It's perfectly normal for young children to suddenly decide they hate everything-even foods they loved
yesterday. It's also common for them to go on what experts call food jags-that is, they want to eat the same
few foods over and over again at every meal, while turning up their noses at anything new. "It's a fear of new
things," says Nancy, Hudson, a researcher in University of California, Berkeley. "We think it's one of those
quirks (怪癖) that humans probably developed to protect themselves as mankind came into this world. You
don't try new things because you don't know if they're safe." Children like familiar things, whether they're their
beds or their aftemoon tea,so most kids won't try new foods until they've been shown to them many times.
     Picky (挑剔的) eating can also be a child's way of showing his independence. This is why forcing a child
to eat often makes things worse. Finally, it may seem like your child cannot sit still long enough to eat very
much at one sitting because of his short attention. But children are generally good at getting what they need,
even if it doesn't seem like much to you. In any case, you can try to keep your child at the table longer by
making mealtime as calm and regular as possible, without too many distractions (分心的事物) like toys, TV,
or pets.

1. How many reasons does the writer mention in this passage to explain why children are mostly picky eaters?

A. Three.
B. Two.
C. Four.
D. One.

2. What does the phrase "turning up their noses" underlined in Paragraph l mean?

A. Accepting.
B. Disliking.
C. Putting their noses on.
D. Fearing.

3. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Only children like things which they are familiar with.
B. Toys are not good for children.
C. It seems that children like eating more when they have something they like in their hands.
D. Make it a rule to let your child eat at the table when meal- time comes.

4. According to the writer, one of the ways to have children eat new foods is _____.

A. telling them stories while they're eating
B. not giving them any food until they're very hungry
C. letting them become familiar with the new foods
D. explaining to them how useful the new foods are

     Every country has many good people who help to take care of others. Some high school and college
students in the United States often spend many hours as volunteers in a hospital, orphanage (孤兒院) or
home for the aged.
     They read books to the people who must be in these places or they just visit them and play games or
listen to their problems. Other young people volunteer to collect food or money, or they work in the homes
of people who are sick or old. They paint, clean or repair their houses, do their shopping or mow their
lawns. There is a group of volunteers to meet almost every need. For boys who no longer have fathers
there is an organization called Big Brothers. College students and other men take these boys to baseball
games or on fishing trips and help them to know about things that boys usually learn from their fathers.
Every city has a number of clubs where boys and girls can play games or leam to make crafts. Some of
these clubs have movies or organize short tnps to the mountains, the beaches, museums or other places
of interest. Most of these clubs use many high school and college students as volunteers because they
still remember the problems of younger boys and girls. Volunteers believe that some of the happiest people
in the world are those _____.

1. What does the passage mainly talk about? (Please answer with- in 10 words.)
    ____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What do volunteers usually do in the homes of the aged? (Please answer within 20 words.)
    ____________________________________________________________________________________
3. Please translate the underlined sentence into Chinese.
    ____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Please fill in the blank in the passage with proper wotds or phrases to complete the sentence. (Please
    answer within 10 words.) 
    ____________________________________________________________________________________
5. What else would you do if you got a chance to be such a volunteer? (Please answer within 10 words.)
    ____________________________________________________________________________________

     Speaking of what sort of smartness is most desirable in human conduct, a friend of mine has this to say:
Real stnartness must be something that can be practised repeatedly and infinitely. Then, he goes on to relate
this event: In one European country there resided some Lebanese. Upon learning that ambulance rides there
are provided free to patients in emergency cases, they rented an apartment near a hospital. Each time they
wanted to go home, they just pretended to be sick, calling for an ambulance. On arrival at the hospital, they
said now that they felt much better and had no need of any treatment. The next moment saw them leaving,
safe and sound, to their apartment.
     Their "being-clever" affords them only short-lived pleasure and joy; it could not he practised repeatedly,
still less infinitely. Such smartness is based on "too clever to be wise". Once seen through, they will lose the
benefits they profited by playing dirty tricks. They will suffer the impairment of their own image and reputation
as well as that of those who are tied with them by blood or by common interests.
     When a person has done something to the discredit of one's own image and reputation, it will surely involve
others related to him in one way or another. Among those inflicted most hy what folly (愚蠢) he may have
done are those who, to him, have been close in relations and dear in sentiment.
     Additionally, whether one's act is wise or unwise, rather the summit of wisdom, depends on the result of
the act; if _____, then the more often he does it, the better will he be believed. While repeating that act, he is
not only earning himself an admirable image but also contributing to the fine impression and reputation of his
relatives, his friends, his hometown and his motherland.

1. What does the passage mainly discuss? (please answer within 10 words.)
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Please fill in the blank in the last paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence. (please
    answer within 10 words.) 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Which sentence in the passage can be replaced by the following one? People that have ruined their own
    images not only hurt themselves but will involve their relatives or friends. 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. How would the telephone operators react to a Lebanese voice calling for an ambulance from then on? (please
   answer within 10 words.) 
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Translate the underlined sentence in the last paragraph into Chinese.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

     Work is a very important part of life in the United States. When the early Protestant immigrants (新教徒移
民) came to this country, they brought the idea that work was the way to God and heaven. This attitude, the
Protestant Work Ethic (道德規(guī)范), still influences America today. Work is not only important for economic
benefits, the salary, but also for social and psychological need the feeling of doing something for the good of
the society. Americans spend most of their lives working, being productive. For most Americans, their work
defines them: they are what they do. What happens then, when a person can no longer work? Almost all
Americans stop working at age sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life
in this culture, retirement can be very difficult. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of
course, _____; but leaving one's job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to
retiring. Many retirees do not know how to use their time or they feel lost without their jobs.
     Retirements can also bring financial problems. Many people rely on Social Security checks every month.
During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government.
Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money
as income. These checks do not provide enough money to live on, however, because prices are increasing
very rapidly. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans
to make ends meet. The rate of inflation (通貨膨脹)is forcing prices higher each year. Social Security checks
alone cannot cover these growing expenses. The government offers some assistance, medicare and welfare,
but many senior citizens have to change their life styles after retirement. They have top spend carefully to be
sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities.
     American society is only beginning to be concerned about the special physical and emotional needs of its
senior citizens. The government is taking steps to ease the problem of limited income. They are building new
housing,offering discounts in stores and museums and on buses, and providing other services such as free
courses, food service, and help with housework.

1. What's the general idea of this passage? (Please answer within 10 words.)
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Translate the underlined sentence in the first paragraph into Chinese.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Please fill in the blank with proper words or phrases. (Please answer within lo words.)
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Which sentence in the passage is the closet in meaning to the following sentence? Retirees will have many
    economic difficulties after retiring.
   ______________________________________________________________________________________
5. What other suggestions would you give to the govemment to take steps to ease the problems of limited
    income of the senior citizens? (Please answer within 30 words.) 
   ______________________________________________________________________________________

     It is not unusual at all for teens to answer their parents with one-word answers. "Where are you going?"
"Places." "When will you be back?" "Sometime." "Who will you be with?" "People."
     That means that the days of your children bounding in the front door with the details of their day are over.
They are breaking away from you so that they'll be able to stand on their own as a young adult.
     Some parents feel sad about this loss of their children's closeness. Of course you miss those conversations
and friendly talks. Once your children move out after high school and establish themselves confidently as a
young adult, they'll come back for easy conversations and even ask for advice. But in order to determine who
they are right now they need to separate from you.
     Your job, however, is to keep them safe-and that requires knowing where they are and who they are with.
Let them know clearly that it's not because you want to dominate their life and control them; it's because it's
a safety issue for family members to keep track of one another.
     When they're home and sit down to eat a meal, sit down with them. You need to open up to them about
your life. Tell them of an interesting incident at the office, let them in on a bit of family gossip (閑談), discuss
a piece of news with them. They are glad that you see them as old enough to be in on a few experiences of
your life. By letting a teen in on your life, they just may let you in of theirs.

1. The underlined word "That" in Paragraph 2 probably refers to "_____".

A. teens no longer tell parents their detailed information
B. teens don't tell parents where they had been any more
C. parents are impatient to listen to their children
D. parents are occupied by doing their business

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

A. the generation gap is becoming wider and wider
B. teens quarrel a lot with their parents
C. teens don't want to live with other family members
D. some parents feel distant from their teenage children

3. The author believes that teens' one-word answers show _____.

A. their awareness of independence
B. their physical and mental changes
C. an unpleasant parent-child relationship
D. their wishes for keeping silent

4. What's the main idea of the last paragraph?

A. Parents should understand their children.
B. parents should keep their children safe.
C. Parents should open their hearts to their children.
D. Parents should give their children enough freedom.

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

A. To give advice
B. To direct teenagers
C. To present findings
D. To comfort parents

     As prices and building costs keep rising, the "do-it-yourself" (DIY) trend (趨勢) in the U. S. continues
to grow.
     "We needed furniture for our living room," says John Ross, "and we just didn't have enough money to
buy it. So we decided to try making a few tables and chairs." John got married six months ago, and like
many young people these days, they are struggling to make a home at a time when the cost of living is very
high. The Rosses took a 2-week course (課程) for $280 at a night school. Now they build all their furniture
and make repairs around the house.
     Jim Hatfield has three boys and his wife died. He has a full-time job at home as well as in a shoemaking
factory. Last month, he received a car repair bill for $420. "I was deeply upset about it. Now I've finished
a car repair course; I should be able to fix the car by myself."
     John and Jim are not unusual people. Most families in the country are doing everything they can to save
money, so they can fight the high cost of living. If you want to become a "do-it-yourselfer", you can go to
DIY classes. And for those who don't have time to take a course, there are books that tell you how you can
do things yourself.