In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated (孤立) us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with more real people than expected — helpful people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions.

Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone and together with other people — at the same time!

73. The underlined phrase “networked individualism” probably means that by using computers people ________.

   A. stick to their own ways no matter what other people say

   B. have the rights and freedom to do things of their own interest

   C. do things in their own ways and express opinions different from other people

   D. are able to keep to themselves but at the same time reach out to other people

74. According to the Pew study, what do many people rely on to make major life decisions?

   A. Networks.            B. Friends.               C. Phones.               D. Parents.

75. It can be inferred from the Pew study that _______.

   A. people have been separated from each other by using computers

   B. the Internet makes people waste a lot of time and feel very lonely

   C. the Internet has become a tool for a new kind of social communication

   D. a lot of people regard the person-to-person communication as a good thing

76. Which would be the best title for this passage?

   A. We’re Alone on the Internet.

   B. We’re Communicating on the Internet.

   C. We’re Alone Together on the Internet.

   D. We’re in the Imaginary World of the Internet.

Compassion is a desire within us to help others. With effort, we can translate compassion into actions. An experience last weekend showed me this is true. I work part-time in a supermarket across from a building for the elderly. These old people are our main customers, and it’s not hard to lose patience over their slowness. But last Sunday, one aged gentleman appeared to teach me a valuable lesson. This untidy and shabby (寒酸的) man walked up to my register（收款機(jī)）with a box of biscuits. He said he was out of cash, had just moved into his room, and had nothing in his cupboards. He asked if we could let him have the food on trust. He promised to repay me the next day.
    I couldn’t help staring at him. I wondered what kind of person he had been ten or twenty years before, and what he would be like if luck had gone his way. I had a hurt in my heart for this kind of human soul, all alone in the world. I told him that I was sorry, but store rules didn’t allow me to do so. I felt stupid and unkind saying this, but I valued my job.
    Just then, another man, standing behind the first, spoke up. If anything, he looked more pitiable. “Charge it to me, ” was all he said.
    What I had been feeling was pity. Pity is soft and safe and easy. Compassion, on the other hand, is caring in action. I thanked the second man but told him that was not allowed either. Then I reached into my pocket and paid for the biscuits myself. I reached into my pocket because these two men had reached into my heart and taught me compassion.
70. The aged gentleman who wanted to buy the biscuits_________.
A. promised to obey the store rules     
B. forgot to take any money with him
C. hoped to have the food first and pay later
D. could not afford anything more expensive
71. Which of the following best describes the old gentleman?
A. kind and lucky     B. poor and lonely    C. friendly and helpful       D. hurt and disappointed
72. What does the writer learn from his experience?
A. Wealth is more important than anything else
B. Helping others is easier said than done
C. Experience is better gained through practice
D. Obeying the rules means more than compassion.

Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
                           --- Reported by Sheila Carrick

66. The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that ______.
A. wild animals have become more dangerous
B. the driving conditions have improved greatly
C. the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work
D. an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents
67. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is _______.
A. an underground path for cars                 B. a fence built for the safety of the area
C. a bridge for animals to get over a river      D. a pass for animals to cross the road
68. When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, he means _______.
A. animals begin to realize the dangers on the road
B. animals begin to learn to use ecopassages                    
C. animals are crossing the road in groups
D. animals are increasing in number
69. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.
A. wild animals may attack cars               B. wild animals may jam the road
C. they may see wild animals in the park    D. they may see wild animals on ecopassages

As I entered the already crowded church, my stomach jumped. What if I  46  how to play my piece? What if I skipped a note? My parents gave me a look of  47  as I sat at my place. I kept looking over at my parents and they would smile back at me  48  . Dad started to unpack the seen-too-often video camera. How I  49  that thing! It makes me nervous. Dad pulls it out constantly!

This is my night, I thought to myself as Mrs. Depperman introduced the  50  . This is the night I could really  51  them. I had to play perfectly. I noticed that we were all seated according to our  52  to play. I was number fourteen and there were 1, 2, 3...twenty-two students here, which  53  I was about in the middle. Well, that wasn’t so bad. I couldn’t  54  to hear the last two performers. They were  55  to be the best……

I am next! I played the  56  of my pieces in my head. I was playing a sonatina (小奏鳴曲) and a contemporary piece. I knew them by  57 , which helped. I can play them with my eyes closed. This should not be  58 , I thought, reassuring myself. It seemed as if I had gone through  59  seems to be a long time before the girl finished. Then it was my  60  ……

I stood up, walked toward the piano, and  61  my fingertips on the ivory keys. I waited a couple of seconds and  62  into the deep waters of my piece. With each note my confidence grew. By the end of my piece, I even  63  myself in Symphony Hall with the audience cheering up! I was completely  64  in my piece. When I was finished, I stood up from the bench, smiled confidently, and bowed. I felt  65  ! I was actually proud of myself. My first recital went well.

46. A. mentioned          B. forgot               C. remembered      D. neglected

47. A. strength                   B. doubt                C. confidence        D. power

48. A. proudly             B. sadly                 C. wildly               D. bravely

49. A. enjoy                  B. appreciate          C. admire                     D. dislike

50. A. schedule             B. plan                  C. program            D. calendar

51. A. terrify               B. impress             C. shock            D. remind

52. A. ages                 B. grades               C. orders               D. levels

53. A. meant                 B. reflected            C. explained           D. confirmed

54. A. stay                  B. wait                  C. delay                 D. expect

55. A. arranged           B. designed            C. supposed           D. guessed

56. A. records             B. instruments        C. remarks            D. notes

57. A. heart                 B. head                 C. hand                 D. mind

58. A. natural                B. difficult             C. calm                 D. comfortable

59. A. that                  B. it                      C. what                 D. which

60. A. turn                  B. circle                C. command          D. control

61. A. focused                     B. fixed                 C. set                    D. placed

62. A. fell                            B. dived                 C. dropped            D. drove

63. A. introduced         B. described           C. imagined           D. faced

64. A. involved            B. included            C. confused           D. puzzled

65. A. moved                B. excited              C. worried             D. surprised

 When the news came __________ the war broke out, he decided to serve in the army.

A. since            B. which           C. that            D. because

 The little girl is gifted at music and thus she can ________ the techniques to play different musical instruments quickly.

A. go ahead with     B. get the hang of   C. settle in           D. catch sight of      

 The statue standing in the middle of the square has been built ________ those who gave their lives for people but expected nothing________.

A. in memory of; in return                     B. with memory of; for return  

C. in honor of; in award                       D. with honor of; in reward   

 The hunter ________ his gun against the tree and ________ down for a rest.

A. laid; lay               B. lay; laid          C. laid; lain         D. lied; lay     

 He couldn’t ______ the fact that the money was found in his house.

A. answer for          B. leave for            C. account for      D. care for 

 The bill would ______ workers twelve weeks of unpaid leave for family emergencies.    

A. permit                B. supply           C. admit              D. provide