No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租賃費(fèi)), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this company bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent communication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to come steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites recommend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest complaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they come back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
【小題1】What is the second paragraph mainly about? 

A．How to exchange homes.
B．The biggest home exchange agency Intervac.
C．The fact that home exchanges are not new.
D．A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges.
【小題2】How do home exchangers normally begin their communication?
A．By phone.B．Via a matchmaker.
C．By e-mail.D．Via a face-to-face meeting.
【小題3】What is recommended in the passage to deal with the concerns about theft and damage?
A．One can file a lawsuit in court.
B．Both parties can trade online.
C．One can damage the home of the other party in return.
D．Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand.


【小題1】C
【小題2】C
【小題3】D

解析試題分析：文章大意：文章論述了假期時(shí)人們?yōu)榱藴p少開支，相互簽訂協(xié)議交換房子住的事。
【小題1】C主旨大意題。第二段主要講述了“交換房子住”這種現(xiàn)象是如何越來越流行的。故C正確。
【小題2】C細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文章第三段第三句Initial contact is made via e-mail,  with subsequent communication usually by phone可知。故C正確。
【小題3】D細(xì)節(jié)理解題。由文章第五段前兩句. . . swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement. . . 可知。故D正確。
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

In this day and age when we have a tendency to toss toys that are even slightly worn, it is tough to believe that there is a “hospital” where dolls can be repaired and brought back to their original glory. What is even more amazing is that such a place has existed for a century and is still going strong. Welcome to Sydney’s “original Doll Hospital” that celebrated its l00th birthday, on February 22nd, 2013.
In 1913, a general store owner in Sydney began importing dolls. However, the rubber bands(橡皮圈) that held them together would often break. Luckily for him, his brother Harold Chapman Sr., was a good handyman and set aside a little “hospital” area in the store to repair the delicate toys. But when customers found out about this, they began bringing in their raggedy dolls, stuffed animals and even leather goods and umbrellas—starting what would become a family business for many generations.
In l930, Chapman’s son also, named Harold, relocated the doll hospital and expanded the business even further, by agreeing to repair anything that could be fixed, no matter how big or small. While business was robust, the real boom came in 1938 during World War Two. Faced with extreme restrictions, new dolls and toys became a rarity, and young girls and boys had no option, but to get their existing ones lovingly restored.
While it does not have as many employees today, the hospital that is run by his son Geoff  Chapman now sits in a spiffy location with a beautiful store-front that features everything a little girl could possibly wish for, from new to lovingly restored, to even extremely rare and valuable  dolls. Also in keeping with modern times and dolls, the doctors are now specialists—some focus on bringing back to life modern dolls, while others stick to antiques. And then there are also the soft toy experts and accessory repair experts.
Though it may not appear to be, the doctors say their jobs are very interesting given that no two dolls are the same or need the same repairs and that just like medical doctors they have no idea what obstacle they will have to face when they come to work each day. The one advantage? There are no emergency night calls to worry about!
【小題1】We can learn from Paragraph 2 that __________.

A．people showed little interest in having their toys repaired at first
B．most of the toys that had broken were thrown away by Harold
C．stores in Sydney didn’t produce toys for kids at the beginning of 1900s
D．the toy repairing business came into being rather accidently
【小題2】 The underlined word “robust” in Paragraph 3 shows the family’s business __________.
A．was struggling hard
B．was greatly stricken
C．was developing very well
D．was enjoying its best time
【小題3】What can we learn about people working in the toy repairing hospital?
A．They work in that hospital mainly because they love toys.
B．Most of them focus on repairing modern dolls for little kids.
C．They are not capable of repairing toys that are extremely rare.
D．There are different experts who specialize in different types of toys.
【小題4】Which of the following words can describe the doctors’ work according to the last paragraph?
A．Simple.
B．Boring.
C．Worthless.
D．Challenging.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

My mind went blank when I saw the gun pointing against the car window as we pulled out of the garage. This can’t be happening to me. Then I felt the gun, cold, against my head, and I heard my friend Jeremy saying, “What do you want? Take my wallet,” but at the time I thought of nothing.
I remember being a little annoyed when the gunman pulled me from the car by the hair. I remember the walk to the house --- Jeremy, me, the two men with two guns. I remember the fear and anger in the gunmen’s voices because Jeremy was being slow, and I remember wondering why he was being slow. I did not realize that Jeremy had thrown the keys into the bush. But I remember that sound of the gun hitting Jeremy’s head and the feeling as the man who had hold of my hair released me. And I remember the split second when I realized he was looking at Jeremy, and I remember wondering how far I could run before he pulled the trigger. But I was already running, and upon reaching the car across the street, I didn’t crouch(蹲伏) behind it but screamed instead.
I remember thinking there was something ridiculous and illogical about screaming “Help, help!” at eight o’clock on a Tuesday evening in December and changing my plea(懇求) to the more specific “Help, let me in, please let me in!” But the houses were cold, closed, unfriendly, and I ran on until I heard Jeremy’s screams behind me announcing that our attackers had fled.
The neighbors who had not opened their doors to us came out with baseball bats and helped Jeremy find his glasses and keys. In a group they were very brave. We waited for the police to come until someone said to someone else that the noodles were getting cold, and I said politely, “Please go and eat. We’re OK.”
I was happy to see them go. They had been talking of stricter sentences for criminals, of bringing back the death penalty(處罰) and how the President is going to clean up the country. I was thinking, they could be saying all of this over my dead body, and I still feel that stiffer sentences wouldn’t change a thing. In a rush all the anger I should have felt for my attackers was directed against these contented people standing in front of their warm, comfortable homes talking about all the guns they were going to buy. What good would guns have been to Jeremy and me?
People all over the neighborhood had called to report our screams, and the police turned out in force twenty minutes later. They were ill-tempered about what was, to them, much trouble about nothing. After all, Jeremy was hardly hurt, and we were hopeless when it came to describing the gunmen. “Typical,” said one policeman when we couldn’t even agree on how tall the men were. Both of us were able to describe the guns in horrifying detail, but the two policemen who stayed to make the report didn’t think that would be much help.
The policemen were matter-of-fact about the whole thing. The thin one said, “That was a stupid thing to do, throwing away the keys. When a man has a gun against your head you do what you’re told.” Jeremy looked properly embarrassed.
Then the fat policeman came up and the thin one went to look around the outside of the house. “That was the best thing you could have done, throwing away the keys,” he said. “If you had gone into the house with them…” His voice became weaker. “They would have hurt her” --- he twisted his head toward me --- “and killed you both.” Jeremy looked happier. “Look,” said the fat policeman kindly, “there’s no right or wrong in the situation. There’s just luck.”
All that sleepless night I replayed the moment those black gloves came up to the car window. How long did the whole thing last? Three minutes, five, eight? No matter how many hours of my life I may spend reliving it, I know there is no way to prepare for the next time --- no intelligent response to a gun. The fat cop was right. There’s only luck. The next time I might end up dead.
And I’m sure there will be a next time. It can happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone. Security is an illusion(幻覺); there is no safety in locks or in guns. Guns make some people feel safe and some people feel strong, but they’re fooling themselves.
【小題1】When the writer saw the gun pointing against the car window, ________.

A．she felt very annoyed
B．she lost consciousness
C．she felt very much nervous
D．she lost the power of thinking
【小題2】What most possibly drove the two gunmen away?
A．Jeremy’s fighting B．The author’s screaming
C．Their neighbour’s brave action D．The police’s arrival
【小題3】 When the author called for help, the neighbors didn’t come out immediately because ________.
A．they were much too frightened
B．they were busy preparing dinners
C．they needed time to find baseball bats
D．they thought someone was playing a trick
【小題4】The author was happy to see the neighbors go because ________.
A．she hated to listen to their empty talk
B．she did not want to become an object of pity
C．she was angered by their being late to come to her help
D．she wanted to be left alone with Jeremy to get over the shock
【小題5】The police were rather angry because ________.
A．the author was not hurt and gave a false alarm
B．they thought it was a case of little importance
C．the author and Jeremy could not tell the police anything
D．the gunmen had already fled when they arrived on the scene
【小題6】What the author wants to tell us is that ________.
A．neighbors are not helpful in moments of difficulty
B．the police are not reliable when one is in trouble
C．security is impossible as long as people can have guns
D．preventing robbers entering your house is the best choice

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.

English expressions with “pants”
People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.”
When people want to say something about money
Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.”
I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” -- immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” -- you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.
English expressions with “shoes”
Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that!
Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective.
English expressions with “shirt”
My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” -- he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on” -- he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.    
【小題1】. What is this passage mainly about? 
A．How to say English correctly and properly.
B．Why English expressions include words about clothes.
C．Which words can be used to describe my father.
D．What people mean when they use some proverbs.
【小題2】. Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?
A．tighten one’s beltB．burn a hole in one’s pocket
C．get caught with their pants downD．take one’s hat off to them
【小題3】. Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world, which is far from the truth. We may say __________.
A．he is “too big for their boots”.B．he “bet his boots on that”.
C．he “fill their shoes”.D．he “wears his heart on his sleeve”.
【小題4】 If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger, you may say__________.
A．“You really fill your shoes.”
B．“Awesome! You wear your heart on your sleeve!”
C．“Amazing! How can you keep your shirt on at that time!”
D．“Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship usually develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends that you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity (成熟) and sense of responsibility. A familiar expression is “you can tell a lot about a person by knowing who his friends are.” Friendship is based on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends are likely to be athletic. If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do the same.
Some people call you their friends for the wrong reason. These people are not really friends. They are only “friends” on the outside, not the inside where it counts. They only want to be your friends if it is to their advantage. True friends are there whether you are rich or poor. It is easy to have many so-called “friends” if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the “false”.
True friends are most special. They are also difficult to find. You can consider yourself very lucky if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends support you, take your side, and build up your confidence.
【小題1】 “So-called” friends refer to        .

A．fair-weather friends
B．those who want to benefit from you
C．the friends who are on the surface only
D．a(chǎn)ll of the above
【小題2】Which of the following is NOT true?
A．You should tell true friends from false ones.
B．True friendship is too difficult to find.
C．You can share your joys and sorrows with a true friend.
D．A true friend will stand by you whatever happens.
【小題3】The proper title for this article may be “       ”.
A．Friendliness B．What friends like
C．True Friends D．So-called Friends

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

You feel happiest when you create a healthy balance between giving and receiving. If you give and give without making time to fill your own needs, then it’s likely you will burn out, or feel upset .When you take and take without giving anything back ,you never feel fulfilled, so you are always searching for ways to fill the void in your life.
The way to create a healthy balance between giving and receiving is to know and then live by your values .I break values up into two groups which I call being and having values. Your being values are the character traits of the ideal person you would like to be. I suggest to my clients that they choose three being values that they are willing to make a commitment to live by. An example of some being values are: kind, loving, generous, inspirational, peaceful, wise and even powerful. By acting on these values you give to others through your actions and you inspire others by being a positive role model. Mastering being these character traits becomes your life purpose.
Your having values are the feelings you need to create in order to be happy. These could be companionship, achievement, support, being valued or financial security. This is what you receive. You take responsibility for filling your own needs by taking steps to create these feelings and conditions in your life.
When you make a commitment to live by your being values, it becomes easier to make conscious choices rather than reactionary ones. If your usual pattern is to talk about your problems, you could choose to think and act like a calm person. A calm person might go for a walk, meditate, or set a time limit before responding. If your usual pattern is to worry, you could choose to act like a responsible or wise person. In other words, you would act like the person you choose to be—this is the key to personal power.
When you choose to act on your values, you not only feel good about yourself, you reinforce your chosen beliefs. Over time acting in this way changes how you see the world, and in turn the way other people think of you.
【小題1】The main purpose of this passage is to ___________.

A．persuade the readers to make a commitment
B．inform the readers how to be truly happy
C．explain to the readers what personal values are
D．instruct the readers how to make wise choices
【小題2】According to the text, living by your being values ,you would   ___________.
A．gain a lot of power B．fill your own needs
C．seek all human virtues D．form positive personality
【小題3】The underlined word “void” in Paragraph 1 means ___________.
A．a(chǎn) feeling of emptiness B．a(chǎn)n absence of one’s mind
C．a(chǎn) break of continuity D．a(chǎn) state of confusion
【小題4】Which of the following does not belong to “your having values”?
A．your success in the competition B．the help from your friends
C．your own peaceful mind D．the friendship
【小題5】What can be inferred from the text?
A．Having values are better than being values.
B．The way other people think of you decides who you are.
C．A calm person does not choose to complain.
D．A responsible person does not care about financial security.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Friendships can be difficult — because often people aren't as honest and open as they should be. Sometimes, people finally get hurt.
Most problems with friendships come up because people are just too selfish to care about the things that their friends need. They care about their own needs much more, which makes it hard for friendships to work. However, being selfish is part of human nature. A person is put together in order to take care of themselves and their own needs, not necessarily those needs of other people. Even though being selfish is something that all humans are born with, it is something that everyone should be against.
The best thing to remember when you are a friend to anyone is that you need to treat your friends the same way that you'd like to be treated(對待). This is wonderful advice for a friendship, because it is really the only way to make sure that you are giving your friends everything you would want to be given in a friendship. Whenever you have a question about how you should treat a friend, it is easy to find an answer simply by asking yourself what you would like your friend to do for you, if he or she was in your shoes.
Even if you're always thinking about how you'd like to be treated, and your friends are too, there are problems that come up from time to time in each friendship, and it is important to understand how to deal with these problems so that you can build stronger and healthier friendships. Problems like friends getting boyfriends or girlfriends and not spending enough time with their friends, or even friends finding new friends and leaving old friends behind are problems that will probably come up with one or more of your friendships. It is important to know how to deal with these friend problems so that you can keep your friends and make new ones. No one wants to have a broken friendship.
【小題1】This passage mainly talks about ________.

A．the importance of friendship
B．the advantages(益處) of friendship
C．the problems of friendship
D．the disadvantages(劣勢) of friendship
【小題2】According to the writer, problems with friendship may appear when ________.
A．one is honest B．one is selfish C．one is open D．one is kind
【小題3】According to the passage, the first and most important thing to be other people's friend is ________.
A．to treat your friend as you like to be
B．to give your friends whatever you have
C．not to hurt your friends' feelings
D．not to think of your own need any more
【小題4】What's the purpose of understanding how to deal with friendship problems?
A．To have a comfortable life.
B．To build stronger and healthier friendships.
C．To be treated the way you want.
D．To get a boyfriend or girlfriend more quickly.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Being safe in your everyday life needs knowledge(知識)．If you remember the following information，your life will be much safer．
Always notice the environment around you．You shouldn’t walk alone outside．Make sure where the public phones are．If anything dangerous happens，you can find them easily．
Your bag should be carried towards the front of your body instead of putting it on your back．When a bus is full of people, it is easy enough for a thief to take away the things in the bag on your back．
If you are followed by someone whom you don’t know, cross the street and go to the other way，let the person understand that you know he or she is after you．Next，don’t go home at once．You are safer in the street than you are alone in your home or in a lift(電梯)．
If you have to take a bus to a place far away, try to get to the stop a few minutes earlier before the bus leaves．This stops other people from studying you．On the bus，don’t sit alone．Sit behind the driver or with other people．Don’t sleep．
【小題1】Which of the following is NOT safe when you are out?

A．Go home alone late at night．
B．Make sure where the public phones are．
C．Don’t get to the bus stop too early．
D．Always notice the environment around you．
【小題2】When you are followed by someone on your way home，you should  to make yourself safe．
A．run home
B．find a lift and go in
C．turn back and walk towards him or her at once
D．cross the street and go to the other way
【小題3】What can you learn from the text?
A．How to notice the environment around you.
B．How to be safe in your everyday life.
C．How to cross the street.
D．How to use the public phones.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

As the school year comes to an end, many senior students of school across the nation will not just be starting another summer of holidays to provide a break during semesters. Leaving their safe havens (安全港), many of them are to take their first step into the world of adulthood, attending fast-paced, crowded universities, taking up part-time or full-time employment. Many may even move from family homes in their pursuit of educational fulfillment or the “perfect” job opportunity.
One ceremony that has become part of coming of age has been the senior prom (畢業(yè)舞會). The senior prom is an opportunity for youth to celebrate the entrance into the world of adulthood with color and formality. However, there is far more behind the social event than ever noticed.
　　What is formal? Formal means to present one’s self to others in a way which is “with form”, with shape, polite, inoffensive and organized. We see the example of a formal letter; it uses proper grammar and sentence structure in order to be respectful, while at the same time serving a purpose or getting an important message across.
In our society, what is formal? Very little. On average, clothing, language, behavior --- all is very informal. Individuals who are formal (polite, inoffensive, organized) in their daily dealings with people are often looked upon as boring. Yet in certain situations, individuals play with the concept of formality not truly to achieve respectfulness and order but because it becomes fashionable to do so. While a prom may seem, on the surface, like a fun opportunity to behave formally, it is actually a flowery version of Halloween.
On the occasion of the spring prom, we see flowering youth taking on the formalities of “adult”. Fine dress, careful makeup, luxury cars all become part of being an adult. But being “adult” isn’t that way.
　　In our society we have a wrong idea of what adulthood actually is. It has always been my understanding that adulthood and maturity (成熟) are not based upon one’s ability to hold a cigarette in a certain way or tie a bow tie. Adulthood comes with understanding of one’s place in the universe; it comes with the knowledge of how to interact with our fellow human beings; it comes with the ability to take responsibility for one’s own actions --- whether good or bad.
【小題1】The “safe havens” (Paragraph 1) most probably refers to ______.

A．families B．high schools C．mother countries D．hometowns
【小題2】In paragraph 3, the example of letter is given in order to ______.
A．show the importance of communication
B．discuss the purpose of a formal letter
C．explain what real “formal” is like
D．complain today’s letters are too formal
【小題3】By describing a prom as “a flowery version of Halloween” in the fourth paragraph, the writer means it is ______.
A．great fun B．out of fashion C．a(chǎn)ctually informal D．beautifully decorated
【小題4】The writer holds the opinion that being an adult means one can______.
A．put on heavy makeup B．better get on with others
C．learn to smoke cigarettes D．buy a luxury car or dress

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