People think what I do is so wonderful because I interview stars. And I have to admit that when I first started working at Sassy in 1987 I was excited about that part of my job for the first couple of months，anyway. Then I noticed how stars would fool me around for months. I could never get enough time with a star to find out anything interesting, and some acted just simply rudely. I started hating the way I was treated, and I was really disappointed to see that these people I had worshipped (崇拜）before were pretty ordinary. So I decided I would just tell the truth instead of keeping up their myths(神秘）.If the star was a bad guy, I would say so. If I thought anyone was stupid, I did not hold back that information.
I thought readers would appreciate that kind of honesty. Surprisingly, many of them hated me for it. I have gotten so many attacks on my character. In their eyes，being famous is everything, even more desirable than being truly creative and talented
Why do we need stars? In fact, the media created stars to satisfy our basic need for gossip (閑話）.Over time, talking about people we have never met and we are never likely to meet has become what we are crazy about. Thus, some people are more interested in the personal lives of the stars than in the lives of their own family and their own friends. That is why it is so ridiculous when a star wants to discuss only his or her work in an interview -as we care. We want the dirt on their personal lives.
There is another reason we worship stars. As a whole, our society is not as religious as it once was. It seems that people need something to fulfill them the way religion once did. Star worship exists as an unfulfilling desire for true heroes.
We make them stars, but then their reputation makes us feel unimportant, and we truly feel better about ourselves when they die. I am part of this whole process. No wonder I feel soiled at the end of workday.
【小題1】What are the stars like according to the author?

A． They always treat others rudely.

B． They always talk about something dull.

C． They are acutually ordinary people.

D． They are usually honest and polite,

【小題2】We worship stars because ______.
A,  we need true mental heroes to support us
B.  we can learn something useful from famous stars
C.  we concern about the stars ，family and friends
D.  we like talking about the stars ，dressing styles
【小題3】When the author is writing this article ，his tone sounds  ______.
A,  excited B. angry    C. worried  D. calm
【小題4】What is the main purpose of the author writing the passage?

A． To show the disadvantages of working with stars.

B． To remind us not to worship famous stars blindly.

C． To laugh at the failures of stars he has interviewed.

D． To talk about the reasons why we worship stars.

(2013·高考北京卷，C)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(duì)) camp outside their homes，cameras ready.Tabloids (小報(bào)) 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 4^th 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 19^th century，his sold­out 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 film­stars 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．Well­known 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 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.

The Healthy Habits Survey(調(diào)查)shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits.Here are some findings and expert advice.
1．How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
●Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
●Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery­operated toothbrush.Brush gently for 2 minutes，at least twice a day.
2．How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
●Finding：Seniors，on average，bathe fewer than 3 days a week.And nearly 30%wash their hands only 4 times a day－h(huán)alf of the number doctors recommend.
●Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day－often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth，nose，and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle.And，most important，wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3．How often do you think about fighting germs?
●Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
●Step：Be aware of germs.Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge(海綿)that can carry more germs than anything else？To kill these germs，keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.
【小題1】What is found out about American seniors?

A．Most of them have good habits.

B．Nearly 30% of them bathe three days a week.

C．All of them are fighting germs better than expected.

D．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day.

【小題2】Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands ________.

A．twice a day

B．three times a day

C．four times a day

D．eight times a day

【小題3】Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．We should keep from touching our faces.

B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth.

C．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet.

D．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle.

【小題4】The text probably comes from ________.

A．a(chǎn) guide book

B．a(chǎn) popular magazine

C．a(chǎn) book review

D．a(chǎn)n official document

The National Gallery
Description：
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London.It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from 13th­century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh.The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance
Layout：
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th­to 15th­century paintings，and artists include Duccio，Uccello，Van Eyck，Lippi，Mantegna，Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses 16th­century paintings，and artists include Leonardo da Vinci，Cranach，Michelangelo，Raphael，Bruegel，Bronzino，Titian and Veronese.
The North Wing houses 17th­century paintings，and artists include Caravaggio，Rubens，Poussin，Van Dyck，Veláazquez，Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses 18th­to early 20th­century paintings，and artists include Canaletto，Goya，Turner，Constable，Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening Hours：
The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 9pm) and is free，but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There：
Nearest underground stations：Charing Cross (2­minute walk)，Leicester Square (3­minute walk)，Embankment (7­minute walk)，and Piccadilly Circus (8­minute walk)．
【小題1】In which century’s collection can you see religious paintings?

A．The 13th.	B．The 17th.
C．The 18th.	D．The 20th.

【小題2】Where are Leonardo da Vinci’s works shown?

A．In the East Wing.

B．In the main West Wing.

C．In the Sainsbury Wing.

D．In the North Wing.

【小題3】Which underground station is closest to the National Gallery?

A．Embankment.	B．Leicester Square.
C．Piccadilly Circus.	D．Charing Cross.

(2013·高考湖南卷，C)It’s such a happy­looking library，painted yellow，decorated with palm­tree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof.About the size of a microwave oven，it’s pedestrian­friendly，too，waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach County Estates，along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens.
It’s a library built with love.
A year ago，shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization，a Wisconsin­based nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available，she announced to her family of four，“That’s what we’re going to do for our spring break！”
Son Austin，now a 10th­grader，didn’t see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox.But Janey insisted，and husband Peter unwillingly got to work.The 51­year­old owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he’d built years earlier for daughter Abbie’s toy horses，and made a door of glass.
After adding the library’s final touches (裝點(diǎn))，the family hung a signboard on the front，instructing users to“take a book，return a book，”and making the Henriksen library，now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world，the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County.
They stocked it with 20 or so books they’d already read，a mix of science fiction，reference titles，novels and kids’ favorites.“I told them，keep in mind that you might not see it again，”said Janey，a stay­at­home mom.
Since then，the collection keeps replenishing (補(bǔ)充) itself，thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers.The library now gets an average of five visits a day.
The project’s best payoff，says Peter，are the thank­you notes left behind.“We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular.”
【小題1】In what way is the library “pedestrian­friendly”？

A．It owns a yellow roof.

B．It stands near a sidewalk.

C．It protects book lovers from the sun.

D．It uses palm­tree stickers as decorations.

【小題2】Janey got the idea to build a library from________.

A．a(chǎn) visit to Brian Williams

B．a(chǎn) spring break with her family

C．a(chǎn) book sent by one of her neighbors

D．a(chǎn) report on a Wisconsin­based organization

【小題3】The library was built________.

A．by a ship supply company

B．on the basis of toy horses

C．like a mailbox

D．with glass

【小題4】What can we infer about the signboard?

A．It was made by a user of the library.

B．It marked a final touch to the library.

C．It aimed at making the library last long.

D．It indicated the library was a family property.

【小題5】The passage tells us that the users________.

A．donate books to the library

B．get paid to collect books for the library

C．receive thank­you notes for using the library

D．visit the library over 5 times on average daily

(2013·高考天津卷，D)When asked about happiness，we usually think of something extraordinary，an absolute delight，which seems to get rarer the older we get.
For kids，happiness has a magical quality.Their delight at winning a race or getting a new bike is unreserved (毫不掩飾的)．
In the teenage years the concept of happiness changes.Suddenly it’s conditional on such things as excitement，love and popularity.I can still recall the excitement of being invited to dance with the most attractive boy at the school party.
In adulthood the things that bring deep joy－love，marriage，birth－also bring responsibility and the risk of loss.For adults，happiness is complicated (復(fù)雜的)．
My definition of happiness is “the capacity for enjoyment”．The more we can enjoy what we have，the happier we are.It’s easy to overlook the pleasure we get from the company of friends，the freedom to live where we please，and even good health.
I experienced my little moments of pleasure yesterday.First I was overjoyed when I shut the last lunch­box and had the house to myself.Then I spent an uninterrupted morning writing，which I love.When the kids and my husband came home，I enjoyed their noise after the quiet of the day.
Psychologists tell us that to be happy we need a mix of enjoyable leisure time and satisfying work.I don’t think that my grandmother，who raised 14 children，had much of either.She did have a network of close friends and family，and maybe this is what satisfied her.
We，however，with so many choices and such pressure to succeed in every area，have turned happiness into one more thing we’ve got to have.We’re so self­conscious about our “right” to it that it’s making us miserable.So we chase it and equal it with wealth and success，without noticing that the people who have those things aren’t necessarily happier.
Happiness isn’t about what happens to us－it’s about how we see what happens to us.It’s the skillful way of finding a positive for every negative.It’s not wishing for what we don’t have，but enjoying what we do possess.
【小題1】As people grow older，they________.

A．feel it harder to experience happiness

B．a(chǎn)ssociate their happiness less with others

C．will take fewer risks in pursuing happiness

D．tend to believe responsibility means happiness

【小題2】What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 5 and 6?

A．She cares little about her own health.

B．She enjoys the freedom of traveling.

C．She is easily pleased by things in daily life.

D．She prefers getting pleasure from housework.

【小題3】What can be inferred from Paragraph 7?

A．Psychologists think satisfying work is key to happiness.

B．Psychologists’ opinion is well proved by Grandma’ case.

C．Grandma often found time for social gatherings.

D．Grandma’s happiness came from modest expectations of life.

【小題4】People who equal happiness with wealth and success________.

A．consider pressure something blocking their way

B．stress their right to happiness too much

C．a(chǎn)re at a loss to make correct choices

D．a(chǎn)re more likely to be happy

【小題5】What can be concluded from the passage?

A．Happiness lies between the positive and the negative.

B．Each man is the master of his own fate.

C．Success leads to happiness.

D．Happy is he who is content.

Guide to Stockholm University Library
Our library offers different types of studying places and provides a good studying environment.
Zones
The library is divided into different zones.The upper floor is a quiet zone with over a thousand places for silent reading，and places where you can sit and work with your own computer.The reading places consist mostly of tables and chairs.The ground floor is the zone where you can talk.Here you can find sofas and armchairs for group work.
Computers
You can use your own computer to connect to the wi­fi specially prepared for notebook computers；your can also use library computers；which contain the most commonly used applications，such as Microsoft Office.They are situated in the area known as the Experimental Field on the ground floor.
Group­study Places
If you want to discuss freely without disturbing others，you can book a study room or sit at a table on the ground floor.Some study rooms are for 2­3 people and others can hold up to 6­8 people.All rooms are marked on the library maps.
There are 40 group­study rooms that must be booked via the website.To book，you need an active University account and a valid University card.You can use a room three hours per day，nine hours at most per week.
Storage of Study Material
The library has lockers for students to store course literature.When you have obtained at least 40 credits (學(xué)分)，you may rent a locker and pay 400 SEK for a year’s rental period.
Rules to be Followed
Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library.Keep your phone on silent as if you were in a lecture and exit the library if you need to receive calls.
Please note that food and fruit are forbidden in the library，but you are allowed to have drinks and sweets with you.
【小題1】The library’s upper floor is mainly for students to________.

A．read in a quiet place

B．have group discussions

C．take comfortable seats

D．get their computers fixed

【小題2】Library computers on the ground floor________.

A．help students with their field experiments

B．contain software essential for schoolwork

C．a(chǎn)re for those who want to access the wi­fi

D．a(chǎn)re mostly used for filling out application forms

【小題3】What condition should be met to book a group­study room?

A．A group must consist of 8 people.

B．Three­hour use per day is the minimum.

C．One should first register at the university.

D．Applicants must mark the room on the map.

【小題4】A student can rent a locker in the library if he________.

A．can afford the rental fee

B．a(chǎn)ttends certain courses

C．has nowhere to put his books

D．has earned the required credits

【小題5】What should NOT be brought into the library?

A．Mobile phones.	B．Orange juice.
C．Candy.	D．Sandwiches.

Being able to call on the old boy's network helps you get your foot in the door，but has little impact on your later success.Having good connections does change your possibility of being offered a higher wage when you start working，but has no impact on your eventual wage.Coming from a wealthy background has little impact on lifetime earnings.Over time，brain power soon overtakes(超過)，and intelligence is the factor，which will determine your earnings and success.The speed of your rise through the ranks is determined largely by your own intelligence.
The study monitored earnings and promotions over the course of 25 years.Scores were used to assess the Socio­Economic Background(SEB)－wealth and connections－and standard Army intelligence tests used to assess intelligence.The study is sure to infuriate(激怒)those angered by wealthy groups such as Oxford's upper－crust(上流社會(huì))Bullingdon Club，of which both David Cameron and Borris Johnson were members.
Professor Yoav Ganzach says that these findings have a positive message for those，who can't rely on nepotism(裙帶關(guān)系)for their first job.“Your family can help you start your career and you do get an advantage，but it doesn't help you progress.And once you start working，you can go wherever your abilities take you，” he says.When intelligence and SEB are pitted directly against once another(相互較量)，intelligence is a more accurate predictor of future career success，he say.
【小題1】How many factors which may influence one's career are mentioned in the passage?

A．1.	B．2.
C．3.	D．4.

【小題2】Who will be encouraged most after reading the passage?

A．People who are lack of money.

B．People who can't depend on nepotism.

C．People with high intelligence.

D．People with wide connections.

【小題3】What's the main idea of the passage?

A．Earnings and promotions are up to your own.

B．A study conducted by Professor Yoav Ganzach.

C．SEB is very important in one's first career.

D．Success is determined by your own brain power.

There are a great number of people in the world while few people are great.I think there is probably only one great person out of 10，000 at best，and most probably much less than that.
The reason why there are only few of them is that most people do not pay the price of greatness.There are so many people who want to be great，why only very few of them actually pay the price? The answer to the question explains the difference between the almost 100% people who want to be great and the much less than 0.01% who actually be so.The reason is that the road to greatness is full of pains.
Greatness requires sacrifices and there is no sacrifice without pain.The kind of sacrifices required for greatness is the ones that make the process continuously painful for long time.If you only want to be good it may be painful just every now and then，and many people can still handle it.But being great is a total difference.The pain is much deeper and it is continuous，so very few people can endure this kind of pain.Most people naturally choose things that bring pleasures to them.It's unnatural to choose pain over pleasure，let alone doing it continuously for long time.But that's what I believe is the secret to greatness: The secret to greatness is choosing pain over pleasures continuously for long time.
【小題1】What is the purpose of Paragraph 1?

A．To compare.	B．To list statistics.
C．To lead up to the topic.	D．To give information.

【小題2】If one person only wants to be good，what will he/she face?

A．Occasional pains.	B．Continual work.
C．Constant pains.	D．Various difficulties.

【小題3】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Pleasures mean greatness.

B．Greatness equals sacrifices.

C．What's greatness.

D．Greatness lies in continuous pains.

Keeping pace with teachers is a fine way to study English.Teachers are experienced and their plans are systematic.But remember to work in a way that suits you.It's important to learn from past mistakes as well.Keep a notebook to make a record of the mistakes you make－it'll help you avoid making the same ones later.
The time of life may be hard，but you're not alone.You may be busy studying，but you can show your care by calling your friends or sending short messages.Don't let your friendships die.
It's as important to live well as it is to study well.Going to bed no later than 11：30 pm is vital.It puts you in the right mood for the next day.You needn't follow a special diet，but make sure you are eating nutritious meals each day.
The person who plays well，studies well.Having a lot of schoolwork doesn't mean having to give up other activities.Playing basketball or having a talk with your classmates can relax yourself.Time_out is not a waste of time but helps you study more efficiently.
Besides taking the big exam，you have other choices for college.I took the independent enrollment exam held by Peking University and some other students even were preparing to study abroad.Pay attention to any relevant information you can find，whether it's from school，the news media or other sources.
【小題1】What should you do if you want to keep your friendship fresh?

A．Have frequent talks with them.

B．Always have lunch with them.

C．Remain them at some distance.

D．Keep connection by some ways.

【小題2】The third paragraph is mainly about________．

A．study

B．friendship

C．relaxation

D．health

【小題3】Which one is the closest meaning to “Time out” in Paragraph 4?

A．Sleep.

B．Exercise.

C．Continuation.

D．Pause.

【小題4】The passage is mainly written by a(n)________．

A．editor

B．student

C．teacher

D．parent