D
These days, if you still think the cell phone is just for talking, you’ll get laughed at. Yes, it’s true, voice-only handsets have become out of date. Today’s do-it-all mobiles have a lot in common with the computer. The only difference may be that they fit in your pocket and you pay by the minute to use them. Some of the things a cell phone can do for you will be available this year:
Surf at speed 
Cell phones that let you use the Web have been around for years. So, what’s new? Well, faster third-generation（3G）networks that let you surf at anywhere. This then allows a carrier to send video, music, and games to your phone. Possible choices are from LG Electronics VX 8000 and Motorola V1150.
Listen as you go
The problem with most cell phone MP3 players is that they hold only a handful of songs. But, that’s about to change. Sony Ericsson’s new W800i can hold around 150 songs in its 500 MB memory. And Samsung’s SPH-V5400 even comes with a 1.5 GB hard drive. Mobile phones may eventually replace mini-MP3 players, especially for teens.
Say cheese
Camera cell phones are not new either. But, most of them have limitations: around 1-megapixel（百萬像素）. But new technology has made 2-megapixel units more common, and 3-megapixel units are showing up soon. Some 2-megapixel models, like Sony Ericsson’s K750i, offer limited zoom and focus controls. Others, like LG’s recent A7110, can even capture 30 minutes of full-motion video.
Portable TV
You say you like “watching TV”? That’s what Samsung MM-A700 wants to give you. The new model lets users watch popular TV programmes— for a fee. Other choices are Nokia’s 6620, Sanyo’s MM7400 and NEC’s N940. The NEC model lets you watch public TV— no fee.
The above are just a handful of what you’ll see in the coming months. Further down the road, your mobile phone may play a host of other roles, such as mobile credit card, position locator... So what is there that a cell phone can’t do?
53. Which of the following models should you choose to listen to the music?
A. Samsung’s SPH-V5400 and Nokia’s 6620.
B. Sanyo’s MM7400 and NEC’s N940.
C. Sony Ericsson’s W800i and NEC’s N940.
D. Sony Ericsson’s W800i and Samsung’s SPH-V5400.
54. What’s the difference between NEC’s N940 and other models?
A. It allows you to surf the Internet at a high speed.
B. It lets you watch public TV for free.
C. It can hold as many as 150 songs.
D. It can capture 30 minutes of full-motion video.
55. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Camera cellphones of 3-megapixel units will appear soon.
B. It is certain that a cellphone can do anything in the near future.
C. Today’s do-it-all mobiles have nothing in common with the computer.
D. All the functions of the models mentioned in the passage are completely new.
56. This passage may be ________.
A. a survey to find the development of cellphones
B. an introduction to some new models of cellphones
C. a science fiction trying to attract readers’ attention
D. an advertisement trying to persuade you to buy new cellphones

C
Few laws are so effective that you can see results just days after they take effect. But in the nine days since the federal cigarette tax more than doubled—to $1. 01 per pack—smokers have jammed telephone “quit lines” across the country seeking to kick the habit.
This is not a surprise to public health advocates（擁護(hù)者） They’ve studied the effect of state tax increases for years, finding that smokers, especially teens, are price sensitive. Nor is it a shock to the industry, which fiercely fights every tax increase.
The only wonder is that so many states insist on closing their ears to the message. Tobacco taxes improve public health, they raise money and most particularly, they deter people from taking up the habit as teens, which is when nearly all smokers are addicted. Yet the rate of taxation varies widely.
In Manhattan, for instance, which has the highest tax in the nation, a pack of Marlboro Light Kings cost ＄10.06 at one drugstore Wednesday. In Charleston, S. C., where the 7-cent-a-pack tax is the lowest in the nation, the price was $4. 78.
The influence is obvious.
In New York, high school smoking hit a new low in the latest surveys—13.8%, far below the national average. By comparison, 26% of high school students smoke in Kentucky, other low-tax states have similarly depressing teen-smoking records.
Hal Rogers, Representative from Kentucky, like those who are against high tobacco taxes, argues that the burden of the tax falls on low-income Americans “who choose to smoke.”
That’s true. But there is more reason in keeping future generations of low-income workers from getting hooked in the first place. As for today’s adults, if the new tax drives them to quit, they will have more to spend on their families, cut their risk of cancer and heart disease and feel better.
49. The text is mainly about ________.
A. the price of cigarettes                     B. the rate of teen smoking
C. the effect of tobacco tax increase            D. the differences in tobacco tax rate
50. The underlined word "deter” in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________.
A. discourage        B. remove            C. benefit            D. free 
51. Rogers’ attitude towards the low-income smokers might be that of ________.
A. tolerance          B. unconcern          C. doubt             D. sympathy
52. What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. The new tax will be beneficial in the long run.
B. Low-income Americans are more likely to fall ill.
C. Future generations will be hooked on smoking.
D. Adults will depend more on their families.

B
In a recent class I was asked “What is a short story?” My first answer was that it was something that could be read in one sitting and brought an illumination (啟示) to the reader, sudden and golden like sunlight cracking through heavy cloud. I went on to say that in my opinion a “real” short story was closer to poetry than to the novel.
Here are some definitions of the short story. My favorite is Benet’s: “something that can be read in an hour and remembered for a lifetime”. One writer said: “the theme of a novel won’t fit into the framework of a short story; it’s like trying to squeeze (壓縮) a large painting done on a wall into a miniature. And as in a miniature painting, the details need to be sharp.”
The short story is an example of one aspect of human nature. Short stories usually “say something”, often a character undergoes some event, often a small thing, but something similar to a life experience, even a life-moment for some readers. A short story is an account, rarely over 10,000 words or below 500 words— more commonly 1,500-5,000 words— a single-sitting read, but with enough time and weight to move the reader.
Writer Isabelle Allende once wrote: “Novels are, for me, adding up details, just work, work, work, then you’re done. Short stories are more difficult— they have to be perfect, complete in themselves.”
45. The underlined word “undergoes” in the third paragraph probably means ________.
A. discovers              B. experiences        C. discusses       D. appreciates
46. Which statement of the following is true?
A. The ideal short story should be at most 10,000 words in length.
B. The ideal short story should be below 500 words in length
C. The ideal short story should be around 1,500 words in length
D. The ideal short story should be over 5,000words in length
47. What’s the difference between novels and short stories?
A. Novels are too long for us to read.
B. Short stories are too short for us to read.
C. Novels are more details than short stories.
D. Short stories are more perfect and difficult than novels.
48. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. How Do You Write a Short Story?             B. Is a Short Story Similar to Poetry?
C. What Exactly Is a Short Story?          D. Are Short Stories Perfect and Complete?

D
The most detailed breakdown(分析) of ethnic and gender performance in national curriculum tests for 7, 11 and 14－year－olds shows that Chinese pupils do best in every subject at every age. Chinese and Indian pupils outperformed white British children in English tests for 11－year－olds. In all, 83% of Chinese students reached the required standard compared with 78% of Indian pupils and 75% of white UK pupils and only 65% of Bangladeshi children reaching level four, the standard that an 11－year－old should achieve.
While the overall results show the performance of every ethnic group at GCSE(中等教育普通證書) is improving, they do highlight a worrying trend for white British pupils. David Miliband, the minister for School Standards, said the results showed that while standards in secondary schools were rising, there was “a shocking gender gap between boys and girls”. He added: “58.2% of girls achieved five A to C grade passes at GCSE in 2003 compared with just 49.9% of boys, and white working－class boys are one of the lowest performing groups at 14.” According to researchers,” In the weeks leading up to GCSE unsupervised study leave at home in many areas has become the norm(慣例). They are left to their own devices.” Mr. Miliband is supporting a plan to persuade schools to drop study leave before GCSEs and replace it with structured revision in school.
53．What's the best title for this text?
A．Chinese－British Pupils' Education in Britain
B．British Primary Education
C．British Ethnic Minority Education
D．The GCSE In Britain
54．All UK 11－year－olds' required standard in English tests is that they should reach      .
A．grade A                  B．grade B                  C．grade C                  D．level 4
55．What worries David Miliband according to the text?
A．Chinese－British and Indian－British pupils surpass British pupils in every subject.
B．White working class boys perform worst in schools.
C．Girls perform much better than boys.
D．Before GCSE all students are asked to do revision at school by themselves.
56．According to David Miliband, the study leave before GCSE is      .
A．unacceptable           B．practical                 C．a(chǎn)dmirable               D．Understandable

第二部分 閱讀理解（共兩節(jié)，滿分50分）
第一節(jié) 閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個(gè)選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳答案，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。（共20小題；每小題2分，滿分40分）
A
Liverpool, with its half a million citizens, is a big city. It's a city with variety and options.
Every year, tourists from all over the world go to Liverpool, most of whom head straight for the stadium to catch the city's two football teams in action. Liverpool and Everton are both world－famous clubs with fans from all corners of the World, as well as a good number of home grown supporters.
Another big draw to the city is the four local boys. Paul, John, George and Ringo, collectively famous as The Beatles. The pop quartet (四重唱表演小組) first put Liverpool on the world map in the 1960s. The Beatles Story, situated at the Albert Dock, is a huge draw for fans, and you'll find the Beatles shop and ever－popular Cavern Club, the “birthplace of the perfect Four”, in the Cavern Quarter of the city. Fans can also join one of the coach trips around the sights associated with the band, from the houses they grew up in, to the places including Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields.
But Liverpool is about more than music and sport. It is rich in history, with some of the most shocking architecture in the UK. The city has two great cathedrals(教堂): Anglican－the largest of its kind in Europe; and the more modern－styled Metropolitan. The famous waterfront, with the Pierhead and the Albert Docks, is also worth a visit. Many of the city's great museums are situated here, including the Walker Art Gallery, the Liverpool Maritime Museum, and the Tate Gallery, which is home to the largest modern art collection in the North. The nightlife in the city also has a lot to offer. With more than 250 bars, pubs and restaurants, there is always something for everyone to do in Liverpool. Music, museums, shopping, history, pubs and bars——it's all there. It is the world in one city, a place truly deserving of the Capital of Culture title.
41．Liverpool and Everton are___________clubs.
A．a(chǎn)rchitecture             B．music                     C．tourist                    D．football
42．What made Liverpool first known to the world?
A．The Beatles Story.                                      B．Cavern Club.
C．The Beatles.                                               D．The Beatles shop.
43．Compared with Metropolitan, the cathedral Anglican is__________.
A．more traditional                                         B．more shocking
C．better－known                                           D．smaller
44．Why does the author say “It is the world in one city” in the last paragraph?
A．Liverpool belongs to the world.
B．Liverpool is world famous now.
C．Liverpool owns lots of museums well－known in the world.
D．Liverpool is a lively city with various cultures.

Paris has the Eiffel Tower; New York has the Statue of Liberty; and Brussels, the Manneken Piss．
Think of the Belgian capital and, if anything, you think of the small peeing (撒尿) boy—a 60-meterhigh bronze figure standing on a block, supplying a constant stream of water to the basin under him．
Some might laugh．But for Jacques Stroobants, the statue is up there with the best of them．
“I’m proud of him．People come from all around the world to see him,” says 60-year-old Stroobants with a fatherly glance at the little boy．
As the most famous landmark of Brussels, Manneken Piss has a very special place in the heart of Belgians．
The original Manneken Piss dates back to 1388, but the statue tourists see today dates from 1619 when the city built a second one after the original was destroyed．
Many stories go round Manneken Piss．Nobody knows why he was made．One story is that he saved Brussels by putting out the flames of a deadly fire with his well-aimed piss．But the most believable story is that the boy, the son of a wealthy man, was kidnapped (綁架)．The father had a statue built in honor of the way his son was found—peeing against a tree．
Perhaps best-known for his naked beauty, the “peeing boy” has also been clothed in some of the finest clothes money can buy．
Stroobants has been changing his clothes for the last 29 years．On average, he has clothes on 300 days a year．And on special days, he pees beer．
A few of the ways he’s been dressed are：a football player, Mozart and an army general．Now, he has more than 600 pieces of clothes．
There is no strict charge for those wishing to provide clothes for the little boy．But certain conditions must be met．
“The clothes cannot include either advertising or political message,” said Stroobants, because they would cheapen the national treasure．
But Manneken Piss is still something local people can make money from—by selling all kinds of souvenirs．
72．Which of the following is NOT true about Manneken Piss?
A．It has a history of more than 600 years.                    
B．It stands in Brussels.
C．It is best known for the clothes he wears.                 
D．It is 60 meters high.
73．The Manneken Piss has a special place in the heart of Belgians because _______．
A．it’s good looking with water running constantly
B．it brings joys to people who see it
C．it helps people make money
D．it’s a symbol of the city
74．We can learn from the passage that ________．
A．for most of the year, the boy is naked
B．Stroobants is probably in charge of taking care of the statue
C．people can provide any clothes for Manneken Piss free of charge
D．people make money by advertising Manneken Piss
75．The local people can get money by selling _______．
A．objects that remind the tourists of a trip         
B．clothes that Manneken Piss has worn
C．a(chǎn)nything that is related to Manneken Piss       
D．stone figures that resemble Manneken Piss

E
Every child is unique and has interests and wants that are specific to him or her. As parents of many children, it takes a lot of effort to identify the special qualities of each child and use them to be an effective influence in their young lives. What’s more , parents need to work to guide each child into their place in the family and make sure that the child is content and able to grow as a person.
Establishing  tasks in the home for each child helps  begin to lay  relational boundaries  in place. Each child should have an area  that becomes his or hers to maintain. Household chores (家務(wù)活 ) fall into this category. However, an order for answering the phone or doorbell can also be a task.  Reward each accomplished task in small ways like a compliment ( 贊揚(yáng)). Money is not as  effective as personal attention.
Don’t buy a gift or treat for one without including the others. Even on birthdays give every child a small gift that they can enjoy opening while the birthday child opens his or her pile of gifts or larger gift. It’s not a really pricey thing. Our children never felt left out at the other child’s birthday or special occasion.
When buying clothes or other necessities, it can often be too much of a budget strain ( 緊張) to buy everything for all at once.  Make sure every child understands that their turn will come. If you buy back to school clothes, be certain to have each one a new outfit to wear by the first day of school.  Start early so each child can receive  parental attention before heading out.
Don’t fall into the trap of bragging ( 夸耀) on A’s by a smart or overachieving child and ignoring the C’s of a average child. Encourage them to do their best and brag on their best , not the letter grade received.
72. The passage is intended for________.
A. the only child in a family           B. the children who have sisters or brothers
C. the parents with more than one child   D. the parents with only one child
73.According to the passage, if a child does a good job at home, parents should__________
A. buy him /her a gift as soon as possible    B. try to take good care of him /her
C. give him /her some money as a reward    D. give him /her praise
74. On birthdays the author would like to_____.
A. give each child a small gift           B. give the birthday child a gift only
C. give all children gifts except the birthday child
D. give the birthday child smaller gifts than others
75. What does the author mainly want to tell readers in the passage?
A. Children should learn to do housework.
B. Be fair while making each child feel special.
C. Parents should encourage their children as much as possible.
D. Parents should buy their children new clothes before the first day of school.

D
Using the Internet and CD-ROM databases in the library
Bramley College now has full electronic information resources in the College Library to help you in your studies. On CD-ROM in the library we have about fifty databases (數(shù)據(jù)庫), including many statistical sources. Want to know the average rainfall in Tokyo? It’s easy to find out.
You can conduct your own CD-ROM search for no charge, and you can print out your results on the library printers using your library photocopying card. Alternatively, you can download your results to disk, again for no charge, but bring your own USB flash disk ( U盤 ) or CD-ROM. If you are not sure how to conduct a search for yourself, librarians can do it for you , but we charge $5 each time for this service, no matter how long or how short a time it takes.
All library workstations have access to the Internet, so you can find the Web-based information you need quickly and easily. If you are unfamiliar with using the Internet, help is available in several ways. You can start with the online tutorial ( 指南) Netstart. The tutorial will take you through the basic step to using the Internet, at any time convenient to you. If you prefer, ask one of the librarians for Internet advice ( at times between 8:00 am and 12：00 am weekdays ) or attend one of the introductory group sessions that are held in the first two weeks of each term.
A word of warning: demand for access to library workstations is very high, so you are strongly advised to book a workstation, and we have to limit your use to a maximum of one hour at any one time. Also, use of the computers is limited to students only, so you may be asked to show your Student Identification Card to make a booking, or while using the workstations.
68. The passage is mainly intended for          .
A. students       B. teachers         C. librarians        D. citizens
69. If a librarian conducts the CD-ROM  search for you three times, you should pay_____.
No fee        B. $5            C. $10             D. $15
70. A librarian can help you learn to use the Internet___________.
A. at any time if you are in need of help
B. in the first three weeks of each term
C. in the morning from Monday to Friday
D. when the librarians are available
71. At any one time, a library workstation can used for_____
A. half a day      B. one hour      C. two hours      D. an unlimited time

B
A popular saying goes，“Sticks and stones may break my bones，but words will never hurt me．”However，that's not really true．Words have the power to build us up or tear us down．It doesn't matter whether the words come from someone else or ourselves—the positive and negative effects are just as lasting．
We all talk to ourselves sometimes．We're usually too embarrassed to admit it，though．In fact，we really shouldn't be because more and more experts believe talking to ourselves out loud is a healthy habit．
This“self—talk”helps us motivate ourselves，remember things，solve problems，and calm ourselves down．Be aware, though，that as much as 77％of self—talk tends to be negative．So in order to stay positive，we should only speak words of encouragement to ourselves．We should also be quick to give ourselves a pat on the back ．The next time you finish a project，do well in a test，or finally clean your room，join me in saying“Good job!”
Often，words come out of our mouths without us thinking about the effect they will have．But we should be aware that our words cause certain responses in others．For example，when returning an item to a store，we might use warm，friendly language during the exchange．And the clerk will probably respond in a similar manner．Or unkind and critical language will most likely cause the clerk to be defensive．
Words possess power because of their lasting effect．Many of us regret something we once said．And we remember unkind words said to us! Before speaking，we should always ask ourselves：Is it true? Is it loving? Is it needed? If what we want to say doesn't pass this test，then it's better left unsaid．
Words possess power：both positive and negative．Those around us receive encouragement when we speak positively．We can offer hope，build self—esteem（自尊） and motivate others to do their best. Negative words destroy all those things．Will we use our words to hurt or to heal? The choice is ours．
60．The main idea of the first paragraph is that________．
A．words have a lasting effect on us
B．inspiring words give us confidence
C．negative words may let us down
D．not sticks and stones but words will hurt us   
61．It is unnecessary to feel embarrassed when we talk to ourselves because______．
A．a(chǎn)lmost everybody has the habit of talking to themselves
B．talking to ourselves always gives us courage
C．we can benefit from talking to ourselves
D．it does no harm to have“self—talk”when we are alone
62．The underlined part in the third paragraph means that we should also occasionally_____．
A．remind ourselves              B．make ourselves relaxed
C．praise ourselves               D．give ourselves amusement
63．The author would probably hold the view that_______．
A．encouraging words are sure to lead to kind offers
B．negative words may motivate us to make more progress
C．people tend to remember friendly words
D．it is better to think twice before talking to others

It used to be that Christmas, with a little help from Blue Peter, was about adding the personal touch. We'd sit there for hours making cards and gifts for family and friends, knowing that the thought put into them would be properly appreciated.
Nowadays, time is against us, but there is still one easy way for you to make someone's Christmas this year — a personalised card from M＆S’ new website. To celebrate their new site, M＆S is offering Times readers two-for-one on all cards. Simply choose one of the 300 exclusive（獨(dú)家的）Christmas designs — starting from￡1. 99, personalise it by changing the name and writing a message or uploading a photo. Then, add the receiver’s address and the card will be sent for you. Order by 2pm and it will be posted the same day.
In all, there are l,500 card designs to choose from, covering all kinds of special occasions. So if you want to get ahead of yourself for 2010, you know where to visit. You can even choose to be reminded of those important dates every year.
To claim your two-for-one on M＆S personalized cards, simply visit marksandspencer-personalised.com. Remember to enter the code ‘TIMESFRI’ on the payment page.  This code is available for two days.  
TERMS AND CONDITIONS：M＆S PERSONALISED CARDS
1. The product given for free must be of equal or lower value.
2. Payment of postage is required.
3. Marks ＆ Spencer reserves the right to take back this offer without prior（預(yù)先）notice.
64. What does the underlined part “two-for-one”（in Paragraph 3）mean in the ad？
A. Two paid cards and one free card.
B. One paid card and two free cards.
C. Your name and a message on one card.
D. Your photo and the receiver’s on one card.
65. From the ad we can know that M＆S is most probably           .
A. a website selling Christmas cards only
B. an agency of the newspaper Times
C. a company promoting the sales of cards
D. an advertising agency of card producers
66. To order the product for your friends now, you should           .
A. enter a code on the payment page of M＆S’ website
B. always order it before two o’clock in the afternoon
C. put into the card your own date of birth and address
D. spend time making cards with the help of Blue Peter
67. According to the ad, if you order the Christmas cards,          .
A. they can be delivered free of charge
B. you can enjoy the special offer all the year round
C. their value may be lower than that of a free card
D. you can get a favor of at least ￡1. 99