Text 4
Dreams are said to be the window to the mind. Through the study of dreams, we can catch glimpses into what our subconscious minds are thinking, or what is troubling us at our deepest levels. Not all dreams me the same, however, either in content or in meaning. In this respect, the study of bad dreams, nightmares, can yield interesting observations in regard to the mind and status of the dreamer. Indeed, nightmares appear to have been the subject of far more studies than more pleasant dreams, if for no other reason that while pleasant dreams are easily forgotten upon awakening, nightmares tend to linger in our minds is sufficient to demand attention.
The sources of our dreams are most commonly attributed to factors in our waking lives. Whether it be emotional challenges, stress in the workplace, relationship problems or a myriad of other possible factors, the thoughts and feelings created in our waking environments are believed to directly influence the content of our dreams. A particular dramatic or traumatic experience during the day would no doubt be encountered again in some form or another during the night.
Just as important as actual events in the determination of the content of our dreams are the preexisting beliefs that we hold. If we encounter some kind of phenomena in our dreams, it is very likely that we already believed in the possibility of the phenomena before the dream. For example, if someone dreams of being abducted by aliens, it’ s very likely that, before the dream, he already believed in the existence of aliens. To the extent that dreams are direct reflections of our minds, they will reflect accurately what we believe and hold to be true.
The way that we act in dreams bears consideration as well. Oftentimes, our behavior in our dreams reflects hidden desires for that type of behavior in our waking lives. Someone who dreams of revenge may actually desire revenge in real life, and likewise someone who dreams of adventure night after night may be experiencing his mind playing out a desire for more excitement in his everyday life.
While the items encountered in our dreams are of great importance in the analysis of dreams, it must be recognized and understood that the same item in two different dreams can easily have entirely different meanings for the two dreamers. For example, a home in the dreams of an avid equestrian can signify comfort and relaxation, whereas the same home in the dreams of a hunter can represent excitement and challenge.

Based on the information provided in paragraph 3, if a man dreamed of being hit by a train, it is likely that he（）

A:has been hit by a train before B:believes in the existence of trains C:believes that it is possible to be hit by a train D:is afraid of being hit by a train

FOR the past two years in Silicon Valley, the centre of America’s technology industry, conference-goers have entertained themselves playing a guessing game: how many times will a speaker mention the phrase "long tail" It is usually a high number, thanks to the influence of the long tail theory, which was first developed by Chris Anderson, the editor of Wired magazine, in an article in 2004. Though technologists and bloggers chuckle at how every business presentation now has to have its long-tail section, most are envious of Mr Anderson, whose brainwave quickly became the most fashionable business idea around.
Whether a blockbuster film, a bestselling novel, or a chart-topping rap song, popular culture idolizes the hit. Companies devote themselves to creating them because the cost of distribution and the limits of shelf space in physical shops mean that profitability depends on a high volume of sales. But around the beginning of this century a group of internet companies realized that with endless shelves and a national or even international audience online they could offer a huge range of products—and make money at the same time.
The niche, the obscure and the specialist, Mr Anderson argues, will gain ground at the expense of the hit. As evidence, he points to a drop in the number of companies that traditionally calculate their revenue/sales ratio according to the 80/20 rule—where the top fifth of products contribute four-fifths of revenues. Ecast, a San Francisco digital jukebox company, found that 98% of its 10,000 albums sold at least one track every three months. Expressed in the language of statistics, the experiences of Ecast and other companies such as Amazon, an online bookseller, suggest that products down in the long tail of a statistical distribution, added together, can be highly profitable. The internet helps people find their way to relatively obscure material with recommendations and reviews by other people and (for those willing to have their artistic tastes predicted by a piece of software) computer programs which analyze past selections.
Long-tail enthusiasts argue that the whole of culture will benefit, not just commercial enterprises. Television, film and music are such bewitching media in their own right that many people are quite happy to watch and listen to what the mainstream provides. But if individuals have the opportunity to pick better, more ideally suited entertainment from a far wider selection, they will take it, according to the theory of the long tail. Some analysts reckon that entire populations might become happier and wiser once they have access to thousands of documentaries, independent films and sub-genres of every kind of music, instead of being subjected to what Mr Anderson calls the tyranny of lowest-common-denominator fare. That might be taking things a bit far. But the long tail is certainly one of the internet’s better gifts to humanity.
The phrase "lowest-common-denominator" (Line 9, Paragraph 4) probably refers to______.

A:the long tail theory B:the disadvantaged group C:the profitability D:the hit

Based on the information provided in paragraph 3, if a man dreamed of being hit by a train, it is likely that he______.

A:has been hit by a train before B:believes in the existence of trains C:believes that it is possible to be hit by a train D:is afraid of being hit by a train

FOR the past two years in Silicon Valley, the centre of America’s technology industry, conference-goers have entertained themselves playing a guessing game: how many times will a speaker mention the phrase "long tail" It is usually a high number, thanks to the influence of the long tail theory, which was first developed by Chris Anderson, the editor of Wired magazine, in an article in 2004. Though technologists and bloggers chuckle at how every business presentation now has to have its long-tail section, most are envious of Mr Anderson, whose brainwave quickly became the most fashionable business idea around.
Whether a blockbuster film, a bestselling novel, or a chart-topping rap song, popular culture idolizes the hit. Companies devote themselves to creating them because the cost of distribution and the limits of shelf space in physical shops mean that profitability depends on a high volume of sales. But around the beginning of this century a group of internet companies realized that with endless shelves and a national or even international audience online they could offer a huge range of products—and make money at the same time.
The niche, the obscure and the specialist, Mr Anderson argues, will gain ground at the expense of the hit. As evidence, he points to a drop in the number of companies that traditionally calculate their revenue/sales ratio according to the 80/20 rule—where the top fifth of products contribute four-fifths of revenues. Ecast, a San Francisco digital jukebox company, found that 98% of its 10,000 albums sold at least one track every three months. Expressed in the language of statistics, the experiences of Ecast and other companies such as Amazon, an online bookseller, suggest that products down in the long tail of a statistical distribution, added together, can be highly profitable. The internet helps people find their way to relatively obscure material with recommendations and reviews by other people and (for those willing to have their artistic tastes predicted by a piece of software) computer programs which analyze past selections.
Long-tail enthusiasts argue that the whole of culture will benefit, not just commercial enterprises. Television, film and music are such bewitching media in their own right that many people are quite happy to watch and listen to what the mainstream provides. But if individuals have the opportunity to pick better, more ideally suited entertainment from a far wider selection, they will take it, according to the theory of the long tail. Some analysts reckon that entire populations might become happier and wiser once they have access to thousands of documentaries, independent films and sub-genres of every kind of music, instead of being subjected to what Mr Anderson calls the tyranny of lowest-common-denominator fare. That might be taking things a bit far. But the long tail is certainly one of the internet’s better gifts to humanity.

The phrase "lowest-common-denominator" (Line 9, Paragraph 4) probably refers to（）

A:the long tail theory B:the disadvantaged group C:the profitability D:the hit

Passage Four
There was ice on the road, and the doctor’s car hit a tree and turned over three times. To his surprise, he was not hurt. He got off the car and walked to the nearest house.
He wanted to telephone the garage for help. The door was opened by one of his patients.
"Oh, Doctor," she said, "I have only just telephoned you. You must have a very fast car. You have got here very quickly in deed. There has been a very bad accident on the road outside. I saw it through the window. I am sure the driver will need your help."

Why did the accident take place Because（）

A:the doctor drove badly B:the car hit a tree C:of the ice D:the road was too bad

Passage Two
There was a big pile of bricks on the top of a tall building and a man had to bring them down to the ground. He had a long rope which went over a pulley (滑轮) at the roof of the building. The other end was fastened to a big box.
First he pulled the box up to the top of the building, and fastened the end of the rope so that the box could not come down. Then he climbed up the ladder and filled the box with bricks. Next he climbed down the ladder and untied the rope. Unfortunately the box of bricks was heavier than the man, and as a result he was pulled up by the rope. Half-way up, the box of bricks hit him as it was coming down.
When he reached the top, his head hit the pulley. The box of bricks hit the ground and broke. As a result the bricks fell out. The box was then lighter than the man and consequently he began to come down and the box began to go up.
Half-way up, the box hit the man. The man still held on to the rope and the box therefore continued to go up. The man then reached the ground. Then he let to the rope to rub his head. The box, of course, then fell down and hit the man on the head again. As a result, an ambulance came and took him to hospital.

What happened when the man let go the rope（）

A:The box fell down and hit the man on the head. B:The box continued to go up. C:The man went up to the top of the building. D:The man fell down and broke his legs.

There was a big pile of bricks on the top of a tall building and a man had to bring them down to the ground. He had a long rope which went over a pulley(滑轮) at the roof of the building. The other end was fastened to a big box.
First he pulled the box up to the top of the building, and fastened the end of the rope so that the box could not come down. Then he climbed up the ladder and filled the box with bricks. Next he climbed down the ladder and untied the rope. Unfortunately the box of bricks was heavier than the man, and as a result he was pulled up by the: rope. Half-way up, the box of bricks hit him as it was coming down.
When he reached the top, his head hit the pulley. The box of bricks hit the ground and broke. As a result the bricks fell out. The box was then lighter than the man and consequently he began to come down and the box began to go up.
Half-way up, the box hit the man. The man still held on to the rope and the box therefore Continued to go up. The man then reached the ground. Then he let go the rope to rub his head. The box, of course, then fell down and hit the man on the head again. As a result, an ambulance came and took him to hospital
What happened when the man let go the rope

A:The box fell down and hit the man on the head. B:The box continued to go up. C:The man went up to the top of the building. D:The man fell down and broke his legs.

Passage Two

What happened when the man let go the rope

A:The box fell down and hit the man on the head. B:The box continued to go up. C:The man went up to the top of the building. D:The man fell down and broke his legs.