(06·湖南A篇)

It’s likely that everything you learned about.America’s ancient history is wrong.

The new book,1491,completely changes our understanding of the Amerieas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.

DID YOU KNOW?

When Columbus landed there were probably more people in the Americas than there were in Europe.

The peoples of North America had such healthy life-styles that as late as the 19^th century they continued to be the tallest people on earth.

Facts have shown that the Amenicas were populated as long as 33,000 years ago.

4,000 years ago Mesoamerican famers developed com in a feat (技藝) of genetie engineering that still isn’t completely understood.

COMMENTS ON 1491

“In the tradition of  Jared Diamond & John MePhee,a totally new view of precolunhian America”.

－Richard Rhodes

“Attrnctively written and really absorbing Charles C.Mann has produced a book that’s part detective story,part cpie(史詩)　and part tragedy(不幸).He has taken on a vast topic:thousands of years,two huge continents,and cultures.”

－Charles Matthews,San Jese Mercary News

“Powerful and challenging”

－Alan Taylor,Washingto post

“A pleasure to read as well as a wonderful education”

－Howard Zinn

56.On the whole,1491 is a book mainly about America’s________.

A.life-styles           B.population          C.history            D.agrieulture

57.Which of the following as NOT TRUE about the comments on the book 1491?

A. It is interesting and instructive.

B. It is attractive and culturally related.

C. It is challenging and revolutionary.

D. It is hurnorous and persuasive.

58.From this passage,we can learn_________.

A.people settled in the Amencas a little carlier than 1942

B.North Americans were the tallest in the 18^th cenntry in the world

C.Mesoamencan farmers knew genclic engineering 5,000 years ago

D.the population in the Americas was smaller than that in Europe in 1492

Adults are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practised in the meantime. A man who has not had an opportunity to go swimming for years can ___21___ swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after several decades and still    22    away. A mother who has not    23   the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" or recite the story of Cinderella or Snow White.

　　One explanation is the    24     of over learning, which can be stated as following: Once we have learned something, additional learning increases the    25    of time we will remember it.

　　In childhood, we usually continue to practise such skills as swimming, bicycle riding long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and    26    ourselves of poems such as "Twinkle, twinkle, little star" and childhood tales such as Cinderella or Snow White. We not only learn but  __27   .

　　The law of over learning explains why cramming (突擊學(xué)習(xí)) for an examination, though it may result in a(an)    28     grade, is not a    29    way to learn a school course. By cramming, a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination, but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little over learning,    30   , is usually a good investment toward the future.

　　21. A. only                B. hardly            C. still                D. even

　　22. A. move               B. drive              C. travel              D. ride

　　23. A. thought about     B. cared for          C. showed up       D. brought up

　　24. A. result              B. law                C. rule              D. cause

　　25. A. accuracy           B. unit                  C. limit              D. length

　　26. A. remind             B. inform              C. warm             D. recall

　　27. A. recite               B. overlearn          C. research          D. improve

　　28. A. passing            B. average              C. excellent             D. discouraging

　　29. A. convenient        B. demanding       C. satisfactory        D. swift

　　30. A. at most            B. by the way        C. on the other hand  D. in the end

Now，perhaps，more than ever before，people are wondering what life is all about，and what it is for.Seeking material success is beginning to　26　large numbers of people around the world.They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is　27　up their lives，leaving them very little   28   or energy for family or hobbies.Many are turning to   29 　ways of living and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to　30　last year.One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz.They　31　to work in central London.He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank.They　32　go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs，　33　their two children with a nanny.Nearly twice a month Daniel had to　34　New York for meetings.They both earned a large amount of  money　35　began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays，they run　36　in the mountains of Wales.“I always wanted to have one here，”says Daniel，“and we took almost a year to　37　to downshift.It’s taken some time getting used to，but it’s been　38　it.We have to think　39　now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any　40　.However，I think it’s made us stronger as a family，and the children are a lot　41　.”

Liz，however，is not quite sure.“I used to enjoy my job，　 42　it was hard work and long hours.I’m not really a country girl，but I suppose I’m　43　getting used to looking after the animals.One thing I do　44　，though，is being able to see more of my children.My advice for other people wanting to do the　45　is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

26.A.trouble                 B.attract                       C.encourage                  D.frighten

27.A.putting                 B.looking                            C.building                    D.eating

28.A.money                  B.material                    C.spirit                         D.time

29.A.other                    B.simple                       C.free                          D.many

30.A.retire                    B.downshift                  C.rest                           D.travel

31.A.wanted                 B.liked                         C.used                          D.planned

32.A.should                  B.would                       C.might                        D.could

33.A.keeping                B.sending                     C.letting                       D.leaving

34.A.fly                       B.walk                         C.move                        D.run

35.A.and                      B.so                             C.but                           D.however

36.A.company                     B.farm                         C.house                        D.school

37.A.discuss                 B.study                        C.have                         D.make

38.A.worthy                 B.worth                        C.worthless                   D.worthwhile

39.A.once                     B.twice                        C.hardly                       D.worriedly

40.A.money                  B.holidays                    C.friends                      D.difficulties

41.A.more bored          B.more worried             C.happier                            D.cleverer

42.A.even though          B.when                        C.as if                          D.unless

43.A.directly                B.particularly                C.especially                  D.gradually

44.A.doubt                   B.admire                      C.like                           D.admit

45.A.job                       B.research                    C.experiment                D.same

Any housewife who went to the new supermarket wished to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. This was what the 　21　just inside the entrance 　22　.It said: “Remember,　23　,one of our customers gets 　24　goods. THIS MAY BE YOUR LUCKY DAY!” For quite a long time Mrs. Edwards　25, like many of her  26, to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never　27　hoping. The 　28　in the kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her 　29　buying so many things but failed. She 　30　dreamed of the DAY when the manager of the supermarket would come up to her and say, “Madam, THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY. Everything in your 　31　doesn’t need to be paid!” One Friday afternoon Mrs. Edwards shopped  32　.But she was not the lucky customer. No sooner had she just put the things inside her 　33　than she found that she had forgotten to 　34　tea. She dashed back to the 　35　, got some tea and went towards the　36　.As she did so, she saw the 　37　came.　38　his hand he said, “I want to 　39　you. You are our LUCKY CUSTOMER this week! Everything you have in your basket　40　 !”

1.A .notice     B. report           C. board            D. newspaper

2. A. did       B. promised     C. made         D. agreed

3.A. every day  B. every month  C. twice a week D. once a week

4.A. excellent B. free             C. extra            D. unexpected

5. A. waited        B. came             C. hoped        D. went

6.A. friends        B. neighbors        C. relatives        D. customers

7. A. got rid of    B. got along with   C. gave up      D. gave out

8.A. counter    B. cushion      C. food             D . cupboard

9. A. against       B. for          C. with             D. about

10.A. often         B. always       C. usually      D. seldom

11.A. bill      B. hand         C. car          D. basket

12.A. anxiously     B. seriously        C. crazily      D. wonderfully

13.A. pockets   B. car          C. basket       D. house

14. A. buy      B. find             C. take             D. have

15.A. shop      B. counter      C. department   D. supermarket

16.A. door      B. entrance         C. cash-desk        D. shelves

17.A. secretary B. policeman        C. manager     D. salesman

18. A. Putting out B. Holding out C. Shaking      D. Waving

19.A. congratulate B .tell          C. inform          D. thank

20.A. is yours      B. means nothing    C. belongs to you  D. costs nothing

Any housewife who went to the new supermarket wished to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. This was what the 　21　just inside the entrance 　22　.It said: “Remember,　23　,one of our customers gets 　24　goods. THIS MAY BE YOUR LUCKY DAY!” For quite a long time Mrs. Edwards　25, like many of her  26, to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never　27　hoping. The 　28　in the kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her 　29　buying so many things but failed. She 　30　dreamed of the DAY when the manager of the supermarket would come up to her and say, “Madam, THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY. Everything in your 　31　doesn’t need to be paid!” One Friday afternoon Mrs. Edwards shopped  32　.But she was not the lucky customer. No sooner had she just put the things inside her 　33　than she found that she had forgotten to 　34　tea. She dashed back to the 　35　, got some tea and went towards the　36　.As she did so, she saw the 　37　came.　38　his hand he said, “I want to 　39　you. You are our LUCKY CUSTOMER this week! Everything you have in your basket　40　 !”