Confucius said, “In a group of three people, there is always something I can learn. Choose to follow the strengths of others, and use their shortcomings to reflect upon ourselves.”
As you can see from what Confucius said, everyone that we come across can teach us something useful. As long as we reflect on the lessons learnt from and by other people, we can continuously improve ourselves. But take note that when you reflect on these lessons, you apply some wisdom to each lesson because each situation is unique although they share some common principles.
We can learn a lot from everyone. We always tend to think that we can only learn from those who are higher in status or have more knowledge than us, but that is not really the case. We learn from those who are lower in status than us as well, because the experience and knowledge of each person is very different.
The best thing about this type of learning, reflecting other people’s strengths and shortcomings onto ourselves, is that we do not pay for the mistakes that are made. The only cost to us is the time that is needed to learn about and reflect on these lessons from other people’s lives.
As we all know, some mistakes can be ones which people cannot afford to make, for instance, a broken friendship or a financial loss. Thus constantly using other people’s strengths and shortcomings to reflect upon ourselves makes us realize the costs of these mistakes and reduces the possibility that we will make similar mistakes.
What can we do now to learn from others? By keeping our eyes and ears open. Be observant and able to realize what strengths and shortcomings other people have. A lot of people in this world like to complain about their lives. Listen to them and make you own assessment and from your own assessment, reflect upon your life and make improvements where necessary.
【小題1】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A．Confucius thought we should learn from strengths of others.

B．Only from those who have more knowledge than us can we learn.

C．It is by reflecting on the lessons learnt by others that we can improve ourselves.

D．Reflecting upon other people’s strengths and shortcomings can help us make fewer mistakes.

【小題2】The underlined part “this type of learning” in the fourth paragraph probably refers to_______.

A．learning from other people’s mistakes

B．learning from others’ experiences

C．finding what strengths and shortcomings other people have

D．reflecting others’ strengths and shortcomings onto ourselves

【小題3】From the fifth paragraph, we learn that _______.

A．sometimes we can afford the costs of a broken friendship

B．our reflection will necessarily reduce our mistakes

C．some reflection will help to improve ourselves

D．reflection will stop us from making any mistakes in life

【小題4】The passage is probably taken from __________.

A．a magazine about life	B．a book about travel
C．an advertisement	D．a research report

【小題5】What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．How to improve oneself.

B．How to use the shortcomings of others to reflect upon ourselves.

C．How to reduce the mistakes in one’s life.

D．How to learn from other people’s strengths and shortcomings.

A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later.
As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special position. My parents were complementary instructors：Mom taught me the words, and Dad taught me to obey them. But the stranger... He was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures, mysteries and comedies(喜劇).
If I wanted to know anything about politics，history or science，he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.
I now know that my early concepts about relationship were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom blamed...and NEVER asked to leave.
More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended(融合) right in but is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you were to walk into my parent's room today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name?
We just call him...“TV”.
He has a younger sister now. We call her “Computer”.
【小題1】When the stranger came to live with our family, he was ________.

A．ignored by the children

B．driven away for no reason

C．abandoned because it was too noisy

D．accepted by every family member

【小題2】The stranger can do all the following things EXCEPT that he can ________.

A．tell us some funny stories	B．reject our proposals(提議)
C．influence the children's character	D．predict the future

【小題3】The underlined word “spellbound” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.

A．concentrated	B．puzzled
C．fascinated	D．astonished

【小題4】What can we learn from the last three paragraphs of the passage?

A．The computer is more advanced and has gained greater popularity.

B．Old as he is，we like the stranger best.

C．The TV set is out of fashion and often breaks down.

D．We decide to throw the TV set away immediately.

Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States, there are various independent organizations offering similar activities.
Students can participate ( take part ) in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies . Anyone can register ( 登記 ) with such groups , which then organize courses ,training and trips for all members .
One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain , is Outward Bound ( 戶外訓練 ) . It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year .
The courses are to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence , self-esteem ( 自尊 ) and character . As well as specialist courses such as canoeing , leadership skills and sailing , participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills .
Michael Williams , an American student , took part in an Outward Bound course last year . He said : “We learned lots of first aid skills , lots of natural history , lots of environmental facts , and participated in a wildlife preservation ( protecting ) programme . Beyond that , my favorite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing .”
Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14 . Students must be in general good health , but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports . There is no selection process ; everyone is welcome , although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical power .
Most of the British courses take place in the Beacons in Wales . Another similar organization is the UK Survival School , which includes courses on learning to live with the environment , sailing and winter survival . On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food , how to make fire and cook with it , to find and build a shelter , control survival life support , how to cross rivers , send off an SOS signal , and to use compasses by day and night .
According to the leaders , such adventures are “an awakening , an exploration into unknown.” Outward Bound believes that participants will “use mind and body traveling some of the earth’s roughest wildness areas .”
【小題1】The advantage of the training courses is that _________________ .

A．participants can make friends with others

B．participants can visit some places of interest

C．participants can experience different adventures

D．participants can learn how wonderful nature is

【小題2】 In the Outward Bound course last year , the most exciting experience Michael Williams had was _____________________.

A．learning first aid skills	B．collecting facts of environment
C．preserving wildlife	D．rock climbing and sailing

【小題3】What’s the writer’s purpose to write this passage ?

A．To introduce the training course to readers

B．To persuade readers to take part in the training courses.

C．To tell readers the danger of this training course

D．To introduce the wonders of the world to readers

DEARAUNTYf
My husband’s niece is 13 and what I would call “a handful”. She wants to stay with us for while, and her mother and grandmother have told me what a great influence I would be on her. Her visit ，no doubt, would bring about a long list of demands’ and she’d want to bring a friend too. I don t feel comfortable hosting her, but I don 3r know how to tell my husband’s family members without hurting their feelings.
-Reluctant Aunt
Dear Reluctant,
Let’s get you out of this mess. Your husband’s family is making a request that borders on a demand and sugarcoating it with self-serving flattery (恭維）? Put your foot down, and tell the truth. Say you don’t feel equipped or comfortable hosting the little darling, and regretfully decline (拒絕).Under no circumstances should you take part in any discussion that attempts to change your mind through flattery.
DEAR AUNTY
have two stepdaughters, 21 and 24. On holidays, the older one always buys me gift but adds her sister’s name on the card. I feel insincere thanking the younger daughter -Vd rather get no gift than be a part of this pretence. Is it tacky (俗氣)to ask the 24-year-old to stop giving her sister credit while it isn t deserved? Will the younger one ever learn to be thoughtful?
-Mindful Mum
Dear Mindful,
Lighten up! Your older stepdaughter is a considerate and generous sister who covers for and protects her younger sister. Good for her! The girls’ relationship is between them. As for your role, you can’t punish anyone into being thoughtful. You can, however, model thoughtful behavior. Spend some time with her, and get to know her better.
【小題1】The underlined word “a handful” would probably mean a person who______

A．is difficult to deal with	B．enjoys making friends
C．is easy to get along with	D．gets easily influenced

【小題2】AUNTY suggested that Reluctant Aunt______

A．kindly host the guest

B．discuss with her husband

C．politely turn down the request

D．try to meet all the demands

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE about the second case?

A．Mindful Mum is very proud of her two step daughters.

B．The two stepdaughters always buy Mindful Mum gifts.

C．AUNTY thinks the older sister should be punished.

D．The older stepdaughter cares for her sister.

【小題4】In which section does the passage most probably appear in a magazine?

A．Entertainment.

B．Advice.

C．Health.

D．Food &Recipes.

Winners Club
You choose to be a winner！
The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account（交易賬戶）where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7—that’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
It’s a club with impressive features for teenagers：
No account keeping fees！
You’re no millionaire so we don’t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transacting fees!
Excellent interest rates!
You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits（儲蓄）without talking them out in a month.
Convenient
Teenagers are busy—we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet. You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job!
Mega magazine included
Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian (so we can organize that cool key-card) but it is easy. We can’t wait to hear from you. It’s the best way to choose to be a winner!
【小題1】 The Winners Club is a bank account intended for _________.

A．parents

B．teenagers

C．winners

D．adults

【小題2】 Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club？

A．Special gifts are ready for parents.

B．The bank opens only on work days.

C．Services are convenient for its members.

D．Fees are necessary for the account keeping.

【小題3】If you want to be a member of the Club, you must _________.

A．be an Internet user	B．be permitted by your parent
C．has a big sum of money	D．be in your twenties

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

A．To set up a club.	B．To provide part-time jobs.
C．To organize key-cards.	D．To introduce a new banking service.

It is hardly surprising that clothing manufacturers （生產商）follow certain uniform standards for various features（特征）of clothes. What seems strange, however, is that the standard adopted for women is the opposite of the one for men. Take a look at the way your clothes button. Men’s clothes tend to button from the right, and women’s from the left. Considering most of the world’s population--men and women are right-handed, the men’s standard would appear to make more sense for women. So why do women’s clothes button from the left?
History really seems to matter here. Button first appeared only on the clothes of the rich in the 17th century, when rich women were dressed by servants. For the mostly right-handed servants, having women’s shirts button from the left would be easier. On the other hand, having men’s shirts button form the right made sense, too. Most men dressed themselves, and a sword drawn from the left with the right hand would be less likely to get caught in the shirt.
Today women are seldom dressed by servants, but buttoning from the left is still the standard for them. Is it interesting? Actually, a standard, once set, resists change. At a time when all women’s shirts buttoned from the left, it would have been risky for any single manufacture to offer women’s shirts that buttoned the right. After all, women had grown so used to shirts which buttoned from the left and would have to develop new habits and skills to switch. Besides from the right, since anyone who noticed that would believe they were wearing men’s shirts.
【小題1】What is surprising about the standard of the clothing industry?

A．It has been followed by the industry for over 400 years.

B．It is different for men’s clothing and women’s.

C．It works better with men than with women.

D．It fails to consider right-handed people.

【小題2】What do we know about the rich men in the 17th century?

A．They tended to wear clothes without buttons.

B．They were interested in the historical matters.

C．They were mostly dressed by servants.

D．They drew their swords from the left.

【小題3】Women’s clothes still button from the left today because        .

A．adopting men’s style is improper for women

B．manufacturers should follow standards

C．modern women dress themselves

D．customs are hard to change

【小題4】The passage is mainly developed by          .

A．analyzing cause	B．making comparisons
C．examining differences	D．following the time order

McDonald's is the world single biggest food provider with annual sales of around $12.4bn. And the company's symbol Ronald McDonald is now （or so the company claims） the world's most recognized person after Santa Claus.
The first McDonald's restaurant was opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1948 by brothers Mac and Richard “Dick” McDonald. Mac ran the restaurant side; Dick was the marketing genius. He had already invented the drive-in laundry and had been the first person to use neon lights in advertising. Now he spotted the gap in the post-war, baby-boom market for cheap, family-orientated restaurants with simple menus, standardized food and efficient service.
After a slow start, business began to boom. By 1954, the brothers were joined by another entrepreneur, a kitchen equipment salesman called Ray A Kroc who owned the franchise to the Multimixer, milk shake maker used throughout the McDonald's chain. A year later, Kroc had bought the McDonald brothers' chain of 25 franchises for the equivalent of around $70m（￡44m）. Dick remained with the company until the Seventies, when he and Kroc fell out over Kroc's claim that the chain was his creation.
Today, an almost Stalinist cult of personality surrounds Kroc （who died in 1984） at McDonald's, while the brothers who gave the company its name have all but been written out of its history. But though Kroc did not found McDonald's, he was certainly responsible for the empire-building philosophy which led to its world domination. He ushered in such essential contributions to international cuisine as the Big Mac （1968） and the Egg McMuffin （1973）; and helped launch Ronald McDonald —— “in any language he means fun” —— on to television in 1963.
Every three hours, a new McDonald's franchise opens somewhere in the world; it can be found in more than 100 countries including India （vegetarian-only to avoid offending the non-beef-eating populace） and Israel （non kosher, despite fierce local objection）. McDonald's chain embodied the thrusting, can-do spirit of Fifties America with staff mottoes such as “If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean.”
【小題1】McDonald's was founded _____.

A．by a kitchen equipment salesman

B．in California

C．by a marketing genius called Dick McDonald

D．after the first World War

【小題2】What do we know about McDonald's brothers?

A．They were not McDonald's founders although they named the restaurant.

B．Their business was still in depression after several years.

C．They had clear job separation on business.

D．They sold their restaurant to a salesman in 1954.

【小題3】Which is not Kroc's contribution to McDonald's ?

A．He launched the restaurant image Ronald McDonald on to television.

B．Under his lead, international cuisine as the Big Mac and the Egg McMuffin earned worldwide fame

C．He spotted the gap in postwar market for cheap, family-orientated restaurants.

D．He built McDonald's empire with a philosophy which led to its world domination.

【小題4】Which statement is true according to the passage?

A．The single biggest food provider was however, not named after its founder

B．The international cuisine as the Big Mac, a beef hamburger, is provided every chain restaurant in the world.

C．Employees in McDonald's have no time to lean.

D．The symbol Ronald McDonald, means fun in any language, is said to the world most recognized person after Santa Claus.

Homelessness is a huge problem all over the world. It’s said that each day there are about 1 million people living on the streets in the US. It is a serious problem which should be dealt with effectively.
There are two main reasons for people leaving their homes: poverty and less affordable houses due to bad economic conditions. Other reasons include: domestic violence, divorce, and mental illness. Living without a home makes people main targets of violence activities and besides, these homeless people have to face the following difficulties on a daily basis.
They have to move about, carrying their belongings, which makes it difficult for the charity and the government to help them. They have limited access to bathrooms and restrooms and are forced to live in dirty conditions, making them easy to be attacked by diseases. They have limited access to health-care facilities in case of emergency, and almost no access to education as they have no money. They are often ill-treated by society, which makes them unfriendly, often ending up being involved in activities connected with crime like selling drugs or guns.
Homelessness is not something that happened overnight --- it has been in the country for decades. The society usually believes those living on the street to be mentally unstable. This belief is partially true. Most of them are normal people just like you and me.
The federal government is doing all it can to help but it is not enough, so the ordinary citizens have to stand up and try to help whenever it’s possible. There are various organizations, such as charity organizations that are working constantly to make sure that homeless people find a shelter to live in. the united efforts have helped millions of people return to their normal lifestyle. However, there is still a long way to go before a better situation is created for all the homeless.
【小題1】How many reasons are mentioned for people having no home to live in?

A．Five

B．Four

C．Three

D．Two

【小題2】The homeless are usually treated as __________.

A．a danger to society

B．having mental problems

C．physically disabled people

D．being too lazy to do anything

【小題3】Which of the following are mentioned to help solve the problem of the homeless?
① the government ② homeless people  ③ charity organizations  ④ the ordinary citizens

A．①②③

B．①②④

C．①③④

D．②③④

【小題4】What can we learn from the passage?

A．Most homeless people died of hunger and cold.

B．The homeless should work hard to change their own situation.

C．The homeless people have nothing to take when they move about.

D．The homeless problem is a serious problem that need solving effectively.