第二十九篇：(Unit 8, Passage 1)

Improbable as it may seem, an increasing number of Germans are giving up their elegant Mercedeses, sleek BMWs and ferociously fast Porsches and getting behind the wheels of imported American models – fro plush Cadillacs to more prosaic Fords. Unlike the cars produced by Detroit’s European subsidiaries, these cars are as American as apple pie and watery beer. And thanks to a favorable exchange rate, they are more affordable than ever Last year Germans bought 12 477 new U.S. –built cars; sales are expected to double this year.

Like blue jeans, this buy – America fad appeals to Germans from all walks of life. Once regarded as faulty, flashy, gas – guzzling Goliaths, American autos are – thanks in large measure to foreign competition –more stylish and reliable than in years past. Tugged, off- road vehicles like the four-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee are now the hot wheels to drive among Germany’s thirty- something set. Owners and Aficionados of American – made care also boast their cars are cheaper to maintain.

But that’s not the main reason German motorists are choosing U.S. imports – It’s their price. Even after the cost of overseas shipping is included, American – made cars offer more value – and deluxe features – for less money than German models. A Chrysler LeBaron convertible sells for 35 000 marks; a BMW 320i convertible, by comparison, commands 10 000 marks more. And U.S. autos come with standard equipment – electric windows, automatic locks and sun roofs – that’s available only as expensive options on German models.

Owning an American car in Germany is not for everybody. But the worst headaches come form the German bureaucracy. Johann Erben, a Greiburg dental lab technician, purchased a LeBaron convertible during a U.S. trip in November – and has yet to drive it one kilometer. First, he waited months for the proper registration documents to arrive; then he spent more than 1 000 marks to have it comply with German regulations. Even so, safety inspectors refused to approve it until he changed the headlights and windows to European Community standards. “There I was with my supermodern, $ 20,000 car and unable to get it through inspection,” Erben recalled.

1.Detroit’s European subsidiaries _______.
A.produce the same models as Detroit supplies in the U.S. market
B.provide cars of European styles
C.produce cars that are thought to be un-American by Germans
D.could hardly meet the demand for American cars last year

2.The buy-American fad that appeals to Germans most seems to be _______.
A.blue jeans                B.apple pie
C.U.S.-made cars         D.watery beer

3.As for Germans, American cars not only are cheaper but _______.
A.endures wear and tear      B.are adaptable to road conditions
C.provides greater space      D.offers more deluxe features

4.Which of the following statements is true?
A.American cars used to consume a lot of oil.
B.Japanese cars still lead the German market.
C.The U.S. motor industry is now confident to cope with recession.
D.German cars are going to provide the same standard equipment as American-made cars.

5.European Community standards probably are _______.
A.a law to control the amount of imported goods from other continents
B.a set of standards to inspect imported cars
C.a system to regulate measures of manufactured goods
D.a set of standards to control product quality

第29篇答案：CADAC


第30篇：(Unit 8, Passage 2)

How often do you sit still and do absolutely nothing? The usual answer these days is “never”, or “hardly ever”. As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life, being on the go from morning till night, it is hard to slow down and unwind. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.

Stress is a natural part of everyday life. There is no way to avoid it, since it takes many and varied forms--driving in traffic, problems with personal relationships are all different forms of stress. Stress, in fact, is not the “baddy” it is often reputed to be. A certain amount of stress is vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. It is only when the stress gets out of control that it can lead to level performance and ill health.

The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very much on the individual. Some people thrive on stress, and such characters are obviously prime material for managerial responsibilities. Others crumple at the sight of unusual difficulties.

When exposed to stress, in whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact, we invoke the “fight” mechanism, which in more primitive days made the difference between life and death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however minimal the stress, it involves the same response. All the energy is diverted to cope with the stress, with the result that other functions, such as digestion, are neglected.

It is when such a reaction is prolonged, through continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious conditions as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease（冠心�。゛ll have established links with stress. The way stress affects a person also varies with the individual. Stress in some people produces stomach disorders, while others succumb to tension headaches. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives, we need to find ways to cope with it.

1.The reason that many people find it very difficult to relax these days is that ___.
A.they are working harder than they used to be.
B.they are often too busy to find the time.
C.they are suffering from the effects of stress.
D.they are not clear of how to relax by themselves.

2.We learn from the passage that ___.
A.how much stress one can bear depends greatly on whether he knows the art of relaxation.
B.people in primitive days survived from stress because they found certain mechanism to cope with it.
C.if one gets into the habit of relaxing every day he can overcome stress easily.
D.stress can lead to serious health problem if one is exposed to it for too long.

3.The sentence “Stress, in fact, is not the ‘baddy’ it is often reputed to be” suggests that ___.
A.stress used to have a bad reputation of causing ill health.
B.we should not take it for granted that stress is unavoidable.
C.stress is not so terrible as people often believe it to be.
D.people do not think stress is as harmful as it was before.

4.The pronoun “it” at the end of the passage refers back to __.
A.ill health
B.exposure
C.reaction
D.stress.

5.What is writer’s attitude to stress according to the passage?
A.Stress as well as relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and body.
B.Stress produces both positive and negative effects on people.
C.Stress should not be eliminated completely from the life.
D.People usually work better under stress if they are healthy.

第30篇答案：BDCDB

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