IV. Reading Comprehension (40 points)

　　Directions: There are four reading passages in this part. Each passage is followed by five questions. For each question there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.

　　Passage 1

　　One of the most important tasks of remembering what you read is choosing the right ideas to remember. It’s easy to say this, but many readers do not realize that they must learn to choose what is worth remembering.

　　Just as a traveler in a desert searches for landmarks, you must learn to find‘landmarks’to guide you through your reading. These landmarks are the main ideas, the important statements around which the writer builds his article.

　　To find main ideas easily, you should practise the skill of looking for the most important statement in each paragraph. If this statement were taken away, the paragraph would have no meaning. But if the rest of the paragraph were taken away, the statement would still make the writer’s message clear.

　　By collecting the main ideas of the paragraphs you read, you will find you have a series of statements that, put together, make up the main ideas the writer wanted you to discover.

　　41. This passage tells us________.

　　A. how to read B. how to remember

　　C. how to find the main ideas to remember D. the importance of reading

　　42. If you travel in a desert, and don’t want to lose your way, you should follow the ________.

　　A. footprints B. main ideas C. important statements D. landmarks

　　43. To find main ideas easily, you should ________.

　　A. take up reading

　　B. write often

　　C. practice reading more

　　D. practice the skill of looking for the most important statement in each paragraph

　　44. Without its main idea, a paragraph ________.

　　A. would be meaningful B. would be meaningless

　　C. would still make the writer’s message clear D. would help the readers to consider

　　45. The writer wanted you to discover ________.

　　A. the statements in his article B. the main ideas

　　C. the new words D. the word phrases

　　Passage 2

　　In the U.S., people prefer waiting for a table to sitting with people they don’t know. This means a hostess may not seat a small group until a small table is available, even if a large one is. If you are sitting at a table with people you don’t know, it is impolite to light up a cigarette without first asking if it will disturb them.

　　At American restaurants and coffee shops you are usually served tap water before you order. You may find the bread and butter is free, and if you order coffee, you may get a free refill.

　　Most cities and towns have no rules about opening and closing times for stores or restaurants, though they usually do make rules for bars. Especially in large cities, stores may be open 24 hours a day.

　　Servings in restaurants are often large, too large for many people. If you can’t finish your meal but would like to enjoy the food later, ask your waitress or waiter for a“doggie bag”. It may have a picture of a dog on it, but everybody knows you are taking food for yourself.

　　Supper and dinner are both words for the evening meal. Some people have“Sunday dinner”.This is an especially big noon meal.

　　Tips are not usually added to the check. They are not included in the price of the meal, either. A tip of about 15% is expected and you should leave it on the table when you leave. In some restaurants, a check is brought on a plate and you put your money there. There the waiter or waitress brings you your change.

　　46. Which of the following statements is true?

　　A. American people like sitting with people they don’t know.

　　B. Hostess always seat a small group at a large table

　　C. American people never sit with people they don’t know

　　D. American people would not light a cigarette if the people who sit at the same table

　　mind their smoking

　　47. Usually ________ is served before you order.

　　A. Cold water B. Butter C. Coffee D. Bread

　　48. American people always ________ when servings are too large for them.

　　A. take the food home with a doggie bag for their dogs

　　B. leave the food on the table and go away

　　C. take the food home with a doggie bag and enjoy the food later

　　D. ask the waitress or waiter to keep the food for them

　　49. Sunday dinner is ________.

　　A dinner in the evening B. a big noon meal

　　C. a big lunch on Sunday D. a supper on Sunday

　　50. Which statement is not mentioned in the passage?

　　A. Tips are not usually included in the total check.

　　B. A 15 percent tip in large cities indicates satisfactory service.

　　C. People tip waiters and waitresses.

　　D. People always put tips on the table.