How often one hears children wishing they were grown-ups and old people wishing they were young again. Each age has its pleasures and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting his time in useless regrets.
Childhood is a time when there are few responsibilities to make life difficult. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after and loved, whatever he may do. It is impossible that he will ever again in his life be given so much without having to do anything in return. In addition, life is always presenting new things to the child — things that have lost their interest for older people because they are too well-known. But a child has his parents. He is not so free to do what he wishes to do; he is continually being told not to do things or being punished for what he has done wrong.
When the young man starts to earn his own living, he can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes, and his room, but has to work if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry. And if he breaks the laws of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison. If, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble and has good health, he can have the great happiness of building up for himself his own position in society.
【小題1】 According to the second paragraph, the writer thinks that __.

A．life for a child is comparatively easy

B．a(chǎn) child is always loved whatever he does

C．if much is given to a child, he must do something in return

D．only children are interested in life

【小題2】Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A．People are often satisfied with their life.

B．Life is less interesting for old people.

C．Adults are free to do what they want to do.

D．Adults should no longer rely on others.

【小題3】The underlined word "responsibilities" in the second paragraph means__________.

A．duties

B．jobs

C．suggestions

D．desires

【小題4】The main idea of the passage is _________ .

A．life is not enjoyable since each age has some pains

B．young men can have the greatest happiness if they work hard

C．childhood is the most enjoyable time in one's life

D．one is the happiest if he can make good use of each age in his 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 (說明)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(不一定) 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

Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.
In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins（毒素）better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.
Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.
It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.
The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption（消耗）of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”
The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.
The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.
【小題1】What’s the key message delivered in the passage?

A．Drinking too much water might bring harm.

B．Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.

C．Drinking too much water may cause headaches.

D．Average, healthy people should drink more water.

【小題2】We can learn from the passage that 8 glasses of water every day_______ .

A．proves good for the body	B．has scientific proof of harm
C．is sure to reduce headaches	D．is generally considered necessary

【小題3】Who may agree that drinking lots of water helps to lose weight?

A．The two experts.	B．The Indian doctor.
C．The general public.	D．The website.

【小題4】According to the passage, we know that_______.

A．the website medheadlnes.com is developed by an Indian doctor

B．the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor

C．the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania

D．drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases

As we grow up, we gradually develop a set of our own values or beliefs. These are influenced by society, our family, the education we receive and so on. Once this value system is set up, it’s not easy to change later in life. Financial experts say that everyone also has his own belief of how to manage his money. According to our different values, experts put us in three catagories---the ant, the cricket(蟋蟀) and the snail.
★ The ant — work first
Just like ants who work heart and soul in summer in order to store food for winter, these people don't care about enjoying the moment. They work very hard and save money they earn so that they can enjoy life when they get old and retire. The ant loves to save, but they could make more out of their money if they were willing to invest in some funds and stocks with low risk.
★ The cricket — fun first
The cricket wants to enjoy everything now and doesn't think too much about the future. They even borrow money when they really want something. Many young people now belong to this group. These people have little savings. When they get old, they might have problems. They should learn to save and buy insurance.
★ The snail — life under pressure
The snail refers to people who make life difficult for themselves. They take big long-term loans(貸款) from the bank in order to buy things such as luxury houses. They are happy to take big loans even though they are not sure they can afford them. This can cause problems in the future. They should plan more carefully.
【小題1】 One’s values may________.

A．be his ways of managing money

B．be his beliefs about society

C．be connected with his education

D．influence his behavior

【小題2】 Mr. Smith always enjoys spending a weekend with his friends, fishing, hunting and playing cards. Besides, he spends money in a very luxurious way. So_______.

A．Mr. Smith belongs to the ant type

B．Mr. Smith belongs to the cricket type

C．Mr. Smith belongs to the snail type

D．it’s hard to tell which kind of person Mr. Smith is

【小題3】The writer of the passage intends _______.

A．to introduce to us the three types of people with different life style

B．to show us his special attitude to the different people

C．to tell us life is full of joy and happiness all the time

D．to warn us how to live a better life in a new way

【小題4】According to the passage, the most suitable title would be _______.

A．Nature of Spending

B．What Comes First

C．How to Understand Your Belief

D．Work and Fun

A round of applause, please, for the Indian man who recently sang for 80 hours straight, setting a new Guinness world record. It’s an impressive feat, to be sure, but let’s just hope he still has a voice. According to Indian newspapers, Rajesh Burbure has been told to keep silent for several days so his vocal cords (聲帶) can heal.
It was reported that Burbure and his family are in a celebratory mood. “It’s a proud moment for all of us,” his wife told DNAIndia.com.
I, on the other hand, am unable to share their enthusiasm. Don’t get me wrong: I hope the 35-year-old Burbure lives forever, sells a million records and becomes an international celebrity. But his record–singing for 80 hours straight–is about as meaningful as most of the other curious but crazy feats listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Granted , I’m not qualified to speak on the subject. I’ve got no world records to my name– and I never expect to have any. Then again, maybe I am qualified to speak for those of us who have better things to do than train for years to sing an 80-hour medley (混合曲) of pop songs.
But let’s not just pick on poor Burbure. He’s not the only person chasing meaningless accolades. The Guinness Book of World Records is full of the names of people who at one time grew the longest hair, or built the biggest bicycle, or baked the largest cheesecake.
To all of these enterprising (有進(jìn)取心的) souls I ask, simply, “What was it all for?”
Congratulations! For all of your painstaking effort, you became a footnote in a thick book that no one reads, except for you and the person who will eventually surpass you–with one more hour of singing, a few more centimeters of steel or a few more pounds of cheese.
After all, records are made to be broken.
【小題1】From the text, we can learn that the author         .

A．has no Guinness records, so he admires Burbures’ feat

B．feels it is a pity he was not invited to share the happiness with the Burbures

C．thinks singing for 80 hours straight is completely meaningless

D．is quite worried about Burbure’s vocal cords

【小題2】Before someone wins a Guinness record, he or she has to         .

A．become an international celebrity

B．know all about Guinness record

C．practice a great deal

D．bear great stress for fear of injury

【小題3】We can infer from the article that        .

A．a(chǎn)fter the 80 hours of singing, Burbure could no longer speak

B．Burbure’ wife didn’t support his attempt to make a Guinness record

C．many have criticized Burbure for his stupid behavior

D．challenging a Guinness record may be harmful to the health

【小題4】The author’s attitude to the Guinness world records mentioned in the passage is         .

A．positive	B．impressed
C．negative	D．touched

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

A．What Was the Point?

B．Records Are Made to be Broken

C．A New Indian Guinness Record

D．The Guinness Book Is Boring

Autumn means different things to different people. It all depends on your personality, said British naturalist Richard Mabey. "Personality shapes your view of the season," he said. "You may see it as a fading away, a packing up（結(jié)束）, or as a time of packing in another sense – the excited gathering of resources before a long journey."
If this is true, perhaps it tells us a little about, for instance, Thomas Hood, the 19th Century English poet. About November, he wrote:
No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees
November!
On the other hand, another English poet John Keats, already sensing he was seriously ill, was inspired by a late September day to pen one of the most famous poems in the English language, To Autumn. He wrote to a friend afterwards that there was something comforting and healing about it.
According to Richard Mabey, Keats has the biological evidence on his side. Autumn is not a time of slowing down, but a time of new beginnings and great movements of creatures. For example, just at the moment that Keats's "gathering swallows" （in To Autumn） are departing for Africa, millions of creatures are fleeing from the frozen north like Iceland, Greenland and Russia to winter along the east and south coasts of Britain. According to scientists, before falling, the leaves transfer their chlorophyll（葉綠素） and carbohydrates into the woody parts of the tree for safe-keeping over winter. What remains are the natural antioxidants（防老劑） in the leaves: the yellow and orange carotenoids（類胡蘿卜素）, and another protective chemical specially produced for autumn, the bright-red anthocyanin（花青素）. High color is not a signal of deterioration（退化） and decline, but of detox（排毒的） ability and good health.
A century after Keats, the American poet Loren Eiseley wrote in his journal: "Suppose we saw ourselves burning like maples in a golden autumn. [And that we could] disintegrate（瓦解） like autumn leaves…dropping their substance like chlorophyll. Would not our attitude towards death be different?"
【小題1】From Thomas Hood’s poem, we may infer that _______.

A．he suffered a lot from cold November

B．he missed the shining summer days very much

C．he had a negative attitude towards autumn

D．he enjoyed butterflies and bees very much

【小題2】Which word can best describe Loren Eiseley’s attitude towards autumn?

A．Optimistic.

B．Fearful.

C．Doubtful.

D．Realistic.

【小題3】In autumn, leaves turn yellow before falling because ______.

A．they can’t bear the freezing

B．they can’t get enough water from the wood part

C．chlorophyll and carbohydrates have been lost through leaves

D．chlorophyll and carbohydrates have come back to the wood part

【小題4】What does the underlined sentence mean?

A．Man can never live long, just as leaves must leave the tree annually.

B．Man is different from autumn leaves, which will come again the next spring.

C．Man should treat death calmly, just like autumn leaves fall to the ground.

D．Man should have a positive attitude towards death, quite different from autumn leaves.

If you look up the word “create” in the dictionary , you will find it means “to bring into being, to cause to exist something each of us does daily”．
We are creative whenever we look at or think about something in a new way First, this includes an awareness of our surroundings．It means using all of our senses to become aware of our world．This may be as simple as being aware of color and texture（質(zhì)地）,as well as taste, when we plan a meal．Above all, it is the ability to notice things that others might miss．
A second part of creativity is an ability to see relationships among things．If we believe the expression,“There is nothing new under the sun, the creativity is remaking or recombining（重組） the old in new ways．”For example, we might do this by finding a more effective way to study or a better way to arrange our furniture, or we might make a new combination of camera lenses and filters to create an unusual photograph．
A third part of creativity is the courage and drive to make use of our new ideas, to ask for them to achieve some new results．To think up a new idea is one thing; to put the idea to work is another．
These three parts of creativity are included in all the great works of geniuses, but they are also included in many of our day-to-day activities．
【小題1】Which of the following activities is NOT a creative one according to the passage?

A．To prepare for a meal．

B．To arrange the furniture in a special way．

C．To buy some books from a bookstore．

D．To“write”a letter with the computer．

【小題2】“There is nothing new under the sun” really implies that _________．

A．a(chǎn) new thing can only be created at the basis of earlier things

B．a(chǎn) new thing is only a tale

C．we can seldom create new things

D．we can hardly see really new things in the world

【小題3】What does the author think about the relationship between a new thought and its being put into
practice?

A．It’s more difficut to create a new thought than to use it in practice．

B．To find a new thought will clearly lead to the production of a new thing．

C．A man with an excellent ability of practice can easily become an inventor．

D．One may come up with a new thought, but can not put it into practice．

【小題4】The best title for this passage is__________．

A．How to Develop One’s Creativity

B．What Is Creativity

C．The Importance of Creativity

D．Creativity, a Not Faraway Thing

Freda Bright says, "Only in opera do people die of love." It's true. You really can't love somebody to death. I've known people to die from no love, but I've never known anyone to be loved to death. We just can't love one another enough.
A heart-warming story tells of a woman who finally decided to ask her boss for a raise in salary. All day she felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon she summoned the courage to approach her employer. To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise.
The woman arrived home that evening to a beautiful table set with their best dishes. Candles were softly glowing. Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal. She wondered if someone from the office had tipped him off, or... did he just somehow know that she would not get turned down?
She found him in the kitchen and told him the good news. They embraced and kissed, and then sat down to the wonderful meal. Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully lettered note. It read, "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."
Following the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up. She noticed that a second card had fallen from his pocket. Picking it off the floor, she read, "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."
Someone has said that the measure of love is when you love without measure. What this man feels for his wife is total acceptance and love, whether she succeeds or fails. His love celebrates her victories and cure her wounds. He stands with her, no matter what life throws in their direction.
Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said, "What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." And love your friends. Love them without measure.
【小題1】 By saying "Only in opera do people die of love.", the writer wants to tell us that ______.

A．giving love is better than receiving love

B．love in opera is better than that in real life

C．people are too greedy to have enough love

D．to die from love is no better than to die from no love

【小題2】 From the passage we can infer that ________.

A．the woman must have thought about asking for a salary raise for a long time

B．the boss of the woman must be a kind person

C．the woman was a courageous person

D．the husband must have got the news before his wife got home

【小題3】The husband prepared a festive meal in order to _______.

A．show how good he was at cooking

B．celebrate her wife’s success in raising the salary

C．thank her wife’s boss for raising her salary

D．show how deeply he loved his wife

【小題4】What Mother Teresa said means that _________.

A．loving your family is more important than promoting world peace

B．loving your friends is to promote the world peace

C．everybody can promote the world peace by loving his own family without measure

D．no matter what life throws in our direction, our family is always our first concern

Ask three people to look out the same window at a busy street comer and tell you what they see. Chances are you will receive three different answers. Each person sees the same scene, but each perceives(察覺) something different about it. 
Perceiving goes on in our minds. Of the three people who look out the window, one may say that he sees a policeman giving a motorist a ticket. Another may say that he sees a rush-hour traffic jam at the intersection. The third may tell you that he sees a woman trying to cross the street with four children in tow. For perception(感知) is the minds’ interpretation of what the senses — in this case our eyes — tell us.
Many psychologists(心理學(xué)家)today are working to try to determine just how a person experiences or perceives the world around him. Using a scientific approach, these psychologists set up experiments in which they can control all of the factors. By measuring and charting the results of many experiments, they are trying to find out what makes different people perceive totally different things about the same scene.
【小題1】Perceiving is an action that takes place ______.

A．in our eyes	B．only when we think very hard about something
C．only under the direction of a psychologist	D．in every person’s mind

【小題2】People perceive different things about the same scene because ______.

A．they see different things	B．they can not agree about things
C．some have better eyesight	D．none of these

【小題3】 Psychologists study perception by ______.

A．setting up many experiments	B．a(chǎn)sking each other what they see
C．looking out of windows	D．studying people’s eyes

【小題4】The best title for this article is ______.

A．How We See	B．Learning About Our Minds Through Science
C．What Psychologists Perceive	D．How To Become An Experimental Psychologist

One day my teacher said, “ Life is a game of chess, and the other player is time.” From that moment, I knew I had to enjoy my life. Do not waste time, because, you know, time will not come back. You cannot buy it. It is one of those things in life that you must really, really value.
When you see an opportunity, take it. You might not get it back. Never let an opportunity pass. And if it is too hard, remember that in the middle of every difficulty lies an opportunity.
Remember, you cannot choose how you' re going to die, or when. You can only decide how you' re going to live. Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow. Don' t just think of the present, but also think of your future. Your future is yet another chapter in your life and another way to live it.
Every single living thing has a purpose in life. "The purpose of life is a life of purpose," said Robert Byme.   
Learn to use time wisely, take opportunities, and enjoy life. We can discover the meaning of life in three different ways: (1) by doing a deed;  (2) by experiencing a value;  (3) by suffering life. So, what are you buying with yours?                               
【小題1】The underlined part suggests that___________.

A．if life is a game of chess, time is also a game of chess

B．if life is a game of chess, both you and time are the players

C．if life is one player in a game of chess, time is the other player

D．if time is a game of chess, both life and you are the players

【小題2】According to the author, what can you decide?

A．How you die.

B．How you live.

C．When you die.

D．When you succeed.

【小題3】This article is most probably from__________.

A．a(chǎn)n explanation of time in the universe

B．a(chǎn)n essay about time and life

C．a(chǎn)n argument that time is the most important thing in life

D．a(chǎn) description of an important class