Many Chinese have been greatly shocked by the traffic accident caused by the drunk driver Sun
Weiming,  who has killed five and injured some others in Chengdu, Sichuan. However, such a case is
not rare.
     Today, traffic accidents may have been regarded as a social problem. The car has killed and
disabled more people in its brief history than any bomb or weapon ever invented. Much of the blood
on the street flows actually from rude behavior of drivers who refuse to respect the legal and moral
rights of others. In fact, the enemies of society on wheels are rather harmless but just ordinary people
acting carelessly, you might say. But it is a principle both of law and common morality that carelessness
is no excuse when one's actions could bring death or damage to others. A minority of the killers go
even far beyond carelessness that can be imagined.
    Researchers have estimated that as many as 80 percent of all automobile accidents can be attributed
to the psychological condition of the driver. Emotional upsets can change drivers' reactions, slow their
judgment, and make them blind to the dangers that might otherwise be evident. The experts warn that
it is vital for every driver to make a conscious effort to keep his/her emotions under control.
     Yet the irresponsibility that accounts for much of the problem isn't only put upon drivers. Street
walkers regularly ignore or break traffic regulations. They are blamed in most vehiclewalker accidents,
and many cyclists even believe that they are not subject to the basic rules of the road.
     Significant legal advances have been made towards safer driving in the past few years. Safety
standards for vehicles have been raised both at the point of manufacture and through regular road
inspections. In addition, speed limits have been lowered. Due to these measures, the accident rate
has decreased. But the accident experts still worry because there has been little or no improvement
in the way drivers behave. The only real and lasting solution, say the experts, is to make people believe
that driving is a skilled task requiring constant care and concentration. Those who fail to do all these
things present a threat to those with whom they share the road.

1. Traffic accidents may be regarded as a social problem because ________. 

A. auto driving has become dangerous and harmful in today's society
B. people usually pay no attention to law and morality when driving
C. they have caused serious psychological problems among drivers
D. the car has killed and disabled more people than any weapon in history

2. Who are NOT mentioned to be responsible for the road accidents in the passage? 

A. Careless bicycleriders.
B. Careless people walking in the street.
C. Irresponsible auto drivers.
D. Irresponsible auto manufacturers.

3. By discussing solutions to traffic accidents,  the author seems to be ________.

A. doubtful and hopeless  
B. angry and disappointed
C. objective and concerned
D. anxious and annoyed

4. The author writes this passage to ________. 

A. show his worries about drunk driving
B. help protect street walkers from car accidents
C. discuss traffic problems and possible solutions
D. warn auto drivers to refuse drunk driving

     Psychiatrists (精神病專家) who work with older parents say that maturity can be an asset in
child rearing-older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time
with their children. But raising kids takes money and energy. Many older parents find themselves
balancing their limited financial resources, declining energy and failing health against the growing
demands of an active child. Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents' biggest,
and often unspoken, fear. Having late-life children, says an economics professor, often means parents,
particularly fathers, "end up retiring much later." For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream.
     Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. But he's also worried
that his energy will give out first. Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he's
learned that young at heart doesn't mean young. Lately he's been taking afternoon naps (午睡)  to
keep up his energy.  "My body is aging," says Metcalf. "You can't get away from that."
     Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. Therapists who work
with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. "They worry they'll
be mistaken for grandparents, or that they'll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery
school," says Joann Galst, a New York psychologist. But at the core of those little fears there is often
a much bigger one: "that they won't be alive long enough to support and protect their child," she says.
      Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. After marrying late
and undergoing years of fertility (受孕) treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband. Randy, had
twins. "We both wanted children," says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. The twins have
given the couple what they desired for years, "a sense of family." Kids of older dads are often smarter,
happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. "The dads are older,
more mature," says Dr. Silber, "and more ready to focus on parenting."

1. Why do psychiatrists regard maturity as an asset in child rearing?

A.  Older parents are often better prepared financially.
B.  Older parents can take better care of their children.
C.  Older parents are usually more experienced in bringing up their children.
D.  Older parents can better balance their resources against children's demands.

2. What does the author mean by saying "For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream"
(Lines 7-8, Para. 1. )

A.  They are reluctant to retire when they reach their retirement age.
B.  They can't obtain the retirement benefits they have dreamed of.
C.  They can't get full pension unless they work some extra years.
D.  They have to go on working beyond their retirement age.

3. The author gives the example of Henry Metcalf to show that ________.

A.  older parents should exercise more to keep up with their athletic children
B.  many people are young in spirit despite their advanced age
C.  older parents tend to be concerned about their aging bodies
D.  taking afternoon naps is a good way to maintain energy

4. What's the biggest fear of older parents according to New York psychologist Joan Galst?

A.  Approaching of death.
B.  Slowing down of their pace of life.
C.  Being laughed at by other people.
D.  Being mistaken for grandparents.

5. What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen?

A.  They thought they were an example of successful fertility treatment.
B.  Not until they reached middle age did they think of having children.
C.  Not until they had the twins did they feel they had formed a family.
D.  They believed that children born of older parents would be smarter.

     Eat less and exercise more-it has long been a magic word for reducing those extra weight. But
now it seems that all the hard work may have been in vain.
     Scientists say there are ten other reasons why people just keep getting bigger. They say that
sleeping habits, central heating, medicines and even some pollutants (污染物) can play a role in
weight gain.
    Traditionally, people have focused on diet and exercise to solve the problem. However the
scientists from top US and Canadian universities say that other things must be considered.
     Lack of sleep could be partly the reason. In recent years, the average night's sleep has dropped
from nine hours to just seven. Sleep shortage changes levels of the hormones (荷爾蒙) that control
food intake and body fat and increase hunger and appetite.
     If it is too hot or too cold, we burn calories (卡路里) to cool down or heat up. But if the
temperature is just right, the calories may be turned into body fat instead.
     Those who take medicine to control their blood pressure can often put on weight. Similarly, studies
have shown that going on the Pill can add to a woman's weight.
     Mother nature may also be the reason, with our body shape being partly inherited (遺傳的). The
overweight are also more likely to settle with partners of a similar size. And their children are more
likely to be obese (肥胖的).
     And the use of pollutants is on the rise, say the researchers. The man-made chemicals in pesticides
(殺蟲(chóng)劑) and plastics can lead to weight gain.
     Your mother's age and your weight at birth are also important, with older woman more likely to
have obese children and underweight babies having a bigger chance of being obese in later life.
     We also tend to put on weight as we get older. Finally, giving up smoking can also help pile on the
pounds.
     The scientists from Yale, Cornell and Johns Hopkins said there was some evidence supporting poor
diet and lack of exercise as the main causes of obesity.

1. Which is commonly thought to be effective in losing weight?

A. To have operation to cut extra fat.      
B. To take pills and avoid fatty food.
C. To sleep less to burn more calories.    
D. To have less food and take more exercise.

2. Which of the following factors doesn't lead to overweight?

A. Regular and enough sleep.
B. Comfortable living environment.
C. Not enough physical exercise.  
D. harmful chemicals in the food.

3. Which of the following statements would the author agree to?

A. Lack of sleep leads you to take in more food.
B. Unpleasant weather helps you to put on weight.
C. Obese parents are not likely to have fat children.
D. Medicine for blood pressure helps you lose weight.

4. What would women prefer to do to have healthy children?

A. To have only one child.
B. To marry at an older age.
C. To marry a strong husband.    
D. To give birth to a baby at younger age.

     There are more than one billion people around the world who smoke. Bill Gates, cofounder
and former CEO of Microsoft, wants them all to quit. So does New York City's mayor Michael
Bloomberg. This week, the Gates Foundation, a charity organization set up by Bill Gates and his
wife, Melinda, teamed up with Bloomberg to donate $500 million over the next five years to
antitobacco programs.
     Bloomberg is no stranger to antitobacco plans. He has been fighting tobaccouse in New York
City for years. In 2002, Bloomberg pushed for a ban on smoking in all New York City restaurants.
     Bloomberg's Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use was created in 2005.  It aims to discourage
smoking trends around the world by working to change tobacco's image, protect nonsmokers from
secondhand smoke, and help people quit. Bloomberg gave $ 125 million to start the program. Now,
he is adding another $ 250 million. The Gates Foundation will invest $ 125 million over five years to
fight the tobacco epidemic, including a $ 24 million gift directly to the Bloomberg Initiative.
     The money donated by the Gates Foundation will support antismoking efforts in developing
countries where tobacco use is the highest. "Tobaccocaused diseases have become one of the
greatest health challenges facing developing countries," Gates says. In addition to donating to the
Bloomberg Initiative, the Gates Foundation will also help prevent the tobacco epidemic from taking
root in Africa. "The epidemic in Africa is not well advanced," Gates explains. "That means that we
can catch it at an early stage."
     Tobaccouse kills more than five million people every year. If the trend doesn't change, more than
one billion people could die of tobaccorelated illnesses this century. Gates and Bloomberg have high
hopes to change these statistics. "Together we can make a clear, measurable difference, not just for
ourselves and our generation, but for the generations that come after us," says Bloomberg.

1. The passage is mainly about ________. 

A. the harmful effects of smoking
B. Bill Gates' contribution to the world
C. a ban on smoking in New York City
D. a plan to stop smoking

2. How much does Bloomberg invest altogether? 

A.  $ 125 million.  
B.  $ 250 million.
C.  $ 375 million.  
D.  $ 500 million.

3. We learn from the passage that ________. 

A. the Gates Foundation is set up by Bill Gates and Bloomberg
B. tobaccouse has become a big threat to developing countries
C. Bloomberg's Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use was created in 2002
D. tobaccouse kills more than fifty million people every year

4. What's Gates and Bloomberg's attitude towards the antismoking efforts? 

A. Optimistic.                  
B. Skeptical.
C. Opposable.                  
D. Surprised.

     Between school, homework, sports, your afterschool job, and hanging out with friends, it may
feel like there's no time for healthy eating. And when you do stop to eat, it's probably tempting to
go the quick and easy route by grabbing a burger and fries, potato chips, or candy.
     Even if you take time to eat three meals a day, you may still feel hungry at times.  This is
natural-during teens, a person's body demands more nutrients to grow. What's the answer? Healthy
snacks. Snacking on nutritious food can keep your energy level high and your mind alert without
taking up a lot of your time. Snacks are a great way to satisfy that hunger and get all the vitamins
and nutrients your body needs.
     But you need to pay attention to what you eat. Filling your face with a large order of fries after
class may give you a temporary help, but a snack high in fat and calories will only slow you down
in the long run.
     To keep energy levels going-and avoid weight gain-keep clear of foods with lots of simple
carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates
like wholegrain breads and cereals and combine them with proteinrich snacks such as peanut butter
or lowfat yogurt (酸奶) or cheese.
     Choosing healthy snacks means shopping smart. Be careful of the health claims on food packages.
Just because something is "all natural" or "pure" doesn't necessarily mean that it's nutritious. For
example, "all natural" juice drinks or sodas can be filled with sugar (which is, after all, a natural