Shut the window, ______ it’ll get too cold in here.

A. so B. yet C. but D. otherwise

Across the rich world, well-educated people increasingly work longer than the less-skilled. Some 65% of American men aged 62-74 with a professional degree are in the workforce, compared with 32% of men with only a high-school certificate. This gap is part of a deepening divide between the well-education well off and the unskilled poor. Rapid technological advance has raised the incomes of the highly skilled while squeezing those of the unskilled. The consequences, for individual and society, are profound.

The world is facing as astonishing rise in the number of old people, and they will live longer than ever before. Over the next 20 years the global population of those aged 65 or more will almost double, from 600 million to 1.1 billion. The experience of the 20th century, when greater longevity translated into more years in retirement rather than more years at work, has persuaded many observers that this shift will lead to slower economic growth, while the swelling ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems.

But the notion of a sharp division between the working young and the idle old misses a new trend, the growing gap between the skilled and the unskilled. Employment rates are falling among younger unskilled people, whereas older skilled folk are working longer. The divide is most extreme in America, where well-educated baby-boomers (二戰(zhàn)后生育高峰期出生的美國人) are putting off retirement while many less-skilled younger people have dropped out of the workforce.

That even the better-off must work longer to have a comfortable retirement. But the changing nature of work also plays a big role. Pay has risen sharply for the highly educated, and those people continue to reap rich rewards into old age because these days the educated elderly are more productive than the preceding generation. Technological change may well reinforce that shift: the skills that complement computers, from management knowhow to creativity. Do not necessarily decline with age.

1.what is happening in the workforce in rich countries?

A. younger people are replacing the elderly

B. well-educated people tend to work longer

C. unemployment rates are rising year after year

D. people with no college degree do not easily find work

2.what has helped deepen the divide between the well-off and poor?

A. Longer life expectancies

B. Profound changes in the workforce

C. rapid technological advance.

D. A growing number of well-graduated.

3.what do many observers predict in view of the experience of the 20th century?

A. Economic growth will slow down.

B. Government budgets will increase.

C. More people will try to pursue higher education

D. There will be more competition in the job market.

4.What is the result of policy changes in European countries?

A. Unskilled workers may choose to retire early.

B. more people have to receive in-service training.

C. Even wealthy people must work longer to live comfortably in retirement.

D. People may be able to enjoy generous defined-benefits from pension plans.

5.What is characteristic of work in the 21st century?

A. Computers will do more complicated work.

B. More will be taken by the educated young.

C. Most jobs to be done will be creative ones.

D. Skills are highly valued regardless of age.

—Cathy，did you attend the lecture given by Mr．Black last night？

—No．I ______ a report at the office．

A．was writing

B．wrote

C．had written

D．have been writing

She has been dreaming a future ____ she can spend more time growing flowers．

A．that B．when C．where D．which

Tony couldn’t remember ______he had turned off the computer before he left the office．

A．that B．where

C．when D．whether

Jack，it’s too hot here．______ I open the window？

A．Shall B．Will C．Should D．Would

閱讀下面短文，掌握其大意，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。

Learning a life lesson on managing time

One day，an expert was speaking to a group of students about how to manage their time．He an example those students will never forget．

He pulled out a wide jar and put it on the table．He also about a dozen rocks and carefully them into the jar．One at a time．When no more rocks would inside，he asked，“Is this jar full？”

Everyone in the class answered loudly，“Yes．” The expert said，“Really？” He under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel (礫石)．He put some gravel in and the jar，causing it to go down into the between the big rocks．He then asked the group once more，“Is this jar full？”

“ not，” one of them answered this time．“Good！” he replied．From under the table he brought out a bucket of sand and started the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left 0 the rocks and the gravel．Once more he asked the question，“Is this jar full？”

“No！” the class shouted．Once again he said，“Good．” Then he a cup of water in the jar was full．Then he looked at the class and asked，“What is the here？”

Immediately one student raised his hand and said，“The point is，no matter how full your is，if you try really hard you can always fit things in！” “No，” the expert replied，“that’s not the point．The point is if you don’t put the big rocks in ，you’ll never get them in ．What are the ‘big rocks’ in your ？Time with your loved ones，your education，or your dreams？Remember to put these big rocks in first or you’ll never get them in at all， you’ll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big，important things．”

1.A．set B．gave C．made D．followed

2.A．handed out B．passed on C．took out D．picked up

3.A．threw B．spread C．turned D．placed

4.A．come B．push C．fall D．fit

5.A．reached B．sat C．got D．stopped

6.A．shook B．covered C．pressed D．raised

7.A．bottom B．distance C．a(chǎn)reas D．spaces

8.A．Usually B．Probably C．Obviously D．Simply

9.A．inserting B．packing C．putting D．mixing

10.A．beside B．between C．a(chǎn)round D．a(chǎn)mong

11.A．a(chǎn)llowed B．forced C．sank D．poured

12.A．until B．before C．so that D．a(chǎn)s far as

13.A．reason B．result C．point D．matter

14.A．clever B．eager C．sensitive D．curious

15.A．schedule B．container C．time D．class

16.A．enough B．small C．extra D．more

17.A．first B．once C．properly D．immediately

18.A．a(chǎn)t all B．a(chǎn)fter all C．a(chǎn)t last D．a(chǎn)ny more

19.A．mind B．list C．life D．world

20.A．a(chǎn)nd B．while C．but D．for

The Loss of Innocence

Innocence is such a precious gift．It’s explained as freedom from guilt or wrong doing．Just imagine never having to worry about anything and having a guilt free mind．Some people wish to save this kind of innocence from being lost from childhood to adulthood．

What would the world be like if innocence were never lost？One way it would benefit humanity is the lack of hatred （仇恨）among the world．During youth，there may be an occasional argument，even a little physical fight，but nothing like firing a handgun at a fellow human being．And children are blind towards the racial differences of others．A kid will hang out with any other kid．It is the lack of innocence and the ignorance we learn from adults that influence children otherwise．Another benefit is the constant desire for fun and adventure．With very little if any time at all for fun，the adventurous mind is lost in time with the responsibilities placed upon adults．If innocence were kept alive，these ambitions would never depart from our lives．

However，other people actually hate the idea of innocence lasting forever．They feel that the lack of organization and mental power of those with innocence would cause extremely destructive consequences to society in general．A large number of individuals would never have the urge to learn，work，and act upon the necessary needs for humanity to survive．Without a proper education which is usually provided by those who no longer live in a world of innocence，people would not have the desire to succeed，get a good job in life，or provide income for their families，which would hurt the lives of children．

The lack of a good education and career would also harm the economy．As long as innocence is kept alive，no one would be terribly angered at the lack of effort people put out in the workplace，resulting in a strong decline in production and quality of needed goods．

Maybe it is wrong in wanting to save innocence．It sure is a nice thought，though．Perhaps innocence was meant to be lost．It was god’s will to make things the way they are，and there is a good purpose for everything．All that remains to be said about innocence is to enjoy it while it lasts．

1.The author believes that the loss of innocence in adulthood should be _______．

A．a(chǎn)voided

B．condemned

C．a(chǎn)ccepted

D．inspired

2.Lifelong innocence would be beneficial to society in that _______．

A．proper education would be provided

B．there would be no racial discrimination

C．more happy families would be guaranteed

D．people would realize their childhood dreams

3.According to the author，people with innocence can hurt the economy with their lack of _____．

A．motivational will

B．mental ability

C．a(chǎn)dventurous ambitions

D．needed goods

4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage？

In order to keep fit, the old man makes it a rule _____ for a walk after supper every day．

A．going B．to go C．go D．gone

I will wait _____ 6：30, but then I’m going home．

A．from B．a(chǎn)t C．a(chǎn)fter D．until