Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March, 1853---29 July, 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. He is considered one of the greatest artists with great influence on the greatest artists with great influence on the 20th-century art.
Van Gogh spent his early adult life working for a firm of art dealers. After a brief period as a teacher, he became a missionary (傳教士) in a very poor mining region. He did not begin his career as an artist until 1880; however, during the last ten years of his life, he produced more than 2,000 pieces, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawing and sketches (素描). He worked only with somber colours until he met Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism in Paris. Van Gogh used their bright colours and style of painting in a uniquely recognizable style. Most of his best-known works were produced during his final two years, when he was suffering from serious mental illness.
In 1890, at the age of 37, van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died two days later, with Theo, his brother and his best friend, at his side, who reported his last words as “The sadness will last forever”. It would not take long before his fame grew higher and higher.
Van Gogh’s mother threw away quite a number of his paintings. The only painting he sold during his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, was created in 1888. It is now on display in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia. Several paintings by van Gogh rank among the most expensive paintings in the world. On March 30, 1987 van Gogh’s painting Irises was sold for a record of $53.9 million at Southby’s, New York. On May 15, 1990 his Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold for $83.5 million at Christie’s, thus setting a new price record.
小題1:When did van Gogh begin his career as an artist?

A．At the age of 17.

B．At the age of 27.

C．In his early adult adult life.

D．In his early childhood.

小題2:The underlined word “somber” in Para. 2 means         .

A．colourful

B．different

C．dark

D．bright

小題3:What’s the right order of van Gogh’s life experience?
a. worked as a teacher
b. took up drawing
c. worked in an art firm
d. worked as a missionary

A．c, a, b, d

B．c, a, d, b

C．b, c, a, d

D．b, a, c, d

小題4:Which of the following can best describe van Gogh’s final two years?

A．Sand and boring.	B．Normal and peaceful.
C．Happy but fruitless.	D．Painful but productive.

小題5:What can we learn from the passage?

A．Van Gogh didn’t become famous until he dies.

B．Van Gogh sold many paintings in his life.

C．Van Gogh had become famous as an artist when he was alive.

D．Irises was the most expensive among van Gogh’s paintings.

“Hi, Mommy, what are you doing?” asked Susie, who was only six years old. “I’m making a casserole(燉鍋菜) for Mrs. Smith next door, __36__ Mrs. Smith is very sad. She lost her daughter and has a __37__ heart. We need to take care of her a little while.” Said her mother. “ Why, Mommy?” 
“You see, Susie, when someone is very, very sad, they have __38__ doing the little things like making dinner or other housework. Because we’re __39__ of a community and Mrs. Smith won’t ever be able to talk with her daughter or hug(擁抱) her. You are a very __40__ girl, Susie; maybe you’ll think of __41__ way to help take care of Mrs. Smith.”
Susie thought __42__ about this challenge and how she could do her __43__ on caring for Mrs. Smith. A few minutes later, Susie knocked on her door. After a few moments, Mrs. Smith __44__ the knock with a “Hi, Susie.”
Susie noticed that Mrs. Smith didn’t have that familiar musical __45__ about her voice when she __46__ someone.
“What can I do for you, Susie?” asked Mrs. Smith.
“My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart.” Susie __47__ her hand out shyly. In it was a Band-Aid. “This is for your broken heart.” Mrs. Smith knelt down and hugged Susie. Through her __48__ she said, “Thank you, darling girl, this will __49__ a lot.”
Mrs. Smith __50__ Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step __51__. She bought a small key ring with a picture frame(框架) ---- the ones __52__ to carry keys and display a family __53__ at the same time. Mrs. Smith placed Susie’s Band-Aid in the frame to __54__ her to heal a little every time she sees it. It has become her symbol(象征) for healing, while not __55__ the joy and love she experienced with her daughter.

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)lthough B．because C．when D．so

小題2:	A．broken B．a(chǎn)bsent C．sick D．gentle

小題3:	A．trouble B．time C．interest D．danger

小題4:	A．owners B．whole C．part D．relatives

小題5:	A．naughty B．little C．pretty D．smart

小題6:	A．the other B．the very C．our D．some

小題7:	A．seriously B．deeply C．much D．little

小題8:	A．job B．work C．part D．deed

小題9:	A．replied B．a(chǎn)nswered to C．greeted D．responded

小題10:

A．sound B．quality C．gift D．note

小題11:

A．praised B．helped C．greeted D．saw

小題12:

A．gave B．set C．took D．held

小題13:

A．tears B．sadness C．excitement D．glasses

小題14:

A．do B．care C．mean D．help

小題15:

A．refused B．a(chǎn)ccepted C．received D．took

小題16:

A．more B．forward C．further D．a(chǎn)head

小題17:

A．made B．bought C．invented D．designed

小題18:

A．photo B．scene C．gathering D．life

小題19:

A．force B．remind C．get D．a(chǎn)dvise

小題20:

A．forgetting B．missing C．losing D．remembering

My 8-year-old son, Kevin, has made friends with some boys in the neighborhood. He has been  36 with them after school. My wife，Qugen, and I are __37__ he has other kids to be with and we have __38__ and encouraged him to play with his friends. We also want Kevin to learn __39__，so we have asked him to tell us __40__ he's going and to come home at a specified time.
The __41__ started when Kevin didn't come home on time. On one occasion，I asked Kevin to be back at 6 pm. By 6：30，I needed to go __42__ him. I found him at a friend's house，and he looked __43__ that he couldn't continue playing. After we came home，I sat Kevin down for a talk about the __44__ of keeping his word. I told him I was not worried about him arriving a few __45__ late，but after half an hour，I’m going to be  46 . He told me he understood.
The next day，I came home from work at about 6:30 p.m. and Qugen asked me to go and get Kevin  __47__ she said he should be back home at 6. I walked to his friend's house and a look of __48__ appeared on Kevin's face when he came to the door.
At __49__，Qugen and I spoke to Kevin about why he didn't come home on time again. He said he just wanted to _ 50__ playing. This was __51__，so Qugen and I decided to ground(罰不準(zhǔn)出門)him for a week. This __52_ no playing with his friends.
For the next week，whenever his friends came to ask for Kevin，we let him _53__ to them that he was grounded. We felt this would help him be responsible for his __54__.
As a __55__，I believe one of the most important things we can teach our kids is self-responsibility and that actions have consequences.

小題1:	A．studying B．playing C．chatting D．quarreling

小題2:	A．glad B．lucky C．worried D．sure

小題3:	A．made B．a(chǎn)llowed C．trained D．forced

小題4:	A．a(chǎn)musements B．communication C．honesty D．responsibility

小題5:	A．when B．why C．where D．whenever

小題6:	A．changes B．conflicts C．worries D．problems

小題7:	A．looking for B．picking up C．waiting for D．calling up

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)ngry B．nervous C．disappointed D．a(chǎn)shamed

小題9:	A．quality B．importance C．stories D．ways

小題10:

A．hours B．minutes C．days D．times

小題11:

A．satisfied B．shocked C．surprised D．concerned

小題12:

A．if B．unless C．because D．so

小題13:

A．guilt B．disappointment C．excitement D．hatred

小題14:

A．home B．school C．work D．office

小題15:

A．finish B．keep C．learn D．stop

小題16:

A．impossible B．impolite C．unacceptable D．unbelievable

小題17:

A．meant B．suggested C．showed D．implied

小題18:

A．reply B．a(chǎn)pologize C．tell D．explain

小題19:

A．decisions B．words C．a(chǎn)ctions D．friends

小題20:

A．teacher B．parent C．writer D．professor

Australia has passed regulations that will enable more international students to further their education in the country.
The new measures were released by the Australian Department of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in September and will take effect in mid-2012.
As a result, the student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified, and the deposit (押金) required to study in Australia has been reduced. Language requirements for overseas students have also been eased.
Also, overseas students receiving a higher education in Australia will be granted a working visa lasting from two to four years after graduation, as long as they meet the basic IELTS requirement.
"This change will definitely make Australia a more attractive destination for Chinese students planning to study overseas," says Wang Lan , a consultant from Education International Cooperation Group (EIC), a Beijing-based company that provides services to students wishing to study overseas.
However, in the past few years, many of Wang's student clients (客戶) could not start studies in Australia because they did not meet the language requirements, visa processing took a long time and deposit regulations were tough. The change in policy is good news for the parents of students wishing to study in Australia, Wang says.
A 22-year-old female student surnamed Li, in Beijing, who is planning to do her  postgraduate studies in Australia, learned about the policy change several weeks ago.
"According to the previous deposit requirement for my student visa, my family was required to put down 550,000 Yuan ($86,850). Now we only need to prepare 410,000 Yuan. This is a relief for my parents," Li says.
She also says that the two to four years working visa makes her feel much clearer about her study plans.
"I believe several years of working experience abroad will strengthen my competitiveness when I return to China," she says.
Gaining a competitive advantage is the major reason for Chinese students to study abroad, according to the report by EIC.
小題1:What's the main idea of the passage? 

A．Language requirement for overseas students have been eased in Australia.

B．Australia is a most attractive place for students in China.

C．Australia widens window of opportunity for international students.

D．More students will work in Australia after their graduation.

小題2:Which of the following is NOT the content of the new regulations? 

A．The student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified.

B．The deposit required to study in Australia has been reduced.

C．Language requirements for overseas students have been more difficult.

D．After graduation, some overseas students can get a working visa in Australia.

小題3:After the new regulations are passed, _______ . 

A．more students will come to Australia to work

B．more Chinese students will choose to live in Australia.

C．the opportunities to work in Australia decrease for overseas students

D．more Chinese students will choose to further their education in Australia

小題4:How much can Li's parents save according to the new regulations? 

A．550,000 yuan	B．140,000 yuan
C．410,000 yuan	D．86,850 yuan

小題5:Why do many students want to work in Australia after their graduation? 

A．The working experience abroad will strengthen their competitiveness.

B．They can earn more money in Australia.

C．Their working experience can make them stay in Australia forever.

D．They have to do so according to the new regulations.

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes---khaki pants and sports shirt---to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
小題1:David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because_______.

A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance

C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

小題2:David Smith wears casual clothes now, because________

A．they make him feel at ease when working

B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C．he looks handsome in casual clothes

D．he no longer works for any company

小題3:According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.

B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive

C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees

D．All the employers in the U.S are for casual office wear.

小題4:In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT_______.

A．saving employees’ money

B．making employees more attractive

C．improving employees’ motivation

D．making employees happier

Learning to Accept
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. 21_,he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy,but rather when he was 22  and ill.
My father was 23 a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness 24 all that away.Now he can no longer walk and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is  25 . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started 26  about life,and I told them about one of my  27 . I said that we must very often give things up 28 we grow—our youth, our beauty, our friends---but it always 29  that after we give something up,we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father  30 up. He said, “But, Peter,I gave up 31 ! What did I gain?” I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say.  32 , he answered his own question: “I 33 the love of my family.” I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes,along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also  34 by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated(惱怒的)at someone, I  35 remember his words and become 36 . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be  37 to give up my small irritations. In this  38  ,I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I 39 what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one 40 .

小題1:	A．Afterwards B．Therefore C．However D．Meanwhile

小題2:	A．tired B．weak C．poor D．slowly

小題3:	A．a(chǎn)lready B．still C．only D．once

小題4:	A．took B．threw C．sent D．put

小題5:	A．impossible B．difficult C．stressful D．hopeless

小題6:	A．worrying B．caring C．talking D．a(chǎn)sking

小題7:	A．decisions B．experiences C．a(chǎn)mbitions D．beliefs

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)s B．since C．before D．till

小題9:	A．suggests B．promises C．seems D．requires

小題10:

A．spoke B．turned C．summed D．opened

小題11:

A．something B．a(chǎn)nything C．nothing D．everything

小題12:

A．Surprisingly B．Immediately C．Naturally D．Certainly

小題13:

A．had B．a(chǎn)ccepted C．gained D．enjoyed

小題14:

A．touched B．a(chǎn)stonished C．a(chǎn)ttracted D．warned

小題15:

A．should B．could C．would D．might

小題16:

A．quiet B．calm C．relaxed D．happy

小題17:

A．ready B．likely C．free D．a(chǎn)ble

小題18:

A．case B．form C．method D．way

小題19:

A．doubt B．wonder C．know D．guess

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)ward B．gift C．lesson D．word

Anne and Joseph are talking about an interesting question. Why do some people change their names? There can be many reasons. Hanna changed her name to Anne because she thought it would be easier for people to remember. On the other hand, Joseph is thinking about changing his name to an unusual name because he wants to be different.
People have a lot of reasons for changing their names. Film stars, singers, sportsmen and some other famous people often change their names because they want names that are not ordinary, or that have special sound. They chose the “new name” for themselves instead of the name their parents gave them when they were born.
Some people have another reason for changing their names. They have moved to a new country and want to use a name that is usual there. For example, Li Kaiming changed his name to Ken Lee when he moved to the United States. He uses the name Ken at his job and at school. But with his family and Chinese friends, he uses Li Kaiming. For some people, using different names makes life easier in their new country.
In many countries, a woman changes her family name to her husband’s after she gets married. But today, many women are keeping their own family name and not using their husband’s. Sometimes, women use their own name in some situations（情況）and their husband’s in other situations. And some use both their own name and their husband’s.
小題1:Hanna changes her name to Anne because “Anne” is           for people to remember.

A．louder

B．easier

C．prettier

D．harder

小題2:Famous people want their new names to          .

A．have special sound	B．be ordinary
C．have no meaning	D．be unknown

小題3:Mr. Li uses his new name when he          .

A．stays with his family	B．is at his job
C．is among Chinese friends	D．comes back to China

小題4:Which of the following statement is TRUE?

A．Women have to change their names when they get married.

B．Women can’t use their husband’s name without permission.

C．If a singer becomes famous, he or she has to change his or her name.

D．Some people changed their names in order to get much more attentions.

小題5:What is the best title（標(biāo)題）of this passage ?

A．Family Names	B．Women’s Names
C．Changing Names	D．Special Names

Everybody may have seen the film “Death on the Nile (n. 尼羅河)”, but nobody can imagine that the writer of the story, Agatha Christie, saved a baby in a most unusual way.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Deleville. Doctors there were unable to find out the cause of her illness, so she was sent to a famous hospital in London, where there were many excellent doctors. The baby was so seriously ill that a team of doctors hurried to examine the baby without delay. The doctors, too, were puzzled by the baby’s illness and they also became discouraged. Just then a nurse asked to speak to them.
“I think the baby is suffering from thallium (n. 鉈) poisoning. ” said the nurse. “A few days ago, I read a story ‘A Pale Horse’ written by Agatha Christie. Someone uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are written in the book. They are exactly the same as the baby’s.”
“You’re very good at observing things,” said a doctor, “and you may be right. We’ll carry out some tests and find out whether the cause is thallium poisoning or not.”
The tests proved that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium. Once they knew the cause, the doctors were able to give her correct treatment. The baby soon got well and was sent back to Deleville A week later, it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (n. 殺蟲劑) used in Deleville.
小題1:The baby was sent to a hospital in London because __________.

A．her parents were living in London then

B．the hospitals in Deleville were full at that time

C．she was the daughter of a famous doctor in London

D．doctors in Deleville were not sure about the cause of her illness

小題2:When the baby was first sent to the hospital in London, her illness was considered to be ____________.

A．quite easy to treat

B．the result of thallium poisoning

C．a(chǎn) common one

D．extraordinarily serious

小題3:From this passage it seems that the baby’s illness had something to do with __________.

A．a(chǎn) dead writer

B．the water in Deleville

C．a(chǎn) dangerous murderer

D．a(chǎn) harmful substance (n. 物質(zhì)) used to kill pests

小題4:As far as we can tell from the story, Agatha Christie ____________.

A．had never met this baby

B．had spent a long time studying the baby’s illness

C．visited the baby both in Deleville and London

D．gave the nurse some advice on the telephone

That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater. With opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me.
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away any possible robbers(搶劫犯). Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck(垃圾車) pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, “Alisa Camacho?” I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had got my wallet back. I also had got back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.
小題1:How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?

A．Cold and sick	B．Lucky and hopeful
C．Satisfied and cheerful	D．Disappointed and helpless

小題2:From the first paragraph, we learn that the writer was busy_____.

A．solving her problem at the bank

B．taking part in various city activities

C．learning acting in an evening school

D．preparing for the first night show

小題3:On her way home the writer_____

A．lost her wallet unknowingly

B．was stopped by a garbage truck driver

C．was robbed of her wallet by a man with a knife

D．found some homeless people following her

小題4:In the fifth paragraph, why did the writer say she was dreaming?

A．Someone offered to take her back home

B．A red-haired man came to see her.

C．She heard someone call her name

D．Her wallet was found in a garbage truck

小題5:From the text, we can infer that the writer_____

A．would stop working at night

B．would stay on in San Francisco

C．would make friends with cleaners.

D．would give up her job at the bank

Nick is a 14-year-old school boy. His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays. He has little free time. He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax. When he has free time, he sits in front of the computer. Just like that way, he neither eats nor drinks for several hours.
Last weekend, he played games on the computer again. He was too excited and didn't want to move. He didn't have anything for six hours. When he had to go to the bathroom, he found he could not move. He was taken to the hospital. The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities. In other words, he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body.
After coming back from the hospital, Nick follows the doctor's advice. He often plays soccer with his friends. Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends, but he never does it for long. Now, he lives a happy and healthy life.
小題1:How old is Nick?

A．13.

B．14.

C．15.

D．16.

小題2:Nick likes       in his free time.

A．riding a bike	B．playing the guitar
C．playing computer games	D．having a school trip

小題3:Why was Nick taken to the hospital?

A．Because he was too excited.

B．Because he had a cold in the morning.

C．Because he was too nervous of his studies.

D．Because he couldn’t move after playing computer games so long.

小題4:Nick should       to follow the doctor’s advice.

A．go to a movie	B．listen to music
C．take more exercise	D．play computer games

小題5:Which of the following is True?

A．Nick is very busy with exams and studies on weekdays.

B．Nick will never play computer games.

C．Nick likes eating and drinking when he plays computer games.

D．Nick has an unhappy and unhealthy life now.