二、閱讀理解

　　本部分共有四篇短文，每篇短文后面有四個(gè)閱讀理解題，根據(jù)短文從A、B、C、D中選出最佳答案。

　　Passage 1

　　The first Olympic competition was held in the ancient Greek city of Olympia more than two thousand seven hundred years ago. The modern day summer Olympics begin today in the Greek capital, Athens.

　　At the first Olympics, men took part in foot races during celebrations to honor the Greek god, Zeus. More races and sports were added later.

　　Greece held these Olympic games every four years for the next one thousand years. The ancient Romans banned (禁止)them in the fourth century.

　　The modern Olympic games began more than one hundred years ago. Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France proposed a world celebration of sports like the ancient games of Greece.

　　The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in eighteen ninety-six. Athletes (運(yùn)動(dòng)員) from eight countries competed in ten sports. The purpose was to help athletes develop strength and values through competition(競(jìng)爭(zhēng)). It also provided a way for athletes of all nations to become friends.

　　The Olympic symbol of five linked rings represents this friendship. Baron de Coubertin designed it in nineteen thirteen. The rings represent the linking through sports of the major populated areas of the world—Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the two American continents, represented by one ring. The colors of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red. The flag of each nation competing in the games has at least one of these colors. Under the rings is the Olympic saying in Latin: "Citius, Altius, Fortius". The words mean "Swifter, Higher, Stronger".

　　1. The first Olympic competition was held ______D________.

　　A. about two thousand nine hundred years ago

　　B. more than three thousand seven hundred years ago

　　C. about two thousand seven hundred years ago

　　D. more than two thousand seven hundred years ago

　　2. According to the passage in the fourth century _________B_____.

　　A. Greece held Olympic games every four years

　　B. Olympic games were forbidden by the ancient Romans.

　　C. more and more men took part in foot races.

　　D. the modern Olympic games began.

　　3. Which of the following about Baron Pierre de Coubertin is Not TRUE?___C___

　　A. He proposed a world celebration of sports.

　　B. He made great contribution to the modern Olympic games.

　　C. He was an American.

　　D. He designed the Olympic symbol.

　　4. The purpose of the modern Olympic games is to _______A_______.

　　A. develop strength , values and international friendship through competition

　　B. fight against social problems

　　C. have a world celebration of sports like the ancient games of Greece

　　D. honor the Greek god, Zeus

　　5. The Latin word “Altius” means _______B_____ in English?

　　A. swifter B. higher

　　C. stronger D. none of the above

　　Passage 2

　　Jean-Michael Lourdis was a promising young pianist. But when the young man played, it seemed to him, as if his hands were iron. He worried so much about his playing that he became oversensitive (過度敏感的) to the reviews (評(píng)論)of his playing. Unfortunately, in those days, a critic (批評(píng)家) was not considered a critic, unless he found something wrong. This attitude of the critics would often leave the young man ready to give up his dream and return home.

　　He was invited to play in Helsinki (赫爾辛基). The rich, the famous, the leaders of State were all there. Jean-Michael had one of those days when everything went wrong. That night as he played, he felt as if it were the worst concert of his young life. The next day, in the newspapers, some of the reviews were so unkind. The young musician was painful.

　　That day, as he sat in his hotel room in total despair, there came a knocking at his door. He had a visitor. The famous Finnish composer (作曲家) Jean Sibelius had come by to congratulate the young pianist on his performance. Jean-Michael asked how he thought of that and began to quote some of the newspaper critics. “Hands of iron. No imagination. Little skill, no joy. Don't you hear what they say?” He asked.

　　Jean Sibelius looked at young Jean-Michael and said, “ Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have erected a statue (雕像) for a critic.”

　　6. According to the passage, Jean-Michael Lourdis____B__________.

　　A. was a bad pianist

　　B. cared too much what the critics had said

　　C. refused to play in Helsinki

　　D. was praised highly by the critics

　　7. A critic in those days usually_____A_________.

　　A. found fault with musicians’ performances.

　　B. said kind and encouraging words to musicians.

　　C. helped musicians become famous

　　D. asked more people to go to concerts.

　　8. The young musician was painful because_____C_________.

　　A. he was very strict with himself.

　　B. he didn’t trust himself.

　　C. some of the reviews were so unkind.

　　D. he felt lonely in his hotel room.

　　9. The reviews mentioned all EXCEPT_________D_____.

　　A. hands of iron B. no imagination

　　C. little skill D. wonderful

　　10. Jean Sibelius came to visit the young musician because_______C_______.

　　A. he wanted to tell the young man the critics were right.

　　B. he wanted to tell the young man not to lose his temper at that time.

　　C. he wanted to tell the young man his performance was great.

　　D. he wanted to tell the young man to respect the critics’ opinion.