A serious problem for today’s society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society. I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem.
First, employers should take the responsibility for their retried employees. To make this possible, a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose. But when a company must take life long responsibility for its employees, it may suffer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs.
Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual. This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement. This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years. This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor.
In addition, the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly. This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions. Furthermore, some institutions should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately , as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly, particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young.
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some workplaces especially for the elderly where they are independent.
To sum up, all these options have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations.What is the passage mainly about?
| A．The problem faced by the old in society. |
| B．Why we should take responsibility for the old. |
| C．How we can improve the lives of the old |
| D．Where the old can go to get their pensions. |
According to the passage, how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people?
| A．Set aside some profits to help people with problems after they retire |
| B．Increase saving levels of people during their working years |
| C．Increase the discounts for food and transport for the old |
| D．Make available pensions for those who have retired |
The underlined word “viable” most probably means ____.
| A．impossible | B．practical | C．usefull | D．successful |
What can be concluded from the passage?
| A．Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money |
| B．Employers should allow their workers to retire at a later age |
| C．Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people |
| D．There is no single solution to the problem of the old |
What is the writer’s main purpose of writing this article?
| A．To point out the need for government supporting for old people |
| B．To make general readers aware of the problems of retired people |
| C．To discuss some possible solutions to an important social problem |
| D．To instruct retired people on how they can have a happier life. |
Years ago, when I started looking for my first job, wise advisers advised, “Barbara, be enthusiastic（热情的）! Enthusiasm will take you further than any amount of experience.” How right they were!
“Nothing great was ever done without enthusiasm,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is the paste（浆糊） that helps you hang in there when the things get tough. It is the inner voice that tells you, “I can do it!” when others shout, “No, you can’t!” It took years and years for the early work of Barbara McClintock, a geneticist who won the 1983 Nobel Prize in medicine, to be generally accepted. Yet she didn’t stop working on her experiments.
We are all born with wide-eyed, enthusiastic wonder and it is the childlike wonder that gives enthusiastic people such youthful air, whatever their age. At 90, cellist Pablo Casals would start his day by playing the cello（大提琴）. As the music flowed through his fingers, his shoulders would straighten and joy would reappear in his eyes. As writer and poet Samuel Ullman once worte, “Years wrinkle(起皱纹) the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”
Enthusiastic people also love what they do, not considering money or title or power. Patricia Mellratl, a retired director of the Missouri Rpertory Theater in Kansas City, was once asked where she got her enthusiasm. She replied, “My father, long ago, told me, ‘I never made any money until I stopped working for it.’”
We can’t afford to waste tears on “might-have-been”. We need to turn the tears into sweat as we go after “what-can-be”. We need to live each moment whole-heartedly, with all our senses finding pleasure in the sweet of a backyard garden, the simple picture of a six-year-old, and the beauty of a rainbow.What is the passage mainly talking about?
| A．Enthusiasm is more important than experience. |
| B．Enthusiasm can give people more success and fame |
| C．Enthusiastic people will never get old |
| D．Enthusiasm can make you succeed and enjoy life. |
We can infer that enthusiasm is more important for a person especially when __________.
| A．he is in trouble | B．he is getting old |
| C．he can do what he love | D．he has succeeded |
The author mentions Pablo Casals in the third paragraph to show that ______.
| A．enthusiasm can make people feel young |
| B．music can arouse people’s enthusiasm |
| C．enthusiasm can give people inspiration needed to succeed |
| D．enthusiasm can keep people healthy |
How many examples are referred in the passage to show the importance of enthusiasm?
| A．Three | B．Four | C．Five | D．Six |
Which proverb(谚语) may the writer agree with according to the last paragraph?
| A．A good beginning makes a good ending |
| B．Don’t cry over the spoiled milk |
| C．Love me, love my dog |
| D．All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy |
President Bush this week announced his support for a proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon．Details published Friday said Israel would remove troops and all settlements from the Gaza Strip by the end of next year．About seven-thousand settlers live there.
Israel would also remove four settlements in the West Bank．But six large settlements would remain．The ruling Likud party of Minister Sharon is expected to vote on the proposal on May second.
Minister Sharon visited the White House on Wednesday．President Bush praised what he called “ historic and courageous actions．” Mr．Bush said the plan gives the Palestinians, in his words, “ a chance to create a reformed, just and free government．”
Palestinian leaders have denounced（谴责）the president．Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said Bush is the first president to accept Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair was at the White House Friday．He said he welcomed the plan．Blair urged other countries to get involved.
At least for now, Israel would continue to control airspace, waters and land passages．Minister Sharon says the plan is necessary because the Palestinian Authority has failed to stop attacks against Israelis．Diplomatic efforts also have not succeeded.
A Bush administration official said the president supports the plan because Israel is taking steps to remove existing settlements．Mr．Bush said removing all Jewish settlements in the West Bank would be unrealistic.
Palestinian officials called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union．Palestinian President Yasser Arafat says the plan is hurting Palestinians and they will never stop seeking an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Israel captured（夺取）Gaza and the West Bank in the nineteen-sixty-seven Middle East War．It soon began to build settlements．Palestinians want their own state in all of the West Bank and Gaza．They also demand the right of return to lands that are now part of Israel.
On Friday, several thousand Palestinians protested against President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon.Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Israel removed troops and all settlements from the Gaza Strip |
| B．Israel had ten settlements in the West Bank |
| C．President Bush supported the proposal by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon |
| D．British Prime Minister Tony Blair was for the plan |
From the passage we learn that _____.
| A．Palestinians and Israelis are in peace |
| B．Bush is the first president to accept Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories |
| C．Other countries also support the proposal |
| D．Israel would not continue to control airspace, waters and land passages |
What is the attitude of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat towards the plan?
| A．Agree | B．Happy | C．Disagree | D．Regret |
In which part does the passage appear?
| A．Sports news | B．Science fiction | C．High technology | D．Home and abroad |
Every year landslides {滑坡} cause 25 to 50 deaths and $1.5 billion in damage in the United States．They account for 15 percent of the deaths from natural disasters in Europe．And in December, a single event killed more than 200 people in the Philippines．Sending workers to stabilize (加固) mountainsides using steel bars and cement (水泥) can help prevent disaster, but it introduces new difficulties．Shaking drills produce harmful dust and loosen heavy, dangerous debris (米屑)．"It's quite a risky job," says Giorgio Pezzuto of D'Appolonia, an engineering company in Italy.
D'Appolonia, working with eight other companies, may have an answer: a three-ton robot called Roboclimber．"The idea is to operate a machine far away that can drill without a human being on board,'" says Pezzuto, manager for the project, which is supported by the European Commission．Engineers claim that the machine will be faster and cheaper than manual labor．The robot, a large radio-controlled four-legged mechanical spider (蜘蛛), has cost at least $2 million so far．The final product should be able to climb unstable mountainsides, drill holes, insert bars and cement, and collect data on the slope' s stability．Testing should begin in May.The underlined word "event" (in Paragraph l) refers to ___.
| A．landslide | B．machine | C．earthquake | D．flood |
The purpose in writing this text is ___..
| A．to tell people how serious the damage caused by landslides is |
| B．to tell people that sending workers to stabilize mountainsides is a risky job |
| C．to introduce a product that can be used to stabilize mountainsides |
| D．to show people how to use a new product |
What does the robot look like?
| A．A human being． | B．A spider． | C．A truck． | D．A drill． |
The biggest advantage of this product is that_________.
| A．it will be faster and cheaper than manual labor |
| B．it can climb mountainsides, drill holes, insert bars and cement |
| C．it can collect data on the slope’s stability |
| D．it can drill without a human being on board |
根据对话内容，从对话后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Ann: Well, Bob, what a surprise! It's nice to see you again!
Bob: Hello, Ann! 61 Wasn't it a year ago Christmas, the last time we saw you?
Ann: You know, I think you're right．How are your wife and the children?
Bob: Oh, they're fine．Billy fell down and broke his leg a few months ago． 62
Ann: Wasn't Joey learning to play the violin? Seems to me I remember something about that．
Bob: 63 He's all excited about sports now．
Ann: And you wife, what is she doing these days?
Bob:? She's going to a night school on Mondays and Thursdays．She's studying French now．But last year she studied typing and sewing． 64 Next it’ll probably be cooking．
Ann: How nice for her! 65 But say hello to Mrs James for me, will you?
Bob:?Sure I will, and remember me to your husband．Goodbye．
| A．Oh, he's given that up． |
| B．Oh, I'm sorry．I've got to rush． |
| C．She's made great progress in that． |
| D．How long has it been? |
E．I think she just enjoys going to school．
F．Joey's getting on well with her．
G．But other than that, there's been nothing special.
Beginning college is exciting: new ideas to explore, new challenges to be met and many decisions to be made．Your future begins here.
However, you will find college life is different from your previous school environment．Many of us can be easily overwhelmed（压垮）by the details of running a well-balanced life．While some of us may have the know-how, I guess there are more of us who can benefit from learning about the experiences of others who have walked the college halls before you.
The following you may find of use about life on campus.
●Plan well．There are so many new things to do at a new college or university．Give yourself time to make new friends and become familiar with the campus, but don’t forget why you are there．Give some time for social activities and manage your time wisely.
●If you don’t have a “system” for planning your time now (like a day timer, a computer date book), get one．Most of all, don’t depend on your memory.
●Don’t miss the guidelines．The restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook．Consider them well-balanced food for thought．What dates are important? What pieces of paper need to be handed in? What can/ can’t you do in class? What can/ can’t you do in your student residence（住处）? Who has right for what? What do you need to complete to graduate?
●Write the word “STUDY” on the walls of our bedroom and bathroom, and maybe it will help to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the telephone, TV and the kitchen table．Consider this—you are paying thousands of dollars for your courses．You pay every time you have to repeat or replace a course.
●Build your identity．This is the time for you to decide what to do and what not to do．Take as much time as you need to explore new ideas．Do not be afraid of the beyond．This is learning to make good choices.
What is the main purpose of the passage?
| A．To offer advice on college life． |
| B．To explain why college life is exciting. |
| C．To describe the importance of college life. |
| D．To persuade you to go to college. |
According to the text, why is it exciting to begin college life?
| A．Because you will have more freedom at college. |
| B．Because you will no longer be afraid of the beyond. |
| C．Because you prepare for your future career and life there. |
| D．Because professors there will provide you with many new ideas. |
What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “know-how”?
| A．An understanding of how things are going at college. |
| B．Practical knowledge about how to behave and what to do at college. |
| C．College halls where rules and regulations are presented. |
| D．An environment completely different from the one you’re used to. |
According to the text, college students .
| A．needn’t learn from those who went to college before them |
| B．spend as much time as possible on social activities |
| C．should know what they have right for on campus |
| D．are supposed to repeat or replace at least one course |
What should you think about when you try 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 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 or weak 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.
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 mental work or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills.
If you have had a part - time job on Saturday 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 bitter to face any weaknesses 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 feel sorry about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.The first paragraph of the passage is mainly about ________.
| A．the indirect value of school work |
| B．the importance of being good at all subjects |
| C．knowing one's strong or weak subjects at school |
| D．using school performance to help to choose a career |
In the writer's opinion, for 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 |
If a student's school record is not good, according to the passage, he________ .
| A．may do well in his future work |
| B．won't be able to find a suitable job |
| C．may be a complete failure in the future |
| D．will regret not having worked harder at school |
The whole passage centers around ________.
| A．knowing oneself in looking for a job |
| B．developing one's abilities useful in school |
| C．gaining much knowledge by working hard at school |
| D．choosing a career according to what one is skilled in |
An annoying problem for humans, who like to boast (夸耀) about all the distant planets and moons we have explored, is that we've never taken a good look right under our noses．The inside of the earth is relatively close but how can we get there?
The deepest oil well enters a mere six miles into the crust (地壳) (the center of the earth is about 4,000 miles deeper)．Russian scientists dug the deepest hole in Siberia," but bottomed out at about 7.5 miles below the surface．The Mohole project, a U.S．plan in the 1950s, called for drilling a hole 25 miles down to the boundary between the hard rocks of the crust and the soft mantle (地幔)．Sadly the project involved government supporting.
It gets harder and harder to drill deep into the earth because rocks get softer and softer． Hard but easily broken at the surface, rocks become plastic at depth, and the pressure caused by the weight of the overlaying crust — about 52,800 pounds per square inch at a depth of ten miles, makes further drilling impossible.
What little we know about the inside of the earth (like the fact that there' s a crust, a mantle, and a core) comes from indirect evidence, such as the analysis of earthquakes.
So maybe it' s time for a thorough new method to explore the earth's inside．Scientist David Stevenson says we should forget about drilling holes．Instead, we should open a crack (裂缝)．
Stevenson suggests digging a crack about a half mile long, a yard wide, and a half mile deep (not with a shovel) but with an explosion on the scale of a nuclear bomb．Next, he'd pour a few hundred thousand tons of molten (融化的) iron into the crack, along with a robot．The iron, thicker than the surrounding crust, would move downward at about 16 feet per second, carrying the robot with it and opening the crack deeper and deeper．The iron mass would drop for about a week and 2,000 miles to the outer edge of the earth core, the robot sending out data to the surface.
Stevenson compares his idea to space exploration．"We're going somewhere we haven't been before," he says．"In all possibility, there will be surprises."
This idea can probably be put in．the drawer marked with Isn't Going To Happen．The robot would have to survive temperatures that would melt pretty much anything．But Stevenson's idea may inspire a new look at an old problem．Great things can come from what seems like impossible ideas.
Going inside the earth is ________ than going into space.
| A．more interesting | B．more possible | C．easier | D．more challenging |
How deep have we gone into the earth until now?
| A．6 miles． | B．4,000 miles． | C．7.5 miles． | D．25 miles. |
Which of the following is TRUE about David Stevenson's idea?
| A．It is an inspiring but not practical idea now． |
| B．It is a practical proposal that has come into use now. |
| C．It is a good proposal that will soon be put into practice. |
| D．It is a false theory that cannot be carried out at all. |
What might be the most suitable title for the text?
| A．An Annoying Problem for Humans |
| B．To the Center of the Earth |
| C．The Mohole Project |
| D．David Stevenson' s Proposal |
After an extra day in space,the crew of Discovery returned to Earth,landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California early on Tuesday morning.The shuttle and its crew spent two weeks in space,most of it aboard the International Space Station.It was the first flight of NASA's spaceshuttle fleet since February 2003,when the shuttle Columbia came apart while reentering Earth's atmosphere.
NASA officials delayed Discovery's return for one day because of cloudy weather in Florida,where the shuttle was supposed to lanD. On Tuesday morning,mission controllers directed Discovery to a landing site in California,where the skies were clear.The crew members will have to wait until Wednesday to see their families when they all meet together in Houston at the Johnson Space Center.
Discovery had a very busy mission in space,compared to past missions.The space shuttle docked with the International Space Station most of the journey,delivering badly needed supplies and repairing damaged parts.The crew spent a lot of time testing new repair techniques on their own shuttle,conducting three different spacewalks(where astronauts exit the space shuttle to do work outside).On the third spacewalk,astronaut Steve Robinson went underneath the shuttle to remove material sticking out from between the spacecraft's protective tiles.
There were concerns in the last remaining days of Discovery's mission that a torn heat blanket—another shield against overheating in the space shuttle—may pose a problem to crew members. NASA officials and technicians worked on ways that the crew could fix the problem, but later decided it was not a risk.
With the shuttle and its crew safely back on firm ground, NASA is hailing this mission, labeled STS114,as a huge success. “I hope this shows people that we're coming back,” NASA spaceflight chief Bill Readdy said after Discovery's successful landing. “We've got some more work to do. We know what we need to do and we'll do it.Which of the following isn't included in the jobs of the shuttle Discovery?
| A．Delivering supplies to the International Space Station. |
| B．Conducting different spacewalks. |
| C．Testing new repair techniques. |
| D．Finding the cause why the shuttle Columbia came apart. |
But for the cloudy weather, the shuttle Discovery would have landed_______.
| A．in Florida a day earlier | B．in Florida a day later |
| C．in California a day earlier | D．in California a day later |
Which is the most probable period of time that Discovery was aboard the International Space Station?
| A．Six days. | B．Two weeks. |
| C．Nine days. | D．Two weeks and an extra day. |
What's the best title for the passage?
| A．Another Huge Success of Discovery |
| B．Welcome Back, Discovery |
| C．Discovery and International Space Station |
| D．Discovery Survives a Risk |
IS THERE LIFE ON EARTH
There was great excitement on the planet of Venus(金星) this week. For the first time Venusian scientists managed to land a satellite on the planet Earth, and it has been sending back signals as well as photographs ever since.
The satellite was directed into an area known as Manhattan (named after the great Venusian astronomer Prof. Manhattan, who first discovered it with his telescope 20 000 light years ago).Because of excellent weather conditions and extremely strong signals, Venusian scientists were able to get valuable information as to feasibility(可行性) of a manned flying saucer(飞碟) landing on Earth.A press conference was held at the Venus Institute of Technology.
“We have come to the conclusion,based on last week's satellite landing,” Pro. Zog said,“that there is no life on the Earth.”
“How do you know this?” the science reporter of the Venus Evening Star asked.
“For one thing, Earth's surface in the area of Manhattan is composed of solid concrete(混凝土)and nothing can grow there. For another, the atmosphere is filled with carbon monoxide(一氧化碳) and other deadly gases and nobody could possibly breathe this air and survive.”
“What does this mean as far as our flying saucer program is concerned?”
“We shall have to take our own oxygen with us, which means a much heavier flying saucer than we originally planned. ”
“Are there any other hazards that you discovered in your studies?”
“Take a look at this photo. You see this dark cloud floating over the surface of Earth? We call this the Consolidated Edison Belt. We don't know what it is made of, but it could give us a lot of trouble and we shall have to make further tests before we send a Venus Being there.”
“If what you say is true, won't this set back the flying saucer program several years?”
“Yes, but we shall proceed as soon as the Grubstart gives us the added funds.”
“Prof. Zog, why are we spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth when there is no life there?”
“Because if we Venusians can learn to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, then we can live anywhere.”During the week of great excitement the Venusian scientists succeeded in getting important information on whether they can_______.
| A．land a satellite with Venus astronauts on Earth |
| B．make a firstrate flying saucer |
| C．get a Earth Being to Venus |
| D．direct a flying saucer into Manhattan |
According to Prof.Zog,the Venusians will have to take their own oxygen with them when they carry out their flying saucer program because_______.
| A．they need it on their way to the planet of Earth |
| B．the Earth's atmosphere is filled with deadly gases |
| C．oxygen is far from enough in the area of Manhattan where the saucer is to land |
| D．there is no air on the planet of Earth |
The “dark black cloud” on the photograph refers to_______.
| A．the polluted air floating over the surface of Earth |
| B．the mass of tiny drops of water floating above Earth |
| C．the things that are unknown to everybody |
| D．the dark clouds gathering before a storm breaks |
The author wishes to call our attention to the fact_______.
| A．that modern man has polluted his environment to such an extent that he might destroy himself if he went on like this |
| B．that there is no point in spending billions and billions of zilches to land a flying saucer on Earth |
| C．that pollution has become so serious a problem on Earth that even Venusians find life there unbearable |
| D．that it is difficult, if not altogether impossible, to land a manned flying saucer on Earth |
A peer is a person who is about the same age as you. Peers affect your life, whether you know it or not, just by spending time with you.
Peers can have a good effect on each other. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book, and now everyone's reading it.
However, sometimes peers affect each other in another way. For example, one kid in school might try to get another to cut class with him, your soccer friend might try to persuade you to be mean to another player and never pass him the ball, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to shoplift with him.
Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group.Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that “everyone's doing it ” may influence some kids to leave their better judgments, or their common senses behind.
Peer pressure can be extremely strong and hard to get rid of. Experiments have shown how peer pressure can influence someone to change mind from what she knows for sure is a correct answer to the incorrect answer—just because everyone else gives the incorrect answer!That holds true for people of any age in peer pressure situations.
It can be hard to walk away from peer pressure, but it can be done. Pay attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do. Inner strength and self-confidence can help you stand firm, walk away, and resist doing something when you know better.What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Peers have a good effect. |
| B．Children give in to peer pressure. |
| C．Peer pressure is hard to stop. |
| D．Peer pressure. |
The underlined word “shoplift” probably means to_______.
| A．do shopping | B．carry goods for shops |
| C．steal in the shop | D．take the lift upstairs in the shop |
The writer will NOT agree that_______.
| A．only children change their correct answers to incorrect ones because of peer pressure |
| B．peers have an effect on each other |
| C．peer pressure can be got rid of |
| D．peers will believe in themselves if there are other peers who agree with them |
The writer intends to _______ by writing the passage.
| A．warn peers to separate from each other |
| B．tell peers to follow others |
| C．show it is hard to walk away from peer pressure |
| D．persuade peers to do what they think is the right thing |
Dear Flowermouse,
Thank you for your comments on how Americans and Chinese view each other. This is an important subject. Modern technology has given many nations the chance of destroying other nations. This is a cruel picture but it is a realistic one. It means that every nation should make sure that these weapons of great destruction are never used. This requires greater acceptance of differences among people and nations in all parts of the planet.
Your letter asks specially about Chinese-American relationships but I want to let you know my feelings on a global scale. Because China and America are the most powerful nations and I believe they have a special responsibility for promoting better understanding and for leading the way toward peaceful solutions to the world's problems.
You ask how Chinese and American people view each other. This is an important question. Because I know so little about China that I am not able to judge how Chinese view Americans. I am sure that the view differs according to individual experiences that persons might have. And it is not easy to describe America to foreigners. America is a vast mass of people and cultures. These people came from all parts of the world, from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Australia. Each brought a different culture and a different set of values within a single nation.
I believe that the vast majority of Americans like the vast majority of Chinese want peace and friendship between our two nations. Both China and America have suffered through generations from war and violence in our history. And I believe that it is the special responsibility of all Chinese and all Americans to impress this need for mutual understanding on our neighbors in other.
So my friend, this is my response. Please know that I write to you as a private person living in America. I do feel strongly that people everywhere have more in common than they have in differences. We all share the same basic needs for existence and we all depend upon the same need for the survival of this beautiful planet earth. Maybe we can begin to encourage better communication and better understanding through my columns. I hope so.From the passage we can know that Flowermouse_______.
| A．loves Americans |
| B．has read about the writer's articles |
| C．is an American |
| D．knows little about Americans |
It is likely that the writer_______.
| A．disagrees with Flowermouse |
| B．thinks it possible for nations to be destroyed due to modern technology |
| C．thinks American government share the same opinions with its people |
| D．believes the weapons of great destruction are never used |
The letter that Flowermouse wrote to the writer, maybe have referred to .
| A．American culture |
| B．American society |
| C．Chinese-American relationships |
| D．Chinese society |
The writer's purpose to write the passage is to_______.
| A．introduce Americans to us |
| B．make friends with Flowermouse |
| C．speak for the government of America |
| D．call on nations to understand each other |
Because of the stress and strains of modern life folks today would rather watch television than get together with neighbors. Their behavior doesn't mirror TV soaps like Coronation Street and East Enders.
The Street's Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby know all their neighbors. But the Royal Mail survey shows that real-life under35s wouldn't dream of popping next door for a chat or to borrow a cup of sugar.
Three out of ten say they wouldn't know their neighbors if they saw them in the street. The same proportion would only offer to help neighbors if absolutely necessary, while thirty-onepercent don't want to get to know them better. Twenty-six percent rarely or never speak to the person next door. Thirty-five percent only talk to neighbors occasionally, and six percent actively dislike them. The older generation are still sociable, with seventy percent of over55s taking time to chat to people next door. The report says: “In the past, the British tradition of village green gossip（闲聊）between neighbors was celebrated worldwide. But there's been a clear shift away from local links by the young generation.” Londoners are least likely to be neighbors, with a third rarely or never chatting over the garden fence. People in the Midlands—where 65 percent often speak to their neighbors are most friendly.
Sociologist Jane Blakeman said: “People are working longer hours than ever before, and are traveling further to work. It leaves them far less time at home.”Almost a third of young people_______.
| A．know their neighbours quite well |
| B．have no idea who lives next door to them |
| C．talk to their neighbours when they want to borrow something |
| D．spend time chatting with neighbours like their parents |
It can be inferred that Ashley Peacock and Toyah Battersby are both_______.
| A．important roles in a popular TV series |
| B．famous stars in TV programmes |
| C．old soap operas |
| D．members of royal family |
Gossip among neighbours is still common among_______.
| A．people under35s | B．people between 35 and 55 |
| C．people over55s | D．people of different ages |
There is a difference between London and the rest of Britain mainly in that non-Londoners
_______.
| A．would help their neighbours only when necessary |
| B．are less likely to have good relations with their neighbours |
| C．wouldn't travel far and find more time to chat with neighbours |
| D．are more likely to keep up the old British tradition of having a chat over garden fence |
People in the United States honor their parents with 2 special days: Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May and Father's Day on the 3rd Sunday in June. These days are to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens.They give love and care. These two days offer an opportunity to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home and 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's also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery. 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 more valued than those bought in stores. It's not the value of the gift that is important, but “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores,florists,candy makers, bakers, phone companies and other stores do lots of business during these holidays.Which 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 can we learn from the passage?
| A．Both festivals are 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. |
What do you know about “carnation”?
| A．It only has two kinds of color. |
| B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother's Day. |
| C．It's a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
| D．People can wear them only on the second Sunday in May. |
On Mother's Day and Father's Day _______.
| A．people usually have family parties |
| B．everyone goes to the cemetery |
| C．children always go to parents' home |
| D．hand-made cards are the most valuable gifts |
In ancient Greece athletic festivals were very important and had strong religious associations. The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honor of Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods, eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then,after the rules against foreign competitors had been put to an end, international. No one knows how far back the Olympic Games go, but some official records date from 776 BC.
The games took place in August on the plain by Mount Olympus. Many thousands of people gathered from all parts of Greece to watch the games, but no married woman was admitted even for watching. Slaves, women and dishonored persons were not allowed to compete. The exact sequence of events is uncertain, but events included boy's gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, horse racing and field events, though there were fewer sports involved than in the modern Olympic Games.
On the last day of the Games, all the winners were honored by having a ring of holy olive(橄榄树) leaves placed on their heads. So great was the honor that the winner of the foot race gave his name to the year of his victory. Although Olympic winners received no money, they were, in fact, richly rewarded by their state authorities.In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games_______.
| A．was held by Zeus, king of the Olympian Gods |
| B．was a religious event |
| C．was first a national event held every four years |
| D．was an international event held in honor of Zeus |
f an athlete won, _______.
| A．he would receive a lot of money |
| B．he could give his name to the month of his victory |
| C．he would be honored and rewarded by his state authorities |
| D．he would only get a ring of holy olive leaves |
In the early days of ancient Olympic Games_______.
| A．only Greek men were allowed to participate in the games |
| B．all Greeks, regardless of religion, political views and sex, were allowed to take part in the games |
| C．all Greeks except married women were allowed to compete in the games |
| D．all the Greek men except slaves and dishonored ones were able to compete in the games |
Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The sequence of events were set up in ancient Olympic Games. |
| B．The sequence of events varied greatly from ancient to the modern Olympic Games. |
| C．There were 20 more events involved in the modern Olympic Games. |
| D．Ancient Greeks had only running races at the first Olympic Games. |
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