36. A. prevent   B. enjoy    C. handle   D. skip

37. A. survive   B. hesitate   C. admit    D. disagree

38. A. possess   B. seek   C. balance  D. skip

39. A. make notes of  B. make use of  C. make sense of  D. make mention of

40. A. scares       B. astonishes   C. discourages  D. embarrasses

41. A. over    B. important  C. wrong   D. impossible

42. A. tell      B. pretend   C. monitor   D. interrupt

43. A. local    B. perfect    C. long    D. last

44. A. quarreled   B. laughed   C. insisted   D. sighed

45. A. Again    B. Instead   C. Otherwise   D. Therefore

46. A. concern    B. discussion  C. defense   D. complaint

47. A. effective   B. careful   C. emotional   D. gentle

48. A. parents   B. dreams  C. grades      D. children

49. A. special    B. proper   C. open    D. personal

50. A. fell off    B. went off   C. set off   D. paid off

第四部分：阅读理解(共11小题，每题2分，满分22分)

请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D中，选出最佳选项。

A.

“Iris scan (虹膜扫描) ， please,” the bank’s computer voice tells you . You step up and the computer reads your eye , comparing it to the stored file it has of your iris. The images had better match—otherwise you won’t be able to get your money.

Iris scanning and other technologies , such as fingerprint and voice scanning , have appeared in many science fiction movies in the past. Today , these advanced technologies are part of the real world. They are common at work, the bank, the airport, and your local prison. The iris scan, fingerprin t scan, and voice scan are all examples of biometrics( 生物测定学) a fast developing area of automatic personal identification technology . Basically , biometrics uses various ways to verify a persons identity , based on the individual’s unique characteristics ,including fingerprints , voices, irises, body heat patterns, facial images, handprints , signatures and so on.

Biometrics identification systems have a number of advantages over password systems. The primary advantage is that an individual has to be physically present in order to be identified. Another important advantage is that there are no passwords to remember , forget, lose or steal.

The voice scan is the simplest and most affordable form of biometrics . It only requires a computer, a microphone and the correct software. T he software records a subject’s voice and then compares it to a stored voice sample for identification purposes.

For additional safety, fingerprint and handprint scans can also be employed . Fingerprint scans take the image of a fingerprint and compare it to a stored file of prints. Handprint scans identify the unique features of a hand.

Iris scans cur rently give the highest level of accuracy among all the available biometrics systems. Another technology , full facial scans , is currently in use at border crossings and airports. Facial scanning equipment can actually track and identify moving faces within a crowd.

The potential of biometrics is exciting and encouraging . With continued development , testing , and application , current technologies will become even more effective in the future. Soon , the days of password and car keys will be gone . Just don’t leave home without your fingerprints!

51. The first paragraph serves as a(n) __________.

A. example   B. explanation   C. comment   D. conclusion

52.  The underlined word “verify” in Paragraph 2 probably means “_____”.

A. protect   B. confirm   C. develop   D. change

53. Which is the most accurate form of biometrics?

A. The voice scan  B. The fingerprint scan  C. The iris scan  D. The facial scan

54. What is the author’s attitude towards the future of biometrics?

A. He is uncertain about it .    B. He feels doubtful about it .

C. He is worried about it .     D. He feels hopeful about it .

B.

The Independent Project at the Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, is attracting huge interest in the education field. The program is a new concept that has developed a wide variety of students’ abilities and excited their interest in education and self-directed learning. They are a group of students that , instead of being educated through the normal school courses, have created their own subjects and project-based interactive learning.

The students are almost completely independent. They choose a goal that they want to accomplish and work on for the whole year. These goals have included some impressive attempts such as writing a novel, writing a play , learning the piano and more. Along with these larger attempts , the students meet every day to ask questions about other subjects like natural sciences , social sciences, etc. Although most of them say that they don’t like math, they did eventually develop an interest in  math through this independent learning technique.

The education program, which has attracted a huge variety of students, allows the students to learn and develop research skills and questioning techniques and allows them to truly be interested in the subjects they are diving into . They also teach each other what they have learned , which allows them to develop different way of presenting and gathering material that they have researched.

I wish that I could have participated in such a project during my high school career, like writing a novel. I am currently studying English as well as education to pursue a teaching degree. I would love to adapt independent driven projects into a classroom in the future.

This project also raises some crucial questions. Do we need to rethink the structure of the education system itself? Are too many students being simply fed through a conveyor belt(传送带) that we  blindly see as working toward their education? I think that the education system needs some improvements , and different learning styles need to be addressed immediately.

Individual differences in learning are huge keys to the functioning of a classroom. This project takes the idea to a whole new level. This is an extremely important event in the development of the American education system and I think everyone needs to keep an eye out for more programs like this.

55. What can we learn about the Independent Project?

A.There is little involvement from teachers.

B. Normal school courses are also available.

C. The students meet every week to discuss their courses.

D. It was designed to improve the students’ interest in math.

56. By saying “Are too many students --- toward their education?” the author seems to imply that ________.

A. teachers are really important for students.

B. different learning styles should be encouraged.

C. the project works like a conveyor belt of information.

D. knowledge can be better conveyed in smaller classes

57. What is the author’s attitude towards the Independent Project?

A. Approving   B. Cautious   C. Doubtful   D. Objective

58. What is the passage mainly about ?

A. The benefits of interactive learning    B. Individual differences in learning.

C. A group of independent students.      D. An unusual education program.

C.

Working hard comes naturally to me. The medical billing company I work for hired me as a claims researcher and in one year promoted me to head of the Northeast Region Follow-Up Team.

“When are you going to finish?” My husband Joe said as he climbed into bed. “In a few minutes,” I replied. My track record offered Joe little reason to believe me. Finishing was always just a moment or two away. Then after I knew he was sound asleep, I’d gather my paperwork and move to the kitchen table and work for a few more hours.

Somewhere along the way , I found my enthusiasm for living was replaced with hard boring work that robbed me of both peace and pleasure. As the company expanded, my responsibility grew heavier every day.

Resigning would end the madness and Joe e ncouraged me to do so daily “Just do it, Annie. Quit . You’re heading for a break down.”

One day an email appeared on my computer screen. When I opened it the words “Administrative assistant for senior vice president” caught my eye .No , I thought . They’d think I was crazy . Who in their right mind would stop back to a secretarial position from a management position?

At home that evening my interest in the job persisted. I had ten years of experience as an executive secretary long before I ever arrived at the company.

The next morning I told my boss I intended to apply for the job. “You’re in for a huge salary cut, and you’ll lose your bonus,” he said, “You’re a leader, Annmarie, not a follower. How is it that you think this makes any kind of sense? You’re crazy.”

“Not yet,” I said “But if I stay in this position much longer , I’m pretty sure I’ll end up that way.”

Admittedly the manager of human resources was shocked too, but from a budgetary standpoint it’s hard to say no to someone who’s asking for a salary cut and a decrease in benefits. That’s pretty much a novelty(新鲜事) you don’t run into every day.

I brought to the table a skill set, which included a working knowledge of every department in the operations areas of the company . Though I negotiated to a salary I felt was reasonable for what I was offering , the lost bonus and salary cut brought me to a twenty percent decrease in my income.

I closed the door to my office that last day with very few regrets about leaving my m anagement position. By the end of my first day in the new position I knew I had made the right decision.

No office, staff, salary , or bonus check can ever replace this new feeling of waking up every morning and actually wanting to go to work. The tasks I perform aid one vice president in particular. When I leave at the end of the day, I take nothing with me but my desire to come back tomorrow knowing that I am respected and appreciated.

My husband always tells me I can’t put a price on peace of mind, but divorce attorneys(律师) are plenty expensive. It looks like my path to peace turned up none too soon!

59. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A. The author used to stay up    B. The author used to be a liar.

C. The author liked working crazily  D. The author had trouble finishing

60. The author decided to change her job , mainly because she _________.

A. caught a disease                 B. wanted to live peacefully

C. was not qualified for the job       D. was afraid to break up with Joe

61. To the manager of human resources , the author’s changing her job was really ____.

A. often seen   B. bad news   C. to his taste   D. against his will