My husband is a born shopper. He loves to look at things and to touch them. He likes to compare prices between the same items in different shops. He would never think of buying anything without looking around in several different shops. On the other hand, I’m not a shopper. I think shopping is boring and unpleasant. If I like something and I have enough money to take it, I buy it at once. I never look around for a good price or a better deal. Of course my husband and I never go shopping together. Doing shopping together would be too painful for both of us. When it comes to shopping, we go our different ways.
Sometimes I ask my son Jimmy to buy some food in the shop not far from our home. But he is always absent-minded. This was his story.
One day I said to him, ” I hope you won’t forget what I have told you to buy.” “ No,“ said Jimmy. “I won’t forget. You want three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
He went running down the street to the shop. As he ran, he said to himself over and over again, “three oranges , six eggs and a pound of meat.”
In the beginning he remembered everything but he stopped several times. Once he saw two men fighting outside a clothes shop until a policeman stopped them. One of them was badly hurt. Then he stopped to give ten cents to a beggar. Then he met some of his friends and he played with them for a while. When he reached the shop, he had forgotten everything except six eggs.
As he walked home, his face became sadder and sadder. When he saw me he said, “I’m sorry, Mum. I have forgotten to buy oranges and the meat. I only remembered to buy six eggs, but I’ve dropped three of them.”
【小題1】The husband likes shopping because _______.

A．he has much money.

B．he likes the shops.

C．he likes to compare the prices between the same items.

D．he has nothing to do but shopping.

【小題2】They never go shopping together because_______.

A．their ways of shopping are quite different	B．they hate each other.
C．they needn’t buy anything for the family	D．they don’t have time for it.

【小題3】Jimmy can’t do the shopping well because _______.

A．he is young	B．he is absent-minded
C．he often loses his money	D．he doesn’t like shopping

【小題4】Jimmy didn’t buy what his mother wanted because_______.

A．the shop was closed that day	B．the policeman stopped him
C．he forgot some of them	D．he gave all the money to the beggar

A “blogger” is a person who writes on an Internet computer web site called a “blog”．The word “blog” is a short way of saying web log, or personal web site．Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like．
There are millions of blogs on the Internet today．They provide news, information and ideas to many people who read them．They contain links to other web sites．And they provide a place for people to write their ideas and react to the ideas of others．
A research company called Perseus has studied more than 3,000 web logs．It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls．They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their life．The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year．
However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas．For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs．And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products．
At the same time, some long-standing blogs have ended．Last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service, weblogs．com．He says the site became too costly to continue．He started the blog four years ago, and thousands of people had written on it．
One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca’s Pocket．It involves much useful information for readers．Rebecca Blood created the web site in 1999．She wrote about the history of blogs on the site．That article led to a book called “The Weblog Handbook”．It has been translated into four languages so far．
Ms Blood says Rebecca’s Pocket gets about 30,000 visitors a month．She writes about anything and everything----politics, culture and movies．She recently provided medical advice．And she wrote about how to prevent people from stealing money from online bank accounts．
【小題1】The text is written mainly to _____

A．introduce an Internet computer web site called “blog”

B．introduce a way of reading on blogs．

C．tell readers how to write blogs

D．tell readers about blogs

【小題2】From the text we can learn that blogs cover almost everything except ____．
A．different ideas   B．medical advice    C．a(chǎn)ccount codes D advertisements．
【小題3】According to this passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A．A lot of bloggers no longer write or read blogs

B．Politicians don’t use blogs at all

C．Those who like to use blogs are mostly teenage girls

D．Dave Winer closed his “weblogs．com” because of money shortage

【小題4】The reason why Rebecca’s Pocket is still going strong is that_____

A．it provides plenty of useful information and advice

B．it was created by a woman

C．it is about the history of books

D．it has editions in at least four different languages

Paula and Rory have fives kids, three dogs, and a rabbit. When the house is very noisy, Megan, one of the children, is quietly inventing. A year ago, the 10-year-old had to design an anti-smoking poster, she came up with the idea of creating something that shows the average amount of tar(尼古丁) a smoker collects from just four packs of cigarettes.
“I like people to play with things more than read and write,” she says. So she researched her idea on the Internet, found a company in China that could make it, saved up her pocket money and got her idea made.
Paula says her daughter “think differently”: Ideas jump into her mind. After she got sunburnt on holiday, Megan invented a small plastic bracelet(手鐲) that changes colors in the sun, telling you when to put on sunscreen(防曬霜). Several sunscreen companies have expressed an interest in the idea. She also came up with an idea to make a ball filled with water to stop the dog from feeling thirsty. “But we didn’t do anything with it,” says Paula.
Then she pulls out a picture of a special fishing rod(釣魚竿) she had designed. “There is a camera on the hook(鉤),” she explains, “and the screen is on the handle, and it shows if you’ve caught a fish or not.”
Megan doesn’t want to go to university. She keeps her pink-and -cream bedroom tidy. Paula is amazed and a bit confused by her daughter. “Everything has to be in a certain order,” Paula says. “Her brothers and sisters go with the flow, but with Megan, it’s ‘What time will that be happening?’ or ‘Where am I being picked up from today?’”
【小題1】From Paragraph 2, we can infer that Megan             .

A．is not willing to go to school	B．likes to play with her brothers and sisters
C．prefers making something by herself	D．is good at reading and writing

【小題2】What did Megan invent after she got sunburnt on vacation?

A．The anti-smoking poster

B．The ball providing water for thirsty dogs

C．The fishing rod telling whether you’ve caught a fish

D．The bracelet telling when to put on sunscreen

【小題3】 The underlined phrase “go with the flow” probably means “            .”

A．do what the most people usually do	B．follow the fashion closely
C．set an example to others	D．do something differently from others

【小題4】According to the passage, which of the following about Megan is true?

A．She has fives kids, three dogs, and a rabbit.

B．She designed an anti-smoking poster when she was nine.

C．She founded a company in China to get her idea made.

D．She invented a small plastic bracelet to change the color of sunscreen.

【小題5】The passage is mainly about             .

A．how Megan helps people give up smoking

B．a(chǎn) little girl’s dream to be a world-famous inventor

C．a(chǎn) 10-year-old inventor’s story

D．Megan’s relationship with her family members

Surfing—the art of riding a wave on a pointed board—is the wildest, fastest natural water sport known to man. In recent years, it has developed into a major sport around the world, from Australia to South Africa. Hawaiian experts risk(冒…之險(xiǎn)) their lives on huge, thirty foot swells(浪濤) against the wind of Oahu; Californians of all ages go out the year-round.
In the winter, surf-riders put on life-suits to ride grave waves so cold that their flesh turns blue.Surfing is no sport for weak persons. Swimming a quarter of a mile or more and pushing a surfboard out to where the swells are just right for riding can be real work. Then, at exactly the right moment, you climb up the wave and go fast across the face of a powerful swell with the white water jumping at your feet. The huge wave bites at your shoulder, threatening(威脅) at any moment to smash your flat. In the next several seconds, a cool head and lightning—quick action back to the pressure of the attacking wave will bring your board under control for that great ride down the back of the great, green mountain of water. Once on the beach, you know why surfing is growing in popularity as an international sport, and you’re glad to be a member of this new water world.
【小題1】The first paragraph mainly tells us ______.

A．people around the world go surfing all the year round

B．the definition(定義) of the sport

C．how to surf in the sea

D．where to surf around the world

【小題2】The author believes that surfing _______.

A．is not an easy sport	B．can be done by anyone
C．should be done by everyone	D．does not require courage

【小題3】In order to experience what real surfing is, _______.

A．you must first swim a quarter of a mile to warm your body

B．you will first ride on a board to reach the swells

C．you must first put on your life-suits before doing surfing

D．you must first swim to the swells with your board

Dr. Sylvia Earle wants you to stop eating fish. It’s not because fish are endangered, though wild fish stocks in many oceans are very low. It’s not because they’re bad for you, though fish in many areas are exposed to poisonous substances in the water. It’s because they’re smart.
“Fish are sensitive, they have personalities,” says the marine biologist. For Earle, eating a fish would be like eating a dog or a cat. “I would never eat anyone I know personally.”
There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye: they talk to each other, they like to be touched, and they engage in behavior that can seem very human. They can remember things and learn from experience. Earle and a growing number of animal rights activists see these as strong arguments against eating fish altogether.
The activists also point out that fish feel pain and fish suffer horribly on their way from the sea to the supermarket. “While it may seem obvious that fish are able to feel pain, like every other animal, some people think of fish as swimming vegetables,” says Dr. Lynne Sneddon. “Really, it’s kind of a moral question. Is the enjoyment you get from fishing (or eating fish) more important than the pain of the fish?”
Fishermen and (fried) fish lovers are doubtful. “I’ve never seen a smart fish,” says Marie Swaringen as she finishes off a plate of fish at a Seattle seafood restaurant. “If they were very smart, they wouldn’t get caught.”
“For years, everyone’s been telling us to eat fish because it’s so good for us,” says another diner. “Now I’ve got to feel guilty while I’m eating my fish? What are they going to think of next? Don’t eat salad because cucumbers have feelings?”
【小題1】 Dr. Sylvia Earle discourage people from eating fish because _____________.

A．there are not that many wild fish in the ocean

B．fish actually are sensitive and have personalities

C．some ocean fish contain poisonous substances

D．fish are like dogs or cats that people know personally

【小題2】We can infer from the passage that _____________.

A．a(chǎn)ll people don’t agree with the idea to stop eating fish

B．people will be persuaded not to eat fish in the future

C．stopping eating fish will lead to people’s not eating vegetables

D．we shouldn’t care too much about the feeling of fish

【小題3】 By saying “There’s a lot more to fish than meets the eye,” the writer means ____________.

A．there are far more fish than other animals in the world

B．there are more fish in the world than people can see

C．people can see more fish if they pay more attention

D．fish are not that simple as they appear to people’s eyes

Life in 2060
Let us suppose it is now about A.D. 2060. Let’s make believe(假設(shè)；虛構(gòu)) it is about sixty years from now. Of course, things have changed and life is very different.
Voyages to the moon are being made every day. It is as easy to take a holiday on the moon today as it was for the people in 1960 to take a holiday in Europe. At a number of scenic spots on the moon, many hotels have been built. The hotels are air-conditioned, naturally. In order that everyone can enjoy the beautiful scenery on the moon, every room has at least one picture window. Everything imaginable is provided for entertainment(娛樂(lè)) of young and old.
What are people eating now? People are still eating food. They haven’t yet started to take on heir(繼承) supply of energy directly as electrical current or as nuclear power. They may some day. But many foods now come in pill form, and the food that goes into the pill continues to come mainly from green plants.
Since there are several times as many people in the world today as there were a hundred years ago, most of our planet’s surface has to be filled. The deserts are irrigated with water and crops are no longer destroyed by pests. The harvest is always good.
Farming, of course, is very highly developed. Very few people have to work on the farm. It is possible to run the farm by just pushing a few buttons now and then.
People are now largely vegetarians(素食者). You see, as the number of people increases, the number of animals decreases. Therefore, the people have to be vegetarians and we are healthier both in our bodies and in our minds, and we know the causes and cure of disease and pain, and it is possible to get rid of diseases. No one has to be ill any more.
Such would be our life in 2060.
【小題1】According to the passage, what will be on the moon in about A.D. 2060?
A. Many tourists.   B. Many other animals.   C. Many plants.     D. A sea.
【小題2】What will people eat then according to the passage?

A．Biscuits in pill form.	B．Foods in gas form.
C．Foods in water form.	D．Foods in pill form.

【小題3】Why are people largely vegetarians in 2060?

A．Because they don’t eat meat .

B．Because doctors advise them not to eat meat.

C．Because the number of animals decreases.

D．Because all the animals have died of diseases.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phones
Nowadays, nearly everyone has a mobile phone. In our daily lives we make phone calls to others, and we need to send messages to exchange information. Now, you can surf the Internet by using your mobile phone. I have to say that I enjoy using my phone, but I am worried at the same time: Is it healthy and safe to use?
Mobile phones have many advantages. Firstly, we keep in touch with people by using them. Because of our busy life, we have little time to meet friends and our beloved ones. Thanks to mobile phones, we can tell them how everything is going. When an emergency happens, we can call for help using our phones. It is convenient and important in our lives.
But every coin has two sides and it is the same with mobile phones. As people are used to making phone calls, they are spending less and less time with their family and friends. Phones give them more excuses to stay out of reach. Because of the convenience, the love and care between people has changed into a few words in a message or a phone call. For students, there are more chances to get distracted(分心的) from their lessons. When I was in middle school, I often looked out of the window to rest my eyes, but now I spend those moments on my phone.
In the end, I hope you can think about the advantages and the disadvantages, and use your mobile phone correctly. We humans created mobile phones, and we should keep them under control.
【小題1】According to the second paragraph, we spend little time with friends because       .

A．we have mobile phones	B．our lives are comfortable
C．we are shy	D．we are always busy

【小題2】What does the underlined word “emergency” in the second paragraph probably mean?

A．A worrying and dangerous situation

B．An expected event.

C．An important thing.

D．A funny and exciting moment

【小題3】Which of the following ways of expressing love and care is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Visiting each other.	B．Making phone calls
C．Sending messages.	D．Writing letters.

【小題4】What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To tell us the disadvantages of using mobile phone.

B．To advise us to use mobile phones correctly.

C．To list all the advantages of using mobile phones.

D．To explain why many people don’t use mobile phones.

Too many people want to be their friends, but they don’t give friendship back. That is why some friendship doesn’t last long. To have a friend, you must learn to be one. You must learn to treat your friend the way you want your friend to treat you. Learning to be a good friend means learning three rules: be honest; be generous; be understanding.
Honesty is where a good friendship starts. Friends must be able to trust one another. If you do not tell the truth, people usually find out. If a friend finds out that you haven’t been honest, you may lose friend’s trust. Good friends always count on one another to speak and act honestly.
Generosity means sharing and sharing makes a friendship grow. You do not have to give your lunch money or your clothes. Naturally you will want to share your ideas and feeling. These can be very valuable to a friend. They tell your friend what is important to you. By sharing them, you help your friend know better.
Sooner or later everyone needs understanding and helping with a problem. Something may go wrong at school. Talking about the problem can make it easier to solve. Turning to a friend can be a first step in solving the problem. So to be a friend you must listen and understand. You must try to put yourself in your friend’s place so you can understand the problem better.
No two friendships are ever exactly alike. But all true friendships have three things in common. If you plan to keep your friends, you must practice honesty, generosity, and understanding.
【小題1】Some friendships don’t last very long because ________.

A．there are too many people who want to make friends.

B．some people receive friendship but don’t give friendship back.

C．those who give others friendship receive friendship from others.

D．they don’t know friendship is something serious.

【小題2】According to the passage honesty is ___________.

A．something countable	B．the base of friendship
C．a(chǎn)s important as money	D．more important than anything else

【小題3】Which of the following isn’t mentioned(提及) in the passage?

A．Always tell your friends the truth.

B．Sharing your mind with your friends is of great value.

C．Discussing your problems with your friend often helps to solve the problem.

D．A friend who gives you his lunch money is a true friend.

【小題4】The best title of this passage is __________.

A．Honesty is the Best Policy	B．A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed
C．How to be Friend	D．Three Important Points in Life

When you want to go shopping, decide how much money you can spend on new clothes. Think about the kind of clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes you really need. Then look for those clothes on sale.
There are labels(標(biāo)簽) inside all new clothes. The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes. The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water. A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water. The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for washing may ruin this coat. If you do as the directions on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.
Many clothes today must be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is expensive. When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned. You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed.
You can save money if you buy clothes that are well made. Well-made clothes last longer. They look good even after they have been washed many times. Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made. They do not always fit better. Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes.
【小題1】If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that ________.

A．don’t fit you	B．don’t last long
C．need to be dry cleaned	D．can be washed

【小題2】The labels inside the clothes tell you________.

A．how to keep them looking their best	B．how to save money
C．whether they fit you or not	D．where to get them dry cleaned

【小題3】The first thing for you to do before you buy clothes is ________.

A．to look for well-made clothes	B．to see how much money you can spend on it
C．to know how to wash them	D．to read the labels inside them

【小題4】We learn from the passage that cheaper clothes ________.

A．a(chǎn)re always worse made	B．must be dry cleaned
C．can not be washed	D．can sometimes fit you better

【小題5】The best title for the passage should be ________.

A．Buy Less Expensive Clothes	B．Taking Enough Money When Shopping
C．Being a Clever Clothes Shopper	D．Choosing the Labels inside New Clothes

“I usually put my mobile phone in my bag, and I often feel like it is ringing when there actually is no phone call. Now I always want to keep it in my hand, being afraid that I might miss important calls or messages,” Miss Liu tells her doctor.
Miss Gu, a news worker, has to take her mobile phone with her all the time so as not to miss any calls from her office or readers. Gradually, she started to experience a great “panic” about her mobile phone. “Every night when I’m about to fall asleep, I often wake up with a start, feeling that my phone is ringing. Although I’m sure that I have turned it off, I still feel that it is ringing, clearly.”
The above phenomenon is what we call “mobile-phone acouasm (幻聽(tīng))”. The mobile phone has now become a “new organ” in a white collar’s daily life, and “mobile-phone acouasm” has become a common phenomenon among office workers.
According to a report of China Youth Daily, “mobile-phone acouasm ” most likely results from people’s dependency on hi-tech products. It is associated with certain professions, such as salesmen, consultants and journalists. They use mobile phones almost continuously.
Constantly being in the “stand-by” mode, the strong psychological tension gives them acouasm. Meanwhile, a large number of this year’s graduates are joining the family of acouasm suffers due to the hard job-hunting experience.
“You know that the rings are not from your phone, but you always take it out and have a look. This is subconscious (潛意識(shí)) from your body sending you a signal, telling you that you must take a break to reduce your pressure,” Professor Sun Li from Huadong Normal University explains.
There are many ways to solve the problem. The professor says that the key is to deal with pressure from work. “This is just a kind of self-protection”; the most important thing is to find out the source of your pressure. And then take part in some activities that are not related to your work. You can do anything that can relax your body and mind.
【小題1】 According to the passage the phrase “mobile-phone acouasm” refers to          .

A．people’s being addicted to mobile phones

B．people’s feeling the unreal phone rings

C．mobile phones’ going wrong frequently

D．mobile phones’ disturbing people constantly

【小題2】How does “mobile-phone acouasm ” come about ? 

A．Some mobile phones are in poor quality.

B．Some people develop the dependency on mobile phones.

C．Some people listen to the music on mobile phones too much.

D．Something is wrong with some people’s hearing.

【小題3】What kind of people are more likely to suffer from “mobile-phone acouasm” ?

A．Those who use mobile phones too often.

B．Those who like mobile phones very much.

C．Those who lead a busy life.

D．Those who lead a free life.

【小題4】What is the most important measure to deal with “mobile-phone acouasm ” ? 

A．To buy a mobile phone of good quality.

B．To turn off your mobile phone.

C．To get rid of pressure from work.

D．To have your ears examined regularly.