5. With foreign car parts makers coming to the Yangtse River Delta, how does Shanghai GM Buick feel about the localized production of car parts?
A) The production cost is too high.
B) To carry out the agreement on localized production is impossible.
C) The quality of localized car parts must be improved.
D) The localization agreement can be carried out without any problem.
KEY: CBCAD
PASSAGE 41
Architecture
Architecture is to building as literature is to the printed word. The best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of the history of cultures. These achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art.
The renaissance brought about an entirely new age, not only in philosophy and literature but in the visual arts as well. In architecture, the principles and styles of ancient Greece and Rome were bought back to life and reinterpreted. They remain dominant until the 20th century.
Many kinds of stone are used as building materials. Stone and marble were chosen for important monuments because they are not burnable and can be expected to endure. Stone architecture was often blended with stone sculpture. The use of stone has declined, however, because a number of other materials are more adaptable to industrial use.
The complexity of modern life calls for a variety of buildings. More people live in mass housing and go to work in large office buildings; they spend their income in large shopping centers, send their children to many different kinds of schools, and when they are sick they go to specialized hospitals and clinics. All these different types of buildings accumulated experiences needed by their designers.
By the middle of the 20th century, modern architecture, which was influenced by new technology and mass production, was dealing with increasingly complex social needs. Important characteristics of modern architectural works are expanses of glass and the use of reinforced concrete. Advanced in elevator technology, air conditioning, and electric lighting have all had important effects.
練習(xí)：
1. Architecture can be regarded as
A) an original document.
B) A literary works.
C) A social art.
D) An individual's creation.
2. Paragraph 3 is mainly about
A) why marble is better than stone in building monuments.
B) Why stone and marble were used as building materials in the past.
C) Why marble is unburnable and endurable.
D) Why marble adds artistic value to ancient buildings.
3. Which of the following statements is true according to paragraph 4?
A) New technologies make modern life possible.
B) Modern architecture makes modern life more comfortable.
C) Beautiful buildings are the symbol of modern life.
D) Diversified needs of modern life requires different types of buildings.
4. Several elements influenced modern architectural works by the middle of the 20th century. Which of the following element is not mentioned in the passage?
A） Reinforced steel.
B） Electric lighting.
C） Reinforced concrete
D） Air conditioning.
5. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A) Architecture as monuments.
B) Development of architecture.
C) Architecture and literature.
D) The Renaissance and architecture
Key: CBDAB
PASSAGE 42
Crystal Ear
One day a friend asked my wife Jill if I wanted a hearing aid. " He certainly does," replied Jill. After hearing about a remarkable new product, Jill finally got up the nerve to ask me if I'd ever thought about getting a hearing aid. "No way," I said. "It would make me look 20 years older." "No, no, "she replied. "This is entirely different. It's Crystal Ear!"
Jill was right. Crystal Ear is different-not the old-styled body worn or over-the-ear aid, but an advanced personal sound system so small it's like contacts for your ears. And Crystal Ear is super-sensitive and powerful, too. You will hear sounds your ears have been missing for years. Crystal Ear will make speech louder, and the sound is pure and natural.
I couldn't believe how tiny it is. It is smaller than the tip of my little finger and it's almost invisible when worn. There are no wires, no behind -the-ear device. Put it in your ear and its ready-to-wear mold fits comfortably. Since it's not too loud or too light, you may even forget that you're wearing it! Use it at work or at play. And if your hearing problem is worse in certain situation, use Crystal Ear only when you need it.
Hearing loss, which typically prior to teenage years, progresses throughout one's lifetime. Although hearing loss is now the world's number-one health problem, nearly 90 percent of people suffering hearing loss choose to leave the problem untreated. For many millions, treating hearing loss in a conventional way can involve numerous office visits, expensive testing and adjustments to fit your ear. Thank to Crystal Ear, the " sound solution" is now convenient. Almost 90 percent of people with mild hearing loss, and millions more with just a little hearing dropoff, can be dramatically helped with Crystal Ear. Moreover, its superior design is energy-efficient, so batteries can last months. Crystal Ear is now available to help these people treat their hearing loss with a small hearing amplifier.
A) The production cost is too high.
B) To carry out the agreement on localized production is impossible.
C) The quality of localized car parts must be improved.
D) The localization agreement can be carried out without any problem.
KEY: CBCAD
PASSAGE 41
Architecture
Architecture is to building as literature is to the printed word. The best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of the history of cultures. These achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art.
The renaissance brought about an entirely new age, not only in philosophy and literature but in the visual arts as well. In architecture, the principles and styles of ancient Greece and Rome were bought back to life and reinterpreted. They remain dominant until the 20th century.
Many kinds of stone are used as building materials. Stone and marble were chosen for important monuments because they are not burnable and can be expected to endure. Stone architecture was often blended with stone sculpture. The use of stone has declined, however, because a number of other materials are more adaptable to industrial use.
The complexity of modern life calls for a variety of buildings. More people live in mass housing and go to work in large office buildings; they spend their income in large shopping centers, send their children to many different kinds of schools, and when they are sick they go to specialized hospitals and clinics. All these different types of buildings accumulated experiences needed by their designers.
By the middle of the 20th century, modern architecture, which was influenced by new technology and mass production, was dealing with increasingly complex social needs. Important characteristics of modern architectural works are expanses of glass and the use of reinforced concrete. Advanced in elevator technology, air conditioning, and electric lighting have all had important effects.
練習(xí)：
1. Architecture can be regarded as
A) an original document.
B) A literary works.
C) A social art.
D) An individual's creation.
2. Paragraph 3 is mainly about
A) why marble is better than stone in building monuments.
B) Why stone and marble were used as building materials in the past.
C) Why marble is unburnable and endurable.
D) Why marble adds artistic value to ancient buildings.
3. Which of the following statements is true according to paragraph 4?
A) New technologies make modern life possible.
B) Modern architecture makes modern life more comfortable.
C) Beautiful buildings are the symbol of modern life.
D) Diversified needs of modern life requires different types of buildings.
4. Several elements influenced modern architectural works by the middle of the 20th century. Which of the following element is not mentioned in the passage?
A） Reinforced steel.
B） Electric lighting.
C） Reinforced concrete
D） Air conditioning.
5. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage?
A) Architecture as monuments.
B) Development of architecture.
C) Architecture and literature.
D) The Renaissance and architecture
Key: CBDAB
PASSAGE 42
Crystal Ear
One day a friend asked my wife Jill if I wanted a hearing aid. " He certainly does," replied Jill. After hearing about a remarkable new product, Jill finally got up the nerve to ask me if I'd ever thought about getting a hearing aid. "No way," I said. "It would make me look 20 years older." "No, no, "she replied. "This is entirely different. It's Crystal Ear!"
Jill was right. Crystal Ear is different-not the old-styled body worn or over-the-ear aid, but an advanced personal sound system so small it's like contacts for your ears. And Crystal Ear is super-sensitive and powerful, too. You will hear sounds your ears have been missing for years. Crystal Ear will make speech louder, and the sound is pure and natural.
I couldn't believe how tiny it is. It is smaller than the tip of my little finger and it's almost invisible when worn. There are no wires, no behind -the-ear device. Put it in your ear and its ready-to-wear mold fits comfortably. Since it's not too loud or too light, you may even forget that you're wearing it! Use it at work or at play. And if your hearing problem is worse in certain situation, use Crystal Ear only when you need it.
Hearing loss, which typically prior to teenage years, progresses throughout one's lifetime. Although hearing loss is now the world's number-one health problem, nearly 90 percent of people suffering hearing loss choose to leave the problem untreated. For many millions, treating hearing loss in a conventional way can involve numerous office visits, expensive testing and adjustments to fit your ear. Thank to Crystal Ear, the " sound solution" is now convenient. Almost 90 percent of people with mild hearing loss, and millions more with just a little hearing dropoff, can be dramatically helped with Crystal Ear. Moreover, its superior design is energy-efficient, so batteries can last months. Crystal Ear is now available to help these people treat their hearing loss with a small hearing amplifier.