Chinese are very generous when it comes to educating their children . Not caring about the money,
parents often send their children to the best schools or even abroad to England , the United States or
Australia . They also want their children to take extra-course activities where they will learn a musical
instrument or ballet or other classes which will give them a head start in life . The Chinese believe that the
more expensive an education is , the better it is . So the parents will spend an unreasonable amount of
money on education. Even poor couples will buy a computer for their son or daughter.
     However, what most parents fail to see is that the best early education they can give their children is
usually very cheap.
     Parents can see that their children's skills vary , skilled in some areas while poor in others . What most parents fail to realize though , is that today's children lack self-respect and self-confidence.
The problem is that parents are only educating their children on how to take multiple-choice tests and how to study well , but parents aren't teaching them the most important skills they need to be confident , happy and clever.
     Parents can achieve this by teaching practical skills like cooking , sewing and doing housework .
Teaching a child to cook will improve many of the skills that the will need later in life . Cooking demands
patience and time . It's an enjoyable but difficult experiment . A good cook always tries to improve his
cooking , so he will learn to work hard and gradually to finish his job successfully . His result , a well-cooked dinner , will give him much satisfaction and a lot of self-confidence.
     Some old machines , such as a broken radio or TV set that you give your children to play with will make him curious and arouse his interest He will spend hours looking at them , trying to fix them ; your child
might become an engineer when he grows up . These activities aren't merely teaching a child to read a
book , but rather to think , to use his mind . And that is more important.

1. Parents in China , according to this passage ,           . 

A. are too strict with their children  
B. are too rich to educate their children
C. have some problems in educating their children correctly
D. are too poor to educate their children

 2. Generally speaking , children's skills          .

A. come from their parents    
B. have nothing to do with their education
C. may be different          
D. have something to do with their marks in the exams

3. The write of this passage doesn't seem to be satisfied with           .  

A. the parents' idea of educating their children          
B. the education system  
C. children's skills                                
D. children's hobbies

4. Doing some cooking at home helps children            . 

A. learn how to serve their parents          
B. learn how to become strong and fat
C. benefit from it and prepare themselves for the future    
D. make their parents believe that they are clever

5. According to the last paragraph , we can conclude that          .   

A. broken radios and television sets are useful
B. one's curiosity may be useful for his later life
C. an engineer must fix many broken radios
D. a good student should spend much time repairing radios

[1] Nowadays, researchers from the University of Maryland found that nearly four in five students have
depression,panic,confusion and extreme isolation when they are forced to keep away from technology
for a day.The study concluded that "most students failed to go the full 24 hours without media". They
have been addicted to the modem technology.
[2] In this research, almost 1,000 university students from 12 campuses in 10 countries, including Britain, America and China, have been interviewed. Most of them were unable to avoid technology for one full
day. The researchers concluded that, college students at campuses across the globe admitted being
"addicted" to modem technology such as mobile phones, laptops and televisions as well as social
networking such as Facebook and Twitter. An American college student told of his great desire when he
was forced to keep away from the media. He even said it           "cocaine addiction".
[3]The research also found students used "nearly the same words to describe their reactions when they
were away from the media". These included emotions such as confusion,anxiety, insecurity, jealousness,
anger, loneliness, dependence and depression.
[4] Professor Susan Moeller, who led the research, said technology had changed the students' relationships. "Students talked about how seary(可怕的) it was when there is no technology, how addicted they
were to it," she said. "They expected the frustration without the media. But they didn't expect to have the
psychological effects, to be lonely, to be panicked, the anxiety, literally heart palpitations (心悸).
Technology provides the social network for young people today and they have spent their entire lives
being 'plugged in ' . "

1.What's the main idea of the text? (no more than 10 words)
____________________________________________________________________________
2.How will most students feel if they keep away from technology for 24 hours? (no more than 9 words)
________________________________ ____________________________________________
3.Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words. (no more than 4 words)
____________________________________________________________________________
4.What does the underlined word "These" in Paragraph 3 probably refer to? (no more than 10 words)
____________________________________________________________________________
5.Complete the following statement with proper words. (no more than 2 words)
The youth have access to social network nowadays with the help of ________which they are
addicted to and can't get away from.

     We each have a unique genetic (基因的,遺傳的) make-up. Every cell of your body has the same set
of about 100,000 separate genes made of DNA. These are the instructions for producing a person.
Genes decide everything from the colour of your skin to the way your brain works. You have one of
several billion combinations of DNA which come from the random mixing of your parents' genes. Except
for identical twins (同卵雙胞胎), no one has the same combination as another person. You are unique!
You are unique in another way too: in the way you are raised and all the experiences you have from before birth to adult life.These experiences influence you, your behaviour and attitudes, and the choices you make.
     But are genes or life experiences more important in shaping your appearance and personality? Scientists are studying twins to find out. One set of twins occurs every 70 births---some are identical and others are non-identical twins. Identical twins are special because they share exactly the same genes and often the same environment. Non-identical twins are more like ordinary brothers and sisters.
     Some identical twins have been adopted and brought up in different homes. With identical genes but a
different home environment, scientists can study twins to see how much a particular feature depends on the genes we inherit. For example, we know that eye problems, like short-sightedness, are mostly genetic. But resistance to pain is largely dependent on experiences. Genes also influence our eating habits. Identical twins brought up apart often like to eat at the same time of day and feel full after eating the same amount.
Non-identical twins in similar circumstances have more varied eating habits. Identical twins are also more
likely to follow the same patterns for marriage and divorce than non-identical twins.
     Scientists are trying to identify the different genes that influence our behaviour. Some people are
thrill-seekers and get into risk-taking and adventurous activities. They take up extreme sports like bungee
jumping and possibly take drugs. Scientists have discovered a gene which affects this.
     We could ask, "Are our lives determined by our genes or our upbringing?" Scientists are learning more all the time, but it is certainly true that both are important in making us who we are.

1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A. We cannot easily change our physical appearance.
B. How we turn out depends on our parents' genes.
C. Everyone has a physical double somewhere in the world.
D. Both our genes and our experiences make us who we are.

2. Why are scientists studying twins?

A. To find out how many twins are born every year.
B. To discover what shapes us as individuals.
C. To compare differences between twins.
D. To study brother-and-sister relationships.

3. According to the passage, __________.

A. one in 70 twins are genetically identical 
B. non-identical twins are usually not of the same sex
C. twins separated at birth behave exactly the same
D. identical twins are genetically the same

4. Which of the following is most affected by experience according the passage?

A. Eating habits.
B. Eye-sight.  
C. Pain resistance.
D. Marriage patterns.

5. What does the underlined "this" in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. Our love of sport.            
B. Our attitude to risk-taking.
C. Our skill at bungee jumping.    
D. Our ability to take drugs.

     What will people die of 100 years from now? If you think that is a simple question, you have not been
paying attention to the revolution that is taking place in bio-technology (生物技術(shù)). With the help of new medicine, the human body will last a very long time. Death will come mainly from accidents, murder and
war. Today's leading killers, such as heart diseases, cancer, and aging itself, will become distant memory.
     In discussion of technological changes, the Internet gets most of the attention these days. But the
change in medicine can be the real technological event of our times. How long can humans live? Human
brains were known to decide the final death. Cells(細(xì)胞) are the basic units of all living things, and
until recently, scientists were sure that the life of cells could not go much beyond 120 years because the
basic materials of cells, such as those of brain cells, would not last forever. But the upper limits will be
broken by new medicine. Sometime between 2050 and 2100, medicine will have advanced to the point
at which every 10 years or so, people will be able to take medicine to repair their organs(器官). The
medicine, made up of the basic building materials of life, will build new brain cells, heart cells, and so
on-in much the same way our bodies make new skin cells to take the place of old ones.
      It is exciting to imagine that the advance in technology may be changing the most basic conditional
human existence, but many technical problems still must be cleared up on the way to this wonderful future.

1. According to the passage, human death is now mainly caused by _______.

A. diseases and aging                
B. accidents and war
C. accidents and aging              
D. heart diseases and war

2. In the author's opinion, today's most important advance in technology lies in _____.

A. medicine      
B. the internet    
C. brain cells    
D. human organs

3. Humans may live longer in the future because ______.

A. heart disease will be far away from us
B. human brains can decide the final death
C. the basic materials of cells will last forever
D. human organs can be repaired by new medicine

4. We can learn from the passage that _____.

A. human life will not last more than 120 years in the future
B. human have to take medicine to build new skin cells now
C. much needs to be done before humans can have a longer life
D. we have already solved the technical problems in building new cells.

     Surfing the Internet for fun will make you a better employee, according to an Australian study.
     The University of Melbourne study shows that people who use the Internet for their own reasons at
work are about 9 percent more productive than those who do not. Study author Brent Coker said,
"Surfing the Internet at times helps increase an employee's attention."
     "People need to relax for a bit to get back their attention," Coker said on the university's website.
"Having a short break, such as a quick surfing of the Internet, helps the mind to rest itself, leading to a
higher total Internet attention for a day's work, and as a result, increases productivity (生產(chǎn)效率)," he
said.
     According to the study of 300 workers, 70 percent of people who use the Internet at work surf the
Interne t for their own reasons during office hours. Among the most popular surfing activities are
searching for information about products, reading online news, playing online games and watching
videos. "Firms spend a lot of money on software to block their employees from watching videos, using
social networking sites or shopping online," said Coker. "That's not always a good idea."
     However, Coker said the study looked at people who surfed the Internet in moderation (適度), or
were on the Internet for less than 20 percent of their total time in the office. "Those who spend too much
time surfing the Internet will have a lower productivity than those without." he said.

1. What does the University of Melbourne study mainly show?

A. People who surf the Internet are good employees.
B. Not everyone surfs the Internet for fun during office hours.
C. Surfing the Internet for fun at times during office hours increases productivity.
D. The Internet is becoming more and more important in people's life.

2. According to Paragraph 3, Brent Coker would most probably agree that ______.

A. the longer a person's mind rests, the better attention he will have
B. surfing the Internet is the best way to increase productivity
C. workers should have a long break during office hours
D. workers should let their minds rest now and then

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as one of the most popular surfing activities?

A. Watching videos.
B. Reading online news.
C. Reading online novels.
D. Playing online games.

4. The underlined word "block" in Paragraph 4 means "______".

A. stop
B. organize
C. protect
D. separate

5. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. Spending too much time surfing the Internet reduces productivity.
B. Those who never surf the Internet have the lowest productivity.
C. Most people don't surf the Internet in moderation during office hours.
D. People should spend as little time as possible surfing the Internet.

     It is sometimes said that English is English and that there are no differences between different kinds of
English, but this is not the case. American English is in general quite different from UK English. The main
differences relate to the use of certain words and to spelling. American English is much more phonetic(與發(fā)音近似的)than UK English and in American English a 'z' or a 'c' is often used where an 's' would be
used in British English.
     Words can vary in different types of English as well. An "estate agent" in UK English is someone who
works in "real estate" in American English. British people talk of "rubbish" while the Americans call this
"garbage". The UK people have "bins", but the Americans have "dumpsters".
     The differences between these ways of using English make translating works into English a difficult
business. There are translation tools available on the Internet, but these can often translate words in a very direct way and the end result is a sentence that has lost its meaning.
    The best way of translating any written piece of work into the English language is to first decide what
kind of English you want the piece to be translated into. For example, if it is for a British market, then use
the UK English. For the best result, always use some kind of spelling and grammar checker so you can
make sure that you are using the proper terms, spelling and vocabulary.

1. Which of the following statements would the writer most probably agree with? 

A. UK English is much more phonetic than American English.
B. There are differences between different kinds of English.
C. American English is different from British English only in spelling.
D. It's easier to learn British English than to learn American English.

2. The underlined word "vary" in Paragraph 2 means "______".

A. change
B. argue
C. replace
D. compare

3. It is implied in Paragraph 3 that ______.

A. works translated into English will surely lose their meanings
B. we should never translate words into English in a direct way
C. translating works into English is not difficult
D. online translation tools are not so useful

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A. The advantages of using a spelling and grammar checker.
B. The differences between British English and American English.
C. What we should do when translating something into English.
D. When we should use British English or American English.

     Sure, it's good to get along with your teacher because it makes the time you spend in the classroom
more pleasant.
     And yes, it's good to get along with your teacher because, in general, it's smart to learn how to
understand the different types of people you'll meet throughout your life.
     "But really, there's one super-important reason why you should get along with your teacher. When
you do, learning bursts right open," says Evelyn Vuko, a longtime teacher who writes an education
column(專(zhuān)欄) called "Teacher Says" for the Washington Post newspaper.
     In fact, kids who get along with their teachers not only learn more, but they're more comfortable
asking questions and getting extra help. This makes it easier to understand new material and do your
best on tests.      When you have this kind of relationship with a teacher, he or she can be someone to
turn to with problems, such as problems with learning or school life, such as bullying.
As a kid in a primary or middle school, you're at a wonderful stage in your life. You're like a sponge
(海綿), able to absorb lots of new and exciting information. On top of that, you're able to think about
all this information in new ways. Your teacher knows that, in most cases, is very excited to be the
person who's giving you all that material and helping you make it. Remember, teachers are people, too,
and they feel great if you're open to what they're teaching you. That's why they wanted to be teachers
in the first place-to teach!
     Some kids may be able to learn in any situation, whether they like the teacher or not. But most kids
are sensitive to the way they get along with the teacher, and if things aren't going well, they won't learn
as well and won't enjoy being in class.

1. In the passage, the author mainly talks about _______.

A. how to get along well with others
B. the importance of a good relation with teachers
C. how much the students are expected of to get along with teachers
D. how to make the time in the classroom more pleasant

2. "Learning bursts right open" in the third paragraph really means _______.

A. learning becomes easier for you at once
B. you find an opening to learning
C. there'll be more problems with learning
D. there'll be no problems at all with learning

3. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. If you get on well with your teachers, you must have a good result in exams.
B. The more questions you ask, the higher marks you will get.
C. If you have a good relationship with your teacher, you can turn to him when in trouble.
D. Many kids can do well without a good relationship with teachers.

4. Which of the comments is FALSE on teachers and their work according to the passage?

A. Teachers are excited even if you wouldn't like to accept their teaching.
B. Teachers sometimes have the same feelings as students do.
C. Though few, there are still some students who can learn even if they don't like the teacher.
D. Having a bad relationship with your teachers does more or less harm to your studies.

    A recent study, which was published in last week's Journal of the American Medical Association,
offers a picture of how dangerous it is to get a lift from a teenage driver. Indeed, a 16-year-old driver
with three or more passengers has three times the possibility of a serious accident, compared with a
teenager driving alone.
     The authors also found that the death rates for teenage drivers increased greatly after 10 p.m., and
especially after midnight. With passengers in the car, the driver was even more likely to die in a late-night
accident.
     Robert Foss, a scientist at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, says
the higher death rates for teenage drivers have less to do with "really stupid behavior" than with just a lack of driving experience. "The basic issue is that adults who are responsible for giving out licenses fail to
recognize how complex and skilled driving is." he says.
     Both he and the author of the study believe that the way to mitigate (使緩解) the problem is to have
states set up so-called graduated licensing systems, in which getting a license is a process with several
stages. A graduated license requires that a teenager first prove himself able to drive in the presence(在場(chǎng))
of an adult, followed by a period of driving with night of passenger restrictions (限制) before graduating
to full driving rights.
     Graduated licensing systems have reduced teenage driver crashes, according to recent studies.

1.Which of the following situations is most dangerous according to the passage?

A. Adults giving a lift to teenagers on the highway after 10 p.m.
B. A teenager driving after midnight with passengers in the car.
C. Adults driving with three or more teenage passengers late at night.  
D. A teenager getting a lift from a stranger on the highway at midnight.

2. According to Robert Foss, the high death rate of teenage drivers is mainly due to _____.

A. their lack of driving experience
B. their frequent driving at night
C. their wrong way of driving    
D. their driving with passengers

3. According to Paragraph 3, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Teenagers should spend more time learning to drive.
B. Driving is a skill too complex for teenagers to learn.
C. Restrictions should be forced on teenagers demanding to take driving licenses.  
D. The licensing department is partly responsible for teenagers' driving accidents.

4. A suggested measure to be taken to reduce teenagers' driving accidents is that _____.

A. the licensing system should be improved
B. they should be forbidden to take on passengers
C. they should not be allowed to drive after 10 pm
D. driving in the presence of an adult should be made a rule