U.S. fourth-graders on average scored 529 in 2007, up from 518 in both 2003 and 1995. The results are reported on a zero to 1,000-point scale, with 500 16 the international average. Top-performing China scored 607. U.S. eighth-graders ranked No. 9 in math with a score of 508, behind many of the 17 Asian countries atop the fourth-grade chart.

　　“In math, the U.S. is making 18 progress,” says Michael O. Martin, one of the directors of the study at Boston College, which 19_ the test. But Mr. Martin said he worried about the huge gap between the U.S. and Asian countries, which aren’t 20 on their laurels.

　　A) management I) representing

　　B) truly J) takes

　　C) steady K) promoted

　　D) resting L) same

　　E) released M) administers

　　F) rapid N) words

　　G) roughly O) competitiveness

　　H) results

　　■ Section B

　　Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished sentences. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice.

　　Passage One

　　Questions 21 to 25 are based on the following passage.

　　Hardly a week goes by without some advance in technology that would have seemed incredible 50 years ago. And we can expect the rate of change to accelerate rather than slow down within our lifetime. The developments in technology are bound to have a dramatic effect on the future of work. By 2010, new technology will have revolutionized communications. People will be transmitting messages down telephone lines that previously would have been sent by post. Not only postmen but also clerks and secretaries will vanish in a paper-free society. All the routine tasks they perform will be carried on a tiny silicon chip so that they will be as obsolete as the horse and cart after the invention of the motorcar. One change will make thousands, if not millions, redundant.