“It was amazing, just impressive,” Holly Budge, a 29-year-old British woman, said after making a safe landing at a spot 12,350 feet (3,765 meters) above sea level ― the highest “drop zone” achieved by a parachutist (跳傘者). “We had one minute of freefall and while we were above the clouds you could see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top,” she said.

Ms Budge and her two fellow daredevils, Wendy Smith, from New Zealand, and Neil Jones, from Canada, jumped out of an aircraft at about 29,500 feet, just higher than the peak of the world’s highest mountain. They fell at speeds reaching 140mph, past the highest ridges of the snow-covering Himalayas, before each released a parachute (降落傘). The jumpers wore oxygen masks to keep their lungs working as they fell. Wearing neoprene underwear（內(nèi)衣） was compulsory ― to prevent them from being frozen to death.

The adventure, advertised by its organizers as “a feast for those who seek to stimulate all their senses to the full”, appeared to have lived up to its billing. “I had never seen so many mountains before,” Ms Smith said. “To be on top of the world was simply stunning（令人暈倒的）.”

The expedition also offered a way by which to celebrate her 30th birthday later this month, she said. Besides, her jump raised funds for charities in Britain and Nepal, including more than ￡10,000 for the Hampshire Autistic Society.

In the next few days the feat will be repeated by about 30 others, weather permitting. Each has paid at least ￡12,675 to High and Wild, the British adventure travel company behind the project. Ms Budge said: “It was worth the money. It is something that has never been done before.”

48. The three skydivers jumped out of the plane at an altitude of about _____.

A. 3765 meters        B. 8993 meters        C. 12,350 meters      D. 29,500 meters

49. It can be known from the passage that _____.

A. High and Wild is a new British adventure travel company

B. the aircraft took the jumpers to a height higher than the Himalayas

C. Ms Budge used to be an extreme sports enthusiast.

D. the three skydivers succeeded in landing at the top of the highest mountain.

50. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? ___________

A. The successful diving is a good way to celebrate Ms Budge’s 31st birthday.

B. This skydiving has set a new national record.

C. Ms Budge has managed to contribute all her money to charities.

D. As a wonderful experience, this skydiving is recommended to other people.

51. Which of the following must the skydivers make sure of according to the passage?

A. Taking a record book               B. Donating some money

C. Having suitable weather            D. wearing normal underwear

　　　 Steve Jobs, the former chief executive of Apple, announced his resignation as head of Apple on Aug．24, 2011．The following is the letter from Steve Jobs to the Apple board．

　　　 To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

　　　 I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know．Unfortunately, that day has come．

　　　 I hereby resign as CEO of Apple．I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee．

　　　 As far as my successor（繼任者）goes, I strongly recommend that we execute（執(zhí)行）our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple．

　　　 I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative（創(chuàng)意改革的）days are ahead of it．And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role．

　　　 I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you．

　　　 Steve

　　　 Tim Cook, the newly appointed CEO of Apple, sent an email to the troops after Steve Jobs stepped down．Below is the full text of the email．

Team:

　　　 I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world．Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years．I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future．

　　　 Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees．We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman．

　　　 I want you to be confident that Apple is not going to change．I cherish and celebrate Apple’s unique principles and values．Steve built a company and culture that is unlike any other in the world and we are going to stay true to that — it is in our DNA．We are going to continue to make the best products in the world that delight our customers and make our employees incredibly proud of what they do．

　　　 I love Apple and I am looking forward to diving into my new role．All of the incredible support from the Board, the executive team and many of you has been inspiring．I am confident our best years lie ahead of us and that together we will continue to make Apple the magical place that it is．

Tim

　　　 Cook, 50, once served in IBM and Compaq before he joined Apple in 1998．He was promoted to the chief operating officer in 2007 and has been the real CEO responsible for most of Apple’s day-to-day operations during Job’s medical leaves．

It’s believed that the replacement will not affect Apple’s business at least in short term, but it is unclear whether Apple’s innovation and operational efficiencies will continue unabated．

41．Which of the following is conveyed in Steve Jobs’ letter to the Apple board?

　　　 A．He announced his resignation and the Apple’s succession plan．

　　　 B．He recalled his best years of working alongside his best friends at Apple．

　　　 C．He expressed his expectation of Apple’s new successor Tim Cook．

　　　 D．He showed his regret for being unable to meet his duties as CEO．

42．What message does Cook mainly intend to communicate in his email to the team?

　　　 A．Joining Apple is a best decision． B．Unique guidance makes Apple a success．

　　　 C．Apple isn’t going to change． D．Optimism brings Apple a bright future．

43．It can be inferred from the passage that 　　　　　．

　　　 A．Cook has been in charge of Apple’s daily operations since 2007

　　　 B．Cook is proud of his promotion and regards it as a lifetime honor

　　　 C．Steve Jobs refused to provide ongoing guidance because of his health problem

　　　 D．Steve Jobs and Tim Cook share the same belief in Apple’s future

44．According to Tim Cook, what makes Apple the magical place that it is?

　　　 A．Apple’s unique culture, principles and values．

　　　 B．Apple’s best quality products in the world．

　　　 C．Apple’s successful sales promotion strategies．

　　　 D．Apple’s great efforts to satisfy its employees．

45．The public seem to take a（n） 　　　　　 attitude towards Apple’s future in the long run．

　　　 A．supportive 　　　　　　 B．uncertain 　　　　　　　 C．pessimistic 　　　　　 D．optimistic