Violin prodigies（神童）, I learned, have come in distinct waves from distinct regions. Most of the great performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were born and brought up in Russia and Eastern Europe. I asked Isaac Stern, one of the world’s greatest violinists, the reason for this phenomenon. “It’s very clear, “he told me. “They were all Jews and Jews at the time were severely oppressed and ill-treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into the professional fields, but they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage.” As a result, every Jewish parent’s dream was to have a child in the music school because it was a passport to the West.
Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values excellence in a certain field and is able to nurture (培育) talent. Nowadays the most nurturing societies seem to be in the Far East. “In Japan, a most competitive society with stronger discipline than ours,” says Isaac Stern, “children are ready to test their limits every day in many fields, including music. When Western music came to Japan after World War II, that music not only became part of their daily lives, but it became a discipline as well.” The Koreans and Chinese, as we know, are just as highly motivated as the Japanese.
That’s a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard. Next to hard work, biological inheritance plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S. Bach, for example, was the top of several generations of musicians, and four of his sons had significant careers in music.

  1. 1.

    Jewish parents in Eastern Europe longed for their children to attend music school because ______.   

    1. A.
      it would allow them access to a better life in the West
    2. B.
      Jewish children are born with excellent musical talent
    3. C.
      they wanted their children to enter into the professional fields
    4. D.
      it would enable the family to get better treatment in their own country
  2. 2.

    Nurturing societies as mentioned in the passage refer to societies that ______.

    1. A.
      enforce strong discipline on students who want to achieve excellence
    2. B.
      treasure talent and provide opportunities for its full development
    3. C.
      encourage people to compete with each other
    4. D.
      promise talented children high positions
  3. 3.

    Japan is described in the passage as a country that attaches importance to ______.

    1. A.
      all-rounded development
    2. B.
      the learning of Western music
    3. C.
      strict training of children
    4. D.
      variety in academic studies
  4. 4.

    Which of the following contributes to the emergence of musical prodigies according to the passage?

    1. A.
      A natural gift.
    2. B.
      Extensive knowledge of music.
    3. C.
      Very early training.
    4. D.
      A prejudice-free society.
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Dear Cary,
I'm writing because I've understood you've struggled with alcoholism （酗酒）.I've been fighting mine ever since I went through 9-11.After that, I've been more or less useless professionally - I'm a lawyer - and have had to resien（辭職） from my job because I was discovered passed - out drunk in front of my computer.I've taken some medicine and it has helped somewhat.I can manage about a month without drinking, but after that I end up having a crazy stage where nothing matters except drinking.After a week or so of heavy drinking,! start having nightmares of people jumping.After that, it's a week of not being able to get out of bed.
I was supposed to travel to a conference but didn't make it because I got so drunk at the airport that I fell down on my face and spent the rest of the day in the emergency room.I have been hiding from my family since then.Fortunately they won't be expecting me to come back for a week or so.Otherwise, they would notice the bump on my forehead and two black eyes.
I don't really know what I'm asking you.Cary, I need a way out that doesn't involve causing pain to my family.I'm taking medicine, but' I still have these attacks every few months.If there's alcohol in the house, I can't stay away from it.It seems that this will never end.I'm afraid of what will happen if something bad happens, like a family member dying, or getting fired again.
Thanks for reading.
Yours T

  1. 1.

    The underlined sentence shows us all the following EXCEPT _____.

    1. A.
      the reason why the author had to resign
    2. B.
      that the author was once discovered drunk as a fish
    3. C.
      that the author is a lawyer by profession
    4. D.
      that the author is a lawyer and he never gets drunk
  2. 2.

    The author writes to Cary in order to _____.

    1. A.
      ask for money
    2. B.
      ask for help
    3. C.
      offer advice
    4. D.
      tell a story
  3. 3.

    What is the author worried about?

    1. A.
      Losing his job
    2. B.
      Giving up drinking
    3. C.
      Bring pain to his family
    4. D.
      Missing the conference
  4. 4.

    We know from the passage that Cary _____.

    1. A.
      is probably a recovered alcoholic
    2. B.
      never suffered from alcoholism
    3. C.
      likes to talk about the details of his life
    4. D.
      is a doctor on treating alcoholism

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Why do people drink too much, eat too much, smoke cigarettes or take drugs? What’s to blame for all the bad behavior? Most people would say that, while these self-destructive (自我毀滅的) acts can have many root causes, they all have one obvious thing in common: they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.
According to a recent study, however, if you really think about it, something about that simple answer doesn’t quite make sense. In fact, it turns out that sometimes it’s having will power that really gets you into trouble.
Think back to the time you took your very first sip (啜飲) of beer. Disgusting, wasn’t it? When my father gave me my first taste of beer as a teenager, I wondered why anyone would voluntarily drink it. And smoking? No one enjoys their first cigarette — it tastes awful. So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation (誘惑) you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.
Just getting past those first horrible experiences actually requires a lot of self-control. Ironically (諷刺的是), only those who can control themselves well, rather than give in to them, can ever come to someday develop a “taste” for Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, or dark-roasted Starbucks coffee. We do it for social acceptance. We force ourselves to consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and even illegal drugs, in order to seem experienced, grown-up, and cool.
These bad habits aren’t self-control failures — far from it. They are voluntary choices, and they are in fact self-control successes. Self-control is simply a tool to be put to some use, helpful or harmful. To live happy and productive lives, we need to develop not only our self-control, but also the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.

  1. 1.

    What do most people think causes bad behavior?

    1. A.
      Being forced by others.
    2. B.
      Not having enough will power.
    3. C.
      Enjoying their first experiences.
    4. D.
      Following the examples of their friends.
  2. 2.

    The author mentions his experience in the third paragraph to prove ____.

    1. A.
      will power helps develop bad habits sometimes
    2. B.
      drinking beer is harmful to the health of teenagers
    3. C.
      self-control should be developed when one is young
    4. D.
      everyone can be challenged by different temptations
  3. 3.

    In the last paragraph, the author stresses that ____.

    1. A.
      without self-control, no one can succeed
    2. B.
      bad habits don’t always lead to bad results
    3. C.
      applying self-control correctly is important
    4. D.
      people can develop wisdom from bad behavior
  4. 4.

    What would be the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      My First Sip of Beer
    2. B.
      Do You Have Will Power ?
    3. C.
      Will Power Benefits Us
    4. D.
      Dark Side of Self-control

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Lawmakers in the United States have expanded an investigation into the use of location-tracking systems on mobile devices. The action follows recent reports about the storing of information on the Apple iPhone. Some people consider location tracking to be a threat to personal privacy and security.
Allan Friedman, the research director, says, “All wireless companies do some location tracking as part of their networks. This information is usually stored by the companies, not the devices, and there are laws to protect it. Law enforcement(執(zhí)法) agencies, for example, have to have a fairly high standard before it can access that data. And the phone company is also prohibited from selling that information.
Now, two researchers report that location tracking information is being stored directly on Apple devices. They said Apple’s newest operating systems gather global positioning system and timestamp information. The information is stored on the device in a file that is also uploaded (上傳) to any computer that the device is connected to. The researchers say the information is available to anyone who has access to the device or computer.
Allan Friedman says, “This raises additional concerns. There’s the idea that because it’s on my phone and on my computer, rogue applications(惡意程序) that I pay for or that I’m tricked into downloading may be able to access this data and somehow misuse it.”
Apple says it is “not tracking the location of your iPhone”. It is simply keeping a database of Wi-Fi hotspots and cell phone towers near the user’s location. This information is meant to help the iPhone quickly find its location when needed.
Letters have been sent to some of the leading mobile device developers, including Apple and Google. The letters asked for more information about their location tracking systems. Allan Friedman calls this an important start to strengthening privacy laws. He says, “There aren’t strong controls over things like location information, what they are doing with it, how long they are keeping it. And perhaps the most important question is, is my location data with other facts about me?”

  1. 1.

    Why did American lawmakers investigate the use of location-tracking systems on cell-phones?

    1. A.
      Because the systems can store users’ information
    2. B.
      Because many users have suffered loss after using them.
    3. C.
      Because it is thought to threaten users’ privacy.
    4. D.
      Because many reporters have shown the problem of the systems.
  2. 2.

    Allan Friedman believes that ________.

    1. A.
      wireless companies focus on personal privacy.
    2. B.
      people are forbidden to get access to private data at will
    3. C.
      phone companies may sell private information secretly
    4. D.
      customers may ask wireless companies to locate their tracking
  3. 3.

    What do we know from Paragraph 3?

    1. A.
      Location tracking information is stored online.
    2. B.
      Apple’s newest operating systems collect all kinds of information.
    3. C.
      Location tracking information may be uploaded to any iPhone.
    4. D.
      Apple’s newest operating systems may reveal the private information of users.
  4. 4.

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

    1. A.
      Apple denies that it tracks the location of users.
    2. B.
      The researchers may misunderstand the Apple’s systems.
    3. C.
      The global positioning system is to blame for rogue applications.
    4. D.
      The iPhone can quickly find its location by using its user’s information.

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

I passed all the other courses that I took at my university, but I could have never passed botany. This was because all botany students had to spend several hours a week in a laboratory looking through a microscope at plant cells, and I could never once see a cell through a microscope. This used to make my professor angry. He would wander around the laboratory pleased with the progress all the students were making in drawing the structure of flower cells, until he came to me. I would just be standing there. “I can’t see anything,”I would say. He would begin patiently enough, explaining how anybody can see through a microscope, but he would always end up angrily, claiming that I could too see through a microscope but just pretended that I couldn’t. “It takes away from the beauty of flowers anyway.”I used to tell him.“We are not concerned with beauty in this course,”he would say.“We are concerned with the structure of flowers.” “Well,” I’d say.“I can’t see anything.” “Try it just once again,” he’d say, and I would put my eye to the microscope and see nothing at all, except now and again something unclear and milky. “You were supposed to see a clear, moving plant cells shaped like clocks.” “I see what looks like a lot of milk.” I would tell him. This, he claimed, was the result of my not having adjusted the microscope properly, so he would readjust it for me, or rather, for himself. And I would look again and see milk.
I failed to pass botany that year, and had to wait a year and try again, or I couldn’t graduate. The next term the same professor was eager to explain cell-structure again to his classes. “Well,”he said to me, happily, “we’re going to see cells this time, aren’t we?” “Yes,sir,” I said. Students to the right of me and to the left of me and in front of me were seeing cells; what’s more, they were . Of course, I didn’t see anything.
So the professor and I tried with every adjustment of the microscope known to man. With only once did I see anything but blackness or the familiar milk, and that time I saw, to my pleasure and amazement, something like stars. These I hurriedly drew. The professor, noting my activity, came to me, a smile on his lips and his eyebrows high in hope. He looked at my cell drawing. “What’s that?”he asked.“That’s what I saw,”I said.“You didn’t, you didn’t, you didn’t!”he screamed, losing control of himself immediately, and he bent over and looked into the microscope. He raised his head suddenly. “That’s your eye!”he shouted.“You’ve adjusted the microscope so that it reflects!You’re drawn your eye!”

  1. 1.

    Why couldn’t the writer see the flower cells through the microscope?     .

    1. A.
      Because he had poor eyesight
    2. B.
      Because the microscope didn’t work properly
    3. C.
      Because he was not able to adjust the microscope properly
    4. D.
      Because he was just playing jokes on his professor by pretending not to have seen it
  2. 2.

    What does the writer mean by “his eyebrows high in hope”in the last paragraph?

    1. A.
      His professor expected him to have seen the cells and drawn the picture of them
    2. B.
      His professor hoped he could perform his task with attention
    3. C.
      His professor wished him to learn how to draw pictures
    4. D.
      His professor looked forward to seeing all his students finish their drawings
  3. 3.

    What is the thing like stars that the writer saw in the last paragraph?

    1. A.
      Real stars
    2. B.
      His own eye
    3. C.
      Something unknown
    4. D.
      Milk
  4. 4.

    In what writing style did the writer write the passage?

    1. A.
      Realistic
    2. B.
      Romantic
    3. C.
      Serious
    4. D.
      Humorous

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：單選題

It is recommended that the project ________ until all the preparations have been made


  1. A.
    is not started
  2. B.
    will not be started
  3. C.
    not be started
  4. D.
    is not to be started

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

An American man from Las Vegas opened a dog and cat hotel recently. Pats can rest on soft rugs(小地毯), watch television and get to know some new friends while their masters have fun in the city
The American Dog and Cat Hotel opened officially on a Wednesday in March. There is everything a pet could want --- and more.
“We hear time and time again. ‘This is so nice, I’d like to stay here.’ ” the hotel manager said in an interview. He believed that people would want for their pets what they wanted for themselves.
Kennels(狗舍) have been around for a long time, but nowadays masters want to put their loved pets in some better places, he added.
He said the cats and dogs like to watch images(圖像) on TV although they may not understand them. Anyway, they don’t have to know Britney Spears or Emimem to enjoy the pop music. Also, “The dogs don’t know it is a rug, but they know it is soft,” he said.
Pet masters can book a dog suite(套房) for $79 a night. Baths and other services are also offered.
The pet hotel manager believes that all the animal lovers in the world will love this great idea.

  1. 1.

    By “--- and more” in the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph the writer means that ______.

    1. A.
      there’re also things for the pet masters
    2. B.
      some of the things are unnecessary
    3. C.
      there’re things a pet cannot fully enjoy
    4. D.
      all the things are plenty in amount
  2. 2.

    In the pet masters’ opinion, the kennels are _____.

    1. A.
      not good enough                
    2. B.
      too old to live in
    3. C.
      just an equal choice              
    4. D.
      no longer in existence
  3. 3.

    The 5th paragraph suggests that ______.

    1. A.
      some pets know some pop stars
    2. B.
      “rug” is a difficult word for a pet to learn
    3. C.
      pets enjoy things the same way humans do
    4. D.
      pets enjoy things at a sensational level

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解

Are you tired of looking for love in all the usual places? Nowadays, millions of lonely singles are now going online instead. The World Wide Web is quickly becoming the world’s most popular matchmaker. With so many singles online, dozens of dating sites like Yahoo Personals and Match.com are helping singles find that special someone. Around the world , from America to China , love is now very much online.
Singles are flocking to the Internet mainly because their busy lifestyles leave them little time to look for a significant other. Using dating sites is quick and convenient They can “meet ”a lot more people online than they could by hanging out at a club. Besides , many singles say the regular dating scene has just led them from one bad experience to another and are ready to try something else . They also appreciate the first distance of online dating, which allows them to hide themselves until they are ready to meet someone face to face. Dating sites also make it easy to avoid someone you are not interested in. In the real world , however , ignoring someone you don’t like can be awkward.
Despite all the advantages , online dating also presents its own set of problems . People aren’t always who they claim to be in their online profiles. For instance , someone who tells you he is “ handsome , successful and single ” might turn out to be homely, unemployed and married . Safety is another concern . You are just as likely to find a criminal online as you are Mr. or Miss Right.
Even so , Supporters of online dating see things in a positive way. In their opinion , singles can safely play the online dating game with a little common sense. Online dating experts recommend following a few safety tips:
Guard your personal information. Never give out your personal information online. This includes your last name, phone number, home address and place of work.
Watch for red flags.  Do any of the people you are chatting with make disrespectful comments ? Do they try to control you ? Do they give false information about themselves? If so , forget them!
Meet in a safe place. when meeting someone in person , choose a public location with other people around .
Following these tips and you might be able to find the person of your dreams.

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, many lonely singles don’t appreciate the regular dating scene because it is _______.

    1. A.
      unpopular      
    2. B.
      troublesome      
    3. C.
      convenient   
    4. D.
      forgettable
  2. 2.

    This passage is mainly about _______.

    1. A.
      getting tired of falling in love in a usual way
    2. B.
      people with false information on the Internet
    3. C.
      new technology to find love through the Internet
    4. D.
      web sites such as Yahoo Personals and Match.com
  3. 3.

    The underlined words in the second paragraph “a significant other” means“_____”.

    1. A.
      a true friend                 
    2. B.
      a matchmaker
    3. C.
      a marriage partner          
    4. D.
      a happy family
  4. 4.

    Which of the following is NOT a suitable place for meeting someone you get to know through the Internet for the first time according to the text?

    1. A.
      At his / her house                     
    2. B.
      At the museum
    3. C.
      At McDonald’s                         
    4. D.
      At the bookstore
  5. 5.

    From this passage , we can infer that ________.

    1. A.
      there are mostly homely and unemployed people online
    2. B.
      the police had better find criminals online
    3. C.
      we can find love only through the dating sites
    4. D.
      following safety tips ensures a safe online dating experience

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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：單選題

When she ____________ the car door, she realized she had left the key in her bedroom.


  1. A.
    opened
  2. B.
    was to open
  3. C.
    will open
  4. D.
    had opened

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