Silence is unnatural to man. He begins life with a cry and ends it in stillness. In between be does all he can
to make a noise in the world, and be fears silence more than anything else. Even his conversation is an attempt
to prevent a fearful silence. If he is introduced to another person, and is number of pauses occur in the
conversation, he regards him-self as a failure,a worthless person, and is full of envy of the emptiest- headed
chatterbox (喋喋不休的人).He knows that ninety nine percent of human conversation means no more than the
buzzing of a fly, but he is anxious to join in the buzz and to prove that he is a man and not a waxwork figure
(蠟塑人像).
     The aim of conversation is not. For the most part, to communicate ideas; it is to keep up the buzzing sound. There are, it must be admitted, different qualities of buzz; there is even a buzz that is as annoying as the
continuous noise made by a mosquito (蚊子). But at a dinner party one would rather be a mosquito than a quiet
person. Most buzzing, fortunately, is pleasant to the ear, and some of it is pleasant even to the mind. He would
be a foolish man if he waited until he had a wise thought to take part in the buzzing with his neighbors.
     Those who hate to pick up the weather as a conversational opening seem to me not to know the reason
why human beings wish to talk. Very few human beings join in a conversation in the hope of learning anything
new. Some of them are content if they are merely allowed to go on making a noise into other people's ears,
though they have nothing to tell them except that they have seen two or three new plays or that they had food
in a Swiss hotel. At the end of an evening, during which they have said nothing meaningful for a long time.
They just prove themselves to be successful conservationists.

1. According to the author, people make conversation to _____.

A. exchange ideas
B. prove their value
C. achieve success in life
D. overcome their fear of silence

2.  By "the buzzing of a fly " (Para.1),the author means"_____ ".

A. the noise of an insect
B. a low whispering sound
C. meaningless talks
D. the voice of a chatterbox

3.  According to the passage, people usually talk to their neighbors _____.

A. about whatever they have prepared
B. about whatever they want do
C. in the hope of learning something new
D. in the hope of getting on well

4.  What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A. To discuss why people like talking about weather.
B. To encourage people to join in conversations.
C. To persuade people to stop making noises.
D. To explain why people keep talking.

     Department stores sell ready-to-wear clothing, which is also called ready-made-clothing Such clothing
is made in fixed sizes. Those people who find that ready-made clothing fits them well can save money by
buying it. Most often. People do not fit exactly into a producer's size. Their clothing must be altered (改變)
to make it fit better, However, most alterations are not very expensive. The small cost of most allerations
means that ready-made clothing can meet the needs of most customer.
     Those who can afford it often get someone to design and make their clothing. Such clothing is called
custom-made(定做的). The person who makes it measures the customer, and then sews it so that it fits
perfectly. Alterations are not needed. Custom-made clothing is largely sewn by hand. Has better quality,
better material, and is of the style you have chosen. Of course, it costs much more than ready-to-wear
clothing. You need to pay the difference for the special fitting and better skill that you are receiving. This
often means that you spend double or more than you would for a ready-made garment (衣服).
     Custom-made clothing is not always that much better than ready-made clothing. It costs more partly
because only one garment has been made, just for you. Companies that produce ready-made products make
thousands of garments at a time. This means they can buy large quantities of material. Workers cut each
size by the hundreds. Companies work out ways to make the garments, quickly ly machine and pay workers
according to their skill. Thus they can sell the finished products at a low price while still making money.
Most of the clothing sold in the United States is made in this way. Customers gain from the lower prices
which are made possible by mass production (批量生產(chǎn)).It may or may not give them high quality.

1. According to the passage, people who buy ready-made clothing _____.

A. wish to make alterations
B. can fit into the sizes
C. want to make it better
D. will spend less money

2. We can learn from the passage that custom-made clothing is _____.

A. specially made
B. fashionably designed
C. chosen by few people
D. made with difficulties

3. Which of the following is true about ready-made clothing?

A. It is of poor quality.
B. It suits all people.
C. It takes more time to make it.
D. It is labor-saving to make it.

4. The purpose of the writer is _____.

A. to explain why custom-made clothing costs more
B. to show the advantages of mass production
C. to provide information about different kind-of clothing
D. to tell readers how to make money from ready-made clothing

     Collecting information about (申請表) are closely connected, However, filling out an appheation
fornt is much easier because you have total control and have enough time to think and plan.
      That you are given a form to fill out does not necessarily mean that you have to answer all the
questions in it. If the form contains unclear questions or lerms and conditions, you can make some
changes before signing (簽約) it, or refuse to answer some of the questions. What you must realize
is that those terms and conditions have been written by highly paid lawyers. Each word is important,
or it would not be there; and you can be sure that there is not anything there that is written with your
interests in mind.
     I know what I speak of because, as a lawyer for Litton Industries. I wrote the terms and conditions
that were printed on the back of order forms, I wrote the most tiring terms and conditions anyone has
ever seen. Still, 90 percent of the buyers would just sign on them without questioning anything, If anyone
questiones them. We would reach an agreement on something that was acceptable to both siders.
     So when you see a preprinted application that contains questions or terms and conditions, read it all and
read it slowly. If you don't like something, you can simply change the parts you don't like, Remember that
everything can be settled by discussion. To what degree it can be settled depends on your position (立場),
of course, and that is something only you can determine.

1. Filling out application forms is much "easier" because _____.

A. everything connected with application forms is easier
B. it is easier to collect information about pre-employment
C. you can plan and have control of the needed time
D. you can control the form filling with enough time

2. We can learn from the underlined part "Each word is important" that _____.

A. everything in a form must be read carefully
B. questions in a form must be answered
C. the conditions that interest you are changeable
D. something of your interests is most important

3. The writer points out with an example that the side who will sign a form _____.

A. it depends on your position to settle everything in a form
B. questions in a form are more important than your position
C. you have little right to determine the conditions you like most
D. you must change a preprinted application before it is discussed

4. It can be inferred from the 4th paragraph that ________.

A. it depends on your position to settle everything in a form?
B. questions in a form are more important than your position?
C. you have little right to determined the conditions you like most?
D. you must change a preprinted application before it is discussed

     Since my retirement (退休) from teaching music in 2001, I have spent a good deal of time painting as an
artist. I actually began drawing again in the summer of 1995 when my father died, so perhaps I was trying
to recover from the loss of my father, or maybe it was just that it brought back memories of him. In any case,
I drew pen and ink animals and landscapes (風景畫) much influenced (影響) by Kernel and St. John for five
years.
     For some strange reason, I had been waiting until my retirement to start doing watercolors again, but as
soon as I walked out of the school door for the last time I picked up my brushes and rediscovered Andrew
Wyeth, who quickly became my favorite artist. I had looked through all the art books I had on my shelves
and found his watercolors to be the closest to how I thought good watercolors should look. So I painted
landscapes around Minnesota for three years and tried out many other types of painting. However, watercolors
remained my first choice, and I think I did my best work there, showing my painting at a number of art
exhibitions.
     Art is now together with my piano playing and reading. There is a time for everything in my world, and it
is wonderful to have some time doing what I want to do. As Confucius once said, "At seventy I can follow
my heart's desire."

1. What is the text mainly about?

A. Learning to paint in later life.
B. How to paint watercolors.
C. An artist-turned teacher.
D. Life after retirement.

2. The author started drawing again in 1995 because _____.

A. he hoped to draw a picture of his father
B. he couldn't stop missing his father
C. he had more time after retirement
D. he liked animals and landscapes

3. We can infer from the text that the author _____.

A. had been taught by Kernel and St. John
B. painted landscapes in Minnesota for 5 years
C. believed Wyeth to be the best in watercolors
D. started his retirement life at the age of seventy

4. How does the author probably feel about his life as an artist?

A. Very enjoyable.
B. A bit regretful.
C. Rather busy.
D. Fairly dull.

     When asked to point out one or two things that are most important to themselves, many put friends
ahead of homes, jobs, cloth and cars.
     A true friendship carries a-long history of experience that determines who we are and keeps us connected.
It is a treasure we should protect, Unfortunately, the better friends you are, the more probably you'll have
disagreements. And the result can be what you don't want - an end to the relationship.
     The good news is that most troubled friendships can be mended First, don't let your pride get in your way.
Most of us can forgive each other when differences are brought out in the open. Second, apologize when
you're wrong - even if you've been wronged. Over the course of a friendship, even the best people make
mistakes. Sometimes, it may be best if the wronged person takes the lead and apologizes. When you apologize,
give your friend a chance to admit that he has been wrong. Third, see things from your friend's point view
(觀點). And finally, accept that friendships change as our needs and lifestyles (生活方式) change. Making
friends can sometimes seem easy. The hard part is keeping the connections strong during the natural ups and
downs that have an effect on all relationships. My suggestion: Consider friendship an honor and a gift, and
worth the effort to treasure and nurture. (培養(yǎng))

1. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Easy Ways to Make Friends
B. Ups and Downs in Friendship
C. How to Mend a Troubled Friendship
D. How to Take the Lead in Making Friends

2.  The "wronged person" underlined in the text refers to a person _____.

A. who has been mistaken for another
B. who has been blamed unfairly
C. who has treated friends badly
D. who has admitted his mistakes

3. According to the text a friendship can last long only if _____.

A. we have much in common
B. we know our friends' mistakes
C. we treat our disagreements wisely
D. we have known one another for long

4. What should we do if we follow the author's second suggestion?

A. Stick to our own points of view.
B. Avoid making mistakes.
C. Make an apology first.
D. Change our lifestyles.

                                                                  The 1900 house
     The bowler family was one of more than 400 families who applied to 1900 house, a reality TV shout which
took a typical family back a hundred years to se how people lived in the days before the internet, computer
games and even electricity.
     The bowler family spent three months in a London home without a telephone, computers, TV, or fast food.
The bowlers wore clothes from 1900, are only food available in English at that time, and cooked their meals on
a single stove. Paul bowler still went to work every day in a then uniform. The children changed their clothes on
the way to and from school and their classmates didn't know about then unusual home life. Joyce stayed at
home, cooking and cleaning like a typical housewife of the time, though everything took three times as long.
     So does Joyce think that people's lives were better in the old days?
     "I think people in the old days had just ad many troubles and worries," Joyce said.
     "And I don't think their life was better or worse, there were lots of things back then that I'm happy I don't
have to deal with nowadays, but on the other hand life was simpler." "We had a lot more time with our family,
and it was hard being nice to each other all the time," eleven-year-old Hilary said.
     So what did the Bowler family miss most about modern life while living in the 1900 house?
     Paul, 39:"telephone and a hot shower"
     Joyce, 44:"a quick cup of tea from a kettle you could just turn on"
     Hilary, 11:"rock CD"
     Joseph, 9:"hamburger and computer games"

1. While the Bowler family was living in 1900 house, _____.

A. the mother spent more time on housework
B. the two children wore the then clothes for school
C. they prepared their meals together on a stove
D. they ate simple foods they had never seen

2. According to Paragraph 4, what's Joyce's opinion about life in 1900?

A. There were fewer problems for the family
B. Life was simpler but worse than it is now
C. There were things she liked and disliked
D. The family had more time to stay together

3. What would Hilary expect most from modern life in the three months?

A. To play computer games
B. To make phone calls
C. To listen to music
D. To chat on the Internet

     Among rich countries, people in the United States work the longest hours. They work much longer than
in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the United
States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed.
     In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work
less. In other words they have decided to "spend" a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over
the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in
the United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be more satisfying work, or less
satisfying personal lives.
     Longer hours do of course increase the GDP (國內(nèi)生產(chǎn)總值). So the United States has produced more
per worker than, say, France. The United States also has more of its people at work, while in France many
more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home. The overall result is that American GDP per
head is 40% higher than in France, even though productivity per hour worked is the same.
     It is not clear which of the two situations is better. As we have seen, work has to be compared with other
values like family life, which often get lost in interest. It is too early to explain the different trends (趨勢) in
happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the United States happiness has
made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the
work-life balance (平衡)?

1. From the text we know that the author _____.

A. believes that longer working hours is better
B. prefers shorter working hours to longer ones
C. says nothing certain about which pattern is better
D. thinks neither of the patterns is good

2. Which of the following countries has more of its people at work?

A. Spain
B. France
C. Germany
D. America.

3. In the last paragraph, the underlined word "which"refers to _____.

A. family life
B. situations
C. other values
D. trends

4. What message can we get from the text?

A. The GDP of Europe is higher than that of America.
B. Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.
C. People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.
D. Americans are happier than Europeans.

5. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A. Americans and Europeans
B. Staying at Home
C. Work and Productivity
D. Work and Happiness

     Every day we experience one of the wonders of the world around us without even realizing it. It is not
the amazing complexity of television, nor the impressive technology of transport. The universal wonder we
share and experience is our ability to make noise without mouths, and so transmit ideas and thoughts to each
other's minds. This ability comes so naturally that we tend to forget what a miracle (奇跡) it is.
     Obviously, the ability to talk is something that marks humans off from animal. Of course, some animals
have powers just as amazing, Birds can fly thousands miles by observing positions of the stars in the sky in
relation to the time of day and year. In Nature's talent show, humans are a species of animal that have
developed their own special act. If we reduce it to basic terms, it's an ability for communicating information
to others, by varying sounds we make as we breathe out.
     Not that we don't have other powers of communication. Our facial expressions convey our emotions, such
as anger, or joy, or disappointment. The way we hold our heads can indicate to others whether we are happy
or sad. This is so-called "body language". Bristling (直立的) fur is an unmistakable warning of attack among
many animals. Similarly, the bowed head or drooping tail shows a readiness to take second place in any animal
gathering.
     Such a means of communication is a basic mechanism that animals, including human beings, instinctively
acquire and display. Is the ability to speak just another sort of instinct? If so, how did human beings acquire
this amazing skills? Biologist can readily indicate that particular area of our brain where speech mechanisms
function, but this doesn't tell us how that part of our bodies originated in our biological history.

1. According to the passage, the wonder we take for granted is _____.

A. our ability to use language
B. the miracle of technology
C. the amazing power of nature
D. our ability to make noises with mouth

2. What feature of "body language" mentioned in the passage is common to both human an animals?

A. Lifting heads when sad.
B. Keeping long faces when angry.
C. Bristling hair when ready to attack.
D. Bowing heads when willing to obey.

3. What can be inferred from Paragraph 3?

A. Body language is unique to humans.
B. Animals express emotions just as humans do.
C. Humans have other powers of communication.
D. Humans are no different from animals to some degree.

4. This passage is mainly about _____.

A. the development of body language
B. the special role humans play in nature
C. the power to convey information to others
D. the difference between humans and animals in language use