Dear Economist,
     My newlywedded wife and I are deeply in love. There is, however, one issue that threatens the
happiness of our marriage. I absolutely insist on shopping at Walmart. My  wife, meanwhile, would 
 rather  avoid Walmart at all costs. I have recently tried to convince her that not only does Walmart offer
the lowest prices known to man, but that the chain is also a force for good-lower prices mean better
standards of living for all consumers, increased global trade means a tighterknit (緊密團(tuán)結(jié)的)
international community, and efficient operations translate into higher productivity growth for the
economy. My wife complains about poor labour policies, the fact that Walmart squeezes suppliers, and
that it puts local shops out of business.
     Who is right? Will our marriage survive?
Brian Gee
Dear Brian,
     I have to agree with you about Walmart. Jason Furman, then an economist at New York University,
now an adviser to President Obama, famously argued in 2005 that Walmart was unwittingly (不知不
覺地) a  progressive success story. The chain's prices don't much affect me(I prefer Whole Foods)but
Furman estimated  that they benefited lowandmiddleincome Americans to  the sum of around $250
billion a year.
     Walmart does not pay much, so it may depress  wages. Then again, it may increase wages by offering
jobs to the otherwise-unemployed. Either way, the benefits of low prices to Walmart shoppers far
outweigh any seemingly reasonable costs to Walmart employees. And while it is true that Walmart
employees tend to be poor, the same is true of Walmart shoppers.
     Armed with this information you can face your wife with confidence. You are sure to win the
conversation. The divorce is likely to be more argued.
     Economist

1. What concerned Brian Gee so much that he wrote the letter?

A. His wife refuses to shop at Walmart.
B. They are faced with a divorce.
C. They  can't  afford  the  costs  of  shopping  at    Walmart.
D. They are in conflict about shopping at Walmart.

2. Brian Gee's wife tends to hold the opinion that________.

A. it is wrong for Walmart to depress its employees' wages
B. consumers' lives have improved thanks to Walmart
C. Walmart's business operation increased productivity in economy
D. Walmart's business increases global trade

3. What can be inferred from the reply letter?

A. Some employees accept the low pay to keep the job.
B. Walmart appeals to only poor consumers and poor employees.
C. Employees suffer from Walmart's low prices more than consumers.
D. Jason Furman, a New York University economist,spoke highly of Walmart.

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Students selecting basketball had better register early.
B. Students participating in gym should arrive at 6:00 pm.
C. Hiking usually begins at 2:30 pm and lasts 2 hours.
D. Students having swimming suits can take up swimming.

2. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A. students taking part in basketball will walk to the courts
B. every student can gain admission to one of the four sports
C. hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees
D. students taking up the four sports should bring bottles of water

3. It can be concluded that ________.

A. each sport will take only one hour
B. students will be charged for the four sports
C. all the sports will take place at Kowloon Peak
D. teachers will accompany students on each sport

4. The purpose of the memo is to ________.

A. attract students' interest in the programme
B. require the parents to select a sport for their child
C. help the staff explain the programme to the parents
D. remind teachers and lifeguards to be present on time

     Lights on thousands of miles of major roads in England could be dimmed (變暗)
    during quiet periods in a bid to save money and reduce carbon emissions from various
  vehicles.
      The Highways Agency suggests reducing light levels on A-roads when traffic levels
  Are" very low".  I:ocal transport minister Norman Baker said he supported the. Move on
  condition. that safety was not compromised.
      Research into when and where lights could be dimmed will begin in May,2012.
      Mr.Kawczynski, a MP (國會(huì)議員), asked Transport Minister Norman  Baker
  "what plans he has to change guidance on the, minimum amount of lighting required on A
  roads".  In reply, Mr. Baker wrote:"The Highways Agency has plans to reduce the
  level of lighting on A-roads when traffic levels are far below road capacity.  The agency
  has no plans to reduce the level of lighting on A-roads during the peak (高峰) periods
  that occur during the hours of darkness or to temporarily switch A-roads lighting off
  when traffic flows  are  low. "The  level  of  light. reduction will  be  based upon
  internationally agreed standards and made after discussion and  agreement with the UK's
  Institution of Lighting Professionals."
      Mr. Baker added:"It is right that lighting authorities consider, in the interests of
  cost-saving and the environment, whether lighting can be sensibly dimmed or turned off .
  with proper safety brought into full consideration."
     A Highways Agency spokesman said:"This is not about switching off lights on A-
roads.  Any changes to light level will be determined after discussion and agreement
with industry experts and will meet internationally agreed standards to ensure there will
be no influence on safety for road users."

1.  What is the text mainly about?

A.  A bid for cost-saving and the environment by cutting light levels.
B.  A research on when and where to reduce the light levels.
C.  A discussion about changing the standard of lighting.
D.  A move on the safety of A-roads.

2. Lights on major roads in England could be dimmed _____.  

A. in broad daylight.
B.  during the peak periods
C.  when traffic levels are very low  
D.  when there is power failure

3.   According to Mr. Baker, the level of light reduction will＿. 

A.  be determined after discussion and agreement with industry experts
B.  be made only after discussion and agreement with the MP
C.  surely have much influence on safety for road users
D.  be based on internationaay agreed standards

4.   It can be inferred from the passage that

A.  major roads in Britain may be less safer after reducing light levels
B.  air pollution in Britain is becoming a big headache
C.  Britain is suffering from heavy traffic
D.  Britain is faced with a shortage of power

     When you see homework covering the kitchen table and toys are piling up around the sofa, you
probably wish there was a bit more space. You are not alone. Nearly a third of parents say they feel
squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move to a bigger property,a report reveals today.
     Twenty-nine percent say 'their property is too small to fit the size of their family'-rising to 40 percent
for those 34 and under. One in four children is 'forced to share'a bedroom, according to the
Finda-Property. Com website. Property analyst Samantha Baden said:"Afford-ability remains a key issue
for families, with the average cost of a three-bedroom home around ￡ 193,000."Very few can afford
to buy - or to rent - a property of the size they want and in the area they desire to live in, according to
Miss Baden.
     A recent report, from investment firm LV, also found that many 'space-starved parents'are pushed
into a two-bedroom home which was perfect when they were a young couple, but has no space for three
or so children. Grown-up children who cannot afford to leave home are also adding to the problem facing
families in Britain's 'big squeeze'.
     For a home to be the correct size, which means it is not overcrowded, parents must have their own
bedroom. Children under ten can share, as well as same-sex children between ten and 20.Any-one over
21 also needs their own room.
     The report comes as official figures, published yesterday by the Land Registry, revealing house prices
are falling sharply in every region except London. The worst - hit area is the North East, where average
house prices have fallen to below ￡ l00,000 for the first time in seven years. However, they remain
unaffordable for millions.

l. According to Paragraph l, the report reveals               .

A. children like to do homework in the kitchen
B. some families can't afford a bigger property
C. only a few families have housing problem
D. people are satisfied with their living condition

2. What Miss Baden said in Paragraph 2 means               .

A. most families don't have enough money yet
B. no family could afford a three - bedroom home
C. it is common to live in a three - bedroom home
D. the price of a bigger property is still acceptable

3. The report from the investment firm LV shows                .

A. young couples should live in a two - bedroom home
B. families with three or so children couldn't afford a home
C. parents should buy houses for their grown - up children
D. some grown - up children couldn't afford a separate home

4. According to the passage,the right size for a home means                .

A. parents should have a bedroom of their own
B. anyone over 2l needs to live in their own home
C. children under ten should share parents' bedroom
D. children under 20 should have their own bedroom

5. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. House prices are falling down everywhere.
B. People are able to buy a home of correct size.
C. The house prices in London has not fallen down.
D. The North East is now an area suitable to live in.

     Occasional sleepwalking does not tend to present a problem and most children grow out of it. If it
happens every night and causes problems, then sleep disorder specialists suggest that parents spend a
week noting the time when sleepwalking tends to happen, and then gently wake the child about fifteen
minutes before this time. This will often break the cycle.
    So what should you do if you find your relative sleepwalking? For a start, they are in such a deep sleep
that they will probably not notice you, even if you try to wake them. If you do succeed in walking them,
they will become distressed. Everyone has experienced that feeling of confusion when the alarm awakens
you from deep sleep, instead of the lighter sleep we are usually experiencing by the time our alarms
sound. I once had the shock of being woken by a crash and found myself in the kitchen, standing
barefoot and surrounded by broken glass. I'd tried to get a glass of water while sleepwalking, but like
most sleepwalkers I failed to turn on the light, and had smashed the glass against the tap.
    Walking a sleepwalker will not cause them to have a heart attack, but the kindest thing to do is not try
to wake them at all. Lead them gently back to bed so that they do not hurt themselves. They will remain
deeply asleep, and it is likely that will not remember a thing in the morning.

1.What do the specialists advise the parents to do to avoid their children's sleepwalking?

A. Go to bed with their children at the same time.
B. Keep a record of the time when children wake up.
C. Take 15 minutes to wake children from sleepwalking.
D. Try some time to break the cycle of the sleepwalking.

2. When a sleepwalker is suddenly woken, he is most likely to   ___  .

A. die from heart attack    
B. do some cooking
C. feel lost    
D. become relaxed

3.What should we do to deal with a sleepwalking relative?

A. Do nothing but take him back to bed.
B. Try every means to wake him at once.
C. Leave your relative where he stays.
D. Send him to a specialist immediately.

4. What is the best title for the text? 

A. Sleep Disorder  
B. Sleepwalking    
C. Sleep Advice    
D. Sleepwalkers

     When we say older people shrink, we don't mean they become tiny enough to fit in your pocket! We
just mean that it's common for older people to become a little shorter over time. This kind of shrinking
can't be reversed, although people can slow or stop this process. But why does shrinking happen at all?
    Because of gravity (that force that keeps your feet on the ground) , cushions between the bones in the
spine (脊骨), get compressed (壓縮), which makes a person lose a little height and become shorter.
    Another reason why some older people shrink is because of osteoporosis (骨質(zhì)疏松). Osteoporosis
occurs when bone is broken down and not enough new bone material is made. Over time, bone is said
to be lost because it's not being replaced. Bones become smaller and weaker and can easily break if
someone with osteoporosis is injured.
     Older people - especially women, who generally have smaller and lighter bones to begin with-are
more likely to develop osteoporosis. As years go by, a person with osteoporosis can get small breaks in
bones that are called compression fractures. These breaks cause collapse of the spine and over time the
person with osteoporosis can become hunched over (駝背).
     Did you know that every day you shrink a little, too? You aren't as tall at the end of the day as you
are at the beginning. That's because as the day goes on, water in the disks of the spine gets compressed
due to gravity, making you just a tiny bit shorter. Don't worry, though. Once you get a good night's rest,
your body recovers, and the next morning, you're standing tall again!
     Smoking and drinking alcohol can make this problem worse. Want to do something right now to build
strong bones? I believe what I will say will help you.

1. Which of the following statements is true? 

A. For shrinking, people can do nothing about it.
B. If someone is injured, he will become shorter.
C. Women have smaller and lighter bones than men.
D. We aren't as tall at the end of the day as we are at the beginning.  

2. What should we do if we don't want to shrink faster?

A. We should try to reduce gravity.
B. We should be careful not to be hurt by others.
C. We should sleep as long as possible.
D. We should keep away from smoking and drinking alcohol.

3. What is the topic of the passage? 

A. How can we stop shrinking?    
B. Why do we shrink?
C. Some tips on how to keep tall.    
D. How to live a healthy life.

4. About osteoporosis we know that _______.  

A. gravity is one of the causes of osteoporosis
B. once our bone is broken down, osteoporosis will occur
C. women are more likely to develop osteoporosis
D. if we develop osteoporosis, we are more likely to be shorter

5. What will the author talk about in the paragraph to be followed?

A. Tell us how to grow taller.
B. Tell us how to become healthier.
C. Tell us how to avoid being shrinking.
D. Tell us what to do to have strong bones.

     Australia has passed regulations that will enable more international students to further their education
in the country.    
     The new measures were released by the Australian Department of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs
and Workplace Relations in September and will take effect in mid-2012.    
     As a result, the student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified, and the
deposit (押金) required to study in Australia has been reduced. Language requirements for overseas
students have also been eased.    
     Also, overseas students receiving a higher education in Australia will be granted a working visa lasting
from two to four years after graduation, as long as they meet the basic IELTS requirement.    
     "This change will definitely make Australia a more attractive destination for Chinese students planning
to study overseas," says Wang Lan, a consultant from Education International Cooperation Group (EIC),
a Beijing-based company that provides services to students wishing to study overseas.    
     However, in the past few years, many of Wang's student clients (客戶) could not start studies in
Australia because they did not meet the language requirements, visa processing took a long time and
deposit regulations were tough. The change in policy is good news for the parents of students wishing to
study in Australia, Wang says.    
     A 22-year-old female student surnamed Li, in Beijing, who is planning to do her  postgraduate studies
in Australia, learned about the policy change several weeks ago.   
     "According to the previous deposit requirement for my student visa, my family was required to put
down 550,000 yuan ($86,850). Now we only need to prepare 410,000 yuan. This is a relief for my
parents," Li says.
    She also says that the two to four years working visa makes her feel much clearer about her study
plans.    
     "I believe several years of working experience abroad will strengthen my competitiveness when I
return to China," she says.    
    Gaining a competitive advantage is the major reason for Chinese students to study abroad, according
to the report by EIC.

1. What's the main idea of the passage?  

A. Language requirement for overseas students have been eased in Australia.
B. Australia is a most attractive place for students in China.
C. Australia widens window of opportunity for international students.
D. More students will work in Australia after their graduation.

2. Which of the following is NOT the content of the new regulations?  

A. The student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified.
B. The deposit required to study in Australia has been reduced.
C. Language requirements for overseas students have been more difficult.
D. After graduation, some overseas students can get a working visa in Australia.

3. After the new regulations are passed, _______ .   

A. more students will come to Australia to work
B. more Chinese students will choose to live in Australia.
C. the opportunities to work in Australia decrease for overseas students
D. more Chinese students will choose to further their education in Australia

4. How much can Li's parents save according to the new regulations?  

A. 550,000 yuan
B. 140,000 yuan
C. 410,000 yuan
D. 86,850 yuan

5. Why do many students want to work in Australia after their graduation?   

A. The working experience abroad will strengthen their competitiveness.
B. They can earn more money in Australia.
C. Their working experience can make them stay in Australia forever.
D. They have to do so according to the new regulations.