From their beginnings New England towns had a special democratic system of government. At a stated time all the citizens would assemble at a town meeting, where they would discuss local problems and express opinions freely. They also elected the town’s officials at these gatherings and made decisions about the taxes they would pay and about other community matters. These meetings were usually held at the town hall, which was located in the central square.
In the eighteenth-century town meetings, only men who owned property and who were church members actually voted, although everyone present was allowed to express their opinions. Later, all citizens were allowed to vote. Thus the town meeting became truly democratic. Town meetings are still common in New England communities.
In recent years the town meeting idea has been widely imitated. There are open sessions of this kind on radio and television. Occasionally a meeting of this type is called by a government agency in order to give an opportunity for free and open discussion on current problems and policies.
【小題1】At a town meeting, people do the following things EXCEPT __________. 

A．express their opinions about the government

B．elect officials of the towns

C．make a decision about whom they should marry

D．discuss some community matters

【小題2】In the 18th century, who had the right to vote?  

A．All the citizens.

B．All the men except those who were church members.

C．The rich.

D．The rich men and the church members.

【小題3】Why has the town meeting been widely imitated? 

A．Because many people are interested in it.

B．Because it is very democratic.

C．Because many people enjoy themselves at town meetings.

D．Because sometimes government agencies call them.

【小題4】According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true? 

A．Citizens can elect the officials in the town meeting.

B．In recent years, town meetings are often called by a government agency.

C．People can say what they want to say at the town meeting.

D．Nowadays this kind of meeting is also held on radio and television.

【小題5】This passage mainly talks about _______.  

A．the New England town meeting	B．modern town meetings
C．a(chǎn) democratic meeting	D．New England towns

20 years ago, I drove a cab for a living. One time I arrived in the middle of the night for a ___1__ up at a building that was dark ___2___ a single light in a ground floor window. After a long pause, a small woman in her 80’s stood before me.

   “Would you carry my bag out to the car?” she said. I took her small suitcase to the cab, and then returned to ___3____ the woman. She kept thanking me for my kindness. “ It’s nothing.” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the ___4___ I would want my mother treated.”

“Riverside Street, please. But could you drive through downtown?”

“ It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” She said.“ I’m in no ____5__. I am on my way to a hospice.” I looked in the back view mirror. Her eyes were full of ___6___. “ I don’t have any family __7___.” She continued. “The __8___ says I don’t have very long.” While we were driving through the city, she showed me the building where she had once worked. Sometimes she asked me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would ___9___into the darkness, saying ___10___. Not until the first ray of the sun ___11___up the sky did we get to the address she had given me.

“How much do I ___12___you?’ she asked.

“Nothing,” I said. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She ___13____ onto me tightly, saying “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.” Then she walked into the hospice.

 Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the ___14__ of a life. I don’t pick up any more passengers for the rest of the day. I drove ___15____, lost in thought.  ___16___ I had refused to take the run?  On a quick ___17___, I don’t think I have done anything more __18___ in my life. We are conditioned to think that our lives ___19__ on great moments. But great moments often catch us _20___ ----beautifully hidden in what others may consider a small one.

1．A．visit              B．pick              C．business         D．a(chǎn)ppointment

1,3,5

2．A．except for         B．but for            C．far from           D．instead of

3．A．take              B．bring              C．a(chǎn)ccompany     D．a(chǎn)ssist

4．A．a(chǎn)ttitude           B．manner            C．way           D．means

5．A．trouble             B．hurry             C．time            D．danger

6. A．puzzlement         B．excitement         C．eagerness        D．sadness

7．A．gone             B．stayed             C．left             D．remained

8．A．lawyer            B．doctor            C．neighbor         D．relative

9．A．stare             B．wander           C．disappeared      D．step

10．A．much           B．nothing           C．a(chǎn)nything         D．none

11．A came              B．a(chǎn)ppeared         C．showed          D．lit

12．A．charge          B．owe             C．give             D．cost

13．A．kept             B．held              C．caught          D．seized

14．A．beginning        B．symbol           C．sign             D．closing

15．A．a(chǎn)imlessly         B．deliberately        C．intentionally      D．carefully

16．A．How come       B．So what          C．What if        D．How about

17．A．review          B．pause           C．rest             D．memory

18．A．troublesome      B．important         C．enthusiastic      D．worthless

19．A．depend          B．rely             C．look           D．center

20．A．sudden              B．unaware            C．conscious         D．expected

根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出能填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。

Online Movie Rentals

It is generally accepted that the best way to learn a language is to totally involve yourself in its culture by living in the country where it is spoken.   71   Fortunately, many aspects of a country’s culture have made their way to our lives in the form of various media and entertainment outlets. Not only do they allow a peek at life, but they make excellent study material for learning the language.

What to increase your language skills and enjoy some entertainment at the same time? Tired of going down to the video rental store to rent movies?   72 

Most companies require customers to operate on the following model:

●Select and sign up for a payment program online, which will determine how many movies you can rent and hold at any one time.

●  73  You can look up movies by title, actor or director. Then movies will be sent to you within 1~3 days, and shipping is covered by the company.

●Watch the movies, often with no late fees.

●  74 

●Check these sites for specific, up – to – date details.

Once you receive the movies, how can you improve your language skills with them? Well, just sitting in front of the TV with a drink in one hand isn’t a bad way to relax, but you won’t learn much. While seeing a movie you should take notes of new expressions. Write them down and look them up in a good English – English dictionary to understand their possible meanings.   75  If you don’t’ know how to use words, learning vocabulary will lose all meaning.

         A．Return the movies in a prepaid return envelope.

         B．If you haven’t finished on time, you can delay returning.

         C．Now, more and more companies are offering customers the chance to rent movies online.

         D．Then, think of some sample sentences for each word.

         E．Choose the movie you want to watch, generally 1~3 at a time.

         F．Watch movies as long as you have nothing to do.

         G．While many find packing up and moving to a country is not a practical option.

閱讀下面一段短文，用所給動(dòng)詞的正確形式填空。

　　Two old ladies (1) ________ (stop) at a restaurant to have lunch. They (2) ________ (order) their lunch, and asked for two bottles of a well-known soft drink while they (3) ________ (wait). The bottles (4) ________ (make) of green glass, and they each poured themselves a glass. They (5) ________ (talk) and drinking. When one of them (6) ________ (finish) the first glass and poured another, she (7) ________ (notice) something in the bottom of the bottle, but (8) ________ (not make) out what it was. She tried to get it out and finally (9) ________ (succeed). It (10) ________ (be) a dead mouse!

閱讀下面一段短文，用所給動(dòng)詞的正確形式填空。

　　Two old ladies (1) ________ (stop) at a restaurant to have lunch. They (2) ________ (order) their lunch, and asked for two bottles of a well-known soft drink while they (3) ________ (wait). The bottles (4) ________ (make) of green glass, and they each poured themselves a glass. They (5) ________ (talk) and drinking. When one of them (6) ________ (finish) the first glass and poured another, she (7) ________ (notice) something in the bottom of the bottle, but (8) ________ (not make) out what it was. She tried to get it out and finally (9) ________ (succeed). It (10) ________ (be) a dead mouse!