Most families love home cooking! The food tastes good and warm, and a family meal brings everyone together．In some families, meals are often the only times everyone sees one another the same time．
　　Another reason people enjoy home cooking is that it is often a way of showing love．A parent who makes some cookies is not just satisfying（滿足）a child’s sweet tooth． She or he is sending a message．The message says, “I care about you enough to spend an hour making cooking that you will eat up in 15 minutes if I let you．”
　　There is also something about the smell of home cooking．The smell of home cooking pleases people of all ages．It makes most of us feel good and loved----- even if we are the ones doing the cooking! Next time you smell a cake making, stop for a moment and pay attention to your mood（心情）．
【小題1】Why do fewer people cook now?

A．They have no time．

B．Many people are too busy．

C．Many people don’t like cooking

D．They don’t like family meals．

【小題2】The writer thinks the smell of home cooking________．

A．makes us happy

B．makes us be interested in cooking

C．makes us pay attention to our mood

D．makes us love others

【小題3】The writer writes this passage to tell us____________.

A．family meals are important．	B．how to make cookies．
C．people are too busy to cook．	D．homemade cookies taste better．

In the face of tragedy，you must of course let yourself feel: Cry without holding back, shake with fear, yell out in anger, accept and follow your feelings. This is part of the wise approach to tragedy: The Upward Path —the feeling of emotions, the acceptance of them, and the coupling of the emotional mind with wisdom. Along this path, you'll take the experience —no matter how sad or upsetting —as a learning event, just as a11 other points on your journey will prove to be. While tragic, you must recognize this is still a chance for all involved to grow. You should let both sadness and joy, fear and courage, dark and light fill your world, and learn to find your steady, calm center in the midst of the opposing forces. This is the Upward Path. Use the event as a chance to gain balance and discover wisdom —the wisdom of love and of letting go, of non-attachment and non-resistance, and using this experience to eventually help others in need of guidance.
Being able to relate to others who have also experienced tragedy and inspire in them hope — of recovery, and of moving forward —is perhaps the greatest gift you can receive from tragedy. Turn the negative into positive, the pain into connection. After you've taken appropriate time to be sad, to feel your own pain, you should make it your work，your goal, your purpose to connect with others who need help. Show them how you've experienced feelings, achieved
balance，and gained wisdom that you would never have otherwise had the chance to learn.
FEEL, but do not FEED on tragedy. Rather, let it inspire you to go beyond the person who you were before. With demise comes renewal, so let this loss be also your rebirth. No matter how hopeless it seems, no matter how difficult this becomes, you have the power to transform yourself into someone greater than you ever knew you could be.
【小題1】When following the Upward Path, the person facing tragedy should _______.

A．free his emotions

B．hold back his feelings

C．fill his world with positive ideas

D．give in to tragedy and all opposing forces

【小題2】According to the author，the greatest gift one gets from tragedy is being able to _______.

A．seek solutions from others

B．forgive others and move on

C．stay calm and resist change

D．understand and help others

【小題3】The purpose of the passage is to _______.

A．a(chǎn)nalyze the causes of tragedy

B．suggest a way of dealing with tragedy

C．tell people how to prevent tragedy

D．encourage people to build friendship after tragedy

Driving to a friend’s house on a recent evening, I was attracted by the sight of the full moon rising just above my friend’s rooftop. I stopped to watch it for a few moments, thinking about what a pity it is that most city people --- myself included --- usually miss sights like this because we spend most of our lives indoors.
My friend had also seen it. He grew up living in a forest in Europe, and the moon meant a lot to him then. It had touched much of his life.
I know the feeling. Last December I took my seven-year-old daughter to the mountainous jungle of northern India with some friends. We stayed in a forest rest house with no electricity or running hot water. Our group had campfires outside every night, and indoors when it was too cold outside. The moon grew to its fullest during our trip. Between me and the high mountains lay three or four valleys. Not a light shone in them and not a sound could be heard. It was one of the quietest places I have ever known, a bottomless well of silence. And above me was the full moon, which struck me deeply.
Today our lives are filled with glass, metal, plastic and fiber-glass. We have television, cell phones, pagers, electricity, heaters and ovens and air-conditioners, cars, computers.
Struggling through traffic that evening at the end of a tiring day, most of it spent indoors, I thought, “Before long, I would like to live in a small cottage. There I will grow vegetables and read books and walk in the mountains. And perhaps write, but not in anger. I may become an old man there, and wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled and measure out my life in coffee spoons. But I will be able to walk outside on a cold silent night and touched the moon.”
【小題1】The best title for the passage would be _________.

A．Touched by the Moon

B．The Pleasures of Modern Life

C．A Bottomless well of Silence

D．Break away from Modern life

【小題2】The writer felt sorry for himself because __________.

A．there was too much pollution.

B．he failed to see the fullest moon.

C．he didn’t adapt to modern inventions

D．there were too many accidents on the road.

【小題3】What impressed the writer most in the mountainous jungle of northern India?

A．No modern equipment.

B．Complete silence.

C．The nice moon.

D．The high mountain.

【小題4】Modern things are mentioned mainly to ___________.

A．show that the writer likes city life very much.

B．tell us that people greatly benefit from modern life.

C．explain that people have less chances to enjoy nature.

D．show that we can also enjoy nature at home through them.

【小題5】The author wrote the passage to __________.

A．express the feeling of returning to nature.

B．show the love for the moonlight.

C．a(chǎn)dvise modern people to learn to live.

D．want to communicate longing for modern life.

As computers become all the more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes(筆畫) of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more widespread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It’s faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that’s why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear.
“When I’m writing with a pen, I find I often can’t remember how to write a character, though I feel I’m familiar with it.”
“I’m not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper.”
Many students don’t feel this is something to worry about. Now that it’s more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, “Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic (審美的) value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer’s emotion. Through one’s handwriting, people can get to know one’s thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them.”
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory(必修的) and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.
【小題1】Which of the following can best serve as the title of the passage?

A．The Importance of Handwriting and Typing.

B．To type or to Handwrite.

C．Writing by Computer will Replace Writing by Hand.

D．Practical and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters.

【小題2】The students interviewed prefer to write using a computer because ________.

A．they are usually asked to e-mail their homework and essays.

B．they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently.

C．they found it not easy to remember how to write a character.

D．computers have become a trend and fashion in China.

【小題3】Which of the following statements in NOT the advantage of handwriting?

A．Handwriting contains the writer’s emotion.

B．The writer’s thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting.

C．Handwriting can impress people well and build one’s self-confidence.

D．Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value.

【小題4】We can draw the conclusion from the passage that _________.

A．more and more students will give up writing on a computer.

B．writing by hand will give way to typing by computer one day.

C．more and more students will pay attention to handwriting.

D．the typing article better expresses one’s emotion and quality.

【小題5】What is the author’s attitude toward typing on a computer?

A．supportive

B．proud

C．objective

D．Disapproval

Justin Bieber used to be an ordinary Canadian boy, but his life totally changed in 2008. With his great musical talent, this 17-year-old boy has become a superstar in the music industry.
Justin Bieber was born in Straford, Ontario and was raised by his single mother. Bieber learned to play musical instruments when he was very young. In 2007, he took part in a local singing competition in his hometown, and he did it just for fun. He never took singing lessons before but surprisingly he placed second in the competition. Then,with the help of his mother, he uploaded videos of him singing on a website and they successfully attracted the attention of viewers. His videos got popular through word of mouth and some of them have received up to 10,000,000 views.
Justin Bieber would have never gotten a career in the music business without his videos. Scooter Braun, a former marketing executive of So So Def Recordings, had watched Bieber’s videos and he was impressed by the boy’s talent. Braun then contracted Bieber and he flew the boy into Atlanta 7 months after the first video was posted. Bieber showed his talent in singing as well as his ability in playing musical instruments. He then got a record deal.
In 2009,Justin Bieber released his first single “One Time” while he was recording the debut album（首張專輯）.The single “One Time” tells a story about love. This song had success not only in Canada and the US, but also in the international market. Then he released his debut album “My World 2.0”in 2010 and the song “Baby” became the lead single. This album successfully entered the Top Ten Charts in seven countries. In June 2010, he started his first world tour in Hartford, Connecticut. One month later, he started recording his second album.
【小題1】Justin Bieber’s career in music began to take off when ________.

A．he met with Scooter Braun

B．he released his debut album

C．he won second place in a competition

D．his singing videos were uploaded to a website

【小題2】It can be inferred from the text that Justin Bieber ___________.

A．owed his success to good luck

B．showed a gift for music when he was young

C．is the youngest superstar ever in the music industry

D．released his debut album with the help of Scooter Braun

【小題3】What do we learn about Justin Bieber’s “One Time” according to the text?

A．It is about love and was released in 2010.

B．It attracted the world’s attention after released.

C．It successfully entered the Top Ten Charts in seven countries.

D．It is the lead single of his debut album “My World 2.0”.

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

A．Justin Bieber’s journey to success.

B．Lucky boy-- Justin Bieber.

C．What made Justin Bieber a singer.

D．Secrets of Justin Bieber’s succes.

 
【小題1】 The letter is probably from __________.
A. Supervisor Management Unit              B Thames Valley Police
C. Criminal Justice System                  D. Crime Reduction Committee
【小題2】 What’s the purpose of this letter?

A．To thank Ms. Adamczak for her contribution to the security of her community.

B．To inform Ms. Adamczak of how the investigation of the crime she reported was going

C．To respond to Ms. Adamczak’s crime report

D．To inform Ms. Adamczak of the investigation result of crime she reported

【小題3】 Which one is not the possible result of this reported crime?

A．The police will pay a visit to Ms. Adamczak’s .

B．The police will contact Ms. Adamczak and give her an update.

C．The police will not send Ms. Adamczak any further letters.

D．Your report will be held on file as an undetected crime.

【小題4】 What does the word “l(fā)eads” most probably mean?

A．Clue.

B．Darkness.

C．Investigation.

D．Contact.

Pasta is the world’s favorite food. Asurveytaken in 17 countriesconfirmedthat pasta is what people like to eat most. Not only is pasta the number one food in its home country -Italy, but is alsoenjoyedin faraway places like the Philippines, Mexico andSouth Africa.
Pasta has become popular, for one thing, because it is cheap and easy to prepare. Just cook noodles or other forms of pasta, make a sauce to go with it and you’re finished. Many different types of meals can becreatedwith pasta. It tastes good and fills your stomach. It produces energy in the form ofcarbohydrates(碳水化合物)， which is whyathleteseat pasta regularly. Pasta can also be kept for a longer time. You don’t have to use it up at once.
Pasta has also become popular because it stands for the Italian way of life. People all over the world like it because it’s so simple. It has two basic ingredients(成分), wheatand water, just like bread.
Legend has itthat Marco Polo brought pasta back to Italy with him but this is not true. Arabs probably brought a noodle-likedishtoSicilyin the 8th century. Farmers have been growing wheat, the mainingredientof pasta, there for ages.
The worldwide sales of pasta have risen sharply over the past decade. Italy leads the pasta-eatingcommunityof the world. The Italians are the number one consumers followed by Venezuela and Tunisia.
【小題1】In which country do people eat pasta most?

A．Mexico

B．Venezuela

C．The Philippines

D．South Africa

【小題2】Sports people often have pasta because_________.

A．it costs less money

B．it can be kept longer

C．it provides proper energy

D．it contains no carbohydrates

【小題3】One reason why pasta is favored is that_______.

A．people like a simple lifestyle

B．it smells just like bread

C．it is rich in nutrition

D．Italian food stands for fansition.

【小題4】What would be the best title for the text?

A．The origin of pasta

B．Italians’ love for pasta

C．Pasta is changing people’s way of life

D．Pasta—the world’s favorite food

This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers (young people aged from 13 to 19) from all over the world will spend about ten months in US homes. They will attend US schools, meet US teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world．
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George’s family. In turn, George’s son Mike spent a year in Fred’s home in America．
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months’ study, the language began to come to him. Schools were completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father’s word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual(個人). Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
“Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it.”
At the same time, In America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea．“I suppose I should criticize(批評) American schools,” he says. “It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens(公民). There ought to be some middle ground between the two.
【小題1】The world exchange programme is mainly to ________.

A．help teenagers in other countries know the real America

B．send students in America to travel in Germany

C．have teenagers learn new languages

D．let students learn something about other countries

【小題2】Fred and Mike agreed that ________.

A．American food tastes better than German food．

B．Americans and Germans were both friendly

C．German schools were harder than American schools

D．There were more cars on the streets in America

【小題3】What is special in American schools is that ________.

A．there is some middle ground between the two teaching buildings

B．students go outside to enjoy themselves in a car

C．students usually take fourteen subjects in all

D．there are a lot of after-school activities

【小題4】After experiencing the American school life, Mike thought _________.

A．German schools trained students to be better citizens

B．A better education should include something good from both America and Germany

C．American schools were not as good as German schools

D．The easy life in the American schools was more helpful to students

What does the word “home” mean to you? How do you say the word in French? In Spanish? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means, it often has no exact translation. It’s not surprising really, because the idea of home differs from country to country, and from person to person. A home is more than a roof and four walls. It’s the cooking, eating, talking, playing and family living that go on inside, which are important as well. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed.
But it’s not just that homes look different in different countries, they also contain different things and reveal（顯示） different attitudes and needs. For example, in cold northern Europe, there’s a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it. In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it’s more important to keep the heat out, there are small windows, cool stone floors and often no carpets. We asked some people about their homes.
How often do people move house in your country?
“In my country many people don’t stay in one place for a very long time. They often move every ten years or so.”
Cheryl, Boston, USA
What are typical features of homes in your country?
“In Britain, even in town there’s always a garden and sometimes a cellar（地下室）. We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don’t often have balconies (陽臺). The weather isn’t warm enough!”
— Pat, Exeter, England
【小題1】Which one is true according to the passage?

A．People in Britain seldom have balconies because it’s so hot outside.

B．“Home” is a place where you feel safe and relaxed.

C．Although homes look different in different countries, they have the same needs.

D．Houses in northern Europe always have big windows and cool stone floors.

【小題2】The word “home” has no exact translation because ______.

A．people can’t find this word in the dictionary

B．no one knows what it is

C．it has different meanings in different countries

D．people can’t understand each other very well

【小題3】You can ______ at home according to the passage.

A．eat, play, and teach students	B．cook, talk, and play games
C．swim, eat, and make friends	D．do nothing

【小題4】Why is it important to keep the heat out of the houses in southern Europe?

A．Because they want to breathe fresh air outside.

B．Because there’s a fire in the living room.

C．Because they wear heavy clothing all day long.

D．Because the sun there shines a lot.

This is a true story of how my car got stuck in water and how a stranger helped me during the worst rain storm.
Last Sunday, the sky was grey when I woke up. The weather report said rain was coming, but I couldn’t stay home just because of rain.
Around 8:00 am I had a doctor’s appointment. It wasn’t raining then. At 9:00 I left the doctor’s office to drive to work, and it was raining hard. I just had to go about 5-6 miles down one main road to get to a nearby school, where I could stay until the rain ended. Unfortunately, the road in front of the school was flooded, and my car stopped in the middle.
“Who is going to save me?” I wondered. I shut off the engine and turned on my flashers (車燈). I called 911. They were not helpful. I called my husband, even though he couldn’t come and help me. I was also very close to a police station. But I never saw even one police car. I decided to get out of the car, since it was still pouring.
My best decision of the day had been to wear rain boots. I took my umbrella and quickly got out and ran across the street to a shelter.
Before long, a tow truck(拖車) happened to pass by the street. The driver kindly offered to help me. At that moment, I really needed car pulled out quickly, so I trusted the stranger. He pulled my car and drove me home. After he had dropped my car off, he also helped me check the engine. He said the engine was most likely flooded, but fortunately there was no water inside the car.
Although many years have passed, I still remember that stormy day and the warm-hearted stranger clearly.
【小題1】How was the weather when the author got up?

A．Rainy.

B．Cloudy.

C．Windy.

D．Sunny.

【小題2】Which of the following is the correct order about the things that the author did?
① Drove to work.                      ② Drove to the doctor’s office.
③ Ran to a shelter.                      ④ Called 911 for help.

A．②①④③

B．②③①④

C．①②④③

D．①③②④

【小題3】What did the author do after her car had got stuck in the water?

A．She turned off her flashers.

B．She tried to restart the engine.

C．She went to the police station nearby.

D．She got out of her car.

【小題4】How did the stranger help the author?

A．He lent his car to her.

B．He pulled her car out of the water.

C．He drove her to school.

D．He helped her fix her engine.