3. Passage 1 The secret of being born lucky is a summer birthday， with May babies most likely to enjoy a lifetime‘s good fortune， according to a study of more than 40，000 people. The time of year at which you are born has an enduring influence on levels of optimism and self-reported luck， according to a research by British and Swedish scientists. May was the luckiest month in which to be born， with 50 percent of those born then considering themselves lucky， while October was the least lucky month， with just 43 percent claiming good fortune. The findings add to growing evidence that the phenomenon of luck is not all down to chance， but is affected by a person‘s general disposition. Other research has shown that whether people think themselves fortunate depends less on objective success than on having a ―glass half-full‖ or ―half-empty‖ approach to life. ―What we are seeing suggests that something is influencing how people perceive their luckiness. My hypothesis is that people create their own luck by traits such as optimism， that luck is a psychological phenomenon rather than a matter of blind chance，‖ said Professor Richard Wiseman， who led the research. The pattern of the result， with those born in spring and in summer reporting themselves luckier than those born in autumn or winter， could have two potential explanations， Professor Wiseman said. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

175.The finance minister has not been so( )since he raised taxes to such a high level.

A. 　popular

B. 　 well-known

C. 　 favorable

D. 　 preferable

168.We volunteered to collect money to help the( )of the tsunami.

A. 　victims

B. 　 folks

C. 　 fellows

D. 　 villagers

3. Passage 15 There is a commonly held myth that Einstein was an underachiever at school， but it really isn＇t true. While he may have had difficulties with languages， Einstein excelled in physics， mathematics and music. Einstein held many patents and was a keen inventor. While working at Swiss patent office in Bern he took it upon himself to write his own scientific papers in his spare time， mostly at weekends and in the evenings after work. 1905 was Einstein＇s miracle year. During this year he wrote three fundamental papers， any of which would have guaranteed him immortality in the world of physics. His first was on a new understanding of the structure of light. Einstein argued that light is composed of small particles of energy， called photons， as well as oscillating waves. The second paper built upon the theory of kinetics. Einstein explained how atoms were responsible for the buffeting of particles of material in suspension， like cigarette smoke suspended in air. This paper presented the first direct evidence for the existence of atoms， vindicating an idea that had been around for over 2000 years. His third paper of 1905 was ―On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies‖. Here Einstein derived the theory of ―special relativity‖. In a supplementary paper four months later， he formulated the famous equation， E=mc2， where mass and energy are equivalent， showing that a very small amount of mass converts to a huge amount of energy. This is the driving force behind atomic bombs， and all the stars in the Universe. What effect did Einstein‘s second paper have?

A. 　It explained how light was composed of.

B. 　It explained how cigarette smoke suspended in air.

C. 　It provided direct evidence to oppose the existence of atoms.

D. 　It proved an idea that remained unclear for over 2000 years.

2. Passage 16 Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people， but I also explain that there‘s a big difference between ―being a writer‖， and writing. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame， not the long hours alone at a typewriter. ―You‘ve got to want to write，‖ I say to them， ―not want to be a writer.‖ The reality is that writing is a lonely， private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune， there are thousands more whose longing is never rewarded. When I left a 20-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard to become a freelance writer， I had no prospects at all. What I did have was a friend who found me a place in a New York apartment building. It didn‘t even matter that it was cold and had no bathroom. I immediately bought a used manual typewriter and felt like a genuine writer. After a year or so， however， I still hadn‘t gotten a break and began to doubt myself. It was so hard to sell a story that barely made enough to eat. But I knew I wanted to write. I had dreamed about it for years. I wasn‘t going to be one of those people who die wondering – what if I would keep putting my dream to the last even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the Shadowland of hope， and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. What can be concluded from the passage?

A. 　 Genuine writers often find their work interesting and rewarding.

B. 　 A writer‘s success depends on luck rather than on effort.

C. 　 Famous writers usually live in poverty and isolation.

D. 　 The chances for a writer to become successful are small.

123.There was no sense( )him to come early since everything was ready.

A. 　to ask

B. 　 to have asked

C. 　 in asking

D. 　 being asking

193.The girl immediately shut the window to( )the train.

A. 　keep out

B. 　 keep down

C. 　 keep up

D. 　 keep back

95.New Zealand is famous for its clean beaches， friendly people and magnificent( ).

A. 　scenery

B. 　 sight

C. 　 phenomenon

D. 　 palm

128.It is so difficult to( )the bottom of the ocean because some parts are very deep.

A. 　express

B. 　 estimate

C. 　 explore

D. 　 explode

3. Passage 19 Throughout her working life， a ship — like a motorcar — must be serviced regularly if she is to remain efficient. After a period at sea she must be overall checked and any necessary repairs must be made. There are also instances when a ship must be converted from being one kind of carrier to another. Most of today‘s oil， for example， is carried by huge super-tankers. The smaller tankers， many of which are still in good condition， can be converted into bulk carriers(散货船) for the transport of sugar， coal or ore. Conversion or repair work is carried out in a dry dock， a huge hole cut into the ground and lined with concrete. At one end are large gates separating the dock from the river or sea. When these gates are opened， water pours into the dock and fills it. A ship can then enter the dock， where it is carefully fastened in an upright position. When the ship is positioned inside the dock， the gates are closed and the water is pumped out. The vessel slowly settles on to wooden blocks. Wooden supporters are put in position between the ship and the sides of the dock to prevent her from rolling over. Great care is taken to make sure that the ship rests evenly on the keel(龙骨)blocks to prevent damage being done. As soon as the ship is firmly positioned， repair or conversion work can begin on her body or superstructure. We can infer that a dry dock( ).

A. 　is built by the water

B. 　is built far from the water

C. 　is built under the water

D. 　is floating on the water

82.He has been so occupied with his work these days that he barely has time to( )his friends.

A. 　take on

B. 　 visit on

C. 　 visit with

D. 　 take after