Reading Comprehension
In the last 500 years, nothing about people---not their clothes, ideas, or languages—has changed as much as what they eat. The original chocolate drink was made from the seeds of the cocoa tree（可可树）by South American Indians. The Spanish introduced it to the rest of the world during the 1500’s. And although it was very expensive, it quickly became fashionable. In London, shops where chocolate drinks were served became important meeting places. Some still exist today.
The potato is also from the New World. Around 1600, the Spanish brought it from Peru to Europe, where it soon was widely grown. Ireland became so dependent on it that thousands of Irish people starved when the crop failed during the “Potato Famine(饥荒)”of 1845—1846, and thousands more were forced to leave their homeland and move to America.
There are many other foods that have traveled from South America to the Old World. But some others went in the opposite direction. Brazil is now the world’s largest grower of coffee, and coffee is an important crop in Colombia and other South American countries. But it is native to Ethiopia, a country in Africa. It was first made into a drink by Arabs during the 1400’s.
According to an Arabic legend, coffee was discovered when a person named Kaldi noticed that his goats were attracted to the red berries on a coffee bush. He tried one and experienced the “wide-awake” feeling that one-third of the world’s population now starts the day with. (258)
1 According to the passage, which of the following has changed the most in the last 500 years?
A) Language C) Ideology
B) Clothing D) Food
2 “some” in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to ______.
A) some South American Indians C) some cocoa trees
B) some chocolate drinks. D) some shops
3 Thousands of Irish people starved during the “Potato Famine” because ______.
A) they refused to eat anything else
B) they were forced to leave their homeland and move to America
C) the weather conditions in Ireland were not suitable for growing potatoes
D) the potato harvest was bad
4 Which country is the largest coffee producer?
A) Brazil C) Ethiopia
B) Colombia D) Egypt
5 Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the passage?
A). Coffee is native to Colombia
B). Coffee drinks were first made by Arabs.
C). Coffee can keep one awake.
D). One third of the world’s population drinks coffee.
Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but there have only been few players who were truly great. How did these players get that way—was it through training and practice, or are great players’ born, not made? First, these players came from places that have had famous stars in the past---players that a young boy can look up to and try to imitate（效仿）. In the history of soccer, only six countries have ever won the World Cup—three from South America and three from Western Europe. There has never been a great national team—or a really great player—from North America or from Asia. Second, these players have all had years of practice in the game. Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele. Most players begin playing the game at the age of three or four.
Finally, many great players come from the same kind of neighbourhood—a poor, crowded area where a boy’s dream is not to be a doctor, lawyer, or businessman, but to become a rich, famous athlete or entertainer. For example, Liverpool which produced the Beatles(甲壳虫乐队)，had one of the best English soccer teams in recent years. Pele practiced in the street with a “ball” made of rags(破布). And George Best learned the tricks that made him famous by bouncing the ball off a wall in the slums(贫民窟)of Belfast.
All great players have a lot in common, but that doesn’t explain why they are great. Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele. The greatest players are born with some unique quality that sets them apart from all the others. (306)
6 According to the author, which of the following statements is true?
A) Truly great players are rare.
B) Great soccer players are born, not made.
C) Only six countries have ever had famous soccer stars.
D) Soccer is the least popular sport in North America and Asia
7 The word ”tricks” at the end of Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A) “skills” C ) “experience”
B) “cheating” D ) “training”
8 Pele is cited as an example in the second paragraph to illustrate that ______.
A) famous soccer players live in slum areas
B) people in poor areas are born with some unique quality
C) many great soccer players come from poor areas
D) children in poor areas start playing football at the age of 3 or 4
9 In the last paragraph the statement “only one became Pele” indicates that ______.
A) Pele is the greatest soccer player______.
B) Pele’s birthplace sets him apart from all the other players
C) the greatest players are born with some unique quality
D) the greatest players practice with “balls” made of rags
10 The author attributes a soccer player’s success to all the following factors EXCEPT ______.
A) his family background C) his height
B) his neighbourhood. D) his practice.