AAAGH! The Generation 90s is coming!
Wearing earphones, using complex Net language and constantly text messaging friends, the Gen-90s following the Gen-80s begin to make their world debut（初次登臺(tái)）.
Each generation or age group has its own symbols and lifestyle．Read on and judge for yourselves if you fit the Gen-90s profile．                
Earphones
These little devices seem to grow on the heads of the Gen-90s．They might lead to MP3, MP4 or MP101 players, giving these young people a plugged-in，cool and perhaps self-addicted look, of course, life is not always music to the ears．      
Martian language
They have created their own code-like online language．It’s a mixture of English, Japanese and Chinese that perhaps only Martians can understand．This is an imaginative generation, though they need to be careful to keep it out of their term papers．                 
Self-Portrait
Saying “cheese” to their own digital cameras is routine for this generation．A little bit of narcissism （自戀） never hurts anyone．It helps them reflect a little on their own lives．But be aware of the risks of posting private photos online.
Text-messaging
They can type their mobile phones as fast as they can speak．This is a generation that respects efficiency．However, oral communication is important and will never go out of style.
小題1:Who are the intended readers of the passage?

A．Teens

B．Educators

C．Socialists

D．Parents

小題2:According to the passage , if you belong to the Gen-90s , you will ____________ .

A．just appreciate yourself and ignore others’ strengths.

B．make your presentation and have your own symbols and lifestyle.

C．have the same symbols and lifestyle of the Gen-80s．

D．like music and dance very much.

小題3:According to the text, the writer will choose ______ as a good example to the Gen-90.

A．Li Hua likes music and always wearing ipod

B．Zhang Chao is not only an imaginative boy but do everything efficiently.

C．Lily is a shy girl and she doesn’t like making friends.

D．Fangfang likes being taken photos and often posting them on line.

小題4:According to this passage, which is FALSE?

A．Not all teens are cautious about posting photos．

B．They type their mobile phones so fast that it can catch the speed of speaking.

C．The Gen-90s have a preference for some music players, and even regard them as a necessary part of life．

D．They don’t use the cool and complex online language in formal writing.

小題5:The main idea of the passage is about________.

A．the Gen-90s’ happy life

B．the difference between the Gen-80s and the Gen-90s

C．the Gen-90s’unique lifestyle and some practical warnings

D．the similarities between the Gen-80s and the Gen-90s

I dreamed I had an interview with God.
“So you would like to interview me?” God asked. “If you have the time,” I said. “My time is eternity(永恒),” God smiled, “What questions do you have（36）_________for me?” “What surprises you most about humankind?” God answered, “That they (37)__________ bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children（38）_________. That they lost their health to make money… and then lost their money to restore their (39)__________. Then by thinking anxiously （40）__________ the future, they forget the (41)___________, so that they live in neither the present nor future. That they live as if they will never die, and die （42）__________ they had never lived.” God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.
And then I asked, “(43)__________ a parent, what are some of life’s lessons you want your children to(44) ___________?” He answered, “To learn they （45）__________make anyone love them. All they can do is to let themselves love（46）____________. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that it only（47）___________ a few seconds to open profound（深的） wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal （48）__________. To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is the one who need the （49）___________. To learn that there are people who love them（50）____________, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their(51)___________. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and （52）___________ it differently. To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one（53）____________, but they must also forgive themselves.”
“Thank you for your（54）___________,” I said humbly. “Is there anything else you would like（55）_____________ to know?” God smiled and said, “Just to know that I am always here.”

小題1:	A．in life B．by heart C．a(chǎn)t hand D．in mind

小題2:	A．run B．live C．get D．prove

小題3:	A．either B．too C．further D．a(chǎn)gain

小題4:	A．life B．health C．lives D．spirits

小題5:	A．a(chǎn)bout B．in C．for D．over

小題6:	A．children B．living C．time D．present

小題7:	A．so that B．in order that C．a(chǎn)s though D．in case

小題8:	A．As B．For C．About D．By

小題9:	A．listen B．study C．learn D．a(chǎn)ttend

小題10:

A．can’t B．won’t C．needn’t D．mustn’t

小題11:

A．others B．a(chǎn)nyone C．everyone D．someone

小題12:

A．gets B．has C．spends D．takes

小題13:

A．it B．them C．themselves D．these

小題14:

A．best B．least C．last D．health

小題15:

A．mainly B．lovely C．dearly D．fairly

小題16:

A．words B．expressions C．ideas D．feelings

小題17:

A．see B．watch C．regard D．treat

小題18:

A．other B．a(chǎn)nother C．of them D．itself

小題19:

A．time B．word C．belief D．kindness

小題20:

A．me B．your humankind C．your life D．your children

Some couples spend every waking minute together. Others fill their hours with personal hobbies,outside interests and even part-time jobs, just to keep their distance from each other! "There should be private time and couple time," suggests Dr. Stephen Treat at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia."You don't want your latter years to turn into a process where two people unite as one. If you hold too tightly to your partner, it's going to cause resentment and anger. If you're completely separate, you'll both be lonely and disconnected. You need balance. So you have to talk about how you'll achieve that."
The right balance? It's different for every couple. "Having a conversation about time can be difficult,but it's important for both partners to process those feelings out loud," Dr. Treat says. "You should not be accusing and act as a judge—ask the difficult questions, but do it in a loving way. You could say something like, 'How are we going to be as individuals and how are we going to be as a couple?' "
Barbara and Chris Christensen have achieved the balance that works for them. In addition to daily routines that keep them close—including about 10 minutes for a daily check-in and about a half hour of relaxation time—they each maintain separate interests and friendships.
"We have found that we need time apart," Barbara says. "I have a group of women friends that I have known for the last 30 years. We have dinner out once a month. We women also have parties and weekend or weeklong vacations as a group at a beach or somewhere. Chris, a former fighter pilot, has many aviation-oriented(航空的) groups and friends and also a poker-playing group of our friends. I may be with him during the poker night, but I don't play, and the wives usually watch a chick flick' DVD or something while the poker group has an evening of fun. We have found it important to have separate time as well as together time."
小題1:The author writes the passage to ______.

A．offer some suggestions on how to spend the time after retirement

B．a(chǎn)dvise couples to develop their separate hobbies

C．warn couples not to be accusing each other

D．give people some advice on how to entertain themselves after retirement

小題2: Dr. Stephen suggests that _________after retirement.

A．couples stay together all the time

B．couples express their feelings in a loving way

C．couples be separate

D．wives make many friends

小題3:It can be inferred that________.

A．many couples are faced with problems after retirement

B．America has a large population of retired people

C．most people join various social groups after retirement

D．playing poker is a popular activity among retired people

小題4:Barbara and her friends do the following EXCEPT_______.

A．having dinner regularly

B．holding parties

C．having weekly vacations at the beach

D．having fun playing poker

小題5:The second paragraph is mainly intended to_______.

A．warn the husband not to act as a judge

B．suggest couples have discussions about difficulties

C．suggest how to keep the correct balance

D．require couples to be considerate

Children of all ages love birthday parties at the Staten Island Zoo. Where else can you invite real party animals to join in the fun?
Who is invited?
Parties at the Staten Island Zoo are designed for children who are turning 4 years old and older, with a maximum group size of 15 children and 4 adults．Along with your human guests，2-3 live animals will also be invited into your party room. No need for more introductions. By the end of your party, our teachers will make sure everyone is well familiar with their new scaly(有鱗的)，feathery or furry friends．
What is included?
Each party lasts an hour and a half (two hours if pizza is included) and includes live animal demonstration，games or stories，and animal skills．Each member will receive a goodie bag to take home for fun. Besides, birthday invitations will be given to you for giving to your guests．
Birthday party themes
Choose from four different themes：   
Animal Tracks
Discover different types of animal’s feet and their purpose．Track some animals and then make a take home plaster mold(石膏模型)．
African Savannah
Join in the fun at exploring the mysteries of the African Savannah．Learn about favorite foods of the Savannah’s people and make an animal mask to enjoy the fun．
Tropical Rainforest
Listen to the sounds of the jungle and find where the animals live．Create a colorful rainforest bird.
Barnyard Friends
Stories, games, activities and crafts will all focus on the differences between wild and domestic animals．Make a small bookmark to use at home．
Costs
Pizza，ice cream cake，juice and party (includes cutlery, paper plates, cups and napkins) --- $370 Staten Island Zoo members／$400 non．Members．
Party only --- $250 Staten Island Zoo members／$275 non．Members
小題1: What’s special about the birthday parties at the Staten Island Zoo?

A．There are 19 people in one party at least．

B．Parties are intended for those who are just 4 years old．

C．It is necessary to introduce the strangers at the parties．

D．Live animals will take part in the birthday parties．

小題2:If you choose a theme of Tropical Rainforest，what kind of works of art can you make?

A．A take-home plaster mold．	B．A colorful rainforest bird．
C．An animal mask．	D．A small bookmark to use at home．

小題3: A non-member who only plans to hold a party at the Staten Island Zoo should pay______.

A．$250

B．$275

C．$370

D．$400

小題4:What can we learn from the passage?

A．All birthday parties last one and a half hours．

B．We should buy birthday invitations for our guest at the zoo．

C．Animals will make a performance at the party．

D．Any party member will be given a bag to store rubbish at the party．

A person may have a false idea about himself that will stop him from doing good work．
He may have the belief that he is unable to do it．A child may think he is  36  because he doesn’t understand how to make  37  use of his mental gifts．Old people may have a false idea that they are unable to learn things new because of their  38 ．
A person who believes that he is stupid will not make a real  39  because he feels that it would be useless．He won’t go at a job with confidence necessary for  40 ．Besides, he won’t work his hardest way, even though he may think he is doing so． 41 , he is likely to fail, and the failure will  42  his belief in his incompetence（無(wú)能） in turn．
Alfred Alder, a famous doctor, had  43  like this．When he was a small boy, he had a poor 44  in maths．His teacher told his parents he had no ability in maths in order that they would not  45  too much of him．In this way, his teacher and parents  46  the idea．He  47  their false judgment of his ability, feeling that it was useless to  48 ．Then, he was very poor at maths,  49  as they expected．
But one day everything changed．He worked out a problem which  50  of the other students had been able to solve．He  51  in solving the problem which gave him confidence （信心）．Soon he became especially good at  52 ．
Alder now  53  with interest, determination and purpose．He not only proved that he could learn maths well, but luckily he learned it  54 , not too late．From his own experience, we can tell that if a person goes at a job with determination and purpose, he may  55  himself as well as others by his ability．

小題1:	A．clever B．shy C．useless D．stupid

小題2:	A．big B．full C．high D．great

小題3:	A．a(chǎn)ge B．a(chǎn)bility C．brain D．knowledge

小題4:	A．decision B．plan C．effort D．promise

小題5:	A．work B．study C．improvement D．success

小題6:	A．Truly B．Really C．However D．Therefore

小題7:	A．lead to B．strengthen C．improve D．get rid of

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)n experience B．a(chǎn)n example C．a(chǎn) thought D．a(chǎn) story

小題9:	A．state B．mind C．start D．ending

小題10:

A．blame B．expect C．get D．win

小題11:

A．developed B．organized C．discovered D．found

小題12:

A．broke B．refused C．doubted D．a(chǎn)ccepted

小題13:

A．manage B．a(chǎn)rgue C．try D．a(chǎn)ct

小題14:

A．only B．a(chǎn)lmost C．just D．then

小題15:

A．none B．a(chǎn)ll C．some D．most

小題16:

A．broke B．succeeded C．failed D．believed

小題17:

A．physics B．medicine C．English D．maths

小題18:

A．studies B．works C．plays D．graduates

小題19:

A．early B．deeply C．later D．simply

小題20:

A．discourage B．love C．surprise D．disappoint

Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people．Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are concerned with their own appearance and actions too much．Negative thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: What kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes?
It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably．A person's self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions．In general, the way people think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives．
Shy people, who have low respect, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others．They need faith that they are doing "the right thing"．Shy people are very sensitive to criticism．It makes them feel inferior（自卑）．They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise．A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one: "You're just saying that to make me feel good, I know it's not true．” It is clear that, while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful．
Can shyness be completely got rid of, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determination since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self respect．It is important for people to accept their weakness as well as their strengths．Each one of us has his or her own characteristics．We are interested in our own personal ways．The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and successful life．
小題1:The first paragraph is mainly about______．

A．the cause of shyness	B．the effect of shyness on people
C．the feelings of shy people	D．the questions in the minds of shy people

小題2:According to the writer, self-awareness is______．

A．harmful to people	B．a(chǎn) weak point of shy people
C．the cause of unhappiness	D．a(chǎn) good characteristic

小題3:What is the shy people's reaction to praise?

A．They are pleased by it．

B．They feel it is not true．

C．They arevery sensitive to it．

D．They feel they are worthy of it．

小題4:We can learn from the passage that shyness can ______．

A．block our chances for a successful life

B．help us to live up to our full development

C．enable us to understand ourselves better

D．have nothing to do with lack of self respect

Pressure too much?
In our daily life we are used to hearing these words, “I can't wait for my holiday,” “I wish I could stay home today” And “I'm very tired.” These words come from pressure at work. Now the “iron rice bowl”(鐵飯碗) is being broken into pieces. Workers may be fired if they don’t perform their duties well. They have to do their jobs better.
People feel pressure not only because they might find themselves out of work but also because they get no real pleasure from their work. For most of the workers, work is just a way of earning money. It appears to be meaningless and worthless.
But pressure is a natural part of work. There is no way to keep away from it. We should face up to it.
Work should be a cause of happiness and pride rather than a punishment or a burden .In fact, a certain amount of pressure can provide challenge and chance for learning. To a modern man who is worried and low in spirit, developing a hobby and finding a new interest is of first importance. I like listening to pop music, which makes me calm and gives me pleasure.
If pressure becomes difficult to deal with, we should turn to our friends or families. We can have a drink with our friends and talk about the problem. We should always discuss our problems with our families. Good advice, warmth and happiness that families bring to us can reduce our pressure and encourage us to smooth away all difficulties.
小題1:Peopel feel pressure at work mainly because ______.

A．they will lose their jobs

B．most of them find less interest in their work

C．they can make more money after work.

D．they want to stay at home.

小題2:Which of the following is WRONG in the writer’s opinion?

A．Where there is work there is pressure.

B．Work shouldn’t be regarded as punishment or burden.

C．All modern men are worried and low in spirit.

D．A certain amount of pressure is necessary.

小題3:From the text we can know that when pressure is too big, ________.

A．we should drink coffee with our friends

B．we can get help and comfort from our friends or families.

C．we can go home because it is warm

D．to talk out the problem to our friends and families is the best way.

“Sending thank-you notes is becoming a lost art,” mourns May Mitchell, a syndicated columnist known as “Ms Demeanor” and author of six etiquette(禮節(jié)) books. In her view, each generation, compared with the one before, is losing a sense of consideration for other people. “Without respect,” she says, “you have conflict.”
Ms. Demeanor would be proud of me: I have figured out a way to ensure that my children always send thank-you notes. And such a gesture is important, says Ms. Demeanor, because “a grateful attitude is a tremendous life skill, an efficient and inexpensive way to set ourselves apart in the work force and in our adult lives. Teach your children that the habit of manners comes from inside---it’s an attitude based on respecting other people.”
A few years ago, as my children descended like piranhas (一種南美淡水魚(yú)，喜吞食或攻擊) on their presents under the Christmas tree, the only attitude I could see was greed. Where was the appreciation of time and effort?
A thank-you note should contain three things: an acknowledgement of the gift (Love the tie with the picture of a hose on it); a recognition of the time and effort spent to select it (You must have shopped all over the state find such a unique item!); a prediction of how you will use your gift or the way it has enhanced your life (I’ll be sure to wear it to the next Mr. Ed convention!).
So, five years ago, in one of my rare flashes of parental insight, I decided that the most appropriate time to teach this basic courtesy is while the tinsel (裝飾用光亮金屬) is hot. To the horror of my children, I announced that henceforth every gift received will be an occasion for a thank-you note written immediately, on the spot.
I have reluctantly given my kids the green light to send e-mail thank-you notes; though hand-lettered ones (at least to me) still seem friendlier. But pretty much any thank-you makes the gift giver feel special—just as, we hope, the recipient feels. It’s a gesture that perfectly captures the spirit of the holidays.
41. 小題1:in Ms. Demeanor’s point of view, children born in the ______ is probably the least respectful generation.

A．1960s

B．1970s

C．1980s

D．1990s

42. 小題2: The phrase “set oneself apart” (Para. 2) means _______.

A．to reserve to a particular use	B．to put to one side
C．to make noticeable or outstanding	D．to determine to purse

43. 小題3:According to the passage, a thank-you note may contain the following information EXCEPT “_______”.

A．I love the pearl necklace you bought me for my birthday
B．it must have taken you a long time to find just the right thing for me
C．is it very expensive	D．I promise I will wear it on my wedding day

44. 小題4:How did the author feel when she saw her children searching under the Christmas tree for their presents?

A．Greedy.

B．Cheerful.

C．Laughable.

D．Disheartened.

45. 小題5:Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the author?

A．She feels hand-written letters are friendlier than word-processed ones.

B．She does not allow her children to sent email thank-you note.

C．She thinks the best time to teach her children the basic etiquette of appreciation is to strike while the iron is still not.

D．She thinks a thank-you note can make the gift giver feel special just as the

recipient does.

What color do you like best? Do you like yellow, orange and red? If you do, you must be an optimist, a leader, or an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer grey and blue? Then you are probably quiet, shy and you would rather follow than lead. If you love green, you are likely to be strong-minded and determined. You wish to succeed and want other people to see you are successful. At least this is what psychologists （心理學(xué)家）tell us. They have been seriously studying the meaning of color preference, and the effects that colors have on human beings. They tell us that we don’t choose our favorite color as we grow up. If you happen to love brown, you do so as soon as you open your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.
　　Black is depressing while light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. A yellow room makes us feel more cheerful and more comfortable than a dark green one does, and a red dress adds warmth and cheer to sad winter days. It is a fact that factory workers work better, harder and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or dark grey.
　　Remember, then, that if you feel low, you can always brighten your day or your life with a few colorful things. Also remember that you will know your friends (and your enemies) better when you find out what colors they like and dislike. And don’t forget that anyone can guess a lot about you when you choose a piece of handkerchief.
67. 小題1:According to the passage, men’s 110-meter hurdles Olympic champion and world record holder Liu Xiang is most likely to love the color ______.

A．black

B．grey

C．green

D．brown

68. 小題2:Why are machines painted orange in some factories, according to the passage?

A．Because workers tend to prefer orange to other colors.

B．Because other colors are forbidden in factories.

C．Because less accidents happen due to the introduction of orange machines.

D．Because orange machines are easier to clean.

69. 小題3:Which of the following statements is Not true according to the passage?

A．It’s possible to cheer you up by enjoying some colorful pictures.

B．You can know your friends better through the color they like or dislike.

C．Some people are born with their colorful preference.

D．One’s color preference is always changeable.

70. 小題4:The underlined word ‘depressing’ in Paragraph 2 probably means ‘______’.

A．discouraging	B．happy
C．surprising	D．brave

By choosing to let go of the past, we sweep out all the ashes that weigh us down and affect every aspect of our health, and our peace of mind.
My friend Jean was divorced after a thirty-year marriage that produced three daughters, one son and eight grandchildren. Because she actually raised them single-handedly, Jean was hurt and angry that the children didn't take her part after the divorce. For months she refused to attend any family celebration to which her former husband Jim was invited. When I reasoned that her children’s understanding of the relationship with and between the parents was probably altogether different from hers, she stuck to the belief that she was right.
One day Jean called in tears. “Saturday is my granddaughter's birthday, and I want to be with her, but I can’t bring myself to face my former husband.”  “Jim isn't the problem,” I said gently, “it's false pride. Instead of holding on to the painful past, which is over and done, let the feelings go and get on with your life. You're depriving yourself of the joy of sharing in these important occasions, while Jim feels free to experience them. Tell me, would you rather be right, or be happy?”
That must have done the trick because when Saturday arrived, Jean appeared at her daughter's home carrying her famous chocolate-chip cookies and a beautiful birthday
cake.
How great it feels to let go! And the more we practice the art of letting go of all negativity, the better able we become to devote our thoughts, our time, and our energy to living joyfully in the present, what ever age we happen to be.
小題1: It can be inferred that ____.

A．Jim did very little to bring up the children during their marriage.

B．The writer thought Jean and Jim shouldn't have divorced.

C．The children were on their father's side and didn't invite Jean to any family celebration.

D．Jean had been too tough on Jim before they divorced.

小題2:The underlined phrase “depriving yourself of” is closest in meaning to ____ .

A．persuading yourself to get	B．taking away from yourself
C．taking false pride of yourself	D．talking yourself into showing

小題3:In the writer's opinion, ____.

A．Jean and Jim should be remarried

B．a(chǎn) broken family could live together in peace

C．to be happy is more meaningful than to be right

D．everyone should look into the future