One afternoon last week, I saw three tearful children from my son’s school being comforted by teachers. That morning, my 11-year-old had stomach pains, retching（干嘔）into a bowl. Talking to other mothers later, I heard about other children with stomachache or difficult sleeping the night before.
What caused so much pain? Sports day. Sports day might be necessary at a highly-competitive independent school, but not at a village primary school. For the children who can fly like the wind, sports day cause no problem. For those who are overweight or just not good at sport, it is nightmare（噩夢）. Even for those who enjoy running but fall halfway down the track in front of the entire school and their parents, it can prove a disease.
Why do we put our children through this annual suffering? Some may say competition is character building; or it’s taking part, not winning, that’s important; or that’s a tradition of school life. I just felt great pity for those children in tears or in pain.
Team games at the end of sports day produced some close races, wild enthusiasm, lots of shouting — and were fun to watch. More importantly, the children who were not so fast or quick at passing the ball were hidden a little from everyone’s eyes. Some of them also had the thrill of being on the winning side.
I wish that sports day could be abandoned and replaced with some other less competitive event. Perhaps an afternoon of team games, with a few races for those who want them, would be less stressful for the children and a lot more fun to watch.
【小題1】What can we learn about the author’s son from Paragraph 1?

A．He talked with some mothers.

B．He comforted his classmates.

C．He had difficulty in sleeping.

D． He suffered from stomachache.

【小題2】Sports day is still an annul event in this school probably because __________.

A．this is an independent school

B．it is a tradition of the school

C．it helps children lose weight

D．children enjoy watching sports

【小題3】What does the author think about team games?

A．They should include more stressful races.

B．They are acceptable to different children.

C．They should be abandoned at primary school.

D．They are less fun for those who love running.

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude towards sports day?

A．Critical.

B．Neutral.

C．Positive.

D．Ambiguous.

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter (住所) as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you’re cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet’s water. Sometimes owners don’t realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can’t get anything to drink. Animals that don’t have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them.
【小題1】 What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?

A．They are often forgotten by their owners.

B．They are used to living outdoors.

C．They build their own shelter.

D．They like to stay in warm places.

【小題2】 Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are out in cold weather?

A．To know when to bring them inside.

B．To keep them from eating bad food.

C．To help them find shelters.

D．To keep them company.

【小題3】What is the purpose of this text?

A．To solve a problem.

B．To give practical advice.

C．To tell an interesting story.

D．To present a research result.

Does Fame Drive You Crazy?
Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today’s stars, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world’s attention. Paparazzi(狗仔隊) camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids(小報) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature!
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal, celebrities—famous people—worry constantly about their public appearance. Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time,” Villarreal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B. C., painters followed Alexander the Great Into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold-out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain(抱怨) about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film-stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story’’ alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice. Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.
【小題1】It can be learned from the passage that stars today       .

A．a(chǎn)re often misunderstood by the public

B．can no longer have their privacy protected

C．spend too much on their public appearance

D．care little about how they have come into fame

【小題2】What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired.

B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history.

C．Well-known actors are usually targets of tabloids.

D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers.

【小題3】What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?

A．Availability of modern media.

B．Inadequate(無法適應的) social recognition.

C．Lack of favorable chances.

D．Huge population of fans.

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude toward modern celebrity?

A．Sincere.	B．Sceptical.
C．Disapproving .	D．Sympathetic.

Some people can stay up all night and still get work done the next day.I'm not one of them.After a night without enough sleep, I feel bad?tempered.I have trouble remembering things.And all I want to do is to crawl into bed and sleep.
How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Or the day after an overnight party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes.
New research suggests that a gene called “period 3” affects how well you function without sleep.The “period 3” gene comes in two forms：short and long.Everyone has two copies of the gene.So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each.Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you.
Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of “period 3”．Study participants had to stay awake 40 hours straight.Then，they took tests that measured  how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers.
Results showed that the people with the short form of “period 3” performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did.In both groups，people performed worst in the early morning.
After the first round of experiments，participants were finally allowed to sleep.People in the group that performed well on the tests (those with the short form of “period 3”) took about 18 minutes to nod off.
People with the long “period 3” gene, by contrast, fell asleep in just 8 minutes.They also spent more time on deep sleep.That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working in top form.
I think I must have the long form of“period 3”．What about you?
【小題1】The purpose of this passage might be________.

A．to tell us the importance of plenty of sleep

B．to tell the result of a research on sleepy gene

C．to inform the harm of lacking sleep

D．to announce the sleeping rules of humans

【小題2】Which of the following decides how well you perform without sleep?

A．One short form.

B．One long copy.

C．One short and two long copies.

D．Period 3.

【小題3】What kind of people need less sleep according to the research?

A．Those with two long copies of the gene.

B．Those with two short copies of the gene.

C．Those with one short and one long copy of the gene.

D．Those with three short copies of the gene.

【小題4】If one lacks enough sleep，one should avoid doing important or dangerous things ________.

A．a(chǎn)t dawn	B．a(chǎn)t night
C．in the afternoon	D．a(chǎn)t noon

What could be cuter than your puppy giving his doggy friend a kiss on the nose? Nothing，really．But is your dog actually planting a kiss on his friend? Yes，but that’s only one of the reasons your dog may lick another dog’s nose．Here are some other reasons why your dog may lick another dog’s nose．  
During an introduction，a shy and lower-ranking dog will lower his head，avoid direct eye contact and gently extend his tongue to lick the nose of a more confident and high-ranking dog．The first dog licks the nose of the second dog to simply make it know that：he comes in peace．   
Dogs who are already friends will also trade kisses．Two strongly bonded dog pals will lick and clean each other．They give each other “dog kisses” showing friendship．
Puppies also “kiss” their mothers，but it's not a gesture of love．When puppies stop suckling(吸吮)their mothers’ tits for milk and start to eat semisolid(半固體)food instead；they lick their mothers’ mouths and noses in the hope of getting the mother to regurgitate(反哺) some semi-digested food．
So how to help your bashful dog make friends with other dogs? You can carefully select confident-but-friendly and good-tempered dogs to play with your shy dog，to help him develop his social skills．Also consider taking him to a special training class that focuses on socialization and positive training technique．
Do not disturb them when your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other．Sit back and enjoy this display of friendship．Then call them over and have them do a command such as “sit’’ or “shake paws”．Offer them treats as a reward for being good to each other．
If you foster(收養(yǎng))a dog and have three or more resident dogs，introduce the foster dog to your brood dog one at a time and let muzzle licking between them happen naturally．Start with your least reactive or most friendly dog．Never force an in production between the dogs because this can deepen the foster dog’s submissiveness or spark a fight．
【小題1】We know a shy and lower—ranking dog licks the nose of a higher-ranking dog to        ．

A．a(chǎn)sk the dog for help	B．show he is friendly
C．show his anger	D．show his respect for him

【小題2】What can we know about two dogs who are already friends?

A．They seldom give each other kisses．

B．They usually avoid direct eye contact．

C．They like keeping their friendship a secret．

D．They show their friendship by “dog kisses”．

【小題3】What does the underlined word “bashful” in Paragraphs 5 mean?

A．Shy．

B．Honest．

C．Lovely．

D．Little．

【小題4】What should you do if your two dogs play “kiss” briefly with each other?

A．Ask them to stay away from each other immediately．

B．Ask them to shake tails．

C．Ask them to have a fight．

D．Give them a reward for being friends．

【小題5】The writer wrote this passage to_________．

A．tell us about a study he did recently

B．explain why a dog kisses other dogs

C．tell us how to raise dogs

D．help us to make friends with dogs.

More and more people take part in marathons these days – over 30,000 people will run the London Marathon this weekend, for instance. But it’s not just the 26 miles and 385 yards that could be a daunting prospect. “I have to admit to being completely frustrated by the blocking and for 18-19 miles was just keeping away from people and being held up,” one participant grumbled after the 2012 London Marathon. “I had to overtake a lot of people and ended up with bruised（淤腫的）forearms from all the elbows,” said another.
How do such crowding problems arise, and could they be reduced? Some researchers believe that we can find the answers through a more familiar system in which jams appear – road traffic flow. Martin Treiber, of the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, has previously developed models for traffic flow. One of the first attempts to model traffic flow was made in the 1950s by James Lighthill and his collaborator Gerard Whitham of Manchester University. They considered the traffic as a kind of liquid flowing down a pipe, and looked at how the flow changes as the fluid gets denser(濃稠). At first the flow rate increases as the density increases, since you simply get more stuff through in the same period of time. But if the density becomes too high, there’s a risk of jams, and the flow rate drops sharply.
Treiber’s model of a marathon uses this same principle that the flow rate first increases and then decreases as the density of runners increases, thanks to an sudden switch from free to crowded flow. He assumes that there is a range of different preferred speeds for different runners, which each maintains throughout the race. With just these factors, Treiber can calculate the flow rate of runners, knowing the “carrying capacity”(承載能力)at each point on the route.
This allows Treiber to figure out how blocking might depend on the race conditions – for example, for different starting procedures. Some marathons start by letting all the runners set off at once (which means those at the back have to wait until those in front have moved forward). Others assign runners to various groups according to ability, and let them start in a series of waves.
Treiber has applied the model to the annual Rennsteig half-marathon in central Germany, which attracts around 6,000 participants. The traditional route had to be changed in 2013, because the police were no longer willing to close a road to ensure that runners could cross safely. It could pass either over a 60m wooden bridge or through a tunnel. Treiber used his model to predict the likely blocking caused in the various options. The model predicted that a mass start would risk an overload of runners if the bridge were to be used. Only by moving the starting point further back from the bridge could the danger be avoided – and even then, if some of the numbers assumed in the model were only slightly inaccurate, there was still a risk of jams at the bridge. On the other hand, no dangerous blocking seemed likely for the tunnel route. The run organizers consulted Treiber’s team, and eventually chose this option.
【小題1】What is the worst thing while running a marathon?

A．The long distance.	B．Too many participants.
C．The dangerous blocking.	D．Serious injuries in forearms.

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

A．James Lighthill is the first expert trying to model traffic flow.

B．The denser the flow is, the faster the flow rate becomes.

C．The flow rate increases in the beginning because fewer people passed together.

D．The flow rate increases first and then decreases later when the flow is too denser.

【小題3】What is NOT true about the Rennsteig?

A．It has much less participants than the London Marathon in 2014.

B．It has a shorter distance than the London Marathon.

C．The route was changed because the traditional one is not safe any longer.

D．The participants running this marathon will pass a tunnel because this choice is safer.

【小題4】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Make a comparison between marathon and road traffic.

B．Running a marathon is somewhat dangerous if it is not well organized.

C．Introduce a new technology to solve the blocking problem in marathon.

D．Some advice for people who are to run a marathon.

On a hot summer day, a soft drink can really take away your thirst. At home, at school, in the park or at the movies---you can find one almost anywhere.
Carbonated
You can see bubbles(泡沫) in these! Of all soft drinks sold, about 75 percent are carbonated(碳酸的). But be careful, carbonated soft drinks have lots of sugar and caffeine(咖啡因). Caffeine is not very good for you in the summer because it takes water out of your body. And the sugar can make you overweight if you drink too much.
Fruit juice
There are different kinds of juice. One kind is made only from fresh fruit. This kind of fruit juice may not taste sweet enough for some people, but it is nutritious(有營養(yǎng)的). Another kind of fruit juice tastes good but has lots of sugar in it. Many young people buy this kind because the advertisements are good. It is bad for your teeth and bones to drink lots of this.
Energy drinks
These kinds of drinks have caffeine and things that make people get excited in them. They are sometimes called “party drinks”. Doctors say that if you drink too much of this kind, you may have a heart attack.
Bottled water
We have lots of different kinds of bottled water, such as mineral water, purified water and distilled water(蒸餾水). They are clean and easy to drink. But it is best not to drink very cold water. It may make your stomach feel bad.
Sports drinks
Most of these have funny names like “Scream(尖叫)” and “G-Vital(激活)”. They have lots of vitamins and minerals in them. After you play sports, you may want to drink one of these.
But if you just spend your summer holiday sitting around watching TV, you won’t need them at all!
【小題1】Which two types of drinks may make you overweight?

A．Carbonated and fruit juice.

B． Energy drinks and sports drinks.

C．Carbonated and energy drinks.

D．Fruit juice and bottled water.

【小題2】 Which one may lead to your heart disease?

A．Carbonated.	B．Fruit juice.
C．Energy drinks.	D．Sports drinks

【小題3】 After sports, you have sports drinks because______.

A．they can take away your thirst

B．they can put back minerals you’ve lost in sweat

C．they have funny names that sound very exciting

D．they have no sugar

【小題4】The writer wrote this passage to______.

A．warn us to keep away from soft drinks

B．teach us some useful ways of keeping healthy

C．tell us how to choose a good one from all kinds of drinks

D．make the advertisements for soft drinks

First Lady Michelle Obama is a big fan of volunteering. Volunteering means working for free to help someone else. Mrs. Obama says volunteering is very important. “It should be part of everyone’s life,” she says.
Many teens agree. They say that helping others feels great and makes a difference. These days, more teens volunteer than work for pay. Teens clean up parks, walk dogs at animal shelters, visit the elderly and more.
Some cities ---- including Seattle, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. ----require high school students to volunteer. Students must volunteer in order to graduate. The student volunteers learn new skills and help their communities.
Many parents are in favor of the idea ---- they say volunteering helps teens build job skills. But most teens don’t want to be forced to volunteer. They say they are busy. And they say volunteering is only fun if it’s a choice.
Read both sides of the debate and decide.
YES
Volunteering can help teens get into college or get a job.
Many cities and towns need help. Volunteers can help keep important programs going.
Not all teens will volunteer if it isn’t required. Schools should require students to do all they can to get ready for adult life.
NO
Most teens are already very busy with classes, homework, jobs and sports. Forcing them to do more isn’t fair.
It should be up to each person. Helping out doesn’t feel as good if you have to do it.
Finding a volunteer job isn’t always easy. Students shouldn’t be kept from graduating because of something they can’t control.
【小題1】The writer mentions Michelle Obama in order to___________.

A．show she enjoys volunteering	B．explain what volunteering is
C．tell what she does for the US	D．introduce the topic of the text

【小題2】According to the text, in Chicago,             .

A．finding a volunteer job is quite easy

B．volunteering is a must for high school students

C．more people would rather work for pay

D．college students have to volunteer before graduation

【小題3】 Which question does the text mainly discuss?

A．Should students be required to volunteer?

B．Is volunteering good for students?

C．What is the best time to volunteer?

D．Which volunteer jobs should students do?

If you, a man, are looking through this, congratulations: you are a survivor (幸存者). According to a survey, you are more than twice likely to die of skin cancer than a woman, and nine times more likely to die of AIDS. If you make it to the end of your natural term, about 78 years for men in Australia, you will die on average five years before a woman.
There are many reasons for this. Men take more risks than woman and are more likely to drink and smoke—but perhaps more importantly, men don’t go to the doctor.
“Men aren’t seeing doctors as often as they should.” says Dr. Gullotta,“This is particularly so for the over 40s, when diseases tend to strike.”Gullotta says a healthy man should visit the doctor every year or two. For those over 45, it should be at least once a year. Two months ago Gullotta saw a 50-year-old man who had delayed(延遲) doing anything about his smoker’s cough for a year. “When I finally saw him it had already spread and he has since died from lung cancer.”he says.“Earlier finding and treatment may not have cured him, but it would have made him live longer.”
According to a recent survey, 95% of women aged between 15 and early 40s see a doctor once a year, compared to 70% of men in the same age group.
“A lot of men think they are strong enough. While some men are scared of what might be there and would rather not know. Most men get their cars serviced more regularly than they service their bodies.” Dr. Gullotta says. He believes most diseases that commonly affect men could be found out by check-ups. Regular check-ups for men would place strain on the public purse, Gullotta says. “But prevention is cheaper in the long run than having to cure the diseases. Besides, the final/highest cost is far greater: it is called premature death(過早死亡).”

【小題1】 From the first paragraph, we can know that _________.

A．women are more likely to die of skin cancer

B．men are more likely to get some deadly diseases

C．men can live five years longer than women

D．men who live long are very lucky

【小題2】What is a more important reason for man’s death?

A．Men take more risks than women.

B．Diseases tend to strike men easily

C．Men don’t go to doctors for check-ups.

D．Men like drinking and smoking.

【小題3】Why does the author take a 50-old-man as an example?

A．To realize the importance of disease prevention.

B．To show he could have avoided death.

C．To prove smoking leads to lung cancer.

D．To think highly of the doctor’s work.

【小題4】What can be drawn from the last paragraph?

A．Treatment would cost a lot of money.

B．Cars are more valuable than health.

C．Men are brave to accept the reality.

D．Check-ups are necessary and worthwhile.

On Christmas, children are curious about what to be in the stockings (長筒襪). It might be safe to think children will ask Santa for an extensive list of toys, games and big dinners. But a survey of their lists for Father Christmas has shown many have more serious concerns, requesting "a dad" instead. Despite their material requests, a 'dad' is tenth most popular Christmas list request for children who would be happy to give up the latest iPad, toy or new pet, a survey of 2,000 British parents has found.
Most children will put a new baby brother or sister at the top of their Christmas list, closely followed by a request for a real-life reindeer (馴鹿). A "pet horse" was the third most popular choice, with a "car" at number four.
The survey also found children aged 3 to 12 years also wanted a dog, chocolate and a stick of rock. Traditional hopes for a white Christmas were represented by a wish for "snow" in ninth place, with sensible youngsters also requesting a "house". Of the top 50 festive requests, 17 related to pets and animals, with some imaginative children hoping for a chicken and an elephant. iPhones and iPads also appeared on the list, with some quirky children asking for the moon, a time machine, and a pond cover. A request for a "mum" reached number 23 on the list.

【小題1】 What’s the No.1 on the children’s Christmas list?

A．A new baby brother or sister.	B．A real-life reindeer.
C．A pet horse.	D．A house.

【小題2】 Which of the following is not included on the Christmas list?

A．A car.	B．A chicken.
C．A stick of rock.	D．A monkey.

【小題3】 What do quirky children in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Children with quick reaction.	B．Children with wild ideas.
C．Children with cleverness.	D．Children with good manners.

【小題4】Which of the statements is Not True according to the passage?

A．Some children would rather request a dad than the latest iPad for Christmas.

B．Children of different character or ages may ask for different Christmas gifts.

C．A real-life reindeer is next to a car on children’s Christmas list.

D．According to the survey, a ‘dad” is tenth most popular Christmas list request.