A job is more than just a job，especially to the older generation.“It’s not the money that matters，but the sense of selfworth，” 56yearold Cheng Wonlan said.So，every day Ms Cheng carries a bag of parcels，letters and documents of all shapes and sizes and does her rounds in North Point.She’s a courier(快递人员)．
Five years ago，Ms Cheng was a nurse at a private clinic.She had worked there for almost 30 years but was made jobless when the doctor migrated(移居)．It was extremely difficult for her to find another job.“People do not trust my ability when they learn how old I am，” she said.After two years of searching，the mother of two eventually found another nursing job.But then after two years，she quit.Why?
“My colleagues were young and they didn’t understand me because of my age.They often asked me，‘You are so old；what are you working for？’ I was very unhappy.” she said.So while the rest of her family left for work，she was left to lonely boredom at home.The urge to work drove her to suffering.Then，one of Ms Cheng’s neighbours told her about Employee’s Retraining Board (ERB) offering retraining courses for older people on specific occupations，such as convenience store assistants，junior clerks and so on.
“I was interested in courier work.I didn’t think my age was a barrier because I was fit and healthy.So I thought why not give it a try.” she said.Upon graduation from the ERB，Ms Cheng was offered a job by the Speeding Shuttle Courier Service Company Limited.But then Ms Cheng was faced with a conflict：she was caught between honour and employment.It took Ms Cheng 24 hours to make up her mind and eventually came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong or embarrassing about doing the job.So she took heart and went off to work as a courier.
Ms Cheng’s employer is delighted with her，“Ms Cheng has been working with us for two months and has shown a good responsible attitude to work.”Anthony Chong，who runs the company，said.Currently，Mr Chong has 60 couriers working for his company：five of them are over fifty，four of whom have been through the ERB plan.Mr Chong said he hired older people because they were able and reliable.“Age is not an important factor but attitude is.Many old people are more capable than the youngsters.They will not run from difficulties but the young ones will，” he said.“It is not easy to recruit (招募) young people since they shy away from hardship and challenges.”Why was it difficult for Ms Cheng to find another nursing job?
| A．Nursing clinics were hard to find. |
| B．People thought that old people couldn’t be trusted. |
| C．People thought she was too old to take on a new job. |
| D．People didn’t think she had enough working experience. |
Ms Cheng left her second nursing job because ________.
| A．she was bored |
| B．it was too difficult |
| C．she was too old to do the job |
| D．the other staff made her feel uncomfortable |
Employee’s Retraining Board is a plan for ________.
| A．finding jobs for older people |
| B．teaching new skills to older people |
| C．training older people to be couriers |
| D．giving older people something to do in their spare time |
When Ms Cheng was offered the courier job she ________.
| A．took it straight away |
| B．thought it over and then accepted it |
| C．thought about it and then refused it |
| D．refused it straight away but then changed her mind |
A gentle breeze blew through Jennifer’s hair. The golden red sun was setting. She was on the beach, looking up at the fiery (火红的) ball. She was amazed by its color, deep red in the middle, softly fading into yellow. She could hear nothing but the waves and the seagulls flying up above in the sky.
The atmosphere relaxed her. After all she had been through, this was what she needed. “It’s getting late,” she thought, “I must go home. My parents will be wondering where I am.”
She wondered how her parents would react, when she got home after the three missing-day. She kept on walking, directing herself where she spent so many happy days with her family. The road was deserted. She walked slowly and silently. Just in a few hundred meters she would have been safe in her house.
It was really getting dark now. The sun had set a few minutes before and it was getting cold, too. She wished she had her favorite sweater on — it kept her really warm. She imagined having it with her. This thought disappeared when she finally saw her front door. It seemed different. Nobody had taken care of the outside garden for a few days. She was shocked: her father was usually so strict about keeping everything clean and tidy, and now... . It all seemed deserted. She couldn’t understand what was going on.
She entered the house. First, she went into the kitchen where she saw a note written by her father. It said, “Dear Ellen, there is some coffee ready. I went looking.” Ellen was her mother but — where was she? On the right side of the hallway was her parents’ room. She went in. Then she saw her mother, lying on the bed, was sleeping. Her face looked so tired, as if she hadn’t slept for days. She was really pale. Jennifer would have wanted to wake her up but she looked too tired. So Jennifer just fell asleep beside her. When Jennifer woke up, something was different... she wasn’t in her mother’s room and she wasn’t wearing the old clothes she ran away in. She was in her snug bed in her pajamas (睡衣).
It felt so good being back home. Suddenly she heard a voice, “Are you feeling better now, dear? You know you got us very, very scared.”What does “This thought” in the fourth paragraph refer to?
| A．The idea of going back home soon | B．The anxiety about her worried parents. |
| C．The feeling of being warm in her sweater. | D．The hope of getting back home safely. |
How did Jennifer probably feel when she came back home?
a. worried b. crazy c. tired d. disappointed e. astonished f. excited
| A．a, b, c | B．a, c, e | C．b, c, e | D．d, e, f |
The underlined word “snug” in the last paragraph means ______.
| A．clean and tidy | B．nice and expensive | C．small and old | D．warm and comfortable |
What can be concluded from this passage?
| A．In fact, Jennifer’s mother had been slept for several days. |
| B．As Jennifer walked towards home, she became increasingly scared. |
| C．When she found the garden deserted, she realized she got cross. |
| D．Having experienced a lot outside, Jennifer felt home warm and safe. |
Scientists estimate that more than 60 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are preventable through lifestyle changes. Although there is no certain way to avoid all cancers, reducing individual risk factors greatly decreases the likelihood of getting many forms of this dangerous disease.
The American Chemical Society estimates that smoking causes nearly 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States — that is, about 166,000 cancer deaths each year. All cancer deaths caused by tobacco smoking could be prevented completely by not smoking and not using smokeless tobacco. For those who already smoke, quitting will reduce the risk of developing cancer. Studies show that after about ten years of not smoking, a past smoker’s risk lowers to about the level of those who have never smoked.
After quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet is the best way to lower the risk of cancer. Certain foods have been found to protect against cancer. Among these foods are cabbages, tomatoes, soy products, and foods high in vitamins A, C, and E. In addition, green and possibly black teas contain compounds that protect the body from cancer-causing substance.
To lower cancer risk, diets should include little or no red meat. Other foods to avoid or consume in moderation (适度地) include sugar, fat from animal products, and salt. Added fats and oils should come from vegetables, such as olives or corn, rather than from animal sources. Carbohydrates (碳水化合物) should come from whole grains, such as brown rice and whole wheat bread, rather than from processed foods, such as white rice and white bread.
The risk of cancer of the esophagus (食道) increases with heavy alcohol consumption, and many studies suggest that consuming alcoholic drinks increases the risk of breast cancer as well. Studies show that limiting intake to two drinks a day for men, and one drink per day for women, reduces cancer risk.
Low levels of physical activity have been implicated (牵连) in some cancer. Moderate activity for 30 minutes a day enhances the immune system, shortens the time food takes to move through the intestines (肠), and changes body composition and hormone levels. Researchers are studying how these effects might lower cancer risk. Which of the following is true according to the author?
| A．A person drinking tea regularly will not be likely to suffer from cancer. |
| B．Once a smoker has stopped smoking, there is almost no chance for cancers. |
| C．A balanced diet is absolutely effective in preventing one from getting cancer. |
| D．Those having quitted smoking for 10 years and non-smokers have less cancer risk. |
What kind of people increase their chances of getting cancers?
| A．Those whose foods contain less sugar, animal fat, and salt. |
| B．Those who are not moderate in drinking, smoking or eating. |
| C．Those who have only one or two drinks regularly per day. |
| D．Those whose diet contains little red meat and a lot of vegetables. |
Which do you think is the best title for this passage?
| A．The relation between food and disease. | B．Causes of different kinds cancers. |
| C．Tips on lifestyle for cancer prevention. | D．Ways to remain more healthy. |
We can infer from the last paragraph that _______.
| A．food’s staying in body too long might have something to do with cancer |
| B．the reasons why physical activity lowers cancer risk are clear |
| C．the more you exercise, the lower cancer risk you will take |
| D．plenty of physical exercise is most important for remaining healthy |
Each time a city building is set up, the grass in that spot and trees that once reached up to the sky are replaced by a tar (柏油) roof. In addition to that, roads, parking lots, and yet more buildings are being constructed. The total lost green space can have a very real effect on a city’s air temperature, air quality and energy costs. On a summer day in most American cities, a tar roof can feel like the inside of an oven. But what if we could replace the hot roof of each skyscraper or building in a city with grass or a garden?
Whether it holds vegetable gardens, wildflowers, or meadow grasses, a green roof can lower the temperature above a building by 60 degrees, which can reduce the building’s energy costs. If used more widely, green roofs could decrease a city’s total energy costs, reduce polluted air from power plant , and improve air quality and public health. But that’s not all — green roofs are a great way to deal with water management in urban areas with overwhelmed sewerage (排污) systems, and actually extend the life time of the roof itself. And green roofs do something else: They beautify the city — whether you’re on the 3rd floor or the 30th. Now that’s a great achievement.
The environmental nonprofit group Earth Pledge is promoting a Green Roofs progamme. To learn more about how to create a green roof — and the benefits it will provide — visit its website at EarthPledge.com.This passage is most likely to appear in “______” in a webpage.
| A．City Environment | B．True Stories | C．Home and Garden | D．Family Health |
The construction of more city buildings leads to ______.
| A．fewer energy costs | B．increase of gardens | C．poor quality of air | D．loss of parking space |
What en tar roofs are replaced with green ones, ______.
| A．low temperature improves one’s health | B．everyone tends to plant vegetables in roof gardens |
| C．people need more sewerage systems | D．the greenness adds to the beauty of city environment |
You can visit EarthPledge.com with the purpose of ______.
| A．building a home garden | B．offering money to the group |
| C．understanding green roofs better | D．creating a website of Green Roofs |
I practised religion in this district. I used to find notes left in the collection basket of the church, beautiful notes about my homilies (布道) and about the writer’s thoughts on the daily readings. The 31 attracted me. But it was a long time __32__I met the author of the notes.
One Sunday morning, I was 33 that someone was waiting for me in the office, a young woman who said she 34 all the notes. When I saw her I was 35 , since I had no idea that it was she who wrote the notes. She was sitting in a chair in the office. Her 36 was bowed and when she raised it to look at me, she could hardly 37 without pain. Her face was disfigured (畸形), so smiling was very 38 for her.
We 39 for a while that Sunday morning and agreed to meet for lunch later that week.
As it 40 , we went to lunch several times, and we shared things about our 41 . We spoke of authors we both had 42 , and it was easy to tell that 43 are a great love of hers.
She suffered from a disfigurement which cannot make her look 44 . I know that her condition 45
her deeply. Yet there was a beauty to her that had nothing to do with 46 . She was one to be listened to, whose words came from a wounded but 47 heart. She possessed a fine tuned sense of beauty. Her only
48 in life was the loss of a friend.
The truth of her life was a desire to see beyond the 49 for a glimpse of what it is that matters. She found 50 and grace (优雅) and they befriended her, and showed her what is real.
31. A. questions B. words C. answers D. texts
32. A. since B. after C. when D. before
33. A. told B. warned C. informed D. showed
34. A. lost B. left C. dropped D. collected
35. A. shocked B. satisfied C. frightened D. disappointed
36. A. hand B. arm C. head D. body
37. A. stand B. smile C. say D. sit
38. A. pleasant B. bitter C. ugly D. difficult
39. A. chatted B. discussed C. drank D. greeted
40. A. turned out B. turned up C. came out D. came up
41. A. families B. beliefs C. hobbies D. lives
42. A. realized B. read C. met D. heard
43. A. friends B. churches C. writings D. books
44. A. friendly B. happy C. attractive D. wonderful
45. A. hurt B. impressed C. changed D. affected
46. A. fame B. wealth C. interest D. appearance
47. A. cheerful B. interesting C. loving D. exciting
48. A. defeat B. wonder C. fear D. defend
49. A. dream B. surface C. imagination D. time
50. A. success B. hope C. beauty D. help
第二部分：阅读理解（共25小题。第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分）
第一节 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A gadget which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave.
Using the same technology as a dehumidifier（除湿器），the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water because it can always get it from an unlimited source—the air．
The company behind the machine says not only does it offer an alternative to bottled water in
developed countries, but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage．
The machine works by drawing in wet air through a filter（过滤器）and over a cooling instrument which changes it into water droplets．It can produce up to 1 2 liters a day．The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the amount of water which is contained in the air increases．In keeping with its eco-development, the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three lights.
Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said: “The demand for water is off the chart．So people are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable.”
The machine, which is about 3 feet wide, is likely to cost ￡800 when it goes on sale here in the spring．Its maker, Canadian Firm Element Four, roughly calculates that a liter of water cost around 20p to produce.
Environmentalists state that half the world’s population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080．One in five is said to lack access to safe drinking.
The Water Mill is not effective in areas where the amount of water contained in the air is below about 30 percent, but in Britain that won’t be much of a problem.
41．What does the underlined word “it” refer do?
A．Drinking water. B．Invention. C．Microwave. D．Water Mill.
42．What do we learn about the machine?
A．It works in the same way as microwaves．
B．It is very expensive for families to afford.
C．It absorbs steam and turns it into water．
D．It helps to make the water clean to drink.
43．What does the passage lead us to believe?
A．The cost of water will go up. B．Bottled water will disappear sooner.
C．The machine is energy saving. D．The machine will be popular worldwide.
44．What’s the best title for the passage?
A．A New Way to Solve Water Problem. B．A Machine to Make Water out of Air.
C．A Dehumidifier to Produce Water. D．An Absolutely New Invention
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