It’s high time someone spoke up for today’s college students.  They’re probably the most hardworking, ambitious people in America and their problems are not properly appreciated.
People like the Secretary of Education simply don’t know what they’re talking about when they knock students.  Nor do those who complain about falling academic standards.
The vast majority of the nation’s 12 million students are struggling to pay for their educations.  They are part of the invisible workforce.  Many hold down full-time jobs.  They’re frying hamburgers, photographing weddings, working in construction, and waiting on tables.  The fact that they even show up for classes is a wonderful event.
The financial situation of most students explains a lot about what is happening in schools.  Why are the traditional courses so unpopular?  Why are students flocking to accounting and computer science and any professional programs that seem to lead to careers?
Answer: Today’s working student has been forced into a kind of premature matter-of-fact way of viewing things.  Romance is gone.  The notion of transforming one’s self through study alone has disappeared.  Today’s students seek freedom from manual labor, and the status conferred by a good job.
There are other consequences.  Today’s students don’t have much time or energy to be devoted, and carry out independent research or even do serious homework.  That’s the secret behind falling academic standards.  Students have become consumers.  They want grades and certifications.  Their professors can’t be expected to give a grade of failure to students who are clearly tired from the effort to pay their bills.
There’s a lot wrong with this situation.  It’s twisting the definition of education out of shape.  Worse, it’s creating a generation that is totally unpleasant.  The brightest students turn out to be yuppies (雅皮士).  The vast majority are, at least, good-natured semi-literates.
The time has run out for philosophical debates about fixed courses of study.  What this country needs is someone to stand up and say that being a full-time student during one’s formative years is an honorable calling worthy of support.  If families can’t or won’t give it to their children, then the government should.
小題1:The author’s purpose in writing this article is to __________.

A．a(chǎn)waken the whole society to the problems today’s college students face

B．warn Americans that academic standards are falling

C．a(chǎn)dvise college students to study hard

D．provide a suggestion that only full-time students be enrolled

小題2:The most suitable word to describe the author’s feelings about today’s college students  is _________.

A．criticize

B．sympathize

C．complain

D．urge

小題3:Which of the following cannot be learned from the passage?

A．Many students are often absent from classes.

B．Traditional courses are not popular.

C．Students commit crimes with computers.

D．Students don’t devote much time and energy to their homework.

小題4:By saying “Romance is gone” in paragraph 5, the author means ____________.

A．today’s students do not believe in love stories any more

B．today’s students become more practical in dealing with things

C．students think there is no affection any more and break up with their lovers

D．today’s students hold matter-of-fact opinions on love

小題5:Which of the following suggestions will the author not agree with?

A．We should encourage students to give up full-time jobs.

B．Families should offer their children more help financially.

C．We should stand up and say something for today’s college students.

D．We should make more strict regulations to force students to study hard.

I once had a friend that was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the news that he might only live up to six months was a great shock to him, his family, and his friends．However, in spite of the serious illness, he was initially（開始） determined to look into all available treatments that might cure or extend his life．I think that when you find yourself in such situations, you tend to look up every possible way for hope of saving your life．
As months went on and his health grew worse, I noticed an unexpected change in attitude that came over him．He had also been a happy person with a cheerful personality, but rather than give in to discouragement and self-pity, he took comfort in God and humanity（人性）．His talks focused on others rather than himself, and he spoke of the afterlife as something he was prepared for, believing that his concerned ancestors, including his mother and father, were there waiting for him．
During the last few months, weeks, and days of his life, he was kindly cared for by family, friends, his loving wife, who looked after both his physical and emotional needs, and workers from a local hospice （安養(yǎng)院） came to the home to regulate（調(diào)節(jié)） his medication （藥）and provide any other needed support．He didn't complain about his fate, and he willingly allowed others to serve him．
Indeed, one might think why God allows death and suffering in our world, but for me, such experiences taught me to value family more and kindness for others．You often can't learn these important attributes（屬性）in the lap of luxury（處在優(yōu)裕舒適的環(huán)境中）, and perhaps, such an experience is the greatest and final gift the illness can give those left behind．
小題1:Which word can best describe the man's initial reaction as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer?

A．Satisfied．

B．Sad

C．Surprised

D．Concerned．

小題2:What did the man do after he first learned of his illness?

A．He was operated on immediately．

B．He researched cancer treatments．

C．He retired from his job

D．He felt sad, doing nothing．

小題3:What was the man's main source of comfort after several months with the disease? 

A．His family and friends．	B．The care from others
C．His doctors’ encouragement．	D．His belief in humanity．

小題4:What did the author learn from his friend’s story?

A．Getting comfort from God．

B．Extending life as possible．

C．Caring for yourself and enjoying luxury．

D．Giving more respect to friends

A funny thing happened on the way to the communications revolutions: we stopped talking to one another.
I was walking in the park with a friend recently，and his cell phone rang, interrupting our conversation. There we were, walking and talking on a beautiful sunny day and…I became invisible, absent from the conversation.   
The telephone used to connect you to the absent. Now it makes people sitting next to you feel absent. Why is it that the more connected we get, the more disconnected I feel? Every advance in communications technology is a tragedy to the closeness of human interaction. With email and instant messaging over the Internet, we can now communicate without seeing or talking to one another, With voice mail, you can conduct entire conversations without ever reaching anyone. If my mom has a question, I just leave the answer on her machine.
As almost every contact we can imagine between human beings gets automated, the alienation index goes up. You can't even call a person to get the phone number of another person my more. Directory assistance is almost always fully automated.
I am not against modern technology. I own a cell phone, an ATM card a voice mail system, and an email account. Giving them up isn't wise…they're a great help to use. It's some of their possible consequences that make me feel uneasy.  
More and more .I find myself hiding behind e-mail to do a job meant for conversation. Or being relieved that voice mail picked up because I didn't really have time to talk, The industry devoted to helping me keep in touch is making me lonelier…or at least facilitating my antisocial instincts．
So I've put myself on technology restriction: no instant messaging. with people who live near me，no cell phoning in the presence of friends, no letting the voice mail pick up when I'm at home.
小題1:Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?   

A．The Advance of Communications Technology

B．The Consequences of Modern Technology

C．The Story of Communications Revolution

D．The Automation of Modern Communications

小題2:The sentence “Now it makes people sitting next to you feel absent，”means that       .

A．the people sitting beside you have to go away to receive a phone call

B．you can hardly get in touch with the people sitting beside you

C．modem technology makes it hard for people to have a face-to-face talk

D．people can now go to work without going to the office

小題3:The writer feels that the use of modern communications is        ．

A．encouraging

B．disappointing

C．satisfying

D．embarrassing

小題4:The passage implies that        .

A．modern technology is bridging the people.

B．modern technology is separating the people

C．modern technology is developing too fast

D．modern technology is interrupting our communications

By 2012，the world may need to cope with as many as 50 million people who have fled their homeland，not for political or economic reasons but because the environment has been so badly changed that it cannot support life. The statement has been released by the United Nations to mark UN Disaster Reduction Day.
More people are made homeless by environmental disasters than by war，according to the research by the Red Cross. That reality is proved by the earthquake in Pakistan.
The widely publicized disaster has brought aid from the global community，according to Janos Bogardi，director of the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security. “If we can move swiftly in and give them a new start where they are，then they may stay in the area. Otherwise，they become environmental refugees. Environmental­related migrations are most acute in Sub­Saharan Africa，but they also affect millions of people in Asia and India. Meanwhile，the United States is witnessing increased pressure from victims of mismanaged and worsening soil and water conditions in Mexico and Latin America.” he says. Janos Bogardi says these refugees suffer from the impact of gradual environmental change—global warming，sea level rise，air and water pollution and more intense storms，floods and droughts that degrade the land. This is a slow process，but unfortunately a process that is very difficult to go backwards once final damage is done.
Janos Bogardi says they are calling on the global community to recognize the serious situation of environmental refugees and to work together to lessen the impact of environmental disaster.
小題1:What may be the best title of the passage?

A．50 Million environmental refugees by 2010

B．Environmental refugees—an international problem

C．The cause of environmental disasters

D．Global aid pouring in

小題2:Janos Bogardi’s attitude towards solving the problem is that of being ________.

A．constructive	B．compromising
C．controversial	D．conservative

小題3:According to the passage，the following are the main reasons for migrations except ________.

A．earthquake	B．water conditions
C．global community	D．worsening soil

小題4:What is implied in the passage?

A．People all over the world have realized the impact of environmental disasters on refugees.

B．It is time for us to take some measures to solve the problem of environmental refugees.

C．The damaged soil can recover soon if people take care of it.

D．It is good for people to go elsewhere to make a living.

Most recently, it's very common in students who need a parent present for job interviews. Naturally, it's easy to blame the students in these situations, but the bigger problem is us. We—as parents—are so eager to shelter our kids that we fail to realize that this in itself is harming them. As the mother of two young sons, I have to remind myself constantly that the biggest responsibility I have as a parent is to help them develop the skills needed to live in, to live without me. So, I'll let them fail．
I'll let them fail because as long as they are safe and warm inside their comfort zones, they will never grow. And failure along with loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc.—will be part of growth for them. Call me the anti-tiger mom, but leaving them alone is, my way of helping them become equipped to fit in this world as we know it today. From terrorism and seemingly endless natural disasters, to our national debt and beyond, if we expect the next generation to stand up to the very real problems of our time, we need to stop feeding them and start teaching them how to fish.
My children now are becoming little masters of compromise, but they try to negotiate everything now. It's a small price to help them learn a skill they'll use for the rest of their lives, including when I don't accompany them on job interviews.
小題1:Why do parents accompany their kids on job interviews?

A．Because they want to protect their kids from difficulties．

B．Because they think they can help them on the questions．

C．Because their kids are too shy to attend interviews．

D．Because their kids strongly request them to do so．

小題2:According to the author, what is beneficial to kids' development?

A．Sheltering them．	B．Keeping them safe．
C．Leaving them alone．	D．Blaming them．

小題3:Why does the author stress failure in kids' life?

A．To make them stronger than other kids．

B．To help them grow in this tough world．

C．To help them develop all social skills．

D．To make them learn to compromise．

小題4:Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．Never Shelter Your Kids

B．Let Your Kids Fail

C．Be Eager to Grow Up

D．Live Without Parents

The famous British inventor George Stephenson was born in 1781 and died in 1848. One of his__16__important inventions was the train.  He _17__his first train when he was forty-four years old. When he was experimenting with the __18__engine on the train, he met with __19__from the government, the newspapers and the gentlemen in the country. They said that the noise and the smoke would __20__ cows, horses and sheep, that the _21__ would burst or that the hot coals from it would __22_ their houses. At that time, __23__people believed what they said.
George Stephenson __24__the people that the train could go on small _25_, could pull carriages __26_goods and passengers and there was __27__to them. It was a very __28__ matter for him to __29__ them believe. However, after _30_, he was able to do it; and the first train that __31__by Stephenson himself __32_ what he had said.
The first day _33_the people along the way _34_the noises of the train __35__ and saw it running quickly to them, they ran back home as quickly as they could and closed their doors tightly, for they thought it a genius(妖怪).They did not dare to come out until it had passed.

小題1:	A．very B．a(chǎn) lot C．most D．much

小題2:	A．made B．bought C．introduced D．did

小題3:	A．electrical B．soil C．steam D．oil

小題4:	A．success B．troubles C．people D．pleasure

小題5:	A．kill B．buy C．interest D．take away

小題6:	A．smoke B．noise C．driver D．engine

小題7:	A．pull down B．blow away C．set fire to D．pass

小題8:	A．most B．few C．only a few D．the rich

小題9:	A．said B．spoke C．told D．warned

小題10:

A．roads B．rivers C．steam D．rails

小題11:

A．short of B．full of C．empty of D．without

小題12:

A．no great danger B．dangerous C．a(chǎn) lot of danger D．few danger

小題13:

A．easy B．difficult C．pleasant D．light

小題14:

A．get B．cause C．make D．force

小題15:

A．sometime B．some time C．a(chǎn) few times D．sometimes

小題16:

A．was sold B．was driven C．was pulled D．helped

小題17:

A．believed B．seemed C．sensed D．proved

小題18:

A．of B．when C．while D．for

小題19:

A．caught sight of B．listened to C．heard D．thought

小題20:

A．nearby B．in the distance C．on the far D．from the distance

In the last few years, some researchers have decided to study why kids lie(撒謊)，So they made up a special team of 12 students, all under the age of 21.
Each student was given 36 cards, and each card listed a topic that teens sometimes lie about to their parents, The researchers worked through the cards with the teens, learning what things the kid was lying to his parents about, and why.
By the end of the interviews, the kids saw for the first time how much they were lying and how many of family’s rules they had broken. It was reported that 98% of the teens had lied to their parents.
Out of the 36 topics, the average(平均) teen was lying to his parents about 12 of them. The teens lied about what movie they went to, and whom they went with .They lied about how they spent their afternoons while their parents were at work, and something like that.
Most parents hear their child lie and think he’s too young to understand what lies are or that lying is wrong. They believe their child will stop when he gets older. Many books also advise parents to just let lies go — they’ll grow out of it. But the truth is that kids grow into it. In studies where children are observed(觀察) in their natural environment, a 4-year-old child will lie once every two hours, while a 6-year-old child will lie about once every hour and a half.
小題1:The researchers started the project by     .

A．playing cards

B．free talking

C．doing a survey

D．discussion

小題2:The topics on 36 cards are mostly between kids and      .

A．parents

B．teachers

C．researchers

D．friends

小題3:From this passage, the teens lied on about      of the 36 topics as an average.

A．12%

B．33%

C．98%

D．25%

小題4:On this topic, the advice from many books for the parents is that they     .

A．needn’t worry about it too much

B．should take it serious enough

C．had better do something to stop it

D．should regard it as a great problem

People with disabilities make up a large part of the population. It is estimated（估計(jì)） that over 35 million Americans have physical, mental, or other disabilities. About half of these disabilities are “developmental", i.e., they occur before the individual's twenty-second birthday, often from genetic conditions, and are severe enough to affect three or more areas of development, such as mobility, communication, employment, etc. Most other disabilities are considered “adventitious", i.e., accidental or caused by outside forces.
Prior to the 20th century, only a small percentage of people with disabilities survived for long. Medical treatment for these disabilities was unavailable. Advancements in medicine and social services have created a climate in which people with disabilities can expect to have such basic needs as food, shelter, and medical treatment. Unfortunately, these basics are often not available. Civil liberties such as the right to vote, marry, get an education, and gain employment have historically been denied on the basis of disability.
In recent decades, the disability rights movement has been organized to fight against these infringements（違反；侵犯）of civil rights. Congress responded by passing major legislation recognizing people with disabilities as a protected class under civil rights statutes.
Still today, people with disabilities must fight to live their lives independently. It is estimated that more than half of qualified Americans with disabilities are unemployed, and a majority of those who do work are underemployed. About two-thirds live at or below the official poverty level.
Significant barriers, especially in transportation and public awareness, prevent disabled people from taking part in society. For example, while no longer prohibited by law from marrying, a person with no access to transportation is effectively excluded from community and social activities which might lead to the development of long-term relationships.
Only when public attitudes advance as far as laws have will disabled people be fully able to take their rightful place in society.
小題1:A “developmental" disability ______.

A．develops very slowly over time

B．is caused by forces

C．occurs in youth and affects development

D．is getting more and more severe

小題2:Most disabled people used to die early because ______.

A．disabilities destroyed major bodily functions

B．they were not very well looked after

C．medical techniques were not available

D．they were too poor to get proper treatment

小題3:In the author's opinion, to enable the disabled people to take their rightful place in society, ______.

A．more laws should be passed

B．public attitudes should be changed

C．government should provide more aids

D．more public facilities should be set up

小題4:Which of the following cannot be inferred from the passage ?

A．Many disabled people may remain single for their whole life.

B．The public tends to look down upon the disabled people.

C．The disabled people feel inferior to those surrounding them.

D．Discriminatory laws prevent the disabled from mixing with others.

小題5:The best title for this passage might be ______.

A．Handicaps（障礙）of People with Disabilities

B．The physical difficulties of the Disabled

C．The Causes for Disabilities

D．Medical Treatments for Disabilities

A new study of 8,000 young people in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior shows that although love can make adults live healthily and happily，it is a bad thing for young people．Puppy love（早戀）may bring stress for young people and can lead to depression（憂郁癥）．The study shows that girls become more depressed than boys，and younger girls are the worst of all．
The possible reason for the connection between love and higher risk of depression for girls is “l(fā)oss of self”．According to the study，even though boys would say “l(fā)ose themselves in a romantic relationship”，this “l(fā)oss of self” is much more likely to lead to depression when it happens to girls．Young girls who have romantic relationships usually like hiding their feelings and opinions．They won’t tell that to their parents．
Dr Marianm Kaufman，an expert on young people problems，says 15% to 20% young people will have depression during their growing．Trying romance often causes the depression．She advises kids not to jump into romance too early．During growing up，it is important for young people to build strong friendships and a strong sense of self．She also suggests the parents should encourage their kids to keep close to their friends，attend more interesting school activities and spend enough time with family．
Parents should watch for signs of depression—eating or mood changes—and if they see signs from their daughters or sons，they need to give help．The good news is that the connection between romance and depression seems to become weak with age．Love will always make us feel young，but only maturity（成熟）gives us a chance to avoid its bad side effects．
小題1:What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Romance is good for young people．

B．Parents should forbid their children’s love．

C．Romance is a two ­edged sword for adults．

D．Puppy love may bring young people depression．

小題2:Which of the following is more likely to have depression?

A．Young girls who always hide their feelings and opinions．

B．Young boys whose parents watch for their behavior．

C．Young people who have a strong sense of selfishness．

D．Careless parents whose children are deep in love．

小題3:What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Lacking love can lead young people to grow up more quickly．

B．The older a woman is，the less likely she seems to lose herself in romance．

C．Parents should help their children to be aware of the signs of depression．

D．Early love makes young people keep close to their friends and parents．

小題4:What’s the author’s attitude towards puppy love?

A．Confused	B．Scared
C．Disinterested	D．Disapproving

About a week ago, my 4­year­old cousin and I were playing basketball at our local park. The__31__was warm, and many other children were outside__32__. As we played, I noticed a small group of boys__33__a smaller, skinnier, and possibly younger boy. They were calling him names and__34__pushed him to the ground and__35__dirt in his face. When I saw that, I grabbed my__36__by the hand and walked over to the__37__.
I stepped__38__them and the younger boy, and asked them__39__what this boy had done deserved__40__they were doing to him. They all__41__silently for a moment, and then the most amazing thing __42__：one of the boys who hadn't said anything since I__43__stepped around the younger boy and helped him off the__44__and then apologized. He offered to let him play with them，__45__the boy quietly said “thank you” and refused, and then left there.
As I looked around, I__46__that there were dozens of other people at the park—some of them were__47__with children of their own—but no one else had stopped to help this boy. I felt__48__that the one of the boys was brave enough to stand up against his friends to help someone__49__， but I felt sad that no one else had even taken a second__50__. I couldn't help but think that those parents at the park would want someone to help their child in that situation, and yet they did nothing but stood by.

小題1:	A．climate B．a(chǎn)tmosphere C．a(chǎn)ir D．weather

小題2:	A．a(chǎn)s usual B．a(chǎn)s well C．a(chǎn)s planned D．a(chǎn)s yet

小題3:	A．picking on B．leaving for C．staying in D．taking over

小題4:	A．yet B．only C．even D．just

小題5:	A．noticed B．kicked C．watched D．showed

小題6:	A．cousin B．son C．daughter D．boy

小題7:	A．class B．family C．group D．society

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)mong B．a(chǎn)t C．over D．between

小題9:	A．hopefully B．finally C．politely D．possibly

小題10:

A．who B．how C．why D．what

小題11:

A．came B．went C．stood D．talked

小題12:

A．continued B．stopped C．emerged D．happened

小題13:

A．jumped up B．walked over C．went by D．went away

小題14:

A．tree B．room C．stone D．ground

小題15:

A．so B．but C．then D．still

小題16:

A．expected B．imagined C．realized D．a(chǎn)dmitted

小題17:

A．neighbors B．friends C．classmates D．parents

小題18:

A．a(chǎn)ngry B．sorry C．sad D．happy

小題19:

A．in turn B．in advance C．in need D．in all

小題20:

A．knock B．shout C．noise D．glance