Nick is a 14-year-old school boy. His life is full of exams and studies on weekdays. He has little free time. He thinks playing computer games is the best way to make him relax. When he has free time, he sits in front of the computer. Just like that way, he neither eats nor drinks for several hours.
Last weekend, he played games on the computer again. He was too excited and didn't want to move. He didn't have anything for six hours. When he had to go to the bathroom, he found he could not move. He was taken to the hospital. The doctor told him he should do some more different kinds of activities. In other words, he needs more exercise and outdoor activities to make him have a healthy body.
After coming back from the hospital, Nick follows the doctor's advice. He often plays soccer with his friends. Sometimes he still plays computer games on weekends, but he never does it for long. Now, he lives a happy and healthy life.
【小題1】How old is Nick?

A．13.

B．14.

C．15.

D．16.

【小題2】Nick likes       in his free time.

A．riding a bike	B．playing the guitar
C．playing computer games	D．having a school trip

【小題3】Why was Nick taken to the hospital?

A．Because he was too excited.

B．Because he had a cold in the morning.

C．Because he was too nervous of his studies.

D．Because he couldn’t move after playing computer games so long.

【小題4】Nick should       to follow the doctor’s advice.

A．go to a movie	B．listen to music
C．take more exercise	D．play computer games

【小題5】Which of the following is True?

A．Nick is very busy with exams and studies on weekdays.

B．Nick will never play computer games.

C．Nick likes eating and drinking when he plays computer games.

D．Nick has an unhappy and unhealthy life now.

That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theater. With opening night only a week away, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me.
As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away any possible robbers(搶劫犯). Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets.
About a block from my apartment, I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.
Suddenly I wasn’t cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I’d heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found.
Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck(垃圾車) pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, “Alisa Camacho?” I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eyes. “Is this what you’re looking for?” he asked, holding up a small square shape.
It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn’t get much sleep that night, but I had got my wallet back. I also had got back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn’t be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.
【小題1】How did the writer feel when she was walking home after work?

A．Cold and sick	B．Lucky and hopeful
C．Satisfied and cheerful	D．Disappointed and helpless

【小題2】From the first paragraph, we learn that the writer was busy_____.

A．solving her problem at the bank

B．taking part in various city activities

C．learning acting in an evening school

D．preparing for the first night show

【小題3】On her way home the writer_____

A．lost her wallet unknowingly

B．was stopped by a garbage truck driver

C．was robbed of her wallet by a man with a knife

D．found some homeless people following her

【小題4】In the fifth paragraph, why did the writer say she was dreaming?

A．Someone offered to take her back home

B．A red-haired man came to see her.

C．She heard someone call her name

D．Her wallet was found in a garbage truck

【小題5】From the text, we can infer that the writer_____

A．would stop working at night

B．would stay on in San Francisco

C．would make friends with cleaners.

D．would give up her job at the bank

Everybody may have seen the film “Death on the Nile (n. 尼羅河)”, but nobody can imagine that the writer of the story, Agatha Christie, saved a baby in a most unusual way.
In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Deleville. Doctors there were unable to find out the cause of her illness, so she was sent to a famous hospital in London, where there were many excellent doctors. The baby was so seriously ill that a team of doctors hurried to examine the baby without delay. The doctors, too, were puzzled by the baby’s illness and they also became discouraged. Just then a nurse asked to speak to them.
“I think the baby is suffering from thallium (n. 鉈) poisoning. ” said the nurse. “A few days ago, I read a story ‘A Pale Horse’ written by Agatha Christie. Someone uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are written in the book. They are exactly the same as the baby’s.”
“You’re very good at observing things,” said a doctor, “and you may be right. We’ll carry out some tests and find out whether the cause is thallium poisoning or not.”
The tests proved that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium. Once they knew the cause, the doctors were able to give her correct treatment. The baby soon got well and was sent back to Deleville A week later, it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (n. 殺蟲劑) used in Deleville.
【小題1】The baby was sent to a hospital in London because __________.

A．her parents were living in London then

B．the hospitals in Deleville were full at that time

C．she was the daughter of a famous doctor in London

D．doctors in Deleville were not sure about the cause of her illness

【小題2】When the baby was first sent to the hospital in London, her illness was considered to be ____________.

A．quite easy to treat

B．the result of thallium poisoning

C．a(chǎn) common one

D．extraordinarily serious

【小題3】From this passage it seems that the baby’s illness had something to do with __________.

A．a(chǎn) dead writer

B．the water in Deleville

C．a(chǎn) dangerous murderer

D．a(chǎn) harmful substance (n. 物質(zhì)) used to kill pests

【小題4】As far as we can tell from the story, Agatha Christie ____________.

A．had never met this baby

B．had spent a long time studying the baby’s illness

C．visited the baby both in Deleville and London

D．gave the nurse some advice on the telephone

Dr. Glenn Tisman, a cancer specialist, knew his young neighbor, Ray Bateman, had an unusual mind. But he had no idea at the time that 12 - year – old Ray had the ability to become his partner in cancer research.
Ray’s parents remembered that at age four, Ray surprised them by fixing a broken vacuum cleaner（吸塵器）. When he was ten, he speedily constructed the family color television from a kit. Later, he succeeded in assembling（組裝） a complex stereo system after two experts had failed to do the job.
When Ray was ten, he convinced his parents to buy him a computer. In a short time, Ray was able to do amazing things with the computer. Ray shared his enthusiasm for computers with Dr. Tisman, who used a computer for his research. The two discussed computers and medicine frequently. Amazingly, Ray understood the biology and chemistry related to Dr. Tisman’s medical research without any previous instruction.
Ray then worked with Dr. Tisman after school. He helped conduct research with the equipment and kept it in working order. The purpose of the research was to test the effectiveness of mixing an old cancer drug with certain vitamins. Ray analyzed patient test results by computer, while Dr. Tisman handled all patient contact. Together, they came up with solid research that helped advance cancer treatment.
In 1988, 14 - year - old Ray went with Dr. Tisman to a meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research（AFCR）, where Ray presented their initial research findings. Using terminology（術(shù)語(yǔ)） beyond the grasp of most kids his age, Ray told the scientists how the new drug mixture caused fewer and milder side effects for cancer patients.
A year later, Ray returned to the meeting to update the findings of his and Dr. Tisman’s research. By then, he had become well - known for his devotion to finding cures for sick patients. Stories about him appeared in hundred of newspapers around the world. He appeared on television newscasts and talk shows.
Ray continued to spend most free hours working with Dr. Tisman. The two began studying the effects of vitamins on babies inside the womb（子宮）. However, Ray’s main interest remained cancer treatment, and he continues his research today.
【小題1】According to the passage, Ray______.

A．is a boy of many gifts

B．is very helpful to his parents

C．learned fast under Dr. Tisman’s instruction

D．stopped working with Dr. Tisman after his success

【小題2】What do we know about Dr. Tisman?

A．He succeeded in finding cures for cancer.

B．He made a new discovery in cancer treatment.

C．He convinced Ray to become a partner of him.

D．He taught Ray knowledge related to his research.

【小題3】What made Ray first known to the medical world?

A．His presentation at AFCR.

B．His great skills in computer.

C．His devotion to cancer research.

D．His appearance on television newscasts.

【小題4】Dr. Tisman’s research is aimed at ______.

A．providing different cancer treatments

B．proving the effects of vitamins on babies

C．finding the side effects of a cancer drug

D．testing the effectiveness of a new drug mixture

Anne and Joseph are talking about an interesting question. Why do some people change their names? There can be many reasons. Hanna changed her name to Anne because she thought it would be easier for people to remember. On the other hand, Joseph is thinking about changing his name to an unusual name because he wants to be different.
People have a lot of reasons for changing their names. Film stars, singers, sportsmen and some other famous people often change their names because they want names that are not ordinary, or that have special sound. They chose the “new name” for themselves instead of the name their parents gave them when they were born.
Some people have another reason for changing their names. They have moved to a new country and want to use a name that is usual there. For example, Li Kaiming changed his name to Ken Lee when he moved to the United States. He uses the name Ken at his job and at school. But with his family and Chinese friends, he uses Li Kaiming. For some people, using different names makes life easier in their new country.
In many countries, a woman changes her family name to her husband’s after she gets married. But today, many women are keeping their own family name and not using their husband’s. Sometimes, women use their own name in some situations（情況）and their husband’s in other situations. And some use both their own name and their husband’s.
【小題1】Hanna changes her name to Anne because “Anne” is           for people to remember.

A．louder

B．easier

C．prettier

D．harder

【小題2】Famous people want their new names to          .

A．have special sound	B．be ordinary
C．have no meaning	D．be unknown

【小題3】Mr. Li uses his new name when he          .

A．stays with his family	B．is at his job
C．is among Chinese friends	D．comes back to China

【小題4】Which of the following statement is TRUE?

A．Women have to change their names when they get married.

B．Women can’t use their husband’s name without permission.

C．If a singer becomes famous, he or she has to change his or her name.

D．Some people changed their names in order to get much more attentions.

【小題5】What is the best title（標(biāo)題）of this passage ?

A．Family Names	B．Women’s Names
C．Changing Names	D．Special Names

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes---khaki pants and sports shirt---to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday (but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”
【小題1】David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because_______.

A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance

C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

【小題2】David Smith wears casual clothes now, because________

A．they make him feel at ease when working

B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C．he looks handsome in casual clothes

D．he no longer works for any company

【小題3】According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.

B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive

C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees

D．All the employers in the U.S are for casual office wear.

【小題4】In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT_______.

A．saving employees’ money

B．making employees more attractive

C．improving employees’ motivation

D．making employees happier

Australia has passed regulations that will enable more international students to further their education in the country.
The new measures were released by the Australian Department of Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in September and will take effect in mid-2012.
As a result, the student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified, and the deposit (押金) required to study in Australia has been reduced. Language requirements for overseas students have also been eased.
Also, overseas students receiving a higher education in Australia will be granted a working visa lasting from two to four years after graduation, as long as they meet the basic IELTS requirement.
"This change will definitely make Australia a more attractive destination for Chinese students planning to study overseas," says Wang Lan , a consultant from Education International Cooperation Group (EIC), a Beijing-based company that provides services to students wishing to study overseas.
However, in the past few years, many of Wang's student clients (客戶) could not start studies in Australia because they did not meet the language requirements, visa processing took a long time and deposit regulations were tough. The change in policy is good news for the parents of students wishing to study in Australia, Wang says.
A 22-year-old female student surnamed Li, in Beijing, who is planning to do her  postgraduate studies in Australia, learned about the policy change several weeks ago.
"According to the previous deposit requirement for my student visa, my family was required to put down 550,000 Yuan ($86,850). Now we only need to prepare 410,000 Yuan. This is a relief for my parents," Li says.
She also says that the two to four years working visa makes her feel much clearer about her study plans.
"I believe several years of working experience abroad will strengthen my competitiveness when I return to China," she says.
Gaining a competitive advantage is the major reason for Chinese students to study abroad, according to the report by EIC.
【小題1】What's the main idea of the passage? 

A．Language requirement for overseas students have been eased in Australia.

B．Australia is a most attractive place for students in China.

C．Australia widens window of opportunity for international students.

D．More students will work in Australia after their graduation.

【小題2】Which of the following is NOT the content of the new regulations? 

A．The student visa application process for overseas students has been simplified.

B．The deposit required to study in Australia has been reduced.

C．Language requirements for overseas students have been more difficult.

D．After graduation, some overseas students can get a working visa in Australia.

【小題3】After the new regulations are passed, _______ . 

A．more students will come to Australia to work

B．more Chinese students will choose to live in Australia.

C．the opportunities to work in Australia decrease for overseas students

D．more Chinese students will choose to further their education in Australia

【小題4】How much can Li's parents save according to the new regulations? 

A．550,000 yuan	B．140,000 yuan
C．410,000 yuan	D．86,850 yuan

【小題5】Why do many students want to work in Australia after their graduation? 

A．The working experience abroad will strengthen their competitiveness.

B．They can earn more money in Australia.

C．Their working experience can make them stay in Australia forever.

D．They have to do so according to the new regulations.

One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by sending newspapers door to door, was so hungry that he decided to beg for a meal at the next house.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, “How much do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” With these words, Howard Kelly left that house.
Years later the woman became badly ill and was finally sent to the hospital in a big city. Dr. Howard Kelly, now famous, was called in. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Dressed in his doctor’s clothes, Dr. Kelly went into her room and recognized her at once. From that day on, he gave special attention to her, and decided to do his best to save her life.
At last the woman was saved. Dr. Kelly asked the business office to pass the final bill to him. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to the woman’s room. She was afraid to open it because she was sure that it would take the rest of her life to pay for it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words:
“Paid in full with a glass of milk, Dr. Howard Kelly.”
Tear of joy flooded her eyes.
【小題1】The boy sent newspapers door to door in order to ________.

A．continue his schooling	B．become a famous doctor
C．thank the woman for her kindness	D．support his poor family

【小題2】Which is true about the boy and the woman?

A．He was too shy to ask her for some water.

B．She thought he was not hungry but thirsty.

C．She wanted him to pay for the glass of milk.

D．She never thought he would save her life later.

【小題3】After Dr. Kelly knew who the woman was, he ________.

A．began to take good care of her himself

B．told her she once gave him a glass of milk

C．decided to try his best to save her

D．a(chǎn)sked for her bill and paid it off at once

【小題4】The best title for this passage is ________.

A．A Warm-hearted Woman	B．A Glass of Milk
C．The Final Bill	D．A Famous Doctor

Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March, 1853---29 July, 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. He is considered one of the greatest artists with great influence on the greatest artists with great influence on the 20th-century art.
Van Gogh spent his early adult life working for a firm of art dealers. After a brief period as a teacher, he became a missionary (傳教士) in a very poor mining region. He did not begin his career as an artist until 1880; however, during the last ten years of his life, he produced more than 2,000 pieces, including around 900 paintings and 1,100 drawing and sketches (素描). He worked only with somber colours until he met Impressionism and Neo-Impressionism in Paris. Van Gogh used their bright colours and style of painting in a uniquely recognizable style. Most of his best-known works were produced during his final two years, when he was suffering from serious mental illness.
In 1890, at the age of 37, van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died two days later, with Theo, his brother and his best friend, at his side, who reported his last words as “The sadness will last forever”. It would not take long before his fame grew higher and higher.
Van Gogh’s mother threw away quite a number of his paintings. The only painting he sold during his lifetime, The Red Vineyard, was created in 1888. It is now on display in the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, Russia. Several paintings by van Gogh rank among the most expensive paintings in the world. On March 30, 1987 van Gogh’s painting Irises was sold for a record of $53.9 million at Southby’s, New York. On May 15, 1990 his Portrait of Doctor Gachet was sold for $83.5 million at Christie’s, thus setting a new price record.
【小題1】When did van Gogh begin his career as an artist?

A．At the age of 17.

B．At the age of 27.

C．In his early adult adult life.

D．In his early childhood.

【小題2】The underlined word “somber” in Para. 2 means         .

A．colourful

B．different

C．dark

D．bright

【小題3】What’s the right order of van Gogh’s life experience?
a. worked as a teacher
b. took up drawing
c. worked in an art firm
d. worked as a missionary

A．c, a, b, d

B．c, a, d, b

C．b, c, a, d

D．b, a, c, d

【小題4】Which of the following can best describe van Gogh’s final two years?

A．Sand and boring.	B．Normal and peaceful.
C．Happy but fruitless.	D．Painful but productive.

【小題5】What can we learn from the passage?

A．Van Gogh didn’t become famous until he dies.

B．Van Gogh sold many paintings in his life.

C．Van Gogh had become famous as an artist when he was alive.

D．Irises was the most expensive among van Gogh’s paintings.

There was a wonder-filled little girl who was hurt so badly that when she entered adult life, she thought she was so bad that others just couldn’t be nice to her.
But she had a lot of curiosity, which kept her going. She sought many wise people to help her understand why she was so bad that her mother hurt her and why she was unable to be better so that men wouldn’t hurt her.
She was on a journey that she thought was to help her be “better”. She carried a big bag with her everywhere she went. Inside it were all the hurts she had experienced. Because she was so eager to please those who offered their wisdom, she willingly agreed with what they said about forgiving. But she held that bag of hurts tightly.
After 50 years of carrying that bag around and showing it to all she met as if it were proof that she was a good person, she decided to open it up and just see what happened.
When she looked inside it was filled with bits of paper. At one time they had words on them, detailing the hurts. But time had faded (使褪色) the words and all that was left was some useless paper. She had been struggling to carry this bag that held nothing but the image of something that once was.
She saw the absurdity of carrying that bag around. It made her laugh. By letting go of the paper and having pity for those that hurt her, this little girl was able to become a woman with beautiful hair. The woman looked in the mirror and said, “I am lovable.”
Although it took many years, she was finally open to bringing love and respect into her life.
【小題1】When she grew up, the little girl wondered         .

A．where she should go

B．why she couldn’t be loved

C．how she could be a sweet girl

D．why she was hurt so deeply

【小題2】What advice did girl get from wise people?

A．To please those who hurt her.

B．To keep carrying the bag of hurts.

C．To record the hurts she suffered.

D．To forgive those who hurt her.

【小題3】The woman laughed in the end because           .

A．she had beautiful hair

B．she became lovable

C．she realized her silliness

D．she became a wise woman

【小題4】According to the passage, which of the following can be used to describe the woman?

A．Curious.

B．Kind-hearted.

C．Easy-going.

D．Devoted.

【小題5】What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．You will walk fast without carrying a load.

B．You will get peace after forgiving others.

C．You will become young if you forget your hurts.

D．You will be loved after changing your image.