Annealing is a way of making metal softer by heating it and then letting it cool very slowly. If metal is heated and then cooled very quickly , for example by dipping it in water , it will be very hard but also very brittle(脆)---that is , It will break easily. Metal that has been annealed is soft but does not break as easily . It is possible to make metal as hard or as soft as is wished, by annealing it. The metal is heated, and allowed to cool slowly , for a certain length of time. The longer the heated metal takes to cool slowly , the softer it becomes . Annealing can also be used on other materials, such as glass.
小題1: Annealing can make metal _______________.

A．hard and tough (韌)	B．hard but brittle
C．soft but tough	D．soft and brittle

小題2: Why do people put hot metal in water ? ____________

A．To make it hard	B．To make it soft
C．To make it cool	D．To make it brittle

小題3: As suggested by the text , how can glass be made less brittle ?____________

A．It can be heated and then cooled quickly

B．It can be cooled and then heated slowly

C．It can be heated and then cooled slowly

D．It can be cooled and then heated quickly

Recently, a student used his Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to film a female teacher scolding and tearing the work of a classmate. The public discussion that the incident caused started on the Internet. However, when it came to the media’s attention, it quickly became a major topic in the education circles. The reactions so far suggest that the focus of the debate has been on one question: whom to blame?
Teachers who are anxious to defend their professional dignity have tried to put the blame on the students. They mentioned their right to privacy 隱私）and for this reason they requested the Ministry of Education (MOE) to prohibit PDAs in schools. On the other hand, some parents and students have taken a different position. They feel that the teacher is also at fault. Caught up in the war of words between both sides, people are no longer interested in the “truth” of the matter which seems now unimportant. It was left to newspapers to discover the central point of the controversial issue, by stressing the problems that are not always easily noticed in our educational system.
For those responsible for educating the young, this PDA incident conveys the message that “Times have changed”，a reality that must have been felt even more strongly by the female teacher when reflecting on this unpleasant experience. Different times call for different professional approaches in education. The ability to understand the students they are teaching has always been the quality of successful teachers. Despite some factors, the incident shows that the teacher lacks good qualities on her part. Besides, the rules under current system to deal with recalcitrant students need to be improved. Also, it is an example which shows the issue we are familiar with: what to do with new technology? With PDA, the new technology, the interaction (交流）between the teacher and students in classroom has been changed.
小題1:The author’s purpose in writing this passage is to______.

A．improve the teachers’ way of teaching

B．stress the using of PDA in the classroom

C．change the students’ behavior in the classroom

D．discuss the potential problems of educational system

小題2:The underlined word “recalcitrant” in paragraph 3 probably means______?

A．difficult to control	B．interested in nothing
C．unwilling to learn	D．ready to obey rules

小題3:The writer’s attitude toward the PDA incident is______.

A．optimistic	B．critical
C．uncertain	D．a(chǎn)pproval

小題4:What might be the best title for the passage?

A．Whom to blame?

B．The PDA incident

C．Times have changed

D．What to do with new technology?

Water is very important to living things. Without water there can be no life on the earth. All animals and plants need water. Man also needs water. We need water to drink, to cook our food and to clean ourselves. Water is needed in offices, factories and schools. Water is needed everywhere.
There is water in seas, rivers and lakes. Water is found almost everywhere. Even in the desert part of the world, there is some water in the air. You can not see or feel it when it is a part of the air. The water in the seas, rivers and lakes is a liquid, the water in the air is a gas, and we call it water vapour (蒸氣).
Clouds are made of water. They may be made of very small drops of water. They may also be made of snow crystals(結(jié)晶體). Snow crystals are very very small crystals of ice. Ice is frozen water. It is a solid. There can be snow and ice everywhere in winter.
Water may be a solid or a liquid or a gas. When it is a solid, it may be as hard as a stone. When it is a liquid, you can drink it. When it is a gas, you can not see or feel it.
小題1:Where can we find water?

A．We can find water when it turns into vapour.

B．Water is only in seas and rivers.

C．We can see water in deserts here and there.

D．Water can be found almost everywhere.

小題2: We can drink water when it is       

A．a(chǎn) solid	B．a(chǎn)liquid
C．in the air	D．turned into ice

小題3:Clouds are made of           

A．seas, rivers and lakes

B．blocks of ice

C．very small drops of water or snow crystals

D．solid, liquid and gas

小題4:Water has three states(狀態(tài)). They are              

A．solid, liquid and gas

B．solid, vapour, snow

C．drops of water, blocks of ice and crystals of water

D．ice, snow and air

First Lady Michelle Obama urged students to visit China at the "100,000 Strong" China Study Abroad forum at Howard University in 2011.
President Barack Obama announced the "100,000 Strong" Initiative （倡議） during his 2009 visit to China. The program aims to increase and diversify the number of American students studying in China by making studying abroad more affordable.
During the event at Howard, Mrs. Obama spoke about the importance of studying abroad, something she never did while in college. "Studying in countries like China is about so much more than just improving your own prospects（前景） in the global market. The fact is that with every friendship you make and every bond of trust you establish you are shaping an image of America projected to the rest of the world," she said.
David Marzban from Pepperdine University recalled a time when he formed a cross-cultural bond with a complete stranger at a restaurant near Fudan University in Shanghai. He noticed a young chef signaling him to come over. "He presses the play button on his media player and starts singing 'California Dreaming' and wants me to sing along with him," Marzban said. "At this time I knew a great friendship had started during my first two weeks in China."
Nicole Baden, a senior communications major at Howard University, recalled how her time in China really helped her master the language. "You have to experience the culture while learning the language to really master it and to understand why things are how they are compared to your own culture," Baden said.
Mrs. Obama encouraged students to set aside concept that studying abroad is for rich kids only or for those attending certain schools. In addition, the first lady announced that the Chinese government is giving 10,000 "Bridge Scholarships" to cover costs for American students and teachers studying in China.
Students from several schools attended the forum. 12-year-old Sarah Davis, who studied in China last summer, said she was very excited to hear Michelle Obama talk about the country. “I love Chinese. Out of all the languages I’ve learned, Chinese is the most difficult and interesting,” she said.
小題1:The examples mentioned in the passage mainly indicate that _____.

A．the US students’ life in China is helpful and worthwhile

B．a(chǎn)ll students of the US are living a comfortable life in China

C．Chinese young people are friendly to foreigners

D．it isn’t realistic for some US young people to study in China

小題2:What can we infer from the passage?

A．Baden came to China to study the differences between English and Chinese.

B．Poor children from America have no opportunity to study in China.

C．David Marzban made a Chinese friend in an unexpected way in China.

D．Michelle Obama called on US students to study in China at a government meeting.

小題3:What is the best title for the passage?

A．The US has an ambitious program for Americans studying in China.

B．Michelle Obama encourages American students to study in China.

C．More American students plan to study in China.

D．China is attracting more and more international students.

It’s not easy being a teenager---nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you’ll still be there for him when he needs you.
Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use or careless driving; consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something, don’t insist he tell you what’s on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he’ll refuse to talk. Instead, let him attempt to solve things by himself. At the same time, remind him that you’re always there for him should he seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager’s privacy(隱私). Never read him his mail or listen in on personal conversions.
Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family’s telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for 15 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least an equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls, but teaches your teenager moderation (節(jié)制). Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.
小題1:Why is it not easy being a teenager or a parent of a teenager?

A．Because the teenager is very naughty.

B．Because the parent always expects a lot from the child.

C．Because you can make your child feel hurt, or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself.

D．Because the teenager wants his or her own space.

小題2:The main purpose of the text is to tell parents       .

A．how to get along with a teenager	B．how to respect a teenager
C．how to understand a teenager	D．how to help a teenager grow up

小題3:The last paragraph is about how to teach a teenager        .

A．to use the phone in a sensible way	B．to pay for his own telephone
C．to share the phone quickly	D．to answer the phone quickly

小題4:What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?

A．Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs.

B．Give him advice only when necessary.

C．Let him have his own telephone.

D．Not talk about personal things with him.

Pigs are always considered dirty animals because they roll in mud．But in fact they prefer  being quite clean．They cover themselves with mud to help stay cool．During cooler weather,  they prefer to stay clean．So do elephants,who also cover themselves in dust or mud to keep cool． When they find a place with clean water they will take a bath，using their long noses to give  themselves—or each other—a nice shower
Some animals use dust to get clean．Chinchillas (南美洲栗鼠) have very fine fur． They don`t like to take water baths because water is not warm enough for them．So, instead, they roll  around in fine dust．The dust helps to keep their fur and skin dry．This protects them from disease
Usually, a small bird is a light meal for a crocodile．But when a crocodile wants its teeth  cleaned．it lies on the ground with its mouth open．The crocodile bird goes in and picks out any  parasites(寄生蟲)between the crocodile`s teeth or under its tongue．The crocodile gets its mouth cleaned，and the crocodile bird gets dinner．
You wouldn`t think fish would need baths．But some undersea parasites live under the  fish`s skin．“Cleaner”fish，like the wrasse(隆頭魚)，help take them away．The wrasse stands on its head and dances to signal a big fish that it is ready to go into the cleaning business．The big fish will stop moving and open its mouth wide so the wrasse can swim inside and pick out  parasites and bits of food．
小題1:The passage is mainly about how animals         ．

A．stay clean	B．help each other
C．get their food	D．Take baths

小題2:What can we learn from the first paragraph about pigs?

A．They can help each other take baths．

B．They are dirtier during cooler weather．

C．They prefer taking baths to rolling in mud．

D．They like to stay cool and clean．

小題3:Chinchillas use dust to get clean for the following reasons EXCEPT that         ．

A． dust can dry their fur and skin

B．They are not good at swimming

C．Water is too cold for them

D．Dust is good for their health

小題4:From Paragraphs 3 and 4，we earl know that         ．

A．some animals can get clean from others`help

B．Most animals are friendly to each other

C．small animals couldn`t get food from big ones

D．All of the animals prefer to stay clean

小題5:We can infer from the last paragraph that the wrasse

A．is often eaten by other fish

B．1ikes under other fish`s skin

C．is a small kind of fish

D．1ikes taking baths

Children love playing games. That is a well-known fact. Kids learn how to play games at a very early age, and once they find a game they love, they can play for hours and hours. In fact, games for kids are so popular that there is an entire industry dedicated(獻(xiàn)身) to designing and selling them. There seems to be a fun game for kids for every occasion. Christmas and birthday are often celebrated with the family tradition of gifting a new game.
In recent years, however, Internet games and gaming system seem to have taken kids’ world by storm. Online games for kids have quickly become a very popular way to pass the time with small children and teens alike. Online games are a great way to have fun, and they can be quite educational as well. Many online games created for specific age groups encourage grade-appropriate development and educational skills.
Hundreds of websites offer fun and educational games to kids. Many of these sites are created by big names, such as National Geographic, which we can trust. They offer free games that parents know are proper for children. Parents are encouraged to go online and research online games proper for their children’s age before allowing their kids to play these games. Parents want to look for parental controls such as the ability to set or monitor their children’s playtime.
With so many options to choose from, parents and children will find it easy to find fun games and activities on the Internet. And nowadays, being able to use a computer is a very important skill for children to learn, so playing on the computer is definitely both educational and fun. Children are sure to learn new skills about any subject with the right, trusted website.
小題1:The industry of games for kids is fast growing probably because ________.

A．the workers are good at designing

B．children are mostly crazy about games

C．people would like to celebrate birthdays

D．kids don’t like to do their homework

小題2:Which of the following is TRUE of National Geographic Games?

A．The news is updated every day.

B．There is a large amount of information.

C．It can help parents to control kids’ playtime.

D．The games on it are good for kids’ mental and physical health.

小題3:What’s the author’s attitude to children’s playing computer games?

A．Supportive.

B．Worried.

C．Negative.

D．Doubtful.

小題4:What would be the best title for this passage?

A．Traditional games and modern games

B．Computer games harmful to the youth

C．Games for kids changing a lot ever since

D．Internet games with fun and education

The oil resources which are left will not last very long. This means that all vehicles such as cars, trains, buses, planes and ships that need oil to work will not be able to run. So it will be necessary to develop a new system of transport which uses a fuel more than oil. Electric vehicles are one possibility. In Britain, most families have at least one car and this car is used every day. It could be that only one person in the family drives the car to work or for shopping. The number of cars on the road which are almost empty perhaps helps to explain why the oil is used up so quickly. The family car is a very useful form of transport but it is also a great waste of energy, especially if it is compared with buses or trains. Much petrol is used by a car which is traveling at 120 kilometers an hour. Clearly, it would be better if there were fewer cars on the road and more speed limits so that the oil which is left will last as long as possible.
About 25% of Britain’s total consumption of energy is domestic—it is used only in the home. Just over 20% is used for transport. Most of the energy is used in industry. It is difficult to suggest any possible energy conservation in industry because many of the suggestions would mean that some people would lose their jobs. It is important that industry produces the same amount of products using the same amount of workers.
Obviously, conservation is not going to be the answer to the energy crisis（危機(jī)）. The most it can do is to give more time for a better solution to be found. The more time which is available for new sources of energy to be developed, the better it is because there is still a lot of work to be done in order to find suitable, safe methods of producing energy.
小題1:In Britain, what reason could help to explain why oil is used up very quickly?

A．People use cars every day.

B．Most families have at least one car.

C．Many cars on the road are almost empty.

D．Electric vehicles are used.

小題2:Which of the following is true?

A．Compared with buses and trains, the family car is useful and can save energy.

B．A car driving at the speed of 80 kilometers per hour uses half as much petrol as a car traveling at 160 kilometers per hour.

C．It is possible for people to develop vehicles.

D．Limitation of the number of cars on the road and their speed will help the oil last longer.

小題3:What does the underlined word “domestic” mean in Paragraph Two?

A．For household use.	B．On the road.
C．Slow driving.	D．Fast driving.

小題4:What is a better way to solve the problem of the energy crisis?

A．Governments should cut down the number of family cars on the road.

B．The speed of vehicles must be limited.

C．New sources of energy should be found and developed.

D．Factories should cut down on production.

Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?
小題1:When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.

A．go to their friends	B．talk with their parents
C．have a discussion with their family	D．talk with their friends on the phone

小題2:Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?

A．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends.

B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends.

C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends.

D．Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends.

小題3:Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy.

B．In all families, children can choose everything they like.

C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

小題4:The main idea of this passage is that ___________.

A．Teenagers need friends

B．Friends can give good advice

C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them

D．Good friends can communicate with each other

Animals Can Sense Natural Disasters
Among the dead in South Asia’ s tsunami（海嘯）were many tourists at Sri Lanka’ s national wildlife park at Yala. But very few of the park’s animals — elephants, buffaloes, monkeys and wild cats — appear to have died. There are theories that animals can sense natural disasters and run away to safety.
First, it’s possible that the animals may have heard the quake before the tsunami hit. The underwater burst produced sound waves known as infrasound（次聲）. Humans can’t hear infrasound, but many animals including dogs, elephants, tigers and pigeons can.
A second early warning sign the animals might have sensed is ground vibration（震動(dòng)）. The great quake would have produced vibrational waves known as Rayleigh waves. These vibrations move through the ground like waves moving on the surface of the ocean but faster. They travel at ten times the speed of sound. The Rayleigh waves would have reached Sri Lanka hours before the water hit. Mammals, birds, insects and spiders can sense Rayleigh waves. So the animals at Yala might have felt the Rayleigh waves and then run to higher ground.
But what about humans? While we can’t hear infrasound, we can feel it, although we don’t necessarily know we’re feeling it. We also experience Rayleigh waves by special sensors in our joints（關(guān)節(jié)）, which exist just for that purpose. Sadly, it seems we don’t pay attention to the information when we get it. Maybe we screen it out because there’s so much going on before our eyes and in our ears.
小題1:Why did few animals at Yala die when the tsunamis that caused a huge number of human deaths hit?

A．Because human beings cannot hear the infrasonic sound.

B．Because the animals were staying at a higher place in the park.

C．Because the animals were able to run much faster than human beings.

D．Because the animals might have picked up the danger signals and ran away.

小題2:Which of the statements about “Rayleigh waves” is true?

A．Rayleigh waves can be felt both by animals and human beings.

B．Rayleigh waves, just like infrasonic sound, can only be felt by animals.

C．Rayleigh waves are vibrational waves that usually cause quakes or tsunamis.

D．Rayleigh waves move on the ocean surface at a speed ten times that of sound waves.

小題3:According to the passage, which of the statement is true?

A．We can’t feel the infrasound so we can’t be informed of the danger.

B．We ignore the information of tsunami’s coming even though we can also get it.

C．We were so busy on our minds that we feel neither infrasound nor Rayleigh waves.

D．We can feel Rayleigh waves and infrasound so we can escape the danger like animals.