1、 阅读理解专题卷50 On May 29, 1973, Thomas Bradley, a black man, was elected mayor of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the third largest city in the United States, with a population of three million. About sixteen percent of the city’s population are black. News of this election appeared on the front pages of
2、 newspapers everywhere in the United States. Here is how one major newspaper reported the event: LOS ANGELES ELECTS BRADLEY MAYOR UNSEATING YORTYBLACK WINS 56% OF VOTES Bradley called his victory over Yorty “the fulfillment (实现) of a dream”. During his childhood and youth, people had kept telling
3、 him, “You can’t do this, you can’t go there, because you are a Negro.” Nevertheless he had won a decisive victory over a man who had been won 43.7 percent. Los Angeles voters have had many opportunities to judge. Thomas Bradley had to form an opinion of him. The son of a poor farmer Texas, he join
4、ed the Los Angeles police force in 1940. During his twenty-one years on the police force he earned a law degree by attending school at night. He was elected to the city council (市政厅) ten years ago. At the time of the Los Angeles election, three other American cities already had black mayors, but no
5、ne of those cities had as large a population as Los Angeles. Besides, the percentage of blacks in those other cities was much larger. Cleveland, Ohio, had thirty-six percent black when Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1967. In the same year Richard Hatcher was elected mayor of Cary. In
6、Newark, New Jersey, sixty percent of the population were black when Kenneth Gibson was elected in 1970. Thus election of a black mayor in those cities was not very surprising. In Los Angeles thousands of white citizens voted for Thomas Bradley because they believed he would be a better mayor than t
7、he white candidate(候选人). Bradley had spent forty-eight of his fifty-five years in Los Angeles. Four years ago Bradley lost mayoral election to Yorty. This time Bradley won. 1.In the author’s opinion, it was surprising that _______. A. the whites would vote for a black mayor B. a black mayor would
8、 be elected in such a large city C. a black from a poor farmer’s family could be elected mayor of Los Angeles D. there would be so many black mayors 2.From the passage we can infer that people ________. A. voted for Bradley because of his black color B. didn’t care much about his color when the
9、y voted C. voted for him to give a chance to fulfill his dream D. voted for Bradley because they trust him 3. Bradley hit the front page headline for _______. A. he was the first black mayor in history B. he was the first black mayor in the south of USA C. he was the first black mayor of one
10、of the largest cities in USA D. a poor farmer’s son could also win an important election 4. From Bradley’s victory in the election we can see that ________. A. blacks had equal rights as whites in the USA B. black people’s situation began to be improving much more than before C. one can be succ
11、essful through hard work in the USA no matter what color he is D. it is certain that someday the USA will have a black president In the 1960s, many young Americans were dissatisfied with American society. They wanted to end the Vietnam War and to make all of the people in the U.S. equal. Some of
12、 them decided to "drop out" of American society and form their own societies. They formed utopian communities, which they called “communes”, where they could follow their philosophy of “do your own thing”. A group of artists founded a commune in southern Colorado called "Drop City." Following the id
13、eas of philosopher and architect Buckminster Fuller, they built dome-shaped houses from pieces of old cars. Other groups, such as author Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters, the followers of San Francisco poet Steve Gakin, and a group that called itself the Hog Farm, lived in old school houses and traveled
14、 around the United States. The Hog Farm became famous when they helped organize the Woodstock Rock Festival in 1969. Steve Gaskin’s followers tried to settle down on a farm in Tennessee, but they had to leave when some members of the group were arrested for growing marijuana. Not all communes bel
15、ieved in the philosophy of “do your own thing”. However, Twin Oaks, a commune founded in Virgiania in the late 1960s, was based on the ideas of psychologist B.F.Skinner. The people who lived at Twin Oaks were carefully controlled by Skinner’s “conditioning” techniques to do things that were good for
16、 the community. In 1972, Italian architect Paolo Soleri began to build Arcosanti, a utopian city Arizsona where 2500 people will live closely together in one large building called an “archeology”. Soleri believes that people must live closely together so that they will all become one. 5.Why did som
17、e young Americans decide to “drop out” of society during the 1960s? A. They were not satisfied with American society. B. They wanted to grow marijuana. C. They wanted to go to the Vietnam War. D. They did not want all people to be equal. 6. Where did the members of the Hog Farm commune
18、live? A. In dome-shaped house. B. In old school houses. C. On a farm in Tennessee. D. In an archeology in Arizona. 7. Who gave the people of Drop City the idea to build dome-shaped house? A. Paolo Soleri. B. B.G.Skinner. C. Steve Gaskin. D. B
19、uckminster Fuller. 8. What was the Twin Oaks commune based on? A. The philosophy of “do your own thing”. B. Virginia in the late 1960s. C. The ideas of psychologist. D. The belief that people must live closely together. 9. What is an “archeology”? A. A person who studies archaeology
20、 B. A large building where people live closely together. C. A city in Arizona. D. A technique to control people. I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlinge
21、n, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan. It was soon clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on t
22、he world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway(斯坦威钢琴).At night, I would sneak into the living room just to
23、touch the keys. Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years. The next m
24、orning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.
25、 My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song. I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made
26、 sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't. My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet(二重奏). People wen
27、t crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep. There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune
28、spots you, and lets you shine. 10.In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________. A.his father was excited that his son succeeded at last. B.his father was under too much pressure. C.they could pay back the loan with the prize. D.his fathe
29、r was proud of him. 11. Tell the order of the events. a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia. b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts. c. He and his father played “Horses” together. d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance. e. The Curtis Institute of Music l
30、ent him a Steinway A. a, e, c, b, d B. b, e, a, d, c C. d, a, e, b, c D. a, e, d, b, c 12. Which of the following statements agrees with the author? A. The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America. B. The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he
31、knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him. C. The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries. D. One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough. 13. The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________. A. America B. Beijing. C. Carnegi
32、e Hall D. All the places he went to. 14. What is the best title of the passage? A. I Took Off! B. When Fortune Spots Me. C. No Pain, No Gain. D. My father and I I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine al
33、ways hid somewhere. She even labeled(贴标签)everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other. War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. S
34、oon, I heard her screaming. “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder. The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it.
35、 From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled(爬)under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was not something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart. Slowly, I
36、 collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I
37、looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.” Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on. 15.What made Kate so angry one evening? A. She couldn’t find her books. B. She hear
38、d the author shouting loud. C. She got the news that her grandma was ill. D. She saw the author’s shoes beneath her bed. 16.The author tidied up the room most probably because _______. A. she was scared by Kate’s anger B. she hated herself for being so messy C. she wanted to show her care D.
39、 she was asked by Kate to do so 17.How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed? A. By analyzing causes B. By showing differences C. By describing a process D. By following time order 18.What might be the best title for the story? A. My Friend Kate B. Hard Work Pays Off C. H
40、ow to Be Organized D. Learning to Be Roommates People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. Mother’s Day was proclaimed宣告 a day for national observance by President Woodrow
41、 Wilson in 1915. Ann Jarvis from Grafton, West Virginia, had started the idea to have a day to honor mothers. She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation康乃馨. In 1909, Mrs. Dodd from Spokane, Washington, thought of the idea of a day to honor fa
42、thers. She wanted to honor her own father, William Smart. After her mother died, he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter. In 1910,the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane. Senator Margaret Chase Smith helped to established Father’s Day as a national commemorat
43、ive纪念的 day in 1972. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symboli
44、zes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead.Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery. On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for
45、 Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories. 19.According to the passage, which of the following about the second Sunday in May is not true ? A.It is a day to show love to mothers B.It is a day to wear carnations C.It is a day for people to visit the cemetery D.It is
46、 a day for many people to attend religious services 20.Choose the right time order of the following events. a. The first Father’s Day was observed b. Mother’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance c. Father’s Day became a day for national observance. d. The idea of honoring fathe
47、rs was bought up A.a b c d B.d a b c C.b a c d D.d a c b 21.Who plays the most important role in Father’s Day becoming a national commemorative day? A.Mrs. Do B.Margaret Chase Smith C.Ann Jarvis D.Woodrow Wilson 22.From the passage, we kn
48、ow in the U.S ________________. A.one should wear a red carnation if one’s mother pass away B.on Mother’s Day, families often go out to have barbecues C.on Father’s Day, people often stay at home to celebrate the special day. D.The purpose to have these two special days is to show love to pa
49、rents 23.The author’s purpose of writing this passage is to __________ A.call on people to love and respect their parents. B.introduce Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. C.tell the difference between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day D.show how important fathers and mothers are I stood outside
50、 New York’s Madison Square Garden and just stared, almost speechless. I was a farm boy from County Kilkenny, a child who some thought would never walk, let alone go as far as I had in the world. From the day I was born, there was a problem. The doctors at the Dublin hospital told my parents I had p






