Passage Three

　　The Christmas in 1994 was Jennifer Nelson’s first time as an assistant at Chicago’s Interfaith House, a center for homeless adults who have just been discharged from the hospital. When she gave a simple gift to a resident, the woman started weeping.

　　“She told me that no one had ever given her a Christmas present before,” recalls this gracious (和蔼的) 45-year-old mother of six, “Right then and there I vowed to help make Interfaith House a warm, giving environment.”

　　Over the years Jennifer became executive director of Interfaith House, picking up both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree along the way. The position involves fundraising, providing spiritual and emotional support and playing Santa.

　　“Many of our residents have no family or have burned bridges with loved ones, which makes Christmas particularly depressing for them,” says Jennifer. “They need to feel like someone cares.”

　　Holiday preparation starts on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when the staff, the board of directors, volunteers and residents blanket all three floors with trees and decorations. In the week before Christmas, there’s a day-long party with food and a talent show put on by the residents. Last year a group performed a particularly moving skit (小品). “They dramatized their first days at the center, when they were angry and treated the staff badly,” she recalls. “Then they showed us how they became cooperative and hopeful when they realized we care. The skit let us know how much Interfaith House means to them.”

　　At around 4 p.m., Jennifer makes her entrance dressed as Santa Claus. The 40 staff members are her elves (小精灵) who pass gifts to all the residents, calling each person by name to receive hats and gloves, journals, pajamas, headphones. On the evening the board of directors joins the festival.

　　On Christmas Day Jennifer’s family, as well as relatives of some of the residents, come for dinner. Instead of loading up trays cafeteria-style as usual, the residents sit at the tables, says Jennifer, “It is our pleasure to serve them on the day.”

　　44. According to the passage, Interfaith House is a center to help ________.

　　A. homeless orphans B. homeless adults

　　C. single-parent families D. illegal immigrants

　　45. Which of the following is NOT involved in Jennifer Nelson’s job? ________.

　　A. Fundraising B. Spiritual and emotional support

　　C. Santa playing D. Illness treatment

　　46. Who performed a moving skit last year? ________.

　　A. The residents B. The staff C. The board of directors D. The volunteers

　　47. We can know from the passage that the residents in the center are served _______.

　　A. all the year round B. at Thanksgiving Day

　　C. only at Christmas D. in the Spring Festival

　　Passage Four

　　Some people argue that the pressure on international sportsmen and sportswomen kills the essence (真谛) of sport—the pursuit of personal excellence. Children kick a football around for fun. When they get older and play for local school teams, they become competitive but they still enjoy playing. The individual representing his country cannot afford to think about enjoying himself, he was to think only about winner.

　　A good example is the football World Cup. Football is the world’s most important sport. Winning the World Cup is perhaps the summit of international sporting success. Mention “Argentina” to someone and the chances are that he’ll think of football. In a sense, winning the World Cup “put Argentina on the map”.

　　Sports fans and supporters get quite irrational about the World Cup. People in England felt that their country was somehow important after they won in 1996. Last year thousands of Scots sold their cars, and even their houses, and spent all their money traveling to Argentina, where the finals were played.

　　So, am I arguing that international competition kills the idea of sport? Certainly not! Does the Argentinean really believe that because eleven of their men proved the most skilful at football, their nation is in every way better than all others? Not really. But it’s nice to know that you won and that in one way at least your country is the best.

　　48. What is author’s main purpose in the passage? __________.

　　A. To explain the role of sport

　　B. To compare Scotland with Argentina.

　　C. To show that Argentina is better than all others.

　　D. To prove that football is the world’s most important sport.

　　49. In the second paragraph, the word “summit” means _______.

　　A. award B. summary C. highest point D. mountain top

　　50. According to the passage, Argentina is world-famous because of its_______.

　　A. obvious position on the map

　　B. successes in the football World Cup

　　C. excellence at most important sports

　　D. large number of sports fans and supporters

　　51. According to the passage, if a sportsman only thinks about winning, he will______.

　　A. fail to succeed B. lose enjoyment

　　C. be successful D. be unreasonable

　　Passage Five

　　A few years ago it was fashionable to speak of a generation gap, a division between young people and their elders. Parents complained that children did not show them proper respect and obedience, while children complained that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually, the generation gap has been around for a long time .Many critics argue that it is built into the fabric of our society.

　　One important cause of the generation gap is the opportunity that young people have to choose their own life style. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and approve of, and often to continue the family occupation. in our society ,young people often travel great distances for their educations move out at an early age ,marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.

　　In our upwardly mobile society, parents often expect their children to be better than they did : to find better jobs, to make more money ,and to do all the things that they were unable to do .Often ,however ,the ambitions that parents have for their children are another cause of the division between them. Often they discover that they have very little in common with each other.

　　Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture ,elderly people are valued for their wisdom ,but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight .The young and the old seem to live in two very different words, separated by different skills and abilities.

　　No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature of American life for some time to come. Its causes are rooted in the freedoms and opportunities of our society, and in the rapid pace at which society changes.

　　52. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ____.

　　A. the generation gap suddenly appeared

　　B. the generation gap is a feature of American life

　　C. how people can reduce the generation gap

　　D. many critics argue over the nature of the generation gap.

　　53. The underline word “around” in paragraph 1 means_______.

　　A. On all sides B. In every direction C. near D. in existence

　　54. Which one is NOT the cause of the generation gap? _________.

　　A. Young people like to choose their own life styles.

　　B. American society is changing very fast.

　　C. Parents place hopes on their children.

　　D. Modern education makes them think differently.

　　55. In American society, young people often ______.

　　A. rely on their parents to make a living

　　B. stay with their parents in order to get an opportunity for higher education

　　C. seek the best advice from their parents

　　D. have very little in common with their parents