Dr．Ferguson energetically pushed the preparations for his departure，and in person directed the construction of his balloon．For a long time past he had been applying himself to the study of the Arab language and the various Mandingoe idioms，and，thanks to his talents in language，he had made rapid progress．

In the meanwhile，his friend，the sportsman，never let him out of
his sight-afraid，no doubt，that the doctor might take his departure，without saying a word to anybody．On this subject，he tried to discourage him with the most persuasive arguments，which，however，did NOT persuade Samuel Ferguson，and wasted his breath，by which the latter seemed to be but slightly moved．In fine，Dick felt that the doctor was slipping through his fingers．
The poor Scot was really to be pitied．He could not look upon the
blue sky without a wild terror: when asleep，he felt dizziness(眩暈)that made his head turn around；and every night he had visions of crashing down from immeasurable heights．
We must add that，during these nightmares，he once or twice fell out of bed. His first care then was to show Ferguson a severe bump(腫塊)that he had received on the fall．“And yet，”he
would add，with warmth，“that was at the height of only three feet一not an inch more一and such a bump as this! Only think，then!”
This appeal，full of sad meaning as it was，did not seem to touch the doctor's heart．Not even the shadow of a doubt was ever suggested；and Samuel made an intolerable misuse of the first person plural：“‘Our’balloon，‘our’ car ；‘our’expedition.”
Dick trembled at them，although he was determined not to go ; he did not want to annoy his friend．Let us also disclose the fact that，without knowing exactly why himself，he had sent to Edinburgh for a certain selection of heavy clothing，and his best hunting-tools and fire-arms．
【小題1】Why did Dr．Ferguson start to learn new languages?

A．To keep himself occupied．

B．To get ready for the departure．

C．To show his talent in language．

D．To Know more about balloon construction．

【小題2】We Call infer from the passage that Dick ＿＿＿＿.

A．suffered from a disease during the nights

B．got hurt in a fall from the balloon in the evening

C．decided to take the adventure with the doctor at last

D．equipped himself with arms to frighten his friend

【小題3】Which word best describes Dr．Ferguson’s attitude towards his balloon flight?

A．Excited．

B．Optimistic．

C．Worried.

D．Determined

【小題4】What’s the writing pattern of the passage?

A．News．

B．Fiction．

C．Journal．

D．Biography．

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NO matter which tourist destination you visit, chances are you’ll see Lonely Planet guidebooks in the hands of travelers.

Lonely Planet is one of the world’s largest travel guide brands, publishing more than 500 different guides in eight languages. This year marks the company’s 40th anniversary. The popular brand also produces television shows, websites and podcasts, all dedicated to travel.
Some people praise Lonely Planet books because they make traveling easy and affordable. They save you time and keep you from missing the very best things in a place. And of course, their reviews of hostels, hotels and restaurants, in addition to ticket information about your destination, are useful.
This can be great if you’re a nervous traveler, or if you haven’t traveled by yourself before. If you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language, sometimes there’s nothing better than getting into a taxi and opening up a guidebook. You simply point to a map, directing the taxi driver to a hostel that’s cheap and clean, with friendly staff and cold beer.
But others criticize Lonely Planet and other travel guide publishers. They say guidebooks take the fun and spontaneity(自發(fā)性)out of traveling, and that part of the enjoyment of travel comes from the fact that anything can happen. They also lament(哀嘆)that if you follow a guidebook, you’ll end up doing the same things and having the same experiences as everyone else. You might end up seeing the same group of people over and over, because everyone is reading the same book and following the same trail.
Another criticism of travel guides is that they have an overly(過度的)large influence on local communities. For example, some locals dedicate their lives solely(僅僅)to behaving in ways that attract tourists. They fake a traditional lifestyle, wear traditional clothes and live in traditional houses just to attract tourists’ dollars.
【小題1】The Lonely Planet guidebook can bring you the following advantages EXCEPT that　　　.

A．it can help you to save time and money when traveling

B．you will not miss the best things without having to make choices

C．it provides a lot of useful information about your destination

D．you can easily find a nice place to stay in a strange city

【小題2】Who will find a Lonely Planet guidebook very useful?

A．Someone who always takes a taxi when traveling.

B．A tourist who likes to repeat others’ experiences.

C．A person who’s nervous touring an unfamiliar place.

D．A native traveler who is traveling alone.

【小題3】People criticize the guidebook because　　　.

A．the guidebook is not as useful as most travelers expect

B．travelers using it will be bored with meeting the same people on their journey

C．travelers using it may not get the chance to have unexpected adventures

D．local people keep their old lifestyle under the guidebook’s influence

【小題4】What does the underlined word“fake”in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．mistake

B．learn

C．pretend

D．create

Every year Chris Brogan posts his three words for a new year. Many others and I have followed his lead for the past three or four years. They helped me a lot. My words for last year were“passion”, “focus”and“delegate”and I stayed true to them. This year, 2013, my goals are more personal and less professional.
FOCUS
Focus is making a repeat appearance on my list this year because I’m too much of a multitasker. The problem is that I have trouble finishing one thing with so many things calling me. When I was working as a writer, all my projects were handled via a schedule, I’m putting a fitness and housekeeping routine into my schedule.
HEALTH
I get so busy taking care of everyone else, and I forget to take care of myself and this has to change. My health suffers and my weight suffers. I have to get my health in check, not only for me but because I promised my 9-year-old son. I’ll make good food and lifestyle choices. I miss being thin, and it’s time to get it back.
CELEBRATE
What good is having it if I’m not taking time to enjoy it? I have a wonderful job, a happy family, and so much to be thankful for. So how come I spend all my time working? Last summer my family took our first vacation in four years, the best thing I’ve done for myself and my family in a long time. This year, I’m making sure to take time to enjoy life and celebrate its many blessings.
Do you have any words for 2013?
【小題1】The underlined word “multitasker” probably refers to a person who　　　.

A．makes a living by writing

B．always fails to finish a task on time

C．has several things to do at the same time

D．pays more attention to fitness and housekeeping

【小題2】 Why does the writer have“HEALTH”as one of his three words?

A．He wants to take better care of others.

B．He’s gaining weight and feeling bad.

C．He did not take any exercise in the past.

D．He got the idea from his son.

【小題3】What can we learn from the passage?

A．The word“CELEBRATE”can remind the writer to enjoy life.

B．The writer has a vacation with his family every four years.

C．The word“FOCUS”can help the writer focus on his family.

D．The writer used to be overweight for lack of exercise.

【小題4】The best title for the passage might be　　　.

A．Three Words for 2013

B．Health Should Go First

C．Keep Organized

D．Goals for 2013

Ever since he got into the Hong Kong film industry in 1994 with He’s a Woman, She’s a Man, Hong Kong director, Peter Chan has been one of the industry’s most powerful voices. Later in 1996, another milestone Comrades: Almost a Love Story came into being. Chan’s latest film, American Dreams in China is a carefully-calculated film with an eye toward opening the mainland cinema market.
American Dreams in China is a film purely for Chinese audiences, but how it plays there remains to be seen. It sends the right messages, but whether that’s enough to make it a hit is everyone’s guess. Mainland audiences aren’t quite that easy to “speak” to.
The film began during the period of economic reforms in China in the 1980s. The bookish farm boy Cheng Dongqing (Huang Xiaoming), the ambitious and confident boy Meng Xiaojun (Deng Chao) and the poetic Wang Yang(Tong Dawei), were three friends at university in Beijing and preparing for American visa interviews. Wang was the first to be granted the visa but he gave it up for his western girlfriend, and Cheng was repeatedly denied. Only Meng actually got a study visa. As he was leaving, he told his friends that he wouldn’t come back.
Several years later, Cheng and Wang built a successful school, New Dream, from the ashes of Cheng’s misfortune(his girlfriend got a visa too, and Cheng lost his university teaching job) and Wang’s ability to connect with students often through Hollywood movies. In America, Meng suffered a lot. Disappointed, he went home and joined his friends at New Dream. Later, the three friends’ relationship became worsened, but finally was improved under the weight of their common goals.
【小題1】Which of the following films made Peter Chan a most influential director in Hong Kong?

A．American Dreams in China

B．Comrades: Almost a Love Story

C．New Dream

D．He’s a Woman, She’s a Man

【小題2】The underlined word “granted” (in paragraph 3) probably means “_________”.

A．prepared

B．given

C．involved

D．permitted

【小題3】When the three men made preparations for American visa interviews, how many was/were offered a visa?

A．None

B．One.

C．Three.

D．Two

【小題4】What led Cheng and Wang to start a business?

A．The connection with Hollywood movies.

B．The weight of their common goals.

C．Cheng’s misfortune and Wang’s ability.

D．Meng’s disappointment and sufferings.

It was once unheard-of to be a businessman in China. Nowadays, though, it’s quite common to become your own boss. Let’s say you have an idea. Maybe you want to open an English school or sell Japanese comics. First, you need a business plan. It sets out what you’ll sell and how much everything will cost. Most businesses that fail didn’t have this. If you need to borrow money at the start, banks will ask for a detailed plan.
The best starting place for a business plan is the 4Ps: product, place, price and promotion. All these must be strong to be successful.
Product
Your product must have something unique. What makes it special compared to other similar products? If you want to start a noodle shop that has nothing new, don’t expect people to show much interest. You can research your product. For food, let people try it for free. For toys, let a few children play with them to see if they like them.
Place
There’s no point having a product that people want to buy if your shop is in an empty mall. Think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell. Where do they usually go shopping? When looking at possible places, spend the day there. See how many people pass by. Also, are there other shops nearby selling similar products? If so, how can you be better than them?
Price
Work out how much it costs to make or provide your product. As a general rule, your price will be double the cost. After all, you’re also paying for rent, staff and you need to eat too!
Promotion
How can you attract people to your shop? Advertising in newspapers and on TV is expensive. Perhaps you can get free advertising by getting a newspaper to write about your business.
【小題1】What’s the best title for the passage?

A．How to start a business.

B．Starting a business soon.

C．Starting your own business.

D．Preparations for starting a business.

【小題2】According to the author, the reason why most businesses fail is due to lack of ________.

A．a business plan

B． a shop

C． money

D． successful businessmen

【小題3】If you want to start a noodle shop, you should ________.

A．expect people to show much interest

B．research your noodles

C．let people try it at a low price

D．let children have a try

【小題4】What does “If so” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．There are shops selling the goods like yours.

B．Many people pass by.

C．You should think about which type of person is going to buy what you sell.

D．You should spend the day on possible places.

【小題5】You are selling toys to children. It costs 5 yuan to make each one. How much should you charge the children for each toy?

A．15 yuan.

B． 5 yuan.

C． 10 yuan.

D． 50 yuan.

WHAT happens to a teenage kid when the world he thought he knew suddenly changes? Find out in Little Brother by American author Cory Doctorow. It is a fascinating book for a new generation of sci-fi readers.
Marcus Yallow, 17, from San Francisco is much more comfortable in front of a computer than obeying the rules of society. Smart, fast and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting （騙過） his high school's monitoring system. This way he and his friends get to head off to play a popular online game in real life.
While they are playing, a bomb explodes on the Bay Bridge. Marcus stops a military vehicle to get help for his injured friend, but this simple act throws him into a Department of Homeland Security （DHS） secret prison.There he is treated as a possible terrorist. He is eventually let go after four days, but his injured friend disappears.
When he returns, Marcus discovers that there are many "security measures" in place and that now all citizens are treated like potential terrorists.While some consider this government action necessary for public safety, Marcus sees this as a complete destruction of the rights he is supposed to have as a citizen.
He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him with only one thing to do: to take down the DHS himself. He helps organize a large network called Xnet to spread the truth, anonymously(匿名地).
The book presents a young man who is irresponsible, but learns about himself, and grows, in the course of the story. As part of this learning and growing he becomes aware of very serious issues about his society.
【小題1】What kind of article does this passage belong to?     

A．A fascinating story.	B．A book review.
C．A news report.	D．A TV programme.

【小題2】 Marcus Yallow was sent to prison because________.

A．he killed his friend

B．he bombed a military vehicle

C．he did something that a possible terrorist could do

D．his injured friend disappeared

【小題3】From the second paragraph we can infer that______.

A．Marcus Yallow is much more comfortable obeying the rules of society

B．Marcus Yallow is smart, fast and wise in real life

C．Marcus Yallow always plays online games in real life

D．Marcus Yallow is expert at the network world

【小題4】In the end of the book, Marcus Yallow __________.

A．is supposed to be more irresponsible

B．becomes aware of very serious issues about his society

C．presents a young man who is irresponsible

D．plays a popular online game in real life

Many people take it for granted that black is a color of bad things while white should always mean something good. This may be because, in their opinion, black is related to darkness and white to purity. However, that is not always the case. Did you know that the same one color may mean differently in different places of the world?
In the English-speaking world, black is the color of mourning. People wear black clothes at the funeral. Red is concerned with danger or bloodshed (流血). Yellow is the word for fear. If you are afraid, you are yellow. Yet none of these sayings is true outside the English-speaking world. In China and Korea white is the color of mourning. In Russia, China and some other countries, red stands for beauty, life and excellence. In Italy and Germany, you are yellow with anger, not with fear.
Even within the English-speaking area it is not difficult to find color contradictions (矛盾). A redcap in the United States is a porter in a railway station. In Britain, however, a redcap is a military policeman. Both names are logical because both men wear red caps. Similarly, the British term for an American white collar worker is sometimes called a black-coated worker.
One does not have to cross an area to find color differences. Would you rather be red-blooded? If we go back to the origin, we find that both terms are logical as both names suggest. The expression "blueblood" comes from Spain, where some noble families proudly said that they had "blue blood". But then why "blue" blood? Because they were fairskinned, and it is only natural that their blood vessels (血管) stood out appearing blue.
【小題1】Yellow is concerned with anger in _______.             

A．Russia

B．Britain

C．Germany

D．China

【小題2】The two meanings of the term "redcap" form a difference in _______.     

A．pronunciation

B．climate

C．logical relationship

D．custom

【小題3】Both Britain and America would probably agree that _______.         

A．black is the color of mourning

B．a black-coated worker is employed in an office

C．red stands for beauty and excellence

D．a redcap is a porter in a station

【小題4】The best title for this passage is _______.        

A．The Origin of Blue Blood

B．The Development of the Symbolic Use of Colors

C．Colors that Carry Bad Meanings

D．The Meaning Concerned With Certain Colors

【小題5】When some Spanish called themselves "blueblood", they actually meant _______.  

A．they had heart trouble and their faces looked blue

B．they came from a noble family

C．they had blue blood in their vessels

D．they were fairskinned

Today's word, pan, takes us back to the days of the gold rush in California.
On January 24th, 1848, a man named James Wilson Marshall discovered gold in California. The news spread quickly. Thousands rushed west. They traveled on foot, on horseback and by boat to reach the gold fields. By 1849, the great gold rush was on. Towns and cities grew overnight. Throughout California --- in the mountains, along the streams and rivers --- thousands of people searched for gold.
Some found areas of mountain rock thick with gold. These men got rich. But such areas were few and quickly claimed by the first men to find them. Others searched for gold in the rivers coming down the mountains. They were after pieces of gold that the rains had washed down from above .
The only way to find this gold was by panning. First a gold miner put dirt in a metal pan and added water. Then he shook the pan so that the water would wash the dirt. Slowly, he poured the water out of the pan. If he was a lucky miner, pieces of gold would remain.
Across the nation, newspapers carried stories of the gold being found. Each one hoped that the place he claimed panned out well --- had some gold.
For many, gold mining did not pan out. For a few, it panned out well. But in time, huge machines were built that could wash many tons of dirt at a time. Panning died out.
The word, however, remained in the language. Today, Americans still say, “ It panned out well ,” when something they have done pleases them. A business, a discovery, a simple event pans out well if it is successful. Unhappily, sometimes things do not pan out.
In recent years, the word pan has taken on another meaning. Today, it also means to criticize. How it got this meaning is hard to discover. But the job of a critic is to sometimes pan the work of a writer, artist or singer.
【小題1】Why did so many people flood to California in 1848?

A．Because towns and cities there developed quickly.

B．Because the mountains in California were a great place for travel.

C．Because they wanted to get rich by looking for gold.

D．Because the land of California was fertile at that time.

【小題2】The underlined part “It panned out well" in Paragraph 7 has the same meaning as “______”

A．Everything turned out well	B．Nothing could be worse
C．It's not the case	D．It's a pity

【小題3】What is the purpose of this passage?

A．To tell us some stories about the gold rush.

B．To introduce the word "pan" in American English.

C．To teach us how to look for gold in rivers.

D．To introduce the history of the gold rush in California

Not all bodies of water are so evidently alive as the Atlantic Ocean, an S-shaped body of water covering 33 million square miles. The Atlantic Ocean, in a sense, replaced the Mediterranean as the inland sea of Western civilization. Unlike real inland seas, which seem strangely still, the Atlantic Ocean is rich in oceanic liveliness all the time. It is perhaps not surprising that its vitality has been much written about by ancient poets.
“Storm at Sea”, a short poem written around 700, is generally regarded as one of mankind’s earliest artistic representations of the Atlantic Ocean.
When the wind is from the west
All the waves that cannot rest
To the east must thunder on
Where the bright tree of the sun
Is rooted in the ocean’s breast.
As the poem suggests, the Atlantic Ocean is never dead and dull. It is an ocean that moves, impressively and endlessly. It makes all kinds of noise---it is forever thundering, boiling, crashing and whistling.
It is easy to imagine the Atlantic Ocean trying to draw breath----perhaps not so noticeably out in mid-ocean, but where it meets land, its waters bathing up and down a sandy beach. It imitates nearly perfectly the steady breathing of a living creature. It is filled with co-living existences, too: unimaginable quantities of creatures, little and large alike, mix within its depths in a kind of oceanic harmony, giving to the waters a feeling of heartbeat, a kind of sub-ocean vitality. And it has a psychology. It has personalities: sometimes peaceful and pleasant, on rare occasions rough and wild; always it is strong and striking.
【小題1】Unlike real inland seas, the Atlantic Ocean is __________.

A．always energetic	B．lacking in liveliness
C．shaped like a square	D．favored by ancient poets.

【小題2】The writer uses the poem “Storm at Sea” for the purpose of ___________.

A．describing the movement of the waves

B．showing the strength of the storm

C．presenting the power of the ocean

D．proving the vastness of the sea

【小題3】In the last paragraph, the Atlantic Ocean is compared to ___________.

A．a beautiful and poetic place	B．a person of blood and flesh
C．a world of interest and wonder	D．a lovely animal