第4部分：閱讀理解（第31~45題，每題3分，共45分）

　　下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道題。請根據(jù)短文內(nèi)容，為每題確定1個(gè)優(yōu)秀選項(xiàng)。

　　靠前篇

A Debate on the English Language

　　A measure declaring English the national language is under intense debate in the United States.The US Senate passed two declarations last week.One calls English the nation's official language and the other says it is the "common and unifying（統(tǒng)一的）"tongue.But Americans found themselves pided on the issue.

　　Since people worldwide know that most Americans speak only English,many can't understand why the issue is so controversial（有爭議的）.

　　"The discussion is related to fears of immigration issues,"says Dick Tucker,a social scientist at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University."It's related to a worry about the changing demography（人口統(tǒng)計(jì)）of the US.It's a worry about who will continue to have political and economic influence."

　　In fact,the notion of protecting the language has been kicked around almost since the nation's founding.John Adams lobbied（游說）in 1780 for the creation of a national academy to correct and improve the English language.But his proposal died,since lawmakers saw it as a royalist（?；手髁x者）attempt to define personal behavior.

　　Since then,the country hasn't had a national language,but the idea of recognizing the special status of English lived on.

　　The emotions surrounding language resurface（再次浮現(xiàn)）not because people feel comfortable with English.It is more about the discomfort many Americans feel with the new languages,says Walt Wolfram,a professor at North Carolina State University.

　　"Language is never about language,"he says.

　　According to the 2000 US Census Bureau report,of 209 million Americans over 18 years old,172 million speak only English at home.About 37 million speak languages other than English.Among them,6.5 million speak poor English and 3.1 million don't speak English at all.

　　31.What are the two declarations concerned with?

　　A.The status of the English language.

　　B.The protection of new languages.

　　C.The rights to speak one's mother tongue.

　　D.The improvement of the English language.

　　32.Who suggested in the 18th century that English should be protected?

　　A.Walt Wolfram.

　　B.John Adams.

　　C.Royalists.

　　D.Dick Tucker.

　　33.Which of the following is the current debate NOT related to?

　　A.The immigration issues.

　　B.The changing demography.

　　C.The worry about the new languages.

　　D.The US's military strength.

　　34.Which statement is true according to the 2000 US Census Bureau report?

　　A.172 million Americans speak only English in their work places.

　　B.37 million Americans speak English.

　　C.209 million Americans are above the age of 18.

　　D.6.5 million Americans speak good English.

　　35.The phrase"kicked around"（paragraph 4）could be best replaced by

　　A."invented".

　　B."formed".

　　C."shaped".

　　D."discussed".

　　第二篇

Kobe Bryant

　　After 10 seasons wearing the No 8 on his back,Kobe Bryant will become No 24 next season.The reason for the surprising decision by the Los Angeles Lakers super guard last week has become a hot topic for debate.

　　Bryant wore No 24 when he was in early high school,but he changed to No 33 in his senior year.He switched to No 8 when he was selected by the Lakers in 1996,and has not been changed since.

　　Bryant has refused to explain the decision until the end of the play-offs（季后賽）.So guessing Bryant's motive has become a popular game among NBA fans and newspaper columnists（專欄作家）.

　　There are all kinds of speculations.Many say that Bryant wants to leave the past behind and have a fresh start.He has often been criticized for playing to benefit himself and not the team as a whole.Others say that he may be trying to compare himself to Michael Jordan.Jordan was famous for his No 23 jersey（運(yùn)動衫）.Some,such as NBC Sport columnist Michael Ventre,argue that it is"all about money".Bryant will make more money by selling new jerseys to his fans.

　　Some speculations are more about fun.For example,there is an opinion that Kobe is actually just a diehard（非常執(zhí)著的）fan of the popular TV drama "24".

　　All this talk has turned the number change into a major issue.It seems that there is a lot of fuss（大驚小怪）over something that should be pretty simple.

　　Jersey numbers have their own special significance in American sports,especially basketball.Players choose their number when they join a team and they usually stick with that number for the rest of their career.When a great player retires,his team will honor him by retiring his number.

　　To some extent,the jersey is the player,and the player is the jersey.Thus,when you see the famous No 23 for the Chicago Bulls,you immediately think about Michael Jordan.A No 32 Miami Heats jersey recalls the image of Shaquille O'Neal,and the Houston Rockets' No 11 belongs only to Yao Ming.

　　Lots of stories are behind players' jersey number selections.Jordan said that he chose No 23 because it was roughly half of 45.Jordan's elder brother wore the No 45 in college.Yao Ming once revealed that the No 11 stands for two people in love-meaning him and his girlfriend Ye Li.

　　36.Which team has Bryant played for?

　　A.The Los Angeles Lakers.

　　B.The Houston Rockets.

　　C.The Chicago Bulls.

　　D.The Miami Heats.

　　37.How long has Bryant been wearing No 8?

　　A.Since he started to play basketball.

　　B.For ten seasons.

　　C.Since he entered high school.

　　D.Since he left the Lakers.

　　38.Which of the following is NOT a speculation about Bryant's motive to change his number,according to this passage?

　　A.He wants to leave his past behind and have a fresh start.

　　B.He wants to compare himself to Jordan.

　　C.He wants to earn more money.

　　D.He wants to show that he is a man of great importance.

　　39.Why did Jordan choose No 23?

　　A.Because that number would make him famous.

　　B.Because that number would make his fans miss him.

　　C.Because that number was related to the number his brother once wore.

　　D.Because that number was easy to remember.

　　40.What does the number Yao Ming chose stand for?

　　A.Two long legs.

　　B.Two strong arms.

　　C.Two people in love.

　　D.Two big countries.

　　第三篇

Trying to Find a Parther

　　One of the most striking findings of a recent poll in the UK is that of the people inbterviewed,one in two believes that it is becoming more difficult to meet someone to start a family with.

　　Why are many finding it increasingly difficult to start and sustain intimate relationships?Does modern life really make it harder to fall in love?Or are we making it harder for ourselves?

　　It is certainly the case today that contemporary couples benefit in different ways from relationships.Women no longer rely upon partners for economic security or status.A man doesn't expect his spouse to be in sole charge of running his household and raising his children.

　　But perhaps the knowledge that we can live perfectly well without a partnership means that it takes much more to persuade people to abandon their independence.

　　In theory,finding a partner should be much simpler these days.Only a few generations ago,your choice of soulmate （心上人） was constrained（限制） by geography,social convention and family tradition.Although it was never explicit,many marriages were essentially arranged.

　　Now those barriers have been broken down.You can approach a builder or a brain surgeon in any bar in any city on any given evening.When the world is your oyster （牡蠣）,you surely have a better chance of finding a pearl.

　　But it seems that the old conventions have been replaced by an even tighter constraint:the tyranny of choice.

　　The expectations of partners are inflated（提高） to an unmanageable degree:good looks,impressive salary,kind to grandmother,and right socks.There is no room for error in the first impression.

　　We think that a relationship can be perfect.If it isn't,it is disposable.We work to protect ourselves against future heartache and don't put in the hard emotional labor needed to build a strong relationship.Of course,this is complicated by realities.The cost of housing and child-rearing creates pressure to have a stable income and career before a life partnership.

　　41.What does the recent poll show?

　　A.It is getting more difficult for a woman to find her husband.

　　B.It is getting increasingly difficult to start a familyl.

　　C.It is getting more difficult for a man to find his wife.

　　D.It is getting increasingly difficult to develop an intimate relationship with your spouse.

　　42.Which of the following is NOT true about a contemporary married couple?

　　A.The wife doesn't have to raise the children all by herself.

　　B.The husband doesn't have to support the family all by himself.

　　C.The wife is no longer the only person to manage the household.

　　D.They will receive a large sum of money from the govemment.

　　43.Which of the following was NOT a constraint on one's choice of soulmate in the old days?

　　A.The health condition of his or her grandmother.

　　B.The geographical environment.

　　C.The social convention.

　　D.The family tradition.

　　44.Which of the following is NOT expected of a partner according to this passage?

　　A.Good looks.

　　B.An impressive career.

　　C.A high salary.

　　D.A fine sense of humor.

　　45.The word"sustain"（paragraph 2）could be best replaced by

　　A."reduce".

　　B."shake".

　　C."maintain".

　　D."weaken".