Ellen Parker was worried about her health. She could not walk very quickly and it was difficult for her to climb stairs（爬樓梯）. She was soon out of breath.（氣喘吁吁）
“I think I had better go to the doctor, ” she thought.
She went to the doctor and told him her problem.
“I’m not at all surprised, ”he said. “It’s obvious （明顯的）what your problem is.”
He examined her and then gave her some advice.“If you don’t do what I say, Mrs. Parker,” he said. “You will have a heart attack（心臟病）. It could kill you.”
Ellen was very worried as she left the doctor’s. She knew that she had to take his advice but that would not be easy and it would take time.
The next day she went shopping. The first shop she went into was a butcher’s shop（肉店）.
“I’d like ten pounds of steak (大塊肉片), please,” she said.
“Certainly, madam,” the butcher(屠夫) answered and went into the cold room and found a large piece of steak. He brought the huge piece of meat back into the shop and placed it on the scale(秤).
“That’s just ten pounds,” he said.
“That’s big enough,” Mrs. Parker said.
The butcher worked out(計(jì)算) the price.
“At $ 4.99 a pound that will be $ 49.90, please. Would you like me to cut it into small pieces for you?”
“Oh, I don’t want to buy the meat,” Mrs. Parker said.
“If you don’t want to buy it,” the butcher said angrily, “Why did you ask me to get it for you?”
“My doctor told me that I am overweight (超重的)and have to lose ten pounds. I wanted to see what ten pounds of flesh looked liked.”
【小題1】. Why did Ellen Parker visit the doctor?

A．She had a heart attack.	B．She had a problem with her health.
C．She was unhappy about her weight.	D．She could not sleep well.

【小題2】. Why did she ask for ten pounds of steak?

A．she wanted to buy some for dinner.	B．She wanted to lose weight
C．Her doctor had told her to eat steak.
D．She wanted to see what ten pounds of meat looked like.

【小題3】.. What was her real problem?

A．She ate too much steak.	B．She weighed too much.
C．The doctor didn’t know.	D．She could not walk very quickly.

【小題4】. What did the doctor think might happen to Ellen?

A．she might put more on weight.	B．She might stop eating too much.
C．She might have a heart attack.	D．She might go to another doctor.

Mr. King lived with six hundred wild（野生）animals on the Greek Island of Kyklos. Ever since he left school, he had traveled all over the word collecting animals for his own zoo. He hoped to collect（收集） two examples of every kind of animal on his island（島嶼）. But he was afraid that people would find him someday.
He wrote books about his travels and about his animals that he collected. The money from the books helped to pay for all the food that these animals ate.
One day, when Mr. King was out looking for drinking water, he found oil（石油）. He needed money for his travels and for his zoo, and a little oil would buy enough water for what he needed all his life, but he knew that if he told anyone else about it, it would be the end of his zoo and his life’s work. So he decided not to tell anyone else about what he had found, because oil and water couldn’t mix.
【小題1】.  . Mr. King traveled all over the world for collecting ______.

A．oil

B．water

C．a(chǎn)nimals

D．money

【小題2】.  . Mr. King was afraid that people would find him someday because ________.

A．he hadn’t got enough money for them	B．that would be the end of his zoo
C．he hadn’t got enough water and oil	D．they would buy his animals

【小題3】.  . Mr. King wrote books to _______.

A．tell people about his story	B．tell people how to find oil
C．get enough money for his animals	D．make money for his travels

【小題4】.  . In the passage, “oil and water couldn’t mix” means that “_________”.

A．Mr. King needed not only water but also oil

B．oil and water were rather difficult to be mixed together

C．Mr. King’s animals only needed water, not oil

D．if he told the others he found oil, his life’s work would be stopped

When Chato’s barking didn’t stir Jerrica Seals, the recently adopted dog tried nibbling on the teenager’s leg to get the girl out of the burning house.?
“No one was hurt.” Fort Myers firefighters responded at about 7:00 a.m.
Five people lived in the Garcia’s home. That was neighbor Janice Hamilton’s main concern when she looked out of her window Friday and saw the flames. “I just threw my pants on to run outside and make sure they knew how many people lived there,” Hamilton said. “It was scary.”
“Seals called me screamingly,” said Leticia Vega, 36, the sister of Seals’ boyfriend, Javier Garcia, 23, who owns the house. “She said the dog woke her up barking, jumped on the bed and bit her on the leg.”?
It is said that Garcia’s brother brought Chato home several weeks ago after the animal wandered onto a Lehigh Acres construction site. Since then, Vega said, Chato had been mostly quiet until it mattered. “He doesn’t usually bark.” Vega said. “He’s really friendly.”?
According to deputy fire chief Steve Clyatt, possibly the fire started because of an improper extension cord(電纜) used on a window air conditioner. More than half of the house was burned down. There was extensive smoke and water damage in the remainder of the structure. Estimates （估計(jì)）for repair costs were unavailable. “I’d say it’s unlikely they will recover this, but I’ve been surprised before.” Clyatt said.?
【小題1】Which of the following would be the best title for the passage??

A．Janice Hamilton Helps Save Neighbors?

B．Firefighters Put out House Fire?

C．A Dog Saves the Whole Family from House Fire?

D．Family Needs Help Due to House Fire

【小題2】The underlined word “they” in the third paragraph most probably refers to _______.

A．other neighbors?	B．Hamilton’s family members?
C．Vega and her brother Garcia?	D．the firefighters

【小題3】By saying “I’d say it’s unlikely they will recover this, but I’ve been surprised before.” in the
last paragraph, Clyatt means _______.?

A．it’s a wonder that Seals survived the fire?	B．the house was badly damaged?
C．such a big fire was seldom seen?	D．Chato is a very clever dog

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

A．The person who called the firefighters.?

B．The possible cause of the accident.?

C．The relationship between Seals and Garcia.?

D．The owner of the house.

Fred Michel is one of 7.2 million Americans who moonlight. Once a week, after his day job as medical director of a mental health center, the 40-year-old psychiatrist heads to a part-time job at a treatment center for young people. Twice a month, he travels three hours to another teenage treatment center.
Last year, 5.4 percent of the American workforce held second jobs, according to the US Labor Department, and that looks set to increase this year.
Many workers like the safety that moonlighting provides, says Carl Hausman , the writer of “Moonlighting: 148 Great Ways to Make Money to the Side”.
The information from the US Labor Department shows that 40 percent of US moonlighters take a second job to meet household expenses or pay off debts. Others save money or buy some special things.
People also take second jobs with an eye to the future -- wanting to try out a new field or gain experience.
Michel started moonlighting when medical systems were unstable. He wanted to make sure he wasn’t tied to one system that ended up failing.
Just as the purposes for moonlighting vary, the moonlighters cross all ages and racial groups. And they work in a variety of industries -- no longer just service, office and sales jobs.
“Technology just affects your ability to make money,” Hausman says. “That makes a frequent change in moonlighting.”
As its name means, moonlighting still occurs mostly at night. And that results in some pressures. Chief among them is time.
Full-time employers could misunderstand, too. Some companies do not allow after-hour work because they fear it will affect their employees’ 9-to-5 performance.
“The primary employer is saying, ‘Wait, I’m paying you for the sharp, fresh, energetic you,’” says Tom Gimbel, president and founder of LaSalle Staffing in Chicago. “If you’re burning yourself at both ends, it’s going to show.”
Still, the good done to the moonlighters can be great. Besides extra income, moonlighters enjoy variety, freedom and chance to do something new. They may also find their part-time jobs strengthen what they do full time.
Besides, “it’s fun,” Michel says. Not only do his part-time jobs offer a chance to network, stretch his professional skills and make more money, but they also give him the variety he wouldn’t find just in a full-time job.
“It’s a way of pulling from the spice cabinet,” he says, “and offering a little variety throughout the day.”
【小題1】The reason why Fred Michel began to moonlight is that ________.
 

A．he found it exciting to do a part-time job

B．he needed to make ends meet with more money

C．he feared he would lose his present job one day

D．he felt more and more pressure from his employer

【小題2】Some companies don’t allow their workers to moonlight because they are afraid ________.

A．their workers cannot do extra-hour work for them

B．their workers will be too tired to try their best at work

C．their workers will one day turn to some other different jobs

D．their workers will not get to work and be off work on time

【小題3】The underlined sentence “It’s a way of pulling from the spice cabinet.” in the last paragraph means ________.

A．moonlighting gets you away from the job you don’t enjoy

B．moonlighting offers you freedom to make extra money

C．moonlighting strengthens your professional skills

D．moonlighting brings you chances to do something different

【小題4】What is the article mainly about?

A．The ways of moonlighting.	B．The reasons for moonlighting.
C．The problems with moonlighting.	D．The kinds of people who moonlight.

Have you ever noticed what happens to an idea once you express it? Just talking about it or writing it down causes you to make it clear in your own mind. How can you use this to increase your brain power? Start writing.
By putting thoughts into words, you are telling yourself the logic (邏輯) behind what you think, feel, or only partly understand. Often, explaining a thought is the process of understanding. In other words, you increase your brain power by exercising your “explain power.”
Try this experiment. Explain how you’ll increase your brain power, even if you have no idea how right now. Just start with anything, and create an explanation. For example, start with “I’ll learn chess,” or “I’ll read an article on the mind every week.” Explain how that will help. You’ll be surprised how often this becomes a workable plan, and if you actually do this, you’ll have a better understanding of your brain twenty minutes from now.
Another benefit of writing is that it helps you remember. Many, if not most, highly productive people are always taking notes. You can try keeping it all in your head, but if you keep a journal of your ideas the next time you’re working on a big project, you’ll probably have more success.
Want to understand a topic? Write a book about it. That’s an extreme example, but if you are learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you will understand it better. Want to invent something? Write an explanation of the problem, why you want to solve it, and why it is worth solving, and you’re half-way there.
Writers don’t always write because they clearly understand something beforehand. Often, they write about something because they want to understand it. You can do the same. Writing will help bring you to an understanding. Give it a try.
【小題1】 What would be the best title for the text?

A．A Way on How to Write

B．Increase Your Brain Power through Writing

C．Brain Power Helps Improve Your Writing

D．How to Start Your Writing

【小題2】 According to the text, writing can help you a lot in the following ways EXCEPT ______.

A．the increase of your brain power	B．the ability to remember
C．the development of your interest in study	D．the better understanding of a topic

【小題3】The underlined sentence “you’re half-way there” in the fifth paragraph implies that ______.

A．you are already successful	B．you still need to work hard
C．writing can help you walk half way	D．writing is important to solve problems

【小題4】What’s the main purpose of the writer writing the text?

A．To advise readers to start their writing.

B．To explain the importance of writing.

C．To persuade readers to become writers.

D．To increase readers’ brain power.

When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children’s magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit (配件). Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, “Mama, all the people couldn’t wait to buy my cards!” A salesperson was born.
When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone’s spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, “Dad, I want to make people feel like that.” My father asked me what I meant. “I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler,” I replied. A dream was born.
Recently, I began pursuing（追求） my dream of motivating others. I realized that everything I had accomplished — the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager— had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed（進(jìn)行） and he believed I would succeed.
Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage (抵押) payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of “if onlys” later on. A motivational speaker was born.
When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles（奇跡） really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn’t miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients (客戶). I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, “The world always makes way for the dreamer.”
【小題1】Why was the kit sent for?

A．Selling greeting cards.	B．Collecting greeting cards.
C．Buying greeting cards.	D．Sending greeting cards.

【小題2】When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker?

A．After buying a new home by mortgage.

B．After giving notice to leave her safe position in the company.

C．After finding a job in a major fortune 100 company.

D．After listening to Mr. Ziegler’s inspiring speech.

【小題3】Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE?

A．She was once an excellent manager.

B．She left her post at the height of her career.

C．She was not sure whether the former company could accept her.

D．She didn’t miss paying the monthly mortgage payment.

【小題4】What does the underlined sentence mean in the last paragraph?

A．Carry on with your dreams and you will be successful.

B．Risk everything you have for a dream and you will succeed.

C．The world belongs to dreamers.

D．Everyone will find their dreams.

A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift——＄7，000，a legacy (遺產(chǎn)) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.
But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in other, it was more than ＄100,000.
It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money , more than ＄3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm .
Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived own comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase .
Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.
Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy——a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent ——should enrich the whole community (社區(qū)) and last for generations to come.
Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story .
【小題1】 According go the text , the Fusses                

A．were employed by a truck company	B．were in financial difficulty
C．worked in a school cafeteria	D．lost their home

【小題2】 Which of the following is true of the Hatches?

A．They had their children during the Great Depression.

B．They left the family farm to live in an old house.

C．They gave away their possessions to their neighbors.

D．They helped their neighbors to find jobs.

【小題3】 Why would the Hatches routinely go from store to store?

A．They decided to open a store

B．They wanted to save money

C．They couldn’t afford expensive things

D．They wanted to buy gifts for local kids

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

A．The community of Alto was poor.

B．The summer camp was attractive to the parents.

C．Sandy Van Weelden got a legacy form the Hatches.

D．The Hatches would like the neighbors to follow their example.

A study of a university in Shanghai had found that many of the students there are using a quote（引語(yǔ)）from the Italian poet Dante as a kind of motto．The study of Fudan University, one of China’s top universities, of 489 students, found that 82 had chosen Dante’s “Follow your own path and don’t worry about what others say” as their motto, out of 278 people who said they had a motto．This was followed by “Believe yourself” and “Self-improvement without stop．”
Students also expressed a common hope for greater understanding and care and said they were always ready to give a hand to those in need．
Some researchers think that mottoes can play an important part in children’s growth and they say that a good motto can help children develop a better character．
【小題1】The study shows _________．

A．which university should have mottoes

B．what poems are popular

C．how many students like the motto “Believe yourself．”

D．the majority of the students like to choose their favorite mottoes

【小題2】Of the students asked, _______ students have mottoes．

A．a(chǎn)bout 78%

B．a(chǎn)bout 57%

C．a(chǎn)bout 16%

D．a(chǎn)bout 8%

【小題3】The motto “Self-improvement without stop” shares the similar meaning with ______．

A．going on to improve rapidly

B．growing by oneself continuously

C．making oneself better and perfect continuously

D．becoming better without having a break

【小題4】The best title for the passage should be _______．

A．Mottoes and Character Developing	B．Students and Poet
C．Mottoes and Learning	D．Understanding Care

Le Trung, 33，has spent ￡14,000 creating Aiko，who he describes as“in her 20s”with a 32,23,33 figure，shiny hair and delicate features.
She can speak English and Japanese and is so good at mathematics that she can do Mr.Trung's accounts.
Mr.Trung，from Brampton in Ontario，Canada，said he has never had time to find a real partner，so he designed and created his ideal woman using the latest technology.
The former software programmer has taken out credit cards and loans，sold his car and spent his life savings on perfecting his“fem­bot”.
Now he is desperate to find a corporate sponsor(資助者)to help him complete and perfect Aiko.
He said，“Aiko is what happens when science meets beauty.”
"I want to make her look，feel and act as human as possible so she can be the perfect companion."
"I talk to her a lot，and hope to improve her knowledge."
"So far she can understand and speak 13,000 different sentences in English and Japanese，so she's already fairly intelligent."
"Aiko recognize faces and says hello when any of my family come around to visit. She helps me pick what to have for dinner and knows what drinks I like."
"She even helps me with directions when we're going somewhere."
"When I need to do my accounts，Aiko does all the maths. She is very patient and never complains."
"She doesn't need holidays，food or rest and she will work almost 24­hours a day. She is the perfect woman."
Mr.Trung has designed Aiko with a touch­sensitive face and body so she reacts in a natural way if she is shown affection or hurt.
He said，"She has all senses except for smell."
【小題1】Why did Le Trung spend much money creating Aiko?

A．Because he prefers Aiko to a real person.

B．Because he is too busy to find a partner.

C．Because he thinks Aiko is very beautiful.

D．Because he thinks Aiko is worth much money.

【小題2】 According to the passage，what is Aiko?

A．Aiko is a female person.

B．Aiko is Mr.Trung's girl friend.

C．Aiko is a robot that looks like a beautiful woman.

D．Aiko is a perfect woman.

【小題3】 Aiko can do the following things EXCEPT ________.

A．that she can understand and speak English and Japanese

B．that she can do maths questions very well

C．that she can smell the strange smell

D．that she can help to receive some familiar guests

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

A．The reason for Le Trung creating Aiko.

B．The introduction to a new scientific product－Aiko.

C．Aiko's ability or functions.

D．The process of making Aiko.

John James Audubon was born in 1785 and died in 1851, but his name is still talked about every day. Audubon was a scientist who loved nature. He wanted to show people the importance of nature in their lives. He was especially interested in birds, and painted many beautiful pictures of them.
In1950, the National Audubon Society was formed by people who were also interested in birds and wanted to continue Audubon’s nature studies. Even now, when people think of the Audubon’s Society, they usually think of birds. But the Society does other things besides watching birds.
The members of the Society try to improve the environment as much as they can. They let the public know about the laws that are needed. They have helped to pass many laws that protect birds and animals, and people, too. They teach young people how to protect their environment. They try to make their own communities (社區(qū)) cleaner, better places to live in.
John James Audubon knew that nature was important. He did not know how important his work would become.
【小題1】“ His name is still talked about every day.” means “_________”.

A．People seldom speak of his name.

B．He is still remembered by people

C．His name is very important

D．Pay attention to his name, please.

【小題2】 The National Audubon Society was founded by _________.

A．Audubon’s supporters	B．Audubon himself
C．the scientists	D．the painters of birds

【小題3】 People often think of birds when the Audubon Society is told about because ____________.

A．some birds had joined the Society

B．the Society did a lot in protecting birds.

C．the Society had no interest in birds

D．a(chǎn)ll the members of the Society were painters of birds

【小題4】 What do you think is the best title for the article?

A．Audubon and the National Audubon Society

B．How to Protect Birds

C．How to Keep Our Environment Clean

D．The Greatest Society