高中英语日常生活类阅读阅读理解

In general, it’s hard to spend enough time in both concentrating on lessons and taking part in social activities. But I wanted to succeed in both. I knew this would be a challenge but I didn’t realize how difficult it was until my class in the high school began.
I got on well with other girls. After school, I often had ice cream with them first instead of finishing my homework before it was time to hand it in. I always finished it the next day between classes. I knew it wasn’t very good and the grades that I got showed I was not hard working enough. I realized that I needed to find some kind of balance.
So I created a timetable that would divide my time between studying and relaxing. It was a good idea but I was only able to follow it for a few days because it made me under too much pressure.
Later, I tried another plan. Each week I listed everything that I had to get done during the week and the time by which I had to get it done. The under the things I had to do, I made another list of things that I could do if I had time.
It worked really well. Ever since I have never missed any important things. At the same time, I enjoyed my spare time a lot.
Planning my time has been challenging, but I continue to do it. I’m glad that I’ve learned to balance things and it has helped prepare for what is coming after graduation.
Why did the writer follow the first timetable only for a few days?
A．Because it had a specific list
B．Because it wasn’t a good idea
C．Because it brought her too much pressure.
What wasn’t included in the writer’s second time plan?
A．The things she shouldn’t do
B．the things she had to get done
C．The things she could do if she had time
According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A．The writer had few friends because of bad grade
B．Learning to balance things is helpful to make plans for the future
C．The writer preferred to spend more time in relaxing than studying
Which do you think is the best title of the passage?
A．Facing challenges
B．Concentrating on lessons
C．Balancing study and play

The famous director of a big and expensive movie planned to film a beautiful sunset over the ocean, so that the audiences could see his hero and heroine in front of it at the end of the film as they said goodbye to each other for ever. He sent his camera crew (摄影组) out one evening to film the sunset for him.
The next morning he said to the men, “Have you provided me with that sunset?”
“No, sir,” the men answered.
The director was angry, “Why not?” he asked.
“Well, sir,” one of the men answered, “we are on the east coast here, and the sun sets in the west. We can get you a sunrise over the sea, if necessary, but not a sunset.”
“But I want a sunset!” the director shouted. “Go to the airport, take the next flight to the west coast, and get one”
But then a young secretary had an idea. “Why don’t you photograph a sunrise?” she suggested, “and then play it backwards? Then it’ll look like a sunset.”
“That’s a good idea!” the director said. Then he turned to the camera crew and said, “Tomorrow morning I want you to get me a beautiful sunrise over the sea.”
The camera crew were out early the next morning and filmed a bright sunrise over the beach in the middle of a beautiful bay(海湾)。 Then at nine o’clock they took it to the director. “Here it is, sir.” They said, and gave it to him. He was very pleased.
They all went into the studio(摄影棚)。 “ All right,” the director explained, “ now our hero and heroine are going to say goodbye. Run the film backwards so that we can see the ‘sunset’ behind them.”
The “sunset” began, but after a quarter of minute, the director suddenly put his face in the hands and shouted to the camera crew to stop.
The birds in the film were flying backwards, and the waves on the sea were going away from the beach.
One evening, the director sent his camera crew out ______________.

A．to watch a beautiful sunset

B．to find an actor and an actress

C．to film a scene on the sea

D．to meet the audience

Why did the director want to send his crew to the west coast?
Because he changed his mind about getting a sunset
Because he was angry with his crew
Because it was his secretary’s suggestion
Because he wanted to get a scene of sunset
The director wanted to film a sunset over the ocean because___________.

A．it went well with the separation of the hero and heroine

B．when they arrived at the beach it was already in the evening

C．it was more moving than a sunrise

D．the ocean looked more beautiful at sunset

After the “sunset” began, the director suddenly put his face in his hands __________.

A．because he was moved to tears

B．as he saw everything in the film moving backwards

C．as the sunrise did not look as beautiful as he had imagined

D． because he was disappointed with the performance of the hero and heroine.

I don’t ever want to talk about being a woman scientist again. There was a time in my life when people asked constantly for stories about what it’s like to work in a field dominated by men. I was never very good at telling those stories because truthfully I never found them interesting. What I do find interesting is the origin of the universe, the shape of space-time and the nature of black holes.
At 19, when I began studying astrophysics, it did not bother me in the least to be the only woman in the classroom. But while earning my Ph.D. at MIT and then as a post-doctor doing space research, the issue started to bother me. My every achievement—jobs, research papers, awards—was viewed through the lens of gender (性别) politics. So were my failures. Sometimes, when I was pushed into an argument on left brain versus (相对于) right brain, or nature versus nurture (培育), I would instantly fight fiercely on my behalf and all womankind.
Then one day a few years ago, out of my mouth came a sentence that would eventually become my reply to any and all provocations: I don’t talk about that anymore. It took me 10 years to get back the confidence I had at 19 and to realize that I didn’t want to deal with gender issues. Why should curing sexism be yet another terrible burden on every female scientist? After all, I don’t study sociology or political theory.
Today I research and teach at Barnard, a women’s college in New York City. Recently, someone asked me how many of the 45 students in my class were women. You cannot imagine my satisfaction at being able to answer, 45. I know some of my students worry how they will manage their scientific research and a desire for children. And I don’t dismiss those concerns. Still, I don’t tell them “war” stories. Instead, I have given them this: the visual of their physics professor heavily pregnant doing physics experiments. And in turn they have given me the image of 45 women driven by a love of science. And that’s a sight worth talking about.
Why doesn’t the author want to talk about being a woman scientist again?

A．She feels unhappy working in male-dominated fields.

B．She is fed up with the issue of gender discrimination.

C．She is not good at telling stories of the kind.

D．She finds space research more important

From Paragraph 2, we can infer that people would owe the author’s failures to _____.

A．the very fact that she is a woman

B．her involvement in gender politics

C．her over-confidence as a female astrophysicist

D．the burden she bears in a male-dominated society

Why does the author feel great satisfaction when talking about her class?

A．Female students no longer have to bother about gender issues.

B．Her students’ performance has brought back her confidence.

C．Her female students can do just as well as male students.

D．More female students are pursuing science than before.

What does the image the author presents to her students suggest?

A．Women students needn’t have the concerns of her generation.

B．Women have more barriers on their way to academic success.

C．Women can balance a career in science and having a family.

D．Women now have fewer problems pursuing a science career.

A lot more people are about to get a chance to buy Google Glass. It’s the Internet-connected eyewear that has become the hottest sale.
Google will sell the “Explorer” version(版本) of Glass to any U.S. person who places an online order for the device beginning at 9am. PDT April 15. The product will cost $1,500. Google is saying how many sets of Glass will be available during the limited-time offer.
This version of Glass, though, still isn’t the perfect product that Google hopes to sell in stores later this year.
For now, Google is still trying to recruit(招聘) more people willing to serve as volunteers for its attempt to build a wearable device that features some of the same feature as a smart phone. “ Our Explorers are moms, bakers, surgeons, rockers, and each new Explorer has brought a new view that is making Glass better,” Google said.
The device has a small screen attached above the right eye. A user can check e-mails, see Twitter post or get directions without having to use a phone. It can also take hands-free photos and video through voice-activated(声控的) commands. The ability to record images so easily has raised safely concerns about drivers wearing Glass. The lawmakers have to draw up new rules forbidding use of the device in moving vehicles.
Google regards Glass as a breakthrough(突破). It will make it easier for people to surf the Internet while on the go. They also hope that the device could help police officers, firefighters, doctors and reporters do their jobs better.
What is special about Google Glass?

A．People can only order it online.

B．It’s cheaper than the ordinary glasses.

C．People can explore the Internet with it.

D．It doesn’t contain any actual glass in the future.

Google is still trying to recruit more volunteers to _____________.

A．improve their products

B．sell their products

C．advertise their products

D．wear their products

We can use Google Glass to do the following EXCEPT_____________.

A．check e-mails	B．make a call
C．take video	D．find your way

What problem may Google Glass bring to people?

A．Its screen is too small for people to surf the Internet.

B．It may cause traffic accidents if people use it while driving.

C．Users must use their hands to take photos.

D．It is difficult for many people to learn to use.

A drunken burglar in the Orrell Park area of Liverpool, ended up leaping out of a window after a 10-year-old girl asked him to prove he was a superhero.
The drunken thief who pretended he was Superman to stop a child raising the alarm has been caught after he leapt from the apartment building in his pants to make the girl convinced.
Theif Ethan Adamson, 25, told police that he had broken into a fifth-floor flat after a drinking session, believing it was empty.
But he was horrified when the owner’s 10-year-old daughter woke up while he was there.
From his hospital bed, the thief told reporters, “To keep her quiet, I told her I was really Superman and I’d soon be flying off back to my secret headquarters.”
“She called my bluff (向…摊牌) and told me, ‘If you’re Superman, show me you can fly or I’ll scream’.
“I had no choice so I stripped to my pants to look more like a superhero and went to the window. I saw another roof below and I thought I could make it but it turned out to be a lot further down than thought. I know it doesn’t make sense but it did to me when I was drunk.”
Police later found him on the roof in just his yellow pants, covered in cuts and bruises after a baffled neighbor heard his cries of pain.
He now faces seven years behind bars for burglary.
Police spokesman Frank Armado said, “ He was in quite a serious state and couldn’t move until we got up there using ladders. He was treated for his injuries and we got him some fresh clothes, before taking him to hospital where he is being kept under guard until he is well enough to be arrested.”
What does the underlined part in the passage mean?

A．I could land safely on the roof.

B．I could make the girl trust me.

C．I could prove I was a superhero.

D．I could make a successful escape.

What’s the right order of the event?
a. Ethan Adamson told reporters of the burglary.
b. The 10-year-old girl called Ethan Adamson’s bluff.
c. Ethan Adamson attended a drinking session.
d. Ethan Adamson leapt out of a window.

A．cabd

B．dbca

C．cbda

D．dcab

What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To report on a joking burglary

B．To call our attention to the burglary.

C．To explain how the burglar was caught.

D．To look back on an adventure story.

The evidence for harmony may not be obvious in some families. But it seems that four out of five young people now get on well with their parents, which is the opposite of the popularly-held image of unhappy teenagers locked in their room after endless family quarrels.
An important new study into teenage attitudes surprisingly shows that their family life is more harmonious than it had ever been in the past. “We were surprised by just how positive today’s young people seem to be about their families,” said one number of the research team. “They’re expected to be rebellious and selfish but actually they have other things on their minds: they want a car and material goods, and they worry about whether school is serving them well. There’s more negotiation and discussion between parents and children, and children expect to take part in the family decision-making process. They don’t want to rock the boat.”
So it seems that this generation of parents is much more likely than parents of 30 years ago to treat their children as friends. “My parents are happy to discuss things with me and willing to listen to me,” says 17-year-old Daniel Lazall. “I always tell them when I’m going out clubbing. As long as they know what I’m doing, they’re fine with me.” Susan Crome, who is now 21, agrees. “Looking back on the last 10 years, there was a lot of what you could call negotiation. For example, as long as I’d done all my homework, I could go out on a Saturday night. But I think my grandparents were a lot stricter with my parents than that.”
Maybe this positive view of family life should not be unexpected. It is possible that the idea of teenage rebellion is not rooted in real facts. A researcher comments, “Our surprise that teenagers say they get along well with their parents comes because of a brief period in our social history when teenagers were regarded as different beings. But that idea of rebelling and breaking away from their parents really happened during that one time in the 1960s when everyone rebelled. The normal situation throughout history has been a smooth change. ”
What is the popular image of the teenagers today?

A．They worry about school.

B．They quarrel a lot with other family members.

C．They have to be locked in to avoid troubles.

D．They dislike living with their parents.

Compared with parents of 30 years ago, today’s parents ____________.

A．go to clubs more often with their children

B．are much stricter with their children

C．give their children more freedom

D．care less about their children’s life

According to the writer, teenage rebellion __________.

A．may be a false belief

B．is common nowadays

C．existed only in the 1960s

D．resulted from changes in families

What is the passage mainly about?

A．Negotiation in family.

B．Education in family.

C．Harmony in family.

D．Teenage trouble in family.

An incredible dog has mastered more than just the doggy paddle (狗刨式游泳) — the golden brown pet helps disabled children learn how to surf. Ricochet’s owner Judy Fridono said, “I was working with her at balance and coordination (协作). Her balance is so good that she can help to stabilize the board for the kids. And it makes them feel good to know that Ricochet is there with them, keeping them company.”
After becoming an expert, two-year-old Ricochet helps the disabled children build up the confidence to get on the board themselves. Dressed in a yellow jacket, Ricochet helps to counter-balance the board and acts as a reassuring presence.
Ms. Fridono knows what an impact her beloved dog can have. She herself was severely disabled since her teens. Having Ricochet around lifts her spirits, and inspires her to conquer her pain to get on the board. “Ricochet has taught me to focus on what I can do, rather than what I can’t,” she said.
One of those who have benefited from Ricochet’s skills is six-year-old Ian McFarland. In 2008 a car crash left him with brain damage. Although he had loved surfing before the accident, he was too nervous to go back into the water. His fear turned to excitement, when he was told he could try a tandem (双人) surf session with Ricochet. Their session was a success and by the end of it, Ian was smiling from ear to ear. As well as helping with treatments, Ricochet also raised £5,000 to help continue Ian’s recovery.
Over the last 10 months, Ricochet’s excellent performances on the sea have raised more than £30,000 for a number of charity causes.
According to the passage, Ricochet is          .

A．a dog	B．a doctor
C．a dog owner	D．a disabled boy

What role does Ricochet play according to the passage?

A．She acts as a pet to please its owner.

B．She accompanies the disabled children at home.

C．She works as a guide dog for the blind

D．She helps the disabled children learn to surf.

Which statement can best describe Ricochet?

A．The two-year-old dog is severely disabled.

B．Ricochet helps youngsters build up their confidence.

C．Ricochet helps youngsters in their daily life.

D．Ricochet is a lifesaver on the sea.

What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic(认错的) about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.
What is the passage mainly about?

A．The importance of working hard at school.

B．Choosing a career according to one’s strengths.

C．How to face one’s weakness.

D．The value of school work.

The writer thinks that a student to have a part-time job is probably ___.

A．a good way to find out his weak points

B．one of the best ways of earning extra money

C．of great use for his work in the future

D．a waste of time he could have spent on study

From the passage we learn that if a student’s school performance is not good, he ___________.

A．should pay more attention to learning skills and developing abilities

B．will be regretful about his bad results

C．may also do well in his future work

D．should restart his study in school

From the last paragraph we know one should _________.

A．make full use of one’s own weak points

B．study harder for a new school record

C．apologize for one’s own school record

D．face one’s own weak points bravely

I had recently arrived in London and I wanted to see some of the famous places. Should I go to the seaside? Or maybe one of the famous parks? I walked along the street, past a kindergarten playground, and suddenly saw an underground railway station. I was surprised because it was not on my map. I went to buy a ticket. The ticket-seller looked very old. He gave me a ticket, said "Remember it's a return", laughed and walked away without taking my money. Was it special for tourists?
A train arrived. I could not see any other passengers. I got on and the doors closed. I suddenly felt I should not have got onto the train. It started to go faster and faster, shooting along the tracks. As it entered the tunnel, everything became as dark as midnight and I do not remember the next few minutes. The train came to a station and I got out. I could see light shining in the distance so I walked towards it and came to a door. Beyond it there was a busy street.
There were lots of English people walking about, and I could see some of the famous buildings of London, but there was something wrong. The people's clothes were strange. There were no cars, no motorbikes—but there were horses everywhere. Was someone making a film?
“Excuse me,” I said to a man. “Would you mind telling me where I am and what is happening?”
“What do you mean? Who are you? Where do you come from? Are you from China? This is London and everyone's going to work. Can't you see that?” he asked.
“Thank you, sir. I'm sorry, but could I look at your newspaper?” I asked.
“You can have it,” he said as he walked off.
I looked at it; I saw “New Bicycle Law” and above that “July 5, 1880”.
Maybe I should have walked around, but I ran back to the door. I waited a long time. I was very afraid. A train came. I got on. It took me back to the first station. As I left, a woman asked, “What were you doing in that abandoned station?” I had no answer, but I still had the newspaper in my hand.
Why was the author surprised at the beginning of the story?

A．Because he suddenly saw an underground railway station.

B．Because he walked past a kindergarten playground.

C．Because the ticket-seller looked very old.

D．Because he couldn’t find the station on his map.

What does the underlined “it” in the second paragraph most probably mean?

A．The train.	B．The light.
C．The distance.	D．The door

Why did the author think he had arrived in a film-making scene?

A．Because he could see some of the famous buildings of London.

B．Because he had done something wrong in the street of London.

C．Because he could only see horses rather than cars in the streets.

D．Because the people in the streets were all neatly dressed.

According to the passage, New Bicycle Law might be _______.

A．The name for a London street.

B．The name for a film made in London.

C．The name for a newspaper article

D．The name for a underground station.

Where can this passage most probably be taken from?

A．In a storybook.

B．In a math textbook.

C．In a travel guidebook.

D．In a scientific experiment report.

As I grew older, my dad and I grew further apart. We always had totally different opinions. He thought that college was a waste of time, but for me it was important to finish college. He wanted me to work my way to the top as he had done in his field, but I wanted a different life. There was a time when we did not talk with each other.
A few months ago, I heard that my 84-year-old dad was in poor health. When he called and asked whether I could move from Colorado back to Tennessee to help him, I knew he was seriously ill. I am his only child and so it was time to meet my father's requirement.
Two weeks after moving back，we bought a boat and started fishing again. Fishing was one of the few things that we did while I was young and that we both enjoyed. It is strange but true that as we are fishing we are able to put things that have kept us apart for so many years behind us. We are able to talk about things that we have never talked about before. Fishing has been healing the old wounds that have kept us apart.
It is not important how many fish we catch. It is about enjoying the relationship that we have not had for years. I' m 62 and he is 84. When we are on the lake fishing, it is like enjoying life. It is far better to find a way to put the unhappy past behind. I am so lucky to spend the happy time with my father in his last years. Now my heart is filled with love. A smile always graces my lips.
The author and his father became further apart because     .

A．they lived very far from each other

B．they seldom went see each other

C．they only communicated by phone

D．they had different views on things

Why did the author come back to Tennessee?

A．Because his father invited him to work there.

B．Because he decided to live in a different city.

C．Because his father was ill and needed caring.

D．Because he regretted being rude to his father.

For the author, fishing with his old father     .

A．helps cure his father’s disease

B．makes him realize the importance of relaxation

C．is a good way to get close to nature

D．provides a chance for them to communicate

Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Fishing Brings Us Together	B．Forgiving Is Difficult
C．Memories of Old Days	D．My Beloved Father

If you will be cycling, you will need to know what these traffic signs and signals mean.
A sign like this one means that there is a bike lane(道). If there is a bike lane, you are required to use it. If there is not a bike lane, you should ride with traffic as far to the right side of the road as possible.

When the signal light turns green, cars go. When you cross the street at a signal light, you should wait for the walk signal. Be sure to look carefully to the left, right and left again, before crossing the street.

When the signal light turns yellow, car drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. You should not cross if the light is yellow. The light is about to turn red, and cars will enter the intersection(十字路口).
This signal is the WALK sign. It has a picture of a person walking instead of using the word WALK.

This signal is the DON’T WALK sign. It is part of the signal with the picture of a person walking. This is a picture of a red hand, meaning you should stop. You should wait to cross the street until the green picture of the person walking is showing.
Car drivers and bikers must come to a complete stop at STOP signs.

A yield sign means to slow down and be ready to stop. If there are pedestrians（行人）or vehicles in or nearing the intersection, you must stop. If there is no traffic in or nearing the intersection and it is safe, you may go through.

This sign means you are coming to a crosswalk. Car drivers and bikers must stop to allow people in the crosswalk to cross the street.
The passage is intended for               .

A．car drivers	B．skaters
C．bikers	D．pedestrians

If you see the sign while riding a bike, you are required to               .

A．take the bike lane

B．stop your bike

C．ride close to the right side of the road

D．ride in the middle of the road

Which of the following signs has the same meaning as the sign?

A．

B．

C．

D．

When the signal light turns yellow, cyclists               .

A．can cross the road	B．should walk across the road
C．should wait	D．can enter the intersection

I took the bus to work for many years. No one knew each other; the passengers all sat there sleepily in the morning. The bus was cheerless and silent.
One of the passengers was a small gray-haired man who took the bus to the center for senior citizens every morning. No one ever paid very much attention to him.
One July morning he said good morning to the driver and smiled. The driver nodded guardedly(戒备地). The rest of us were silent.
The next day, the old man boarded with a big smile and said in a loud voice: “A very good morning to you all!” Some of us looked up, amazed, and murmured “Good Morning” in reply.
The following weeks, our friend was dressed in a nice old suit and tie. His thin hair had been carefully combed. He said good morning to us every day and we gradually began to nod and talk to each other.
One morning he even had a bunch of wild flowers in his hand. The driver turned around smiling and asked: “Have you got yourself a girlfriend, Charlie?” We never got to know if his name really was “Charlie”, but he nodded shyly and said yes. The other passengers whistled and clapped at him. Charlie waved the flowers before he sat down on his seat.
Every morning after that Charlie always brought flowers. Some passengers also brought flowers for him. The bus became a happy place.
Then, one morning, as autumn was closing in, Charlie wasn’t waiting at his usual stop. When he wasn’t there the next day and the day after that, we started wondering if he was sick or—hopefully – on holiday somewhere.
When we came nearer to the center for senior citizens, one of the passengers asked the driver to wait. We all held our breaths when he went to the door.
The old gentle man was fine, but one of his close friends had died over the weekend. How silent we were the rest of the way to work.
The next Monday Charlie was waiting at the stop, stooping (弯腰) a bit more, a little bit more gray, and without a tie. Inside the bus was silent. Even though no one had talked about it, all of us sat there silently, our eyes filled with tears and a bunch of wild flowers in our hands.
From the passage, we can infer that             .

A．people always cared about each other on the bus

B．people were unhappy and sleepy on the bus because they were tired

C．smiles can shorten the distance between people

D．people are not good at communicating in the country

What are we sure about the old man?

A．His name was Charlie.

B．He worked at the center for senior citizens.

C．He got sick over the weekend.

D．He was in great sorrow when we saw him the next Monday.

Which of the following is not true?

A．The atmosphere on the bus was cheerful and lively at first.

B．People were surprised at the old man’s first greeting.

C．People were worried about the old man’s absence.

D．People on the bus at last shared happiness and sorrow together.

Which would be the best title for the passage？

A．How to Shorten the Distance between People

B．Smiles Make a Bus Feel Like Home

C．Charlie, A Smiling Gentle Man

D．The Key to Friendship — Communication

The way we get about has a deep influence on the way we live－affecting where we set up home, work and holiday. So what changes might come in the way we get around? What big ideas are out there, and do they have any chance of coming true?
Personal Air Travel
The idea: flying cars
Developments in light small plane technology will make it possible for everyone to own what are, in fact, flying cars. They will have closed cabins, heating, stereos and room for two people.
You will take off from a field near your home and fly to towns and cities. After landing, you will take off the fixed wing and continue your journey by road just as if you were traveling by car.
Fuel efficient engines and the advantage of being able to travel in the sky will keep costs and the environmental influence down.
Flying for Fun
The idea: Jet Packs
The idea was a hit when a stuntman (特技演员) flew around on one during the opening ceremony of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which was very successful.
You’ll be able to use the equipment－roughly the size of two scuba tanks fastened to your back－for short journeys.
They will be handy for cleaning hard-to-reach windows, arriving in style at a party and shopping.
Taxis
The idea: driverless taxis
These computer-controlled taxis will take you wherever you want along a fixed route, whenever you want to go.
For the price of one person’s bus fare, several people can ride at speeds of up to 25 mph, and there will be fences to guard against accidents.
There will be little, if any, wait for the use of the taxis, which will leave from stations and will be used by prepaid cards.
The taxis, which will travel on a 1.5 m-wide track, will use 75% less energy per passenger than a car and 50% less than a bus.
The passage is mainly about ________.

A．future travel	B．big ideas and dreams
C．advanced technology	D．the influence of travel

We learn from the passage that flying cars ________.

A．will operate only in the sky

B．will be more expensive than common cars

C．will have few bad effects on the environment

D．won’t be equipped with things similar to what cars have

With Jet Packs, we can do all the following EXCEPT ________.

A．attend a party	B．clean high windows
C．go shopping	D．have a long journey

As for driverless taxis, we can infer that ________.

A．we can go wherever we want in them

B．they will be both convenient and safe

C．it costs more to take them than to take ordinary cars

D．they will be operated by computers as well as by people

If you want to know how crazy people can be about their pets, you might remember that Helmsley left $12 million to her little Maltese dog when she died last year.
The dog's name is Trouble. And apparently Trouble is still alive. Of course, I would hang on, too, if someone left me $12 million. Look! Top-shelf dog food, soft pillows everywhere, drivers walking me in nice leafy parks. I would live to be 110 in dog years.
The dog's story is still fresh in my mind the other night when I leave a steak house after a superb meal. Then I notice a woman carrying a small bag out of the door behind me.
Once outside, she walks over to where a man is holding a tiny dog and it's a baby. The dog looks like a Maltese, too, barking and annoying, with a cute haircut,
And now I am treated to an absolute astonishing sight. Because now the woman reaches into the bag and begins pulling out little pieces of meat, which she puts on a plastic spoon and feeds to the dog.
This is no cheap steak house. It's actually, way out of my league --I'm there only because it's a special occasion. I can tell you this: if I walked out of the place with any leftover steak, it sure wouldn't go to a dog. Not at those prices.
So now the woman is Spoon-feeding the dog and the man is just standing there, holding this dog and looking as if this is the most normal thing in the world. And the dog is calmly chewing these pieces of steak as if he's a little king. And this dog is in no hurry. He's having a great time.
A few minutes go by, and now the dog finishes all of his steak. At this point, I hear the woman say to the man "Think he's still hungry?" And she glances behind her at the restaurant, as if she might go back in there to get more steak for the dog.
Watching all this, I'm afraid I'm going to shout, "Are you out of your mind? Feeding all that pricey steak to that little dog? Did you see what our American life is like today? We're all going to be eating dog food if this keeps up!"
Why would the author live to be 110 in dog years?

A．Because he is always in poor health and falls ill.

B．Because a Maltese dog lives longer than a human being.

C．Because his grandparents left him a large sum of money.

D．Because he thinks the dog is treated extremely well.

What is the story mainly about?

A．An American family's happy life.

B．A Maltese dog getting $12 million from its owner.

C．A New Yorker spending $ 8 billion for a few banks.

D．A pet dog being fed with expensive food.

The underlined sentence "It's actually way out of my league. " (in Para. 6) means __

A．the restaurant is too expensive for the author

B．the author hates the dog being taken there

C．the superb restaurant is about to be out of service

D．the dog doesn't belong to the author's group

Seeing the dog is being treated to expensive steak, the author becomes extremely ____

A．indifferent	B．annoyed
C．concerned	D．envious

Some people will do just about anything to save money．And I am one of them．Take my family’s last vacation．It was my sixyearold son’s winter break from school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a week long trip．The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day．I had meetings in New York, so I had to get back．But that didn’t mean my husband and my son couldn’t stay．I took my ninemonthold and took off for home．
The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight．Yes, I encouraged — okay, ordered — them to wait it out at the airport, to “earn” more Delta Dollars．Our total take: $1,600．Not bad, huh?
Now some people may think I’m a bad mother and not such a great wife either．But as a bigtime bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar．And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up．
I’ve made a living looking for the best deals and exposing（揭露）the worst tricks．I have been the consumer reporter of NBC’s Today show for over a decade．I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide．And I really do what I believe in．
I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth．I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants．But I wouldn’t hesitate to spend on a good haircut．It keeps its shape longer, and it’s the first thing people notice．And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture．Quality lasts．
Why did Delta give the author’s family credits?

A．They took a later flight．

B．They had early bookings．

C．Their flight had been delayed．

D．Their flight had been cancelled．

What can we learn about the author?

A．She rarely misses a good deal．

B．She seldom makes a compromise．

C．She is very strict with her children．

D．She is interested in cheap products．

What does the author do?

A．She’s a teacher．

B．She’s a housewife．

C．She’s a media person．

D．She’s a businesswoman．

What does the author want to tell us?

A．How to expose bad tricks．

B．How to reserve airline seats．

C．How to spend money wisely．

D．How to make a business deal．