Reading Comprehension(January, 2015)Passage 1Packaging is an important form of advertising. A package can sometimes motivate someone to buy a product. For example, a small child may ask for a breakfast food that comes in a box with a picture of a TV character. The child is more interested in the picture than in breakfast food. Pictures for children to color or to cut out, games printed on a package or small gifts inside a box also motivate many children to buy products, or to ask their parents to buy for them.Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing. Food products sold in reusable container are examples of this. Although a similar product in a plain container may cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free. However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product.The size of the package also motivates a buyer. Maybe the package has “Economy Size” or “Family Size” painted on it. This sugges ts that the large size has the most products for the least money. But that is not always true. To find out, a buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit.The information on the package should provide some answers. But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement. The words and pictures do not tell the whole story. Only the product inside can do that.1. As used in the passage, the word “motivate” most probably means______.A) making one deep in thoughtB) supplying a thought or feeling that makes one actC) providing a story that makes one moveD) making one believe what he does is just right2. A buyer will get something for nothing most probably means that ______.A) a buyer will get something useful free of chargeB) a buyer will get what he pays forC) a buyer will gain more than he losesD) a buyer will not get what he wants3. People are likely to buy the product sold in a glass or dish because ______.A) they believe the cost of the container is included in the cost of the productB) the container is too attractiveC) they think they can get the container for freeD) they have no other choice 4. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the passage? ______.A) Package is often a successful advertisementB) Children are often encouraged to buy a product by its package with attractivepicturesC) A buyer is also attracted by the size of the containerD) On seeing a well-designed container, a buyer often neglects what is in it5. What suggestion does the author give in the passage? ______.A) The quality of the container has nothing to do with the quality of the productB) Don’t buy the product w hich is sold in a glass or dishC) A buyer should get what he needs mostD) The best choice for a buyer is to get a product in a plain packagePassage 2China is pushing forward a nationwide trial on fortified (强化的)food, in a bid to improve the health of its citizens. About 30,000 people from the country’s western region have used fortified flour for two years. Their diets had been improved. This experience will be promoted throughout the country and fortified oil and rice have also been introduced across the country.Fortified food refers to food with nutrients (营养) added, such as vitamins, calcium and iron. The nutrition program is expected to be included in the key projects for the country’s 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010). A series of rules and regulations, such as nutrition rules and production standards for fortified flour, will come into effect.The intake of some nutrients, such as fat, protein and calories is often excessive, but some other nutrients, such as vitamins, are lacking in some diets, according to some experts.At the moment there are three ways to improve public nutrition ---- a balanced diet, food fortification and nutritional supplements(补充). However, due to China’s massive population and its unbalanced economic development, food fortification is thought to be the best way of improving public nutrition in a short period of time.China started fortifying food in 2002, while developed countries such as the United States have more than 50 years of such experience. “Fortified foods do not sell well, as the public still knows little about it.” Some experts pointe d out.1. What is the purpose for China to push forward the plan on fortified food? .A) To improve the health of its citizensB) To advise its citizens to use fortified flourC) To introduce fortified oil and riceD) To introduce 3 ways to improve public nutrition2. What are added to fortified food? ______.A) VitaminsB) Calcium and ironC) Fat, protein and caloriesD) Both A and B3. Where is the nutrition program expected to be included? ______.A) In a series of rules and regulationsB) In nutrition rulesC) In the key projects for the country’s 11th Five-Year PlanD) In production standards4. Which of the following statements is NOT true? ______.A) Some nutrients are lacking in some dietsB) China started fortifying food nearly around years earlier than U.S.C) Food fortification is thought to be the best way of improving public nutrition nowD) There are 3 ways to improve public nutrition at the moment5. Why don’t the fortified foods sell well? ______.A) Because the public know little about themB) Because the prices are higherC) Because fortified foods don’t taste goodD) Because fat, protein and calories in fortified foods are often excessivePassage 3A moment’s drilling by the dentists may make us nervous and upset. Many of us cannot stand pain. To avoid the pain of a drilling that may last perhaps a minute or two, we demand the “needle” that deadens the nerves around the tooth.Now it’s true th at human body has developed millions of nerves to be highly aware of what goes on both inside and outside of it. This helps us adjust to the world. Without our nerves ---- and our brain, which is a bundle of nerves ---- we wouldn’t know what’s happening. But we pay for our sensitivity. We can feel pain when the slightest thing is wrong with any part of our body. The history of torture is based on the human body being open to pain.But there is a way to handle pain. Look at the Indian Fakir who sits on a bed of nails. Fakirs can put a needle right through an arm, and feel no pain. This ability that some humans have developed to handle pain should give us ideas about how the mind can deal with pain.The big thing in withstanding pain is our attitude towards it. If the dentist says, “This will hurt a little”, it helps us to accept the pain. By stayi ng relaxed, and by treating the pain as an interesting sensation, we can handle the pain without falling apart. After all, although pain is an unpleasant sensation, it is still a sensation, and sensations are the stuff of life.1. The purpose of this passage is mainly to tell us ______.A) that pain is good for usB) to stop taking the “needle” at the dentist’sC) how to handle painD) how to avoid torture2. The sense of pain can ______.A) let us know what’s going on in any part of our bodyB) make us open to tortureC) make us pay for our sensitivityD) help us get more sensations3. The best way to ease pain is to ______.A) do what the Indian Fakirs do B) welcome itC) know about it in advance D) treat it as an interesting sensation4. In the first sentence of the last paragraph the word “withstanding” probably means ______.A) accepting B) avoiding C) handling D) curing5. “We pay for our sensitivity” (paragraph 2) means ______.A) it was fortunate for humans to have developed this sensitivityB) we suffer because of this sensitivityC) we know very well how to cope with sensations of painD) we have to pay the dentist for his treatment of our teethPassage 4Governments at all levels face a tough task in better managing and serving migrant populations.The municipal government of Shanghai carried out a residence certificate system in 2002, granting migrant laborers some treatments enjoyed by their urban counterparts. In Shenzhen, the residence certificate has included healthcare, education and many other contents. The government of Beijing is also working on a local regulation about migrant population management that has aroused much attention.It is not only a specific issue of migrant population management and service but also an issue concerning social welfare, public products, management mechanisms and humanrights.For more than half a century, permanent residence registration has been the sole criterion（标准）for one to enjoy urban public products such as healthcare, education, employment and social security. Migrant workers, though contributing to the local economy, can’t enjoy such products equally. Sometimes they are even guarded or discriminated（歧视）against.Migrant populations cannot have a sense of belonging to the city they live in, which is no good for social order and stability and will bring negative impacts to the management.Scientific, rational（合理的）and just social policies and laws will build our society in a positive way. Migrant laborers, especially those who have realized stable employment in the city, should be granted treatment equal to their urban counterparts.1. How long has the permanent residence registration been the sole criterion? ______.A) For more than 20 years B) For more than 40 yearsC) For more than 50 years D) For more than 100 years2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage? ______.A) It is in 2002 that the municipal government of Shanghai carried out a residencecertificate systemB) It is in Shenzhen that the residence certificate has included healthcare, educationand many other contentsC) It is the compulsory education of migrant children that all municipal governmentsshould pay attention toD) It is in Beijing that the government is working on a local regulation about migrantpopulation management3. We can infer from the passage that ______.A) Migrant populations want to settle in citiesB) Migrant workers play an important role in local economyC) Migrant workers are all trouble-makersD) Migrant workers will move out of cities sooner or later4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage? ______.A) To argue for the importance of equal rights for all citizens.B) To explain the importance of migrant workers.C) To show the importance of social stability.D) To indicate the importance of municipal governments of all cities.5. The best title for the passage is ______.A) Equal rights for migrantsB) Social order and stabilityC) Migrant population managementD) Migrant population servicePassage 5Although one might not think so from some of the criticism of it, advertising is essential to the kind of society in which people in the United Kingdom, and a very considerable proportion of the world at large, live. Advertising is indispensable as a means of communicating with others, of telling them about the goods and services that are provided, and of which most of them would never get to hear at all if it were not for advertising. And advertising is extremely helpful to promote a rising standard of living.In talking about advertising, one should not think only in terms of a commercial on television, or an advertisement in the newspapers or periodicals. In its widest sense, advertising includes a host of other activities such as packaging, shop displays and----in the sense of communication----even the spoken word of the salesman. After all, the resources of advertising are to be found in the market place.For many years it was considered that it was enough to produce goods and supply services. It is only more recently that it has become increasingly understood that the manufacture of goods is a waste of resources unless those goods can be sold at a fair price within a reasonable time span. In the competitive society in which we live, it is important that we go out and sell what we have, and advertising plays an important role in this aspect, whether selling at home or in export markets.About two percent of the UK gross national product is relied on advertising. But it must not be thought that this advertising tries to sell goods to consumers who do not want them. Certainly, advertising does try to attract the interest of the potential consumer, but if the article when purchased does not match up to the standards that the advertising suggests that it will, it is obviously exceedingly unlikely that the article will sell well.1. According to the text, advertising is important to ______.A) every potential consumer in the worldB) large countries in the worldC) people with a high standard of livingD) a large number of people in the world2. Advertising has its origins in ______.A) shop window displays and the wrapping of goodsB) face to face contact between sellers and buyersC) the communicative abilities of a trained sales personD) articles in newspapers and magazines3. People have realized that resources are wasted if goods ______.A) are not of lasting value B) are not sold at a high priceC) remain unsold for a long time D) remained unsold in export markets4. The text makes a point that goods will sell well if ______.A) advertisements show the true value of themB) enough money is spent on advertisingC) advertisements are well designedD) they are of high quality5. The best title of this passage would be ______.A) Benefits of AdvertisingB) A Brief History of Advertising in the UKC) Limitations of AdvertisingD) Production and AdvertisingPassage 6In ancient times the most important examinations were spoken, not written. In the schools of ancient Greece and Rome, testing usually consisted of saying poetry aloud or giving speeches.In the European universities of the Middle Ages, students who were working for advanced degrees had to discuss questions in their field of study with people who had made a special study of the subject. This custom exists today as part of the process of testing candidates for the doctor’s degree.Generally, however, modern examinations are written. Two types of tests are commonly used in modern schools. The first type is sometimes called an “objective” test. It is intended to deal with facts, not personal opinions. To make up an objective test the teacher writes a series of questions, each of which has only one correct answer. Along with each question the teacher writes the correct answer and also three statements that look like answers to students who have not learned the material properly.The student has just one task: he must recognize the correct answer and copy its letter (or number) on his examination paper.For testing a student’s memory of facts and details, t he objective test has advantages. It can be scored very quickly by the teacher or even by a machine. In a short time the teacher can find out a great deal about the student’s range of knowledge.For testing some kinds of learning, however, such a test is not very satisfactory. A lucky student may guess the correct answer without really knowing the material.1. This passage is mainly about ______.A) examinations in ancient timesB) modern examinationsC) how to do well in an examinationD) how to set questions for an examination2. To get a doctor’s degree, one has to ______.A) say poetry aloudB) give speechesC) discuss questions in his field with expertsD) both A and B3. The objective test is not very satisfactory because ______.A) it is easy and quick to scoreB) the teacher can find out a great deal about the student’s range of knowledge in ashort timeC) it shows how deeply the student has thought about the subjectD) it contains element of luck4. Which of the following statements about the objective test is NOT true? ______.A) Students who have not learned the material properly may fail to recognize thecorrect answer.B) Each question has more than one correct answer.C) A lucky student may guess the correct answer without really knowing the material.D) The objective test has advantages for testing a student’s memory of facts anddetails.5. The next paragraph will probably deal with ______.A) the other type of examinationB) the advantages of the objective testC) how students guess the correct answer without really knowing the materialD) examinations in the ancient timesPassage 7In Britain arrangements for inviting and entertaining guests at a wedding are usually the responsibility of the bride’s family. In most cases it is mainly friend s and relations of both families who are invited but when the bride’s father is a businessman of some kind, the wedding reception may provide a useful occasion for establishing social connections with clients or, customers and other people whose good will may be of advantage to him. It is, however, the bride’s mother who has the job of sending out the formal printed invitation cards.In the case of a church wedding, the vicar (priest) of each parish (教区) in which the ceremony bride and bridegroom live is normally informed about a month in advance of the ceremony so that an announcement of the coming wedding can be made in church on each of three Sundays before it takes place. Anyone who may know of an existingmarriage of either partner is ordered to give information about it, though this means of avoiding bigamy(重婚罪) must have been more effective in the days when people moved about the world less than they do today. Often up to a hundred or more people attend the religious service and the bride usually wears the traditional long white dress and veil, while her bride-maids, who are often children, wear long dress in attractive colors. This may also happen in the case of a civil wedding in a register office but is probably less usual.The reception which follows may be held in a restaurant, a local hall or, when there are few guests, in the bride’s own home. Refreshments (茶点) are provided, a special iced wedding-cake is cut (usually to the accompaniment of speeches) and distributed to the guests, toasts are drunk and dancing may follow. At some point in the celebrations, the bride goes to change into everyday clothes and then leaves the party with her husband to go on their honeymoon, the journey they will make together, often in romantic surroundings abroad.1. According to the passage some guests may be invited because ______.A) they are likely to be annoyed if they are notB) they may give valuable presentsC) their presence could provide future benefitsD) they may help with the expenses of the wedding2. What possible difference is suggested between a church and a civil wedding? ______.A) Civil weddings are less commonly followed by a receptionB) It is less usual for guests to attend the civil wedding ceremoniesC) Guests at civil weddings are less formally dressedD) Less attention could be paid at the latter to convention and charming effect3. Why are the arrangements for a church wedding usually made some time before? ______.A) To allow the necessary length of time for publishing the weddingB) To provide time for organizing the receptionC) To make sure that the guests can arrange to be free on the dayD) To ensure a thorough investigation of the couple’s existing marital status4. Which of the following statements is NOT mentioned in the wedding reception? ______.A) Speeches may be given in the wedding receptionB) The wedding reception may be held in the bride’s homeC) Guests are asked to dress formally to attend the wedding receptionD) Guests may dance in the wedding reception5. The couple leave for their honeymoon ______.A) after the church or register office ceremonyB) immediately after the cake has been cut and the speeches madeC) at the end of the receptionD) as soon as the bride is ready to leavePassage 8Today millions of Americans, of all ages and backgrounds, are participating in thousands of continuing education programs scattered throughout the country. Life-long learning is becoming a part of the American way of life. V ocational educators collectively have a wealth of skills and knowledge to impart to these seekers of new learning.There are many reasons why people are going “back to school”. Diplomas, degrees and certificates bring increased earnings, job promotions and acceptance into new and more challenging careers. Workers must constantly face the challenge of keeping up with the latest developments in their career fields. Reduced working hours are giving adults established in their career fields more time to pursue vocational and leisure-time activities.Continuing education has something for every one of these groups. Real estate salesmen and accountants learn about new laws and financial concepts affecting their clients; union members learn new and advanced skills in contract negotiations; college professors learn new teaching techniques, and housewives learn how to manage the household budget more skillfully.Universities, community colleges, local schools, labor unions, business and industry, and community organizations all contribute to making these continuing education programs available.1. Continuing education programs can be carried out successfully because______.A) professional educators as a whole are rich in knowledge and teaching experiencesB) people all enjoy the social aspects of structured educational activities---meeting newpeopleC) universities, colleges and other organizations all do their best to make the programsavailableD) both A and C2. The reasons why people are going “back to school” show that______.A) Life-long learning is becoming a part of the American way of lifeB) continuing education may meet the needs of all kinds of peopleC) the continuing education is closely related to the promotion in people’s career fieldsand reduced working hours make the spare time study availableD) people from all kinds of life are participating in various teaching programs3. “…established in their career fields” in Paragraph 2 means______.A) caused people to believe in the fact that they have the ability to fulfill the task intheir own fieldsB) placed oneself in a firm position in one’s occupational fieldC) successfully finished their jobsD) well known in their own fields4. Real estate salesmen are people ______.A) who are engaged in selling and buying goodsB) who are concerned in the business of selling a person’s property, such as land andbuildingC) whose jobs are concerned with financial fieldsD) whose jobs are to keep, and examine the money accounts of business or people5. This selection would best be described as______.A) humor B) criticismC) political argument D) informationPassage 9Man is a land animal, but he is also closely tied to the sea. Throughout history the sea has served the needs of man. The sea has provided man with food and a convenient way to travel to many parts of the world.In the modern technological world the sea offers many resources to help mankind survive. Resources on land are beginning to grow less. The sea, however, still offers hope to supply many of man’s needs.The riches of the sea yet to be develo ped by man’s technology are impressive. Oil and gas exploration have existed for nearly thirty years. Valuable amounts of minerals such as manganese, iron, nickel and copper exist on the ocean floor, ready to be mined.Besides oil and gas, the sea may offer new sources of energy. Experts believe that the warm temperature of the ocean can be used in a way similar to the steam in a steamship. Ocean currents and waves offer possible use as a source of energy such as hydroelectric (水力发电的) power.Technology is enabling man to explore even deeper under the sea. The new undersea technology is providing divers (潜水员) with diving suits and undersea chambers that are kept at sea-level pressure. The development of strong, new materials has made this possible.The technology to harvest the sea continues to improve. Experts believe that the problems to exploit the food, minerals, and energy sources of the sea will be largely solved in the future. 1. What is the best title for the passage? ______.A) Needs of ManB) Sea HarvestC) Sources of EnergyD) Sea Exploring Technology2. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.A) man hasn’t completely cultivated the riches of the seaB) technology for exploring the sea has been solvedC) planting rice in the sea will be made possible in a short timeD) in the near future man can live on the ocean floor3. The author mentions all of the following as minerals existing on the ocean floor except ______.A) iron B) copperC) manganese D) tin4. Why does the author mention a steamship? ______.A) To illustrate that man can make use of sources of energy from the sea.B) To show that a steamship is better than other kinds of ship.C) To argue that man should use steamships more than other means of transportation.D) To indicate that it is warmer in the ocean than on land.5. According to the author, technology for exploring the sea is important because ______.A) man cannot travel farther into spaceB) resources on land are running shortC) it’s a lot of fun diving into the seaD) ancient people used to explore the seaPassage 10Change---or the ability to adapt oneself to a changing environment---is essential to evolution. The farmer whose land is required for housing or industry must adapt himself: he can move to another place and master the problems peculiar to it; he can change his occupation, perhaps after a period of training, or he can starve to death. A nation which cannot adapt its trade or defense requirements to meet world conditions faces economic or military disaster. Nothing is fixed and permanently stable. There must be movement forward, which is progress of a sort, or movement backwards, which is decay and deterioration (恶化).In this context, tradition can be a force for good or for evil. As long as it offers a guide (without insisting that its path is the only one), it helps the ignorant and theuninformed to take a step forward, and thereby, to adapt themselves to the changed circumstances. Tradition, or custom, can guide the hunter as effectively as it can influence the nervous hostess. But if we make an idol of tradition, it ceases to become a guide and becomes an obstacle lying on the path of change and progress. If we insist on trying to plot (计划) the future by the past, we clearly handicap ourselves and invite failure. The better course is to adapt the help which tradition can give but, realizing that it necessarily has its roots in the past, to be well aware of its limitations in a changing world.1. The ability mentioned by the writer is the ability ______.A) to work in the changing worldB) to fit oneself to a changing environmentC) to starve to deathD) to live a happy life in the world2.. How does the example of the farmer relate to the writer’s comments on tradition? ______.A) The farmer is greatly influenced by traditionB) The farmer is mentioned as an example of need for people to be adaptableC) The farmer may not have to undergo a period of trainingD) The farmer would rather starve to death than leave his land3. Change is said to be essential to evolution because_____.A) the world is changingB) the world is the same as beforeC) the world will never be in progressD) the world does not make unnecessary changes4. In line 1 of paragraph 2 “this context” refers to ______.A) decay and deteriorationB) movement forwardC) traditionD) a changing world5. The writer concluded by offering the advice _____.A) it would be better to take no notice of traditionB) the best thing to do is to keep firmly traditionC) we should neither worship nor reject traditionD) we unnecessarily realize the limitations of a changing world 答案及详解：Passage 136. B 第一段最后一句可以看出：商品包装中的涂颜色、剪图画、小游戏、送小礼物等手段都会激发孩子购买商品的动机，因此答案为B。
