Everybody hates it, but everybody does it. A recent report said that 40％of Americans hate tipping. In America alone, tipping is a $16 billion-a-year industry. Consumers acting politely ought not to pay more than they have to for a given service. Tips should not exist. So why do they? The common opinion in the past was that tips both rewarded the efforts of good service and reduced uncomfortable feelings of inequality. And also, tipping makes for closer relations. It went without saying that the better the service, the bigger the tip.
But according to a new research from Cornell University, tips no longer serve any useful function. The paper analyzes numbers they got from 2,547 groups dining at 20 different restaurants. The connection between larger tips and better service was very weak. Only a tiny part of the size of the tip had anything to do with the quality of service.
Tipping is better explained, by culture than by the money people spend. In America, the custom came into being a long time ago. It is regarded as part of the accepted cost of a service. In New York restaurants, failing to tip at least l5% could well mean dissatisfaction from the customers. Hairdressers can expect to get l5%-20%, and the man who delivers your fast food $2. In Europe, tipping is less common. In many restaurants the amount of tip is decided by a standard service charge. In many Asian countries, tipping has never really caught on at all. Only a few have really taken to tipping.
According to Michael Lynn, the Cornell papers’ author, countries in which people are more social or outgoing tend to tip more. Tipping may reduce anxiety about being served by strangers. And Mr. Lynn says, “In America, where people are expressive and eager to mix up with others, tipping is about social approval. If you tip badly, people think less of you. Tipping well is a chance to show off.”
【小題1】 This passage is mainly about ________.

A．different kinds of tipping in different countries

B．the relationship between tipping and custom

C．the origin and present meaning of tipping

D．most American people hate tipping

【小題2】Which of the following best explains the underlined phrase “caught on” ?

A．become popular.	B．been hated.
C．been stopped.	D．been permitted

【小題3】 Among the following situations, in your opinion, who is likely to tip most?

A．A Frenchman just quarreled with the barber who did his hair badly in New York.

B．An American just had a wonderful dinner in a well known restaurant in New York.

C．A Japanese businessman asked for a pizza delivery from a Pizza Hut in New York.

D．A Chinese student enjoyed his meal in a famous fast food restaurant in New York.

【小題4】 We can infer from this passage that ________.

A．tipping is no longer a good way to satisfy some customers themselves

B．tipping is especially popular in New York

C．tipping in America can make service better now

D．tipping has something to do with people’s character

Australia －a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia．Australia－more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing．
Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live．Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments．Australians are a suburban people．The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance．As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products．
The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure．The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular．
Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modem city located inland．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy．The representatives of other countries have their embassies here．Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors．
Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today．
Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology．This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources．Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures and crops． But Australia is changing．The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining．The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too．
Australia — a young and developing nation．Australia — a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors．
【小題1】Australia is an island located ______ of Asia and its big cities lie ____ of the coast．

A．to the south; on the southeast

B．to the north; on the southwest

C．to the east; on the northeast

D．to the east; on the southwest

【小題2】We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _____ climate．

A．dull and wet

B．fine and shiny

C．gloomy and rainy

D．wet and cold

【小題3】____ is the most precious source in Australia．

A．Mineral resource

B．Animal

C．Desert

D．Water

【小題4】Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong?

A．Australians are a suburban people

B．Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy．

C．Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities．

D．Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia．

Student Membership-----Cambridge Arts Cinema
Cambridge Arts Cinema is one of the art houses in Britain and home of the internationally celebrated Cambridge Film Festival. Since 1947 generations of students have discovered the wealth of world cinema. Now you too can make most of it and save money.

【小題1】 If you’re a member of Cambridge Arts Cinema, you will enjoy free       .

A．Darkroom Gallery shows

B．mailed programmes

C．special film events

D．film shows

【小題2】 How long will the membership for Cambridge Arts Cinema last?

A．Four months.	B．Eight months.
C．Nine months.	D．One year.

【小題3】For what purpose is the text written?

A．Offering students cheaper tickets．

B．Announcing the opening of a premiere.

C．Telling the public of the cinema’s address.

D．Increasing the cinema’s membership.

Americans have contributed to many art forms, but jazz, a type of music, is one of the art forms that was started in the United States. Black Americans, who sang and played the music of their homeland, created jazz.
Jazz is a mixture of the music of Africa, the work songs the slaves sang, and religious（宗教）music. Improvisation is an important part of jazz. This means that the musicians make the music up as they go along, or create the music on the spot. This is why a jazz song might sound a little different each time it is played.
Jazz bands formed in the late 1800s.They played in bars and clubs in many towns and cities of the South, especially New Orleans. New Orleans is an international seaport, and people from all over the world come to New Orleans to hear jazz.
Jazz became more and more popular. By the 1920s,jazz was popular all over the United States. By the 1940s,you could hear jazz not only in clubs and bars, but in concert halls as well. Today, people from all over the world play jazz. Jazz musicians from the United States, Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe meet and share their music at festivals on every continent. In this way jazz continues to grow and change.
【小題1】What can be the best title of the passage?

A．American Art Forms	B．The Development of Jazz
C．The Music of Black Americans	D．The Birthplace of Jazz

【小題2】From the text it can be inferred that_________.

A．New Orleans is the place where jazz was first produced

B．the American people are all jazz lovers

C．jazz is merely sung by the black when working

D．jazz may become more popular as time goes on

【小題3】It took about _________ years to make jazz popular in the United States.

A．200

B．120

C．80

D．40

Over a hundred years ago people in London were surprised to see a very unusual boat come sailing up the Thames River. The boat was eighty feet long flat-bottomed, with big wooden eyes on both sides in the front and was colorfully painted at the back.
People came to know that it was a sailing boat from Fuzhou in distant China. The boat had sailed round the Cape of Good Hope(好望角) up the western coast of Africa, and finally to England. It had covered fifteen thousand miles—more than half of the distance round the world.
Although it was unexpected, the Chinese were warmly welcomed. The boat carried goods such as silk and tea as well as a number of gifts from the Emperor of China for the Queen of England.
People had always mistakenly thought of the Chinese as a people not used to sea. However, from centuries of trading and sailing in dangerous seas, the Chinese had learned how to build good boats and sailed them well. The coming of this sailing boat to London proved once again that the Chinese could sail to distant countries in the world.
【小題1】The boat was considered unusual because _________.

A．it was a small wooden boat

B．it carried Chinese silk and tea

C．it had traveled fifteen thousand miles

D．it looked strange in several ways

【小題2】 According to this article, which of the following is TRUE?

A．The distance round the earth measures less than thirty thousand miles.

B．The Chinese Emperor gave silk and tea to the English Queen as gifts.

C．The Chinese boat came to London by accident.

D．The Chinese people were not good at sailing in dangerous seas.

【小題3】The boat reached London by sailing _________.

A．round the southern end of Africa

B．up the west coast of England

C．through the Arctic Ocean

D．round Asia and Europe

【小題4】The writer wants to prove that a long time ago the Chinese _________.

A．carried silk, tea and other goods to England

B．could reach many parts of the world by sea

C．could sail along the Thames River

D．surprised Londoners with an unusual boat

There are 70,000 pubs in England and Wales have several thousand more in Scotland.
Every country has its drinking shop, but none has an institution quite like the British pub. The most important feature of a good pub (which modern buildings hardly ever achieve) is a feeling of something private. It must have nooks and crannies, corners and snugs, where conversations and assignations can take place without the whole world listening in.
Most pubs have at least two separate bars. The “public bar” which is for ordinary and women is the basic drinking shop. The “l(fā)ounge bar” (or saloon bar) which is for traveling salesmen and “l(fā)adies” probably has a carpet on the floor and rather more comfortable decoration. There may be a difference of a few pence in the drink prices, although all pubs are required by law to put their price lists easily seen on display.
Pubs have been changing over the past few decades. More and more of them sell good, inexpensive food and are competing strongly with restaurants. Tea and coffee are often on offer and children are being made more welcome. The law says that no one under 14 may enter a pub, and between 14 and 18 they must be accompanied by an adult and may not buy or consume alcoholic drink. In reality some pubs, especially in country districts, welcome whole families. Some set aside special rooms for children and where there are gardens they are almost always welcome.
The most basic change, however, came about in the 1938 licensing laws which allowed pubs in England and Wales to open not just at lunch time and in the evening, but all day, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Scottish laws already permitted all day opening.)
【小題1】 Which of the following can be the best title?

A．Pubs’ history	B．Pubs in Britain
C．Changes of pubs	D．Features of a good pub

【小題2】 According to the British people, what kind of pub is a good one?

A．The one with all day opening time.

B．The one with good and inexpensive food.

C．The one with all kinds of people enjoying themselves.

D．The one with different parts where people can have a private conversation.

【小題3】In paragraph 4, we can learn that                        .

A．pubs allow people above 14 to enter alone

B．pubs never allow people under 18 to enter

C．pubs don’t sell more expensive food than restaurants

D．pubs often sell alcoholic drinks as well as tea and coffee

【小題4】According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A．The law requires all the pubs have slightly different prices of drinks.

B．Ordinary people and women are often having fun in the “public pub”.

C．In some country pubs, children accompanied by their parents are always welcome.

D．Scottish laws allow pubs to open not just at lunch time and in the evening, but all day.

Tanzania Tarangire is a national Park which lies in Tanzania．The park itself covers an area of around 2,850 square kilometers, making it the sixth largest park of its kind in the country．I recently visited Tarangire to see what it was like…．
One of the first sightings upon entering the park which I found was a huge herd（群）of elephants． Our guide told us that Tagrangire was probably the best place in Tanzania to find large herds of elephants, and that their population in the park was around 2,500．We continued to watch the elephants as they stood under trees and scratched themselves against the trees to hit the spot of an itch（癢處）．
To the right of the elephant herd, we noticed a big tree! Our guide informed us that this was a Baobab tree and that they could live for hundreds of years．Compared with this tree, the elephant just looked like dwarfs（侏儒）! We were informed that Tarangire was one of the best National Parks in Africa to see so many Baobab trees．
As we continued our drive through the park, we finally reached a watering hole．Our guide warned us that there were lions all around us．It took us all a while to find them, but there they were! Most of them are resting in the shade under brushes, but there was one that was drinking from the watering hole directly in front of us．We then noticed just to our right, there were a couple of fresh zebra corpses（尸體）— it seemed as if the lions which were resting had killed them! We were unlucky not to have seen the actual kill, as our guide had mentioned that the zebra corpses were fresh and the kill had occurred within the last hour．
Our final big sighting was one that none of us were expecting to see, even our guide! We pulled over to where there was a large gathering of cars, with a sleeping leopard（美洲豹）there! We took photos happily and excitedly and observed its surprising body before returning to our hotel as it was getting late．
So, I hope you enjoyed my description of Tarangire, and that I have inspired you to add this amazing park to your very own Tanzania travel route．
【小題1】Which statement is correct about the park?

A．It covers an area of about 2,580 square kilometers

B．It is the largest park of its kind in the country

C．Their population in the park was around 2,000

D．There are a lot of Baobab trees in it．

【小題2】How did the writer travel in Tanzania Tarangire?

A．On foot

B．On horseback

C．By car

D．By bicycle

【小題3】What did they see when they stopped with some other cars?

A．A large herd of elephants	B．Some lions
C．Some zebras	D．A leopard

【小題4】What does the writer think of his trip in Tanzania Tarangire?

A．Boring

B．Challenging

C．Dangerous

D．Enjoyable

By now you may be thinking, “Enough with the sad songs, already!” Ok, then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of America’s most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It’s Springtime in the Rockies in 1937.
And finally, we’ll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it.
【小題1】If you are in a bad mood, you’d better listen to _____.

A．Up Jumped Spring	B．I Dream of Spring
C．Spring Is Here	D．Spring Will be a Little Late This Year

【小題2】It Might as Well Be Spring is a song that ______.

A．is also called State Fair	B．is sung by Ella Fitzgerald
C．has a lonely feeling	D．was written by two people

【小題3】According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Most songs about spring are written by Italian composers.
B. K.D. Lang was good at writing happy songs.
C. Sarah Vaughn sang the song Up Jumped Spring first.
D. Gene Autry was a famous cowboy singer before K.D. Lang.
【小題4】Which of the following songs was first written or recorded?

A．Spring.

B．I Dream of Spring.

C．When It’s Springtime in the Rockies.

D．Spring Will be a Little Late This Year.

【小題5】 What’s the purpose of the author to write the passage?

A．Introduce some songs about spring.

B．Introduce some wonderful music.

C．Introduce some famous singers.

D．Express his/ her love to spring

Since 1984, Philadelphia has been cleaning up its act. One by one, graffiti(涂鴉)-covered walls are being changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁畫) have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.
The walls that were once ugly with graffiti are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Program (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive, and its citizens are very proud. The program began as part of Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP's artistic director. "When people ask me what our program is about," she says, "I answer them with one word: hope." Each year, the MAP offers youth art programs and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.
The MAP's work, says Golden, is all about developing a sense of community (社區(qū)). When a neighborhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been "Safe Streets," "Love and Care," and "Peace Walk."
The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.
"The making of a mural enters people's collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighborhood history" says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.
【小題1】What is the Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia aimed at?

A．Helping the young find jobs.	B．Protecting the neighborhood.
C．Fighting against graffiti.	D．Attracting more visitors.

【小題2】How does the MAP decide on the message for a mural?

A．By having discussions with people in the community.

B．By seeking advice from the city government.

C．By learning from the young graffiti writers.

D．By studying the history of the city.

【小題3】 Which of the following words best describes the work of the MAP?

A．Difficult.

B．Dangerous.

C．Experimental

D．Successful.

Dubai boasts(夸口) that it has just built a “new global landmark”---the Dubai Tower, which stands 512.1 meters high now and has just become the tallest building in the world.
The Dubai Tower now surpassesTaiwan’s Taipei 101, which is 508 meters tall, and has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world.
The Dubai Tower, being built by South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and scheduled for completion next year, is one of a series of great projects taking shape in Dubai. The final projected height of the tower has remained a secret since the project was launched in January 2004; however, it is rumored that the tower will be more than 700 meters tall and have more than 160 storeys.
The Dubai Tower has become the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days, leaving behind other tall buildings.
The Dubai Tower will house 30,000 apartments in addition to the world’s largest shopping mall. It is the centerpiece(重要工程) of the 20-billion-dollar venture. Another venture gradually emerging across the desert sands is Dubailand, a series of multi-billion-dollar projects claimed to be the Middle East’s very own Orlando. Dubai also paid 100 million dollars to buy the Queen Elizabeth II, one of the world’s superb cruise liners(游輪), which it plans to turn into a luxury floating hotel.
Faced with decreasing oil wealth, the Western-oriented emirate(酋長(zhǎng)國(guó)) has raced to turn itself into a business and leisure hub and it aims to more than double the number of tourists to 15 million by 2015.
【小題1】 The underlined word “surpasses” in the second paragraph means____.

A．is equal to

B．matches

C．is left behind by

D．is higher than

【小題2】Which building was the tallest in the world before the Dubai Tower began to be built?

A．Dubai land

B．Orlando

C．Taiwan’s Taipei 101

D．The Twin Towers

【小題3】Why has the Western-oriented emirate paid more attention to becoming a business and leisure center?

A．Because it wants to attract more tourists to its places of interest.

B．Because it produces less oil than ever.

C．Because it aims to race with other countries to show its wealth.

D．Because it wants to set a new world record.

【小題4】Which of the following statements about the Dubai Tower is TRUE according the passage ?

A．The Dubai Tower is 508 meters tall and has more than 141 storeys.

B．The final height of the Dubai Tower is over 700 meters tall.

C．Samsung Corporation has completed building the Dubai Tower.

D．The Dubai Tower has apartments and a shopping mall.