
第二篇:
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball,
one each for the American League and National League. The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball
Commissioner Ford Frick 36 Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955. The award was originally
given to the single best pitcher in the major leagues; 37 in 1967, after the retirement of Frick, the award was
given to one pitcher in each league. Each league’s award is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers
Association of America, 38 one representative from each team. As of the 2010 season, each voter places a
vote for first, second, third, fourth and fifth place among the 39 of each league. The pitcher with the highest
score in each league wins the award. If two pitchers receive the same number of votes, the award is shared. The
current formula 40 in the 2010 season. Before that, dating back to 1970, writers voted for three pitchers, with
the formula of 5 points for a first place vote, 3 for a second place vote and 1 for a third place vote.
【4】36. by means of with regard to in favor of in honor of
【2】37. thus but until since
【4】38. at in to with
【1】39. pitchers teams votes writers
【3】40. awarded pitched started voted
四、閱讀測驗
第一篇:
2,000 years ago, the Celts lived in the area which is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France.
They used to grow their own food, and they considered harvest time to be the end of the year. Every year, they
celebrated New Year’s Eve on October 31st with a festival called “Samhain”. The Celts dressed in animal heads
and skins for this festival, and their priests, the Druids, built huge bonfires which the Celts gathered around to
burn crops as sacrifices to their ancient gods. October 31st marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter,
and the Celts believed that on that night, the ghosts of the dead returned to Earth. The Celts thought the ghosts
helped the Druids to predict the future.
In about 43 AD, after the Romans conquered the Celts, two Roman festivals, Feralia (when the Romans
remembered their dead) and Pomona Day (when the Romans honored their goddess of fruits and gardens) were
combined with the Celtic Samhain festival. Later, in the 7th century, when Christianity reached the land of the
Celts, the Pope made November 1st All Saints’ Day. This was a time for people to honor saints and martyrs. This
celebration was also called All Hallows or Hallowmas. The night before it became known as All Hallows’ Eve,
which later changed to Halloween.
Today, people celebrate Halloween with black cats and magic from Samhain, apples and harvest from
Pamona Day, and ghosts and skeletons from All Saints’ Day. It’s a thrilling mixture of fun and fear.
【3】41. What is the most proper title of this passage?
The Sacrifices of the Celts.
The Differences between the Celts and Romans
The Story of Halloween.
The Dresses for October 1st.
【1】42. Which statement about the All Saints’ Day is NOT accurate?
It was on October 31st.
Its celebration was called All Hallows.
It was a day to remember the dead.
It was a religious holiday.
【3】43. Which of the following is NOT related to the origin of All Saints’ Day?
The Celts.
Christianity.
Islam.
The Romans.
【2】44. What did the Celts prepare when they worshipped their ancient gods?
Animal heads. Crops.
Feralia. Samhain.
【3】45. What are Druids?
Bonfires. Ghosts.
Priests. Goddesses.
第二篇:
According to some authoritative anthropological studies in the last five decades, life expectancy of human
beings was short for millennia. The few people who grew old were assumed, because of their years, to have won
the favor of the gods. The typical person was fortunate to reach 40.
Beginning in the 19th century, that slowly changed. Since 1840, life expectancy at birth has risen about
three months with each passing year. In 1840, life expectancy at birth in Sweden, a much-studied nation owing
to its record-keeping, was 45 years for women; today it’s 83 years. The United States displays roughly the same
trend. When the 20th century began, life expectancy at birth in America was 47 years; now newborns are
expected to live 79 years. If about three months continue to be added with each passing year, by the middle of
this century, American life expectancy at birth will be 88 years. By the end of the century, it will be 100 years.
Viewed globally, the lengthening of life spans seems independent of any single, specific event. It didn’t
accelerate much as antibiotics and vaccines became common. Nor did it retreat much during wars or disease
outbreaks. A graph of global life expectancy over time looks like an escalator rising smoothly. The trend holds,
in most years, in individual nations rich and poor; the whole world is riding the escalator.
Projections of ever-longer life spans assume no incredible medical discoveries—rather, that the escalator
ride simply continues. If anti-aging drugs or genetic therapies are found, the climb could accelerate.
Centenarians may become the norm, rather than rarities who generate a headline in the local newspaper.
【3】46. In what style is the passage mainly written?
Argumentative.
Comparative.
Expository.
Procedural.
【3】47. What does “that” in the second paragraph refer to?
Anthropology.
Human origin.
Life expectancy.
The authority.
【1】48. Why is life expectancy at birth in Sweden mentioned in the passage?
Because it has documented the life expectancy of its citizens for long.
Because it has set an example for people in the United States to follow.
Because the life expectancy of its people has been the longest among all countries.
Because the life expectancy of its people has grown steadily with each passing year.
【4】49. According to the passage, what impacts have world events had on life expectancy?
They have shortened life expectancy.
They have lengthened life expectancy.
They have made life expectancy rise smoothly.
They have had no significant effect on life expectancy.
【2】50. According to the passage, which of the following may be inferred?
Life expectancy dramatically decreased during the Second World War.
Life expectancy before the 19th century had remained almost unchanged.
Discoveries of anti-aging drugs and genetic therapies will become rare in local papers.
People living less than one hundred years will be soon regarded as extremely precious.