A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C．Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, “Can you help me?” When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended．In a natural reflex (反應(yīng)), I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her．I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar．But the blind woman smiled and said, “I don’t want your money．I just need help finding the post office.
In an instant, I realized what I had done．I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be．I hated what I saw in myself．This incident re-awakened my belief in humility (謙恭), even though I’d lost it for a moment．
The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant．I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S．a(chǎn)t the age of 15．I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother．Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer．
In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice (偏見)．I remember a time, at age 17 — I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me．I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it’s like, and I should have known better．
But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going．That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness．She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open．By the way, I helped that lady to the post office．And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson．
【小題1】We can learn from the first two paragraphs that____________________．

A．the author regretted his act of prejudice

B．the blind woman needed the money badly

C．the author was as poor as the blind woman

D．the author was a native American

【小題2】According to Paragraph 4, hearing the father’s words, the author was probably_____．

A．rather hurt

B．very excited

C．deeply moved

D．greatly inspired

【小題3】According to the passage, the author probably agrees that one should________．

A．be nice to the elderly and the disabled

B．try to experience different kinds of life

C．treat others equally with love and respect

D．think about one’s past as often as possible

【小題4】Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．Learn from Your Past	B．How My Dream Comes True
C．A Belief That Will Never Change	D．A Priceless Lesson in the Street

Of the thousands of different kinds of animals that exist in the world man has learned to make friends with an enormous number. Some are pets, and offer him companionship; some give protection, and some do hard work which man cannot do for himself. Dogs, which serve man in all three capacities, are found in various species in all countries of the world. The Husky can live in the cold polar regions, and the Saluki is at home in the hottest parts of Central Africa. The inhabitants of certain countries are dependent for their very lives on the camel. In the West Indies the little donkey, strong and sure-footed, carrying heavy loads even in mountainous places, is a familiar sight.
Trained and tamed for many generations, domestic animals are not accustomed to roaming in search of food and shelter. They look to their masters to provide for their needs, and as long as these are supplied, they are content to do what their masters require.
All domestic animals need proper food. It must be suitable for them, sufficient in quantity, fresh and clean. Some people feed a pet dog or cat on odds and ends of table scraps(剩飯), and then wonder why the animal seems tired and dull. The quantity of food depends on the size of the animal and the amount of exercise it takes. Overfeeding is as bad as underfeeding. Containers for food and water must be washed regularly if the animal is to maintain good health.
Even well cared for animals may sometimes fall ill. If this happens, the wise master seeks the best advice he can get. All sorts of medicines and treatments are available for sick animals, and in some countries organizations exist to provide them free or at a cheap price. Useful, friendly, hardworking animals deserve to have some time, money and attention spent on their health.
【小題1】 What main idea does the author want to convey in the first paragraph?

A．There exists thousands of species of animals in the world.

B．Man came to establish a close relationship with a number of animals.

C．In some regions a donkey seems to be a very useful beast.

D．An animal will be useless unless domesticated.

【小題2】 When an animal doesn’t get enough food, it will probably _________.

A．refuse to obey its master	B．immediately fall ill
C．require its master to offer some food	D．seek for food on its own

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true of dogs according to the passage?

A．They can act as friends, guards, and servants to man.

B．They have great adaptation for the environment.

C．There live a great variety of species of dogs on the globe.

D．The Husky and the Saluki are the strongest species ever known in the world.

【小題4】 To keep a domestic animal physically fit, its owner is advised _________.

A．not to hesitate to spend enormous amount of money on it

B．to pay attention to its proper feeding

C．not to allow it to take excessive amounts of exercise

D．to join some sort of pet-keeping organizations

【小題5】 Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A．Domesticated Animals—Man’s Best Friends.

B．Proper Diet—the Road to Health.

C．The Advantages of Raising Domestic Animals.

D．Some Tips on Pet-keeping.

A blog can be a very effective way of spreading the words about yourself, and your other writing. It can unshroud your knowledge, and create an ongoing relationship with your readers. A good blog is more than just a marketing tool; it’s also an expression of your personality.
An obvious starting point is to post samples of your work that not only show off your skills and writing ability but also leave people wanting more. Post elections from the most exciting parts of your stories but end them just as the action reaches its peak. If you write nonfiction （寫實(shí)文學(xué)）, show people what they could achieve, and give them a few steps to get them started.
Give tips, information and advice about the subjects you cover. For example, something about struggling with difficulty and many other issues like this. Your writing tips can also be included, as well as interesting, strange or funny things you discovered during your research. Whenever you contact an expert, ask if he or she has any interesting stories you could use. You many also give background information about your stories and locations
Give details of coming posts on your blog, so people can watch out for you, or come and meet you. Personal news will help people feel better connected to you Include photos of objects and locations in your writing, famous people you meet, the views from your window, and your favorite things – with a note about where they came from and what they mean to you. Look out for things that will help your readers get to know you better, know the subject better, or anything else you think they might find useful, inspiring or entertaining.
If you only occasionally post things on your blog, people have a tendency to forget you. As a writer you shouldn’t ever run out of interesting materials to fill your blog with —and your readers will love you for it.
【小題1】Which is the best title for the text?

A．What to Blog about	B．How to Start a Blog
C．Why to Launch a Blog	D．How to Make Website Attractive

【小題2】The underlined word “unshroud” in the first paragraph means _____.

A．put on

B．turn up

C．show off

D．write down

【小題3】You’d better blog about ______.

A．the difficulties of your position to readers

B．the entertaining stories you have

C．a(chǎn)dvice about your readers’ subjects

D．masterpieces from famous writers

【小題4】What does the author suggest for keeping a blog?

A．Posting things on your blog once in a while.

B．Adding new stories to it every day.

C．Filling it with attractive things frequently.

D．Loving it as your life.

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal relationships．One strength of the human condition is our tendency to give and receive support from one another under stressful circumstances．Social support consists of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties．Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily difficulties．People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties．Studies over a range of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people protect themselves from illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely．
Social support cushions stress in a number of ways．First, friends, relatives and coworkers may let us know that they value us．Our self respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others despite our faults and difficulties．Second, other people often provide us with informational support．They help us to explain and understand our problems and find solutions to them．Third, we typically find social companionship supportive．Engaging in leisure time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distract（轉(zhuǎn)移…注意力）us from our worries and troubles．Finally, other people may give us important support—financial aid, material resources, and needed services—that reduces stress by helping us solve and deal with our problems．
【小題1】Research shows that people’s physical and mental health has much to do with      .

A．the social medical system

B．the amount of support they get from others

C．their strength for dealing with interpersonal ties

D．their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles

【小題2】The underlined word “cushions” probably means “    ”

A．a(chǎn)dds up to	B．decreases the effect of
C．gets rid of	D．lays the foundation for

【小題3】Social companionship is beneficial in that it

A．helps strengthen our ties with relatives

B．enables us to get rid of our faults and mistakes

C．makes our leisure time activities more enjoyable

D．draws our attention away from our worries and troubles

Climbers at the top of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, will now be able to make video calls and surf the Internet on their mobile phones, a Nepalese (尼泊爾的) telecom group claims.
Ncell, a branch company of Swedish phone giant TeliaSonera, said on Thursday it had set up a high-speed third-generation (3G) phone base station at an altitude of 5,200 metres in the Everest region.
“Today we made the world’s highest video call from Mount Everest base camp successfully. The coverage (覆蓋范圍) of the network will reach up to the peak of Mount Everest,” Ncell Nepal chief Pasi Koistinen told reporters in Kathmandu.
The installation (安裝) will also help tens of thousands of tourists and hikers who visit the world’s highest mountain every year.
Climbers who reached its 8,848-metre peak previously depended on expensive satellite phones and a voice-only network set up by China Mobile in 2007 on the Chinese side of the mountain.
“This is a great milestone for mobile communications as the 3G high speed Internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services from the world’s tallest mountain,” said Lars Nyberg, chief executive of TeliaSonera, which owns 80 percent of Ncell.
The 3G services will be fast enough to make video calls and use the Internet, said the company, which also claimed the world’s lowest 3G base at 1,400 metres below sea level in a mine in Europe.
Despite the installation in Mount Everest, telecom services cover less than one-third of the 28 million people of Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world.
TeliaSonera said it planned to invest $ 100 million in the next year to ensure that mobile coverage increases to more than 90 per cent of the Himalayan nation’s population.
The 3G network on Mount Everest puts TeliaSonera ahead of state-controlled Nepal Telecom, Indian-owned United Telecom and China Mobile.
Around 3,000 people have climbed to the Everest summit since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to conquer the peak in 1953.
【小題1】Who are most likely to benefit from the 3G services at Mount Everest?

A．The telecom firm.	B．The local residents.
C．Travelers to Nepal.	D．Mount Everest explorers.

【小題2】According to Lars Nyberg, the 3G services they provide __________.

A．a(chǎn)re fast and convenient	B．a(chǎn)re a little expensive
C．can make voice-only calls	D．offer free emailing

【小題3】What do we know about TeliaSonera?

A．80 percent of it is owned by Ncell

B．It belongs to Nepal Telecom.

C．It is in the charge of Pasi Koistinen

D．It provides services for Pasi Koistinen.

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

A．Telecommunication in Nepal

B．3G services reach Mt. Everest summit

C．TeliaSonera takes lead in communication

D．Good news for hikers and climbers

To help make the most of your experience at Auckland Zoo we suggest:
Plan Your Day:
Plan your day to learn more about your favorite zoo animals.
Don’t forget your camera – the best way to capture your visit forever.
Keep Safe at the Zoo:
Children aged 12 years and under need to be accompanied (陪同) by a caregiver.
To keep the safety of our animals, any throwing games are not permitted in the zoo grounds.
The zoo animals are not trained. Do not enter any enclosure (圍場(chǎng)), or put any part of your body into an enclosure.
There are a number of natural waterways at the zoo, so please take care of your children at all times.
General Information:
Check out the weather before you come. In winter we suggest you bring a jacket and an umbrella, and in summer, be sure to bring sunscreen and a hat.
Every zoo animal enjoys its own specific: well-balanced food. We hope that you enjoy some great food treats on your zoo visit, but please do not feed any of our animals. Our keepers work strictly on this.
Feel free to take personal photos and make videos. However, any commercial photography or filming needs written permissions from zoo management.
Not all animals are permitted in the zoo grounds. We welcome people with guide dogs, but they must contact us ahead of time about their visit. Please phone the Zoo Information Center on +64(0)9-360-3805.
Smoking is not permitted in covered areas.
Auckland Zoo does not allow entry to any unaccompanied children 12 years and under. If the children are found by themselves, the staff do have the right to call the police.
【小題1】When visiting Auckland Zoo, parents should tell their children that _________.

A．they could play throwing games

B．they couldstay close to the animals

C．the zoo animals have been well-trained

D．it’s dangerous to play near the waterways

【小題2】The underlined word “this” in the part of “General Information” refers to the fact that ____.

A．zoo animals enjoy their well-balanced food

B．visitors are not allowed to feed animals

C．visitors enjoy their own food treats

D．children offer food to the zoo animals

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

A．give people some tips on visiting Auckland Zoo

B．introduce Auckland Zoo animals

C．a(chǎn)sk people to stop polluting Auckland Zoo

D．a(chǎn)ttract people to the zoo

The weather is getting hotter. You are thirsty playing basketball or riding home from school. A cold drink may be just the thing. But be careful what you are drinking. Something that looks cool may not be good for your health. There are plenty of “energy drinks” on the market. Most of them have beautiful colors and cool names. The lists on them tell you they are helpful to your health. Sounds great!
But after a careful check you may find that most energy drinks have lots of caffeine(咖啡堿)in them. These drinks are especially aimed at young people, students, busy people and sports players. Makers sometimes say their drinks make you better at sports and can keep you awake. But be careful not to drink too much. Caffeine makes your heart beat fast. Because of this, the International Olympic Committee(IOC) has limited(限制) its use. Caffeine in most energy drinks is at least as strong as that in a cup of coffee or tea. Possible health dangers have something to do with energy drinks. Just one box of energy drink can make you nervous, have difficulty sleeping and can even cause heart problems. Scientists say that teenagers should be discouraged from taking drinks with a lot of caffeine in them.
【小題1】Many people like drinking energy drinks because of the following EXCEPT that ______.

A．they have beautiful colors and cool names

B．they have lots of caffeine

C．they can keep them awake and better at sports

D．they are said to be helpful to health

【小題2】The main reason for people not to drink too much energy drinks is that they may cause ______.

A．heart problems	B．nervousness
C．sleeping difficulty	D．possible health dangers

【小題3】The underlined word “discouraged” can be replaced(替換) with ______.

A．encouraged

B．stopped

C．helped

D．disliked

【小題4】From the passage we can know that ______.

A．a(chǎn)dvertisements are important in getting people to buy energy drinks

B．energy drinks are helpful to teenagers’ study

C．sports players need to drink a lot of energy drinks

D．energy drinks are especially aimed at teenagers

【小題5】Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? ______

A．What’s the Use of Energy Drinks?

B．Who Can Drink Energy Drinks?

C．What’s That in Energy Drinks?

D．Why Can’t We Buy Energy Drinks?

Winners Club
You choose to be a winner!
The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers. It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account (交易賬戶） where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7----that’s 24 hours a day, 7days a week!
It’s a club with impressive features for teenagers:
·No account keeping fees!
You’re no millionaire so we don’t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there is no account keeping or transaction fees!
·Excellent interest rates!
You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits（儲(chǔ)蓄） without taking them out in a month.
·Convenient!
Teenagers are busy. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone or the Internet...You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job!
·Maga magazine included!
Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members.
The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parents or guardians (so we can organize that cool key-card) but it is easy. We can’t wait to hear from you. It’s the best way to choose to be a winner!
【小題1】The Winners Club is a bank account intended for__________.

A．parents

B．teenagers

C．winners

D．a(chǎn)dults

【小題2】Which of the following is TRUE about the Winners Club?

A．Special gifts are ready for parents.

B．The bank opens only on work days.

C．Services are convenient for its members.

D．Fees are necessary for the account keeping.

【小題3】If you want to be a member of the Club, you must__________.

A．be an Internet user.	B．be permitted by your parents.
C．have a big sum of money.	D．be in your twenties.

【小題4】What is the purpose of this text?

A．To set up a club.	B．To provide part-time jobs.
C．To organize key-cards.	D．To introduce a new banking service.

【小題5】The Winners Club provides magazines which________.

A．encourage spending	B．talk about the management of the bank
C．a(chǎn)re full of adventure stories	D．help to make more of your money

There is very simple way of measuring the height of a water-tower, which we cannot measure by climbing.
Suppose, for example, that we wish to find out the height of the water-tower, AB, in a factory. We first of all go to where the water-tower is standing and measure a distance of, say, 25 feet from it. Then we take a stick, and stand it in the ground at the spot we have just marked.
Let us suppose the stick we are using is 4 feet in height. We now walk farther away from the water –tower in the same straight line as when we measured off the distance of 25 feet. We go from the water-tower until we come to point E, where with our head on the ground, we see the top of the stick and the top of the water-tower in the same height line---that is, the top of the stick just covers the highest part of the water-tower. Every schoolboy can work out the height of the water-tower now.
Suppose that the line CE is five feet. We know that the stick is 4 feet high and the distance BE is 30 feet. Thus, 5 is to 4 as 30 is to AB.
【小題1】If we want to know how high a tall tree is,_______.
A. we have to climb up the tree
B. we have no way out
C. we must cut down the tree
D we needn’t climb up the tree
【小題2】 According to the passage, which of the following is correct?

【小題3】It is clear from this that the problem can be settled by _________.

A．a(chǎn) child

B．the boy who has little schooling

C．everyone

D．a(chǎn) girl at middle school

【小題4】To measure a water-tower in this way, _________.

A．no tool is needed

B．Besides a stick, tape-measure (卷尺) or at least a ruler is necessary.

C．we have to use nothing but a stick

D．we have to prepare a set of expensive tools

Having a husband means an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new study. For men, getting married saves an hour of housework a week. “It’s a well-known pattern,” said lead researcher Frank Stafford at University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. “Men usually work more outside the home, while women take on more of the housework.”
He points out that differences among households (家庭) exist. But in general, marriage means more housework for women and less for men. “And the situation gets worse for women when they have children.” Stafford said.
Overall, times are changing in the American home. In 1976, women busied themselves with 26 weekly hours of sweeping-and-dusting work, compared with 17 hours in 2005. Men are taking on more housework, more than doubling their housework hours from six in 1976 to 13 in 2005.
Single women in their 20s and 30s did the least housework, about 12 weekly hours, while married women in their 60s and 70s did the most – about 21 hours a week.
Men showed a somewhat different pattern, with older men picking up the broom more often than younger men. Single men worked the hardest around the house, more than that of all other age groups of married men.
Having children increases housework even further. With more than three, for example, wives took on more of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands’ 10 hours.
【小題1】According to the “well-known pattern” in Paragraph 1, a married man ________.

A．takes on heavier work

B．does more housework

C．is the main breadwinner

D．is the master of the house

【小題2】How many hours of housework did men do every week in the 1970s?

A．About 28

B．About 26

C．About 13

D．About 6

【小題3】What kind of man is doing most housework according to the text?

A．An unmarried man.

B．An older married man.

C．A younger married man.

D．A married man with children.