climb，you need special shoes and a harness(保护带)around your chest to hold you．There are ropes(绳索)tied to your harness．The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall．A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high，and you climb straight up．There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to．Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal．Sometimes, it’s not．The most difficult part is to control your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel

fear. But when you move away from the wall，the harness and the ropes hold you，and you begin to feel safe．You move slowly until you reach the top．

Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body，especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb，both your mind and your body can become stronger．

58．In the passage，the writer tries to＿＿＿＿.

A．express his opinions about way of life

B．describe his life in the countryside

C．show an interest in the outside world

D．persuade the reader to live in the city