Swimming is one of those activities that can be learned early in life. Little children can learn to swim as soon as they walk. In fact, you need the same skills in walking as in swimming. However, I believe that five is the best age to learn. By five or six, a child knows fear of water, a very important thing to know. It's wise to be afraid, to recognize true danger. Young ones understand that the water can sometimes be very dangerous.
To really benefit from swimming, every swimmer should learn, as soon as possible, these four basic strokes; butterfly, backstroke, Breaststroke, and crawl. I feel that one of these-the breaststroke-is different from the others, since some young swimmers use this stroke naturally, without any training.
In swimming there are certain rules every swimmer should follow:
1). Never swim alone! No matter how good you are in the water, don’t risk drowning by swimming alone. If you swim by yourself, with no life guards or friends with you, you may get into trouble.
2). Don't go beyond your abilities. Most swimmers know enough not to swim too far from the bank or the beach, Showing off by doing dangerous tricks is no good. Swim safely and you will continue to swim and alive.
3). Don't smoke. Swimming depends on a healthy body; good lungs are part of it.
4). Work at any activity that builds muscles.
【小題1】 Little children can learn to swim as soon as _____.

A．they can talk

B．they start walking

C．they have no fear of the water

D．they are five or six years old

【小題2】The author believes that fear of water is_____.

A．stupid

B．sensible

C．dangerous

D．not smart

【小題3】 The stroke that some young swimmers use first is_____.

A．butterfly

B．backstroke

C．breaststroke

D．crawl

【小題4】According to the passage, you should not swim alone because_____.

A．the water is too cold

B．your parents would not be happy

C．something in the water might attack

D．you might drown

Rescue workers at the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile had reason to sing this week．A small hole drilled into the earth became a passage（通道） to freedom for thirty-three trapped miners．They spent sixty-nine days underground．"Never have people been trapped for so long so deeply," says a doctor at NASA, the American space agency, which helped in the rescue．
But the chief medical officer for the miners said most are in good enough health to leave the hospital within a day or so．The first three were released from the hospital Thursday night．
For much of the day the miners relaxed with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera．The thirty-two Chileans and one Bolivian still wore special sunglasses to protect their eyes．
A  partial mine collapse（坍塌） on 5^th of August trapped them more than half a kilometer underground．They had to stretch a two-day food supply．For two weeks no one knew if they were alive or dead．
Later, they received supplies（供給） and a video link lowered through drill holes．That link was how Ariel Ticona watched his wife give birth to their daughter．
The miners have apparently agreed to share the money they earn from selling their story．
They have already received gifts of money and travel offers．Edison Pena has been invited to the New York City Marathon and to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee．Mr．Pena described how he ran in the mine tunnels to ease the stress．And he led the miners in singing Elvis songs．
The first miner rescued on Wednesday was Florencio Avalos．The second was Mario Sepulveda, who talked about how the experience tested his faith．He said: "I was with God and I was with the devil, they fought me, but God won．He took me by my best hand, the hand of God．"
The last miner up was Luis Urzua．He was the shift leader when his crew became trapped．
Rescuers used a metal cage to pull the miners to safety in less than twenty-four hours -- faster than expected．The rescue capsule was a half-meter wide and known as the Phoenix．
【小題1】How many miners had been rescued according to the report?

A．Three

B．Sixty-nine

C．Thirty-three

D．Thirty-two

【小題2】According to the passage, when the miners were trapped, some of them did the followings except ________．

A．sharing money	B．Running to ease stress
C．Watching a video showing his wife giving birth	D．Singing songs

【小題3】
Edison Pena was invited to Graceland probably because ________________．

A．he ran in the mine tunnel．	B．he prayed to God．
C．he led the miners in singing Elvis songs．	D．he was the shift leader．

【小題4】
From the passage, we can infer the followings EXCEPT that _______________．

A．Rescue workers were happy about their rescue work．

B．People felt surprised to find the miners safe and sound．

C．People might have been quite worried about the miners’ safety．

D．The trapped miners drilled a small hole themselves to escape．

【小題5】What would be the best title for the report?

A．A mining accident	B．Miners saved, safe and sound
C．A difficult rescue	D．Miners trapped deep underground

The whole morning we just checked our own things. We were looking for items to give away. We thought of blankets, food and clothing. Our aim was not to find things we no longer wanted, but things we use every day and would be useful to others.
We made up boxes with the things and added some small toys. Inside the boxes a simple letter was placed, reading:
“Please take these items and know that your life is important. Times are difficult but they will pass. We share what we have, believing it will matter. Use the blanket to stay warm. Be safe and know that the human spirit can overcome（戰(zhàn)勝） anything. Don’t hold your head down. Someday please do the same when you can. How you do it and when, your heart will tell you.
This kind act was not because the phone rang or for any reason. It was simply because it was the right time to do. We have often seen homeless people at the park where we left the belongings. The city would say that it isn’t a problem but I see the lives walking to and from it.
I noticed that my wife had put her favorite green coat into one of the boxes. I asked if she was sure about it and she simply replied that it had a hood (風(fēng)帽). She liked the coat but knew the hood could shelter (遮擋)someone from the rain.
We don’t know where these gifts of compassion（同情）will go. We never go back and see what happens. It’s unimportant. The right things will find the right people and that is all that counts. On the way my wife started to cry. When I asked why, she said because some things felt so right.
【小題1】 What can we learn from the first paragraph about the couple？

A．They had deep feelings of their work

B．They often threw the useless daily items away

C．They liked helping others by sharing their things

D．They often gave away the daily items they didn’t use

【小題2】
The couple placed the letter inside the box mainly to_______________.

A．help the poor go through the difficulties

B．let the poor know who gave away the things

C．tell the poor how to use the items correctly

D．tell the poor to pass on the spirit to others

【小題3】 Why did the author ask his wife if she was sure about giving away her green coat?  _________.

A．Because he thought the coat was very valuable

B．Because he thought the coat was of a very high price

C．Because he thought he liked the coat very much himself

D．Because he thought she liked the coat very much herself

【小題4】 The couple liked this kind act because _______.

A．they thought it was the right thing to do

B．they had a good habit of saving things

C．they often received telephone calls for help

D．they hated being troubled by homeless people

【小題5】 What’s the best title for this passage?

A．Boxes filled with compassion	B．Good behavior leading to happiness
C．The most important thing in our life	D．Happiness coming from sharing things

Conjoined twins lead separate but active lives.
Lori and Reba have never been alone and they want to keep it that way.
The 40-year-old conjoined twins in Pennsylvania,US,have read about others locked together by an accident of birth who have been medically separated.But they insist only death can part them.
“We’ve never imagined a life divided,”Lori said.
Lori and Reba are joined together at the side of their heads,facing in opposite directions.Their blood supply is partly linked,but each has a separate brain.
Reba suffers from a disease which has left her completely dependent on her sister.
Lori wheels her everywhere they go in different professional directions.Lori worked in a laundry room at a hospital for six years before giving that up to allow Reba to try to become a country singer.
Her first song is called “The Fear of Being Alone”,which was inspired by Reba and Lori’s desire for togetherness.
Reba’s career has taken her across the United States, Europe and parts of Asia.
While the twins receive some money from the government, the earning from Reba’s concerts go to AIDS and cancer charities(慈善機(jī)構(gòu)).
The sisters have set goals for themselves. Reba looks forward to a successful career as a country singer, while Lori says she hopes to get married and have children.Lori said,”So when it comes, it comes. Meanwhile, I live wonderfully from day to day.”
【小題1】When Lori said “We’ve never imagined a life divided”,she meant that       .

A．they don’t wish to be made separate

B．they think their case is beyond medical help

C．independent life would be too good to think of

D．they would die once separated

【小題2】By leading separate lives,the topic means that       .
A. either of the two can look after herself       B .the twins do different things
C. they face in opposite directions       D. they are no longer conjoined now
【小題3】When Reba gives performances as a country singer,Lori       .

A．works in a hospital	B．continues her college education
C．brings up her children	D．looks after her sister

【小題4】The twins lead active lives because they       .

A．a(chǎn)re tired of staying at home doing nothing

B．need more money

C．want to prove themselves as useful citizens

D．have to earn their own bread

【小題5】From the last paragraph we can understand that Lori       .
A. thinks it’s too late for her to have children  
B. is sure she’ll get married and have children

The English are famous for their manners． The phrase, “Manners maketh the man” was coined by Englishman William of Wykeham back in 1324, but they’re just as important today． Books are written on the subject, advice columns in magazines tell people how to behave, and “finishing schools” still exist to ensure that young girls become young “l(fā)adies”．
The best example of English manners is in their mastery of the art of forming a queue． It is a popular joke in England （the land of sporting failures） to say, “if only queuing was an Olympic sport, we’d win hands down．” No one knows exactly how and when it started, but queuing plays an important role in the English social make-up． School children are taught to queue for roll-call, assembly and lunch, and English people across the land form orderly queues at shops, banks, cinemas and bus-stops every day． The English obviously aren’t the only people who queue, but they seem to do it better than anyone else． As one visitor said, “I have travelled across Europe, the Middle and Far East and nowhere have I seen the single-file queues which are formed in England．”
The English are also famously polite when it comes to language． Whereas many other notions are more direct in their communication, the English prefer a more indirect form of asking for things． For example, an American who wants to talk to a colleague might say, “Got a minute?”; however an English person will often use a more indirect means might of requesting the chat, “Sorry to bother you, but would you possibly have a minute or so to have a quick chat if you don’t mind, please?”
The English also love to apologize for things． When squeezing past someone, people say “sorry”． And they will apologize if you bump into them, “whoops! Sorry! My fault．” In fact, no one seems to say “sorry” as much as the English: “sorry I’m late． /Sorry I forgot to call you last night．/I’m sorry you didn’t get the e-mail．” And so on． They also like to use “please” and “thank you” a lot． In a shop, they will say, “I’d like a packet of crisp, please． Thanks．” British students thank their lectures, and bosses often thank their employees for doing their jobs．
【小題1】 Why does “finishing schools” still exist to help young girls become “l(fā)adies”?

A．Because the English mind their manners very much．

B．Because the English parents want to marry their daughters to the royal family．

C．Because the English girls are so rude that they need to be taught to be polite．

D．Because the English government ensures their existence．

【小題2】The underlined sentence in paragraph2 implies ________________．

A．The English love the Olympics very much．

B．The English spend nothing winning an Olympic medal．

C．The English are best at queuing．

D．The English prefer to queue with their hands down．

【小題3】 According to the passage, if Americans say “Waiter! Could I have another fork, please?” how will the English express such a meaning?

A．Excuse me! Give me another fork, please!

B．Excuse me! I have to be a bother, but would you mind awfully changing this fork, please?

C．Hi! Would you mind giving me another fork?

D．Waiter! Come here and change the fork!

【小題4】According to the passage, why do the employers often thank their employees for doing their jobs?

A．The employees can bring them a lot of benefits．

B．The employees finish their jobs perfectly．

C．The English employers’ good manners lead them to do so．

D．The employers do it as a result of the company’s regulation．

Did you know that there are gifts that will multiply your happiness when you give them away? Here are five of those gifts． Giving these gifts will allow you to share with others your most unique treasure: your real self． Each gift will return to you many times．
1． Share appreciation
Tell someone how much you appreciate the faith they've shown in you． Thank them sincerely for being part of your life． Tell them how much they are needed．
Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have． When you share with someone your appreciation and gratitude, they will not forget you． Appreciation will return to you many times．
2． Share time
Balance your time expenditures （耗費(fèi)）so you can spend time with the people that you love． Support local organizations by sharing your special talents． Volunteer time for projects that benefit others in your community, country, and world．
When we slow down and observe our thoughts closely, we will sometimes uncover gifts and talents we didn't know we had． Sharing time and talents can result in discoveries that bring happiness beyond measure．
3． Share knowledge and ideas
Tell someone about a great book that you read so they can benefit from it too． Teach a new concept or idea that you've learned．
One of the best ways to strengthen new concepts in your mind is to share them with others． The more often you share what you've learned, the stronger that information will become in your memory． Sharing knowledge also provides solutions to problems． The more knowledge we share, the more knowledge we receive in return．
4． Share friendship
Acknowledge someone's strengths． Let them know that you are willing to be there when they need you． Visit someone you haven't seen for a long time． Telephone friends or relatives who live far away． Introduce two friends who don't know each other．
Bringing one individual into another's life can result in tremendous changes for both people, and for you． We succeed with the help of others． People grow by growing together． If you'd like to have many friends, then share friendship with others generously．
5． Share kindness
Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun． These will multiply and spread very rapidly．
There is a powerful quote by Stephen Jay Gould who said, “The center of human nature is rooted in ten thousand ordinary acts of kindness that define our days．” Kindness is priceless． The love, kindnesses, and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life．
Think about this statement by Norman MacEwan: “Happiness is not so much in having as sharing． We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give．”
【小題1】 What is the best title of this passage？

A．We want to share．	B．Give your presents away．
C．We make a life by giving．	D．Don’t be mean to give．

【小題2】 What can we learn from Stephen Jay Gould’s words？

A．We all come from a world which is in a harmonious atmosphere．

B．Everybody’s deep heart is filled with kindness at first, which decides our present life．

C．Kindness is the most important thing in our daily life．

D．We need kindness all the time．

【小題3】 For those who are living a life on the go, what suggestion will the writer probably give to them?

A．Tell the people around you how much you love them．

B．No one is an isolated island． We succeed with the help of others

C．The more knowledge we share, the more knowledge we receive in return．

D．Slow down and enjoy the life, which may bring you a brand new world with happiness．

【小題4】Where can you probably find this passage?

A．Magazines

B．Newspapers

C．Guide books

D．Scientific reports

Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact, many people never read a poem once they get out of high school.
It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in America. In the nineteenth century, a usual American activity was to sit around the fireplace in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at the time, nor movie theatres, nor World Wide Web, to provide diversion. However, poems were a source of pleasure, of self-education, of connection to other people or to the world beyond one’s own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one, and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was, like reading poems by the fireside, another way in which poetry had a place in everyday life.
How did things change? Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry, and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and they can do well without poems?
There are, I believe, three culprits (肇事者): poets, teachers and we ourselves. Of these, the least important is the third: the world surrounding the poem has betrayed (背叛) us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century, poetry in English headed into directions hostile (不利的) to the reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night, that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged.
Poets failed the readers, so did the teachers. They want their students to know something about the craft (技巧) of a poem, and they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles.
【小題1】 Reading poems is thought to be a social act in the nineteenth century because _______.

A．it built a link among people	B．it helped unite a community
C．it was a source of self-education	D．it was a source of pleasure

【小題2】The underlined word “diversion” in Paragraph 2 most probably means _______.

A．diversity

B．change

C．a(chǎn)musements

D．happiness

【小題3】In the last paragraph, the writer questions _______.

A．the difficulty in studying poems

B．the way poems are taught in school

C．students’ wrong ideas about poetry

D．the techniques used in writing poems

【小題4】According to the passage, what is the main cause of the great gap between readers and poetry?

A．Poems have become difficult to understand.

B．Students are poorly educated in high school.

C．TV and the Internet are more attractive than poetry.

D．Students are becoming less interested in poetry.

A gentle breeze blew through Jennifer’s hair. The golden red sun was setting. She was on the beach, looking up at the fiery (火紅的) ball. She was amazed by its color, deep red in the middle, softly fading into yellow. She could hear nothing but the waves and the seagulls flying up above in the sky.
The atmosphere relaxed her. After all she had been through, this was what she needed. “It’s getting late,” she thought, “I must go home. My parents will be wondering where I am.”
She wondered how her parents would react, when she got home after the three days she was missing. She kept on walking, directing herself where she spent every summer holiday. The road was deserted. She walked slowly and silently. Just in a few hundred meters she would have been safe in her house.
It was really getting dark now. The sun had set a few minutes before and it was getting cold too. She wished she had her favorite sweater on: it kept her really warm. She imagined having it with her. This thought disappeared when she finally saw her front door. It seemed different. Nobody had taken care of the outside garden for a few days. She was shocked: her father was usually so strict about keeping everything clean and tidy, and now... It all seemed deserted. She couldn’t understand what was going on.
She entered the house. First, she went into the kitchen where she saw a note written by her father. It said: “Dear Ellen, there is some coffee ready. I went looking.” Ellen was her mother but — where was she? On the right side of the hallway was her parents’ room. She went in. Then she saw her. Her mother, lying on the bed, was sleeping. Her face looked so tired, as if she hadn’t slept for days. She was really pale. Jennifer would have wanted to wake her up but she looked too tired. So Jennifer just fell asleep beside her. When Jennifer woke up, something was different... she wasn’t in her mother’s room and she wasn’t wearing the old clothes she ran away in. She was in her cozy bed in her pajamas (睡衣).
It felt so good being back home. Suddenly she heard a voice, “Are you feeling better now, dear? You know you got us very, very scared.”
【小題1】 The writer describes the beautiful sunset to show Jennifer’s ______.

A．love of the natural beauty	B．desire of getting back home
C．intention of becoming independent	D．depression of being alone

【小題2】 What does the underlined phrase “This thought” most probably mean?

A．The idea of going back home.

B．Her anxiety about her parents.

C．The feeling of being warm in her favorite sweater.

D．The feeling of getting back home safely.

【小題3】Her father didn’t take care of the garden because ______.

A．he was busy looking for her

B．he had to look after his wife

C．he was not strict with his job

D．he no longer enjoyed working in the garden

【小題4】What can we infer from this passage?

A．In fact Jennifer’s mother had been sick for several days.

B．When she found the garden deserted, she realized she was wrong.

C．As Jennifer walked towards home, she became increasingly scared.

D．Having experienced a lot outside, Jennifer felt home was safest for her.

I started winning competitions. We still had very little money -- my father had to borrow $5,000 to pay for a trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Ettlingen, Germany, in 1994, when I was 12. I realized later how much pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when it was announced that I'd won -- earning enough money to pay back our loan.
It was soo n clear I couldn't stay in China forever. To become a world-class musician, I had to play on the world's big stages. So in 1997, my father and I moved again, this time to Philadelphia, so I could attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Finally our money worries were easing. The school paid for an apartment and even lent me a Steinway（斯坦威鋼琴）.At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
Now that I was in America, I spent two years practicing, and by 1999 I had worked hard enough for fortune to take over. The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard me play and liked me, but orchestra schedules were set far in advance. I thought I might join them in a few years.
The next morning, I got a call. The great pianist Andre Watts, who was to play the "Gala Benefit Evening" at Chicago's Ravinia Festival, had become ill. I was asked to replace him. That performance was, for me, the moment. After violinist Isaac Stern introduced me, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father's mouth hung open throughout the entire song.
I played until 3:30 a.m. I felt something happening. Sure enough, it was a great success. Still, my father kept telling me, "You'd better practice!" But living in America with me was beginning to relax him. In Beijing I'd been fat -- he made sure I ate -- and he'd been skinny. Now I was getting thin. He wasn't.
My father and I had often practiced a piece called "Horses," a fun version for piano and erhu. One night in Carnegie Hall, after I played Chopin and Liszt, I brought Dad out on the stage, and we played our duet（二重奏）. People went crazy -- they loved it. My father couldn't sleep for days. He was too happy to sleep.
There have been lots of concerts in Carnegie Hall, but for me playing there was especially sweet when I remember the cold days in Beijing. Together, my father and I worked to reach the lucky place where fortune spots you, and lets you shine.
【小題1】In the first paragraph his father cried when it was announced that he'd won mainly because__________.

A．his father was excited that his son succeeded at last.

B．his father was under too much pressure.

C．they could pay back the loan with the prize.

D．his father was proud of him.

【小題2】 Tell the order of the events.
a. He and his father moved to Philadelphia.
b. He was asked to replace the great pianist Andre Watts.
c. He and his father played “Horses” together.
d.The Chicago Symphony orchestra heard his performance.
e. The Curtis Institute of Music lent him a Steinway

A．a(chǎn), e, c, b, d

B．b, e, a, d, c

C．d, a, e, b, c

D．a(chǎn), e, d, b, c

【小題3】 Which of the following statements agrees with the author?

A．The writer’s father had been very fat before they went to America.

B．The writer thought he would be one of them soon when he knew the Chicago Symphony orchestra heard him play and liked him.

C．The Curtis Institute of Music finally eased their money worries.

D．One can achieve his dream if he is lucky enough.

【小題4】 The underlined word there in the last paragraph refers to_________.

A．America

B．Beijing.

C．Carnegie Hall

D．All the places he went to.

【小題5】 What is the best title of the passage?

A．I Took Off!	B．When Fortune Spots Me.
C．No Pain, No Gain.	D．My father and I

Too cold for recess?  School policies vary as much as temps
When is it too cold for schoolchildren to go outside for recess（課間休息）? The answer varies widely based on where a school is located and what the kids are used to.
Consider:  One northern Minnesota school says it has to be 15 below zero before kids are kept inside. But in areas along the East Coast, temperatures below 35 to 40 degrees could keep kids inside. Canceling recess because of the cold is no small issue considering that much of the USA is trembling through what may be its coldest winter in a generation, according to  AccuWeather.
There is no national temperature standard for when to keep kids inside during the winter months, the U.S. Department of Education says. Decisions are made at the local level, either by principals or school districts.
Consequently, policies are all over the map:
? In International Falls, Minn., the self-described "Icebox of the Nation," where the average high temperature in January is 13 degrees, Falls Elementary School Principal Jerry Hilfer says, "if it's 15 below (or warmer), they go out, no matter what." "At 20 below, it gets iffy," he adds.
? In Wicomico County, Md., principals typically keep children indoors when temperatures drop below freezing, or if it's raining or snowing, says Susan Jones, the school system's director of elementary education.
"That's the bottom line," says Curtis Twilley, principal of Pemberton Elementary School in Salisbury, Md. Twilley says students get little exercise when recess stays indoors. At Pemberton Elementary, the students will typically play board games or computer games in a classroom because the school's gym is occupied with other classes, he says.
? For schools in Marquette, Mich., which averages about 12 feet of snow per season, school officials acknowledge students are probably a little more prepared than those in some more mild climates.
【小題1】Which of the following is not true according to the passage_________.

A．No national temperature standard is made for when to keep kids inside during the winter months.

B．Susan Jones insists students get little exercise when recess stays indoors.

C．In Wicomico County, children are kept indoors when temperatures dip below freezing.

D．Mich has about 12 feet of snow per season on average.

【小題2】 Which place calls itself Box of Ice?
Wicomico County  B. Marquette    C.Salisbury       D. Minn
【小題3】 Considering_______, canceling recess In USA because of the cold is a big issue.

A．different schools have different principles.

B．much of the USA has very cold winter.

C．physical activity can boost student performance.

D．decisions are made at the local level,

【小題4】 The underlined word iffy means _______.

A．uncertain

B．surprising

C． serious

D．worse

【小題5】 What will be talked about next?

A．More school policies

B．The reasons why school policies vary.

C．Measures to improve the situation.

D．Necessities to improve the situation