Each spring brings a new blossom of wildflowers in the ditches(沟渠)along the highway I travel daily to work.
There is one particular blue flower that has always caught my eye. I've noticed that it blooms only in the morning hours; the afternoon sun is too warm for it. Every day for approximately two weeks, I see those beautiful
flowers.
This spring, I started a wildflower garden in our yard. I can look out of the kitchen window while doing the dishes and see the flowers. I've often thought that those lovely blue flowers from the ditch would look great in that bed alongside other wildflowers. Every day I drove past the flowers thinking, "I'II stop on my way home and dig them." "Gee, I don't want to get my good clothes dirty.,." Whatever the reason, I never stopped to dig them. My husband even gave me a folding tool one year for my trunk to be used for that expressed purpose.
One day on my way home from work, I was upset to see that the highway department had removed the ditches
and the pretty blue flowers were gone. I thought to myself, "Way to go, you waited too long. You should have done
it when you first saw them blooming this spring."
A week ago we were shocked and sad to learn that my oldest sister-in-law has a serious brain disease. She is20 years older than my husband and unfortunately, because of age and distance, we haven't been as close as we all would have liked. I couldn't help but see the connection between the pretty blue flowers and the relationship between my husband's sister and us. I do believe that God has given us some time left to plant some wonderful
memories that will bloom every year for us.
And yes, if I see the blue flowers again, you can bet I'll stop and transplant them to my wildflower garden.
Why does the writer want to start a wildflower garden in her yard?
| A．Because the flowers bloom only in the morning hours. |
| B．Because she can see the flowers every day for two weeks. |
| C．Because the flowers can remind her of her oldest sister-in-law. |
| D．Because she enjoys the way of life in company with the flowers. |
Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．The blue flowers in the ditches always draw my attention. |
| B．We don't get on well with the sister-in-law in practice. |
| C．I never stopped to dig the flowers for some reason. |
| D．The sister-in-law lives far from us. |
According to the passage, the writer will .
| A．stop to find the flowers whenever she drives along the highway |
| B．plant a variety of flowers in the garden in her yard in future |
| C．get as wonderful memories with the sister-in-law as before |
| D．get more close to the sister-in-law in the following days |
What is the theme of the story?
| A．Actions speak louder than words. |
| B．No sweets without sweat. |
| C．Time and tide wait for no man. |
| D．Opportunity belongs to whoever is prepared. |
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days：Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible(有责任感的) citizens. They give love and care. These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery(墓地).On these days families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies, and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.Which of the following is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?
| A．Parents bring up children. |
| B．Parents give love and care to children. |
| C．Parents educate children to be good persons. |
| D．Parents pass away before children grow up. |
What do you think “florists” do?
| A．They sell flowers. |
| B．They make and sell bread. |
| C．They offer enough room for having family parties. |
| D．They sell special gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. |
Which do you think is right about “carnation”?
| A．It has only two kinds of colors. |
| B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. |
| C．It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
| D．People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May. |
What do you know from the passage?
| A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May. |
| B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past. |
| C．Not all the children respect their parents |
| D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home. |
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, .
| A．people usually have family parties |
| B．everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
| C．children always go to parents’ home |
| D．hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
On the way to California, my family stopped for lunch. As we walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, a man with a dirty face jumped up from a chair, opened the door for us and greeted us in a friendly way.
Once inside, my daughters said in a low voice, “Mom, he smells.” After we ordered our lunch, I explained, telling the kids to look beyond the dirt. Seeing this rudeness truly upset me, I wanted to set a good example to my children, but sometimes being a good example was difficult. When our meal arrived, I realized I had left the car-sick pills in the truck. With the windiest trip ahead, the kids needed them, so Iwent back to the car for them.
Just then, the “doorman” was opening the door for me, I said a loud “thank you” to him as I exited.
When I returned, we talked a bit. He said he was not allowed inside unless he bought food. I went back and told my family his situation. Then I asked our waitress to add one soup and sandwich. The kids looked puzzled, but when I said the order was for the “doorman”, they smiled. When it was time to continue our trip, I noticed the “doorman” enjoying his meal. Upon seeing me, he stood up and thanked me heartily. He then lifted his hand for a handshake and I gratefully accepted. I suddenly noticed the tears in his eyes-tears of gratitude (感恩). What happened next drew great astonishment: I gave the “doorman” a hug.
Back in truck, I fell into deep thought. While we can’t choose many things in life, we can choose when to show gratitude. I said thanks to a man who had simply helped open a door for me, and also said thanks for that opportunity to teach my children by example.What attitude did the children show to the doorman at first?
| A．dislike | B．surprise |
| C．puzzle | D．interest |
The author returned to the car for car-sick pills because ________.
| A．seeing the doorman made her sick |
| B．she wanted the doorman to open the door for her |
| C．the kids needed them for the windiest trip ahead |
| D．the kids were concerned about the restaurant’s meal |
For what purpose did the author say a loud “thank you” to the doorman?
| A．She wanted to give the children a lesson of gratitude. |
| B．She showed her real love for him. |
| C．She wanted to give the doorman a hand. |
| D．She just showed her polite manner. |
It can be learned from the passage that the doorman _________.
| A．refused to accept the offer |
| B．took the offer for nothing |
| C．gave the author a thankful hug |
| D．was moved to tears for the kind help |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A．We should learn to show gratitude. |
| B．Life is difficult for those in trouble. |
| C．Don’t judge a man by what he wears. |
| D．We should be polite to others. |
Seeing a volcano erupt is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the beat by climbing to the summit(山顶) of Pacaya for a close-up view. There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua, giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.
Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.
But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2560 metres high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb, you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above steaming. Hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you are near the active summit; the McKenney Cone(火山锥).
Many tours are timed so when you arrive at the cone of the volcano there is plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils, sending red lava over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot streams up to 100 metres into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone. As evening turns deeper into the night, the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano. For you, too, it is time to get down .What is the main purpose of this passage?
| A．To attract tourists to Pacaya. |
| B．To describe the beauty of Pacaya. |
| C．To introduce guided tours to Pacaya. |
| D．To explain the power of nature at Pacaya. |
Antigua is a city .
| A．where people can have a close-up view of the volcano |
| B．where the daring Pacaya tour starts |
| C．that lies on the summit of Pacaya |
| D．that is famous for its tour companies |
Climbing to the McKenney Cone, people will .
| A．walk down to the active summit |
| B．hear the continuous loud screams from above |
| C．make greater efforts than to other summits |
| D．see a path lined with remains of earlier eruptions |
Many tours are timed for people to .
| A．get down the mountain in time when night falls |
| B．avoid the smell from the upwind direction of the cone |
| C．enjoy the fantastic eruption against the darkening sky |
| D．appreciate the scenery of the 2560-metre-high mountain |
The short passage probably comes from___________.
| A．a travel journal | B．a popular science magazine |
| C．A novel | D．an advertisement |
Uganda is a country in East Africa and,as in many such countries,a high percentage of the population,about 80 percent,are village-dwellers living in huts,which are often no bigger than a garage. The walls of the huts are made of mud,which is held together by reeds and sticks,and the roofs of the older ones are thatched（覆盖）with grass,although an increasing number of newer village houses have roofs made from corrugated（波纹形的）iron.
Several generations of the same family live together in the huts,which are usually divided into two sections by a curtain. The inner section,the one furthest from the open door of the hut,is where everyone sleeps and food is prepared and served in the outer part. If the family owns chickens or goats,they are kept in a small room attached to the main house.
Food is usually prepared on open fires although some people prefer to cook inside. However,this is quite dangerous and also means that the walls of the hut are stained by smoke and the atmosphere is acrid. The family sit in a circle on mats while they eat.
Newer village houses are almost always made of corrugated iron and are bigger,with one or two separate bedrooms and the kitchen in a smaller building beside the main house. But,old or new,the houses are not powered by electricity,and all homes are lit by paraffin（石蜡）candles called “tadobba”.
Nor is there any running water in the houses. Some villages have their own well,but in many cases,collecting water involves a long and arduous walk to a river or spring,carrying plastic containers or pots made of clay.
Children are the ones who have to fetch water,and they have to do this early in the morning before they go to school,or in the evening when they come home. They often have to climb high hills or walk through valleys with narrow paths through dense vegetation. It is no surprise that they grow up muscular and fit after such daily exercise,walking for several kilometres carrying such heavy weights.Most Ugandans live .
| A．with their whole family in large mud houses in the countryside |
| B．in towns in small houses made of mud and iron |
| C．in villages in small houses made of wet earth,grass and wood |
| D．With their parents and children as well as their chickens and goats |
Where is food usually prepared?
| A．In the kitchen. |
| B．On the floor in the middle of the house. |
| C．On fires in front of the hut. |
| D．In a small room attached to the main house. |
How are the old and new houses the same?
| A．Both of them have roofs made of corrugated iron. |
| B．Neither of them have a garage or kitchen. |
| C．Neither of them have electricity,lights or running water. |
| D．Both of them have water inside but no electric light. |
The majority of Ugandan children have to .
| A．go to a well or a river and often carry it for a long distance |
| B．do a lot of work cooking and carrying water |
| C．collect water on the way home from school |
| D．get water out of their own well |
Our children grew up on peanut butter and jelly (果冻) sandwiches. Even my husband and I sometimes ate one secretly at late night with a glass of milk. It was too delicious and tasty. My mother-in-law was the jelly maker in this family. The jelly was made of either grape or blackberry. The only job I did to the jelly making was to save baby food jars (罐子), which my mother-in-law would fill with the tasty gel (凝胶体), pack them up and send back to our home. For the past 22 years of my married life, whenever I wanted to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for ourselves, all I had to do was reach for one of those little jars of jelly. It was always there.
This past December, my mother-in-law passed away. Among the things in the house to be divided by her children were the remaining canned goods in the pantry (食品储藏室). When my husband brought his jars home, we carefully put them away in our pantry.
The other day I reached in there to get jelly for a quick sandwich, and there it was. Sitting all alone on the far side of the shelf was a small jar of grape jelly. As I picked up the jar, I suddenly realized something that I had failed to see earlier-this was the last jar we would ever have from my mother-in-law. Although she had been dead for nearly a year, so much of her had remained with us. Our children had never known a day without their grandmother’s jelly. It seems like such a small thing, and most days it was something that was ignored. But today it seemed a great treasure.
No longer was it just a jar of jelly. It was the end of a family tradition. I believed that as long as it was there, a part of my mother-in-law would always live on.Why did the couple eat the jelly secretly at late night?
| A．Because it was very delicious and nice. |
| B．Because it was only made for children. |
| C．Because it was made by mother-in-law. |
| D．Because it was good to health. |
What can we know about the author in making jelly?
| A．She could make baby food by herself. |
| B．She could only collect baby food jars. |
| C．She helped her mother fill the jars with the tasty gel. |
| D．She sent the jelly jars home with her husband. |
What did the mother-in-law leave to the author?
| A．The skills to make jelly. |
| B．Some baby food in the house. |
| C．Some canned jars filled with jelly. |
| D．A lot of money. |
What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?
| A．a quick sandwich | B．the shelf |
| C．grape | D．jelly |
What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?
| A．To miss her mother-in-law. |
| B．To introduce the skills of making jelly. |
| C．To remember the family tradition. |
| D．To warn people to be nice to the old. |
Whether you’re taking a trip alone or with your family, it’s easier to get sick when you’re in a new place because your body hasn’t had a chance to adjust to the food, water, and air in a new environment. Read the following tips on keeping your travel experience as healthy as possible.
Safe foods and drinks
What foods are safe to eat? Foods that have been boiled are generally safe, as well as fruits and vegetables that have to be peeled before eating. Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked meat.
Stay away from foods that require a lot of handling before serving.
Drink only bottled water when traveling. If you have to use the tap water, you should boil it first.
You can take it with you
When you’re packing, taking some painkiller and diarrhea medicine is a good idea. It’s also a good idea to pack some allergy (过敏) medicine even if you don’t take it at home, because people sometimes unexpectedly develop allergic reactions in a new environment.
Write it all down
Before you leave your sweet home, create a medical history form that includes the following information:
your name, address, and home phone number as well as a parent’s daytime phone number
your blood type a list of any ongoing health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or AIDS a list of current medicines you are taking a list of allergies（过敏性的）to medicine, food, insects, and animals the name, address, and phone number of a relative other than your parent It also helps if you have some basic emergency medical knowledge, not only for yourself but also for helping others you may be traveling with. A great way to prepare for your trip is to take a first-aid or basic life support course before you go; if you’re traveling with a group, you should know where the first-aid kit is and what’s in it. Which of the following word can replace the underlined word in Para.1?
| A．adapt | B．just | C．adopt | D．correct |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．Some travel tips | B．Danger of travel |
| C．Travel experience | D．First aid in travel |
According to the passage before you travel you’d better write the phone number of the following EXCEPT ______.
| A．your own | B．one of your parents |
| C．one of your relatives | D．one of your friends |
Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Taking a first-aid course. | B．Writing down your blood type. |
| C．Taking some necessary medicine. | D．Telling your parents’ your plan. |
Mrs. Blake teaches English in a large school in the inner area of a big city on the west coast. Even since she was a young girl, she has wanted to become a teacher. She has taught eight years now and hasn’t changed her mind. After she graduated from high school, she went on to college. Four years later, she received her bachelor’s degree (BA) in English and her teaching certificate(证书). Then she went to teach in the secondary schools of her state. In the summers, Mrs. Blake takes more classes; she hopes to get a master’s degree ( MA ). With an MA, she will receive a higher salary and if possible, she hopes to get a doctor’s degree as well. The school day at Mrs. Blake’s high school, like that in many high schools in the United States, is divided into one hour each. Mrs. Blake must teach five of these periods. During her free period, which for her is from 2 to 3 P.M, Mrs. Blake must meet with parents, make our examinations, check assignments at all, Mrs. Blake works continuously from the time she arrives at school in the morning till the time she leaves for home late in the afternoon.How long is it since Mrs. Blake graduated from middle school?
| A．four years | B．eight years | C．twelve years | D．twenty years |
According to the article, which is the right order of the degrees a person can receive after going to university?
| A．a doctor’s degree – a bachelor’s degree – a master’s degree |
| B．a bachelor’s degree – a master’s degree – a doctor’s degree |
| C．a master’s degree – a bachelor’s degree – a doctor’s degree |
| D．a bachelor’s degree – a doctor’s degree – a master’s degree |
How many degrees has Mrs. Blake achieved so far?
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
Which of the following sentences is not true?
| A．Mrs. Blake teaches in the inner area of big city on the east of the United States. |
| B．Mrs. Blake has turned her wish of becoming a teacher into reality. |
| C．Mrs. Blake is still studying in her holidays in order to get higher degree. |
| D．The working hours in the school where Mrs. Blake works are similar to those of may other high schools in the states. |
One evening in November, Berlin received a telephone call from Mrs. Green. “Please,
Dr Berlin, come to my house. I had 50,000 dollars on my desk and now it is gone.”
Dr Berlin arrived at Mrs. Green’s house at eight o’clock. First he asked Mrs. Green, “When did you see the money last?”
“At seven o’clock. I put it on my desk in my living room. Then I went to wash my hair. I came back at seven thirty and the money was gone.”
“I see.” Dr Berlin said. “Were you alone in the house?”
“No. My sister’s son Jack is here, too.” Then Dr Berlin and Mrs. Green went to Jack’s room.
“Please, sit down,” Jack said. Dr Berlin sat on the only chair in the room, and the chair was cold. He also saw some books on the ground near his feet.
“What have you been doing this evening?” Dr Berlin asked.
“I came home at six-thirty, and went right to my room. I’ve been sitting in that chair and reading all the evening. I never got up and I never left the room. Maybe somebody came into the house and took my aunt’s money.”
After hearing that, Dr Berlin was clear about who had taken the money.When did Dr Berlin answer the phone from Mrs. Green?
| A．At 6:30 | B．At 7:00 |
| C．After 7:30 | D．At 8:00 |
Where did Mrs. Green put her money?
| A．In her living room. | B．In her washing room. |
| C．In Jack’s room. | D．In her office. |
When did the thief take Mrs. Green’s money?
| A．Before Mrs. Green came back home. |
| B．When Jack was reading. |
| C．After Mrs. Green went to wash her hair. |
| D．When Dr Berlin was answering the phone. |
Who was Jack?
| A．Mrs. Green’s son. | B．Mrs. Green’s nephew. |
| C．Mrs. Green’s husband. | D．Mrs. Green’s friend. |
Which of the following is WRONG?
| A．Mrs. Green didn’t live alone. |
| B．Jack had given a careless reply. |
| C．Dr Berlin found out who had taken the money. |
| D．Jack had been really reading books all that evening. |
Born with easy-broken bone disease, Zhang Yonghong is only half a meter tall and must use a wheelchair. His thin arms and legs can hardly support any weight, and he is unable to take care of himself. However, his hands are able to produce fine paper-cuts, which will free his daughter from the same disease.
To support himself, he learned how to make paper-cut art from his mother. He sold his artwork and taught his techniques in Xi’an for eight years before discovering his young daughter inherited the disease from him, leading Zhang to move his family to Beijing for his daughter’s better treatment five years ago.
The daughter’s treatment costs about 30,000 yuan a year. The family’s savings was used up in two years, and Zhang was forced to start to sell his work in underground passages with his healthy wife, who soon left him because of the hard life.
With a little help from government, he was lucky to meet some kindhearted people in Beijing. A Hong Kong businessman gave 60,000 yuan to him last year to treat the girl and start a small shop on Qiangulouyuan, which is known as a famous hutong that attracts lots of tourists over holidays. Zhang Rui, a university graduate, spends most of her time helping Zhang sell the paper-cuts, translating the stories of the paper-cuts into English and selling the works on the roadside of Nanluoguxiang.
However, the artist still lives beyond his income (收入) and struggles to continue his small business. “Selling paper-cuts is his only source of income. Without this, he can’t support the family and treat his daughter,” says Zhang Rui, who hopes more people will help Zhang.Why did Zhang grow only half a meter tall?
| A．His easy-broken bone disease affected him. |
| B．His parents also had the same disease. |
| C．His poor family couldn’t provide him with rich food. |
| D．An unexpected accident caused him to grow slowly. |
What does the underlined word “inherited” probably mean in Paragraph 2?
| A．get around | B．take away |
| C．pass on | D．go over |
Why did his wife leave him?
| A．Because she was afraid of losing the daughter. |
| B．Because she was tired of him and her children. |
| C．Because she lost hope for her daughter. |
| D．Because the life was too hard for them. |
With the help of a Hong Kong businessman, Zhang Yonghong _________.
| A．could support the daily life of his family |
| B．ran a shop of his own in Beijing |
| C．hired a girl to sell his artworks |
| D．could start a translation room |
What can we conclude from the last paragraph?
| A．Zhang still needs more people to help him. |
| B．Zhang manages his business very well. |
| C．Zhang’s business needs to be developed. |
| D．Zhang needs to look for a wife to help him. |
Anyone who ever wondered why a dying plant, say, a freshly-cut red rose may appeal to a lady friend, might take some comfort in science, which once again offers us a reasonable answer to one of the world’ s great mysteries.
Beyond a common preference in people for blue, “the long history of color preference studies has been described as ‘confusing and contradictory(矛盾的)’,” write scientists Anya Hurlbert and Yazhu Ling of England’ s Newcastle University, authors of a new study in the journal Current Biology. “This fact is perhaps surprising,” they said, “though the popularity of the concept that little girls differ from boys in preferring pink.”
But the scientists believe they have an answer to this scientific mystery, discovering women’s preference for red, hidden above the average liking for blue.
In their study, the pair quickly flashed color cards, displaying many different aspects, at 208 volunteers, mostly Britishers but with a number of Han Chinese, who moved to the United Kingdom recently. Tested in three different experiments, the researchers found out a small but significant preference for reddish colors in the female volunteers.
Puzzled, the authors realized that most of the difference between men and women came in the form of a preference for green VS red in the color cards, regardless of the other slight differences such as the slightly blue ones that everyone liked. Why might this be?
Evolution might offer an answer, they reason. Human color perception(感知), the assessment of three separate color types — red — green — blue— in our vision (视觉) is a relatively recent addition to our line of mammals(脯乳动物)
Adding weight to their argument, they found the women who are most typically feminine(女性的) on a psychological survey also had the biggest preference for reddish colors. “My love is like a red, red rose,” wrote the Scottish poet Rober Burns in 1794.What does the first paragraph probably tell us ?
| A．Scientific research can help people solve the mystery. |
| B．When we are tired, we can turn to science for help. |
| C．Science can make our study interesting and contradictory. |
| D．We should turn to scientific invention for comfortable life. |
The word “pair” in Para.4 refers to _____.
| A．boy and girl | B．the two authors |
| C．research and result | D．pink and blue |
According to the passage, ______________.
| A．boys like blue better than girls |
| B．girls like pink better than boys |
| C．men like red better than women |
| D．men and women both like green |
How did the scientist do the research?
| A．By asking questions | B．By telephoning the interviewees |
| C．By adding numbers | D．By doing experiments |
What is the purpose of writing this article?
| A．To sell products packed in red | B．To introduce the history of color |
| C．To inform us of a research finding | D．To analyze men’s taste for color |
There are many great movie directors of all time and the following are five of those who have largely impressed audience with their body of work.
As a member of the New Hollywood gang, Francis Coppola is best remembered for The God father series. His decision to cast Marlon Brando in the lead also met with fierce opposition from the studio bosses. Good sense became popular, and The God father went on to become one of the most memorable movies ever. Critics may point out that he has become less creative after his seventies, but try as one might, no one can possibly take the place of this great director’s work.
Stanley Kubrick’s movies focus on the themes like sci-fi, horror, dark humor and war. He used symbolism in most of his movies, giving us some wonderful screen visuals, as shown in 2001: A Space Odyssey. His actors in Hollywood complained about the endless number of retakes, but they appreciated the performance he milked out of them. People argue about films like Lolita, A Clockwork Orange and Paths of Glory, but these are now seen as classics.
Steven Spielberg is a great success at the box office, and he is one of the world’s most popular filmmakers today. As the creator of classics like Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, ET, Indiana Jones series, Jaws, Saving Private Ryan, no one can win his hold over the audience. His critics accuse him of being emotional and over the top, but the fact remains that his movies attract the audience, and set the cash registers ringing.
Woody Allen is a director who directs movies full of crime and hate. This comic genius has given us Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters and Midnight in Paris, which have also become classical. His movies constantly include characters who arouse the audience’s sympathy and laughter at the same time, as they set out on a journey of self-discovery. Hollywood star power has never fazed Allen. Thankfully, awards and honors do not interest him, which results in creativity that is original.What do the directors mentioned in the passage have in common?
| A．They are interested in awards for their works. |
| B．They are members of the New Hollywood gang. |
| C．They have created a lot of movies taken as classics. |
| D．They focus their themes on negative side of the society |
The movie Indiana Jones series is directed by ______.
| A．Francis Coppola | B．Woody Allen |
| C．Stanley Kubrick | D．Steven Spielberg |
Stanley Kubrick’s works include the following except ______.
| A．Midnight in Paris | B．2001: A Space Odyssey |
| C．A Clockwork Orange | D．Paths of Glory |
It is implied in the underlined sentence Steven Spielberg ______.
| A．was successful in amusing the audience |
| B．succeeded in making a great box office |
| C．became much better at creating classics |
| D．had set a cash register working for himself |
What will be discussed in the paragraph that follows this passage?
| A．Their contribution to the society |
| B．The difference between the directors |
| C．Another famous movie directors |
| D．More great movies from the directors |
Dear Aunt Tara,
I have a problem with my homework. We have to do it in a group. It has to be finished this Friday, but Gary, the boy in our group, has done nothing helpful. He just keeps rocking the boat.
Every time we talk about the work with him, he always says, “Don’t worry. I’ll do it later.” But he seldom does his job. And when he does, he does it the wrong way. Someone has to do it for him again. What’s worse is when Ms. Lin asks about our group, Gary always tells her that we others don’t work hard enough. I’m really mad at Gary about this. We’re in the same group. Shouldn’t we help each other to do a better job?
Kate
Dear Kate,
It is important for students to learn how to work together in a group. Maybe you should talk to Gary about the problem and tell him you all need his help. If he still doesn’t change, go talk to your teacher. I believe she can make Gary do his job.
Aunt TaraWhich of the following is true about Kate’s homework?
| A．It’s very easy. |
| B．It’s very boring. |
| C．It has to be done by herself. |
| D．It requires teamwork. |
What does “rocking the boat” most likely mean in Kate’s letter?
| A．Causing trouble. |
| B．Doing easy jobs. |
| C．Telling people what to do. |
| D．Working without thinking. |
Which of the following best describes Gary?
| A．Kind and helpful. | B．Lazy and dishonest. |
| C．Tall and strong. | D．Honest and popular. |
What do we know from Aunt Tara’s letter?
| A．Kate is the leader of Ms. Lin’s class. |
| B．Kate should let Gary know how she feels. |
| C．Gary should be put in another group. |
| D．Gary has decided to change himself. |
What’s Aunt Tara’s advice to Kate?
| A．Do the homework without Gary’s help. |
| B．Ask her teacher immediately to make Gary do his job. |
| C．Talk to Gary first and then to Ms. Lin if necessary. |
| D．Ask her teacher to give her a different kind of homework. |
There have been discussions about retire age limit recently. Does it make sense to make people retire at a particular age, say, 55? 60?
Some people work well into their 70s and 80s, running families, countries or corporations while other people, despite being fit and highly talented, are forced to retire in their fifties or even earlier. Here I will examine whether people should be allowed to continue working as long as they want or whether they should be encouraged to retire at a particular stage.
Some people think there are several reasons for allowing older people to continue working. Firstly, older employees are more experienced and their knowledge can be lost to his company or business if they are made to retire. Secondly, older employees are often extremely loyal and more willing to carry out company policies than younger staff. Another point is related to our society’s attitudes to the old. To force someone to retire at 50 or 60 indicates that the society does not value the contribution of these people, which may be regarded as age discrimination.
However, others believe that allowing older people to work indefinitely(无限期) is not a good policy. Age alone is no guarantee of ability. Old people are ambitious workaholics. Many young employees are more skillful than older staff, who may have been stuck in one area or unit for most of their working lives. Having compulsory retirement encourages new ideas in an organization. In addition, without age limits, many people would continue to work purely because they did not have any other plans. Another reason is that older people should be rewarded by society for their life’s labor by being given generous pensions and the freedom to enjoy their leisure. We now have youngsters who can’t find jobs because old people refuse to retire. This new generation of “old people” may think they will never die due to modern advances in medicine.
With many young people unemployed or frustrated in low-level positions, older workers are expected to retire. However, this can affect their right to work. I feel that giving workers more flexibility and choice over their retirement age will benefit both society and the individual.All the following statements are reasons for allowing old people to continue working EXCEPT that _______.
| A．their contributions should be valued |
| B．their experience should be appreciated |
| C．they can be ambitious workaholics |
| D．they are extremely loyal employees |
The underlined sentence in the fourth passage suggests that _______.
| A．retired people support the young to be creative |
| B．more fresh employees mean more fresh ideas |
| C．retired people are unwilling to praise new ideas |
| D．young employees are forced to be creative |
The structure of the passage is arranged as __________
The author is likely to agree that ________’
| A．it’s not wise to suggest lengthening the retirement age |
| B．it does make sense to set a particular retirement age |
| C．having different retirement age sounds unreasonable |
| D．when to retire should depend on the employees themselves |
Schools and parents in Shenzhen City have been asked to take better care of children’s eyesight as 45 percent of them, were found to be shortsighted. Too much reading, poor lighting and too much TV are blamed. Of the city’s high school graduates who applied to attend college this summer, two-thirds had to have their choices limited because of poor eyesight, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily said.This piece of news was reported by____ .
| A．People’s Daily | B．Shenzhen Special Zone Daily |
| C．school in Shenzhen City | D．parents in Shenzhen City |
The purpose of this passage is to _____ .
| A．criticize children who are shortsighted |
| B．blame parents and schools for children’s being shortsighted |
| C．ask the high school graduates to pay attention to their eyesight |
| D．draw people’s special attention to eye hygiene(卫生) |
Only____ of the children in Shenzhen City have good eyesight.
| A．55 percent | B．less than half | C．45 percent | D．two—thirds |
Because of being shortsighted many school graduates_____ .
| A．weren’t allowed to enter college |
| B．couldn’t graduate from high school |
| C．couldn’t choose to study what they liked best |
| D．lost their limited time |
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