America is a mobile society. Friendships between Americans can be close and real, yet disappear soon if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while — then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship. This can be quite difficult for us Chinese to understand, because friendships between us flower more slowly but then may become lifelong feelings, extending (延伸) sometimes deeply into both families.
Americans are ready to receive us foreigners at their homes, share their holidays, and their home life. They will enjoy welcoming us and be pleased if we accept their hospitality (好客) easily.
Another difficult point for us Chinese to understand Americans is that although they include us warmly in their personal everyday lives, they don’t show their politeness (禮貌) to us if it requires a great deal of time. This is usually the opposite (相反) of the practice in our country where we may be generous with our time. Sometimes, we, as hosts, will appear at airports even in the middle of the night to meet a friend. We may take days off to act as guides to our foreign friends. The Americans, however, express their welcome usually at homes, but truly can not manage the time to do a great deal with a visitor outside their daily activities. They will probably expect us to get ourselves from the airport to our own hotel by bus. And they expect that we will phone them from there. Once we arrive at their homes, the welcome will be full, warm and real. We will find ourselves treated hospitably.
For the Americans, it is often considered more friendly to invite a friend to their homes than to go to restaurants, except for purely business matters. So accept their hospitality at home!
【小題1】Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Friendships between Americans usually extend deeply into their families.

B．Americans will continue their friendships again even after a long break.

C．Americans always show their warmth even if they are very busy.

D．Friendships between Americans usually last for all their lives.

【小題2】From the last two paragraphs we can learn that when we arrive in America to visit an American friend, we will probably be ______.

A．treated hospitably at his home

B．offered a ride to his home

C．warmly welcomed at the airport

D．treated to dinner in a restaurant

【小題3】The underlined words “generous with our time” in Paragraph 3 probably mean ______.

A．strict with time	B．serious with time
C．willing to spend time	D．careful with time

【小題4】A suitable title for this passage would probably be “______”.

A．Friendships between Chinese

B．Friendships between Americans

C．Americans’ hospitality

D．Americans’ and Chinese’s opinions of friendships

When someone says, “Well, I guess I’ll have to face the music”, it doesn’t mean that he is planning to go to hear a singer or attend a concert. It is something far less unhappy than you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and that or why you did not do this or that.
At some time or another, every one of us has to “face the music”, especially (尤其) as children. We can all remember father?s angry words “I want to talk to you”. And only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was!
In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to “face the music”. The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If...that means parents cold faces and contempt (輕視) of the teachers and classmates.
“To face the music” is well known to every American, young or old. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter (無(wú)論) how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice.
【小題1】“To face the music"means “to____ ”.

A．do something that we don’t like to	B．go to the theatre
C．go to the music show	D．do something that we want to

【小題2】In the third paragraph, “If...”really means “If____ ”.

A．we don’t do a good job	B．we get an“A” in the exam
C．the exam is easy	D．the exam is difficult

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．“To face the music” is well known in the United States.

B．“To face the music” has a history of more than 100 years.

C．The young Americans know what “to face the music” means.

D．Only the old in the United States know the meaning of“to face the music”.

In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses, etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends. Before they keep them in their houses, they take them to animal hospitals to give them injections(注射)so that they won’t carry disease. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of store. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food. When you visit people’s houses, they would be very glad to show you their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a feeding place for birds in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and have a good meal. They are free to come and go and nobody is allowed to kill any animal in Canada. They have a law against killing wild animals. If you killed an animal, you would be punished. If an animal happened to get run over by a car, people would be very sad about it.
People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be that their family ties are not as close as ours. When children grow up, they leave their parents and start their own life. Then the old will feel lonely, but pets can solve this problem. They can be good friends and never leave them alone.
【小題1】The passage mainly talks about____ .

A．how to keep disease from pets	B．pets in Canada
C．how to take good care of pets	D．life of the old in Canada

【小題2】They give their pets injections before keeping them at their houses  because ____.

A．the pets are sick

B．the pets are wild

C．they want to stop them from getting sick

D．they want them to sleep on the way home

【小題3】In Canada, children leave their parents when they grow up because ____.

A．they don’t love their parents any more

B．they can only find jobs far from their parents

C．their parents houses are too small

D．they wouldn’t depend on their parents any more

【小題4】Which of the following is TRUE？

A．People buy animal food only at the animal food stores.

B．Pets eat better than people.

C．Almost every family has a birdcage in his house.

D．Any bird can come to the bird feeders to eat

【小題5】From the passage we know that Canadians_____

A．love animals	B．don’t like animals
C．often kill animals	D．often keep their pets outside their house

The UK has a well-respected higher education system and some of the top universities in the world. But to those who are new to it all, it can be something confusing.
October is usually the busiest month in the academic calendar (學(xué)習(xí)日程表). Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life.
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be uneasy. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you are worried about starting their university social life. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here are some top tips from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week:
·Make sure you know something about the British social customs. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
·Sometimes cups of tea or even sweets can give you a head start in making friends.
·The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves his rooms.
·Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your wisdom to next year’s newcomers.
【小題1】Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage?

A．October is generally the busiest month for universities.

B．It’s a good idea to put a doorstop in your door.

C．A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier.

D．The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week.

【小題2】We can infer from the 4^th paragraph that ______.

A．the newcomers usually miss the days living at home

B．most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities

C．many freshers are worried about how to fit university life

D．a(chǎn)ll the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs

【小題3】Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy?

A．To pass the busy university life.	B．To help make friends with other freshers.
C．To show yourself a drinker as others.	D．To pass the time in a happy way.

【小題4】The main purpose of writing this passage is to ______.

A．tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities

B．introduce something about higher education system of the UK

C．discuss something about the Freshers’ Week in the UK

D．a(chǎn)dvise the freshmen how to behave well in the beginning

With petroleum reserve（石油儲(chǔ)量）decreasing, the search is on to replace gas with a cleaner, greener alternative. Though much eco-talk has centered on biofuels from corn and soybeans, the biofuel that looks more likely to replace petroleum comes from a most unlikely source: algae（藻類(lèi)）.
Algae, like corn, soybeans, and other crops, grow via photosynthesis（光合作用）and can be processed into fuel oil. However, they yield 30 times more energy than land crops such as soybeans, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Many algae species also can grow in saltwater and polluted water—while corn and soy require arable(適于耕種的) land and fresh water that will be in short supply as the world’s population balloons.
“If you replaced all the diesel（柴油）in the U.S. with soy biodiesel, it would take half the land mass of the U.S. to grow those soybeans,” says Matt Caspari, chief executive of Aurora Biofuels, a Berkeley, Calif-based private firm that specializes in algae oil technology. On the other hand, the Energy Department says that if algae fuel replaced all the petroleum fuel in the United States, it would require only l5, 000 square miles, which is a few thousand miles larger than Maryland (12,407 squaree miles), the 42^nd state in land area.
Another advantages: Because algae can be grown just about anywhere in a closed space, they’re being tested at several power plants across the nation as a carbon absorber. Smokestack emissions（煙囪排放物）can be pumped directly into the ponds, feeding the algae while keeping greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
Although processing technology for algae fuel—also known as “oilgae” in some environmentalist circles —is improving, it’s still years away from reaching your local gas pump. “It’s just a question of cost, because no large-scale facilities have been built yet,” Caspari says.
【小題1】The underlined word “yield” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “_______”.

A．control

B．require

C．produce

D．grow

【小題2】Compared with corn and soybeans, algae_____.

A．may pollute water and soil	B．can grow in poor conditions
C．provide much less energy	D．need more special care

【小題3】According to Paragraph 3, one of the advantages of algae fuel is that ____.

A．it can be used more widely	B．it is easier to produce
C．it needs much less land	D．it costs much less money

【小題4】Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．Environmental Protection	B．Biofuels from Corn and Soybeans
C．The False Hope of Biofuels	D．A Promising Oil Alternative

What if you could fly like a bird just by thinking happy thoughts? Or you could disappear to a faraway land, never grow old and fight pirates every day? For Peter Pan and his friends, the Lost Boys, these dreams come true.
More than 100 years after this playful boy was “born”, Peter Pan and his friends are to continue their adventure in a sequel(續(xù)集)to J.M. Barrie’s original novel. “Peter Pan in Scarlet”(重返夢(mèng)幻島),written by British author Geraldine McCaughrean, was published earlier this month.
The sequel brings all the original characters back. Peter Pan’s friends, the Lost Boys, are now grown up and live in the real world. What’s more, at the end of the first book, Peter Pan thinks he has killed his enemy, Captain Hook. But ,new readers discover he is not so dead at all.
For those who are unfamiliar with the original story, Peter Pan lives in faraway Neverland with a group of orphans. But they are eager for a real mother and Peter Pan flies to London with a fairy(仙女), Tinkerbell, to find one. They visit a young girl, Wendy, who loves to read stories, and bring her and her two brothers back to Neverland to live with them. In Neverland, children never have to grow up, and there are no parents to tell them what to do.
Many teenagers dream of a world where they don’t have to grow old and take responsibility. But, the author explains such a world is not the paradise(樂(lè)園)when it first appears: adventures can be scary and often dangerous, and, though we all sometimes dream of running away, we all need someone to love and look after us too.
【小題1】The passage is written to ________.

A．tell you about an unrealistic dream

B．introduce novels about Peter Pan

C．a(chǎn)nalyze the difficulties of growing up

D．explain why Peter Pan can’t grow old

【小題2】“Peter Pan in Scarlet” is about _________.

A．how some children fought against the pirate–Captain Hook

B．the care–free life the children led in Neverland

C．how peter Pan looked for a real mother for the Lost Boys

D．how the Lost Boys return to Neverland for more adventures

【小題3】The stories of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys reflect that those at their age ________.

A．a(chǎn)re ready to shoulder responsibility

B．choose adventures in faraway places

C．long for independence but also need someone to love them

D．can’t wait to grow up

【小題4】 The place Peter Pan and his friend stay is named Neverland probably because    .

A．they never have to grow up

B．they don’t have parents

C．they never have troubles

D．they never need to worry

【小題5】 Peter Pan flies to London _________.

A．to find a fairy	B．to visit a young girl
C．to find a real mother	D．to earn money

Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression (敵對(duì)心理) towards the people to lack of appetite(食欲). I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.
【小題1】The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ________.

A．paying a visit to Chile as a tourist	B．experiencing Chilean life as a teacher
C．studying Chilean culture as a college student	D．studying knowledge as an exchange student

【小題2】On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?

A．Because he did not know how to get along with the local people.

B．Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms.

C．Because its living conditions were worse than what he was used to.

D．Because it was not convenient for him to shop there.

【小題3】In the first week in Chile the author _ _______.

A．was not used to eating Chilean food	B．had some friends to have a chat with
C．couldn’t communicate with people	D．couldn’t express his thoughts in English

【小題4】What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?

A．Wonderful and worthwhile	B．Difficult but meaningful
C．Difficult and meaningless	D．Boring and disappointing

【小題5】 According to the passage, which of the following statements about Chile is TRUE?

A．its official language is Spanish and English.

B．It is a developing country without foreign students.

C．It seldom rains and natural disasters often happen.

D．Most Chileans are not friendly to foreigners.

Boxing is a fist fighting sport between two matched combatants (對(duì)手) wearing padded gloves. A boxer’s primary aim is to land as many blows as possible to the head and torso (軀干) of the opponent, using strength and speed to dominate the contest. One of the oldest sports still practiced, boxing dates back to thousands of years ago. Today the sport is popular in many parts of the world and encompasses (包括) both amateur and professional matches.
For most of the 20th century boxing attracted huge fan and media attention in the United States. Some boxing champions became legendary, larger-than-life figures, such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Criticized to varying degrees throughout its history for its violent nature and high injury rate, boxing has somehow always managed to survive——and even thrive——as a sport.
Modern boxing regulations are based upon the 12 rules set out by British boxing officials in the mid-19th century. These rules became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, who sponsored and published them. In addition to in-the-ring rules, modern boxing also has specific regulations regarding eligibility for the fighters themselves.
The modern rules for professional and amateur boxing differ, but both types of contests are divided into time periods called rounds. In professional boxing, each round lasts three minutes; in amateur boxing, two minutes. A one-minute rest period between rounds is standard. Amateur contests consist of three rounds; professional contests may consist of up to 12 rounds. A bell is usually sounded by a timekeeper to begin and end each round.
A key step in making boxing safer and more respectable was the introduction of gloves, ending brutal bare-knuckle competition. Boxing gloves are heavily padded to soften the impact of the blow and to protect the hands of the boxer. As an added protection, the hands are taped before being placed in the gloves, which are essentially huge mittens. Professional gloves usually weigh between 170 and 226g; amateur gloves average 226 to 340g.
【小題1】Which of the following is true according to the information in the passage?

A．Boxing is a violent sport with high injury rate.

B．People enjoy boxing because of its brutal nature.

C．Only professional players are allowed to attend boxing matches.

D．Boxing is a popular sport with a history of only 200 years.

【小題2】Boxing has always managed to survive as a sport. In the author’s opinion, __________.

A．this is because many people can participate in this popular sport

B．this is because boxing is a sport which can bring good business

C．the reason for this cannot be fully explained

D．this is because there are many legendary boxers

【小題3】Which of the following facts about boxing is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．The time set for a round.	B．The weight of gloves.
C．The size of boxing rings.	D．The signal to begin and end each round.

【小題4】The author’s purpose in writing this passage is __________.

A．to give a general introduction to the sport of boxing

B．to advertise a band of boxing-related product

C．to discourage people from enjoying this violent sport

D．to get support for a sport with long tradition

【小題5】Which of the following statements can best describe the sport of boxing as a whole?

A．It is a brutal and violent sport, with little popularity in modern times.

B．It is a traditional sport, with little room for improvement.

C．It is a controversial sport, which nevertheless enjoys great public support.

D．It is strictly professional sport with rigid and exclusive rules.

Everyone knows that the French are romantic, the Italian are fashionable and the Germans are serious. Or do they? Are these just stereotypes or is there really such a thing as national character? And if there is, can it affect how a nation succeed or fail?
At least one group of people is certain that it can. A recent survey of the top 500 entrepreneurs (實(shí)業(yè)家) in the UK found that 70 percent felt that their efforts were not appreciated by the British public .
Britain is hostile to success, they said. It has a culture of jealousy (嫉妒) . As a result, the survey said, entrepreneurs were “unloved, unwanted and misunderstood”. Jealousy is sometimes known as the “green-eyed monster” and the UK is its home. Scientists at Warwich University in the UK recently tested this idea. They gathered a group of people together and gave each an imaginary amount of money. Some were given a little, others a great deal. Those given a little money were given the chance to destroy the large amounts of money given to others—but at the cost of losing their own. Two thirds of the people tested agreed to do this.
This seems to prove the entrepreneurs were right to complain. But there is also conflicting evidence. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently reported that the UK was now the world’s fourth largest economy .That is not bad for people who are supposed to hate success. People in the UK also work longer hours than anyone else in Europe. So the British people are not lazy , either .
“It’s not really success that the British dislike,” says Carey Cooper, a Professor of management at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. “It’s people using their success in a way that seems arrogant (傲慢) or unfair or which separates them from their roots .”
Perhaps it is the entrepreneurs who are the problem. They set out to do things in their way. They work long hours. By their own efforts they become millionaires. But instead of being happy they complain that nobody loves them. It hardly seems worth following their example. If they were more friendly, people would like them more. And more people want to be like them.
【小題1】What does the underlined “it” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．One group of people	B．A great survey
C．National character	D．A nation

【小題2】Most entrepreneurs surveyed believe that         

A．they are not popular simply because they are successful

B．the British public are hardworking

C．love of success is Britain’s national character

D．they are considered as “green-eyed monsters”

【小題3】What does the result of the Warwich University test show?

A．Two thirds of the people tested didn’t love money

B．Most people would rather fail than see others succeed

C．An imaginary amount of money does not attract people

D．Most people are willing to enjoy success with others

【小題4】The writer of the passage seems to suggest that         .

A．Jealousy is Britain’s national character

B．British entrepreneurs are not fairly treated

C．the scientists are Warwich University did a successful test

D．the British dislike the entrepreneurs because they do not behave properly

There are a lot of differences in life in the US that you can only learn by living here. However, we will try to introduce you to some of the more important cultural differences.
Personal Space
When two people are talking to each other, they tend to stand a distance apart. Each person has an invisible boundary (界限) around their body into which other people may not come.
Interestingly，the average personal distance varies from culture to culture. Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures. So if you try to get too close to an American during your conversation, he or she will feel that you are “in their face” and will try to back away.
Try to avoid physical contact while you are speaking, since this may also lead to discomfort.
Tipping(小費(fèi))
Restaurants do not include a service charge in the bill, so you should tip the waiter 15% of the total bill. If service is slow or particular bad, some Americans will tip only 10%. If service is particularly good, it is appropriate to tip 20%. If service is so bad that you will never eat in the restaurant again, leave two cents. It tells the waiter that you haven’t forgotten to leave a tip. Tipping is only appropriate in restaurants which offer table service. You do not tip the cashier in a fast food restaurant.
Gestures
To wave goodbye or hello to someone, raise your hand and wave it from side to side, not front to back. Wave the whole hand, not just the fingers. Waving the hand front to back or the fingers up and down means “no”, “stop”, or “go away’. Holding your hand up with the palm facing forward but no movement means “stop”.
If you want to point at an object, extend the index finger and use it to point at the object. It is not polite to point at people.
Although showing your fist with the thumb up or your open hand with the tips of the thumb and index finger together forming an “O” means “OK”， these are stereotypes (老套). Americans understand these gestures, but they are mainly used by actors in movies, not in real life.
【小題1】 If an American to whom you are speaking backs away a little, you’d better __________.

A．not try to close the gap	B．stop talking with him or her
C．back away too	D．a(chǎn)sk him or her what happened

【小題2】Which of the following statements is TRUE when you eat out in the US?

A．The tip always ranges from 10% to 20% of the total bill.

B．You needn’t leave a tip if you will never eat in the restaurant.

C．It’s unnecessary to tip the waiter in a restaurant.

D．Tipping is not necessary in fast food restaurants.

【小題3】Which of the following gestures is not used in Americans’ daily life?
A               B.             C.               D.
.         
【小題4】We can learn from the passage that in the US ___________________.

A．it’s natural to touch each other in a conversation.

B．it’s polite to leave a tip though the service is bad.

C．there is only one gesture meaning “stop”.

D．Americans use the same gesture to point at people and objects.