59．【答案】B

　　【解析】考查指代问题。根据全文可知，父亲以前很苛刻，我和他关系很疏远，如今他变了，容易让人亲近了，此时把父亲称作自己的"新"朋友，后文信息提示"my new friend. My dad, in his new home in Arizona, is back to me from where he was."

　　(2008年北京卷)

　　Domestic(驯养的)horses now pull ploughs，race in the Kentucky Derby，and carry police.But early horses weren't tame(驯服的)enough to perform these kinds of tasks.Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today.

　　Thousands of years ago，people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food.Over time，people began to catch the animals and raise them.This was the first step in domestication.

　　As people began to tame and ride horses，they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics.For example，people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily.People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals.Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals'genes.So as the domesticated horses reproduced，they passed the characteristics on to their young.Each new generation of horses would show more of these chosen characteristics.

　　Modern?day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.This variety didn't exist in the horse population before domestication.The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds－typically reaching only one meter tall.With short，strong legs，the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts(矿井)with low ceilings.Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700.People bred these heavy，tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads.

　　The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies.For example，horses were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture.Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently.Before they were able to ride horses，humans had to cross land on foot.Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time.That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another.The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world.

　　59．Before domestication horses were.

　　A．caught for sports B．hunted for food

　　C．made to pull ploughs D．used to carry people

　　60．The author uses the Shetland horse as an example to show.

　　A．it is smaller than the Clydesdale horse

　　B．horses used to have gentle personalities

　　C．some horses have better shapes than others

　　D．horses were of less variety before domestication

　　61．Horses contributed to the spread of culture by.

　　A．carrying heavy loads

　　B．changing farming methods

　　C．serving as a means of transport

　　D．advancing agriculture in different areas

　　62．The passage is mainly about.

　　A．why humans domesticated horses

　　B．how humans and horses needed each other

　　C．why horses came in different shapes and sizes

　　D．how human societies and horses influenced each other

　　【文章大意】文章从现代马的功用与过去的功用的不同入手，讲述了人类如何对马进行选择驯化，造成了马的种群的多样性；同时也介绍了马的驯化对人类社会的影响。

　　59．【答案】B

　　【解析】细节判断题。由第一、二段可判断，人类先是猎马为食，然后喂养，最后才是根据人类需要进行驯化。

　　60．【答案】D

　　【解析】细节推断题。由第四段第二句"This variety didn't exist in the horse population before domestication"可推断出马被驯化前没有如此多的种群，再由作者所举的例子"the shetland horse"可看出马是根据人的需要从单一种群被驯化为多种种群的。

　　61．【答案】C

　　【解析】细节判断题。从最后一段"Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distances in much less time ."和"The new form of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world."可判断马在文化传播中所扮演的角色为交通工具。

　　62．【答案】D

　　【解析】主旨大意题。文章前两段引入马的驯化这一话题。第三、四段讲述人类根据自身需要把马驯化为多个种群。第五段讲述了马对人类社会发展的影响。只有D项涵盖了文章的内容。

　　3．写作

　　要求考生根据题示进行书面表达。考试应能：

　　(1)准确使用语法和词汇；

　　(2)使用一定的句型、词汇，清楚、连贯地表达自己的意思。

　　【导读】写作是四项语言技能中不可分割的一个重要部分，要求考生在给出的特定情境下按特定要求进行书面表达。近几年写作主题的选择有结合社会热点的趋势。所以考生备考时可阅读一些英语时文，背诵其中的优美句子等。

　　【试题举例】(2008年四川卷)

　　你校学生会准备办一期英语墙报，主题为：保护环境从我做起。请你根据下图所示写一篇英语短文。

　　注意：

　　1．词数100左右，开头语已为你写好；

　　2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

　　What Can I Do for Our Environment?

　　Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.__________

　　One Possible Version

　　What Can I Do for Our Environment?

　　Everyone_can_do_something_for_our_environment.For me，I should try to save electricity in my daily life.For example，if I am the last person to leave the classroom in the evening，I will always remember to turn off the lights. In order to protect our forests，I will use paper wisely.I should try to use both sides of paper whenever it is possible. I will not use things like paper cups and disposable chopsticks because they are made of wood.I believe that doing all these small things will improve our environment and help make our world a better place to live in.

　　【写作指导】本文主题是环保，要求考生介绍如何从自身做起保护环境，时态以将来时为主。显然图画中已给出了一些参考：节约用电，随手关灯；保护森林；双面用纸；拒绝一次性纸杯、筷子等。文章要点包括：如何从自身做起，自己的决心及希望等。

　　Ⅲ.考试形式与试卷结构

　　1．答卷方式：闭卷、笔试。

　　2．考试时间：120分钟。试卷满分为150分。

　　3．题型：试卷一般可包括多项选择题、完形填空题、听力填空题、短文改错、书面表达等题型。

　　4．试题难易比例：试卷包括容易题、中等题和难题，以中等题为主。

　　Ⅳ.题型示例

　　一、多项选择题

　　(一)考查听力

　　M：Well, I wonder why the office is still not open.

　　W：But it's not yet eight. In fact, it's only a quarter to eight.

　　1．At what time does the office open?

　　A．7：45.　B．8：15.　C．8：00.

　　M：It's Alice's birthday tomorrow.

　　W：Are you sure? I think it should be the day after tomorrow.

　　M：Well, let me see. Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. It is the day after tomorrow. Shall we buy her a present?

　　W：Yes, of course. Shall we give her some flowers?

　　M：Flowers are lovely. But I think it's better to buy her a nice box of chocolates.

　　W．Alice doesn't like sweet things. Didn't you know that?

　　M：You're right. Er...I know. We can give her a record. She loves music.

　　W：That's a good idea. Let's go to the music shop and choose one for her.

　　2．When is Alice's birthday?

　　A．The next day. B．The day after next. C．The day they had the talk.

　　3．What will the man and the woman buy for Alice?

　　A．A record. B．Some flowers. C．A box of chocolates.

　　【试题举例】

　　Good afternoon, everybody and welcome to this class on English words. I hope that all of you can hear me. If not, please let me know. I am Professor John Morris. I'll be your teacher for the next 13 weeks. As you can probably tell this is one of the most popular and crowded classes. Indeed, every time these courses are offered, this room is very full. Why is that? Well, in order to use the English language, it's very important to have at least a basic understanding of how words are formed. Just to mention one figure, and there are many. There are about one million words in English. If you are an English learner, you might wonder how you can possibly remember all of these words. Well, for one thing you don't have to. No native speaker exists who knows all of the words in the English language. Besides there are shortcuts. Shortcuts? Yes, for example, if you know how words are formed by using parts of words from other languages, such as Greek and French, you'll understand a good number of English words when you first come across them. Let me put it this way, knowing the rules will help you master a large number of words. This is probably the No. 1 reason why this class is so popular.

　　17．Where can you most probably hear this talk?

　　A. In a class of the English language.

　　B. In a class of the Greek language.

　　C. In a class of the French language.

　　18．How long does the class last?

　　A. 11 weeks. B. 13 weeks. C. 15 weeks.

　　19．What is "the short?cut" to learning words according to the speaker?

　　A. Taking more courses.

　　B. Reading basic words aloud.

　　C. Learning how words are formed.

　　20．Why is the class popular?

　　A. It is not offered each term.

　　B. It's taught by Professor Morris.

　　C. It helps to master some useful rules.

　　17. A　18. B　19. C　20. C

　　(二)考查语法和词汇知识

　　1．Paul doesn't have to be made ________. He always works hard.

　　A. study B. to study C. studied D. studying

　　2．I first met Lisa three years ago when we ________at a radio station together.

　　A. have worked B. had been working

　　C. were working D. had worked

　　3．She thought I was talking about her daughter, ________， in fact, I was talking about my daughter.

　　A. whom B. where C. which D. while

　　4．-When shall we meet again?

　　-Make it ________day you like; it's all the same to me.

　　A. one B. any C. another D. some

　　【试题举例】

　　(1)时态、语态

　　1．(2008年全国卷Ⅰ)-Have you known Dr.Jackson for a long time?

　　-Yes，since she________the Chinese Society.

　　A．has joined B．joins

　　C．had joined D．joined

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】考查连词since从句的时态。若该主句为现在完成时，其since从句为一般过去时。解答此题关键是补出答语中的主句(I have known she)省略了。

　　2．(2008年北京卷)No decisionabout any future appointment until all the candidates have been interviewed.

　　A．will be made B．is made

　　C．is being made D．has been made

　　【答案】A

　　【解析】考查动词的时态语态。A项为将来时的被动形式。B项为现在时的被动结构；C项为现在进行时的被动结构；D项为现在完成时的被动结构。本题的关键是句子的后半句"...until all the..."，直到所有的候选者都面试完，可知 decision 将要被作出。

　　(2)情态动词

　　1．(2008年重庆卷)-I can't find my purse anywhere.

　　-You________have lost it while shopping.

　　A．may B．can C．should D．would

　　【答案】A

　　【解析】考查情态动词表推测的用法。may have done和can have done都可以用来对过去事实进行推测，表示"可能已经"，只不过表示此意义时，can have done只能用于疑问句中。而C项should have done表示"本应该做而没有做"；D项would have done 表示"想做却没有做"。

　　2．-She looks very happy. She________have passed the exam.

　　-I guess so. It's not difficult after all.

　　A. should B. could C. must D. might

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】根据上文"She looks very happy."可知她肯定是考试通过了才会这样高兴。must have done sth. 表示对过去肯定的推测，有"一定……"的含义。

　　(3)非谓语动词

　　1．(2008年四川卷)We had an anxious couple of weeks________for the results of the experiment.

　　A．wait B．to be waiting

　　C．waited D．waiting

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】考查非谓语动词的用法。句意为：我们焦虑地度过了几周，等待着实验的结果。wait与主语是主动关系，故用"waiting" 表伴随。

　　2．________that she didn't do a good job, I don't think I am abler than her.

　　A. To have said B. Having said

　　C. To say D. Saying

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】根据句子结构，前半部分是状语，意思是"我虽然说过她没干好工作，但我并不认为自己比她能干"。"说她工作没干好"的动作发生在"认为"之前，因此使用现在分词的完成时。

　　(4)定语从句

　　1．By serving others, a person focuses on someone other than himself or herself，________can be very eye?opening and rewarding.

　　A. who B. which

　　C. what D. that

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】根据句型结构此处应为一个非限制性定语从句，且因引导词在定语从句中作主语并表示物，所以应该使用关系代词which。

　　2．After graduation she reached a point in her career________she needed to decide what to do.

　　A. that B. what

　　C. which D. where

　　【答案】D

　　【解析】根据句型结构这句是一个限制性定语从句，修饰point，引导词在这里表示处所或位置，在从句中作地点状语，因此应该使用关系副词where，意即"在这一点上她意识到她该决定做什么了"。

　　(5)状语从句

　　(2008年湖南卷)________the Internet is of great help，I don't think it's a good idea to spend too much time on it.

　　A．If B．While C．Because D．As

　　【答案】B

　　【解析】考查连词。此处意思是"尽管网络很有帮助，……"，选项中能表示让步的只有while，相当于although。其他选项都不能表示让步的意思。

　　(6)名词性从句

　　________parents say and do has a life?long effect on their children.

　　A. That B. Which C. What D. As

　　【答案】C

　　【解析】根据句型结构可知本句是一个带主语从句的复合句，what在这里相当于the things that，其他选项都不够完整或不合适。