When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents—just the two of you?     
Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event. When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while. 
“I really like parents to come to class with their kids—they start sharing things and talking about what they’re doing and what they like,” said art teacher Pyper Dixon.     
However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities. But it’s possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.     
That’s certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon’s class with her father, Dennis. “I was just going to drop her off,” Dennis said, “but Dixon persuaded me to stay.” 
Now Lauren gets to nag her father about doing his art homework. “He always leaves it to the last minute,” she said. “But then he’ll turn around to do amazing drawings,” she added, “We have different styles of drawing, so it’s interesting to talk it over with him.”     
Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer. But they talk more now. “I can’t think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely,” he said.
小題1:The author raises the question at the beginning to_______.

A．expect an answer

B．criticize some parents

C．introduce the topic

D．support his argument

小題2:What does Dixon think is the benefit of parent and child studying art together?

A．They will become equal.

B．They will communicate more.

C．The child will learn art much better.

D．The parent will learn something new.

小題3:The underlined word “nag” in the text probably means _______.

A．urge

B．help

C．miss

D．teach

小題4:We can learn from the text that_______.

A．Lauren used to talk a lot with her father

B．Dennis enjoys studying art with Lauren

C．Lauren dislikes her father’s drawings

D．Dennis likes playing computer games

It’s common for parents to feel emotional when the moment comes for their child to leave home and go to university. Even parents who don’t speak about the event are likely to feel a sense of sadness because it’s the end of an era where you and your family were at the centre of your child’s world. As a parent you’ll probably continue to support your child in different ways, but the main job of raising your child is over. It’s a huge change for everyone involved.
There are a few things that you can do to make the transition easier. Plan carefully for your child’s departure and think about how you can help. Many parents take their child to university for the first time. If you decide to do that, be ready to feel a real wrench when the time comes to say goodbye. Your child will probably be as nervous as you are about the moment when you finally say goodbye – but that might not show!
Be positive and cheerful about the choice your child has made to continue studying, and plan to leave once you’ve unpacked the car and looked around your child’s new living accommodations. If you can, save your tears for the car – you’ll make things easier on your child and yourself.
The more you’ve invested in being a parent, the more you’ll feel a sense of loss, so the sadness you feel now is a sign that you’ve been a good mom or dad. Remind yourself that parenting is all about raising an independent and confident child who functions well without you. If your child quickly settles and starts enjoying himself, you should congratulate yourself.
It’s also only fair to allow yourself some time to grieve. Don’t expect to pick yourself up and move on straight away. But you may decide to find a hobby or sport to fill your extra time. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to learn a new language, go to yoga classes or take up swimming. You may decide to spend more time with family and close friends, who are likely to be feeling the absence of your child as well.
Agree on the best approach to staying in touch before your child leaves, and stick to your agreement. Try not to panic if your child doesn’t respond immediately – remember, they’re starting a new and busy life.
小題1:The underlined word “wrench” in Paragraph 2 means a feeling of ________.

A．sorrow

B．regret

C．a(chǎn)nger

D．love

小題2:What does good parenting consist of?

A．Supporting your child in different ways all the time.

B．Congratulating yourself when your child goes to college.

C．Preparing your child to stand on their own feet in the future.

D．Investing as much as possible in the growth of your child.

小題3:What’s NOT advised as the way to recover from your child’s departure?

A．Developing a new hobby or sport

B．Learning a new language.

C．Spending more time with close friends

D．Staying in touch with your child.

小題4:What would be an appropriate title for the whole passage?

A．Staying in Touch with Your Child

B．Preparing to Say Goodbye to Your Child

C．Dealing with Your Child Leaving Home for University

D．Life after Your Child Has Left Home for University

I’m sure your parents love you and would love you even if you didn’t live up to their expectations, They are probably setting the bar as high as possible, so that you will aim high , That’s right, but you need some confidence that they’ll be there to catch you—and love you just the same—if you try and fail to achieve all their goals, Because what they’re doing now could lead to some unexpected results .and not good ones.
Giving you a lecture for achieving an A is a big mistake, Your parents might think they’re giving you the motivation for succeeding , but all this pressure is making you feel like you can never be good enough ,The risk is that you’ll stop trying anything unless you are sure you’ll be the best at it .And that can actually cause your grades to fall downwards, creating the opposite effect than you parents indeed.
Show your parents this letter that you wrote to me ,Tell them that you love them so much ,and you worry they won’t love you if you don’t achieve what they want, and how you suspect you may not be up to the challenge , Explain that you have other qualities that you wish they would value you for—such as your kindness, your sense of humor, your willingness to try and try again, and so on.
Have an honest talk with your parents about how all this pressure to be perfect is affecting you , If he talk doesn’t go the way you hope , you might want to schedule a meeting between you , your parents and a counselor（顧問）at school , The counselor can certainly help your parents understand how this kind of unhealthy pressure can lead to negative results, and give them advice about how to better encourage you to be all that you can be , at school and outside of it.
小題1:Who does the author intend to write to?

A．A boy/girl whose school work is not good enough

B．A boy/girl who has difficulty in getting along with parents

C．A boy/girl whose parents expect too much of him/her

D．A boy/girl who needs love from his/her parents

小題2:According the text, why some parents have high expectations to their children?

A．Because they hope their children will aim high

B．Because they love their children very much

C．Because their children are lack of confidence

D．Because their children seldom achieve their goals

小題3:What kind of feeling may a child have if his parents ask him to achieve an A?

A．He may be more confident about himself

B．He may feel that he can never be good enough

C．He may feel natural to cheat in the exam

D．He may hate his parents and try to make more mistakes

小題4:What is the advice given by the author?

A．To apologize to his/her parents for disappointing them

B．To let his/her parents know unhealthy pressure can lead to negative results

C．To invite his/her teachers to help him/her to get rid of unhealthy pressure

D．To try his/her best to achieve what his/her parents expect

小題5:What does the underlined word “them” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Counselors

B．Results

C．Parents

D．Classmates

Electrical devices（儀器）could soon use power make by human energy. Scientists say they have developed an experimental device that produces electricity from the physical movement of a person walking . British scientist Max Donelan and other scientists in Canada and the United States developed the device.
The device connects to a person’s knee. As the person walks, the device captures energy each time the person slows down. To do this , the device helps with the slowing sown movement of the leg.  The movements of the walking person push parts of a small machine that produces electricity. Using the device, an adult walking quickly could produce thirteen watts of electricity in just a minute. Donelan says walking at that speed could produce enough power to operate a laptop computer for six minutes.
There are several possible uses for the device . Developers say it could help people who work in areas without electricity to operate small computers. The device could also be used in hospitals to operate heart pacemakers（起博器）. It could even be used to assist in the movement of robotic arms and legs.
The experimental version of the device weighs about one and a half kilograms, but it is too costly for most people to buy. But the researchers hope to make a lighter, less costly version. An improved version should be ready in one year.
The developers hope the device will one day help developing countries. Nearly twenty five percent of people around the world live without electric power.
A similar product was invented in 2005 by Larry Rome of the University of Pennsylvania. He created a bag carried on a person’s back that also produces power from walking. The knee device does not produce as much electricity as the bag . But the bag requires the walker to carry a load of twenty to thirty kilograms.
小題1:The second paragraph mainly talks about       .

A．who developed the device

B．how the device works

C．several possible uses for the devices

D．how much electricity the device can produce

小題2:What is the disadvantage of the experimental version of the device?

A．It is too heavy for the walker to bear

B．It is too complex for people to use

C．It is too expensive for most people to afford

D．It will slow down one’s walking speed.

小題3:Compared with the device designed by Larry Rome ,this new device       .

A．produces power without adding more loads to the walker

B．can produce more power in a much shorter time

C．needs to be equipped with a battery

D．can help the walker walk faster

小題4:From the passage, we can learn that the electrical device can       .

A．help housewives operate the washing machine

B．make it much easier for us to go online

C．produce more electricity than that invented by Larry Rome

D．be applied to operate heart pacemakers

小題5:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．First device powered by walking will soon be on the market

B．Advanced technology brings in a new way to operate heart pacemakers

C．Device gives new meaning to the idea of power walking

D．Human energy will become a main source of electricity

[1] As adolescents(青少年), having a meaningful effect on the world can seem like an impossible task for the simple fact of being kids.  Changing the world does not only mean finding a cure for cancer, eliminating poverty, or finding the origin of humanity, but recycling a piece of paper as well. Going Green is a practical way that adolescents can have a real, meaningful influence in the world.  There are numerous options of how individuals can change their lifestyles to be more eco-conscious(有生態(tài)環(huán)保意識的). What follows are three simple ways young adolescents can go green and change the world.
1. Recycle
[2] According to a Wire & Twine online article, 63 million newspapers come out every day and of those 44 million are thrown away; recycling the Sunday newspaper alone we could save half a million trees a week.
[3] The age of technology constantly creates new phones, iPods, or new computers.  Many will stand in line for hours if not days to get their hands on the new piece of technology, but what happens with the old ones once they are replaced?  Nothing, according to Earth911 about 75% of the old devices sit in the back of a drawer collecting dust.  By taking them to the local stores that collect them, they go to poor people which in turn removes them from landfills(垃圾填埋場) where the phones explode because of the lead and lithium-ion(鋰離子) the phones contain.
2. Go vegetarian one day a week
[4] Instead of breaking down the pros and cons(利弊) of the vegetarian lifestyle into a long boring paragraph, here are some astonishing facts on going vegetarian for only one day.  According to Noam Mohr, a physicist at the New York University, the United States would save 100 billion gallons of water which is enough to supply all homes in New England for about 4 months.
[5] The United States would save 70 million gallons of gas which is enough to fuel all the cars of Canada and Mexico combined and still have some to spare. The United States could prevent 3 million tons of soil erosion(侵蝕), 4.5 million tons of animal wastes, and about 7 tons of ammonia emissions (氨排放). The Environmental Defense concludes with the most interesting fact: if the entire population gives up one meal of chicken, the amount of carbon dioxide accumulated would be the same amount if more than half a million cars were taken off U.S. roads.
3. 第6題
[6] Most drink bottled water because of the common view that bottled water is healthier than regular tap water; actually, 25% of bottled water comes from regular tap water and all that is done extra is it going through a filter(過濾器).  Tap water has higher regulations from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration美國食品藥品管理局) than bottled water does.  Companies do not need to list where they got the water from, how they purify the water, or what chemicals their plastic water bottles contain.  Plastic bottles do not get recycled 90% of the time which results in 1.5 million tons of plastic in landfills which take thousands of years to rot.  Not only are you drinking the same water as that in your house but also paying extra.  The average 24-pack of bottled water cost $3.97 at the local Wal-Mart and a reusable water bottle cost between $4.99-$7.99; just imagine how much money could be saved if reusable water bottles replaced plastic water bottles.
[7] Changing the world for a positive has to start somewhere and while it may be hard and at times it may seem as if the small changes that are being done are not affecting the world, keep in mind what Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
小題1:What’s the whole passage mainly talked about?

A．Ways to protect environment.	B．Ways to become powerful.
C．The importance of recycling.	D．The importance of saving water.

小題2:What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1?

A．Changing the world involves many questions.

B．It’s not easy to change the world.

C．Changing the world is not so difficult.

D．We can actually do everything.

小題3:How much of the daily newspapers are thrown away according to Paragraph 2?

A．About 44%.

B．About 63%.

C．About 70%.

D．About 75%.

小題4: In the article, the writer _____ to tell us the benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle.

A．does a lot of reasoning	B．uses many facts
C．borrows VIPs’ phrases	D．puts forward new ideas

小題5:What’s the benefits of giving up just one day of eating meat according to Paragraph 4 and 5?

A．Much water and gas would be saved.	B．Much land would be spared.
C．More animals would survive.	D．More cars would be on the roads.

小題6:Which of the following can be the subtitle(小標題) of Paragraph 6?

A．Drink healthy water	B．Produce bottled water
C．Give up bottled water	D．Reuse tap water

小題7:Why do many people choose to drink bottled water according to Paragraph 6?

A．They think it’s cheaper.

B．They think it’s healthier.

C．They think it’s more fashionable.

D．They think it’s environmental friendly.

小題8:What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．We should find a proper time to start action

B．Small changes will make big differences.

C．Personal efforts will not affect the world.

D．A small group of people matters.

Mark and his brother Jason both were looking at the shining new computer enviously, Jason was determined not to go against their father’s wishes but Mark was more adventurous than his brother. He loved experimenting and his aim was to become a scientist like his father.
“Dad will be really mad if he finds out you’ve been playing with his new computer.” Jason said, “He told us not to touch it.”
“He won’t find out,” Mark said. “I’ll just have a quick look and shut it down.”
Mark had been scolded before for touching his father’s equipment. But his curiosity was difficult to control and this new computer really puzzled him.
It was a strange-looking machine — one his dad had brought home from the laboratory where he worked. “It’s an experimental model,” his father had explained, “so don’t touch it under any circumstances.” But his father’s warning only served to make Mark more curious. Without any further thought, Mark turned on the power switch. The computer burst into life and seconds later, the screen turned into colors, shifting and changing and then two big white words appeared in the centre of the screen: “SPACE TRANSPORTER.” “Yes!” Mark cried excitedly, “It’s a computer game. I knew it! Dad’s only been pretending to work. He’s really been playing games instead.” A new message appeared on the screen: “ENTER NAMES
VOYAGER 1:…
VOYAGER 2:…”
Mark’s fingers flew across the keyboard as he typed in both of their names.
“INPUT ACCEPTED. START TRANSPORT PROGRAM. AUTO-RETRIEVE INITIATED (自動回收程序已啟動).”
The screen turned even brighter and a noise suddenly rose in volume.
“I think we’d better shut it off, Mark,” Jason yelled, reaching for the power switch. He was really frightened.
But his hand never reached the switch. A single beam of dazzling white light burst out of the computer screen, wrapping the boys in its glow(光芒) , until they themselves seemed to be glowing. Then it died down just as suddenly as it had burst into life. And the boys were no longer there. On the screen, the letters changed.
“TRANSPORT SUCCESSFUL. DESTINATION (目的地)：MARS. RETRIEVE DATE: 2025.”
小題1:Why did Mark touch the computer against his father’s warning?

A．He wanted to take a voyage.	B．He wanted to practice his skill.
C．He was so much attracted by it.	D．He was eager to do an experiment.

小題2:Where did the boys’ father most likely work?

A．In an electronic factory.

B．In a computer company.

C．In a scientific research center.

D．In an information processing center.

小題3: Mark thought “SPACE TRANSPORTER” on the screen was the name of______.

A．a(chǎn) computer game	B．a(chǎn) company website
C．a(chǎn) software producer	D．a(chǎn)n astronomy

小題4:Why did Jason want to shut off the computer?

A．He was afraid of being scolded.

B．He didn’t like the loud noise and light.

C．He didn’t want to play games any more.

D．He was afraid something dangerous might happen.

小題5: What happened to the boys at the end of the story? 

A．Theywereblownintotheair.

B．Theyweresenttoanotherplanet.

C．Theywerehiddeninthestronglight.

D．Theywerecarriedawaytoanothercountry.

Food prices have risen sharply over the past few years. The good news is that the rate of increase has slowed. The bad news is that prices will not go down anytime soon.
Also，the rate of global agricultural production is slowing. Yet it needs to increase 60% over the next 40 years to feed a growing world population.
These are among the findings from the OECDFAO(the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development & the Food and Agriculture Organization)Agricultural Outlook(展望)2012－2021.
FAO Director­General Jose Graziano da Silva spoke at a news conference in Rome when the report was released. Mr.Da Silva said that，not surprisingly，the world's poorest people will feel the greatest effects of higher prices.
“For the millions and millions of extremely poor people， the effects of high food prices are clear—they might have to change their diets，usually to ones with poorer nutrition quality， ”he said.
In middle­income countries， people are gaining weight as they eat fewer fruits and vegetables and more of the cheaper but less nutritious foods.
The report also shows that farmers in poorer countries will be leading efforts to feed an expected 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.The outlook predicts that farmers in Latin America，the Caribbean and sub­Saharan Africa will drive agricultural production in the future.
Angel Gurria，Secretary­General of the OECD，said：“We can feed 9,000,000,000 people by 2050 on this planet. But we have to organize ourselves better.” But there are plenty of challenges.One­fourth of all agricultural land is damaged. Many countries face water shortages(短缺)．And experts believe climate change is driving increasingly unusual weather patterns.
The report says farmers need to use more growing methods that can't cause damage to the environment.At the same time，it says governments should end economically harmful supports and spend more money to increase agricultural production.Mr.Gurria says rich and poor nations need to treat agriculture more like a business.
“In many cases，agriculture is related in people's minds to the poorest. It's related to aid. It's related to very poor living conditions，etc. We have got to shake that image away，”he said.
小題1:Why are people gaining weight in countries with average incomes?

A．They eat more food.	B．They eat less nutritious foods.
C．They eat cheaper fruits.	D．They eat cheaper vegetables.

小題2:It can be inferred from the text that poorer countries ______.

A．a(chǎn)re damaging a great part of their agricultural land

B．will play a great role in feeding the growing world population

C．a(chǎn)re spending lots of money increasing agricultural production

D．will not be so seriously affected by food prices as rich nations

小題3:What can be done to deal with the slow agricultural production?

A．Improving the growing methods.

B．Finding more agricultural land.

C．Preventing governments' involvement.

D．Improving farmers' living conditions.

小題4:Which of the following might Angel Gurria agree with?

A．Agriculture means difficulty and sadness.

B．Food prices will go down in the near future.

C．It's almost impossible to feed 9,000,000,000 people by 2050.

D．Both rich and poor countries should take agriculture seriously.

Imagine going to sleep then waking up speaking another language. It may sound impossible， but it's actually happened.
The phenomenon(現(xiàn)象)of being able to suddenly speak another language is known as“Xenoglossia”， from the Greek words“xenos”(foreigner)and “glossa”(language)．
It once happened to a 13­year­old girl from Croatia. After being unconscious(不省人事的)because of a disease for 24 hours in 2010，she woke up speaking fluent German. The girl， who came from the town of Knin in the south of Croatia，was studying German at school but she'd only started recently. Her parents said that she'd been reading German books and watching German TV at home， but that she wasn't fluent in the language.However ，since waking up， she's been able to communicate “perfectly”in German.What's really strange is that she's now unable to speak Croat，her mother language.Doctors at Split's KB Hospital have asked some experts to examine the girl as they try to find out what caused the change.Dr Mijo Milas said，“In earlier times this would have been considered as a miracle(奇跡)；we prefer to think that there must be an explanation—it's just that we haven't found it yet.”
In 2007，Matej Kus from Czech became unconscious after a motorbike accident. On waking up 45 minutes later，he could speak fluent English.Matej was only 18 years old at the time， and had just started studying the language and so was at a low level.Peter Waite，Kus's teammate said，“I couldn't believe what I was hearing.It was really clear English.It was unbelievable to hear him talk in unbroken English.”Unluckily，Matej's new language skills didn't last.Two days later， when he recovered fully from the accident， he'd completely forgotten his English.
We still don't know exactly what happened to the two people. Perhaps scientists will discover something new and exciting. But until then， keep studying!
小題1:According to the passage，what is“Xenoglossia”？

A．That someone becomes unconscious.

B．That someone speaks a new language in a sudden.

C．That someone doesn't like his mother language.

D．That someone is able to speak Greek suddenly.

小題2:What does the underlined word “It” in Para.3 probably refer to?

A．Having accidents.

B．Speaking fluent German.

C．The phenomenon of Xenoglossia.

D．Being unable to speak.

小題3:We can learn from Paragraph 3 that the girl from Croatia ______.

A．wanted to know what caused her change

B．believed she had a talent for language

C．didn't study German for a long time

D．didn't like learning German

小題4:Which of the following is TURE according to the test?

A．Matej Kus is now afraid of motorbike racing.

B．The girl from Croatia lost consciousness for several days.

C．The girl from Croatia was knocked unconscious in an accident.

D．Matej Kus could only speak a little English before the accident .

It seems that many college graduates are unsure of what to do with their lives, so they jump back into the college scene by default(違約). But graduate school is costly, time consuming and requires a lot of in-depth study, and also parents will lay down more money and banks will supply more student loans.
However, there are some students who should be pursuing graduate degrees. Teachers, lawyers, doctors, professors and ministers are a few examples of those who will benefit from class work past a bachelor’s degree. Their professions call for additional courses and more specialization and therefore higher education is a must. Still, all students in general should not adopt the idea that graduate school is necessary for individuals who want to make more money. Working hard right after college can lead to promotions in the future. It seems that it does more good to network or internship（實習）with professionals while pursing a bachelor’s degree than it does to complete a master’s and distant oneself from the world of work.
If a student graduates with a four-year degree and immediately enters the work force , he will most likely start an entry-level pay. In a couple of years this employee will gain seniority and experience, therefore increasing their chance for pay rise. He will learn the information at his job-site that he did not learn in school. His bachelor’s degree loan can be immediately chipped away ,and his maturity level can increase as real work related responsibilities set in. But, if the student pursues a master’s degree, he may be able to demand more pay initially when he finally goes job hunting, but years of serious money making as well as work experience will already be lost.
Students should not shy from the workforce just because uncertainty follows graduation. Those who pursue a graduate degree just because they do not want to leave school and because they view the “real world” as scary should think again. Using graduate studies as a hiding place from the full-time job is a waste of time.
小題1:College graduates who go to work can _____ than those who pursue graduate degrees.

A．make more money in the future	B．a(chǎn)cquire more experience
C．get a better job	D．become more responsible

小題2:The underlined words “chipped away” can most possibly be replaced by_______.

A．given out

B．set down

C．thrown away

D．paid off

小題3:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．College graduates shouldn’t pursue graduate degrees

B．College graduates should think twice

C．How can college graduates make more money?

D．Students use graduate school to avoid reality

Neighbors play an important role in our lives. Their lifestyle, friends, and social habits can have a strong influence on our lives. So it’s a good idea to get along well with neighbors and build a better relationship that will last for many years to come. But how should you get along with your neighbors?
When you hear of a special need you can meet, do it, such as sitting with a sick child while your neighbor goes to work or taking an elderly parent to a doctor’s appointment when their car won’t start.
If you hear that someone close by is ill, has an accident, or is out of work, give him or her a hot meal or a fresh dessert. Your kindness will add a special feeling during a difficult time. If your neighbor is cutting down a tree or building a doghouse, offer helping hands to him or her. There is no better way to build relationships. Besides, you never know when the favor might be returned.
Exchange holiday cards, gifts or traditions. Invite your neighbors over for a cup of coffee or lunch. A backyard barbecue can be a great way to share food and fun. If they’ve watched your kids grow up or been concerned about your family events, they may want to share these special events.
Plan a party. Invite all your neighbors to your party. Planning and carrying out the activity helps everyone to know and understand each other.
Your neighbors are like your family in many ways since you have to live with them, or near them for a long time. Appreciate their strong points and ignore weak points, and everyone will get along well.
小題1:The purpose of the first paragraph is to___________.

A．introduce how you can get along well with your friends

B．explain the importance of getting along well with your neighbors

C．show how to make friends with your new neighbors

D．list the advantages of building strong family relationships

小題2:According to the passage, to build a good relationship with your neighbors, you should _____.

A．try to give them a helping hand

B．do housework for them when they are sick

C．give them a good job if they’re out of work

D．lend them money when their parents are ill

小題3:What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Tips on how to form a healthy lifestyle．

B．The best way to form good habits．

C．The importance of being helpful．

D．Tips on how to get along with your neighbors．

小題4:This passage most probably belongs to__________.

A．a(chǎn) physical science magazine	B．the travel news
C．a(chǎn) magazine of social life	D．the technology news