Dear Carol,
I wear braces (牙箍) and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off?
Connie N.
Philadelphia, PA
Dear Connie,
Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative（负面的）about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits:
Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will be flattering to your face and also good for your type of hair (fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.) Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose.
Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup(化妆品), it should look natural. Blusher(腮红) and lip gloss(润唇膏) in light tones of peach or pink are best.
Be well-groomed(打扮). Neatness really counts. People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones!Why did Connie write to Carol?
| A．Because she really cared about her clothes. |
| B．Because she cared much about her appearance. |
| C．Because her teeth were not good. |
| D．Because she didn’t know how to make up. |
Carol’s idea about one’s appearance is that _________.
| A．change your hairstyle and you will look beautiful |
| B．keep your skin clean and you will look good |
| C．neatness really counts |
| D．if you yourself don’t think you look smart, neither will people |
Carol tries to let Connie know that __________.
| A．the deepest impressions one leaves on others is the first ones |
| B．spirits are important when we talk about one’s appearance |
| C．there are some practical ways to draw people’s attention away from where you don’t feel good |
| D．all of the above |
The underlined word “count” means “_________” in the last paragraph.
| A．say numbers in order | B．be important |
| C．not include | D．be accepted |
In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum(highest) rent that a landlord can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits(利润). They do not invest（投资） in new buildings which would also be rent—controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some theorists argue that the minimum（lowest） wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal（联邦） government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low—paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may .
| A．cause a shortage of apartments |
| B．worry those who rent apartments as homes |
| C．increase the profits of landlords |
| D．encourage landlords to invest in building apartment |
According to the critics, rent control .
| A．will always benefit those who rent apartments |
| B．is totally unnecessary |
| C．will eventually bring negative effects |
| D．is necessary at any time |
Some theorists believe the problem of unemployment will arise .
| A．if the minimum wage is set too high |
| B．if the minimum wage is set too low |
| C．if the workers are unskilled |
| D．if the maximum wage is set |
Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．The results of economic decisions can not always be predicted. |
| B．Minimum wage can not always protect employees. |
| C．Economic theory can predict the results of economic decisions if other factors are not changing. |
| D．Economic decisions should not be based on economic theory. |
This is the place for you to come to share stories with other real kids who are trying hard to improve their bodies and minds! Did you score a goal in your soccer game? Have you got rid of a bad habit? Are you working to reduce your stress in life? Tell the world what makes your body and mind healthy!
Posted by DP, Ohio
I have been working on a fitness equipment to exercise for over four months. I have completed my goal of losing weight and I am very proud of myself. That is so cool!
Posted by MK, Missouri
I was always tired at school, because I used to stay up late watching TV. I even fell asleep one day in my history class, and when I woke up, the teacher was looking at me and laughing! I decided that minute to start going to bed on time. It’s kind of a drag missing the shows I like, but I can tell my body loves it----I feel so much better.
Posted by SP, Georgia
Last year , I didn’t make the soccer team at school. I didn’t want to try out again this year, but a few weeks before tryouts(选拔赛), I started kicking the ball around and practicing. When tryout day came, I decided to give it another shot. Guess what? I made the team!
Posted by JS , New York
I’m deaf, so I’ve had more trouble playing sports than other people. But who wants to sit at home all the time? I like to play basketball with guys in my neighborhood. I can’t hear the ball bounce(弹起) or listen to the guys call plays, but I’ve taught them to use some sign language, and so far, we’ve been unstoppable. The kids mentioned in the text came here _______.
| A．to talk about their efforts to keep fit | B．to learn to tell stories |
| C．to make new friends | D．to share weight-losing experiences |
The achievement that SP, Georgia has made is that ____.
| A．his soccer skills have improved a lot this year |
| B．he scored a goal in an important soccer match |
| C．he helped the school soccer team win an important match |
| D．he was admitted to the school soccer team |
Who taught other kids sign language?
| A．DP, Ohio | B．MK, Missouri |
| C．SP, Georgia | D．JS, New York |
A week ago, I read When Money Talks, Listen! by Rich Ezzo. It took only about an hour to read, and that included one trip to the coffee maker and about 10 distractions (分心)from Alex, our cat, who thinks he is the center of the universe.
When I first received a copy, I thought it was a get-rich-quick type of publication. There is nothing wrong with that kind of book, but my mind just doesn’t chase after dreams of wealth. I figure that if God ever wants me to be rich, he knows where to find my purse.
When I began reading When Money Talks, Listen!, I was overjoyed to find that Rich Ezzo isn’t money hungry either. He, too, is hungry for things far more important than money.
I absolutely love this e-book. Why did I wait a week to write the review ? simple. I wanted to see if the impact it had on me could keep up. After reading the last word of the e-book, I totally agreed with the subtitle(副标题)which promised to forever change the way we thought about money. I had so many thoughts running around my mind that I had to install a stop light to stop some while others made their way into the picture. I had a mental traffic jam, which only goes to show how slow the traffic usually is.
It has been a week and the impact is the same. I guarantee this is an e-book you’ll want to read. I urge you to visit the author’s website, MysterMoney. Com, and to download the e-book. You won’t
regret it.What’s the purpose of the passage?
| A．to strongly recommend an e-book |
| B．to show the author’s attitude to money |
| C．to introduce the general idea of an e-book |
| D．to tell us Rich Ezzo isn’t money hungry |
The author didn’t write the review right after reading because _____.
| A．he was too excited to write anything |
| B．he was not sure whether he liked the book |
| C．he had to wait for Rich Ezzo’s permission |
| D．he wondered if this book had a long influence on him |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．The author had known Rich Ezzo before |
| B．The author hasn’t dreamed of getting rich instantly |
| C．The author always prefers e-books to paper books |
| D．The author likes the get-rich type of publication |
A businessman walks into a bank in San Francisco and asks for the loan officer. He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000．The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for such a loan. So the businessman hands over the keys to a Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything checks out, and the bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. An employee drives the Rolls into the bank’s underground garage and parks it there.
Two weeks later, the businessman returns, and repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.
The loan officer says, “We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is that why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”
Laughing, the businessman replies, “Where else in San Francisco can I park my car for two weeks for $15?” The businessman walks into the bank with the true purpose of _________.
| A．borrowing $5,000 | B．meeting the loan officer |
| C．finding a place to park his car | D．showing how rich he is |
The loan officer is puzzled because _________.
| A．he never thought he could meet a multimillionaire in his bank |
| B．he thinks the businessman is crazy to leave his car in the bank |
| C．he never thought the businessman could drive a Rolls Royce |
| D．he thinks $5,000 is so small a sum of money to the businessman |
The underlined word “collateral” in Paragraph 1 most probably means “_________”.
| A．security | B．payment | C．reward | D．deal |
Which of the following words can best describe the businessman according to the story?
| A．Honest. | B．Clever. | C．Rich. | D．Kind. |
The Danish capital is a year-round destination. Here are some of the city's best annual events.
Roskilde Festival (July)
The Danes love the outdoors and they love rock music; the Roskilde Festival is where they combine these passions for a weekend of drunken celebration. The four-day event is held about 30 minutes from the city completely, which means you can either go in for the full festival experience, or you can travel from the city to the festival each day.
There are also day tickets if you don't have the power for the whole collection of facts.
Kulturnatten (October)
For something a little more high brow there's the Night of Culture. For one night only some 300 venues in the city stage theater performances, art exhibitions, concerts and poetry readings.
Father Christmas Congress (July)
One of the more bizarre fixtures in Copenhagen's calendar, the event is held in July—the slow season for Santas—at the Bakken amusement park, some 20 minutes north of the city. The most interesting of the event is a procession of Santas from all over the world along Strøget. Parents should be prepared for some embarrassed questions from the kids.
Tivoli Gardens (November/December)
These pleasure gardens make for a great day out any time of the year but to see them at their most attractive, visit from mid-November through December, when they are transformed into a fairy tale of lanterns and Christmas markets. There's also outdoor skating, a Christmas entertainment and the very Danish 'Nissekøbing' village, home to more than 100 mechanical fairies.
53. If you are free in October, you can go to _____.
A. Roskilde Festival B. Kulturnatten
C. Father Christmas Congress D. Tivoli Gardens
54. Roskilde Festival is a festival _____.
A. where many famous singers in Denmark gather
B. which is only held in the center of a city
C. that lasts about half an hour per day
D. that the Danas can enjoy
55. How does the author think of the procession of Santas?
A. Astonishing. B. Funny. C. Worth seeing. D. Full of encouragement.
56. The passage is probably written for _____.
A. guides B. tourists C. businessmen D. writers
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