‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ because ‘Jones’ is a very common name in the United States.’ Keeping up with the Joneses’ came to mean keeping up with rich lifestyle of the people around you. Momand’s series appeared in different newspapers across the country for over 28 years.

People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are ‘Jonses’ in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.

1. Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ______.

A. want to be as rich as their neighbours B. want others to know or to think that they are rich C. don’t want others to know they are rich D. want to be happy 2. It can be inferred from the story that rich people like to ________. A. live outside New York City B. live in New York City C. live in apartments D. have many neighbours

3. The underlined word neighbourhood in the second paragraph means ________. A. a person who lives near another B. people living in an area C. an area near the place referred to D. an area in another town or city

4. Arthur Momand used the name ‘Jones’ in his series of short stories because’ Jones’ is ________. A. an important name B. a popular name in the United States C. his neighbour’s name D. not a good name 5. According to the writer, it is to keep up with the Joneses. A. correct B. interesting C. impossible D. good 56、（1分）

Precipitation, commonly referred to as rainfall(降雨量), is a measure of the quantity of water in the form of either rain, hall(雹子), or snow which reaches the ground, The average annual(每年的) precipitation over the whole of the United States is thirty-six inches. It should be understood, however, that a foot of snow is not equal to a foot of precipitation. A general formula(公式) for computing the precipitation of snowfall(降雪量) is that thirty-- eight inches of snow is equal to one inch of precipitation. In New York State, for example, seventy-six inches of snow in one year would be recorded as only two inches of precipitation. The total annual precipitation Forty inches of rain would be recorded as forty inches of precipitation. The total annual precipitation would be recorded as forty-two inches.

1. The word “precipitation” includes _____.

A. only rainfall B. rain, hail, and snow C. rain, snow, and fog D. rain, snow, and ice 2. What is the average annual rainfall in inches in the United States?

A. Thirty-six inches B. Thirty-eight inchesC. Forty inches D. Forty-two inches

3. If a state has 152 inches of snow in a year. by how much does this increase the annual precipitation? A. By two feet B. By four inches C, By four feet D. By 152 inches 4. Another word which is often used in place of precipitation is ______. A. wetness B. snowfall C. rainfall D. dryness 57、（1分）

Driving a car at high speed along a highway seems to be fun. You need only to follow the bright traffic(交通) signs beside the highways and it will take you to where you wish.

But to a London taxi driver, driving is not an easy job. A taxi driver has to have not only good driving skills but also a good knowledge of the city of a London, from the smallest lane(小巷) to the most popular bar(酒吧) around. He has to be at the service of all kinds of passengers at all times. A certain London taxi driver told of his job as follows.

During the night it is quite usual for him to stop two or three times for some refreshments (点心). He said. “I never drink when I’m working ---- I would lose my licence(执照).”

He normally goes home between 2 and 3 O’clock in the night, There are times he has to stay longer and try to make more runs. He said, “That’s the worst thing about working for yourself. If you don’t make the money , no one is going to give it to you.”

London taxi drivers not only ‘take’ but also ‘give’ , Every summer hundreds of children from London will go for a day at the sea--- by taxi! Their rides are paid by the taxi drivers, and these fares(车费) all go to the ‘London Taxi Fund for Underprivileged Children.’ At the sea. they are met by the mayor, and a lunch party is also held in honour of the taxi drivers and the children. After a happy day running around the sea beaches and visiting the market, the children go home again-- by taxi, and free of charge, of course! 1. To be a London driver is not easy because ______.

A. he has to follow the bright traffic signsB. he has to have good driving skills and know all the places in the city C. he has to serve all kinds of passengers at all timesD. both B. and C 2. The London taxi drivers _______.

A. work hard because on one would give them money for doing nothing B. never stop driving in the city C. only work between 2 and 3 o’clock in the night D. are very rich 3. The author of the passage says that _______.

A. the taxi driver works longer than is necessary B. the more runs the taxi driver makes, the more he gets C. the taxi driver doesn’t like to work for others

D. the taxi drivers in the city not only take money but also give money 4. London taxi driver _______.

A. take money because they have to pay for the children’s rideB. go to the sea for a day in the summer

C. pay the fares for the poor children to the sea for a day once every year D. give the poor children a free ride for a day at the sea once every year 5. The underlined words Underprivileged Children mean children _______. A. of low income families B. who like to travel in taxi C. who wish to go to sea but have no money D. from London 58、（1分）

People living in the country enjoy several advantages that people living in the city cannot enjoy.

They are in close contact (接触) with nature. They make friends with trees and stones. owns can dogs. They breathe fresh air. They fight with strong winds. They listen to the song of birds.

This contact with nature is good for health. There are many diseases that are common in the city, but are not to be found in the country, For example, near---sightedness is almost unknown to country people.

Because of the absence of cars, one can walk more freely in the country than in the city, There are no rules of the road nor traffic signs to obey.

People living in the country can easily get fresh vegetables, fresh fruit and fresh milk, Are they get them at lower prices than in the city.

Country life is economical (节俭的) in other ways, too. There are practically no temptations to waste money.

Country people are mostly honest. They say what they mean, and make and keep promises with sincerity (诚意). They do not put on air (摆架子). They do not pretend to have those ridiculous (荒谬的) manners which are necessary in what we call polite society. 1. What can’t country people often enjoy?

A. Musical concerts. B. Fresh air. C. Song of birds. D. Close contact with nature. 2. What is probably more expensive in the country than in the city?

A. Vegetables. B. Beer. C. Milk. D. Fruit. 3. What is NOT true of country life?

A. The traffic accident rate is very high in the country. B. Living in the country saves one a lot of money. C. Country people enjoy better health than the city people. D. Country people are honest. 4. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A. People living in the country enjoy no advantages. B. People living in the city are in close contact with nature.

C. People living in the country suffer from more diseases than those living in the city. D. The prices of farm products are lower in the country than in the city. 5. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. The Disadvantages of Living in the Country. B. The Expenses of Living in the Country. C. Country Life.D. Healthy Country People. 59、（1分）

One of the favorite foods in the United States is the hamburger(汉堡包), a kind of flat found bread with fine-cut beef(牛肉)in between. The favorite place to buy a hamburger is a fast food restaurant At fast food restaurants, people order their food, wait a few minutes to get it over the counter, and carry it to their tables themselves. People also take their food out of the restaurant and eat it in their cars or in their homes. At some fast food restaurants , people can order their food, pay for it and pick it up without leaving their cars.

There are many kinds of fast food restaurants in the United States, Most of the restaurants sell hamburgers or other popular foods among Americans, In addition(另外), there are many fast food restaurants that serve Chinese food, Italian food, chicken, seafood and ice-cream. The idea of a fast food restaurant is so popular that nearly every kind of food can be found in one.

Fast food restaurants are popular because they show the American way of life, First , they are not formal restaurants. People wear any type of dress when they go to a fast food place. Second, they are fast. People who are busy do not want to spend time preparing their food or waiting while someone else prepares it. In fast food restaurants the food is usually ready before the customer even orders it. Finally , most food in a fast food restaurant is not expensive. Therefore, people can often eat at a fast food restaurant without spending too much money, while they may not be able to go to more expensive restaurants very often. 1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? A. Chinese food is also served in some fast food restaurants. B. People can have almost every kind of food in fast food restaurants.

C. Fast food is usually expensive. D. Fast food can be taken out of the restaurants . 2. Fast food restaurants are popular because they _______ .

A. are many B. are fast C. are expensive restaurants D. serve expensive food 3. According to the writer, American people ______. A. are always busy B. prefer ordinary type of dress C. do not want to spend too much time preparing their food D. go to more expensive restaurant very often

4. According to the passage., the favorite restaurants in the U.S. are _____. A. the Chinese restaurants B. the fast food restaurants C. more expensive restaurants D. less expensive restaurants 5. The best title for this passage would be ______.

A. Fast Food Restaurants in the U.S B. The Favorite Food in the U.S

C. The American Way of Life D. Different kinds of Restaurants 60、（1分）

The following is a piece of international news in China Daily, March 13th, 1994.

A train derailment yesterday in this town just south of the capital, Brussels (布鲁塞尔), killed one passenger and hurt more than two dozen, some seriously, The officials said the cause of the derailment was being looked into.

1. The accident happened in .

A. Holland B. Beigium C. France D. Germany 2. According to the passage .

A. the accident was caused by the fact that on passenger was killed

B .the officials announced the cause of the accidentC. why the derailment happened was obvious D. the cause of the accident was yet to be found out

3. The underlined word derailment in this passage probably means _______. A. a train going off the rail B. two trains running into each other C. a train fire D. a train running over a passenger

4. The news tells us that passengers suffered from the accident.

A. 20 B. 24 C. more than a score of D. no more than twenty-one 5. The derailment happened .

A. on March 13th, 1994 B. on March 12th, 1994 C. quite often D. more terrible than it was reported 61、（1分）

It must have been around nine O’clock when I drove back home from work because it was already dark. As I came near to the gates I turned off the headlamps of the car so as to prevent the beam(光荣) from swinging(摇摆)in through the window and waking Jack, who shared the house with me. But needn’t have done so, I noticed that his light was still on, so he was awake anyway--- unless he had fallen asleep while reading. I put the car away and went up the steps, Then I opened the door quietly and went to Jack’s room. He was in bed awake but he didn’t even turn towards me. “What’s up, Jack?” I said.

“For God’s sake(看在上帝面上), don’t make a noise,” he said.

The way he spoke reminded me of someone in pain who is afraid to talk in case he does himself a serious injury(伤害).

“Take your shoes off, Neville,” Jack said.

I thought that he must be ill and that I had better humour (迁就)him to keep him happy, “There’s a snake here” he explained, “It’s asleep between the sheets. I was lying on my back reading when I saw it. I knew that