Searching for airfares (飞机票价) often seems like a game that passengers are bound to lose.
Prices change from day to day, even minute to minute. Looking through multiple websites for the best deal can be a big challenge. Even when you do book, there’s no guarantee that you are going to get the best price.
“You just don’t know when to pull the trigger. It’s not like buying anything else I can think of,” said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com.
Harriet Levy paid $179 for a recent round-trip flight on American Airlines between New York and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sitting just one row behind her, Shirley Harrison paid $215. A few rows back, Ellis and Dianne Traub paid $317 each. There were at least 12 fares on the flight, ranging from $169 to $360.
There’s no reason for it, Harrison said.
Fares can fluctuate significantly in just a few hours. One Delta flight from New York to Los Angeles jumped from $755 to $1,143 from a Friday to Saturday in late April, then fell to $718 on Sunday.
The flight was one of a dozen the Associated Press followed over three months for a vacation between July 16 and 22. The number one finding: avoid booking tickets on weekends. It’s the most expensive time to buy.
There’s no way to guarantee the best fare. But before booking, travelers should pay attention to this additional advice:
• Book on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That’s when airlines most often offer sales.
• Buy in advance, but not too early. The best time is four to six weeks before traveling. In general, prices for any given flight are highest eight to 10 weeks and two to three weeks in advance.
• Make use of social media. Airlines are giving more benefits like exclusive (独家) sales to travelers who interact (互动) with them on Twitter and Facebook. Those specials are often gone within hours.
• The so-called discount (折扣) airlines – JetBlue, Air-Tran, Southwest and Frontier – adjust their fares less frequently than other airlines, so you can feel more confident that the price will stay the same. But their prices aren’t always the lowest. Researching multiple airlines’ fares is the only way to get a good deal.What can we infer from the first sentence of the text?
| A．Passengers are unable to search for airfares. |
| B．Airlines often play games with passengers. |
| C．Airfares are set in different situations. |
| D．It’s difficult for passengers to get the best price. |
The underlined phrase “pull the trigger” in Paragraph 3 probably means _______.
| A．start searching | B．get the highest price |
| C．make a purchase | D．get on board the plane |
By using a lot of figures, the author intends to _______.
| A．show there is standard price for every single airline |
| B．discover the rules behind airfares |
| C．guarantee passengers a low price |
| D．prove airfares can vary widely |
Passengers are advised to book flights _______.
| A．in the middle of the week |
| B．on special websites |
| C．several months before traveling |
| D．with airlines which are famous for offering discount prices |
A few months ago as I wandered through my parents’ house, the same house I grew up in, I had a sudden, scary realization. When my parents bought the house, in 1982, they were only two years older than I am now. I tried to imagine myself in two years, ready to settle down and buy the house I’d still be living in almost 30 years later.
It seemed ridiculous. On a practical level, there’s no way I could afford to buy a house anytime soon. More importantly, I wouldn’t want to. I’m not sure where I’ll be living in two years, or what kind of job I’ll have. And I don’t think I’ll be ready to settle down and stay in one place.
So this is probably the generation gap that divides my friends and me from our parents. When our parents were our age, they’d gotten their education, chosen a career, and were starting to settle into responsible adult lives.
My friends and I – “Generation Y” – still aren’t sure what we want to do with our lives. Whatever we end up doing, we want to make sure we’re happy doing it. We’d rather take risks first, try out different jobs, and move from one city to another until we find our favorite place. We’d rather spend our money on travel than put it in a savings account.
This casual attitude toward responsibility has caused some critics to call my generation “arrogant”, “impatient”, and “overprotected”. Some of these complaints have a point. As children we were encouraged to succeed in school, but also to have fun. We grew up in a world full of technological innovation: cellphones, the Internet, instant messaging, and video games.
Our parents looked to rise vertically(垂直的)--starting at the bottom of the ladder and slowly making their way to the top, on the same track, often for the same company. That doesn’t apply to my generation.
Because of that, it may take us longer than our parents to arrive at responsible, stable adulthood. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In our desire to find satisfaction, we will work harder, strive for ways to keep life interesting, and gain a broader set of experiences and knowledge than our parents’ generation did.
By Ariel LewitonWhen the author walked through her parents’ house, she _______.
| A．was frightened that she had no idea what she wanted from life |
| B．started to think about her own life |
| C．realized I should buy a house. |
| D．wondered why her parents had settled down early |
What is the main “generation gap” between the author and her friends and their parents according to the article?
| A．Their attitude toward high technology. |
| B．Their ways of making their way to the top. |
| C．Their attitude towards responsibility. |
| D．Their ways of gaining experience. |
Which of the following might the author agree with?
| A．It’s all right to try more before settling down. |
| B．It’s better to take adult responsibility earlier. |
| C．It involves too much effort to rise vertically. |
| D．It’s ridiculous to call her generation “arrogant”. |
What can we conclude from the article?
| A．The author is envious of her parents enjoying a big house at her age. |
| B．Growing up in a hi-tech world makes “Generation Y” feel insecure about relationships. |
| C．“Generation Y” people don’t want to grow up and love to be taken care of by their parents. |
| D．The author wrote this article so that others would be able to understand her generation better. |
What is the main theme of the article?
| A．The sudden realization of growing up. |
| B．A comparison between lifestyles of generations. |
| C．Criticisms of the young generation. |
| D．The factors that have changed the young generation. |
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had an experience which occurred merely two feet away from me.
Trying to locate my friend among the passengers coming through the jet way, I noticed a man walking toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he kissed his three children one by one and said, “It’s nice to see you. I missed you so much!” Then he hugged his wife, “I’ve saved the best for last!” giving her the longest, most passionate (热情的) kiss I ever remember seeing. They stared at each other’s eyes, smiling at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn’t possibly be.
Full of admiration, I asked, “Wow! How long have you two been married?” “Being together for fourteen years total, married twelve of those.” He replied, without breaking his stare from his lovely wife’s face. “Well, then, how long have you been away?” I asked. “Two whole days!” “Two days?” I was astonished. By the intensity (热烈) of the greeting, I had thought he’d been gone for at least several weeks — if not months. I knew my expression gave away me, so I turned away my eyes and said quietly, “I hope my marriage is still that passionate after so long!”
The man suddenly stopped smiling and looked at me straight in the eye. With forcefulness he told me something that left me a different person. “Don’t hope, friend…decide!” Then he smiled again, shook my hand and said, “God bless!”
With that, he and his family turned and walked away together.
I was still watching that man and his special family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, “What are you looking at?” Without hesitation, and with a curious sense of certainty, I replied, “My future!”The best title of the passage may be __________.
| A．Long Loving Hugs | B．My Future |
| C．Love Is Everywhere | D．Don’t Hope, Decide |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．It was fourteen years since the couple had got married. |
| B．After being away for several weeks, the man missed his family very much. |
| C．The man replied to the author, with his eyes still fixed on his wife’s face. |
| D．Their three kids reminded the author of newlyweds. |
By saying “my expression gave away me” （in Paragraph 4）, the author means that __________.
| A．he failed to express his ideas to the man |
| B．his expression was not faithful to him |
| C．he didn’t believe in his expression any more |
| D．the man sensed his real feelings from his expression |
From the passage, we can infer that __________.
| A．the author will live a passionate life from now on |
| B．the experience may be easily forgotten by the author |
| C．the author will be away from his family and hug them passionately upon his return |
| D．Americans prefer to save the best for last |
Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father,“But,Dad,you can’t be healthy if you’re dead?”
Dad,in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run,had forgotten to wear his safety belt——a mistake 75% of the US population make every day.The big question is why.
There have been many myths about safety belts ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago.The following are three of the most common.
Myth Number One:It’s best to be“thrown clear”of a serious accident.
Truth:Sorry,but any accident serious enough to “throw you clear”is also going to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing.And chances are you’ll have traveled through a windshield(挡风玻璃)or door to do it.Studies show that chances of dying after a car accident are twenty-five times greater in cases where people are“thrown clear.”
Myth Number Two:Safety belts“trap”people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.
Truth:Sorry again,but studies show that people knocked unconscious(昏迷)due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents,People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situations,not to be trapped in them.
Myth Number Three:Safety belts aren’t needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour(mph).
Truth:When two cars traveling at 30 mph hit each other,an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 meters.Why did Elizabeth say to her father,“But Dad,you can’t be healthy if you’re dead”?
| A．He didn’t have his safety belt on. |
| B．He was running across the street. |
| C．He was driving at great speed |
| D．He didn’t take his medicine on time. |
The reason Father was in a hurry to get home was that he____.
| A．wasn’t feeling very well |
| B．wanted to take some exereise |
| C．hated to drive in the dark |
| D．didn’t want to be caught by the police |
According to the text,to be “thrown clear”of a serious accident is very dangerous
because you_____.
| A．may be knocked down by other cars |
| B．may get caught in the car door |
| C．may find it impossible to get away from the seat |
| D．may get seriously hurt being thrown out of the car |
Some people prefer to drive without wearing a safety belt because they believe__.
| A．they will be unable to think clearly in an accident |
| B．the belt prevents them from escaping in an accident |
| C．they will be caught when help comes |
| D．cars catch fire easily |
What is the advice given in the text?
| A．Never drive faster than 30 miles an hour. |
| B．Never forget to wear the safety belt while driving. |
| C．Try your best to save yourself in a car accident. |
| D．Drive slowly while you’re not wearing a safety belt. |
Cyberspace, the connections between computers in different places, considered as a real place where information, messages and pictures exist, mirrors the real world in many ways. People ask for information, play games, and share hobbies. Others buy and sell products. Still others look for friendship, or even love.
Unlike the real world, however, your knowledge about a person is limited to words on a computer screen. Identity and appearance mean very little in cyberspace. Rather, a person’s thoughts—or at least the thoughts they type—are what really count. So even the shyest person can become a chat room star.
Usually, this “faceless” communication doesn’t create problems. Identity doesn’t really matter when you’re in a chat room discussing politics or hobbies. In fact, this emphasis(强调,重视) on the ideas themselves makes the Internet a great place for exciting conversation. Where else can so many people come together to chat? But some Internet users want more than just someone to chat with. They’re looking for serious love relationships. Is cyberspace a good place to find love? That answer depends on whom you ask. Some of these relationships actually succeed. Others fail miserably.
Supporters of online relationships state that the Internet allows couples to get to know each other intellectually first. Personal appearance doesn’t get in the way. But critics of online relationships argue that no one can truly know another person in cyberspace. Why? Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them. Internet users can carefully craft their words to fit whatever image they want to give. And they don’t have to worry about what their “nonverbal” (非言语交际的)communication is doing for their image. In a sense, they’re not really themselves.
All of this may be fine if the relationship stays in cyberspace. But not knowing a person is a big problem in a love relationship. With so many unknowns, it’s easy to let one’s imagination “fill in the blanks.” This inevitably(不可避免地) leads to disappointment when couples meet in person. How someone imagines an online friend is often quite more different than the real person. So, before looking for love in cyberspace, remember the advice of Internet pioneer Clifford Stoll: “Life in the real world is far richer than anything you’ll find on a computer screen.”According to the passage, chatting in the cyberspace ________.
| A．puts emphasis on people’s thoughts |
| B．needs people to be rich in knowledge |
| C．stresses more about people’s identity |
| D．allows people to discuss politics secretly |
People who are against online love think ________.
| A．what is said online is under control of the Internet |
| B．it is hard to protect the other’s identity |
| C．the faceless communication is exciting |
| D．one may not show the real self in cyberspace |
By saying “With so many unknowns, it’s easy to let one’s imagination ‘fill in the blanks’”, the writer means that ________.
| A．the Internet allows people to get more information about their loved ones |
| B．the Internet makes it easy for people to imagine how others view them |
| C．people usually get to know each other by chance through the Internet |
| D．people may be disappointed when they meet in person |
We can infer from the last paragraph that Clifford________.
| A．supports to look for love in the real life |
| B．demands to develop the computer system |
| C．encourages people to enjoy modern life |
| D．believes it hopeless to find love online |
What’s the attitude of the author?
A. Subjective B.Objective C Positive D.Negative
A baby born in India has been declared the world's seven billionth person by child rights group Plan International．Baby Nargis was born at 07：25 local time(01：55GMT)in Mall village in India's Uttar Pradesh state．Plan International says Nargis has been chosen symbolically as it is not possible to know where exactly the seven billionth baby is born．In addition to baby Nargis in India，Bangladesh，the Philippines and Cambodia have all identified seven billionth babies．The United Nations estimated that on Monday 31 October．the world's population would reach seven billion．
Populations are growing faster than economies in many poor countries in Africa and some in Asia．At the same time，low birth rates in Japan and many European nations have raised concerns about labor shortages．
Population experts at the United Nations estimated that the world reached six billion in October 1999．They predict nine billion by 2050 and ten billion by the end of the century． China's population of one and a third billion is currently the world's largest．India is second at 1．2 billion．But India is expected to pass China and reach one and a half billion people around 2025．
India will also have one of the world's youngest populations．Economists say this is a chance for a so-called．demographic dividend．India could gain from the skills of young people in a growing economy at a time when other countries have aging populations．But economists say current rates of growth，although high，may not create enough jobs．Also，the public education system is failing to meet demand and schooling is often of poor quality．Another concern is health care．Nearly half of India's children under the age of five are malnourished(营养不良).
Michal Rutkowski，the director of human development in South Asia at the World Bank, says reaching seven billion people in the world is a good time for a call to action．He says，“I think the bottom line of the story is that the public policy needs to become really，really serious about sex equality and about access to services—to fight against malnutrition，and to provide for access to health services，water and schooling．”What is true about the world's seven billionth person?
| A．Baby Nargis is not the only child chosen as the seven billionth baby. |
| B．Baby Nargis has been chosen carefully so it is exactly the seven billionth baby． |
| C．Three countries have all declared Baby Nargis as the seven billi011th baby. |
| D．The United Nations declared Baby Nargis as the world's seven billionth person． |
Which of the following problems do many European countries worry about?
| A．Labor shortage． | B．Poor health care． |
| C．Not enough jobs． | D．Schooling of poor quality． |
According to population experts，how long will it take for population to grow from six billion to nine billion?
| A．About 12 years． | B．About 40 years． | C．About 50 years． | D．About 110 years． |
What does the underlined phrase“demographic dividend”in the fourth paragraph refer to?
| A．Possibility of lower birth rate． |
| B．Benefit gained by working young people． |
| C．Chances for more employment． |
| D．Disadvantages caused by aging population． |
Which of the following public policies does Michal Rutkowski call on?
| A．To encourage late marriage． | B．To reduce world's population． |
| C．To gain economic equality． | D．To improve health and education． |
Suppose you work in a big firm and find English very important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen.Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English,espeually your spoken English.
Here are some information you need about English Language training.
Global English Centre
| *General English in all four skills listening,speaking,reading and writing *3-month(700 yuan),6-month(1,200 yuan)and one-year(2,000 yuan) courses *Choice of morning or evening classes,3 hours per day,Mon-Fri *Experienced college English teachers. *Close to city centre and bus stops. Tel:67605272 Add:105 Zhongshan Road,100082 |
| Modern Language School *Special courses in English for business,travel,banking,hotel management and office skills. *Small classes(12-16 students)on Sat,& Sun,from 2:00-5:00pm. *Native English teachers from Canada and USA. *Language lab and computers supplied. *3-month course:1,050 yuan;6-month course:1,850 yuan. Write or phone:Modern Language School,675 Park Road 100056 Tel:67353019 |
| The 2lst Century English Training Centre *We specialize in effective teaching at all levels. *We offer morning or afternoon classes,both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan. *We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays. *Entrance exams:June 1 and Dec 1 *Only 15-minute walk from city centre. Call 67801642 for more information |
| The International House of English *Three/Six-month English courses for students of all levels at very cost:60 yuan for 12 hours per week;convenient class hours:9:00-12:00am and 2:00-5:00pm. *A four-month evening programme for developing speaking skills(same cost as day classes) *Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a second/foreign language. *Free sightseeing and social activities(活动) *Very close to the Central Park. For further information call 67432308 |
You work from 9:00am to 4:30pm every day which schools will you choose?
| A．Global English Centred and the International House. |
| B．Global English Centre and Modern Language School. |
| C．Modern Language School and the 21st Century. |
| D．The 21st Century and the International House |
The 21st Century is different from the other three schools in that____.
| A．its teaching quality is better |
| B．it is nearest to the city centre |
| C．it requires an entrance examination |
| D．its courses are more advanced |
You will probably prefer to go to the International House because it____.
| A．offers free sightseeing and social activities |
| B．costs less than the other schools |
| C．has a special course in spoken English |
| D．has native English teachers |
If you take the evening programme at the International House,you will pay about___
| A．60 yuan | B．240 yuan | C．730 yuan | D．1000 yuan |
The passage is most probably taken from_____.
| A．travel book | B．a library guide |
| C．advertisements from newspapers | D．a project handbook |
In America，Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort：brilliant beaches，a lively boardwalk，plenty of restaurants and nightspots，and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids．Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season，when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild．
Meanwhile，some safety tips should be followed，enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers．
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety：pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands．Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous．Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves．However，a calm ocean can become risky without warning．Make sure you swim near a lifeguard．Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards．
Never swim alone．Many drownings involve single swimmers．When you swim with someone else，if one of you has a problem，the other may be able to get help，including signaling for assistance from others．
Don't fight the current．The facts show that some 80％ of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents．These currents are formed by surf and gravity，because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach，gravity pulls it back．This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore．If you are caught in a rip current，don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore．Instead，swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax，then swim to shore．Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety．When coming to Virginia Beach，children can enjoy the happiness of the following except .
| A．walking on the road made of wood | B．joining the nightspots |
| C．having interesting rides | D．skiing in the sea |
Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be .
| A．after autumn school term beginning | B．in the slimmer vacation |
| C．during the Christmas holiday | D．in the cold winter |
Swimming in the sea you'd better not swim .
| A．with a friend | B．within the sight of the lifeguard |
| C．with the current | D．as far as you like |
From the passage，we can know .
| A．one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned |
| B．if one with lifeguard were drowning，five persons without lifeguard would be |
| C．some 80％people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards |
| D．some 20％drowning by the currents are rescued by life guards |
The passage mainly tells us .
| A．some safety tips when swimming in the sea |
| B．the happiness and excitement the beach offers |
| C．Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort |
| D．the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea |
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Taking good notes is a time-saving skill that will help you to become a batter student in several ways. 71 Second, your notes are excellent materials to refer to when you are studying for a test. Third, note-taking offers variety to your study time and helps you to hold your interest.
You will want to take notes during classroom discussions and while reading a textbook or doing research for a report. 72 Whenever or however you take notes, keep in mind that note-taking is a selective process.73
The following methods may work best for you.
● Read the text quickly to find the main facts and ideas in it.
● Carefully read the text and watch for words that can show main points and supporting facts.
● Write your notes in your own words.
● 74
● Note any questions or ideas you may have about what was said or written.
As you take notes, you may want to use your own shorthand(速记). When you do, be sure that you understand your symbols and that you use them all the time.75
| A. Use words, not complete sentences. B. There are three practical note-taking methods. C. You must write your notes on separate paper. D. Otherwise, you may not be able to read your notes later. E. You will also want to develop your own method for taking notes. F. That means you must first decide what is important enough to include in your notes. G. First, the simple act of writing something down makes it easier for you to understand and remember it. |
The gray-haired lady can’t wait to leave the building to search for her dad. Unless watched, she will walk in the streets in an effort to find her father, who died 30 years ago.
Not all cases of Alzheimer’s disease(老年痴呆症) look like this, but Alzheimer’s is a serious disease that is said to be the fourth or fifth leading cause of death for people over age 75. It is said that about three percent of the U.S. population over age 65 have Alzheimer’s. In the early stages, people may exhibit short-term memory loss. Some may experience changes in personality, easy to be angry. As the disease progresses, patients might lose the ability to move and may be unable to speak or move at all. This progressive disease generally lasts 8 to 10 years before death occurs.
While no one is certain what causes these changes in the brain’s nerve fibers （神经纤维）, their effect is certain. Alzheimer’s destroys not only the patients, but also spouses（配偶）, friends and families.
What should you do if you notice progressive memory loss in yourself or a loved one? Have the person examined by a doctor who is a specialist in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease? Though many reasons other than Alzheimer’s disease may cause memory loss, its early diagnosis（诊断）and treatment may delay some of the most serious effects.
What feeling will you likely experience if a loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease? A person will often go through the various stages of sadness, shock, anger, and so on. If the spouse develops the disease, you may experience hurt and disappointment when he or she doesn’t remember you are married.
Life for the Alzheimer’s patients and their loved ones will never be the same as the disease progresses, bringing a deep sorrow, loss and even anger towards God. No matter what feelings are present, facing them honestly will serve one better than burying them.What can be inferred from the passage about the gray-haired day?
| A．She has been living with her father. |
| B．She was sad about the death of her father. |
| C．She can’t search for her father without being watched. |
| D．She suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. |
When people suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, ________.
| A．their families and friends will suffer from the same disease |
| B．their families and friends will experience mental sufferings |
| C．they will certainly die in 8 to 10 years |
| D．they will forget everybody but their spouses |
Memory loss occurs ________.
| A．from Alzheimer’s disease and nothing else |
| B．from sadness, shock, anger, and so on |
| C．for a number of reasons |
| D．with changes in personality |
From the passage we know that .
| A．early treatment may stop Alzheimer’s disease occurring |
| B．it is still unknown what causes the changes in the brain’s nerve fibers |
| C．nerve fibers in the brain will cause Alzheimer’s disease |
| D．when one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, he will be buried |
The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. There are some traditions that you can find almost anywhere, anytime, such as sending birthday cards, blowing out the candles on a birthday cake and singing the 'Happy Birthday' song. Others are only found for certain ages and in certain countries.
In China, on a child's second birthday, family members put many things on the floor around the child. According to Chinese tradition, the first thing that the child picks up tells you what profession(职业) the child will choose later in life.
For Japanese children, the third, fifth and seventh birthdays are especially important. At this age, there is a special celebration Shichi-Go-San (seven, five, three in Japanese) when children go to the temple wearing a new kimono (和服). The priest (僧侣) gives them special sweets, and the parents usually organize a party for their friends in their home.
In Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries, girls have a special birthday celebration when they reach the age of fifteen. After a special ceremony (仪式), the girls dance a waltz with their father and other boys.
Eighteen is the traditional “coming of age”— the age when (in many countries) you have the right to vote (选举), join the army and (in Britain) drink alcohol or buy a house.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top, or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. The key means that the young person is now old enough to leave and enter the family home at any time they want to! Which of the following birthday traditions can be found almost anywhere, anytime?
| A．Putting many things on the floor. |
| B．Wearing a new kimono. |
| C．Dancing a waltz. |
| D．Sending birthday cards. |
In many countries you can ________ when you reach the age of eighteen.
| A．join the army |
| B．have a key |
| C．have a special ceremony |
| D．have special sweets |
Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
| A．The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. |
| B．Some birthday traditions are only found in certain countries. |
| C．You become the owner of your house at the age of fifteen. |
| D．In many countries you have the right to vote at the age of eighteen. |
Which is the best title of this passage?
| A．Birthday Traditions around the World |
| B．Chinese Birthday Celebrations |
| C．Japanese Special Celebration |
| D．The Drinking Age in Many Countries |
Betty and Harold have been married for years.But one thing still puzzles old Harold.How is it that he can leave Betty and her friend Joan sitting on the sofa,talking,go out to a ballgame,come back three and a half hours later,and they’re still sitting on the sofa?Talking?
What in the world,Harold wonders,do they have to talk about?
Betty shrugs.Talk?We’re friends.
Researching this matter called friendship,psychologist Lilian Rubin spent two years interviewing more than two hundred women and men.No matter what their age,their job,their sex,the results were completely clear:women have more friendships than men,and the difference in the content and the quality of those friendships is “marked and unmistakable.”
More than two-thirds of the single men Rubin interviewed could not name a best friend.Those who could were likely to name a woman.Yet three-quarters of the single women had no problem naming a best friend,and almost always it was a woman.More married men than women named their wife/husband as a best friend,most trusted person,or the one they would turn to in time of emotional distress(感情危机).“Most women,”says Rubin,“identified at least one,usually more,trusted friends to whom they could turn in a troubled moment,and they spoke openly about the importance of these relationships in their lives.”
“In general,”writes Rubin in her new book,“women’s friendships with each other rest on shared emotions and support,but men’s relationships are marked by shared activities.”For the most part,Rubin says,interactions(交往)between men are emotionally controlled-a good fit with the social requirements of “manly behavior.”
“Even when a man is said to be a best friend,”Robin writes,“the two share little about their innermost feelings.Whereas a woman’s closest female friend might be the first to tell her to leave a failing marriage, it wasn’t unusual to hear a man say he didn’t know his friend’s marriage was in serious trouble until he appeared one night asking if he could sleep on the sofa.”What old Harold cannot understand or explain is the fact that_____.
| A．he is treated as an outsider rather than a husband |
| B．women show little interest in ballgames |
| C．women have so much to share |
| D．he finds his wife difficult to talk to |
Rubin’s study shows that for emotional support a married woman is more likely to turn to _____.
| A．a male friend | B．her parents | C．a female friend | D．her husband |
According to the text,which type of behavior is NOT expected of a man by society?
| A．Ending his marriage without good reason. |
| B．Complaining about his marriage trouble. |
| C．Spending too much time with his friends. |
| D．Going out to ballgames too often. |
Which of the following statements is best supported by the last paragraph?
| A．Women are more serious than men about marriage. |
| B．Men keep their innermost feelings to themselves. |
| C．Men often take sudden action to end their marriage. |
| D．Women depend on others in making decisions. |
The research done by psychologist Rubin centers around_____.
| A．friendships of men and women |
| B．happy and successful marriages |
| C．emotional problems in marriage |
| D．interactions between men and women |
You’re standing with your classmates. Everyone is talking—except you. Perhaps you’re afraid they will laugh at what you say. Or maybe you just aren’t brave enough to speak.
I’ve been there, and so have many other people all over the world. Shyness is like a snake that crawls(爬进) into our mouths and stops us speaking. But we shouldn’t let it stay there.
I am 29 years old. Even today, that snake still sometimes visits me. But when I was in high school, I was so shy that I wouldn’t talk to anyone except my parents and best friends. If a stranger asked me the way to a local shop, it was as if I’d forgotten how to talk.
One summer, I got a job in a restaurant and that helped a lot. It meant I had to talk to customers. I had to tell them how much their meal cost. I had to ask them if they wanted to drink Coke or Sprite. I had to tell the people in the kitchen if someone wanted pickle（泡菜）on their sandwich.
This job taught me how to speak with people.
You may not be old enough to find a part-time job. But you can look for other chances to speak with people. You can offer to help an old woman carry her heavy bag. Or you can go to get a newspaper for your family.
If you do these things for a while, the “shyness” snake will soon begin to leave you alone. It’ll look for another mouth to crawl into.The example in the first paragraph is used to .
| A．show that everyone has the right to speak in class |
| B．tell readers that it is not right to laugh at others |
| C．introduce the fact that many people have a shyness problem |
| D．argue that it is alright to keep silent in public |
The underlined sentence in the second paragraph probably means .
| A．he’s been in many situations that make other people feel shy |
| B．he is confident that he can find a way to get over shyness |
| C．he is sad because he knows he will always be shy |
| D．like many other people he once was troubled by shyness |
The author’s duties in the restaurant included .
| A．cooking the meals for customers |
| B．taking the customers’ orders |
| C．discussing the menu with the manager |
| D．helping people in the kitchen |
Who was the article written for?
| A．Shy early teenagers. |
| B．College students. |
| C．People who work at a restaurant. |
| D．People who need a part-time job. |
下面文章中有5处（第81~85题）需要添加小标题，请从以下选项中选出符合各段意思的小标题，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑,选项中一项为多余选项.
| A．Learn Everyday |
| B．Agree to Disagree |
| C．Respect Each Other |
| D．Arrange Some Time to Go Out |
E. Develop Healthy Relationships
F. Learn to Listen and Speak
Healthy Relationship Tips
Healthy relationships are effortless, if both the people involved take equal effort to maintain it. Here are a few healthy relationship tips to help you build the dream of your life.
81. ________________
Communication is an art of putting your thoughts into words, so that they are exactly understood by the opposite person. Communication does not mean going on talking unnecessarily. This is the first mistake that couples make. One person in the relationship assumes the role of talker and the other becomes the listener. Their roles remain so forever. The talker forgets to listen and the listener becomes used to listening and not reacting. If your partner takes time to open up, help them out by asking questions. So hear them out and give proper reactions. You will obtain the benefits of a healthy relationship through increased confidence in both of you to open up and hear things out.
82. ________________
Regular conversations take the form of heated arguments amongst many couples. Understand that not every statement needs a reaction. Maybe a certain reaction may lead to an argument with your partner. Just agree with whatever it is and there will be no harm done. Try and reach a mutual (相互的) agreement. If that’s not possible leave the topic for later. If you give it time, maybe both of you will be able to think about it rationally.
83. ________________
Every single day is a blessing. Each moment with your partner is a moment to learn something new and discover the finer nuances (细微差别) of your relationships. Each one of us keep changing everyday, the circumstances around us change everyday and with that our attitude also needs to change. The same applies when you are living with a person. Learning everyday and taking everyday as a challenge will help you perfect healthy relationship tips.
84. ________________
This tip is especially meant for couples with children to maintain healthy relationships. After a certain period, couples complain about romance being lost. To keep your relationship healthy, take some time out from your day-to-day routines to spend some quality time with your partner. This can be done as dinners, indulging in outdoor activities or just hanging out at a coffee shop like old times.
85. ________________
Respect has to be earned. It can only be earned only if you learn to respect. Often, one of the partners plays the role of a dictator to give orders, while the other simply follows. Both sides involved are equally responsible for this mistake. Learn to respect each other and understand that both of you are equally responsible for the relationship.
Creating a healthy relationship takes equal effort from both sides. Sharing, caring, being apologetic, forgiving and having realistic expectations are some of the important ingredients to the recipe of a healthy relationship.
The common cold is the world’s most widespread illness, which is plagues(疫病) that flesh receives. The most widespread fallacy(谬误) of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused by viruses passing on from person to person. You catch a cold by coming into contact, directly or indirectly, with someone who already has one. If cold causes colds, it would be reasonable to expect the Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in isolated arctic regions explorers have reported being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes.
During the First World War soldiers who spent long periods in the trenches(战壕), cold and wet, showed no increased tendency to catch colds.
In the Second World War prisoners at the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp(奥斯维辛集中营), naked and starving, were astonished to find that they seldom had colds. At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in Experiments in which they gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for long stretches of time. After taking hot baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in drafty room. Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose.
If, then, cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in the winter？Despite the most pains-taking research, no one has yet found the answer. One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on.
No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain suppressors(止痛片) such as aspirin, but all they do is relieve the symptoms. The writer offered _______ examples to support his argument.
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．3 |
Which of the following does not agree with the chosen passage?
| A．The Eskimos do not suffer from colds all the time. |
| B．Colds are not caused by cold. |
| C．People suffer from colds just because they like to stay indoors. |
| D．A person may catch a cold by touching someone who already has one. |
Arctic explorers may catch colds when _______.
| A．they are working in the isolated arctic regions |
| B．they are writing reports in terribly cold weather |
| C．they are free from work in the isolated arctic regions |
| D．they are coming into touch again with the outside world |
Volunteers taking part in the experiments in the Common Cold Research Unit _______.
| A．suffered a lot | B．never caught colds |
| C．often caught colds | D．became very strong |
The passage mainly discusses _______.
| A．the experiments on the common cold |
| B．the fallacy about the common cold |
| C．the reason and the way people catch colds |
| D．the continued spread of common colds |
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