Passage 2
One hundred and thirteen million Americans have at least one bank-issued credit card. They give their owners automatic credit in stores, restaurants, and hotels, at home, across the coun- try, and even abroad, and they make many banking services available as well. More and more of these credit cards can be read automatically, making it possible to withdraw or deposit money in scattered locations, whether or not the local branch bank is open. For many of us the "cashless society" is not on the horizon-it's already here.
While computers offer these conveniences to consumers , they have many advantages for sell- ers too. Electronic cash registers can do much more than simply ring up sales. They can keep a wide range of records, including who sold what, when, and to whom. This information allows businessmen to keep track of their list of goods by showing which items are being sold and how fast they are moving. Decisions to reorder or return goods to suppliers can then be made. At the same time these computers reoord which hours are busiest and which employees are the most effi- cient , allowing personnel and staffing assignments to be made accordingly. And they also identify preferred customers for promotional canlpaigns. Computers are relied on bv manufacturers for similar reasons. Computer-analyzed nlarketing reports can help to decide which products to em-phasize now, which to develop for the future , and which to drop. Computers keep track of goods in stock, of raw materials on hand, and even of the production process itself.
Numerous other commercial enterprises , from theaters to magazine publishers, from gas and electric utilities to milk processors , bring better and more efficialt services to consumers through the use of computers.
55 . According to the passage, the credit card enables its owner to__.
A. withdraw as much money from the bank as he wishes
B. obtain more convenient services than other people do
C. enjoy greater trust from the storekeeper
D. cash money wherever he wishes to
56. From the ast sentence of the first paragraph we learn that __.
A. in the future all the Americans will use credit cards
B. credit cards are mainly used in the United States today
C. nowadays many Americans do not pay in cash
D. it is now more convenient to use credit cards than before
57. The phrase "ring up sales" (Line 3, Para. 2) most probably means "__".
A. make an order of goods
B. record sales on a cash register
C. call the sales manager
D. keep track of the goods in stock
58. What is this passage mainly about?
A. Approaches to the commercial use of computers.
B. Conveniences brought about by computers in business.
C. Significance of automation in commercial enterprises.
D. Advantages of credit cards in business.
Passage 3
Exceptional children are different in some significant way from others of the same age. For these children to develop to their full adult potential , their education must be adapted to those dif- ferences.
Although we focus on the needs of exceptional children, we find ourselves describing their environnlent as well. While the leading actor on the stage captures our attention, we are aware of the importance of the supporting players and the scenery of the play itself. Both the family and the society in which exceptional children live are often the key to their growth and development.
And it is in the public schools that we find the full expression of society' s understanding——the knowledge, hopes, and fears that are passed on to the next generation.
Education in any society is a mirror of that society. In that minor we can see the strengths, the weaknesses, the hopes, the prejudices, and the central values of the culture itself. The great interest in exceptional children shown in public education over the past three decades indicates the strong feeling in our society that all citizens , whatever their special conditions , deserve the oppor- tunity to fully develop their capabllities.
"All men are created equal. " We've heard it many times, but it still has important meaning for education in a democratic society. Although the phrase was used by this country' s founders to denote equality before the law, it has also been interpreted to mean equality of opportunity. That concept implies educational opportunity for all children-the right of each child to receive help in learning to the limits of his or her capacity, whether that capacity be small or great. Recent court decisions have confirmed the right of all children-disabled or not-to an appropriate education , and have ordered that pubLic schools take the necessary steps to provide that education. In re- sponse , schools are modifying their programs , adapting instruction to children who are exception- al , to those who cannot profit substantially from regular programs.
59. In Paragraph 2, the author cites the example of the leading actor on the stage to show that
A. the growth of exceptional children has much to do with their famiLy and the society
B. exceptional children are more influenced by their families than nomlal children are
C. exceptional children are the key interest of the family and society
D. the needs of the society weigh much heavier than the needs of the exceptional children
60. The reason that the exceptional children receive so much concern in education is that__.
A. they are expected to be leaders of the society
B. they might become a burden of the society
C. they should fully develop their potentials
D. disabled children deserve special consideration
61 . This passage mainly deals with__.
A. the differences of children in their learning capabilities
B. the definition of exceptional children in modern society
C. the special educational programs for exceptional children
D. the necessity of adapting education to exceptional children
62 . From this passage we learn that the educational concern for exceptional children ___.
A. is now enjoying legal support
B. disagrees with the tradition of the country
C. was clearly stated by the country' s founders
D. will exert great influence over court decisions
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