SECTION Ⅲ Reading Comprehension(40 minutes) 　　

Part A 　　

Directions: 　　

Read the following three texts. Answer the questions on each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWER SHEET 1. 　　

Text 1 　　

I'd been living with my wife for eight years and one night “morn” says, “I guess you guys are never gonna get married. I mean, you've been through jail together, you' e living together, but.., oh, forget it.” 　　

“Oh, well,” I said, “put it like that and I'll marry your daughter tomorrow.” 　　

Actually, I don't know what we were waiting for, except that for a guy it's never the right time to get married. I' m also suspicious of any two people who don' t struggle with that decision. Part of my problem was that I was still lusting in my heart after other ladies. But somehow I knew that I wasn't going to find another woman remotely as great as my soon-to-be wife. It's a good thing my mother-in-law finally spoke up. 　　

I finally gathered my courage one day when we were having a picnic, and popped the question. I also gave my wife a big tourist pamphlet about Switzerland. I wasn't taking any chances. 　　

She said no. 　　

It killed me. I felt sick to my stomach. I lost my appetite. Our dog just stared at me, thinking, “If you're not going to eat your lunch, I will.” Finally, I said, “But the Switzerland trip is yours if you say yes.” 　　

“Switzerland,” she said, “is filled with precise, humorless people.” 　　

“Maybe I should have suggested Paris?” 　　

For a minute it seemed as if my change in travel plans would rate a solid “maybe”. But she said no again.When we woke up the next morning, she told me that she'd slept on my proposal. “I guess I was a little rude to you last night,” she explained. Meanwhile, I' m figuring I' m off the hook for this marriage thing for at least another eight years. I could afford to be generous. 　　

“I asked, you said no. It's okay,” I said. I might have looked a little too relieved because later that day she gave me a little box. Inside was a gold watch. On the back was inscribed. “Yes. I've reconsidered.” 　　

I liked the watch, so I did the right thing. 　

46. The reason why the man had waited so long was that he_________. 　　

[ A ] didn' t think eight years was long enough 　　

[ B ] suspected that husband and wife would often quarrel 　　

[ C ] didn' t think he was ready to propose to her 　　

[ D ] was waiting for his mother-in-law' s approval 　　

47. The man proposed to the woman because _________. 　　

[ A] he realized he could find no other woman better 　　

[ B ] he was afraid that the woman might leave him 　　

[ C ] he was eager to visit Switzerland with the woman 　　

[ D ] he could finally overcome his fear for marriage 　　

48. By saying “I could afford to be generous.” (third paragraph from the bottom) the man implied that he__________.

[ A ] wouldn' t care too much if he stayed single 　　

[ B ] could take her to a better place than Paris 　　

[ C ] was rich enough to support his wife 　　

[ D ] didn't care what she thought about his proposal 　　

49. The last sentence “I did the right thing” implied he_________. 　　

[ A ] traveled with his wife 　　

[ B ] had a successful marriage 　　

[ C ] liked the watch very much 　　

[ D ] waited for another eight years 　　

50. The best title for this text would be___________. 　　

[ A ] How My Mother-In-Law Helped Me 　　

[ B ] How I Received a Gold Watch I Liked 　　

[ C ] How I Made My Wife Travel With Me 　　

[ D ] How I Came to Marry-My Wife