It had been a long，hard，wonderful day.The two of us had walked from the sea’s edge through the length of a beautiful valley，climbed a superb mountain，travelled its narrow，rocky ridge(山脊)，and now stood on its final peak，tired，happy and looking for the perfect campsite.
The experienced backpacker has a natural feeling for such things，and our eyes were drawn to a small blue circle on the map，like an eye winking at us.We could not see it from where we were，but we followed our judgement and went down steeply until it came into view.
We were right.It was a calm pool，with flat grass beside it.Gently taking our packs off，we made the first of many cups of tea before pulling up our tent.Later that evening，over another cup of tea and after a good meal，we sat outside the tent watching the sunset over a sea dotted with islands，towards one of which a ferry was slowly moving.It is not always so perfect，of course.On another trip，with a different companion，a thoroughly wet day had ended at a lonely farm.Depressed at the thought of camping，we had knocked and asked if we could use a barn(谷倉) as a shelter.
Backpacking could be defined as the art of comfortable，self­sufficient(自給自足的) travel on foot.Everything you need is in the pack on your back，and you become emotionally_as_well_as_physically_attached_to_it.I once left my pack hidden in some rocks while I made a long trip to a peak I particularly wanted to climb.I was away for nearly three hours and ended up running the last stretch in fear that my precious pack would not be there.It was，of course.
The speed at which the backpacker travels makes this the perfect way to see any country.You experience the landscape as a slow unfolding scene，almost in the way it was made；and you find time to stop and talk to people you meet.I’ve learned much local history from simply chatting to people I met while walking through an area.At the end of a trip，whether three days or three weeks，there’s a feeling of achievement，of having got somewhere under your own power.
After years of going out walking just for the day，many people start backpacking simply through wanting to stay out rather than cut short a trip.
【小題1】The writer and his companion knew there was a pool because ________.

A．they had been told about it

B．they could see it on the map

C．they had seen it earlier in the day

D．they could see it from the top of the mountain

【小題2】What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The map.	B．The pool.
C．The mountain.	D．The campsite.

【小題3】How did the writer and his companion feel at the end of the day?

A．They were too tired to put up their tent.

B．They wished they could have found a farm.

C．They were anxious about the coming weather.

D．They were delighted with the spot they’d found.

【小題4】What does the writer mean by being “emotionally as well as physically attached to it ” in Paragraph 4?

A．It is more than just a practical aid.

B．He walks better when he is wearing it.

C．It is not a good idea to leave it anywhere.

D．He might die on the mountains without it.

The morning had been a disaster.My tooth was aching，and I’d been in an argument with a friend.Her words still hurt：“The trouble with you is that you won’t put yourself in my place.Can’t you see things from my point of view？” I shook my head stubbornly—and felt the ache in my tooth.I’d thought I could hold out till my dentist came back from holiday，but the pain was really unbearable.I started calling the dentists in the phone book，but no one could see me immediately.Finally，at about lunchtime，I got lucky.
“If you come by right now，” the receptionist said，“the dentist will fit you in.”
I took my purse and keys and rushed to my car.But suddenly I began to doubt about the dentist.What kind of dentist would be so eager to treat someone at such short notice？Why wasn’t he as busy as the others?
In the dentist’s office，I sat down and looked around.I saw nothing but the bare walls and I became even more worried.The assistant noticed my nervousness and placed her warm hand over my ice­cold one.
When I told her my fears，she laughed and said，“Don’t worry.The dentist is very good.”
“How long do I have to wait for him？” I asked impatiently.
“Come on，he is coming.Just lie down and relax.And enjoy the artwork，” the assistant said.
“The artwork？” I was puzzled.
The chair went back.Suddenly I smiled.There was a beautiful picture，right where I could enjoy it：on the ceiling.How considerate the dentist was！At that moment，I began to understand what my friend meant by her words.
What a relief！                     (2013·重慶，A)
【小題1】Which of the following best describes the author’s feeling that morning?

A．Cheerful.	B．Nervous.
C．Satisfied.	D．Upset.

【小題2】What made the author begin to doubt about the dentist?

A．The dentist’s agreeing to treat her at very short notice.

B．The dentist’s being as busy as the other dentists.

C．The surroundings of the dentist’s office.

D．The laughing assistant of the dentist.

【小題3】Why did the author suddenly smile?

A．Because the dentist came at last.

B．Because she saw a picture on the ceiling.

C．Because she could relax in the chair.

D．Because the assistant kept comforting her.

【小題4】What did the author learn from her experience most probably?

A．Strike while the iron is hot.

B．Have a good word for one’s friend.

C．Put oneself in other’s shoes.

D．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

When it comes to social behaviour，mammals are in a league of their own.Some birds may form pairs，or even cooperate to hunt，but the complexity (復(fù)雜性) of their relationships can hardly compare to those within a school of dolphins，a herd of elephants or a group of humans.What makes mammalian social groups different from a flock of starlings or a shoal of fish，is that in many cases the individuals could recognize each other.Although we may think that  all elephants look pretty much the same，we can easily tell individuals of our own species apart and it has become clear through studies that the same is true of other species.Dolphins have their own signature whistles that act like “names”，and elephants can recognize and greet other individuals they have known but not seen for many years.This is something that only a few species of birds appear to be able to do.
Mammals in complex social groups not only recognize each other as individuals，but also they remember a lot of information about that individual.Social groups often rely on this memory—such as knowing who is dominant to whom，who is related to whom，and who has done what to whom in the past.It’s like remembering who you have lent money to or done a favour for，and who hasn’t repaid that money or has talked about you behind your back.You have to learn who to trust，who your friends are，and who to watch out for.
All this remembering goes on in a particular part of the brain called the neocortex (大腦皮層)．If you compare the size of a mammal’s social group with the size of this part of the brain，you will find they are remarkably closely related.This area seems to take a long time to develop fully and animals in which it is very large take a very  long time to grow up to adulthood.During this time，the youngster has to learn all the rules of social behaviour in their group and to piece together all  the relationships between the group members：Knowledge that will be needed to avoid getting into trouble.
【小題1】What is special about a mammalian social group according to the passage?

A．All the individuals cooperate to hunt.

B．The individuals can communicate with each other.

C．The individuals can recognize each other.

D．The individuals form closer relationship.

【小題2】The passage suggests that elephants________.

A．a(chǎn)re cleverer than dolphins

B．can recognize other species

C．may mistake a member for another

D．have good memories

【小題3】Animals whose area of the neocortex is large________.

A．will have a long period of time before they become adults

B．will spend a shorter time learning the necessary knowledge

C．will learn the necessary knowledge much more easily

D．will have more difficulty in growing up as adults

【小題4】If the neocortex is larger，the animals________.

A．can live a longer life

B．have a smaller social group

C．have a larger social group

D．have a greater body size

Several parents and children escaped the summer heat and enjoyed a refreshing “Leap Into a Good Book”．About 30 children and parents gathered as volunteers for both agencies.
After the readings，refreshments (點(diǎn)心) were offered and children and parents were given books，a gift bag and a bookmark with information on adult literacy (讀寫能力) programs.
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida Inc.and Even Start coordinated the event with hopes that combining their programs will help target functionally illiterate adults and their families.A functionally illiterate adult is one who has reading skills below a seventh­grade level.That often means they have difficulty filling out job applications，understanding a lease，reading medication labels or to their children.
Merelin Hernandez,9，a fourth­grader at Warrington Elementary School，understands the importance of reading.She also says it makes her happy when she is bored.“Reading helps me go to another grade，”she says.“I feel proud when I get a B because then I know I am reading well.”Monae Walker,7，a student at Oakcrest Elementary School，says reading teaches her and makes her happy.
Learn to Read of Northwest Florida Inc.provides one­on­one tutoring for basic reading and writing skills to adults 16 and older who are not in school.Tutors go through a 12­hour workshop and tutor their students 3 hours per week.The program currently has 150 active tutors.
Even Start is a family education program at McMillan Learning Center，which offers adult education classes and infant，toddler and prekindergarten services at no cost to families.Linda Harris，a teacher in charge of the Escambia Even Start program，says the program equips parents so they can help their children.
【小題1】The event “Leap Into a Good Book”________．

A．was mainly held by Learn to Read

B．targeted functionally literate parents

C．was attended by about 30 volunteers

D．was held to enjoy reading in summer

【小題2】According to the passage，a functionally illiterate adult________.

A．has skills below a seventh­grade level

B．has never got school education

C．has no ability to recognize English words

D．can’t fill out a job application

【小題3】According to the passage，Monae Walker________.

A．was attending the one­on­one tutoring

B．was a school­leaver

C．was having a good time there

D．read books with her parents

【小題4】According to the passage，Even Start can________.

A．make parents able to help their children

B．educate children how to use words

C．offer some services for families in life

D．offer a good place for children

Heading overseas on a business trip or just for pleasure any time soon？If so，have you thought about what you are going to do about communication？You may need to arrange cab service or get directions to an attraction，not to mention you want to stay in touch with the folks back home.
Hope you aren’t counting_on your personal cell phone.Industry experts estimate that most American cell phones won’t work overseas due to compatibility (兼容性) issues.And even if yours did work，the roaming (漫游) charges would be too high.
So what are your choices？You could rent a phone with a local number in the country you’re traveling to，but that wouldn’t do you much good if you’re constantly on the go.A more cost­effective way would be to rent a satellite phone from a company like Global Cellular Rental.
The process is amazingly fast and simple.All you have to do is to log onto the company’s website，www.globalcellularrental.com，and place an order.The site will show you the countries you will be traveling to and ask you how long you will need the phone.The company then ships a cell phone directly to you anywhere in the world.The phone arrives with complete instructions.
The traveler also learns his overseas phone number well in advance，enabling him to inform all vital contacts of the number before he ever steps on a plane.
Roaming rates are usually 80 percent less than those charged by American service providers.Calls back to the US can be discounted 40 percent or more.The rentals cost is just $5 per day，and discount packages are available for long­term rentals of two months or more.
This cell phone solution is becoming so popular that Global Cellular Rental actually has relationships with hotel chains around the world to keep phones in stock for hotel guests.And for those whose journey really takes them off the beaten track，the company can also rent satellite phones to them.These phones work anywhere in the world as long as you are outside.
【小題1】The underlined words in Paragraph 2 mean “________”．

A．throwing away	B．depending on
C．complaining about	D．figuring out

【小題2】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．You must place an order on its website.

B．Discount packages need to be applied in advance.

C．The Global Cellular Rental is an American company.

D．The company doesn’t help those travelers to remote areas.

【小題3】Which shows the cost­effective aspect of the satellite phone when an American user travels in Beijing?

A．The roaming rates are 20% discount compared to American local service.

B．Calls back to the US cost 60% less compared to American local service.

C．The rental cost is $150 per month if you rent for three months.

D．Forty percent or more discount is available when he calls back to the US.

【小題4】How many ways of overseas communications by phone are mentioned in the passage?

A．2.	B．3.
C．4.	D．5.

Going green seems to be a fad(時(shí)尚)for a lot of people these days.Whether that is good or bad，we can’t really say，but for the two of us，going green is not a fad but a lifestyle.
On April 22,2011，we decided to go green every single day for an entire year.This meant doing 365 different green things，and it also meant challenging ourselves to go green beyond the easy things.Rather than recycle and reduce our energy，we had to think of 365 different green things to do and this was no easy task.
With the idea of going green every single day for a year，Our Green Year started.My wife and I decided to educate  people about how they could go green in their lives and hoped we could show people all the green things that could be done to help the environment.We wanted to push the message that every little bit helps.
Over the course of Our Green Year，we completely changed our lifestyles.We now shop at organic(有機(jī)的) stores.We consume  less meat，choosing green food.We have greatly reduced our buying we don’t need.We have given away half of what we owned through websites.Our home is kept clean by vinegar and lemon juice，with no chemical cleaners.We make our own butter，enjoying the smell of home­made fresh bread.In our home office anyone caught doing something ungreen might be punished.
Our minds have been changed by Our Green Year.We are grateful for the chance to have been able to go green and educate others.We believe that we do have the power to change things and help our planet.                       (2013·遼寧，B)
【小題1】What might be the best title for the passage?

A．Going Green

B．Protecting the Planet

C．Keeping Open­Minded

D．Celebrating Our Green Year

【小題2】It was difficult for the couple to live a green life for the whole year because________.

A．they were expected to follow the green fad

B．they didn’t know how to educate other people

C．they were unwilling to reduce their energy

D．they needed to perform unusual green tasks

【小題3】What did the couple do over the course of Our Green Year?

A．They tried to get out of their ungreen habits.

B．They ignored others’ ungreen behavior.

C．They chose better chemical cleaners.

D．They sold their home­made food.

【小題4】What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．The government will give support to the green project.

B．The couple may continue their project in the future.

C．Some people disagree with the couple’s green ideas.

D．Our Green Year is becoming a national campaign.

How many times have you got upset because someone wasn’t doing his job，because your child isn’t behaving？How many times have you been irritated (惱怒的) when you’ve planned something carefully and things didn’t go as you’d hoped?
This kind of anger and irritation happens to all of us—it’s part of the human experiences.
One thing that irritates me is when people talk during a movie，or cut me off in traffic.Actually，I have a lot of these little annoyances—don’t we all？And it isn’t always easy to find peace when you’ve become upset or irritated.
Let me tell you a little secret to finding peace of mind：see_the_glass_as_already_broken.
See，the cause of our stress，anger and irritation is that things don’t go the way we like，the way we expect them to.Think of how many times this has been true for you.And so the solution is simple：expect things to go wrong，expect things to be different than we hoped or planned，expect the unexpected to happen.And accept it.
One quick example：on our recent trip to Japan，I told my kids to expect things to go wrong—they always do   on a trip.I told them，“See it as part of the adventure.”
And this worked like a charm.When we inevitably (不可避免地) took the wrong train on a foreign­language subway system，or when it rained on the day we went to Disney Sea，or when we took three trains and walked 10 blocks only to find the National Children’s Castle closed on Mondays...they said，“It’s part of the adventure！” And it was all OK—we didn’t get too bothered.
So when the nice glass you bought inevitably falls and breaks some day，you might get upset.But things will be different，if you see the glass as already broken，from the day you get it.You know it’ll break some day，so from the beginning，see it as already broken.Be a time­traveler，or someone with time­traveling vision，and see the future of this glass，from this moment until it inevitably breaks.And when it breaks，you won’t be upset or sad—because it was already broken，from the day you got it.And you’ll realize that every moment you have with it is precious.
【小題1】The author would probably agree that________.

A．we should control our anger and irritation

B．we must get well prepared for the future

C．optimism can help us overcome our anger and irritation

D．a(chǎn)nger and irritation is a natural part of our life

【小題2】The purpose of the author is to________.

A．tell us his own experience in life

B．a(chǎn)dvise us how to find peace of mind

C．tell us a happy trip he took with his children

D．a(chǎn)sk us to see things from both sides

【小題3】By the underlined part (in Para.4)，the author tells us  to________.

A．get ready for the worst result of things

B．enjoy the process of things

C．expect little from life

D．find the relationship between cause and effect

【小題4】We can learn from the passage that the author________.

A．often gets angry in his life

B．can adjust his state of mind accordingly

C．a(chǎn)lways expects others to act in his way

D．a(chǎn)lways suffers from his anger and irritation

Credit cards let people buy things now and pay for them over months or even years.But some people get deep into debt：Some banks have terms and charges that can make it harder for people to pay off that debt.In the United States，there are calls for stronger government supervision of the credit card industry.They_offer_economic_power_at_a_price.In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.
Critics say banks made it too easy to get credit cards.But that may be changing.The crisis in the housing and credit they call markets is beginning to affect the credit card industry.More payments are late.Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.But late payments can also signal bad debts.
The central bank，the Federal Reserve，says two­thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.
Some lawmakers are concerned that cardholders do not have enough protections from what abusive policies.These include actions like raising interest rates because of an unrelated event.Also，banks may raise the chances of a late payment by changing monthly payment dates for credit cards.
According to a survey,82% of Americans think credit cards provide a valuable service.But a majority,58%，say they do not trust credit card companies.And three out of four think the government should regulate the industry more closely.Three out of four people feel there is always some condition that makes a card less appealing than the company made in scared.And a little more than half say they have had a card that was not as good as they expected.But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.
【小題1】What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．We can enjoy more convenience using credit cards.

B．Credit cards can improve our buying power.

C．We can buy things at lower prices using credit cards.

D．Credit cards bring more card debt as well as convenience.

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards.

B．Some people’s credit limits have been reduced.

C．It is more difficult to borrow money from some banks.

D．Banks are receiving more charges from late payments.

【小題3】What can we know from the text?

A．Banks actually prefer to see more late payment.

B．People should be more careful when applying for a credit card.

C．The US government provides better protection for cardholders.

D．The majority of Americans don’t think much of credit cards.

【小題4】What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Credit cards are still very well received in America.

B．Credit cards don’t live up to some people’s expectations.

C．Many people don’t believe in credit card companies.

D．The results of a survey about credit cards in Americans.

When I was 12，all I wanted was a signet(圖章) ring.They were the “in” thing and it seemed every girl except me had one.On my 13th birthday，my Mum gave me a signet ring with my initials(姓名首字母) carved into it.I was in heaven.
What made it even more special was that it was about the only thing that wasn’t being “replaced”．We’d been burnt out in fires that swept through our area earlier that year and had lost everything—so most of the “new” stuff(東西) we got was really just to replace what we’d lost.But not my ring.My ring was new.
Then，only one month later，I lost it.I took it off before bed and it was missing in the morning.I was sad and searched everywhere for it.But it seemed to have disappeared.Eventually，I gave up and stopped looking for it.And two years later，we sold the house and moved away.
Years passed，and a couple of moves later，I was visiting my parents’ when Mum told me that she had something for me.It wasn’t my birthday，nor was it Easter or Christmas or any other gift­giving occasion.Mum noticed my questioning look.“You’ll recognize this one，” she said，smiling.
Then she handed me a small ring box.I took it from her and opened it to find my beautiful signet ring inside.
The family who had bought our house 13 years earlier had recently decided to do some redecorations，which included replacing the carpets.When they pulled the carpet up in my old bedroom，they found the ring.As it had my initials carved into it，they realized who owned the ring.They’d had it professionally cleaned up by a jeweler before sending it to my mother.
And it still fits me.                       (2013·福建，A)
【小題1】The underlined word “in” in the first paragraph probably means “________”．

A．fashionable	B．a(chǎn)vailable
C．practical	D．renewable

【小題2】When she got the ring back，the writer was about ________.

A．13 years old	B．15 years old
C．26 years old	D．28 years old

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The writer’s family moved several times.

B．The writer never stopped looking for her ring.

C．The writer’s ring was cleaned up by the new house owner.

D．The writer lost her ring in the morning when she took it off.

【小題4】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．My New Ring	B．Lost and Found
C．Lost and Replaced	D．An Expensive Ring

Should you stay at home to look after your child，or return to work?
Maybe you don’t have the option.Combining work and motherhood is an issue faced by increasing numbers of women every day.
New research for the Institute for Economic and Social Research could solve this quandary once and for all.In short，it concludes that going back to work after the birth of a child can have a negative impact on the child’s development—unless you have lots of money.
“Growing up in a family in which the mother chooses to work appears to have some adverse consequences for children’s welfare，” the research says.However，it adds that extra money brought in by both parents can reduce the negative effect.The negative effect is also less apparent in children of better­educated mothers.
The research by John Ermisch and Marco Francesconi is especially downbeat about welfare to work programmes，and especially，the prospects for the children of some single parents.
“It is hard to see anything but gloomy (陰暗的) prospects for the children of single parents (who are generally poor)，” the researchers said.This is because in a common family where both parents work，extra money brought in by the mother’s working would compensate for less time spent with the children.
In contrast，the researchers said the effects of paternal (父親的) employment were far more modest，but this did not mean that fathers had no role in shaping their children’s welfare.Money brought in by the father would be a major resource for helping children develop.
The research says，however，that before parents get too carried away by worrying about working，there are more important issues facing a child’s development.Parents’ personalities and emotional stability，parenting practices，and the friends and networks that children experience while growing up will be much bigger factors than whether their mothers work.
【小題1】The extra money brought in by both parents________.

A．plays different roles in shaping a child’s welfare

B．can reduce the negative effect on a child

C．has negative effect on a child’s development

D．may damage the life of children

【小題2】The researchers would agree that________.

A．mothers should keep a balance between work and family life

B．the more money mothers make，the worse their children will be

C．mothers should make as much money as they can

D．it would be better for mothers to be with children at home

【小題3】We can conclude from the passage that________.

A．it doesn’t matter how much money a father brings home

B．education is the only factor in shaping a child’s welfare

C．money made by mothers can also contribute to a child’s well­being

D．mothers’ income can have a deeper effect on a child’s development

【小題4】What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Whether mothers work is not worth considering.

B．The research shows family stability is important.

C．Parents should stop worrying about working.

D．More important factors are involved in a child’s development.