Once a year we show our love for our fathers by celebrating(慶祝) Father’s Day. This is the time when you have the chance to show your dad how much you love him. On Father’s Day, children usually give gifts to their fathers and take them out for a nice meal. But when and how did Father’s Day get started?
Father’s Day was introduced in the early part of the 20th century. It was to show love for our fathers in the same way that people did to mothers on Mother’s Day. This tradition began in Spokane, Washington, from an idea of a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd.
Mrs Dodd was raised by her father after her mother died. Looking back on all the things that he did for the family made Mrs Dodd realize just how special her father was. She realized that her father was a very loving man who should be honored and praised for all the things that he did for his family. Since her father was born in the month of June, Mrs Dodd decided to celebrate Father’s Day on June 19th, so the first Father’s Day was held in June, 1910.
By the year 1926, a committee (委員會) was formed in New York City to honor Father’s Day, and in 1956, it was recognized as a day of celebration. President Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday in the year 1972.This is when it was decided that it would always be celebrated on the third Sunday of every June.
1. What is the best title for this passage?
A. The history of Father’s Day.           B. The story of Sonora Smart Dodd.
C. Something about Mother’s Day.      D. How to show your love for your father.
2. According to Paragraph 1, what do children usually do on Father’s Day?
A. Spend the whole day with their fathers.
B. Say aloud that they love their fathers.
C. Cook something nice for their fathers.
D. Prepare gifts for their fathers.
3. We learn that Father’s Day _______.
A. started from a story made up by a woman
B. is celebrated on the first Sunday of every June
C. is surely only celebrated by children in America
D. started from a woman’s wish to honor and praise her father
4. Americans have been celebrating Father’s Day as a national holiday since_____.
A. 1910    B. 1926    C. 1956    D. 1972

British potato farmers were taking to the streets to call for the expression "couch potato" to be taken away from the dictionary on the grounds that it harms the vegetable's image.
The British Potato Council wants the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) to replace the expression with the term "couch slouch", with protests planned outside parliament in London and the offices of Oxford University Press. Kathryn Race, head of marketing at the Council, which represents some 4,000 growers and processors, said the group had complained in writing to the OED but had yet to receive a response.
"We are trying to get rid of the image that potatoes are bad to you," she said Monday.
"The potato has had its knocks in the past. Of course it is not the Oxford English Dictionary's fault but we want to use another term than couch potato because potatoes are naturally healthy."
The OED says "couch potato" originated as American slang, meaning "a person who spends leisure time passively or idly sitting around, especially watching television or video tapes."
John Simpson, chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, said the dictionary first included the term “couch potato” in 1993 and said "dictionaries just reflect the words that society uses."
Simpson said words were never taken out of the full-length dictionary, which includes some 650,000 words contained in 20 volumes. But little-used words can be removed from the smaller dictionaries to make way for newer ones.
“If society stops using words, then they are taken out of the smaller dictionaries”, he added. “The first known recorded use of the expression ‘couch potato’ was in a 1979 Log Angeles Times article,” Simpson said.
Nigel Evans, a member of parliament for the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, has made a motion in support of the campaign, highlighting the nutritional value of the British potato.
1．British potato farmers were taking to the streets _____.
A．to advertise their production
B．to call for a higher price for t heir potatoes
C．to remove the expression “couch potato” from the dictionary
D．to let people know how important the potato is in people’s lives
2．The farmers think that_________.
A．potatoes have had a bad imagine       
B．potatoes are good for people by nature
C．potatoes sometimes do harm to people
D．it's the dictionary's fault to use the expression "couch potato"
3．John Simpson thinks that _________.
A．the expression can be taken out of every kind of dictionary
B．dictionaries do not necessarily reflect the words the society uses
C．little used words can remain in the smaller dictionaries
D．it is impossible to take the word out of the dictionary
4．What is wrong with the expression "couch potato"?
A．It is connected with unfavorable meaning．
B．Potato should be used in the expression． 
C．It is borrowed from American English．
D．It refers to a kind of person．

第三部分:閱讀理解(共20小題;每小題2分滿分40分)
US first lady Michelle Obama is among the world’s 100 most powerful women on a list topped by German premier Angela Merkel for four years in a row, according to a Forbes ranking released recently.
Michelle Obama debuted（初次露面）at No.40,coming in ahead of talk show host Oprah Winfrey at 41 and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth at 42.
Sheila Bair, chair of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which insures bank deposits,remained NO.2 after debuting on the Forbes list last year. She has gained increased fame as the US recession（經(jīng)濟衰退） lasts.
The list is based on factors such as economic impact, media reach and career accomplishments. Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice fell off the list after leaving office in January. Rice’s successor （繼任者）,Hillary Clinton, came in at NO.36, dropping from No.28 last year when her presidential bid made her the woman with the highest public profile on the list.
“women im power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy （慈善）by making daring and unconventional moves,”Forbes said.“Gone are the days of women feeling they must stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions.”
“Highly ambitious women… are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience,” the business magazine said.
Merkel,55, became the first female premier of Germany in 2005 and succeeded in retaining(保留) power in a federal election not long ago.
Michelle Obama,45,has won fans for her down-to-earth personality, her support of causes including healthy eating and the arts.
1.Condoleezza Rice is not included on the list probably because_______________ .
A. she exercises less influence
B. she keeps her new job a secret
C. she has become an ordinary woman
D. she is silent after leaving office
2.Hillary Clinton was ranked No.28 last year because_____________
A. she was the former first lady
B. she was running for president then
C. she frequently appeared in public
D. she got support from her husband
3. We learn from the passage that powerful women today_____________
A. change their jobs more frequently
B. are better political leaders than men
C. are not content with being housewives
D. have changed their traditional concept
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The most powerful women in the world
B. Women in power are rising to leadership postitions
C. Forbes: Germany’s Merkel again most powerful woman
D. Forbes: The rise and fall of the women in power
D. The latest source of biofuel

The 2012 London Olympics had enough problems to worry about. But one more has just been added - a communications blackout caused by solar storms.
After a period of calm within the Sun, scientists have detected the signs of a flesh cycle of sunspots that could peak in 2012, just in time for the arrival of the Olympic torch in London.
Now scientists believe that this peak could result in vast solar explosions that could throw billions of tons of charged matter towards the Earth, causing strong solar storms that could jam the telecommunications satellites and interact links sending five Olympic broadcast from London.
"The Sun's activity has a strong influence on the Earth. The Olympics could be in the middle of the next solar maximum which could affect the functions of communications satellites," said Professor Richard Harrison, head of space physics at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire. 
At the peak of the cycle, violent outbursts called coronal mass ejections (日冕物質拋射) occur in the Sun's atmosphere, throwing out great quantities of electrically-charged matter. " A coronal mass ejection can carry a billion tons of solar material into space at over a million    kilometres per hour. Such events can expose astronauts to a deadly amount, can disable satellites, cause power failures on Earth and disturb communications," Professor Harrison added. The risk is greatest during a solar maximum when there is the greatest number of sunspots.
Next week in America, NASA is scheduled to launch a satellite for monitoring solar activity called the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which will take images of the Sun that are 10 times clearer than the most advanced televisions available.
The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory helped to make the high-tech cameras that will capture images of the solar flares (太陽耀斑) and explosions as they occur.
Professor Richard Hold away, the lab's director, said that the SDO should be able to provide early warning of a solar flare or explosion big enough to affect satellite communications on Earth "If we have advance warning, we'll be able to reduce the damage. What you don't want is things switching off for a week with no idea of what's caused the problem," he said.
1. The phrase "communications blackout" in paragraph 1 most probably refers to      during the 2012 Olympics.
A. the extinguishing of the Olympic torch
B. the collapse of broadcasting systems
C. the transportation breakdown in London
D. the destruction of weather satellites
2. What can be inferred about the solar activity described in the passage?
A. The most fatal matter from the corona falls onto Earth.
B. The solar storm peak occurs in the middle of each cycle.
C. It takes several seconds for the charged matter to reach Earth.
D. The number of sunspots declines after coronal mass ejections.
3. According to the passage, NASA will launch a satellite to _________.
A. take images of the solar system         B. provide early warning of thunderstorms
C. keep track of solar activities            D. improve the communications on Earth
4. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A. Solar Storms: An Invisible Killer
B. Solar Storms: Earth Environment in Danger
C. Solar Storms: Threatening the Human Race
D. Solar Storms: Human Activities to Be Troubled

That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theatre. With opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me.
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers (搶劫犯). Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment (公寓房間), I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck (垃圾車) pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, “ Alisa Camacho?” I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? the door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 A.M. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had gotten my wallet back. I also had gotten back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.
1. How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?
A. Cold and sick           B. Fortunate and helpful
C. Satisfied and cheerful      D. Disappointed and helpless
2. From the first paragraph, we learn that the writer was busy ______.
A. solving her problem at the bank         B. taking part in various city activities
C. learning acting in a n evening school      D. preparing for the first night show
3. On her way home the writer _______.
A. lost her wallet unknowingly               B. was stopped by a garbage truck driver
C. was robbed of her wallet by an armed man   D. found some homeless people following her
4. In the fifth paragraph, why did the writer say she was dreaming?
A. Someone offered to take her back home. B. A red-haired man came to see her.
C. She heard someone call her name D. Her wallet was found in a garbage truck.
5. From the text, we can infer that the writer _________.
A. would stop working at night       B. would stay on in San Francisco
C. would make friends with cleaners    D. would give up her job at the bank

The term “multitasking” originally referred to a computer's ability to carry out several tasks at one time. For many people, multitasking has become a way of life and even a key to success. In fact, some excellent mental aerobic exercises (大腦訓練) involve engaging the brain in two or more challenging activities at a time. Although checking e-mail while talking on a phone and reading the newspaper may be second nature for some people, many times multitasking can make us less productive, rather than more. And studies show that too much multitasking can lead to increased stress, anxiety and memory loss.
In order to multitask, the brain uses an area known as the prefrontal cortex (前額葉腦皮層). Brain scans of volunteers performing multiple tasks together show that as they shift from task to task, this front part of the brain actually takes a moment of rest between tasks. You may have experienced a prefrontal cortex “moment of rest” yourself if you've ever dialed (撥電話) a phone number and suddenly forgotten who you called when the line is answered. What probably occurred is that between the dialing and the answering, your mind shifted to another thought or task, and then took that “moment” to come back. Research has also shown that for many volunteers, job efficiency (效率) declines while multitasking, as compared to when they perform only one task at a time.
Multitasking is easiest when at least one of the tasks is habitual, or requires little thought. Most people don' t find it difficult to eat and read the newspaper at the same time. However, when two or more attention-requiring tasks are attempted at one time, people sometimes make mistakes.
We often don't remember things as well when we're trying to manage several details at the same time. Without mental focus, we may not pay enough attention to new information coming in, so it never makes it into our memory stores. That is one of the main reasons we forget people's names—even sometimes right after they have introduced themselves. Multitasking can also affect our relationships. If someone checks their e-mail while on the phone with a friend, they may come off as absent-minded or disinterested. It can also cause that person to miss or overlook key information being passed on to them.
1. Why are some mental aerobic exercises designed to engage people in multitasking?
A. To make them more productive.                
B. To reduce their stress and anxiety.
C. To develop their communication Skills.         
D. To help them perform daily tasks more easily.
2. According to Paragraph 2, why may a person suddenly forget who he has called?
A. He may have his prefrontal cortex temporarily damaged.    
B. He is probably interrupted by another task.
C. He is probably not very familiar with the person he has called.    
D. He may need a rest between dialing and speaking.
3. People tend to make mistakes when       .
A. they perform several challenging tasks at a time 
B. new messages are processed one after another    
C. their relationships with others are affected       
D. the tasks require little thought
4. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Multitasking has become a way of life.
B. Multitasking often leads to efficiency decline.
C. Multitasking exercises need to be improved.
D. Multitasking enables people to remember things better.

They travel in groups, noses just inches away form GPS screen. Suddenly a boy shouts “I found it!”, grinning and walking away from the group.
The others focus on their screens. “Me. too!” shouts another a moment later, until all six kids are crowded around a tree, pulling out a plastic bottle painted to look like tree bark. It doesn’t seem like much from the outside, but everyone gathers around, eager to see what’s inside.
This is geocaching, a high-tech game played using coordinates (坐標) and global positioning systems to find hidden “treasures”.
It’s open to anyone—hiders or seekers—with a GPS and access to www.geocaching.com, where more than half a million users download and upload the coordinates of nearly 1 million hidden caches (儲藏物) and write about their experiences in this worldwide hunt.
Although some adventures can take hours or even days, the contents inside the actual cache usually aren’t valuable—often just a book or a small trinket (小飾品).
But participants aren’t in it for the treasure. They say it’s a great way to exercise. Or it brings them to remote destinations or historical sites. Some consider it an extreme sport, looking for geocaches hidden in mountains or in other nearly inaccessible locations.
Jeffrey Howe, 41, sees it as an opportunity to take kids on adventures to unfamiliar places. The youths at the shelter mostly come form the city, but geocaching has taken them to parks, the suburbs, and, once, to a 498-meter-high mountain.
“Geocaching is a way to give kids the idea that there’s a whole world out there other than what they know from their home neighborhoods and video games,” he said.
How does it work? Log onto the Website and enter your zip code (郵編), then search for caches near your location. Although posted coordinates will take a GPS within about 4.5 meters of a cache, a good hide will require seekers to do a bit of hunting around. Caches can’t be buried underground, nor can they be hidden on private property (財產), in dangerous locations or in some national parks.
Posts written about the find—whether successful or unsuccessful—are an important part of the game, with users proudly recording the places to which they’ve traveled.
1.    What is the meaning of the underlined word geocaching in paragraph 3?
A. A computer game played all over the world.
B. A TV series popular around the world.
C. An outdoor game of hiding and finding things.
D. A name of the latest GPS.
2.  In geocaching, which of the following statements about players is NOT TRUE?
A. Players need to have GPS to play the game.
B. Players need to download the coordinates to find the hidden caches.
C. Players need to be young and strong to the play the game.
D. Players are asked to hide things in parks or other places most people can reach.
3.    What is Jeffrey Howe’s attitude toward geocaching?
A. Negative.   B. Objective.  C. Uncertain.  D. Supportive.
4.    Many people like to play this game because __________.
A. they take pleasure in the process of the game
B. they like to visit historical sites
C. they want to find some treasure
D. they want to change their lives

The British royal family is about to be slimmed down. The Queen plans to reduce the number of real royals, it was recently announced. However, there seems little sign of the monarchy (君主) disappearing completely.
Up till the 17th century, the British king or queen was believed to rule by “divine (神的) right”, which was the idea that God chose the king or queen to rule and that he or she was therefore above the law. However, this idea ended with the English Revolution, in which King Charles I was imprisoned and then beheaded (斬首) in 1649.
So what role does the British royal family have today?
Well, the Queen has important formal duties as Head of State, the Queen represents the UK on visits abroad and invites other world leaders to visit the UK. As Head of the Armed Forces: Only the Queen can declare when the UK is at war or when war is over. The Queen also has constitutional duties: She has to sign many government and Commonwealth (英聯(lián)邦) documents everyday.
In addition, the royal family sends a great deal of its time traveling up and down the country in support of different charity projects.
But republicans in Britain do not believe there should be a royal family. Sometimes, the press and media criticize the royal family as well. One criticism is that British people should have to pay for the royal family through their taxes.
Today, the royal family works hard to be relevant(相關聯(lián)的) in the modern world. The Queen Speech on television is less formal every Christmas, and is now available as a podcast (播客). In 2005, after graduating from university, Prince William spent time teaching English in Uruguay, the sort of work many young British people do at some time in their lives.
1.    What can be concluded from the first two paragraphs?
A. The British King or Queen is now considered above the law.
B. The British King or Queen is no longer believed to rule by divine right.
C. The royal family played a less important role in Britain in the late 17th century than in nowadays.
D. The English Revolution put an end to the British royal family in 1649.
2.    Which of the following is NOT among formal duties of the Queen?
A. Traveling around the UK.
B. Declaring when the UK is at war.
C. Inviting other leaders to visit the UK.
D. Signing Commonwealth documents every day.
3.    With the example of Prince William in the last paragraph, the author intends to show _____.
A. Prince William is very popular in the UK
B. the royal family is trying to connect better with ordinary people
C. Prince William has made an effort to win young people’s admiration
D. many young British people do voluntary work
4.    According to the article, British people __________.
A. are all in favor of the royal family
B. can talk to the Queen through a podcast
C. pay for the royal family through the taxes
D. criticize the royal family through media and press

In the southern part of America, when somebody has a birthday, often family or friends, or both, will arrange a party. The party could be elaborate(精心準備的)and include a meal or may be simple with a birthday cake and drinks. One does not plan, nor give, one’s own birthday as is the custom in some cultures. At a party there is usually a decorated cake, often with the words “Happy Birthday” and with the name of the person written on the top of the cake. Sometimes there is also one candle for each year of the person celebrating the birthday before the cake is cut. While blowing out the candles, the person makes a wish for something pleasant.
Usually those invited to a birthday party will bring a gift for the person honored. Gifts given by friends do not have to be expensive, but the family of the birthday person will spend whatever they can afford on a gift.
Christmas parties also are very popular in the South. Often this is the only time during the year that some people see acquaintances(熟人). These parties can be elaborate or simple, ranging from a buffet(自助餐)to a reception called “open house (家庭招待會)”. If you are invited to one of these, you don’t need to take a Christmas gift, as it is not customary to take the hostess a gift every time you are invited to a party or a meal. However, if you wish to take a gift, it should only be something useful and inexpensive and should be given to the hostess at the door as you enter the party. Usually gifts of Christmas food treats are the most appreciated.
51. On one’s birthday, before blowing out the candles, he or she will______.
A. wear beautiful clothes          B. eat birthday cake
C. invite friends                 D. make a wish
52. This passage mainly tells us about __________.
A. two kinds of parties in the southern United States
B. how to arrange a birthday party
C. how to arrange a Christmas party
D. who will arrange a party
53. In southern America , birthday parties are often arranged by _________.
A. friends     B. oneself      C. family        D. Both A and C
54. Which of the following is true?
A.For a birthday party, the cake is often cut before candles are blown out.
B.For a birthday party, neither friends nor the family will buy expensive presents.
C. It’s customary to take the hostess a gift when you are invited to a party.
D.If you take a gift to a Christmas party, you’d better take something useful and inexpensive.
55. What kind of gift is the best if someone is invited to a Christmas party?
A. Expensive things     B. Candles      C. Food      D. Money

In England recently three foreign gentlemen came to a bus stop and waited. About five minutes later, the bus they wanted came along. They were just going to get on when suddenly there was a loud noise behind them. People rushed onto the bus and tried to push them out of the way. Someone shouted at them. The bus conductor came rushing down the stairs to see what all the trouble was about. The three foreigners seem all at sea and looked embarrassed. No one had told them about the British custom of lining up for a bus that the first person who arrives at the bus stop is the first person to get on the bus.
Learning the language of a country isn't enough. If you want to have a pleasant visit, find out as much as possible about the manners and customs of your host country. You will probably be surprised just how different they can be from your own. A visitor to India would do well to remember that people there consider it impolite to use the left hand for passing food at table. The left hand is supposed to be used for washing yourself. Also in India, you might see a man shaking his head at another to show that he doesn't agree. But in many parts of India a shake of the head means agreement. Nodding (點頭) your head when you are given a drink in Bulgaria will most probably leave you thirsty.
The British people tried to push the three gentlemen out of the way, because the gentlemen _______ .
A. were foreigners　　                 B. didn't have tickets
C. made a loud noise　　　           D. didn't line up for the bus
According to the article, if you want to have a pleasant journey in a foreign country, you should ________.
A. learn the language of the country
B. understand the manners and customs of the country
C. have enough time and money
D. make friends with the people there
In India it is considered impolite ________.
A. to use the right hand for passing food at table.
B. to pass food with the left hand.
C. to eat food with your hands.
D. to help yourself at table.
The best title (題目) for this article is ________.
A. People's Everyday Life
B. Mind Your Manners
C. Shaking and Nodding Head　
D. Taking a Bus in England