One evening I went out and left my 17-year-old son in charge of his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister．On this occasion, the work was made less troublesome by the presence of his girlfriend．I left with complete confidence that the older children would do a wonderful job of babysitting the younger children．Later, I discovered that complete confidence was the last thing I should have left home with．
I had decided to return home earlier than planned so that my son and his girlfriend could go out．I called home with this happy news．But instead of hearing his cheerful, grateful voice on the other end of the line, all I heard was the sound of a telephone ringing．
It was, I should point out, after 10 p．m．,when the two younger children should have been in bed, and when the two older children should have been answering the phone．“I’ll give him a lesson,” I said． I decided they must be outside．Why they might be outside at 10:30 on a winter night I had no idea, but it was the only explanation I could come up with．
Finally, in desperation, I called his girlfriend’s house． After what seemed like countless rings, his girlfriend answered．“Yes,” she said brightly, “He’s right here．”
He came on the phone．I was not my usual calm, rational（理智的）self． After all, one of the rules of survival for modern parents is that you can’t trust modern teenagers．“Where are the children?” I said．He said they were with him．They had done nothing wrong．My son had taken the younger children over to his girlfriend’s house just for ice cream and cake．This was too good to be believed． Well, it turns out that I shouldn’t have believed it．It was only part of the truth．
The following Saturday evening we were at my parents’ home, celebrating my birthday．My oldest son gave me the children’s gifts．Mounted and framed were a series of lovely color photographs of my children, dressed in their best clothes, and wearing their most wonderful expressions．They are pictures to treasure a lifetime, all taken by the father of my son’s girlfriend．The author went out and left her eldest son in charge of the younger children because ．
| A．she knew that her eldest son was a good baby-sitter |
| B．she thought it no hard work to take care of the younger ones |
| C．she believed he could do well with his girlfriend’s help |
| D．she could not find a baby-sitter on that winter night |
When the author called home that evening, she found that ．
| A．two younger children had already been in bed |
| B．the children were preparing a birthday gift for her |
| C．her son was quarrelling with his girlfriend |
| D．there was no one answering the telephone |
What might the children do that evening?
| A．They had a birthday party． | B．They framed some photographs． |
| C．They had their pictures taken． | D．They made some beautiful clothes． |
What does the author intend to tell us by the story?
| A．Modern teenagers are not worth trusting． |
| B．It is no easy job to look after young children． |
| C．It’s no good to have a girlfriend at an early age． |
| D．Her children have a caring and tender heart． |
Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—theres no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority（权威）is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emigrates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining（娱乐 in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守时) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.The passage is mainly about ________.
| A．communication types |
| B．the workplace atmosphere |
| C．customs and social manners |
| D．living conditions and standards |
Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?
| A．They put efficiency in the first place. |
| B．They dislike face-to-face communication. |
| C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible. |
| D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank. |
In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?
| A．When greeting seniors. |
| B．When meeting the host alone. |
| C．When attending a presentation. |
| D．When dining with business partners. |
In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?
| A．In Switzerland. |
| B．In Singapore. |
| C．In the United Arab Emirate. |
| D．In Brazil |
As a recipe for losing weight, taking a slice of chocolate cake at breakfast would seem an unlikely fantasy.
A team from Tel Aviv University found that eating pudding as part of a balanced 600-calorie breakfast that also included proteins and carbohydrates (碳水化合物), could help dieter to lose more weight---and keep it off in the long run.
Attempting to avoid sweets entirely can create a psychological addiction to these same foods in the long term. So adding desserts to breakfast can control craving(渴望) throughout the rest of the day.
Over the course of a 32-week-long study, participants, who added desserts to their breakfast lost about 40 pounds more than a group that avoided such foods. What’s more, they kept off the pounds longer.
A meal in the morning provides energy for the day’s tasks, aids in brain functioning, and kick-starts the body’s metabolism (新陈代谢), making it decisive to weight loss and maintenance. And breakfast is the meal that most successfully regulates ghrelin, the hormone that increases longer. While the level of ghrelin rises before every meals, it is controlled most effectively at breakfast time.
The researchers hoped to determine whether meal time and composition had an impact on weight loss in the short and long term, or whether it was a simple matter of the caloric count. According to the passage, the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 probably refers to __________.
| A．the calorie | B．the breakfast |
| C．the craving for pudding | D．the lost weight |
Adding some desserts in your breakfast diet properly will __________.
| A．make you gain more fat |
| B．make you become slim more easily |
| C．help improve your psychological health |
| D．help develop your craving for more delicious food |
Through paragraph 5. the author wants to show__________ .
| A．the special function of ghrelin |
| B．some decisive ways of losing weight |
| C．the great importance of breakfast to us |
| D．the nutrition we should take in during the breakfast |
What will the passage develope next?
| A．Another experiment on weight loss. |
| B．An importance of calorie. |
| C．People’s breakfast time. |
| D．The composition of the breakfast. |
Sleep is a basic human need, as basic as the need for oxygen. Getting a good night’s sleep is not only directly related to how we feel the next day, but to our long-term health as well. However, many of us suffer from insomnia (失眠). Even more odf us report at least one night of restless sleep per week. This is a serious problem.
Well, how can we make sure that we rest well and stay healthy? Here are some suggestions.
If you can’t sleep in the middle of the night, don’t get up. The bright light will affect your body clock and worsen your insomnia. Stay in bed!
Avoid short sleep during the day, except for a brief ten to fifteen-minute sleep between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M.
Limit your time in bed to the average number of hours you ‘ve actually slept per night last week. Don’t try to make up for lost sleep. It can’t be done.
Get regular exercise each day, but finish at least six hours before bedtime. Exercising in the evening can help keep you awake.
Take a hot bath for thirty minutes within two hours of bedtime. The bath will warm you, relax you, and make you feel sleepy.
Keep our bedroom dark, quiet, and well ventilated (通风).
Keep a regular schedule seven days a week. Avoid sleeping late on weekends. Although it may feel good while you’re doing it, sleeping late on weekend can lead to insomnia during the week.
Don’t drink alcohol (酒精). Although, having a drink before bed makes you sleep, alcohol loses its effects after a while. The secondary effects of alcohol can wake you up during the second half of your night’s sleep.
Keep the face of the clock in your bedroom turned away, and don’t find out what time it is when you awaken in the night.The first paragraph serves as a(n) __________.
| A．comment | B．argument |
| C．explanation | D．introduction |
Which of the following is NOT advised for a good night’s sleep?
| A．Don’t exercise six hours before sleeping. |
| B．Preventing the wind from blowing into your room. |
| C．Staying in bed after failing to sleep. |
| D．Don’t drink alcohol before sleeping. |
To sleep well, you need to __________.
| A．sleep during the day sometimes |
| B．get up late on weekends |
| C．avoid looking at your clock |
| D．have a bath in the morning |
The text mainly about__________ .
| A．some effects of bad night’s sleep |
| B．some advantages of having a good sleep |
| C．some reasons for insomnia |
| D．some keys to a better night’s sleep |
I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签 ) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, "Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬 ) under her covers, weeping. Obviously, that was something she should not go through phone. All of a sudden ,a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart,
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't noticed Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in. cleaning up and holding on.What made Kate angry one evening?
| A．She couldn't find her books. |
| B．She heard the author shouting loud. |
| C．She got the news that her grandma was ill. |
| D．She saw the author's shoes beneath her bed. |
The author tidied up the room most probably because___.
| A．she was scared by Kate's anger |
| B．she hated herself for being so messy |
| C．she wanted to show her care |
| D．she was asked by Kate to do so |
How is Paragraph I mainly developed?
| A．By analyzing causes. |
| B．By showing differences. |
| C．By describing a process. |
| D．By following time order. |
What might be the best title for the story?
| A．My Friend Kate | B．Hard Work Pays Off |
| C．How to Be Organized | D．Learning to Be Roommates |
The story began on a downtown Brooklyn street corner. An elderly man had fallen down while crossing the street , and an ambulance rushed him to the nearest hospital. There, when he came to now and again, the old man repeatedly called for his son.
From a worn letter located in his pocket, an emergency-room (急救室) nurse learned that his son was a sailor stationed in North Carolina Camp. Obviously there were no other relatives.
Someone at the hospital called the Red Cross office in Brooklyn, and a request for the son to rush to Brooklyn was sent. Because time was short—the patient was dying, so they found the young man and rushed him to the airport in time to catch the only plane that night enable him to reach his dying father.
It was dusk when the nurse took the tired, anxious sailor to the bedside. “Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened. The medicine he had been given because of the pain from his heart attack made his eyes weak and only saw the young man in uniform(制服 ) standing outside the oxygen tent. He extended his hand. The sailor wrapped his strong fingers around the old man’s, releasing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought him a chair, so the sailor could sit by the bed.
Nights are long in hospitals, but all through the night the young sailor sat there, holding the old man’s hand and offering words of hope and strength. It was nearly dawn when the patient died. The sailor placed his lifeless hand he had been holding on the bed, and went to inform the nurse.
“Who was the man?” the sailor asked.
“He was your father.” the nurse answered surprisingly.
“No, he wasn’t,” the sailor replied.” I never saw him before in my life.”
“Why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?” she asked.
“I knew immediately there‘d been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I guessed he really needed me. So I stayed.”
Two days later a message came in that there had been two sailors with the same name and similar number in the Camp. Someone in the personnel office had pulled out the wrong record.
But the wrong sailor had become the right son at the right time. And he proved, in a very human way, that there are people who care what happens to their fellow men.An emergency-room nurse found out that the old man’s son was a sailor__________.
| A．by calling the Red Cross office in Brooklyn |
| B．because the old man repeatedly called for his son |
| C．from a letter found in the old man’s pocket |
| D．from someone in hospital |
In the hospital__________ .
| A．the nurse stayed by the old man’s bed through most of the night |
| B．the dying man said a few words to his son |
| C．the son offered love in the last few hours of the old man’s life |
| D．the old man knew the young man wasn’t his son |
The young sailor told the nurse that he was not the real son of the old man__________ .
| A．after the old man died |
| B．when the nurse sensed something strange |
| C．before the sailor came to the nurse’s station |
| D．when holding the old man’s hand |
The sentence “the wrong sailor had become the right son at the right time” in the last paragraph means that__________ .
| A．the sailor was wrong in fooling the dying old man |
| B．The sailor made the right decision about what he should do |
| C．the sailor told the real story about him and the old man |
| D．the right son hurried to the hospital in time |
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