WASHINGTON — President Obama and his wife, Michelle, handed out Halloween treats to area children and military families at the White House Sunday evening．
Local students between 6 and 14 years old, along with children from military families, were invited to celebrate Halloween on the North Lawn．
The president and first lady, along with Mrs．Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, spent about 30 minutes passing out goodie bags．Obama wished each child a happy Halloween as he distributed the treats, pausing occasionally for hugs or to comment on costumes．
Later, the military families continued the celebration inside the White House．
The first couple joked to assembled reporters about children walking the long driveway in order to work off （消化掉） the snacks．"This is the Let's Move method of trick-or-treating （不給糖就搗蛋）," Obama said, referring to Mrs．Obama's campaign to combat childhood obesity （肥胖）．
The goodie bags contained a box of White House M&Ms, a cookie made by pastry chef （點(diǎn)心師） Bill Yosses, and dried fruit．
As they made their way across the lawn, the children meet a vast range of costumed characters ranging from a spooky Frankenstein （科學(xué)怪人,小說(shuō)《弗蘭肯斯坦》的主角） to the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz．" Music from a jazz band dressed in pirate gear rang out across the White House grounds．
Multicolored pumpkins and gourds lined the driveway — individually, in gravity-defying stacks and as part of a large mound over 5 feet tall．Pumpkin-headed scarecrows （稻草人） made of cornstalks loomed over the path with menacingly raised arms．Under the White House portico, a mobile resembling bats flying through clouds fluttered around a lantern．
Some of the local trick-or-treaters were students at Bancroft Elementary, which helps tend the first lady's White House garden, and Tubman Elementary, which has a relationship with the White House chefs．
After trick-or-treating ended, the Obamas stood near the front door, welcoming the military families inside, helping children climb the short flight of steps and thanking parents for their service．
【小題1】What is the news report mainly about?

A．President Obama and first lady celebrated Halloween with children．

B．President Obama and his wife Michelle handed out Halloween treats to children．

C．Children from military families were invited to celebrate Halloween at the White House．

D．Trick-or-treaters met a vast range of costumed characters from Frankenstein to the Scarecrow．

【小題2】From the passage, we know that ______ do not necessarily appear when people celebrate Halloween．

A．Goodie bags

B．Pumpkins and Gourds

C．White House M&Ms

D．Costumed characters

【小題3】When celebrating Halloween at the White House, the Obamas did the following EXCEPT______．

A．Wishing each child a happy Halloween

B．Thanking reporters for their covering the event

C．Helping children climb the short flight of steps

D．Hugging children and commenting on their costumes

【小題4】The passage is mainly developed by ______．

A．a(chǎn)nalyzing causes	B．making comparisons
C．examining differences	D．following the time order

Nations plan next steps to end global warming
On December 3，more than 10,000 scientists, environmental activists and government officials from 187 countries met in Bali, Indonesia, which is the largest global warming conference ever held.
One of the main goals of the two-week meeting is to develop a replacement for the international treaty called the Kyoto Protocol, which has been signed by 174, countries, calling for limits on the emission of greenhouse gases.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, nations were legally bound to reduce greenhouse gases, but since it was signed in 2005, they have continued to increase worldwide. Of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, only Russia and Japan have agreed to follow me rules. China and India－second and sixth on the list－are making efforts to make cuts.
The U.S signed the treaty in 1997 but has not yet agreed to follow the strict rules, which require that greenhouse gas release be reduced by 10% by 2012. U.S. officials are opposed to these mandatory（強(qiáng)制性的），or required, cuts in emissions. "We’re worrying that it would be too costly and would hurt the U.S. economy. But we're not here to be a roadblock," said Harlan L. Watson, a top U.S. climate official.
Even if greenhouse gases are reduced, scientists say it will take decades or longer to stop the global warming that is already underway. To help poor countries deal with rising temperatures and climate changes, the UN has developed the "Adaptation Fund" to help them improve farming techniques and water systems.
But so far, it has only raised $67 million.
"The money should come from the countries most responsible and most capable," said Kate Raworth, a senior research official from the Oxfam International aid group. She listed the U.S., European Union, Japan, Australia and Canada.
【小題1】 The underlined word "they" in Paragraph 3 refers to“_____”.

A．greenhouse gases

B．the countries which have signed the treaty.

C．people who are against the treaty

D．the measures taken to reduce greenhouse gases

【小題2】 By saying "But we’re not here to be a roadblock", Harlan L. Watson wants to say that_____．

A．the U.S will be a roadblock to the global economy

B．the U.S has realized that some action must be taken

C．the U.S refused to follow the rules of the Kyoto Protocol

D．the U.S thinks this conference of no importance

【小題3】According to Kate Raworth, the "Adaptation Fund" should come from all the following EXCEPT______．

A．Japan

B．European Union

C．India

D．Canada

【小題4】Why did U.S officials not agree to make effort to reduce greenhouse gases?

A．Because the greenhouse gases they emitted are not so harmful.

B．Because they fear that it would affect the U.S economy.

C．Because they shouldn’t be responsible for global warming.

D．Because they think these gases won’t cause global warming_____.

【小題5】We can learn from the passage that_____.

A．the conference will last a fortnight

B．the U.S hasn’t signed the Kyoto Protocol.

C．many manufacturers attended the conference

D．the global warming will be stopped as soon as greenhouse gases are reduced

Some of the best-known names in the entertainment industry have taken part in an unprecedented telethon to help victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The benefit(義演), called “America: a Tribute to Heroes,” was sponsored by all four major U.S television networks, ABC, CBS, FOIX and NBC. It was broadcast by three-dozen television, cable and radio networks across the country and aired live to more than a hundred countries around the world.
Hollywood stars joined music entertainers in asking listeners and viewers to pledge cash donations to charities helping the victims of the September 11^th attacks.
Actors, including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood, told stories of heroic acts by people who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali made a rare public appearance in show of support.
The appeals alternated with performances by such popular entertainers as Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder, Paul Simon and the rock band U—2.
They appeared on stages in New York, Los Angeles and London, decorated with hundreds of burning candles.
Singer Billy Joel sang “ New York State of Mind” with a New York City firefighter’s hat on his piano. Sting dedicated his song “ Gragile” to a friend who died in the World Trade Center. Stevie Wonder condemned(指責(zé)) hatred in the name of religion before singing his song “ Love’s in Need of Love today”. Pledge phones were manned by dozens of other celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Meg Ryan, Whoopic Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone.
Organizers say the two-hour telethon raised millions of dollars. All participants, from stars to stagehands, worked without pay.
【小題1】 Those who appeared on stages were ______.
　     

A．some best-known names in the USA

B．some famous singer, film stars and other music entertainers

C．People who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon.

D．Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Hollywood stars

【小題2】The underlined word “ telethon” most probably means ______.
　     

A．a(chǎn) performance to raise money

B．a(chǎn) concert held by some television networks

C．a(chǎn) television program which lasts a long time

D．a(chǎn) television program for entertainment

【小題3】Which of the following statements is True?

A．Four major U.S. television networks broadcast the benefit

B．The former heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali sang a song to show his support

C．Billy Joel, wearing a firefighter’s hat, played the piano for the listeners and viewers

D．The organizers, stars and people who worked for the benefit didn’t get any money for themselves.

【小題4】 The best title for the news report is ______.

A．U.S Telethon Raises Money for Attack Victims

B．Best-known names Pledge Donations

C．Seeking More Support

D．A Tribute to Heroes

For shopoholics, the post-Christmas period means only one thing ---- sales! Across the country, prices are reducing sharply on clothing, electronics and home furniture, but London is the place for serious shopping, and you can certainly pick up some amazing bargains.
The sales start on Boxing Day — 26th December, and continue for the month of January, but the keenest bargain hunters get there early to be first through the doors. In Oxford Street queues formed outside shops ahead of before-dawn openings for the start of their sales. At Brent Cross, in north London, more than 1,000 people were queuing at 3.30 am for the ‘Next’ clothing store’s sale which began at 4 am. Some eager individuals even camped outside the shops to be first in the line.
Consumers who hit the shops were rewarded with discounts of as much as 80% as department stores joined the bargain sales. The shops are very crowded as the sales reached the boiling-point, with more than half a million people gathering on London’s West End.
Famous sales include the biggest, most popular shops such as Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and John Lewis. Department stores are always a good bet — you’re likely to find everything you need under one roof, including much-needed food and drinks!
It’s a good time to stock up on cheap small tools, and there’s no better time to invest in some designer clothes.
Some people are taking their partners shopping with them, and buying their Christmas presents in the sale----a practical but unromantic way of making sure you get the gift you really want. For a less exciting but less stressful shopping experience, online sellers are also getting in on the act with January sales of their own.
The most organized of all are those who are already doing their present shopping for next Christmas, in the January sales!
【小題1】In the sales, people can buy, at a very low price, all of the following except ______.

A．fashionable clothing

B．bestseller

C．TV sets

D．bookcases

【小題2】 We can learn from the passage that the sales ______.

A．a(chǎn)ctually start before the end of December	B．generally last for two months
C．basically benefit none of the people	D．a(chǎn)re a time to buy Christmas gifts in a romantic way

【小題3】“Hit the shops” in the third paragraph means to ______.

A．a(chǎn)ttack the shops	B．a(chǎn)rrive at the shops
C．a(chǎn)ffect the shops	D．find the shops

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

A．January Sales	B．Sales in London at Christmas
C．Practical but Unromantic Shopping	D．Shopping under One Roof

Proverbs(諺語(yǔ)) are quite common in spoken English. We do not normally put them in a composition or letter. Sometimes it is helpful if you know what common proverbs mean. Here are a few examples:
Once bitten, twice shy. If a dog bites me, I shall be twice as careful in future when I see it. This proverb is also used to apply to many things and not only to dogs. If you have been cheated at a shop, you will not go to the same shop again. 
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. If I am a hunter, trying to catch birds, it is better to catch one bird than to see two birds in a bush but not be able to catch them. Thus this means that what you have already got is better than the chance of being able to get something bigger in the future.   
Too many cooks spoil the broth(soup). When too many people do something together, they get in each other’s way and cannot do a good job.
To pour oil on troubled waters Is to try to calm things down. Oil is lighter than water. If a ship is in trouble at sea, another ship may come to help it. The second ship can send small boats to rescue people. However, it may first pour oil on the sea to make the sea less rough.
Don't be a dog in a manger(馬槽). Means “ Don’t be selfish.” In a stable(馬廄), the manger is the place where the horse’s food is put. Sometimes a dog will sleep in the manger and bard when a horse comes to get its food. The dog does not want to eat the hay in the manger but it will not let the horse eat it.
He’s sitting on the fence. Means that somebody will not say whether he is in favour of a plan or against it. He is sitting on a fence between two opposing sides, perhaps waiting to see which side will win.
He who pays the piper calls the tune. A piper is a musician . The man who employs or pays a musician can say what tunes the man will play. Thus this means that if a man provides the money for a plan, he can say how it will be carried out.
You can’t get blood out of a stone means that you can’t get something out of a person who has not got any of the things you want. For example, you cannot get a million dollars from a poor man.
【小題1】Peter had a bicycle which was much too small for him but he did not want to let his younger brother ride on it. His mother was angry and said to him : “______”.

A．You cannot get blood out of a stone	B．Don’t be a dog in a manger
C．The early bird gets the worm	D．Don’t be a horse in the manger

【小題2】Mr Wang paid for a new school. Some people did not like the design of the school but they did not argue with Mr Wang because ________.

A．he was sitting on the fence	B．once bitten, twice shy
C．he who pays the piper calls the tune	D．a(chǎn) bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

【小題3】Mrs Chen wanted to buy a new dress. Her husband suggested that she buy it from a shop near their home. Mrs Chen disagreed because she had been cheated by that shop. Then she said: “ I won’t go there again because___.”

A．a(chǎn) bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	B．I am sitting on the fence
C．Once bitten, twice shy	D．too man cooks spoil the broth

【小題4】Mr brown had quite a good job in Hong Kong but he thought that if he went to Singapore he might get a much better job with more money and a large house. His wife did not want him to leave his job in Hong Kong and she warned him that _____.

A．a(chǎn) bird in the hand is worth two in the bush	B．too many cooks spoil the broth
C．you cannot get blood out of a stone	D．he who pays the piper calls the tune

In today’s Internet age, the demand for online games continues to grow. Online computer game centers exist in many cities and towns throughout Asia. Facing the pressures of school and life, people tend to the virtual world, expecting a diversion from these problems. Too often, however, they can lead to problems and unhealthy addictions 迷。
This is most clearly seen in the example of South Korea. The country has the world’s highest percentage of high-speed Internet services. It also has a high number of online game players and related problems. In 2002, a young man collapsed(突然暈倒) and died while playing online games. He had been playing almost nonstop for 86 hours at an Internet café. Another young man killed his sister after becoming confused between the online world and real life. A 12-year-old boy stole US $ 16,000 from his father and ran away from home. He did this to continue his obsession(著迷) with an online game. Such problems, however, don’t just happen in South Korea. They are spreading to other parts of Asia, as well.
What kinds of people develop online game addiction? What does the problem look like? Dr. SueHuei Chen, a clinical psychologist, researches Internet addiction. She discovered some signs of at-risk individuals such as lack friendships and good social skills. Those problem individuals feel it so compulsive 難控制的to play online games that they could sacrifice things such as school or family. They feel the need to spend more and more time online. And they become upset if anyone tries to limit限制 their online game playing.
How many problem game players are there? In mainland China, the potential number of problem online gamers is alarming. In 2004, the China daily reported that China had 13.8 million online game players. Furthermore, it stated that 80 percent of these were under 25 and had signs of addiction. Such numbers point toward a growing problem among Chinese young people.
Make sure to keep control over your online game playing. If you don’t control it, it can get control of you.
【小題1】What is mainly discussed in the passage?

A．The disadvantages of the Internet.

B．The online game problems in Asia.

C．The popularity of online games worldwide.

D．The cause of online game addiction.

【小題2】The underlined word “diversion” in the first paragraph is closest in meaning to __________.

A．career

B．comfort

C．escape

D．support

【小題3】According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．The young killer’s sister was killed in a fictional 科幻 world

B．Online game playing is responsible for the young man’s death.

C．People in South Korea have access to the Internet most easily.

D．The teenage boy stole money because of his playing games online.

【小題4】What can we learn from the passage?

A．Most people in Asia have developed an addiction to online games.

B．Online game addictions cause many life-and-death arguments in South Korea.

C．Lonely and unsociable people seem to more easily develop Internet addictions.

D．In the year 2004 there were a total of 13.8 million Chinese visiting the Internet.

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【小題1】The purpose of the advertisement is ______.

A．to help parents with their daily life

B．to attract more subscribers

C．to collect more money for charity

D．to introduce a new product

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

A．Only $12 is to be paid for 24 issues of the magazine.

B．Readers can get a free offer of the magazine any time of the year.

C．Readers from all over the world can enjoy the free offer.

D．Readers can communicate face to face with child experts on the Internet.

【小題3】Where can we most probably read the ad?

A．In the newspaper.

B．In a website.

C．In a supermarket.

D．In a library.

【小題4】A reader subscribed（訂閱） PARENTS 3 months ago, but now he finds the magazine dissatisfying. What can he do?

A．He can cancel without getting your money back.

B．He can cancel after answering a series of questions.

C．He can email them to work out your bank account to get all your money back.

D．He can cancel and get all your money back without answering any questions.

For computer users, there is no bigger excitement than tossing out your old PC and upgrading to a newer, faster and cleaner machine. With hardware designers like Intel, pushing newer, faster products every year, and new software requiring even more powerful machines, companies and consumers have little choice but to go along.
But this rapid turnover is having a serious effect on the planet. Producing a personal computer consumes large quantities of natural resources. A recent study by the United Nations estimates the energy required to produce a single new computer is equivalent to nearly two barrels of oil. And that doesn't include the 22 kg of chemicals or the 1,500 kg of water used in the manufacturing process.
In fact, pound for pound（均等地）, the process for making a car is about 500% more efficient than that for making a computer. That doesn't matter so much 20 years ago when personal computers were few and far between, but times have changed. These days, computers are found nearly everywhere and sales continue to grow. The number of PCs in use topped one billion in 2002.
Waste in production is only half the problem. Old computers, especially the monitors, are full of dangerous substances, which need to be carefully recycled. The problem is sure to expand over the coming years as users replace their boxy CRT monitors with LCD flat displays.
Europe now requires that 70% of parts from old computers be recycled, but the study’s authors say that’s also part of the problem. The solution, they insist, is for governments and companies to encourage people to use their computers longer, and upgrade rather than replace. But considering that much of the world’s recent economic growth has come from spending on computers and information technology, that advice may sound like wishful thinking. 
【小題1】What do computer users have to do every few years according to the passage?
A. Push newer, faster products.
B. Produce more powerful machines.
C. Consume large quantities of natural resources.
D. Upgrade to a newer, faster computer.
【小題2】What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The pound.	B．The process.
C．The car.	D．The computer.

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

A．governments and companies will surely encourage people to use their computers longer

B．governments and companies will probably encourage people to replace their personal computers

C．the world's economic has been growing without people's spending on computers and information technology

D．a(chǎn)ll parts from old computers are now recycled in Europe

【小題4】The purpose of writing this passage is ____

A．to encourage companies to push newer, faster personal computers

B．to encourage people to design more new software

C．to encourage people to save their personal computers

D．to encourage people to spend more money on computers and information technology

Thousands of people living in the Chinese capital will celebrate the start of the Chinese  New year by heading for the ski resorts (滑雪場(chǎng)). Never mind that Beijing's dry weather seldom produces snow. It is cold enough in winter for snow-making machines to make a covering for the hills north to the capital. And the rapid growth of a pleasure-seeking middle class has formed the basis for this new craze(熱潮）     
Since Beijing's first ski resort was opened ten years ago, the sport has enjoyed astonishing increase. There are now more than a dozen resorts. Clothes markets in the city have added bright colored ski suits to their winter collections. Mr. Wei, a manager of a newly-opened ski resort in Beijing, sees the growth of an industry that could soon lead Chinese to head for the ski resorts of Europe, In recent years ski resorts offering natural snow have opened in China. But many are in faraway areas of the country and can't really match the equipment and services of some ski resorts in Europe.
Beijing's skiing craze is partly a result of the recent increase in private (私有的) cars. This has led to the growth of a leisure industry in the capital's suburbs (郊區(qū)), which until the late-1990s were unreachable to ordinary people, According to Mr. Wei, about 40% of the visitors to his resort come in their own cars. The rest are bused in by schools, businesses or government offices.  
The problem is making money. Starting ski resorts requires quite a lot of money; hiring land from the local government, preparing the hills, buying snow machines, making sure there are enough water and electricity to run them, and buying ski equipment for hiring out to customers.
The ski resort where Mr. Wei works cost nearly $4 million to set up. And. as so often in China when someone comes up with a good idea, many others rush in and price wars break out. Beijing now offers some of the cheapest ski training classes in the world, though with most people rather new to the sport, expecting a few more doing the same job.
【小題1】What does this text mainly talk about?

A．Convenience for skiers brought about by private cars.

B．Skiing as a new way of enjoying one's spare time.

C．Things to be considered when starting a ski resort.

D．A sudden increase of ski training classes in Beijing.

【小題2】Why are some Chinese likely to go skiing in Europe?

A．To visit more ski areas.	B．To ski on natural snow.
C．For a large collection of ski suits.	D．For better services and equipment.

【小題3】The underlined words "leisure industry" in Paragraph 3 refer to ----
A. transport to ski resorts                    B. production of family cars
C. business of providing spare time enjoyments  D part-time work for people living in the suburbs
【小題4】 What is the main problem in running a ski resort?

A．Difficulty in hiring land.	B．Lack of business experience.
C．Price wars with other ski resorts,	D．Shortage of water and electricity,

Chinese people are now living happier and longer than before. According to the latest study, the number of people over 60 years old is 130 million, making up 10 percent of the whole population, and increases at a rate of 3 percent per year. This marks that China has stepped into the aged society. It is the Chinese tradition to respect, love, support, and help old people, and the aging problem has received more and more attention from the society.
China has built the system to protect and serve old people’s legal (法律的) rights and interests, gradually developed social insurance, public health services and social welfare (福利) projects for old people, and also applied the minimum living standard protection (最低生活保障) system for the aged who are unable to work and receive no supports. Now, China is bringing the aging problem into the work of sustainable (持續(xù)的) development according to China’s conditions, to build and develop a social security system for old people, set up a system combined with the state, collectives (集體) and families to solve the problem of “the elderly should be provided for”. The life of China’s old people is more colorful along with the fast and sound economic development of the country.
Old people in today’s China who don’t have to consider their food and clothing hope to live more colorfully. The happy psychology (心態(tài)) of the aged makes them thirsty for knowledge. Strong and healthy old people can be seen everywhere of the country. They learn new knowledge, surf the Internet, practice handwriting and drawing, and take part in fashion shows, exercises and entertainments. Their active and sound living attitude encourages the youth around and they are in fact an important role in ensuring a stable and peaceful society.
【小題1】The underlined part “thirsty for” (in the last paragraph) means “________”.

A．want to drink water

B．feel hungry

C．want to learn

D．want to teach

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT the author’s idea?

A．China has entered an aged society.

B．All people in the society should care for the old.

C．Old people’s active living ways have a good effect on the young.

D．The society hasn’t done enough for old people.

【小題3】 What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How to respect old people	B．Old people’s life in China
C．Old people’s problem	D．Old people’s wishes

【小題4】From the passage we can know that the author is ________ about the aging problem in China.

A．disappointed

B．hopeful

C．worried

D．doubtful