Dear Mr. Barton,
I am writing for the residents’ association (業(yè)主協(xié)會) to inform you of our feelings about your act. We’ve really had enough of you. Although we have tried to speak to you politely on several occasions, you have always answered with a stream of verbal abuse(辱罵).
Ever since you moved in three months ago, you have shown very little consideration for the other residents of this building, though many residents expressed their unhappiness with you. For the past six weekends, you have held very noisy parties, which have not finished until early the next morning. As you know, most of the people here are elderly or have very young children, and the noise keeps them awake all night. You don’t have to be so noisy, do you? Last weekend the situation deteriorated when two of your friends fought with each other on the first floor. The fighting was so bad that the police had to be called. What’s more, your friends left the stairs in a terrible state --- they even broke two windows on their way out! We feel that we can’t bear this type of act.
We strongly demand that you pay for this damage to the window soon. If you don’t and you carry on being a nuisance(令人討厭的人或物). We will kick you out! Legal steps will be taken if necessary.
Yours sincerely
【小題1】What does the writer feel?

A．Excited

B．Surprised

C．Angry

D．Happy

【小題2】What does the word “deteriorated” mean?

A．Changed

B．Improved

C．Moved

D．Worsened

【小題3】What is the main purpose of the letter?

A．To ask Mr. Barton to leave the building for the peace.

B．To inform Mr. Barton of the noise he made.

C．To talk about what Mr. Barton did.

D．To give a warning to Mr. Barton.

【小題4】Why were the police called?

A．Because Mr. Barton broke two windows.

B．Because Mr. Barton made too much noise.

C．Because Mr. Barton’s friends fought.

D．Because Mr. Barton beat a child and an old man.

【小題5】Which is true according to the letter?

A．Mr. Barton paid no attention to the others’ unhappiness.

B．Mr. Barton replied to the others’ unhappiness

C．Mr. Barton always said sorry to those unhappy with him.

D．Mr. Barton never apologized to the other residents.

On Christmas Eve a few years ago an English couple received a very special telephone call. It was only a 20-second call but it was very important. The Haydens’ 15-year-old daughter had disappeared six months before. On Christmas Eve she rang them. “I’m phoning to wish a happy Christmas,” she said, “I love you.”
Ronals and Edwine Hayden were so happy that they started a special telephone service called “Alive and Well”. The service helps parents to get in touch with children who have run away from home.
Young people can phone “Alive and Well” and leave a message for their parents. The telephones are answered by answering machines. So no one can speak to the child of making him return home.
Parents of runaway children who are under eighteen can ask the police to bring their children home, so children do not want to tell their parents where they are. Through “Alive and Well” they can telephone their parents without worrying about this or giving out their addresses.
The Haydens and their helpers write down the tape recorded telephone messages and connect the address given. Many of the 30,000 British teenagers who have left home are probably in London. For only two pence they can go into a telephone coin box and call their parents. They can dial (撥) 5675339 and stop a parent’s worry: Is he dead or alive?
【小題1】The Haydens’ daughter rang her parents         .

A．because she knew she had done something wrong

B．in order to give them her address

C．to say she was coming home soon

D．in order to comfort her worried parents

【小題2】If you ring “Alive and Well”,         .

A．you will get the information you want

B．your message will be passed over to your parents

C．the police will bring you home

D．your parents will know where you are

【小題3】From the passage, we can know that ________.

A．the Haydens received an “Alive and Well” call before Christmas

B．a(chǎn)n “Alive and Well” call usually costs a lot

C．30,000 British teenagers enjoyed the “Alive and Well” service

D．a(chǎn)n “Alive and Well” call is very important for worrying parents

【小題4】Through “Alive and Well”, parents of runaway children         .

A．often fail to persuade their children to return home

B．know nothing from their children

C．can say nothing to their children

D．can ask the police to help them to find lost children

【小題5】What can we know about the Haydens’ daughter from the passage?

A．She died six months ago.

B．She had a quarrel with her parents.

C．She worked in “Alive and Well”.

D．She ran away from home half a year ago.

Dae Jon is the city in South Korea, where I was born and grew up. There was a public park there. It was a very popular place, and I have tons of precious (珍貴的) memories from times spent there.
Our teachers often took us to that park for a spring or fall picnic. When I learned martial arts (武術(shù))—Tae Kwon Do, my master usually took us there to train us. There was a hill there which was not high, so I could reach the peak (山頂) within forty minutes even though I was very young. From the peak, I could see a lot of places if it was a sunny day.
There was a huge rock on the top called Eagle Rock because the shape of the rock looked like the head of an eagle. We spent lots of fun days there. We played hide-and-seek within the limited area, and we sometimes caught frogs and fish in the pond. When we felt thirsty, we enjoyed drinking cold spring water.
When I was a ten-year-old boy, I usually went to the park with my father to exercise early in the morning. It was quite dark, so I sometimes felt afraid, but after I got used to going there, I enjoyed breathing the fresh air and hearing the birds sing.
Recently, I went back to the park to remember my good times there. When I arrived at the entrance, I was surprised because it didn’t seem to be the same as I remembered it. Everything has changed in the thirteen years since I last saw it, but the good memories soon came back. I could almost imagine a boy playing there with a slight smile and shaking hands with me.
【小題1】The writer went to the park with his teachers __________.

A．to read books	B．to have a picnic
C．to do morning exercises	D．to catch dogs

【小題2】As a child, the writer did the following in the park EXCEPT __________.

A．practicing martial arts	B．climbing the hill
C．swimming in the pond	D．playing hide-and-seek

【小題3】How long has the writer not been there?

A．10 years.

B．13 years.

C．20 years.

D．23 years.

【小題4】The writer went back to the park in order to __________.

A．meet his old friends

B．play with his old classmates

C．exercise with his father

D．remember his good times

【小題5】The writer was surprised when he got to the park because __________.

A．the park had changed a lot

B．his good memories didn’t come back

C．he didn’t see the boy with a slight smile

D．he couldn’t breathe the fresh air as usual

Snow falls in the Earth’s extreme North and South throughout the year. However， the heaviest snowfalls have been reported in the mountains of other areas during winter. Snow is even known to fall near the Equator (赤道)，but only on the highest mountains.
Snow contains much less water than rain, but much of the water the world uses comes from snow. Melting snow provides water for rivers, electric power stations and agricultural crops. In the western United States, mountain snow provides up to seventy-five percent of all surface water supplies.
Snowfall helps to protect plants and some wild animals from winter weather. Fresh snow is made largely of air trapped among the snow crystals (晶體). Because the air has trouble moving, the movement of heat is limited. Snow also influences the movement of sound waves. The surface of the snow takes in, or absorbs, sound waves. As snow grows older or if there have been strong winds, it can become hard and flat. Then, the snow’s surface will help to send back sound waves.
Snow may be beautiful, but it can be deadly. It is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Many people die in traffic accidents on roads covered with snow and ice or from being seriously stuck in the winter storm. Others die from heart attacks caused by too much physical activity out in the cold.
People may not be able to avoid living in areas where it snows often. However, they can avoid becoming victims of snowstorms. People should stop driving and stay at home until the storm has passed. People living in these areas should carry emergency supplies in their vehicle. These include food，emergency medical supplies，and extra clothing to stay warm and dry.
【小題1】Mountain snowfall _____.

A．provides up to seventy—five percent of water supplies worldwide

B．has never occurred near the Equator of the earth

C．brings less of the water the world uses than rain does

D．is heavier than that in the South and the North Poles

【小題2】 Snow protects plants and wild animals from cold weather by _____.

A．supplying much more air	B．limiting heat movement
C．a(chǎn)bsorbing strong winds	D．sending back sound waves

【小題3】 Snow can be deadly mainly because it can _____.

A．cause road accidents

B．make people stuck in winter storms

C．make people victims of snowstorms

D．lead to heart attacks

【小題4】What will the text probably tell us following the last paragraph? ____.

A．How to prevent heart attacks out in cold

B．Where we can get emergency supplies

C．How to drive during snowstorms

D．Why we should stay warm and dry in winter

Have you got a Facebook account? Are you thinking of getting one? Jamie Simmonds has just signed up. Let's see how she's getting along.
My Diary
MONDAY: I'm officially a Facebooker. I find a few people I used to know and I've soon got seven friends. I've never felt so popular! I wonder if my old university flatmate Steve is on here…What do you know! He is! Maybe Facebook has its uses.
TUESDAY: I've received lots of nice welcoming messages on my wall. Later, I meet up with Steve for a drink after not seeing him for five years. We get on really well! Then, he uses his Facebook app for iPhone to suggest me as a friend to some other former classmates. Some of them even come to the pub and it's just like old times – possibly a bit too much like old times. During the night, photos are uploaded to Facebook.
WEDNESDAY: Disaster! My mum's on Facebook! Has she seen the photos of me dancing on the table last night? Has she shown them to dad? Oh. And I have a friend request – mum again!
THURSDAY: There's a message from my boyfriend, “so, it's over then, is it?” Obviously I haven't changed my settings to show I'm “in a relationship”, and I haven't even added him as a friend. Ah, well, I wonder what my ex-boyfriend is doing… Whoops! I accidentally type his name into my status box instead of the search  and now every one can see it on their news feed.
FRIDAY: Time to update my status: “Work is boring. Can't wait for the weekend!” Oh, look, I've received a comment! Someone must feel the same way. Lots of my friends now “l(fā)ike” this status.
SATURDAY: Good news! I've got 100 friends. But wait! Someone has “un-friended” me! I look through my “friend list” to try to work out who it was. Why did they do that? Am I really such a terrible person? I never knew Facebook could be this cruel.
SUNDAY: Wake up. Check my Facebook page. Make coffee. Check my Facebook page again. Get ready to leave. Change my mind and check my Facebook page … again. I am becoming addicted to it! I think it's time to end it all before it takes over my life. I delete my account. Back to good, old, simple e-mails. Oh, look, I've got a message: A friend invited you to join Twitter. . .  
In July 2010, Facebook had more than 500 million active users. The average Facebook user has 130 friends. Facebook is translated into more than 70 different languages. The world spends 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook page says he's a Harvard graduate, even though he actually dropped out to focus on Facebook. The site is valued at between $7.9 and $11 billion.
【小題1】Why did Jamie's boyfriend ask her whether she had broken up with him?

A．He had seen photos of Jamie dancing on the table.

B．She showed in her Facebook that she was still not dating anyone.

C．Her boyfriend was angry that she refused to add him as her friend.

D．He saw the name of her ex-boyfriend on his news feed.

【小題2】Which of the following is expressed in this article?

A．Visiting Facebook website took up a large part of Jamie's time and energy.

B．Jamie is enthusiastic about her present job.

C．Facebook was created by a Harvard graduate, Mark Zuckerberg.

D．Compared with Facebook, Twitter is a better choice for Jamie.

【小題3】What does the word “un-friend” mean in “Someone has ‘un-friended' me!”?

A．Being unfriendly to others.

B．Having a quarrel with somebody.

C．Removing a name from the friend list.

D．Ending friendship with somebody.

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

A．Steve was Jamie's boyfriend in the university.

B．People all over the world spend 700 billion minutes a week on Facebook.

C．Jamie's mother saw her dancing on the table last night.

D．Jamie felt enthusiastic about Facebook at first.

【小題5】It can be learned from the passage that the writer's attitude towards Facebook is _________  .

A．subjective

B．objective

C．negative

D．positive

The information below is taken from a dictionary page.
jaguar: n. a type of large, yellow-colored cat with black markings found in the southwestern region of the U. S. and in Central and South America.
jargon: 1. n. speech that doesn’t make sense.
2. n. an unknown language that seems strange or impossible to understand.
3. n. a language made up of two or more other languages: His jargon was a mixture of French and English.
4. n. the special vocabulary of a field or profession: Her report on computers was filled with jargon.
jaunt: 1. n. a trip taken for fun.
2. v. to go on a brief pleasant trip: We jaunted to the country last Saturday.
javelin: 1. n.. a spear(矛) most commonly used as weapon or in hunting.
2. n. a light metal or wooden spear that is thrown in track-and-field sport events.
3. n. the event in which a javelin is thrown.
4. v. to strike, as with a javelin.
jazz: 1. n. a type of music that originated in New Orleans and is characterized by rhythmic beats.
2. n. popular dance music influenced by jazz.
3. n. empty talk.
4. ad. of or like jazz: a jazz band, jazz records.
Jennet: n. a small Spanish horse.
jest: 1.n. thing said or done to cause amusement; joke.
2. (idiom) in jest: as a joke ; in fun; not seriously.
3.v.make jokes 
【小題1】Which meaning of the word javelin is used in the sentence below?
At the competition, Jack drew his arm back and threw the javelin 50 yards.

A．Definition (定義) 1	B．Definition 2
C．Definition 3	D．Definition 4

【小題2】Which meaning of the word jargon is used in the sentence below?
Doctors often speak in medical jargon.

A．Definition 1	B．Definition 2
C．Definition 3	D．Definition 4

【小題3】What does the word jazz mean in the following sentence?
Don’t give me that jazz, for I am a practical person.

A．rhythmic beats	B．a(chǎn) type of music
C．a(chǎn) kind of dance	D．meaningless talk

【小題4】Which word is needed to fill in the following sentence?
His reply was taken half seriously, half in_________.

A．javelin

B．jest

C．jaunt

D．jargon

What Is a Boy?
Between the innocence of babyhood and the seriousness of manhood we find a delightful creature called a “boy”. Boys come in different sizes, weights, and colors, but all boys have the same belief: to enjoy every second of every minute of every hour of every day and to fill the air with noise until the adult males send them off to bed at night.
Boys are found everywhere – on top of, under, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around, or jumping to. Mothers spoil them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers love them, and God protects them. A boy is TRUTH with dirt on its face, BEAUTY with a cut on its finger, WISDOM with chocolate in its hair, and the HOPE of the future with a snake in its pocket.
When you are busy, a boy is a trouble – maker and a noise. When you want him to make a good impression, his brain turns to jelly or else he becomes a wild creature destroying the world and himself with it.
A boy is a mixture – he has the stomach of a horse, the digestion (消化) of stones and sand, the energy of an atomic bomb, the curiosity of a cat, the imagination of a superman, the shyness of a sweet girl, the brave nature of a bull, the violence of a firecracker(鞭炮), but when you ask him to make something, he has five thumbs on each hand.
He likes ice cream, knives, saws, Christmas, comic books, woods, water (in its natural habitat), large animals, Dad, trains, Saturday mornings, and fire engines. He is not much for Sunday schools, company, schools, books without pictures, music lessons, neckties, barbers, girls, overcoats, adults, or bedtime.
Nobody else is so early to rise, or so late to supper. Nobody else gets so much fun out of trees, dogs, and breezes. Nobody else can put into one pocket a rusty knife, a half eaten apple, a three-feet rope, six cents and some unknown things.
A boy is a magical creature – he is your headache but when you come home at night with only destroyed pieces of your hopes and dreams, he can mend them like new with two magic words, “Hi, Dad!”
【小題1】The whole passage is in a tone (語氣) of _________.

A．humor and love	B．a(chǎn)nger and disappointment
C．hope and expectation	D．confidence and imagination

【小題2】What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence?

A．He has altogether five fingers.

B．He is slow, foolish and clumsy.

C．He becomes clever and smart.

D．He cuts his hand with a knife.

【小題3】According to the writer, boys appreciate everything in the following except _________.

A．ice cream	B．comic books
C．Saturday mornings	D．Sunday schools

【小題4】What does the writer feel about boys?

A．He feels curious about their noise.

B．He is tired of these creatures.

C．He is amazed by their naughtiness.

D．He feels unsafe staying with them.

Nowadays more and more people are trapped in too busy work to relax themselves. We have no time to tell a bed-time story to our children, or enjoy a nice dinner with our family, or take a break to think about how we live the precious life, or even meet friends. All we notice is that the distinctions that used to guide and steady us —between Sunday and Monday, public and private, here and there—are gone. We have more ways to communicate, but less and less to say. Partly because we’re so busy communicating.
Maybe that’s why more and more people I know, even if they have no religious belief, seem to be turning to yoga, or meditation, or tai chi. Some friends of mine try to go on long walks every Sunday, or to “forget” their cell phones at home. A series of tests in recent years has shown that their brains become both calmer and sharper after spending time in quiet rural settings.
In my own case, I often turn to extreme measures to try to keep my sanity and ensure that I have time to do nothing at all. I’ve not yet used a cell phone and I’ve never Tweeted or entered Face book. I try not to go online till my day’s writing is finished, and I moved from Manhattan to rural Japan.
None of this is a matter of principle or asceticism (苦行主義): it’s just pure selfishness. Nothing makes me feel better-----calmer, clearer and happier----than being in one place, absorbed in a book, a conversation, a piece of music. It’s actually something deeper than mere happiness: it’s joy, which David Steindl-Rast describes as “that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.” That is the highest of the highest we have been longing for—The Joy of Quiet.
【小題1】The writer sometimes doesn’t do anything because ________.

A．he is out of work

B．whatever he does makes no sense

C．he can enjoy himself in his leisure time

D．he is worried about his writing

【小題2】What does the writer mean when using the word “forget” (in the 2^nd paragraph)?

A．Trapped in busy work, they are really forgetful.

B．They think cell phone is not a suitable means of communication.

C．They leave their cell phones at home on purpose.

D．They hate modern techniques such as the cell phone.

【小題3】Which of the following is right?

A．The writer is unwilling to help others since he is selfish.

B．Slowing down to find deep-down joy is necessary.

C．It is better to go back to the ancient times since we are so busy now.

D．We have more to say because we have more ways to communicate.

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

A．The importance of spending time in quiet.

B．We can do some sports such as yoga to relax.

C．To feel better, we should do nothing at all.

D．The more we communicate, the better we will feel.

I was appreciating my family photos on my computer, admiring my two beautiful babies, when I found a disturbing trend: my laptop was in almost all the pictures. There was my daughter, 8 months old, playing at my feet while I was typing away on the couch. There was me and my son, with the laptop at my side as I held him in my arms.
I’d heard about the Internet addiction before, but always assumed I was something limited to socially challenged guys who played too much World of Warcraft (a computer game). Now it seemed my Internet “habit” is slowly but surely crossing the line. Sometimes I find myself up at midnight, surfing the Web while my family are sleeping. I read news, keep up with friends and write my blog … just for something to do.
It turns out that I’m not the only mama who is addicted to the computer. These moms are contributing to a growing global addiction. There’s a movement among psychiatrists (doctors who specialize in mental diseases) to recognize the Internet addiction as an official mental disorder. And a recent Stanford University national survey found that 14 percent of Internet users find it hard to stay away from it for several days at a time; 9 percent try to hide their “unnecessary Internet use” from their loved ones; 8 percent admit they use the Web as a way to escape problems.
You’re likely not the kind of addict who doesn’t bathe and abuses drugs to help her stay “up” for more online time. You may have noticed, though, that going online has become a necessary part of your life, which, at least, means a load of clothes go unwashed.
It may also mean you’re missing much time with you baby – something you probably do care about.
【小題1】From Paragraph 1, we can conclude that _______.

A．the author was busy taking care of her babies

B．the author’s job had something to do with computers

C．the author was not good at taking photos of her babies

D．the author looked after her babies while using the computer.

【小題2】The author used to think that the Internet addiction is  ________.

A．using the web at midnight	B．keeping up with friends online
C．spending too much time online	D．being addicted to computer games

【小題3】In medical terms, the Internet addiction is ________.

A．a(chǎn) personal life habit	B．a(chǎn) way to escape problems
C．a(chǎn)n official mental disorder	D．the unnecessary use of the Internet

【小題4】What does the author want to express in the last but one paragraph?

A．Many women still can control their online time.

B．The Internet addiction influences housewives’ lives a lot.

C．Going online has become a necessary part of women’s lives.

D．Many people don’t realize that they are addicted to the Internet.

If you're like a lot of married guys, you don't need to be reminded about men being from Mars or women from Venus. Chances are that you're all too familiar with the feeling that you and your wife are from different worlds. The way to have a successful marriage is through communication, common ground and understanding. Here are some pointers to guide you in the right direction.
Pointer 1. Realize nobody can wave a magic wand to make you and your wife completely understand each other all the time. Accept the difference.
Pointer 2.   Rather than ending up in an endless back and forth, forget about the issue for a minute. Instead, think about how you feel she's acting toward you and ask her if that's how she feels about you. Switching the focus to that shared feeling can help your wife see things from your point of view.
Pointer 3.  Rather than feel offended if you find out she's not as into your favorite hobby as you thought, appreciate the effort she put into making you happy. Swallow your pride and try to take part in some of her hobbies, too, even if you might be a little put off at first. While you're not going to be trying on makeup with her, you could try baking a recipe together.
Pointer 4.  If either of you is always giving everything and getting nothing in return, there's going to be bitterness. The best marriages are built on compromise. You knew you were going to have to give and take for your marriage to work; now it's time to make it happen.
【小題1】The best subtitle of Pointer 3 is ________.

A．Find out her hobbies

B．Swallow your pride (at least sometimes)

C．Don’t get offended

D．Try to make up

【小題2】According to the last paragraph, it’s important for the husband and wife to__________.

A．give and take

B．get everything and return nothing

C．live and let live

D．forgive and forget

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT good for keeping a successful marriage?

A．Try to understand each other all the way.

B．Don't play the blame game.

C．Focus on the feeling to get past the disagreement.

D．She won't always understand you (but that's OK).