These days no car show is complete without an electric car, and the 2011 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, US, which ran from January 10 to 23, was no exception.
Among the fully electric vehicles on display were the Ford Focus Electric and the Honda Fit EV. BMW and Volvo also had prominent displays at the show, proving that they can produce practical, yet spacious family-oriented electric cars.
Industry insiders at the show claimed that more efficient batteries, improved performance and greater consumer acceptance could make 2011 the “year of electric car”.
It’s long been clear that electric cars score heavily for convenience. They are, for instance, much easier to maintain than gasoline-powered cars. When the battery runs out, you simply replace it or recharge it, just like you would for a cell phone or a laptop.
This is also a much cheaper method than filling your tank with gasoline. Better yet, electric cars don’t emit exhaust fumes. As a result, they don’t produce environmentally damaging greenhouse gases.
It appears that improved technology is making electric cars and their maintenance much more user-friendly. So, what are the obstacles which are preventing electric cars from becoming popular and fashionable?
Home charging for electric cars could be extremely convenient for users. However, it is also a potential obstacle. For a start, installing charging stations in owners’ homes will be a challenge, particularly for those who have to park several blocks away from their homes.
Also, charging the car’s battery still takes quite a long time. It may be some time yet before you can recharge an electric car in the same time as you can refill your gas tank.
Another problem is that many electric vehicles have limited ranges that may only allow for journeys of 50 miles (80 km) or less between charges. In cases where a driver wishes to charge the car primarily at home (perhaps overnight), this limits their daily driving to the range of their vehicle.
This may be one reason why hybrid cars are now becoming more popular. A hybrid car has more than one energy source, usually a traditional gasoline fuel tank and an electric battery. It’s like a more practical version of an electric car: It’s greener than a conventional vehicle, with fewer CO2 emissions, yet it also doubles as a conventional vehicle.
“I would say that hybrid is a transition to fully electronic,” Road and Track magazine editor Richard Horman told Detroit News during the show. “The trend is for lighter, smarter, more economical cars. Of course, electronic vehicles are meant to be that way.”
This sounds promising, particularly in light of the fact that the show featured more electric cars from big manufacturers than ever before.
However, it seems that the technology associated with electric cars is not yet able to fully meet people’s expectations. Don’t expect gasoline-powered cars to disappear from roads just yet.
小題1: What made electric cars more convenient?   

A．Easier maintenance.	B．High scores on the show.
C．Practicality and large space.	D．Much lower prices.

小題2: Which of the following could NOT act as a potential obstacle of electric cars?

A．It is rough work to install charging stations at home.

B．It is time-consuming to charge the batteries.

C．The ranges between charges are limited.

D．There’s no need to fill the tank with petrol.

小題3:In Paragraph 10, the underlined word “hybrid” is probably closest in meaning to ________.

A．gasoline

B．electric

C．combined

D．separated

小題4:The writer’s purpose in writing this passage is to_________.

A．introduce the 2011 Auto Show in US	B．get readers informed of electric cars
C．comment on different types of cars	D．a(chǎn)dvertise for electric cars

Most of us long for relationships in which we are loved and accepted. Our hearts’ desire is to give and receive love in relationships that make us feel that even if others disagree with what we do or say, they still love us, accept us, and appreciate what we give to the world. While it would be wonderful to have these types of relationships with all people, we know that’s hard to do. However, we can have such relationships with some others, but only when we first have them with ourselves—and, strangely, this is often the hardest relationship of all.
Do you love yourself? You may think you do, but do you really? There’s only one way to find out— by taking a close look at what you think, say, and do. You may not like some of what you find, but if you are serious about really loving yourself, you can use this insight to do some positive inner work. Here’re three ways for gaining greater personal insight for deeper love:
Listen Closely to Your Thoughts
Your thoughts will determine your actions. One thing helping you to listen to your thoughts is keeping a journal. It is not necessary for you to write in it every day, but it helps to record various insights you gain as you go about your life. Instead of using a big notebook, you might use a small notepad that you can keep in your pocket for easy access to record your thoughts as they occur to you. Whichever method you choose, what’s most important is that you write your thoughts down. It will help you know what’s in your heart.
Be Honest with Yourself
To do this, you should pay attention to your actions. Actions speak louder than words, and they always tell the truth. If you say you love your job, but your actions say otherwise, which do you think is more reliable? On the other hand, if you say you’re not good at a certain job, but your actions say otherwise, that’s also important. What do you do with this insight? You can use it to make more positive choices in your life. By being honest with yourself, you will act according to truth instead of just what you tell yourself.
Take Quiet Time to Listen to Your Inner Voice
This is similar to the first point, but it takes a step further— beyond the natural mind to the heart that cannot be seen. You may want to use your quiet time to think deeply. However you use this time, the key is to shut out all of the noise around you by focusing deep within yourself. Breathing deeply during quiet time will also help you focus. I know it’s hard to find quiet time during a particularly busy day, but it’s so important— even if it’s just 10 minutes a day and you have to hide somewhere to get it. Quiet time can really make a difference in your life.
Despite what your mind may be telling you, you can have love with no limits. The key is to unconditionally love yourself first.
小題1:. By looking deep into what we think, say, and do, we can         .

A．know whether we really love ourselves

B．a(chǎn)ppreciate what we give to the world

C．realize what type of relationship we long for

D．know whether we are loved and accepted by others

小題2:.An important way for gaining personal insight is to         .

A．do some positive inner work

B．keep a journal wherever you go

C．look closely at what others say about us

D．pay attention to our thoughts

小題3:.The insight we gain from our actions can help us         .

A．focus our attention on our jobs

B．make more positive choices in our life

C．a(chǎn)ct according to the truth

D．tell the differences between our words and our actions

小題4:.It can be learned from the passage that if we want to have love without limits, we must first of all          .

A．be honest with ourselves anytime

B．give our love to others generously

C．love ourselves unconditionally

D．take quiet time and think deeply

Some people love eating food right after it is cooked. I prefer food just take out from the freezer. Fruit, candy, nuts, chocolate, cake with butter cream frosting(糖霜),even peas, all of them taste delicious when frozen. In fact, I often eat them that way.
I was a kid when I picked up the habit. In my family, lots of things were thrown into the freezer —finally, two freezers—to prevent them from going bad. Among them were some of the candies my sisters and I had collected on Halloween.
If we eat when they are still warm, we’ll find ourselves taking the cookies more than we should. It’s better if we can put them into the freezer and wait. That way we’ll eat less and enjoy them more because they are hard and chewing becomes a slower, more patient effort. That’s the point about frozen butter-cream frosting. Put it in your mouth at room temperature, and it’s gone very quickly. But when it’s frozen, you can enjoy the taste much longer as it melts(融化) in your mouth.
The freezer treats a lot of fruits kindly. Take frozen grapes for example, I keep a bowl of grapes in my freezer. They become a little icy, and somehow their sweetness is improved. They are perfect and healthy dessert(點(diǎn)心).This is the same with oranges, apples, bananas…You might think bananas would get super-hard when frozen. Wrong! They become cool, creamy and sweet. If you have wisely covered some or all of the bananas with melted chocolate before putting them into the freezer, they will have a double taste.
As long as you aren’t eating anything that truly has to be hot, go ahead and experiment.
小題1: What is the passage intended to tell us ____________.

A．Fruit should be frozen before one eats it.	B．Frozen food is better than hot food.
C．The author prefers frozen food.	D．Hot food is not healthy.

小題2:The author began to enjoy frozen food when he _________.

A．was young

B．learned cooking

C．got married

D．got a fever

小題3: Why does the author NOT advise us to take hot cookies?

A．Because they need more time to prepare.

B．Because the taste is not good when they are hot.

C．Because they are too delicious to avoid our overeating.

D．Because we may eat them quickly and enjoy them less.

小題4:What does the underlined word “it” in the third paragraph refer to?

A．The taste

B．Butter cream

C．The cookie

D．Frozen butter cream frosting

小題5: Which of the following is the advice the author gives on eating fruit?

A．Make bananas hard.	B．Keep grapes in a bowl.
C．Mix kinds of fruits together.	D．Add melted chocolate to bananas.

  What is art? According to one definition, it is the creation of something that appeals to our sense of beauty. This definition may include painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture, or performing arts such as music and drama. Cultural and historical influences, as well as one’s own consciousness of what is aesthetically(審美地 )pleasing, play a role in what one believes to be art. To some people, art is the description of an object--- a painting or sculpture of a person, for example. For others, art may be a blank canvas, or a piece of chalk.
In order to talk about the different artistic styles that have existed over time, art historians have classified these styles into different periods and organized them in chronological order. The works of art produced within each period mirror the culture and events of that time.
The earliest forms of art, from the prehistoric era(時代), include simple cave paintings and figures made from stone. These were followed by the sculptures and carvings of Ancient Civilizations era. Styles of the later Classical era (800 B.C. to 200 A.D.), reflect the culture of the time--- one that favored simplicity and balance. The period of the Middle Ages followed, and was succeeded by a revival（復(fù)興） of classical styles in the Renaissance era, beginning around 1400. Well-known artists of this time include Michelangelo and da Vinci. One hundred years of Baroque style, and then fifty years of Rococo followed the 200-year Renaissance. The start of the nineteenth century saw the rise of the Premodern era, followed by the Modern era, a period that lasted until 1945. This was followed by Postmodern era that characterizes the present day.
In addition to differences in artistic styles between eras, there are also differences within each era. The Postmodern era, for example, has featured innovative（創(chuàng)新） artistic styles such as Pop Art ( which includes work by Andy Warhol), Minimalism, and Conceptualism. Since the 1960s, Conceptualism has grown in popularity. This style focuses more on the idea or ‘concept’ of art using realistic objects, rather than on art that is created using traditional materials such as paint, canvas, stone, or clay. Whereas Warhol used a can of beans as the basis for a painting, for example, a conceptual artist might say that the can itself is a work of art.
Conceptualism has become an increasingly controversial（有爭議的） art style, particularly as result of numerous conceptual artists winning the Turner Prize. This ￡20,000 award is presented annually to a British artist under the age of fifty, in recognition of an outstanding work. Sponsored by the Tate Gallery of Britain, it is recognized as one of Europe’s most prestigious awards for visual arts. Its aim is to promote discussion about contemporary British art. In 2002, pop music icon Madonna presented the Turner Prize to conceptual artist Martin Creed.
小題1: One of the artistic styles that many people today discuss and arguing about is ______.

A．classic style

B．Conceptualism

C．Pop art

D．Baroque style

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

A．Pop Art, Minimalism and Conceptualism are styles that developed in the Postmodern era.

B．Some of the world’s earliest art was created in caves.

C．History, culture and one’s concept of beauty affect what a person believes to be art.

D．Art historians refer to today’s artistic period as the Modern era.

小題3: According to the passage, art historians have classified these styles into ____ periods.

A．7

B．8

C．10

D．12

小題4:If the passage continues, the following paragraph will be probably about_________.

A．Martin Creed’s winning works	B．Madonna’s outstanding art style
C．the status of Conceptualism	D．the conclusion of art

Boeing said Wednesday that it was entering the space tourism business, an announcement that could bolster（增強(qiáng)）the Obama administration’s efforts to transform the National Aeronautics and Space Administration into an agency that focuses less on building rockets and more on nurturing a commercial space industry.
The flights, which could begin as early as 2015, would most likely launch from Cape Canaveral in Florida to the International Space Station. The Obama administration has proposed turning over to private companies the business of taking NASA astronauts to orbit, and Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace of Las Vegas won an $18 million contract this year for preliminary (初步的)development and testing of a capsule that could carry seven passengers.
Current NASA plans call for four space station crew members to go up at a time, which would leave up to three seats available for space tourists. The flights would be the first to give nonprofessional astronauts the chance to go into orbit aboard a spacecraft launched from the United States. Seven earlier space tourists have made visits to the space station, riding in Russian Soyuz capsules.
“We’re ready now to start talking to possible customers,” said Eric C. Anderson, co-founder and chairman of Space Adventures, the space tourism company based in Virginia that would market the seats for Boeing.
Boeing and Space Adventures have not set a price, although Mr. Anderson said it would be competitive with the Soyuz flights, which Space Adventures arranged with the Russian Space Agency. Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque du Soleil, paid about $40 million for a Soyuz ride and an eight-day stay at the space station last year. But the possibilities that anyone buying a ticket will get to space on an American vehicle depend on discussions in Congress about the future of NASA.
小題1: Which of the following is most probably a private travel company?
A. Boeing.                     B. Space Adventure.
C. NASA.                       D. Russian Space Agency.
小題2: How many people can be carried along on a capsule to the space station?

A．3.

B．4.

C．7.

D．11.

小題3: What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The American space tourism company is located in Virginia.

B．Russia has already taken lead in working on the space tourism business.

C．NASA has decided to focus less on building rockets because of the financial crisis.

D．In 2015, America would be the first country in the world to run the space tourism business.

小題4:What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Taking NASA Astronauts to Orbit.	B．Living in the Space Station Space.
C．Ticket Price under Discussion.	D．Boeing Could Fly You to Orbit by 2015.

We can make mistakes at any age．Some mistakes we make are about money．But most mistakes are about people．One might say, "Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?" "When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy my luck?" When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad．
Why do we go wrong about our friends? Sometimes what people want to say hides their real meaning．And if we don't really listen, we miss the feeling behind the words． Suppose someone tells you, "You're a lucky dog．" Is he really on your side? If he says, "You are a lucky guy", that's being friendly．But if he says "a lucky dog", there's a bit of envy in those words．Maybe he doesn't see it himself．But he puts you down a little if he brings in the "dog"．What he may be saying is that he doesn't think you deserve your luck．
"Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for" is another noise that says one thing and means another．It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole．But is he trying to? Wrapped up in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn't important．It's telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven't got a date for Saturday night．
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone's words? One way is to take a good look at the person talking．Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice, his posture, or the look in his eyes? Stop and think．The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people say to you may save another mistake．
Therefore, when you hear someone saying, please try to know what he really means．Don't just listen to what he says with your ears but feel the words he uses with your head．In this way you may make fewer mistakes．
小題1:.
．In the 1st paragraph, the writer says something that happened between him and his friends ____．

A．He feels happy, thinking of how nice his friends were to him

B．He feels he may not have read his friends' true feelings correctly

C．He doesn't think it was a mistake to have broken up with his friend

D．He is sorry that his friends let him down

小題2:.
This passage is mainly about __   __．

A．how to avoid mistakes about money and friends

B．what to do when you listen to others talking

C．how to avoid mistakes in understanding what people tell you

D．why you keep people friendly without trusting them

小題3:.
．According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that

A．we fail to listen carefully when they talk

B．people tend to be angry when we check what they say

C．people usually state one thing but mean another

D．we tend to doubt what our friends say

小題4:.
．The underlined word "it" in the second paragraph refers to__    __．

A．being friendly	B．a(chǎn) bit of envy
C．a(chǎn) lucky dog	D．your luck

Dear Michelle:
My Dad hates my Mom. He tells me that she is a liar and that I should not trust her. Of course, they are divorced but they have “joint custody(共同監(jiān)護(hù))”. What a joke! I am 15, my brother is nine, and we have a life of hell, frankly.
We live one week on and one week off. This was the brilliant idea of both of my parents, which was fair to them but ruining my life. I can’t get away from his voice and his putting my mom down. Sometimes I think about running away.
A Hopeless Ant
Dear Hopeless Ant:
First, thank you for trusting me with your problem. If all you said is correct, then there are several
things that you can and should do to help yourself, your brother, and your parents.
● You need a family counselor(顧問). Such a person could listen to each family member alone and
then meet together to talk about the situation.
If refused, you need to talk to a counselor in your school. You need to be heard, and you need an
adult who will listen. A school counselor can organize a meeting with your parents.
● Perhaps you need to write to her. Writing things down allows people to go over it more than one
time.
I cannot imagine that she will stand passively by and do nothing at all to help once she reads how
you feel. Your father needs a letter as well. He may not realize the destructive effect that it has on his
children.
● Lastly, have a plan in mind when all else fails that is not self-destructive. Life passes very quickly, and you will grow up and have your own life.
Above all, you need to keep yourself safe. Never doubt that it will get better. Write back and let me know how everything is going.
The Hopeless Ant wrote the letter to _______.
A. complain about the problems
B. ask for advice
C. make his father punished
D. just play a joke
小題1:.
The Hopeless Ant hated his father because __________.

A．his father always told a lie

B．his father wasn’t friendly to his mother

C．his father divorced his mother

D．the Hopeless Ant couldn’t stay with his parents

小題2:.
According to the text, which of the following advice is in greatest need for the Hopeless Ant?

A．Keep himself safe.	B．Have a talk with his parents.
C．Have his own family plan.	D．Write letters to families.

小題3:.
In which part of a website may the passage appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Advertisement.

C．Life.

D．Education.

What does “getting along” with your teacher mean? “Getting along” means that both you and your teacher have a way of communicating and getting what you need from the relationship. In your teacher’s opinion, he or she wants to make sure that you are paying attention, being polite, and trying your best to learn. In your opinion, you want a teacher who is respectful to you, answers your questions, and tries to help you learn. You can get along and learn without being friends with your teacher, although it’s nice if that happens.
In every school, kids will say that some teachers are mean or strict, but don’t judge a teacher until you are in his or her class and can see for yourself. A strict teacher may be someone who feels strong about getting his or her job done — teaching you the subject you are supposed to learn. It’s also important to remember that making mistakes is a part of learning. By pointing out your mistakes and helping you correct them, a teacher is teaching you. Remember, in most cases, your teacher is on your side.
Even if a teacher isn’t your favorite, you can still have a successful relationship, especially if you carry out your responsibilities as a student. Here are some of those responsibilities:
●Attend class ready to learn. Be prepared for class with the right pencils and books.
●Listen carefully when your teacher is talking.
●Do your best, whether it’s classroom work, homework, or a test.
小題1:The main idea of this passage is about _______.

A．learning from your teacher

B．making friends with your teacher

C．getting along with your teacher

D．understanding your teacher

小題2: If you get along with your teacher, _______.

A．your teacher will have to answer your questions

B．both of you will benefit from the relationship

C．your teacher will have to be respectful to you

D．you will have to try your best to learn

小題3:What does the underlined sentence in the second paragraph mean?

A．Your teacher is teaching you to learn the subjects.

B．The teacher has the responsibility to be strict with students.

C．Pointing out your mistakes is also a way for a teacher to teach.

D．The teacher is there to help you.

小題4: According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the responsibility of a student?

A．Learning by making mistakes.	B．Attending class ready to learn.
C．Listening to your teacher carefully.	D．Trying your best to learn.

Maybe you have ever seen a cross. A cross can be a piece of jewelry or an image in
a painting. But do you know the cross is a very popular symbol for Christmas？
It came from the story of Jesus’ death on the cross two thousand years ago in Jerusalem. Jesus was Jewish，and at that time Jewish people were under Roman rule. Jesus was badly punished because he declared to be the Son of God and the King of Jews. Surely，the Son of God could have saved himself from the death！But the Bible says that Jesus had a reason to die that day. It was in God’s purpose that it would happen.
Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”.At first，it is hard to understand how a terrible day could ever be called good. Well，the story does not end there. Jesus died and he was buried. But three days later，Jesus was alive，and the whole world was changed.
Today，Christians everywhere remember this important time. They celebrate Easter. Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. After his death on the cross，Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb. On the third day from then，God raised him from the dead. Jesus stayed on earth physically for several weeks. Many people saw him. Easter is the happiest time of year for Christians because they believe that Jesus had victory over death and evil and that now he lives with God the Father in heaven. But before celebrating Easter， Good Friday should be remembered. Jesus died a horrible and painful death. He suffered, though he did noting wrong. Christian believe that Jesus was God’s substitute(代表) for humans， because humans all do wrong. He died because of humans and he died for humans.
Christians often wear crossed around their necks of hang them in their homes because they believe it is a very important sign. The cross helps them remember how much God loves them. It helps them remember how much his Son had to suffer. Seeing a cross always makes them think of Jesus’ death， and what it means.
小題1:According to the bible， why Jesus could not save himself from death that day？

A．Jesus was not afraid of death	B．God arrange Jesus’ death for certain purpose
C．Jesus should die without a reason	D．Jesus was not God’s Son at all

小題2:Which is the right order of the events given in the passage？
a. Jesus was sentenced to death on the cross by the Romans
b Christians began to celebrate Easter
c Jesus declared himself the Son of God and the King of the Jews
d Three days later，Jesus came to life
e. “Good Friday” came into being

A．a(chǎn)—e—c—d—b

B．a(chǎn)--e—b—d—c

C．c—a—b—d—e

D．c—a—e—d—b

小題3:In Christians’ belief， for what reason did God want Jesus to die？

A．God loved humans despite human’s wrong—doing，so he asked his beloved Son to die in human’s place

B．Jesus did something wrong by acclaiming himself the Son of God

C．God wanted His Son Jesus to live with him in heaven

D．God wanted “Good Friday” and “Easter”mainly to be remembered by humans

小題4:．It can be inferred from the passage that____________

A．a(chǎn) cross is a piece of jewelry or an image in a painting for Christians

B．Christians call the day that Jesus died “Good Friday”mainly to reduce their pain for the loss of Jesus

C．if Jesus hadn’t returned to life， people would often wear crosses around their necks or hang them in their homes

D．Christians like crosses because crosses always remind them of God’s love and Jesus’ death

小題5: The purpose of the author in writing this passage is to___________

A．introduce a symbol for Christian---- the cross

B．tell an interesting Christian story

C．describe the rebirth of Jesus

D．inform the origin of two Christian festiva

Every summer thousands of Americans stay at home instead of going on holiday because they're overweight. They don't want people to see them sunbathing and they don't want to have to squeeze into plane seats，But now，thanks to the growing number of weight-friendly holiday packages，the overweight are having their days in the sun.
"Overweight people will have a great time on our holidays as we don't judge them like other people do，" said Liz Nickels，the owner of Big Adventures，a US-based company that hosts scuba-diving—a sport of swimming underwater while breathing through a tube connect­ed to a tank on your back for larger people. As a way to keep up with the demand for extralarge accommodation，many hotels in the US have started to offer features such as wide beds and hand-held showers. But the best in plus-size vacation lies at Mexico's Freedom Paradise，a 112-room resort(度假勝地) opening this month，which urges guests to" Live Large，Live Free" .
The hotel has wide doorways，reinforced furniture and extra large chairs. It also boasts a private beach to protect people from the stares that can occur on public bea­ches. "It's not a hotel just for large people. It's a size-friendly place where anyone can enjoy a holiday，" said owner J urrian Kilnk，"What we noticed was that a lot of oversized people don't feel comfortable at resorts. "Staff members of all sizes are hired by the hotel to make overweight people feel OK.
Though many welcome the new service，some feel differently. "I have a real problem with this，"said Nancy Lenhart，the owner of Camp La Jolia，a Californian weight-loss and fit­ness camp.
"If you talk about oversized beds and doorways you are throwing their weight in their faces. Overweight people want to be normalized. They shouldn't be discriminated against like this. "
小題1: Large people don't want to go on holiday because        .

A．they don't like sunbathing	B．they don't want to be looked at
C．the planes are too crowded	D．hotels are not open to them

小題2:In the first paragraph，weight-friendly holiday packages mean        .

A．there are some free packages for the overweight

B．people are friendly to the overweight

C．special holiday for the overweight

D．the overweight can lose weight

小題3:Scuba-diving is a sport of swimming        .  

A．for people to lose weight	B．only for larger people
C．jumping from the platform	D．underwater

小題4: Mexico's Freedom Paradise is a hotel        .

A．for people of all sizes	B．only intended for larger people
C．where everything is oversized	D．where larger people can live for free

小題5:The underlined part" you are throwing their weight in their faces" means        .

A．you are beating them in the face	B．you are showing them that they are overweight
C．their faces seem bigger than others	D．you can make them lose weight