中考英语阅读理解（ 一 ）The striving of countries in Central Europe to enter the European Union may offer anunprecedented chance to the continents Gypsies (or Roman) to be recognized as anation, albeit one without a defined territory. And if they were to achieve that theymight even seek some kind of formal place- at least a total population outnumbersthat of many of the Unions present and future countries. Some experts put the figureat 4m-plus; some proponents of Gypsy rights go as high as 15m.Unlike Jews, Gypsies have had no known ancestral land to hark back to. Thoughtheir language is related to Hindi, their territorial origins are misty. Romanianpeasants held them to be born on the moon. Other Europeans (wrongly) thought themmigrant Egyptians, hence the derivative Gypsy. Most probably they were itinerantmetal workers and entertainers who drifted west from India in the 7th century.However, since communism in Central Europe collapsed a decade ago, thenotion of Romanestan as a landless nation founded on Gypsy culture has gainedground. The International Romany Union, which says it stands for 10m Gypsies inmore than 30 countries, is fostering the idea of tself-rallying, It is trying to promotea standard and written form of the language; it waves a Gypsy flag (green with awheel) when it lobbies in such places as the United Bations; and in July it held acongress in Prague, The Czech capital. Where President Vaclav Havel said thatGypsies in his own country and elsewhere should have a better deal.At the congress a Slovak-born lawyer, Emil Scuka, was elected president of theInternational Tomany Union. Later this month a group of elected Gypsy politicians,including members of parliament, mayors and local councilors from all over Europe(OSCE), to discuss how to persuade more Gypsies to get involved in politics.The International Romany Union is probably the most representative of theoutfits that speak for Gypsies, but that is not saying a lot. Of the several hundreddelegates who gathered at its congress, few were democratically elected; oddly, nonecame from Hungary, whose Gypsies are perhaps the worlds best organized, withsome 450 Gypsy bodies advising local councils there. The union did, however,announce its ambition to set up a parliament, but how it would actually be elected wasleft undecided.So far, the European Commission is wary of encouraging Gypsies to presentthemselves as a nation. The might, it is feared, open a Pandoras box alreadycontaining Basques, Corsicans and other awkward peoples. Besides, acknowledgingGypsies as a nation might backfire, just when several countries, particularly Hungary,Slovakia and the Czech Republic, are beginning to treat them better, in order toqualify for EU membership. uThe EUs whole premise is to overcome differences, notto highlight them, says a nervous Eurocrat.But the idea that the Gypsies should win some kind of special recognition asEuropes largest continent wide minority, and one with a terrible history ofpersecution, is catching on . Gypsies have suffered many pogroms over the centuries.In Romania, the country that still has the largest number of them (more than Im), inthe 19th century they were actually enslaved. Hitler tried to wipe them out, along withthe Jews.“Gypsies deserve some space within European structures/9 says Jan MarinusWiersma, a Dutchman in the European Parliament who suggests that one of thecurrent commissioners should be responsible for Gypsy affairs. Some prominentGypsies say they should be more directly represented, perhaps with a quota in theEuropean Parliament. That, they argue, might give them a boost. There are movesafoot to help them to get money for, among other things, a Gypsy university.One big snag is that Europes Gypsies are, in fact, extremely heterogeneous.They belong to many different, and often antagonistic, clans and tribes, with nocommon language or religion, Their self-proclaimed leaders have often provedquarrelsome and corrupt. Still, says, Dimitrina Petrova, head of the European RomaRights Center in Budapest, Gypsies9 shared experience of suffering entitles them totalk of one nation; their potential unity, she says, stems from “being regarded assub-human by most majorities in Europe.And they have begun to be a bit more pragmatic. In Slovakia and Bulgaria, forinstance, Gypsy political parties are trying to form electoral blocks that could winseats in parliament. In Macedonia, a Gypsy party already has some- and even runs amunicipality. Nicholas Gheorge, an expert on Gypsy affairs at the OSCE, reckons that,spread over Central Europe, there are now about 20 Gypsy MPS and mayors, 400-oddlocal councilors, and a growing number of businessmen and intellectuals.That is far from saying that they have the people or the cash to forge a nation.But, with the Gypsy question on the EUs agenda in Central Europe, they are makingground.1. The Best Title of this passage isA. Gypsies Want to Form a Nation. BJ. Are They a Nation.C. EU Is Afraid of Their Growth. DJ. They Are a Tribe2. Where are the most probable Gypsy territory origins?A . Most probably they drifted west from India in the 7th century.B . They are scattered everywhere in the world.C . Probably, they stemmed from Central Europe.D . They probably came from the International Romany Union.3. What does the International Romany lobby for?A . It lobbies for a demand to be accepted by such international organizations asEU and UN.BJ. It lobbies for a post in any international Romany Union.C . It lobbies for the right as a nation.D . It lobbies for a place in such international organizations as the EU or UN.4. Why is the Europe Commission wary of encouraging Gypsies to presentthemselves as a nation?A. It may open a Pandoras Box.fB. Encouragement may lead to some unexpected results.CJ. It fears that the Basgnes, Corsicans and other nations seeking separationmay raise the same demand.D. Gyspsies9 demand may highlight the difference in the EU.5. The big problem lies in the fact thatA . Gypsies belong to different and antagonistic clans and tribes without acommon language or religion.fB. Their leaders prove corrupt.C . Their potential unity stems from “being regarded as sub-human”.D . They are a bit more pragmatic.答案：1. B 2. A 3.D 4. C 5. APresident Clintons decision on Apr.8 to send Chinese Premier Zhu Rongjipacking without an agreement on Chinas entry into the World Trade Organizationseemed to be a massive miscalculation. The President took a drubbing from much ofthe press, which had breathlessly reported that a deal was in the bag. The Cabinet andWhit House still appeared divided, and business leaders were characterized as furiousover the lost opportunity. Zhu charged that Clinton lacked “the courage“ to reach anaccord. And when Clinton later telephoned the angry Zhu to pledge a renewed effortat negotiations, the gesture was widely portrayed as a flip-flop.In fact, Clinton made the right decision in holding out for a better WTO deal. Alot more horse trading is needed before a final agreement can be reached. And withoutthe Administration goal of a bullet-proof agreement“ that business lobbyists canenthusiastically sell to a Republican Congress, the whole process will end up inpartisan acrimony that could harm relations with China for years.THE HARD PART. Many business lobbyists, while disappointed that thedeal was not closed, agree that better terms can still be had. And Treasury SecretaryRobert E. Rubin, National Economic Council Director Gene B. Sperling, CommerceSecretary William M. Daley, and top trade negotiator Charlene Barshefsky all advisedClinton that while the Chinese had made a remarkable number of concessions, werenot there yet, according to senior officials.Negotiating with Zhu over the remaining issues may be the easy part.Although Clinton can signal U.S. approval for Chinas entry into the WTO himself, heneeds Congress to grant Beijing permanent most-favored-nation status as part of abroad trade accord. And the temptation for meddling on Capital Hill may proveover-whelming. Zhu had barely landed before Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott(R-Miss) declared himself skeptical that China deserved entry into the WTO. AndSenators Jesse A. Helms (R-N.C.) and Ernest F. Hollings (D-S. C.) promised tointroduce a bill requiring congressional approval of any deal.The hidden message from these three textile-state Southerners: Get moreprotection for the U. S. clothing industry. Hoping to smooth the way, theAdministration tried, but failed, to budge Zhu on textiles. Also left in the lurch: WallStreet, Hollywood, and Detroit. Zhu refused to open up much of the lucrative Chinesesecurities market and insisted on “cultural“ restrictions on American movies andmusic. He also blocked efforts to allow U. S. auto makers to provide fleet financing.BIG JOB. Already, business lobbyists are blanketing Capitol Hill to presaleany eventual agreement, but what theyve heard so far isnt encouraging. Republicans,including Lott, say that “the time just isnt right“ for the deal. Translation: Weredetermined to make it look as if Clinton has capitulated to the Chinese and is ignoringhuman, religious, and labor rights violations; the theft of nuclear-weapons technology;and the sale of missile parts to Americas enemies. Beijings fierce critics within theDemocratic Party, such as Senator Paul D. Wellstone of Minnesota and HouseMinority leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, wont help, either.Just how tough the lobbying job on Capitol Hill will be become clear onA pi*. 20, when Rubin lectured 19chief executives on the need to discipline theirRepublican allies. With business and the White House still trading charges over whois responsible for the defeat of fast-track trade negotiating legislation in 1997,working together wont be easy. And Republicans- with a wink- say that theylleventually embrace Chinas entry into the WTO as a favor to Corporate America.Though not long before they torture Clinton. But Zhu is out on a limb, and ifCongress overdoes the criticism, he may be forced by domestic critics to renege.Business must make this much dear to both its GOP allies and the Whit House: Thishistoric deal is too important to risk losing to any more partisan squabbling.1. The main idea of this passage isAJ. The Contradiction between the Democratic Party and the RepublicanParty.B . On Chinas entry into WTO.C . Clinton was right.fD. Business Lobbyists Control Capitol Hill.2. What does the sentence “Also left in the lurch: Wall Street, Hollywood,Detroit“ convey?AJ. Premier Zhu rejected their requirements.BJ. The three places overdid criticism.C . They wanted more protection.D . They are in trouble.3. What was the attitude of the Republican Party toward Chinas entry intothe WTO?A. Contradictory. B.Appreciative.C. Disapproving. DJ. Detestful.4. Who plays the leading part in the deal in America?AJ. White House . B. Republicans.C. The Democratic Party. D. Businessmen.5. It can be inferred from the passage thatfA. America will make concessions.fB. America will hold out for a better WTOC. Clinton has the right to signal U. S. approval for Chinas entry.D. Democratic party approve Chinas entry into the WTO.答案：l.C 2.A 3. A 4. D 5. AA cheap sweaterMr. Ford saw a nice sweater in the shop window. It was very cheap. So hebought one.When he went back home he put the sweater on, It was all right and he waspleased with it.In the afternoon he went out to work in his garden. It soon began to rain, and Mr.Ford had to run into his house. He ran quickly, but he still got wet.Then his sweater started to shrink. It got smaller and smalle匚 Mr. Ford tried totake it off, but he couldnt.In the end, with the help of his wife, he got out of the sweater. Mrs. Fordlaughed,4 4 You see, you bought a cheap thing, but.”阅读短文，然后根据文章内容判断下列各句是否正确，对 的 用 “ 、错误的用 表 示 。1. Mr. Ford bought the sweater because it was very nice and cheap.2. “Shrink“ here means become smaller.3. Mr. Ford was not good at buying things.4. Mr. Ford put the sweater on as soon as he bought it.5. Mr. Ford took off the sweater by himself.答案：l.T 2.T 3.T 4. F 5.F四“I sometimes get up at three or four in the morning and I surf the net.”“I often check my e-mail forty times a day.”“I often spend more than three hours during one time on the net.“I spend more time in chat rooms（ 聊天室）than with my real-life9 friends?9Do you know any people like these? They are part of a new addiction（ 瘾）calledInternet addiction. Internet addicts spend at least thirty to forty hours online everyweek. The use of the Internet can be an addiction like drug（ 毒品）use. People losecontrol（控制）of the time they spend on the InternetFor example, one college student was missing for several days. His friends wereworried, and they called the police. The police found the student in the computer lab:he was surfing the net for several days straight.Studies show that about 6 to 10% of Internet users become addicted. And peopleworry about the teens because the Internet is changing the playing field for some ofthem. They spend more time in cyberspace than in the real world of friends andfamily.Is surfing the net a hobby or an addiction for you? You may have a problem ifyou have these symptoms（ 症状） ：You do not go to important family activities or you do not do school workbecause you like to spend hours on the Internet.You cant wait for your next online time.You plan to spend a short time online, but then you spend several hours.You go out with your friends less and less.1. What does the beginning of the passage tell us?A. How to become an Internet addict.B. What an Internet addict usually does.C. Where to find an Internet addict.D. Why to write this passage.2 How does the writer describe the addicts9 use of Internet?A. It is something like keeping drugs.B. It is a way of producing drugs.C. It is like taking drugs.D. It is terrible to imagine.3. Why do people worry about the teens?A. The teens are wasting too much money.B. They used to work on the Internet.C. The playing field of the teens will disappear.D. More and more of the teens will become addicted to the Internet.4. The example in the passage shows t hat .A. Internet problems are more serious among college studentsB. Internet addicts usually stay in the computer lab without sleepC. Some of the Internet users have already been seriously addictedD. The police often help to find those Internet addicts.5. What is the writer trying to tell us at the end of the passage?A. Dont be addicted to the Internet.B. Go to family activities more often.C. Do things as you have plannedD. Stay with your parents as often as possible.答案：l.B 2.C 3. D 4.C 5. A五We were going to play against a team from a country school.They didnt come until the last minute. They looked worse than we had thought.They were wearing dirty blue trousers and looked like form boys.We sat down for a rest. We felt that we didnt need any practice against a teamlike that.The game began. One of us got the ball and he shot a long pass to ourforward（ 前锋） .From out of nowhere a boy in an old T-shirt stopped the ball and withbeautiful style（ 姿势）he shot and got two points. Then another two points in a minute.Soon the game was all over. We were beaten by the country team.After that, we thought a lot. We certainly learned that even though your team isvery good, you cant look down upon the others and still need to do your best. Andthe most important lesson we learned was: One cant judge （ 判断）a person or a teamonly by their clothes.1. The team from the country were in old clothes so the writers t e a m.A. looked down upon themB. couldnt winC. didnt like the city boyD. were afraid of them2. The country team arrived so late t hat .A. nobody saw themB. the writers team were angryC. they had no time to warm upD. they looked worse3. The team from the country won b e c a u s e .A. they were in old clothesB. they didnt practice before the gameC. they practiced before the gameD. the team was better than the writers4. From the text, we can guess the writers team is.A. a basketball from a country schoolB. a football team from a school in the cityC. a basketball team from a school in the cityD. a football team from the country5. The writers team learned a lot from the game. They got to know how toA. do better from then onB. fight against the country boysC. play against a weak teamD. judge a man or a team by clothes答案：l.A 2.C 3.D 4. C 5. A