It is winter in many parts of the world. For some areas, that means snow. Maybe even lots of snow. If you don’t have to drive in it or remove it, snow can be very beautiful. When snow covers everything around you, the world looks like a “winter wonderland”. That is the name of a very popular song about winter. Richard Smith and Felix Bernard wrote the song back in 1934. There are hundreds of recordings of this happy song.
But winter is not always such a beautiful and happy time. It’s cold outside. You try hard to keep warm. The days are darker and shorter. The sun rarely shines. The leaves on the trees are brown. It isn’t surprising that some people are sad in winter. And some people dream about being somewhere else where it’s warm and pretty—like the state of California. The Mamas and the Papas recorded this famous song “California Dreaming”.
During the 1960s, many other famous rock groups released songs about winter. Here is a poetic song by Simon and Garfunkel called “A Hazy Shade of Winter”. They sing about life and hope and possibilities.
In 1968, the group Blood, Sweat and Tears recorded this gentle, sad song about winter. They sing about a lost love and forgotten memories in “Sometimes in Winter”.
In the early 1990s, Tori Amos wrote and recorded the beautiful song called “Winter”. She enjoyed singing about winter when she was a child.
Finally, on a happier note comes this song written and recorded by Fountains of Wayne in 2003. They sing about a snowstorm in a New England town. Nothing unusual there. But instead of being sad or tense about the snow, they write a song about it.
【小題1】When is snow beautiful?

A．When people drive in it.

B．When people don’t have to take it away.

C．When it has snowed heavily.

D．When people sing in the snow.

【小題2】According to the second paragraph, winter is ________ .

A．beautiful and happy

B．happy and warm

C．lovely and hopeful

D．cold and sad

【小題3】Which of the songs can bring us hope of life?

A．Winter Wonderland.

B．California Dreaming.

C．A Hazy Shade of Winter.

D．Sometimes in Winter.

【小題4】What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Songs about winter.

B．Different ideas about winter.

C．Winter in different areas.

D．Winter is cold but happy.

閱讀下面短文，從各題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中選出最佳答案。
As summer comes near, many children are really happy to forget about school for a few months. However, they might be taking that goal too seriously. Studies have found that children often forget between one and three months’ worth of school learning during the summer months. Spelling and math abilities drop off the most, while reading is not really influenced by the time off. The main reason for this is because most children sometimes read outside of the classroom, whether newspapers, magazines, books, or video game guides. However, their math and spelling skills only get exercised in the school setting.
The first purpose of summer holidays was to let farm children have time off to help work in the fields during the growing season, but this reason is no longer a good one since fewer kids actually work on farms today. Some cities in the United States, such as Los Angeles, have moved to a year-round school timetable, which may help reduce the loss of school skills that happens during the long summer holiday. To improve skills and to keep a good level of preparation, headmasters suggest trips to museums, summer camps, holidays with educational value, and visits to libraries to keep kids interested throughout the summer.
There are other educational systems that provide holidays while still keeping students’ skills up to date. For example, in Japan, students attend class for seven weeks in a row, followed by two weeks of holiday. This continues the whole year. In Italy, students attend class six days per week, but finish at 1: 30 pm each day, so that school does not run their life the way that it does in America, where students attend high school from 7: 45 am until 3: 00 pm each weekday. In areas where there are not enough classrooms—in Afghanistan or Somalia, for example—older students attend classes in the morning while the younger kids go to school in the afternoon.
Headmasters fear that the three-month summer holiday stops the flow of learning. Just as students become used to new math problems or new ideas in reading, writing, or thinking skills, they “shut down” during the summer holiday. When they go back to school after the long summer holiday, they take up to two months to return to their previous (先前的) level of skill. So the debate continues: whether to continue holidays or to make changes based on the Los Angeles or the Japanese models.
【小題1】Which skills suffer the most over the summer holidays?

A．Math and reading.	B．Math and spelling.
C．Reading and writing.	D．Reading and thinking.

【小題2】What can we learn about the first purpose of summer holidays?

A．It is still widely acceptable now.	B．It was popular in some cities.
C．It is not a good reason for city kids.	D．It was more for teachers than for students.

【小題3】The underlined phrase “shut down” in the last paragraph probably means __________.

A．stop learning	B．get sick
C．go on reading	D．focus on studies

【小題4】What can we infer from the passage?

A．Parents always read to their kids to keep reading skills.

B．Summer holidays lead to the loss of all the school skills.

C．Students love holidays and get their mind off learning in holidays.

D．In Italy students attend classes in the late afternoon six days a week.

Most of the time, people wear hats to protect themselves from harsh weather conditions. Hats are also worn to show politeness and as signs of social position. But nowadays, hats, especially women’s hats, are much more than that. More exactly, hats have changed into fashion and style symbols by many movie stars. What’s more, people now consider many different features (特點)when choosing even a simple hat. Many designers point out that, when choosing the right hat, it’s important to consider the color of your skin as well as your hair, your height, and the shape of your face.

First of all, the color of the hat should match the color of your skin and hair. For instance, black hats should be avoided if you are dark skinned. If a purple hat is placed on top of red hair, one will look as attractive as a summer flower. Second, the height of the hat is also an important point. Tall women should not go for hats with tall crowns, just as short women should choose hats with upturned brims to give the look of height. Third, and most importantly, the shape of the face decides the kind of hat one should pick. A small, gentle hat that fits the head looks good on a small face. However, women with big, round faces should choose a different style.

As the saying goes, “Fine feathers make fine birds.” A good hat can not only help your dress but also support your features, so why not choose the best possible one next time you want to be in public?
【小題1】What does the underlined word “harsh” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．good

B．strange

C．poor

D．different

【小題2】According to the article, which of the following women would look most attractive?

A．A big-faced woman who wears a small, nice hat.

B．A short red-haired woman who wears a purple hat.

C．A tall woman who wears a hat with a huge upturned brim.

D．A small dark-skinned woman who wears a black hat with a tall crown.

【小題3】What does the last paragraph suggest?

A．Hats are worn on the head to keep warm.

B．Hats can help you look better in public.

C．Hats are not as important as character.

D．Hats can make you look much taller.

【小題4】What is the best title for the article?

A．How to Show Your Social Position	B．How to Improve Your Features
C．How to Choose a Proper Hat	D．How to Design a Nice Hat

Whether you’re eating at a fancy restaurant or dining in someone’s home. Proper table manners are likely to help you make a good impression. According to a US expert, Emily Post, “All rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness.”
While Henry Hitchings of the Los Angeles Times admits that good manners can reduce social conflict, he points out that mostly their purpose is protective - they turn our natural warrior-like selves into more elegant ones.
So where did table manners come from?
In medieval England, a writer named Petrus Alfonsi took the lead to urge people not to speak with their mouths full. And King David I of Scotland also proposed that any of his people who learned to eat more neatly be given a tax deduction (減除).
Disappointingly, that idea never caught on. It was during the Renaissance, when there were real technical developments, opinions of correct behavior changed for good. “None of these was more significant than the introduction of the table fork,” wrote Hitchings. “Gradually, as forks became popular, they brought the new way of eating, making it possible, for instance, to consume berries without making one’s fingers dirty.”
Forks were introduced to Britain in 1608 and 25 years later, the first table fork reached America. Yet while most of the essentials (基本要素) are the same on both sides of the Atlantic, there are a few clear differences between what’s normal in the US and what holds true in the UK. For example, in the US, when food needs cutting with a knife, people generally cut a bite, then lay aside the knife and switch the fork to their right hand. Then they pick up one bite at a time. By contrast, Britons keep the fork in the left hand and don’t lay the knife down.
Though globalization has developed a new, simpler international standard of table manners, some people still stick with the American cut-and-switch method.The Los Angeles Times noted, “They are hanging on to a form of behavior that favors manners above efficiency.”
【小題1】What does the story mainly talk about?

A．The importance of proper table manners .

B．The development of table manners in Western countries.

C．Some unwritten rules of table manners in the US and UK.

D．Differences between American and British table manners.

【小題2】The underlined phrase “caught on” in the passage probably means ______.

A．worked in practice	B．became popular
C．drew attention	D．had a positive effect

【小題3】Which of the following events influenced people’s table manners most according to the article?

A．The introduction of forks.

B．The tax deduction policy.

C．The rise of the Renaissance.

D．Petrus Alfonsi’s efforts in promoting table manners.

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

A．British and American table manners are completely different from each other.

B．American people pay more attention to their table manners than British people do.

C．With globalization, the American cut-and-switch method has been abandoned in the US.

D．British people’s way of using a knife and fork may be more efficient than American people’s.

Every day is a gift, and if you look forward to spending each day with happiness, wake up every morning with a positive attitude and enjoy a beautiful day!
Set up a daily plan for yourself and ensure that you reserve enough time for your homework. Also, don’t forget to spare some time for play! Stop being lazy and start participating in your life instead of just watching it pass by. Try to do something fun and constructive every day. Read a book, write something interesting in your diary, try a new hobby, spend time with your friends, or just watch your favorite show on television, and you will see how every moment of your day unfolds. You’ll achieve better results, and ultimately greater success.
However, every day will not be the way you want it to be. Some days will be good, while some will be bad. You won’t be always happy and smiling. You may come across many challenges. Don’t forget to remind yourself to slow down and take care of yourself. In today’s busy lifestyle, it is necessary to relax to bring balance and joy back into your life. So, take charge of your life. Enjoy and appreciate the small things around you. Do a good deed and make others happy. Sometimes, doing something as simple as having a cup of tea with an old friend or a family member, listening to a cheerful song, or just writing down all the things that make you happy could indeed turn your day around!
Review and analyze your day before you retire at night. Reward yourself for completing the set goals and prepare the stage for the next day. This will impact your sleep and overall happiness levels. Plan for the next day, take a good rest, and wake up fresh the next morning!
If you will you are doing the same things every day, step out of your comfort zone and set aside some time to do things you have never done before. Stretch your limits. Not only will it make a boring day exciting but it will also build your confidence.
【小題1】Who are the intended readers of the passage?

A．Teachers

B．Students

C．Workers

D．People in general

【小題2】Why is “Read a book” mentioned in the second paragraph?

A．To show readers how to make them happy.

B．To tell readers to learn hard for their future.

C．To supply readers with ways of killing time.

D．To offer readers suggestions on hobbies.

【小題3】What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A．Every day is beautiful and worth-remembering.

B．Your future is up to yourself and your friends.

C．A good start is definitely good for the future.

D．You should make a difference in your day.

【小題4】Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Planning your schedule for the next day the night before.

B．Getting into the habit of self-praising with goals achieved.

C．Rising early to get ready for your day with positive energy.

D．Trying something new to learn from it to stretch your limits.

【小題5】 What would be the best title for the passage?

A．How to make the most of your day

B．How to lead a happy and satisfying life

C．Act now without delay to change your life

D．Spare time to focus on daily responsibilities

High childcare costs are putting British mothers off going out to work. It really is that simple. Eurostat figures show that 66 per cent of mothers in the UK work, less than France (72 per cent), Denmark (86 per cent), the Netherlands (78 per cent) or Germany (69 per cent). This not only damages Britain’s economic prosperity—it limits women’s careers and squeezes family incomes. It would be fine if this is the choice parents want to make, but it isn’t. Half of those surveyed want to go to work and the expense of childcare is one of the key reasons they couldn’t.
Despite claims made by Labour (工黨) about childcare, a forthcoming (即將到來的) report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) confirms the true legacy of their time in government. They left behind a childcare system with high costs to parents, variable quality and patchy (不均勻的) coverage, despite soaring government spending. British parents now face the highest childcare bills in the world after Switzerland.
In the Eighties and Nineties under Mrs Thatcher and John Major, the picture was very different. Mothers in England were more likely to go out to work than their Dutch or German counterparts. But the position has reversed, despite a huge rise in public spending.
So why does the British Government spend more on childcare than France or Germany, even though the costs given to parents are sky-high? As always, under the previous government, money was frittered away (浪費) without adequate focus on improving quality. Instead of clear and transparent funding, four separate funding streams were created, skewing (偏離) the market and confusing parents and providers alike. The majority of the money was given away in cash benefits; so much of it did not get through to the front line.
The IPPR report points out that continental systems, in countries such as Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, manage to deliver better value for money. What all of these systems have in common is a focus on quality, with greater flexibility and autonomy given to local providers. They also see a much higher proportion of government money getting to the front line.
【小題1】Which of the following doesn’t belong to the disadvantages caused by the mothers prevented from going to work?

A．Damaging Britain’s economic development.

B．Causing damage to women’s careers.

C．Decreasing the family incomes.

D．Causing childcare costs to go up.

【小題2】According to the second paragraph, we can infer that the former government of the Labour Party _______.

A．was highly praised by British people

B．made British people face the highest childcare bills

C．left behind a childcare system full of problems

D．managed to decrease the government spending

【小題3】We can learn from the passage that _______.

A．in the Eighties and Nineties, mothers in the UK were likely to work

B．there is a prejudice against mothers in the UK employment market

C．most of the mothers surveyed in the UK don’t want to work

D．the percentage of mothers who work in the UK is the lowest in the world

Chinese New Year Celebration is the most important celebration of the year. Chinese people may celebrate the Chinese New Year in slightly different ways but their wishes are almost the same; they want their family members and friends to be healthy and lucky during next year.    
Chinese New Year Celebration usually lasts for 15 days. Celebratory activities include Chinese New Feast, firecrackers, giving lucky money to children, the New Year bell ringing and Chinese New Year Greetings. Most of Chinese people will stop the celebrating in their home on the 7th day of New Year because the national holiday usually ends around that day, however celebrations in public areas can last until the 15th day of New Year.
It is the money given to kids from their parents and grandparents as New Year gift. The money is believed to bring good luck, ward off monsters; hence the name "lucky money". Parents and grandparents first put money in small, especially-made red envelopes and give the red envelopes to their kids after the New Year's Feast or when they come to visit them on the New Year. They choose to put the money in red envelopes because Chinese people think red is a lucky color. They want to give their children both lucky money and lucky color.
【小題1】What can we learn from the Paragragh 1？

A．Chinese New Year Celebration is one of the most important celebrations in China

B．Chinese New Year Celebration can bring luck to them during the next year

C．Some different celebrations still exist

D．Kids can get their lucky money during the Chinese New Year Celebration

【小題2】Where can we meet some celebrations in the 13th day of the New Year in China？

A．Wal-Mart Stores	B．Your uncle’s family
C．Yuanmingyuan Imperial Garden	D．High school

【小題3】Which way is not mentioned in the passage below to celebrate New Year？

A．Set off fireworks	B．Come over relatives
C．Receive presents	D．Get lucky money

【小題4】Where can we probably find the passage？

A．A travel brochure	B．A newspaper
C．A tradition guide	D．A textbook

You love Jay Chou's songs and you can sing some quite well. So you make a video of your performance and post it online for your friends to see. But what if this led to something beyond your wildest
imagination—a career in music?
Canadian teenager Justin Bieber, 16, has just had the magical experience: He posted homemade videos of his versions of songs by American singer Chris Brown online for his relatives. He received a phone call from Brown, telling him how much he liked his performance. His singing eventually earned him a fan base and a record contract. After releasing a popular record in November 2009, his album My world 2.0 came out last Tuesday.
Bieber sings ballads（民歌）and songs about puppy love. But is he just another gooey (甜膩的) teen idol? David Malitz, a columnist with the Washington Post, doesn't think so. “If we truly want the best forAmerican children, let us pause and give thanks for Justin Bieber，” he writes. “After years of humdrum bubblegum (乏味的搖滾舞曲) from Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, the 16­year­old has thrown a candy­coated wrench (扭轉) into Disney's heartthrob (甜心) assembly line by giving young fans something worth screaming their lungs out for lovable pop songs.”
From a boy who grew up below the poverty line with his divorced mom to a star who caused near­riots (近乎失控) in shopping malls, even Bieber himself can't believe his overnight fame, although his kind of success is becoming more and more common in the Internet era.
Interested in hockey, the national sport of Canada, the boy once put up pictures of players on the walls of his bedroom. He dreamed of being a hockey star and used to practice signing his autograph. He doesn't need practice now. He signs autographs, if the girls can get close enough, as a music star.
【小題1】What did Chris Brown think of Justin Bieber's singing?

A．He didn't like it.	B．He liked it very much.
C．He didn't say anything.	D．He supported Justin Bieber.

【小題2】What can we learn from the fourth paragraph?

A．He had a happy family.

B．His family was very poor once.

C．His family was rich.

D．His family helped him a lot.

【小題3】What's Justin Bieber's hobby?

A．Singing.

B．Hockey.

C．Signing.

D．Making records.

【小題4】What's the best title of the passage?

A．Justin Bieber's overnight singing online.

B．Justin Bieber's common experience.

C．Justin Bieber's life.

D．Justin Bieber's records.

Tourism has the power to bring jobs and economic development to popular destination（目的地）, but how should travelers decide where to spend their money? Are some countries more deserving of visitors’ dollars than others?
That’s the idea behind the 10-destination list put together by San Francisco-based non-profit Ethical（有道德的）Traveler, which since 2006,has published an annual guide to the World’s Best Ethical Destinations in the developing world.
“Instead of publishing countries for doing bad things,” said Jeff Greenwald, executive director of Ethical Traveler, “we’re trying to offer a favor, rewarding countries in the developing world that are really trying to do the right thing.”
So which countries are the most ethical? For 2013,the winners are Barbados, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Ghana, Latvia ,Lithuania, Mauritius, Palau, Samoa and Uruguay.
Those 10 countries scored highest in three main areas: social welfare, environmental protection and human rights.
Greenwald explained that countries must have a good tourism infrastructure（基礎建設）to make the list, but the non-profit Ethical Traveler also uses the list to promote（提倡）some under-visited places that can be a role model for other countries in their region. For example, Latvia earned high marks for improving its environmental efforts and strong human rights record, and the country’s parks and nature reserves make for a great off-the-beaten-path ecotourism trip.
In addition to just visiting these countries, travelers should aim to spend their money in locally-owned business, Greenwald said, to ensure their financial support stays in the country they’re visiting. However, that requires a well-maneged tourism infrastructure. While one could argue those poor places need the money even more, tourism can put pressure on countries that face such challenges.
Erica Avrami, research and education director at the World Monuments Fund(WMF) said that a list of ethical destinations is “a wonderful idea”, the idea of being ethical goes both ways. “There’s also a certain responsibility on the part of the traveler to make sure their own footprint is as minimal as possible,” she said. 
【小題1】The passage mainly aims to _______.

A．promote ethical destinations

B．encourage ecotourism trips

C．speed up the development of tourism

D．discuss which countries are ethical destinations

【小題2】According to the fifth paragraph Latvia can make the list partially for its _______.

A．good tourism infrastructure	B．regular ecotourism trip
C．strong human rights record	D．good social welfares

【小題3】According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．Tourism fails to help develop local economy and provide jobs.

B．All the destinations should equally share the money spent by visitors.

C．Ethical Traveler punishes the developing countries for doing wrong things.

D．Ethical Traveler rewards the developing countries for doing the right thing.

【小題4】In the eyes of Erica Avrami  _______.

A．being ethical is not actually a wonderful idea

B．being ethical depends on both travelers and destinations

C．travelers are advised to travel as far as possible

D．travelers should leave as much footprint as possible

Thank you for trusting me. I enjoy exchanging my ideas with yours
The first thing I want to tell you is that if the boys are calling you names it is their fault, not yours. Boys, at your age, are different from girls. They are trying to prove that they are manly and then often do this by picking on someone who can’t really fight back. This is, of course, wrong but it happens. In general, the boys know they are bigger and stronger than you are, so they can make fun of you and make you cry and then laugh about it. If you let them see that they are hurting you, they will only do it more. It isn’t that they want to hurt you; they simply want to make themselves feel superior（優(yōu)越的）. It’s stupid, but it is common.
In English we say “ sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” Canadian children learn this from their mothers because the same thing that is happening to you in China also happens here. The best ways of getting the boys to stop calling your names is to simply ignore them, knowing that the names can’t hurt you and that the boys are being stupid. If you can laugh at them they will get tired of trying to make you cry and they’ll give up. It won’t be easy, but, trust me, it will work. There is also something else working in your favor and that is that you are growing up and the boys are beginning to notice you as a young woman. I suspect some of them actually like you and are making fun of you just to get your attention. Again, it’s stupid but it happens. In reality, you can control this situation by not letting them see you getting hurt. Laugh at them, tell them they’re acting like children and they should grow up and then walk away with your head held high.
One more thing, Nancy. It is very important that you stop hurting yourself. If someone else hurts you, it is bad enough but you should’t make it worse by then hurting yourself. Even sticking a pen into your finger can cause an infection and give you a lot of trouble and besides, it hurts. The next time you are disturbed by a group of stupid boys, write to me. You and I can talk about anything you like; about China, about Canada, about travel, anything. Having a conversation with me is better than sticking holes in your fingers, at least I hope it is.
【小題1】It can be learned from the passage that the writer is        .

A．a Canadian	B．an Englishman
C．Nancy’s schoolmate	D．Nancy’s father

【小題2】Nancy hurt herself because she      .

A．couldn’t prevent the boys taking interest in her

B．felt it her own fault to be called names by boys

C．found herself more stupid than the boys

D．wanted the boys to see her hurt by herself

【小題3】We can learn that the boys call Nancy names mainly because they        .

A．want to prove manly	B．are bigger and stronger
C．mean to hurt Nancy	D．actually like Nancy

【小題4】The best way for Nancy to stop being called names is to        .

A．talk to the writer	B．cry and hurt herself
C．fight back and ignore them	D．stick holes in her fingers