Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them.
【小題1】What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?

A．They are often forgotten by their owners.

B．They are used to living outdoors.

C．They build their own shelters.

D．They like to stay in warm places.

【小題2】Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are out in cold weather?

A．To know when to bring them inside.

B．To keep them from eating bad food.

C．To help them find shelters.

D．To keep them company.

【小題3】 If pets are left on their own outdoors in cold weather, they may ___.

A．run short of clean water	B．dig deep holes for fun
C．dirty the snow nearby	D．get lost in the wild

【小題4】What is the purpose of this text?

A．To solve a problem.

B．To give practical advice.

C．To tell an interesting story.

D．To present a research result.

Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one day find a better paid job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because he wanted to provide his family with the best that money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy, Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation abroad.
However, the family still did not get to see Father for most of the week. He continued to work very hard, hoping to be promoted to the position of manager. In fact, to make himself a worthily candidate for the promotion, he took another course in an open university.
Again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
Father’s hard work paid off and he was promoted. Happily, he decided to hire a maid to relieve his wife from her domestic tasks. He also felt that their three-room flat was no longer big enough. It would be nice for his family to be able to enjoy the facilities and comfort of a condominium.    Having experienced the rewards of his hard work many times before, Father resolved to further his studies and work at being promoted again. The family still did not get to see much of him. In fact, sometimes Father had to work on Sundays entertaining clients.
Over again, whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. Though he often longed to spend more time with his family, he weighed his contribution to his family above everything else.
As expected, Father's hard work paid off again and he bought a beautiful condominium overlooking the coast of Singapore. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, Father declared to his family that he decided not to take any more courses or pursue any more promotions. From then on he was going to devote more time to his family, and it was a promise.
Father did not wake up the next day.
【小題1】Father worked and studied very hard because ________.

A．he had to support his family

B．he wanted to bring his family a better life

C．he was enthusiastic in attending classes

D．he had to so as to reduce his family’s complaint

【小題2】What CAN’T Father get through his hard work?

A．Better housing

B．Higher education

C．Family time

D．Vacation abroad

【小題3】How would the family feel when "Father did not wake up the next day"?

A．To their joy, Father can have a good rest in the end.

B．Thank God, Father can stay home with them.

C．They should have stopped Father from working so hard.

D．There is no point working hard for a better life.

【小題4】What is the function of the italicized(斜體)paragraphs in this passage?

A．To imply a sad ending to the story.

B．To show how stubborn Father was.

C．To make readers feel how hard Father worked.

D．To make readers show sympathy for Father.

Friends play a very important part in everyone’s life. Friendship usually develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends that you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity (成熟) and sense of responsibility. A familiar expression is “you can tell a lot about a person by knowing who his friends are.” Friendship is based on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends are likely to be athletic. If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do the same.
Some people call you their friends for the wrong reason. These people are not really friends. They are only “friends” on the outside, not the inside where it counts. They only want to be your friends if it is to their advantage. True friends are there whether you are rich or poor. It is easy to have many so-called “friends” if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the “false”.
True friends are most special. They are also difficult to find. You can consider yourself very lucky if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends support you, take your side, and build up your confidence.
【小題1】 “So-called” friends refer to        .

A．fair-weather friends

B．those who want to benefit from you

C．the friends who are on the surface only

D．a(chǎn)ll of the above

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．You should tell true friends from false ones.

B．True friendship is too difficult to find.

C．You can share your joys and sorrows with a true friend.

D．A true friend will stand by you whatever happens.

【小題3】The proper title for this article may be “       ”.

A．Friendliness	B．What friends like
C．True Friends	D．So-called Friends

Su Hua is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(車座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for a recommendation from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent(威懾) to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database. Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to contact you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it, this will prove the bicycle belongs to you.
【小題1】Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?

A．Locks

B．Marking

C．Registration

D．Basic Security

【小題2】The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle ____________.

A．in the bike shop and your computer

B．in a police station and security company

C．in a security company and your university

D．by yourself and in a security company

【小題3】Which of the following statements is true?

A．More than 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year.

B．Leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places.

C．Taking a photograph of your bike will help prove the bicycle belongs to you.

D．Always lock your bicycle even if you don’t leave.

【小題4】The main purpose of this article is _____________.

A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen

B．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe

C．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock

D．to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place

Bright red post boxes, the Queen and queuing—what do they all have in common? They are all important parts of British life. At least I thought so.
However, the ability to queue for long periods of time, once believed to be a traditional characteristic of the British, is no longer tolerated by people in the UK, according to a survey done for British bank Barclays.
Once upon a time, queuing was seen as normal. During World WarⅡ, everyone had to queue up to receive their daily supply of foods. In fact, if you didn't stand up and wait in line with all the others, it was seen as uncivilized.
The famous English double-decker buses, with only one entrance, might also help explain why queuing was seen as a part of British life. Almost always, there is queue to get on. www.zxxk.com
But perhaps the British are tired of being pushed past by the Spanish, the Italians or the French as they queue up to get a table at a restaurant. The people of these other European countries have more than one entrance to their buses, which explains their more relaxed attitude to the queue.
Two minutes is now the longest time most British people are prepared to stand and wait. But could it be that the Internet, which allows us to carry out tasks quickly, is the main reason why British people are no longer prepared to queue?
"Used to buying without delay, customers are even giving up purchases rather than wait their turn," says Stuart Neal of Barclaycard. "Shoppers are also less likely to queue for long if the item they are buying is of low value."
Perhaps I will have to replace "queuing" with "impatience" in my list of things I relate to the British. 
【小題1】 What can we learn about the tradition of queuing in Britain? 

A．It was considered a symbol of a civilized behavior.

B．It was a long time tradition as old as the Queen.

C．It was a product of the slow pace of life.

D．It has made the Britain different from other Europeans.

【小題2】 According to the passage, the British gradually stopped queuing because ______.

A．they prefer shopping online

B．the Internet has changed their way of life

C．what they are buying is of low value

D．they follow the example of foreigners

【小題3】 It can be learned from the text that ______. 

A．the British used to buy without delay

B．the British have to queue to receive food

C．the British get impatient with queuing for long

D．the British prefer to take double-decker buses

【小題4】The author's main purpose of writing the passage is _______.

A．to tell us the influence of the Internet on the British ways of life

B．to compare the cultural difference between Britain and other countries

C．to report his research on the British ways of life

D．to talk about the changes in the attitude to queuing in Britain

Imagine a mass of floating waste is two times the size of the state of Texas. Texas has a land area of more than 678 000 square kilometers. So it might be difficult to imagine anything twice as big. All together, this mass of waste flowing in the North Pacific Ocean is known as the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. It weighs about 3 500 000 tons. The waste includes bags，bottles and containers—plastic products of all kinds.www.zxxk.com
The eastern part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is about l 600 kilometers west of California. The western part is west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of Japan. The area has been described as a kind of oceanic desert，with light winds and slow moving water currents. The water moves so slowly that garbage from all over the world collects there.
In recent years，there have been growing concerns about the floating garbage and its effect on sea creatures and human health. Scientists say thousands of animals get trapped in the floating waste，resulting in death or injury. Even more die from a lack of food or water after swallowing pieces of plastic. The trash can also make animals feel full，lessening their desire to eat or drink.
The floating garbage also can have harmful effects on people. There is an increased threat of infection of disease from polluted waste，and from eating fish that swallowed waste. Divers can also get trapped in the plastic.www.zxxk.com
Its existence first gained public attention in l997. That was when racing boat captain and oceanographer Charles Moore and his crew sailed into the garbage while returning from a racing event. Five years earlier，another oceanographer learned of the trash after a shipment of rubber duckies got lost at sea. Many of those toys are now part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.
In August，2009，a team from the University of California，San Diego became the latest group to travel to it. They were shocked by the amount of waste they saw. They gathered hundreds of sea creatures and water samples to measure the garbage patch’s effect on ocean environment.
【小題1】How did the writer introduce the topic of the passage?

A．By giving an example.	B．By listing the facts.
C．By telling a story.	D．By giving a comparison.

【小題2】What do we know about the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?

A．It is made up of various kinds of plastic products.

B．It is a solid mass of floating waste materials.

C．It lies l60 000 kilometers east of California.

D．It is described as a kind of oceanic land.

【小題3】Why do people pay attention to the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?

A．Because it may prevent the flow of ocean water.

B．Because the polluted plastic products will affect the food chain.

C．Because it maybe form an island in the pacific.

D．Because ships may be trapped in the floating waste.

For an increasing number of students at American universities, Old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs. Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom (生育高峰) generation, a longer life span(壽命) means that the nation’s elderly population is bound to expand significantly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change brings many problems for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions,  and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, we’re going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology (老年學(xué)).www.zxxk.com
Lawyers can specialize in “elder law” which covers everything from trusts(信托) and estates to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination. Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees(退休者) in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says.
Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria.” So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”
【小題1】.“…Old is suddenly in” (Line 1, Para. 1) most probably means “_____”.

A．America has suddenly become a nation of old people

B．more elderly professors are found on American campuses

C．gerontology has suddenly become popular

D．American colleges have realized the need of getting older students

【小題2】Why can businessmen make money in the emerging elder market?

A．The elderly possess an enormous purchasing power

B．They can employ more gerontologists

C．Retirees are more generous in spending money

D．There are more elderly people working than before

【小題3】Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?

A．Retirees who are business-minded

B．The volunteer workers in retirement homes

C．Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology

D．College graduates with an MBA or law degree

【小題4】.It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of America’s elderly population ______.

A．will provide good job opportunities in many areas

B．will cause a heavy burden on society

C．may lead to nursing home abuse and age discrimination

D．will create new fields of study in universities

One way to sell stuff is to make things that people want to buy. Another way is to offer “free trials” and then hit customers with bills. This brings us to PDC Education Ltd, run by Rebecca Jordan and Kirsty Weir of Leeds, whose website teaching-resources-uk.com offers teaching plans for teachers.
Rosemarie Brady, finance manager of Rutlish School in Merton, southwest London, tells us that one teacher called Amanda Seyfried downloaded the “free” resources. “Unfortunately in very small print, they state that unless the free trial is cancelled, then you will be charged,” she says.
A year has gone by and now they’ve been sent a second bill for 500 pounds, just because they forgot to cancel the “free trial”.
Merton Council—and it’s not the only one—has sent a warning to all its schools saying: “ Only in the very (easily missed) small print of the terms and conditions is it explained that, after the 14-day trial, schools will be automatically signed for a two-year contact with the company.”
“This will only be stopped if the teacher who requested the trial writes directly to PDC to cancel before the 14 days have expired(期滿). The fee can be as much as hundreds of pounds, with the threat of debt recovery if they are not paid.”
Among the online complaints is this one from a teacher. “How disappointed I am that they will not even consider seriously re-negotiating the invoice(清單).”
Rebecca Jordan of PDC Education said, “ The whole purpose behind the free trial is that we have confidence in our business. This free trial period gives teachers the chance to see what is on offer without having to commit to a payment.”
Only a “very small number” of teachers have complained when they receive an invoice, she added. “ Their only complaint is that they have not checked what they are signing up to but that is not our fault, the position is totally clear. The prices and the trial terms are clear to see on the online sign up page.”
It’s true the terms and conditions are on their website. But perhaps it’s unhelpful that they run to almost 3000 words.
【小題1】We know from the passage that____________.

A．Merton Council suggests that PDC Education Ltd should be closed down

B．the website teaching-resources-uk.com uses tricks to cheat people out of money

C．the users complained that they had not been informed of writing to PDC earlier

D．the education website promises to enlarge their warning print and cut down the term

【小題2】 Which of the following words best describes the author’s attitude towards PDC?

A．Critical

B．Reserved

C．Doubtful

D．Positive

【小題3】 What might be the best title for the passage?

A．An education website	B．A lesson in “free” trials
C．A mysterious invoice	D．Traps on the web

I met him first in 1936. I rushed into his ugly little shop to have the heels of my shoes repaired. I waited when he did it. He greeted me with a cheerful smile. “You’re new in this neighborbood, aren’t you?”
I said I was. I had moved into a house at the end of the street only a week before.
“This is a fine neighborhood,” he said. “You’ll be happy here.” He looked at the leather covering the heel sadly. It was worn through because I had failed to have the repair done a month before. I grew impatient, for I was rushing to meet a friend. “Please hurry,” I begged.
He looked at me over his spectacles. “Now, lady, we won’t be long. I want to do a good job. You see, I have a tradition to live up to.”
A tradition? In this ugly little shop that was no different from so many other shoe repair shops on the side streets of New York?
He must have felt my surprise, for he smiled as he went on. “Yes, lady, I inherited a tradition. My father and my grandfather were shoemakers in Italy, and they were the best. My father always told me, ‘Son, do the best job on every shoe that comes into the shop, and be proud of your fine work. Do that always, and you’ll have both happiness and money enough to live on.’”
As he handed me the finished shoes, he said: “These will last a long time. I’ve used good leather.”
I left in a hurry. But I had a warm and grateful feeling. On my way home I passed the little shop again. There he was, still working. He saw me, and to my surprise he waved and smiled. This was the beginning of our friendship. It was a friendship that came to mean more and more to me as time passed.
Every day I passed his shop, we waved to each other in friendly greeting. At first I went in only when I had repair work to be done. Then I found myself going in every few days just to talk with him.
He was the happiest man I’ve ever known. Often, as he stood in his shopwindow, working at a pair of shoes, he sang in a high, clear Italian voice. The Italians in our neighborhood called him la luce alla finestra—“the light in the window”.
One day I was disappointed and angry because of poor jobs some painters had done for me. I went into his shop for comfort. He let me go on talking angrily about the poor work and carelessness of present-day workmen. “They had no pride in their work,” I said. “They just wanted to collect their money for doing nothing.”
He agreed. “There’s a lot of that kind around, but maybe we should not blame them. Maybe their fathers had no pride in their work. That’s hard on a boy. It keeps him from learning something important.” He waited a minute and said “Every man or woman who hasn’t inherited a prideful tradition must start building one.”
“In this country, our freedom lets each of us make his own contribution. We must make it a good contribution. No matter what sort of work a man does, if he gives it his best each day, he’s starting a tradition for his children to live up to. And he is making lots of happiness for himself.”
I went to Europe for a few months. When I returned, there was no “l(fā)ight in the window”. The door was closed. There was a little sign: “Call for shoes at shop next door.” I learned the old man had suddenly got sick and died two weeks before
I went away with a heavy heart. I would miss him. But he had left me something—an important piece of wisdom I shall always remember: “If you inherited a prideful tradition, you must carry it on; if you haven’t, start building one now.”                                            
【小題1】The shoemaker looked sadly at the shoes because __________

A．they were of poor quality.

B．he didn’t have the right kind of leather

C．he thought they were too worn to be repaired

D．the author hadn’t taken good care of them.

【小題2】The author was surprised when she heard that the shop had a tradition because the shop ________.

A．looked no different from other shoe repair shops

B．had a light in the window

C．was at the end of a street

D．was quite an ugly and dirty one

【小題3】What does the underlined word “inherit” mean in paragraph 6 mean?

A．develop

B．receive

C．learn

D．a(chǎn)ppreciate

【小題4】The author later frequently went into the little shop __________.

A．to repair her worn shoes

B．only to chat with the shoemaker

C．to look at the new shoes there

D．only to get comfort from the shoemaker

【小題5】Why was the shoemaker called “the light in the window” by his neighbors?

A．Because he always worked late at night.

B．Because he always put a light in the window.

C．Because he was always guiding the others.

D．Because he was always happy and cheerful.

【小題6】What’s the best title of this passage?

A．A Proud Shoemaker	B．A Prideful Tradition
C．The Light in the Window	D．Treasure Your Shoes

Have you ever considered all the English expressions that include words about clothes? Let’s see if I can name a few proverbs “off the cuff” since I haven’t prepared for it.

English expressions with “pants”

People wear pants to cover the lower part of their bodies. We sometimes say that people who are restless or nervous have “ants in their pants.” They might also “fly by the seat of their pants” -- they use their natural sense to do something instead of their learned knowledge. Sometimes, people may “get caught with their pants down” -- they are found doing something they should not be doing. And, in every family, one person takes control. Sometimes a wife tells her husband what to do. Then we say “she wears the pants in the family.”

When people want to say something about money

Pants usually have pockets to hold things. Money that is likely to be spent quickly can “burn a hole in your pocket.” Sometimes you need a belt to hold up your pants. If you have less money than usual, you may have to “tighten your belt” -- you may have to live on less money and spend your money carefully. But once you have succeeded in budgeting your money, you will have that skill “under your belt.” I always praise people who can save their money and not spend too much. I really “take my hat off to them.” Yet, when it comes to my own money, I spend it “at the drop of a hat” -- immediately, without waiting. And sadly, you cannot “pull money out of a hat” -- you cannot get money by inventing or imagining it.

English expressions with “shoes”

Boots are a heavy or strong kind of shoes. People who are “too big for their boots” think they are more important than they really are. I dislike such people. I really do. You can bet your boots on that! Yet, truly important people are hard to replace. Rarely can you “fill their shoes” -- or replace them with someone equally effective.

English expressions with “shirt”

My father is an important person. He runs a big company. He wears a suit and tie and a shirt with sleeves that cover his arms. Some people who do not know him well think he is too firm and severe. They think he is a real “stuffed shirt.” But I know that my father “wears his heart on his sleeve” -- he shows his feelings openly. And, he knows how to “keep his shirt on” -- he stays calm and never gets angry or too excited.

【小題1】. What is this passage mainly about? 

A．How to say English correctly and properly.

B．Why English expressions include words about clothes.

C．Which words can be used to describe my father.

D．What people mean when they use some proverbs.

【小題2】. Which of the following proverbs are not related to money?

A．tighten one’s belt	B．burn a hole in one’s pocket
C．get caught with their pants down	D．take one’s hat off to them

【小題3】. Tim often considers himself the most important person in the world, which is far from the truth. We may say __________.

A．he is “too big for their boots”.	B．he “bet his boots on that”.
C．he “fill their shoes”.	D．he “wears his heart on his sleeve”.

【小題4】 If you want to praise somebody for his calmness when facing danger, you may say__________.

A．“You really fill your shoes.”

B．“Awesome! You wear your heart on your sleeve!”

C．“Amazing! How can you keep your shirt on at that time!”

D．“Cool! You are truly a stuffed shirt”.