Passage 4

　　Questions 36 to 40 are based on the following passage:

　　Computers may one day turn night into day—with good old, natural sunlight.

　　Colossal computer-controlled mirrors, thousands of feet across, may one day orbit the earth, reflecting sunlight onto a darkened United States.

　　Some scientists say that 16 of these mirrors, each about half a mile across, could aim their reflected light at one area on the earth that was about 200 miles by 300 miles. That much light would equal about 56 moons.

　　The mirrors would be so high that they could catch the sun's light as it was shining on the other side of the earth. The mirrors could orbit-thousands of miles high—at the same speed as the earth turns on its axis (軸). That way, the mirror could always be over the same spot.

　　The aluminum-coated (涂鋁的), plastic mirrors could be folded up and packed into a spaceship, according to the scientists. Once released a few hundred miles in space, the mirrors, powered by a solar-powered engine, could make the rest of the trip into space on their own.

　　The scientists say the computer-controlled mirrors could also be made to tilt (傾斜) slowly, so the reflected sunlight would sweep slowly along the surface of the earth. For example, as night fell, the mirrors could be tilt to light up Boston. Later on, as darkness spread slowly westward. Chicago, for example, then San Francisco could be lit up. The reflected sunlight would allow these cities to save up electricity. And in emergencies, such as power-failures, the mirrors could light up the affected area.

　　What no one knows yet is what effect this artificial daytime would have on plants, animals, and humans. Would it confuse some animals and harm some plants that are used to the day-night circles? The scientists recommend that studies be done to find out what the effects there might be.

　　36. The word "colossal" (Para. 2) most likely means__________.

　　A. nuclear-powered B. orbiting C. giant D. spinning

　　37. Which of the following is NOT TRUE of the mirrors?

　　A. They would be made of plastic and coated with aluminum.

　　B. They could be launched into space directly.

　　C. They would stay in the same position over the earth.

　　D. They could reflect the sunlight to a large area on the earth.

　　38. The reflected sunlight could sweep slowly over the surface of the earth because the mirrors __________________.

　　A. would be operated be solar-powered engine

　　B. would orbit thousands of miles high to catch the sun light

　　C. could move around the earth at the same speed as the earth turns on its axis

　　D. could be made to adjust their angles

　　39. The purpose for turning night into day is to_________.

　　A. confuse animals and plants

　　B. light up more cities

　　C. save energy and deal with emergencies

　　D. enable people to work longer hours

　　40. The writer of this passage________.

　　A. gives an objective account of the mirrors

　　B. seems to be much worried about the effects of the mirrors

　　C. is in favor of wide use of the mirrors

　　D. suggests that the artificial daylight is harmful to living being

　　Part Ⅲ Cloze (15 minutes 10%)

　　Directions: In this part there is a passage with 20 blanks in it. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You are required to choose the one that best fills into the passage and mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the center.

　　Friends play an important part in our lives, but we often don't clearly understand how we make friends. ____41____ we get on well with a number of people, we are usually friends with only a very few. In all the cases of ____42____ relationships, two people like one another and enjoy being together, but beyond that, the degree of ____43____ between them and the reasons for their shared interests vary ____44____. As we get to know people we ____45____ things like age, race, economic condition, social position, and ____46____. Although these factors are not of ____47____ importance, it is more ____48____ to get on with people when there is a marked difference in age and background.

　　It is usual for close friends to have ____49____ ideas and beliefs, to have attitudes and interests in common. And the more intimately ____50____ people become, the more they ____51____ one another. People want to do friends ____52____ and hate to ____53____. Friends have to learn to put up with ____54____ habits and to ____55____ differences of opinion.

　　____56____ marriages, there are no friendship ____57____ to strengthen the ____58____ between two people. But the supporting and understanding of each other that ____59____ shared experiences and emotions does seem to create a powerful bond, which can overcome differences in background, and break down ____60____ of age, class or race.

　　41. A. When B. Until C. While D. As

　　42. A. cooperative B. friendly C. competitive D. harmonious

　　43. A. compassion B. sympathy C. sentiment D. intimacy

　　44. A. scarcely B. indifferently C. enormously D. spaciously

　　45. A. take to B. take into account C. take over D. take on

　　46. A. intelligence B. inquisition C. instinct D. intuition

　　47. A. precedent B. primitive C. prime D. previous

　　48. A. difficult B. significant C. rewarding D. beneficial

　　49. A. like B. indifferent C. same D. similar

　　50. A. resolved B. involved C. revolved D. evolved

　　51. A. turn on B. hold on C. concentrate on D. rely on

　　52. A. assistance B. help C. benefits D. favors

　　53. A. break in B. break a promise C. break up D. break down

　　54. A. annoying B. diverse C. enduring D. arbitrary

　　55. A. hesitate B. accumulate C. tolerate D. manipulate

　　56. A. Compared to B. In contrast with C. In accordance with D. In case of

　　57. A. ceremonies B. demonstrations C. certifications D. qualifications

　　58. A. combination B. association C. negotiation D. foundation

　　59. A. leads to B. ends up with C. results from D. yields to

　　60. A. bars B. barrels C. barriers D. barns