Part  Ⅲ    Reading Comprehension (40 minutes, 40 points)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each of the passage is followed by 5 questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

Passage One

Like many of my generation, I have a weakness for hero worship. At some point, however, we all to question our heroes and our need for them. This leads us to ask: What is a hero?

Despite immense differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics that instruct and inspire people.

A hero does something worth talking about. A hero has a story of adventure to tell and community who will listen. But a hero cares beyond mere fame.

Heroes serve powers or principles larger than themselves. Like high-voltage transformers, heroes take the energy of higher powers and step it down so that it can be used by ordinary people.    The hero lives a life worthy of imitation. Those who imitate a genuine hero experience life with new depth, enthusiasm, and meaning. A sure test for would-be heroes is what or whom they serve. What are they willing to live and die for? If the answer or evidence suggests they serve only their own fame, they may be famous persons but not heroes. Madonna and Michael Jackson are famous, but who would claim that their fans find life more abundant?

Heroes are catalysts (催化剂) for change. They have a vision from the mountaintop. They have the skill and the charm to move the masses. They create new possibilities. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of the British Empire. Without Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr., we might still have segregated (隔离的) buses, restaurants, and parks. It may be possible for largescale change to occur without leaders with magnetic personalities, but the pace of change would be slow, the vision uncertain, and the committee meetings endless.

31. Although heroes may come form different cultures, they ____________.

A. generally possess certain inspiring characteristics

B. probably share some weaknesses of ordinary people

C. are often influenced by previous generations

D. all unknowingly attract a large number of fans

32. According to the  passage,  heroes  are  compared  to  high-voltage  transformers  in  that ____________.

A. they have a vision from the mountaintop

B. they have warm feelings and emotions

C. they can serve as concrete examples of noble principles

D. they can make people feel stronger and more confident

33. Madonna and Michael Jackson are not considered heroes because _____________.

A. they are popular only among certain groups of people

B. their performances do not improve their fans morally

C. their primary concern is their own financial interests

D. they are not clear about the principles they should follow