第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，共40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

We cannot feel speed. But our senses let us know that we are moving. We see things moving. We see things moving past us and feel that we are being shaken.

We can feel acceleration, an increase in speed. But we notice it for only a short time. For instance, we feel it during the takeoff run of an airliner.

We feel the plane’s acceleration because our bodies do not gain speed as fast as the plane does. It seems that something is pushing us back against the seat. Actually, our bodies are trying to stay in the same place, while the plane is carrying us forward.

Soon the plane reaches a steady speed. Then, because there is no longer any change in speed, the feeling of forward motion stops.

56. We can feel that we are moving by _____.

A. watching things move past     B. feeling the speed

C. feeling ourselves being shaken  D. both A and C

57. In the second paragraph, the underlined word “ acceleration” means _____.

A. an increase in speed     B. a steady speed

C. any kind of movement   D. the movement of a plane

58. During the takeoff of a plane, we feel that we are being _____.

A. thrown forward        B. pushed back against the seat

C. lifted out of the seat     D. pushed down into the seat

59. We feel the plane’s acceleration because our bodies gain speed _____.

A. just as fast as the plane      B. faster than the plane

C. more slowly than the plane   D. before the plane

60. This feeling stops when _____.

A. the plane stops climbing            B. the plane lands

C. there is no longer a change in speed   D. we begin to feel speed