While reading a story on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruining their life plans, I couldn’t help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, certainly share their disappointment : my husband and I probably won’t be able to buy a house until we’re in our 40s, and we two are burdened by student loans(貸款). But why should it be any different? Being young persons in America, shouldn’t they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won’t be able to have children for at least a decade because they can’t afford to buy a house yet. I read that, and I thought what planet she is living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury(奢華), not a fertility requirement.
A 26-year-old in the story is disappointed that he can’t afford to get a Ph. D in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.
Yes, it’s sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people’s expectations grew up at a time when everyone’s wealth appeared to be increasing, Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments. “So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means,” says Kobliner.
This recession(經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful---for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day---than on longing for some kind of luxury life.
56. What makes the author think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
A.They expect everything to be easy for them.
B. They are burdened by student loans.
C. They are unwilling to face all of the challenges.
D. They complain that the economy is spoiling their life plans.
57. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the complaints of the 20-somethings?
A. They can’t have children for at least a decade a decade to buy a house.
B.They despair at not being able to afford a PH. D in literature.
C. They can’t buy a house until 40 and are burdened by student loans.
D. They have only a one-bedroom apartment to live in.
58. What’s the Kobliner’s attitude towards the 20-somethings with high expectations?
A.Unbearable B. Understanding C. Doubtful D. Opposite
59. What is the best title for this passage?
A. Young people’s high hopes create despair
B. Young people can’t afford to buy a house
C. Young people afford to continue their study
D. The 20-somethings’ high expectations
科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
A few days ago I asked my sons’ governess（女家庭教師）Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia, ”I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agreed on thirty dollars a month...”
“Forty.”
“No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so...”
“Two months and five days.”
“Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays... you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays... ”Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but - not a word.
“Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven - nineteen. Take nineteen off ... that leaves. hmm.... forty one dollars. Correct？”
Julia’s left eye reddened with tears welling up. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but - still not a word.
“Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but- forget it. When didn’t I take a loss! Then, due to your neglect （疏忽）, Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.”
“You didn’t. ”sobbed Julia.
“But I made a note of it.”
“Well... if you say so.”
“Take twenty seven from forty one -that leaves fourteen.”
Both her eyes were filled with tears. Beads of sweat stood on the thin pretty little nose. Poor girl!
“Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.”
“Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen.. leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is !”
I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them.
“Merci （法語: 謝謝）,”she whispered.
I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this - ‘merci’?” I asked.
“For the money. ”
“But you know I’ve cheated you - robbed you ! I have actually stolen from you ! Why this‘merci’？”
“In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.”
“They didn’t give you anything? No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you... I m going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope all ready for you... Is it really possible to be so spineless （懦弱）?Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws（爪）—to be such a fool?”
Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression,“It is possible.”
I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and, to her great surprise, gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little“merci”several times and went out. I looked after her and thought,“How easy it is to crush the weak in this world !”
While talking to Julia, the wrier expected from her ________.
A. a protest B. gratitude
C. obedience D. an explanation
What shocked the writer was Julia’s ________.
A. nervousness in front of her boss
B. acceptance of injustice
C. shyness when talking about money
D. reluctance to express herself
The writer said, “Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws?” He was actually telling the governess ________.
A. to be more aggressive
B. to be more careful in her work
C. to protect her right
D. to live independently
At the end of the story, the writer said,“ How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”to show ________.
A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety
B. his worry about Julia’s future
C. his concern on the living condition of working - class people
D. his sympathy for the mental state of those exploited
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
Children find meanings in their old family tales.
When Stephen Guyer’s three children were growing up, he told them stories about bow his grandfather, a banker, 1 all in the 1930s, but did not lose sight of what he valued most. In one of the darkest times 2 his strong-minded grandfather was nearly 3 , he loaded his family into the car and 4 them to see family members in Canada with a 5 ,“there are more important thins in life than money. ”
The 6 took on a new meaning recently when Mr. Guyer downsized to a 7 house from a more expensive and comfortable one. He was 8 that his children ,a daughter, 15, and twins, 22, would be upset. To his surprise, they weren’t 9 , their reaction echoed （共鳴） their great-grandfather’s. What they 10 was how warm the people were in the house and how 11 of their heart was accessible.
Many parents are finding family stories have surprising power to help children 12 hard times. Storytelling expects say the phenomenon reflects a growing 13 in telling tales, evidenced by a rise in a storytelling events and festivals.
A university 14 of 65 families with children aged from 14 to 16 found kids’ ability to Ks15 parents’ stories was linked to a lower rate of anger and anxiety.
The 16 is telling the stories in a way children can 17 . We’re not talking here about the kind of story that 18 , “When I was a kid, I walked to school every day uphill both ways, barefoot in the snow. ” Instead, we should choose a story suited to the child’s 19 , and make eye contact （接觸） to create “a personal experience”,. We don’t have to tell children
20 they should take from the story and what the moral is . ”
1. A. missed B. lost C. forgot D. ignored
2. A. when B. while C. how D. why
3. A. friendless B. worthless C. penniless D. homeless
4. A fetched B. allowed C. expected D. took
5. A. hope B. promise C. suggestion D. belief
6. A. tale B. agreement C. arrangement D. report
7. A. large B. small C. new D. grand
8. A. surprised B. annoyed C. disappointed D. worried
9. A. Therefore B. Besides C. Instead D. Otherwise
10. A. talked about B. cared about C. wrote about D. heard about
11. A. much B. many C. little D. few
12. A. beyond B. over C. behind D. through
13. A. argument B. skill C. interest D. anxiety
14. A. study B. design C. committee D. staff
15. A. provide B. retell C. support D. refuse
16. A. trouble B. gift C. fact D. trick
17. A. perform B. write C. hear D. question
18. A. means B. ends C. begins D. proves
19. A. needs B. activities C. judgments D. habits
20. A. that B. what C. which D. whom
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
完形填空
閱讀下面短文，從短文后所給各題的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
I’m a straight-A student and have been my whole life .When you come from a family of educators, it just seems 36 .
With high academic standards and a competitive 37 , I don’t just like losing and I also can’t 38 it. I need to beat the 39 students, perfectly in everything. I’ve even gone so far as to define myself by my 40 , saying how outstanding I am. If I don’t get the grade I 41 then I am lost.
Today I was sitting in class trying to 42 the last minutes studying for a test in which I had to get full marks. 43 the girl behind me started talking to me, I tried to listen 44 while still glancing at my study sheet 45 .When I thought the conversation required it, I smiled, nodded and 46 . And then I found myself wishing she would be 47 so I could study .After a while, she said, “You know, you’re a really good 48 . You’re so easy to talk to.” I froze.
I replayed the praise in my head before smiling and accepting it 49 . But inside, I knew it wasn’t true .She’d made every effort to have a conversation and I wasn’t even trying to 50 .
I passed the test excellently despite my 51 of lost study time, but the one thing I needed to learn most wasn’t on that test. I had 52 being the best student so that I had failed at just being normal. So what 53 to me most? What I have is all about my personal 54 and about me being too self-centered. There can only be so many scholars, but there is 55 enough sympathy. I want that to be what matters to me --- sympathy.
36. A. usual B. helpless C. unfortunate D. natural
37. A. spirit B. sport C. school D. market
38. A. take B. recommend C. stand D. help
39. A. ordinary B. top C. handsome D. strong
40. A. strength B. appearance C. grades D. tricks
41. A. invent B. expect C. copy D. hide
42. A. save B. spend C. collect D. cost
43. A. When B. After C. Because D. Before
44. A. rudely B. bitterly C. excitedly D. politely
45. A. in no time B. on time C. for a long time D. now and then
46. A. refused B. worked C. agreed D. waited
47. A. quiet B. gentle C. pretty D. safe
48. A. talker B. listener C. lecturer D. teacher
49. A. angrily B. carelessly C. disappointedly D. gladly
50. A. alarm B. gather C. participate D. shout
51. A. fear B. joy C. worry D. possession
52. A. given up B. focused on C. complained of D. dreamed of
53. A. happens B. matters C. appeals D. devotes
54. A. success B. failure C. depression D. health
55. A. always B. ever C. much D. never
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科目：高中英語 來源：2011-2012學(xué)年山東省濟(jì)南世紀(jì)英華實驗學(xué)校高二3月月考英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解
Idioms are phrases and sentences that do not mean exactly what they say. Even if you know the meaning of each word you see or hear, you may not understand the idiom because you don't understand the culture behind it.
For example, if an American boy asks his mother what's for dinner tomorrow, she may say "I'll play it by ear", that means she doesn't have plans for dinner and she will decide later. "Play by ear" used to mean playing music using the sheet music, but now people often use it when they're not talking about music.
There're many idioms in English. If you learn to use them, your English will be more vivid and colorful. English idioms are more common in spoken English. They can be difficult to remember sometimes. Next time when you hear somebody saying to you, "Give me a hand", you don't necessarily stretch out your hand to him/her, but you do need to be helpful. And when the situation is out of hand, you usually can do very little to manage all that. What about a green hand? It's not about the color of your hand! You're a green hand when you are very new at your work and don't have much experience. If you and your partner always work together hand in glove, you two definitely work together very well.
Can you guess the meanings of some common English idioms to do with parts of your body?
【小題1】An idiom is _______.
| A．a(chǎn) phrase or a sentence that means exactly what the words say |
| B．a(chǎn) phrase or a sentence that doesn't mean exactly what every word says |
| C．so difficult that nobody can understand |
| D．something to do with parts of your body |
| A．she will cook dinner while listening to music at the same time |
| B．she doesn't hear what others are talking about. |
| C．she will play music using the sheet music instead of cooking dinner |
| D．She doesn't have plans for dinner and will decide later |
| A．he needs to hold your hand. |
| B．he works well with you |
| C．he needs your help |
| D．he is a new comer and can't help with the situation |
| A．People use English idioms more in spoken English than in written English. |
| B．To understand the culture behind an idiom is important in understanding the idiom. |
| C．Idioms make your English more vivid and colorful so they are easy to remember. |
| D．You may not understand an idiom even though you know the meaning of each word. |
| A．badc | B．bdac | C．cbad | D．cdba |
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科目：高中英語 來源：2012屆浙江省溫州市十校聯(lián)合體高三上學(xué)期期初聯(lián)考英語試卷 題型：閱讀理解
LONDON----Here’s a new warning from health experts: Sitting is deadly.
Scientists are increasingly warning that sitting for prolonged periods — even if you also exercise regularly — could be bad for your health. And it doesn’t matter where the sitting takes place — at the office, at school, in the car or before a computer or TV — just the overall number of hours it occurs. Several studies suggest people who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or even die.
In an editorial published this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Elin EkblomBak of the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences suggested that authorities rethink how they define physical activity to highlight the dangers of sitting.
While health officials have issued guidelines recommending minimum amounts of physical activity, they haven’t suggested people try to limit how much time they spend in a seated position.
"After four hours of sitting, the body starts to send harmful signals," Ekblom-Bak said. She explained that genes regulating(調(diào)節(jié)) the amount of glucose（葡萄糖） and fat in the body start to shut down.
Even for people who exercise, spending long periods of time sitting at a desk is still harmful. Tim Armstrong, a physical activity expert at the World Health Organization, said people who exercise every day — but still spend a lot of time sitting — might get more benefit if that exercise were spread across the day, rather than in a single bout.（一回）
Still, in a study published last year that tracked more than 17,000 Canadians for about a dozen years, researchers found people who sat more had a higher death risk, independently of whether or not they exercised.
"We don’t have enough evidence yet to say how much sitting is bad," said Peter Katzmarzyk of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, who led the Canadian study. "But it seems the more you can get up and interrupt this sedentary behavior, the better."
Figures from a U.S. survey in 2003-2004 found Americans spend more than half their time sitting, from working at their desks to sitting in cars.
Experts said more research is needed to figure out just how much sitting is dangerous, and what might be possible tooffset those effects.
"People should keep exercising because that has a lot of benefits," Ekblom-Bak said. "But when they’re in the office, they should try to interrupt sitting as often as possible," she said.
【小題1】What is the best title for the text?
| A．Not Sitting Too Much While Working | B．How To Avoid Sitting Too Much |
| C．Sitting Too Much Could Be Deadly | D．More And More People Sit Too Much |
| A．the more time you spend in exercising in a single bout, the healthier you will be. |
| B．those who often sit too much are sure to grow fat or suffer from a heart attack. |
| C．regular exercise is effective to get rid of the side effect of sitting too much. |
| D．you had better not sit for more than four hours in a single bout. |
| A．It results in a higher death risk. |
| B．It increases glucose and fat in the body. |
| C．It makes a person unable to exercise long enough in a day. |
| D．It causes the gene to fail to balance the glucose and fat in the body. |
| A．sending your friends e-mails |
| B．having a walk around your office |
| C．chatting online or playing computer games |
| D．listening to music with your head on the desk. |
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