We are all interested in equality, but while some people try to protect the school and examination system in the name of equality, others, still in the name of equality, want only to destroy it．
Any society which is interested in equality of opportunity and standards of achievement must regularly test its pupils．The standards may be changed because no examination is perfect, but to have no tests or examinations would mean the end of equality and of standards．There are groups of people who oppose this view and who do not believe either in examinations or in any controls in schools or on teachers．This would mean that everything would depend on luck since every pupil would depend on efficiency, the values and the purpose of each teacher．Without examinations, employers will look for employees from the highly respected school? And from families known to them, a form of favouritism will replace equality．At the moment, the bright child from an ill-respected school can show certificates(畢業(yè)證） to prove he is suitable for a job, while the lack of certificate indicates the unsuitability（不合適）of a dull child attending a well-respected school．This defense of excellence and opportunity would disappear if examinations were taken away, and the bright child from a poor family would be a prisoner of his school's reputation, unable to compete for employment with the child form the favoured school．
The opponents（反對(duì)者）of the examination system suggest that examinations are an evil force because they show differences between pupils．According to these people, there must be no special, different, academic class．They have even suggested that there should be no form of difference in sport or any other area: all jobs or posts should be filled by unsystematic selection．The selection would be made by people who themselves are probably selected by some computer．
【小題1】The underlined word "favouritism" in paragraph 3 is used to describe the phenomenon that ___．

A．bright children also need certificates to get satisfying jobs．

B．children from well-respected schools tend to have good jobs

C．poor children with certificates are favoured in job markets

D．children attending ordinary schools achieve great success

【小題2】What would happen if examinations were taken away according to the author?

A．Schools for bright children would lose their reputation．

B．There would be more opportunities and excellence．

C．Children from poor families would be able to change their schools．

D．Children's job opportunity would be affected by their school reputation．

【小題3】The opponents of the examination system will agree that____．

A．jobs should not be assigned by systematic selection

B．computers should be selected to take over many jobs

C．special classes are necessary to keep the school standards

D．schools with academic subjects should be done away with

【小題4】The passage mainly focuses on ____．

A．schools and certificates	B．examinations and equality
C．opportunity and employment	D．standards and reputation

The month of May is not only a graduation month in the US, but also a month when some families hold reunions．Have you ever considered why it is important that families get together in one place for a particular time? I believe the reason is honor．
Family reunions are a time we can take out of our busy schedules and spend quality time with our extended families（大家庭）．It is a time when we can make our sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and others we love a priority （首要事情）in our life．
Some reunions take place over a picnic lunch and some last a whole weekend．They can be costly and are sometimes crazy．But the truth is, when people you love grow up and move away, getting together for a family reunion and holding that family bond together is so important．
Family reunions build a renewed closeness as we mix with our relatives．We sit and talk about old times and listen to the stories that our older and wiser relatives love to share．As the children run and play and get to know each other, we sit and revisit our childhood memories and enjoy the short time we have together．
The best part of a family reunion is the time spent simply being around the people you care about A reunion shows how important it is to take time for each other．When you receive a family reunion invitation, make it a priority in your life．It's a great chance to see your relatives once again, give them a big hug and enjoy the time you have with them．Life is too short not to!
【小題1】What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How to attend a family reunion?	B．What is a family reunion?
C．Tips for a family reunion．	D．Make time to attend a family reunion．

【小題2】"Family reunions" in the passage means that you____．

A．talk with your wife or husband	B．get together with your relatives
C．communicate with your children	D．have a dinner with your parents

【小題3】Family reunions can help you____．

A．solve your problems	B．kill time when you are bored
C．improve the relation with your relatives	D．find more relatives who live far away

【小題4】What does the underlined sentence "Life is too short not to" in the last paragraph mean?

A．Family reunions are very important．

B．Family reunions are common．

C．Our life is very short．

D．Attending family reunions is uneasy．

"Hey, Dad," one of my kids asked the other day, "what was your favourite fast food when you were growing up?"
"We didn't have fast food when I was growing up," I informed him．"All the food was slow．" "Where did you eat?" "It was a place called 'at home'．" I explained．"Grandma cooked every day and when Grandpa got home from work, we sat down together at the dining table, and if I didn't like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I liked it．"
Some parents never owned their own houses, set foot on a golf course, travelled out of the country or had a credit card．
My parents have never driven me to soccer practice．This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer．I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed．We didn't have a television in our house until I was 11．I was 13 when I tasted my first pizza; it was called "pizza pie"．When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered（粘貼）itself against my chin and burned that, too．It's still the best pizza I ever had．
I delivered newspapers, six days a week ．The paper cost 7 cents, of which I got to keep 2 cents．I had to get up at 4:00 a．m．every morning．On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers．My favourite customers were the ones who gave me 50 cents and told me to keep the change．
If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren．
Growing up isn't what it used to be, is it?
【小題1】By saying "All the food was slow", the writer implies that ____．

A．when he was growing up, he never ate fast food

B．he didn't like fast food when he was growing up

C．his grandma made food slowly

D．he had to wait for a long time for the fast food

【小題2】When the writer didn't like the food his grandma cooked when he was growing up, _______．

A．his grandma would make something he liked

B．his grandma would buy him fast food

C．he would sit there waiting for his favourite pizza pie

D．he had to eat it or go without

【小題3】The writer's purpose of writing this passage is to _____.

A．tell his children there was no fast food in the past

B．tell us that life has been changing

C．tell us how hard it is to deliver newspapers

D．made us understand the meaning of life

There is a wide and deep choice of a career. Whether he’s a hand in construction or sitting behind the desk working on a computer, everyone has some ideas of what is an attractive career. However, making a career choice is not simply a matter of following a dream; for most people it means a lot of research and soul searching. Choosing the right career becomes one of the most important decisions of an individual’s life.
It used to be that one followed in the footsteps of their father or grandfather or took over the family’s business when it came to making a career choice. These days, a career path can start anywhere and then veer off into something totally different.
Career choices must be realistic and well thought out. It is not uncommon for persons to start a career path and realize they have made a terrible mistake, feeling as if it may be too late to turn around. Not only does a career choice concern your strongest skills and interest, it is also something that you will be doing continuously to bring in income. This is why a career choice can be such a personal decision. Formerly it used to be unusual for someone to change occupations or careers more than once or twice in a lifetime; it is now even more unusual to keep the same career during someone’s working life.
There are a great many measures in helping one choose the right profession. A number of websites offering tools such as career tests and information, educational resources, resume services and the kind can be found. It is important for one to research one’s career in this changing economy situation, and choose the best from several related career choices.
【小題1】According to the author choosing the right career _________.

A．is not difficult at all	B．needs a lot of dreams
C．is an interesting thing	D．needs a lot of thoughts

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

A．set out to do the same job	B．change the former course
C．compare two different things	D．dream of getting an easy job

【小題3】Nowadays it is common for one to _________.

A．change his job often	B．do the same job all his life
C．find a few good jobs at a time	D．live without a job for many years

【小題4】All of the following are the tools on profession offered by websites EXCEPT _________.

A．tests and information	B．training courses
C．employer’s phone numbers	D．instructions on resume

Humans aren't the only species on the planet with a penchant for electronic gadgets(小配件）.Zookeepers across the US and Canada are discovering that apes also get excited about Apps.
As part of a program called"Apps for Apes",12 zoos across the two countries have been introducing iPads into the entertainment time for orangutans,the giant furry red primates native to Indonesia and Malaysia.
"We are finding that,similar to people,they like touching the tablet,watching short videos of David Attenborough for instance,and looking at other animals and orangutans," said Richard Zimmerman,founding director of Orangutan Outreach,the non-profit that runs the program.
Twice weekly,orangutans are provided with access to the tablets.The animals spend from 15 minutes to half an hour using different Apps depending on their attention span.Apps designed for children that stimulate activities such as painting,music and memory games are among the most popular Apps with the apes.
"It is a lot like when we're showing children pop-up books,"said Zimmerman,adding that the orangutans are among the most intelligent primates,with the intelligence level of a young child.
The program,which relies on donated iPads, will soon be expanding to zoos across Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe.
【小題1】The word"penchant" in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to________________.

A．a(chǎn)wareness

B．a(chǎn)ddiction

C．impression

D．devotion

【小題2】Which of the following statements is true according to the article?

A．12 zoos are involved in the program in the US.

B．Orangutans were originally found in Indonesia and Malaysia.

C．Orangutan Outreach is a successful company which earns much money.

D．All the animals in the zoo spend from 15 minutes to half an hour using different Apps.

【小題3】It can be concluded from the passage that______________________________________.

A．the program has been successful in Europe

B．orangutans are nearly as smart as children of young ages

C．orangutans are the animals with thick shell

D．Apps are designed for orangutans to stimulate activities such as painting, and memory games

【小題4】Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Using Apps for Apes	B．Let’s Help Zoos
C．Wonderful Zoos Welcome You	D．A Traditional Program Will Expand

When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard，I was one of the first to go out there and pet it．I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years．I spent at least 20 minutes，knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around，relaxed．What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly．It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care．
Over the next few days，there were other prisoners responding to the cat．Every yard period，a group of prisoners gathered there．They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat．These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other．Several times I saw an officer in the group，not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners．Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it．
The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape．People said that the cat came to the right place．He's getting treated like a king．This was true．but as 1 watched 1 was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us．There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America．We need more programs．We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds．Some may even talk about making prisons more kind．But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness．Not receive it，but give it．After more than two decades here，I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged．It's often seen as a weakness．
Instead，the culture encourages keeping your head down，minding your own business，and never letting yourself be weak．
The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here．By simply saying，”I need some help here”，he did something important for us．He needed us．And we needed to be needed．I believe we all do．
【小題1】From the passage，we can learn that the author was        ．

A．a(chǎn)n animal protector

B．the cat owner

C．a(chǎn) prison officer

D．a(chǎn) prisoner

【小題2】Which of the following statements is true?

A．The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison．

B．The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat．

C．The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and birds．

D．The author realized the importance of practising kindness．

【小題3】We can infer from the third paragraph that              ．

A．showing love to others can make prisoners strong

B．the American prison culture will be improved

C．the author is not content with the prison culture

D．caring for others is encouraged in American prisons

【小題4】What is the best title for the passage?

A．Caring Makes Us Human．	B．Prison Culture is Important．
C．Animals Need Care．	D．Everyone Needs to be Cared for．

Professor Barry Wellman of the University of Toronto in Canada has invented a term to describe the way many North Americans interact(交流，溝通) these days. The term is “networked individualism”. This concept is not easy to understand because the words seem to have opposite meanings. How can we be individuals(個(gè)人，個(gè)體) and be networked at the same time? You need other people for networks.
Here is what Professor Wellman means. Before the invention of the Internet and e-mail, our social networks included live interactions with relatives, neighbors, and friends. Some of the interaction was by phone, but it was still voice to voice, person to person, in real time.
A recent research study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project showed that for a lot of people, electronic interaction through the computer has replaced this person-to-person interaction. However, a lot of people interviewed for the Pew study say that’s a good thing. Why?
In the past, many people were worried that the Internet isolated (孤立)us and caused us to spend too much time in the imaginary world of the computer. But the Pew study discovered that the opposite is true. The Internet connects us with more real people than expected—helpful people who can give advice on careers, medical problems, raising children, and choosing a school or college. About 60 million Americans told Pew that the Internet plays an important role in helping them make major life decisions.
Thanks to the computer, we are able to be alone and together with other people — at the same time!
【小題1】The underlined phrase “networked individualism” probably means that by using computers people ________.

A．stick to their own ways no matter what other people say

B．have the rights and freedom to do things of their own interest

C．do things in their own ways and express opinions different from other people

D．a(chǎn)re able to keep to themselves but at the same time reach out to other people

【小題2】According to the Pew study, what do many people rely on to make major life decisions?

A．Networks

B．Friends

C．Phones

D．Parents.

【小題3】It can be inferred from the Pew study that _______.

A．people have been separated from each other by using computers

B．the Internet makes people waste a lot of time and feel very lonely

C．the Internet has become a tool for a new kind of social communication

D．a(chǎn) lot of people regard the person-to-person communication as a good thing

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

A．We’re Alone on the Internet.

B．We’re Communicating on the Internet.

C．We’re Alone Together on the Internet.

D．We’re in the Imaginary World of the Internet

I took my 9-year-old daughter，Suzan and 5-year-old son，Robbie to the shopping centre．As we got there，we saw a big sign that said，“Petting Zoo”．The kids jumped up and asked，“Daddy，can we go?”
Both my wife and I were out of work．However，I said，“Sure”，giving them a quarter each. They went away, leaving only fifty cents left in my pocket．
A petting zoo is made up of a hundred of little baby animals of all kinds．Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure(圍場(chǎng))pleased with the little animals while their parents shop．
A few minutes later，I saw Suzan walking along behind me．I was surprised and asked what was wrong．
She said sadly，“Well，Daddy，a ticket for Petting Zoo costs fifty cents．So I gave Robbie my quarter．” Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard．She repeated the family motto(座右銘)，which is “Love is Action!”
I knew clearly no one loves little animals more than Suzan. She had watched both my wife and me do and say "Love is Action!” for years，and now she had put it into her lifestyle．It had become part of her，because she knew the whole family motto．It’s not only “Love is Action”；it’s “Love is SACRIFICAL(犧牲的)Action!" Love always pays a price．
I was moved．We went back to the Petting Zoo．Suzan stood with her hands and chin(下巴)resting on the fence and just watched Robbie go crazy petting and feeding the animals．I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket. I put my hand into my pocket and took out the money．Sure，I must do that !
【小題1】What is the best title for this passage?

A．A Petting Zoo．	B．Try Your Best to Help Others．
C．An Attractive Shopping Centre．	D．Love Is Sacrificial Action!

【小題2】The underlined part “the most beautiful thing” in Paragraph 5 refers to ．

A．the Petting Zoo	B．the family motto
C．their lifestyle	D．the ticket for Petting Zoo

【小題3】Which of the following best describes Suzan?

A．Unselfish．

B．Healthy．

C．Childish．

D．Clever．

【小題4】What might happen next according to the story?

A．The author would buy Suzan some candies．

B．The author would get angry with Robbie．

C．Suzan would play happily with the little animals．

D．The author would play together with Suzan．

The other day I was really annoyed by a friend’s behavior, and when I told my best friend Terry about it, he laughed and said, “ But Jenny, you do that all the time!” Well, that surprised me and set me laughing as well. Terry was absolutely correct. The very thing I had been annoyed at my friend for was a reflection (反映)of my own behavior.
Almost all of us have experienced something like this at some time. When we find ourselves upset or annoyed by situations or by the behaviors of others, it is usually because they are mirroring something in ourselves that we subconsciously (下意識(shí)地)know, and we are ready to look at them and make a change.
Understanding this is an important part of self-growth. When we become aware of the characteristics or behaviors we dislike in others, it may be because we are displaying those features in others in order for us to see and deal with them in ourselves. For example, if we need to learn to control our own habit of using sarcasm(諷刺), then we will attract very sarcastic people to us. And we will continue to do so until our lesson in regard to sarcasm is learned.
Recognizing these mirrors helps us do two very important things. It helps us to accept ourselves fully, not just the parts we are happy with. And secondly, it helps us to become more caring and able to love others just as they are. After all, they are only showing us what we do ourselves. Who knows? We could very well be mirrors for them, too.
【小題1】Which can be the best title for the text?

A．The Importance of Understanding Each Other

B．Keep Peace and Calm in Times of Emergency

C．Reflections on Bad Behaviors and Situations

D．How to Deal with Bad Behaviors and Situations

【小題2】The underlined word “them” in the second paragraph refers to ______.

A．people annoying you

B．bad behaviors

C．big changes

D．previous experiences

【小題3】The example mentioned in the third paragraph shows _____.

A．everybody has his likes and dislikes

B．how to attract sarcastic people to us

C．what bad behaviors mirror in us helps ourselves develop

D．we must learn to control the habit of using sarcasm

【小題4】Recognizing these mirrors helps us ____.

A．a(chǎn)ccept our bad parts	B．use sarcasm bravely
C．make true friends	D．change others’ behaviors

Mark Zukerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook, an extremely popular social working website that started in the United States.
Now, millions of student users visit Facebook daily and the website is one of the top ten most widely visited sites on the internet worldwide. College and high school students use Facebook to communicate with friends and share both information and pictures for free. The company earns money through advertising.
Many other companies have been rumored(謠傳) to be interested in buying Facebook. Just a few years after Mark started the company, he was approached by Terry Semel, who was the CEO of Yahoo. Terry offered Mark one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) to sell Facebook to Yahoo. Mark said no, though. He stands behind his dreams at the very beginning. He knows the value of the company could fall down; however, he is in this to build something unbelievable, not be bought out by another company.
Maybe he was smart. Now Facebook is rumored to be worth billions of dollars and bigger companies like Microsoft or Google want a share of the company. Some private firms are also interested. Facebook could sell 15 billion dollars if Mark decides to sell it at all. Perhaps Mark will just keep working from his California office to continue his dream of building something cool.
【小題1】What cannot be done on Facebook according to the passage?

A．Chatting.	B．Sharing information.
C．up- and downloading pictures	D．Shopping online.

【小題2】What can we infer from the passage?

A．Yahoo offered one billion dollars to help Facebook through financial difficulties.

B．Facebook is a California-based social working website.

C．Mark will be kept from working to continue his dreams of building something cool.

D．Facebook has made a profit of 15 billion dollars so far.

【小題3】The underlined word “this” (Paragraph 3) most probably refers to ______.

A．buying companies	B．sharing information
C．managing Facebook	D．fighting rumors

【小題4】Which of the following words best describes Mark Zukerberg according to the passage?

A．Determined.

B．Humorous.

C．Gentle.

D．Selfless.

【小題5】Terry Semel was the CEO of ______.

A．Microsoft

B．Facebook

C．Google

D．Yahoo