单选题{{B}}Passage One{{/B}} The Federal Government联邦政府 The ConstitutionWhen America broke away from Britain in 1775, she did not adopt a British Constitution. The British have always had an unwritten constitution, whereas every item of the American Constitution is clearly written down and numbered, and can only be changed by a two-thirds majority vote of Congress. Yet in their different ways, the American and British forms of government did have one thing in common. They were both democratiC．As for American society, it was more democratic than British society, in that it paid less attention to class or wealth. Political Parties There are two major political parties in the USA, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The policies of the two parties are not basically opposed to one another. Inside both parties there moderates and right-wringers, though the Democrats still have the reputation of being somewhat more liberal than the Republicans. Voters are influenced by family traditions, but there are plenty of ordinary people who vote according to their hopes, fears and beliefs. There are no other political parties that can compete with the two big parties, though there are occasionally independents who stand for the presidency and manage to collect quite a few votes. There are no left-wing parties. Most Americans are in favor of free enterprise, believing that it may one day help them fulfill the American Dream. The President and Congress The President of the USA has more power than any other president in the democratic world- except the French President. It is he who formulates foreign policy and prepares laws for the home front. He is leader of the nation and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He represents the USA and, since the USA is a super power, the eyes of the whole world are on him. The fate of the world is in his hands, or so many people believe, and one careless, ill-prepared speech by him could precipitate a crises. Actually, a great deal of the President's power is controlled by Congress, the American name for "parliament". It is Congress that declares war, not the President. Unlike the Prime Minister of Great Britain, or of Germany, he can make a treaty with a foreign power. But this treaty must be debated and agreed by Congress before it comes into force. The same control applies to laws at home. Congress has (on several occasions) refused to ratify treaties or given approval to laws proposed by the President. The USA is the only country, apart from France, where a president can rule with a parliament, the majority of whose members do not belong to his own political party. Some Americans have the feeling that idealism has gone out of politics and that personal ambition and money have taken its place. The election campaign fro the Presidency is unique in the amount of money poured into it. The wooing of voters lasts for months. But before the campaign for the election of the President can begin, each political party has to choose its candidate for the Presidency. This can lead to some very close contests. Men aspiring to be elected as the party candidate employ top public relations and advertising men, who invent clever catch phrases and set about "selling" their man. There are whistle stop tours by train, by plane, by car. The candidate delivers countless speeches and shakes countless hands. This razzamatazz typifies American enthusiasm and extravagance. Big money is necessary to support a presidential candidate's campaign and the candidate himself must be rich enough to pay his share. An attractive wife is an advantage, too. Money is also needed to become the Governor of a state, or a successful Senator, or member of the House of Representatives. Yet from this small group many excellent men have become President, and the same is true of members of Congress. It is very unlikely that the President could ever become a dictator. Congress, the press and the people between them rule out such a possibility. The Supreme Court Perhaps the most effective safeguard of democracy is the Supreme Court, for one of its objects is to protect the individual against the government. It has the authority to cancel a law which it considers violates the Constitution. The Court sits for at least four days a week and any individual who has a grievance against the government can apply to it for help. The Supreme Court goes way back to 1787, the days of the Founding Fathers, and is one of the cornerstones of American democracy. It gives judgement in disputes between States, or between a State and the Federal Government, and without invitation can declare a law made by Congress to be unconstitutional. The great Jefferson, who drew up the Declaration of Independence, saw to it, too, that there was a Bill of Rights which every American could thrust under the nose of anyone who tries to rob him of his freedom as a democratic citizen.

单选题It was considerable of the committee to cancel the speech by Robert because he was suffering from one of the worst colds he had ever had．

单选题At the end of the valley we turned right, and {{U}}made for{{/U}} the summit.

单选题{{B}}Passage Two{{/B}} Timberwolves are Marching to a New Tune 森林狼按新的节拍在前进 For the past seven years，Kevin McHale has struggled to put the right combination around his superstar，Kevin Garnett.McHale brought in dozens of players to complement his main man，but in the end the Timberwolves always looked like the'70s band Wings-one star(Paul McCartney) and a bunch of people nobody noticed. With apologies to all of you who still are jamming to"Silly Love Songs，"Wings never could live up to the Beatles.They didn't have the star power. Well，McHale finally has found his own personal John Lennon and Ringo Starr，and their names are Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell.The two veteran guards have given the Wolves an edge they've never had before，and suddenly Garnett doesn't have to do it all by himself. Wednesday in San Antonio，Garneu struggled at the start，found himself in foul trouble and never really got into the flow of the game.As all superstars do，he still managed to put up good numbers(22 points and 10 rebounds).But Gamett never found his groove.and he certainlv didn't control the game. Fortunately for Kevin Garnett，he didn't have to.Cassell，who has hit more big shots than anyone this side of Reggie Miller，came through with a huge game.Displaying his uncanny knack for creating his own midrange shots，Cassell riddled the Spurs'defense for 33 points including several clutch buckets in the fourth quarter. Some guys like to take big shots.Cassell needs them.When the game gets tight and his.team needs a basket，Sam's eyes light up and he enters another world.He lusts for moments like those. Sprewell also had a major impact in Wednesday's victory，scoring 24 points and sealing the win with a steal and a highlight-reel slam．He is playing with amazing energy and zeal，and a touch of attitude that we haven't seen from Wolves players in the past.Together.the"Big Three" have become a major force that has to rank with any combination in the league. Wednesday's victory in San Antonio epitomized the type of team that Minnesota has been all season.The Wolves defended well，scored 100 points against the league's best defense．got major contributions from their bench and huge shots from their stars，and showed a resilience and confidence usually reserved for championship teams. After several first-round flameouts，is this the year the Wolves finally make it over the hump in the playoffs?It's only January，so we probably shouldn't get ahead of ourselves.But the team I saw Wednesday night showed all the signs of being a major player in the NBA playoffs this spring. If things fall just right for McHale，maybe he can finally stop fiddling with his roster and simply"Let It Be."

单选题The travellers sought shelter ______ the rain and happened to find a road-side inn.

单选题Helen could not help feeling antipathy toward her father's new wife whom he married just two months after the death of Helen's mother. A. sympathy B. concession C. compassion D. hostility

单选题The well-known Garub Site, unearthed in 1997, shows that man had made living there as early as 5,000 years ago. A. human had lived B. humans had lived C. human being lived D. human beings lived

单选题The troops have been on the________for a possible enemy attack.

单选题According to the regulations, anyone caught littering in the public places ______ to a large fine of HK ＄1 500.

单选题It can be inferred from the passage that Planck's work led to the development of which of the following?

单选题All root vegetables grow underground, {{U}}and{{/U}} not all vegetables that grow underground are roots.

单选题In the past most pilots have been men, but today the number of women ______ this field is climbing.

单选题He got up, walked across the room, and with a sharp quick movement flung the door widely open.

单选题After the______to the river the soldiers camped for the night.

单选题We have had to raise the prices of our products because of the increase in the cost of ______ materials. A. primitive B. rough C. original D. raw

单选题{{U}}During{{/U}} many sectors are foundering, the $21 billion videogame-software industry is booming, adding game developers at a rate of 2,500 a year in the United States alone.

单选题 About fifty years ago, plant physiologists set out to grow roots by themselves in solutions in laboratory flasks. The scientists found that the nutrition of isolated roots was quite simple. They required sugar and the usual minerals and vitamins. However, they did not require organic nitrogen compounds. These roots got along fine on mineral inorganic nitrogen. Roots are capable of making their own proteins and other organic compounds. These activities by roots require energy, of course. The process of respiration uses sugar to make the high energy compound ATP, which drives the biochemical reactions. Respiration also requires oxygen. Highly active roots require a good deal of oxygen. The study of isolated roots has provided an understanding of the relationship between shoots and roots in intact plants. The leaves of the shoots provide the roots with sugar and vitamins, and the roots provide the shoots with water and minerals. In addition, roots can provide the shoots with organic nitrogen compounds. This comes in handy for the growth of buds in the early spring when leaves are not yet functioning. Once leaves begin photosynthesizing, they produce protein, but only mature leaves can "export" protein to the rest of the plant in the form of amino acids.

单选题He is always working______he can.

单选题Each species has certain______features.

单选题The origin of the word remains Uobscure/U, but it is certainly not from Greek.