In the 19th century, Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing “the Great American Desert” in the western part of the United States by horse and wagon.
The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat, sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and on TV.
In Arizona, man-made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake.
There are few roads. Many areas of Lake Powell’s shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks.
In Death Valley, California, the summer temperature rises to 130°F—165°F. There is less than inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---925 metres below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.
Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant (very bright) colours.
小題1:In the 19th century, Americans moved from east to west because they            .
A．enjoyed the tripB．wanted to make their home there
C．wanted to find new grassland thereD．had no water to drink
小題2:From this passage. we can conclude that         .
A．the western desert is a good place for people to live in
B．there is little water but there are many trees in the desert
C．the desert is dangerous but it is full of beauty
D．till now, people know little about the desert
小題3:In the 1800s, many travelers died in Death Valley because of            .
A．illnessB．high temperature
C．cold weatherD．poisonous water
小題4:In the desert, animals will die           .
A．if they move aboutB．if they can’t make holes underground
C．if they come out at nightD．if they drink much water

小題1:B
小題1:C
小題1:B
小題1:B

小題1:推理題:從文章第一段的In the 19th century, Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific Coast.可知他們是想在西部安家.選 B
小題1:推理題:從文章第二段的句子:The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty.說(shuō)明答案是 C
小題1:從第四段的句子:In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat.可知他們因?yàn)榭釤岫?答案是B
小題1:細(xì)節(jié)題:從最后一段的句子:Snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live underground and come out at night, when it is cool.看出如果不會(huì)打洞,動(dòng)物就會(huì)死.選B
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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“We do look very different; we’re older. Leo’s 38, I’m 37. We were 21 and 22 when we made that film. You know, he’s fatter now -- I’m thinner.” So says Kate Winslet, who is thrilled at the 3-D re-release of Titanic to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the ship’s demise. “It happens every time I get on any boat of any kind." She recalls. There are all the people who want her to walk to the front of the ship and re-create her famous pose, arms flung wide. Most people remember the tragedy: The British passenger ship—said to be unsinkable—hit an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912, during its maiden voyage from England to New York City. More than 1,500 people died. But little known is what the world learned from the sinking to prevent future incidents.
Probably the greatest deficiency (不足) of the Titanic was that she was built 40 years before the widespread use of the wonderful invention radar (雷達(dá)). Her only defense against icebergs and hidden obstacles was to rely on manned lookouts. On that fateful night the eyesight of trained lookouts only provided 37 seconds of warning before the collision.
Traveling at nearly 30 miles an hour, the Titanic was moving far too fast to avoid the huge iceberg. The warning did prevent a head-on collision as the officer on the bridge managed to turn the ship slightly.
The last ship to which it could send an SOS message was the California. She was within ten miles of the Titanic during the disaster, but her radio operator went to bed at midnight and never received any of the SOS messages from the Titanic. That was one of the important lessons learned from the catastrophe, the need for 24-hour radio operators on all passenger liners.
Another lesson learned was the need for more lifeboats. The Titanic remained afloat (漂浮) for almost three hours and most of the passengers could have been saved with enough lifeboats.
1,500 passengers and workers died in the 28 degree waters of the Atlantic. Out of the tragedy, the sinking did produce some important maritime reforms. The winter travel routes were changed to the south and the Coast Guard began to keep an eye on the location of all icebergs. The new rules for lifeboats were obvious to all. There must be enough lifeboats for everybody on board.
The most important lesson learned was that no one would ever again consider a ship unsinkable—no matter how large or how well constructed. Never again would sailors place their faith in a ship above the power of the sea.
小題1:The text mainly tells us ______.
A．the reason why the Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean
B．how the unsinkable ship of Titanic sank in the Atlantic Ocean
C．the lessons that we could learn from the accident of the Titanic
D．the things we should do to protect the lives on the ship
小題2:According to the passage, which of the following could we infer?
A．If the captain had been more careful, he could have had the chance to save the Titanic.
B．If radar had existed 40 years ago, the Titanic would have never disappeared from the world.
C．If the lookout had had much more experience, he could have had the time to save the Titanic.
D．If there had been enough lifeboats on the Titanic, the Titanic would not have sunk in the Atlantic.
小題3:What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Lessons from the TitanicB．Technology is Important
C．Demands of PassengersD．Power of Sea
小題4:What’s the sailors’ attitude towards the ships after the tragedy?
A．They think there really exists the unsinkable ship.
B．They think ships could eventually defeat the sea.
C．They think there is no power that could control the sea.
D．They think the bigger the ship is, the safer it is.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

For the first time in Hong Kong’s history, an entertainer has been written into middle school textbooks. He is considered one of the best actors in Hong Kong. Yes, he is Chow Yun-fat.
The example of his long hard struggle for success has been used in a chapter in a Hong Kong middle school textbook. Using his experience, students can learn to make the most of their time and to grab every opportunity to succeed．
On hearing about this, Chow said happily, “I really hope that my experiences can make young people understand that one should not be afraid of difficulties and setbacks (挫折), for they are the only way to success.”
Indeed, Chow has travelled a long and difficult path to reach his success. In 1955, he was born into a poor family in Hong Kong. When he was 17, he had to leave school. He worked in a number of jobs—as a postman, camera salesman and taxi driver. These experiences paved (鋪路) the way for him to play all kinds of roles later in life.
Chow broke into the film industry in the late 1970s. He was one of the hardest working actors and starred in a number of popular TV dramas and films including “Shanghai Bund”(《上海灘》) and “A Better Tomorrow”. Since 1985, he has won many awards including Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards and Hong Kong Film Awards.
In 1995, he went to Hollywood. Although he was already over 40, he had to learn English. He even put chopsticks in his mouth to practise pronouncing certain sounds. His film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, began to gain him more fame and recognition around the world. In 1998, the mayor of Chicago set aside January 12 as “Chow Yun-fat Day”.
小題1:Chow Yun-fat has been written into middle school textbooks mainly because ________.
A．he plays best in Hong Kong
B．he keeps on struggling for success
C．his experiences are very special
D．he is well thought of
小題2:Chow felt ________ when he learned that he had been written into middle school textbooks.
A．surprisedB．shyC．sadD．happy
小題3:What can we infer from the passage?
A．Chow Yun-fat is proud of his success.
B．Chow Yun-fat prefers to make a living by selling cameras rather than by performing.
C．Chow Yun-fat has won more awards than other actors.
D．Chow Yun-fat is popular both at home and abroad.
小題4:The underlined sentence (in paragraph 6) suggests ________.
A．chopsticks is of great help to practise English pronunciation
B．Chow Yun-fat is willing to struggle with difficulties
C．Chow Yun-fat has suffered a lot before he went to Hollywood
D．it is hard for a person who is over 40 years old to learn spoken English
小題5:The author wrote this passage to ________.
A．introduce Chow’s films
B．praise Chow for his excellent performance
C．call on people to learn from Chow
D．show why Chow is popular

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage (短缺) of work , forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly. Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the Greeks”. Since independence, Ireland has revived(復(fù)興) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish song which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
小題1:What does the author tell us in paragraph 1?
A．How the Irish fought against the English.
B．How Ireland gained independence.
C．How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland.
D．How two “Irelands” came into being..
小題2:We learn from the text that in Ireland            .
A．food shortages in the 1840s led to a decrease in population
B．people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside
C．it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker
D．different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments
小題3:The last paragraph is mainly about               .
A．the Irish characterB．Irish culture
C．Irish musical instrumentsD．a(chǎn) famous Irish writer
小題4: What can be the best title for the text?
A．Life in Ireland
B．A Very Difficult History
C．Ireland, Past and Present
D．The Independence of Ireland

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

There are some great differences between the traditional family and the modern family.
The first important difference is in the man’s role.The traditional husband was the head of the household because he was the only one who worked outside the home.If the wife worked for money,then the husband was not considered to be a good provider,In many families today,both husband and wife work for money.Therefore,they share the role of head of household.In addition,the traditional husband usually made big decisions about spending money.However,the modern husband shares these decisions with his working wife.Also,the traditional husband did not help his wife with housework or meal preparation.  Dinner was ready when he came home,In contrast,the modern husband helps his working wife at home.He may do some of the household chores,and it is not unusual for him to cook.
The second difference is in the woman’s role. In the traditional family,the woman may have worked for miney during her first years of marriage.However,when she gave birth,she would usually give up her job. Her primary role would be to take care of her family and home.In contrast,in many families today,the modern woman works outside the home even after she has children .She’s doing two jobs instead of one,so she is busier than the traditional mother was.The traditional wife learned to live within her husband’s income.But the modern wife does not have to because the family has two incomes.
The final difference is in the role of the children .In the traditional family,the children were taken care of by the mother because she didn’t work outside.However,today pre-school children may go to a child-care center or to a baby-sitter regularly because the mother works.The school-age children of a traditional family were more dependent.Their mother was there to help them get ready for school and to make their breakfast.In conrtast,modern children are more independent.They have to get up early and get ready for school themselves,and they may even have to make their own breakfast.
小題1:The main idea of the passage is        .
A．the change of the American society
B．the change of the American children
C．the change of the American family
D．the change of the American adults
小題2:In the past,if the husband let his wife get a job,        .
A．people would not think highly of his wife
B．people would think little of him
C．people would refuse to be friends with him
D．people would look up to him
小題3:The husband in the modern family         .
A．is still the boss of the family who decides all of the important things
B．lets the wife make all of the decisions alone
C．shares big decisions with his working wife
D．no longer works for money because the wife is working
小題4:According to the passage,which of the following is true?
A．The husband in the modern family does a lot of housework except cooking.
B．Modern wives have more free time because their husbands share housework.
C．Modern wives no longer cook dinners for husbands.
D．It’s common for men to buy dishes,send children to school ,and even cook in a modern family.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Maupassant（居·莫泊桑）was born in 1850 in northern France. His early life was not happy. His parents separated when he was 11. Most of his education came informally from Gustave Flaubert—his mother’s friend and his godfather, a journalist and novelist. Often Flaubert would let him take a walk and then ask him to write 100 lines about what he saw. This type of training developed in Maupassant a sense of observation, which he later put to use in his writing. Flaubert also allowed Maupassant to attend his Sunday gatherings with others in his literary circle
For a few years, Maupassant was connected with the Ministry of Public Instruction. It is interesting to note that Monsieur Loisel, a poor man character in The Necklace, worked there. He also served in the French army during the Franco-Prussian War. His favorite writing subjects were peasants, servants, in the city, and the Francd-Prussian War.
At an early age, Maupassant started writing short stories. In 1880, some of his works were published and he received a wide reputation for Boule de Suif (Ball of Tallow). With this success, he began to work full-time on writing. During the next ten years, he wrote over 300 stories, including six novels, three travel books, and a book of verse. Through them, he earn a lot of money.
His writing was classical and simple, avoiding social comments and dirty details. His works often showed a real world and an accurate knowledge of the subject. Although Maupassant wrote in many forms, he received widest recognition for his short stories. By 1890, Maupassant was suffering from the latter staged of syphilis（梅毒）. He died in 1893 in Paris.
小題1: Which of the following is TRUE about Gustave Flaubert?
A．He often went out for a walk with Maupassant.
B．He was a journalist and novelist working for church.
C．He had a great influence on Maupassant’s writing..
D．He often helped Maupassant with his writing homework.
小題2: From text we know Monsieur Loisel is _______.
A．a(chǎn) man selling necklaces
B．a(chǎn) character in one of Maupassant’s works.
C．a(chǎn) short story written by Maupassant
D．a(chǎn) friend of Maupassant the Ministry of Public Instruction
小題3: What are the characteristics of Maupassant’s stories?
A．They have few social comments.
B．They are simple and humorous.
C．They only focus on the lives of peasants.
D．They are full of imagination.
小題4:What can we learn about Maupassant from the text?
A．Only in his 30s did he begin to write stories.
B．He did not received any formal education.
C．He spent his last years happily.
D．Boule de Suif was his first success.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

As we all know，it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence (獨(dú)立宣言)．He wrote it in two weeks，and after a few changes，it was accepted by the Congress．As a result，he became famous in America's history．
Born in Virginia，Thomas Jefferson，a brilliant student at school and almost talented lawyer later，was much interested in politics.
Jefferson was elected Governor of Virginia in 1779，and he was sent to France as the Representative of the American Government in 1784．Sixteen years later，at the age of 57，he was elected president after Washington and Adams．
Far from a handsome man，he was is tall with long arms and big hands．Jefferson，who was an amusing talker in conversation，but a poor speaker，was generally good-natured．
Jefferson was regarded as a defender(捍衛(wèi)者)of freedom Of America．As a president，he protected the right of speech．Interestingly enough，in his eight years as president，：Jefferson never said “No” to a bill(議案)which the Congress had passed．He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia．
Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth，1826，the fiftieth anniversary of America’s independence．  
小題1:
We are most likely to read this passage in            ．
A．a(chǎn) daily newspaperB．a(chǎn) popular advertisement
C．a(chǎn) hi story bookD．a(chǎn)n important notice
小題2:
Which of the following statements about Jefferson’s personality is true?
A．He was a shy and slow learner when he was at school．
B．He was not an easy person to get along with at all
C．He was not only very talented but also very handsome．
D．He was an amusing talker，but not good at speaking in public．
小題3:
Jefferson’s greatest contribution in America’history is that              ．
A．he was for the right of free speech
B．he was sent to France as the Representative
C． he wrote the Declaration of Independence
D．he organized the new University of Virginia
小題4:
Thomas Jefferson was elected president of the United States in the year of         .
A．1779B．1784C．1800D．1826

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Everyday, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world’s population will be using it. What are we talking about? That global language—English.
The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German. Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.
Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean . Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India. Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.
But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about "burgers". "fries" and "milkshakes". Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!
English is a messy (雜亂的) language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as "blogging", "download" and "chatroom". Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know "cool", "OK" and “hello” ?
Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like "cafe" and expressions like "c'est la vie" (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like "le weekend" and "le camping". German words are also part of English. Words like "kindergarten" come from the German language.
Recently, British people have become interested in "yoga". But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.
小題1:The English language has a history of  ______.
A．over 2000 yearsB．over 500 yearsC．over 1500 yearsD．over 1000 years
小題2:The underlined expression “thanks to ” can be replaced by ______.
A．because ofB．thankful toC．not untilD．a(chǎn)s if.
小題3:Which of the following statements is true about the language of English ?
A．It has been changing all the time.
B．It has borrowed words from all the other languages.
C．French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.
D．Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.
小題4: Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except______.
A．the USAB．NigeriaC．the PhilippinesD．Norway

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


PART THREE: READING COMPREHENSION (30分)
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage.
A
At dawn on Friday, May 19, 1780, farmers in New England stopped to wonder at the pink color of the sun. By noon the sky had darkened to midnight blackness, causing Americans, still in the painful struggle of a prolonged war of independence, to light candles and tremble at thoughts of the Last Judgment. As the birds quieted and no storm accompanied the darkness, men and women crowded into churches, where one minister commented that “The people were very attentive.” John Greenleaf Whittier later wrote that “Men prayed, and women wept; all ears grew sharp . . .”
A recent study of researchers, led by Richard Guyette from the University of Missouri’s Tree Ring Laboratory, has shown that vast forest fires in the Algonquin Highlands of southern Ontario and elsewhere in Canada brought this event upon New England. The scientists have discovered “fire scars” on the rings for that year, left when the heat of a wildfire has killed a part of a tree’s cambium (形成層). Evidence collected also points to a drought that year. An easterly wind and low barometric pressure (低氣壓) helped force smoke into the upper atmosphere. “The record fits pretty close,” says Guyette. “We had the right fuel, the drought. The conditions were all there.”
Lacking the ability to communicate quickly over long distances, Americans in 1780 remained in the dark about the event, which had disappeared by the next day. Over the next several months, the papers carried heated debates about what brought the darkness. Some were the voices of angry prediction, such as one Massachusetts farmer who wrote, “Oh! Backsliding New-England, attend now to the things which belong to your peace before they are forever hid from your eyes.” Others gave different answers. One stated that a “flaming star” had passed between the earth and the sun. Ash, argued another commentator. The debate, carried on throughout New England, where there were no scientific journals or academies yet, reflected an unfolding culture of scientific enquiry already sweeping the Western world, a revolution nearly as influential as the war for independence from the English.
New Englanders would not soon forget that dark day; it lived on in folklore, poems, and sermons for generations.
56. New Englanders crowded into churches because they were frightened by         .
A. the pink color of the sun      B. the darkened sky at daytime
C. the Last Judgment on Friday    D. the American War of Independence
57. What can we infer about the event in New England on May 19, 1780?
A. Prayers remained silent and attentive.
B. Night birds no longer came out to sing.
C. People’s ears became sharper than usual.
D. Midday meals were served by candlelight.
58. According to the researchers, the origin of the event was         .
A. an east wind                B. a severe drought
C. some burning fuel            D. low barometric pressure
59. What can we know about the debates after the dark day?
A. They focused on causes of the event.
B. They swept throughout the Western world.
C. They were organized by scientific institutions.
D. They improved Americans’ ability to communicate.
60. What can be the best title for the text?
A. New England’s dark day.  B. Voices of angry prediction.
C. There is no smoke without fire.       D. Tree rings and scientific discovery.

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