.
For millions ofpeople，the American dream ofowning a home seems to be slipping out of
reach．
“Maybe young couples can no longer afford to buy a ready-made house as their parents did,'’
says 40-year-old building instmctor Pat Hennin．“But they can still have a home．Like their pioneer ancestors，they can build it themselves，and at less than half the cost of a ready-made house．”
The owner-builders came from every occupational group，although surprisingly few are professional building workers．Many take the plunge with little or no experience．“l learned how to build my house from reading books，”says John Brown，who built a six-room home for$25，000 in High Falls，New Jersey．“If you have patience and the carpentry(木匠)skill to make a bookcase，you can build a house．”An astonishing 50 percent of these owner builders hammer every nail．1ay every pipe，and wire every switch with their own hands．The rest contraet(承包)for some parts of the task．But even those who just act as contractors and finish the insides of their homes can save from 30 percent to 45 percent ofwhat a ready-made home would cost．
One survey revealed that 60 percent ofowner-builders also design their homes．Many others
buy commercial house plans for less than $100 or use plans available from the U．S． Department ofAgriculture．
49．What does the passage mainly tell us?
A．The cost of having a house built．
B．A comparison between young couples and their parents．
C．The life of owner-builders in America．
D．The American dream of owning a house．
50．It can be inferred from the passage that many Americans find it difficult to _______
A．build a house B．find aready-made house
C．have a good job D．buy a house
51．The underlined phrase“take the plunge”most probably means“_______”
A．decide to build a house B．decide to pull down a house
C．decide to buy a house D．decide to rent a house
52．From the passage we learn that_______．
A．Many house plans are offered free of charge．
B．Most of the house plans arc offered by building instructors
C．Fifty percent of the Amedcan young couples build houses．
D．Must of the owner．builders design their homes．
In the summer of 1980 a Spanish tourist, Gaspar Carner, went to Great Britain on holiday. When he was travelling in Scotland, he decided to visit Loch Ness, the famous lake where people say there is a monster. But while he was going across the lake in a boat, his bag fell into the water. In the bag were his passport, car keys, pen, and all his money. Loch Ness is 150 metres deep, so he didn't expect to see the bag again!
Fourteen years later, in 1994, some scientists decided to explore the lake. They looked for the Loch Ness monster. Suddenly one of them saw something black in the water. They carefully went nearer. They thought the black thing was the monster. They went nearer and nearer. It was a bag. They took the bag out of the lake. They found that the photo on the passport was still clear. One of the scientists happened to be familiar with Gaspar Carner. So the bag was returned to him.The reason why the lake is famous is that __________.
| A．it's very deep | B．there may be a monster |
| C．there's a bag in it | D．it's in Scotland |
What's in Carner's bag?
| A．A monster. | B．Many useful things. |
| C．Something black. | D．Some photos. |
How did the explorers know the bag was Carner's?
| A．Carner recognized the bag |
| B．They expected it was the monster |
| C．Carner was very famous |
| D．One of the explorers knew Carner |
Come on! All of us are cutting math. Who wants to take that quiz? We’re going to take a walk and get lunch instead. Let’s go!” says the coolest kid in your class. Do you do what you know is right and go to math class, take the quiz? Or do you give in and go with them?
People who are at your age, like your classmates, are called peers. When they try to influence you how to act, to get you to do something, it’s called peer pressure. It’s something everyone has to deal with—even adults.
Peers influence your life, even if you don’t realize it, just by spending time with you. You learn from them, and they learn from you. It’s only human nature to listen to and learn from other people in your age group.
Peers can have a positive influence on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in the solar system. Or you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone is reading it. Sometimes peers influence each other in negative ways. For example, a few kids in school might try to get you to cut class with them.
It’s difficult to say “no” to peer pressure, but you can do it. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do.
It can really help to have at least one other peer, or friend, who is willing to say “no” too. If you continue to face peer pressure and you’re finding it difficult to handle, talk to someone you trust, a parent, or a teacher. They can help you feel much better and prepare you for the next time you face peer pressure.With his words in the first paragraph, the kid is ________.
| A．planning some interesting activities after school |
| B．talking about a dinner party |
| C．asking other kids to take a quiz with him |
| D．encouraging other kids to cut a class |
According to the author, _________.
| A．peer pressure does kids more harm than good |
| B．math is the most difficult subject for most kids |
| C．kids today are under greater pressure than before |
| D．peer pressure exists among people of all age groups |
What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．Peer pressure. | B．Your time. |
| C．Your life. | D．Human nature. |
It’s suggested in the last paragraph that the readers _______.
| A．make more close friends while at school |
| B．learn to refuse their friends in a polite way |
| C．get support from someone else if it’s necessary |
| D．build closer relations with their parents and teachers |
What’s the best title for the text?
| A．Cutting a class | B．Peer pressure |
| C．Asking for help | D．Problems in school |
About nine million people like rock climbing in America. Millions more take part in the activity around the world. Some do it just for fun. Others compete.
Climbing takes strength, control and good balance. Climbers have to pull themselves straight up the face of very high rocks or walls. So they have to be strong enough to carry their own weight. And climbers sometimes have to hold onto rocks by only their fingers or toes.
There are several kinds of rock climbing. Traditional rock climbing is done outside. Climbers wear ropes and tie equipment to the rocks as they climb many hundreds of meters up. They also connect their ropes to the equipment. If a climber slips, a rope can stop him from falling.
Sport climbing is similar. However, in it the protective equipment is placed in the rock all the time. There is also indoor climbing. Rock walls made of wood have places for the climber’s hands and feet.
Ice climbing is exactly as it sounds. People climb glaciers or frozen waterfalls instead of rocks. They use special equipment for the ice.
And then there is bouldering-climbing rocks (巨石攀岩) between three and seven meters high. It is quicker and stronger climbing. Many climbers like bouldering because they can use less equipment. Climbers often need only special shoes and chalk (防滑粉). All climbers use chalk to keep their hands dry.
Most rocks have cracks and holes and parts that stick out. Climbers use these for foot-holds and handholds. Climbers use their legs to climb. They try not to pull themselves up with their hands or arms. Arms and hands are for position and balance.
People almost always climb in groups of two or more. Climbing alone is very dangerous. Expert rock climbers say only the very best in the sport should do it.The writer mentions the numbers in Paragraph 1 in order to show that _________.
| A．people do rock climbing just for fun |
| B．rock climbing is popular around the world |
| C．people around the world like the same thing |
| D．Americans like all sports |
We can learn for the Paragraph 2 that________.
| A．a person must take some food for rock climbing |
| B．rock climbing is more dangerous than people think |
| C．rock climbing takes place outside |
| D．rock climbing is not for everyone |
What’s the feature of traditional rock climbing?
| A．It is very safe. | B．It is done alone. |
| C．It is done outside. | D．It needs no equipment. |
According to the passage, people like bouldering because______.
| A．it is simpler than other kinds |
| B．they can try special equipment |
| C．they only have to climb several meters high |
| D．they can do it indoors |
Which of the following is TRUE about rock climbing?
| A．Climbers use their hands or arms to climb. |
| B．Climbers use no special equipment for ice climbing. |
| C．Climbers do rock climbing in groups. |
| D．Climbers do rock climbing without ropes |
We walked in the hospital so quietly that the nurse at the desk didn't even lift her eyes from the book. Mum pointed at a big chair by the door and I knew she wanted me to sit down. While I watched mouth open in surprise, Mum took off her hat and coat and gave them to me to hold. She walked quietly to the small room by the lift and took out a wet mop. She pushed the mop past the desk and as the nurse looked up, Mum nodded and said, "Very dirty floors."
"Yes, I'm glad they've finally decided to clean them," the nurse answered. She looked at Mum strangely and said, "But aren't you working late?"
Mum just pushed harder, each swipe (拖一下) of the mop taking her farther and farther down the hall. I watched until she was out of sight and the nurse had turned back to writing in the big book.
After a long time Mum came back. Her eyes were shining. She quickly put the mop back and took my hand. As we turned to go out of the door, Mum bowed politely to the nurse and said, "Thank you."
Outside, Mum told me, "Dagmar is fine. No fever. "
"You saw her, Mum?"
"Of course. I told her about the hospital rules, and she will not expect us until tomorrow. Dad will stop worrying as well. It's a fine hospital. But such floors! A mop is no good. You need a brush."When she took a mop from the small room what Mum really wanted to do was______.
| A．to clean the floor |
| B．to please the nurse |
| C．to see a patient |
| D．to surprise the story-teller |
When the nurse talked to Mum she thought Mum was a______.
| A．nurse | B．visitor |
| C．patient | D．cleaner |
After reading the story what can we infer about the hospital?
| A．It is a children's hospital. |
| B．It has strict rules about visiting hours. |
| C．The conditions there aren't very good. |
| D．The nurses and doctors there don't work hard. |
From the text we know that Dagmar is most likely________.
| A．the story-teller's sister |
| B．Mum's friend |
| C．the story-teller's classmate |
| D．Dad's boss |
Which of the following words best describes Mum?
| A．strange | B．warm-hearted |
| C．clever | D．hard-working |
The father’s role in the family is important. One researcher says babies cared for by their fathers have greater cognitive (认知的) development at one year of age than babies not cared for by their fathers. Another expert reports that by spending time with their pre-school children, fathers can help to develop children’s language ability. Researchers also point out that for school-age children, fathers are one link with the outside world.
Fathers who value education have children who do better in school than those children whose fathers don’t value education. What’s more, fathers who spend quality time with their children may give their children happy memories which may last a lifetime.
While each father is a unique(独一无二的) person who educates children in his own style, good fathers have something in common.
Good fathers attend their children’s school activities. They also involve the children in their lives and the adult world by taking them to see the workplace, or by taking them when the car needs to be repaired, etc.
Good fathers expect a great deal from their children, but also accept and support the unique individuals that their children are becoming.
Good fathers rely on explanations and reasoning rather than force.
Good fathers know their time with children is really an investment (投资) in them.
Being an involved father is good for children and good for fathers. Both children and fathers have the opportunity for growth and development. Today’s lifestyles are changing. More and more fathers are balancing their personal life, work, and family time.The passage is mainly about ________ .
| A．how to be a qualified father |
| B．the growth and development of both fathers and children |
| C．the father’s role in the growth and development of children |
| D．the changing of the father’s role in modern society |
According to the passage, we can find that ________ .
| A．fathers are more important than mothers in the family |
| B．all fathers have the same way of educating their children |
| C．fathers’ involvement is the most important factor in children’s development |
| D．fathers have an important influence on their children from infancy through adulthood |
According to the passage, fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives may NOT result in ________ .
| A．the good fate（命运）of their children |
| B．better reading levels of their children |
| C．happy memories which may last a lifetime |
| D．greater cognitive development of their children |
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