E­reading and e­books are slowly conquering the world.Compared to traditional paper books，e­books in some schools and universities attract more interest because the information flow seems much easier to manage and comes in a greatly higher quantity.
Japan is known for the reform­minded attitude towards the gadget(精巧裝置) world and for the fact that it is one of the first countries that encouraged in the educational system the emailing of homework.
The digital textbook looks like the logical step in the world of learning.It is natural but it is also completely untraditional.
The plan of the largest publishing companies to get in line with the trend is to save a large quantity of paper and make the kids become interested in learning using a cool gadget.Many USA universities and colleges have made students be used to the procedure of downloading the courses and of course the procedure involves interactive software and also the chance of using the computer.
The traditional education system is still unwilling when it comes to giving up books.The standard approach of information taught out of a book and Shakespeare read out of an old school novel makes studying English as traditional as it can be.
In a world where kids would rather see the movie than read a book，the digital age has brought along a completely different flavor to reading.Bringing that flavor in school will make teaching a greener and also a completely different matter.
【小題1】Why are e­books so popular in the world?

A．It's cheap to buy.	B．It's effective to use.
C．It's convenient to bring.	D．It's the latest fashion.

【小題2】Which of the following words can best take the place of the word “reform­minded” in the second paragraph?

A．Old­fashioned.	B．Aggressive.
C．Rejecting.	D．Progressive.

【小題3】In America，the students are encouraged to________．

A．a(chǎn)pply the procedure of downloading the courses

B．communicate with their teachers using computer

C．research some interactive software for their studies

D．do their homework in computer instead of in paper

【小題4】What's the author's attitude to the digital textbooks?

A．Being against.	B．Being for.
C．Not mentioned.	D．Being neutral.

Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping. Or is it?
Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (瀏覽) various websites. The claim made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim of fraud (詐騙) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation.
Another problem is the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue. Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items where design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.
Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large vans pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated (使煩惱) by the fact that the delivery is late and you have wasted the leave from work you have taken to receive it!
Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.
【小題1】The author lists several questions in Para. 1 to        .

A．support online shopping

B．collect answers from readers

C．show his dislike of going shopping

D．introduce the topic of the passage

【小題2】By what can online shoppers avoid fraud?

A．Using only trusted websites.

B．Choosing big websites.

C．Collecting shopping evidence.

D．Seeking advice from the police.

【小題3】The author agrees with the fact that ______.

A．customers are never satisfied with products

B．online shopping is a safe way to make purchases

C．online shopping has nothing to do with global warming

D．delivery delay often makes online shoppers unhappy

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude towards online shopping?

A．Very popular.

B．A wise choice.

C．Not trouble free.

D．A waste of time.

Living in a modern society has its advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that you often have to live closer to other people than you would like to. Sometimes, your neighbors make a  noise that you are not comfortable with.
The best way to solve this problem is to talk with your neighbor first. You should be very polite and ask your neighbor if he knows how thin the walls of your homes are. This way doesn’t criticize (批評) his behavior（行為）; it simply points out that he may not realize how far his sound travels. Tell him that you know that sometimes you make noise as well, but that you do your best to keep it down. Often this will solve the problem right away, but sometimes the neighbor may become angry.
If your neighbor becomes angry with you, there are some more steps you can take. You might write a letter to the neighborhood committee. Make sure you write down the source of the noise and the time in the letter. They will review the situation and decide whether your neighbor is out of line. Some noise is considered to be reasonable, even if it bothers you. So you may prepare a good pair of earplugs (耳塞).
Even if your neighbor makes too much noise, you don’t have to live your life in discomfort. It’s always a good idea to be friendly with your neighbors. You may clean the rubbish in front of his door. He’s sure to appreciate behavior like this and be more open to your suggestions about noise level.
【小題1】What is the first step to deal with the noisy neighbor?

A．To buy a good pair of earplugs

B．To offer suggestions to the neighbor

C．To ask the neighborhood committee for help

D．To tell the neighbor how bad his behavior is

【小題2】The underlined word “reasonable” in the third paragraph probably means “____”.

A．terrible

B．loud

C．proper

D．unpleasant

【小題3】What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．You should control your noise as well

B．You can live comfortably even if there is noise

C．Your neighbor may be more friendly than you think

D．You should build good relationship with your neighbor

【小題4】The author wrote this passage to tell us ____ .

A．why we should get on well with neighbors

B．how to relax ourselves in a modern society

C．how to become known among neighbors

D．what we should do with our noisy neighbor

Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class, and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers and play the music loudly as they drive on the street.
Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, and the life of American people. Most of the radio programmers are music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in many places. Once the popular singer is heard all over the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes goes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.
There are other kinds of music that are important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. Another is called western or country music. This is started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.
【小題1】This passage mainly talks about ____.

A．American music	B．American popular music
C．three sorts of music	D．popular music singers

【小題2】The first three paragraphs mainly tell us ____.

A．that Americans like popular music

B．that popular music is an important kind of music in America

C．how to become a national star as a pop singer in America

D．popular music in America is what every student like

【小題3】In American, as a pop singer, if you want to become a national star, you’ll have to ____.

A．earn a lot of money

B．make a radio stations use your CDs or tapes

C．make many CDs or tapes

D．make all the young people love you and what you sing

Recently I paid a visit to Harvard University, where there are top class scientists and professors and the best academic system in the world.
I was pretty shocked when I first stepped onto the campus. Well, it’s not ever really a campus. It’s a more like district in a small town.
Harvard's main buildings are from the 18th century. They look very old and simple. You might even say they're a little shabby (破舊的). They don’t fit the modern idea of university at all. The buildings are surrounded by grass and trees, so I felt as if I had walked into a medieval castle. But when I looked across the street, busy shops and in-fashion students made me feel like I was in the 21st century again. It creates a strong contrast (對比) and brings a special atmosphere (氛圍) to the school.
Our tour guide Gary took us around and told us: “You see this grass field in the center of the school? Here is where they host their graduation ceremony. They just set up tents and benches and have a very simple ceremony. Unbelievable! Who would think the most talented students just graduate on the lawn?”
I saw some students put a blanket on the grass and lie down to read a book. When I listened to the soft sound of pages turning, along with chirping of the birds, I felt very calm. There was no competitive feeling at all.
Harvard has the world’s first computer in its science center and there are hundreds of high-end computers too. Its religion and the literature departments are also among the best. It is the perfect mix of tradition and new technology. It makes Harvard a very attractive place to study in.
I hope one day I’ll attend my dream school—Harvard.
【小題1】According to the article the author was most impressed by ____.

A．Harvard’s mix of tradition and new technology

B．the classes held on beautiful lawns at Harvard

C．Harvard students not taking their graduation ceremony seriously

D．the feeling of not living in modern society on the campus

【小題2】What can we conclude from the article? 

A．Harvard campus is actually a district of a big city.

B．There are no competitions at Harvard University.

C．Graduation ceremonies are not complex at Harvard.

D．All Harvard buildings date back to the 18th century.

【小題3】Which word can be used to describe the Harvard campus? 

A．Modern

B．Competitive

C．Peaceful

D．Splendid

C

Honey Sweet Cake (Prep. Time: 12 mins.) Ingredients Strawberries in syrup(糖漿), 1 package (unfrozen) Heavy cream, 1 cup Corn flour, 2 tablespoons Process Mix the strawberries, cream and corn flour in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes, while constantly mixing until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and refrigerate for two hours, Fill the frozen mixture in a cake, and serve.

Rosy Cake (Prep. Time: 10 mins. ) Ingredients Sugar, 3/4 cup Water, 1 cup Corn flour, 3 tablespoons Strawberries , 2——3 cups Process Take a large saucepan and mix all the ingredients. Cook until the mixture thickens over medium heat. Let it cool naturally and completely. Fill up your cake with the mixture, and serve.

Triangle Sweet (Prep. Time: 15 mins. ) Ingredients Sugar, cup Whipping cream, cup Unflavored gelatin(明膠) , 1 tablespoon Cold water, 2 tablespoons Boiled water, 3 tablespoons Strawberries, crushed, 2 cups Process Add sugar to the crushed strawberries and set them aside. In cold water, soften the gelatin, and once it is softened, add boiling water. Stir until the gelatin dissolves. Add the dissolved gelatin mixture to the strawberries and let it cool. Now whip(攪打) the cream till it becomes stiff. When the strawberry mixture is of syrup thickness, add the whipped cream to it. Refrigerate until it sets. Fill it into your cake, and serve.

Flaming Maple (Prep. Time: 10 mins. ) Ingredients Fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoons Honey, 2 tablespoons Maple syrup, 2 tablespoons Strawberries, ripe, 2 pints Process Make a fruit butter of half of the strawberries. Add honey, lemon juice, and maple syrup until it forms a smooth sauce. Add the remaining strawberries. Fill the mixture in the cake, and serve.

【小題1】Which of the following ingredients are used in all the recipes?

A．heavy cream

B．sugar syrup

C．corn flour

D．strawberries

【小題2】Chefs needn't freeze the ingredients when preparing ___________
① Honey Sweet Cake ②Rosy Cake ③Triangle Sweet   ④ Flaming Maple

A．①②

B．②③

C．①④

D．②④

【小題3】Which of the following is true?

A．Triangle Sweet takes the longest time to prepare.

B．Strawberries used in the recipes aren't all fresh.

C．Most strawberries are used when making a Rosy Cake.

D．Honey Sweet Cake is the best choice for busy mothers.

【小題4】In how many recipes should chefs thicken the mixture by heating?

A．Only one

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

Many years ago，when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver，I was driving to my parents’ home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station(加油站)about 50 miles from Oklahoma City，where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register(收款臺)，I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.
I took off，but had gone only a few miles when black smoke poured from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I should do. A car pulled up behind me. It was the couple I had spoken to at the gas station. They said they would take me to my friend’s. We chatted on the way into the city，and when I got out of the car，the husband gave me his business card.
I wrote him and his wife a thank you note for helping me. Soon afterward，I received a Christmas present from them. Their note that came with it said that helping me had made their holidays meaningful.
Years later，I drove to a meeting in a nearby town in the morning. In late afternoon I returned to my car and found that I’d left the lights on all day，and the battery(電池) was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford dealership—a shop selling cars —was right next door. I walked over and found two salesmen in the showroom.
“Just how friendly is Friendly Ford？”I asked and explained my trouble. They quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. They would accept no payment，so when I got home，I wrote them a note to say thanks. I received a letter back from one of the salesmen. No one had ever taken the time to write him and say thank you，and it meant a lot，he said.
“Thank you”－two powerful words. They’re easy to say and mean so much.
【小題1】The author planned to stop at Oklahoma City ________.

A．to visit a friend	B．to see his parents
C．to pay at the cash register	D．to have more gas for his car

【小題2】The underlined words “took off” underlined in Paragraph 2 mean “________”．

A．turned off

B．moved off

C．put up

D．set up

【小題3】The battery of the author’s car was dead because ________.

A．something went wrong with the lights

B．the meeting lasted a whole day

C．he forgot to turn off the lights

D．he drove too long a distance

【小題4】By telling his own experiences，the author tries to show ________.

A．how to write a thank you letter

B．how to deal with car problems

C．the kind heartedness of older people

D．the importance of expressing thanks

In ancient Egypt，the pharaoh（法老）treated the poor message runner like a prince when he arrived at the palace, if he brought good news. However，if the exhausted runner had the misfortune to bring the pharaoh unhappy news，his head was cut off.
Shades of that spirit spread over today's conversations. Once a friend and I packed up some peanut butter and sandwiches for an outing. As we walked light-heartedly out of the door，picnic basket in hand，a smiling neighbor looked up at the sky and said，"Oh boy，bad day for a picnic. The weatherman says it's going to rain." I wanted to strike him on the face with the peanut butter and sandwiches. Not for his stupid weather report，for his smile.
Several months ago I was racing to catch a bus. As I breathlessly put my handful of cash across the Greyhound counter，the sales agent said with a broad smile，"Oh that bus left five minutes ago." Dreams of head-cutting！
It’s not the news that makes someone angry. It’s the unsym pathetic attitude with which it’s delivered(遞送). Everyone must give bad news from time to time, and winning professionals do it with the proper attitude. A doctor advising a patient that she needs an operation does it in a caring way . A boss informing an employee he didn’t get the job takes on a sympathetic tone. Big winners know, when delivering any bad news, they should share the feeling fo the receiver.
Unfortunately，many people are not aware of this. When you're tired from a long flight，has a hotel clerk cheerfully said that your room isn't ready yet？When you had your heart set on the toast beef，has your waiter merrily told you that he just served the last piece？It makes you as traveler or diner want to land your fist right on their unsympathetic faces.
Had my neighbor told me of the upcoming rainstorm with sympathy（同情），I would have appreciated his warning. Had the Greyhound salesclerk sympathetically informed me that my bus had already left，I probably would have said，"Oh，that's all right I'll catch the next one." Big winners，when they bear bad news，deliver bombs with the emotion the bombarded（被轟炸的）person is sure to have.
【小題1】In Paragraph 1，the writer tells the story of the pharaoh to ____.   

A．make a comparison	B．introduce a topic
C．describe a scene	D．offer an argument

【小題2】In the writer's opinion，his neighbor was ___.   

A．friendly

B．warm-hearted

C．not considerate

D．not helpful

【小題3】From "Dreams of head-cutting！"（Paragraph3），we learn that the writer___.   

A．was mad at the sales agent

B．was reminded of the cruel pharaoh

C．wished that the sales agent would have had dreams

D．dreamed of cutting the sales agent's head that night.

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

A．Delivering bad news properly is important in communication.

B．Helping others sincerely is the key to business success.

C．Receiving bad news requires great courage.

D．Learning ancient traditions can be useful.

Part-time jobs for 15 and 16 years olds

Waiter / Waitress A job as a waiter or waitress is a good choice for 16-year-olds. Not only can one earn $9-$12 an hour, but they can also get the tips (小費). Most people that visit a restaurant don’t just have good food. They come here to relax and have a good time. Besides serving food quickly, a young waiter who talks to them politely with a smile on his face will make the diners enjoy their time at the restaurant.

Work in a library If one is fond of books, working in a library is another suitable choice. Besides the pay is good, it offers a lot of free time when students can actually sit down and finish their homework. So on returning home, they would have time to hang around with friends or just relax. So working in a library is an excellent part-time job for teens, especially for school students.

Internet jobs There are many ways of making money through online jobs like clicking on advertisements, visiting sites and signing up with them. However, such online jobs don’t pay well. A better Internet job for teens is to complete online surveys. These are quite simple surveys that usually ask one about his/ her opinions and ideas. Many companies use these ideas to make products designed for teenagers.

【小題1】What does the writer think of the job as a waiter/waitress?

A．It needs a period of training.

B．It pays much more than other jobs.

C．It can improve one’s leadership skills.

D．Making diners comfortable is part of the job.

【小題2】A student who is busy with his research paper will probably choose to work ______.

A．in a restaurant

B．in a library

C．on the Internet

D．in an IT company

【小題3】The writer wrote this text to ______.

A．tell us the importance of doing part-time jobs

B．a(chǎn)dvise teenagers how to choose a part-time job

C．teach young people how to make lots of money

D．introduce his/her experience of doing part-time jobs

【小題4】Why do some companies ask the teens to do surveys?

A．The teens have more free time.

B．They can pay less to the teens.

C．They need advice to make products for teens.

D．The teens usually express their true opinions.

Want to find Bigfoot? Matt Moneymaker, president of Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot, says the creatures have been seen in every state but Hawaii.
Redwoods State Park, California
With its towering redwoods and thick forest, it's hard to beat the  atmosphere at this  Northern California park.Moneymaker recommends taking a walk along the Smith River on Howland Hill Road.“We heard of lots of different sightings and sounds in there，”he says.“I've found tracks crossing that road.”707­465­7335.
Salmon­Huckleberry Wilderness, Oregon
You don't have to go far to find Bigfoot.This area 20 miles east of Portland in the Mount Hood National Forest is prime spotting territory.Bigfoot apparently has a sweet tooth and goes ape for huckleberries, which grow in the area.Scores of campers have been scared off by noises and have had rocks thrown at them.503­668­1700.
Valles Caldera National Preserve, New Mexico
The high density of deer attracts Bigfoot to this place.The creatures may use the park's mountainous lookouts to watch over deer in spring.Even when there's no wind, dead trees often topple mysteriously, with their roots above the earth.“They let you know that they're there.”505­661­3333.
Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Vermont
This prominent mountain peak outside the town of Rutland has had its share of activity, including a trail­cam picture famous in Bigfoot circles of what appears to be a female one carrying her offspring (后代). Centuries ago，American Indians reported seeing an apelike creature and，more recently, hikers say that they have come upon a Bigfoot.800­756­8880.
Fahnestock State Park, New York
There's a long history of Bigfoot in this mountain park a mere 90 minutes from New York City. Moneymaker says investigators have found mysterious markings in the snow.845­225­7207.
Ponca Wilderness Area, Arkansas
Moneymaker says he had several good Bigfoot moments on a recent expedition in this area along the Buffalo National River in northern Arkansas.Most of the Bigfoot action centered on the area near Steel Creek Campground.870­439­2502.
【小題1】Visitors are likely to see Bigfoot in the following places EXCEPT________.

A．California	B．New Mexico
C．Hawaii	D．Arkansas

【小題2】If people want to see Bigfoot in Fahnestock State Park，they should phone________.

A．503­668­1 700	B．845­225­7 207
C．505­661­3 333	D．800­756­8 880

【小題3】What can we learn about Bigfoot from the passage?

A．Bigfoot is often attacked by human being.

B．Bigfoot doesn't like eating animals like deer.

C．Bigfoot is afraid of inhabiting in a thick forest.

D．Bigfoot likes eating sweet fruit like huckleberries.

【小題4】Where did Moneymaker have several good Bigfoot moments?

A．In Valles Caldera National Preserve.

B．In Salmon­Huckleberry Wilderness.

C．In Ponca Wilderness Area.

D．In Bird Mountain Wildlife Management Area.

【小題5】The underlined word “topple”  in the passage can be replaced by“________”．

A．fall down	B．eat up
C．move over	D．burn down