Passage Three

Several months ago I decided it would be wise to investigate the possibilities of buying a life insurance policy, if for no other reason than because I understood it might be a good investment. I got the name of an insurance agent from a friend and called the agent to get some information. From the kinds of questions I put to him, the agent would tell that I knew nothing about insurance so he kindly offered to explore the matter with me in more detail — to help me determine the kind of policy I ought to be considering.

That evening he appeared at my door promptly at 7:30; without wasting time on amenities, he spread his papers out on the kitchen table and launched into a lengthy explanation. I listened attentively as he talked about the difference between various types of policies, and he explained the kind of coverage he felt I ought to have because of my age bracket and financial objectives. Toward the end of the evening (after three or four hours of talking), he kindly helped me fill out an application for a 50,000 dollar policy, and then he asked if I could go to a Dr. Luther’s office on Friday for a physical examination.

I don’t know why, but it was not until the mention of the doctor’s appointment that I realized fully what was happening. I was about to sign a lifetime contract, yet I had not really made a decision about whether I wanted to buy the policy or not. As a matter of fact, the question of the need for a decision from me one way or the other had not even come up. Suddenly I felt sure that I definitely did not want to buy the policy. However, since he had spent so much time with me, I didn’t want to make him feel that he had wasted his time. So I invented an excuse about things I had to do on Friday, and I assured him I would call him in a few days. Actually, I had no intention of going to see Dr. Luther or of calling the agent again. I wanted to forget the whole thing.

It’s been over three months now since our meeting, and my friendly insurance agent still calls at my office faithfully two or three times a week. My secretary knows that I don’t want to talk to him, so when he calls she tells him that I’m in a meeting or that I’m out of the office or that I’m away on a business trip. I realize now that it was a mistake not to tell him outright that I’m not interested, and please not to bother me any more, all I can do is to avoid his calls and hope I don’t run into him someplace.

Questions 11-15 are based on Passage Three.

The writer got the name of the insurance agent from ______.

Judging from countless media reports in newspapers from coast to coast, it would surely seem that we have finally got a handle on the Nation’s crime problem. The most recent FBI release of crime statistics for 1995 revealed a welcome drop in violent crime, including an 8 per cent decline in homicide. (46. After four straight years of lower crime levels, some crime experts and law enforcement officials have even dared boldly to suggest that we’re winning the war against crime.)

Though recent trends are encouraging, at least superficially, there is little time to celebrate these successes. It is doubtful that today’s improving crime picture will last for very long. Most likely, this is the calm before the crime storm. (47. While many police officials can legitimately feel gratified about the arrested crime rate — better that it be down than up — there is much more to the great crime drop story.) Hidden beneath the overall drop in homicide and other violent crime is a soaring rate of mayhem among teenagers.

(48. There are actually two crime trends ongoing in America — one for the young and one for the mature, which are moving in opposite directions.) Since 1990, for example, the rate of homicide committed by adults, ages 25 and older, has declined 18 per cent as the baby boomers matured well past their crime prime years. At the same time, however, the homicide rate by teenagers, ages 14 to 17, has increased 22 per cent. Even more alarming and tragic is that over the past decade, the homicide rate at the hands of teenagers has nearly tripled, increasing 172 percent from 1985 to 1994.

Therefore, while the overall U.S. homicide rate has indeed declined in recent years, the rate of juvenile murder continues to grow, unabated by the spread of community policing, increased incarceration, and a variety of other popular crime-fighting strategies. (49. In the overall crime mix, the sharp decline in crime among the large adult population has eclipsed the rising crime rate among the relatively small population of teens.)

Trends in age-specific violent arrest rates for homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault confirm the patterns found in homicide statistics. Teenagers now exceed all age groups, even young adults, in their absolute rate of arrest for violent crime overall. Conventional wisdom in criminology — that young adults generally represent the most violence-prone group—apparently needs to be modified in light of these disturbing changes.

The causes of the surge in youth violence since the mid-1980s reach, of course, well beyond demographics. (50. There have been tremendous changes in the social context of crime over the past decade, which explain why this generation of youth—the young and the ruthless—is more violent than others before it.) Our youngsters have more dangerous drugs in their bodies, more deadly weapons in their hands, and a seemingly more casual attitude about violence. It is clear that too many teenagers in this country, particularly those in urban areas, are plagued with idleness and even hopelessness.

Paragraph Ten

Visitors to Britain are often surprised to find that the weather is an almost endless topic of conversation. This is not because the British are not bright enough to think of anything else to talk about, but because there is always a feature of surprise in the British climate.We never know what is in store for us the next day.

The climatic v______ in Britain.

Paragraph Nine

For thousands of years, people around the world have added special meanings to flowers and plants. In the 1800s flower language reached its height of popularity during the rule of Queen Victoria in England. In the 19th century explorers were bringing back plants from all over the world. A beautiful garden was one way to show a person’s social position and good taste.

Flowers e______ different feelings and emotions.

Paragraph Eight

There’s no easy way to admit this. For years, helpful letter writers told us to stick to science. They pointed out that science and politics don’t mix. They said we should be more balanced in our presentation of such issues as creationism, missile defense and global warming. We resisted their advice and pretended not to be stung by the accusations that the magazine should be renamed Unscientific American, or Scientific Unamerican, or even Unscientific Unamerican.

Readers’ criticism has long been i____ by Scientific American.

Paragraph Five

Some people worry about the violence in TV programs and their effect on young people. Others consider that these same programs are an opportunity for us to release our stronger emotion, our feelings of anger or anxiety. Most people would agree though, that extreme violence should be kept away from children.

Though interpreted differently, most people still agree that children be kept away from v___.

Paragraph Seven

New climate simulations from NASA show that under the warmer global temperatures of the 20th century, water vapor in the atmosphere took longer than normal to fall out of the sky as rain, snow and other precipitation. Generally speaking, the amount decreased over land but increased over oceans.

Warmer weather p____ less rain on land but more at sea.

Paragraph Six

Painters and sculptors create images of the human form; writers tell stories or compose poems about human experience; historians and philosophers ponder the essential qualities of human civilization and nature. And in our own lives, we spend a great deal of our energy and attention on observing our fellow creatures with curiosity and interest.

One of the main preoccupations of the arts and humanities is the o______ of human beings.

Paragraph Three

As we all know, in this rapidly changing world，competition is here and there，especially for high positions.For that reason，it is crucial for those who operate the company or manage the city, town and so on to make decisions，so the work itself needs high quality people to make things better and better.

People should improve themselves to qualify for key positions in politics and b______.

Paragraph Four

Working in more flexible and friendly environments can improve the balance between students，schoolwork and their lives.Not having to commute adds extra time to the day, as much as several hours a week for some students.Thus distance education can also reduce stress，allowing students extra time to study.

Distance education Can improve students’ l______，motivation and interactivity.

Paragraph Two

Quite a number of people believe that women’s abilities are not so good as men’s.As a result，most employers do not choose women to be in charge of important projects.But I think such view is ridiculous.Everyone is born equal and the ability is cultivated later through education，social action and communication.

The prevalent a______ towards working women should be changed.