Friends and Buddies

This program is planned for teenagers who have special needs with the goal of meeting within a community with other peers(同齡人). The purpose of the program is that it will lead to a better understanding of friendships. Gym, Swim, Surprise Guest, and Pizza are included. Ages 12-18, numbers of members are limited. Contact: Gloria Bass. This program is held 2 Fridays per month. Fees: $65/$85
Club Saturday Swim
This program is available to anyone aged 5-14 who is challenged by mental, physical, or emotional trouble. The program will be held each Saturday afternoon, 12:00-12:30 pm or 12: 30-1:00 pm. Fees: $136/$260
Sibshops (Ages 10-13)
Sibshops is a program for siblings(兄弟姊妹) of children with challenges. It includes group activities and talk treatment ways with the focus on improving sibling relationships and whole family happiness. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Wednesday: 4:00-5:00 pm. Fees: $50/$65
Banana Splits
Banana Splits is an educational support group for children in family trouble. Children aged 9-13 will have the opportunity to meet other children whose parents have separated or divorced, learn to recognize feelings, think of healthy coping skills and have a place to share their struggles through verbal(語言的), physical, and artistic experiences. Location: Hope Church, Wilton CT. Tuesday:4:30-5:30 pm. Fees: $50/$65
66. If you have free time only on Saturday, you can go to ______.
A. Friends and Buddies    B. Club Saturday Swim
C. Sibshops (Ages 10-13) D. Banana Splits
67. Activities on how to lead to a better understanding of friendships are held ______.
A. 2 Fridays per month    B.12:00-12:30 or 12:30-1:00, Saturday afternoon
C.4:00-5:00 pm, Wednesday   D.4:30-5:30 pm, Tuesday
68. If you go to Sibshops (Ages 10-13) , you can ______.
A. meet with other peers         B. solve your mental problem
C. improve sibling relationships       D. think of healthy coping skills
69. Which of the following is TRUE according to the four passages?
A. They are all in the same place.   B. They are all free of charge.
C. They all hold activities each week.      D. They are all intended for children.
70. The purpose of this passage is to ______.
A. help children deal with their trouble   B. encourage children to be happy and brave
C. list some problems children meet with       D. advertise some programs for children

One day, four lawyers were riding their horses along a country road. There had been a rain. Water was dripping(滴) from the trees, and the grass was wet. They rode slowly, talking and laughing. Suddenly they heard some noises from the tree above them. “What is the matter?” asked the first lawyer. “Oh, it’s only some old birds!” said the second lawyer. “The storm made one of the babies fall out of the nest. It is too young to fly, and the mother bird is very worried.” “What a pity! It’ll die down there in the grass,” said the third lawyer. “It doesn’t matter. It’s only a bird,” said the second lawyer. Then they rode on, talking and laughing as before. But the fourth lawyer, whose name was Abraham Lincoln, stopped. He got down from his horse and took the little one in his big warm hands.
“Never mind, my little fellow,” said Mr. Lincoln. “I will put you back in your little nest.” He climbed up the tree and put the bird softly into their warm little home. A few minutes later, Mr. Lincoln joined them again. His shoes were covered with mud and he was wet. Then the other three laughed at him. They thought it was foolish for a strong man to do so much just for a young bird. “Gentlemen,” said Mr. Lincoln, “I could not sleep tonight if I had left the helpless bird in the grass.” Later Abraham Lincoln became very famous as a lawyer. He also became the president of America. He was one of the greatest American presidents.
61. The reason why the mother bird was worried was that ______.
A. there was a rain  B. the lawyers were under its tree
C. one of its babies fell out of the nest    D. it could not fly
62. We can learn about the other three lawyers from the passage that ______.
A. the second lawyer was kind         B. they were all cold-hearted
C. they did something to save the baby bird   D. the third lawyer put the bird into its nest
63. The underlined phrase “l(fā)ittle fellow” in paragraph 2 means ______.
A. the mother bird   B. Lincoln’s little friends
C. the other three lawyers      D. the baby bird
64. The other three lawyers laughed at Lincoln because ______.
A. he climbed the tree     B. he was wet
C. his shoes were covered with mud       D. they thought it foolish for him to do so
65. From the passage we know Lincoln ______.
A. liked riding horses   B. was very kind and loved birds and animals
C. liked being laughed at D. wanted to be the president of America then

Dear Mr. Barton,
I am writing for the residents’ association (業(yè)主協(xié)會(huì)) to inform you of our feelings about your act. We’ve really had enough of you. Although we have tried to speak to you politely on several occasions, you have always answered with a stream of verbal abuse(辱罵).
Ever since you moved in three months ago, you have shown very little consideration for the other residents of this building, though many residents expressed their unhappiness with you. For the past six weekends, you have held very noisy parties, which have not finished until early the next morning. As you know, most of the people here are elderly or have very young children, and the noise keeps them awake all night. You don’t have to be so noisy, do you? Last weekend the situation deteriorated when two of your friends fought with each other on the first floor. The fighting was so bad that the police had to be called. What’s more, your friends left the stairs in a terrible state --- they even broke two windows on their way out! We feel that we can’t bear this type of act.
We strongly demand that you pay for this damage to the window soon. If you don’t and you carry on being a nuisance(令人討厭的人或物). We will kick you out! Legal steps will be taken if necessary.
Yours sincerely,
Resident
57. What does the writer feel? 
A. Excited                      B. surprised                  C. Angry               D. Happy
58. What does the word “deteriorated” mean?
A. Changed                 B. Improved                C. Moved    D. Worsened
59. What is the main purpose of the letter?
A. To ask Mr. Barton to leave the building for the peace.        
B. To inform Mr. Barton of the noise he made.
C. To talk about what Mr. Barton did.   D. To give a warning to Mr. Barton.
60. What is true according to the letter?
A. Mr. Barton paid no attention to the others’ unhappiness.   
B. Mr. Barton never replied to the others’ unhappiness
C. Mr. Barton always said sorry to those unhappy with him.     
D. Mr. Barton never apologized to the other residents.

第三部分：閱讀理解（共20小題；每小題3分，共60分）
閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。
A
Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Vi­olence and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and emotional scars. Often they relive(重溫) these experiences in nightmares.                       
Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill, which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce, or possibly erase the effect of painful memories.
In November, experts tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body re­leasing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research had suggested that only the emo­tional effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased.
The research has caused a great deal of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers’ troubling memories after war.
They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. “Some memories can ruin people’s lives. They come back to you when you don’t want to have them in a daydream or nightmare. They usually come with very painful emotions.” said Roger Pitman, a professor of psychiatry (精神病學(xué)) at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve(減緩) a lot of that suffering.”
But those who are against the research say that changing memories is very dangerous because memories give us our identity. They also help us all avoid the mistakes of the past. “All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were horrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we’d want to wipe those memories out.” said Rebecca Dresser, a medical ethicist (倫理學(xué)家).
Some people fear that although the drug would first be used in only very serious cases, it would be­come more and more common.“People always have the ability to misuse science,” said Joseph LeDoux, a New York University memory researcher. “All we want to do is help people have better control of memories.”
56. The underlined word “it” in paragraph 4 refers to “_____.”
A. the new drug                      B. the research into the drug
C. the memory                        D. the chemical in the drug
57. Which of the following is Not the opinion of the supporters?
A.The pill can erase all the memories in the past.
B.Some memories can ruin people's life. The pill can relieve emotional suffering.
C. The pill can also help many other types of people who suffer from terrible memories.
D. The pill can prevent or treat troubling memories in soldiers after war.
58. Which of the following is Not the opinion of the opponents (反對者) ?
A. Our memories give us our identity.
B. The memories help humanity avoid mistakes of the past.
C. The drug should be used in only very serious cases.
D. People may not be sure whether they want to wipe the memories out.
59. Which of the following statements might be the main idea of the text?
A. People often suffer from bad memories.   
B. The nightmares are terrible.
C. Forget bad memories and be happy.
D. The research has caused a heated argument.

B
See in your mind’s eye where you really want to be in ten years’ time．Choose your own values, activities, and relationships rather than copying tubers．
While working with troubled teens, I used to haste them do a Ten Years game in the Future exercise．I asked them to write a letter to a friend as if it was ten years in the future．Most of these boys and girls didn’t think about the next week, much less ten years to come．This lack of “foresight”was a major reason why their lives were pretty messed up．But the real story is what happened to me．I did the exercise right along with them on many occasions, writing my dreams in detail．In my letter to a friend, I had moved to the country, built my own home, authored a book, and started my own business．
Over the next ten years, something magic happened．All my dreams became true, almost as if orchestrated (精心安排) by an unseen hand．I realized that something very powerful was happening, more powerful than expected．I did write books and start my business．We did move to the country and I did build my own home．
This letter to a friend will become a magnetic factor in your life．Your vision will guide you in your yearly goals, your monthly goals, and your daily activities．
You must write your letter as if it has already happened．For example:
“Leslie, I just wanted to make contact again and tell you about my life．I started my own gardening business in 2012 and it’s really taken off．”
“Dear Harold, I met the love of my life in 2016 and we moved to Hawaii where Frank works in a bookstore and I give surfing lessons everyday．We love it．”
Remember, describe all the details as if they have already happened．This will help you make it more real for you．
Sit down and write (or type) your Ten Years in the Future letter today．
60．It seems that the author’s dream and vision became a reality because the author    ．
A．had put something magic in the letter
B．could foresee what would happen
C．was experienced in writing the Ten Years letter
D．took what was written in the letter as a guide in life
61．According to the author，“Leslie”in your letter should be the person that    ．
A．does the same exercise as you
B．will become your friend in ten years
C．you know now and may still know in the future
D．you can imagine when you write your letter
62．The author advises you to write the Ten Years in the Future letter    ．
A．a(chǎn)s soon as possible
B．in ten years’ time
C．when you have time
D．a(chǎn)s often as possible
63．Which of the following covers the topics in this text?
a．The author’s own experience with the Ten Years in the Future exercise．
b．How the author got the idea of the Ten Years in the Future exercise．
c．How to write the Ten Years in the Future letter．
d．The author’s experience of working with troubled teens．
e．The difficulty in dealing with troubled teens．
f．How to improve your letter writing skill．
A．a(chǎn), d, f                     B．a(chǎn), c, d              C．b, c, d             D．a(chǎn), c, e

E                          
A letter to Edward, a columnist (報(bào)刊專欄作家)
Dear Mr. Expert:
I grew up in an unhappy home. I always promised myself that I’d get out as soon as possible. Now, at the age of 20, I have a good job and a nice house, and I’m really proud of the independence I’ve achieved.
Here’s the problem: several of my friends who still live with their parents wish they had places like mine so much that they make mine theirs.
It started out with a couple of them spending the weekends with me. But now they seem to take it for granted that they can show up any time they like. They bring boyfriends over, talk on the phone and stay out forever.
I enjoy having my friends here sometimes — it makes the place feel comfortable and warm — but this is my home, not a party house. I was old enough to move out on my own, so why can’t I seem to ask my friends to respect my privacy(隱私)?
Joan Edward’s reply to Joan
Dear Joan:
If your family didn’t pay attention to your needs when you were a child, you probably have trouble letting others know your needs now.
And if you’ve gathered your friends around you to rebuild a happy family atmosphere, you may fear that saying no will bring back the kind of conflict you grew up with— or destroy the nice atmosphere you now enjoy. You need to understand that in true friendship it’s okay to put your own needs first from time to time.
Be clear about the message you want to send. For example, “I really love your company but I also need some privacy. So please call before you come over.”
Edward
73. We can learn from the first letter that Joan      .
A. lives away from her parents          B. takes pride in her friends
C. knows Mr. Expert quite well         D. hates her parents very much
74.We can infer from the first letter that       .
A. Joan considers her friends more important than her privacy
B. Joan’s friends visit her more often than she can accept
C. Joan doesn’t like the parties at all
D. Joan dislikes the boyfriends her friends bring over
75. According to Mr. Expert, why can’t Joan tell her friends her feelings?
A. She likes her friends very much              B. She does not understand true friendship.
C. Her family experience stops her from doing so.   D. She does not put her needs first.

D
A few years ago it was popular to speak of a generation gap, a disagreement between young people and their elders. Parents said that children did not show them proper respect and obedience (服從), while children complained (抱怨) that their parents did not understand them at all. What had gone wrong? Why had the generation gap suddenly appeared? Actually the generation gap has been around for a long time. Many people argue that a gap is built into the fabric (結(jié)構(gòu)) of our society.
　　One important cause of the generation gap is the chance that young people have to choose their own ways of life. In more traditional societies, when children grow up, they are expected to live in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their parents know and agree to, and to continue the family occupation (職業(yè)). In our society, young people often travel great distances for their education, move out of the family home at an early age, marry or live with people whom their parents have never met, and choose occupations different from those of their parents.
　　In our easily changing society, parents often expect their children to do better than they did: to find better jobs, to make more money, and to do all the things that they were unable to do. Often, however, the strong desire that parents have for their children are another cause of the disagreement between them. Often, they discover that they have very little in common with each other.
　　Finally, the speed at which changes take place in our society is another cause of the gap between the generations. In a traditional culture, elderly people are valued for their wisdom, but in our society the knowledge of a lifetime may become out of date overnight. The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by different skills and abilities.
　　No doubt, the generation gap will continue to be a feature (特點(diǎn)) of American life for some time to come. Its causes are rooted in the freedom and changes of our society, and in the rapid speed at which society changes.
69. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ____________.
A. the generation gap suddenly appeared
B. the generation gap is a feature of modern social life
C. people can reduce the generation gap
D. many critics argue over the nature of the generation gap
70. The word “around” in Paragraph 1 means ____________.
A. on all sides     B. near               C. in every direction   D. in existence
71. In American society, young people often ____________.
A. depend on their parents to make a life
B. stay with their parents in order to get a chance for higher education
C. seek the best advice from their parents
D. have very little in common with their parents
72. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Parents should be strict with their children.
B. The younger generation should value the older generation for their wisdom.
C. The generation gap is partly caused by the older generation.
D. The generation gap does not exist in American society.

七．閱讀理解 (20分)
A
February has long been a month of romance. With the sweet smell of roses in the air, romantic films hit cinemas and love stories fill newspapers and magazines.
   On the 14th day, it is a custom for a boy to take his girlfriend out to dinner, buy her flowers and chocolates, write poems, sing to her or even spell out her name with rose petals! This is what you see on Valentine’s Day, a day named after Valentine who was a priest in the third century Rome. When the emperor decided that single men could become better soldiers than those with wives, he didn’t allow marriage.
   But Valentine continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret. When his actions were discovered, the emperor sentenced him to death. While in prison, it is said that Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his prison guard. Before his death, he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine”, an expression that is still in use today. Valentine died for what he believed in and so he was made a Saint (圣徒), as well as becoming one of history’s most romantic characters.
   Nowadays, Valentine’s Day is also popular among Chinese young people. Some students are planning to make Valentine’s cards for parents, teachers and friends. Others want to hold parties at which they will exchange small gifts and eat heart-shaped cakes. The idea is to have fun and encourage people to share in the spirit of St. Valentine.
1. Which of the following is not a custom for a boy to do on Valentine’s Day?
   A. to take his girlfriend out to dinner
   B. to buy his girlfriend flowers and chocolates     
   C. to make Valentine’s cards for teachers and friends
   D. to spell out his girlfriend’s name with rose petals
2. Why did the emperor in Rome not allow marriage in his country?
   A. Because there were few women in his country at that time.
   B. Because he thought men without wives could be better soldiers.
   C. Because there wasn’t enough food for so many people.
   D. Because he wanted to control the birth rate.
3. Valentine was put into prison because ______.
   A. he killed one of the soldiers 
   B. he stole a lot of food
   C. he didn’t obey the emperor’s order   
   D. he didn’t want to be a soldier
4. The last paragraph mainly tells us ______.
   A. students in China send cards to their teachers
   B. it is a good idea to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
   C. it is interesting to celebrate Valentine’s Day in China
   D. Valentine’s Day is also popular in China now
5. The best title for this passage should be ______.
   A. Valentine’s Day                  B. A Brave Priest  
   C. Valentine’s Day in China          D. A Romantic Man

D
Habits are a funny thing. We reach for them mindlessly, setting our brains on auto-pilot and relaxing into the unconscious comfort of familiar routine.“Not choice, but habit rules the unreflecting creatures,”William Wordsworth said in the 19th century. In the ever-changing 21st century, even the word“habit”carries a negative meaning.
So it seems contradictory to talk about habits in the same context as innovation (創(chuàng)新). But brain researchers have discovered that when we consciously develop new habits, we create parallel paths, and even entirely new brain cells, that can jump our trains of thought onto new, innovative tracks.
Rather than dismissing ourselves as unchangeable creatures of habit, we can instead direct our own change by consciously developing new habits. In fact, the more new things we try, the more creative we become.
But don’t bother trying to kill off old habits; once those ruts of procedure are worn into the brain, they’re there to stay. Instead, the new habits we deliberately press into ourselves create parallel pathways that can bypass those old roads.
“The first thing needed for innovation is attraction to wonder,”says Dawna Markova, author of The Open Mind.“But we are taught instead to‘decide’, just as our president calls himself‘the Decider’．”She adds, however, that“to decide is to kill off all possibilities but one. A good innovational thinker is always exploring the many other possibilities.”
“All of us work through problems in ways of which we’re unaware,”she says. Researchers in the late 1960s discovered that humans are born with the ability to approach challenges in four primary ways: analytically, procedurally, collaboratively (合作地) and innovatively. At the end of adolescence, however, the brain shuts down half of that ability, preserving only those ways of thought that have seemed most valuable during the first decade or so of life.
The current emphasis on standardized testing highlights analysis and procedure, meaning that few of us use our innovative and collaborative ways of thought.“This breaks the major rule in the American belief system—that anyone can do anything,”explains M. J. Ryan, author of the 2006 book This Year I Will…and Ms. Markova’s business partner.“That’s a lie that we have preserved, and it fosters commonness. Knowing what you’re good at and doing even more of it creates excellence.”This is where developing new habits comes in.
67．Brain researchers have discovered that      .
A．the forming of new habits can be guided
B．the development of habits can be predicted
C．the regulation of old habits can be transformed
D．the track of new habits can be created unconsciously
68．The underlined word“ruts”in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to       .
A．zones                     B．connections             C．situations                D．tracks
69．Which of the following statements most probably agrees with Dawna Markova’s view?
A．Decision makes no sense in choices.
B．Curiosity makes creative minds active.
C．Creative ideas are born of a relaxing mind.
D．Formation of innovation comes from fantastic ideas.
70．The purpose of the author writing this article is to persuade us       .
A．to give up our traditional habits deliberately
B．to create and develop new habits consciously
C．to resist the application of standardized testing
D．to believe that old habits conflict with new habits

C
Apparently，we are safe neither at home nor in the business office．We use water in both places，but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects．These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house．They are released(set free)from water by daily actions like water running out of tap，spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines．As the water is moving．these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.
Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put allpollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that“new smell, ”which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通風(fēng)), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.
These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.
We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up ), the factory work environment ( an endless list of potentially dangerous substances ), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that“there is no place like home.”
64．What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A．The air we breathe in is harmful.
B．The water in everyday use is unsafe.
C．Chemicals are added to the drinking water.
D．Chemicals are released in the running water.
65．In Paragraph 2, the underlined sentence means that       .
A．bathing should be done with caution
B．homes and offices should be aired often
C．a(chǎn)ny pollution should be taken into consideration
D．we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us
66．What is the purpose of the passage?
A．To call on us to guard our water
B．To show us that no place is like home.
C．To make us aware of the pollution around us.
D．To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe.