阅读理解（Passage 1–2，1–10 题）

Passage 1（火灾演练）

A fire drill is, to put it mildly, an inconvenient exercise at the best of times. A fire drill at 2:00 a.m. in terrible weather conditions, like the one we had on Thursday night and Friday morning last, is incomparably more inconvenient. This is why writing this note to thank you all most sincerely for your excellent co-operation and the spirit with which you endured the inconvenience.

A fire drill is not an idle exercise. It is an extremely serious one and can, in fact, save lives in the long run. Last week’s fire drill has already revealed a number of important things regarding fire precautions in the Hall. For instance, there seem to exist a number of “deaf spots” in the Hall, that is, places where the fire alarm cannot be heard. This is a serious problem that needs to be fixed immediately.

In addition, some residents did not appear at the drill. This is unacceptable. All residents must take fire precautions with the seriousness they deserve. Failure to do so can result in fines and expulsion from the Hall. Thank you again for your co-operation.

Questions 1–5

1. 1.The last fire drill caused much more inconvenience because ______.（ ）

   A. it was in bad weather

   B. there were “deaf spots”

   C. a big fire started

   D. it was at the weekend

   答案：A

   解析：首段第二句 “A fire drill at 2:00 a.m. in terrible weather conditions...”（凌晨 2 点 + 恶劣天气导致不便）。

2. 2.The phrase “in the long run” (Line 2, Paragraph 2) means ______.（ ）

   A. effectively B. endlessly C. eventually D. efficiently

   答案：C

   解析：词义猜测题。in the long run = 最终、长远来看，对应 eventually。

3. 3.Some people did not make their appearance at the last drill because ______.（ ）

   A. they were deaf

   B. they could not hear the alarm

   C. nobody waked them up

   D. the reason is not given

   答案：D

   解析：文中仅提及 “some residents did not appear”，未说明具体原因。

4. 4.A fire drill is extremely important according to the writer for ______.（ ）

   A. it is a good physical exercise

   B. it cultivates people’s endurance

   C. it is a legal requirement

   D. it can save lives in case of a fire

   答案：D

   解析：第二段第二句 “...can, in fact, save lives in the long run”（火灾时可救命）。

5. 5.Which of the following is NOT stated by the author?（ ）

   A. A fire drill is very important and useful.

   B. The last fire drill received inactive co-operation from some residents.

   C. The fire alarm system needs to be improved.

   D. Fines will be imposed on those who are late for the drill.

   答案：D

   解析：文末提及 “Failure to do so can result in fines...”（不重视防火会罚款），而非 “迟到罚款”，D 项错误。

Passage 2（语言与文化）

Languages are marvelously complex and wonderfully complicated organs of culture. They embody the quickest and the most efficient means of communicating within their respective culture. To learn a foreign language is to learn another culture. In the words of a poet and philosopher, “As many languages as one speaks, so many lives one lives.”

A culture and its languages are as inseparable as brain and body; while one is a part of the other, neither can function without the other. In learning a foreign language, the best beginning is with the non-verbal linguistic elements of the language, its gestures, its body language.

Eye contact is extremely important in English. Direct eye contact leads to understanding, or, as the English maxim has it, seeing eye-to-eye. We can never see eye-to-eye with a native speaker of English until we have learned to look directly into his eyes.

1. 7.According to the passage, learning a foreign language means ______.（ ）

   A. learning another culture

   B. learning body language

   C. learning eye contact

   D. learning gestures

   答案：A

   解析：首段第三句 “To learn a foreign language is to learn another culture.”。

2. 8.The author compares a culture and its language to ______.（ ）

   A. heart and soul

   B. brain and body

   C. hands and feet

   D. flesh and blood

   答案：B

   解析：第二段首句 “A culture and its languages are as inseparable as brain and body...”。

3. 

4. 9.What is the best way to start learning a foreign language?（ ）

   A. Learning grammar rules

   B. Learning vocabulary

   C. Learning non-verbal elements

   D. Learning pronunciation

   答案：C

   解析：第二段末句 “...the best beginning is with the non-verbal linguistic elements...”。

5. 10.“Seeing eye-to-eye” probably means ______.（ ）

   A. looking into each other’s eyes

   B. having the same opinion

   C. understanding each other

   D. both B and C

   答案：D

   解析：末段第二句 “Direct eye contact leads to understanding, or... seeing eye-to-eye”，既指达成共识，也指相互理解。