For most students in universities, 20,000 yuan is a big sum. But Xiao Wang paid the money soon after
she learned that she could change to the popular Economics Department.
     But by paying 20,000 yuan with the help of her parents, Xiao Wang can study the economics major she
prefers. "It is difficult for graduates (畢業(yè)生) in chemistry to find a good job in recent years," she said. Xiao
Wang is only one of the many freshmen that pay to change to popular majors. Many universities throughout
China offer similar services. The charge for changing majors are from 5,000 yuan t0 80,000 yuan, according
to a recent report on the Yangzi Evening News. The fee (費用) is decided by university authorities based on
the popularity of each major, the report said. The most popular majors include computer science, law, finance,
information engineering and foreign languages.
     A saying popular among students may explain the phenomenon (現(xiàn)象). Studying a good major is much
better than studying in a famous university.
     Some educators warn students against rushing blindly to today's popular majors. They may not be popular
years later, the China Youth Daily said. But it seems that many students are career-oriented (以職業(yè)為宗旨的),
instead of being interest-based.
     Freshmen are allowed to change to other departments, according to rules of the Ministry of Education. But
there is no official rules on the charges. In spite of the high charges, demands to change majors are still
increasing. The paper said about 100 students in the English language department of a school in Harbin changed
from other departments. The department planned to admit only 50 freshmen this year.
     These charges have become a big income for some universities, the paper said. It is expected a normal
school in Harbin will get an income of 30 million yuan this year.

1. Xiao Wang would rather pay 20,000 yuan to choose the Economics Department because _____.

A. her parents have persuaded her to do so
B. she prefers to study the major
C. it has a promising future
D. transferring to another major is very popular in university

2. The following are the most popular majors in China today except _____.

A. law
B. computer
C. English
D. teaching

3. The fees that freshmen hand in to change to a new major are decided by _____.

A. headmasters
B. the Ministry of Education
C. university authorities
D. the China Youth Daily

4. The writer wrote the passage to _____.

A. encourage students to change to popular majors
B. explain that is not right for universities to charge too much money
C. tell us a new phenomenon that took place in universities
D. warn the students to be careful if they want to change majors

     UK workers are among the least stressed in Europe, a survey (調(diào)查) has suggested. Just 20% of British
workers found their workplace "too stressful" compared with an average of 27% across Europe. Switzerland
and Sweden suffered the highest levels of anxiety in their job (33%), the survey by global recruitment (人力)
agency Kelly Services found.
     The survey of 19,000 people across 12 countries also found that male workers, older staff and those in
steady jobs were under the greatest pressure. "A certain amount of stress is inevitable and can be a good thing
when it pushes people beyond their comfort zone to work harder and smarter," said Steve Cirdler, marketing
director of Kelly Services UK." But high levels of long stress are not good because they impact on productivity
and lead to physical and emotional illness," he warned. The group also found stress increased significantly with
age-rising from 19% in the 15-24 age to 23% for those aged 45 and above. The report suggested these workers
could also be suffering from added stress at home and increased responsibility. Those working the longest
hours found their job the most stressful: 18% for those working 30 hours or less, 34% for those clocking on
for 41-50 hours, and 50% for those working longer than 51 hours. Kelly Services also uncovered a close link
between stress and job satisfaction. For those workers who said they faced too much stress, just 28% were
happy in their jobs, while for those with "just the right amount of stress" happiness levels jumped to 65%. The
findings suggest staff enjoy jobs where they face challenges that push them to "learn new skills".

1. The best title can be _____.

A. the survey by global recruitment agency
B. work stress levels "lower" in UK
C. the cause of work stress of workers in UK
D. the relationship between the work stress and ages

2. All of the followings are mentioned except _____.

A. British workers belong to the least stressed in Europe
B. the relationship between the work stress and ages
C. the average percent of workers who feel work stress all over Europe
D. the work condition in UK

3. The underlined word "inevitable" means _____.

A. unavoidable
B. unacceptable
C. incredible
D. unreasonable

4. What can you conclude from this passage?

A. Those who suffer the greatest pressure are male workers, older staff and in steady jobs.
B. The longer the work time is, the less stress the workers have.
C. The work stress has both advantages and disadvantages.
D. The higher stress, the happier work.

     The holiday shopping season is once again upon us. The super malls and smaller shopping centers will
all be packed as hurried Americans search for the perfect gift. The crooks and thieves that prey upon innocent
shoppers are well aware of this fact.
     Even if you don't involve yourself with holiday gift buying, you could end up a victim of theft. Thieves
do not distinguish the holiday shopper from the everyday shopper. Thieves only know that there are more
potential targets of opportunity at this time of year.
     They also know that many people are complacent (不以為然的) about personal safety issues year round.
They'll factor in the belief that many people take on added stress this time of year while running from store
to store with so much to do and so little time to do it. Shoppers who might normally consider personal safety
an afterthought push it back even further as they try to negotiate their way through the month of December.
College students are not an exception to the rule!
     As a member of our university community, you're also easily influenced by the dangers of mall shopping
this time of year. Take a minute and picture any of the local area malls. Close your eyes and think about the
overflowing parking lots and the crowds moving around. The sights, sounds and distractions all can lull you
into a state of personal safety complacency.
     Aside from the shoplifters who steal merchandise from store shelves are the thieves who perpetrate (犯)
snatch and grab crimes. And this is the sort of crime that you're most vulnerable to, especially when you find
yourself carrying a large number of shopping bags and packages. However, as is the case with most other
types of criminal behavior, there are a number of crime prevention measures you can take to lessen or stop
your chances of becoming a victim. So take the time to read and then put into practice the following holiday
shopping tips.

1. The author is most probably _____.

A. a newspaper reporter
B. a novelist
C. a member of university community
D. a police spokesman

2. What does the underlined word "They" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Shoppers.
B. Thieves.
C. Personal safety issues.
D. College students.

3. Why is a person more likely to become a victim of theft during holiday shopping?

A. Because he often has much to buy.
B. Because he often does shopping in a hurry.
C. Because there are crowds of shoppers.
D. All of the above.

4. What is the writer's purpose in writing this passage?

A. To tell readers different kinds of crimes.
B. To make readers aware of holiday shopping dangers.
C. To give advice on selecting the perfect gift.
D. To introduce American public security situation.

5. Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?

A. Holiday Shopping Safety
B. Suitable Shopping Places
C. Personal Safety During Holidays
D. How to Identify a Thief

     Blind imitation (模仿) is self-destruction. To those who do not recognize their unique worth. Imitation
appears attractive: to those who know their strength. Imitation is unacceptable.
     In the early stages of skill or character development, imitation is helpful. When I first learned to cook,
I used recipes (菜譜) and turned out some tasty dishes. But soon I grew bored. Why follow someone else's
way of cooking when I could create my own? Imitating role models is like using training wheels on a child's
bicycle; they help you get going, but once you find your own balance, you fly faster and farther without
relying on them.
     In daily life, imitation can hurt us if we subconsciously (下意識地) hold poor role models. If, as a child,
you observed people whose lives were bad, you may have accepted their fear and pain as normal and gone
on to follow what they did. If you do not make strong choices for yourself, you will get the results of the
weak choices of others.
     In the field of entertainment, our culture glorifies celebrities. Those stars look great on screen. But when
they step off screen, their personal lives may be disastrous. If you are going to follow someone, focus on
their talent, not their bad character or unacceptable behaviors.
     Blessed is the person willing to act on their sudden desire to create something unique. Think of the movies,
books, teachers, and friends that have affected you most deeply. They touched you because their creations
were motivated by inspiration, not desperation. The world is changed not by those who do what has been
done before them, but by those who do what has been done inside them. Creative people have an endless
resource of ideas. The problem a creator faces is not running out of material; it is what to do with the material
knocking at the door of imagination.
     Study your role models, accept the gifts they have given, and leave behind what does not server. Then
you can say, "I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors" tragedies and stories, and know that they are cheering
on.

1. Imitation proves useful when you _____.

A. know you are unique
B. lose the balance of life
C. begin to learn something new
D. get tired of routine practice

2. To avoid the bad result of imitation, we should _____.

A. forget daily fear and pain
B. choose the right example
C. ask others for decisions
D. stay away from stars

3. Acording to the author, the world moves on because of those who are _____.

A. desperate to insurance others with their knowledge
B. ready to turn their original ideas into reality
C. eager to discover what their ancestors did
D. willing to accept others' ideas

4. The trouble a creator faces is _____.

A. the lack of strong motivation
B. the absence of practical ideas
C. how to search for more materials
D. how to use imagination creatively

5. What is the author's purpose in writing this passage? 

A. To highlight the importance of creatively.
B. To criticize the characters of role models.
C. To compare imitation with creation.
D. To explain the meaning of success.

     The internet will open up new vistas (前景), create the global village-you can make new friends all around
the world. That, at least, is what it promised us. The difficulty is that it did not take the human mind into
account. The reality is that we cannot keep relationships with more than a limited number of people. No matter
how hard the internet tries to put you in communication, its best efforts will be defeated by your mind.
     The problem is twofold (雙重的). First, there is a limit on the number of people we can hold in mind and
have a meaningful relationship with. That number is about 150 and is set by the size of our brain. Second, the
quality of your relationships depends on the amount of time you invest (投入) in them. We invest a lot in a
small number of people and then distribute what's left among as many others as we can. The problem is that
if we invest little time in a person, our engagement with that person will decline (減弱) until eventually it dies
into "someone I once knew".
     This is not, of course, to say that the internet doesn't serve a socially valuable function. Of course it does.
But the question is not that it allows you to increase the size of your social circle to include the rest of the
world, but that you can keep your relationships with your existing friends going even though you have to move
to the other side of the world.
     In one sense, that's a good thing. But it also has a disadvantage. If you continue to invest in your old friends
even though you can no longer see then, then certainly you aren't using your time to make new friends where
you now live. And I suspect that probably isn't the best use of your time. Meaningful relationships are about
being able to communicate with each other, face to face. The internet will slow down the rate with which
relationships end, but it won't stop that happening eventually.

1. What is stressed in the first paragraph?

A. The present situation of the internet.
B. The difficulty in communication on the internet.
C. The socially valuable function of the internet.
D. The role of the human mind in the internet communication.

2. The underlined word "engagement" in the second paragraph probably means "_____".

A. appointment
B. connection
C. interview
D. agreement

3. According to the passage, the author holds the view that _____.

A. the internet fails to play so valuable a role in communication as it promised
B. the internet determines the quality of social relationships
C. the internet greatly increases the size of social circles
D. the internet communication is no less effective than the face-to-face talk

4. What is the author's attitude towards the use of the internet to strengthen relationships?

A. He is uncertain about it.
B. He is hopeful of it.
C. He approves of it.
D. He doubts it.

     Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people
will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the
information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short
television program can tell you all that you want to know?
     Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of
every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment.
Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbooks (平裝本),
which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening
at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.
     Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every
home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全書), though expensive, is
useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history
books, science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can
take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that _____.

A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge
B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information
C. reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun
D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself

2. What does the sentences "Television has not killed reading, however" underlined in the second paragraph
    suggest?

A. People only need reading, though.
B. Reading is still necessary today.
C. Reading is more fun than television.
D. Watching television doesn't help reading.

3. Which of the following is mainly discussed in the last paragraph?

A. Types of books.
B. Kinds of dictionaries.
C. Lists of history books.
D. Collections of stories and poems.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books.
B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home.
C. Books with hard covers sell better than paperbooks.
D. More people like TV programs about famous men.

     The small number of newborn babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social
situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear
a word invented in Japan. which means Double Income Kids (小孩).
     In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a house is extremely high.
A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $3000,000 (though prices have
fallen). For a flat with one bedrooms, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay
about $900 a month. What's more, if they want to have a child, the child's education is very expensive.
For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5.000 a year. In such a situation, it's difficult to
afford children.
     The number of married women who want to continue working because they enjoy their jobs. However,
if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow
women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their
jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for
mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to continue working have to choose between having children
or keeping their jobs.
     In a word, Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

1. What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

A. The small number of newborn babies.
B. The changing social situation of women.
C. The high prices of houses and education.
D. The necessary steps of Asian government.

2. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia.
B. The prices of in Asia are quite low now.
C. Fewer and fewer married women want to have a job.
D. The word "DINKS" appeared in an Asian country.

3. To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten, how much will a couple pay each year?

A. 85,000
B. 85,900
C. $10.800
D. $15.800

4. The seems to believe that Asian governments should _____.

A. let women stay at home and have a baby
B. allow one of the parents to go out to work
C. care for the growing needs of women for job
D. the companies that permit women to leave

     Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert (警報) system
using text messages delivered to cell phones.
     Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The
wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates (估計) more than 48 billions text messages are sent
each month.
     The plan comes from the Warning Alter and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires
improvement to the nation's emergency alter system. The act tasked the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alter the public about emergencies.
     "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warning and alters through cell phone and other mobile services
is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need
to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies,"
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
     Participation in the alter system by carriers-telecommunication companies-is voluntary, but it has received
solid support from the wireless industry.
     The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alters.
     There would be three types of messages, according to the rules.
     The first would be a national alter from the president, likely involving a terrorists attack or natural disaster.
The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or
storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction (綁架) emergencies,
or so-called Amber Alerts.
     The service could be in place by 2010.

1. What is the purpose of the approval plan?

A. To warn people of emergencies via message.
B. To popularize the use of cell phone.
C. To estimate the monthly number of messages.
D. To promote the wireless industry.

2. The improvement to the present system is in the charge of _____.

A. CTLA
B. the Warning Alert and Response Network
C. FCC
D. federal regulators

3. The carriers' participation in the system is determined by _____.

A. the US federal government
B. mobile phone users
C. the carriers themselves
D. the law of the United States

4. Which of the following is true of cell phone users?

A. They must accept the alert service.
B. They may enjoy the alert service for free.
C. They must send the alerts to others.
D. They may choose the types of messages.

5. An alert message will not be sent if _____.

A. a child loses his way
B. a university shooting happens
C. a natural disaster happens
D. a terrorist attack occurs

6. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?

A. Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students
B. Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry
C. Cell Phone Alerts of National Disasters
D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon

     Having a husband means an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new
study. For men, getting married saves an hour of housework a week. "It's a well-known pattern," said lead
researcher Frank Stafford at University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. "Men usually work more
outside the home, while women take on more of the housework."
     He points out that differences among households (家庭) exist. But in general, marriage means more
housework for women and less for men. "And the situation gets worse for women when they have children."
Stafford said.
     Overall, times are changing in the American home. In 1976, women busied themselves with 26 weekly
hours of sweeping-and-dusting work, compared with 17 hours in 2005. Men are taking on more housework,
more than doubling their housework hours from six in 1976 to 13 in 2005.
     Single women in their 20s and 30s did the least housework, about 12 weekly hours, while married women
in their 60s and 70s did the most-about 21 hours a week.
     Men showed a somewhat different pattern, with older men picking up the broom more often than younger
men. Single men worked the hardest around the house, more than that of all other age groups of married men.
     Having children increases housework even further. With more than three, for example, wives took on more
of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands' 10 hours.

1. According to the"well-known pattern" in Paragraph 1, a married man _____.

A. takes on heavier work
B. does more housework
C. is the main breadwinner
D. is the master of the house

2. How many hours of housework did men do every week in the 1970s?

A. About 28
B. About 26
C. About 13
D. About 6

3. What kind of man is doing most housework according to the text?

A. An unmarried man.
B. An older married man.
C. A younger married man.
D. A married man with children.

4. What can we conclude from Stafford's research?

A. Marriage gives men more freedom.
B. Marriage has effects on job choices.
C. Housework sharing changes over time.
D. Having children means doubled housework.