Women are on their way to holding more than half of all American jobs. The latest government report shows that their share of nonfarm jobs nearly reached fifty percent in September.
Not only have more and more women entered the labor market over the years, but the depression has been harder on men. In October the unemployment rate for men was almost eleven percent compared to eight percent for women.
Industries that traditionally use lots of men have suffered deep cuts. For example, manufacturing and building lost more jobs last month. But health care and temporary employment services have had job growth. Both of those industries employ high percentages of women.
Thirty years ago, women earned sixty-two cents for every dollar that men earned. Now, for those who usually work full time, women earn about eighty percent of what men earn. And women hold fifty-one percent of good-paying management and professional jobs.
Yet a study released Thursday said men still hold about nine out of every ten top positions at the four hundred large companies in California. The results have remained largely unchanged in live years of studies from the University of California, Davis.
Also, a new research paper in the journal Sex Roles looks at the experiences of women who are the main earners in their family. Rebecca Meisenbach at the University of Missouri in Columbia interviewed fifteen women. She found they all valued their independence and many enjoyed having the power of control, though not all wanted it.
But they also felt pressure, worry and guilt. Partly that was because of cultural expectations that working women will still take care of the children. Also, men who are not the main earners may feel threatened.
The job market continues to suffer the effects of last year’s financial crash. Now, a judgment has been reached in the first case involving charges of criminal wrongdoing on Wall Street.
Last week, the government lost its case against two managers at Bear Stearns, the first investment bank to fail last year. A jury found Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin not guilty of lying to investors.
The hedge funds they supervised lost their value in two thousand seven. But jurors said there was no clear evidence that they meant to mislead investors.
The Justice Department continues to investigate other companies.
小題1:Why is the unemployment rate for men higher.

A．Because there are more men workers in industries.

B．Because many industries mainly employing men now don’t need so many workers.

C．More and more women take the place of men.

D．Because health care and temporary employment services don’t employ men.

小題2:It can be inferred from the passage that __________.

A．women haven’t got complete equality as men

B．only by becoming the main earners in their family can women gain a high position

C．a(chǎn)ll women now value independence and the power of control

D．taking care of children is now shared by men and women

小題3:Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Men hate that women earn more money.

B．It is commonly believed that women should take care of children.

C．The job market has recovered from the effect of the financial crisis.

D．Now women working full time earn more than men.

小題4: Why does the government accuse two managers?

A．They contributed to the financial crash.	B．They led a corrupt life.
C．They lied to investors.	D．A jury found them misleading investors.

小題1:If someone has an accident in the afternoon, you should ____________.

A．Phone 37499	B．Ensure no one enters the danger area
C．Report to the Police station at J J Thomson Ave	D．Call an ambulance on 1-999

小題2:Where do you think you can find this notice?

A．In the Assembly area	B．At the Fire station
C．At the University	D．At Turner Hospital

小題3:Anytime you hear the fire alarm, you should _____________.

A．go to the Assembly area	B．phone the Fire brigade on 37499
C．use the red ‘break glass boxes’	D．make sure the fire alarms aren’t being tested

閱讀下面短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D項中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。Roy wasn't the only one to receive his call-up（入伍）papers．Stephen Napier's call-up came at the beginning of February and he was pleased to find that he would be going into the Royal Air Force (RAF)．
His father was not so pleased and made his feelings known as he and Stephen were on their daily walk. It was the first step in his plans for Stephen to take over the estate（地產(chǎn)）when the time came, and although Stephen was well aware of this, he could think of no reason not to accompany him.
"Thought you'd forgotten that nonsense. Still, I dare say I could pull a few strings to get you to the Army..."
"No, Father! I have told you I want to learn to fly. What chance would I have to do that in the Army? I'd be better off in the Navy——at least they've got the Fleet Air Arm. But I have been put in the RAF and that's where I want to be, so let's leave it at that." His face went red. Sent to his father's school and then to Cambridge, much to his satisfaction, he had never had to defend his own desires and his father was a hard man to oppose.
The father glared at Stephen, "No, I won't leave it at that. I want to know what other ridiculous ideas are in your head. For a start, what's all this about America?"
"America?"
"Yes. All those books I saw in your room the other day. Brochures about emigration（移民）．"
The big, silvered head lowered, like that of a bull about to charge．"Don't trouble to deny it."
"I won't, Father. Some men at Cambridge have been talking about it. They want people like us here, mathematicians and scientists, for all kinds of research——the sort of research I could do．It would be a worthwhile life for me."
The father responded exactly as his son had known he would．"You've got a worthwhile life here！You've got an estate to run！"
"No, Father. You've got an estate to run. I never asked for it. Why not ask Baden to do this stuff? He perhaps can make a good job of it, but I..."
"If he were here, I might think about this silly idea of yours——only think about it, mind you but..."
小題1:If Father wanted Stephen to take over the estate, the first thing he did would__________．

A．take a walk with Stephen as usual

B．wait till his son graduated from Cambridge

C．persuade Stephen not to go into RAF

D．send Stephen to the Army instead of RAF

小題2:Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Stephen preferred to go into the Navy rather than the Army.

B．Stephen also received his call-up papers as Roy.

C．The father didn't like Stephen's idea of going to America.

D．Stephen was eventually forced to stay to run the estate．

小題3: After reading this passage, we can infer that__________．

A．Stephen had never had to defend his desires before

B．Baden might be one of Stephen's family members

C．Stephen wanted to fly in RAF and become a pilot in America

D．if somebody took over the estate, Stephen could realize his dream

小題4:What do we learn from the underlined sentence?

A．It looked as if the father was angry when mentioning the brochures.

B．The father was very angry and wanted to beat his son Stephen．

C．Stephen was annoyed when his father referred to the brochures.

D．A big red bull was about to charge at Stephen.

小題5:Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．RAF——a better choice than the Army	B．A talk between Father and Son
C．The dreams of a Cambridge student	D．Conflict between Father and Son

WHAT happens to a teenage kid when the world he thought he knew suddenly changes? Find out in Little Brother by American author Cory Doctorow. It is a fascinating book for a new generation of sci-fi readers.
Marcus Yallow, 17, from San Francisco is much more comfortable in front of a computer than obeying the rules of society. Smart, fast and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting (騙過) his high school’s monitoring system. This way he and his friends get to head off to play a popular online game in real life.
While they are playing, a bomb explodes on the Bay Bridge. Marcus stops a military vehicle to get help for his injured friend, but this simple act throws him into a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secret prison. There he is treated as a possible terrorist. He is eventually let go after four days, but his injured friend disappears.
When he returns, Marcus discovers that there are many "security measures" in place and that now all citizens are treated like potential terrorists. While some consider this government action necessary for public safety, Marcus sees this as a complete destruction of the rights he is supposed to have as a citizen.
He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him with only one thing to do: to take down the DHS himself. He helps organize a large network called Xnet to spread the truth, anonymously (匿名地).
The book presents a young man who is irresponsible, but learns about himself, and grows, in the course of the story. As part of this learning and growing he becomes aware of very serious issues about his society.
小題1: What kind of article does this passage belong to?     

A．A fascinating story.

B．A book review.

C．News report

D．A TV programme

小題2: The underlined word destruction in the passage means         .     

A．damage

B．reward

C．ruin

D．protection

小題3: Marcus Yallow was sent to prison because         .        

A．he killed his friend

B．he bombed a military vehicle

C．he did something that a possible terrorist could do

D．his injured friend disappeared

小題4:From the second paragraph we can infer that         .     

A．Marcus Yallow is much more comfortable obeying the rules of society

B．Marcus Yallow is smart, fast and wise in real life

C．Marcus Yallow always plays online games in real life

D．Marcus Yallow is expert at the network world

小題5:In the end of the book, Marcus Yallow         .      

A．is supposed to be more irresponsible

B．becomes aware of very serious issues about his society

C．presents a young man who is irresponsible

D．plays a popular online game in real life

A baby can quickly damage a new mother’s well-laid plans for getting back to pre-pregnancy(孕前的) weight and shape.
The constant demands, together with the exhausting effects of interrupted sleep, can make it hard to find the time and energy to exercise or prepare healthy meals.
Here are some tips for common problems new moms face:
Problem: No time to cook proper meals. When you’re caring for a baby, cooking proper meals seems like a luxury. Instead you rely on convenience meals and processed foods.
Solution: Try to get more support. Friends, family members, and neighbors are often delighted to help, so don’t feel you have to do everything yourself. Use the extra time to prepare some healthy meals. Follow the basic rules of cutting down on fat and increasing fruit and vegetable intake.
Problem: Sugary or high-fat snacks（零食）. Tiredness can leave you feeling sleepy, run-down, and in need of an immediate help from sweets and high-fat snacks.
Solution: Turn snacking to your advantage. Eat high-fiber, low-fat, low-sugar snacks; these will fill you up without adding too many calories. For an energy boost, eat a banana, which is high in potassium -- a mineral essential for muscle and nerve function -- or try a handful of raisins, which are high in iron but low in fat.
Problem: No time or energy to exercise. A baby is a constant demand on your time, so you’re too tired or busy to exercise.
Solution: Increasing activity levels will help you obtain a net calorie loss, while toning exercises will tighten your muscles. Though you may feel too tired to do any exercise, it is worth persevering because in the long run your energy levels will increase. Involve your baby in your postnatal(產(chǎn)后) exercises; start by walking with the child in a carriage or sling. Swimming is another aerobic exercise that you can both enjoy by joining a mother and baby class. Many pools have childcare facilities, so you can swim a few laps on your own.
Problem: Lack of sleep. The new baby interrupts your sleep, depleting your energy and leaving you tense and exhausted.
Solution: Practice some relaxation techniques whenever you have a few free moments. Meditation, visualization, or yoga can help your body recover and give you more energy.

Dear Kate,
I’m very   36   that you are coming to our school so soon.   37   you arrive, let me introduce   38   you what our school life is like.
Our school is quite famous   39   its long history. It was   40   in the early 1920s. It is a good place   41   we can prepare ourselves well for the future. We have many wonderful teachers who are always ready to   42   help.   43   we pay a lot of attention to how well we do in lessons,   44   high scores is not the only reason to study. The teachers encourage us to try out new ideas and ask questions.   45   their help we have developed all kinds of interests in both Arts and Science. Students can choose to   46   any school clubs they are   47   in. We can also choose the subjects that we want to study. Last term I selected American Literature, because I wanted to learn about famous American writers. This term I chose to attend music classes because my father bought me a piano   48   a birthday present.
  49   , I was elected monitor of my class,   50   it can be   51   to be a monitor,   52   I have to do a lot of work and attend many meetings.   53   , being a monitor has taught me a lot, such as caring for others and taking responsibilities and so on. When my class was given the title of “Model Class”, I was   54   than ever before. So being a monitor plays an important part in my school life. I’m very pleased with my work.
I love my school and hope that you will have a pleasant experience here too. I am looking forward to   55   you soon.

小題1:	A．excited B．exciting C．excite D．excitement

小題2:	A．When B．Before After C．After D．As soon as

小題3:	A．for B．to C．with D．in

小題4:	A．a(chǎn)s B．by C．for D．with

小題5:	A．finded B．found C．find D．founded

小題6:	A．when B．that C．where D．which

小題7:	A．gives B．donates C．offer D．a(chǎn)sk

小題8:	A．But B．Though C．Because D．So

小題9:	A．make B．making C．a(chǎn)chieve D．a(chǎn)chieving

小題10:

A．Under B．For C．With D．By

小題11:

A．join B．a(chǎn)ttend C．join in D．take part in

小題12:

A．interest B．interested C．interesting D．interests

小題13:

A．for B．by C．a(chǎn)s D．with

小題14:

A．On the way B．In the way C．By the way D．By way of

小題15:

A．sometime B．some time C．sometimes D．some times

小題16:

A．tired B．tires C．tire D．tiring

小題17:

A．but B．for C．so D．yet

小題18:

A．But B．So C．However D．And

小題19:

A．proud B．more proud C．prider D．prouder

小題20:

A．meet B．meets C．meeting D．met

Scholars and researchers have tried to discover what personality characteristics go along with success in intercultural(跨文化的)experiences. Their findings have often been unclear or incomplete. But three characteristics stand out in their reports: patience, a sense of humor, and the awareness (意識, 認識)of being unclear.
Patience, of course, is the ability to keep calm even when things do not go as one wants them to, or hopes they will, or has even been sure they will. Impatience sometimes brings improvements in relations with other people, but usually it does not.
A person with a sense of humor is less likely to take things too seriously and more ready to see the humor in his own reactions than a humorless person. The value of a sense of humor really needs to be paid more attention to.
The awareness of being unclear is a more difficult concept than patience or a sense of humor. Foreigners often find themselves in situations that are unclear to the newcomers. That is, they do not know what is happening in the situation. Perhaps they do not understand the local language well enough, or they do not know how some system or organization works, or they can’t be sure of different people’s roles in what is going on. “It’s like I just got here from the moon,” a Chinese graduate student who newly arrived in the United States said, “things are just so different here.”
小題1:The passage mainly tells us        .

A. that it’s not easy to travel abroad

B. that humor is very important in communication

C. of some characteristics in dealing with foreigners

D. of three main ways useful for communicating with foreigners

小題2: According to the passage, what characteristic should be most focused on?

A. Patience.	B. The awareness of being unclear.
C. The sense of humor.	D. Understanding each other.

小題3:“The awareness of being unclear” refers to        .

A. knowing the meaning of an exact situation

B. not stating clearly what happens

C. realizing the possible misunderstanding in a situation

D. being aware of the unclear situation

小題4:According to the writer, the Chinese students are        .

A. a hard-working student	B. recently back from the moon
C. interested in the study of moon	D. not used to the culture in America

小題5:Which of the following can best sum up the passage?

A. A. It is necessary to learn the language before you go to the country.

B. Americans are used to the culture of other countries.

C. One needs many characteristics to live in a foreign country.

D. To live in a foreign land one should get fully prepared.

 

Sophia Richardson: Both my parents are really important to me. My parents are really more than friends. They’re the people I can open up and talk to. Talking to them is like talking to one of my friends. They’ve been there for me and given me good advice on a lot of my problems.
Stacey Avnes: My Jewish big sister is important to me. Her name is Lauren. We’ve been together for two years. My mom is a single mom and she is very busy. Lauren is someone who helps me deal with all this stuff because she’s someone I can talk to. She’s like a second mom to me and also a best friend. If I have any problem, I can call her and she’ll come and pick me up and we’ll go to a park and talk.
Jean Park: It’s my uncle who is important to me. When I’m with him, I’m grateful（感激的） for the small things—being alive and healthy; having a good family and friends. He’s also very grateful for the small things and gives back to his community（社區(qū)）.
Melaku Shierfaw: My father is important to me. He came here from a rich family in Africa. But when he came, he didn’t take any money and started fresh. He showed that he could do everything by himself without the help of others and he’s successful. It shows me that I can do anything as long as I try.
Kalin Scott-Wright: My great grandmother is in charge of our whole family. She was born in 1920. I know she went through a lot in her life. She was a very strong woman and she raised my mom and took her in. She had a kind spirit and loved me and my brother. She’ll always be there for me although she’s not alive any longer.
小題1:We can infer that Sophia             .

A．is always in trouble

B．has few friends

C．gets along well with her parents

D．depends too much on her parents

小題2:What do we know about Stacey’s big sister?

A．She is very lonely.

B．She is a single mother.

C．She is Stacey’s only friend.

D．She often helps Stacey.

小題3:What does Jean’s uncle teach her?

A．To be grateful for the small things in life.

B．To be ready to help her community.

C．To treat others like friends.

D．To have a good family.

小題4: From his father, Melaku has learnt that            .

A．not everyone can be successful

B．money is not important in one’s life

C．one should never ask others for help

D．he can do anything as long as he tries

Friends are very important in our everyday life. Everyone ___1___ friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is ___2__ to have a friend to talk, laugh, and do things with. ___3___, sometimes we need to be alone. We don’t always want people ___4___. But we would feel lonely if we ___5___ had a friend.
No two people are just the same. Friends ___6___ don’t get on well. That doesn’t ___7__ that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will make up and become __8__ again.
Sometimes friends move away. Then we feel very ___9___. We miss them very much, but we can ___10___ them and write to them. And we can ___11___ new friends. It is encouraging to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them.
There’s more good news for people who have friends. They live __12___ than people who don’t. Why? Friends can make us feel happy. ___13___ happy helps you stay well. Or it could be much better that someone cares. If someone cares about you, you take ___14__ care of ___15___.
(  ) 1. A. loves       B. hates         C. needs       D. becomes
(  ) 2. A. nice        B. sad          C. bad         D. afraid
(  ) 3. A. Hardly      B. Nearly       C. Suddenly     D. Certainly
(  ) 4. A. alone       B. away         C. over        D. around
(  ) 5. A. ever        B. never        C. just         D. really
(  ) 6. A. always      B. sometimes     C. often       D. usually
(  ) 7. A. think       B. say           C. mean      D. speak
(  ) 8. A. partners     B. classmates     C. parents     D. friends
(  ) 9. A. angry       B. sad           C. happy      D. alone
(  ) 10. A. call        B. ask           C. tell        D. talk
(  ) 11. A. look        B. find          C. make       D. know
(  ) 12. A. longer      B. shorter        C. slower      D. faster
(  ) 13. A. Smelling     B. Being        C. Sounding    D. Making
(  ) 14. A. less         B. better         C. worse       D. more
(  ) 15. A. you          B. your         C. yours        D. yourself

Flying across the globe, whether on business or for leisure, is usually effortless——you just have to book your ticket, pack your bags and show up at the airport with your passport. You board the plane and several cocktails and movies later, you arrive at your destination, and hopefully, your baggage does too. Here are some tips on how to be a clever traveler.
Easy check-in
Avoid the queue and check yourself in by using the MAS Web Check-In (malaysiaairlines.com) in the comfort of your own home or office. Passengers can now check in online anytime from 24 hours to 90 minutes ahead of the scheduled departure time. This is available for flights departing from all MAS stations ——except Paris, Kunming, Xiamen and Bandar Seri Begawan——to all MAS destinations. You can even select preferred seats online.
Bag hygiene
No, we’re not talking about the cleanliness of your bags! It’s the aviation talk for a bag that doesn’t carry any old baggage tags with barcodes that could confuse the baggage sensor（傳感器）.
If you find yourself arriving in Sydney while your bag lands in Tokyo, it could be because of your old baggage tag. Another reason why bags go missing could be the printing quality of the barcode; bags are misdirected because the sensors can’t read the codes correctly.
Less is more
Most airports around the world now set a weight limit of 32kg per piece of baggage. This will not only help protect the airline workers’ health, but also be easier for you to carry your bags around.
Avoid packing dangerous goods or placing valuables inside your check-in luggage. Ensure that locks are properly secured as a lot of baggage locks are found caught between the conveyor belts（傳送帶）. Smaller and softer bags are usually placed inside a tray at check-in to protect the locks from contact with the conveyor belt.
小題1:According to the passage, airplane passengers ______.

A．can check in without going to the airport

B．have to check in 90 minutes earlier

C．a(chǎn)re required to check in on the MAS web

D．can select their favorite seats when getting aboard

小題2:What’s the meaning of the underlined word “hygiene” in the passage?

A．Disappearance.	B．Protection.
C．Check.	D．Cleanliness.

小題3:Why does baggage sometimes go missing according to the passage?
a. The bags are too old and dirty.
b. The sensors can’t read the barcodes correctly.
c. The old tag is still on the bag.
d. The bags are too heavy to check.

A．a(chǎn), b

B．b, c

C．c, d

D．b, d

小題4: Which of the following statements is TRUR about check-in baggage?

A．Each piece can weigh 30 kg at the most.

B．Smaller and softer bags should be separated from other ones.

C．Valuable things should be kept inside a tray.

D．Bags containing dangerous things can be caught on the conveyor belts.