As nanny(保姆), cook, cleaner, shopper, driver, and gardener, she has one of the most demanding jobs in Britain today. And paying someone else to do the chores(家務活) which take the average housewife 71 hours a week would cost ?349.
At over ?18,000 a year that’s more than the earnings of 70 percent of the population, including train drivers, firemen, prison officers, and social worker. Looking after a baby less than a year old takes a housewife into a even higher pay league. According to a stud, she earns ?457 a week – at nearly ?24,000 a year, the same as teachers, engineers, and chemists.
Researchers put a price on each chore, then tried to find out how long the average person takes doing them. They found housewives spend an average 70.7 hours a week on housework – with looking after the children (17.9hours) and cooking and cleaning (12.9 hours each) the most time-consuming(費時).
A wife with a part-time job still works and average of 59 hours a week at home. Those in full-time employment put in longer hours at home than in the workplace. The good news is that these hours sharply as children get older. While the average mother with child under one puts in 90 hours weekly, the figure drops to 80 hours from one to four and to 66 hours from five to ten.
Mother-of-four Karen Williams from London said, “Paying the housewives may not be practical, but the government should recognize the value of housework, perhaps through the tax. Running a house takes a lot of time and most husbands don’t understand this. For example, my husband only puts a shelf up now and again. He never cleans the kitchen – that’s the real test.”
小題1:Who earns most according to the text?

A．A social worker.	B．A fireman.
C．A gardener.	D．A teacher.

小題2: We lean from the text that looking after children ______.

A．takes more time than doing any other housework

B．means more duties than being a teacher

C．requires the mother to be well-educated

D．prevents the mother from working outside

小題3:According to the text, a housewife with a baby less than one year old may work _____.

A．66 hours a week	B．71 hours a week
C．80 hours a week	D．90 hours a week

小題4:By mentioning her husband, Karen Williams wants to show that ______.

A．housework is no easy job

B．her husband has no time to clean the kitchen

C．a(chǎn) housewife needs to be paid for cleaning

D．the kitchen is hard to clean

At a certain time in our lives we consider every place as the possible sites(地點) for a house. I have thus searched the country within a dozen miles of where I live. In imagination I have bought all the farms, one after another, and I knew their prices.
The nearest thing that I came to actual ownership was when I bought the Hollowell place. But before the owner completed the sale with me, his wife changed her mind and wished to keep it, and he offered me additional dollars to return the farm to him. However, I let him keep the additional dollars and sold him the farm for just what I gave for it.
The real attractiong of the Hollowell farm to me were its position, being about two miles from the village, half a mile from the nearest neighbor, bounded(相鄰) on one side by the river, and separated from the highway by a wide field. The poor condition fo the house and fences showed that it hadn’t been used for some time. I remembered from my earliest trip up the river that the house used to be hidden behind a forest area, and I was in a hurry to buy it before the owner finished getting out some rocks, cutting down the apples trees, and clearing away some young trees which had grown up in the fields. I wanted to buy it before he made any more of his improvements. But it turned out as I have said.
I was not really troubled by the loss. I had always had a garden, but I don’t thing I was ready for a large farm. I believe that as long as possible it is better to live free and uncommitted (無牽掛的). It makes but little difference whether you own a farm or not.
小題1:What do we know about the author?

A．He wanted to buy the oldest farm near where he lived.

B．He made a study of many farms before buying.

C．He made money by buying and selling farms.

D．He had the money to buy the best farm in the country.

小題2:Why did the author decide to buy the Hollowell place?

A．It was of good market value.

B．It was next to the highway.

C．It was in a good position.

D．It was behind a nice garden.

小題3:Why did the author want to buy the farm in a hurry?

A．He was afraid the owner might changes his mind.

B．He hoped to enlarge the forest on the farm.

C．He wanted to keep the farm as it was.

D．He was eager to become a farm owner.

小題4:The underlined words “the loss” in the last paragraph refer to ___.

A．the money the author lost in buying the farm

B．the sale of the garden in the Hollowell place

C．the removal of the trees around the house

D．the failure to possess the Hollowell place

小題5:What does the author believe as important in life?

A．To own a farm	B．To satisfy his needs
C．To be free from worries	D．To live in the countryside

After sunset on our last day at the farm I walked out into the desert. In this, the first pleasant moment for a walk after long hot hours, I thought I was the only thing out of doors. Suddenly I stopped. Before me a rattlesnake lay fixed, its head not yet drawn back to strike but only turned a little to watch what I would do. Many snakes will run away at the sight of a man but this rattlesnake felt no necessity to get out of any-body's way. He held his ground in calm watch-fullness waiting for me to show my intentions. My first aim was to take no notice of him; I had never killed an animal if I was not forced to kill. But I remembered that there were children, dogs and horses at the farm as well as men and women with thin clothes on; my duty was to kill the snake. I went back to the farm and returned with a stick. The rattlesnake had not moved; he lay like a wire but more quickly than I could stride he shot into a bush and set up his rattling, warning me by this that I had made an unreasonable attack and attempted to take his life and that if I insisted he would have no choice but to take mine if he could. For a moment I listened to this terrifying sound and then I struck into the bush with my stick and, chop-ping about, dragged him out of the bush with his back broken.
He struck once more at the stick but a moment later his neck was broken and he was soon dead although  when I picked him up by the tail his mouth opened, proving that a dead snake may still bite. There was blood in his mouth and poison was dropping; it was not only a dis-gusting(令人作嘔的) sight but a pitiful one too. I dropped the body into a green bush and, as I did so, I saw him in my imagination, crawling over the sands as he might have done if I had let him go.
小題1:At the sight of the author, the rattlesnake        .

A．shot into a bush

B．lay motionless but got ready to meet danger

C．drew itself up to strike

D．took no notice of his presence

小題2:The author had to kill the rattlesnake because       .

A．it stood in his way

B．it attempted to take his life

C．it presented a disgusting sight

D．its presence was a danger to the people and animals at the farm

小題3:Which of the following best describes the rattlesnake?

A．It attacked man without any reason.

B．It would not attack unless it was attacked.

C．It ran away at the sight of man.

D．It exposed itself to danger.

小題4:It is implied at the end of the passage that the author____.

A．regretted having killed the snake

B．was glad that he had killed the snake

C．felt a little sorry for the snake

D．could not help thinking about the dead snake

完形填空（共20小題，每小題1.5分,滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從1—20題各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。
He was 11 years old and went fishing every chance he got from the dock at his family’s cabin on an island in the middle of a New Hampshire lake. On the day __1__ the bass (鱸魚) seasonopened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, __2__ sunfish with worms. Then he tied on a small lure (魚餌) and practiced casting. When his pole __3__, he knew something huge was __4_. His father watched __5__ as the boy skilfully worked the fish alongside the dock. Finally, he very carefully lifted the __6__ fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, __7__ it was a bass. It was 10 P.M.-- two hours before the season opened. The father looked at the fish, then at the boy.
“You’ll have to __8__, son,” he said.
“Dad!” cried the boy.
“There will be other fish,” said his father.
“Not as big as this one,” cried the boy.
__9__ no one had seen them, nor could anyone ever know what time he caught the fish, the boy could __10__ by his father’s firm voice that the decision was __11__. He slowly worked the hook out of the lip of the huge bass and lowered it into _12__. The creature moved its powerful body and __13__. The boy thought that he would never again see such a great fish.
That was 34 years ago. Today, the boy is a successful architect in New York City. And he was __14__. He has never again caught such a magnificent fish as the one he __15__ that night long ago. But he does see __16__ fish again and again every time he comes up against a question ofprinciples. As his father taught him, principles are simple matters of right and wrong. It is only the practice of principles__17__ difficult. Do we __18__ when no one is looking? 
We would if we __19__ to put the fish back when we were young. For we would have learned the truth. The decision to do right lives __20__ in our memory. It is a story we will proudly tell our friends and grandchildren.
1．A．until                      B．when                  C．a(chǎn)fter                   D．before
2．A．providing              B．catching             C．feeding               D．supplying
3．A．bent over              B．came up             C．turned over         D．broke down
4．A．on the other end    B．on the other hand C．on one hand         D．a(chǎn)t the either side
5．A．with anxiety          B．in surprise           C．with admiration   D．for fear
6．A．delighted              B．frustrated            C．frightened           D．exhausted
7．A．a(chǎn)nd                       B．but                     C．however             D．yet
8．A．bring it home        B．put it aside          C．put it back          D．pick it up
9．A．Even though       B．Now that          C．Ever since          D．In case
10．A．tell                     B．say                     C．speak                  D．talk
11．A．passed                B．changed              C．fixed                   D．refused
12．A．the wide container                               B．the broad sea
C．the black water                                    D．the small river
13．A．fled                    B．disappeared         C．floated              D．swam
14．A．wrong                 B．right                   C．satisfactory         D．pleased
15．A．landed                 B．saw                    C．cast                    D．threw
16．A．a(chǎn) different           B．many big             C．even bigger          D．the same
17．A．which is              B．it is                    C．that is                 D．this is
18．A．do wrong           B．do right              C．do harm             D．do good
19．A．were taught        B．told                    C．were let              D．ordered
20．A．freshly               B．fresh                C．clearly                D．strongly

完形填空（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，然后從1—20題各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項。
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would ___1__."
Blue interrupted, "You only think about the __2_, but consider the sky and the sea．__3__ the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea．Without my peace, you would all be _4__."
Yellow chuckled （笑道）, "You are all so serious. I bring laughter, fun, and _5__ into the world．"
Orange started next to blow her trumpet, "I am the color of health and strength. I may be _6__, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. When I fill the sky __7__, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another _8__ to any of you."
Red could stand it _9__ and he shouted out, "I am the ruler of all of you. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to _10__ truth. I am also the color of passion and of love."
Then came Purple and Indigo （深藍）. …
The colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own __11__. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder. Rain started to pour down _12__. The colors crouched （蜷縮） down __13__, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor （叫嚷）, rain began to speak, "You foolish colors, fighting _14_ yourselves, each trying to dominate _15__. Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose, __16__? Join hands with __17__ and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors __18__ and joined hands. They formed a colorful rainbow. From then on, whenever a good rain ___19__ the world, a rainbow appears in the sky. They remember to __20__ one another.
1．A．stay                        B．leave                     C．go out                   D．die
2．A．earth               B．moon                    C．star                      D．sun
3．A．That is                    B．I am                            C．It is                      D．This is
4．A．a(chǎn)nything                 B．nothing                 C．something             D．everything
5．A．warmth                  B．sadness                 C．depression           D．a(chǎn)nxiety
6．A．usual               B．normal                  C．common             D．scarce
7．A．a(chǎn)t midnight               B．a(chǎn)t noon or at night    C．a(chǎn)t sunrise or sunset        D．during the day
8．A．gift                         B．honor                    C．thought                 D．respect
9．A．for more                 B．a(chǎn)ny more               C．very much            D．no longer
10．A．turn to                  B．fight for                C．struggle with         D．bend over
11．A．superiority             B．disadvantages        C．inferiority            D．weakness
12．A．gently                   B．quietly                   C．violently                D．peacefully
13．A．with care                     B．in fear                   C．by chance           D．on purpose
14．A．a(chǎn)mongst                B．by                        C．for                       D．a(chǎn)gainst
15．A．others                   B．themselves            C．the other               D．the rest
16．A．equal and simple      B．ordinary and similar  C．more or less    D．unique and different
17．A．each other             B．me                        C．one another           D．them
18．A．combined              B．separated               C．united                   D．divided
19．A．cleans                   B．washes                 C．brightens              D．dampens
20．A．a(chǎn)ppreciate             B．quarrel with           C．ignore                   D．praise

A lot of us lose life’s tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的) attack—when a touch of humor might well enable us to win. Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who hit a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒) about being late on the job. Although there was a good reason for Sam’s a being late—serious illness at home—he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn’t work any longer. His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech.
Yes, the boss was, Sam entered the office at 9:35. The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work. Sam’s supervisor came up to him. Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand. “How do you do!” he said. “I’m Sam Maynard. I’m applying for a job. Which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago. Does the early bird get the worm?”
The room exploded in laughter. The supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office. Sam Maynard had saved his job—with the only tool that could win, a laugh.
Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected(忽略), means of handling the difficult situations in our lives. It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying “no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face. For some jobs, it’s the only tool that can succeed. It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel. For example, many believe that comedians(喜劇演員) on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance(忍受力) than people in any other forum.
小題1:Why was Sam late for his job?

A．Because he was ill.

B．Because he got up late.

C．Because he was caught in a traffic jam.

D．He was busy applying for a new job.

小題2:The main idea of this passage is ________.

A．Sam Maynard saved his job with humor

B．humor is important in our lives

C．early bird gets the worm

D．humor can solve racial discriminations

小題3:The phrase “clamped off” in Paragraph 3 means ________.

A．tried to hold back

B．tried to set

C．charged

D．gave out

小題4:Which of the following statements can we infer from the passage?

A．Many lose life’s battles for they are lacking in a sense of humor.

B．It wasn’t the first time that Sam came late for his work.

C．Sam was supposed to come to his office at 8:30.

D．Humor is the most effective way of solving problems.

閱讀下面短文，撐握其大意，然后從1—20各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。
After the birth of my second child, I got a job at a restaurant. Having worked with an experienced  1  for a few days, I was   2  to wait tables on my own. All went  3  that first week. When Saturday night came, I was luckily  4  the tables not far from the kitchen.   5  , I still felt a little hard to carry the heavy trays (托盤)。
Before I knew it, the  6 was full of people. I moved slowly,   7 every step. I remember how  8  I was when I saw the tray stand near the tables, it looked different from the one I was  9  on. It had nice handles (手柄)，which made it  10   to move around. I was pleased with everything and began to  11  I was a natural at this job.
Then, an old man came to me and said, “Excuse me, dear, my wife and I loved __12 you work. It seems your tray stand has been very  13  to you, but we are getting ready to  14  now, and my wife needs her  15 back.”
At first his   16 did not get across. “What was he talking about!” Then I got it. I had set my trays on his wife’s orthopedic walker (助步器). I stood frozen as ice, but my face was  17 . I wanted to get into a hole and  18 .
Since then, I have learned from many mistakes such as the one I just   19  , I have learned to be more  20 and not to be too sure of myself.

小題1:	A．manager B．a(chǎn)ssistant C．cook D．waitress

小題2:	A．promised B．invited C．a(chǎn)llowed D．a(chǎn)dvised

小題3:	A．well B．quickly C．safely D．wrong

小題4:	A．left B．given C．brought D．show

小題5:	A．Therefore B．However C．Otherwise D．Finally

小題6:	A．kitchen B．street C．restaurant D．table

小題7:	A．minding B．changing C．taking D．saving

小題8:angry        B. calm        C. sad          D. happy

小題9:	A．fixed B．trained C．loaded D．waited

小題10:

A．slower B．lighter C．quieter D．easier

小題11:

A．believe B．a(chǎn)gree C．regret D．pretend

小題12:

A．letting B．making C．watching D．having

小題13:

A．useful B．familiar C．unusual D．interesting

小題14:

A．rest B．order C．eat D．leave

小題15:

A．bag B．walker C．tray D．coat

小題16:

A．idea B．praise C．message D．need

小題17:

A．cold B．full of joy C．pale D．on fire

小題18:

A．lie B．hide C．defend D．stay

小題19:

A．repeated B．discovered C．corrected D．described

小題20:

A．careful B．patient C．honest D．practical

A
Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.
I walked to the door and knocked, “Just a minute,” answered a weak, elderly voice.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase.
I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. “It’s nothing,” I told her. “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated.”
“Oh, you’re such a good man.” She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, “Could you drive through downtown?”
“It’s not the shortest way,” I answered quickly.
“Oh, I’m in no hurry,” she said. “I’m on my way to a hospice(臨終醫(yī)院). I don’t have any family left. The doctor says I don’t have very long.”
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter(計價器).
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
At dawn, she suddenly said,” I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the address she had given me.
“How much do I owe you?” she asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
“You have to make a living,” she answered. “Oh, there are other passengers,” I answered.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto e tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, “You gave an old woman a little moment of joy.”
小題1:The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to ______.

A．show she was familiar with the city	B．see some places for the last time
C．let the driver earn more money	D．reach the destination on time

小題2:The taxi driver did not charge the old woman because he ______.

A．wanted to do her a favor	B．shut off the meter by mistake
C．had received her payment in advance	D．was in a hurry to take other passengers

小題3:What can we learn from the story?

A．Giving is always a pleasure.	B．People should respect each other.
C．An act of kindness can bring people great joy.
D．People should learn to appreciate others’ concern.

It’s not polite to arrive at a dinner more than 15 to 20 minutes late. The host or hostess usually waits for all the ___1___ to arrive before serving the meal. If someone is late, the food may be spoiled(變味), and ___2___ may the host or hostess’ spirits. If you have to be ___3___ call and tell them to start ___4___ you.
It’s even worse to be early! The host or hostess will probably not be ___5___. If you are early, drive or walk around the block a few times, or just sit in your car until the right time.
Though it’s often ___6___ to arrive at a party on time, on the other hand, the host or hostess ___7___ guests to arrive and leave between certain times, so you can ___8___ at any time between the times he or she gives you.
It’s nice to bring an empty stomach, but it’s even nicer to bring ___9___ present. The present should not cost a lot, or you might make the host or hostess ___10___. Flowers, wine, or a box of candy will be fine. ___11___ bring money as a present. In an introduction, the ___12___ of a name is: (1) the given name; (2) the family name. In other ___13___, the given name comes ___14___. It’s important not only to learn and remember ___15___, but to repeat them often in conversation. After the introduction, we usually call friends by their ___16___ names. Older people may want you to call them by their titles and family names, such as “Mrs Smith”, “Mr Johnson”, “Dr. Brown”.
A maiden(閨女) name is a ___17___ family name at birth. In the United States and Canada, after a woman ___18___, she takes the family name of her ___19___ in place of her maiden name. It is now becoming common, however, for women to ___20___ their maiden names after they get married.
1. A. guests     B. visitors       C. customs      D. passengers
2. A. or   B. so       C. but     D. yet
3. A. tired       B. hungry       C. late     D. early
4. A. without  B. for      C. with    D. after
5. A. awake    B. ready  C. up      D. friendly
6. A. useless    B. impossible  C. unable D. important
7. A. forces     B. invites C. begs    D. orders
8. A. play       B. fly      C. arrive  D. start
9. A. a big      B. a small       C. a good       D. an expensive
10. A. pleased B. satisfied     C. interested   D. uneasy
11. A. Never   B. Always       C. Do      D. Be sure to
12. A. spelling       B. calling       C. order  D. pronunciation
13. A. words   B. letters C. idioms       D. sentences
14. A. last       B. first    C. finally D. in the middle
15. A. expressions  B. appearances       C. names D. addresses
16. A. given    B. family C. middle       D. pen
17. A. gentleman’s  B. boy’s  C. woman’s    D. man’s
18. A. works   B. marries      C. bears   D. dies
19. A. husband       B. mother       C. father  D. sister
20. A. stop      B. give up      C. keep   D. find

Between ten and midnight the United States is politically leaderless—there is no center of information anywhere in the nation except in the New York headquarters of the great broadcasting companies and two wire services. No candidate and no party can afford the investment on election night to match the news-gathering resources of the mass media; and so as every citizen sits in his home watching his TV set or listening to his radio, he is the equal of any other in knowledge. There is nothing that can be done in these hours, for no one can longer direct the great strike for America’s power; the polls have closed. Good or bad, whatever the decision, America will accept the decision—and cut down any man who goes against it, even though for millions the decision runs contrary to their own votes. The general vote is an expression of national will, the only substitute for violence and blood. Its decision is to be defended as one defends civilization itself.
There is nothing like this American expression of will in England or France, India or Russia. Only one other major nation in modern history has tried to elect its leader directly by mass, free, popular vote. This was the Weiman Republic of Germany, which modeled its unitary vote for national leaders on the American practice. Out of its experiment with the system it got Hitler. Americans have had Lincoln, Wilson and two Roosevelts. Nothing can be done when the voting returns are flooding in; the White House and its power will move to one or another of the two candidates, and all will know about it in the morning. But for these hours history stops.
小題1:Between ten P.M. and midnight the United States is politically leaderless because ________.

A．the president has been murdered

B．the general strike for power has ended

C．the government has resigned

D．the general vote is being held

小題2:“The great strike for America’s power” in Paragraph 1 refers to ________.

A．the strike of the government members

B．the great vote

C．the election campaign

D．the strike of the government employees

小題3:The author believes that the decision at the polls will ________.

A．lead to a civil war	B．result in a general strike
C．cause violence and blood	D．be defended by all Americans

小題4:Without the general vote, the author implies ________.

A．there would be a civil war	B．there would be a general strike
C．there would be an election campaign	D．there would be a fierce debate