Across the planet there are millions of people who engage in some type of meditation, the practice of concentrating and clearing the mind to bring the body into a state of peace, at least a semi-regular basis. For some, particularly among practitioners of Eastern religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism, this is part and parcel of their religious practice.
For others, particularly in Western cultures, meditation tends to be a response to stress. With the world economy approaching meltdown and people worried about their job or their ability to keep their home, it’s a way for people to attain a state of peace of mind and well-being.
For those interested in taking up the practice, instruction in meditation for beginners can be found in literally thousands of sources.
One of the most popular styles of mediation in the West, with classes offered in most major cities, is called Transcendental Meditation. TM, as it is known among its practitioners, first came to worldwide attention when the Beatles began practicing it in 1967. For direct, guided, personal instruction in meditation for the beginner, TM may be the hallmark.
Part of the confusion about how to practice meditation effectively is due to the fact that there are literally hundreds of techniques championed by various groups and individuals. As a general principle, it might be said that all meditation techniques seek to have the practitioner attain a state of consciousness that is different to our ordinary state of awareness. They attempt to train people to clear their minds and achieve a sense of inner peace. It sounds simple enough, but of the huge number of people experiment with meditation, very few are able to maintain its practice over the long haul. In most cases, this is due to frustration over the inability to experience any dramatic, instantly recognizable effects.
This is quite a sad state of affairs, that so few these days are willing or equipped to persist in something that doesn’t provide immediate life-changing results. It reflects a culture in which demands for discipline and sustained effort are considered unnecessary or even unfair. It is no surprise therefore that many people abandon their efforts at meditation before they have a chance to bear fruit.
But for anyone who does decide to take up this worthwhile practice, please remember. You must clear your mind, relax and “take it as it comes”. Maintain the practice with a sense of discipline and devotion, and eventually benefits of inner peace and calm will be yours.
小題1:The underlined part “part and parcel of” in paragraph 1 is nearest in meaning to ________.

A．closely associated with	B．very different to
C．usually sent from	D．a(chǎn)n important element of

小題2:The goal of meditation is ________.

A．to clear the mind	B．to practice a religion
C．to develop a technique	D．to carry out an experiment

小題3:What can we infer about meditation from the passage?

A．It has two main types.

B．It is practiced by many famous artists.

C．Its benefits are not immediately obvious.

D．Most people find it a very good way to relax.

小題4:According to the writer, what has attracted many Western people to meditation practices in recent years?

A．Their improved understanding of foreign culture.

B．The need to fill in their growing free time.

C．Increasing employment instability.

D．Migration from countries in which meditation is traditional.

小題5:Who is the probable audience for this article?

A．Experienced meditation practitioners.

B．People interested in starting to learn meditation.

C．Buddhists and Hindus.

D．People who are very religious.

If you haven’t seen or heard anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you’ve probably been avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive driving or Road Rage recently if you drive at all.
While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 4,1907 people died on the highway last year. Of those deaths, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were caused at least in part by aggressive driving behaviour.
Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now and why is it something that seemed almost nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have certain theories, and all are probably partially correct. One suggestion is sheer overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of the cars on the roads has increased by more than 11 percent, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent. However, the number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent. That means more cars in the same amount of space.; and the problem is magnified in urban areas. Also, people have less time and more things to do. With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day, street levels have never been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in certain situations, can spell Road Rage.
You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively, but you might be surprised. For instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver, sounded the horn long and hard at another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing? If you recognize yourself in any of these situations, watch out!
Whether you are getting angry at other drivers, or another driver is visibly upset with you, there are things you can do to avoid any major conflict. If you are susceptible (easily influenced) to Road Rage, the key to discharge your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver’s rage, do everything possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their way.
小題1:The first sentence in Para 1 implies that__________.

A．one may be angered by media reports and wants to avoid them.

B．the media coined the term “Road Rage” only a few months ago.

C．Road Rage has received much media coverage in the last few months.

D．people not interested in the media know little about recent happenings

小題2:The underlined “spell” in Para3 means___________.

A．relieve

B．cause

C．spread

D．prevent

小題3:Which of the following characterizes aggressive driving?

A．Talking while driving.

B．Driving at high speed.

C．Sounding the horn when passing.

D．Shouting at another driver.

小題4:The last paragraph is intended to ___________.

A．tell people how to deal with Road Rage.

B．inform people how aggressive drivers could be.

C．show people how to control themselves when angry.

D．warn people against eye contact with another driver

When you see homework covering the kitchen table and toys are piling up around the sofa，you probably wish there was a bit more space．You are not alone．Nearly a third of parents say they feel squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move to a bigger property，a report reveals today．
Twenty—nine percent say ‘their property is too small to fit the size of their family’—rising to 40 percent for those 34 and under．One in four children is ‘forced to share’ a bedroom，according to the Finda Property，com website．Property analyst Samantha Baden said：“Afford ability remains a key issue for families，with the average cost of a three-bedroom home around ￡193,000．”Very few can afford to buy—or to rent—a property of the size they want and in the area they desire to live in，according to Miss Baden．
A recent report，from investment firm LV，also found that many‘ space—starved parents’ are pushed into a two—bedroom home which was perfect when they were a young couple，but has no space for three or so children．Grown—up children who cannot afford to leave home are also adding to the problem facing families in Britain's ‘big squeeze’．
For a home to be the correct size, which means it is not overcrowded，parents must have their own bedroom．Children under ten can share, as well as same—sex children between ten and 20．Anyone over 21 also needs their own room．
The report comes as official figures，published yesterday by the Land Registry，revealing house prices are falling sharply in every region except London．The worst—hit area is the North East，where, average house prices have fallen to below￡100,000 for the first time in seven years. However，they remain unaffordable for millions．
小題1:According to Paragraph 1，the report reveals          .

A．some families can't afford a bigger property

B．children like to do homework in the kitchen

C．only a few families have housing problem

D．people are satisfied with their living condition

小題2:What Miss Baden said in Paragraph 2 means            .

A．most families don't have enough money yet

B．no family could afford a three—bedroom home

C．it is common to live in a three—bedroom home

D．the price of a bigger property is still acceptable

小題3:The report from the investment firm LV shows            .

A．young couples should live in a two—bedroom home

B．families with three or so children couldn't afford a home

C．parents should buy houses for their grown—up children

D．some grown—up children couldn't afford a separate home

小題4:According to the passage，the right size for a home means           .

A．parents should have a bedroom of their own

B．a(chǎn)nyone over 21 needs to live in their own home

C．children under ten should share parents’ bedroom

D．children under 20 should have their own bedroom

小題5:What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．House prices are falling down everywhere．

B．People are able to buy a home of correct size．

C．The North East is now all area．suitable to live in．

D．The house prices in London has not fallen down．

Combining families with kids can be tough and offers even more unexpected problems. You just don’t know how things will shake out until everyone is under one roof, trying on new roles with name that start with “step”. This is what happened to Sheila and Will, and Sheila’s 8-year-old daughter Ashley. After the couple got married, and Will became the member of the new family, things got worse than expected. How did they make it work? Read the full version of the story here.
Shelia’s Turn: When Shelia and Will were dating, he seemed like kids, especially Ashley. He’d bring her presents, play games with her. But after the wedding, things took a turn. Will suddenly became a super strict stepfather, scolding Ashley for watching too much cartoons, constantly picking fights and punishing her for offenses as small as spilling milk. Shelia’s thought about leaving Will, but soon after they married, they had a son, Billy. Will adores his well-behaved boy, but Ashley hates him. Shelia doesn’t know what to do--- her daughter is miserable, but leaving her husband might mean losing her son.
Will’s turn: Will was so excited to be a male role model in Ashley’s life. He didn’t just want to be a guy living in her house; he wanted to treat her like his own daughter, which, to Will, meant giving Ashley more rules and help her learn responsibility. He’d always felt that Shelia let Ashley loose on everything. But after the wedding, Will was surprised that Shelia didn’t want him to do that. If Will takes away Ashley’s TV privileges or tells her to clean up her room, Shelia just lets Ashley do what she likes and does it herself. Will was tired of this and he’d rather take his son and go.
The advisor’s turn: The counselor(顧問) quickly recognized their conflict as a classic case of unspoken, hidden expectations. Before the wedding, when it was just Shelia and Will, everything was easy. But now, everyone in their big family is competing for attention, and the couple never sat down and discussed the biggest issue---their child-upbringing philosophies(育兒經(jīng)). The counselor suggested Shelia allow Will to give some rules on Ashley but Will’s punishments couldn’t be extreme. Once Ashley saw that her mom and stepdad had become a united front, she cooperated more.
小題1:The text is most likely to be found in a book about______.

A．popular science	B．historical events
C．social problems	D．political systems

小題2:The reasons for Ashley’s dislike of Will are as follows except_____?

A．Will often picked fights with Ashley.

B．Ashley often spilled milk on the floor.

C．Will always punished her for bad behaviors.

D．Ashley was stopped watching too many cartoons.

小題3:What can we know about Will?

A．Will has a good intention.

B．Will does not love children

C．Will does not love Shelia any more

D．Will’s way of parenting is very perfect.

小題4:It can be inferred from the passage that the advisor’s attitude to their problem?

A．Negative

B．Objective

C．Critical

D．. Subjective

English is spoken as a first language by most people in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. However, English is spoken all over the world. It is the main language in over 60 countries, such as India, Singapore and in many of the Caribbean and Pacific islands. In those places English is often a second language.
English is also as an important international language in many other countries, like China and Japan. People in these countries use it for business, and travelers to these countries use English when they get there. Other people may learn English because they enjoy reading books in English, listening to British or American music or watching American films.
English has changed a lot these years and still goes on changing. It is no longer right to talk about British English or American English if the speaker doesn’t come from those countries. People in Japan or Korea, for example, may use the American spelling but may not sound like Americans.
English will be the most widely used language in the world in the 21^st century. This language no longer belongs to British, American or Australian speakers. It belongs to anyone who can use this language. After you leave school, you will almost certainly need it.
小題1:In how many countries is English spoken as a first language in the world?

A．Five.

B．Four.

C．Three.

D．Six.

小題2:In which other countries is English spoken as a main language?

A．Britain, USA and Australia.

B．India, Singapore and many of Caribbean and Pacific islands.

C．China and Japan.

D．New Zealand, Ireland and Canada.

小題3:People from other countries learn English for         .

A．passing exams

B．business and traveling

C．reading English books, enjoying English music or watching films

D．Both B and C

小題4:If people in Japan or Korea use the American spelling, they         .

A．will speak the same as Americans

B．may not sound like Americans

C．will speak British English

D．will speak English much better

小題5:Which topic is the best for the passage?

A．A first language in the world.

B．A second language in the world.

C．English around the world.

D．A useful language.

Is war unavoidable? Can war be prevented?
History tells that there were wars, great or small, in every century, in every decade. Throughout the ages, from the Stone age to the Atomic Age, men have been fighting, first with swords and shields(盾), then with guns and cannons, and now, hydrogen bombs and missiles are used for military purpose. But, in spite of all these, it is still my belief that war can be prevented and peace can be won, but it requires the effort of every one of us.
I am sure that we would not like to experience another world war. If it ever happens, two-thirds of the world and much of the civilization which men have gained through time, patience and effort will be destroyed. Will then the remaining one-third of the world be able to survive on its own?
Our task now is not to blame the past, but to plan for the future.
If there is peace in the world, men can use their rockets to explore the mystery of space, their submarines to explore the depth of the sea, their missiles to deliver mails and their fine equipment to penetrate(穿透) the jungles of Africa, instead of using them military.
Governments can use their money to build more schools, so that more children can be educated to be useful citizens. Scientists can use atomic energy to propel (推動(dòng)) steamships and planes. They can also design new machines to increase the production of goods and thus improve the way of living of the people.
How can a peaceful world be achieved? It requires, in my opinion, the understanding and friendship between all people from all nations. Let no one suffer discrimination by reason of color, race, religion, or national origin. Let the rich support the poor and the strong help the weak.
We know that neither peace nor such a dream world can come true in a day or a month. It may even take decades or centuries. But let us plan and begin now.
小題1:The best title for this passage is _________.

A．The Past and the Future	B．To Die or To Survive
C．War and Peace	D．Understanding and Friendship

小題2:In the writer’s opinion, __________.

A．it is too difficult to achieve peace

B．peace can be won through the efforts of all human beings

C．a(chǎn)nother world war is inevitable

D．wars will always exist in the world

小題3:We can infer from the passage that __________.

A．wars were not expensive in the past

B．wars can promote the development of weapons

C．things for military use can be transformed to peaceful use

D．a(chǎn)s long as there are wars, people’s way of living cannot be improved

小題4:What should we do to achieve peace?

A．Spend more money educating children.

B．Stop military exploration

C．Call on people to help each other

D．Act from right now on.

小題5:Which word can best describe the writer’s picture of the future of the world?

A．Optimistic

B．Pessimistic

C．Imaginative

D．Disappointing

In China, many people are leaving the countryside to find jobs in the cities, because the countryside is much poorer than the city, and often there isn't much work there. Services such as hospital and transport are usually much better in the city than in the countryside. They hope that their lives will improve when they move to the city.
But in the big cities of Europe like London or Paris, people are moving out of the city. These rich families want to live a quieter life. They are tired of the noise and the dirt of the city, and they are tired of the crowded streets, crowded trains and buses. They don't want to live in the cities any more. They want a house with a garden in the countryside, and breathe the fresh air there.
So they move out of the cities. Some don't go very far, just a little way out of the city, to the towns near the cities, other people move to the real countryside with sheep, cows and green fields. There, they start new lives and try to make new friends.
Not all those who move from the city to the countryside are happy. After two or three years, many people who have done this feel that it was a big mistake. They don't make so much money and there isn't much work to do. People in the countryside are very different and aren't always very friendly.
As a result, quite a lot of people who have moved to the countryside move back to the city. “It’s wonderful to see crowds in the streets and cinema lights,” they say.
小題1:Which is NOT the reason for people moving to the cities in China?

A．The countryside is much poorer than me city.

B．People in the countryside have nothing to eat.

C．People in the countryside don't have much work to do there.

D．Services in cities are usually much better than those in the countryside.

小題2:Why do some rich families in Europe move to the countryside?

A．Because they will find good jobs.

B．Because they are tired of living in the city.

C．Because they can make more money there.

D．Because they like feeding sheep and cows in the green fields.

小題3:After moving to the countryside, some people in Europe feel unhappy because      .

A．they can’t make much money

B．there isn’t much work for them to do in the countryside

C．some people in the countryside aren’t always very friendly to them

D．A, B and C

小題4:The underlined sentence in the last paragraph shows      .

A．they are happy to move back to the city

B．they will miss their friends in the countryside

C．they still want to move to the countryside

D．they are tired of the noise and the crowded streets in the city

小題5:The best title of this passage may be “    ”.

A．A happy life!	B．Living in the city!
C．Moving out or moving back?	D．Living in the countryside!

If the world were a village of 1,000 people， it would include:
? 584 Asians
? 124 Africans
? 95 Eastern and Western Europeans
? 84 Latin Americans
? 55 former Soviets (including Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, and other national groups)
? 52 North Americans
? 6 Australians and New Zealanders
The people of the village would speak:
? 165 Mandarin
? 86 English
? 83 Hindu/Urdu
? 64 Spanish
? 58 Russian
? 37 Arabic
The above list covers the mother tongues of only half the village.
One-third of the people in the village are children, and only 60 are over the age of 65. Just under half of the married women in the village have access to modem equipments.
This year 28 babies will be born. Ten people will die, 3 of them for lack of food, 1 from can­cer. Two of the deaths will be of babies born within the year. With the 28 births and 10 deaths, the population of the village next year will be 1,018.
In this village of 1,000 persons, 200 people receive 75 percent of the income; another 200 re­ceive only 2 percent of the income.
About one-third have access to clean, safe drinking water.
Of the 670 adults in the village, half can not read nor write.
The village has a total yearly budget , public and private, of over $3 million—$ 3 ,000 per person if it is distributed evenly. Of the total $3 million:
$ 181,000 goes to weapons and warfare
$ 159,000 to education
$ 132,000 to health care
These weapons are under the control of just 100 of the people. The other 900 are watching them with deep anxiety, wondering whether they can learn to get along together.
小題1:Which of the following is true about Mandarin according to the text?

A．Nearly one-third of Asian people speak Mandarin in the village.

B．About 8.25 per cent of the people speak Mandarin in the village.

C．About 16. 5 per cent of the people speak Mandarin in the village.

D．Nearly all the Mandarin-speaking people are from Asia in the village.

小題2:Which of the following problems is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Poverty.

B．Education.

C．Environment.

D．Marriage.

小題3:The underlined part “have access to” (in Para. 4) means_____.

A．use

B．buy

C．produce

D．try

小題4:The last sentence in the text implies that most of the people long for _____.

A．a(chǎn) peaceful world	B．good education
C．better health care	D．a(chǎn) life without anxiety

Facial expressions carry meaning that is determined by situations and relationships. For example, in American culture the smile is in general an expression of pleasure. Yet it also has other uses. A woman’s smile at a police officer does not carry the same meaning as the smile she gives to a young child. A smile may show love or politeness. It can also hide true feelings. For example, many people in Russia consider smiling at strangers in public to be unusual and even improper. Yet many Americans smile freely at strangers in public places (although this is less common in big cities). Some Russians believe that Americans smile in the wrong places; some Americans believe that Russians don’t smile enough. In Southeast Asian culture, a smile is frequently used to cover painful feelings. Vietnamese people may tell a sad story but end the story with a smile.
Our faces show emotions (情感), but we should not attempt（嘗試）to “read” people from another culture as we would “read” someone from our own culture. The fact that members of one culture do not express their emotions as openly as do members of another does not mean that they do not experience emotions. Rather, there are cultural differences in the amount of facial expressions permitted. For example, in public and in formal situations many Japanese do not show their emotions as freely as Americans do. When with friends, Japanese and Americans seem to show their emotions similarly.
It is difficult to conclude about Americans and facial expressiveness because of personal and cultural differences in the United States. People from certain cultural backgrounds in the United States seem to be more facially expressive than others. The key is to try not to judge people whose ways of showing emotion are different. If we judge according to our own cultural habits, we may make the mistake of “reading” the other person incorrectly.
小題1:What does the smile usually mean in the U.S.?

A．Love.

B．Politeness.

C．Joy.

D．Thankfulness.

小題2:The author mentions the smile of the Vietnamese to prove that smile can ___ .

A．show friendliness to strangers	B．be used to hide true feelings
C．be used in the wrong places	D．show personal habits

小題3:What should we do before attempting to “read” people?

A．Learn about their relations with others.

B．Understand their cultural backgrounds.

C．Find out about their past experience.

D．Figure out what they will do next.

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

A．Cultural Differences	B．Smiles and Relationship
C．Facial Expressiveness	D．Habits and Emotions

As many as one in five US teenagers have some degree of hearing loss, according to researchers. They say the problem is growing.
“Teenagers really don’t pay attention to how much noise they are exposed to(接觸),” Josef Shargorodsky of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston told Reuters. “Often people won’t notice it, but even very little hearing loss may influence language development,” said Shargorodsky, one of the researchers.
The study compared surveys from the early 1990s and the mid-2000s. Each included a few thousand teenagers. In the first survey, about 15 percent of teenagers had some degree of hearing loss. Some 15 years later, that number had risen by a third, to nearly 20 percent.
“This certainly is big news,” said Alison Grimes, an ear doctor. “Hearing loss is very common in old people,” Grimes said, but she added that it was worrying to see it happen in the younger age group.
In babies and young children, hearing problems are known to slow language development. The science is less clear for teenagers, but it is easy to imagine how being hard of hearing could influence learning, said Grimes.
The reasons for the rise are still unclear. When researchers asked teenagers about noise exposure – on the job, at school or from activities, for example – the teenagers didn’t report any change. But Shargorodsky said that might not be true. “We know from before that it is difficult to ask this age group about noise exposure – they underestimate it.” Few people would call it noise when they listen to music on their MP3 player, for example. “There is a difference between what we think is loud and what is harmful to the ear,” said Grimes.
Although it’s not clear that the MP3 players cause teenagers’ hearing loss, Grimes said it was still a good idea to turn down the sound and take short breaks from listening.
小題1:The writer advises teenagers __________.

A．to turn the sound down

B．to stop using MP3 players

C．to be clear about the problem

D．to report the change in hearing loss

小題2:The underlined sentence “they underestimate it” means __________.

A．their love for music prevent them realizing the harm

B．their hearing loss is happening without being noticed

C．they think music can be taken as noise to some degree

D．they think it’s harmful sometimes although it’s not loud

小題3:Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Hearing loss may lead to slow language development.

B．Hearing loss in old people is as common as in young people.

C．Researchers have already found some causes of hearing loss.

D．Teenagers know MP3 is harmful, but they can’t stop listening to it.

小題4:What is the best title for the passage?

A．A word short and simple	B．A report by teenagers
C．A message loud and clear	D．A letter from MP3 users