The website “FarmersOnly.com” calls itself an online dating and friendship finder. The idea started in the mind of a man, Jerry Miller in Ohio. He wondered how farmers could meet new people who understand the life of a farmer. Jerry Miller is not a farmer but he represents a lot of farmers.
As he tells it, the idea for the site was planted when a farmer told him one day that she was recently divorced and would like to date. But someone would invite her to meet for coffee at nine o’clock at night, when she had to start her day at five the next morning.
So, in 2005, Jerry Miller launched his website. “You don’t have to be a farmer to be on FarmersOnly.com, but you do have to have the good old-fashioned traditional values of America’s Heartland.” 
You also have to live in the United States or Canada to be a member of the site. Some services are free, but a full membership costs fifty dollars for a year. As of last week the site listed more than 58,000 members. Many of them are farmers in the United States. Others are students or workers involved in some way with agriculture. Jerry Miller tells us about thirty marriages in the last year have resulted from his website.
Some farmers have also found love through a group, Singles in Agriculture, which was formed as a nonprofit organization in 1986. It organizes gatherings that usually end with a dance, but is not a dating service. The purpose is to support educational and social activities that offer people a chance for friendship. Its website, singlesinag.org, says there are more than 1,000 members across the nation and as far away as France.
小題1:Jerry Miller started singlesinag.org in order to     .

A．help farmers	B．represent farmers
C．support traditions	D．understand farmers

小題2:Which of the following is true of singlesinag.org?

A．It provides dating services.

B．Only farmers can become its members.

C．Its services are free.

D．Farmers in France can’t benefit from it.

小題3: The author of the text intends to     .

A．advertise for the two websites

B．urge readers to help farmers

C．intro duce two websites

D．encourage social activities

小題4:It can be inferred from the text that     .

A．farmers are easy to meet new people

B．the Internet helps improve farmers’ social life

C．all farmers desire marriage

D．more farmers get divorced in the USA

Every pet owner loves his pet. There is no argument here.
　　But when we asked our readers whether they would clone （克隆， 復制）their beloved animals, the responses（反應） were split almost down the middle. Of the 228 readers who answered it, 108 would clone, 111 would not and nine weighed each side without offering an opinion.
　　Clearly, from readers’ response, this is an issue that reaches deeply into both the joy and final sadness of owning a pet. It speaks, as well, to people’s widely differing expectations over the developing scientific procedure.
　　Most of the respondents who favored the idea strongly believed it would produce at least a close copy of the original; many felt the process would actually return an exact copy. Those on the other side, however, held little hope a clone could never truly recreate a pet, many simply didn’t wish to go against the natural law of life and death.
　　Both sides expressed equal love for their animals. More than a few respondents owned “the best dog/cat in the world”. They thought of their pets as their “best friend”, “a member of the family,”“the light of my life.” They told moving stories of pets’ heroism, intelligence and selfless devotion.
　　Then the loss is so disturbing---and the cloning so attractive. “People become very close to their animals, and the loss can be just as hard to bear as when a friend or family member dies,” says Gary Kowalski, author of Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet. “For me, cloning feels like an attempt to turn death away…It’s understandable. Death is always painful. It’s difficult to deal with. It’s hard to accept.”
　　But would cloning reduce the blow? This question seemed to be at the heart of this problem.
小題1:So far as the cloning of pets is concerned, a recent survey shows that, of all pet owners, ____.

A．a lot more of them are for it

B．a lot more of them are against it

C．very few of them are willing to tell their opinions

D．about half of them are for it and the other half against it

小題2:While talking about the respondents from the readers, the expression “final sadness of owning a pet” refers to ____.

A．the death of one’s pet

B．the high cost of owning a pet

C．the troubles one has to deal with in keeping a pet

D．the dangers about the cloning of a pet

小題3:From what Gary Kowalski says, we can know that he ____.

A．has never thought about the problem of cloning

B．is going to write another book on pets

C．is in favor of the idea of cloning pets

D．is all against the cloning of pets

小題4:What is the key question at the heart of the problem of cloning pets?

A．Can cloning make the pain one suffers less when a pet dies?

B．Can pet owners afford the cost of cloning?

C．Does cloning go against the law of nature?

D．How reliably does cloning produce an exact copy of one’s pet?

No one can change the weather. Nobody can control the weather. But if we read correctly the signs around us, we can tell what the more important changes in the weather will be. This way of telling what the weather will be like on the following day or two is called weather forecasting(天氣預報).
For many centuries and in all countries, people have studied the weather and tried to make weather forecasting. Rings around the sun are a sign of coming rain. That many people feel their joints(關節(jié)) hurt is a sign of wet weather. Some birds fly high if fine weather is coming, but they fly near the ground if rainy or stormy weather is on the way. If you see a rainbow during rainy weather, this is a sign that the weather will become clear and fine. Such rainbows come in the evening. If the stars twinkle clearly at night, then fine weather will continue. If a fog appears in the morning just above a river, then the day will be warm. If the sunset is mostly red in colour, then the following day will be fine. If a rainbow appears in the morning, rainy weather will probably come.
Most of the above sayings have been made by the people who have used their eyes and brains to make weather forecasting.
小題1:Which of the following can be used here to replace(取代) the underlined phrase “on the way”?

A．away.

B．gone.

C．disappearing.

D．coming.

小題2:When you see the stars twinkle clearly at night, the weather will be _______.

A．warm

B．rainy

C．clear and fine

D．cold

小題3:Which of the following signs can tell the weather will probably be rainy?

A．A rainbow appears in the morning.

B．Some birds fly high.

C．The stars twinkle clearly at night.

D．Fogs appear in the morning just above a river.

When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺點). Sometimes she said I was thin. Sometimes she said I was lazy. Sometimes she said I wasn’t a good student. Sometimes she said I talked too much, and so on. I tried to put up with(忍受) her as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, and then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Mary, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me and to my surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true.
I brought the list back to my dad. He refused to take it. “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be helpful to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you think is right.”
Many years have passed. The situation often appears in my mind. In our life we often meet with some trouble and we often go to someone and ask for advice. For some advice you will treasure(珍惜) all your life!
小題1:What did the writer’s father do after he heard her complaints(抱怨)?

A．He agreed with her “enemy”.

B．he let her continue to put up with her “enemy”.

C．He told her to write down all her “enemy” had said about her.

D．He told her not to pay attention to what her “enemy” had said.

小題2:The writer felt ______ when she did the things as her father had told her.

A．surprised

B．angry

C．disappointed

D．sad

小題3:Which of the following can we know from the passage?

A．The “enemy” thought the writer was pretty.

B．The “enemy” thought the writer studied hard.

C．The writer and her “enemy” became best friends at last.

D．The writer is grateful to her father.

小題4:Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．My Parents

B．A Serious Criticism(批評)

C．What People Say About You Is Always Right

D．The Best Advice I Ever Had

We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us — in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education．Our  21  have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us  22   everything to their kindness and love．
When we   23  them respect, whether it is by bowing to them, or  24   them with a smile, or offering them any help they need, it is one way of   25  our own love and gratitude to them．   26, elders have also been through all the years you are  27  and know a little more about the world than you do．
It is   28  that you do not agree with the belief of your elders, but this is nothing new．All younger generations have always  29  with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human   30  ．However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their   31．
With changing times and  32  influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders．Youngsters should 33  express their views and if there are arguments, they should not   34  their voices．
If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately   35  their places, and sit on the carpet．In buses and trains, youngsters are   36  to give up their places to older people．This is not a  37  of who has more rights．It is simply that those who are younger have the strength to bear  38_, or tolerate unpleasantness, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older and perhaps at a   39   disadvantage．
When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become  40  that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness．

小題1:	A．youngsters B．elders C．parents D．juniors

小題2:	A．devote B．owe C．pay D．contribute

小題3:	A．show B．explain C．exhibit D．point

小題4:	A．greeting B．receiving C．declaring D．showing

小題5:	A．expressing B．describing C．sending D．suggesting

小題6:	A．However B．Therefore C．Besides D．Though

小題7:	A．experiencing with B．going through C．suffering from D．worrying out

小題8:	A．maybe B．likely C．possible D．probably

小題9:	A．quarreled B．dealt C．lived D．disagreed

小題10:

A．community B．organization C．society D．public

小題11:

A．experience B．reality C．emotion D．information

小題12:

A．cultural B．special C．environmental D．position

小題13:

A．quietly B．slightly C．silently D．coldly

小題14:

A．rise B．raise C．support D．force

小題15:

A．give away B．get rid of C．give up D．send out

小題16:

A．expected B．forced C．needed D．reminded

小題17:

A．doubt B．question C．wonder D．challenge

小題18:

A．suffering B．upset C．trouble D．discomfort

小題19:

A．serious B．light C．heavy D．slight

小題20:

A．aware B．alive C．knowing D．sensible

Life comes in a package. This package includes happiness and sorrow, failure and success, hope and despair. Life is a learning process. Experiences in life teach us new lessons and make us a better person. With each passing day we learn to handle various situations．
Love
Love plays a pivotal role on our life．Love makes you feel wanted．Without love a person could go Hayward(不歸路) and also become cruel and ferocious．In the early stage of our life, our parents are the ones who show us with unconditional love and care, they teach us about what is right and wrong, good and bad．But we always tend to take this for granted．It is only after marriage and having kids that a person understands and becomes sensitive to others feelings．Kids make a person responsible and mature and help us to understand life better．
Love plays a pivotal role on our life．Love makes you feel wanted．Without love a person could go Hayward(不歸路) and also become cruel and ferocious．In the early stage of our life, our parents are the ones who show us with unconditional love and care, they teach us about what is right and wrong, good and bad．But we always tend to take this for granted．It is only after marriage and having kids that a person understands and becomes sensitive to others feelings．Kids make a person responsible and mature and help us to understand life better．
Happiness and Sorrow
Materialistic happiness is short-lived, but happiness achieved by bringing a smile on others face gives a certain level of fulfillment．Peace of mind is the main link to happiness. No mind is happy without peace. We realize the true worth of happiness when we are in sorrow．Sorrow is basically due to death of a loved one, failure and despair. But these things are temporary and pass away.
Failure and Success
Failure is the path to success. It helps us to touch the sky, teaches us to survive and shows us a specific way. Success brings in money, fame, pride and self-respect. Here it becomes very important to keep our head on our shoulder. The only way to show our gratitude to God for bestowing success on us is by being humble, modest, courteous and respectful to the less fortunate ones.
Hope and Despair
Hope is what keeps life going. Parents always hope their children will do well．Hope makes us dream. Hope builds in patience. Life teaches us not to despair even in the darkest hour, because after every night there is a day. Nothing remains the same we have only one choice keep moving on in life and be hopeful.
Life teaches us not to regret over yesterday, for it has passed and is beyond our control. Tomorrow is unknown, for it could either be bright or dull. So the only alternative is work hard today, so that we will enjoy a better tomorrow.
小題1:In the passage, the author compares life to          ．

A．package	B．joy and sorrow
C．failure and success	D．hope and despair

小題2:In which section can readers probably read the passage?

A．Opinions

B．Politics

C．Education

D．Lifestyles

小題3:How is the passage organized?
A．In order of rules．              B．In order of frequency.
小題4:What’s the general meaning of the last sentence of the whole passage?

A．If you work hard, you’ll have a better life in the future．

B．when choosing between “today” and “tomorrow”, you’d better enjoy tomorrow better.

C．What you only can choose is to work hard today rather than tomorrow.

D．Enjoying a better tomorrow is your only choice．

小題5:What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To encourage people to love each other．

B．To tell people how to deal with happiness and sorrow．

C．To remind people of keeping having a beautiful dream．

D．To give readers some information about life.

When you’re surfing the Internet on your laptop from your dorm or home, do you know your personal details are being gathered secretly? And would you be surprised to know the information may be sold cheaply to advertisers and marketers?
According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, all it takes is a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters- to record the computer user’s age, gender, location, favorite movies and hobbies.
The newspaper reports that Lotame Solutions Inc., a New York company, uses sophisticated(高科技) software called a "beacon" to capture what people are typing on a website.
Lotame packages that data into profiles（個人資料）about individuals, only without their names, and sells the profiles to companies seeking customers．Batches of such data may be sold for a few dollars.
The Wall Street Journal survey discovered that spying on Internet users is one of the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web.
The "cookie"- a tiny text file put on your PC by websites or marketing firms which might be used to remember your preferences for one site, or to track you across many sites is already old news．There are new and more complex tools such as "beacons" which scan in real time what people are doing on a webpage．These beacons instantly assess the Internet user’s location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions.
Millions of Internet users around the world also face unprecedented（空前的）threats．Private, sensitive, personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge.
Companies insist the information they gather is anonymous and the data is used harmlessly. But the technology has grown so powerful that even some of the biggest websites in the US don’t know that they were installing intrusive files on visitors’ computers．These include MSN.com and Yahoo.com.
Next time you visit a webpage and find an ad banner advertising something you’ve been planning to buy, don’t be amazed that your computer can read your mind.
小題1:The purpose of the passage is to          .

A．introduce a tiny file in a computer-a single code

B．show how your individual information was let out when you surf the Internet

C．show how to protect your privacy

D．introduce a sophisticated software called a "beacon"

小題2:．All of the following statements are Wrong except          .

A．Lotame sells the profiles about individuals to companies seeking customers with their age, gender, location, hobbies and names

B．spying on Internet users is the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web

C．some of the biggest websites in the US know they were installing intrusive files on visitors’ computers

D．a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters can record users’ information

小題3:It can be inferred that          .

A．because the data is used harmlessly．Internet users around the world will not face threats

B．when a person surf the Internet, his personal details may be let out without his knowledge

C．your computer can really read your mind

D．MSN.com and Yahoo.com．use software to capture what people are typing on a website

小題4:According to the passage, “beacon”          .

A．is a tiny text file put on your PC by websites

B．is a soft ware that can package that data into profiles about individuals

C．can assess the Internet user’s location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions

D．is not more complex than the "cookie"

小題5:What’s the writer’s attitude to this problem?

A．Neutral

B．Worried

C．Optimistic

D．Indifferent

   [1] Medical research is leading American education officials to consider having high school classes start later in the morning. The research says that teenagers are more awake later at night than adults are. When staying up late at night, the teenagers have problems learning early in the morning.
[2]Researchers in the state of Rhode Island measured the amount of the hormone(荷爾蒙) melatonin(降黑素) in people's mouths at different times of the day. Melatonin causes people to feel sleepy.
[3]They found that melatonin levels rise later at night in teenagers than they do in children and adults. It remains at higher levels in teenagers later in the morning. They said this shows that teenagers have difficulty learning early in the morning. Yet most school systems in the United States begin high school classes at about seven o'clock.
[4]A few school districts have made some changes. In 1996, school officials in Edina, Minnesota, changed the start of classes from seven thirty to eight thirty. Two years later, the nearby city of Minneapolis did the same. Teachers there reported that students were no longer sleepy in class and were happier. Staying in school later in the day did not seem to be a problem for students who had jobs after school either.
[5]Health experts say that teenagers need between eight and nine hours of sleep a night. Students _________ are likely to be late for school, fail to do their homework, fall asleep in class and have trouble taking part in class discussions.
[6]Some people, however, don't support a later start time because they say that it would limit the time for practicing sports after school. However, the Minnesota schools found that this did not hurt school sports competitions.
[7]More American school districts are discussing the possibility of changing high school start times. Researchers and teenagers say that they cannot make the change quickly enough.
1  What is the best title of the passage? (Please answer within 8 words.)
                                                                          
2 Please fill in the blank in the fifth paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence. (Please answer within 8 words.)
                                                                          
3 Complete the following statement with proper words.(Please answer within 5 words)
If they go to bed very late at night, teenagers ___________ early in the morning.
                                                                      
4  Do you think the change is necessary? Why? (Please answer within 15 words.)
                                                                                  
5  What does the word “this”(line 3, paragraph 6) probably refer to?（no more than 4words）
                                                                             

A lazy Susan is an addition to a table that is designed to assist in moving food from one person to another while dining. This is achieved through the use of a turntable (轉盤), which usually moves the food in a circle when it is pushed by those at the table. In this way, the food never has to be picked up and passed around the table. Instead, it remains in place on the lazy Susan.
A lazy Susan may also be a part of a kitchen cabinet (櫥柜). In this sense, the lazy Susan is a type of shelving unit within the cabinet that is able to turn around its axis(軸心) . One may turn the lazy Susan in order to find certain goods in storage. From the outside, a lazy Susan appears to be two cabinets that are located at a right angle (直角) to each another. When one of these cabinets is pushed, however, both doors move and the lazy Susan is revealed inside.
It is believed that Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan in the 18th century, though it was called “dumbwaiter” at that time. It is said that Jefferson invented the lazy Susan because his daughter complained she was always served last at table and, as a result, never found herself full when leaving the table. Others believe that Thomas Edison was the inventor, as he is believed to have invented the turntable for his phonograph (留聲機). The turntable may have developed into the lazy Susan later.
Regardless of who invented it, it wasn’t until 1917 that the term “l(fā)azy Susan” was used in an advertisement for the invention. In Britain, however, the term “dumbwaiter” is still used rather than “l(fā)azy Susan”. The reason for the naming of it is still a mystery. One theory is that it was named after either Jefferson’s or Edison’s daughter, both of whom were named Susan.
小題1:What is a “l(fā)azy Susan”?

A．A waitress

B．A convenient tool

C．A table

D．A cabinet

小題2:According to those who believed Thomas Jefferson invented the lazy Susan, _______.

A．his daughter was very lazy	B．the lazy Susan didn’t exist until the 18th century
C．Thomas Edison was his friend	D．Thomas Edison didn’t invent the phonograph

小題3:We can learn from the last paragraph that ___________.

A．the lazy Susan can work by itself

B．the lazy Susan was named after Thomas Edison’s daughter

C．how the lazy Susan got its name remains unknown

D．the lazy Susan was invented in Britain

小題4: The writer wrote the passage mainly to _________.

A．discuss how the lazy Susan was named	B．teach us how to make a lazy Susan
C．introduce Thomas Edison’s inventions	D．tell us what a lazy Susan is and its origin

In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination（啟示）to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking(破裂, 砸開) through a heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to a novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet's: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said, “The theme of a novel won't fit into the framework of a short story; It's like trying to squeeze a large painting done on a wall into the frame of a miniature （微型畫）。 And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp. ”
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Often a character undergoes some event, something that offers him or her change. This is why it’s said that short stories usually “say something ”， often a small something, but sometimes delivered with such accuracy that the effect is strongly felt, even a life-moment for some readers, something similar to a religious experience or to witnessing a never-to-be-repeated scene in nature.
Ok, let’s form a definition here: A short story is an account, rarely over 10, 000 words or below 500 words-more commonly 1, 500 to 5, 000 words-a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader. It is narrow and focused to produce an effect through the story, most commonly through events affecting some change in an individual.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you're done. Short stories are more difficult-they have to be perfect, complete in themselves. ”
小題1:The writer of the passage is probably a ______.

A．poet

B．painter

C．teacher

D．student

小題2:What should the ideal short story be in length?

A．at most 10, 000 words

B．below 500 words

C．over 5, 000words

D．around 2, 000 words

小題3:The underlined word “undergoes ” in the third paragraph probably means “________ ”。

A．experiences

B．discovers

C．discusses

D．appreciates

小題4:What’s the difference between novels and short stories?

A．Novels are too long for us to read.

B．Short stories are too short for us to read.

C．Short stories have more details than novels.

D．Short stories are more perfect and difficult than novels.

小題5:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How Do You Write a Short Story?	B．What Exactly Is a Short Story?
C．Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry?	D．Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete?