In the United States you will find yourself being urged from every page of every newspaper and every television station to buy all kinds of goods.
Not only is there a wide range of prices for goods in America, there is also a wide range in the quality of goods offered for sale. Unlike some countries,
Americans generally pay the price of a product without question, instead of trying to get a lower price by bargaining. However, there are many “sales” in the United States, during which time stores will lower their normal prices. This may all be very confusing to visitors. How are you going to know how to “get your money’s worth” when you shop? Perhaps the best advice is: Don’t hurry. Visit various stores and determine the quality of goods. Read the advertisements so that you can compare prices.
There is a great variety of shops in the United States, ranging from very large stores called “department stores” to very small shops. There are “discount houses” offering goods at low prices, and “dime stores” specializing in a wide range of inexpensive items.
Most department stores in large cities carry better quality products at higher prices. However, they offer the shoppers great convenience since they contain such a wide variety of products.
If convenience isn’t as important to you as price, you may want to shop in discount houses. These stores have nearly as great a variety of goods as department stores, but offer lower prices. They can do so for several reasons. They don’t offer the same services to buyers that department stores do; there may be fewer sales people; and the store probably doesn’t deliver purchases.
Another popular shop is the “dime store”. No longer selling many things for five or ten cents, these stores got their name in the last century when it was decided that a small profit on a great quantity of goods would be better than a large profit on fewer sales. Dime stores specialize in a wide variety of inexpensive items and today, prices range from a quarter or 50 cents up to several dollars.
【小題1】The passage is mainly about______

A．American hospitality.	B．the life of Americans.
C．American stores.	D．the business of Americans.

【小題2】 Why can discount houses offer goods at lower prices compared with department stores?
a. They have fewer employees.
b. They have larger quantities of goods.
c. They offer fewer services.
d. They don’t provide delivery service.

A．a(chǎn) b c

B．a(chǎn) b d

C．a(chǎn) c d

D．b c d

【小題3】What’s special about dime stores?

A．They sell lots of goods at a small profit.

B．They make big profits by selling some goods.

C．They provide goods with a price lower than 50 cents.

D．They provide goods ranging from bargains to expensive ones.

【小題4】Where can we most probably read this passage?

A．In a research paper.	B．In a science report.
C．In a geography book.	D．In a travel magazine.

As China becomes increasingly urbanized (城市化), it has to find space for its urban and
rural citizens as both groups become increasingly integrated. Experts suggest a possible model
way may be “re-inventing” a “garden city”.
China’s mega-cities are bursting at the borders and the country is now undergoing the quickest and biggest urbanization in the history of mankind. It is estimated that by 2025, China will have 400 million more people living in its cities, raising its urban population to 900 million. Besides, new satellite towns are mushrooming on the urban fringes while city ring roads are rippling outwards into the countryside at amazing speed. Satellite maps collected by Professor Joshua Bolchover at the University of Hong Kong bring the problem sharply into focus. They track the changing rural-urban framework in the past 30 years, and suggest that cities are cruelly destroying surrounding rural land and rapidly reducing the amount of arable（可耕種的）land, which gives way to new residential blocks, new industrial zones, new financial centers and the other inevitable signs and signatures of economic growth.
This, however, is not sustainable growth pattern, especially when China has the world’s largest population to feed. So concerned urban planners are starting to note the social and physical effects of diaspora（大移居）when replaced rural communities are forced into the cities.
On the other hand, a trend of thought is gradually taking shape and this is the concept of the “garden city”, a combination of country and city that is being proposed by architects and city planners. Hua Li, from Tao Architects, is among the many professionals with such a voice. His argument is supported by a long-term study on this subject. As Hua says, the answer is to preserve patches of productive farmland within urban boundaries. Less transportation means we have fresh agricultural products at lower costs and less carbon emission in the city. And urban farmland can also be showcased for agricultural tourism and education.
The concept is already practiced at the grassroot level. Agriculture has gone into the air, up to roof and balcony in some communities in the cities. It’s common to see organic “hanging garden” on the roof of some traditional courtyard home. According to some people, the rooftop project translate to tangible (=" practical)" benefits, such as safe, nutritious vegetables, a cooler home in summer. Some say thanks to the tomatoes they plant that are natural insect killers, there’re fewer mosquitoes. Apart from these, it also contributes to better bonding with neighbors. Zhang, a doctor in Beijing, began creating his hanging garden five years ago. Since his garden became home to 30 kinds of vegetables and fruit --- all enough to feed his family, neighbors have enjoyed dropping by for a relaxing chat or just to see how well the lovely vegetables and fruit are doing.
Although people like Zhang are still rare and the greening of roof space with vegetables and fruit takes skill and energy, with more positive media exposure and advanced technology there is the prospect that garden city will become common practice in the near future. By then, cities will no longer look so gray when seen from the satellites.
【小題1】What is the purpose of paragraph 2?

A．To show the experts’ concern about the increase of population.

B．To persuade people into supporting economic growth in cities.

C．To explain the reasons for the change of rural-urban framework.

D．To inform the readers of the consequences of quick urbanization.

【小題2】In Hua Li’s opinion, a combination of country and city will __________.

A．benefit the environment and lower living costs

B．become a project that needs a long-term study

C．lead to more rural communities being replaced

D．a(chǎn)ttract more farmers to take tours in cities

【小題3】 Zhang is mentioned (Paragraph 5) to show that __________.

A．he achieves his dream to own a hanging garden

B．hanging gardens are becoming more popular

C．the garden contributes to a better neighborhood

D．he is a pioneer to practise the gardening concept

【小題4】As for the concept of the “garden city”, the writer feels_________.

A．desperate

B．hopeful

C．disappointed

D．concerned

Anyone for kimchi(韓國泡菜)? Around 2,000 women made the traditional dish last week in Seoul,the capital of the Republic of Korea(ROK).

Kimchi traditionally has a rosy color. Korea.net says: “The color red wards off (避開) evil spirits. The color represents the spirit of the Korean people and kimchi is more than just a food. It’s a culture.”
A meal without kimchi is unthinkable. So what is kimchi?
Joan Raymond, food writer for US website health.com, writes: “It’s a reddish, fermented (發(fā)酵的) cabbage dish , made with a mix of garlic salt, vinegar, chili peppers and other spices.
It is served at every meal, either along with or mixed with rice and noodles. It is part of a high-fiber, low fat diet, which has kept obesity(肥胖) at bay.”
Kimchi is used in everything from soups to pancakes and as a topping (配料) on pizza and burgers.
Health.com named kimchi in its list of the world’s top five healthiest foods as it is rich in vitamins, aids digestion and may even reduce the risk of cancer.
A study conducted by Seoul National University claimed that chickens infected with the H5N1 virus (bird flu) recovered after eating food containing the same bacteria found in kimchi.
When Koreans pose for photos, they say “kimchi”, instead of “cheese”.
【小題1】According to the article, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Kimchi contains something that can kill the H5N1 virus.

B．Kimchi is rated as the healthiest food in the world.

C．Kimchi is a cultural treasure for Koreans.

D．Each person eats 40 pounds of kimchi per month.

【小題2】What does the underlined phrase “keep... at bay” mean?

A．predict

B．prevent

C．overcome

D．develop

【小題3】What does the article mainly talk about?

A．The nutritional value of kimchi.	B．Ways of making kimchi.
C．The origin of kimchi.	D．Kimchi and what it means to Koreans.

Investors soon will be able to own shares of Facebook stock. The world’s biggest social media network presented documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday. The documents are required before the company can make its initial public offering（首次公開募股）or IPO. A date for the stock sale has yet to be announced.
Experts say Facebook could raise about five billion dollars. That would be one of the biggest IPO sales ever. And it would be much bigger than Google’s first public stock sale in 2004. At that time, the Internet search company raised almost two billion dollars.
Facebook has 800 million users around the world. It is the second most visited website after Google. Now, experts say the social media network is in a position to become one of the most valuable Internet companies.
Stock expert Anupam Palit at Greencrest Capital says that among social media sites, Facebook is in a class by itself.
“It is the biggest company in this space and we believe what makes it very unique from every other company that went public last year in this space is that it is very, very profitable.” said Anupam Palit.
Early estimates place the total value of the social network between 75 and 100 billion dollars. That includes earlier investments by other companies. David Kirkpatrick wrote the book The Facebook Effect. He says Facebook’s IPO will be historic.
The stock sale could also make Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg one of the world’s youngest billionaires. He is only 27.
Investment companies are likely to buy Facebook stock first. But investment manager Jim O’Shaugnessy says that is not so bad. He says the prices of some IPO stocks are too high and fall not long after they first go on sale.
Recently, share prices of some Internet businesses have fallen after their stocks were first offered. For example, stocks of Linkedln, Groupon and Zynga, dropped in price by as much as 25% after going public.
There were similar questions eight years ago when Google first sold stock to the public. Today, Google is one of the world’s most valuable technology companies.
【小題1】Which of the following is true about Google?

A．Google’s first public stock sale began in 2005.

B．Google is the world’s most valuable company.

C．Google’s share price rose after its stock was first offered.

D．Google raised almost two billion dollars from its first public stock sale.

【小題2】According to the passage, we can know Facebook ________.

A．has 800 million users in the USA	B．has announced the date for its first stock sale
C．is the most visited website today	D．is the world’s biggest social media network

【小題3】We can infer from the passage that ________.

A．Facebook stock is being sold very well

B．Mark Zuckerberg will get much money from the stock sale

C．Mark Zuckerberg was only 27 when Facebook was founded

D．investment companies have bought many Facebook shares

【小題4】Which would be the best title for this passage?

A．Facebook and Its IPO	B．The Difference Between Facebook and Google
C．The Founder of Facebook	D．A Book Called The Facebook Effect

There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown． They probably came about just to give children something to do．
　　In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another． In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls after the tasks of their mothers． This is true because boys and girls are being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world．
　　What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same． The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology． It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing．In Egypt, the Americas, China, Japan and among the Arctic （北極的） peoples, generally the same kinds of toys appeared． Variations depended on local customs and ways of life because toys imitate their surroundings． Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles．
Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize inventions for adult use． The progress from the wheel to the oxcart to the automobile is a direct line of ascent （進步）． The progress from a rattle used by a baby in 3,000 BC to one used by an infant today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness． Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the times and subject to the limitations of available materials．
【小題1】Which is a major factor leading to the different variations of toys?

A．Scientific advances and technological progress

B．Different local customs and lifestyles of different peoples

C．Craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology

D．The artistic tastes of the times and the limitations of available materials

【小題2】Why do boys and girls play with different kinds of toys?

A．Because they are intended for different social roles and responsibilities．

B．Because boys like to invent and girls imitate．

C．Because boys play with their fathers while girls their mothers．

D．Because they will take up different jobs when they grow up．

【小題3】One amazing aspect about the “universality of toys” is______．

A．They appeared all over the world almost at the same time in history．

B．They have not changed except in craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology．

C．Having existed for thousands of years, toys are still found all over the world today．

D．They are a kind of art form, which has been promoted by inventiveness．

The rise of multinational corporations （跨國公司）, global marketing, new communications technologies, and shrinking cultural differences have led to an unparalleled increase in global public relations or PR．
　　Surprisingly, since modern PR was largely an American invention, America’s relations is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries． Ten years ago, for example, the world’s top five public relations agencies were American-owned． In 1991, only one was． The British in particular are becoming more sophisticated and creative． A recent survey found that more than half of all British companies include PR as part of their corporate （公司的） planning activities, compared to about one-third of U．S． companies． It may not be long before London replaces New York as the capital of PR．
　　Why is America lagging behind in the global PR race? First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an interest in local affairs． Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country． Secondly, Americans lag behind their European and Asian counterparts （相對應(yīng)的人） in knowing a second language． Less than 5 percent of Burson—Marshall’s U．S．employees know two languages． Ogilvy and Mather have about the same percentage． Conversely, some European firms have half or more of their employees fluent in a second language． Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs． In the financial PR area, for instance, most Americans read the Wall Street Journal． Overseas, their counterparts read the Journal as well as the Financial Times of London and The Economist, publications not often read in this country．
Perhaps the PR industry might take a lesson from Ted Turner of CNN （Cable News Network）． Turner recently announced that the word “foreign” would no longer be used on CNN news broadcasts． According to Turner, global communications have made the nations of the world so interdependent that there is no longer any such thing as foreign．
【小題1】Compared with the American PR personnel, what is/are an advantage（s） of the non-Americans involved in PR?
A． They tend to be more internationally minded
B． They speak more and better foreign languages．
C． They usually pay more attention to global financial situation．
D． Both A and B．
【小題2】What is the immediate cause of the downfall of America’s public relations?

A．The number of US public relations agencies had greatly decreased by 1991．

B．Other countries have increased their efforts in public relations．

C．On the global scale, cultural differences have significantly shrunk．

D．The British companies are becoming especially sophisticated and creative in public relations．

【小題3】It could be inferred that the author of the passage is______．

A．a(chǎn)n American	B．a(chǎn) Briton
C．Ted Turner	D．a(chǎn)n Asian

【小題4】The underlined word “provincial” in paragraph 3 could possibly mean “     ”．

A．strict in thinking	B．like people from rural areas
C．limited in outlook	D．interested in geographical knowledge

In the West, advertisements are the fuel that makes mass media (大眾傳媒) work. Many TV stations, newspapers, magazines, radio stations are privately owned. The government does not give them money.  So where does the money come from?  From advertisements. Without advertisements, there would not be these private businesses.
Have you ever asked yourself what advertising is? Through the years, people have given different answers to the question. For some time it was felt that advertising was a means of “keeping your name before the public”. And some people thought that advertising was “truth well told”. Now more and more people consider it in this way: Advertising is the paid, non-personal, and usually persuasive presentation of goods, services and ideas by some certain sponsors (贊助商) through various media.
First, advertising is usually paid for. Various sponsors pay for the advertisements we see, read, and hear over the various media. Second, advertising is non-personal. It is not face-to-face communication. Although you may feel that a message in a certain advertisement is aimed directly at you, in fact, it is directed at large groups of people. Third, advertising is usually persuasive. Directly or indirectly it asks people to do something. All advertisements try to make people believe that the product, idea, or service advertised can benefit them. Fourth, the sponsors of the advertisement must show their names. From the advertisement, we can see if the sponsor is a company, or a single person. Fifth, advertising reaches us through old and modern mass media. Included in the old media are newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and films. Modern media include emails, matchbox covers, and boards on top of buildings.
【小題1】The existence of the privately owned mass media depends on the support of ________.

A．the government	B．their owners families
C．a(chǎn)dvertisements	D．the TV stations

【小題2】The passage seems to say that different ideas about what advertising is are given due to ________.

A．the change of time	B．the subject of the advertisements
C．people’s age difference	D．people’s different opinions

【小題3】Which of the following is considered modern mass media? ________.

A．Newspapers

B．Emails

C．Magazines

D．Films

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

A．The sponsors are always mentioned.

B．Advertising must be honest and humorous.

C．There is the description of things advertised.

D．Advertising is directed at large groups of people.

Humans are naturally drawn to other life forms and the worlds outside of our own. We take delight in the existence of creatures and even whole societies beyond our everyday lives.
This sense of wonder is universal. Look at the efforts that scientists have made to find out whether life of some kind exists on Mars, and the popularity of fantasy literature or movies like The Lord of the Rings. This sense of wonder draws us to each other, to the world around us, and to the world of make-believe. But have we gone so far in creating worlds of fantasy that we are missing the pleasure of other worlds that already exist all around us?
Human beings, as biologists have suggested, possess an inborn desire to connect with and understand other life forms. However, people, especially in big cities, often lead rather isolated lives. In a study of British schoolchildren, it was found that children by age eight were much more familiar with characters from television shows and video games than with common wildlife. Without modem technology, a small pond could be an amazing world filled with strange and beautiful plants, insects, birds, and animals. When we lack meaningful interaction(交互) with the world around us, and sometimes even with our families and friends, we seek to understand and communicate with things that exist only in our imaginations or on a computer screen。
The world of make-believe is not necessarily bad. But when the world of fantasy becomes the only outlet(出路) for our sense of wonder, then we are really missing something. We are missing a connection with the living world. Other wonderful worlds exist all around us. But even more interesting is that if we look closely enough, we can see that these worlds, in a broad sense, are really part of our own.
【小題1】The popularity of The Lord of the Rings proves     

A．the close connection between man and the fantasy world

B．the wonderful achievements of fantasy literature

C．the fine taste of moviegoers around the world

D．the general existence of the sense of curiosity

【小題2】What can we infer from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3?

A．People are far less familiar with the world of fantasy.

B．The world around us could serve as a source of wonder.

C．The world of fantasy can be mirrored by a small and lively pond.

D．Modern technology prevents us from developing our sense of wonder.

【小題3】 If our sense of wonder relies totally on the world of make-believe, we will     

A．fail to appreciate the joy in our lives

B．be confused by the world of make-believe

C．miss the chance to recognize the fantasy world

D．be trapped by other worlds existing all around us

【小題4】 What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To show us the hidden beauty in our world.

B．To warn us not to get lost in the fantasy world.

C．To argue against the misuse of the sense of wonder.

D．To discuss the influence of the world of make-believe.

Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球場) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
【小題1】Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?

A．Cycling around a lake.

B．Motor racing in the desert.

C．Playing basketball in a gym.

D．Swimming in a sports center.

【小題2】What do we know about golf from the passage?

A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain.

B．It causes water shortages around the world.

C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes.

D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green.

【小題3】The author uses power walking as an example mainly because _________.

A．it is an outdoor sport

B．it improves our health

C．it uses fewer resources

D．it is recommended by experts

【小題4】The author writes the passage to _________.

A．show us the function of major sports

B．encourage us to go in for green sports

C．discuss the major influence of popular sports

D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports

A long time ago, before there was any money (coins or paper money), people got the things that they needed by trading or exchanging. Salt was one of the first items used to exchange for other items. Later, some of the common things that were used for exchanging were tea leaves, shells, feathers, animal teeth, tobacco, and blankets. Around 3000 BC, barley, a type of grain, was used for exchanging.
The world’s first metal money was developed by the Sumerians who melted silver into small bars all weighing the same. This was around 1000 BC. About three hundred years later, people started using coins as official money.
Around 640 BC, people in the ancient kingdom of Lydia ( which was in Turkey) created special coins of exact with and purity (純度). They were made of gold and silver and were stamped with a lion’s head.
Later, other empires such as Greece, Persia, and Rome adopted the concept of coins and started developing their own in many different shapes and different metals.
Around the year 1000, the Chinese started using paper money. The Chinese were the first to use paper money. The Europeans discovered this thanks to Marco Polo who went to China in 1295. the Chinese had different values for the paper notes which were made by the Chinese government.
Around 1661, Sweden became the first European country to make paper money. Until 1850, the Spanish dollar was the coin most widely used throughout the world.
【小題1】What is the best title for this passage?

A． The history of money

B． How people traded in the past

C． The invention of paper money

D． The use of coins around the world

【小題2】We learn that before coins and paper money were used, _____.

A． barley had always been used for exchanging

B． only a few people knew how to trade with others

C． salt was the most widely used item for exchanging

D． many kinds of things were used for exchanging

【小題3】According to the passage, when did people start using coins as official money?
A.    Around 1300 BC.     B. Around 1000 BC.
C.    Around 700 BC.       D. Around 640 BC.
【小題4】The underlined word “adopted” in Paragraph 4 probably means “____”.

A． replaced	B． changed
C． accepted	D． invented

【小題5】Which of the following countries first started to use paper money?

A．Spain

B．China

C．Sweden

D．Lydia