Section B
Passage One
There are many reasons why family life in Britain has changed so much in the last fifty years.The liberation of women in the early part of the twentieth century and the social and economic effects of World War II had a great impact on traditional family life.Women became essential to industry and the professions.During the war they had worked in factories and proved their worth, now, with the loss of millions of men, their services were indispensable to the nation。
More recently, great advances in scientific knowledge, and particularly in medicine, have had enormous social consequences.Children are better cared for and are far healthier.Infant death rate is low.Above all, parents can now plan the size of their family if they wish through more effective means of birth control。
Different attitudes to religion, authority and tradition generally have also greatly contributed to changes in family life.But these developments have affected all aspects of society.It is particularly interesting to note that the concept of “the family” as a social unit has survived all these challenges。
Questions 26 to 28 are based on the passage you have just heard。
26.What is this passage mainly about?
【解析】[D] 短文第一句就点出了文章的主旨，There are many reasons why family life in Britain has changed so much in the last fifty years。即主要讲了英国家庭生活变化的诸多原因。
27.Why did British women become indispensable to industry after World War II?
【解析】[A] 为什么英国妇女二战之后在工业上起着不可或缺的作用?During the war they had worked in factories and proved their worth, now, with the loss of millions of men, their services were indispensable to the nation。从这两句话中可得出答案，由于战争中成千上万的男子牺牲了，因此女子必须承担起劳动的重任。
28.What remained unchanged in spite of all the challenges in family life?
【解析】[A] 虽然文中花了大量篇幅介绍英国人家庭生活变化的种种原因。但本题的答案出现在文章最后一句，即It is particularly interesting to note that the concept of “the family” as a social unit has survived all these challenges。
Passage Two
In the next few decades people are going to travel very differently from the way they do today.Everyone is going to drive electrically powered cars.So in a few years people won’t worry about running out of gas。
Some of the large automobile companies are really moving ahead with this new technology.F & C Motors, a major auto company, for example, is holding a press conference next week.At the press conference the company will present its new, electronically operated models。
Transportation in the future won’t be limited to the ground.Many people predict that traffic will quickly move to the sky.In the coming years, instead of radio reports about road conditions and highway traffic, news reports will talk about traffic jams in the sky。
But the sky isn’t the limit.In the future, you’ll probably even be able to take a trip to the moon. Instead of listening to regular airplane announcements, you’ll hear someone say, “The spacecraft to the moon leaves in ten minutes.Please check your equipment.And remember, no more than ten ounces of carry-on baggage are allowed。”
Questions 29 to 31 are based on the passage you have just heard。
29.What will be used to power cars in the next few decades?
【解析】[D] 以后的数十年汽车用什么作能源，Everyone is going to drive electrically powered cars。每个人都将用上电力驱动的车，因此将用电作能源。
30.What will future news reports focus on when talking about transportation?
【解析】[A]本题也可在听力材料中直接听出答案。In the coming years, instead of radio reports about road conditions and highway traffic, news reports will talk about traffic jams in the sky。未来的新闻报道在谈到交通状况时将主要报道空中的交通状况。
31. What is the special requirement for passengers traveling to the moon?
【解析】[B] 从短文最后的announcement提醒去往月球旅行的乘客：And remember, no more than ten ounces of carryon baggage are allowed，只能带不超过十盎司的随身行李，因此，对于去月球旅行的旅客的特殊要求就是Take little luggage with them。
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