Here are some of the world’s most impressive subways

1. 1.

   Which one can provide the riders some wonderful decorations at the stations?

   1. A.
      The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines
   2. B.
      The Moscow Metro
   3. C.
      The London Metro
   4. D.
      The Hong Kong MTR
2. 2.

   ______ is done with the purpose of making money.             

   1. A.
      The Tokyo Metro and Toei Lines
   2. B.
      The Moscow Metro
   3. C.
      The London Metro
   4. D.
      The Hong Kong MTR
3. 3.

   We can learn from the passage that Shanghai Metro______.

   1. A.
      carries the most people each day
   2. B.
      is the world’s largest
   3. C.
      may be larger than the Chicago “L” in the future
   4. D.
      is the busiest in the world
4. 4.

   What do we know about the Hong Kong MTR?

   1. A.
      It is not owned by state.
   2. B.
      It has become the country’s largest subway since it opened.
   3. C.
      It carries the most people every day.
   4. D.
      It is the busiest system in the world.

A few months ago as I wandered through my parents’ house, the same house I grew up in, I had a sudden, scary realization. When my parents bought the house, in 1982, they were only two years older than I am now. I tried to imagine myself in two years, ready to settle down and buy the house I’d still be living in almost 30 years later.
It seemed ridiculous. On a practical level, there’s no way I could afford to buy a house anytime soon. More importantly, I wouldn’t want to. I’m not sure where I’ll be living in two years, or what kind of job I’ll have. And I don’t think I’ll be ready to settle down and stay in one place.
So this is probably the generation gap that divides my friends and me from our parents. When our parents were our age, they’d gotten their education, chosen a career, and were starting to settle into responsible adult lives.
My friends and I – “Generation Y” – still aren’t sure what we want to do with our lives. Whatever we end up doing, we want to make sure we’re happy doing it. We’d rather take risks first, try out different jobs, and move from one city to another until we find our favorite place. We’d rather spend our money on travel than put it in a savings account.
This casual attitude toward responsibility has caused some critics to call my generation “arrogant”, “impatient”, and “overprotected”. Some of these complaints have a point. As children we were encouraged to succeed in school, but also to have fun. We grew up in a world full of technological innovation: cellphones, the Internet, instant messaging, and video games.
Our parents looked to rise vertically(垂直的)--starting at the bottom of the ladder and slowly making their way to the top, on the same track, often for the same company. That doesn’t apply to my generation.
Because of that, it may take us longer than our parents to arrive at responsible, stable adulthood. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In our desire to find satisfaction, we will work harder, strive for ways to keep life interesting, and gain a broader set of experiences and knowledge than our parents’ generation did.

1. 1.

   When the author walked through her parents’ house, she _______.

   1. A.
      was frightened that she had no idea what she wanted from life
   2. B.
      started to think about her own life
   3. C.
      realized I should buy a house.
   4. D.
      wondered why her parents had settled down early
2. 2.

   What is the main “generation gap” between the author and her friends and their parents according to the article?

   1. A.
      Their attitude toward high technology.
   2. B.
      Their ways of making their way to the top.
   3. C.
      Their attitude towards responsibility.
   4. D.
      Their ways of gaining experience.
3. 3.

   Which of the following might the author agree with?

   1. A.
      It’s all right to try more before settling down.
   2. B.
      It’s better to take adult responsibility earlier.
   3. C.
      It involves too much effort to rise vertically.
   4. D.
      It’s ridiculous to call her generation “arrogant”.
4. 4.

   What can we conclude from the article?

   1. A.
      The author is envious of her parents enjoying a big house at her age.
   2. B.
      Growing up in a hi-tech world makes “Generation Y” feel insecure about relationships.
   3. C.
      “Generation Y” people don’t want to grow up and love to be taken care of by their parents.
   4. D.
      The author wrote this article so that others would be able to understand her generation better.
5. 5.

   What is the main theme of the article?

   1. A.
      The sudden realization of growing up.
   2. B.
      A comparison between lifestyles of generations.
   3. C.
      Criticisms of the young generation.
   4. D.
      The factors that have changed the young generation.

Social networking isn’t only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.
“The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus,” said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released （發(fā)布）the report.
Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren. “They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them,” said Jean Koppen, the author of the report. She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and those in the same age group. Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild. “Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet,” according to the report.
The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are aware of the latest technology. Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one.
Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s, they still mostly go to print newspapers and magazines for news. Only one percent said they followed blogs.

1. 1.

   What is the main idea of the text?

   1. A.
      Social networking isn’t for the under 40s in the U.S.A.
   2. B.
      American old people’s way of life is quite fashionable.
   3. C.
      Social networking is becoming popular among older Americans.
   4. D.
      Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are the most popular websites in the US.
2. 2.

   Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

   1. A.
      85% of Americans 50 plus choose the Internet over print media.
   2. B.
      About 460 people in the telephone survey often use Facebook.
   3. C.
      About 20% of adults aged 50 plus have access to (利用)the Internet.
   4. D.
      Three quarters of the people surveyed got to know the Internet through their family.
3. 3.

   Where does the text probably come from?

   1. A.
      A novel.
   2. B.
      A newspaper.
   3. C.
      A technology guide.
   4. D.
      A student’s research paper

Visitors from space may have landed on our planet from time to time, maybe hundreds of times during the long, empty ages while Man was still a dream of the far future. Indeed, they could have landed on 90% of the earth as recently as two or three hundreds years ago, and we could never have heard of it. If one searches through old newspapers and records from some certain places, one can find many reports of strange events that could be some explanations about visiting from outer space. A writer, Charles Fort, has made a collection of UFO sightings in his book Lo! One is tempted(引誘) to believe them more than any modern reports, for the simple reason that they happened long before anyone had ever thought of space travel. Yet at the same time, one cannot take them too seriously, for before education on science was popular, even sightings of meteors(流星) and comets(彗星) made people believe the most unbelievable stories, as they still do today.
56.

1. 1.

   According to the passage, visitors from outer space may have landed on the earth       .

   1. A.
      long before man had dreamed of it
   2. B.
      long before there were human beings
   3. C.
      in the last few hundred years
   4. D.
      after the space travel began57.
2. 2.

   Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Charles Fort sighted a lot of UFOs himself.
   2. B.
      All sightings of UFOs are believable.
   3. C.
      There may be living things on other planets.
   4. D.
      People have seen visitors from other planets everywhere.58.
3. 3.

   According to the passage,         .

   1. A.
      UFOs are only seen in recent years
   2. B.
      UFOs sightings are not new
   3. C.
      UFOs are just meteors and comets
   4. D.
      UFOs are invented by people

When you are in another country, it is important to know the language, but it is equally important to know how to communicate nonverbally(非語(yǔ)言地), before saying anything by making gestures. According to a pioneer in nonverbal communication, only 30 to 35 percent of our communication is verbal. When people don't know the language, the most common way to communicate is through gestures. However, many gestures have different meanings, or no meaning at all, in different parts of the world.
In the United States, for example, nodding your head up and down means “yes”. In some parts of Greece and Turkey, however, this motion can mean “no”. In Southeast Asia, nodding your head is a polite way of saying “I've heard you”.
In ancient Rome, when the emperor wanted to spare someone's life, he would put his thumb up. Today in the United States, when someone puts his / her thumb up, it means “Everything is all right”. However, in Sardinia and Greece, the gesture is insulting and should not be used there.
In the United States, raising your clasped hands above your head means “I’m the champion” or “I’m the winner”. It is the sign prizefighters make when they win a fight. When a leading Russian statesman(政治家) made this gesture after a White House meeting, Americans misunderstood and thought he meant he was a winner. In Russia, however, it is a sign of friendship.
In the United States, holding your hand up with the thumb and index finger in a circle and the other three fingers spread out means “Everything is O.K.” and is frequently used by astronauts and politicians. In France and Belgium, it can mean “You’re worth nothing.”
There are other nonverbal signals that people should be aware of when they go to another country, such as the distance to maintain between speakers. Americans usually feel comfortable when speaking with someone if the distance between them is about eighteen inches to arm’s length. Anything closer makes them feel uncomfortable.
When talking to Americans, it is also important to make eye contact. If you look down when talking to an American, he / she may feel that you are embarrassed, afraid, or trying to hide something.
In addition to knowing how to communicate nonverbally in a country, it is important to know what you and he cannot discuss. In the United States, there are certain topics to avoid when you first meet someone, For example, don’t ask people their age, weight, religion, marital status(婚姻狀況), how much money they earn, or how much something costs. You can talk about work, the weather, traffic problems, sports, food, news of the day, where one lives, consumer subjects (computers, car repairs, and so forth), and travel or vacation plans.
These few examples illustrate that your actions can speak louder than your words. In a particular cultural contest, what you say and what you don’t say are equally important.

1. 1.

   Which of the following is true?

   1. A.
      People all over the world only communicate verbally.
   2. B.
      Most of our gestures have no meaning at all.
   3. C.
      Some people think that 65 to 70 percent of our communication is nonverbal.
   4. D.
      Gestures are the most common way to common way to communicate.
2. 2.

   As we can see from the passage there are ______ kinds of nonverbal communication signals. 

   1. A.
      four
   2. B.
      five
   3. C.
      six
   4. D.
      seven
3. 3.

   Please paraphrase the clause“…your actions can speak louder than your words. 

   1. A.
      Your deeds are better than your words
   2. B.
      What you do is better than what you say
   3. C.
      You try to show your best manners
   4. D.
      you are better understood by your gestures than through your words
4. 4.

   The main idea of the passage is that when you are in another country, ______.

   1. A.
      it is unimportant to know the language
   2. B.
      it is important to know what you can talk about to a foreigner
   3. C.
      to know how to communicate nonverbally is as important as to know the language
   4. D.
      to communicate the rough gestures is more important than to know the language

The Internet has changed the world we live in dramatically, so that in some ways it is unrecognizable from the place we lived in twenty years ago. Communications have been revolutionized. Not only have cell phones found their way into most people’s pockets or purses, but they are also used for next messaging and as cameras. Long distance phone calls have been replaced by e-mail and video conferencing. Communications, person to person or company to company, have turned into a fast-paced exchange with instant response. In fact, it has become more convenient and efficient.
The other kind of communication the Internet provides is information. School children and medical researchers alike will tell you that they could not work without the Internet and its ability to connect them to any number of websites and databases of information. Many people do their banking on-line. Others plan a trip and book a flight for themselves. People do their own stock  trading through the Net. Sports fans follow scores and statistics on websites. Political junkies(政治狂) gather campaign statements and debate topics, even between elections. And almost everyone who owns a computer and has Internet access has bought at least one item on-line. No wonder some young people can not imagine what life was like before the Internet.

Some Advantages of the Internet:

Ⅰ.________ of the Internet communication
●A fast-paced exchange replacing long distance phone calls with________ like e-mail and vedio conferencing
Ⅱ.Accessibitlity to the Internet information
●On-line________ service
 Convenience to do banking at home or office
● ________ service 
Choices of booking traffic and accommodation
●Sports websites
 Information about scores and statistics
●Political websites
Campaign statements and________

The choice to adopt and hold gratefulness is the one that is different from those who suffer misfortune and those who enjoy a full life.
My mother died when I was 24. It was a very difficult time in my life — everything seemed to fall apart. I lost my job, and then my utilities were turned off. I had to take cold showers for six months. A neighbor who knew about my situation came to my house and made me an offer. I took care of her children as a job, and I no longer went hungry. I was surprised that someone would trust me — a young woman with her children. And it was with the very confidence that before long I began taking care of other people’s children, too. I have since moved 300 miles from Boise, Idaho. For more than 23 years I have made every effort to reach out to all the kind-hearted people who helped me when I was down and out. Without their trust, I don’t know what I would have done. I am very involved in my community and volunteer at the local food bank, and I help out whenever I can. I’d like to owe what I am to whoever has offered me generosity.
If you are grateful for what you already have, the world will work together to give you more to be grateful for. Otherwise, the world will give you more to complain about.
Moreover, the true master learns to be grateful, in advance, for the things that are desired, because, being grateful in advance for some attainment or accomplishment does two very important things: one…it tricks your subconscious into believing that the goal is certain and two…it convinces other people, with whom you must interact to achieve your desires, that you know what you are about, that you are a winner, not a whiner (哀訴者).

1. 1.

   The underlined word “utilities” refers to ______ in the passage.

   1. A.
      water and gas supplies
   2. B.
      gas and electricity supplies
   3. C.
      shower equipment and water supply
   4. D.
      heating and TV signals
2. 2.

   The writer was grateful mainly for ______.

   1. A.
      his neighbor’s donation
   2. B.
      his community
   3. C.
      having got the job
   4. D.
      others’ trust
3. 3.

   The writer’s personal story in the second paragraph tells us that ______.

   1. A.
      to be grateful will get you nowhere but away from home
   2. B.
      a grateful person is most likely to be successful
   3. C.
      we need to be grateful to be helpful and useful
   4. D.
      the fragrance (芳香) stays in the hand that gives the rose
4. 4.

   The best title for the passage would be ______.

   1. A.
      A Thank-You Note to Trusting Neighbor
   2. B.
      You Are a Winner, Not a Whiner
   3. C.
      Be Grateful to Life in Advance
   4. D.
      Gratefulness Brings a Great Fullness to Life

[1] Is the supermarket a place where you listen to music while dragging your feet into it ? Despite the music , supermarket shopping can be interesting . After all , once you’ve chosen those tasty foods , you get to eat them . Before you seize a shopping cart and head for the shopping areas , check out these tips for smart and healthy supermarket shopping.
[2]You can go to a supermarket almost anytime you want-many are open 24 hours . Choosing______for your food shopping can help you shop smarter .
[3]Don’t shop when you’re hungry
If your stomach is empty when you enter the store , you’ll be crazy when you see all those tasty treats . Eat a healthy meal before you go to the supermarket.
[4]Pick the best supermarket for you
If you have a choice on where to shop , think about the kinds of things that you want the store to have . A salad bar? A great seafood department of bakery? Choose a supermarket that can make your shopping convenient and easy . And once you’ve found a store you like , stick with it . Knowing where to find the things you want in the store will help you find them faster.
[5]Shop during off-peak times
Did you ever get stuck behind a person pushing the cart slowly in front of you because the store was so crowded? Try to avoid stores when they’re likely to be the busiest-after work hours (weekdays between 5 pm and 7 pm ) and weekend mornings , for example . The best time to shop is very early in the morning or on a popular TV night-you can set your VCR, do your shopping , and watch the shows later.

1. 1.

   What does the passage mainly tell us ?(no more than 6 words)
   ______

2. 2.

   Why do you avoid the peak times when shopping ? (no more than 6 words)
   ______
   

3. 3.

   Complete the following sentence with words from paragraph 3. (no more than 3 words)
   You’d better not ______ when you feel very hungry.

4. 4.

   Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words . (no more than 5 words)
   ______
   

5. 5.

   What does the word “them” (Line 5, Paragraph 4) probably refer to ? (no more than 4 words)
   ______
   

Henry Loomis served as director of the Voice of America for seven years starting in 1958.Mr Loomis played an important role in creating the Special English service .
Henry Loomis was born in 1919 Tuxedo Park , New York. His father was Alfred Lee Loomis , a rich New York City businessman .In 1940, Henry Loomis dropped out of Harvard University to join the United States Navy .He was able to put to good use his knowledge of radar technology that he had learned about because of his father’s work .After graduating at the top in his naval(海軍的) training class, Henry Loomis became a teacher at the Navy's radar training school in Hawaii. By the end of World War Two, Henry Loomis had received many honors for his service, including a Bronze Star and an Air Medal. He left the Navy in 1946 to begin graduate（研究生）studies.
Henry Loomis later moved to Washington, D.C. to begin another part of his career in public service. He held positions in the Department of Defense and other agencies: In 1958, he became director of the Voice of America.
During his travels around the world, Mr. Loomis saw that English was becoming an
important international language. He believed that it was important to make English easier to
understand by listeners of VOA broadcasts whose native language was not English. So Mr. Loomis asked VOA program manager Barry Zorthian to develop a way to broadcast to listeners
with a limited knowledge of English:
The result of this effort was Special English: The first Voice of America broadcast in Special English took place on October 19th, 1959. Those against his ideas at the time said the Special English method of broadcasting at a slower rate with a limited vocabulary would never work, it was not practical. American embassies（大使館） demanded that the program be called off. But Mr. Loomis supported the program.
Soon, VOA began to receive hundreds of letters from listeners praising the program. Special English programs became some of the most popular on VOA. We are pleased to say that our programs still are.

1. 1.

   We can know from the passage that Henry Loomis______.

   1. A.
      was born in a poor family
   2. B.
      did well in his naval training class
   3. C.
      stayed in the Navy for nearly 8 years
   4. D.
      joined the army immediately after graduating from university
2. 2.

   What is the second paragraph mainly about?

   1. A.
      Henry Loomis's childhood.
   2. B.
      Henry Loomis's whole business.
   3. C.
      Henry Loomis's background.
   4. D.
      Henry Loomis's army life.
3. 3.

   What led to Henry Loomis's idea of Special English programs?
   

   1. A.
      His experience in the Navy.
   2. B.
      His experience in the Department of Defense.(國(guó)防部)
   3. C.
      His early dream of promoting the influence of VOA.
   4. D.
      His finding VOA programs are too difficult for non-native listeners.
4. 4.

   Those who were against his ideas of Special English programs said______.

   1. A.
      Special English programs were not practical
   2. B.
      it would cost too much to make Special English programs
   3. C.
      it was unnecessary to broadcast Special English programs
   4. D.
      Special English programs wouldn't help listeners in improving their English

Long long ago, there was a man who was good at shooting arrows.He asked the king to declare him as the greatest archer（射手） of the country.The king was about to do so when an old servant of the king said，“Wait，sir.I know an old man who lives in the forest.He is a much greater archer.Let this young man go to him and learn from him for at least three years.”
The man could not believe what the servant said，but he went and found the old man and he was! For three years he learned from him.Then one day，when he thought he had learned everything，the thought arose in him：“If I kill this old man，then I will be the greatest archer.”
The old man had gone to cut wood and he was coming back carrying wood on his shoulder.The young man hid behind a tree，waiting to kill him.He shot an arrow.The old man took a small piece of wood and threw it.It struck the arrow and the arrow turned back and wounded the young man very deeply.The old man came，took out the arrow and said�！癐 knew that some day or other you were going to do this.That’s why I have not taught you this secret.There is no need to kill me.My Master is still alive，and I’m  nothing before him.You must be  with him for at least thirty years.And he is very old，so go fast! Find the old man!”

1. 1.

   The young archer wanted to kill the old man because______.

   1. A.
      he could then become the greatest archer
   2. B.
      he had nothing more to learn from him
   3. C.
      the old man refused to teach him everything
   4. D.
      the king’s old servant ordered him to do SO
2. 2.

   What do you think would most probably happen next?

   1. A.
      The young archer died from the wound soon after.
   2. B.
      The king declared the young man the greatest archer.
   3. C.
      The young archer found the old man’s master and killed him.
   4. D.
      The young archer set off to look for the old man’s master.
3. 3.

   What lesson can you learn from the story?

   1. A.
      Always use a piece of wood to protect yourself from an arrow.
   2. B.
      You must never try to become better than your teacher.
   3. C.
      The older a man is，the better archer he usually becomes.
   4. D.
      There’s always someone better than you in this world.