He dropped the ___ and broke it.

A. coffee cup  B.coffee’s cup  C cup of coffee   D. cup for coffee

As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.

Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long?hours work culture to make more money to buy more things is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of l

iving and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year. One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs(郊區(qū)), leaving their two children with a nanny(保姆). Most evenings Daniel wouldn't get home until eight or nine o'clock, and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It's taken some getting used to, but it's been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it's made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.”

Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I'm not really a country girl, but I suppose I'm gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

1.What do the first two paragraphs tell us?

A.People seldom work long hours to make money.

B.People hardly buy more things than necessary.

C.People are sure everything they own is in the right place.

D.People realise there is more to life than just making money. 

2.When Daniel was a reporter he  ________ .

A.lived in central London      B.disliked his job        

C.missed his children         D.was well paid 

3.Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm  ________.

A.was easy to organize         B.has improved family life        

C.was extremely expensive      D.has been a total success 

4.What does the underlined “it” in the last paragraph refer to?

A.Child?caring.    B.Liz's advice.       C.Downshifting.     D.Liz's job.

5.The underlined word “_________downshifting” in the second paragraph means  ________ .

A.repairing your car by yourself        

B.spending money carefully        

C.moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life        

D.living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week 

Martha had been working for Miller Laboratories for two years,but she was not happy there.Nothing significant had happened in the way of promotions or salary increases.Martha felt that her supervisor,a younger and less experienced person than she,did not like her.In fact,the supervisor often said unpleasant things to her.

One day,while talking with her friend Maria,she mentioned how discouraged she was .Maria gave her the name of a cousin of hers who was director of Human Resources Department for a large chemical company.Martha called him the next day and set up an interview on her lunch hour.

During the interview,Mr Petri said,“You're just the kind of person we need here.You've being wasted in your other job.Give me a call in a day or two.I'm sure we can find a place for you in our organization."Martha was so happy that she almost danced out of the building.

That afternoon,Ruth Kenny,her supervisor,saw that Martha had come in ten minutes late from her lunch hour and she said ,“Oh,so you finally decided to come back to work today?"

This was the last straw.She could not take another insult.Besides,Mr Petri was right: she was being wasted in this job.

“Look," she said angrily，“if you don't like the way I work,I don't need to stay here.I'll go where I'm appreciated!Goodbye!"She took up her things and stormed out of the office.

That night she called Maria and told her what had happened and then asked Maria.“What do you think?"

“Well,"said Maria carefully,“are you sure about the other job?"

“Well,not exactly,but..."

Maria continued ,“Will you be able to get a recommendation from Ms Kenny if you need one?"

“A recommendation?…from Ms Kenny?"hesitated Martha,in a worried tone.

“Martha,I hope you didn't burn your bridges,”Maria said.“I think I would have handled it differently."

1.Martha is unhappy in her job because_________.

A.she has not advanced

B.the work is not significant

C.her supervisor is younger than she

D.there is too much work with little payment 

2.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A.At her supervisor's criticism,Martha lost her temper.

B.Mr Petri felt Martha was not valued in her present job.

C.Martha's interview with the director was on her lunch hour. 

D.Martha got the name of the director through her cousin. 

3.The phrase “the last straw"in the middle of the passage probably refers to _________.

A.the last opportunity

B.the straw that saves Martha's life

C.the last reminder

D.the final unpleasant thing 

4.What does Maria think of Martha's decision?

A.Martha has handled the matter properly.

B.Martha shouldn't have set the bridge on fire.

C.Martha should have found a new job before leaving.

D.Martha shouldn't have lost her temper with her supervisor. 

“Don't get near to it.It’s too dangerous!” “_____”

A.Yes, I won't    B.No, I don't     C.No, I can't     D.No, I won't

___ speak Germany and ___ speak English.

 A. Germans, Englishmans   B.German, Englishmen  C.Germans, Englishmen  D.Germanise, Englishmen

— I can’t get on well with some of my

 -----classmates.They just leave me in the cold.? — _____ But what’s the reason? ?

    A.Sorry to hear that.

    B.How about that??

    C.Don’t mention it.

    D.Never give up!?

His essay, ____many times,was brief and to the point,and therefore won the first prize in the writing competition.?

     A.polishing up           

     B.having polished up?

     C.to be polished up

     D.having been polished up?

We were all surprised when he made it clear that he ___ office soon.

 A. leaves   B. would leave    C. left    D. had left

True friends double your happiness and half your burdens.Basically how you would like a true friend to be is what you should be like to your true friends.Trust,forgiveness,

responsibility are some elements of a true friendship.True friendships are hard to achieve.

And what’s more,life is short.So treasure these friends if you already have them.If you don’t,

continue to search,because once you have them,life will become so much easier to live,no matter what happens.I have been through very difficult times and I dare say,without my friends,

I would not have made it.?

Friendships need lots of energy and patience to maintain them.Not to mention time.When your friend needs you,and when things are not going too well on your side,it is often so easy to  turn a deaf ear to  their requests.It is especially during these times that you must find the strength to help your friend.

And it is during these times that your friendship will be made stronger.?

And you must always be happy for their successes,even when things are not going too well for you.It might be hard to do this,but it is something that you need to learn.Think about all the sacrifices your friend has made for you and all the times when he was happy for you despite his own troubles.Think  about?all the happy times you enjoyed and the sad,difficult times you went through together.That should give you plenty of patience to actually be a true friend.Remember,true friends are the next best thing to family.They will always be your supporters. What is the best title for this passage??

    A.A Precious Friendship

    B.A True Friend?

    C.A Happy Time

    D.Friend,a Treasure

   According to the passage,to be a true friend,you do NOT need to ___ .?

    A.trust your friends?

    B.forgive your friends’ mistakes?

    C.spend much money on friends?

    D.be helpful to your friends?

  True friendships are hard to achieve because ____.?

    A. friendships can help you through difficult times?

    B.friendships need lots of energy and patience?

    C.your friends need you to give more help to them?

    D.you should be always on your friends’ side   

  The underlined phrase “turn a deaf ear to” in Paragraph 2 probably means “______”.?    A.pretend not to know

    B.take no measures to?

    C.have no means to

    D.turn to a deaf for?

From Paragraph 3,we can conclude that          .

    A. a friend won’t achieve success without your support?

    B.most people in trouble are not happy about their friends’ successes?

    C.you should support your friends on any conditions?

    D.a true friend appears only when you have troubles?

He tried to deal with the ever-increasing burden of his work,but finally ____and had

to take a complete rest.?

      A.broke away            B.broke up?

      C.broke down            D.broke out?