PART VI READING COMPREHENSION [30 min.]

SECTION A [25 min.]
Directions: In this section there are four passages followed by fifteen questions or unfinished statements, each with four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that you think is the correct answer. Mark your choice on your answer sheet. 

TEXT A 

Vehicle vogue seems to have taken a decidedly luxurious turn, if this week’s annual North American International Auto Show in Detroit is any indicator. Nearly a dozen automakers are unveiling new models or concept cars aimed at affluent buyers -- the goal being to win a place on the open, prosperous highway of the American luxury-car market. Says Michael Dale, president of Jaguar North America: "The economy is wonderful. Wall Street is doing great, and people want to buy a car that feels like more than just transportation. Frankly, you’re just not going to get that in a Firebird. "John Smith, general manager of GM’s Cadillac division, puts it another way: "Baby boomers have always been a relatively self-indulgent generation. Now that they’re becoming empty nesters, the luxury segment is benefiting. "... Indeed, the luxury movement represents the industry’s first significant market shift since the introduction of the minivan and the Jeep Grand Cherokee in the mid-1980’s. And it suggests that the old model developed by General Motors’ Alfred P. Sloan in the early 1920’s, which sliced the industry into carefully graded segments and moved consumers up as their income rose, may be headed for extinction. Instead, as automakers lavish more and more attention on a narrower, wealthier band of consumer, the U.S. is moving to a more European marketing model built around sales of luxury ears to the affluent and small, inexpensive shoeboxes on wheels for everyone else. 

66. Firebird is ______
A. a luxury car.
B. a practical car. 
C. a car that everybody likes.
D. a car that only American like. 
正确答案是

67. According to the passage, the introduction of the minivan in the mid-1980’s was ______
A. a steady development of the car industry. 
B. an unsignificant change to luxury movement. 
C. a noted change in the car industry. 
D. the gradual change to luxury movement. 
正确答案是

68. Alfred P. Sloan developed a model, which ______
A. dealt mainly with the self-indulgent customers. 
B. evaluated the customers. 
C. was the reference of the customers. 
D. was General Motor’s principles in producing cars. 
正确答案是

69. In European market, the car makers pay more attention to the sales of ______
A. costly cars.
B. cheap cars. 
C. boxes containing shoes. 
D. minivans. 
正确答案是

TEXT B

First, the bad news. in the past year, Asians seeking education abroad have found it harder than usual to locate the requisite funding. Loans have become more expensive, and government grants have shrunk. As their currencies depreciated drastically against the dollar, countries like Thailand and Malaysia that had been nurturing overseas education programs simply ran out of cash. Malaysia, which had the largest state-funded study-abroad program in Asia, used to shell out ’ 660 million for its top students to study overseas. But the program has been cut back by about 90%, and the Education Ministry is urging students to be "patriotic" and stay home. Thailand, which has 2,000 government-sponsored students scattered through the U.S., is also scaling back its study-abroad programs. Although 120 undergraduates were selected to study abroad for free this academic year, just 20 are projected to receive the ’28,000 grant each in 1999. And don’t expect foreign governments to help fund Asian students either. Although Britons pay only ’1,600 a year for their undergraduate education, international students don’t get the same subsidy break and must pay an average of ’20,000 annually for tuition, living costs and travel expenses. U.S. law prohibits foreign students from receiving any federally funded financial aid, including grants and loans. Unlike their American classmates, most foreign students cannot supplement their income by getting an off-campus job. To keep their visa status as students, international scholars need to carry a full course load and may work at non-college jobs only with a special permit from the Immigration and Naturalization Services -- and it can take months to get approval. (Some of these rules have been relaxed for Asian students hit by the economic crisis, but the grace period won’t last forever. )

70. According to the passage, how much will Thailand grant the students who will study abroad in 1999? 
A. ’ 594,000. 
B. ’336,000. 
C. ’ 560,000. 
D. Not mentioned. 
正确答案是

71. Which of the following is Not true? 
A. It is difficult for Asians to get enough money to study abroad. 
B. The Asians studying abroad already feel it hard {or them to live and study. 
C. The Asians studying in the U. S find life easier for the U. S government may grant them the working permits for good. 
D. Many foreign students are not entitled to get a part-time job. 
正确答案是

72. Which of the following can international students get from U.S. in the following year? 
A. Grants and loans. 
B. An average of ’20,000. 
C. Some financial aid. 
D. Visa status as students. 
正确答案是