A “Gap Year” is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working. It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills.
Gap years are popular with European and Australian students， but remain less popular in America. However， in recent years， more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year. The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows：
Learn about the World and Yourself
Although you don’t have to go abroad to experience gap years， most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better.
Face Challenges and Have Fun
A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation， but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work， volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn’t always easy， but it is an important part of growing up. Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun.
Save Money and Improve Your College Admission Chances
There’s a common thought that gap years are only for rich students， but it’ s not true. Actually， taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides， at the end of a gap year， students are much more likely to know what to study in college. Clear learning goals ran keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing.
Imagine an admission officer trying to admit (录取) only one between two students. Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However， one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose?What does a “Gap Year” mean in the passage ?
_____________________________________________________________________ In which country are gap years more popular according to the passage ， America or Australia?
_____________________________________________________________________How many advantages of taking a gap year are mentioned in the passage ?
____________________________________________________________________Besides having fun ， what do gap year students have to face ?
_____________________________________________________________________What does the last sentences probably imply (暗含) ?
_______________________________________________________________
Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all，you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.
Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However，they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.
Do you know what a ’territory’ is? A territory is an area that an animal，usually the male，claims(声称)as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same kind are welcome. Your garden and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten(威胁)you，you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.
If so，you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time，especially at nesting(筑巢)season. So he is screaming all the time，whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song，and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.
Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs..
You can see that birds have a language of their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories. Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually _______.
| A．away of warning | B．an expression of happiness |
| C．an expression of anger | D．away of greeting |
What is a bird’s "territory"?.
| A．A place where families of other kinds are not accepted. |
| B．A place where a bird may shut at the top of its voice |
| C．An area for which birds fight against each other. |
| D．An area which a bird considers to be its own. |
Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?
| A．Because they want to invite more friends. |
| B．Because they want to find outsiders around. |
| C．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away. |
| D．Because their singing helps remove their fears. |
How does the writer explain bird’s singing?
| A．By comparing birds with human beings. | B．By reporting experiment results. |
| C．By describing birds’ daily life. | D．By telling a bird’s story. |
Having Fun "Growing" and "Stealing"?
Recently，an Internet game has become a new fashion among young office workers and students. People can "farm" on a piece of "land" and "grow"， "sell" or even "steal" "vegetables"，"flowers" and "fruits" on the Net. They can earn some e-money and buy more "seeds"，"pets" and even "houses".
Joyce interviewed some young people. Here are their opinions.
Harold：I don’t quite understand why they are so mad about the childish game， Maybe they are just not confident enough to face the real world.
Allan：I enjoy putting some "bugs" in my friends’ gardens and we’ve become closer because of the game. Having fun together is the most exciting thing about it.
Laura： You know， people in the city are longing for(渴望) the life in the countryside. It reduces my work pressure(压力)；besides，it gives me the exciting experience of being a "thief".
Ivy：Well. it’s just a waste of time. Teenagers playing the game spend so many hours on it that they can not focus on(专注于)their study. According to the passage，people can’t _______ things in this game.
| A．grow | B．borrow | C．steal | D．sell |
Which is NOT the reason why people like the game?
| A．They are longing for country life. |
| B．They can have fun with friends. |
| C．The game can relax people and give them a new experience. |
| D．They are confident enough to face the real world. |
Where can you find this passage?
| A．In a car magazine. | B．In an advertisement. |
| C．In a newspaper | D．In a science book |
The nose is important for everyone. It can help a person breathe and smell. In fact,it can also be used in many popular expressions.
Some people can lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she can ask him to do whatever she wants him to do.
Some people are said to be hard--nosed. They will not change their opinions of anything.
If some people keep their noses out of other people’s business, they do not interfere
( ) in anything that has nothing to do with them. The opposite kind of people are those who nose around all the time. They are interested in other people’s personal life.
If someone works hard, he can keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble. How ever, more problems will be caused if a person looks down his nose at others or some things. He thinks they are unimportant. This kind of person might also turn up his nose at anything that he doesn’t consider good enough. He thinks he is better than anyone else.
At school, some students thumb their noses at their teacher. They refuse to follow what their teacher says or do any work. Of course, it is not right for students to do like this.
根据材料内容，从下面方框中选出恰当的短语完成下面五个小题，使句子通顺、意思完整。每个短语限用一次。
| A. be hard—nosed B. nose around C. keep his nose clean D. turns up his nose E. thumb their noses |
I don’t want to make friends with David because he always
Maggie likes to talk about others and
My brother used to , but now he can listen to others’ advice.
Bob and Andy usually at their parents.
Michael works hard all the time, so he can
补充：
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Summer Job Do you like to talk with people? Do you like to write Stories? If you want to work for our magic as a reporter, please call Karen at 5583366. |
| Help Wanted Do you like babies? Can you look after a baby for two days? If you are sure to take good care of it, call Mr. Green at 7665898. $80 or more. Today! Be quick |
Cleaner wanted Can you make a large house clean and tidy ? if you hope to get paid $20 once, call us this evening from 18:00 to 20:00. Our telephone number is 6338001. |
根据材料内容选择最佳答案。If you want to be a , you can call AL Hotel.
| A．waiter | B．reporter | C．cleaner | D．driver |
If you want to work as a reporter, you should call .
| A．5564779 | B．7665898 | C．5583366 | D．6338001 |
How long does Mr. Green need a babysitter to work?
| A．For one day. | B．For two days. | C．For a week. | D．For half a month. |
If you work as a cleaner every weekday, and once a day, how much will you be paid
every week?
| A．$100. | B．$150. | C．$200. | D．$240. |
What is NOT mentioned in the ads?
| A．Jobs you can choose from. | B．E—mail addresses. |
| C．Telephone numbers. | D．Time when you are supposed to work. |
At a nation’s saddest moment, its greatest heroes are born.
On September 11th, 2001, many police officers and government officials in America worked day and night to save lives from the big fire at the World Trade Centre. And in Japan, after the serious earthquake, a group of workers showed their courage.
The earthquake on March 11th made Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant(福岛核电站) turn off and stop its protective cooling systems. And later, a fire broke out. Workers were told that the plant’s radiation(辐射) could be harmful to human health. Hundreds of workers left the plant quickly. However, a group of workers decided to fight against the fire and the damage, though they knew it could cause very serious health problems. There were 50 workers in all, so they were also named the "Fukushima 50". The workers worked in shifts(轮班).
People knew little about the workers, who were mainly experts (专家) with the skills to control the situation. One woman said that her father had volunteered to stay there. "I heard that he volunteered even though he would retire(退休) in just half a year and my eyes were filled with tears. I am really proud of him. And I pray for his safe return.The passage mainly tells us
| A．what happened in America on September 1l th, 2001 |
| B．"Fukushima 50" stayed in the nuclear power plant bravely |
| C．who saved many lives from the big fire at the World Trade Centre |
| D．what Japanese government did after the nuclear power plant was turned off |
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant was turned off because
| A．there were no heroes there | B．many workers left the plant |
| C．it was destroyed by a big fire | D．the earthquake damaged it heavily |
workers stayed in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant after the earthquake.
| A．11 | B．50 | C．100 | D．150 |
Which of the following is TRUE?
| A．The woman learned something about her father. |
| B．A woman’s father who had retired from work still stayed there. |
| C．Little was known about the workers when the passage was written. |
| D．The workers didn’t know staying in the nuclear plant was harmful to their |
health. The writer thinks
| A．American police officers were very strong |
| B．the nuclear radiation would do no damage to humans |
| C．all the workers who stayed in the plant should return quickly |
| D．all the workers who stayed in the plant are great heroes |
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