A long weekend is a great opportunity to do something a little different. Many people use a long weekend for
a getaway, a short trip to leave the stress of their everyday lives behind and explore, learn, or relax.
     Hotel Romance
     Many hotels and resorts feature something special to start the getaway, such as champagnes, flowers, or
a fruit basket in the room on arrival. Getaway packages usually include a room with something special, a heart
shaped bed, for example. Additional benefits could be room service meals or other private dining, plus tickets
or discounts for local attractions.
     Visit a Spa
     Spa getaway can take place at a location that focuses only on spa services or at a hotel that offers a spa as
one of its features. Some spas emphasize treatments fit for their geographic area or a local attraction. A spa in
a grape growing region might provide grape juice masks, or a hotel near a hot spring could offer mineral baths.
Most spas offer a range of massage, health and beauty treatments, so a spa getaway can be relaxing with other
benefits.
     Learn a Skill
     A long weekend may not be enough time to become an expert at something new, but it provides a way for
people to begin their explorations. Some organizations offer intensive courses that last two or three days. People
with special interests can get away from their routines while learning such things as how to make beer, speak
a new language, or take better photos.
     Help Others
     Some organizations cooperate with businesses to have accommodations (住宿) and activities for short-term
volunteers. Most volunteer vacations involve ecology friendly or charity activities. A volunteer getaway is a way
to relieve stress and help others at the same time.
     Stay in a National Park
     For those who want to relax in a rural environment, a national park fits the bill. Most national parks provide
camping areas for tents and trailers. Several have cabins (小屋) within the parks available to rent. A getaway to
a national park provides privacy, stress relief, and the time to get to know some important natural resources.

1. The underlined word "getaway" in this passage most probably means _____.

A. an exciting exploration
B. an interesting location
C. a short vacation
D. an unforgettable experience

2. It can be learned from the text that _____.

A. spas are offered in the tourist attractions all over the country
B. intensive courses of some organizations help people get away from home
C. helping others at weekend makes people free more stressful
D. people may get close to nature in a national park

3. Which of the following can be rented in a national park?

A. Cabins.
B. Trailers.
C. Camping area.
D. Tents.

4. The best title of the passage can be _____.

A. Away from Our Busy Work
B. Good Ways to Relieve Stress
C. Enjoy Life and Help Others
D. Long Weekend Getaway Ideas

                                                How to beat a bad mood
     Having one of those days or weeks when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing
about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it
much faster, often within a day or two.
     . Walk it off
     Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who's in a bad mood has low energy and
high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or taking some quick exercise can do wonders towards
changing that bad mood.
     . Tune it out
     Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tensions go away quickly, because music
starts associations with past positive experiences we've had.
     . Give yourself a pep talk
     Stop and listen to what's on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts.
Write them all down on paper; the pessimistic(悲觀的)messages you've been giving yourself and then
give optimistic answers. ( "I still don't have a job." vs. "I have two interviews next week. ")
     . Reduce your stress
     Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and
visualizing(想象), all of which sound complicated but aren't. One easy way to visualize; close your eyes
and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to distress is to make a to-do list.
One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options(選擇權(quán)).  By taking control over
certain areas, you realize you're not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.
     . Avoid things that won't improve your mood
     TV may not help much: you need to increase your energy, level and stimulate your mind    something
that the TV show "Neighbors" won't do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think
about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. The better
choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta, produce a calming effect in
people who have a desire for them.

1. We learn from the text that it might help rid us of a bad mood ________.

A. to do nothing about it
B. to take a long walk on the beach
C. to take some exercise with light music
D. to talk it to neighbors

2. Why is it suggested that you close your eyes and picture the beach?

A. It is not complicated to do so.
B. It is an area to be easily controlled.
C. It helps beat a bad mood.
D. It brings us a new technique.

3. TV may not improve your mood because ______.

A. it sometimes shows what happens around you
B. it keeps you stay unmoved
C. it reminds you of eating and drinking
D. it produces a calming effect

4. This text most probably appears in _______

A. a book on physical exercises
B. a doctor's handbook
C. a notice
D. a magazine

     New coins are coming out all the time. And did you know that the United States Mint makes some
coins to collect rather than spend? One collecting kind is called "commemorative"-coins that honor
famous people, places, and events. If you have coins to spend, those are called "circulating" coins.
     2008 American Bald Eagle Coins celebrated an American success story: the bald eagle (禿頭鷹).
Congress passed an act to recognize the eagle, its importance as a national symbol,and its return from
near extinction (滅絕) in the lower 48 states. The series celebrated the eagle's recovery as well as the
35th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which had helped in the recovery.
     The Founding Fathers chose the bald eagle as the Great Seal of the United States at the Second
Continental Congress in 1782. Ever since, this bird has represented the spirit of freedom and democracy.  The eagle also appears on the seals of many branches and departments of the United States
government.
     The bald eagle is a major symbol of democracy, standing for American values like freedom, courage,
and strength. It has appeared in American art, music, history, literature, and culture. So, the bald eagle is
very important to the United States.
     This once?endangered species, unique to North America, is now making a gradual comeback. 
 Classified as "endangered" in 1973 under the Endangered Species Act, this eagle was later moved to
the less endangered "threatened" list, thanks to the law, caring people and organizations.
     The bald eagle will probably be removed from the "threatened species" list, but the eagle won't be
"out of the woods" just yet. Wildlife agencies will need to keep an eye on the eagle for at least 5 years
after it's taken off the list. Part of the surcharge (額外費(fèi)用) on the bald eagle coins can be used to help
this work.

1. What does the text mainly talk about?

A. The United States Mint.
B. American commemorative coins.
C. The bald eagle coins and the bald eagle.
D. The living habits of the bald eagle.

2. According to the text, commemorative coins are_______.

A. mainly made to spend
B. used to remember the bald eagle
C. often in honor of famous people, places, and events
D. not popular with collectors

3. Which of the following is one of the reasons why 2008 American Bald Eagle Coins were made?

A. The Endangered Species Act being passed.
B. The request of many coin collectors.
C. The decision of the Founding Fathers.
D. The recovery of the bald eagle.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A. The bald eagle has a great effect on Americans.
B. The bald eagle is unique to the United States.
C. The bald eagle is still near extinction.
D. The bald eagle will soon be out of people's sight.

     I heard many parents complaining that their teenage children are rebelling. I wish it were so. At your
age you ought to be growing away from your parents. You should be learning to stand on your own two
feet. But take a good look at the present rebellion. It seems that teenagers are taking the same way of
showing that they disagree with their parents. Instead of striking out boldly on their own, most of them
are clutching (緊握) at one another's hands for reassurance.
     They claim they want to dress as they please. But they all wear the same clothes. They set off in new
directions in music. But somehow they all end up huddled (聚在一起) round listening to the same record. Their reason for thinking or acting in thusandsuch a way is that the crowd is doing it. They have come out
of their cocoon (蠶繭) into a larger_cocoon.
     It has become harder and harder for a teenager to stand up against the popularity wave and to go his
or her own way. Industry has firmly carved out a teenage market. These days every teenager can learn
from the advertisements what a teenager should have and be. And many of today's parents have come to
award high marks for the popularity of their children. All this adds up to a great barrier for the teenager
who wants to find his or her own path.
     But the barrier is worth climbing over. The path is worth following. You may want to listen to
classical music instead of going to a party. You may want to collect rocks when everyone else is
collecting records. You may have some thoughts that you don't care to share at once with your
classmates. Well, go to it. Find yourself. Be yourself. Popularity will come-with the people who respect
you for who you are. That is the only kind of popularity that really counts.

1. In this passage, the author wants to tell ________.

A. teenagers to try to pursue their real selves
B. readers to try to be popular with people around
C. parents to try to control and guide their children
D. people to try to understand and respect each other

2. The author disapproves of rebelling teenagers ________.

A. growing away from their parents
B. following the popularity trend
C. walking a new way on their own
D. turning to their friends for help

3.The phrase "larger cocoon" at the end of the second paragraph refers to ________.

A. the distractive and variable society
B. the dazzling music world
C. the parental care and love
D. the popularity wave in the society

4. What does the author think of advertisements?
A. Convincing.  
B. Instructive.
C. Influential. 
D. Authoritative.

    Beauty has always been regarded as something praiseworthy.Almost everyone thinks attractive people
are happier and healthier, have better marriages and have more respectable occupations.Personal
consultants give them better advice for finding jobs.Even judges are softer on attractive defendants(被告).But in the executive circle, beauty can become a liability.
    While attractiveness is a positive factor for a man on his way up the executive ladder, it is harmful to a
woman.
    Handsome male executives were thought as having more integrity than plainer men；effort and ability
were thought to account for their success.
    Attractive female executives were considered to have less integrity than unattractive ones；their
success was attributed not to ability but to factors such as luck.
    All unattractive women executives were thought to have more integrity and to be more capable than
the attractive female executives.Interestingly, though, the rise of the unattractive overnight successes was
attributed more to personal relationships and less to ability than that of attractive overnight successes.
    Why are attractive women not thought to be able?An attractive woman is thought to be more feminine
and an attractive man more masculine(有男子氣概的)than the less attractive ones.Thus, an attractive woman has an advantage in traditionally female jobs, but an attractive woman in a traditionally masculine
positio n appears to lack the"masculine"qualities required.
    This is true even in politics."When the only clue is how he or she looks, people treat men and women
differently, "says Anne Bowman, who recently published a study on the effects of attractiveness on
political candidates.She asked 125 undergraduate students to rank two groups of photographs, one of
men and one of women, in order of attractiveness.The students were told the photographs were of
candidates for political offices.They were asked to rank them again, in the order they would vote for
them.
     The results showed that attractive males utterly defeated unattractive men, but the women who had
been ranked most attractive invariably received the fewest votes.

1.The underlined word "liability"(in Para.1)most probably means "________".

A. misfortune  
B. instability
C. disadvantage  
D. burden

2. In traditionally female jobs, attractiveness________.

A. reinforces(加強(qiáng))the feminine qualities required
B. makes women look more honest and capable
C. is of primary importance to women
D. often enables women to succeed quickly

3. Bowman's experiment reveals that when it comes to politics, attractiveness________.

A. turns out to be an obstacle to men
B. affects men and women alike
C. has as little effect on men as on women
D. is more of an obstacle than a benefit to women

4. It can be inferred from the passage that people's views on beauty are often________.

A. practical  
B.  prejudiced
C. oldfashioned  
D. pessimistic

                                                         Winners Club
                                               You choose to be a winner!
     The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you
better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account(交易賬戶)where you receive a
keycard so you can get to your money 24/7-that's 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
It's a club with impressive features for teenagers:  
     No account keeping fees!
     You're no millionaire so we don't expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping
or transaction fees!
     Excellent interest rates!
      You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better
if you make at least two deposits(儲(chǔ)蓄)without taking them out in a month.
     Convenient
     Teenagers are busy-we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet…You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your parttime job!
     Mega magazine included
     Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
     The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian(so we can organize that cool keycard)but it is easy. We can't wait to hear from you. It's the best way to choose to be a winner!

1.The Winners Club is a bank account intended for ________.

A. parents  
B. teenagers
C. winners  
D. adults

2. Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?

A. Special gifts are ready for parents.
B. The bank opens only on work days.
C. Services are convenient for its members.
D. Fees are necessary for the account keeping.

3.The Winners Club provides magazines which ________.

A. encourage spending
B. are free to all teenagers
C. are full of adventure stories
D. help to make more of your money

4. If you want to be a member of the Club, you must ________.

A. be an Internet user
B. be permitted by your parent
C. have a big sum of money
D. be in your twenties

     People of older generations often complain about the selfishness and lack of respect they find among
the younger generations.It is undeniable that some young people do need to be educated on mutual
respect and concern for others, especially senior members of society.But we older people should have
some understanding about the young, too.
     Today's society is rather different from what it was when we were young.The social, financial and
psychological pressure today's young people have to face is much higher than what we did back in the
1950s through the 1990s.
     They are in the early stage of their career.They have to find proper jobs to support themselves and
work diligently to rise.They have to live in smaller houses, because they are unable to afford the soaring
housing prices.Considering these facts, we may find it understandable why young people sometimes
appear aloof and disrespectful.
     I don't mean that we should put up with it without reminding them of the need to mend_their_ways.
What I mean is that we should be more patient, understanding and tolerant toward them.
     For instance, when we get up on a bus or a subway train, we should not complain about not being
offered a seat.A young person does not offer a senior citizen his/her seat probably because he/she has
to travel a long way to work or because the carriage is too crowded for one to move at all.
     In fact, young people do offer their seats to the seniors.I seldom take a bus or a subway train, but
more than a quarter of the times I have done so, I was offered a seat.That is fair enough, given that I do
not look so senile.
     But on occasions, I have seen old people not showing any sign of gratitude when offered a seat.
     China has become an aging society since the end of the last century.According to a recent survey,
people older than 60 accounted for 11.4 percent of the nation's population.And the percentage is
expected to rise, given the onechild family planning policy our country has practiced for more than three
decades.
     In other words, the younger generations will have to shoulder a heavier burden in looking after the
parents and grandparents.Theoretically, there will come a day when one couple may have to support
four parents and eight grandparents.What a burden it would be!
     All this demands that we show more concern and understanding to our younger generations.

1. What can be the best title for the text?

A. Should the young show respect for the old?
B. Young people deserve more understanding
C. Who should be blamed, the young or the old?
D. A debate between the young and the old

2. The author's attitude towards young people not giving up seats to the old is________.

A. unreasonable  
B. unacceptable
C. understandable  
D. unusual
3. According to the passage, the underlined phrase "mend their ways" is closest in meaning to "______".

A. give way to the old
B. stop behaving badly
C. respect the old
D. take on more responsibilities

4. Which of the following will the author agree with?

A. It is the old rather than the young who are to blame for their misunderstanding.
B. It is time that the society lightened the burden on the shoulder of the young.
C. It is time to change China's onechild family planning policy.
D. The old and the young need mutual understanding.

5. How is the passage mainly developed?

A. By reasoning.
B. By comparing.
C. By listing examples.
D. By following the natural time order.

     While it can seem almost impossible to get rid of stress from your life, some simple steps can make
you more easily to face it.It is important to develop a lifestyle that is in line with your values, beliefs and
attitudes.If you value family time, make the time to spend with the family.Likewise, if one of your values
is good health, make the time to exercise.
     Preventing stress need not be as hard as you think.Here are a few simple strategies that you may like
to incorporate into your life.They may just help your life to be a little simpler and less stressful.
     1. Dance
     Get your body moving.Whether you do a waltz, jive, salsa or contemporary dance, as long as you
have comfortable shoes, dancing is a great way to both get fit and reduce stress.Exercise_of_any_kind
_releases_some_kind_of_chemical_substances_into_your_body_system_and_these_are_good_friends_
your_body_needs_to_maintain_good_mental_health.So get moving and feel great.
     2. Sing
     Sing along in the car.Singing like dancing releases builtup tension in the body.Let it all out.Sometimes
a good sing along is as good as yelling or screaming________.
     3. Learn to say no
     Only say yes to something after you have considered both options.If you do not consider both options
then chances are that you are only saying yes out of fear of the consequences of saying no.Next time you
are asked something, think before you answer.If you need to get some practice in saying no, why not say "Let me think about that, and I will get back to you."?This way you can think about it and if you feel like
saying yes you can.
     4. Get a life coach
     This will help you to set goals and keep you on track to achieve them.A life coach is also a
cheerleader, teacher and someone who will hold you accountable to your actions.
     5. Cry if you want to
     Tears can help the body to release tension.Sometimes all we need is a good cry to feel better.
     6. Plan your own time
     Schedule time that is not allocated for any activity and use it to do whatever you want.Do not feel
guilty if all you want is a sleep.Watch a movie, read a trashy magazine and chat on the phone with a
friend.Whatever you want to do is fine.

1. What is the best title of the passage?(within 10 words)
________________________________________________________________________
2. Which sentence in the passage is the closest in meaning to the following one?
You are possibly to say yes just because you are not sure if you say no what will happen, if you don't 
think through.
________________________________________________________________________
3. Fill in the blank with proper words.(within 5 words)
________________________________________________________________________
4. Give another tip that you think is useful to reduce stress and give your reason.(within 20 words)
________________________________________________________________________
5. Translate the underlined sentence into Chinese.
________________________________________________________________________