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（阅读理解题）Even if the word ‘pop’ disappears from the English vocabulary, the influence of pop will remain. Pop has become part of British and American history. There has always been a close cultural link, or tie, between Britain and English-speaking America, not only in literature but also in popular arts, especially music. Before the Second World War the Americans exported jazz and the blues. During the 1950s they exported rock ’n’ roll, and star singers like Elvis Presley were admired by young British and Americans alike. Then in the early 1960s a new sound was heard, very different from anything which had so far come from the American side of the Atlantic. This was the Liverpool, or Merseyside, ‘beat’. The new pop culture, in a few years, swept across Britain and America, and across most of the countries of the western world. The people responsible for the pop revolution were four Liverpool boys who joined together in a group and called themselves The Beatles. They played in small clubs in the back streets of the city. Unlike the famous solo stars, who had their songs written for them, the Beatles wrote their own words and music. They had a close personal relationship with their audience, and they expected them to join in and dance to the ‘beat’ of the music. Audience participation is an essential characteristic of pop culture. Some pop groups, in particular the Rolling Stones, did more than just entertain. They wrote words which were deliberately intended to shock. They represented the anger and bitterness of youth struggling for freedom against authority. The Beatles, on the other hand, finally won the admiration of people. As they developed, their songs became more serious. They wrote not only of love, but of death and poverty and daily life. Largely thanks to the Beatles, pop music had grown into a big and profitable industry. The influence of British pop in America was great. American pop groups soon became as famous as British groups. Both the British and Americans are experimenting with new ideas, and pop is developing and changing, and mixing with modern folk music.1. When did the British start to export their pop music? A. In 1940s B. In 1950s C. In 1960s D. In 1970s 2. Which statement is true? A. The pop music comes from American. B. The word “pop” would be out of date someday. C. The spirit of pop shift from America to Britain. D. The spirit of pop music would not disappear. 3. What is the difference between the Beatles and the famous solo stars? A. The Beatles has four group members. B. The famous solo stars didn’t write songs themselves. C. The Beatles welcomed the audience’s participation. D. All of the above. 4. The Rolling Stone wrote songs not only to entertain, but also _______________. A. make people feel relax B. show their love to the world C. release their anger and dissatisfaction D. fight for the authority 5. In the author’s eyes, which one is more important, English pop and American pop? A. None of them B. English pop C. American pop D. Both of them
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（阅读理解题）A Nobel Prize is considered by most people one of the highest international honors a person can receive. As you know, the prizes were started by a Swede called Alfred Nobel. Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, and lived from 1833 to 1896. Alfred Nobel was a chemist and inventor. He made two important inventions. And so he became very rich. Although he was rich, Nobel was not a happy man. He never married nor had children. Also, he was a sick man in a large part of his life. Nobel died at the age of sixty-three. When he died, he left a fund (基金) of ＄9,000,000. The money was to be used in giving prizes to those who made outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and the promotion (促进)of world peace. The first Nobel Prizes were given on December 10th, 1901, five years after Nobel’s death. Many famous people from all over the world have been given Nobel Prizes for their achievements. Albert Einstein was one of them. Each Prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a diploma（证书）saying that he has been given the Prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money—about $40,000. Often a Prize is given to just one person, but not always. Sometimes, a Prize is shared. It may be given to two or three people who have worked together. Sometimes a Prize is not given at all if there is no outstanding achievement. In 1972, for example, no Nobel Peace Prize was given. It is the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm that decides whether to give the Prize or not1. Most people think that the Nobel Prize is __________ a person can receive. A. the highest honor in the world B. one of the highest international honors C. a higher honor than others D. as high as any other honor 2. Alfred Nobel who started the Nobel Prize was __________ A. a rich, happy and lucky man B. a poor, unhappy and unlucky man C. a poor, but happy and lucky man D. a rich, unhappy and unlucky man 3. A Nobel Prize is made up of _________ A. a gold medal and a large amount of money B. a gold medal and a diploma C. a gold medal and a diploma and a large amount of money D. a diploma and a large amount of money 4. A Nobel Prize is given to __________ each year. A. just one person B. one person C. not always one person D. three persons 5. When he died, Nobel left an amount of money __________ A. to his wife and his children B. to the university he used to study in C. to his parents and his students D. to be spend on setting five prizes
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（阅读理解题）Michael, a typical American, stays at home on workdays. He plugs into his personal computer terminal in order to connect with the office. After work, he puts on his headphones, watches a movie on his home video recorder, or plays baseball on the computer. On many days, Michael doesn’t talk to any other human beings, and he doesn’t see any people except the ones on television. Michael is imaginary, but his lifestyle is very possible. The inventions of modern technology seem to be cutting us off form contact with our fellow human being. The world of business is one area in which technology is isolating us. Experts say, for example, that many people will soon be able to work at home. With access to a large central computer, employees such as office clerks, insurance agents, and accountants could do their jobs at display terminals in their own homes. They would never have to actually see the people they’re dealing with. In addition, the way employees are paid will change. Workers’ salaries will be automatically paid into their bank accounts, making paper checks unnecessary. No workers will stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks. Personal banking will change, too. Customers will deal with machines to put in or take our money from their accounts. Another area that technology is changing is entertainment. Music, for instance, was once a group experience. People listened to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings. For many people now, however, music is an individual experience. Walking along the street or sitting in their living rooms, they wear headphones to build a wall of music around them. Movie entertainment is changing, too. Movies used to be social events. Now, fewer people are going out to see a movie. Many more are choosing to wait for a film to appear on television or are borrowing videotapes to watch at home. Instead of laughing with others, viewers watch movies in their own living rooms. (倍速P130)1. After work, Michael likes to ______. A. listen to music at the concert hall B. watch a movie in his living room C. run a program on his computer in his office D. play baseball with his workmates 2. The sentence “Michael is imaginary, but his lifestyle is very possible” means ______. A. Michael is a person full of imagination and he can make his dreams come true B. Michael is not a real person but probably the lifestyle does exist C. Michael has ambitions but he can’t make his dreams come true D. Michael is a person full of imagination and his lifestyle is common nowadays 3. In the modern world, people will A. stand in line to receive their pay or cash their checks B. see the people they’re dealing with C. listen to music at concert halls or in small social gatherings D. watch movies in their own living rooms 4. What is the main idea of the passage? A. We may no longer need to communicate with other human being. B. Modern technology seems to be separating human beings. C. We may no longer need to work in the office. D. Modern technology makes it possible for us to work and entertain ourselves at home. 5. What will the author most probably discuss after the last paragraph? A. Games and sports. B. Personal banking. C. Music and films. D. International business.
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