With the US as a new destination for Chinese group tours, American tourism companies are   41   “cautious optimism” （謹(jǐn)慎的樂(lè)觀） on their future prospects.  While most in the tourist industry look forward to growth in the number of Chinese tourists, they are also   42  about the high cost of holidays.  Compared with visits to Europe, travel to the US   43   a longer trip and results in higher costs---   44  with oil prices continuing to rise rapidly.  Many tourism insiders believe different tours should be  45  for different types of Chinese tourists.

       On June17 more than 200 Chinese tourists took off from airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in the first group tour of the US.  Yang Wei, a Beijing girl  46  from college, said she expects to see famous landmarks such as the US Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon and the Statue of Liberty.  “The group tour to the US has brought much convenience to the  47  Chinese people,” she said. “Otherwise I cannot imagine a young girl like me can get a visa to America so easily.”  The US  48  only student and business visas to Chinese in the past.  Shao Qiwei, director of China’s National Tourism Administration, said tourism promotes friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese and American people.  “Not many Chinese people have been to the United States and vice versa,” he said. “Group tours connect the two nations to bring about mutual benefits,” Shao said.

       China’s first group received a warm welcome from the US government and tourism industry.  The Capitol in Washington, D.C．opened a special  49  for Chinese guests.  The US Department of Commerce invited them to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which prints US currency.  Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez gave a dinner in their honor on a passenger ship.

For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romance languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as ＄ 145 a performance, opera goers also had a certain appearance in people’s mind: rich, well-dressed and old.

But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.

Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to associate opera with common people. That means no formal suits, old-style theatre or bank breaking ticket prices. And because young people don’t or won’t come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such usual places as parks, libraries and public schools.

The Houston Grand Opera’s choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas”, shortened version of child-friendly operas. This summer’s production is Hansel ￡Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists’ Training Program.

72. Which of the following is the main idea of this passage?

A.　 Opera is famous for is history.　　　　　　　

B Opera is only for rich people.

C. Opera companies are trying to keep operas alive.

D. Young people are not interested in operas.

73．The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.

A. breaking up the old rules　　　　　 B. changing the dresses

C. making the audience at ease　　　　 D. advertising themselves

74. The San Francisco Opera employs young students in order to ________.

A. attract young people　　　　　　　　 B. reduce the cost

C. celebrate its 75^th anniversary　　　　　 D. make Cinderella popular

75．What can you infer from the passage?

A.　 The tickets for opera are very expensive at present.

B.　 Opera is performed in a language difficult to understand.

C.　 Opera is not so popular an art form today.

D.　 Students enjoy performing operas very much.

A few weeks after my first wife, Georgia, was called to heaven, I was cooking dinner for my son and myself. For a 　31 , I had decided on frozen peas. As I was cutting open the bag, it 32 from my hand and crashed to the floor. The peas, like marbles (彈珠), 　33 everywhere. I tried to use a broom (掃帚), 　34 with each swipe they just rolled across the kitchen.

For the next week, every time I was in the 　35 , I found a pea — in a corner, or behind a table leg. They kept 　36 . Eight months later I pulled out the refrigerator to clean behind it, and 37 twelve frozen peas hidden underneath (在底下)．

At the time I found those few remaining 　38 , I was in a new relationship with a wonderful 　39 I’d met in a support group. After we married, I was reminded of those peas 40 the refrigerator, and realized that my 　41 had been like that bag of frozen peas. It had shattered (破碎). My wife had died; I was in a new city with a busy job, and with a son having trouble 　42 his new surroundings and the 　43 of his mother. I was a bag of spilled frozen peas; my life had come apart and scattered (散開(kāi))．

When life gets you 　44 , when everything you know comes apart, and when you think you’ll never make it, 　45 that it’s just a bag of scattered frozen peas. The peas can be 46 , and life will move on. You’ll find all the peas eventually, including the ones that are hardest to 　47 . And when you’ve got them 　48 , you’ll start to feel whole again.

The life you know can break apart at any time. But you’ll have to 　49 , and how fast you collect your peas depends on you. Will you keep scattering them around with a broom, 50 will you pick them up one by one and put your life back together?

31. A. vegetable　　　　　 B. fruit　　　　　　　　 C. drink　　　　　　　　 D. meat

32. A. moved　　　　　　　 B. walked　　　　　　 C. ran　　　　　　　　　 D. slipped

33. A. rubbed　　　　　　　 B. rolled　　　　　　　 C. grew　　　　　　　　 D. existed

34. A. but　　　　　　　　　　 B. and　　　　　　　　　 C. although　　　　　 D. so

35. A. bedroom　　　　　　 B. living room　　　 C. kitchen　　　　　　 D. storeroom

36. A. getting up　　　　　 B. turning up　　　　 C. taking up　　　　　 D. using up

37. A. found　　　　　　　　 B. ate　　　　　　　　　 C. left　　　　　　　　　 D. planted

38. A. presents　　　　　　　　　　 B. cans　　　　　　　　 C. vegetables　　　　 D. peas

39. A. man　　　　　　　　　 B. child　　　　　　　　 C. woman　　　　　　 D. boy

40. A. under　　　　　　　　 B. above　　　　　　　 C. for　　　　　　　　　 D. beside

41. A. wife　　 　　　　　 B. life　　　　　　　　　 C. son　　　　　　　　　 D. friend

42. A. turning to　　　　　 B. leading to　　　　　 C. getting used to　 D. adding to

43. A. thank　　　　　　　　 B. love　　　　　　　　 C. help　　　　　　　　 D. loss

44. A. down　　　　　　　　 B. near　　　　　　　　 C. close 　　　　　　 D. wide

45. A. realize　　　　　　　　 B. remember　　　　 C. regret　　　　　　　 D. hope

46. A. grew　　　　　　　　 B. bought　　　　　　　　　　 C. collected　　　　　 D. frozen

47. A. find　　　　　　　　　 B. eat　　　　　　　　　 C. cook　　　　　　　　 D. get

48. A. both　　　　　　　　　 B. all　　　　　　　　　　 C. either 　　　　　　 D. each

49. A. call on　　　　　　　 B. move on　　　　　 C. bring on　　　　　 D. put on

50. A. while　　　　　　　　 B. because　　　　　　 C. since　　　　　　　　 D. or

A farmer had some puppies（小狗）to 　36 . He painted a sign advertising the puppies and 　37__ nailing （釘）it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, a little boy came to him.

“Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer, as he 　38 the sweat off his face, “these puppies come from fine parents and cost 　39 money. Do you have enough money?”

The boy 　 40　 his head for a moment. Then reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of 　41 and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?” “Sure,” said the farmer. And with that he 　42 a whistle (口哨聲), “Here, Dolly!” he called. 　43 from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly 　 44 by four little balls of fur. The little boy’ eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their 　45 to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse. 　46　 another little ball appeared; this one noticeably smaller. Then in a somewhat 　 47　 manner the little pup began hobbling（蹣跚） toward the others, doing its best to 　 48　 .

“I want that one,” the little boy said, 　49　 to the smallest one. The farmer said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you 　50 these other dogs would.”

With that the little boy 　51 back from the fence, and began 　 52 　up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he exposed a steel support running down both sides of his leg 　53 itself to a specially made 　54　 . Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see sir, I don't 　55　 too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

36．A. sell　 　　　　　 B. buy 　　　　　　　　　　　 C. raise　 　　　　　　　　　 D. drive

37. A. set off　　　　　　　 B. set out　　　　　　　　　　 C. set about　　　　　　　　 D. set up

38. A. wiped　　　　　　　 B. removed 　　　　　　　　 C. settled　　　　　　　　　　 D. drove

39. A. a number of 　　 B. quite a few　　　　　　　 C. a great deal of　 　 D. only a little

40. A. raised 　　　　　　 B. buried 　　　　　　　　　　 C. dropped　　　　　　　　　 D. shook

41. A. change　　　　　　 B. price　　　　　　　　　　　 C. treasure　　　　　　　　　 D. wallet

42. A. made out　　　　　 B. put away　　　　　　　　 C. gave away　　　　　　　 D. let out

43.　 A. In 　　　　　　　　　 B. Away　　　　　　　　　　　 C. Out　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. Up

44. A. equipped　　　　　 B. protected　　　　　　　　 C. attacked　　　　　　　　　 D. followed

45. A. way　　　　　 　　　 B. direction　　　　　 　　　 C. path　　　　　　　　 　　　 D. struggle

46. A. Rapidly　　　　　　 B. Slowly　　　　　　　　　　 C. Suddenly　　　　　　　　 D. Simply

47. A. curious　　　　　　 B. foolish 　　　　　　　　　 C. ordinary　　　　　　　　　 D. active

48. A. catch up　　　　　 B. keep up　　　　　　　　　 C. put up　　　　　　　　　　 D. make up

49. A. staring 　　　　　　 B. pointing　　　　　　　　　 C. greeting 　　　　　　　　 D. devoting

50. A. while　　　　　　　 B. as　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. that 　　　　　　　　　　　 D. what

51. A. stepped　　　　　　 B. escaped　　　　　　　　　 C. went　　　　　　　　　　　 D. kept

52. A. pushing　　　　　　 B. forcing　　　　　　　　　　 C. rolling　　　　　　　　　　 D. tearing

53. A. attaching 　　　　 B.attached　　　　　　　　　 C. being attached　　　　　 D.to attach

54. A. leg　　　　　　　　　 B. stick 　　　　　　　　　　 C. shoe　　　　　　　　　　　 D. foot

55. A. walk　　　　　　　　 B. run　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. live　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. go

D

It was Sunday morning. All the summer world was bright and fresh, and full of life. There was cheer on every face and a spring in every step.

Tom appeared on the sidewalk with a bucket of whitewash and a long-handled brush. He stopped by the fence in front of the house where he lived with his aunt Polly. He looked at it, and all joy left him. The fence was long and high. He put the brush into the whitewash and moved it along the top of the fence. He repeated the operation. He felt he could not continue and sat down.

He knew that his friends would arrive soon with all kinds of interesting plans for the day. They would walk past him and laugh. They would make jokes about his having to work on a beautiful summer Saturday. The thought burned him like fire.

He put his hand into his pockets and took out all that he owned. Perhaps he could find some way to pay someone to do the whitewashing for him. But there was nothing of value in his pockets—nothing that could buy even half an hour of freedom. So he put the bits of toys back into his pockets and gave up the idea.

At this dark and hopeless moment, a wonderful idea came to him. It filled his mind with a great, bright light. Calmly he picked up the brush and started again to whitewash.

While Tom was working, Ben Rogers appeared. Ben was eating an apple as he walked along the street. As he walked along, he was making noises like the sound of a riverboat. First he shouted loudly, like a boat captain. Then he said “Ding-Dong-Dong”, “Ding-Dong-Dong” again and again, like the bell of a riverboat. And he made other strange noises. When he came close to Tom, he stopped.

Tom went on whitewashing. He did not look at Ben. Ben stared a moment and then said: "Hello! I’m going swimming, but you can’t go, can you?”

No answer. Tom moved his brush carefully along the fence and looked at the result with the eye of an artist. Ben came nearer. Tom's mouth watered for the apple, but he kept on working.

Ben said, "Hello, old fellow, you’ve got to work, hey?"

Tom turned suddenly and said, "Why, it's you, Ben! I wasn't noticing."

"Say — I'm going swimming. Don't you wish you could? But of course you’d rather work — wouldn't you? Of course you would."

Tom looked at the boy a bit, and said "What do you call work?"

"Why, isn't that work?"

Tom went back to his whitewashing, and answered casually,

"Well, maybe it is, and maybe it isn't. All I know is, it suits Tom Sawyer."

"Oh come, now, you don't mean to say that you like it?"

The brush continued to move.

"Like it? Well, I don't see why I shouldn’t like it. Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?" Ben stopped eating his apple. Tom moved his brush back and forth, stepped back to look at the result, added a touch here and there, and stepped back again. Ben watched every move and got more and more interested. Soon he said,

"Say, Tom, let me whitewash a little."

Tom thought for a moment, was about to agree; but he changed his mind:

"No — no — it won’t do, Ben. You see, Aunt Polly wants this fence to be perfect. It has got to be done very carefully. I don’t think there is one boy in a thousand, maybe two thousand, that can do it well enough."

"No — is that so? Oh come, now —let me just try. Only just a little."

"Ben, I'd like to, but if it isn’t done right, I’m afraid Aunt Polly— "

"Oh, I'll be careful. Now let me try. Say -- I'll give you the core（核心）of my apple."

"Well, here — No, Ben, now don't. I'm afraid —"

"I'll give you all of it."

Tom gave up the brush with unwillingness on his face, but joy in his heart. And while Ben worked at the fence in the hot sun, Tom sat under a tree, eating the apple, and planning how to get more help. There were enough boys. Each one came to laugh, but remained to whitewash. By the time Ben was tired, Tom sold the next chance to Billy for a kite; and when Billy was tired, Johnny bought in for a dead rat — and so on, hour after hour. And when the middle of the afternoon came, Tom had won many treasures

And he had not worked. He had had a nice idle time all the time, with plenty of company -- and the fence had been whitewashed three times. If he hadn't run out of whitewash, Tom would have owned everything belonging to his friends.

He had discovered a great law of human action, namely, that in order to make a man or a boy want a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to get.

68．Tom was about to agree to let Ben whitewash when he changed his mind because ______ .

A. Tom wanted to do the whitewashing by himself

B. Tom was unwilling to let Ben do the whitewashing

C. Tom was afraid Ben would do the whitewashing better

D. Tom didn’t want to let Ben do the whitewashing before he made him give up his apple first

69．The underlined word “casually” is most similar to “______” in meaning.

A. carelessly                 B. delightedly               C. seriously                  D. angrily

70．We can learn from the passage that ______ .

A. Tom was interested in whitewashing the fence.

B. Tom had a lot of friends who are ready to help others.

C. Tom was unwilling to whitewash the fence, but he managed to let other boys do it for him

D. Tom was good at whitewashing the fence, so he looked at the result of his work with the eye of an artist.