Though it is mere 1 to 3 percent of the population,the upper class possesses at least 25 percent of the nation’s wealth.This class has two segments:upper-upper and lower- upper.Basically,the upper-upper class is the“old rich”-families that have been wealthy for several generations-an aristocracy of birth and wealth.Their names are in the Social Register,a listing of acceptable members of high society.A few are known across the nation,such as the Rockefellers,Roosevelts,and Vanderbilts.Most are not visible to the general public.They live in grand seclusion(深居簡(jiǎn)出),drawing their income from the investment of their inherited wealth.In contrast,the lower-upper class is the“new rich”. Although they may be wealthier than some of the old rich,the new rich are anxious to make their money like everybody else lower than their class.Thus their prestige(威望) is generally lower than that of the old rich,who have not found it necessary to lift a finger to make their money,and who tend to look down upon the new rich.

However its wealth is acquired,the upper class is very,very rich.They have enough money and leisure time to cultivate an interest in the arts and to collect rare books, paintings,and sculptures.They generally live in exclusive areas,belong to exclusive social clubs,communicate with each other,and marry their own kind-all of which keeps them so distant from the common people that they have been called the out-of-fight class.More than any other class,they tend to be conscious of being members of a class.They also command an enormous amount of power and influence here and abroad,as they hold many top government positions,run the Council on Foreign Relations,and control multinational corporations.Their actions affect the life of millions.

1.

According to the author,the“old rich”get riche_________.

  A.through the Social Register          B.through their reputation

  C.by investing their inherited wealth     D.by collecting paintings and sculptures

2.

The reason why the“old rich”look down upon the‘new rich’is that         .

  A.the former are wealthier than the latter

  B.the latter sweat themselves to make money

  C.the“new rich”have no interest in arts

  D.the“old rich”are conscious of being members of the upper class

3.

The upper class is also called the out-of-sight class because_________.

  A.they keep away from the general public

  B.they spend most of their time abroad.

  C.they don’t communicate with any people

  D.they move frequently from place to place

4.

We can learn from the passage that_________.

  A.the upper class is powerful and influential

  B.the upper class collects rare books to make money

  C.the upper class holds all top government positions

  D.the“old rich”make much more money than the“new rich”

Across the globe, single parent homes are on the rise. In the US, the 2000 census (人口普查) showed 24.8 million, or nearly 24 percent of the nation’s 105.5 million households, were traditional two-parent homes. By comparison, 9.8 million households, or 9 percent of all US households were headed by an adult raising a child alone. The 1990 census showed 26 percent of homes were led by a married mother and father, and 8 percent of homes were led by a single parent.

Similar increases occurred in other countries. In the UK, lone-parent homes increased from 3.3 percent in 1990 to 5.5 percent in 1999. Single parent households in Australia rose from 5.8 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in 1999. Belgium saw the increase from 1.8 percent to 2.7 percent during the same period of time. These countries tend to have greater acceptance of the single parent because there are fewer nearby family members to disapprove, Riche, a Census Bureau director, said.

Just as in the US, those changes raised new questions about how involved govenment should be in helping single parent families. Some research suggests children raised in two-parent families are better off than those who depend on one.

    “The position of one-parent families in any country is very much a gender (性別) issue-women’s opportunities, especially working-class women on low income,” said Sue Cohen, coordinator (協(xié)調(diào)員) of the Single Action Parents Network in England.

Not considering the exact number of the single-parent families, which country saw the fastest rise rate in 1999, compared with 1990?

A.UK.          B.Australia.               C.America.               D.Belgium.

What is the cause of the rise of single parent families across the globe?

A. The nearby family members have a favourable opinion.

B.A lone parent is well off enough to support his /her children.

C.A lot of problems have arisen in two-parent families.

D. We cannot get enough proving information from the text.

Which of the following is TRUE about the increase of single parent families according to the passage?

A. It will somewhat limit the growing population of younger generation.

B. Governments should take actions about the social problems brought about by it.

C. Single parent families are not looked down upon in any country mentioned here.

D. Generally speaking, the single parents needn’t worry since they are highly paid.

Which of the following diagrams correctly shows the rise of single parent families in the US from 1990 to 2000?

Across the globe, single parent homes are on the rise. In the US, the 2000 census (人口普查) showed 24.8 million, or nearly 24 percent of the nation’s 105.5 million households, were traditional two-parent homes. By comparison, 9.8 million households, or 9 percent of all US households were headed by an adult raising a child alone. The 1990 census showed 26 percent of homes were led by a married mother and father, and 8 percent of homes were led by a single parent.

Similar increases occurred in other countries. In the UK, lone-parent homes increased from 3.3 percent in 1990 to 5.5 percent in 1999. Single parent households in Australia rose from 5.8 percent in 1990 to 7.6 percent in 1999. Belgium saw the increase from 1.8 percent to 2.7 percent during the same period of time. These countries tend to have greater acceptance of the single parent because there are fewer nearby family members to disapprove, Riche, a Census Bureau director, said.

Just as in the US, those changes raised new questions about how involved govenment should be in helping single parent families. Some research suggests children raised in two-parent families are better off than those who depend on one.

    “The position of one-parent families in any country is very much a gender (性別) issue-women’s opportunities, especially working-class women on low income,” said Sue Cohen, coordinator (協(xié)調(diào)員) of the Single Action Parents Network in England.

5.Not considering the exact number of the single-parent families, which country saw the fastest rise rate in 1999, compared with 1990?

A.UK.          B.Australia.               C.America.               D.Belgium.

6.What is the cause of the rise of single parent families across the globe?

A.The nearby family members have a favourable opinion.

B.A lone parent is well off enough to support his /her children.

C.A lot of problems have arisen in two-parent families.

D.We cannot get enough proving information from the text.

7.Which of the following is TRUE about the increase of single parent families according to the passage?

A.It will somewhat limit the growing population of younger generation.

B.Governments should take actions about the social problems brought about by it.

C.Single parent families are not looked down upon in any country mentioned here.

D.Generally speaking, the single parents needn’t worry since they are highly paid.

8.Which of the following diagrams correctly shows the rise of single parent families in the US from

1990 to 2000?

B
The worst danger is a house on fire when people are asleep. Always be ready to leave through a window into the garden by making sure you can open it if necessary. If you should be on holiday in a tall building or hotel, make sure you know where the fire escape(太平梯) is. When you can’t find any way out, try to find pieces of cloth and make a rope to get out of a window to safety. If you smell burning in your home, get out right away. If you can’t breathe properly because of smoke on your way out, crawl(爬) on your hands and knees because smoke rises and the air will be cleaner near the floor. Smoke is a killer and more people die from breathing it in than actually being burned.
Fire in a cinema hall or public place often means people pushing to reach a door. Keep your head up with arms up in front of your chest. This protects your chest and gives you the best chance to breathe. Above all, don’t get frightened!
60. When a tall building is on fire, people______.
A.can leave by coming down the fire escape     B.should first check the room window
C.had better find a long rope                 D.must lie down on the floor at once
61. People can leave a burning house through a window if ______.
A.there is smoke in the room          B.  there is no other way out
C .they can’t breathe properly          D.  they want to put out the fire
62. There are several things to do to keep one safe. Which of the following is not talked about in the passage?
A.Leave the house right away when you smell something burning.
B.Raise your head and keep your chest from being hurt.
C.Get out of the house by crawling on the floor.
D.Rush out of the house, dressed in wet clothes.
63. Which of the following is not true?
A.In a fire, more deaths are caused by smoke.
B.The most important thing is not to be frightened in a fire.
C.When a public place is on fire, people usually push to leave.
D.Be ready to leave a burning house through a window if there is a garden down below.

B
The most important holiday in spring, especially for Christians, is Easter. This Christian holiday is not on the same date every year，but it’s always on a Sunday. It can be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Many people celebrate Easter by buying new clothes. Children celebrate by hunting for colored eggs that their parents have hidden around the house. People also give Easter baskets filled with candy and other goodies to one another to celebrate the day.
But the holiday is more than new clothes and good things to eat. On Easter, many people go to church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection（復(fù)活）from the dead. Most people color Ester eggs. Some people hide them. Others just eat them. But no matter what one does with Easter eggs，they are an important Easter tradition throughout the Western world. People from many different cultures celebrate Easter. In both America and Belgium, children look for Easter eggs hidden on lawns and in bushes. In America, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny (兔子).But in Belgium, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from church bells. In Bulgaria (保加利亞), red Easter eggs are lucky in churches. Bulgarian families also hit these Easter eggs together to see whose is the strongest. The winner looks forward to good fortune that year. Still dozens of other Easter traditions exist. In parts of Austria，for example，children sing from door to door and are rewarded with colorful eggs.
61．Easter comes _______.
A. on the same date every year   
B. on Sunday on March 22
C. on Sunday on April 25       
D. on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25
62．To celebrate Easter, people ___________.
A. go shopping, hide colored eggs and children hunt for them
B. give Easter baskets filled candy and goodies to one another
C. buy new clothes, hide colored eggs and children look for them around the house
D. both B and C
63．For Christians the more important thing to do on Easter is________.
A. going to church to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection
B. buying new clothes
C. eating delicious food and paint color eggs
D. exchange beautiful gifts each other
64．People from different cultures have different ideas about Easter egg _________.
A. In both American and Belgium, children hunt for Easter eggs hidden in rooms and in bushes
B. In Belgium, the hidden eggs are thought to have fallen from doorbells
C. In American, children believe the eggs are hidden by the Easter bunny
D. In America, the hidden eggs are supposed to have fallen from doorbells
65．In some places of Austria, children sing from door to door for_______.
A. blesses      B. Easter eggs     C. candy and goodies     D. Easter bunny