An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to (歸因于) the
global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
     Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to
UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society
said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
     Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecture at St Andrews University,
said his first-year lectures-which are open to students from all departments-were drawing crowds of 400,
rather than the usual 250.
     "There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something
about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way
that one hasn't traditionally done." He added.
     University applications rose 7% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing
saw a 15% jump, with people's renewed interest in caters in the public sector (部門), which are seen as
more secure in economic crisis.
     A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils
about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a
minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
     Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said:"It's possible that one good thing to arise from the
downturn will be a generation that's financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through
times of economic uncertainty."

1. Professor John Beath's lectures are _____.

A. given in a traditional way
B. connected with the present situation
C. open to both students and their parents
D. warmly received by economics

2. Incomes in the public sector are more attractive because of their _____.

A. greater stability
B. higher pay
C. fewer applications
D. better reputation

3. In the opinion of most parents _____.

A. eccentrics should be the focus of school teaching
B. more students should be admitted to universities
C. the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened
D. children should solve financial problems themselves

4. According to Hocking, the global economic crisis might make the youngsters _____.

A. wiser in money management
B. have access to better equipment
C. confide about their future careers
D. get jobs in Child Trust Funds

5. What's the main idea of the text?

A. Universities have received more applications.
B. Economics is attracting an increasing numbers of students.
C. college students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty.
D. parents are concerned with children's subject selection.

     [1] Hello. It's one of the first words we learn as babies, yet it's one of the last ones we think to use as
adults. That's unfortunate, because saying hello is more than just saying hello-it is recognition of another's
worth. How might the world change-how might we change-if we mastered this word? To find out, I spent
one month saying hello to every person I met. Here's what I've learned.
     [2] It can boost (促進) productivity. In one of the few studies ever done on this subject, Allan, an
assistant professor of special education at Oklahoma State University, had middle school teachers greet their
students individually each morning. This exchange of greetings raised the kids' productivity. School went
from impersonal to personal, and that resulted in more class participation and better grades.
     [3] Environments influence friendliness. One study found that people in the city were kiss likely to one
hands with a stranger than those in the countryside. And researchers say, pleasure environments generally
encourage more smiles and hellos than unpleasant ones. My experience was similarly. Whatever the reason,
my urban hellos were answered far less often than my rural one. Similarly, people in vacation spots, like the
Jersey Shore, were far friendlier than those hurrying work downtown.
     [4] It's a form of universal health insurance. It's impossible to say hello without smiling. And smiling has
been shown to lower blood pressure, relieve stress and boost happiness. Apparently, a smile creates a similar
effect in the recipient (接受者).
     [5] So maybe we can make the world a better place by _____. After a month of doing it. I feel lighter
and more connected and I have a better sense of well-being.

1. What does the author say about the adults according to Paragraph 1? (within 8 words)
    __________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which sentence in the text is the closest in meaning to the following one? Teachers and students got
    friendlier so that the students became more active in learning and scored higher in tests.
    __________________________________________________________________________________
3. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 5 with proper words. (within 5 words)
    __________________________________________________________________________________
4. List three effects of smiling on health according to the text. (within 8 words)
    ①__________ ②__________ ③___________
5. Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 Chinese. 
    __________________________________________________________________________________

     "Get your hands off me, I have been stolen," the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new
solution to laptop computer theft: a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been
taken.
     The program allows users to display alerts on the missing computer's screen and even to set a spoken
message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought
to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
     Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model:
a red and yellow "lost or stolen" sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version (版
本) of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
     The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it.
"One customer sent a message saying, 'You are being tracked. I am right at your door'," said Carrie
Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
     In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop's speakers will say:"Help,
this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now."
     The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of
many security software programs.Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password if they fear that
the thief has also got hold of the access details.
     If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet
service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
     Thousands of laptops are stolen every year form homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing,
the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
     Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.

1. The expression"to give the thief a piece of their mind"can be understood as "_____".

A. to give the thief an alert mind
B. to express the owners' anger to the thief
C. to remind the thief of this conscience
D. to make the thief give up his mind

2. Different from other security software, Retriever can _____.

A. record the stealing process
B. help recognize the lost laptop
C. lock down the computer remotely
D. send a spoken message

3. One function of the program is that it allows the owner to _____ at a distance.

A. change some access details for switching on the laptop
B. turn on the laptop by using the original password
C. operate the laptop by means of an alternative password
D. erase the information kept in the stolen laptop

4. Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?

A. With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.
B. A new soft ware provides a means to reduce laptop theft.
C. Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.
D. A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.

     The latest research suggests that the key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not
I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success. Instead, it's purposeful practice. Top performers spend more hours
practising their craft. It you wanted to picture how a typical genius might develop, you'd take a girl who
possessed a slightly above average language ability. It wouldn't have to be a big talent, just enough so that she
might gain some sense of distinction. Then you would want her to meet, say, a novelist, who coincidentally
shared some similar qualities. Maybe the writer was from the same town, had the same family background,
or shared the same birthday.
     This contact would give the girl a vision of her future self. It would hive her some idea of a fascinating
circle who might someday join. It would also help if one of her parents died when she was 12, giving her a
strong sense of insecurity and fuelling a desperate need for success. Armed with this ambition, she would
read novels and life stories of writers without end. This would give her a primary knowledge of her field.
She's be able to see new writing in deeper ways and quickly understand its inner workings.
     Then she would practise writing. Her practice would be slow, painstaking and error-focused. By practising
in this way, he delays the automatizing process. Her mind wants to turn conscious, newly learned skills into
unconscious. Automatically performed skills. By practising slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and
repeating, she forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. Then she would find an adviser
who would provide a constant stream of feedback, viewing her performance form the outside, correcting the
smallest errors, pushing her to take on tougher challenges. By now she is redoing problems-how do I get
characters into a room-dozens and dozens of times. She is establishing habits of thought she can call upon in
order to understand or solve future problems.
     The primary quality our young writer possesses is not some mysterious genius. It's the ability to develop
a purposeful, laborious and boring practice routine; the latest research takes some of the magic out of great
achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is affected by genetics and
what we're "hard-wired" to do. And it's true that genes play a role in our capabilities. But the brain is also
very plastic. We construct ourselves through behaviour.

1. The passage mainly deals with _____.

A. the function of I.Q. in cultivating a writer
B. the relationship between genius and success
C. the decisive factor in making a genius
D. the way of gaining some sense of distinction

2. By reading novels and writers' stories, the girl could _____.

A. come to understand the inner structure of writing
B. join a fascinating circle of writers someday
C. share with a novelist her likes and dislikes
D. learn from the living examples to establish a sense of security

3. In the girl's long painstaking training process, _____.

A. her adviser forms a primary challenging force to her success
B. her writing turns into an automatic pattern of performance
C. she acquires the magic of some great achievement
D. she comes to realize she is "hard-wired" to write

4. What can be concluded from the passage?

A. A fuelling ambition plays a leading role in one's success.
B. A responsible adviser is more important than the knowledge of writing.
C. As to the growth of a genius, I.Q. Doesn't matter, but just his|her effort.
D. What really matters is what you do rather than who you are.

     Honesty comes in many forms. First there's self-honesty. Is what people see the real article or do you
appear through smoke and mirrors? I find that if I try to be something I'm not. I feel unsure of myself and
take out a part from my PBA (personal bank account). I love how singer Judy Garland put it. "Always be
a first-class version(版本) of yourself, instead of a second-class version of somebody else."
     Then there's honesty in our actions. Are you honest at school, with your parents, and with your boss?
If you've ever been dishonest, I think we all have, try being honest, and notice how whole it makes you
feel. Remember, you can't do wrong and feel right. This story by Jeff is a good example of that:
     In my second year of study, there were three kids in my math class who didn't do well. I was really good
at it. I would charge them three dollars for each test that I helped them pass. I'd write on a little piece of
paper all the right answers, and hand them off.
     At first I felt like I was making money, kind of a nice job. I wasn't thinking about how it could hurt all
of us. After a while I realized I shouldn't do that anymore, because I wasn't really helping them. They weren't
learning anything, and it would only get harder down the road. Cheating certainly wasn't helping me.
     It takes courage to be honest when people all around you are getting away with cheating on tests, lying
to their parents, and stealing at work. But, remember, every act of honesty is a deposit (儲蓄) into your PBA
and will build strength.

1. The underlined part "appear through smoke and mirrors" in the first paragraph means "_____".

A. to be honest
B. to be unreal
C. to become clear
D. to come from an imagined world

2. Which of the following can best explain Judy Garland's words?

A. Be your true self rather than follow others.
B. Don't copy others or you can't be the first class.
C. Make efforts to be the first instead of the second.
D. Don't learn from others unless they're excellent.

3. What does the author expect to show by Jeff's story?

A. Honesty the author expect to show by Jeff's story?
B. A bad thing can be turned into a good one.
C. Helping others cheat can do good to nobody.
D. One should realize the wrong in his bad deeds.

4. In the last paragraph the author mainly wants to express _____.

A. one must be brave to be honest
B. it's difficult to be honest when others are not
C. one should be honest when making a deposit
D. honesty in one's actions can help him in the future

     Plants can't communicate by moving or making sounds, as most animals do. Instead, plants produce
volatile compounds, chemicals that easily change from a liquid to a gas. A flower's sweet smell, for example,
comes from volatile compounds that the plant produces to attract insects such as bugs and bees.
     Plants can also detect volatile compounds produced by other plants. A tree under attack by hungry insects,
for instance, may give off volatile compounds that let other trees know about the attack, In response, the other
trees may send off chemicals to keep the bugs away-or even chemicals that attract the bugs’ natural enemies.
     Now scientists have created a quick way to understand what plants are saying: a chemical sensor (傳感器)
called an electronic nose. The "e-nose" can tell compounds that crop plants make when they're attacked.
Scientists say the e-nose could help quickly detest whether plants are being eaten by insects, But today the only
way to detect such insects is to visually inspect individual plants. This is a challenging task for managers of
greenhouses, enclosed gardens that can house thousands of plants.
     The research team worked with an e-nose that recognizes volatile compounds. Inside the device, 13 sensors
chemically react with volatile compounds. Based on these interactions, the e-nose gives off electronic signals
that the scientists analyze using computer software.
     To test the nose, the team presented it with healthy leaves from cucumber, pepper and tomato plants, all
common greenhouse crops. Then the scientists collected samples of air around damaged leaves from each type
of crop. These plants had been damaged by insects, or by scientists who made holes in the leaves with a hole
punch (打孔器).
     The e-nose, it turns out, could identify healthy cucumber, pepper and tomato plants based on the volatile
compounds they produce. It could also identify tomato leaves that had been damaged. But even more impressive,
the device could tell which type of damage – by insects or with a hole punch – had been done to the tomato
leaves.
     With some fine tuning, a device like the e-nose could one day be used in greenhouses to quickly spot harmful
bugs, the researchers say. A device like this could also be used to identify fruits that are perfectly ripe and ready
to pick and eat, says Natalia Dudareva, a biochemist at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. who studies
smells of flowers and plants. Hopefully, scientists believe, the device could bring large benefits to greenhouse
managers in the near future.

1. We learn from the text that plants communicate with each other by _____.

A. making some sounds                
B. waving their leaves
C. producing some chemicals            
D. sending out electronic signals

2. What did the scientists do to find out if the e-nose worked?

A. They presented it with all common crops.
B. They fixed 13 sensors inside the device.
C. They collected different damaged leaves.
D. They made tests on damaged and healthy leaves.

3. According to the writer, the most amazing thing about the e-nose is that it can _____.

A. pick out ripe fruits
B. spot the insects quickly
C. distinguish different damages to the leaves
D. recognize unhealthy tomato leaves

4. We can infer from the last paragraph that the e-nose _____.

A. is unable to tell the smell of flowers
B. is not yet used in greenhouses
C. is designed by scientists at Purdue
D. is helpful in killing harmful insects

     A recent study, while showing a generally positive attitude toward science, also suggests a widespread
worry that it may be "running out of control". This idea is dangerous.
     Science can be a force for evil as well as for good. Its applications can be channeled either way, depending
on our decisions. The decisions we make, personally or collectively, will determine the outcomes of science.
But here is a real danger. Science is advancing so fast and is so strongly influenced by businesses that we are
likely to believe whatever decisions we come to will make little difference. And, rather than fighting for the
best possible policies, we may step back and do nothing.
     Some people go even further. They say that despite the moral and legal objections (反對), whatever is
scientifically possible will be done-somewhere , sometime. They believe that science will get out of control in
the end. This belief is dangerous too, because it fuels a sense of hopelessness and discourages then from
making efforts to build a safer world.
     In our interconnected world, the lack of agreement in and out of the world of science can lead to the failure
to control the use of science. Without a common understanding, the challenges of "controlling" science in this
century will be really tough. Take human cloning for example. Despite the general agreement among scientists
on its possible huge impact (影響) on traditional moral values, some countries still go ahead with the research
and development of its related techniques. The outcomes are hard to predict.
     Therefore, discussions on how science is applied should be extended far beyond scientific societies. Only
through the untied efforts of people with hope, can we be fully safe against the misuse of science and can
science best serve mankind in the future.

1. What can we conclude from the recent study?

A. People think highly of science.
B. People hold mixed opinions about science.
C. Science is getting dangerously out of control.
D. Science is used for both good and bad purposes.

2. According to the passage, what will happen if we hold that science is getting beyond control?

A. The development of science will hopelessly slow down.
B. Businesses will have even greater influence on science.
C. The public will lose faith in bringing about a bright future.
D. People will work more actively to put science under control.

3. The discussion should reach beyond scientific societies because _____.

A. scientists have failed to predict the outcomes
B. the ties between different areas need strengthening
C. united efforts are necessary for the development of science
D. people need to work together to prevent the bad use of science

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

 A. Science and its applications bring us many dangers.
B. The development of science mostly lies in people's attitudes.
C. Mankind can largely take control of science with their efforts.
D. The future of science will be influenced by the dangerous ideas.

     Members of Parliament (MPs) warned that the privacy (隱藏) of thousands of mobile phone users is in
danger today because of Google's new tracking system. In a motion (提案), they also warned that the system
offers live tracking of mobiles through a website and called on Google to examine the service.
     The Latitude system can find where a user is. This is then broadcasted live to Google's website. Once the
service is activated, the position of a person's phone appears as a blue dot on a map on the screen of whoever
is allowed to monitor (監(jiān)控) them. The Latitude feature is being developed by Google as a "fun" way to "keep
tabs on someone special". More than a million users around the world have already signed up to the service,
Google claims.
     However, concerns have been raised about the system. MPs have written to Google demanding extra
security (安全) safeguards on the service.
     Mr. Brake, one of the MPs who raised the motion, said,"In Britain, we have a tradition of fighting for our
freedom. With this new system we face a threat to it. I demand MPs to support this motion and encourage the
Government to take action to ensure that Latitude does not represent a threat to our privacy. or our freedom
could be in danger."
     Google today insisted there was no threat to privacy.It said it was up to users to decide whether to make
their location visible to other people and to decide who could monitor their position.The service was designed
to help people keep in touch.
     However, human rights watchdog Privacy International analyzed the service and claimed it was open to
abuse (濫用). Its report claimed employers could supply employees with phones already set up to use the
service without their knowledge, or that users could simply sign up their partner's or child's mobile phone
without telling them.

1. MPs' reactions to the tracking system are the following EXCEPT that _____.

A. they have raised a motion
B. they have required Google to examine the service
C. they hope that the Government will take some measures
D. they are trying to get help from other countries

2. The underlined part "keep tabs on" in paragraph 2 probably means _____.

A. phone
B. support
C. test
D. monitor

3. Why have so many people signed up to use the new tracking system?

A. They want to know each other's privacy.
B. They think it is fun and can help them keep in touch.
C. They can get it at a lower price.
D. It's convenient to travel across the world.

4. The Google's attitude to the new tracking system is _____.

A. regretful
B. polite
C. doubtful
D. positive

     Here is a passage about learning a foreign language.
     Outside of class, the most natural way of finding out if you are making mistakes is from other people's
responses. If the mistakes are too serious, your listeners will be asking you all the time what you mean. If
they are not so serious, then people may be asking you whether you said such and such. That will tell you
how close you are to speaking "cogently".
     Of course, there are other times when it is important to have errors pointed out. Your class assignments
(作業(yè)) are probably marked in this way, in which case you need to spend time going over them to take
advantage of the individual feedback. In some classes the teacher gets better and better at grammar because
she does all the corrections, but the students make slow progress if, when an assignment is returned, they
quickly stuff it into their folders without looking.
     You are the person who should be connecting your error, even if the marker has signaled them, when
you look at them; there are some steps to work through. One distinction that has been made about learners'
language is this. You make mistakes about rules that you already know but you make errors about points
you haven't learned yet. In other words, you can find your own mistakes, but not your errors. First, make
sure you understand what you have written or said, or your correction will simply be another stab at the
right answer. Next, decide on the best way of practicing the correct form. Would it help you to write out
the sentence once more? Can you make up another similar sentence? Then you could test yourself in a few
days time to see whether you have remembered the right form, anyone can get it right immediately after
being told. He challenge is to remember it and apply it later.

1. We can learn from the passage that _____ in learning a foreign language.

A. making mistakes about rules can always be avoided
B. speaking is the only way to correct mistakes
C. getting and using responses is important
D. errors can be easily corrected

2. How can you know that you are making fewer mistakes when speaking a foreign language?

A. By following the suggestions the writer put forward.
B. By practicing the correct forms.
C. From the teacher's getting better and better at grammar.
D. From your listeners responses.

3. The writer thinks some students make slow progress because _____.

A. they understand what they have written or said
B. they have remembered the right form
C. they hardly pay attention to their marked assignments
D. they decide on the best way of practicing the correct form

4. Which of the following might be the most important to work through your mistakes?

A. Keeping the right form in mind and using it later.
B. Writing out the sentence once more.
C. Learning your mistakes by heart.
D. Correcting your mistakes and writing down the teacher's words.

     In formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which summarizes
the information that has been presented. This is the concluding sentence. The concluding sentence is similar
to the topic sentence. They are both general sentences. The concluding sentence can be written in two ways:
     1. State the topic sentence in different words.
     2. Summarize the main points in the paragraph.
     You can understand concluding sentences with this example. Consider a hamburger that you can buy at
a fast-food restaurant. A hamburger has a top bun, meat, cheese, lettuce (生菜), and other elements in the
middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top bun and the bottom bun are very similar. The
top bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence, and the bottom bun is like the concluding sentence. Both buns
"hold" the meat, onions, and so on. Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting
sentences in the paragraph. Let's see how a concluding sentence might look in our sample paragraph about
Wheaton:
     My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River,
which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because
it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is
probably about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a
famous place.
     Notice how the concluding sentence, "these three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown
a famous place", summarizes the information in the paragraph. Notice also how the concluding sentence is
similar to, but not exactly the same as, the topic sentence.
     Usually, we begin a concluding sentence with "in conclusion" or "in summary". Remember, not all
paragraphs contain concluding sentences,especially if the paragraph is very short. However, if your paragraph
is very long, it is a good idea to use a concluding sentence.

1. What does the author mainly intend to tell us in this passage?

A. How to write a concluding sentence.
B. What the top bun and the bottom bun are like.
C. Why his hometown is a famous place.
D. To use a concluding sentence in our writing.

2. Why does the author write about a hamburger?

A. Because he can buy a hamburger at a fast-food restaurant.
B. Because a hamburger has a top bun and a bottom bun.
C. Because the top bun and the bottom bun are very similar.
D. Because he wants to explain his main idea in another way.

3. The underlined word "noted" probably means "_____".  

A. written down
B. famous
C. noticed
D. recorded

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the passage?

A. A sentence at the end of a paragraph is the concluding sentence.
B. All paragraphs contain concluding sentence.
C. It is a good idea to use a concluding sentence in a long paragraph.
D. The concluding sentence is the same as the to pic sentence.

5. The underlined phrase "These three landmarks" here refers to _____.

A. the Wheaton River,Wheaton Hill and my hometown
B. natural features,the Wheaton River and the Wheaton Hill
C. the Wheaton River,Wheaton Hill and the Big Old Tree
D. my hometown,Wheaton Hill and the Big Old Tree