Credit cards let people buy things now and pay for them over months or even years.But some people get deep into debt：Some banks have terms and charges that can make it harder for people to pay off that debt.In the United States，there are calls for stronger government supervision of the credit card industry.They_offer_economic_power_at_a_price.In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.
Critics say banks made it too easy to get credit cards.But that may be changing.The crisis in the housing and credit they call markets is beginning to affect the credit card industry.More payments are late.Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.But late payments can also signal bad debts.
The central bank，the Federal Reserve，says two­thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.
Some lawmakers are concerned that cardholders do not have enough protections from what abusive policies.These include actions like raising interest rates because of an unrelated event.Also，banks may raise the chances of a late payment by changing monthly payment dates for credit cards.
According to a survey,82% of Americans think credit cards provide a valuable service.But a majority,58%，say they do not trust credit card companies.And three out of four think the government should regulate the industry more closely.Three out of four people feel there is always some condition that makes a card less appealing than the company made in scared.And a little more than half say they have had a card that was not as good as they expected.But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.
【小題1】What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．We can enjoy more convenience using credit cards.
B．Credit cards can improve our buying power.
C．We can buy things at lower prices using credit cards.
D．Credit cards bring more card debt as well as convenience.
【小題2】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?
A．Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards.
B．Some people’s credit limits have been reduced.
C．It is more difficult to borrow money from some banks.
D．Banks are receiving more charges from late payments.
【小題3】What can we know from the text?
A．Banks actually prefer to see more late payment.
B．People should be more careful when applying for a credit card.
C．The US government provides better protection for cardholders.
D．The majority of Americans don’t think much of credit cards.
【小題4】What is the main idea of the last paragraph?
A．Credit cards are still very well received in America.
B．Credit cards don’t live up to some people’s expectations.
C．Many people don’t believe in credit card companies.
D．The results of a survey about credit cards in Americans.


【小題1】D
【小題2】A
【小題3】B
【小題4】D

解析【小題1】　D
解析　根據(jù)下文“In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.”可知，信用卡在給人們帶來方便的同時也會帶來更多的信用卡債務(wù)。
【小題2】　A
解析　B選項由第三段最后一句“Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.”可知；C選項由第三段中的“two­thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.”可知；D選項由第二段倒數(shù)第二句“Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.”可知；A項在文中未提及。
【小題3】　B
解析　整篇文章講的是信用卡的一些負面問題，而且由文章最后一句“But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.”4可以推斷出，人們在申請信用卡時應(yīng)該小心。
【小題4】　D
解析　這一段的開頭提到了According to a survey“根據(jù)一項調(diào)查”。下面列舉了幾個數(shù)字及相關(guān)信息，因此我們可以總結(jié)出最后一段寫的是關(guān)于美國信用卡調(diào)查的結(jié)果。

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

It’s great fun to explore new places—it feels like an adventure，even when you know you’re not the first to have been there. But make sure not to get lost or waste time going round in circles.
　　● Do the map reading if you’re being driven somewhere. It’ll be easier if you keep turning the map so it follows the direction you’re traveling in. Keep looking ahead so that you can give the driver lots of warning before having to make a turn or you’ll have to move to the back seat.
　　● Get a group of friends together and go exploring. You'll need a good map, a compass , a raincoat, a cell phone to call for help in case you get lost, and a bit of spare cash for emergencies . Tell someone where you’re going before you set out and let them know what time you expect to be back. The test is in not getting lost, not in seeing how fast you can go, so always stick together, waiting for slower friends to catch up.
　　● See if your school or a club organizes orienteering activities, in which you need a map and a compass to find your way. This can be done as a sport, with teams trying to find the way from A to B (and B to C, etc.)in the fastest time, or simply as a spare-time activity. Either way, it’s not only good fun, but a great way to keep fit.
【小題1】Sitting beside the driver, you should___________.

A．direct the driver when necessary
B．look ahead to see where there’s a turn
C．move to the back seat if feeling uncomfortable
D．keep looking at the map to find a place to go to
【小題2】Why do you need to tell someone your exploration plan before setting out?
A．To get information when in danger.
B．To be saved in case of an accident.
C．To share the fun with him/her in exploration.
D．To tell him/her what’s going on with the group members.
【小題3】Orienteering activities can______________.
A．make people work fast
B．help people stay healthy
C．help people organize other activities
D．make people get prepared for sports
【小題4】The text mainly talks about____________.
A．the fun of exploration
B．what to bring for exploration
C．the way to use a map in exploration
D．how to prevent getting lost in exploration

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Usually, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of current answers. That question is “What’s your name?” Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.
Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
People’s first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪)；someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter  —a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the MacDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
【小題1】Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?

A．Places where people lived. B．People’s characters. 
C．Talents that people possessed. D．People’s occupations. 
【小題2】 According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______.
A．owned or drove a cart B．made things with metals 
C．made kitchen tools or contains D．built houses and furniture 
【小題3】 Suppose and English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named _______.
A．Beatrice Smith B．Leonard Carter 
C．George Longstreet D．Donald Greenwood 
【小題4】 The underlined word “descendants” in the last paragraph means a person’s _____
A．later generations B．friends and relatives 
C．colleagues and partners D．later sponsors 

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Alex Taw，a 21­year­old student from Wiltshire，England.He spent last summer like any other high school graduate—hanging out with friends，preparing for college，worrying about his university fees.While most of his peers gave up on their pipe dreams，he sat down with a notebook at home，and jotted down (草草記下) the question：How can I become a millionaire?
The result was the MillionDollarHomepage.com.Alex’s initial investment was 50 pounds to buy web space and a domain (領(lǐng)域) name.He divided the blank homepage into one million pixels (電腦上的像點)，10,000 blocks of 100 pixels each.Each pixel was worth $1 with minimum purchase 100 pixels.Within a month Alex had earned some $37,000，enough for him to cover the entire cost of his forthcoming three years at university.In just a few months，he became a real millionaire.
How did he come up with the idea of the Million Dollar Homepage?
“Well，I was trying to think of a way to make some money before I started university，as I was about to take on a huge debt and I was already overdrawn (透支)．Swift action was necessary！”He said.
He also added，“The important thing is that anything is possible—we are only limited by our imagination.I always had this belief that a good idea can be successful on its own.I think I’ve learnt that if we think deeper there are magical solutions hiding away for us to find.”
His personal philosophy around money is：Money is not everything，but it’s an essential part of the way we live.Having_some_removes_a_certain_amount_of_stress，but，unless_we_are_careful，it_can_create_a_new_type_of_stress.
He also said，“I still want to go to university.Aside from gaining knowledge about business，there are other reasons—exploring your interests，meeting new people，and being in a creative environment.”
Besides making contributions to society，he would try to encourage and inspire people to think of creative solutions to problems，whatever they are.
【小題1】According to the passage，which of the following is NOT an important factor for being a millionaire?

A．Large imagination. B．Quick action. 
C．Great ambition. D．Great investment. 
【小題2】Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．Alex Taw is an American millionaire. 
B．Alex Taw will graduate from university. 
C．Alex Taw doesn’t work hard. 
D．Alex Taw was not rich before. 
【小題3】What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 6 mean?
A．The more money we have，the more stress we have. 
B．Money can be of great help. 
C．We should try our best to earn money. 
D．Money is helpful in some way，but we should make full use of it. 
【小題4】What would be the best title for the passage?
A．Little Money Leads to Be a Millionaire 
B．The Success Road to Be a Millionaire 
C．Alex Taw：An Millionaire Boy 
D．The MillionDollarHomepage.com 

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

A woman from Japan was telling a friend about her trip to the United States.The woman had visited major businesses and investment companies in New York City and Chicago.
“I studied English before I left home，”she said.“But I still was not sure that people were speaking English.”
Her problem is easy to understand.Americans in business are like people who are in business anywhere.They have a language of their own.Some of the words and expressions deal with the special areas of their work.Other expressions are borrowed from different kinds of work such as the theater and movie industry.
One such saying is “get your act together”．
When things go wrong in a business，an employer may get angry.He may shout，“Stop making mistakes.Get your act together.”
Or，if the employer is calmer，he may say，“Let us get our act together.”
Either way，the meaning is the same.Getting your act together is getting organized.In business，it usually means to develop a calm and orderly plan of action.
It is difficult to tell exactly where the saying began.But，it is probable that it was in the theater or movie industry.Perhaps one of the actors was nervous and made a lot of mistakes.The director may have said，“Calm down，now.Get your act together.”
Word expert James Rogers says the expression was common by the late 1970s.Mister Rogers says the Manchester Guardian newspaper used it in 1978.The newspaper said a reform policy required that the British government get its act together.
Now，this expression is heard often when officials of a company meet.One company even called its yearly report，“Getting Our Act Together.”
The Japanese visitor was confused by another expression used by American business people.It is cut to the chase.
She heard that expression when she attended an important meeting of one company.One official was giving a very long report.It was not very interesting.In fact，some people at the meeting were falling asleep.
Finally，the president of the company said，“Cut to the chase.”
Cut to the chase means to stop spending so much time on details or unimportant material.Hurry and get to the good part.
Naturally，this saying was started by people who make movies.Hollywood movie producers believe that most Americans want to see action movies.Many of their movies show scenes in which the actors chase each other in cars，or in airplanes or on foot.
Cut is the director’s word for stop.The director means to stop filming，leave out some material，and get to the chase scene now.
So，if your employer tells you to cut to the chase，be sure to get to the main point of your story quickly.
【小題1】After the woman visited the United States she might feel that ________.

A．her English was poor
B．it’s easy to master English
C．it’s difficult to make money
D．people there weren’t very friendly
【小題2】In which situation could the words “get your act together” be used?
A．A task is completed successfully.
B．Players perform badly in a match.
C．Audience is satisfied with the actor’s performance in a movie.
D．Visitors make a tiresome and unpleasant trip to someplace.
【小題3】According to the text，the expression “get one’s act together” ________.
A．was first used by a Japanese businesswoman
B．was forbidden to be used in the government policy
C．originally came from a yearly report of a company
D．was commonly read by readers in a newspaper in 1978
【小題4】What do the sayings “get your act together” and “cut to the chase” have in common?
A．Their use. B．Their meaning.
C．Their origin. D．Their popularity.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

When it comes to social behaviour，mammals are in a league of their own.Some birds may form pairs，or even cooperate to hunt，but the complexity (復(fù)雜性) of their relationships can hardly compare to those within a school of dolphins，a herd of elephants or a group of humans.What makes mammalian social groups different from a flock of starlings or a shoal of fish，is that in many cases the individuals could recognize each other.Although we may think that  all elephants look pretty much the same，we can easily tell individuals of our own species apart and it has become clear through studies that the same is true of other species.Dolphins have their own signature whistles that act like “names”，and elephants can recognize and greet other individuals they have known but not seen for many years.This is something that only a few species of birds appear to be able to do.
Mammals in complex social groups not only recognize each other as individuals，but also they remember a lot of information about that individual.Social groups often rely on this memory—such as knowing who is dominant to whom，who is related to whom，and who has done what to whom in the past.It’s like remembering who you have lent money to or done a favour for，and who hasn’t repaid that money or has talked about you behind your back.You have to learn who to trust，who your friends are，and who to watch out for.
All this remembering goes on in a particular part of the brain called the neocortex (大腦皮層)．If you compare the size of a mammal’s social group with the size of this part of the brain，you will find they are remarkably closely related.This area seems to take a long time to develop fully and animals in which it is very large take a very  long time to grow up to adulthood.During this time，the youngster has to learn all the rules of social behaviour in their group and to piece together all  the relationships between the group members：Knowledge that will be needed to avoid getting into trouble.
【小題1】What is special about a mammalian social group according to the passage?

A．All the individuals cooperate to hunt.
B．The individuals can communicate with each other.
C．The individuals can recognize each other.
D．The individuals form closer relationship.
【小題2】The passage suggests that elephants________.
A．a(chǎn)re cleverer than dolphins
B．can recognize other species
C．may mistake a member for another
D．have good memories
【小題3】Animals whose area of the neocortex is large________.
A．will have a long period of time before they become adults
B．will spend a shorter time learning the necessary knowledge
C．will learn the necessary knowledge much more easily
D．will have more difficulty in growing up as adults
【小題4】If the neocortex is larger，the animals________.
A．can live a longer life
B．have a smaller social group
C．have a larger social group
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Don’t you just love ice skating every winter？I am sure，that since winter is approaching，your skates are set to come out，just waiting to be used.Impress your friends with your new trick on how to ice­skate backwards with the help of these tips.Skating backwards on ice is a bit difficult but once you master the basic，there’s nothing like it.Follow the steps given below and you will be able to skate backwards in no time.
Stand Straight
The first thing that you need to do is，stand straight.If you feel that you are falling backwards，then just put your chin(下巴) up and slightly bend your knees.Don’t worry；this happens to all.
Confidence Is What You Need
The most important step while learning how to skate backwards，is having enough confidence in yourself and in what you are doing.How can you achieve this？By practice.Just practice rolling backwards down a gentle slop every single day or just by pushing off from a wall or something of that sort.But before you do that，make sure that the place where you are practicing is free from any kind of debris(碎片) because otherwise，you could land up in the hospital due to some accident.While going backwards，just get used to the feeling of moving backwards.One of the important ice skating tips and techniques is that if you feel that you are losing your balance，then scissor(做剪式運動) your skates.Keep practicing this till you are confident about it.
Maintain Speed
Confident now？Great！Now the next step is to maintain your speed.While rolling in a straight line with one skate，with the other try sculling(劃槳)，that is，keep pushing yourself backwards with an outwards stroke(滑動)．Now bring the skate which you were using to scull，and then again，repeat the same process.Make sure that you put most of your weight on the skate which is moving straight and not the one with which you are sculling.Now，try the same thing using the other foot.Again keep doing this till you are confident enough.
Increase Your Speed Now
Once you are confident that you can scull with either foot，the next thing that you have to do is increase your speed.Try some of your own tricks now.Scull with either foot or with both at the same time.
Scull and Be Aware
While you keep one foot straight，keep sculling with the other.You can do that simultaneously with both feet.Concentrate on what you are doing but don’t get so involved，that you don’t see where you are going.If you are not watching your back，you might just bang against something or someone.
【小題1】According to the text confidence comes from ______.

A．high speed B．strict coaches 
C．constant exercise D．good techniques 
【小題2】Which is the right order of ice­skating backwards?
a．Increasing your speed.
b．Being able to scull with one foot.
c．Being about to stand straight.
d．Trying some different tricks.
A．c→a→d→b B．c→b→d→a 
C．a(chǎn)→c→b→d D．c→b→a→d 
【小題3】In order to keep balance when skating backwards you should ________.
A．skate in a scissor gesture 
B．use both your feet to scull 
C．skate forward first and then backward 
D．put most of your weight on the skate with which you are sculling 
【小題4】The purpose of the text is ________.
A．to compare different ways of ice­skating backwards 
B．to introduce the culture of ice­skating backwards 
C．to explain advantages of ice­skating backwards 
D．to offer some advice on ice­skating backwards 

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

The Swiss army knife is a popular device that is recognized all over the world. In Switzerland, there is a saying that every good Swiss citizen has one in his or her pocket. But the knife had poor beginnings.
In the late nineteenth century, the Swiss army issued（發(fā)給） its soldiers a gun that required a special screwdriver（螺絲刀） to take it apart and clean it. At the same time, canned food was becoming common in the army. Swiss generals decided to issue each soldier a standard knife to serve both as a screwdriver and a can opener.
It was a lifesaver for Swiss knife makers, who were struggling to compete with cheaper German imports. In 1884, Carl Elsener, head of the Swiss knife manufacturer（maker） Victorinox, seized that opportunity with both hands, and designed a soldier's knife that the army loved. It was a simple knife with one big blade(刀片), a can opener, and a screwdriver.
A few years after the soldier's knife was issued, the "Schweizer Offizier Messer," or Swiss Officer's Knife, came on the market. Interestingly, the Officer's Knife was never given to those serving in the army. The Swiss army purchasers considered the new model with a corkscrew（瓶塞鉆） for opening wine not "essential for survival," so officers had to buy this new model by themselves. But its special multi-functional design later launched(發(fā)行) the knife as a global brand. After the Second World War, a great number of American soldiers were stationed in Europe. And as they could buy the Swiss army knife at shops on army bases, they bought huge quantities of them. However, it seems that "Schweizer Offizier Messer" was too difficult for them to say, so they just called it the Swiss army knife, and that is the name it is now known by all over the world.
【小題1】What is the main purpose of the passage­?

A．To explain the origin of the Swiss army knife.
B．To introduce the functions of the Swiss army knife.
C．To emphasize the importance of the Swiss army knife.
D．To tell a story about the designer of the Swiss army knife.
【小題2】What does "It" in the third paragraph refer to­?
A．The Swiss army needed a knife for every soldier.
B．Every good Swiss citizen had a knife in his pocket.
C．Swiss knives were competing with imported knives.
D．Canned food was becoming popular in the Swiss army.
【小題3】Why didn't the Swiss army purchase the Swiss Officer's Knife­?
A．The design of the knife was too simple.
B．The knife was sold out to American soldiers.
C．The army had no budget to make the purchase.
D．The new design was not considered necessary for officers to own.
【小題4】Who gave the name "the Swiss army knife" to the knife discussed in the passage­?
A．Carl Elsener.B．Swiss generals.
C．American soldiers.D．German businessmen.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Generic Name: ASPIRIN
Pronunciation: ['æsp?rin]
Why it is prescribed (開藥方)：
1. Aspirin relieves mild to moderate pain.
2. It reduces fever, redness, and swelling.
3. It prevents blood from clotting (凝結(jié)).
When it is to be taken:
1. Aspirin is often taken without a prescription.
2. Follow the instructions on the label and package.
3. If your doctor prescribes aspirin for you, you will receive specific instructions for how often you should take it.
4. Keep in touch with your doctor.
How it should be taken:
1. Aspirin comes in the form of suppositories (栓劑), capsules, and regular, coated, extended-release, and chewable tablets.
2. Regular, coated, and extended-release aspirin tablets and capsules should be swallowed with a full glass of water or milk after meals to avoid stomach upset.
3. Chewable aspirin tablets may be chewed, crushed, dissolved in a liquid, or swallowed whole; a full glass of water, milk, or fruit juice should be drunk immediately after taking these tablets.
Special Instruction:
1. Children should not take aspirin for fevers associated with flu or chickenpox (水痘) because such use has been linked with a serious illness known as Reye’s syndrome.
2. Adults should not take aspirin for pain for more than 10 days (five days for children) without consulting a doctor.
3. Aspirin should not be taken by adults or children for high fever, fever lasting longer than three days without a doctor’s supervision (監(jiān)管).
4. Do not give more than five doses (劑量) to a child in a 24-hour period unless directed to do so by a doctor.
5. If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and resume the prescribed schedule.
Side Effects:
1. Although side effects from aspirin are not common, they can occur.
2. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, indigestion and heartburn are common. Take aspirin after meals, with a full glass of water or milk. If these effects continue, contact your doctor.
3. Ringing in the ears, bloody or black stools (糞便), difficulty breathing, dizziness, mental confusion and sleepiness are rare. Stop taking the drug and contact your doctor.
Other Precautions:
1. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding women, inform your doctor before taking aspirin.
2. Do not take aspirin if you are within three months of delivery.
3. Do not take aspirin if you are allergic (過敏) to it.
4. If you have diabetes (糖尿病), regular use of eight or more regular strength aspirin tablets a day may affect test result.
5. If you are taking large doses of aspirin on a long-term basis, avoid having alcoholic drinks because alcohol can increase stomach problems.
6. To prevent an overdose of aspirin, read the labels before taking other pain relievers and cold products to be sure that they do not contain aspirin.
Storage Conditions:
1. Store aspirin in a cool place or in a refrigerator.
2. Throw away aspirin that smells strongly of vinegar.
3. Keep this aspirin out of the reach of children. 
【小題1】Which of the following about Aspirin is correct?

A．It only comes in the form of regular tablets.
B．It should not be taken for more than 5 days for children.
C．It can be used to reduce fever and pain and prevent blood clotting.
D．It causes ringing in the ears or difficulty breathing after being taken
【小題2】If you start taking aspirin, you should do all the following things EXCEPT ________.
A．keeping in touch with your doctor
B．taking aspirin tablets after meals to avoid stomach upset
C．drinking a full glass of juice immediately after taking chewable aspirin tablets
D．taking more than 8 regular strength aspirin a day while suffering from diabetes
【小題3】 The underlined word “resume” most probably means ________.
A．continueB．make upC．pauseD．throw away
【小題4】Which of the following might be a side effect caused by Aspirin?
A．blood clottingB．stomach upsetC．lasting fever D．sight problem
【小題5】Where can we probably come across such a text?
A．In a research paper.
B．In the package of a medicine
C．In a medical textbook.
D．In a scientific and technological magazine

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