閱讀理解: 綜合A級第三十八篇：Why So Many Children? （綜合A）第三十七篇：Pop Music in Africa（綜合A）第三十四篇：To Have and Have Not第四十七篇：Narrow Escape（綜合A）第三十四篇 To Have and Have Not（綜合A）It had been boring hanging about the hotel all afternoon. The road crew were playing a game with dollar notes. Folding them into small planes to see whose would fly the furthest.1 Having nothing better to do，I joined in and won five，and then took the opportunity to escape with my profit. Despite the evil-looking clouds，I had to get out for a while.I headed for a shop on the other side of the street. Unlike the others，it didnt have a sign shouting its name and business，and instead of the usual impersonal modern lighting，there was an appealing glow inside. Strangely nothing was displayed in the window. Not put off by this，I went inside.It took my breath away. I didnt know where to look, where to start. On one wall there hung three hand-stitched American quilts that were in such wonderful condition they might have been newly-made. I came across tin toys and antique furniture, and on the wall in front of me, a 1957 Stratocaster guitar , also in excellent condition. A card pushed between the strings said $50. I ran my hand along a long shelf of records, reading their titles. And there was more.“Can I help you？” She startled me. I hadnt even seen the woman behind the counter come in. The way she looked at me, so directly and with such power. It was a look of such intensity that for a moment I felt as if I were wrapped in some kind of magnetic or electrical field. I found it hard to take and almost turned away. But though it was uncomfortable. I was fascinated by the experience of her looking straight into me, and by the feeling that I was neither a stranger, nor strange, to her.Besides amusement her expression showed sympathy. It was impossible to tell her age；she reminded me faintly of my grandmother because, although her eyes were friendly, I could see that she was not a woman to fall out with. I spoke at last. I was just looking really, I said, though secretly wondering how much of the stuff I could cram into the bus.The woman turned away and went at once towards a back room, indicating that I should follow her. But it in no way lived up to the first room. The light made me feel peculiar, too. It came from an oil lamp that was hung from the centre of the ceiling and created huge shadows over everything. There were no rare electric guitars, no old necklaces, no hand-painted boxes with delicate flowers. It was also obvious that it must have taken years, decades, to collect so much rubbish, so many old documents arid papers.I noticed some old books, whose gold lettering had faded, making their titles impossible to read. They look interesting, I said, with some hesitation. To be able to understand that kind of writing you must first have had a similar experience, she said clearly. She noted the confused look on my face, but didnt add anything.She reached up for a small book which she handed to me. This is the best book I can give you at the moment, she laughed. “If you use it.” I opened the book to find it full. or rather empty, with blank white pages, but paid her the few dollars she asked for it, becoming embarrassed when I realised the notes were still folded into little paper planes. I put the book in my pocket, thanked her and left.練習(xí)：1. Why did the writer want to leave the hotel?A) To enjoy the good weather.B) To have a change of scene.C) To spend all his winnings.D) To get away from the crew.2. What attracted the writer to the shop?A) The lack of a sign or name.B) The fact that it was nearby.C) The empty window display.D) The light coming from inside.3. The writer found the stock in the front of the shop_.A) of top qualityB) of good valueC) difficult to get at D) badly displayed4. What was unusual about the way the woman looked at him?A) It made him feel self-conscious.B) She was happy to stare at him.C) She seemed to know him well.D) It made him want to look away.5. The writer disliked the back room because_.A) there was hardly anything in it B) she had ordered him to go thereC) he saw nothing he really likedD) it was too dark to look around答案與題解：1. B 本題的問題是：為什么作者想要離開賓館？由本文第一段第一句可以得出答案。在賓館是十分無聊的，最后一句也寫出作者不顧天氣不好而想要出去走走，A，C選項錯誤，D選項未提及。2. D 本題的問題是：什么吸引作者進了商店？由第二段中間“there was an appealing glow inside.” 可以得出答案。A，C選項不切題。D選項未提及。3. A 本題的問題是：作者發(fā)現(xiàn)在小店前面存放的物品是怎樣的？從第三段對于物品的詳細描述可以得出答案?！?On one wall there hung three hand-stitched American quilts that were in such wonderful condition they might have been newly-made. I came across tin toys and antique furniture, and on the wall in front of me, a 1957 Stratocaster guitar , also in excellent condition.”4. C 本題的問題是：那個女人看他的方式有什么不同？由第四段最后一句“I was fascinated by the experience of her looking straight into me, and by the feeling that I was neither a stranger, nor strange, to her.”有一種似曾相識的感覺。5.C 本題的問題是：作者不喜歡后屋的原因？從文中的第六段和第七段可以得出結(jié)論，他認為沒有什么他真正喜歡的東西?！癐t was also obvious that it must have taken years, decades, to collect so much rubbish, so many old documents arid papers.”“I noticed some old books, whose gold lettering had faded, making their titles impossible to read. They look interesting, I said, with some hesitation.”第三十七篇 Pop Music in Africa（綜合A）Young musicians in African countries are creating a new kind of pop music. The tunes and the rhythms of their music combine African traditions with various forms of music popular today, such as hip-hop, rap, rock, jazz, or reggae. The result is music that may sound familiar to listeners anywhere in the world, but at the same time is distinctly African. It is different also in another way: Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues in Africa today.Eric Wainaina is one of these African musicians. He grew up in Nairobi, Kenya, in a family of musicians. As a teenager, he listened to pop music from the United States, and later he moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. Now he has produced a CD in Kenya. Erics most popular song, "Land of A Little Something” is about Kenyas problem of bribery, or paying others for illegal favors. He wants people to listen to his songs and think about how to make Kenya a better place to live.Another musician who writes serious songs is Witness Mwaijaga from Tanzania. Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women. At the age of fifteen she lost her home, but she was luckier than other homeless young people. She could make a living by writing songs and singing on the street. By the time she was eighteen years old, she had become a star. Her songs are written in rap or hip-hop style about the problems that she sees in Tanzania, especially AIDS and the lack of rights for women1.Baaba Maal, from Senegal, also feels that pop music must go beyond entertainment. He says that in Senegal, storytellers have always been important people. In the past, they were the ones who kept the history of their people alive. Baaba believes that songwriters now have a similar responsibility. They must write about the world around them and help people understand how it could be better. The words of his songs are important, in fact. They speak of peace and cooperation among Africans, as well as the rights of women, love for one s family, and saving the environment2.One of South Africas most popular musicians is Brenda Fassie. She is sometimes compared to Madonna, the American pop star, because she likes to shock people in her shows. But she also likes to make people think. She became famous in the 1980s for her simple pop songs against apartheid. Now that apartheid has ended, her songs are about other issues in South African culture and life. To sing about these, she uses local African languages and a new pop style called kwaito.In recent years, people outside of Africa have also begun to listen to these young musicians. Through music, the younger generation of Africans are connecting with the rest of the world and, at the same time, influencing the rest of the world.練習(xí)：1. This passage is about how African pop music is_.A) usually about love and romanceB) more serious than most pop musicC) popular with young people in AfricaD) mostly written just for entertainment2. For people outside of Africa, African pop music is _.A) the same as other pop music B) not usually very interestingC) entirely strange to themD) both familiar and different3. The musicians mentioned in this passage all_.A) write about serious problemsB) studied in the United StatesC) lost their homes at a young ageD) write songs in a new pop style4. Eric Wainaina_.A) prefers to sing in EnglishB) listened to traditional musicC) studied music in BostonD) performs only in the United States5. Witness Mwaijaga writes about the problem of women partly because_.A) she was had a difficult life herselfB) there are many problems in TanzaniaC) she has had an easy life herselfD) there are no other women singers答案與題解：1. B 本題的問題是：非洲流行音樂的不同之處是什么？由第一段倒數(shù)第一句可以得出答案。“It is different also in another way : Many of the songs are very serious and they deal with important social or political issues in Africa today.” A,D項錯誤，C項未提及。2.D 本題的問題是：對于非洲以外的人來說，非洲流行音樂給他們的感覺是什么？從第一段可以得出答案?！癟he result is music that may sound familiar to listeners anywhere in the world , but at the same time is distinctly Afican.”故正確選項為D。3. A 本題的問題是：全文所提到的音樂家的共同的特點是什么？總覽全文可以得出結(jié)論。全文通篇在講有關(guān)社會和政治等嚴肅主題的音樂，故正確答案為A。B,C,D都有明顯的錯誤。4. C 本題的問題是：Eric Wainaina的成長細節(jié)。由第二段可以得出答案?！癮nd later he moved to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music.” 其余選項均有錯誤。5. A 本題的問題是：Witness Mwaijaga 寫有關(guān)女人的問題的原因是什么？答案在第三段第二句“Her own experiences have helped her understand the suffering of many African women.”明顯可見是她有切身經(jīng)歷。所以正確答案為A。 第三十八篇 Why So Many Children? （綜合A）In many of the developing countries in Africa and Asia , the population is growing fast . The reason for this is simple : Women in these countries have a high birth rate from 3.0 to 7.0 children per woman . The majority of these women are poor , without the food or resources to care for their families ? The answer may be that they often have no choice . There are several reasons for this . One reason is economic . In a traditional agricultural economy , large families are helpful .Having more children means having more workers in the fields and someone to take care of the parents in old age1. In an industrial economy, the situation is different. Many children , do not help a family; instead, they are an expense. Thus, industrialization has generally brought down the birth rate. This was the case in Italy, which was industrialized quite recently and rapidly. In the early part of the twentieth century, Italy was a poor, largely agricultural country with a high birth rate. After World War, Italys economy was rapidly modernized and industrialized. By the end of the century, the birth rate had dropped to 1. 3 children per woman, the worlds lowest.However, the economy is not the only important factor that influences birth rate. Saudi Arabia, for example, does not have an agriculture-based economy, and it has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Nevertheless, it also has a very high birth rate(7.0). Mexico and Indonesia, on the other hand, are poor countries, with largely agricultural economies, but they have recently reduced their population growth.Clearly, other factors are involved. The most important of these is the condition of women. A high birth rate almost always goes together with lack of education and low status for women.2 This would explain the high birth rate of Saudi Arabia. There, the traditional culture gives women little education or independence and few possibilities outside the home. On the other hand, the improved condition of women in Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia explains the decline in birth rates in these countries. Their governments have taken measures to provide more education and opportunities for women.Another key factor in the birth rate is birth control. Women may want to limit their families but have no way to do so. In countries where governments have made birth control easily available and inexpensive, birth rates have gone down. This is the case in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and India, as well as in Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, and Brazil. In these countries, women have also been provided with health care and help in planning their families.These trends show that an effective program to reduce population growth does not have to depend on better economic conditions.3 It can be effective if it aims to help women and meet their needs. Only then, in fact, does it have any real chance of success.練習(xí)：1. In a traditional agricultural economy, a large family_.A. can be an advantageB. may limit incomeC. isnt necessaryD. is expensive2. When countries become industrialized, _.A. families often become largerB. the birth rate generally goes downC. women usually decide not have a familyD. the population generally grows rapidly3. According to this passage, Italy today is an example of an _.A. agricultural country with a high birth rateB. agricultural country with a low birth rateC. industrialized country with a low birth rateD. industrialized country with a high birth rate4. Saudi Arabia is mentioned in the passage because it shows that _.A. the most important factor influencing birth rate is the economyB. factors other than the economy influence birth rateC. women who have a high income usually have few childrenD. the birth rate depends on per capita income5. In Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia, the government _.A. is not concerned about the status of womenB. has tried to industrialize the country rapidlyC. does not allow women to work outside the homeD. has tried to improve the condition of women答案與題解：1. A 本題的問題是：在傳統(tǒng)的農(nóng)業(yè)經(jīng)濟中，大的家庭的影響是什么？從文中第二段第二句和第三句話可以得出明確的答案?！癐n a traditional agricultural economy, large families are helpful. Having more children means having more workers in the fields and someone to take care of the parents in old age.”所以答案為A，是優(yōu)勢。2. B 本題的問題是：當(dāng)國家工業(yè)化后，人口和出生率的狀況是什么？從第二段意大利的例子可以明確得出答案?！癐n the early part of the twentieth century, Italy was a poor, largely agricultural country with a high birth rate. After World War , Italys economy was rapidly modernized and industrialized.”由此可見出生率降低。3. C 本題的問題是：本文舉出意大利的例子要說明什么？從第二段意大利的前后對比的情況可以看出正確答案為C。4. B 本題的問題是：文中提到沙特阿拉伯的例子說明了什么？由第三段開頭可知“However, the economy is not the only important factor that influences birth rate.”下面將要介紹其他的因素，之后以沙特阿拉伯為例。故正確答案為B。經(jīng)濟以外影響出生率的因素。5. D本題的問題是：墨西哥、泰國、印度尼西亞的政府采取了怎樣的措施？從文中第四段后半部分“On the other hand, the improved condition of women in Mexico, Thailand, and Indonesia explains the decline in birth rates in these countries. Their governments have taken measures to provide more education and opportunities for women.”可以得出結(jié)論。另一方面從第四段開頭也可以得出結(jié)論?！癟he most important of these is the condition of women.”之后舉出這幾個國家的例子，從而也可以得出結(jié)論。第四十七篇 Narrow Escape（綜合A）We had left the hut too late that morning. When we stepped outside, the sky beyond the mountains to our east was already livid with colour.1 It meant the day would be a hot one, and the warmth would loosen rocks that were gripped by ice.As soon as we stepped out on to the face, it became obvious this was going to be an awkward route. The main problem was talus, the debris that collects on mountainsides. Talus is despised by mountaineers for two reasons. First, because it can easily be pushed off on to you by people climbing above. And second, because it makes every step you take insecure.For about 30 minutes we moved steadily up the face. The rock was in poor condition, shattered horizontally and mazed with cracks. When I tried to haul myself up on a block of it, it would pull out towards me, like a drawer opening. My hands became progressively wetter and colder2. Then came a shout. "Cailloux! Cailloux!" I heard yelled from above, in a female voice. The words echoed down towards us. I looked up to see where they had come from.There were just two rocks at first, leaping and bounding down the face towards us, once cannoning off each other in mid-air. And then the air above suddenly seemed alive with falling rocks, humming through the air and filling it with noise. Crack, went each one as it leapt off the rock face, then hum-hum-hum as it moved through the air, then crack again. The pause between the cracks lengthened each time, as the rocks gained momentum and jumped further and further. I continued to gaze up at the rocks as they fell and skipped towards me. A boy who had been a few years above me at school had taught me never to look up during a rock fall. "Why? Because a rock in your face is far less pleasant than a rock on your helmet," he told us. "Face in, always face in." I heard Toby, my partner on the mountain that day, shouting at me. I looked across. He was safe beneath an overhanging canopy of rock. I could not understand him. Then I felt a thump, and was tugged backwards and round, as though somebody had clamped a heavy hand on my shoulder and turned me to face them. A rock had hit the lid of my rucksack. I looked up again. A rock was heading down straight towards me. Instinctively, I leant backwards and arched my back out from the rock to try to protect my chest. What about my fingers, though, I thought: theyll be crushed flat if it hits them, and Ill never get down. Then I heard a crack directly in front of me, and a tug at my trousers, and a yell from Toby."Are you all right? That went straight through you."The rock had pitched in front of me, and passed through the hoop of my body, between my legs, missing me but snatching at my clothing as it went.Toby and I had spent the eveningtalking through the events of the morning: what if the big final stone hadnt leapt sideways, what if Id been knocked off, would you have held me, would I have pulled you off? A more experienced mountaineer would probably have thought nothing of it. I knew I would not forget it.練習(xí)：1. Why was it “too late” by the time they left the hut in the morning?A) It would be uncomfortable climbing in hot weather.B) The livid colour of the sky would hurt their eyes. C) Rocks loosened by melting ice could be dangerous.D) They wouldnt be able to walk on the melting ice.2. The first reason given to explain why mountaineers hate talus is_.A) that climbers above you might cause it to fall on youB) that it allows people climbing above you to push offC) that it makes people climbing above you feel insecureD) that it can cause other people to push you off the mountain3. What is likely to be the meaning of "Cailloux"?A) Rocks are flying through the air. B) Rocks are falling.C) There are loose rocks on the ground ahead.D) There are rocks everywhere.4. What is sarcastic in the words of the boy in paragraph four?A) He didnt keep his face in".B) Not every climber wears a helmet.C) It is very difficult not to look up during a rockfall.D) Being hit by a rock isnt "pleasant" at all.5. In what sense was Toby "safe"?A) The overhanging rock would protect him from falling rocks. B) He felt a hand on his shoulder.C) His rucksack was protected.D) He had hidden under a canopy.答案與題解：1. C 本題的問題是：為什么說他們離開小屋的時間晚了？由第一段可以知道答案“It meant the day would be a hot one, and the warmth would loosen rocks that were gripped by ice. ”可知巖石的狀況已經(jīng)不是很好了，故此題的正確答案為 C。2. A 本題的問題是：登山者討厭斜坡的第一個原因是什么？由原文第二段可以直接得出答 案?！癋irst, because it can easily be pushed off on to you by people climbing above. ”3. B 本題的問題是