Two friends have an argument that breaks up their friendship forever, even though neither one can remember how the whole thing got started. Such sad events happen over and over in high schools across the country. In fact, according to an official report on youth violence, "In our country today, the greatest threat to the lives of children and adolescents is not disease or starvation or abandonment, but the terrible reality of violence". Given that this is the ease, why aren't students taught to manage conflict the way they are taught to solve math problems, drive ears, or stay physically fit?
First of all, students need to realize that conflict is unavoidable. A report on violence among middle school and high school students indicates that most violent incidents between students begin with a relatively minor insult. For example, a fight could start over the fact that one student eats a peanut butter sandwich each lunchtime. Laughter over the sandwich can lead to insults, which in turn can lead to violence. The problem isn't in the sandwich, but in the way students deal with the conflict.
Once students recognize that conflict is unavoidable, they can practice the golden rule of conflict resolution: stay calm. Once the student feels calmer, he or she should choose words that will calm the other person down as well Rude words, namecalling, and accusations only add fuel to the emotional fire. On the other hand, soft words spoken at a normal sound level can put out the fire before it explodes out of control.
After both sides have calmed down, they can use another key strategy for conflict resolution : listening. Listening allows the two sides to understand each other. One person should describe his or her side, and the other person should listen without interrupting. Afterward, the listener can ask non-threatening questions to clarify the speaker's position. Then the two people should change roles.
Finally, students need to consider what they are hearing. This doesn't mean trying to figure out what's wrong with the other person. It means understanding what the real issue is and what both sides are trying to accomplish. For example, a shouting match over a peanut butter sandwich might happen because one person thinks the other person is unwilling to try new things. Students need to ask themselves questions such as these: How did this start? What do I really want? What am I afraid of? As the issue becomes clearer, the conflict often simply becomes smaller. Even if it doesn't, careful thought helps both sides figure out a mutual solution.
There will always be conflict in schools, but that doesn't mean there needs to be violence. After students in Atlanta started a conflict resolution program, according to Educators for Social Responsibility, “64 percent of the teachers reported less physical violence in the classroom; 75 percent of the teachers reported an increase in student cooperation; and 92 percent of the students felt better about themselves”. Learning to resolve conflicts can help students deal with friends, teachers, parents, bosses, and coworkers. In that way, conflict resolution is a basic life skill that should be taught in schools across the country.
【小題1】This article is mainly about ________.

A．the lives of school children

B．the cause of arguments in schools

C．how to analyze youth violence

D．how to deal with school conflicts

【小題2】From Paragraph 2 we can learn that ________.

A．violence is more likely to occur at lunchtime

B．a(chǎn) small conflict can lead to violence

C．students tend to lose their temper easily

D．the eating habit of a student is often the cause of a fight

【小題3】Why do students need to ask themselves the questions stated in Paragraph 5?

A．To find out who is to blame.

B．To get ready to try new things.

C．To make clear what the real issue is.

D．To figure out how to stop the shouting match.

【小題4】After the conflict resolution program was started in Atlanta, it was found that ________.

A．there was a decrease in classroom violence

B．there was less student cooperation in the classroom

C．more teachers felt better about themselves in schools

D．the teacher-student relationship greatly improved

【小題5】The writer's purpose for writing this article is to ________.

A．complain about problems in school education

B．teach students different strategies for school life

C．a(chǎn)dvocate teaching conflict management in schools

D．inform teachers of the latest studies on school violence

Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness, and self-respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly categorized as “honor” help you create this life of good feelings.
Here is an example to show how honorable actions create happiness.
Say a store clerk fails to charge us for an item. If we keep silent, and profit from the clerk’s mistake, we would drive home with a sense of mean excitement. Later we might tell our family of friends about our good fortune. On the other hand, if we tell the clerk about the uncharged item, the clerk would be grateful and thank us for our honesty. We would leave the store with a quiet sense of honor that we might never share with another soul.
Then, what is it to do with our sense of happiness?
In the first case, where we don’t tell the clerk, a couple of things would happen. Deep down inside we would know ourselves as a type of thief. In the process, we would lose some peace of mind and self-respect. We would also demonstrate that we cannot be trusted, since we advertise our dishonor by telling our family and friends. We damage our own reputations by telling others. In contrast, bringing the error to the clerk’s attention causes different things to happen. Immediately the clerk knows us to be honorable. Upon leaving the store, we feel honorable and our self-respect is increased. Whenever we take honorable action we gain the deep internal rewards of goodness and a sense of nobility.
There is a beautiful positive cycle that is created by living a life of honorable actions. Honorable thoughts lead to honorable actions. Honorable actions lead us to a happier existence. And it’s easy to think and act honorably again when we’re happy. While the positive cycle can be difficult to start, once it’s started ,it’s easy to continue. Keeping on doing good deeds brings us peace of mind, which is important for our happiness.
【小題1】According to the passage, the positive action in the example contributes to our ______.

A．self-respect	B．financial rewards
C．a(chǎn)dvertising ability	D．friendly relationship

【小題2】The author thinks that keeping silent about the uncharged item is equal to ______.

A．lying

B．stealing

C．cheating

D．a(chǎn)dvertising

【小題3】The underlined phrase “bringing the error to the clerk’s attention” means ______.

A．telling the truth to the clerk

B．offering advice to the clerk

C．a(chǎn)sking the clerk to be more attentive

D．reminding the clerk of the charged item

【小題4】How will we feel if we let the clerk know her mistake?

A．We’ll be very excited.

B．We’ll feel unfortunate.

C．We’ll have a sense of honor.

D．We’ll feel sorry for the clerk.

【小題5】Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?

A．How to Live Truthfully

B．Importance of Peacefulness

C．Ways of Gaining Self-respect

D．Happiness through Honorable Actions

Are you the type of person who always says“yes”？I’ve come to learn that it is very im-portant to learn to say NO！It’s okay. People are still going to like you. They may even respect you more because they know you are honest.
I，m not saying to say“no" to someone who really needs your help. I’m talking about re-fusing that meeting that you really do not want to attend or that birthday party that you don’t want to be a guest at.
Think for a moment how you feel when you say YES to something that you really don’t want to do. If you’re like I once was，you can’t sleep at night and you think about it too much. It weighs on your mind. You try to find ways out. Whatever you’re saying to yourself，if you really wanted to go，you wouldn’t have all of these thoughts.
So，why not just say NO from the beginning? Maybe you feel like if you don’t show up at the meeting（by the way，it is not one you must attend) your boss isn’t going to like you or your co-workers won’t respect you. Maybe you feel as if your mom，dad or sisters won’t love you as much if you don’t do everything for them that they ask every occasion.
If these people are your true friends，family members，or a good boss，they will like or love you the same no matter what. People treat you the way you teach them to，and if you’re some-one who always says“yes" then that’s what they，re expecting.
You need to do what is right for you. Of course we do have real obligations in life to ful-fill，but we do not have to do everything others want us to do.
【小題1】Which of the following statements would the writer agree with？

A．We should try to do what our friends ask us to do.

B．We should help others in need.

C．Always saying“yes" means you are dishonest.

D．Always saying“no" means you are brave.

【小題2】What does the underlined word，’ It" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Saying "yes"．

B．A friend's birthday party.

C．Something you’re unwilling to do.

D．Something you think difficult to do.

【小題3】The writer believes that if you say“no" to your family members，you’11＿·

A．have the same relationship with them as before

B．have a loose relationship with them

C．disappoint them

D．upset them

【小題4】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Learn to Make a Right Choice	B．To Be Yourself
C．Do What You Want to Do	D．Learn to Say No

Lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relaxation from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for kids if you don't take great care. Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning.
Here are some tips to keep your kids safe in the water:
At the Lake or Pond
·Don't let little kids swim alone without adult supervision— lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and are suddenly deep sharply further out from shore.
·Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or rubbish.
·Make sure kids wear foot protection; even in the water, they should wear socks or water shoes.
·Watch out for weeds and grass in the water that could trap a leg or arm.
·Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol(飲酒). Be sure teens know about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water.
At the Beach
·Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides(暗流). Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.
·Tell kids never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over.
·Teach kids that if they're caught in a dangerous wave, they should swim parallel（順行地） to the shore or should tread （踩）water and call for a lifeguard's help.
Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.
【小題1】Which is the right behavior when swimming at the beach?

A．Go off the water without a lifeguard on duty

B．Go on swimming in a heavy rain

C．Go off the water before checking the water conditions

D．Call for help if caught in a dangerous wave

【小題2】A child should_________ at a lake.

A．swim on his/her own

B．be careful about weeds and grass

C．swim without shoes on

D．drink only a little wine

【小題3】Swimming at a beach is more dangerous than in a pool because          .

A．there are no lifeguards at a beach

B．there are currents and tides at a beach

C．the waters of a beach are more calm.

D．the waters of a pool are warmer

【小題4】The passage is probably written for          .

A．students at school	B．kids who want to learn swimming
C．parents with little children	D．coaches who teach kids to swim

【小題5】In which column(欄目) of a magazine can you find this passage?

A．Education

B．Science

C．Entertainment

D．Sports

Why do I volunteer with Big brothers / Big sisters of America? I have many reasons. Perhaps the biggest reason is that people once volunteered to help me.
Years ago, I was on the other side of the table. I was lonely and I felt lost. It’s a little embarrassing to talk about it now, but whatever the right direction in life was, I was going the opposite way. More than once, I found myself on the wrong path. If someone hadn’t stepped in when he did, I probably wouldn’t even be here now. I’d rather be in a prison or somewhere a lot smaller and deeper.
I’ve seen the work that big brothers / sisters have been doing all over the country and I’m pleased to be part of it. I’ve never done anything that made me prouder than my volunteer work. Big brothers and sisters helped me get over sadness and depression as soon as possible. Then, if I can help anyone like they helped me, I am willing to serve for as long as they will have me serve them. There are no words to describe the joy I get from helping somebody turn their life around. Every time I think that that’s me now, I’m proud and happy.
Volunteering is how I want to leave my mark on the world. I recommend volunteering work to everybody, especially to somebody who isn’t sure where they are going in life. Helping someone find their path is often the best way to find yours. Be a volunteer, and you will find your purpose in life.
【小題1】What’s the main reason why the writer volunteers?

A．He has a lot of free time.

B．He is lonely and wants to be with others.

C．He wants others to know he is a good man.

D．He is grateful for what volunteers once did for him.

【小題2】It is implied in Paragraph3 that the writer __________.

A．is eager to help others

B．often feels sad and depressed

C．hopes he will be helped at any time

D．travels around the country to help others

【小題3】We can infer from the passage that the writer probably __________.

A．spent some days in prison

B．didn’t know his purpose in life

C．is dissatisfied with his life

D．doesn’t live a meaningful life

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

A．To share his past with us.

B．to ask for some volunteer work.

C．To encourage us to enjoy our life.

D．To call on us to do volunteer work.

I recently ran into a friend I hadn’t seen for a long while．Our conversation was lively and full of news from both sides．Before we parted she said，“You'll have to drop in sometime.” I immediately sensed that if I simply  “dropped in’’  I would take my friend by surprise，and I would be discouraged by the image of her standing in her doorway，staring at me，and asking，“Oh，err …what brings you here?”
Whatever happened to the unannounced drop-in visit? When I was growing up in the 1960s, it seemed that people - mostly relatives, but also friends - were always popping in. My parents would put coffee on，and my mom would find something in the kitchen to serve along with it．Then the conversation would begin…The neighbor lady，a worrier，was unloading her sadness while my mom quietly listened．The Irish man next door had such an accent that I remember asking what language he spoke．My Polish relatives arrived in packs…But I never heard my parents say anything like “We weren’t expecting you’’ or “This isn’t a good time．”Drop-in visitors had a certain right of way and became No．1．
What happened to such visits? Actually I know the answer．Times have changed．Everybody gets busy with work．There is no longer a stay-at-home mom keeping a pot of hot coffee or tea ready throughout the day for a surprise guest．Exploding malls and stores are now replacing homes as a central form of entertainment．
Just the other day a former student of mine showed up．“I'm sorry for the surprise visit．”my student began．“I just wanted to see if you still lived here．I'll only stay a minute．”My response was immediate.“ No, you won’t,” I said.“Just come in, sit, have coffee, and we’ll talk.’’
I had nothing in the kitchen but we ordered pizza．And we had a lovely time．I have tried to keep the drop-in tradition alive though it takes some effort．
【小題1】The author thought of his friend’s invitation --- “You’ll have to drop in sometime”--- as _______.

A．a(chǎn) nice way of refusal

B．a(chǎn)n excuse of leaving

C．a(chǎn) kind of politeness

D．a(chǎn)n expression of surprise

【小題2】The underlined phrase “ pop in”  in the second paragraph means _________.

A．make many friends

B．make a special date

C．have a good time

D．pay a sudden visit

【小題3】The woman from the neighborhood used to visit the author’s home to ________.

A．seek comfort from my parents

B．make new friends

C．1isten to my parents’ story

D．taste nice dishes

【小題4】From the third paragraph of the passage，we can infer that __________．

A．the author misses the lost good days

B．unexpected visitors are still welcome now

C．modern people prefer outdoor activities

D．there are more jobs for the housewives now

【小題5】The author writes the passage intending to __________.     

A．encourage people to be drop-in visitors

B．explain how to deal with unexpected visitors

C．share his feelings about the drop-in tradition

D．show the importance of making friends

Hi Hongbo,
I’m so glad to read about the changes talking place in your city. It’s really good news that you can travel by subway in Xi’an, though there’s only one line there. Here in London we have twelve lines. By the way, we don’t use the word “subway” here. It’s American English. We call it “the Underground”, instead.
The London Underground is very famous. It’s famous for several reasons. First of all, part of the underground railway today is the oldest in the world, which opened in 1863. Secondly, the London Underground is also the first line to have electric trains, in 1890. Thirdly but not the last, the London Underground is the second largest metro system in the world, after the Shanghai Metro. There are 270 stations in the Underground and it has 402 kilometres of tracks(軌道). What’s more, the city of London itself helps make the transportation system famous! I’ve got a few photos to help you build a clear picture of the Underground in my city. They are together with this mail.
In your email, you also said workers were building more lines. I’m sure your city is developing fast. Maybe you can send me a few photos of your city today. I really want to see the changes taking place there. I’m happy for you to live there in an ancient city with such a new look!
So much for now. I’ll write soon again. Best wishes!
【小題1】Where is the writer from？

A．From London

B．From Shanghai

C．From Xi’an.

D．From New York

【小題2】The second paragraph mainly tells us        ?

A．when the first subway was opened in the world.

B．when the London Underground first used electric trains

C．why the London Underground is the oldest subway in the world.

D．why the London Underground is famous in the world

【小題3】In the email, the words “subway”, “underground”, and “metro” mean   .

A．three different things	B．two different things
C．a(chǎn)lmost the same thing	D．nothing like each other

【小題4】What does the writer want Hongbo to do?

A．To buy a good book about Xi’an for him.

B．To send him a few photos of Xi’an.

C．To post him some postcards of Xi’an.

D．To tell him more about Xi’an subway.

Mr. Knight was the manager of a hotel. One weekend all of the hotels in the city were full because there was a large meeting. On Friday, three men came into the hotel and asked for rooms. Mr. Knight said there were no rooms ready because of the meeting. The men were unhappy.
Mr. Knight wanted to help them. He remembered that Room 418, a small room, was empty. He asked them if they could share a room. The three men said they would. Mr. Knight said the room would be thirty dollars; ten dollars for each person. Each man gave him the money and then went up to the room.
Mr. Knight soon began to feel sorry. “Thirty dollars is a lot to ask as a price for that small room.” he thought. He called his assistant over and said, “Here is five dollars. Take it to the men in Room 418. I asked too much for their room.”
The assistant took the money. While he was on the way there, he started to think, “How can three men divide five dollars? I’ll give them each only one dollar and keep the two dollars for myself. The men will be happy to get something back. And Mr. Knight will never know.” So the assistant returned one dollar to each man.
Each man had at first paid ten dollars. After the assistant returned them one dollar each, each had actually(in fact) paid nine. There were three men. $9´3="$27." The assistant kept$2. $27+$2="$29." Where is the missing dollar?
【小題1】With the help of the manager, the three men___________.

A．went to another hotel

B．each got a small room for the night

C．stayed together in a small room

D．got a small room Mr. Knight kept for himself

【小題2】At first___________.

A．$27 was paid by the three men

B．$30 was paid by each of the three men

C．$25 was paid by the three men

D．$10 was paid by each of the three men

【小題3】The assistant___________.

A．helped the men to divide the money

B．kept two dollars for himself

C．kept three dollars for himself

D．returned three dollars to the men and two to the manger

【小題4】Where is the missing dollar?

A．It was taken by the assistant, too.

B．It was taken by Mr. Knight.

C．It was taken by the three men.

D．In fact, there wasn’t any missing dollar.

Before you make friends, you have to decide who you want to be your friends. Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kinds of things they do.
The quickest way to make a friend is to smile. When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy at first to smile, but remember most people will stay away from a scared or angry looking face.
One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn’t it make you want to keep talking to that person?
Ask your new friends questions about themselves. Who’s their favorite singer, where do they live, what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. Make sure you have something to add to the conversation, too. When someone asks you a question, do have an answer for them. There is nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrugfor an answer.
Kids who show an interest in other kids and who are kind and friendly make good friends. Remember, everyone wants to be around people who like to do similar things and people who are nice to them.
【小題1】This passage gives us some advice on_______.

A．how to make friends

B．what kind of person you can make friends with

C．how to start a conversation

D．the importance of smile

【小題2】Most people like to make friends with those________.

A．who are sad every day

B．who share the same interest

C．who are fond of talking

D．who say bad things to them

【小題3】According to the third paragraph, most people enjoy talking to one_______.

A．who is always smiling

B．who seems to be friendly

C．who praises them

D．who points out their shortcomings

Life affects friendships. As we grow, marry, fight in wars, move across the country or change jobs, old friendships fall away and new ones form. As long as we live, the things around us change, and as long as things change, friendships are affected.
When we were children we had best friends. No matter what happened we were still friends. We live our lives, however, and do what life calls for us to do, and as we get older, memories fade, faces blur, and even friends' names from childhood are forgotten.
Do you have a question about friendship? Do you wonder what to do with a friend who is no longer friendly? Perhaps you will see that you can't control others. If someone wants to be your friend, it is their choice. All you can do is treat them well and do the best for them when you are with them. Then you wish them well when they leave.
You can talk to old timers and they will tell you that life is full of incredible joy and incredible sorrow, and that what bothers you today will one day becomes a memory and the sting(痛苦) will be gone. Seniors might tell you that you will learn more as you get older. They will tell you that friendships come and friendships go. Sometimes when they go it will hurt, but you will be okay with it. It's the way life works, after all.
【小題1】What can we learn about friendship, according to the text?

A．Friendship can not be easily affected by one's family.

B．Friends are always around us and will never go away.

C．Friends in childhood are the best no matter what happens.

D．Friends in childhood are sometimes forgotten by us.

【小題2】What should we do with friends who are no longer friendly according to the  text?

A．Do our best to control them and make them listen to us.

B．Forget them and make new friends who have a lot in common with us.

C．Find the reason why our friendship has changed.

D．Care about them and do the best for them when we are together.

【小題3】The text mainly tell us _________.

A．how to face the changes in friendship

B．how to deal with unfriendly people

C．that childhood friendship is valuable

D．how to share happiness with friends