If you've been joining in chat room conversation, or trading e-mail with your e-pals, you have become
one of the millions who write in a special short form of English.
     And you've got a sense of humor about short forms like SOHF(=sense of humor failure) to describe
Internet newcomers who understand you. Across the globe, every night teenagers and their elders are
"talking" online - many of them all talking at the same time.
     It's fast: try talking to six people at once. It's brief: three or four words per exchange. It takes wit(詼諧), and quick fingers.
     Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI(=pardon me for jumping in).
     Interested in whom you're talking to? A/S/L, the nearly universal request to know your pal's age, sex
and location. You may get 15/M/NY as a response from your pal.
     If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF(=on the floor), or LOL(=laughing out loud), or
combine the two into ROTFL(=rolling on the floor laughing).
      And when it's time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG(got to go) or TTYL(=talk to you
later).People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they
can. Capital letters(大寫字母) are left in the dust, except when expressing strong feelings, as it takes
more time to hold down the "shift" key and use capitals. Punctuation (標(biāo)點) is going, too.

1. In order to talk to several people at the same time on the Internet, _______.
A. you have to speak fast and fluently
B. you should speak with wit and humor
C. one should pay much attention to the use of exact words
D. you have to express your ideas in a brief way

2. If you get 17/F/NY as an answer to your A/S/L, it means ______.
A. you are talking to a girl who is 17 and lives in New York
B. the person who is talking to you is a 17-foot-tall New York girl
C. you are talking to 17 girls who are from New York
D. the person on the other end is 17 from New York and he is fine

3.To save time on the Internet, ______.
A. some people leave their letters in the dustbin
B. some people never use "shift" in their writing
C. people seldom use capital letters and punctuation
D. many people only use the capital or punctuation

4.The passage is probably written for ______.
A. young students    
B. parents    
C. teachers    
D. web chatters

     Good morning. I am Professor Armstrong, and I am your laboratory instructor .This class is intended
as a necessary part of the course, which Dr Smith will be in charge of. This class will meet twice a week .
This laboratory begins at nine. I expect you to be on time. I do not intend to wait for the latecomers or
repeat what has already been cohered if you miss the explanation. And do not arrive late and interrupt
your neighbor. You may as well not come if you can't be on time.
     Attendance is equally important. If you miss three lab classes, you're dropped from the labs-no excuses. You can't complete the course without completing the lab.
     Besides, safety is key here. It's very important to keep things neat and clean, dress properly, and be
careful. You may not eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory and you should always clean the counter and
wash your hands both before and after the class. Long hair must be tied back. Large clothing must not be worn.  Any laboratory accident must be reported immediately.
     I hope you'll enjoy the laboratory. It's a wonderful place, and all the requirements I've just mentioned
are to be followed. We will begin today by learning about the microscope.

1. According to the passage how will be the latecomers be treated?
A.They will be allowed to enter the class and the teacher will repeat information for them.
B. They had better come quietly as long as they don't interrupt their neighbor.
C. They will be dropped from the class if they are late three times.
D. They will not be given any special consideration.

2. According to the passage what happens if a student misses three classes?
A. He can make up the classes.
B. He will be dropped from the class.
C. He may be allowed to remain if he has a good excuse.
D. He can't complete the lab without completing the course.

3. What should you do if you wear long hair?
A. You must have it tied back.
B. You have to cut it.
C. You will be asked to leave class.
D. You may as well not come to the lab.

4. According to the requirements which of the following isn't right?
A. You must report it immediately if there is any laboratory accident happens.
B. Don't eat, drink or smoke in the laboratory.
C. You can dress whatever you like.
D. Wash your hands both before and after the class.

     Millions of women use cosmetics, often called "make-up". The cosmetics industry is one of the biggest
in the world. Most large stores sell cosmetics, and there are always shops at airports selling them cheaply. The word "cosmetics "refers to anything that people put on their faces to make them look better. Lipstick,
face powder and cream, and eye make-up are the most popular. Although more women than men use
cosmetics, there are cosmetics for men as well as women.
     Some people even have cosmetic surgery to make their faces look different. They have the shape of
their noses and eyes changed.
     The most widely used cosmetic is probably lipstick, as many women who do not wear any other
make-up will often put on a little lipstick.
     Lipstick is made by mixing together different oils and colors. This mixture is then allowed to get hard
and is cut into the shape of a small pencil. When a woman presses the lipstick to her lips, the end of it
becomes soft, and some of it sticks to her lips, giving them extra color.
     Cosmetics were probably first used in India, but it was the Egyptians, six thousand years ago, who
made the most use of them. Rich Egyptian women painted their eyes green and black. They used a red
color to paint pretty designs on their fingernails, the palms of their hands and the soles of their feet.
Pictures of Cleopatra always show her wearing a lot of make-up.
     The Romans also used cosmetics. They liked to make their skin very white and to paint their eyes.
They also used a kind of lipstick.
     In England at one time, very rich women had baths in milk to make their skin beautiful. They also used
a lot of sweet-smelling powder to stop people smelling their bodies, which were often very dirty because
they did not wash very often or change their clothes.
     At one time, some cosmetics were not safe. They were bad for the skin and some of the lipsticks and
powders that people used were even poisonous. Nowadays, people in the cosmetics industry take great
care to make sure that everything they use is completely safe.

1. What does the word "Cosmetics" refer to ________.
A. lipstick            
B. make-up          
C. creams          
D. surgery

2. According to the passage people use cosmetics ________.
A. only at airports              
B. only to color their feet
C. to make themselves look better    
D. instead of surgery

3. From the passage we know that in earlier times ________.
A. cosmetics were never used in milk baths
B. cosmetics were never used on the eyes
C. cosmetics were never used on the skin
D. sometimes cosmetics were harmful to the skin

4. Which of the following statements is true?
A. In order to make their faces look different some people even have cosmetic surgery.
B. In England, women have baths in milk to make their skin beautiful.
C. Cosmetics were probably first used by the Egyptians six thousand years ago.
D. Not all cosmetics are safe so we should be careful to use them.

                                                     Columbus College , 241 Queen
                                                     Elizabeth Drive , Kowloon City
Memo
To: All Staff
From: Jakie Mok, Secretary; Sports Development Committee
Date: May 20, 2010
     A week ago, "Sports for life" programme was sent to the parents, requiring them to select a sport they wanted their child to play. Since then, our stuff have received lots of calls from parents asking for more
information about it. Here is a memo(備忘錄) for your reference when you answer the phones.
Sports 1 : Basketball
     We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports. Therefore, students should be advised
to sign up as soon as possible. Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park. To
cover the cost of hiring a bus , each student will have to pay ﹩10 each time. There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game.
Sports 2: Gym
     We will be using St. Peter's Memorial Park. There are two reasons for choosing this park. First, it is
not very busy and crowed before 6:00pm. Second, it has lots of trees with plenty of shade. Students
must bring along two bottles of water to prevent thirst. Three activities, skipping, jogging, outdoor
aerobics一(有氧運(yùn)動), all of which are free of charge, will be arranged. And there will be a teacher on
duty for each of the activities.
Sports 3:Hiking
     Hiking(遠(yuǎn)足)will take place at Kowloon Peak. The activity will start at 2:30pm and finish 90 minutes
later. Three teachers will accompany the students, and a hiking instructor will accompany each group of
15 hikers. Each instructor will cost﹩75/hr. Students are advised to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Sports 4: Swimming
     The Kowloon City Aquatic Centre is a 10-minute walk from our school. Four teachers will go to the
pool and conduct the goings-on from the poolside. We will only be able to reserve the pool for one hour (2:45pm-3:45pm). Only students skillful at swimming can take up this activity. The poor will have two
lifeguards present. Girls must wear a swimming suit. The cost is﹩10 per visit.

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Students selecting basketball had better register early.
B. Students participating in gym should arrive at 6:00 pm.
C. Hiking usually begins at 2:30pm and lasts 2 hours.
D. Students having swimming suits can take up swimming.

2. It can be inferred from the passage that_______.
A. Students taking part in basketball will walk to the courts
B. every student can gain admission to one of the four sports
C. hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees
D. students taking up the four sports should bring bottles of water

3. It can be concluded that_________.
A. each sport will take only one hour
B. students will be charged for the four sports
C. all the sports will take place at Kowlo Peak.
D. teachers will accompany students on each sport.

4. The purpose of the memo is to______.
A. attract students' interest in the programme
B .require the parents to select a sport for their child
C. help the staff explain the programme to the parents
D. remind teachers and lifeguards to be present on time  

     About this time every year, I get very nostalgic(懷舊的). Walking through my neighborhood on a
fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children
playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children,
carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for
sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with
a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my
street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked
around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because
neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy
my precious hill and sell the property to contractors.
    It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won't be around
much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing
almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the
crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today
are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and
another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is
too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these
days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I
thought they would live forever.
    The "comings and goings" of the younger generation of my street are now mostly "goings" as friends
and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The
boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games
or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and
move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have
new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a
few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up
and go away makes me long for the good old days.
    Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into
several lots for now homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of
that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the
children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of
my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When
the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder
of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod.
     There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But
something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change
comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be
gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I
remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will
be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child.

1. The writer calls up the memory of the street _____________.

A. every year when autumn comes
B. in the afternoon every day
C. every time he walks along his street
D. now that he is an old man

2. The writer finds it hard to accept the fact that _____________.

A. many of his good neighbors are growing old
B. the lady next door who used to yell at him and his brother is now a widow
C. the life of his neighbors has become very boring
D. the man in his black suit even wanted to end his own life

3. The writer thinks of the past all the more when he sees those who had grown up with him _________.

A. continue to consider home to be the center of their lives
B. leave the neighborhood they grew up in
C. still enjoy playing card games in the evenings
D. develop new interests and have new dreams

4. The biggest change on the writer's street is _____________.

A. removing the hill to make way for residential development
B. the building of new homes behind his kitchen window
C. the fact that there are much fewer people around than in the past
D. the change in his childhood friends' attitude towards their neighborhood

5. What does the writer mean by saying "my street will be another pea in the pod"?

A. his street will be very noisy and dirty
B. his street will soon be crowded with people
C. his street will have some new attractions
D. his street will be no different from any other street

6. Which could be a good title for the passage?

A. The Past of My Street will Live Forever
B. Unforgettable People and Things of My Street
C. Memory Street Isn't What It Used to Be
D. The Big Changes of My Street

     閱讀下列材料, 從所給的六個選項(A、B、C、D 、E  和 F )中,  選出符合各小題要求的最佳選項.選項中有一項是多余選項.
A. Prepare for Rainy Days
B. Watch Your Spending
C. Get Aggressive
D. Start Saving
E. Set the Goal
F. Save More
                                                Steps to Retire a Millionaire
     Having a million-dollar portfolio is a retirement dream for many people. Making that dream come
true requires some serious effort. While success is never a sure thing, the steps outlined below will go
a long way toward helping you achieve your objective.
1. ____
Vacations, car, kids and all of life's other expenses take a big chunk out of your paycheck. To maximize
your savings, you need to minimize your expenses. Buying a home you can afford and living a lifestyle
that is below your means and not funded by credit cards are all necessities if you want to boost your
savings.
2. ____
If you don't save, you'll never reach your goal. As obvious as this might seems, far too many people
never even start to save. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, enrolling in the plan is a great way to
put your savings on autopilot. Simply sign up for the plan and contributions will be automatically taken
out of your paycheck, increasing your savings and decreasing your immediate tax liability.
If your employer offers to match your contributions up to a certain percentage, be sure to contribute
enough to get the full match. It's like getting a guaranteed return on your investment. Finding the cash
to stash may be a challenge, particularly when you're young, but don't let that stop you from pursuing
future riches.
3. ____
Studies have shown that the majority of the returns generated by an investment are dictated by the
asset-allocation decision. If you are looking to grow your wealth over time, fixed-income investments
aren't likely to get the job done, and inflation can take a big chunk out of your savings.
Investing in equities entails more risk, but is also statistically likely to lead to greater returns. For many
of us, it's a risk we have to take if want to see our wealth grow. Asset-allocation strategies can help
you learn how to make picking the right mix of securities the core of your investing strategy.
4. ____
Part of long-term planning involves accepting the idea that setbacks will occur. If you are not prepared,
these setbacks can put a stop to your savings efforts. While you can't avoid all of the bumps in the road,
you can prepare in advance to mitigate the damage they can do.
5. ____
Your income should rise as time passes. You'll get raises, you'll change jobs, and maybe you'll get
married and become a two-income family. Every time more cash comes in to your pocket, you should
increase the amount that you save. The key to reaching your goal as quickly as possible is to save as
much as you can.

     With its budget of $80 million , John Woo as director, and an all-star cast(明星云集的演員陣容),
Red Cliff is the most expensive and ambitious Asian-financed film ever. Last week I saw the release of
the second part, and boy oh boy does it shows.
    But watching the film as a foreigner I felt I was missing out on something. Not knowing my Cao Cao's
from my Zhou Yu's, I was not even sure whom I wanted to win. Certainly after the opening scene, in
which Cao Cao is seen watching a game of Cuju, an ancient Chinese variation of football, I knew who
had my support. After all, any man who enjoys his football is someone after my own heart. But after Cao Cao resorted to some evil strategies against his enemies in the south, I wasn't so sure he was the man I
should be rooting for.
     And there is a lot more to Red Cliff 2 than just extravagant battle scenes. The film does not take itself
too seriously. Conversations between leaders are littered with one-liners, many of which had the audience
in laughter. There is even enough to keep fans of more romantic entertainment happy too. This includes a
charming relationship between a southern spy(偵探)and an innocent northern soldier. The characters'
interaction provides some genuinely heart-warming moments in the middle of the battle.
    Clocking in at(結(jié)束于)around two hours, the film certainly does justice to the history story. When I
walked out the cinema, I felt as drained(精疲力竭) as Cao Cao's soldiers must have 1,800 years ago.

1. By expressing "boy oh boy" in the first paragraph, the author seems to show that _______.
A. the film characters are like boys who are childish.
B. the film provides amazing and surprising scenes for audience.
C. the film is suitable for younger boys to watch.
D. the film scene is so bloody that boys shouldn't watch it.

2. When did the author change his attitude toward Cao Cao?
A. When he read the history story about Cao Cao.
B. When he saw Cao Cao was watching a game of Cuju,
C. When he realized that Cao Cao took some bad measures to beat his enemies.
D. When he saw the romantic love story of Cao Cao and a southern spy.

3. The following factors of the film are all mentioned in the passage except_______.
A. high budget
B. leading roles
C. actors and actress
D. conversations

4 . From the passage we can infer that_______.
A. the author is a football fan in a foreign country.
B. Cuju is the name of an ancient Chinese variation of football.
C. the film Red Cliff 2 lasts about two hours.
D. the author was very tired after about two hours' battle.

     The new iPhone 3G should please everyone. Its look and feel are only slightly improved, but a faster
network loads Web pages more quickly, true GPS functionality allows it to easily find places nearby, and
the new $199 price (down from $400) makes it an affordable luxury.
      Before deciding whether to buy, however, make sure you can actually take advantage of the iPhone
3G's high-speed data network. 3G stands for third-generation, which in non-geek speak translates to
Web pages and mail messages that, ideally, load about three times faster than on the original iPhone.
Even better, 3G coverage enables you to make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time. That's
great, if you live or work in a place where the 3G network of AT&T(美國電話電報公司) (the sole
wireless carrier of the iPhone) is active. That's not so great in cities like New York where AT&T's
cellular coverage is awful. As one of my colleagues in New York City, who bought the original iPhone,
commented, "It's just a toy. You can't make phone calls on it, so I carry my Verizon phone with me all
the time."
      The real fun begins when you tap on the icon called "App Store" and start browsing the hundreds of
add-on applications that have been developed just for the iPhone. You'll find tons of games (I like Jirbo
Break, a free game inspired by the Atari classic Breakout) and mobile versions of popular websites like
Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times. Most apps will cost you, but the vast majority
are $9.99 or less. The apps work on the old iPhones too, but you'll enjoy them a lot more on the iPhone
3G because many of the programs, including Yelp (local business reviews), Whrrl (mobile social
networking) and UrbanSpoon (restaurant reviews), use your exact location - provided by the iPhone
3G's GPS chip - to make recommendations. The apps also load much faster over the 3G network.

1. The new iPhone 3G has following features except that _______
A. It looks and feels better
B. It has a faster network
C. It is easy to locate a place
D. It is too expensive for people to buy

2. Why do one of my colleagues carry Verizon phone with him all the time? ______.
A. Because iPhone 3G is just a toy.                                
B. ecause he prefers Verizon phone better.
C. Because AT&T's cellular coverage is terrible there
D. Because Verizon phone enables him make a phone call and surf the Web at the same time

3. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage. ____.
A. App Store will offer you great fun.                                    
B. many apps have been developed for the iPhone.
C. Most apps are very expensive.
D. Pandora, Facebook, MySpace and the New York Times are popular websites.

4. From the passage we know that the attitude of the author toward iPhone 3G is _____.
A. doubtful
B. appreciative
C. optimistic
D. pessimistic