第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分 40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A

The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place. Now it is an ecological disaster area. Nauru’s heartbreaking story could have one good consequence — other countries might learn from its mistakes.

For thousands of years, Polynesian people lived the remote island of Nauru, far from western civilization. The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798. He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship. He called the island Pleasant Island.

However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first. The whaling ships and other traders began to visit, bringing guns and alcohol. These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island. A ten-year civil war started, which reduced the population from 1,400 to 900.

Nauru’s real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate (磷酸盐)on the island. In fact, it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate, which a very important fertilizer for farming. The company began mining the phosphate.

A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground; it is a strip mine. When a company strip-mines, it removes the top layer of soil. Then it takes away the material it wants. Strip mining totally destroys the land. Gradually, the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.

In 1968, Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world. Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.

Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars. In addition, they used millions more dollars for personal expenses. Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem — their phosphate was running out. Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing. By 2000, Nauru was financially ruined. Experts say that it would take approximately $433,600,000 and more than 20 years to repair the island. This will probably never happen.

56. What might be the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A. To seek help for Nauru’s problems. B. To give a warning to other countries C. To show the importance of money D. To tell a heartbreaking story of a war.

57. What was Nauru like before the Europeans came?

A. Rich and powerful B. Modern and open C. Peaceful and attractive D. Greedy and aggressive

58. The ecological disaster in Nauru resulted from _______.

A. soil pollution B. phosphate overmining C. farming activity D. whale hunting

59. Which of the following was a cause of Nauru’s financial problem?

A. Its leaders misused the money B. It spent too much repairing the island C. Its phosphate mining cost much money D. It lost millions of dollars in the civil war.

60. What can we learn about Nauru from the last paragraph?

A. The ecological damage is difficult to repair. B. The leaders will take the experts’ words seriously. C. The island was abandoned by the Nauruans D. The phosphate mines were destroyed

B

One of the greatest contributions to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations (引文)showing how it was used.

This was a huge task. So Murrary had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American Surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as “Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire,”” 50 miles from Oxford.

Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next years, he became one of the staff’s most valued contributors.

But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897， Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally insane.

Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds.

In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend.

Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient.

61. According to the text, the first Oxford English Dictionary _________.

A. came out before minor died B. was edited by an American volunteer C. included the English words invented by Murray D. was intended to be the most ambitious English dictionary

62. How did Dr. Minor contributed to the dictionary?

A. He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. B. He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. C. He provided a great number of words and quotations D. he went to England to work with Murray.

63. Why did Dr. Minor refuse to visit Oxford?

A. He was shut in an asylum B. He lived far from Oxford C. He was busy writing a book D. He disliked traveling

64. Prof. Murray and Dr. Minor became friends mainly because __________.

A. they both served in the Civil War. B. They had a common interest in words C. Minor recovered with the help of Murray D. Murray went to America regularly to visit Minor

65. Which of the following best describe Dr. Minor?

A. Brave and determined B. Cautious and friendly C. Considerate and optimistic D. Unusual and scholarly

66. What does the text mainly talk about?

A. The history of the English language. B. The friendship between Murray and Minor C. Minor and the first Oxford English Dictionary D. Broadmoor Asylum and is patients