第三部分 阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Passage 1
The Information Highway is the road that links computer users to a large number of on-line services; the Web, e-mail, and software, to mention just a few. Not long ago, the information Highway was a new road, with not many users. Now, everyone seems to want to take a drive, with over 30 million families connected worldwide. Not surprisingly, this well-traveled highway is starting to look like a well-traveled highway. Traffic jams can cause many serious problems, forcing the system to close down for repair. Naturally, accidents will happen on such a crowed road, and usually victims are some files, gone forever. Then, of course, there's Mr. Cool, with his new broad-band connection, who speeds down the highway faster than most of us can do. But don't trick yourself; he pays for that speeding.
Passage 2
Want to know more about global warming and how you can help prevent it? Doctor Herman Friedman, who is considered a leading expert on the subject, will speak at Grayson Hall next Friday. Friedman studied environmental science at three well-known universities around the world before becoming a professor in the subject. He has also traveled around the world observing environmental concerns. The gradual bleaching (变白) of the Grate Barrier Reef, which came into the public eye in 2002, in his latest interest. Signed copies of his colorful book, which was published just last month, will be on sale after his talk.
56. The Information Highway ________.
A. is free from traffic accidents
B. is crowded with car drivers
C. offers just a few on-line services
D. appeals to a large number of users
57. How does Mr. Cool manage to travel the Information Highway so fast?
A. By storing fewer files.
B. By repair the system.
C. By buying a better computer.
D. By using a broad-band connection.
58. What can be learned from Passenger 2?
A. There will be a book show at Grayson Hall
B. Friedman is now studying the Great Barrier Reef.
C. There will be a talk on global warming this week.
D. Friedman is a leading expert on computer science.
59. Passenger 2 is most probably ________.
A. a poster about a lecture
B. an ad for a new book
C. a note to a doctor in a university
D. an introduction to a professor
B
Think about the different ways that people use the wind. You can use it to fly a kite or to sail a boat. Wind is one of our cleanest and richest power source(来源), as well as one of the oldest. Evidence shows that windmills(风车) began to be used in ancient Iran back in the seventh century BC. They were first introduced to Europe during the 1100s, when armies returned from the Middle East with knowledge of using wind power.
For many centuries, people used windmills to grind(磨碎) wheat into flour or pump water from deep underground. When electricity was discovered in the late 1800s, people living in remote areas began to use them to produce electricity. This allowed them to have electric lights and radio. However, by the1940s when electricity was available to people in almost all areas of the United States, windmills were rarely used.
During the 1970s, people started becoming concerned about the pollution that is created when coal and gas are burned to produce electricity. People also realized that the supply of coal and gas would not last forever. Then, wind was rediscovered, though it means higher costs. Today, there is a global movement to supply more and more of our electricity through the use of wind.
60. From the text we know that windmills ________.
A. were invented by European armies
B. have a history of more than 2800 years
C. used to supply power to radio in remote areas
D. have rarely been used since electricity was discovered
61. What was a new use for wind power in the late l9th century?
A. Sailing a boat.
B. Producing electricity.
C. Grinding wheat into flour.
D. Pumping water from underground.
62. One of the reasons wind was rediscovered in the 1970 is that ________.
A. wind power is cleaner
B. it is one of the oldest power sources
C. it was cheaper to create energy from wind
D. the supply of coal and gas failed to meet needs
63. What would the author probably discuss in the paragraph that follows?
A. The advantage of wind power.
B. The design of wind power plants.
C. The worldwide movement to save energy.
D. The global trend towards producing power from wind.