Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes, 40 points)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each of the passages is followed by 5 questions or

unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one

and mark you’re answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

Passage One

People don’t always go to coffee shops just for a drink, but to spend time with friends or read a

book. This “coffee shop culture” is very popular in the UK and it is a fantastic way to spend time with

loved ones.It isn’t popular everywhere，though.

There are around 15,000 coffee shops in the UK. On the main street of my home city， Edinburgh，

there are at least five quite large coffee shops.Heading away from the main street you are still never

more than a five-or-ten-minute walk to the nearest cafe.

Most coffee shops have a cosy atmosphere.They are places where you can sit for hours as you

sip(小口喝)your coffee.People go with friends and family to chat and relax after going shopping, or

meet up just for a gossip. Alternatively, many people go alone. Coffee shops are great places to read in peace, or to sit and write. And with free Wi-Fi in many places， it is not difficult to spend a lot of time in

a coffee shop.

In Colombia, however, the coffee shop culture does not really exist, or, at least, is still very

new.Famous for its coffee I imagined that even the tiniest Colombian village would have a coffee

shop.I mean，they do exist but they are nowhere near as common as I had expected.

The ones that do exist are very different from those in the UK.They are places where you go in,

have a quick drink and then leave immediately.Nobody spends the afternoon enjoying a peaceful

moment . People never seem to come in for a leisurely drink but for a quick--almost

business-like--meeting，even if they are with family or friends.The idea that a person would go to a

coffee shop alone is, apparently, ridiculous. Every time I go alone with a book， other customers look at me as if I had horns.I could be painting a wrong picture, of course.This may be the culture only in

Pasto，where I live;other Colombian cities perhaps have a more developed coffee shop culture.

31.It is stated in the passage that a coffee shop in Britain is a place

A. mainly for a drink B. for spending time leisurely

C.for business meetings D. mainly for people to date

32.Coffee shops in the UK are

A.mostly on the main street B.quite limited in number

C.easily accessible to people D.usually close to each other

33.The word“cosy”(Para.3) is closest in meaning to

A.comfortable B.exciting C.lonely D.private

34.According to the author, people in Colombia often go to coffee shops

A.for a quick drink B. for reading

C.to drink alone D.to chat with friends

35.This passage is mainly about the coffee shop

A.history B.culture C.atmosphere D.business

Passage Two

My problem with food began when I graduated from high school.About that time.I began eating

out a lot.There were two fast-food restaurants near the place where I worked, so I ate lunch at one or

the other almost every day.I found it much easier to go to a fast-food restaurant than to prepare my own lunch.

When I moved away from home my eating habits got worse.I didn’t know how to cook, and I

didn’t have much money; but my favorite fast-food restaurant was just two blocks away.Eating there

seemed like the easiest and cheapest option.In addition to eating the wrong kind of food, I ate way too

much. 1 wasn’ t satisfied with a standard fast-food meal. I ordered more French fries, a larger soft drink,

and an extra hamburger---whatever I could afford---in the largest size available.

The turning point came when 1 was in my late 20’s.I started thinking more seriously about my

health. I was overweight. I felt sluggish all the time， and I lacked self-confidence. I knew that I needed

to make changes.So I began to try to get my eating under control.

I took a gradual approach.First, I reduced the amount of food I ate.1 would tell myself, “This

isn’t my last meal; I Can always eat again.” At times I 1iterally had to walk away from the dinner

table.But I felt good afterward，as if I had won a victory. Besides I had to give up something completely.For example, I eliminated soft drinks and drank

only water.That was difficult.I loved soft drinks，and I hated water. After I drank a glass of water, 1

would take a small cup of juice, which put some flavor in my mouth. After a while, water itself became

more appealing.

Now I still do go out to eat occasionally.But when I do, I control how much I eat.If the portion

I’m served is too big, I ask for a take-out box.Then I put half of the meal in the box before I start

eating. That way, I consume a reasonable portion instead of eating.

36.The author began to eat out a lot

A.when he started to work B.when he moved out from home

C.because fast food was his favorite D.because he disliked home-made food

37.The author ate in fast-food restaurants to

A. solve his problem with food B. save time and money

C. satisfy his demand for food variety D. change his eating habits

38.It is implied in the passage that fast-food restaurants is

A.quite expensive B.relatively unsafe

C.very unhealthy D.rather tasteless

39.The word“sluggish”(Para.3)is closest in meaning to

A.painful B.weak C.slow D.1azy

40.What did the author give up completely?

A.Eating out. B.Fast food. C.Soft drinks. D.Fruit juice.