Reading Comprehension(Reading in Depth)(25 minutes)

　　Section A

　　Directions:In this section,there is a passage with ten blanks.You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage.Read the passage through carefully before making your choices.Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.

　　Questions 47 to 56 are based on the following passage.

　　If our society ever needed a reading renaissance(复兴), it’s now. The National Endowment for the Arts released “Reading at Risk” last year, a study showing that adult reading47 have dropped 10 percentage points in the past decade, with the steepest drop among those 18 to 24. “Only one half of young people read a book of any kind in 2002. We set the bar almost on the ground. If you read one short story in a teen—ager magazine, that would have48 ,” laments a director of research and analysis. He49 the loss of readers to the booming world of technology, which attracts would—be leisure readers to E—mail, IM chats, and video games and leaves them with no time to cope with a novel.

　　“These new forms of media undoubtedly have some benefits,” says Steven Johnson, author of Everything Bad Is Good for You.Video games50 problem—solving skills; TV shows promote mental gymnastics by51 viewers to follow complex story lines. But books offer experience that can’t be gained from these other sources, from52 vocabulary to stretching the imagination. “If they’re not reading at all,” says Johnson, “that’s a huge problem.”

　　In fact, fewer kids are reading for pleasure. According to data53 last week from the National Center for Educational Statistic’s long—term trend assessment, the number of 17—year—olds who reported never or hardly ever reading for fun54 from 9 percent in 1984 to 19 percent in 2004. At the same time, the55 of 17—year—olds who read daily dropped from 31 to 22.

　　This slow but steady retreat from books has not yet taken a toll on reading ability. Scores for the nation’s youth have56 constant over the past two decades (with an encouraging upswing among 9—year—olds). But given the strong apparent correlation between pleasure reading and reading skills, this means poorly for the future.

　　Section B

　　Directions:There are 2 passages in this section.Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements.For each of them there are four choices marked A),B),C) and D) .You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.

　　Passage One

　　Questions 57 to 61 are based on the following passage.

　　There is a new type of small advertisement becoming increasingly common in newspaper classified columns. It is sometimes placed among “situations vacant”, although it does not offer anyone a job, and sometimes it appears among “situations wanted”, although it is not placed by someone looking for a job, either. What it does is to offer help in applying for a job.

　　“Contact us before writing your application”, or “Make use of our long experience in preparing your curriculum vitae or job history”, is how it is usually expressed. The growth and apparent success of such a specialized service is, of course, a reflection on the current high levels of unemployment. It is also an indication of the growing importance of the curriculum vitae (or job history), with the suggestion that it may now qualify as an art form in its own right.

　　There was a time when job seekers simply wrote letters of application. “Just put down your name, address, age and whether you have passed any exams”, was about the average level of advice offered to young people applying for their first jobs when I left school. The letter was really just for openers, it was explained, everything else could and should be saved for the interview. And in those days of full employment the technique worked. The letter proved that you could write and were available for work. Your eager face and intelligent replies did the rest.

　　Later, as you moved up the ladder, something slightly more sophisticated was called for. The advice then was to put something in the letter which would distinguish you from the rest. It might be the aggressive approach. “Your search is over. I am the person you are looking for”, was a widely used trick that occasionally succeeded. Or it might be some special feature specially designed for the job interview.

　　There is no doubt, however, that it is increasing number of applicants with university education at all points in the process of engaging staff that has led to the greater importance of the curriculum vitae.

　　57. The new type of advertisement which is appearing in newspaper columns .

　　A) informs job hunters of the opportunities available

　　B) promises to offer useful advice to those looking for employment

　　C) divides available jobs into various types

　　D) informs employers of the people available for work

　　58. Nowadays a demand for this specialized type of service has been created because .

　　A) there is a lack of jobs available for artistic people

　　B) there are so many toplevel jobs available

　　C) there are so many people out of work

　　D) the job history is considered to be a work of art

　　59. In the past it was expected that first job hunters would .

　　A) write an initial letter giving their life history

　　B) pass some exams before applying for a job

　　C) have no qualifications other than being able to read and write

　　D) keep any detailed information until they obtained an interview

　　60. Later, as one went on to apply for more important jobs, one was advised to include in the letter .

　　A) something that would distinguish one from other applicants

　　B) hinted information about the personality of the applicant

　　C) one’s advantages over others in applying for the job

　　D) an occasional trick with the aggressive approach

　　61. The curriculum vitae has become such an important document because .

　　A) there has been an increase in the number of jobs advertised

　　B) there has been an increase in the number of applicants with degrees

　　C) jobs are becoming much more complicated nowadays

　　D) the other processes of applying for jobs are more complicated

　　Passage Two

　　Questions 62 to 66 are based on the following passage.

　　In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.

　　Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low—paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. The price, which is the wage that employers must pay, increases. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.

　　Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.

　　Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.

　　62. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may .

　　A) cause a shortage of apartments

　　B) worry those who rent apartments as homes

　　C) increase the profits of landlords

　　D) encourage landlords to invest in building apartment

　　63. According to the critics, rent control .

　　A) will always benefit those who rent apartments

　　B) is unnecessary

　　C) will bring negative effects in the long run

　　D) is necessary under all circumstances

　　64. The problem of unemployment will arise .

　　A) if the minimum wage is set too highB) if the minimum wage is set too low

　　C) if the workers are unskilledD) if the maximum wage is set

　　65. The passage tells us .

　　A) the relationship between supply and demand

　　B) the possible results of government controls

　　C) the necessity of government control

　　D) the urgency of getting rid of government controls

　　66. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

　　A) The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted.

　　B) Minimum wage can not always protect employees.

　　C) Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing.

　　D) Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory.