An allowance(零花钱) is an important tool for teaching kids how to make plans for the use of money, save and make their own decisions. Children remember and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly.
How large an allowance is suitable? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to region, and from family to family.
To set an suitable allowance for your child, work up a weekly plan. Allow for entertainment costs such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these bills’," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to plan for necessary costs."
Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can keep your child’s allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose buying power falls away below his peers’ can feel left out.
It can be tough, but don’t excuse your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Stephens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke’s mother told her, "you walk home."
One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brooklyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. "
Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied directly to a child’s daily housework at home. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her early habits.Which of the following is the possible title of the passage?
| A．How to develop a child’s early habits. |
| B．How to work up an amount of pocket money. |
| C．How to teach a child about money. |
| D．How to teach a child to save money. |
It can be inferred from the passage that if a child is given an allowance, he or she may ________.
| A．spend all the money very soon |
| B．fall into the bad habit of wasting money |
| C．feel responsible and careful about money |
| D．lose the money and can not return home |
In Paragraph 4, the words “his peers” refer to ________.
| A．his parents | B．his friends |
| C．his financial experts | D．his teachers |
Why does the writer mention Brooke Stephens?
| A．To question the opinion about pocket money. |
| B．To compare Stephens with other financial experts. |
| C．To explain that parents should be strict when children are developing good habits about money. |
| D．To suggest pocket money is useless in developing a child’s sense of responsibility. |
The writer implies in the passage that ________.
| A．children may feel lonely if they have no pocket money |
| B．a child’s early good habits can be developed if he or she is paid for all the housework |
| C．paying children for their housework is no good |
| D．children may learn to put aside some money if they are given a great amount of pocket money |
Alzheimer's disease is a major national health problem. Nearly2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's disease. It is a leading cause of death among the elderly. But Alzheimer's disease is not confined （限于）to the aged. There may be a million or more people under the age of 65 suffering from the disease.
At one time, people suffering from the disease were said to be "getting old". The disease was thought to be a natural part of growing old, but it is now known that Alzheimer's disease strikes young and old alike. It is an organic （器官的）disease, that destroys brain cells.
Alzheimer's disease affects the patient's memory, speech, and movement. In the beginning stages of the disease, the patient may seem slightly confused. He may have trouble speaking, then the patient's memory begins to fail. He may forget dates, numbers, names and plans.
As the disease progresses, the patient may not recognize family and friends. These symptoms （症状）often cause terrible anxiety in the patient. He may feel lost and frightened. Sometimes the patient reacts with wild and bad behavior.
In the last stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to take care of himself. He may have lost the ability to speak and walk.
Scientists don't know exactly what causes Alzheimer's disease. It may be caused by a virus （病毒）. It may be caused by a poisonous substance （物质）in the environment. At present, there is no cure for the disease. But there are ways to slow its progress. Exercise and physical treatment can help the patients of this disease.The main idea of the passage is that Alzheimer's disease __________.
| A．is a terrible part of the aging process |
| B．is an organic disease that affects young and old |
| C．can be cured by physical treatment |
| D．causes forgetfulness |
All of the following are symptoms of Alzheimer's disease EX-CEPT __________.
| A．forgetfulness | B．difficulty in speaking |
| C．loss of sight | D．loss of the ability to walk |
According to the passage, which of the following may be a cause of Alzheimer's disease?
| A．Poisons produced by the brain. |
| B．Getting old. |
| C．A virus. |
| D．Lack of exercise. |
The press of Alzheimer's disease can be slowed by __________.
| A．operation |
| B．a change in environment |
| C．medicines |
| D．physical treatment and exercise |
Tourism probably started in Roman times. Rich Romans visited friends and family who were working in another part of the Roman Empire. But when the empire broke down, this kind of tourism stopped.
In the early 17th century, the idea of the "Grand Tour" was born. Rich young English people sailed across the English Channel（英吉利海峡）. They visited the most beautiful and important European cities of the time, including Paris in France, and Rome and Venice（威尼斯）in Italy. Their tours lasted for two to four years, and the tourists stayed a few weeks or months in each city. The "Grand Tour" was an important part of young people's education-but only for the rich.
In the 18th century, tourism began to change. For example, people in the UK started to visit some towns, such as Bath to" take the waters". They believed that the water there was good for their health. So large and expensive hotels were built in these towns.
In the 19th century, travel became much more popular and faster. When the first railways were built in the 1820s, it was easier for people to travel between towns, so they started to go for holidays by the sea. And some started to have holidays in the countryside as cities became larger, noisier and dirtier.
Traveling by sea also became faster and safer when the first steamships were built. People began to travel more too far away countries.
The 20th century saw cars become more and more popular among ordinary people. Planes were made larger, so ticket prices dropped and more people used them.
Thus tourism grew. In 1949，Russian journalist Vladimir Raitz started a company called Horizon Holidays. The company organizes everything-plane tickets, hotel rooms, even food-and tourists pay for it all before they leave home. The package tour and modern tourist industry was born.
The first travel agency in China was set up as early as 1949. But tourism did not take off until 1978. In 2002，the industry was worth 500 billion yuan and became an important part of China's social development.In the early times, the travelers __________.
| A．all came from Roman | B．were very young and strong |
| C．had lots of money | D．traveled by boat |
__________ played the most important role in the tourism development.
| A．Education | B．Money |
| C．Transportation | D．People's ideas |
Modern tourism was born __________.
| A．in 1949 | B．in Roman times |
| C．in the early 17th century | D．in the 19th century |
The underlined phrase " take off" means __________.
| A．a plane rising into the air | B．develop very fast |
| C．remove hats and clothes | D．bring down the prices |
On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea.
Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control. Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves. " Everything went quiet in my head，" Tim recalls （回忆）. " I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line. "Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back，" he says，" I wondered if I was putting my life at risk. " After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys，" Take down the umbrella ！ "
Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him.
"Let's aim for the pier（码头），" Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit，" the boys said.
Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swan to-ward land as water washed over the boys' faces.
"Are we almost there?" they asked again and again. "Yes，"Tim told them each time.
After 30minutes, they reached the pier.Why did the two boys go to the sea?
| A．To go boat rowing. |
| B．To get back their football. |
| C．To swim in the open water. |
| D．To test the umbrella as a sail. |
What does "it" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
| A．The beach. | B．The water. |
| C．The boat. | D．The wind. |
Why did Tim raise his head regularly?
| A．To take in enough fresh air. |
| B．To consider turning back or not. |
| C．To check his distance from the boys. |
| D．To ask the boys to take down the umbrella. |
How did the two boys finally reach the pier?
| A．They were dragged to the pier by Tim. |
| B．They swam to the pier all by themselves. |
| C．They were washed to the pier by the waves. |
| D．They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. |
Living and dealing with kids can be a tough job these days, but living and dealing with parents can be even tougher.
If I have learned anything in my 16 years, it is that communication is very important, both when you disagree and when you get along. With any relationship, you need to let other person know how you are feeling. If you are not able to communicate, you drift apart. When you are mad at your parents, or anyone else, not talking to them doesn't solve anything.
Communication begins with the concerns （关心）of another. It means that you can't just come home from school, go up to your room and ignore （不理睬）everyone. Even if you just say "Hi"，and see how their day was for five minutes, it is better than nothing. If you looked up the word " communication " in a dictionary, it would say " the exchange of ideas, the conveyance （表达）of information, correspondence （通信），means of communication ： a letter or a message". To maintain （保持）a good relationship, you must keep communication strong. Let people know how you feel, even if it's just by writing a note.
When dealing with parents, you always have to make them feel good about how they are doing as a parent. If you are trying to make them see something as you see it, tell them that you'll listen to what they have to say, but ask them politely to listen to you. Yelling or walking away only makes the situation worse.
This is an example ： one night, Sophie went to a street party with her friends. She knew she had to be home by midnight after the fireworks, but she didn't feel she could just ask to go home. That would be rude. After all, they had been nice enough to take her along with them. Needless to say, she was late getting home. Her parents were mad at first, not when Sophie explained why she was late, they weren't as mad and let the incident go. Communication is the key factor here. If Sophie's parents had not been willing to listen, Sophie would have been in a lot of trouble.
Communication isn't a one-way deal ： it goes both ways. Just remember ：if you get into a situation like Sophie's, telling the other person how you feel-listening is the key factor to communication.In the writer's view, dealing with parents is __________ than with children.
| A．more difficult | B．easier |
| C．more uninteresting | D．more interesting |
The main idea of the second paragraph is __________.
| A．the importance of friendship |
| B．to make your feeling known to others |
| C．the importance of communication |
| D．the disagreement between generations |
When parents and children are in communication, the key to a happy relationship is that __________.
| A．children should always obey their parents |
| B．they should be equal |
| C．parents play the leading part |
| D．both make the opposite know their feelings |
The example in this passage proves that __________.
| A．Sophie's parents are willing to listen to her |
| B．Sophie is very polite to her parents |
| C．Sophie did well in explaining her being late |
| D．communication is the solution to misunderstanding |
We all long for friendship, but how to make a friend? “The best time to make a friend is before you need one.” Joy Steven said. The following are some tips for you.
People equal friends
Friends usually begin with strangers. Getting in touch with other people is the first step to make a friend. Friends can't be made in empty air. Best friends take time to make.
Friends understand friends
Friends understand each other when talking. Many unpleasant personal quarrels can be avoided if you will take the time to understand others' feelings and points of view.
Friends touch friends
Touching is a warm from of communication between friends. When you see best friends communicating, you will notice them stand close together, touch each other comfortably and listen to each other. Sometimes a friendly touch is more powerful than words.
Friends praise friends
Praise is a powerful tool to make a friend. Honest praise can affect （影响）your friends' lives. So try to praise your friends, including your general ones.
Friends can loyal （忠诚的）and trustworthy
Trust and loyalty go hand in hand for friends. Friends can share secrets with you, because good friends never break confidence（信心）and are loyal forever.From Joy Steven's words, we can conclude that __________.
| A．a friend in need is a friend indeed |
| B．it is never too late to make a friend |
| C．it is late to make a friend when you need one |
| D．everyone needs a friend in his life |
To make and keep many friends, you need to do the following EXCEPT __________.
| A．get in touch with people |
| B．understand your friends |
| C．praise your friends |
| D．quarrel with your friends |
The passage mainly tells us __________.
| A．how to communicate with a friend |
| B．how to develop friendship |
| C．when to make a friend |
| D．how to praise a friend |
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