大學英語(B) 閱讀理解

第二部分：閱讀理解[@more@]

Passage 1

The French Revolution broke out in 1789. At the time France was in a crisis. The Government was badly run and people’s lives were miserable. King Louis XIV tried to control the national parliament and raise more taxes. But his effort failed. He ordered his troops to Versailles. The pople thought that Louis intended to put down the Revolution by force. On July 14, 1789, they stormed and took the Bastille, where political prisoners were kept. Ever since that day, July 14 has been the French National Day. Louis tried to flee the country in 1792 to get support from Austria and Prussia. Howerver, he was caught and put in prison. In September 1792, the monarchy was abolished. In the same yeaer, Louis was executed. A few months later his wife, Marie also had her head cut off. The Revolution of France had frightened the other kings of Europe. Armies from Austria and Prussia began to march against France. The French raised republican armies to defend the nation. The Revolution went through a period of terror. Thousands of perple lost their lives. In the end, power passed to Napoleon Bonaparte.

1. What’s this passage about?
A. France. B. King Louis. C. The French Revolution. D. Europe.

2. Which did not happen in 1789?
A. The French Revolution broke out. B. The national economy was developing rapidly.
C. The government wasn’t well in. D. King Louis XIV was in power.

3. Where were the political prisoners kept?
A. In Versailles. B. In Austria. C. In Prussia. D. In Bastille.

4. What does the underlined word “abolished” mean?
A. Put off. B. Established. C. United. D. Ended.

5. What was NOT the effect of the Revolution?
A. July 14 has become the French National Day. B. It brought some impact on the other European kings.
C. Louis’s wife, Marie was killed. D. The king tried to control the national parliament.

Passage 2

In the United States, it is not customary to telephone someone very early in the morning. If you telephone him early in the day, while he is shaving or having breakfast, the time of the call shows that the matter is very important and requires immediate attention. The same eaning is attached to telephone calls made after 11:00 p.m. If someone receives a call during sleeping hours, he assumes it’s a matter of life or death. The time chosen for the call communicates its importance. In social life, time plays a very important part. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are not highly regarded if the invitation to a dinner party is extended only three or four days before the party date. But it is not true in all countries. In other areas of the world, it may be considered foolish to make an appointment too far in advance because plans which are made for a date more than a week away tend to be forgotten. The meaning of time differs in different parts of the world. Thus, misunderstandings arise between people from diffenent cultures that treat time differently. Promptness is valued highly in American life, for example. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible. In the U.S. no one would think of keeping a business associate waiting for an hour, it would be too impolite. A person who is 5 minutes late, will say a few words of explanation, though perhaps he will not complete the sentence.

1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. It is not customary to telephone someone in the morning and in sleeping hours in the U.S.
B. The role of time in social life over the world.
C. If people are not prompt, they may be regarded as impolite or not fully responsible in the U.S.
D. Not every country treats the concept of time as the same.

2. What does it mean in the passage if yu call someone during his or her sleeping hours?
A. A matter of work. B. A matter of life or death.
C. You want to see him or her. D. You want to make an appointment with him or her.

3. Which of the following time is proper if you want to make an appointment with your friend?
A. at 7:00 am. B. at 4:00 pm. C. at the midnight. D. at 4:00 am.

4. Which of the following sataements is true according to the passage?
A. In the U.S.A. guests tend to feel they are highly regarded if the invitation to a diner party is extended only three or four days before the party date.
B. There is no misunderstandingarising between people from different cultures about the concept of time.
C. It may be considered foolish to make an appointment well in advance in the U.S.A..
D. Promptness is valued highly in American life.

5. From the passage we can safely infer that _________.
A. it’s a matter of life or death if you call someone in day time
B. the meaning of time differs in different parts of the world
C. it makes no difference in the U.S. whether you are early or late for a business party
D. if a person is late for a date, he needn’t make some explanation

Passage 3

A foreigner’s first impression of the U.S. is likely to be that everyone is in a rush-often under pressure. City people appear always to be hurrying to get where they are going restlessly, seeking attention in a store, and elbowing others as they try to complete their errands. Racing through daytime meals is part of life in this country.

Working time is considered precious. Others in public eating places are waiting for you to finish so that they too can be served and get back to work within the time allowed. Each person hurries to make room for the next person. If you don’t, waiters will hurry you.

You also find drivers will be abrupt and that people will push past you. You will miss smiles, brief conversations, and small courtesies with strangers. Don’t take it personally. This is because people value time highly. And they resent someone else “wasting” it beyond a certain courtesy point.
The view of time affects the importance we attach to patience. In the American system of values, patience is not a high priority. Many of us have what might be called “ a short fuse.” We begin to move restlessly about if we feel time is slipping away without some returnbe this in terms of pleasure, work value, or rest. Those coming from lands where time is looked upon differently may find this matter of pace to be one of their most difficult adjust ments in both business and daily life.
May newcomers to the States will miss the opening courtesy of a business call, for example, they will miss the ritual socializing that goes with a welcoming cup of tea or coffee they may be traditional in their own country. They may miss leisurely business chats in a café or coffeehouse. Normally, Americans do not assess their visitors in such relaxed surroundings over prolonged small talks. We seek out evidence of past performance rather than evaluate a business colleague through social courtesies. Since we generally assess and probe professionally rather than socially, we start talking business very quickly.

1. Which of the following statements is wrong?
A. Americans seem to be always under pressure. B. Americans attach less importance to patience.
C. Americans don’t care much about ritual socializing. D. Americans are impolite to their business colleagues.

2. In the fourth paragraph, “a high priority” means ______________.
A. a less important thing B. a first concern C. a good business D. an attractive gift

3. Americans evaluate a business collague _________.
A. through social courtesy B. through prolonged business talks
C. by establishing business relations D. by learning about their past performance

4. This passage mainly talks about ____________.
A. how Americans treasure their time B. how busy Americans are every day
C. how Americans do business with foreigners D. what American way of life is like

5. We can infer from the passage that the author’s tone n writing is _____________.
A. critical B. ironical C. appreciative D. objective

答案：CBDDD BBBDB DBDAC