V reading comprehension

Passage 6
"At Antoine's. At seven," the woman's voice said at the other end of the phone.
"At Antoine's, at seven." I repeated. I always repeat such information on the phone in case I haven't heard correctly. Not that I'm hard of hearing, but it's better that way.
"Very well, then. I'll be expecting you." She replied.
"Just a moment. How will I recognize you?" I asked. I was trying to imagine what she looked like. Her voice suggested someone in her early 30's. There was something smooth but at the same time hard about that voice, something that goes with diamonds and an expensive education.
"You won't have to. Just don't be late? she said curtly. Then she hung up.
Antoine's was one of those new-style French places that specialize in very small portions and very high prices. I left my old Ford in the ear-park. There was only one other car there, a white Mercedes. 1 wondered if it could be hers.
"Yes, sir? Have you got a reservation?" the headwaiter asked as soon as I came through the door. I looked around. Even though it was candle-lit, I could see the inside of the place was as empty as the car-park.
"No, but I don't think I'1l need one," I answered.
The waiter smiled. But his eyes didn't. He looked at my well-worn sports jacket and not very new shoes.
"I'm afraid we're fully booked this evening," he said.
"It's all right. I think the gentleman is looking for me."
It was the same voice I'd heard on the phone and it came from a table in the corner.
The waiter's manner suddenly changed.
"You should have said she was waiting for you," he said in a low voice as he showed me to the table. I looked down. She had red hair and was dressed casually in denims. But they were the sort of denims you can't buy in most shops. It was hard to tell how old she was in the candle-light. But it was obvious she was beautiful. Very beautiful.
"Sit down, Mr. Nelson. What would you like to drink?" she said.
"Beer."
"Excuse me, sir. Did you say ... beer?" the waiter pronounced the last word as if he
didn't quite understand it.
"Perhaps you'd better have a glass of champagne instead,' the woman said and nodded to the waiter before I could refuse. She waited for him to leave. Then she took out a photograph of two people at a beach. The woman's face was famous, but I had never seen the man with her before. He was middle-aged, tanned and had his arm around her.
"I'11 get straight down to business if you don't mind," she said. She looked around and then laid some neatly-typed notes on the table, too.
"Go ahead. Read them. I thought I'd better put it all in writing just in case someone is listening."
She looked around the empty restaurant again.
"You can never be too careful, even in a place like this," she said.
16. The writer repeated "At Antoine's, at seven," because he __.
A. had trouble with his hearing

2. 
   wanted to be sure he had understood
   

C. hadn't understood the woman
D. thought she hadn't understood him
17. When the writer got to Antoine's, at first the waiter .
A. wasn't going to let him stay
B. said someone was looking for him
C. looked at him as if he were afraid
D. said he didn't need a reservation
18. When the writer sat down, the woman .
A. said he couldn't refuse champagne
B. ordered champagne for him without asking him
C. refused to order champagne for him
D. suggested he have champagne instead of beer
Passage 7
Rachel Nail was feeling overwhelmed. As a new teacher at Public School 175 in Harlem, she was struggling to assert her authority, but nothing seemed to work. "In my classroom I often have altercations that involve students hitting each other or taking things," she said. "Originally I would reprimand both or sometimes even automatically blame the one who gets in trouble most often."
Finally, Ms. NaU, who graduated from college in 1999, realized the problem was not just with her students' behavior; it was also with her approach. She was reacting quickly, often inventing a solution that did not relate to the problem. While many new teachers are left to their own devices, Ms. Nall was able to get help because she is taking part in the New Teacher Institute, a fledgling program of Teachers College at Columbia University. The program offers a steadier version of the conventional mentoring that experienced teachers provide in many schools as well as a forum for discussing problems with other new teachers. The course meets 15 times during the school year in the local district and gives new teachers ideas about how to deal with nuts and bolts issues like preparing lesson plans and what to do if they fall behind.
Ms. Nail said that using the strategies she learned through the institute makes her feel more in control of the classroom. "I let the children say what they themselves have done. I then repeat, saying, “What I heard you say was that ...., ’encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions." While Ms. Nail found practical advice, others like Rosalinda Rubinstein said they were helped by having other teachers dealing with the same issues. Ms. Rubenstein now teaches science at Intermediate School 347 in Bushwick, Brooklyn. "The institute," she said, "gives you perspective; you see that other people are feeling what you're feeling." And because an independent institution, not the city, runs the program, it offers a safe place to vent frustrations. "You can speak freely here," she said.
The New Teacher Institute has been successful in keeping teachers on the job, albeit on a very small scale. While only 76 percent of new teachers from the 2000- 2001 school year returned to assignments in the school system citywide, 14 of 15 returned to assignments from the institute's pilot program in Bushwick. In fact, 14 of the 17 teachers from 1999 - 2000 and 10 of the 12 teachers from the 1998-1999 program are still teaching (including one who has risen to assistant principal). For the first three years over all, 86 percent of the teachers hired are still in the city's schools and 73 percent are still in District 32 in Bushwick.
Those statistics were strong enough, however, to encourage the institute's expansion this year to District 5 in Harlem and for Philadelphia and Stamford, Conn., to begin pilot programs with the institute.
19. Why can't Ms. Nall assert her authority in the classroom?
A. She was too young.
B. She blamed both the students instead of the troublemaker.
C. Her reaction was too quick.
D. Her solution to the problem was not to the point.
20. The program of Teachers College at Columbia University is intended to __
A. get the new teachers to listen to experienced teachers
B. give the new teachers some help in their teaching career
C. let the new teachers discuss their problems in a forum
D. give new teachers ideas about how to prepare lessons
21. Which of the following statistics is NOT evidence of the New Teacher lnstitute's success in keeping teachers on the job?
A. 76 percent of new teachers from the 2000 - 2001 school year returned to assignments in the school system citywide.
B. 14 of 15 new teachers returned to assignments from the institute's pilot program in Bushwick.
C. For the first three years over all, 86 percent of the teachers hired are still in the city's schools.
D. 14 of the 17 teachers from 1999 - 2000 and 10 of the 12 teachers from the 1998- 1999 program are still teaching.
Passage 8
Irrespective of what many may choose to believe, the marriage between the United States economy and the free enterprise system has not been without problems. From the time of Alexander Hamilton there has been regular resort to governmental intervention into economic matters. Usually both efforts went on simultaneously. In any event, it does not hurt to start by noting that the great American contribution to social philosophy is "pragmatism." The pragmatic test was that in addition to everything else an acceptable theory had actually to work. Pragmatism is not the same as opportunism. What they have in common is an emphasis on successful accommodation; where they differ is that pragmatism has a philosophical, ethical basis.
The economic system of any nation is the mechanism which brings together natural resources, the labor supply, technology, and the necessary entrepreneurial and managerial talents. Anticipating and then meeting human needs through production and distribution of goods and services is the end purpose of every economic system. While the type of economic system used by a nation is the result of political decision, it is also in even larger part the result of a historical experience, which over time becomes a national culture. America has been blessed by being a land rich in mineral resources and fertile farm soil, together with a moderate climate. Generally, it has been fortunate in having enough people to provide the labor necessary for a constantly expanding economy. Until 1924 most of these workers were white immigrants (or their immediate descendants) who came to America from Europe. When too many laborers arrived from Europe to be absorbed by the East-coast economy, they could move on to farmland in the interior. It is true that at times the country has experienced periods of acute unemployment as well as labor shortages, but on the whole immigrants came when work was plentiful and the economy grew fast enough to absorb them, providing they were willing to work productively at slightly less than the wage rates paid to the acculturated workers.
In assessing the success of an economy one must ask how hard the people are willing to work and how skilled they are. The frontier demanded hard work, and the Protestant religious ethic supported that demand. Further, the strong emphasis placed on education, including technical and vocational education, also contributed to America's economic success. Likewise, the willingness to experiment, to change and to invest in technology was significant in a land that had prided itself on being a new experiment in freedom.
However, the existence of an abundant natural resources and a skillful and willing labor force accounts for only part of the story. These resources must be directed as efficiently as possible into the areas where they will be most productive. In the American economy, capital and management perform this function.
22. The United States economy has adopted the free enterprise system .
A. from the very beginning
B. only recently
C. with the intervention of the government
D. without the intervention of the government
23. Americans have accepted "pragmatism" as .
A. a key to success B. a way of dealing with people
C. a means of getting rich D. a philosophy of life
24. In the United States, most labors necessary for a expanding economy before 1924 were .
A. Indians B. British immigrants
C. Negroes D. European immigrants
Passage 9
To a philosopher, wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Facts may be known in prodigious numbers without the knower of them loving wisdom. Indeed, the person who possesses encyclopedic information may actually have a genuine contempt for those who love and seek wisdom. The philosopher is not content with a mere knowledge of facts. He desires to integrate and evaluate facts, and to probe beneath the obvious to the deeper orderliness behind the immediately given facts. Insight into the hidden depths of reality, perspective on human life and nature in their entirety, in the words of Plato, to be spectator of time and existence -- these are the philosopher's objectives. Too great an interest in the minutiae of science, may, and often does, obscure these basic objectives.
Philosophers assume that the love of wisdom is a natural endowment of the human being. Potentially every man is a philosopher because in the depths of his being there is an intense longing to fathom the mysteries of existence. The inner yearning expresses itself in various ways prior to any actual study of philosophy as a technical branch of human culture. Consequently every human being in so far as he has ever been or is a lover of wisdom has, to that extent, a philosophy of life.
25. According to the author, which statement concerning philosophers is most nearly accurate?
A. They are an impractical lot. B. They are too radical.
C. They are a thoughtful group. D. They have contempt for humanity.
26. The author indicates that a philosopher is a person who __
A. disregards facts B. loves wisdom
C. desires technical knowledge D. collects all types of data
27. The author suggests that a man becomes a philosopher when he __
A. studies philosophy as a subject B. collects all the facts
C. realizes obvious truths D. seeks a meaning for life
Passage 10
Life insurance isn't fun to buy. It forces you to think about your death, a subject many prefer not to confront. Indeed, many people choose not to think about the topic. But for these people there's a single, overriding reason to buy life insurance: to provide an income for your dependents should you die.
Don't depend solely on an agent to figure your life-insurance needs. Rule-of-thumb estimates such as five or eight times your income are guesses; they may produce too little or too much insurance. Carry too little insurance and you may not provide a reasonable standard of living for your family after your death; carry too much and you may not enjoy a reasonable standard of living while you're alive.
Most people who have life insurance don't have enough. The median amount of coverage for all adults with life insurance was only $25,000 in 1998. That's obviously not enough to sustain a family with young children for very long. Nationwide insurance found that the married men in its 1998 survey carried an average of about $131,880 in life insurance; they needed about $110,706 more. Married women carried about $ 53,516 worth insurance but needed some $108,507 more.
How do you determine the amount of life insurance you would need to maintain your family's current life-style if the breadwinner died? First, figure what your family's expenses would be if you died tomorrow. Then analyze your assets and the sources of income that you can use to cover the expenses. Finally, subtract the assets from the needs. The result is the amount of additional insurance that you'll need to buy.
28. Why is life insurance not fun to buy?
A. Because many people prefer not to confront the subject.
B. Because it reminds you that you may die one day.
C. Because there is a single, overriding reason.
D. Because it forces you to think.
29. If you carry too little or too much insurance, .
A. either you or your family might suffer
B. you may not provide a reasonable standard of living while you're alive
C. you may not enjoy a reasonable standard of living while you're alive
D. you will know in the end that they are just wild guesses
30. How do you determine the amount of life insurance you would need?
A. By analyzing your assets and sources of income
B. By estimating your family's expenses.
C. By taking away the assets from the expenses.
D. All of the above.
Passage 11
For an actor whose screen roles included Pontius Pilate, Napoleon, A1 Capone, Benito Mussolini and W.C. Fields, Rod Steiger will be best remembered for his portrayals of ordinary men: a small-town Southern sheriff, a Harlem pawnbroker, a brother-loving Mob lieutenant and a sad butcher whose love is never returned.
The Oscar winner died in Los Angeles Tuesday at 77 of pneumonia and kidney failure, after he'd survived a major surgery and eight years of depression during an up-down movie career that lasted just over 50 years. His performances were often on the broad side; one 60's reviewer laughed at "that clenched-teeth Steiger mistakes for overpowering emotion."
But actors should be judged by their best work, and Steiger brought almost as much as Marlon Brando did to their famed brotherly "I could have been a contender" taxi scene in 1954's On the Waterfront, part of which Steiger had to film alone after Brando left the set early.
Born April 14, 1925, in Westhampton, N.Y., the World War II Navy vet landed his first prime role on TV in 1953. He was writer Paddy Chayefsky's original big-hearted butcher in NBC's production of Marty, but the movie role -- and the Oscar went to Ernest Borgnine. There were other disappointments. Many thought Steiger would definitely win an Oscar Award for 1965's The Pawnbroker, but Lee Marvin won for Cat Ballou. Later, social activist Steiger turned down Patton because he feared it would glorify war.
The picture's success briefly led to a series of similar roles, but Steiger was always a character actor at heart, and a physically strong one at that.
Yet he was more adaptable than he sometimes seemed. Steiger memorably acted together with Gordon MacRae in Poor Jud Is Dead in Oklahoma. Later, he acted the unforgettable role of John Gielgud in The Loved One, then performed in Ray Bradbury's The Illustrated Man, co-starring with Claire Bloom, his second of five wives. He played gangster in a TV serial and a judge in Denzel Washington's Hurricane. He even did a voice-over on The Simpsons. Of his training method, Steiger said, "My generation of actors was taught to be able to create different people; that's what an actor is supposed to do.' This he did; the proof is in the height of his filmography.
31. For which of the following roles did R, Steiger win an Oscar Academy Award?
A. The big-hearted butcher Marty.
B. The pawnbroker in New York.
C. The gum-chewing sheriff in southern USA.
D. The judge in Denzel Washington's Hurricane.
32. Why did Rod Steiger refuse to act in the movie General Patton?
A. He was a social activist.
B. He was afraid that it would lead to another disappointment.
C. He was afraid that the movie would glorify war.
D. He didn't take much fancy to General Patton.
33. Which of the following is the best title for this article?
A. Rod Steigcr's life.
B. Rod Steiger remembered.
C. Rod Steiger's success in his career.
D. Smaller roles defined Steiger's huge talents.
Passage 12
One bright June morning, when I was nineteen, I packed all I had on my back, left my native village and walked up to London looking for gold and glory. That was more than fifteen years ago, and I have been here ever since. I shall probably stay here for the rest of my life. Yet I still cannot think of myself as a Londoner, nor ever will, nor ever want to.
For fifteen years I have lived in the flats, rooms and garrets of this city. Yet when I talk of my home I still think of that damp, green valley near Painswiek where I was.brought up. The boys I went to school with have long since grown and fattened, got married and gone bald, and they would probably have to give me a very long look before they recognized me if I turned up there again. But that is my home, and the image of it the day I left it is still more real to me than fifteen years of this crowded capital city.
There is one great virtue in size, and of course, London is the greatest show on earth, for never have so many human characters been gathered together at one place. Here, in a day, you can see the world. Stand at the entrance to the main-line railway station, during the rush hour, and you see every possible human species going past. One becomes amazed by the multiplicity of the human race, by its infinite difference, by its graduations from ugliness to beauty, evil to good. And you cannot get this concentrated view anywhere but London. The sad, noisy clamor of life lived at close quarters; lovers on doorways, children in back streets singing on bus-tops on Saturday nights, fish shops, cinemas, fairs, chimneys on fire, and the warmth in the winter streets generated by a million fires and a million bodies -- it is this mass gregariousness, this feeling that one is at a non-stop party, that I like best of all.
Yet even this makes me long more for home. For this very gregariousness whets the appetite to know more of the human story, and in the country personal histories are everybody's property, but in London, man is the most secret animal on earth.
34. The author was __ years old when he wrote the passage.
A. 19 B. 50 C. 43 D. 34
35. Does he think of himself as a Londoner?
A. Yes. B. Sometimes.
C. No. D. No, but he will.
36. How do you understand the sentence "..., and in the country personal histories are everybody's property, ...'?
A. The countryfolk are proud of their personal histories.
B. The country has a longer history than London.
C. The countryfolk have a less private life than Londoners.
D. The countryfolk don't value their personal histories.
Passage 13
Blink, and another billion-dollar company may have disappeared. Step out for coffee, and an entire industry could be transformed.
Almost without warning, the U. S. has entered a new era of bigness. Since the beginning of 1995, more than $ 270 billion worth of mergers and takeovers have been renounced, according to Securities Data Co. And that could mark the start of a merger wave that may dwarf the merger mania of the 1980s. Chase-Chemical, Disney-ABC, Time Warner-Turner- these are just the tip of a worldwide move toward combination and consolidation.
Today's deals are not the financially driven hostile takeovers and leveraged buyouts that dominated the 1980s. No raiders are carrying out bags of cash this time around. Now, it's the corporate leaders of America who are riding, the merger boom. Their goal: to acquire the size and resources to compete at home and abroad, to invest in new technology and new product, and to control distribution channels and guarantee access to markets. “We are moving toward a period of the megacorporate state in which there will be a few global firms within particular economic sectors.” Says Steven Nagourney, chief investment strategist for Lehman Brothers Inc.’s private client group.
That’s certainly true in the media industry, where the race to lock up key distribution channels such as television and cable networks just got more frenzied. Market dominance is also' driving such mergers in the drug industry as Merck & Co.'s purchase of Medico Containment Services Inc. "As your competitions get bigger, you're almost forced to get bigger to stay equal," says Norman C. Selby, head of McKinsey & Co. 's pharmaceutical practice. "It's a continual game of catch-up.'
Other deals are driven by a need to bulk up as U.S. companies take on global competitors. The Chemical-Chase merger produces a band that's No. 1 in the U.S., but 0nly 21st in the world, by assets. And the combination of Upjohn Co. and Sweden's Pharmacia, announced on Aug. 20, will create a titan that only ranks about ninth in sales among drugmakers worldwide.
Besides adding sheer size, acquisitions can provide an instant presence in foreign markets. Scott Paper Co. was acquired by Kimberly-Clark Corp., in large part, because Scott had strengths in Europe that Kimberly lacked. And Philadelphia-based Crown Cork&Seal Inc. recently said it would buy France's Carnaud metalbox to create a global packaging giant.
Many of these mergers would not have been possible without today's permissive climate in Washington. Companies no longer fear the knock on the door from the antitrust police. While noting that some transactions are "troublesome", Federal Trade Commission Chairman Robert Pitofsky observes that "many of these mergers are not between competitors and represent a healthy restructuring of certain industries, especially those with vast over-capacity."
37. What does the first paragraph probably suggest?
A. American companies are threatened by bombardment.
B. The world of American companies change quickly.
C. American office workers like to go to the coffee shop for a break.
D. Government interference helps to transform American companies.
38. According to the passage, mergers of companies in the 1980s are usually for __ reason.
A. financial B. transportation C. marketing D. production
39. Which of the following is NOT a reason why one company takes over another today?
A. To get the size and resources that are required for competition nationally and internationally.
B. To be more convenient in the investment of new technology and products.
C. To dominate the market.
D. To get more economic profit.
Passage 14
Three years ago, Diane Doster decided to expand her personal-training business by creating CancerFit, a workout program intended for cancer patients. She was confident that her new enterprise would succeed, based on her extensive background in physical fitness, but she did not know how she would spread the word about the business. "As a small business, I didn't even know that I needed public relations," said Ms. Doster, 37, of Sedona, Ariz. "I certainly couldn't afford to pay for it."
As it turned out, she did not have to. Just as CancerFit was starting, Ms. Doster said she met Mary Schnack, 43, who was undergoing treatment for uterine cancer and looking for a personal trainer. Ms. Schnack also happened to run her own public relations firm, based in Sedona. So the two women agreed to barter their services.. Ms. Schnack would participate in the CaneerFit program in exchange for helping Ms. Doster publicize her business.
Businesses, of course, have been bartering for years. Many of them now use formal agreements or barter networks that require annual dues, usually around $100, and are based on elaborate point systems. Swapping goods and services also allows businesses to preserve cash and unload excess inventory, among other things.
But arrangements like the one between Ms. Doster and Ms. Schnack have also been gaining in popularity, especially in a weak economy. Many people who are striking out on their own, perhaps after a recent layoff, will barter for services to keep their young businesses going.
Businesses that use informal bartering do not have to fill out lengthy forms or contracts. They just make a deal and carry it out. Another advantage of informal bartering is that participants do not have to constantly keep track of bartering points. Informal arrangements do not cost anything up front but they do pose problems of their own. The first challenge, of course, is finding a barter partner. Some people may be insulted by proposals to barter instead of paying for servieos. Without a formal contract there is no protection against shoddy or incomplete work. Therefore it is suggested that people who engage in informal bartering put their agreements in writing, making note of the services that each participant is to receive and their estimated value. That will also be useful when it comes time to file an income tax return.
40. How do Ms. Diane Doster and Ms. Mary Schnack help each other?
A. Diane became Mary's personal trainer and Mary sold some shares of her firm to Diane.
B. Mary helped Diane to run CaneerFit while participating in the program herself.
C. Diane worked in Mary's firm in the day and Mary came to help Diane at CancerFit at night.
D. Diane participated in the CancerFit program free of charge and in return she publicized the program.
41. Which of the following is a problem posed by informal bartering?

1. 
   You have to constantly keep track of bartering points.
   
2. 
   Some people felt insulted by proposals to barter.
   
3. 
   The contracts are usually informal.
   
4. 
   It’s difficult for barterers to pay income tax.
   

42. What the main idea of the passage?

1. 
   Diane Doster and Mary Schnack have set a good example for bartering.
   
2. 
   Informal bartering is a new phenomenon in the economic life today.
   

C. Informal bartering is a useful pattern in doing business during the economic recession though it's not without problems.
D. Businesses have been bartering for years and are still doing it.
Passage 15
Books even in this age of cheap literature cost money? The shortage of paper, together with the high cost of living, has made book an expensive item in our list of requirements. This would mean that fewer people can afford to have them. Yet there are people who think nothing of spending money on a rich dinner, but would consider it a waste of money to spend the same sum on books. Therefore the time has come for an adventurous public library policy to be introduced, for the higher the price of books the greater the need to give them the widest circulation possible.
The Hong Kong Government has set up Urban Council Libraries and study rooms in various districts. There is no doubt that Libraries are a great blessing, and when books are wisely selected, they have a great educational value, and have done much to encourage the habit of reading among the people.
For setting up libraries, some factors should be taken into consideration. In the first place, it is not enough to have just a building, equip it with shelves and fill them with books. The library building itself must be attractive in structure, conducive in atmosphere, and unencumbered in administration. Then secondly, there is the choice of suitable books to look into. This presents difficulties: though most of the books are novels and most of the readers are novel-readers, moreover, reading fiction is quite a source of amusement and pleasure, also, it is a means of broadening one's mind and learning more about life and human being, yet, there should always be a good selection of serious books -- history, biography, travel, poetry and literature- which are appreciated by many readers. Young readers are naturally interested in books which cater to their personal preferences.
In those countries (for instance, Singapore) where several different races share equal weight, there are not only the above problems in hand when setting up libraries. There is a third issue -- readers with different family and racial background have different preferences. The problem seems soluble if they can provide the readers with books written against familiar background and in their own language.
43. The writer's opinion in the first paragraph is that __
A. books are less expensive than they used to be
B. rich people are not fond of reading
C. the high price of books has made their circulation impossible
D. a public library policy is beneficial to both the rich and the poor
44. The difficulty in setting up a library according to this passage is __
A. the shortage of paper B. selecting suitable books
C. the high price of books D. the lack of government subsidies
45. If readers are provided with books written against familiar background and in their own language, the problem in selecting suitable books __ .
A. can be solved B. is certainly solved
C. looks as though it cannot be solved D. will never be solved
Passage 16
As the capital of Mexican America, Los Angeles has elevated the mixture of two cultures to an art.. whole-wheat tortillas, margarita-flavored wine coolers, bilingual dogs. To that list we nominate another L. A. institution -- the perfect fusion of Mexican tradition and American indulgence, of old-country song and suburban buffet., the Sunday-morning all-you-can-eat mariachi brunch.
The city has a mariachi restaurant to suit almost every taste, from the touristy elegance of La Fonda near MacArthur Park to the salty bustle of La Perla and El Taraseo on the top floor of El Mercado in Boyle Heights. But to experience the ritual in all its cross-cultural splendor, you must venture east, to the San Gabriel Valley, where immigrant customs merge with middle-class aspirations. Just off the 60 freeway in South El Monte, between North American Foam and Kruse Feed & Supply, rises a white ranch house, the temple of the mariachi brunch, Cielito Lindo. (Its name means, roughly, "heavenly sweetheart"; it is also the title of a lovely ballad, which was corrupted into the theme of a popular street song. ) Inside, artificial plants crawl up the walls, white Christmas lights woven through the vines.
The buffet runs from handmade tortillas to a cook-to-order omelette-and-waffle bar.By the time the first show begins at 11:30 a. m., the narrow yellow tables are packed with three and four generations -- Mexican grandparents, Chicano homeboys, pocho toddlers -- all sipping pink lemonade or splits of champagne. There are presents, balloons, cakes, candles; everyone, it seems, is celebrating a birthday or an anniversary, and the waiters discreetly note their names, to be read later onstage by the musicians. The owner of the restaurant, Jos6 Hernfndez, is also the leader of the house band, Mariachi Sol de Mexico, which he has been directing since 1981.
Emerging in brown cowboy suits, with golden horse heads dangling from their chests like military badges, the band plays with an easy professionalism; Sol de Mexico has performed with Mexican icons, recorded with U.S. pop stars, and appeared on Hollywood soundtracks. For $13.95 a person, you get to stuff yourself and sing along -- to pay salute assimilation and preserve heritage, without ever contradicting yourself. After filling their own plates with, boiled shrimp, fruit, and pie, the musicians return at 1:15 p. m., then again at 6, 8 and 10:30. "Beautiful and beloved Mexico,' they sing in Spanish, hands over their hearts. "If I die far from you, let it be said I'm asleep, and have me brought here ... Beautiful and beloved Mexico, if I die far from you."
46. This passage is about a special .
A. institution B. band C. restaurant D. movie
47. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Cielito Lindo is the title of a popular street song.
B. Cielito Lindo is the title of a lovely ballad.
C. Cielito Lindo means, not exactly, "heavenly sweetheart".
D. Cielito Lindo is the name of the band at the restaurant.
48. Once you are inside Cie!ito Lindo, __
A. You can enjoy a delicious buffet of both American and Mexican food
B. you should tell your name to the waiters in order to be better served
C. you can enjoy a band of musicians playing at different times of a day
D. you see that everyone is celebrating a birthday or an anniversary
Passage 17
International airlines have rediscovered the business traveler, the man or woman who regularly jets from country to country as part of the job. This does not necessarily mean that airlines ever abandoned their business travelers. Indeed, companies like Lufthansa and Swissair would rightly argue that they have always catered best for the executive class passengers. But many lines could be accused of concentrating too heavily in the recent past on attracting passengers by volume, often at the expense of the regular traveler. Too often, they have seemed geared for quantity rather than quality.
Operating a major airline is essentially a matter of finding the right mix of passengers. The airlines need to fill up the back end of their wide-bodied jets with low fare passengers, without forgetting that the front end should be filled with people who pay substantially more for their tickets.
It is no coincidence that the two major airline bankruptcies were among the companies specializing in cheap flights. But low fares require consistently full aircraft to make flights economically viable, and in the recent recession the volume of traffic has not grown. Equally the large number of airlines jostling for the available passengers has created a huge excess of capacity. The net result of excess capacity and cut-throat competition driving down fares had been to push some airlines into collapse and leave many others hovering on the brink.
Against this grim background, it is no surprise that airlines are turning increasingly towards the business travelers to improve their rates of return. They have invested much time and effort to establish exactly what the executive demands for sitting apart from the tourists'.
High on the list of priorities is punctuality; an executive's time is money. In-flight 'service is another area where the airlines are jostling for the executive's attention. The free ,drinks and headsets and better food are all part of the lure.
Another development has been the accent on seating arrangements. Regular travelers have become well versed in the debate about seat pitch -- the amount of room between each passenger. And first-class passengers are now offered sleeperette seats, which, for long journeys, make it possible to snatch a proper night's sleep. Sleeperettes have proved so popular that they will soon become universal in the front end of most aircraft.
The airlines are also trying to improve things on the ground. Executive lounges are commonplace and intended to make the inevitable waiting between flights a little more bearable. Luggage handling is being improved. Regrettably, there is little the airlines can do to speed up the boring immigration and Customs process, which manages to upset and frustrate passengers of all classes in every continent.
Although it is the airlines' intention to attract executive passengers from their rivals, the airlines themselves would nonetheless like to change one bad habit of this kind of traveler -- the expensive habit of booking a flight and then failing to turn up. The practice is particularly widespread in Europe, where businessmen frequently book return journeys home on one of several flights.
As a result, the airlines throw away a perishable commodity -- the empty seat -- which cannot be resold. Some airlines have attempted to thwart the practice by offering discounts to passengers who travel on their booked flight. But this inevitably means that the structure of air fares, already highly complex, becomes even more baffling.
49. One of the reasons why two major airlines went bankrupt was that .
A. the recession had reduced the overall number of air passengers
B. the companies failed to attract an adequate number of passengers
C. competition from other airlines creamed away all their trade
D. they introduced cheap travel for all categories of passengers
50. There is, however, little hope of improvement when it comes to __ .
A. waiting in uncomfortable airport lounge
B. retrieving baggage after the flight
C. undergoing routine customs check
D. mingling with all kinds of different passengers
51. One problem which particularly frustrates the airlines arises when .
A. executive passengers fail to book their seats in advance
B. passengers do not travel on seats they have booked
C. executive passengers receive large discounts on bookings
D. rival airlines offer empty seats to be resold
Passage 18
The number of infants born in the United States with HIV infection has declined 80% during the last decade, new research shows. Experts say the finding presented at the 14th International AIDS Conference represents a great success story in the battle to reduce the ravages of the AIDS virus in the United States. The progress is attributed to increased voluntary HIV counseling and testing of pregnant women and to subsequent anti-AIDS therapy, said one of the study's investigators, Patricia Fleming, a researcher with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study estimated that about 325 American infants were born infected with HIV in 2000, compared with about 1,760 babies in 1991, a decrease of about 80%. In developing countries were breast-feeding is commonplace, about 30% of babies born to HIV positive mothers are infected. In areas where mothers don’t tend to breast feed, the rate is about 20%. A similar pattern was seen in the United States before prevention strategies targeting pregnant women were introduced. In 2000, only 6% of the infants born to HIV-positive women were born with the virus, the study found. Researchers said similar prevention programs needed to be stepped up in the developing world, where about 700,000 babies were born with HIV last year.
However, the CDC researchers warned that HIV infection rates among women are on the rise, which means that eliminating the transmission of the virus from mothers to children will prove increasingly difficult without a cut in the number of women becoming infected. Between 1991 and 2000, the population of infected mothers surged from 80,000 to as many as 135,500, Fleming said. According to the CDC, advances in treatment methods have reduced the risk of transmission from 25% for untreated HIV mothers to 2% for those taking combinations of anti-AIDS drugs.
However, the treatment is far from perfect and improvements in drug therapies appear to be reaching a limit. Fleming estimated that even with the best antiretroviral treatment, up to 130 infants would be infected each year. "The simple fact is that the best way to prevent new infections in babies is to prevent infections in women," she said.
52. Which of the following statements is true?
A. About 80% less infants were born infected with HIV in 2000 than in 1991.
B. In some developing countries, about 30% babies are born infected with HIV.
C. Breastfeeding is the main cause for infants to be infected with HIV.
D. Altogether 700,000 babies were born with HIV in the world in 2000.
53. However, in the future it will be more and more difficult to prevent the children from being infected by the virus because __
A. the present treatment is far from effective
B. anti-Aids drugs are too expensive for families in the developing countries
C. the number of mothers infected with HIV is on the rise
D. the environment has become too polluted for effective therapy
54. Which of the following best presents the main idea of the passage?
A. The United States has made outstanding achievement in reducing the number of infants born infected with HIV.
B. HIV infection among infants is still a serious problem in the world today, especially in the developing world.
C. All the people in the world should work together to fight against AIDS.
D. Experts estimate that people will eliminate HIV infection among women and children one day.
Passage 19
Telecommuting -- substituting the computer for the trip to the job -- has been hailed as a solution to all kinds of problems related to office work.
For workers it promises freedom from the office, less time wasted in traffic, and help with child-care conflicts. For management, telecommuting helps keep high performers on board, minimizes tardiness and absenteeism by eliminating commutes, allows periods of solitude for high-concentration tasks, and provides scheduling flexibility. In some areas, such as Southern California and Seattle, Washington, local governments are encouraging companies to start telecommuting programs in order to reduce rush-hour congestion and improve air quality.
But these benefits do not come easily. Making a telecommuting program work requires careful planning and an understanding of the differences between telecommuting realities and popular images.
Many workers are seduced by rosy illusions of life as a telecommuter. A computer programmer from New York City moves to the tranquil Adirondack Mountains and stays in contact with her office via computer. A manager Comes in to his office three days a week and works at home the other two. An acCountant stays home to care for her sick child; she hooks up her telephone modem connections and does office work between calls to the doctor.
These are powerful images,-but they are a limited reflection of reality. Telecommuting workers soon learn that it is almost impossible to concentrate on work and care for a young child at the same time. Before a certain age, young children cannot recognize, much less respect, the necessary boundaries between work and family. Additional child support is necessary if the parent is to get any work done.
Management, too, must separate the myth from the reality. Although the media have paid a great deal of attention to telecommuting, in most cases it is the employee's situation, not the availability of technology, that precipitates a telecommuting arrangement.
That is partly why, despite the widespread press coverage, the number of companies with work-at-home programs or policy guidelines remains small.
55. What is the main subject of the passage?
A. Business management policies.
B. Driving to work.
C. Extending the workplace by means of computers.
D. Computers for child-care purposes.
56. Which of the following does the author mention as a possible disadvantage of telecommuting?
A. Telecommuters have difficulty concentrating on their work at home while taking care of their children.
B. Computer technology is not advanced enough to accommodate the needs of every situation.

3. 
   Electrical malfunctions can destroy a project.
   
4. 
   The worker often does not have all the needed resources at home.
   

57. Which of the following is an example of telecommuting as described in the passage?

1. 
   A scientist in a laboratory developing plans for a space station.
   
2. 
   A technical writer sending via computer documents created at home.
   
3. 
   A computer technician repairing an office computer network.
   
4. 
   A techer directing computer-assisted learning in a private school.
   

Passage 20
The Motor race was not due to begin until 2: 30 and the large crowd cheered loudly when at 2:15 the first cars were wheeled out to take up their positions. So many racing-cars gathered together were a rare and splendid sight. Shining red, blue, and silver in the bright sunshine, they looked rather like jet-aeroplanes without wings. On the course, drivers dressed in helmets were talking to each other or standing by their cars, while engineers checked the engines for the last time. Soon a great many people began arriving at the starting-point and the crowd broke into clapping when the two champions, Mercer and Torres, arrived on the scene.
At 2:30 sharp there was a pistol-shot followed by a roar of engines. The race had begun and in a few seconds the cars were fighting for the first place. All the cars got off well except No. 5, which refused to start and was hurriedly wheeled off the track.
From the very beginning it seemed as if the race would be entirely between Torres and Mercer, for they were soon in front of the others. A small blue car with an unknown driver at the wheel was following close behind, but was not near enough to offer the champions any serious challenge. The cars flashed by like bullets and there were cheers when Mereer's car took the lead. But this did not last long, for after a while he seemed to be having trouble and he stopped his big silver car to have a wheel changed. Though this was done at great speed, it gave Torres time enough to get well in front. There seemed little chance for Mercer to catch up now. The only car anywhere near Torres was the blue one -- until something went wrong with it. On a dangerous bend it got out of control, spun round several times, and shot up the side of the bank. Its driver steered it skillfully back on the course and went on as if nothing had happened. Torres was now over half a lap in front and the race was nearing its end. Mercer was just coming into third place when the blue car moved away at tremendous speed. There were gasps of surprise from the crowd as the unknown driver drew closer and closer to Torres and finally sped past him in the last lap to win the race.
58. "... fighting for the first place" in the second paragraph means
A. coming first B. getting ahead
C. trying hard to take the lead D. remaining in front
59. What happened to car No. 5?
A. It broke down after it had gone a few yards.
B. It refused to start and remained on the track.
C. It didn't take part in the race at all.
D. It was the only car that got off well.
60. When the race was towards its end, it looked as if
A. Mercer would win
B. Torres would win
C. the blue car would win
D. Torres and Mercer would tie for the first place
Passage 21
So you've got an MBA from Stanford University, an impressive resume and believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that you were born to manage. So what? Those credentials don't make you suitable for that executive spot you applied for if you don't do your homework and show a little humility.
Confidence is key, but hiring managers recognize the difference between self-assurance and arrogance -- the latter being the No. 1 mistake an upper-level management job candidate can make in an interview. "Anyone you meet at a company can have an influence on your ability to get the job," says Laura Ceccato, regional manager of RHI in San Jose.
Ceccato says hiring managers want executives who are amiable and able to communicate well with employees at all levels. For this reason, she says, a job candidate who displays arrogance toward the receptionist, for example, might be passed over for that reason alone.
No doubt times have changed, and the law of supply and demand is clearly in favor of the corporations, which have a vast peol of qualified candidates from which to choose. But, as the survey indicates, arrogance still worms its way into the interview room. "A lot of candidates still feel that we should sell the company to them," says Bob Shawhan, director of staffing for Mountain View-based Web conferencing company PlaceWare Inc. "While that was the case two years ago, it doesn't work anymore," he adds. "They should be the ones proving their value to us. '
Shawhan says the biggest problem he encounters is a lack of knowledge about the company and the position. "Even recently, we've had candidates who don't really understand the market or the company," he says, who expects interviewees to come to the interview not only with a keen understanding of the market, but also with a short list of solutions or suggestions for the company.
After all, any executive or other senior-level position demands a keen ability to solve problems, so proper preparation by a job candidate -- or lack of it -- before an interview is a big issue. "And nowadays, with the easy accessibility of information, there's really no excuse for not being prepared," Shawhan says. I
Of those candidates who may have done their homework on the company, many have difficulty speaking about their own achievements. And sometimes, job candidates can't even remember what is on their resumes. Furthermore, it is important for an executive candidate to know what they want out of their career. Many of the people he interviews are unclear about this.
So remember that when you're interviewing for a senior-level position -- whether it's in a bull or a bear market -- it pays to be prepared. And leave the attitude at the door.
61. Which of the following do you think is the best topic of this article?
A. How to apply for a job.
B. Managers should be humble to the receptionists.

3. 
   Some tips for MBA students in their job interviews.
   
4. 
   The bear market makes it difficult for people to look for jobs.
   

62. Compared with what was two years ago,
A. fewer qualified candidates are available in the job market
B. more and more candidates appear to be arrogant
C. fewer interviewers are ready to sell their companies to the candidates
D. there are more MBA students looking for jobs than the vacancies in corporations
63. How do you understand the last sentence "And leave the attitude at the door"?
A. The candidates should not expect too much in a job interview.
B. The candidates should be dressed well before they walk into the door of the interview.
C. The candidates should know how to behave from the very beginning of the interview.
D. The candidates should smile at the receptionist as they enter the door of the company.
Passage 22
For months the old tanker, African Queen, lay turned over on her side, stuck fast in the sands off the coast of Maryland. She had run aground so badly that her owners had decided to leave her to her fate. It was considered impossible to refloat her and the ship began to rust and sink deeper and deeper into the sands. Men frequently came out in small boats and r0moved any parts that could be sold -- until two men decided to attempt the impossible: to float the African Queen once more. Both men were engineers and had no experience of ships so that few people thought they could succeed.
The men began by studying the exact state of the African Queen and came to the Conclusion that she would float again if air was pumped into the tanks which were now full of sea water. A diver was sent clown to examine the underside of the ship. In the cold, dark water he found an enormous hole in her side which had been torn when the ship ran aground, It was plain that nothing could be done until the hole was repaired. As no single sheet of steel would cover it, the men were obliged to order a great number of sheets which had to be joined together. For several weeks divers worked continually to close up the hole. At times, the sea was so rough that it was difficult to go down; and on more than one occasion, they had to contend with sharks.
At last the hole was covered and the men began to pump the sea-water out of the ship's tanks. It seemed as if they were bound to succeed, for when the tanks were full of air, the African Queen began to stir in the water. The men could not understand why she still would not float until they discovered that her rudder was embedded in mud. Huge crane were brought to haul the sunken rudder out and the ship was again afloat. By this time, the men were almost exhausted. They had worked ceaselessly for three months to save the African Queen and had succeeded when everyone thought they would fail. Now they stood on the bridge of the ship, tired but proud, as tugs brought the African Queen into the harbor.
64. African Queen was
A. an old tanker abandoned by her owner because she was too old
B. a ship containing ancient treasures
C. a cruise ship lying at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean
D. an old tanker which ran aground and would not refloat
65. The African Queen floated again after
A. the sea water was pumped out of the tanks
B. the tanks were filled with air
C. the rudder Was removed from the seabed
D. the hole was covered with sheets of steel
66. What did the two engineers do according to the passage?
A. They successfully saved the African Queen because they had a lot of experience with this kind of situation.
B. They succeeded in refloating the African Queen after working hard for more than half a year.
C. They managed to have the African Queen refloated and brought into the harbor though many people thought they were doomed to failure.
D. They made a name for themselves by saving the most valuable old tanker.
Passage 23
Esprit de Corp., a San Francisco empire, is closing its Silicon Valley stores after passing the baton to its Hong Kong offshoot. The clothing manufacturer succeeded in spreading its brand name worldwide, but will close the last of its U.S. stores by the end of the month. Virtually all of the last remaining assets -- its headquarters and a four-acre parcel near Mission Bay in San Francisco -- are on the selling block and valued at roughly $ 45 million.
In late April, Esprit de Corp., founded in San Francisco in 1968, sold all of its trademark rights in the United States and the Caribbean and its 37 percent interest in Esprit International for $150 million to Esprit Holdings Ltd., an Esprit trademark owner based in Hong Kong. EHL's purchase of Esprit de Corp. 's interest gives it full ownership of the brand worldwide.
While Esprit winds down U.S. operations, the brand thrives throughout the rest of the world. It remains to be seen if Bay Area residents will be able to walk into an Esprit store in the future. EHL has not decided if it will open its own Esprit stores in the United States, says a company spokeswoman. But the Esprit brand will be available in the states as EHL is signing contracts with companies to design and distribute its products here. Esprit de Corp. produced thYee product lines:, women's clothes, shoes and accessories. EHL has a much broader product line with casual and working women's clothing, as well as men's and kids' clothes, shoes, accessories and underwear. Those will gradually penetrate the U. S. market.
The main remaining assets of the original Esprit de Corp. are its headquarters buildings and its outlet store property. Its headquarters is located a few blocks south of the massive Mission Bay development, next to China Basin in San Francisco. Although the San Francisco outlet store is only about 45,000 square feet, the land is in the process of receiving development approvals as part of a larger 475,000 square feet of development. Esprit had hired a consultant to pursue those entitlements so the company could sell the property and use the cash to infuse the business. That was before Esprit decided to sell out. In this economy it may take a while to sell that property.
A couple of years ago the Esprit outlet property would have been worth about $ 45.5 million. It's difficult to value now since there are so few sales transactions, but it is estimated that it's worth about $30 million. Esprit is leaving the price open to negotiation.
67. Esprit de Corp. sold __ to Esprit Holdings.
A. all of its trademark rights throughout the United States and the Caribbean
B. a certain percentage of interest in Esprit International
C. full ownership of the brand worldwide
D. both the trademark rights in the U.S. and the Caribbean and some of its interest
68. Esprit de Corp. produces __
A. men's, women's and children's clothes
B. women's clothes, shoes and accessories
C. casual and working women's clothing as well as underwear
D. men's clothing only
69. After the sale, people in the United States __
A. will not be able to buy Esprit de Corp. clothing
B. will still be able to walk into an Esprit store
C. can still buy Esprit clothing, but in the stores of another brand
D. can still buy the same style of clothing under the new brand EHL
passage 24
Early next morning the man left the little village where he had spent the night. He took the narrow, winding country road which he knew led to a small town twelve miles away. Atfter walking for two hours, he came to a path which cut across the country and led directly to the town. Leaving the road, the man passed through a gate and was soon walking through the path. The fields were deserted. To the left and right of the path, corn sheaves were arranged in neat row. The only sign of human habitation was a small farmhouse across the fields where the brilliant morning sun was reflected in the windows.
Suddenly the man heard the low hum of an engine. At first he thought that it must be a ear traveling along the road he had recently left. He expected the noise to fade away in the distance. Instead, it grew louder and louder and seemed to be coming from above. He looked up quickly and saw an aeroplane cutting a crazy, zig-zag path across the sky. It disappeared for an instant behind some clouds, then emerged and plunged towards the field. The aeroplane was coming towards him. He gazed at it terrified and immediately took cover in a small hollow in the field, his eyes following the course of the aeroplane the whole time. As he watched it, he felt sure it would crash and burst into flames before his eyes. Then, as if by a miracle, it pulled out of the dive and touched down on the field. The aeroplane bounced wildly across the uneven ground carrying away anything that lay in its path. In a matter of seconds, it crashed through a hedge only a few yards away from where the man was crouching. After that all was still. The man stood up dazed. For a moment he thought of running to the farmhouse and asking for help; but he changed his mind and rushed towards the gap in the hedge.
70. The man left the road
A. in order to pay a visit to the small farmhouse
B. because he wanted to get something to eat in the fields
C. so that he could take a shortcut to the town
D. for none of the above reasons
71. When he first heard the noise, he
A. realized ,that it was a car
B. didn't realize that it was an aeroplane
C. knew it was coming from above
D. believed it would continue for a long time
72. "... cutting a crazy, zig-zag path" in the second paragraph means
A. moving in a straight line B. moving wildly from left to right
C. going mad D. tearing up a path
Passage 25
Allegheny Energy Inc. said Monday it will cut 600 jobs, or 10 percent of its work force, and cancel construction of two power plants to help cut costs after an unexpectedly weak first half.
The company -- with customers in parts of Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia -- also lowered its 2002 earnings estimate by more than 25 percent, citing lower wholesale energy prices, mild winter and spring weather, and substantially decreased energy trading since the collapse of Enron Corp.
The news sent Allegheny Energy's stock price down more than 6 percent, or $1.58 a hare, to $ 24.45 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Most of the job cuts will come this year, through a combination of early retirements, normal attrition and layoffs, the company said. Allegheny employs 6,000 people overall. The job cuts will reduce costs by about $ 5 million this year and by $ 40 million to $ 50 million annually in coming years, Allegheny said. The Hagerstown-based company also said it has canceled construction of a 1,080-megawatt generating plant in La Paz, Ariz., and an 88-megawatt plant in St. Joseph, Ind., reducing capital expenses by about $700 million over the next several years. Those action and others are aimed at lowering pretax operating expenses by $45 million for the rest of 2002, Allegheny said.
The company estimated 2002 earnings at $2.50 to $2.70 a share, down from its previous forecast of $3.60 to $3.70 per share. The consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call was for 2002 earnings of $ 3.15 a share. Allegheny will announce second-quarter earnings later this month.
As a result of its actions, Allegheny said it expects to record charges to earnings in the second and third quarters of 2002. The cancellation of power plants will result in a pretax charge of about $ 40 million; the charge related to the job cuts hasn't yet been calculated, the company said. In addition, Allegheny said it may take a charge against earnings this year reflecting overpayment for two West Virginia companies -- Mountaineer Gas Co. and West Virginia Power Co. -- that Allegheny bought in 2000. New accounting rules this year require companies to review the amount, known as "goodwill," that they paid above and beyond the asset's book value. Allegheny recorded $195 million worth of goodwill in its acquisition of the West Virginia assets.
73. What has been mentioned about Allegheny Energy Inc. ?
A. In order to cut costs, Allegheny Energy Inc. will reduce 10 percent of its employees and delay construction of two power plants.
B. The company mainly focuses on customers in the southwest part of the United States.
C. After the news was released, the stock price of the company lowered more than 60 cents in the New York Stock Exchange.
D. Before the announcement of the news, the stock price of Allegheny Energy Inc. was $ 26.03 a share.
74. How will Allegheny Energy Inc. reduce its employees?
A. By means of early retirement and normal attrition.
B. By early retirement and job layoff in addition to normal attrition.
C. By volunteer resignation with compensation.
D. By means of early retirement and resignation.
75. How much is the company's estimated earnings for 2002 now?
A. $3.15 a share.
B. $3.60 to $3.70 a share.
C. $2.50 to $2.70 a share.
D. $1.60 to $1.70 a share.
Passage 26
Smoke continued billowing southward Sunday from forest fires in the Canadian province of Quebec, cresting high above some areas and permeating other neighborhoods at ground level. As a result, the Departments of Environmental Protection in New Jersey and Pennsylvania issued air advisories, warning some people to stay inside today.
New Jersey's warning was statewide, while Pennsylvania's focused on 20 eastern and central counties. "We are advising residents, especially people with respiratory conditions, children and the elderly, to stay indoors for the next 24 hours," Pennsylvania DEP Secretary David Hess said Sunday in a prepared statement.
Until the smoke passes out of the Northeast, Dr. Eric Schenkel of the Valley Clinical Research Center said health effects will vary depending on the individual and the area. People without respiratory problems could experience some irritation but do not face asmuch risk as people with afflictions such as asthma, emphysema or bronchitis.
People in northwestern New Jersey first noticed the smoke Saturday and the smoky haze grew more obvious by Sunday. Fire companies throughout the area have received calls from people reporting smoke from different counties. Parts of Easton's College Hill retained an acrid smell similar to that which lingers in the days following a fire. On the other hand, lowland areas had no more than slightly hazy skies.
National Weather Service meteorologist Roy Miller said the haze over the northeast United States is expected to begin drifting out over the Atlantic Ocean sometime today. It's not uncommon for forest fires to release smoke over so large an area, Miller said. "Mostly the forest fires occur in the western states," Miller said. "We're just not used to them here."
In Quebec, there are more than just respiratory hazards, however. About 10 blazes are out of control and likely will continue to grow until rain comes late this week, according to Quebec fire protection service spokesman Eric Santerre. Two Indian villages south of James Bay, Quebec have been evacuated. Smoke was so dense Saturday and Sunday that Quebec's forest fire protection service couldn't fly into the region. "It's impossible to fly over and drop water with the waterbombers," Santerre said. Smoke has blanketed Montreal and drifted as far south as Washington, D.C. and west to Michigan.In some areas, it crests at 10,000 feet above sea level. In others, it can be smelled at ground level.
76. Which of the following groups of people should be especially careful?

1. 
   Old people with respiratory illness.
   
2. 
   The old and the young as well as those with respiratory diseases.
   
3. 
   Females, particularly the old and the young.
   
4. 
   People who work outdoors.
   

77. What will be the problem facing Quebec in the near future?

1. 
   People will suffer from various kinds of diseases.
   
2. 
   All the villages will be evacuated.
   
3. 
   It will be very difficult to bring the fire completely under control.
   
4. 
   Waterbombers cannot be dropped into the region.
   

78. What is the most appropriate title for the passage?

1. 
   Smoke from the Forest Fire in Canada Went Out of Control.
   
2. 
   Forest Fire in Quebec -- Its Potential Dangers.
   
3. 
   Forest Fire in Canada Spread to the U. S.
   
4. 
   U.S. Citizens Suffered from Smoke from the Forest Fire in Canada.
   

Passage 27
A police officer who was videotaped as he slammed a handcuffed teenager onto a car and ranched him should be fired and charged with assault, the mayor of Inglewood in California said Tuesday. "I will not under any circumstances tolerate the type of conduct I observed in the videotape," Mayor Roosevelt Dorn said at a news conference. Outside, dozens of protesters shouted, "No justice, no peace." Dorn called for the investigation to finish within 10 days. He said he reached his conclusions after viewing the bystander's videotape, which has been shown repeatedly on national television. "Based on the investigation he should be fired, no question about it, that's my opinion," the mayor said.
The tape shows Inglewood Officer Jeremy Morse smashing Donovan Jackson, 16, into a car, then striking him in the face during an arrest at a gas station Saturday. Two other officers appear to intervene, with at least one trying to pull away the first officer's arm.
The mayor said the officer's actions were criminal and that he should be charged with assault and violating the teenager's civil rights. "I'm sure if I looked there are other crimes," Dorn said.
The Inglewood Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the district attorney's office and the FBI are conducting investigations. Morse, who has been with the department for three years, was put on leave with pay Monday. The Police Department referred requests for comment to the police union, which has not returned messages.
The Inglewood officers were assisting two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies who stopped a car for an expired registration. The car was being driven by Jackson's father, Coby Chavis, 41. Police and sheriff's officials said the teen lunged at deputies and was combative, while the boy's father said he cooperated and Morse attacked him unprovoked. The family's lawyer, Joe Hopkins, said the teen was developmentally disabled with no arrest record. The teen was booked for investigation of assault on a peace officers his father was cited for driving with a suspended license.
The video was recorded by a man who was staying at a motel across the street. Sheriff's Lt. Carl Deeley said investigators had collected video from gas station ~urveillance cameras and were attempting to enhance it. "They are reviewing it and are hopeful that it will give us a different side or angle," he said.
Inglewood, a city of 115,000 in southwestern Los Angeles County, has a police force of 211 uniformed officers.
,79. What was the Mayor's attitude towards the police officer in the videotape?
A. Indifferent. B. Tolerant.
C. Indignant. D. Determined.
80. What did the videotape show?
A. The officer slammed the boy into the car and kicked him.
B. The officer dragged the teenager out of the car and slammed him on the face.
C. The officer slammed the boy into the car and struck him in the face.
D. The officer pulled away the boy's arm as he tried to arrest the boy's father.
81. The video which has been shown repeatedly on national television was recorded by
A. someone at a motel opposite the street
B. a passer-by who happened to be on the spot
C. a tourist sightseeing in the region
D. the gas station surveillance cameras
Passage 28
Until the mid-18th century nearly everything manufactured in England was made by hand by craftsmen working in small villages. Cobblers and blacksmiths, for example, plied their crafts inor near their own homes. However, in the latter part of the century, mass production in factories began to compete with these village craftsmen and did so increasingly in the 19th century. The slow methods of cottage craftsmen could not compete with the highly organized work of the factories, especially when steam power was available to speed the work.
When there were canals and railways to carry the raw materials cheaply to the big industrial towns, it became unnecessary for the manufacturing to be done in distant scattered localities. Industry became more and more concentrated and therefore more efficient. This change-over from hand crafts to factory production is called the Industrial Revolution. Together with the great many enclosures that were still taking place, this Revolution brought great misery to village people. It is true that canals and railways, as well as roads, were providing a certain amount of employment in the villages through which they passed. But on the whole there was less opportunity for the country workers than formerly and less variety in the work available.
Many of the more enterprising and intelligent of the country workers moved into the towns to become factory hands. Others emigrated to the colonies. Those that remained in the villages sank into a state of hopeless poverty, and many of them were near starvation. Some were forced by hunger to become poachers and thieves, and in places the strife between poachers and gamekeepers amounted almost to civil war.
When labor-saving machines invaded the fields and deprived the men of the villages of such work as reaping, which had always been done 'by hand, they were so desperate that they stormed farm-buildings and smashed the machines: This did them no good, however, for the farmers and landowners had the forces of law firmly on their side, and the ring-leaders were severely punished and the riots quelled.
As a result of this strife, many cottages had become so neglected that they were very nearly uninhabitable. Although by that time many of them had three or even four rooms, they were often damp, badly ventilated and over crowded.
82. What, according to the writer, was one disadvantage of village methods of production?
A. They could only be pursued part-time.
B. They were less efficient than factory methods.
C. Products made by hand were inferior in quality.
D. It was difficult to transport the finished product.
83. Before the construction of canals, railways and better roads, goods had been manufactured in
A. places which were far apart B. towns which were closed together
C. factories which were in big towns D. villages which were near towns
84. How did the more adventurous people avoid the effects of the Industrial Revolution?
A. They became poachers. B. They destroyed farm buildings.
C. They worked on the railways. D. They went overseas.
Passage 29
Water, water everywhere. It doesn't take more than a few minutes in Stockholm to feel the full force of this charming city's slogan: "Beauty on Water." Built on 14 islands, 4 of which essentially constitute the city center, and shot through with a series of canals that lead to the 24,000 islands of Sweden's archipelago and eventually to the Baltic Sea, Stockholm offers a fantastic variety of aquatic activity.
In addition to providing transportation and plenty of options for pleasure boating, its waterways, which make up one-third of the city's area, are clean enough for swimming and fishing. Visitors accustomed to the unappealing waters that usually run through urban settings will be delighted at the sight of amateur and professional fishermen at work in the open expanses of the city center, where salmon and trout are plentiful thanks to annual stocking.
In addition to nurturing more leisurely pursuits, the canals played an important part in Stockholm's trade history. When the first fort for controlling commercial boat traffic was built in the 13th century, timber arranged in fencelike structures was used to direct the vessels, and it is believed that the name Stockholm may have derived from this practice.
On a summer day, the city glitters invitingly in the sun. What better way, then, to get your bearings than with a boat trip? The main tourist office at the Sweden House is the most convenient to the launching point for Stockholm Sightseeing's boat tours, which leave from in front of the Grand Hotel, on a peninsula between the two sections of Stockholm's downtown area. A pleasant stroll will bring you within sight of the company's kiosk and its fleet of low boats. Several groups offer such tours, but Stockholm Sightseeing's are among the most extensive, letting visitors pick the trip best suited to their interests.
The Royal Canal tour, which I selected one day last summer, provides an ideal quick overview of the city. It lasts an hour, weaving among central areas of the city, pointing out the main sites of interest in each and providing illuminating historical and ethnographic information along the way in a variety of languages, including English.
If you're looking for a different kind of thrill, take note of the rides in the amusement park, right near the Vasamuseet, which is also visible from the boat. On a busy day, the screams of park patrons particularly those on the Free Fall are audible across the water. Once you're back on land, it's easy enough to take a ferry or a bus to enjoy your pick of activities there.
85. Stockholm's slogan "Beauty on Water" can be best interpreted by the fact that

1. 
   it is built on 14 islands
   
2. 
   a series of canals wind through the city
   

C. the canals lead to 24,000 islands and eventually to the Baltic Sea
D. water is the main artery of the city and it boasts a fantastic variety of aquatic activity
86. Stockholm had its name derived from
A. people's practice of enjoying boating leisurely on its waterways
B. people's practice in the 13th century to use timber arranged in fencelike structures to direct the vessels
C. the fact that it was the first fort for controlling commercial boat traffic
D. the fact that the canals played an important part in Stockholm's trade history
87. Which of the following is true concerning the Royal Canal tour?
A. The tour lasts for an hour.
B. The tour is conducted only in English.
C. You not only get to know the places of interest but also learn to appreciate the modern architecture during the tour.
D. The tour brings you along the canals in and out of the central area of the city.
Passage 30
The mayor of New York Michael R. Bloomberg hinted that he might resort to layoffs to ease what he now calls a "budget crisis,' and his administration has taken the first step by inviting city commissioners to consider layoffs to cut the city payroll.
Mr. Bloomberg, who had repeatedly said that the city would not need to lay off workers this year unless something unforeseen happened, now appears to be weighing the possibility. The mayor is looking to cut a billion dollars more from the $ 42, 3 billion budget that took effect in July to make sure that it remains balanced, and to save for next year, when he projects a budget gap of $ 3.7 billion to $ 6 billion. "If you take a look at the budget crisis we have, we're going to have to find some ways to downsize,' Mr. Bloomberg said at a news conference.
The mayor made the remark as his budget director, Mark Page, sent a letter to city commissioners that opened the door to layoffs. The letter said that while early retirement programs and severance packages were the preferred ways to cut jobs, "you should not be constrained by achieving head count savings only through attrition." All city agencies are being asked to propose ways to cut their spending by 7.5%. When the mayor called on agency heads last week to develop the cost-cutting plans, he indicated that he would be flexible in deciding which cuts they would have to make. The letter from Mr. Page told the agency heads that "for the purposes of meeting your target, you should, assume whatever personnel changes may be necessary.”
It was still far from clear how seriously the administration was thinking about layoffs. The City Council, which passed the budget after months of wrangling over budget cuts, has played down the threat of further severe cuts recently, noting that past mayors have also asked agencies to propose cuts as an exercise. Mayors have often threatened layoffs in times of great fiscal uncertainty, and sometimes raised the threat as a bargaining tool with unions and to reassure credit-rating agencies. Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani sought to cut thousands of jobs in the 1994 but reached agreements with the unions on reductions that averted most ,layoffs. But in 1991, the Dinkins administration laid off thousands of workers as the city grappled with a recession.
88. Why did the mayor of New York want to lay off employees in the government?
A. Because of the recent financial crisis in the U.S.
B. Because something unexpected happened.
C. Because the city intended to reduce the budget deficit.
D. Because the city payroll was too large.
89. How much is the budget of the city for this year?
A. 42.3 billion. B. 41.3 billion.
C. 3.7 billion. D. 6 billion.
90. According to the city council, mayors like to propose layoff in order to
A. get more fiscal income
B. gain an advantageous position in bargains with the labor union
C. make sure of a higher credit rating
D. all of the above