As the railroads and the highways shaped the American West in the past centuries, a new electrical generating(發(fā)電)and transmission (輸送) system for the 21st century will leave a lasting mark on the West, for better or worse. Much of the real significance of railroads and highways is not in their direct physical effect on the scenery, but in the ways that they affect the surrounding community. The same is true of big solar plants and the power lines that will be laid down to move electricity around.
The 19 th century saw land grants(政府撥地) offered to railroad companies to build the transcontinental railroads, leaving public land in between privately owned land. In much of the West, some of the railroad sections were developed while others remained undeveloped, and in both cases the landownership has presented unique challenges to land management. With the completion of the interstate highway system, many of the small towns, which sprang up as railway stops and developed well, have lost their lifeblood and died.
Big solar plants and their power lines will also have effects far beyond their direct footprint in the West. This is not an argument against building them. We need alternative energy badly, and to really take advantage of it we need to be able to move electricity around far more readily than we can now.
So trade-offs will have to be made. Some scenic spots will be sacrificed. Some species(物種) will be forced to move, or will be carefully moved to special accommodations. Deals will be struck to reduce the immediate effects.
The lasting effects of these trade-offs are another matter. The 21st century development of the American West as an ideal place for alternative energy is going to throw off a lot of power and money in the region. There are chances for that power and money to do a lot of good. But it is just as likely that they will be spent wastefully and will leave new problems behind, just like the railroads and the highways.
The money set aside in negotiated trade-offs and the institutions that control it will shape the West far beyond the immediate footprint of power plants and transmission lines. So let’s remember the effects of the railroads and the highways as we construct these new power plants in the West.
小題1:What was the problem caused by the construction of the railways?

A．Small towns along the railways became abandoned.

B．Land in the West was hard to manage.

C．Some railroad stops remained underused.

D．Land grants went into private hands.

小題2:What is the major concern in the development of alternative energy according to the last two paragraphs?

A．The use of money and power.

B．The transmission of power.

C．The conservation of solar energy.

D．The selection of an ideal place.

小題3:What is the author’s attitude towards building solar plants?

A．Disapproving.

B．Approving.

C．Doubtful.

D．Cautious.

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

A．How the Railways Have Affected the West

B．How the Effects of Power Plants Can Be Reduced

C．How Solar Energy Could Reshape the West

D．How the Problems of the Highways Have Been Settled

According to a study by SallieMae, 84 percent of undergraduate students have credit cards, and by the time they are seniors, they have accumulated US $ 4,100 in debt, on top of whatever student loans they may have taken out．
Credit cards are the most convenient form of payment, and they are aggressively marketed to college students．Reportedly, a typical college student carries 4．6 credit cards and US $ 3,173 in credit card debt．
Credit cards seem to be a fact of life, not just student life． In the long term,  using a credit card properly and paying off the balance can help establish a card history and increase your credit score, which will come in handy when you need an important loan, for a house or car, for example．Your credit score can affect even unrelated things like insurance rates．Credit cards also offer more protection for users than debit cards（借記卡）．Under federal law, the credit card holder is only responsible for the first US  $ 50in fraudulent（欺詐的） purchases in cases of theft or loss．However, debit card users are responsible for the first US $ 500．                                   
SallieMae found some good news in the fact that two thirds of students had discussed credit issues with their parents, but 84 percent said they needed more information．Those who didn't get any guidance were more likely to be surprised when they found out how much they owed．
While credit cards offer the easiest access to money, they make it easy to live outside your means．Less than a fifth of students surveyed paid off their balance every month, and carrying a balance brings finance charges, sometimes at a very high interest rates．
SallieMae found that almost 40 percent of students chose their first credit card based on direct mail, which is probably why students get credit card offers in the mail． But when the credit card offers flow in, be sure that you read the fine print．Offers of low or no interest rates can disappear, leaving you a debt that climbs beyond your ability to pay it off．
小題1:What does the first paragraph imply?

A．Most of the senior students are shocked to see how much they owed．

B．Students can only take out loans from credit cards．

C．Most of students' loans come from credit cards．

D．Credit cards have a bad effect on college students．

小題2:The underlined part "come in handy" in the third paragraph probably means “         ”

A．bring trouble	B．make mistakes
C．be important	D．be useful

小題3:According to SallieMae, what is the possible reason why students get so many credit card offers in the mail?

A．Many students' first credit card is based on direct mail．

B．it costs the banks little to mail out credit cards．

C．Students don't like to go to the bank to open a credit card account．

D．Banks have no other way to let students use their credit cards．

小題4:What is the theme of the third paragraph?

A．The advantages of using debit cards．

B．The similarities between credit cards and debit cards．

C．The advantages of using credit cards．

D．Credit cards are the most convenient form of payment．

小題5:According to SallieMae, how many students had not discussed credit issues with their parents?

A．l/3

B．2/3

C．l/4

D．3/4

When I was going home to India last year, I called up my mother to ask if she wanted anything from China.
When India had not opened up its markets to the world, I carried suitcase loads of dark glasses and jeans. Thankfully, we can get all these anywhere in India now.
Still, her answer surprised me: “Green tea.”
As long as I can remember she didn’t even drink Indian tea.
I dutifully bought a big packet of Longjing and headed home to hear the story. My mother and her brother, both regular newspaper readers, believed that Chinese green tea was the wonder drug for all illnesses.
At the turn of the century, China was not really familiar to the average Indian. It was a strange country.
How things change! And how soon!
Now every town of any size seems to have a “China Market”. And everyone is talking about China.
The government of India has planned to send a team to China to see how things are done. A minister once said that India must open the doors for more foreign investment (投資) and such a step would “work wonders as it did for China”.
But it’s a two-way street. I just heard about a thousand Shenzhen office workers who have gone to Rangalore to train in software. Meanwhile, all the IT majors are setting up a strong presence in China.
No wonder that trade, which was only in the millions just ten years ago, is expected to hit about US $15 billion for last year and US $20 billion by 2012, a goal set by both governments.
No wonder, my colleague wrote some weeks ago about this being the Sino-Indian (中國和印度的) century as the two countries started on January 1st the Sino-Indian Friendship Year.
But what is still a wonder to me is my mother’s drinking Chinese tea.
小題1:Why did the mother ask for Chinese green tea?

A．She was tired of Indian tea.

B．She had a son working in China.

C．She believed it had a curing effect.

D．She was fond of Chinese products.

小題2:What does the author mean by “it’s a two-way street” in Paragraph 10?

A．China and India have different traffic rules.

B．Tea trade works wonders in both India and China.

C．Chinese products are popular in both China and India.

D．There are exchanges between India and China.

小題3:What do we know about the Indian IT industry?

A．It is seeking further development in China.

B．It will move its head office to Shenzhen.

C．It has attracted an investment of US $15 billion.

D．It caught up with the US IT industry in 2008.

小題4:In the text the author expresses _______.

A．his concern for his mother’s health

B．his support for drinking Chinese green tea

C．his surprise at China’s recent development

D．his wonder at the growth of India’s IT industry

小題5:It is inferred in the text that _______.

A．the author’s mother loves China very much

B．the Indians were not familiar with China before

C．the government of India encourages their people to buy Chinese green tea

D．the two countries didn’t cooperate until last year

I hated dinner parties. But I decided to give them another shot because I’m in London. And my friend Mallery invited me. And because dinner parties in London are very different from those back in New York. There, “I’m having a dinner party” means “I’m booking a table for 12 at a restaurant you can’t afford and we’ll be sharing the cheque evenly, no matter what you eat.”
Worse, in Manhattan there is always someone who leaves before the bill arrives. They’ll throw down cash, half of what they owe, and then people like me, who don’t drink, end up paying even more. But if I try to use the same trick, the hostess will shout “Where are you going?” And it’s not like I can say I have somewhere to go : everyone knows I have nowhere to go.
But in London, dinner parties are in people’s homes. Not only that, the guests are an interesting mix. The last time I went to one, the guests were from France, India, Denmark and Nigeria; it was like a gathering at the United Nations. In New York, the mix is less striking. It’s like a gathering at Bloomingdale’s, a well-known department store.
For New Yorkers, talking about other parts of the world means Brooklyn and Queens in New York. But at Mallery’s, when I said that I had been to Myanmar recently, people knew where it was. In New York people would think it was a usual new club.
小題1:What does the word “shot” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Choice.

B．Try.

C．Style.

D．Goal.

小題2:What does the author dislike most about dinner parties in New York?

A．There is a strange mix of people.	B．The restaurant are expensive.
C．The bill is not fairly shared.	D．People have to pay cash.

小題3:What does the author think of the parties in London?

A．A bit unusual.	B．Full of tricks.
C．Less costly.	D．More interesting.

小題4:What is the author’s opinion of some New Yorkers from her experience?

A．Easygoing..	B．Self-centred.
C．Generous.	D．Conservative.

小題5:What is the main idea of this article?

A．The author hated dinner parties.

B．The author prefer dinner parties in London to those in New York.

C．The difference between London and New York.

D．Mallery invited the author to a party.

Greece is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. In Greece the bus is the most convenient and preferred means of travelling. There are intercity(城市間的) buses operated by KTEL that interconnect(相互連接) various cities of Greece, and there are international buses operated by OSE that connect Greece to other European cities.
Every tourist must visit Greece at least once in life. This country is really a vacation heaven. It is the perfect blend of history and art with adventure and romance. You can dive into deep blue waters, climb up the mountains or enjoy ancient architecture and history.
Buses in Greece are cheap and very comfortable. All bus stations display schedules of buses on every route. Conductors and drivers are very polite and helpful. Travelers never face any trouble locating and boarding buses to their destinations. Tourists can always ask the conductor to inform them about their stop, so that they can get down at the right stop. Everyone here is more than happy to help tourists.
Athens, the capital of Greece, has three bus terminals. Buses to different part of Greece leave from different terminals.
Air-conditioned express buses(空調(diào)快車) also operated between major cities. They are faster and more comfortable than other buses. Tourists can choose guided Greece bus tour. These tours are the perfect way of exploring this great country.
Buses in Greece are also a great way of saving bucks on the journey. The long-distance bus system is very cheap. Buses save a lot of money to cover long distances, cheaper than taxis or cars. They are also the best means of interacting with local people. You can sit next to a native Greece and get some information about the place.
小題1:The company KTEL offers bus services__________.
A.to different cities in Greece
B.B.from Greece to other countries
C.to tourist attractions in Greece
D.from Greece to its bordering(相鄰的) countries
小題2:It can be inferred from Paragraph 3 that the Greece are_________.

A．generous

B．hard-working

C．economical

D．warm-hearted

小題3:If you are a tourist of Greece from oversea(海外), you’d better choose________.
A. taxis
B.B.cars
C.C.guided Greece bus tours
D.D.air-conditioned express buses
小題4:The underlined word “bucks” in the last paragraph probable refers to_______.

A．money

B．energy

C．time

D．trouble

小題5:While taking long-distance buses, you can________.
A.know more about the bus schedules
B.B.make friends with the conductors
C.learn more about bus systems in Greece
D.learn something about the place you’re visiting

The porter(行李搬運(yùn)工) brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know．Then he points to the phone and says：“If there’s anything else you need, just call．”All this time you have been thinking of one thing：“How much should I tip(付小費(fèi))him?” To make your next trip a little easier, here’s guide to tipping across some Asian countries.
Bangkok(曼谷)
In general, the more westernized the place is, the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip．Some top-end restaurants will add a 10％ service charge to the bill．If not, waiters will appreciate your tacking on(附加)the 10％ yourself．However, if you’re eating at a lower-end restaurant, a tip is not necessary．If you’re staying at one of Bangkok’s many five-star hotels, expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht(泰國貨幣單位),depending on how many bags you have．Taxis are now metered in Bangkok．Local custom is to round up(湊整數(shù))the fare to the nearest five baht．
Hong Kong
Tipping is customary in this money-mad metropolis(大都市)．Most restaurants add a 10％ service charge to the bill, but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good, add another 10％ to the bill, up to HKMYMl00 in an especially nice restaurant．For HK MYM10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HKMYM20 bill may be more acceptable．When in a taxi, round up to the nearest dollar．
Kuala Lumpur（吉隆坡）
Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive westernized hotels, which often add a 10％ service charge to your meal or hotel room．If you are at a hotel restaurant, expect a 10％ service charge．
But at local restaurants, there’s no need to add a tip. At five-star hotels, one or two ringgit(馬來西亞貨幣單位)will satisfy a porter. At lower-end buildings don’t feel you have to tip Like Bangkok, many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit．
Seoul
Tipping is not part of Korean culture, although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10％ service charge is often added．If you’re at a Korean barbecue joint(燒烤處), there’s no need to add anything extra．But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10％ contribution．
If you’re at a top-end hotel, so expect to pay 500～l,000 won per bag．Taxi drivers don’t accept a tip．Keep the change for yourself．
小題1:Which of the following is NOT the unit of money?．

A．Charge

B．Baht

C．Won

D．Ringgit

小題2:In which of the following cities is it unnecessary to tip the taxi-drivers?

A．Bangkok

B．Hongkong

C．Kuala Lumpur

D．Seoul

小題3:If you stay at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur, how much will you pay the porter at least?

A．10％ of service charge

B．Three ringgit

C．Half a ringgit

D．One ringgit

小題4:The writer seems           ．

A．to tell the readers how to travel

B．to give the readers some advice on how to tip

C．to ask the readers to go on a travel to Asian cities

D．to make the trip more pleasant

“A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step,” as the saying goes. However,  36 it doesn’t tell us is that once the journey is started, it might be hard to stop.
That’s the  37 for Tang Renli, a senior at Nanjing University of Technology, who has backpacked to more than 200 cities in China during four years of college. To  38 his experiences, Tang has hosted a photo exhibition Play Hooky, Go Travel at the Beijing 798 Art Zone. On  __39_ are over 300 photos of his travels. The 22-year-old never  40 going to so many places when he   41  his first trip to Yangzhou during the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday in his freshman year. _42  he was hooked on travel. You may  43 how Tang could find the time, being a full-time college student. Did he really skip classes to go travel, like the  44 of his exhibition suggests? “I gave myself one to two weeks every month for travel. But I always took care of my class and  45__ first,” Tang said. Tang, who is a city planning major, has never  ___46_ a compulsory course at college.
“I spent more time and effort on my study,  47 during the finals’ weeks,” Tang said. Schoolwork was not the only  48 Tang had to face. His travel budget was  49 so Tang had to  50 what he had. He usually took the cheapest form of transport and stayed at youth hostels  ___51 less than 50 yuan per night. There were also times when he walked, hitchhiked, and slept in train stations, police offices and vans.
“Sometimes I felt  52 , helpless and even found myself in  _53 ,” Tang said. “But now that I look back, these setbacks  _54 my journey, and my life. Don’t think too much about the  ___55 because you’ll cross that bridge when you get to it. And once you take your first step, the feeling is amazing and addictive.”

小題1:	A．which B．what C．that D．it

小題2:	A．case B．excuse C．motto D．dream

小題3:	A．test B．gain C．share D．identify

小題4:	A．purpose B．performance C．discovery D．display

小題5:	A．thought of B．spoke to C．worried about D．turned out

小題6:	A．competed B．completed C．compromised D．complained

小題7:	A．Up to now B．Until then C．From then on D．In the end

小題8:	A．wonder B．puzzle C．surprise D．trouble

小題9:	A．sentence B．title C．project D．object

小題10:

A．comments B．revision C．a(chǎn)chievements D．a(chǎn)ssignments

小題11:

A．failed B．succeeded C． reached D．missed

小題12:

A．impatiently B．increasingly C．especially D．a(chǎn)nxiously

小題13:

A．excitement B．mixture C．expression D．obstacle

小題14:

A．limited B．granted C．a(chǎn)pplied D．wasted

小題15:

A．pay much attention to B．take no notice of C．put an end to D．make the most of

小題16:

A．losing B．costing C．offering D．cheating

小題17:

A．a(chǎn)lone B．lively C．lonely D．a(chǎn)live

小題18:

A．horror B．a(chǎn)nger C．sorrow D．danger

小題19:

A．enjoyed B．enriched C．engaged D．endured

小題20:

A．importance B．necessities C．uncertainties D．significance

They say money doesn’t grow on trees. But it certainly appears to do so on the mysterious coin-studded(嵌滿) trunks dotted around the UK’s woodland. The strange phenomenon of old trees with coins fixed firmly all over their bark has been spotted on trails from the Peak District to the Scottish Highlands. The coins are usually knocked into felled (砍伐的) tree trunks using stones by passers-by, who hope it will bring them good fortune.
These fascinating spectacles often have coins from centuries ago buried deep in their bark and warped by the passage of time. The tradition of making offerings to gods at wishing trees dates back hundreds of years, but this combination of the man-made and the natural is far more rare. It used to be believed that god’s spirits lived in trees, and they were often decorated with sweets and gifts — as is still done today at Christmas. The act is like tossing money into ponds for good luck, or the trend for couples to attach “l(fā)ove padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance. Some pubs, such as the Punch Bowl in Askham, Cumbria, have old timbers with splits in them into which coins are forced for luck. There are seven felled tree trunks with coins pushed into them in the picturesque village of Portmeirion, in Wales.
Meurig Jones, an estate manager at the tourist destination, told the BBC, “We had no idea why it was being done when we first noticed the tree trunk was being filled with coins. I did some detective work and discovered that trees were sometimes used as ‘wishing trees’. In Britain it dates back to the 1700s — there is one tree somewhere in Scotland which apparently has an old coin stuck into it. ” He said that a sick person could press a coin into a tree and their illness would go away. If someone then takes the coin out though, it’s said they then become ill. We haven’t made it known at all, it’s just happened,” he added. “It’s quite amazing really.” In Scotland, there is also a legend about a kissing tree. If a young man could drive a nail into a tree with one blow, he earned a kiss from his sweetheart.
小題1:What was the real reason why in UK people knocked coins into the old trees?

A．It was hoped that it would bring them good future and make the trees more beautiful.

B．Nobody knew why there was such a strange custom that it could make them lucky.

C．It might come from the tradition of making offerings to gods hundreds of years ago.

D．It was said that god’s spirits lived in trees and doing so could please the gods of the trees.

小題2:The underlined part in Paragraph 2 may mean ____________.

A．this combination of the man-made and the natural is far from realistic.

B．the mysterious phenomenon of old trees with coins is rarely seen in the world.

C．people wanted to make the works of art with the help from the forces of nature.

D．the appearance of trees would be nicer than their original.

小題3:The passage mainly tells us that________.

A．some people attached “l(fā)ove padlocks” to bridges and fences to symbolize lasting romance

B．a(chǎn) particular way in which people made good wishes is still popular in the UK

C．visitors tossed money into ponds for good luck just as they knocked coins into the trees

D．a(chǎn) long history of a strange phenomenon of old trees with coins in the UK

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

A．Who Says Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?

B．Do Trees with Some Coins Become Valuable?

C．Is It Really Amazing to Have Coins Fixed into Trees?

D．What Is the Purpose of Knocking Coins into Trees?

Have you ever wondered about people’s names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?
Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means “bright”; Beatrice means “one who gives happiness”; Donald means “world ruler”; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.
The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪)；Someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.
Other early surnames came from people’s occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter —a person who made pots and pans.
The ancestors(祖先) of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter’s great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.
Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.
Some family names were made by adding something to the father’s name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family’s ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnells and the McDonnells and the O’Donnells are descendants of the same Donnell.
小題1:Which of the following aspects do the surnames in the passage NOT cover?

A．Places where people lived.

B．People’s occupations.

C．Talents that people possessed.

D．People’s characters.

小題2:According to the passage, the ancestors of the Potter family most probably _______.

A．owned or drove a cart

B．made things with metals

C．built houses and furniture

D．made kitchen tools or contains

小題3:Suppose an English couple whose ancestors lived near a leafy forest wanted their new-born son to become a world leader, the baby might be named _______.

A．Donald Greenwood	B．Leonard Carter
C．George Longstreet	D．Beatrice Smith

小題4:The underlined word “descendants” in the last paragraph means a person’s _______.

A．later sponsors	B．later generations
C．friends and relatives	D．colleagues and partners

April 27 is Take Our Daughters to Work Day in Britain. Started at first in the United States and brought to Britain in 1994, Take Our Daughters to Work Day has become a special day for girls between 11 and 15. On that day thousands of girls take a day off school and go together with one of their parents to their work places. The purpose of this day is to broaden girls' horizons（視野）and raise their self-confidence.
For many years people have thought that boys can do better than girls in society. But actually, “girls can be whatever they want to be just like boys, whether it is a pilot, a nurse or a chief executive(主管).”says the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, an organization which supported the activity of the Day. “Now the girls have a close look at what their parents are doing and this may help them to be more self-confident when they are faced with a choice of work."
Schools and many companies support the activity too. Palmers Green High School for girls in north of London, has made the day a necessary part of careers education.
Zarina Bart, 15, from Palmers Green, went with her mother Gwen to her Lawyer's office this year's Take Our Daughters to Work Day. "I learned how to fill in a legal aid form and I read details of a case. Then I went to see the actual trial." she said.
Zarina found it interesting to see her mother at work. “It's really strange seeing Mum at work--running around, getting serious and telling people what to do.” She has always liked this idea of going into law and thinks it likely that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps. Having a chance to see how her mother works has given her more self-confidence.
Experts believe that girls with higher self-confidence aim higher and are more likely to be successful in life. Parents have important effect on the confidence of teenage girls. If parents believe in their daughters and show examples both at work as well as at home for them, this will give a lot of help to girls. Take Our Daughters to Work Day is surely a step in the right direction.
小題1:The writer’s purpose in writing this text is to ______.

A．tell how the special day for girls came into be.

B．show us the girls can do as well as boys.

C．introduce a special day for girls to us.

D．broaden girls’ view and raise their confidence.

小題2:According to the chairman of the Our Sons and Daughters Charitable Trust, ______.

A．girls can do as well as boys in any field.

B．girls need more opportunities in society compared to boys.

C．girls will follow their parents’ jobs after watching them work.

D．girls will be more confident than boys due to the special day.

小題3:A particular mention of Zarina’s story ______.

A．tells what a woman lawyer’s daily work is like

B．serves as an example of how the Day works.

C．shows a successful mother’s effect on the daughter.

D．explains why a girl should go to see mum's office rather than dad.

小題4:In the text the writer especially suggests the importance of ______.

A．parents’ job.

B．support from society.

C．understanding of the parents.

D．girls’ self-confidence.