高中英语阅读理解

Nearly everyone agrees that money doesn’t buy as much as it used to, no matter when you want to spend it. This is certainly true of the paper money that passes so quickly through one’s hands. But what about coins that seem to do very little except stay in purses and pockets? Unlike notes, metal money becomes more valuable the longer it is held, especially if it is put away where it won’t get scratched or worn. Why is this? One reason is that coins, being more durable, fall more readily into a category for collectors. Naturally, the rarer gold pieces must become more valuable as the price of this metal goes up.
But, curiously, one of the rarest coins in the world is not made of gold, but of the relatively cheaper silver. In 1840, the United States mint (造币厂) struck 19570 silver dollars. That is what its records show. Today only six of this original number remain and these are unlikely ever to reach the auction (拍卖) market. So what happened to some 19564 large silver coins, not the easiest sort of things to lose? One of the more romantic theories is that they were part of the payment to Napoleon for the American land then known as Louisiana. But they never reached France. Somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship transporting them was sunk, either by a storm or by pirates. The probable answer to the mystery is that they were melted down — since the silver value was greater than the actual value of the coin. What really happened to the rest will probably always remain a mystery. What is known is that whoever can come up with one will find himself instantly rich.
We can learn from the passage that _______.

A．money buys as much as it did before

B．money does not buy as much as it did before

C．paper money buys more than metal money

D．metal money buys more than paper money

Which of the following is true of a coin?

A．The longer it is held, the less valuable it becomes.

B．The more it wears out, the more valuable it becomes.

C．The less it gets scratched, the less it values.

D．The longer it lasts, the more it values.

According to this passage, one of the rarest coins in the world is made of _______.

A．silver	B．gold
C．copper	D．paper

Coins become more valuable because _______.

A．they stay in purses and pockets

B．the price of metal goes up

C．they fall more readily into a category for collectors due to their duration

D．Both B and C

What really happened to some 19564 large silver coins?

A．They were melted down.

B．They were sunk in the Gulf of Mexico.

C．It is still a mystery.

D．They were stolen by pirates.

Nuclear power’s danger to health, safety, and even life itself can be summed up in one word: radiation.
Nuclear radiation has a certain mystery about it, partly because it cannot be detected by human senses. It can’t be seen or heard, or touched or tasted, even though it may be all around us. There are other things like that. For example, radio waves are all around us but we can’t detect them, sense them, without a radio receiver. Similarly, we can’t sense radioactivity without a radiation detector. But unlike common radio waves, nuclear radiation is not harmless to human beings and other living things.
At very high levels, radiation can kill an animal or human being immediately by killing masses of cells in vital organs. But even the lowest levels can do serious damage. There is no levels of radiation that is completely safe. If the radiation does not hit anything important, the damage may not be serious. This is the case when only a few cells are hit, and if they are killed immediately. Your body will replace the dead cells with healthy ones. But if the few cells are only damaged, and if they reproduce themselves, you may be in trouble. They can grow into cancer. Sometimes this does not show up for many years.
This is another reason for some of the mystery about nuclear radiation. Serious damage can be done without the victim being aware at the time that damage has occurred. A person can be irradiated（辐射）and feel fine, then die for cancer five, ten, or twenty years later as a result. Or a child can be born weak as a result of radiation absorbed by its grandparents.
Radiation can hurt us. We must know the truth.
What is the most dangerous factor of nuclear power?

A．Radiation	B．Quantity
C．Amount	D．Place

Which of the following statements is true?

A．Nuclear radiation can do harm to human beings.

B．Nuclear radiation cannot do harm to human beings.

C．Nuclear radiation can be detected by human senses.

D．Nuclear radiation is just like common radio waves.

How can nuclear radiation kill an animal?

A．By damaging its heart.

B．By killing a few cells.

C．By killing many cells in important organs.

D．By hitting any place in its body.

Why does nuclear radiation have a certain mystery?

A．Because human beings learn its harmfulness.

B．Because it can do harm to a person while the victim isn't aware the damage has occurred.

C．Because nuclear radiation can kill a person very easily.

D．Because human beings have no effective machine in order to detect nuclear radiation.

If a human being is hit by nuclear radiation, he may _______.

A．die of cancer after many years

B．die immediately

C．have a child who may be born weak

D．all of the above

American teenager Thomas Cheatham had planned to study Latin during his sophomore year at Hebron High School in Texas. But when he learned that the school district was going to offer a Mandarin class, he quickly changed his mind. “I thought it (Mandarin) would be more beneficial than Latin,” said Cheatham, who is now in his second year of studying the language.
He speaks Mandarin to order food at Chinese restaurants and can read Face book posts from his Chinese-speaking friends.
While it’a difficult language to master, the high school junior, who plans to study computer engineering, thinks it will be a valuable thing in his career.
“Chinese is a good language to know, especially with China becoming a growing power,” he said.
Many experts agree that proficiency in a language spoken by a billion people worldwide will give American students an edge in the global economy.
“People are looking at China as our next economic competitor, and interest in Mandarin is growing,'' said Marty Abbott, executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of  Foreign Languages. ''We're seeing it in all parts of the country.”
The number of students studying Mandarin in public schools nationwide in grades 7 through 12 grew from 20,000 in 2004-2005 to 60,000 three years later, according to the council’s most recent survey.
Abbott estimates that as many as 100,000 students are now studying Mandarin, in public and private schools, throughout the nation.
She said the US government has considered Mandarin to be an “important needs” language and provides professional development programs for teachers.
“Our government wants to increase our language ability for national security and economic competitiveness,” Abbott said.
At the same time, the Chinese government is spreading knowledge of the Chinese language and culture through Confucius Institutes established in many states.
The Confucius Institute at the University of Texas in Dallas, founded in 2007, opens Confucius Classrooms at 11 local public and private schools where more than 700 students are learning Mandarin.
Why does the writer mention Thomas in the passage?

A．To tell us how changeable he is.

B．To introduce the topic of the passage.

C．To introduce his college life.

D．To tell us Latin is less popular now.

Many experts in America agree that _______.

A．Mandarin is becoming more beneficial than Latin

B．Mandarin is very difficult to learn for most American students

C．Mandarin will be of some help to American students in the global economy

D．China is a competitor of America in culture

Why does Mandarin become so popular in America?

A．Because Mandarin is more interesting than Latin.

B．Because there are many good teachers in the Confucius Institutes.

C．Because Mandarin is very helpful in the global economy.

D．Because the Chinese government has tried his best.

From the passage we know that the Confucius Institutes _______.

A．have trained 100,000 students to learn Mandarin in America

B．provide professional development programs for teachers

C．have been established in many states in America

D．were founded in 2007

What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．An increasing number of students in America are learning Mandarin.

B．Confucius Institutes have been established in many states in America.

C．Latin is less popular in America now.

D．China now is becoming a growing power.

Being a senior high school student, my future is always on my mind. To be exact, thoughts of the future have kept me up countless nights and made me worry enough to do poorly on more than one test. Because of this, words of wisdom are a source of comfort. Steve Jobs gave a speech to Stanford’s graduating class in 2005 and his words resound repeatedly in my mind whenever I think about my future.
It started when I became a junior, when college came into view. It’s the first big step to making your life your own. So when Jobs discussed his life as a student, some fears were eased. He also felt the need to attend college to make something of himself. He faced what many are extremely afraid of: uncertainty. His lack of understanding caused him to stop attending college and focus on what he felt was important. His story had a happy ending, of course, since he certainly turned out well.
This doesn’t mean that students shouldn’t attend college, but rather that they shouldn’t worry so much. You'll get where you need to go, even if your path is a bit more winding than you'd like.
Jobs talked about the hardships in his work. His love of his work helped him carry on and he got where he was meant to be, which restates the point: don’t panic. One particular part of his speech stayed with me. Steve Jobs quoted the saying “Stay hungry, stay foolish” and it has become my motto. Staying foolish is realizing that you are still a fool, no matter how much you've learned or experienced. There is always more to explore. Staying hungry is wanting to find those things about which you are still uneducated.
Steve Jobs’ level of success is possible to achieve, and I aim to prove that. With the will power to go into the world living every day like it’s my last and allowing the future to take care of itself, I will do great things. In the last moments of my life, I’ll be proud of what I have done and hope to have all the wisdom a person could wish for.
The author felt worried when_______.

A．he had to take tests at school

B．he had lots of sleepless nights

C．he thought about his future

D．he searched for words of wisdom

It is suggested in Paragraphs l and 2 that________.

A．the author is a college student

B．the author cares much about his future

C．Steve Jobs failed because of his decision

D．Steve Jobs' words had no effect on the author

What did the author gain from Jobs’ speech?

A．Courage to drop out of school

B．Confidence in defeating Jobs.

C．Interest in computer industry.

D．Bravery to face uncertainties.

Which of the following suggestions was NOT mentioned in Job’s speech ?

A．Being content with what they know.

B．Having the desire to learn more.

C．Staying calm in the face of hardships

D．Being modest so as to learn more.

The passage is mainly about_______.

A．an experience of a speech

B．the most impressive quotation in life

C．a memorable meeting with Jobs

D．the wisdom drawn from a speech

An Israeli law banning too skinny models went into effect with the start of 2013. The law, approved last March in Israel, requires models to prove they have maintained a Body Mass Index (BMI) of at least 18.5 for three months before a fashion show. That means a woman who is 5'8''tall can weigh no less than 119 pounds.
“This law is another step in the war against eating disorders,” said physician Adatto. “Underweight models,” he explained, “can no longer serve as role models for innocent young people who copy their false image of being skinny.”
But some critics in this country say it is misguided, focusing on weight instead of health. They also say the Israeli ban is bound to fail because of the strong power of the fashion industry. “I think it’s an approach that isn’t going to work.” Said eating disorder expert Susan Ice, who worked with an organization which creates a healthy working environment for models.
But Adatto told the reporter that he began to concern the issue after meeting an ambitious model who looked like she needed to be hospitalized. He said. “I realized that only legislation can change the situation. There was no time to waste, so many girls were dieting to death.”
However, the efforts to regulate models’ weight in Spain and Italy have not resulted in significant changes in part because of difficulties in determining reliable methods of measuring weight and health.
Still, folks including Ice say there’s no denying that images from Hollywood and the fashion industry can be difficult for young women to deal with. “Certainly I don't believe the modeling industry has caused the rise in eating disorders, but it makes it harder,” she says. “It’s a difficult recovery environment, worshiping thinness as the beauty ideal.”
What does BMI in the first paragraph refer to?

A．A measure of body health based on height and weight.

B．A worldwide prize for the healthiest model.

C．A new show held by those skinny models.

D．A kind of medicine to cure eating disorders.

One benefit the new Israeli law may bring is ________.

A．to change the working conditions of models

B．to lower the chance of skinny models’ death

C．to prevent models from suffering from eating disorders

D．to provide guidance for women worshiping thinness

In the opinion of the critics, the law won’t succeed because         .

A．it misleads young women to form a bad eating habit

B．the fashion industry is much too influential

C．it doesn’t provide a proper approach that can work well

D．it doesn’t create a healthy working environment for models

What caused Adatto to think that a law was needed to change the situation?

A．Establishing his fashion model agent.

B．Meeting an ambitious but too skinny model.

C．Being interviewed by a reporter.

D．Seeing a model die from eating disorders.

According to the passage, the new Israeli law banning skinny models is         .

A．practical	B．acceptable
C．reasonable	D．Controversial

A 12-year old boy who donated bone marrow (骨髓) to his dying sister and has raised more than￡10,000 for charity has been named the UK’s Family Hero of the Year.
Adam Kerr, 12, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, also helps his mother care for his younger brother Brian, 9, who suffers from the genetic disease Fanconi’s anaemia (贫血症). But it is not the first hardship that has affected young Adam. When he was just six, he donated his own bone marrow to his younger sister Helen who suffered from a rare blood disorder. Sadly she developed complications and died a few months after the operation in 2005.
Adam found it very difficult to be happy after Helen’s death. So he decided to start raising money in memory of Helen to help local poor children and families with bereavement (丧亲之痛). Overall he has raised ￡10,000 and he has no intentions of giving up.
He organised a Fun Day to provide the money for a brother and sister from Northern Ireland to visit their sick brother having a bone marrow transplant in a London hospital.
He received his award and a cheque for￡2,000 at an “Oscar’s style” ceremony in London. Ms Phillips said: “Adam is an incredible young man. In his relatively short life he has faced real sadness and bad luck and yet he works tirelessly to make life better for others.”
The Awards were sponsored by the charity 4Children and Take a Break Magazine. Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said:“It’s an honour to recognise Adam’s devotion and self-sacrifice, and his bravery shows there is always reason for hope and optimism. There is so much unrecognized goodwill out there of people who do so much for others, and the inspiring winners of the Family Heroes Awards remind us how important it is for us all to do our best to make a difference in the lives of others.”
From the passage we can see Adam’s younger brother        .

A．was too young and ill to look after himself

B．was fortunate enough to be cured

C．donated his bone marrow to his sister

D．was going to have an operation

Why does Adam raise money for charity?

A．Because he wants to provide money for his brother.

B．Because his sister suffered from a rare blood disorder.

C．Because he wanted to remember his sister in this way.

D．Because his mother encouraged him to do so.

Which of the following is probably a name of an activity?

A．A Fun Day	B．the charity 4Children
C．Take a Break Magazine	D．Anne Longfield OBE

Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The first hardship that has affected Adam is to care for Brian.

B．Adam suffers from the genetic disease Fanconi’s anaemia.

C．Adam is so tired that he wants to give up fund raising.

D．Adam is awarded for his dedication, bravery and self-sacrifice.

What’s the best title for the passage?

A．How to help others in trouble

B．A little boy makes a big difference to others

C．How to be a winner of the Family Heroes Awards

D．An independent young man

More than one-third of adults in the United States are obese(肥胖). In fact, over obesity has reached such proportions that one big-city mayor has gone about banning large-sized, sugary soft drinks and the First Lady has been on a campaign to control the dietary offerings in public schools.
Even many adults who do not fit the clinic definition of obesity are still overweight, and a large percentage are looking for the best ways to lose weight.
Reducing pounds largely comes down to the two-sided factors of diet and exercise. Not carrying out the first one enough, and not getting enough of the second one, ends up giving the individual a recipe for being overweight.
Advising someone to eat less and exercise more might be the easiest advice possible, but it’s also, partially, an oversimplification. Dieting has more to do with the types of food you eat than how much you eat. Reduce the amount of red meat in your diet. If you don’t want to eliminate red meat altogether, choose cuts of meat with less fat content. Limit your intake of salt and starches. If you’ve got to have potato chips alongside your sandwich at lunch, choose the baked potato chips that contain less fat than the deep-fried chips. You might find you’re really not sacrificing that much in terms of taste.
A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, egg whites, fish and nonfat dairy products will certainly aid in the mission of losing weight. Drink more water and less sugary drinks. If you have to have a soda, a diet soda is a better option, but seltzer is an even better choice than that.
It’s important—if not always easy—to make sure you get at least some physical activity each and every day. If your feet won’t allow for a regular jogging regimen, then make sure you take lots of walks. Next time you need to mail a letter, walk to the mailbox instead of driving. Try to work in a daily walk in your neighborhood.
You should         when you want to lose weight

A．try not to fit the clinic definition of obesity

B．diet as well as exercise enough

C．get little exercise every day

D．focus your attention on diet only

The First Lady has started a movement to         .

A．raise people’s awareness of healthy diet

B．control the public school dietary supplying

C．ban the sugary soft drinks

D．realise the importance of dieting

What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?

A．We must keep far away from fat and ignore our taste.

B．The simplest and best way to lose weight is to eat and exercise more.

C．We should remove the red meat in our diet completely to reduce weight.

D．When it comes to diet, no one needs to starve themselves in order to lose weight.

The last paragraph is mainly about        .

A．walk	B．diet
C．exercise	D．jog

It is amazing to note that the Internet is still such a new device, and yet it is one of the fastest and most powerful media tools. But think about it for a moment. On the Internet, a big online company can be run by two guys out of their garage. So it is only reasonable that people shopping on the Net would be a little leery of the security levels.
Internet giants such as Microsoft knew consumer confidence was the key to getting virtual(虚拟)shopping off the ground, and they work hard to make people feel safe to shop online.
Credit card companies, too, quickly saw the potential for Internet shopping, and have installed things like online shopping insurance for people. If you ever have a problem with your online credit purchases, many credit card companies will happily refund(返还) your money and then set their claws on the company that wronged you. Now that’s buying power!
There are other bonuses for online shoppers, of course. No line-ups, for one. No annoying mall shopping carts with broken wheels and kids crying because their parents won’t get them what they want.
When shopping online, consumers can sit down, have a coffee, and wear their slippers, not have to worry about their hair or parking and just click through sale after sale. Comparison shopping couldn’t be any easier. And thanks to courier companies（速递公司）getting in on the act, you never need wait longer than a day or two to get those all important purchases delivered right to your door.
No wonder so many companies are shaking their heads at traditional advertising and instead looking to the “virtual” world to attract online shoppers.
The underlined word “leery” means        .

A．satisfied	B．distrustful
C．hopeful	D．sad

         leads to consumers’ trust in online shopping.

A．Shopping law	B．Shopping convenience
C．Internet access	D．Shopping security

Which group of words would the writer use to describe current Internet shopping?

A．Adventurous, enjoyable, fast, unreal.

B．Unsafe, cheap, slow, convenient.

C．Reliable, popular, convenient, slow.

D．Safe, convenient, fast, comfortable.

The following are thought to have made contributions to the popularity of online shoppingEXCEPT_________.

A．internet companies	B．courier companies
C．advertising companies	D．credit card companies

Unexpectedly, I lost my white iPhon5s in Midtown on Friday night,. It had a blue green cover on it. There are many pictures of my son on it, and I’m heartbroken，Please return, no questions asked. Reward.Reply to: [e-mail]
Do you need a babysitter that you can trust?
My name is Tina. I am a responsible babysitter that you can trust. If you are looking for someone dependable and affordable I am that person! I HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (including disabled children) !  I am a retired Home Health Aid and absolutely love children. I work with my sister Iris who has also 20+years as a teacher’s assistant. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETINC YOU! Available 24 hours and flexible with fees! I am fully bilingual—Spanish/English. Please email me or call 712-867-7688.
I BABYSIT ONLY AT MY HOME.
I accept children from all ages. Fee starts from $100-$150 a week depending on the hours. I
am very flexible and my fee can change. Feel free to contact me via email or on my cell phone [phone] and we can work something out.
Part-time Chinese Babysitter Wanted
Part-time Chinese speaking babysitter needed to assist with one-year-old twins and to perform some light house work as needed. Assistance needed Fridays and occasional weekends. Please provide your salary expectation. College students are welcome to apply.
Reply to:comm-encbq-2652113885 @craigslist.org
Who posted the lost and found information?

A．A mother	B．A kind woman
C．A heartbroken girl	D．A parent

If you want to send your kids to the babysitter’s home, you can find one in______.

A．Ad 1	B．Ad 2
C．Ad 3	D．Ad 4

What do we know about Tina?

A．She can speak two languages.

B．She lives alone now.

C．She takes care of children over 3.

D．She used to be a teacher’s assistant.

An applicant accepted by Ad 5 will have to        .

A．be able to speak two languages

B．be a college graduate

C．work every weekend

D．look after two children

As we know, many teen celebrities(名人) feel and think that having a slimmer figure can do great good to them. But, does size really matter? Are teenage fans trying hard to become like their celebrity idols(偶像)? Do celebrities really have the power to influence people, especially teenagers?
For the longest time, many parents blame teen idols for influencing the way their kids act. Have you noticed how teens idolize the celebrities these days? Even, their personal affairs are being followed by kids these days. Take for example the case of Lindsay Lohan of Mary Kate Ashley. They are definitely famous teen stars. But, since they are trying to project an image to satisfy a lot of people in show business, their health and body suffer. Many kids are aware of this problem. But they are easily influenced by these celebrities to exercise and eat less.
It is a fact that the media, and especially famous teen celebrities, can influence people powerfully. But teenagers are easily influenced because teenage years are the period when our personality and identity developments take place. Teens watching TV shows and reading magazines are easily pulled into the dieting and harmful eating habits because the media have some ways to pull these acts. They use thin models and celebrities to endorse(做广告宣传) products or to star in an up-and –coming shows or movies. With fierce competition, celebrities are forced to eat less and do extreme exercise routines to get the roles or offers that come their way.
Living in today’s time and generation is a bit disturbing to a lot of parents. Media, especially as well as the celebrities, have a very powerful influence to drive teenagers to good or bad. It’s good that we can control ourselves to avoid bad things from happening. If not, parents should really be aware and guide their teens to determine what’s in ad what’s out.
From the passage we can find Lindsay Lohan        .

A．lives an unhealthy lifestyle

B．lives a rich and happy life

C．doesn’t get any exercise

D．sets a good example for teenagers

According to the writer, why are teenagers easily influenced by some TV shows?

A．They are tired of school.

B．Their celebrity idols appear in many TV shows.

C．They’re in their development period.

D．They have nothing to do in their spare time

Many celebrities have to be on diet           .

A．to keep healthy to face competition

B．to survive under pressure

C．to keep a slim size

D．to satisfy their teenage fans

What’s the title of the passage?

A．Parents’ responsibilities.

B．Advice on self-control.

C．Bad influences of celebrities.

D．Media’s bad influences.

Maybe you don’t think animals have certain mental powers which human beings do not have. But the truth is that some of them have instincts, and besides this, I am sure they can feel certain things we humans cannot. A personal experience showed me this.
Some years ago, I had a dog named Howard. From the time when he was a puppy, he was timid, so we named him Howard, sounding like “coward”! He was especially afraid of thunderstorms. At the first flash of lightning or crash of thunder, he would run whining into his house and hide under a table.
I often went for a walk with Howard. Once, as we were walking along a road, it began to rain. I quickly ran to a bus stop for shelter. The bus stop had a roof supported by metal poles. Soon after I had got there, Howard caught my trousers in his teeth and tried to pull me away. At first I was puzzled and a little angry at his behavior. But I decided to humor him and walked away from the shelter into the rain and started to go home.
When I was about two hundred metres from the shelter, there came a flash of lightning and soon after, there was thunder which nearly deafened me. Howard stopped walking and began whining. Thinking he was afraid, I bent to pick him up. As I straightened up, I glanced at the bus shelter we had just left. I was shocked to see that two of the poles were bent and the roof was lying on the ground, broken. The shelter had been struck by the bolt of lightning!
The author named his dog Howard mainly because of_______.

A．his timid characteristic

B．one of the author’s friends Howard

C．his loud sound

D．his strange behaviors

The reason why the author was puzzled and angry with the dog was that         .

A．Howard had a strange behavior

B．Howard should be afraid of the metal poles

C．Howard should know the approaching of the terrible lightning

D．Howard bit his trousers in his teeth

Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Dogs are cleverer and better than men.

B．Dogs are usually afraid of thunderstorms.

C．Some animals can feel certain things humans cannot.

D．Dogs are naturally born heroes.

What can be inferred about the bus shelter from the passage?

A．It was about 200 meters from the author’s home.

B．It was destroyed in a rainy day.

C．Its roof was supported by wood poles.

D．It could produce blinding flash of lightning.

A troubled young man in Connecticut laid his hands on the kinds of guns that no civilian should ever have and shot 20 children and 6 adults . It was a tragedy that “ broke the hearts of America ” , as President Barack Obama said . The obvious way to prevent the next such massacre is gun control . And , yes , we need it now . Voters need to be loud , politicians need to be brave , and the gun lobby needs to be defeated . Perhaps Barack Obama , no longer up for election , will no longer be chicken .
But American violence doesn’t just come from the weapons we buy and the gun shows we frequent . It’s much deeper than that . This is also the country that supplies three-quarters of the world’s arms trade . These are weapon sales authorized by our government and by a Democratic President . International weapon sales by America between 2010 and 2011 tripled . The same Democratic President continues a policy of targeted ( often poorly ) assassinations in Pakistan .
This country also supplies most of the world’s violent entertainment . America leads the world in massacres in life , and in film too . The most popular movie this week , “ SKyfall , ” is a load of fun ; but every emotional climax involves a shooting , sometimes with small guns sometimes with large ones . Firearms have long been identified with manliness in popular culture . Ever more they are identified with womanliness , too . The most popular culture . Every more they are identified with womanliness , too . The most popular video game this week is “ Halo 4 ; ” the most popular novel is Tom Clancy’s “ Treat Vector ; ” the second and s\third best-selling works of nonfiction are “ Killing Kennedy ” and “ Killing Lincoln , ” respectively . Every author , and every creator , should have the right to make what they want . Still , every civilian has a right to choose what to see and what to buy .
Violence is sometimes essential to art , and often to foreign policy , too . But the cruel killing in Newtown , the worst single event in this country in eleven years and three months , should lead to a moment of deep reflection . It’s time to talk about guns ; but it’s also time to talk about a lot more .
What does the underlined word “ massacre ” in paragraph 1 probably mean ?

A．Awful accident	B．Serious condition
C．Mass killing	D．Great destruction

The author lists some examples of violent entertainment EXCEPT __________ .

A．movies	B．books
C．songs	D．games

Which of the following would the author probably agree with ?

A．Gun control is the only solution to violence in America .

B．Arms trade can benefit our society if limited to a certain degree .

C．Readers should be given the right to choose what they want .

D．Violence in art should share the blame for the killing in America .

The best title for the passage would probably be __________ .

A．The Roots of Violent Movies

B．America’s Culture of Violence

C．Bloody Killing Shocked America

D．Divide on Gun Control in America

When we talk about superstitious（迷信的）beliefs , the beliefs associated with Friday the 13th , no doubt , deserve a special mention . In fact , such is the fear associated with this date that people just can’t seem to stick to their daily routine on this day . The data from Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute suggests that somewhere around 17 to 21 million Americans are affected by the fear associated with this day , i.e. the combination of Friday and 13 . Even worse , the financial losses caused on this day amounts to as much as US$800 million every year .
As we flipped through the pages of history , we realized that Friday the 13th bears the brunt of bad luck associated with number 13 , the unluckiest number , and Friday , the unluckiest day of the week . Number 13 has always been considered unlucky , mainly as a result of it being associated with various occurrences in mythology . While some associate it with the instance of Norse mythology , in which the god of joy and gladness – Balter , was killed in a dishonest manner by Loki – the god of discord and mischief , who was the 13th guest , others associate it with the Last Supper , in which the 13th guest was Judas , who betrayed Jesus to his enemies for 30 pieces of silver .
Similarly , Friday has also been a sign of bad luck to many people , with incidents like Jesus being crucified（在十字架上钉死）on this unfaithful day , contributing to this belief . It is also widely believed that Cain killed Able on this very day of the week . The fear of Friday the 13th is known as friggatriskaidekaphobia and paraskevidekatriaphobia , the former combining the words frigga , meaning Friday , and triskaidekaphobia , meaning the phobia of number 13 . Over the period , the belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day has just become one of the most widely accepted superstitions , which consequently causes much blind panic and unreasonable fear in the world .
What does Friday the 13th refer to according to passage ?

A．The 13th Friday of a year .

B．The fear of the number 13 on Fridays .

C．A fixed date of a year that can bring bad luck .

D．The 13th day of a month falling on a Friday .

We can learn from the passage that __________ .

A．superstition is more popular among the uneducated

B．religion is an important contributing factor to superstition

C．Numbers are believed to bring people bad luck in history

D．The belief of Friday the 13th is based on folk stories

What will the author most probably talk about next ?

A．Arguments for and against the belief of Friday the 13^th

B．Reasons why Friday the 13^th is widely accepted

C．Stories about the bad luck brought by Friday the 13^th

D．Appropriate attitude towards Friday the 13th

What is the passage mainly about?

A．The psychology of superstition

B．The history of a common superstition

C．The origins of Friday the 13^th

D．Influences of Friday the 13^th

Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life . You don’t need statistics to understand the Dane’s happy lot . Walk around any Danish town and you’ll experience some of the most harmonious civic spaces anywhere . Their intimate scales and perfect transport systems combine the rich history and bold modern lines of the built environment to delight the eye , and the locals’ manners and sense of humor is refreshing .
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is a remarkable city with well-preserved medieval streets , renowned art galleries , Michelin-starred restaurants and a healthy business center . Finding something to do is never a problem and if all else fails , just admiring the streets with a hotdog in hand is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours .
Beyond the capital and the bigger cities , Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside , medieval churches , Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages .
The coastline of Denmark with its sand dunes and greenery is a sight that always attracts visitors . So , no matter what time of year you’re in Denmark , you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the nearest beach .
It’s hard , in short , to find fault with the place . The visitor’s most heartfelt complaint is usually the cost of visiting Denmark . True , it is not a cheap destination , but no more so than the UK , and which nation’s public transport system would you rather use ?
Cheer yourself up by thinking of the country’s remarkable organization and clockwork railway timetable as being financed by the extremely high taxes paid by your hosts . When viewed in this way , this first-rate destination seems like good value , and you get the fairy tales thrown in for free : the Danish royal family is genuinely loved and respected by the vast majority of its citizens , not least handsome Prince Frederik , his beautiful Australian-born princess-bride , Mary , and their young family .
Which of the following words can best describe Danes ?

A．Polite and humorous .	B．Happy and romantic .
C．Kind and friendly .	D．Out-going and humorous .

The writer implies in the last two paragraphs that __________ .

A．Visiting the U.K. will cost less than travelling in Denmark .

B．The transport system in the UK can’t equal that in Denmark .

C．People in Denmark pay high taxes to welcome visitors .

D．The Danish royal family plays an important role in politics .

How does the passage mainly develop ?

A．By providing examples .	B．By making comparisons .
C．By giving descriptions .	D．By following time order .

What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage ?

A．To introduce Danish culture .

B．To show the attractions of Denmark .

C．To share experiences of travelling in Denmark .

D．To describe the happy life people live in Denmark .

Roughly half of college students will have some degree of depression at some point during their time in school . Even more startling , 6.2 percent of college students surveyed in 2012 considered suicide and 1.3 percent attempted it , according to an American College Health Association study released this spring . If you’re feeling depressed on campus , you may find the following tips helpful .
Exercise : Physical activity releases endorphins – chemicals that produce an overall positive feeling within the body , which fight depression naturally . Mental health experts claim that exercise is a solution to those feeling mild or moderate depression . However , for those severely depressed , simply doing sports is not enough .
Use school counseling services : Campuses don’t employ mental health experts simply to throw thousands of dollars down the drain . Their job is to help students , so experts recommend you use them . Most students , however , are hesitant to take a trip to their college’s counseling center , fearing being laughed at by peers . As a result , some schools like Texas Christian University , are testing students for mental health problems when they get sick and visit the campus health clinic .
Take advantage of technology : Staying in touch with family members and friends from childhood and high school has become easier than ever with the coming of Facebook and video chat services like Skype . While mental health experts insist that it’s important to make friends in your new environment and be involved in the college community , it’s also significant to keep in touch with the people you knew before college .
Go to sleep : Following a fairly regular sleep pattern can defend you against depression . In college , many students’ sleep patterns are irregular thanks to late-night studying and partying , which is harmful to their mental health . Research strongly suggests that sleep is the key to learning and memory formation .
According to the passage , physical activity __________ .

A．is regarded as the best way to fight depression

B．contributes to the release of endorphins

C．can’t help the seriously depressed students

D．improve people’s ability to learn and memorize

It can be inferred from the 3rd paragraph that __________ .

A．employing mental health experts on campus is a waste of money

B．students with mental health problems can’t get on well with others

C．going to college’s counseling center for help requires a lot of courage

D．sick students in Texas Christian University must take psychological tests

Taking advantage of technology is encouraged because it ____

A．enables students to get involved in college life

B．helps students stay in contact with others

C．offers students a way to make new friends

D．provides a way to avoid getting bored

which of the following can NOT help one reduce depression?

A．Taking exercise regularly every week

B．Chatting with old friends with Skype

C．Turning to mental health experts for advice

D．Holding parties deep into the night to relax