Passage 4

　　The Chinese of 3500 years ago believed that the earth was a chariot, and the sky was a curved canopy(天空) stretched above it. The canopy was nine layers thick, and it sloped slightly to the northwest, as a cataclysm(地陷) had broken one of its supporting columns. This gentle slope explained the movement of the stars from east to west.

　　According to these ancient Chinese beliefs, the sun spent the night on earth and ascended to the sky each morning from the luminous valley of the earth by climbing the branches of an immensely tall sacred tree. To the Chinese people, the sun was the incarnation of goodness, beauty, and truth. In popular imagination, the sun was represented as a cock that little by little assumed human form. His battles with the dragons, which personified evil in their beliefs, accounted for momentary disappearances of the sun that men now call eclipses. Many of the Chinese people worshiped the sun, but in the vast and complicated organization of the Chinese gods, the sun was of only secondary importance.

　　Along with these unsophisticated beliefs about the sun, the Chinese evolved a science of astronomy based upon observation—though essentially religious—which enabled them to predict eclipses of the sun and the movement of the stars. Such predictions were based on calculations made by using a gnomon(【天文】日晷仪指针)—an object whose shadow could be used as a measure, as with a sundial or simple shadow pointers. Moreover, with the naked eye, the Chinese observed sunspots, a phenomenon not then known to their contemporaries.

　　31. The ancient Chinese believed that the earth ______.

　　A. was a chariot B. sloped to the northwest

　　C. was supported by columns D. had nine layers

　　32. To the Chinese people, the sun represented ______.

　　A. the primary god B. evil

　　C. goodness, beauty and truth D. combat

　　33. The sun’s disappearances were thought to be caused by ______.

　　A. fights with cocks B. fights with dragons

　　C. a scientific phenomenon D. eclipse

　　34. Ancient Chinese astronomy could be accurately described as ______.

　　A. entirely religious in nature B. based on legendary figures

　　C. advanced in some areas D. completely unsuccessful

　　35. Implied but not stated: ______.

　　A. The sun was worshiped by all the Chinese people

　　B. The sun was thought of as a cock

　　C. Chinese religion and astronomy were closely interrelated

　　D. Sundials were first used by the Chinese

　　Part Ⅲ Vocabulary and Structure (20 points)

　　Directions: There are 40 incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that best completes the sentence. Mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the centre.

　　36. Though I was ______, I was not ______.

　　A. lone; lonely B. alone; lonely

　　C. lonely; lone D. lonely; lonely

　　37. The meeting was put off because we ______ a meeting without John.

　　A. objected for having B. objected to have

　　C. were objected to having D. objected to having

　　38. Every autumns farmers ______ the soil to destroy the weeds.

　　A. turn down B. turn over

　　C. turn up D. turn on

　　39. I’m sure Harry’s quite ______ to the task.

　　A. loyal B. willing C. equal D. capable

　　40. Many disadvantaged pupils tend to reject the school and everything it ______.

　　A. counts on B. sees to

　　C. takes advantage of D. stands for

　　41. Do you like any of the music ______ you’ve listened?

　　A. for which B. that C. to which D. which

　　42. Many people want to buy it because, ______, the price is low, it’s rather durable.

　　A. on one side; on the other side

　　B. for one thing; for another

　　C. on the one hand; on the other hand

　　D. in one part; on the other part

　　43. It was not until 1920 ______ regular radio broadcasts began.

　　A. that B. since C. when D. while

　　44. The behavior of men as individuals is ______ from their behavior in a group.

　　A. distinct B. popular

　　C. adequate D. comprehensive

　　45. It was ______ of him to get angry about it.

　　A. familiar B. serious C. unsuitable D. typical

　　46. As you treat me ______ will I treat you.

　　A. as B. like C. so D. and

　　47. There was a sudden crack of gunfire and the crowd ______ in all directions.

　　A. dispersed B. spread C. scattered D. distributed

　　48. ______ can we yield to the pressure.

　　A. By and by B. By and large

　　C. By no means D. By means of

　　49. It has been the same old story ever ______ he was a little boy.

　　A. after B. since C. when D. from

　　50. You ______ to the meeting to discuss the matter if you were really serious about your work.

　　A. ought to come B. ought to have come

　　C. must come D. must have come