Today our lives are changing faster than at any time in history. Here we report on three important changes that will have a big impact on our everyday lives in the future．
The cashless society 
Cash and bank-notes will disappear almost completely. They will be replaced by smart cards, namely plastic cards: microchip（微芯片）processors（處理器）loaded with some money. When we pay for goods，the shop assistant will put our smart card into a payment terminal（終端）and money will come into his card from our card. When all the money is used up，we will be able to reloadit by putting it into a telephone，dialing our bank account and money will be put into the card from the account.
Interactive telephones 
Talking computers will play an important part. They will recognize speech, ask us what information we need, look through a database，and put the information into speech．If we want to book a flight or pay a bill by phone, we will interact with a talking computer to do so. Human telephone operators will be used only for more complex operations such as dealing with complaints or solving special problems.
Traffic jams in cities will be reduced because drivers will use electronic route maps to find the quickest route to their destination. Electronic systems will start changing motorists for driving in cities．As soon as motorists have to pay to drive in cities, they will stop using their cars and use public transport instead. Speed control systems will be built into cars. These systems will automatically（自動地）regulate the speed of the car to take account of traffic and weather conditions and prevent accidents. It will be many years before these changes bring results but when they do，there will be a titanic improvement in road safety.
With the development of science and technology, more and more advanced things will be invented or created. Life in the future is undoubtedly different from that at the present.
小題1:Cash and bank-note will disappear because         .

A．they will be out of use sooner or later

B．they will be replaced by plastic cards convenient to use

C．we can load money from the bank

D．they will be rejected by payment terminals

小題2:What will you do if the money in your card is used up?

A．Go to the bank to deposit some money.

B．Put the card into a telephone and dial the bank account.

C．Buy a new card.

D．We don’t know.

小題3:Which of the following would be the best subtitle for the fourth paragraph?

A．Future cars

B．Speed control systems

C．Intelligent cars

D．Traffic jams

小題4:Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．When we buy tickets for flying somewhere else, we can have a talk with the computer.

B．If you make a complaint, you can use human telephone operation.

C．Drivers will stop using their cars and use public transport in order to prevent accidents.

D．The help of electronic route maps will decrease traffic jams.

小題5:The underlined word “titanic” in Paragraph 4 means        .

A．huge and great

B．the name of a ship

C．slight

D．increasing

Dolphins（海豚）are not fish, but warm-blooded animals. They live in groups, and speak to each other in their own language. In this, they are like other animals, such as bees and birds. But dolphins are very different from almost all land animals. Their brain is nearly the same size as our own, and they live a long time―at least twenty or thirty years. Like some animals, dolphins use sound to help them find their way around. They also make these sounds to talk to each other and to help them find food. We now know they do not use their ears to receive these sounds, but the lower part of the mouth, called the jaw.
Strangely, dolphins seem to like man, and for thousands of years there have been stories about the dolphin and its friendship with people.
There is a story about sailors in the 19th century. In a dangerous part of the sea off the coast of New Zealand, they learnt to look for a dolphin called Jack. From 1871 to 1903, Jack met every boat in the area and showed it the way. Then in 1903 a passenger on a boat called The Penguin shot and wounded Jack. He recovered and for nine years more continued to guide all ships through the area－except for The Penguin.
Today, some people continue to kill dolphins, but many countries of the world now protect them and in these places it is against the law to kill them.
小題1:Dolphins are different from many other animals in that they _____.

A．live in groups

B．have large brains

C．a(chǎn)re warm-blooded

D．have their own language

小題2:Which of the following does the dolphin use to help it find its way around?

A．Its nose.

B．Its ears.

C．Its mouth.

D．Its eyes.

小題3:Why did the sailors off the coast of New Zealand look for Jack?

A．He was lonely and liked to be with people.

B．They enjoyed playing with him.

C．He was seriously wounded.

D．They wanted his help.

小題4:By telling the story of Jack, the writer wanted to show that _____.

A．dolphins are friendly and clever	B．people are cruel to animals
C．Jack is different from other dolphins	D．dolphins should be protected by law

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and other things including cups-porcelain(瓷杯子), glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some elegant -- telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "I notice that all the nice looking and expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate we have. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Thank the Lord for your blessings in 2011. And enjoy your hot chocolate in 2012!”
小題1: When did they decide to go to see their professor?

A．After the reunion.	B．During the get-together.
C．Before they graduated.	D．Just after the professor retired.

小題2:Why did the professor offer them different cups?

A．Because cups were not enough for everyone.

B．Because cups were beautiful.

C．Because the professor wanted to teach them something.

D．Because hot chocolate should be contained in different cups.

小題3:What caused the professor to say those words?

A．Their graduation.

B．Their reunion.

C．Their visit.

D．Their complaints.

小題4:What does the word “cup” in this passage refer to?

A．Life	B．happy things in life
C．hot chocolate	D．tools to hold and contain life

小題5:What is the purpose of the professor’s words?

A．To tell them life is not easy, so try their best to be happy.

B．To educate them that the happiest people don't have the best of everything.

C．To wish them to be grateful to their life and make the best of everything that they have.

D．To use different cups to tell them they should try different things in life.

Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸鹽） minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（隕石） that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.
Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."
小題1: The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.

A．to set up

B．to make people accept a belief

C．to discover or prove

D．to start having a relationship with others

小題2:How did the scientists reach the finding?

A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite.

B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.

C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars

D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.

小題3:According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?

A．Measuring the temperature of Mars.

B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars.

C．Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.

D．Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.

小題4:How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?

A．From its original place on Mars.

B．From where it was found on the earth.

C．From the name of the scientist who found it.

D．From the name of the aircraft that discovered it

小題5: Where can we most probably read this passage?

A．In a biography of scientists.

B．In a geography magazine.

C．In an environment report.

D．In a science report.

Today just as technology changed the face of industry, farms have undergone an “agricultural revolution”. On the farm of today, machines provide almost all the power.
One of the most important benefits will be the farm computer. A few forward-looking farmers are already using computers to help them run their farms more efficiently. The computers help them keep more accurate records so they can make better decisions on what crops to plant, how much livestock to buy, when to sell their products, and how much profit they can expect. Many computer companies have been developing special computer programs just for farmers. Programs are being written for hog producers, grain farmers, potato farmers, and dairy farmers. In the future, farmers will be able to purchase computer programs made to their needs. Because of the growing importance of computers on the farm, students at agricultural colleges are required to take computer classes in addition to their normal agricultural courses. There can be no doubt that farmers will rely on computers even more in the future. While the old-time farm depended on horse power, and modern farms depend on machine power, farms of the future will depend on computer power.
　　Another technological advance which is still in the experimental stage is the robot, a real “mechanized hired hand” that will be able to move and, in some ways, think like a human being. Agricultural engineers believe that computer-aided robots will make startling changes in farming before the end of the century. Unlike farmers of the present, farmers of the future will find that many day-to-day tasks will be done for them. Scientists are now developing robots that will be able to shear sheep, drive tractors, and harvest fruit. Even complex jobs will be done by robots. For example, in order to milk their cows, farmers must first drive them into the barn, then connect them to the milking machines, watch the machines, and disconnect them when they are finished. In the future, this will all be done by robots. In addition, when the milking is completed, the robots will automatically check to make sure that the milk is pure. The complete mobilization of the farm is far in the future, but engineers expect that some robots will be used before long.
小題1:Which sentence carried the main idea of the whole passage?

A．The first sentence of the first paragraph.

B．The first sentence of the second paragraph.

C．The first sentence of the third paragraph.

D．The last sentence of the second paragraph.

小題2: according to the passage, computers can not help farmers decide _______.

A．how much money they can earn from their products

B．whether to plant a certain kind of crop

C．what livestock to raise

D．when to sell their products

小題3:Which of the following statements is true?

A．Farmers in the future will depend totally on computers.

B．Both computers and robots have been in use on today’s farms.

C．Farmers mainly use machines on their farms at present.

D．Students at agricultural colleges must take computer classes because they can do nothing without the help of computers on today’s farms.

小題4:according to the engineers, _______will be done by robots in the near future.

A．a(chǎn)ll farm work	B．milking cows
C．most of the farm work	D．some farm work

小題5:What is the best title for the whole passage?

A．Computer, Farmers’ Best Friend	B．Farmers in The Future
C．The Agricultural Revolution	D．Computers and Robots

It’s good to make mistakes, and here is why．
First of all, mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things． It’s always good to try new things because when you are trying new things you are growing． If you never try anything new, how can you improve? How can you expand? The simple answer is “You can’t”． Look around you． With very few exceptions, either everything you see in your physical world or every single detail of every single thing is the result of someone trying something new．
Another good thing about mistakes is this: When you are making mistakes, you are learning． Consider this: Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the light bulb． When asked how it felt to fail that many times, he said that he hadn’t failed 10,000 times, but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn’t work．
Finally, when you make a mistake you are much closer to success． Why?
Because when all is said and done, you will have tried some number of things before you succeeded． Every time you make a mistake you eliminate one of those things and are one step closer．
But this all doesn’t mean that you should go ahead without considering the consequences of a mistake． Quite the contrary, when you try something new you have to be willing to set some reasonable limits so that in the event that it doesn’t work out the way you want it to, you will be in a position to try again．
We all have limited resources in the form of time and money so don’t blow them all on one approach to a problem． Realize that it probably won’t be perfect the first time and allocate （分配） these resources appropriately so you can learn, make corrections, and try it again． Only by accepting and using your mistakes in this way can you make significant advances in your business and your career．
There is an old saying that goes, “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not trying hard enough．”
So go forth and make mistakes． And learn． And grow． And prosper（成功）．
小題1:From the second paragraph, we can conclude that _______．

A．mistakes are unnecessary for development

B．we are afraid of trying new things

C．it’s common for people to make mistakes

D．mistakes are better than not trying

小題2:The underlined word “eliminate” means _______．

A．a(chǎn)void

B．remove

C．a(chǎn)ccept

D．solve

小題3:According to the article, one thing you should pay attention to about making mistakes is   ．

A．a(chǎn)voiding making the same mistakes

B．a(chǎn)ccepting the punishment willingly

C．taking consequences into account

D．trying things out one by one

小題4:What would the writer probably suggest we say to ourselves when we make a mistake?

A．Never mind, I can always try again．

B．I’d better stay out of trouble．

C．Ok! Now I can learn something．

D．Look at this mess． Anyone would be upset．

A new study says one part of the human brain may become smaller as the result of a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag results from flying long distances in an airplane. People with jet lag may feel extremely tired for several days. They may also have problems thinking clearly and remembering.
Recently a researcher at the University of Bristol in Britain reported the findings of his jet lag study, which involved twenty young women who worked for international airlines. They had served passengers on airplanes for five years. These flight attendants flew across many countries and at least seven time zones. In the study, the flight attendants had different amounts of time to recover from jet lag. Half the women spent five days or fewer in their home areas between long flights. The other half spent more than fourteen days in their home areas.
The researcher took some saliva from the women”s mouths to measure levels of a hormone(荷爾蒙) that increases during stress(緊張). He tested them to see if they could remember where black spots appeared on a computer screen. And he took pictures of their brains to measure the size of the brain”s temporal lobes(腦葉).
It was found that the women who had less time between flights had smaller right temporal lobes. This area of the brain deals with recognizing and remembering what is seen. The same group performed worse and had slower reaction times on the visual memory test. And their saliva samples showed higher levels of stress hormones.
The researcher believes the brain needs at least ten days to recover after a long trip. He says airline workers told him their ability to remember got worse after working on planes for about four years. Other studies have shown that increased feelings of stress can cause a loss of cells in the part of the brain that controls memory.
Scientists say more tests are needed to study the effects of jet lag on the brain. They want to find out if too much jet lag could permanently (永久性的) affect memory.
小題1:According to the text, jet lag .

1. can cause difficulties in speaking
2. can make people feel tired for a few weeks
3. can be only found in flight attendants
4. can be caused by flying over several time zones

小題2:It can be inferred from the text that .

1. the conclusion is refused by many scientists
2. scientists fear that this research is not done properly
3. the scientific conclusion needs the support from many tests
4. every women who were examined in the research were mot healthy

小題3:From the result of the research we can see that .

1. the women who have longer rest at home show better memory
2. the women who fly in short time have smaller right temporal lobes
3. the women who have longer flights fail the memory test
4. the women who rest more than 14 days produce less hormones

小題4:What is the subject discussed in the text?

1. The cause of jet lag.
2. A story of a group of flight attendants.
3. The importance of having enough rest after flights.
4. A research about the effects of jet lag on the brain.

Now let us look at how we read. When we read a printed text, our eyes move across a page in short, jerky movement. We recognize words usually when our eyes are still when they fixate. Each time they fixate, we see a group of words. This is known as the recognition span or the visual span. The length of time in which the eyes stop ---the duration of the fixation ----varies considerably from person to person. It also varies within any one person according to his purpose in reading and his familiarity with the text. Furthermore, it can be affected by such factors as lighting and tiredness.
Unfortunately, in the past, many reading improvement courses have concentrated too much on how our eyes move across the printed page. As a result of this misleading emphasis on the purely visual aspects of reading, numerous exercises have been devised to train the eyes to see more words at one fixation. For instance, in some exercises, words are flashed on to a screen for, say, a tenth or a twentieth of a second. One of the exercises has required students to fix their eyes on some central point, taking in the words on either side. Such word patterns are often constructed in the shape of rather steep pyramids so the reader takes in more and more words at each successive fixation. All these exercises are very clever, but it’s one thing to improve a person’s ability to see words and quite another thing to improve his ability to read a text efficiently. Reading requires the ability to understand the relationship between words. Consequently, for these reasons, many experts have now begun to question the usefulness of eye training, especially since any approach which trains a person to read isolated words and phrases would seem unlikely to help him in reading a continuous text.
小題1:The time of the recognition span can be affected by the following facts except ________ .

A．the length of a group of words.

B．lighting and tiredness.

C．one’s familiarity with the text.

D．one’s purpose in reading.

小題2:The author may believe that reading ______.

A．demands an deeply-participating mind.

B．demands more mind than eyes.

C．requires a reader to take in more words at each fixation.

D．requires a reader to see words more quickly.

小題3:What does the author mean by saying “but it’s one thing to improve a person’s ability to see words and quite another thing to improve his ability to read a text efficiently.” in the second paragraph?

A．The reading exercises mentioned can’t help to improve an efficient reading.

B．The reading exercises mentioned has done a great job to improve one’s ability to see words.

C．The ability to see words is not needed when an efficient reading is conducted.

D．The reading exercises mentioned can’t help to improve both the ability to see or comprehend words.

小題4:Which of the following is NOT true?

A．The emphasis on the purely visual aspects is misleading.

B．The eye training will help readers in reading a continuous text.

C．The visual span is a word or a group of words we see each time.

D．Many experts began to question the efficiency of eye training.

小題5:The tune of the author in writing this article is ________.

A．pessimistic

B．optimistic

C．critical

D．neutral

A friend of mine met with an accident driving in darkness. His legs were so hurt that he couldn’t move. What was the   1  was that he found himself unable to ask for help—his mobile phone went out of   2   as a result of exhausted battery (無電) . Nothing could be done but to   3   in cold wilderness (荒野). It was eight hours later that day broke, and then   4   of the rescue (援救).
It is almost   5   that he could stand （忍受）the horror in the darkness for so long. Even more surprising was his   6  : “First of all, I checked up my   7     conditions and found myself not in mortal (致命的) danger. As there was no   8   to call for help, I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from   9  . In this way I dozed (瞌睡) off.”
His story put an end to my regret (遺憾) for the   10   of an exploration adventure (探險(xiǎn)) that happened last year. A group of young men   11   to explore a mountain cave and got lost.   12   to find a way out in the dark cave they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of   13  . Finally they felt dead in fear and exhaustion. According to the   14   people that found them, the place where they got lost was only about 10 meters away from the   15   of the cave. If they stayed on the spot when they lost their way and tried to   16   themselves, they would probably sense a faint light glimmering (閃爍) not far away.
Don’t you think you can compare it with   17   itself? When you meet with difficulty in life and work, you are lost in darkness.   18   you it’s unclear yet and you needn’t put up struggle   19 . It seems to be a negative （消極）attitude,   20   a person who can afford to do so must have foresight (遠(yuǎn)見) as well as a great courage in the first place.

小題1:	A．hopeless B．worst C．more D．best

小題2:	A．service B．way C．control D．work

小題3:	A．cry B．lie C．wait D．sleep

小題4:	A．delay B．success C．team D．a(chǎn)rrival

小題5:	A．untrue B．unimaginable C．true D．useless

小題6:	A．plan B．decision C．explanation D．excuse

小題7:	A．physical B．mental C．working D．medical

小題8:	A．energy B．way C．tools D．strength

小題9:	A．rotting B．spreading C．hurting D．bleeding

小題10:

A．loss B．failure C．disappointment D．sadness

小題11:

A．had B．managed C．tried D．meant

小題12:

A．Willing B．Unable C．Determined D．Deciding

小題13:

A．hearing B．sight C．feeling D．direction

小題14:

A．rescue B．village C．local D．brave

小題15:

A．end B．top C．opening D．side

小題16:

A．save B．help C．stop D．calm

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)dventure B．work C．life D．mankind

小題18:

A．Mind B．Watch C．Imagine D．Warn

小題19:

A．really B．immediately C．carefully D．hopefully

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)nd B．so C．but D．while

Wendy Gallegos writes “concer” on the board. One of her students raises her hand.
“Ms. Gallegos, you should have written ‘conocer’ instead,” she said, referring to the Spanish verb for “to know.”
Gallegos looks at the board, smiles and quickly erases her mistake.
“You see, I have taught you so well, you pick up on my mistakes,” she said with a laugh.
To Gallegos, the scene in her classroom is typical（特有的）of the children she teaches. Gallegos teaches high school Spanish. She became part of their lives and families for three years. She is willing to help her children succeed. After a couple of years, Gallegos’ class becomes like home. Gallegos’ Spanish class is taught mostly in English in sixth grade. By the time the students are eighth-graders, they are speaking fewer words of English and more of Spanish during the 50-minute classes.
“My goal is to get my kids to say something in Spanish every day,” she said, “I want them to be able to talk to me. That’s why I help them, I praise them, I recognize them when they do good work. And we have fun. The day I stop having fun is the day I am going to consider a different job.’’
If a student needs help, Gallegos offers the student a “l(fā)ifesaver,” which is help from a classmate. The lifesaver gets a piece of candy as a reward. As the students said: “Gallegos’ class is anything but boring.” It is because of Gallegos’ efforts and determination that she is the teacher who they think is most deserving of one of Collier County’s Golden Apple Awards.
“I don’t teach a subject, I teach kids. This is what I was born to do,” Gallegos said.
小題1:The scene（情景）in Gallegos’ class is mentioned at the beginning of the passage to ____.

A．show Gallegos, as a teacher, makes a mistake

B．tell teachers can help students correct mistakes.

C．show her good teaching method in daily class

D．point out the students’ impolite behavior in class

小題2:The underlined sentence in Paragraph 6 implies that_____.

A．having fun is Gallegos’ goal in hunting jobs.	B．Gallegos likes her job very much
C．Gallegos is considering changing her job	D．teaching Spanish will not last long

小題3:What made Gallegos get Golden Apple Award?

A．Her interesting class.	B．Her determination in study.
C．Rewarding her students with prizes.	D．Her efforts made to teach kids.

小題4:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．This is what I was born to do	B．Golden Apple Awards
C．Spanish classes with fun	D．How to get along with kids