As prices and building costs keep going up, the do-it-yourself (DIY）trend (趋势） in the U.S. goes on growing.
“We needed furniture for our living room,” says John Ross, “And we just didn't have enough money to buy it. So we decide to try making a few tables and chairs.” John got married(结婚) six months ago, and like many young people these days, they are working hard to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very high. The Rosses took a 2-week course for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture and make repairs around the house.
Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoe making factory(工厂). Last month, he got a car repair bill(账单) for $420. “I was quite worried about it. Now I've finished a car repair course, I should be able to fix the car by myself.”
John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save money so that they can fight with the high cost of living. If you want to become a “do-it -yourselfer”, you can go to DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can do things yourself.John and his wife went to evening classes to learn how to _______.
| A．run a DIY shop | B．make or repair things |
| C．save time and money | D．make their life better |
When the writer says that Jim has a full-time job at home, he means Jim _______.
| A．makes shoes in his home |
| B．does more work at night |
| C．does his own car and home repairs |
| D．keeps house and looks after his children |
Jim Hatfield decided to become a do-it-yourselfer when _______.
| A．his car repairs cost too much |
| B．the car repair class was not helpful |
| C．he could not possibly do two jobs |
| D．he had to feed the children all by himself |
What would be the best title for this passage?
| A．The Joy of DIY. | B．You Can Do It too! |
| C．Welcome to Our DIY course! | D．Ross and Hatfield: Believe in DIY. |
Coolest Hotels in the World
Ariau Amazon Towers
The Ariau Amazon Towers hotel lets you sleep in a tree house. Eight towers make up this hotel that offers over 300 rooms. If you really want to get into the spirit, the Tarzan Suite which is large enough for big family. You'll thirty feet up in the air and can travel between the towers through their wooden walkways.
Prices starting at $300 one night for each person for a regular room and going all the way up to $3000 for the Tarzan Suite.
For more information, visit the website: http://www.ariautowers.com
The Ice Hotel
Every winter in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, a special kind of hotel called the Ice Hotel is built. Each year, world-famous artists are invited to design and produce works of art from the ice, many of which can be found in the rooms. You'll have your choice between hot or cold rooms, but you will be well advised to stay at least one night in a cold room for a true experience.
Prices: starting $318 one night for each person for either a cold room or a warm one.
For more information, visit the website: http://www.icehotel.com
Propeller Island City Lodge
Propeller Island City Lodge is a very special hotel that was designed by a German artist. Each room provides you with the possibility of living in a work of art. Every single piece of furniture in the thirty rooms of the hotel has been hand-made and each room is completely different. You'll be able to choose a room based on your own personal tastes.
Prices: starting at just $91 a night, and an additional (另外) person for only 20 extra dollars.
For more information, visit the website: http://www.propeller-island.com
For information about other cool hotels in the world, visit the website: http://www.bahamabeachclub.comWhat is special about the Ariau Amazon Towers hotel?
| A．You can sleep in tree houses． |
| B．You can choose any of the towers． |
| C．It is designed for big families． |
| D．Every room has a walkway． |
For two persons spending a night in one of these hotels，they have to pay at least .
| A．$600 | B．$111 | C．$182 | D．$636 |
Which website should you visit if you want to find out whether there is a hotel under the sea?
| A．http：// www. ariautowers. com |
| B．http：// www．icehotel, corn |
| C．http：// www．propellerisland．com |
| D．http：// www．bahamabeachclub．com |
Which hotel would invite artists to come to work every year?
| A．Propeller Island City Lodge． | B．Ariau Amazon Towers． |
| C．The Ice Hotel． | D．Bahama Beach Hotel． |
Are people less happy or happier when they get older? If your answer is“happier”， then you are right，based on a study published seven years ago．It found that people become happier and experience less worry after age fifty．In fact，it found that by the age of eighty-five，people are happier with their life than they were at eighteen．
The finding came from a Gallup survey of more than three hundred and forty thousand adults in the United States in 2008．At that time，people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty-five．
Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study．His team found that levels of stress were the highest among adults between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five．Stress levels dropped sharply(急剧)after people reached their fifties．
Levels of happiness were the highest among the kids and those in their early seventies．
The survey also found that men and women have similar emotional patterns(情感模式)as they grow older．However, women at all ages reported more sadness，stress and worry than men did．
So why would happiness increase with age? One theory(推测)is that，as people get older, they become more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions．They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences．How many adults were included in the survey?
| A．300 | B．40，000 | C．340，000 | D．103 |
What can you learn from the findings of the survey?
| A．People become happier and feel less worried before age 50． |
| B．People are happier with their life at 18 than they were at 85． |
| C．Adults between the ages of 22 and 25 have the least stress． |
| D．The kids and those in their early seventies feel the happiest． |
Why does happiness increase with age?
| A．People aren’t able to control their emotions better． |
| B．It takes them less time to think about bad experiences． |
| C．People become less thankful for what they have． |
| D．Women feel sadder, more stressed and worried than men． |
Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
| A．Differences Between Stress and Happiness |
| B．Differences Between Age and Happiness |
| C．Relationship Between Stress and Happiness |
| D．Relationship Between Age and Happiness |
Have you ever woken up feeling that something was wrong?
It was a day like that for me．
I sat up in bed．
A little later I opened the curtains．
It was terrible weather—the rain was pouring down．
Then I looked down into the yard．
Yes! There it was—the motorcycle．
It was just as broken as last night．
And my leg was starting to hurt．Something had happened to the person in the story the night before．What was it?
| A．The bad weather had broken the motorcycle． |
| B．The bad weather had stopped the person from going outside． |
| C．The person had bought a new motorcycle． |
| D．The person had been in a motorcycle accident． |
“It was a day like that for me．”What kind of day did this turn out to be?
| A．A good day． | B．A bad day． |
| C．An exciting day． | D．A boring day． |
Why does the writer begin the story with a question?
| A．Because the writer wants to know the answer． |
| B．To make the readers interested in the story． |
| C．Because the question is hard to answer． |
| D．To remind the reader that this kind of experience is rare． |
I don’t like talking openly about my feelings. That’s probably why I am writing this, because it seems an easier way of telling you how thankful I am to you.
When I first got ill two years ago and had to be taken to hospital, you were the first person I called to tell, maybe because I knew Mum wasn’t going to answer her phone, but probably because you are the first person I call in an emergency.
As one illness turned into another and I was stuck in hospital for weeks, feeling sorry for myself, you were still at my beside trying to talk to me to cheer me up. The illness hit my kidney(肾) and we then realized that I was going to need a transport sooner or later. You put yourself forward to be tested as soon as possible and it turned out you were a perfect match.
Then last year, in March, we both went down for the operation. I woke a few hours afterwards and felt better. It wasn’t until the following day that we got to see each other again. We hugged silently and asked one another how we were. But I never said the words I should have--- thank you. To this day, I still haven’t said those words to you for my kidney.
In the month after the operation, when we were both at home recovering, I made you lunch, went for walks with you. It’s my way of saying that I care for you a great deal and that I am truly thankful for what you did for me.
I want you to know that my silence towards you and the times you tried to talk to me and got nothing weren’t because of you. Maybe one day when you will read this, I hope you know that in my own silent way, I am for ever thankful.The writer called his father when he was ill_________.
| A．because he didn’t live together with his mother |
| B．because he could get help from his father at once |
| C．because his father could deal with any emergency |
| D．because his mother waste time to answer the phone |
After the operation the writer_______.
| A．told he was thankful to his father |
| B．didn’t wake until his father came |
| C．was too shy to show his thanks |
| D．thought a lot about the transport |
What does the word “transport” mean in the second paragraph?
| A．手术 | B．工具 | C．移植 | D．帮助 |
The writer developed the passage in the form of_______.
| A．a letter | B．a report |
| C．a review | D．a novel |
What does the writer mainly want to say?
| A．To show his father was friendly to him. |
| B．To show how much his father loved him. |
| C．To say he got on well with his father. |
| D．To thank his father for giving one kidney. |
Too many people want others to be their friends, but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendships don’t last very long. To have a friend, you must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules: be honest; be generous; be understanding.
Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you don’t tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest, you may lose your friend’s trust. Good friends always count on one another to speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You don’t have to give your lunch money or your clothes, or enjoyments, like your hobbies and your interests. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feelings. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them, you help your friend know you better.
Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and help with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friendships, you must practice honesty, generosity and understanding. Some friendships don’t last very long because_______.
| A．they don’t know friendship is something serious |
| B．there are too many people who want to make friends |
| C．those who give others friendships receive friendships from others |
| D．those who never give others friendships receive no friendship from others |
According to the passage, honesty is________.
| A．something countable |
| B．the base of a friendship |
| C．as important as money |
| D．more important than anything else |
Which of the following is NOT true in the passage?
| A．Always tell your friend the truth. |
| B．Sharing your mind with your friend is of great value. |
| C．A friend who gives you his lunch money is a true friend. |
| D．Discussing your problems with your friend often helps to solve the problem. |
What does the word “them” refer to in the third paragraph?
| A．your ideas and feelings. |
| B．your hobbies and interests. |
| C．your lunch money and clothes. |
| D．your clothes and enjoyments. |
The best title of this passage is________.
| A．How to Be a Friend |
| B．Honesty Is the Best Habit |
| C．Three Important Points in Life |
| D．A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed |
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