The fridge is considered a necessity. It has been so since the 1960s when packaged food first appeared with the label: "store in the refrigerator. "
In my fridgeless fifties childhood, I was fed well and healthy. The milkman came daily, the grocer, the butcher, the baker, and the ice cream man delivered two or three times a week. The Sunday meat would last until Wednesday and surplus bread and milk became all kinds of cakes. Nothing was wasted, and we were never troubled by rotten food. Thirty years on, food deliveries have ceased, fresh vegetables are almost unobtainable in the country.
The invention of the fridge contributed comparatively little to the art of food preservation. A vast way of well tried techniques already existed—natural cooling, drying, smoking, salting, sugaring, bottling…
What refrigeration did promote was marketing—marketing hardware and electricity, marketing soft drinks, marketing dead bodies of animals around the globe in search of a good price.
Consequently, most of the world’s fridges are to be found, not in the tropics where they might prove useful, but in the wealthy countries with mild temperatures where they are climatically almost unnecessary. Every winter, millions of fridges hum away continuously, and at vast expense, busily maintaining an artificially cooled space inside an artificially heated house—while outside, nature provides the desired temperature free of charge.
The fridge’s effect upon the environment has been evident, while its contribution to human happiness has been insignificant. If you don’t believe me, try it yourself, invest in a food cabinet and turn off your fridge next winter. You may miss the hamburgers, but at least you’ll get rid of that terrible hum.
Which of the following phrases in the fifth paragraph indicates the fridge’s negative effect on the environment

A:Hum away continuously B:Climatically almost unnecessary C:Artificially cooled space D:With mild temperatures

More and more of us are (1) the TV networks. That’ s not news, of course; there have been countless stories on their (2) audience. But I didn’ t realize how far out ! had dropped (3) I glanced at the Nielsen ratings of the top 71 shows. Of those 71 programs, I had not watched (4) one. (5) , I could count only five that I had ever seen in my entire life. And of those five, there isn’ t one I watch (6) .
Despite its popularity, I don’ t like happy family shows. They’ re (7) . If I watch a family show, I prefer something lifelike, such as "Death’ of a Salesman."
(8) the second - rated program, "A Different World," I’ ve never heard of it. If I want to see a different (9) , I’ ll drive to the west side of Chicago.
I (10) watch" Cheers," which is still (11) the top ten, but gave it up after Diana left and Sam began lusting after a career- crazed yuppie. Am I the only person in America who has never watched a segment of "Dallas" A while ago, I recall somebody important was killed on the "last (12) of the season and almost everybody in America was caught up in the hype. I watched wrestling that night; I’ ll bet the acting was (13) .
It’ s not (14) I’ m snobbish--I enjoy TV (15) as much as the next slob. But the (16) of truly trashy trash has declined. I was one of the first writers in America to recognize the greatness of Robin Leach’ s" Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." So, what do I watch I still turn to the networks, (17) I have learned to exploit and cheat them. For example, I like football, but seldom watch it (18) . In stead, I (19) it and later play it back an my VCR, fast - forwarding through all the commercials, the announcers’ babble, the half- time drivel and even the huddles. I also watched movies, but only on some cable channels, (20) the networks.

Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on ANSWER SHEET 1.16（）

A:even B:only C:almost D:more than

The film-awards season, which reaches its tearful climax with the Oscars next week, has long been only loosely related to the film business. Hollywood is dedicated to the art of funneling teenagers past popcorn stands, not art itself. But this year’s awards are less relevant than ever. The true worth of a film is no longer decided by the crowd that assembles in the Kodak Theatre—or, indeed, by any American. It is decided by youngsters in countries such as Russia, China and Brazil.
Hollywood has always been an international business, but it is becoming dramatically more so. In the past decade total box-office spending has risen by about one-third in North America while more than doubling elsewhere. Thanks to Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and "Inception", Warner Bros made $2.93 billion outside North America last year, smashing the studio’s previous record of $2.24 billion. Falling DVD sales in America, by far the world’s biggest home-entertainment market, mean Hollywood is even more dependent on foreign punters.
The rising foreign tide has lifted films that were virtually written off in America, such as "Prince of Persia" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader". Despite starring the popular Jack Black, "Gulliver’s Travels" had a disappointing run in North America, taking $42m at the box office so far. But strong turnout in Russia and South Korea helped it reach almost $150m in sales elsewhere. As a result, it should turn a profit, says John Davis, the film’s producer.
The growth of the international box office is partly a result of the dollar’s weakness. It was also helped by "Avatar", and eco-fantasy that made a startling $2 billion outside North America. But three things are particularly important: a cinema boom in the emerging world, a concerted effort by the major studios to make films that might play well outside America and a global marketing push to make sure they do.
Russia, with its shrinking teenage population, is an unlikely spot for a box-office boom. Yet cinema- building is proceeding apace, and supply has created demand. Last year 160m cinema tickets were sold in Russia—the first time in recent years that sales have exceeded the country’s population. Ticket prices have risen, in part because the new cinemas are superior, with digital projectors that can show 3D films. The big Hollywood studios are muscling domestic film-makers aside. In 2007 American films made almost twice as much at the Russian box office as domestic films—8.3 billion roubles ($325m) compared with 4.5 billion. Last year the imported stuff made some 16.4 billion roubles: more than five times as much as the home-grown product, estimates Movie Research, a Moscow outfit. Earlier this month Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Prime Minister, said the government would spend less money supporting Russian film-makers and more on expanding the number of screens. (471 words)
How much did "Gulliver’s Travels" take at the box office outside North America

A:$42m. B:$180m. C:Almost $192m. D:Almost $150m.

More and more of us are (1) the TV networks. That’ s not news, of course; there have been countless stories on their (2) audience. But I didn’ t realize how far out ! had dropped (3) I glanced at the Nielsen ratings of the top 71 shows. Of those 71 programs, I had not watched (4) one. (5) , I could count only five that I had ever seen in my entire life. And of those five, there isn’ t one I watch (6) .
Despite its popularity, I don’ t like happy family shows. They’ re (7) . If I watch a family show, I prefer something lifelike, such as "Death’ of a Salesman."
(8) the second - rated program, "A Different World," I’ ve never heard of it. If I want to see a different (9) , I’ ll drive to the west side of Chicago.
I (10) watch" Cheers," which is still (11) the top ten, but gave it up after Diana left and Sam began lusting after a career- crazed yuppie. Am I the only person in America who has never watched a segment of "Dallas" A while ago, I recall somebody important was killed on the "last (12) of the season and almost everybody in America was caught up in the hype. I watched wrestling that night; I’ ll bet the acting was (13) .
It’ s not (14) I’ m snobbish--I enjoy TV (15) as much as the next slob. But the (16) of truly trashy trash has declined. I was one of the first writers in America to recognize the greatness of Robin Leach’ s" Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." So, what do I watch I still turn to the networks, (17) I have learned to exploit and cheat them. For example, I like football, but seldom watch it (18) . In stead, I (19) it and later play it back an my VCR, fast - forwarding through all the commercials, the announcers’ babble, the half- time drivel and even the huddles. I also watched movies, but only on some cable channels, (20) the networks.

10（）

A:even B:only C:almost D:more than

The film-awards season, which reaches its tearful climax with the Oscars next week, has long been only loosely related to the film business. Hollywood is dedicated to the art of funneling teenagers past popcorn stands, not art itself. But this year’s awards are less relevant than ever. The true worth of a film is no longer decided by the crowd that assembles in the Kodak Theatre—or, indeed, by any American. It is decided by youngsters in countries such as Russia, China and Brazil.
Hollywood has always been an international business, but it is becoming dramatically more so. In the past decade total box-office spending has risen by about one-third in North America while more than doubling elsewhere. Thanks to Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes and "Inception", Warner Bros made $2.93 billion outside North America last year smashing the studio’s previous record of $2.24 billion. Falling DVD sales in America, by far the world’s biggest home-entertainment market, mean Hollywood is even more dependent on foreign punters.
The rising foreign tide has lifted films that were virtually written off in America, such as "Prince of Persia" and "The Chronicles of Namia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader". Despite starring the popular Jack Black, "Gulliver’s Travels" had a disappointing run in North America, taking $42 million at the box office so far. But strong tumout in Russia and South Korea helped it reach almost $150 million in sales elsewhere. As a result, it should turn a profit, says John Davis, the film’s producer.
The growth of the international box office is partly a result of the dollar’s weakness. It was also helped by "Avatar", an eco-fantasy that made a startling $ 2 billion outside North America. But three things are particularly important: a cinema boom in the emerging world, a concerted effort by the major studios to make films that might play well outside America and a global marketing push to make sure they do.
Russia, with its shrinking teenage population, is an unlikely spot for a box-office boom. Yet cinema-building is proceeding apace, and supply has created demand. Last year 160 million cinema tickets were sold in Russia—the first time in recent years that sales have exceeded the country’s population. Ticket prices have risen, in part because the new cinemas are superior, with digital projectors that can show 3D films. The big Hollywood studios are muscling domestic film-makers aside. In 2007 American films made almost twice as much at the Russian box office as domestic films—8.3 billion roubles ($325 million) compared with 4.5 billion. Last year the imported stuff made some 16.4 billion roubles: more than five times as much as the home-grown product, estimates Movie Research, a Moscow outfit. Earlier this month Vladimir Putin, Russia’s Prime Minister, said the government would spend less money supporting Russian film-makers and more on expanding the number of screens.

How much did "Gulliver’s Travels" take at the box office outside North America（）

A:$42 million B:$180 million C:Almost $192 million D:Almost $150 million

I go to the barber every three weeks. I don’t like very short hair, so my barber doesn’t cut off much. I have known him for almost four years now, and when I go to him, we always talk a lot. He tells me all his news, and I tell him all mine. He meets a lot of interesting people in his shop and he talks to most of them, so he always has a lot of news for me.
Every year my barber goes to France for two weeks for his holidays, and when he comes back to England, he has a lot of interesting news. While he is cutting my hair, he tells me about beautiful old cities and quiet little villages, strange food and drinks and many other things. I sit there and listen to the old man with open ears. One minute, my barber’s chair is a seat in a French train, and the next minute it becomes a chair in a restaurant in Paris.
Although my barber is old, he always tries new things. He never says, "I have never eaten this food before, so I am not going to eat it now." He says instead, "Try everything once./

How long has the author known the barber（　）

A:Five years. B:Almost four years. C:Almost six years. D:Ten years.

I go to the barber every three weeks. I don’t like very short hair, so my barber doesn’t cut off much. I have known him for almost four years now, and when I go to him, we always talk a lot. He tells me all his news, and I tell him all mine. He meets a lot of interesting people in his shop and he talks to most of them, so he always has a lot of news for me.
Every year my barber goes to France for two weeks for his holidays, and when he comes back to England, he has a lot of interesting news. While he is cutting my hair, he tells me about beautiful old cities and quiet little villages, strange food and drinks and many other things. I sit there and listen to the old man with open ears. One minute, my barber’s chair is a seat in a French train, and the next minute it becomes a chair in a restaurant in Paris.
Although my barber is old, he always tries new things. He never says, "I have never eaten this food before, so I am not going to eat it now." He says instead, "Try everything once./
How long has the author known the barber

A:Five years. B:Almost four years. C:Almost six years. D:Ten years.

I go to the barber every three weeks. I don’t like very short hair, so my barber doesn’t cut off much. I have known him for almost four years now, and when I go to him, we always talk a lot. He tells me all his news, and I tell him all mine. He meets a lot of interesting people in his shop and he talks to most of them, so he always has a lot of news for me.
Every year my barber goes to France for two weeks for his holidays, and when he comes back to England, he has a lot of interesting news. While he is cutting my hair, he tells me about beautiful old cities and quiet little villages, strange food and drinks and many other things. I sit there and listen to the old man with open ears. One minute, my barber’s chair is a seat in a French train, and the next minute it becomes a chair in a restaurant in Paris.
Although my barber is old, he always tries new things. He never says, "I have never eaten this food before, so I am not going to eat it now." He says instead, "Try everything once."

How long has the author known the barber（　）

A:Five years. B:Almost four years. C:Almost six years. D:Ten years.

阅读下面的短文，文中有15处空白，每处空白给出4个选项，请根据短文的内容从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案。

A:nearly B:relatively C:approximately D:almost