出自:湖南大学-大学英语（高升专）
Part I Reading Comprehension
Directions: There are 4 passages in this section. Each followed by some questions. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C, and D. You should decide on the best choice.
Passage 1
It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn.t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas.s age, so I asked him, "What was the best time of your life?"
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, "Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question:
"When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.
"When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.
"When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts that was the best time of my life.
"When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.
"The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America that was the best time of my life.
"When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.
"When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.
"And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life."
1. What age was Joe approaching?
A. 15. B. 28. C. 30. D. 79.
2. What does Joe do every morning before going to work?
A.Physical training in the gym.
B.Visiting a friend in hospital.
C.Getting some medical treatment.
D.Taking care of his pets.
3. How does the author feel about turning thirty?
A.Grateful.
B.Terrific.
C.Insecure.
D.Confused.
4. Where did Nicholas flee to during the Second World War?
A.Austria
B.Canada
C.South America
D.North Europe
5. What did Nicholas want to tell Joe?
A.All.s well that cuds well.
B.Health means happiness.
C. Every dog has its day.
D. The best time never leaves you.
Passage 2
April 15th is tax day for Americans. It is the last day to pay federal income taxes for the previous year. Most taxpayers have enough income tax collected all year long through their employer, so they do not owe any more. In fact, most get some money back.
There are different ways for people to reduce their income taxes. Homeowners, for example, can deduct the interest they pay on a home loan. And there are tax credits, including credits for children.
Income tax rates increase as income increases. People who earned more than $319 thousand last year had the highest rate, 35 percent.
The Constitution gives Congress the power to establish federal taxes. State and local governments can also tax. But the idea of national taxes took time to develop.
In 1791, Congress approved a tax on whiskey and other alcoholic drinks. Farmers in western Pennsylvania who produced alcohol refused to pay. They attacked officials and burned the home of a tax collector.
George Washington, America.s first president, gathered troops. The soldiers defeated the so-called Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. It was one of the first times the government used its powers to enforce a federal law within a state.
At first, the government of the United States collected most of its money through tariffs. These are taxes on trade. Then, in the late 1800s, Congress began to tax the money that people earned in their jobs.
The Supreme Court originally rejected the personal income tax as unconstitutional, so the states changed the Constitution. In 1913 they passed the Sixteenth Amendment. It gives Congress the power to collect taxes on income.
In 2003, personal income tax provided the government with 37 percent of its money. Income tax on businesses provided six percent.
Other taxes provided an additional 40 percent of the budget. And the remaining 17 percent of federal income was money borrowed to cover the deficit.
American tax laws are very complex. The Internal Revenue Service collects federal taxes. The I.R.S. estimates that taxpayers need an average of 13 hours and 35 minutes in preparation time. That is just to complete the basic tax form, which is why a lot of people use tax preparers to do it for them.
6. On April 15th, people have to pay for the previous year.
A.taxes on whisky
B.all the taxes
C.federal income taxes
D.taxes on trade
7. The Congress was given the power to collect income taxes in .
A. 1791 B. 1913 C. 1800s D. 2003
8. It can be inferred from the passage that the Sixteenth Amendment concerns .
A.collecting taxes on alcohol production
B.collecting personal income taxes
C.increasing income taxes on business
D.reducing income tax rates
9. In 2003, how much federal income was provided by the personal income tax?
A.37% B. 40% C. 43% D. 83%
10. According to the passage why do most American taxpayers ask tax preparers to deal with taxes?
A. Because tax payment is a lengthy and complex process.
B. Because taxpayers want to enjoy some tax credits.
C.Because taxpayers know nothing about the complex tax laws.
D.Because tax preparers are more professional in dealing with taxes.
Passage 3
Normally a student must attend a certain number of courses in order to graduate, and each course which he attends gives him a credit which he may count towards a degree.
In many American universities the total work for a degree consists of thirty-six courses, each lasting for one semester. A typical course consists of three classes per week for Fifteen weeks. While attending a university a student will probably attend four or five courses during each semester. Normally a student would expect to take four years attending two semesters each year, ft is possible to spread the period of work for the degree over a longer period. It is also possible for a student to move between one university and another during his degree course, though this is not in fact done as a regular practice.
For every course that he follows a student is given a grade, which is recorded, and the record is available for the student to show to prospective employers. All this imposes pressure from the strain of work, but in spite of this some students still find time for great activity in student affairs. Elections to positions in student organizations arouse much enthusiasm. The effective work of maintaining discipline is usually performed by students who advise the academic authorities. Any student who is thought to have broken the rules, for example by cheating, has to appear before a student court. With the enormous numbers of students, the operation of the system does involve a certain amount of activity. A student who has held one of these positions of authority is much respected and it will be of benefit to him or her later in his or her career.
11. Normally a student would at least attend classes each week.
A. 10 B. 12 C. 15 D. 20
12. According to the first paragraph an American student is allowed _.
A.to live in a different university
B.to take a particular course in a different university
C.to live at home and drive to classes
D.to get two degrees from two different universities
13. American university students are usually under pressure of work because .
A.their academic performance will affect their future careers
B.they are heavily involved in student affairs
C.they have to observe university discipline
D.they want to run for positions of authority in student organizations
14.Some students arc enthusiastic for positions in student organizations probably because_
A. they hate the constant pressure and strain of their study
B. they will then be able to stay longer in the university
C. such positions help them get better jobs
D. such positions are usually well paid
15. The student organizations seem to be effective in
A)dealing with the academic affairs of the university
B)ensuring that the students observe university regulations
C)evaluating students, performance by bringing them before a court
D)keeping up the students, enthusiasm for social activities
Passage 1
Since most episodes of depression are triggered (引发) by life events or circumstances, the causes of depression are different for everyone. In a very .general way, the direct answer to the question of what causes depression is; difficult circumstances. Understanding what.s "difficult" is akin to understanding pain thresholds. What one person finds difficult, another may not.
What we know is that depression is on the rise—or at least, the diagnosis of depression is on the rise. Not unlike other illnesses or diseases, when there is awareness and "active screening" for a particular condition fin this case, such screening is done through diagnostic catena listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, an often-criticized "recipe book" of psychiatric symptoms published by the American Psychiatric Association), there is a rise in the number of cases reported. In other words, when you.re looking for something, you.ll find it Of course, not looking for something doesn.t mean it isn.t there. The question remains: Is it better to seek out depression and treat it, ending unnecessary suffering? Many health care practitioners would answer, "Yes!"
Although there is some agreement among health care providers that depression is a biological state—in that brain chemistry is altered in depressed people—it is unusual for this to occur in the absence of an environmental trigger, meaning a life event or chronic situation. This can be an actual emotional trauma, such as a divorce or death; unresolved traumas from the past that have been buried; repressed anger (a significant contributing factor for many women); stress from the workplace; physical illness; and a million other things. When a life event triggers depression, mental health experts refer to the condition as "situational depression."
1. Generally speaking, depression is caused by ________.
A.difficult situations
B.bad news
C.failure in exam
D.the death of a relative
2. The word "akin" in the first paragraph probably means .
A. difficult
B.similar
C.important
D.necessary
3. The increase of the diagnosis of depression is mainly caused by .
A.the development of medicine
B.more funds for the research of depression
C.people.s awareness and active screening for it
D.the pressure of modern life
4. According to many health care practitioners, depression should be .
A.sought out and treated
B.ignored and forgotten
C.given immediate attention
D.diagnosed with modern equipment
5．According to the author, the important reason for many women to develop depression is
A. divorce or death
B.stress from the workplace
C.physical illness
D. repressed anger