【小題1】How many family members are there in Mandy’s host family?

A．4.

B．5.

C．6.

D．7.

【小題2】Next month, Mandy is going to visit__________.

A．Pattaya beach	B．Phuket Island
C．Phairat’s hometown	D．Bangkok

【小題3】From the letter we know that Mandy is__________ when she stays in Thailand.

A．bored

B．quiet

C．excited

D．proud

【小題4】What is the letter mainly about?

A．Study trip in Thailand	B．Food culture in Thailand
C．Elephant riding in Thailand	D．International schools in Thailand

I am a writer.I spend a great deal of my time thinking about the power of language—the way it can evoke(喚起)an emotion，a visual image，a complex idea，or a simple truth.Language_is_the_tool_of_my_trade.And I use them all—all the Englishes I grew up with.

Born into a Chinese family that had recently arrived in California，I've been giving more thought to the kind of English my mother speaks.Like others，I have described it to people as “broken” English.But I feel embarrassed to say that.It has always bothered me that I can think of no way to describe it other than“broken”，as if it were damaged and needed to be fixed，as if it lacked a certain wholeness.I've heard other terms used，“l(fā)imited English”， for example.But they seem just as bad，as if everything is limited，including people's perceptions(認識)of the limited English speaker.
I know this for a fact，because when I was growing up, my mother's “l(fā)imited” English limited my perception of her.I was ashamed of her English.I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say.That is，because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts were imperfect. And I had plenty of evidence to support me：the fact that people in department stores，at banks，and at restaurants did not take her seriously，did not give her good service，pretended not to understand her，or even acted as if they did not hear her.
I started writing fiction in 1985.And for reasons I won't get into today，I began to write stories using all the Englishes I grew up with：the English she used with me，which for lack of a better term might be described as“broken”：and what I imagine to be her translation of her Chinese，her internal(內(nèi)在的)language，and for that I sought to preserve the essence，but neither an English nor a Chinese structure.I wanted to catch what language ability tests can never show：her intention，her feelings，the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts.
【小題1】By saying“Language is the tool of my trade”，the author means that ________.

A．she uses English in foreign trade

B．she is fascinated by languages

C．she works as a translator

D．she is a writer by profession

【小題2】The author used to think of her mother's English as ________.

A．impolite

B．a(chǎn)musing

C．imperfect

D．practical

【小題3】The author gradually realizes her mother's English is ________.

A．well structured	B．in the old style
C．easy to translate	D．rich in meaning

【小題4】What is the passage mainly about?

A．The change of the author's attitude to her mother's English.

B．The limitation of the author's perception of her mother.

C．The author's misunderstanding of “l(fā)imited” English.

D．The author's experiences of using broken English.

Some people will do just about anything to save money.And I am one of them.Take my family's last vacation.It was my six－year－old son's winter break from school，and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip.The flight was overbooked，and Delta，the airline，offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day.I had meetings in New York，so I had to get back.But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay.I took my nine－month－old and took off for home.
The next day，my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight.Yes，I encouraged—okay，ordered—them to wait it out at the airport to “earn” more Delta Dollars.Our total take：$1,600.Not bad，huh?
Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either.But as a big－time bargain hunter，I know the value of a dollar.And these days，a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.
I've made a living looking for the best deals and exposing(揭露) the worst tricks.I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade.I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade：A Consumer Survival Guide.And I really do what I believe in.
I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money's worth.I'm also tightfisted when it comes to shoes，clothes for my children，and expensive restaurants.But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut.It keeps its shape longer，and it's the first thing people notice.And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture.Quality lasts.
【小題1】Why did Delta give the author's family credits?

A．They took a later flight.

B．They had early bookings.

C．Their flight had been delayed.

D．Their flight had been cancelled.

【小題2】What can we learn about the author?

A．She rarely misses a good deal.

B．She seldom makes a compromise.

C．She is very strict with her children.

D．She is interested in cheap products.

【小題3】What does the author do?

A．She's a teacher.

B．She's a housewife.

C．She's a media person.

D．She's a businesswoman.

【小題4】What does the author want to tell us?

A．How to expose bad tricks.

B．How to reserve airline seats.

C．How to spend money wisely.

D．How to make a business deal.

Pop stars today enjoy what once only belonged to the royalty(皇室)．Wherever they go，people turn out in their thousands to greet them.The crowds go wild trying to catch a brief glimpse of their smiling，colorfully dressed idols.The stars are transported in their chauffeur driven Rolls Royces，private helicopters or executive aeroplanes.They are surrounded by a permanent entourage(隨從)of managers，press agents and bodyguards.Photographs of them appear regularly in the press and all their comings and goings are reported，for，like royalty，pop stars are news.If they enjoy many of the privileges of royalty，they certainly share many of the inconveniences as well.It is dangerous for them to make unscheduled appearances in public.They must be constantly shielded from the adoring crowds who idolize them.They are no longer private individuals，but public property.The financial rewards they receive for this sacrifice cannot be calculated，for their rates of pay are great.

And why not？Society has always rewarded its top entertainers lavishly.The great days of Hollywood have become legendary：famous stars enjoyed fame，wealth and adulation(奉承)on an all time scale.By today's standards，the excesses of Hollywood do not seem quite so spectacular.A single gramopphone record nowadays may earn much more in royalties than the films of the past ever did.The competition for the title“Top of the Pops”is fierce，but the rewards are truly huge.
It is only right that the stars should be paid in this way.Don't the top men in industry earn enormous salaries for the service they perform to their companies and their countries？Pop stars earn vast sums in foreign currency—often more than large industrial companies—and the taxman can only be grateful for their massive annual contributions to the exchequer(國庫)．So who would begrudge them their rewards?
It's all very well for people in boring jobs to complain about the successes and rewards of others.People who make envious remarks should remember that the most famous stars represent only the tip of the iceberg.For every famous star，there are hundreds of others struggling to earn a living.A man working in a steady job and looking forward to a pension at the end of it has no right to expect very high rewards.He has chosen security and peace of mind，so there will always be a limit to what he can earn.But a map who attempts to become a star is taking enormous risks.He knows at the outset that only a handful of competitors ever get to the very top.He knows that years of concentrated effort may be rewarded with complete failure.But he knows，too，that the rewards for success are very high indeed：they are the payback for the huge risks involved and once he makes it，he will certainly earn them.That's the essence of private enterprise.
【小題1】The author develops the passage mainly by ________.

A．comparing different ideas

B．giving explanations

C．inferring

D．listing typical examples

【小題2】The underlined word “begrudge” in the third pararaph is closest in meaning to ________.

A．be jealous of	B．be satisfied with
C．be anxious about	D．be crazy about

【小題3】According to the passage，which of the following can match the view of the author?

A．He who laughs last laughs best.

B．If you venture nothing，you will gain nothing.

C．He who makes no mistakes makes nothing.

D．Success belongs to the persevering.

【小題4】Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．People are blind in idolizing stars.

B．There is fierce competition in becoming pop stars.

C．The government taxes pop stars very little.

D．Pop stars' life is more luxurious than that of royalty.

With the average temperature for January standing at －50 ℃，it is no wonder the Russian village of Oymyakon is the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world.Known as the“Pole of Cold”，the coldest ever temperature recorded in Oymyakon is －71.2 ℃.This is the lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited location on Earth and the lowest temperature recorded in the northern hemisphere(北半球)．
Ironically，Oymyakon actually means“non?freezing water”due to a nearby hot spring.Most homes in Oymyakon still burn coal and wood for heat and enjoy few modern conveniences.
Nothing grows there so people eat reindeer(馴鹿)meat and horsemeat.A single shop provides the town's bare necessities and the locals work as reindeer?breeders，hunters and ice?fishermen.
There are few modern conveniences in the village—with many buildings still having outdoor toilets—and most people still burn coal and wood for heat.When coal deliveries are irregular，the power station starts burning wood.If the power ceases，the town shuts down in about five hours，and the pipes freeze and crack.
Daily problems that come with living in Oymyakon include pen ink freezing，glasses freezing to people's faces and batteries losing power.Locals are said to leave their cars running all day for fear of not being able to restart them.Even if there was coverage for mobile phone reception，the phones themselves would not work in such conditions.
Another problem caused by the frozen temperatures is burying dead bodies，which can take anything up to three days.The earth must first have thawed(融解)sufficiently in order to dig it，so a bonfire is lit for a couple of hours.Hot coals are then pushed to the side and a hole couple of inches deep is dug.The process is repeated for several days until the hole is deep enough to bury the coffin.
Travel companies offer tourists the opportunity to visit the village and sample life in the freezing conditions.
【小題1】From the passage we can infer that people in Oymyakon ________.

A．prefer meat to any other kind of food

B．seldom have fresh vegetables and fruits

C．can buy anything in the shop

D．might row a boat to catch fish

【小題2】Which of the following is the first step when burying a dead body?

A．The coffin must be put in place.

B．A bonfire has to be lit first.

C．Hot coals have to be pushed to the side.

D．A hole couple of inches deep is dug.

【小題3】Mobile phones would not work in Oymyakon because ________.

A．the batteries are of poor quality

B．there was no coverage for phone reception

C．batteries can't be charged in such conditions

D．the extreme coldness makes the batteries lose power

【小題4】Why do the locals have their cars running all day?

A．They are afraid they can't get the car started.

B．They want to keep warm in the car.

C．They have abundant oil resources.

D．They have little awareness of saving.

With the crazy smog going on in China, businessmen are now ready to grope for your wallet. “Smog economy” is stimulating a shopping spree on certain products against the terrible weather. Now let’s see what we have on the list to help us through the crisis.
1. Masks
Well, I would say you had better stay indoors to save your lives. PM 2.5 just surged up to 750 in Beijing recently. 3M just sold 220,000 masks of a kind. No.1 best-selling products!
2. Air purifiers
This kind of products is rarely seen in Chinese households in the past. They have become a necessity now. I do like these little gadgets, but they are just too expensive.
3. Oxygen inhalers
I didn’t realize oxygen inhalers also get a cut in the smog economy. As a matter of fact, your oxygen uptake has nothing to with relieving (減輕) the impact of smog. It might even lead to oxygen poisoning when you inhale too much oxygen. So don’t get greedy.
4. Salt lamps
Compared to oxygen inhalers, salt lamps are even worse. Some stores are selling the products at several hundred yuan, saying that they can release negative ions(離子), reduce radiation levels and purify the air. The lamps mainly contain sodium chloride. The boiling point of sodium is about 800 degrees centigrade and that of candle is 500. So how on earth can negative ions be released at only 500 degrees?
5. Plants that absorb smog
Yeah, right. Plants Vs Smog. It is scientifically justified (證明) that some plants do absorb pollutants from the air. Money plants and calla lilies are among the best-sellers in the market. Even if they don’t work, it’s good to have some plants in the house anyway.
【小題1】According to the passage, smog _______.

A．give some economic chances to businessmen

B．is very bad to economy

C．makes some crisis come out

D．have nothing to do with the economy

【小題2】What is the meaning of the underlined word?

A．Giving up shopping.	B．Feeling down in shopping.
C．Having a lot to buy.	D．Buying something enthusiastically.

【小題3】Salt lamps are useless, because_______.

A．it may cause poisoning

B．it actually can’t release the negative ions

C．it reduces radiation level and makes the air dirty

D．the prize is very high

【小題4】How many ways does the author think are useful?

A．2.

B．3.

C．4.

D．5.

Jealousy (嫉妒) is a horrible feeling that weeds its way into your life and relationships before you know it. You might want something someone else has, or feel like they’re happier than you. It might seem like an uncontrollable emotion, but it’s truly not!
Remember your big accomplishments. If your coworker gets the promotion you wanted, it doesn’t mean you haven’t done great work. List out your accomplishments and think about how you got them and what you’ve done since then. You’ll quickly find that you’re just as worthy as the person you’re envying!
Appreciate your own good fortune. Think of where you are in your life and how you got there. Did you just buy your first car? Are you able to save one paycheck each month? Are you surrounded by loving family and amazing friends? You have a lot of good things，and you have a lot of good fortune coming your way. Stop letting jealousy eat you alive and realize that you can better spend that energy on furthering your own success and happiness.
Appreciate that others can do what you can’t. How boring would life be if everyone was the same? What if the entire population of your city was applying for your job, and they all had the same qualifications? Appreciate that everyone is different. Some people are better in powerful management positions, while maybe you’re better working with people. A friend might be an excellent artist—a quality you’re envious of, but don’t forget that you’re a great musician! Acknowledge that people need to be different, need to be better at various things.
【小題1】Jealousy is an emotion that ________.

A．you feel others do better than you

B．can go into your soul without being noticed

C．positive enough to make yourself do better

D．makes you as worthy as the person you’re envying

【小題2】We should appreciate that others can do what you can’t, because _______.

A．you can further your own success and happiness

B．things in the world are various

C．the entire population of your city is applying for your job

D．you’re worthless compared to anyone else

【小題3】When will you probably be Jealous of someone?

A．When your coworker gets the promotion you wanted.

B．When you buy your first car.

C．When you are surrounded by loving family and friends.

D．When your friend become an artist.

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

A．Jealousy is a bad feeling.

B．Jealousy may influence your life and relationship.

C．What should we do when Jealousy arises?

D．Why we must keep away from Jealousy?

Falling temperatures are no excuse to avoid outdoor exercise with your dog. Along with making sure you are appropriately dressed, your dog should also be properly protected from the elements. Some large breed dogs such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and Huskies can tolerate the colder weather better than others. These dogs may also develop a thicker coat over time as they are exposed to colder weather.
Smaller breeds, however, like Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers, breeds with short coats and puppies should wear some type of protection, i.e, a coat or sweater, if the temperature drops too low. Look for coats or sweaters with high collars or a turtleneck that covers your dog from the base of the tail on top to the belly underneath.
Dog booties (毛線鞋) provide good protection from chemicals or salts on the pavement as well as mud. If you don’t use the booties, be sure to wipe your dog’s paw pads with room temperature water after taking it outside.
Other tips
When you bathe your dog, dry him completely before taking him out in the cold weather for a walk or exercise. It is especially important to keep your dog well groomed (打扮) during the winter months to protect him from the elements.
If your dog frequently participates in outdoor activities during the colder months, increase his food intake, especially protein, to help keep his coat grow thick and healthy. Dogs that are not as active during the winter months may need to have their food consumption reduced.
The amount of time you spend outside with your dog will depend on his size, breed type and age. Remember that ill or elderly dogs are more sensitive to cold weather. Dogs whom cold weather agrees with can spend hours outside without getting cold but some of the smaller and younger dogs’ exercise sessions should be kept shorter. Dogs should not be left outside unattended.
Another activity to consider is doggie daycare, which is an excellent alternative during cold weather months. It’s a great place for your dog to get plenty of physical and mental stimulation while being with other dogs.
Banfield Pet Hospital
【小題1】The underlined word “elements” in the first paragraph probably means ______.

A．extreme weather

B．potential enemies

C．serious diseases

D．terrible accidents

【小題2】Dog owners are advised to ______ in the text.

A．bathe their dogs less during the winter months

B．a(chǎn)void outdoor exercise with their dogs in cold weather

C．make their dogs wear booties for a walk outside every time

D．feed their dogs more food if they’re frequently taking them out in winter

【小題3】 The author thinks dog owners should_________ in the cold weather.

A．not walk the dog	B．protect their dog pets from being hurt
C．stop walking the dog	D．a(chǎn)void walking the dog

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

A．Small breed dogs are usually more tolerant of cold weather than larger ones.

B．Smaller and younger dogs tend to become less active in cold weather.

C．Dogs’ paw pads should be thoroughly cleaned after outdoor activities in winter.

D．A trip to doggie daycare can get dogs better prepared for outdoor activities.

【小題5】What is the best title for this passage?

A．How to make your dog exercise in cold weather	B．Walk dogs in the cold weather
C．Dogs like to take exercise in winter	D．Take good care of dogs

The other day I heard a few local musicians talking:
"I hate all the pianos in this town and I hate that rubbish they play on the radio .They cannot every understand rhythm（韻律)"
"Nobody wants to pay musicians anything. I'm sick of all the people who want you to play without paying you."
One younger musician said, "There are several clubs who want me to play for a few nights a  month and I'm trying to find other places to play .I'm also planning to join in several summer festivals this year."
I  really liked what the younger musician said so I made friends with him.
Attitudes are important. Whether they're positive or negative(消極) they're all rubbing      off on you,If you're around people who are always complaining or blaming others, it is possible that you will start doing the same as well. If you spend lots of time with people who don't support your dreams, it is time to take a look at the people you call " friends".
There is an easy exercise you can try. Make a list of the people who you often stay with, and simply stop , spending time with the negative ones on your list. Set a new standard for yourself and don't become friends with people who fall below that standard.
Of course, this exercise is entirely different from making friends only for the good of oneself. We really should try to help and spend time with those who are working towards a goal or dream.
【小題1】The musicians' conversation at the beginning is there to show that

A．musicians' living conditions are not good

B．people in that town have poor taste in music

C．young people are more likely to succeed

D．different musicians have different attitudes

【小題2】The underlined part in Para. 6 means________.

A．they'll have an influence on you	B．they'll help you realize your dreams
C．they'll keep you from moving on	D．they'll push you ahead very hard

【小題3】Why did the author want to make friends with the younger musician?

A．He is more active than the others.

B．He can earn more than the others.

C．His attitude is more positive than the others.

D．He has more things to do than the others.

【小題4】By doing the exercise mentioned in Para. 7, you can________.

A．improve your ability to make friends

B．make the right kind of friends for sure

C．develop a better relationship with your friends

D．make some new friends with similar interests

【小題5】We can get the following information from the passage EXCEPT________.

A．the younger musician is a positive person and would be a good friend

B．one should avoid making friends with people having lots of difficulties

C．the exercise can help you keep close to really helpful friends

D．one will start complaining if one spends too much time with negative people

"If there is one thing I'm sure about, it is that m a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get  most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The nature of what is news may change .What basically makes news is what affects our lives - the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though .It's already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic（基因的） engineering. In the future, I think  there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do - as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates  and what our feelings really are.
It's quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted（傳送）electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact ,I'm pretty sure  how it will happen m the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read - sports and international news, etc.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media（媒體）．They actually feed off each  other.  Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn't happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet. it's never really pleasant to read something just on a screen.
【小題1】What is the best title for the passage?

A．The Best Way to Get News	B．The Changes of Media
C．Make Your Own Newspaper	D．The Future of Newspaper

【小題2】In the writer's opinion, in the future, _______.

A．more big political affairs, wars and disasters will make news

B．newspapers will not be printed in publishing houses any longer

C．newspapers will cover more scientific research

D．more and more people will watch TV

【小題3】What will probably be on in the newspaper made by yourself?

A．Sports and international news.	B．A menu of important news.
C．The most Important news.	D．what you are interested in.

【小題4】From the passage, we can infer ________.

A．newspapers will win the competition among the different meclia

B．newspapers will stay with us together with other media

C．television will take the place of newspaper

D．the writer believe some media will die out

【小題5】The phrase "feed off" in the last paragraph means ________ .

A．depend on

B．compete with

C．fight with

D．kill off