Part Ⅵ READING COMPREHENSION ［30 MIN.］

SECTION A READING COMPREHENSION ［25 MIN.］

　　In this section there are four passages followed by questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the best answer.

　　Mark your answers on your answer sheet.

　　TEXT A

　　The way in which people use social space reflects their social relationships and their ethnic identity. Early immigrants to America from Europe brought with them a collective style of living, which they retained until late in the 18thcentury. Historical records document a group-oriented existence, in which one room was used for eating, entertaining guests, and sleeping. People ate soups from a sommunal pot, shared drinking cups, and used a common pit toilet. With the development of ideas about individualism, people soon began to shift to the use of individual cups and plates; the eating of meals that included meat, bread, and vegetables served on separate plates; and the use of private toilets. They began to build their houses with separate rooms to entertain guests-living rooms, separate bedrooms for sleeping, separate work areas-kitchen, laundry room, and separate bathrooms.
　　In Mexico, the meaning and organization of domestic space is strikingly different. Houses are organized around a patio, or courtyard. Rooms open onto the patio, where all kinds of domestic activities take place. Individuals to not have separate bedrooms. Children often sleep with parents, and brothers or sisters share a bed, emphasizing familial interdependence. Rooms in Mexican houses are locations for multiple activities that, in contrast, are rigidly separated in the United States.

　　66. Changes in living styles among early immigrants were initially brought about by ____.
　　 living standards
　　 concepts
　　 customs
　　 designs of houses 

　　67. Which of the following is NOT discussed in the passage?

　　A.Their concepts of domestic space.
　　B.Their social relationships.
　　C.The functions of their rooms.
　　D.The layout of their houses. 

　　TEXT B

　　There are superstitions attached to numbers; even those ancient Greeks believed that all numbers and their multiples had some mystical significance.

　　Those numbers between 1 and 13 were in particular to have a powerful influence over the affairs of men.

　　For example, it is commonly said that luck, good or bad, comes in threes; if an accident happens, two more of the same kind may be expected soon afterwards. The arrival of a letter will be followed by two others within a certain period.

　　Another belief involving the number three has it that it is unlucky to light three cigarettes from the one match. If this happens, the bad luck that goes with the deed falls upon the person whose cigarette was the last to be lit. The ill-omen linked to the lighting of three things from one match or candle goes back to at least the 17th century and probably earlier. It was believed that three candles alight at the same time would be sure to bring bad luck; one, two, or four, were permissible, but never just three.

　　Seven was another significant number, usually regarded as a bringer of good luck. The ancient astrologers believed that the universe was governed by seven planets; students of Shakespeare will recall that the life of man was divided into seven ages. Seven horseshoes nailed to a house will protect it from all evil.

　　Nine is usually thought of as a lucky number because it is the product of three times three. It was much used by the Anglo Saxons in their charms for healing.

　　Another belief was that great changes occurred every 7th and 9th of a man's life. Consequently, the age of 63(the product of nine and seven) was thought to be a very perilous time for him. If he survived his 63rd year he might hope to live to a ripe old age.

　　Thirteen, as we well know, is regarded with great awe and fear.The common belief is that this derives from the fact that there were 13 people at Christ's Last Supper. This being the eve of his betrayal, it is not difficult to understand the significance given to the number by the early Christians.

　　In more modern times 13 is an especially unlucky number of a dinner party, for example. Hotels will avoid numbering a floor the 13th; the progression is from 12 to 14, and no room is given the number 13. Many home owners will use 12 1/2 instead of 13 as their house number.

　　Yet oddly enough, to be born on the 13th of the month is not regarded with any fear at all, which just shows how irrational we are in our superstitious beliefs.

　　68. According to the passage, which of the following groups of numbers will certainly bring good luck to people?

　　A.3 and 7.
　　B.3 and 9.
　　C.7 and 9.
　　D.3 and 13. 

　　69. The ill luck associated with 13 is supposed to have its origin in ____.

　　
　　on
　　r belief
　　n customs 

　　70. What is the author's attitude towards people's superstitious beliefs?

　　A.He is mildly critical.
　　B.He is strongly critical.
　　C.He is in favour of them.
　　D.His attitude is not clear. 

　　TEXT C

　　Women's minds work differently from men's. At least, that is what most men are convinced of. Psychologists view the subject either as a matter or frustration or a joke. Now the biologists have moved into this minefield, and some of them have found that there are real differences between the brains of men and women. But being different, they point out hurriedly, is not the same as being better or worse.

　　There is, however, a definite structural variation between the male and female brain. The difference is in a part of the brain that is used in the most complex intellectual processes-the link between the two halves of the brain.

　　The two halves are linked by a trunkline of between 200 and 300 million nerves, the corpus callosum. Scientists have found quite recently that the corpus callosum in women is always larger and probably richer in nerve fibres than it is in men. This is the first time that a structural difference has been found between the brains of women and men and it must have some significance. The question is "What?", and, if this difference exists, are there others? Research shows that present-day women think differently and behave differently from men. Are some of these differences biological and inborn, a result of evolution? We tend to think that is the influence of society that produces these differences. But could we be wrong?

　　Research showed that these two halves of the brain had different functions, and that the corpus callosum enabled them to work together. For most people, the left half is used for wordhanding, analytical and logical activities; the right half works on pictures, patterns and forms. We need both halves working together. And the better the connections, the more harmoniously the two halves work. And, according to research findings, women have the better connections.

　　But it isn't all that easy to explain the actual differences between skills of men and women on this basis. In schools throughout the world girls tend to be better than boys at "language subjects" and boys better at maths and physics. If 〖WTHZ〗these differences〖WTBZ〗 correspond with the differences in the hemispheric trunkline,there is an unalterable distinction between the sexes.

　　We shan't know for a while, partly because we don't know of any precise relationship between abilities in school subject and the functioning of the two halves of the brain, and we cannot understand how the two halves interact via the corpus callosum. But this striking difference must have some effect and, because the difference is in the parts of the brain involved in intellect, we should be looking for differences in intellectual processing.

　　71. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

　　A.Biologists are conducting research where psychologists have given up.
　　B.Brain differences point to superiority of one sex over the other.
　　C.Results of scientific research fail to support pupular belief.
　　D.The structural difference in the brain between the sexes has long been known. 

　　72. According to the passage it is commonly believed that brain differences are caused by ____ factors.

　　ical
　　logical
　　al
　　 

　　73. "these differences"in paragraph 5 refer to those in ____.

　　 of men and women
　　 subjects
　　 brain structure of men and women
　　ties carried out by the brain 

　　74. At the end of the passage the author proposes more work on ____.

　　 brain structure as a whole
　　 functioning of part of the brain
　　 distinction between the sexes
　　 effects of the corpus callosum
　　
　　75. What is the main purpose of the passage?

　　A.To outline the research findings on the brain structure.
　　B.To explain the link between sex and brain structure.
　　C.To discuss the various factors that cause brain differences.
　　D.To suggest new areas in brain research. 

　　TEXT D

　　Information is the primary commodity in more and more industries today.

　　By 2005, 83% of American management personnel will be knowledge workers. Europe and Japan are not far behind.

　　By 2005, half of all knowledge workers (22% of the labour force) will choose"flextime, flexplace"arrangements, which allow them to work at home, communicating with the office via computer networks.

　　In the United States, the so-called "digital divide"seems to be disappearing. In early 2000, a poll found, that, where half of white households owned computers, so did fully 43% of African-American households, and their numbers were growing rapidly. Hispanic households continued to lag behind, but their rate of computer ownership was expanding as well.

　　Company-owned and industry-wide television networks are bringing programming to thousands of locations. Business TV is becoming big business.

　　Computer competence will approach 100% in US urban areas by the year 2005, with Europe and Japan not far behind.

　　80% of US homes will have computers in 2005, compared with roughly 50% now.In the United States, 5 of the 10 fastest-growing careers between now and 2005 will be computer related. Demand for programmers and systems analysts will grow by 70%. The same trend is accelerating in Europe, Japan, and India.

　　By 2005, nearly all college texts and many high school and junior high books will be tied to Internet sites that provide source material, study exercises, and relevant news articles to aid in learning. Others will come with CD-ROMs that offer similar resources.

　　Internet links will provide access to the card catalogues of all the major libraries in the world by 2005. It will be possible to call up on a PC screen millions of volumes from distant libraries. Web sites enhance books by providing pictures, sound, film clips, and flexible, indexing and search utilities.

　　Implications: Anyone with access to the Internet will be able to achieve the education needed to build a productive life in an increasingly high-tech world. Computer learning may even reduce the growing American prison population. Knowledge workers are generally better paid than less-skilled workers. Their wealth is raising overall prosperity.

　　Even entry-level workers and those in formerly unskilled positions require a growing level of education. For a good career in almost any field, computer competence is a must. This is one major trend raising the level of education required for a productive role in today's work force. For many workers, the opportunity for training is becoming one of the most desirable benefits any job can offer.

　　76. Information technology is expected to have impact on all the following EXCEPT ____.
　　
　　A.American management personnel
　　B.European management personnel
　　C.American people's choice of career
　　ional practice at work 

　　77. "digital divide"in the 4th paragraph refers to ____.

　　 gap in terms of computer ownership
　　 tendency of computer ownership
　　 dividing line based on digits
　　 ethnic distinction among American households 

　　78. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT according to the passage?

　　A. By 2005 all college and school study materials will turn electronic.
　　B.By 2005 printed college and school study materials will be supplemented with electronic material.
　　C.By 2005 some college and school study materials will be accompanied by CD-ROMs.
　　D.By 2005 Internet links make worldwide library search a possibility.
　　
　　79. Which of the following areas is NOT discussed in the passage?

　　A.Future careers.
　　B.Nature of future work.
　　C.Ethnic differences.
　　D.Schools and libraries. 

　　80. At the end of the passage, the author seems to emphasize ____ in an increasingly high-tech world.

　　 variety of education
　　 content of education
　　 need for education
　　 function of education 