Without most people realizing it, there has been a revolution in office work over the last ten years. Before that time, large computers were only used by large, rich companies that could afford the investment. With the advancement of technology, small computers have come onto the market, which are capable of doing the work that used to be done by much larger and expensive computers, so now most smaller companies can use them
The main development in small computers has been in the field of word processors（处理器）, or WPS as they are often called. 60% of British offices are now estimated to have a word processor and this percentage is growing fast.
There are many advantages in using a word processor for both secretary and manager. The secretary is freed from a lot of daily work, such as re-typing letters and storing papers. He or she can use this time to do other more interesting work for the boss. From a manager’s point of view, secretarial time is being made better use of and money can be saved by doing daily jobs automatically outside office hours.
But is it all good? If a lot of daily secretarial work can be done automatically, surely this will mean that fewer secretaries will be needed. Another worry is the increasing medical problems related to work with visual display units（显示器）. The case of a slow loss of sight among people using word processors seems to have risen greatly. It is also feared that if a woman works at a VDU for long hours, the unborn child in her body might be killed. Safety screens to put over a VDU have been invented but few companies in England bother to buy them.
Whatever the arguments for and against word processor, they are a key feature of this revolution in office practice.
1.Ten years ago, smaller companies did not use large computers because_________.
A．these companies had not enough money to buy such expensive computers
B．these computers could not do the work that small computers can do today
C．these computers did not come onto the market
D．these companies did not need to use this new technology
2.According to the writer, the main feature of the revolution in office work over the last ten years is __________.
A．the saving of time and money
B．the use of computers in small companies
C．the wide use of word processors
D．the decreasing number of secretaries
3.It is implied in the passage that with the use of word processors _________.
A．some secretaries will lose their jobs
B．daily jobs can be done automatically outside office hours
C．medical problems related to work with a VDU have increased greatly
D．the British companies will make less money
4.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A．There are both advantages and disadvantages in using a word processor.
B．The British companies care much for the health of the people using word processors.
C．The technology in the field of computers has been greatly advanced over the last ten years.
D．Using word processors, secretaries can get more time to do more interesting work for their bosses.
5.It can be concluded from the passage that ________.
A．safety screens are of poor quality
B．working at a VDU for a long time is good for one’s health
C．more and more British offices will use word processors
D．British companies will need fewer and fewer managers
From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age．We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases．A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modem medicine．It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases, The expectation of life has increased greatly．But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads．Man vs the motor-cart,It is a never-ending battle which man is losing．Thousands of people over the world are killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen．
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel （方向盘）, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become crazy when they are behind a steering-wheel .They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish．All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to die surface by the act of driving．
The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience.Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable(不宜居住的） because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten．
It is high time that a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life．With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax（不严格）and even the strictest are not strict enough．A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate．Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done．The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year．Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability．Present drinking and driving laws should be revised much stricter．Speed limits should be required on all roads．Governments should lay down safety directions for car factories, as has been done in the USA．All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned．These measures may not sound good enough．But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths．After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars．
1.What is the main idea of this passage?
A．Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists．
B．Thousands of people are killed each year．
C．The laws of some countries about driving are too lax．
D．Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents．
2.What does the author think of society towards motorists?
A．Society laughs at the motorists．
B．Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns．
C．Victims of accidents are nothing．
D．Society easily forgives their rude driving．
3.What does the author mean by saying " his car becomes the extension of his personality" in paragraph 2?
A．Driving can show his hidden qualities．
B．Driving can show the other part of his personality．
C．Driving can bring out his character．
D．Driving can represent his manners．
4.Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?
A．Build more highways．
B．Stricter driving tests．
C．Test drivers every three years．
D．Raise age limit and make safety specifications．
5.The author's attitude towards the traffic situation is ______．
A．positive B．unsatisfied C．promising D．unclear
She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart．She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence．Outside, it was pouring so heavily．
We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart．We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day．I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world．
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance （昏昏欲睡） we were all caught in．"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said．
"No, honey．We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied．
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain．"
" We'll get wet totally if we do," Mom said．
"No, we won't, Mom．That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tore at her Mom's arm．
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent．I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the rain．We all stood silently. No one came or left in. the next few minutes,Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say．
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly．Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith．"Honey, you are absolutely right．Let's run through the rain．If get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said．Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case．They got soaked．But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars．And yes, I did．I ran．I got wet．I needed washing．
You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories．So don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories．
1.Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word "affirmation"?
A．happiness B．approval C．disagreement D．love
2.What do we know about the mother in the story?
A．Her husband was cured of his cancer．
B．She was strong-willed and considerate．
C．She was in despair and pretended to forget what she said．
D．Her daughter completely understood the situation her family was in．
3.Which of the following may the author agree with?
A．The mother should not tell her child about the family misfortune．
B．Parents should act more bravely than their children．
C．Parents should grasp every opportunity to influence their children to grow well．
D．Children should learn to show gratitude and understanding to their parents．
4.The best title for the passage might be _____．
A．Run Through the Rain B．Be a Determined Mother
C．Wait in the Rain D．Have a Wonderful Experience
Night after night, my mother came to my bed, even long after my childhood years. She would 21 down and push my long hair out of the way, and then kiss my forehead. I don’t remember when it first started 22 me-her hands pushing my hair that way, for they felt work-worn and rough 23 my young skin. Finally , one night, I shouted out at her, “Don’t do that any more-your hands are too rough!” she made no 24 and left quietly. But never again did my mother do it with that familiar expression of her 25 .
With the passing years, my 26 returned to that night time after time. By then I 27 my mother’s hands and her goodnight kiss. Sometimes the incident seemed very 28 , sometimes far away, but always it was 29 in the back of my mind.
The years have passed, and I’m not a little girl any more. Mom is in her seventies, and those hands I once 30 to be so rough are still doing things for me and my family.
Now, Mom no longer has Dad and lives 31 . One night on Thanksgiving Eve, I found myself 32 to her house to spend the night with her. As I slept in the bedroom of my youth, a familiar hand hesitantly ran across my face to 33 the hair from my forehead. Then a 34 , ever so gently , touched my forehead. I burst into tears.
In my memory, thousands of times, I 35 the night my young voice complained. Catching Mom’s hand in hand, I told her how 36 I was for that night. I thought she’d remember 37 I did. But Mom didn’t know what I was talking about. She had already forgotten and 38 long ago.
That night, I fell asleep with a new 39 for my gentle mother and her caring hands. And the guilt that I had carried around for so long was 40 to be found.
1. A．lie B．bend C．look D．fall
2. A．annoying B．astonishing C．delighting D．disappointing
3. A．along B．above C．against D．aside
4. A．reply B．promise C．request D．agreement
5. A．pity B．sadness C．apology D．love
6. A．views B．opinions C．spirits D．thoughts
7. A．missed B．forgot C．held D．shook
8. A．strange B．close C．serious D．common
9. A．stressed B．existed C．hidden D．exposed
10. A．expected B．changed C．reminded D．complained
11. A．yet B．away C．alone D．long
12. A．drawn B．carried C．moved D．stayed
13. A．cut B．wash C．brush D．take
14. A．tear B．kiss C．press D．hand
15. A．returned B．remembered C．realized D．recalled
16. A．sorry B．happy C．angry D．nervous
17. A．when B．how C．why D．as
18. A．disappeared B．forgiven C．apologized D．abandoned
19. A．imagination B．inspiration C．decoration D．appreciation
20. A．still B．soon C．nowhere D．anyhow
He is not native, if he were, we _______ this discussion over his identity.
A．would not be having B．are not having
C．had not had D．will not have
The snow was now two feet deep, making it difficult, if not impossible, _______ the car out.
A．getting B．get C．got D．to get
