While surfing television channels over the weekend，a scene from a family classic of last year portraying the now-so-familiar sorry state of retired parents being ill-treated by their children and families caught my attention. I wondered why the description of this relationship had not changed much over the many years! Even though the same movies and soaps accurately capture several other social changes around us — from value systems to new found economic freedom to the importance of technology and the changing approach to consumerism(消费主义) — are these creative efforts far from the truth in telling us that an average retiree is still struggling?
Look around and you will agree that the post-retired lifestyle for an ex-salaried class people is often a pale shadow of their last working years. Even self employed people, who have handed over the responsibility to the next generation, are no exception. Did the average middle class not save enough through his working years?
Socially, we already know that the Indians are taught the benefits of start saving early on in life. Household savings data supports this social behavior — India has the highest rates of savings among various economies and is far ahead of the west. Yet, tragically, a lifetime of savings does not seem to provide enough for a comfortable retirement!
A closer look at the pattern of what we do with our financial savings may tell us a bit more. Over half of households’ financial savings is put into a “safe” deposit, followed by large portions in insurance, pension, provident funds（福利基金） and the rest in physical currency. Less than a tenth goes into “risky” assets(资产) like stocks. While there might be nothing, in particular, worrisome in this investment pool, one has to consider inflation(通货膨胀). The real value of savings, over a few decades, may actually be lower than the starting point. What had not changed much over the many years according to the passage?
| A．Value systems | B．The poor situation of retirees |
| C．Economic freedom | D．Approach to consumerism |
Which of the following statements about saving in India is right?
| A．the concept of saving has been well received by Indians. |
| B．the amount of the savings ranks number one across the world. |
| C．long-standing savings can help the retirees live a care-free life. |
| D．saving early can not benefit people at all. |
What can be inferred according to the last paragraph?
| A．Half of the financial savings in stocks can be accepted. |
| B．The real value of saving must be lowered in a few years. |
| C．A loss of savings may hardly be avoided. |
| D．Inflation can be avoided on condition that you consume instead of saving. |
What’s the best title of the text?
| A．Retirees being treated unfairly |
| B．Is saving enough |
| C．Saving in India |
| D．How to deal with saving |
A dog has a horse. The horse was beautiful and also it had many good qualities. 61 It especially wanted to become the most beautiful horse in the world.
One day the horse said to the god, “You have given me beauty. You have given me other good qualities.62 But how I wish you could make me more beautiful! I would be extremely, extremely grateful if you could make me more beautiful.”
The god said, “I’m more than ready to make you more beautiful. 63 ” Then the horse said, “My neck is too short .If you can make neck a little longer, my upper body will be more beautiful. And if you can make my legs much longer and thinner, then I will look more beautiful in my lower body.”
Then immediately the god made a camel appear in place of the horse. The horse was so sad that it started to cry, “Oh, no, I do not want to become a camel. 64 As a horse, everybody appreciated my good qualities. Nobody will appreciate me as a c I’m more than ready to amel.”
The god said, “This is exactly what you asked for. You have become a camel.
65 if you cry for a longer neck and legs, this is what will happen. Each thing in my creation has its own good qualities. The camel is not as beautiful as you are, but it carries heavy loads and has a great sense of duty.”
| A．I’m so grateful to you. |
| B．Why not remain a horse? |
| C．I wish you to change me into a horse again. |
| D．Tell me in what way you want to be changed. |
E. But it wanted to be more perfect in every way.
F. Never try to receive more than I have given you
G. I am glad to know that you feel good with yourself now
What kind of pets do people have in your country? Dogs? Cats? How about a duck, hippo(河马) or lion? Here are two cases of animal owners with unusual pets.
Barrie Hayman has a pet duck called Star. Barrie adopted(领养) him after his brothers and sisters stayed away from him at birth. Barrie, a duck breeder, realized the little duck needed special attention. So he began taking Star with him everywhere he went. “I would put him in my pocket while I did my shopping,” said Barrie. Now, at five months, Star is too big for Barrie’s pocket, but the two are still inseparable. They watch sports, together and even share a drink together. Barrie said, “He is a fantastic duck. I’ve never known any like him.” Star even has his own Facebook page, with more than 2,000 Face book friends.
Then there is the case of Tonie and Shirley Joubert in South Africa. They live with their hippo, Jessica. Tonie saved Jessica from floodwaters when she was only a day old. Jessica lives outside their riverside house, but she knows how to open the kitchen door, and often goes there for a snack. Tonie recently said, “I don’t know whether Jessica sees me as a hippo or whether she sees herself as a human.” Shirley is more certain, “Jessica sees herself as our child and I see Jessica as my daughter. I can’t imagine my life without Jessica.” Jessica is free to leave, and often visits wild hippos that live nearby. But she always returns home at night. Jessica’s website notes that she has three hippo boyfriends, but one in particular,Fred, is her favorite. They often go grazing(吃青草) together and Fred has recently moved onto the Joubert’s house as well.What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Some websites are set up to protect pets. |
| B．Some unusual pets are adopted by people |
| C．People should take good care of their pets |
| D．Pets sometimes can be very interesting |
What does the underlined word “inseparable” in Paragraph 2 mean?
| A．Always together | B．Always separated |
| C．Always friendly | D．Always healthy |
Barrie took Star everywhere he went because______.
| A．he had never seen a duck like Star |
| B．he set up a Facebook page for Star |
| C．he wanted care more about Star |
| D．he needed Star to drink with him |
We can learn from the passage that Jessica ______
| A．came to Joubert’s home when she was 5 months old |
| B．loves eating in the Joubert’s kitchen |
| C．doesn’t see herself as a human being |
| D．has more than three boyfriends |
Thid is a true story of a mother’s sacrifice(牺牲) in an earthquake.
When the rescuer reached the ruins of a young man’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. Her pose was somehow strange—she knelt(跪) on the ground like a person who was worshiping(祷告);her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supported by an object. However, the cold and stiff body told them that she had passed away for sure.
The rescuers left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reason, the team leader was driven by a strong force to go back to the ruined house. Again, he knelt down to search the little space under the dead body. Suddenly, he screamed with excitement, “A child! There is a child1”
The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman. There was a 3-month-old little boy wrapped in a blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made great sacrifice in order to save her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up.
A doctor came quickly to examine the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cellphone inside the blanket.There was a text massage on the screen. It said, “If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Everybody that read the massage criedWhy did the young woman kneel on the ground?
| A．To protect herself from the earthquake |
| B．To show respect for God |
| C．To ask God for help |
| D．To protect her baby |
After reading the text massage, everyone felt quite ______.
| A．shocked | B．excited | C．moved | D．afraid |
What’s the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To prove that a cat has nine lives. |
| B．To show the power of a mother’s love. |
| C．To express his thanks to the rescuers. |
| D．To give advice on how to rescue others. |
If your mother wants to tell you something, she uses words. Birds can not talk as we do. But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger. They have their own ways to make the young birds do certain things.
The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe. Jackdaws live together in flocks(群). Young jackdaws do not know their enemies.When an older jackdaw see a dog, it makes a loud tattling(格格响的) sound. The young birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby.The sounds warn them to know their enemy.
If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind. The parent bird flies low over the young bird’s back, the parents’ tail feathers move quickly from side to side. It is trying to say, “Follow me.”
At the same time,the parent calls out, “Key-aw, Key-aw.” The parent means, “Fly home with me.” The young bird then follows the older one home.
Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean. They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch.The jackdaw lives in ______.
| A．Europe | B．Australia | C．America | D．Africa |
When an old jackdaw sees a dog, it ______.
| A．calls out “Follow me.” | B．makes a loud sound |
| C．flies away | D．fights the dog |
parent jackdaw can use their tail feathers to ______.
| A．ask their young to follow them | B．play a game with the young |
| C．tell the meal time | D．give a warning of a fire |
The story tells much about ______
| A．the danger of jackdaws |
| B．in which mother can talk to their children |
| C．the way jackdaws warn their young of danger |
| D．how the jackdaws are living |
Reporters collect information and write news stories. These stories appear in newspapers and magazines. Some reporters appear on television and radio. To get information, reporters should look at documents, observe the scene and interview people.
To get the latest news, radio and television reporters often reporter “live” from the scene.
Some reporters work long hours. They might work strange schedules. At morning newspapers, reporters might work from late afternoon until midnight. At evening or afternoon papers, they may work from early morning until afternoon. Radio and television reporters work during the day or in the evening. Magazine reporters generally work during the day. Reporters may have to change their work hours to follow a story.
If someone wants to be a reporter, a bachelor’s degree(学士学位) in journalism(新闻工作) is preferred. Some employers like graduates with other majors(专业). Working at school newspapers or broadcasting stations is good experience. Internship(实习生身份) with news organizations also help when looking for a job as a reporter.
Reporters must write clearly and effectively. They need word processing(文字处理)，computer graphics(图片), and desktop publishing skills. Speaking a second language is necessary for some jobs.The underlined word “scene”in the first paragraph probably means _______.
| A．spot | B．office | C．stage | D．company |
If one wants to be a reporter, he must _______.
| A．be doctor | B．have enough experience |
| C．study in a newspaper company before | D．be good at writing |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Magazine reporters usually work during the day. |
| B．Only the person majoring in journalism can be a reporter. |
| C．We can get the latest news from the live report. |
| D．Sometimes reporters have to change work hours in order to follow a story. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Who is a reporter? | B．How does a reporter report? |
| C．What is a reporter? | D．When does a reporter work? |
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