When you need a job very much, you may end up taking one for which you are over qualified. Although you were initially grateful just to have the work, you now feel bored and depressed. Is there any way to change that?
Start by changing your opinion, says Caitlin Kelly, the author of Malled, a book based on her experience as a sales clerk after losing her job in journalism. “Don’t focus on what you’re not getting but what you are getting,” she says. “Be patient and work attentively with a wide range of people. It doesn’t matter what the job is –there are always things you can learn and skills you can develop.”
Hilary Pearl, the founder of a coaching firm, says, “Tell yourself the current situation isn’t the end of your career. Don’t overdramatize（過分夸大）the negative aspects but try to view the situation more philosophically: life has a series of stages, and this is one of them. Don’t forget to study even in the worst stage.”
Consider that because you’re overqualified, you may be able to learn or do things on the job that might not have been possible in a more demanding position, says Sarah Hathorn, the chief executive of Illustra Consulting. “You could spend your extra time in learning different aspects of the business and teaching others in the organization,” she says.
Is it possible to make your work more challenging, even if your job responsibilities aren’t likely to change?
Of course, you may seek tasks and responsibilities that force you to learn something new or to work harder. “You may be operating on autopilot（習慣性地）right now, but chances are that people above you are stressed,” Sarah Hathorn says. “Take things off your boss’s plate and let him know which projects or tasks you want to learn more about.”
Always express your request positively, saying that you love new challenges, rather than complaining that you’re bored and underused, says Ethun, the president of the Park Avenue Group. In your down time, educate yourself about the company and its industry. “Read corporate information, analyst reports and related news articles,” she says. “If your boss accepts your suggestions, it will make you a more valuable employee.”
小題1:According to Caitlin Kelly, ______.

A．one should be willing to do some small things

B．being a salesman is not as important as being a journalist

C．performing your regular duties well is important

D．doing a simple job well will bring you a sense of success

小題2:What Hilary Pearl intends to express is that ______.

A．work is just a stage of our whole life

B．the present job doesn’t matter to us in a long run

C．one should be satisfied with his present situation

D．one should look forward instead of complaining about the present situation

小題3:The underlined words “take things off your boss’s plate” mean______.

A．draw your boss’s attention	B．share your boss’s burdens
C．give your boss useful advice	D．a(chǎn)sk your boss for a better position

小題4: What is the common view about careers of the people mentioned in this passage?

A．One should start his career from doing a simple job.

B．One should improve himself and help others as well.

C．One should keep learning new things to improve himself.

D．One should pay much attention to the relationship with the boss.

完形填空(共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分)
The town I live in is about to put cameras at all traffic lights to catch people who run red lights. It  1 me of how many people I’ve seen who take the yellow light as a  2 to go faster. I also can’t understand why people don’t move when the traffic light has turned green. Above all, there are those  3 situations in which someone doesn’t even  4 that the light turns red, and just keeps going. That is why so many  5 happen! All these situations make me  6 the purpose of traffic lights.
  7 ,it’s even more frightening to imagine letting people make their own decisions at  8 crossroads. Do the biggest cars get to go first? Who decides who goes next? So I guess I do like the idea of a system to  9 traffic. And I’ll do my best to  10 the traffic rules: to go, to be cautious, and to stop when I’m  11 to.
It occurs to me that my  12 have done much the same for me  13 teaching me how to live. They have given me many  14 lights: to get along well with others, to listen and talk to them, to help others, and to 15 with joy and purpose. They have also given me some red lights  16 my life goes astray(誤入歧途): not to be greedy, to keep my temper, and to control my desires. And there  17 have been some yellow caution lights: to watch how much I drink, to keep control of my behavior, and to  18 school regularly and work hard.
If I obey these rules, my life will be as  19 as it can be. Just as I’m wise to pay attention to the traffic lights when I’m walking across the street, I’m wise to pay attention to the“  20 signals”given to me by my parents.

小題1:	A．suggests B．robs C．reminds D．warns

小題2:	A．sight B．signal C．message D．switch

小題3:	A．instant B．exciting C．dangerous D．cautious

小題4:	A．notice B．sense C．remember D．feel

小題5:	A．events B．problems C．situations D．a(chǎn)ccidents

小題6:	A．think of B．wonder about C．care for D．worry about

小題7:	A．Besides B．Anyway C．Instead D．However

小題8:	A．noisy B．narrow C．crowded D．key

小題9:	A．control B．direct C．improve D．serve

小題10:

A．learn B．obey C．protect D．carry

小題11:

A．supposed B．used C．a(chǎn)ddicted D．delighted

小題12:

A．teachers B．friends C．leaders D．parents

小題13:

A．in charge of B．in face of C．in terms of D．in danger of

小題14:

A．safe B．green C．beneficial D．helpful

小題15:

A．live B．share C．work D．communicate

小題16:

A．unless B．when C．before D．till

小題17:

A．still B．even C．only D．a(chǎn)lso

小題18:

A．start B．a(chǎn)ttend C．leave D．miss

小題19:

A．good B．colorful C．meaningful D．healthy

小題20:

A．traffic B．light C．life D．confidence

Many people influenced various aspects of my life, based on their personal characteristics, accomplishments, and values. I have been fortunate to have had numerous teachers and professors who I respect for their patience and intelligence. There are artists that have inspired me by their natural talents and original creativity. I value many political leaders, who have inspired me by their contributions to society, and their ability to change our futures. But of all the people I have known in my life, the person I admire most is my father.
As the youngest girl in my family, I always considered myself to be“Daddy’s little girl”. While I grew up, it always made me sad to see so many of my friends and neighbors without a father or father-like figure around. This helped me appreciate how my father always takes an interest in his children’s lives. In every aspect of my life my father continuously pushes me to excel, so I could accomplish my work outstandingly among my people. Whenever I feel like giving up, or have a question or a concern, I know I can always call on him for advice. From him I have also learned that sometimes you have to put others’ needs ahead of your own, but you should make sure you are not taken advantage of by others. His strength seems to be unbreakable during hard times, and he is extremely determined to accomplish anything he sets his mind on, no matter how tiny it is. I highly respect him for how he stands up for what he believes in, and will never back down. I have always admired his open mind, compassion(同情) for people, and sense of understanding. He is a very reserved(保留的) man, but to everybody’s surprise, he has a great sense of humor, and always knows how to put a smile on the faces of his wife, his children and his friends.
Living in his affection and instruction, I am very proud of my father. He also professes (聲稱) how proud he is of his children, and is still there to support us in whatever we are involved in.
小題1:What is the best title for the passage?

A．How my father loved me

B．My father—the person I admire most

C．I am the apple of my father’s eye

D．My father—the one who influenced me most

小題2:Which of the following could not be used to describe the author’s father?

A．Considerate and humorous.

B．Affectionate(慈祥的) and open-minded.

C．Knowledgeable and sociable.

D．Energetic and helpful.

小題3:Which of the following can best explain the underlined word“excel”?

A．Do better than others.	B．Show off.
C．Be cleverer than others.	D．Keep healthy.

小題4:According to the underlined part, the father was telling the author to       .

A．try to be good to those who were worth making friends with

B．try to take advantage of those who were friendly to her

C．think about others and help them, so that she could make them serve her

D．think about others and help them, but not to be made use of in a negative way

小題5:What can we infer about the author?

A．She appreciated her father because he solved all the problems for her.

B．She considered her father humorous and was often made to laugh by him.

C．She had pity on the fatherless.

D．She was outstanding in work because her father pushed her hard.

An old man once had an argument with his only son. He tried to __16__ many times, but the young man would not __17__. The father never__18__ because he loved his son with all his heart, but the son would not give in, __19__ he was too blinded by his pride.
Years passed and as the man lay in his deathbed, he made a __20__ attempt to reconcile (和解) with his son, but __21__ he would not listen and so the father died with a heart full of __22__.
During this time the son too had a child who had now __23__ into a young adult. To this child he never __24__ his father and when the young man asked about his grandfather he __25__   tell him never to mention him again.
One day, they two were involved in a hot __26__ and his son fled away as he did many years ago. This made the man extremely__27__ and this time he had no __28__, but felt completely isolated. (孤立的)
He was afraid that he would__29__ his son forever and for the first time after many years he realized how his father must have__30__ many years back.
He remembered how he had __31__ his old man and only at that point he realized the extent of the hurt he had caused. The __32__ he thought the more he understood how unjust he was with his old father, the man who gave him everything __33__ his life.
With these sad thoughts he felt __34__ on the couch. The next morning when he opened his eyes he found __35__ lying in his bed and in front of him stood his son. The man could not believe his eyes, and the two hugged each other while they cried together.

小題1:	A．bend B．predict C．a(chǎn)pologize D．seek

小題2:	A．stop B．listen C．chose D．come

小題3:	A．brought about B．gave up C．got in D．made up

小題4:	A．if B．when C．thought D．because

小題5:	A．final B．big C．latest D．useless

小題6:	A．still B．ever C．once D．just

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)nger B．curiosity C．sorrow D．gratitude

小題8:	A．left out B．grown up C．put aside D．turned up

小題9:	A．mentioned B．hid C．praised D．forgave

小題10:

A．would B．need C．must D．might

小題11:

A．imagination B．room C．a(chǎn)rgument D．discussion

小題12:

A．sad B．confused C．a(chǎn)nnoyed D．a(chǎn)fraid

小題13:

A．thought B．pride C．laugh D．guess

小題14:

A．throw B．change C．return D．lose

小題15:

A．felt B．done C．watched D．regretted

小題16:

A．hurt B．a(chǎn)bandoned C．disappointed D．scolded

小題17:

A．better B．higher C．more D．older

小題18:

A．before B．throughout C．into D．a(chǎn)gainst

小題19:

A．painful B．frightened C．relaxed D．a(chǎn)sleep

小題20:

A．his father B．his son C．someone D．himself

Once upon a time, a man was walking on a mountain when he found an incredible cave with all kinds of treasure inside it. So he gave up his job, his home, and his friends, and spent all his time guarding the cave.
He was so dedicated to it that he hardly ate or drank, and before long he fell ill. One day, when he could hardly move at all, he decided to share the treasure.
He crawled（爬）into the cave to get a handful of jewels, but discovered, to his horror, that it was empty except for a small emerald（綠寶石）. The man took it, and gave it to the first person he came by, a woman.
Then an old man came by. “What bad luck!” the man said. “Just a moment ago I gave a woman the last of the treasure I was guarding.”
“Are you sure there is nothing left?” the old man asked.
The man took him into the cave, where they found a chest with jewels and some bags of gold. The man was shocked, and the old man explained to him, “At last! At last someone has broken the spell（咒語）of this cave. This is the Cave of Treasure, and you’re the first to have passed its great test. Many have dedicated their lives to this cave, only to end up realizing there was nothing here…”
“And why does this happen?” the man asked.
“This magic cave has only as many riches as your own heart. When someone discovers it, the cave is filled with treasure, but later, when they have devoted themselves to guarding the treasure, their hearts empty, as does the cave. The only way to fill it is by filling your heart with all that is good, as you did by giving the woman that last jewel.”
From that day on, the man understood that it was better to share than to keep. Thanks to the cave and the old man, he became noble and generous.
小題1:Why did the man give up his job, home and friends?

A．Because he possessed a variety of treasure.

B．Because he had to guard the treasure cave.

C．Because he wanted to find the treasure cave.

D．Because he devoted himself to a great test.

小題2:What did the man find when he showed his cave to the old man?

A．A small emerald.	B．A handful of jewels.
C．All kinds of treasure.	D．A chest filled with jewels and some gold.

小題3:What do we know about the people who dedicated their lives to the cave before?

A．They all found the cave empty at last.

B．The old man freed them from its spell.

C．They all filled the cave with the treasure they had.

D．They thought it was better to share than to enjoy the treasure alone.

小題4:Which of the following is TRUE, according to the passage?

A．The old man had devoted himself to it before.

B．The old man was the first to break the spell.

C．Only the old man could free people from its spell.

D．The cave and the old man helped the man become noble and generous.

小題5:What can we learn from the passage?

A．Purely material things cannot make us truly wealthy.

B．Different people have different views.

C．Treasure only belongs to those who possess it.

D．Some people never learn what is really valuable.

I was tired and hungry after a long day of work. When I walked into the living-room, my 12-year-old son looked   36   at me and said, “I love you.” I didn't know what to say.   37   several seconds all I could do was to stand there and    38    down at him . My first thought was that he must need   39 with his homework or he was trying to   40  me for some news.
Finally I asked, “What was that all about?” “Nothing,” he said. “My teacher said we should   41 our parents that we love them and sees what they say. It’s   42 .
The next day I called his teacher to find out more about this “experiment” and how the other parents had   43 .
“Basically, most of the fathers had the   44   reaction as you did,” the teacher said. “When I first   45  we try this, I asked the children what they thought their parents would say. Some of them thought their parents would have heart trouble.
“The   46  is,” the teacher explained, “feeling loved is an important part of  47  . It is something all people   48 . What I'm trying to tell the children is that it's too   49  we don't all express those feeling. A boy   50   tell his dad he loves him.”
The teacher, a middle-aged man, understands how   51  it is for some of us to say the things that would be good for us to say.
When my son came to me that evening, I held on to him for a (n)  52  moment. And just   53  he pulled away , I said in my deepest , most manly voice , “Hey , I love you , too . ”
I don't know if saying that made either of us healthier, but it did feel pretty good. Maybe next time one of my children says “I love you”, it would not take me a whole   54   to think of the right        55  .

小題1:	A．down B．a(chǎn)way C．out D．up

小題2:	A．After B．For C．At D．On

小題3:	A．sit B．get C．look D．knock

小題4:	A．rest B．time C．help D．paper

小題5:	A．report B．prepare C．a(chǎn)nswer D．excuse

小題6:	A．help B．tell C．a(chǎn)sk D．make

小題7:	A．a(chǎn) matter B．a(chǎn)n experiment C．a(chǎn) word D．a(chǎn) sentence

小題8:	A．said B．reacted C．done D．explained

小題9:	A．same B．different C．usual D．common

小題10:

A．suggested B．a(chǎn)greed C．a(chǎn)llowed D．planned

小題11:

A．point B．idea C．way D．cause

小題12:

A．body B．health C．work D．study

小題13:

A．have B．know C．take D．need

小題14:

A．bad B．good C．late D．early

小題15:

A．might B．can C．dare D．should

小題16:

A．easy B．much C．often D．difficult

小題17:

A．more B．full C．exact D．extra

小題18:

A．before B．a(chǎn)fter C．because D．if

小題19:

A．day B．week C．a(chǎn)fternoon D．night

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)nswer B．result C．reason D．experiment

Several interesting American museums tell about health subjects. One is the Doctor Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry. It is at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. That is where the first college in the world to train dentists began. The museum tells about the history of the medical treatment of teeth. Visitors can see some frightening devices that once were used to remove infected (受感染的) teeth. They also can see sets of teeth made of animal bone. They were made for a famous American -- the first President, George Washington.
Most people do not consider a visit to the dentist their idea of a good time. However, the director of the museum says he wanted to make the museum a fun place to visit. He says he also wants to teach visitors about the importance of taking care of their teeth.
Another museum collects devices that help people hear. The Kenneth W. Berger Hearing Aid Museum is at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The museum has more than three-thousand hearing aids from around the world. They include old and strange devices. Some hearing aids were made to look like other objects. That is because in the past many people did not want anyone to know they were wearing a hearing aid.
小題1:It is common for people to think it uneasy to pay a visit to ____.

A．the University of Maryland	B．the Museum of Dentistry
C．the Hearing Aid Museum	D．the dentist

小題2:The text mainly tells about _____.

A．museums in the US	B．interesting American museums
C．American museums with health subjects	D．the history of the medical treatment of teeth

小題3:What do we learn about George Washington from the text?

A．He once visited the National Museum of Dentistry.

B．He considered the Museum of Dentistry a fun place to visit

C．His artificial teeth were collected in the National Museum of Dentistry.

D．His teeth seemed to be made of animal bone.

小題4:The underlined word “devices” in the first and last paragraph probably means _____.

A．museums

B．strategies

C．hearing aids

D．tools

How I Turned to Be Optimistic
I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt＇s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see—the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost—having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times. ”
My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.
From my experiences I have learned one important rule: Almost all common troubles eventually go away! Something good is certain to happen in the end when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it will not be that easy.
小題1:How did the author get to know America?

A．From her relatives	B．From her mother
C．From Books and pictures	D．From radio programs

小題2:Upon leaving for America the author felt       .

A．confused

B．excited

C．worried

D．a(chǎn)mazed

小題3:What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4?

A．She worked as a translator

B．She attended a lot of job interviews

C．She paid telephone bills for her family

D．She helped her family with her English

小題4:The author believes that      .

A．her future will be free from troubles

B．it is difficult to learn to become patient

C．there are more good things than bad things

D．good things will happen if one keeps trying

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1分，滿分20分）
閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。
I work as a volunteer for an organization that helps the poor in Haiti. Recently I took my son Barrett there for a week, hoping to___1____ him.
Before setting out, I told Barrett this trip would be tiring and ____2____. For the first two days, he said almost nothing. I worried the trip was too ___3____ for a 17-year-old. Then, on day three, as we were ___4____ over high rocky mountains, he turned to me and grinned(咧嘴笑),“Pretty hard.”
After that there was no turning back. A five-year-old girl, wearing a dress several sizes ___5___ large and broken shoes, followed Barrett around, mesmerized(著迷). He couldn’t stop ___6____. Later he said ____7____ , “I wish I could speak French.” I was ___8___— this from a boy who hated and ___9____ French classes throughout school.
Usually silent, he ___10___ Gaby, our host, and kept asking questions about the country and its people. He blossomed(活潑起來).
__11___, the moment that really took __12___ breath away occurred in a village deep in the mountains. I was ___13___ a woman villager for an article. 135 centimeters tall, she was small in figure but strong in ___14___. Through determination, she had learned to read and write, and __15___ to become part of the leadership of the __16___.
　　Learning her story, Barrett was as ___17___ as I by this tiny woman’s achievements. His eyes were wet and there was a ___18___ of love and respect on his face. He had finally understood the importance of my work.
　　When leaving for home, Barrett even offered to stay ___19___ as a volunteer. My insides suddenly felt struck. This ___20____ achieved all I’d expected. Soon he will celebrate his 18th birthday. He’ll be a man.

小題1:	A．comfort B．please C．a(chǎn)ttract D．educate

小題2:	A．rough B．dangerous C．troublesome D．violent

小題3:	A．little B．much C．fast D．slow

小題4:	A．moving B．running C．climbing D．looking

小題5:	A．too B．very C．even D．so

小題6:	A．joking B．crying C．shouting D．smiling

小題7:	A．patiently B．regretfully C．lightly D．cheerfully

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)shamed B．disappointed C．determined D．surprised

小題9:	A．took up B．went in for C．fought against D．called off

小題10:

A．befriended B．disregarded C．a(chǎn)voided D．recognized

小題11:

A．Thus B．Even C．Meanwhile D．However

小題12:

A．my B．his C．our D．her

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)sking B．interviewing C．a(chǎn)rranging D．describing

小題14:

A．brain B．wish C．will D．health

小題15:

A．a(chǎn)ppeared B．struggled C．hesitated D．failed

小題16:

A．village B．city C．organization D．state

小題17:

A．pleased B．bored C．puzzled D．touched

小題18:

A．combination B．composition C．connection D．satisfaction

小題19:

A．in B．behind C．out D．a(chǎn)way

小題20:

A．interview B．flight C．a(chǎn)rticle D．trip

When I was young, I really doubted whether there was love between my parents. Every day they were busy earning money so that they could   41  the high tuition my brother and I needed. They didn’t   42  in the romantic ways that I read in books or saw on TV.
One day, Mom was sewing a quilt（被子）. I  43 sat down beside her. “Mom, I have a  44  here,” I said after a while. “Is there love between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very　45 voice.
Mom stopped her work and raised her head with   46  in her eyes. She didn’t answer immediately. She bent her head and continued to sew the quilt. I was   47  if I had hurt her. I was in great embarrassment and I was at a loss what to do. But at last she said, very   48  , “Susan, look at this   49 . Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt. The thread really makes the quilt strong and lasting. If   50  is a quilt, then love should be a thread. It can hardly be seen, but it’s really there.   51  is inside.”
I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her until years later.
One day, Dad accidentally got　  52  while on duty. Ever since then he could no longer　  53　properly. Every morning and dusk Mom would help Dad walk slowly on the country road. Along the country road, there were beautiful flowers, green grass and trees. The leaves were gently glistening（發(fā)光）   54  the sun shining upon them. All of these made up the most beautiful   55  in the world.
“Dad, how are you feeling now?” I asked him one day. “Susan, don’t worry about me,” he said gently. “I just like walking with your mom. I like this kind of life.” Looking into his eyes, I  56　what they meant.
The doctor had said Dad would   57 in two months. But that day never came. He   58 away in peace.
59 I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses. But from this   60 , I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life, which makes life strong and warm…

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)fford B．cost C．spend D．offer

小題2:	A．go B．live C．a(chǎn)ct D．walk

小題3:	A．happily B．silently C．secretly D．nervously

小題4:	A．request B．problem C．message D．question

小題5:	A．loud B．light C．low D．clear

小題6:	A．surprise B．a(chǎn)nger C．stress D．horror

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)mazed B．confused C．shocked D．a(chǎn)shamed

小題8:	A．quickly B．excitedly C．bitterly D．gently

小題9:	A．quilt B．needle C．thread D．sewing

小題10:

A．belief B．work C．experience D．life

小題11:

A．Warmth B．Thread C．Cotton D．Love

小題12:

A．tired B．drunk C．ill D．injured

小題13:

A．talk B．walk C．work D．think

小題14:

A．with B．a(chǎn)s C．for D．by

小題15:

A．signs B．symbols C．pictures D．reflections

小題16:

A．read B．doubted C．translated D．recognized

小題17:

A．retire B．recover C．regain D．remove

小題18:

A．passed B．escaped C．faded D．turned

小題19:

A．Again B．Once C．Then D．Later

小題20:

A．word B．a(chǎn)ccount C．experience D．a(chǎn)ccident