One of the biggest new bands in the UK is Arctic Monkeys.Their first two singles(單曲唱片)went straight to Number One in the charts(排行榜)and their first album “Whatever People Say I Am，That's what I'm No” has become a record?breaking album.It's the fastest selling debut album(首張專輯)in UK chart history.
Arctic Monkeys are famous because of their great success.They achieved their success thanks to the Internet.Usually a new band signs to a record company and then it is through marketing that people buy their singles.The single sales then get the band into the charts and they become popular that way.
However，Arctic Monkeys became well?known in a slightly different way.Back in 2003 when the band first started，they handed out CDs at their performing concert.Certain fans liked the music so much that they put the music up on the Web.The general public had access to this music because it was on the Internet and，because people liked the music，the band's popularity increased.The band's popularity was starting to get noticed by major radio stations in the UK.
Arctic Monkeys released(發(fā)行)their first single in October 2005.Before that，their music had only been available to download on the Internet.When they did finally release a single and an album，they both rose to the top of the charts.
Music fans welcome the use of the Internet this way—Arctic Monkeys became popular simply because people liked their music when they heard it.There were no ads.As music downloads continue to increase in popularity，we can expect to see more and more bands make it big in this way.
【小題1】Arctic Monkeys gained popularity through __________.

A．giving away their CDs

B．the Internet

C．singing to a record company

D．marketing and advertisement

【小題2】．Before 2005，how can you get Arctic Monkeys' music?

A．Going to their live music party.

B．Download their music from the Internet.

C．Buying their singles and albums in a shop.

D．Listen to it on the radio in the UK.

【小題3】Why did Arctic Monkeys become popular?

A．People could hear their music often.

B．They didn't advertise their music.

C．People liked their music.

D．The marketing company did well.

When people think of the unique characteristics of Beijing the hutong style always comes to mind.It is no exaggeration(夸張) to say within hutong lives the city's history.
The word hutong was borrowed from the Mongolian word to mean “water well” about 700 years ago.Later it referred to a place where people live.Hutong we see today are made up of small lanes formed by walls of siheyuan.They were built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, there were more than 3,000 hutong.Most of the city's population lived in this traditional housing.But with the modernization of the city in the 1980s and early 1990s, many hutong were pulled down to build roads, skyscrapers and modern houses.
The government has recognized the importance of hutong to Chinese cultural heritage(文化遺產(chǎn))．In 2002, Beijing listed 40 protected historical zones and increased its efforts to restore some key relics and older streets in the city.Nearly 500 hutong have survived.
Hutong that still exist are like oases(綠洲) of calm surrounded by the noisy city.Walking through them, it's common to see groups of elderly citizens sitting together playing cards, mahjong or Chinese chess.In the early mornings and evenings, they gather to practice traditional forms of exercise such as taijiquan as well as dancing and singing folk songs or Peking Opera.Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.
【小題1】What is the original meaning of the word hutong?

A．Small lanes.	B．Water well.
C．Siheyuan.	D．A traditional house.

【小題2】What does the phrase “pull down” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Replace.	B．Destroy.
C．Restore.	D．Establish.

【小題3】According to the author, what is the importance of hutong to Chinese cultural heritage?

A．It is a traditional housing style of Beijing.

B．Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.

C．It is a good place for the elderly citizens to play cards, mahjong or Chinese chess.

D．Hutong are like oases of calm of Beijing.

【小題4】According to the passage, which of the following is FALSE?

A．Hutong style is one of the unique characteristics of Beijing.

B．In 2002, Beijing listed 40 protected historical zones.

C．Beijing decreased its efforts to restore some key relics and older streets in the city.

D．Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.

The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. “We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
【小題1】The underlined word “Advocates” in the text probably means”              .

A．Supporters

B．Objectors

C．Teachers

D．Learners

【小題2】 How many languages are mentioned in this passage?

A．Six.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

【小題3】In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.

A．the competition between Latino and Asian students

B．the global economy

C．the interesting way to engage with China

D．the Chinese learning

【小題4】 What CANNOT be learned from this passage?

A．Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.

B．Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.

C．French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.

D．Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.

【小題5】Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?

A．The Chinese learning in Chicago.

B．The ways to learn Chinese.

C．McCormick Primary School.

D．Globalization and Chinese learning.

Dear Betty,
My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.
Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late?  At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?
Yours,
Knowing Nothing
Dear Knowing Nothing,
It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.
You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.
Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.
If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.
Yours
Betty
【小題1】Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.

A．tell Betty some good news

B．a(chǎn)sk for some advice

C．a(chǎn)nswer some questions

D．invite her to dinner

【小題2】According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.

A．can only bring some flowers

B．can’t bring wine

C．should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late

D．should arrive twenty minutes late

【小題3】 Betty does NOT advise Knowing Nothing to _____.

A．relax at the dinner table

B．watch the other guests

C．a(chǎn)sk the person beside him

D．keep silent at table

【小題4】After a dinner party , Knowing Nothing should _____________.

A．say nothing but goodbye.

B．send a card to thank them the day after.

C．thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness at once

D．invite the host and hostess for a dinner the next day

Thomas Alva Edison (愛迪生)was awarded more patents（專利） on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout(關(guān)閉，中斷). All electric power(電源) would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps his suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion（混亂）. A blackout was out of the question.
On the day of Edison’s funeral (葬禮),many people silently dimmed(使暗淡) their lights. In this way they honoured the man who had done more than anyone else to the great force of electrity
【小題1】 This says that Thomas Edison __________.

A．was the only important American inventor

B．received the first American patent

C．received more patents than any other American

D．was the first American inventor

【小題2】 People decided to honor Edison when ________.

A．he made the first electric light	B．electric power was 100 years
C．the country realized electricity’s importance	D．he died in 1931

【小題3】 The suggested plan was to _________.

A．turn off the lights in factories	B．observe a few minutes of total silence
C．dim all electric lights	D．shut off all electricity for a short time

【小題4】 The plan was never carried out because________.

A．not everyone wanted to honor Edison

B．it was too difficult

C．electric power was too important to the country

D．it honored only one of Edison’s inventions

Here is some must-know information from a handbook on how people behave in doing business in some countries.
In Brazil
Brazilians are warm and friendly. They often stand close when talking and it is common for them to touch the person on the shoulder. People often greet each other (particularly women) with light cheek kisses. Schedules tend to be flexible, with business meetings sometimes starting later than planned. But to be safe, be on time. Meals can stretch for hours—there’s no such thing as rushing a meal in Brazil. Lunches also can start in the mid to late afternoon. Brazilians are social, preferring face-to-face communication over mails or phone calls.
In Singapore
Singaporeans shake hands when they meet and often also greet each other with a small, polite bow. Business cards should be offered and received with two hands. Arriving late is considered disrespectful. So be on time. Efficiency(效率) is the goal, so meetings and dealings often are fast-paced. Singaporeans are direct in their discussions, even when the subject is about money. Rank is important and authority is respected. This determines both people interact in meetings. For example, people avoid disagreeing outright with someone with a higher rank.
In the United Arab Emirates
In the UAE, status is important, so the most senior or oldest should be greeted first with their titles. The handshake seems to be longer than elsewhere. So, do not pull away the handshake. Women should cover themselves when it comes to dress. Men also tend to be covered from neck to elbows(肘部) and down to the knees. People do not avoid entertaining in their homes, but they also hold business meals at restaurants. Touching or passing food or eating with your left hand is to be avoided. When meetings are one-to-one, if your host offers you coffee, you should refuse. It might seem odd, but it is a cultural tradition. Coffee should only be accepted if it is always set out or presented.
In Switzerland
The Swiss tend to be formal and address each other by last name. They also are respectful of private lives. You should be careful not to ask about personal topics. Punctuality (守時) is vital, something that comes from a deep respect for others’ time. Arrive at any meeting or event a few minutes early to be safe. They also have clear structure in their companies. Higher-ups make the final decisions, even if others might disagree. Neat, clean dress is expected. The Swiss follow formal table manners. They also keep their hands visible at the table and their elbows off the table. It is polite to finish the food on your plate.
【小題1】The passage is mainly about ________.

A．communication types

B．the workplace atmosphere

C．customs and social manners

D．living conditions and standards

【小題2】Why do Singaporeans avoid arguing with their boss?

A．They put efficiency in the first place.

B．They dislike face-to-face communication.

C．They want to finish meetings as quickly as possible.

D．They are supposed to obey the person of a higher rank.

【小題3】In the UAE, when should you refuse the coffee if it is offered?

A．When greeting seniors.

B．When meeting the host alone.

C．When attending a presentation.

D．When dining with business partners.

【小題4】In which country do people care about where to put their hands at the dinner table?

A．In Brazil.	B．In Singapore.
C．In the United Arab Emirate.	D．In Switzerland.

One of the latest trend（趨勢） in American Childcare is Chinese au pairs. Au Pair in Stamford, for example, has got increasing numbers of request for Chinese au pairs from aero to around 4,000 since 2004. And that’s true all across the country.
“I thought it would be useful for him to learn Chinese at an early age” Joseph Stocke, the managing director of s company, says of his 2-year old son. “I would at least like to  give him the chance to use the language in the future,” After only six months of being cared by 25-year-old woman from China, the boy can already understand basic Chinese daily expressions, his dad says.
Li Drake, a Chinese native raising two children in Minnesota with an American husband, had another reason for looking for an au pair from China. She didn’t want her children to miss out on their roots.” Because I am Chinese, my husband and I wanted the children to keep exposed to(接觸) the language and culture.” she says.
“Staying with a native speaker is better for children than simply sitting in a classroom,” says Suzanne Flynn, a professor in language education of Children.” But parents must understand that just one year with au pair is unlikely to produce wonders.  Complete mastery demands continued learning until the age of 10 or 12.”
The popularity if au pairs from  China has been strengthened by the increasing numbers of American parents who want their children who want their children to learn Chinese. It is expected that American demand for au pairs will continue to rise in the next few years.
【小題1】What does that term” au pair” in the text mean?

A．A mother raising her children on her own

B．A child learning a foreign language at home

C．A professor in language education of children

D．A young foreign woman taking care of children.

【小題2】Li Drake has her children study Chinese because she wants them ______.

A．to live in China some day

B．to speak the language at home

C．to catch up wit other children

D．to learn about the Chinese culture

【小題3】What can we infer from the text?

A．Learning Chinese is becoming popular In America,

B．Educated woman do better in looking after children

C．Chinese au pairs need to improve their English Skills.

D．Children can learn a foreign language well in six months.

WASHINGTON   The head of the World Bank says for the first time in human history, it is possible to end poverty around the world. Jim Yong Kim told a Washington audience Tuesday, he wants to make ending world poverty by 2030 a top goal for the bank and governments around the world.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says that the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality are wide, urgent and a matter of survival of millions.
“We know that despite the great successes of the last decade, there are still about 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty, 870 million who go hungry every day, and 6.9 million children under five dying every year,” he said.
But Kim told a Washington audience that the previous successful efforts to cut the number of people living in extreme poverty by half give them hope.
“We are at an auspicious moment in history, when the successes of past decades and an increasingly favourable economic outlook combine to give developing countries a chance－for the first time ever－to end extreme poverty within a generation,” he said in a speech at Georgetown University. “Our duty now must be to ensure that these favourable circumstances are matched with deliberate decisions to realize this historic opportunity.”
Kim says success will require increasing the speed of economic growth, particularly in South Africa and South Asia.
But he warned that civil unrest could happen if economic growth does not help people at all income levels, and also include women and youth．
Kim says that the World Bank and other development agencies will have more resources to get this job done right. “Meeting this 2030 goal will take extraordinary effort,” he said.
However, Kim warned that all the progress in fighting poverty could be destroyed by climate disasters unless the nations of the world do more to prevent climate change.
【小題1】In the opinion of Jim Yong Kim, world poverty _____．

A．is difficult but hopeful to end by 2030

B．exists only in Africa and Asia

C．is not quite hard to end by 2030

D．will be sure to disappear by 2030

【小題2】Which of the following gives Jim Yong Kim the hope to end world poverty?

A．Economic growth is increasing in developing countries．

B．Great successes have been achieved in science and technology．

C．A decreasing number of people are living in poverty．

D．All countries have started to fight poverty．

【小題3】The underlined word "auspicious" in Paragraph 5 most probably means "_____"．

A．unforgettable	B．lucky
C．disappearing	D．important

【小題4】What’s the passage mainly about?

A．The key of ending world poverty is preventing climate change.

B．A top goal－ending world poverty will possibly be achieved by 2030.

C．The success of ending poverty－economic growth.

D．The progress in fighting poverty.

I was brought up in the British, stiff upper lip style. Strong feelings aren’t something you display in public. So, you can imagine that I was unprepared for the outpouring of public grief at a Chinese funeral.
My editorial team leader died recently after a short illness. He was 31. The news was so unexpected that it left us all shocked and upset. A female colleague burst into tears and cried piteously at her desk. Somehow we got through the day's work. The next day was the funeral.
Our big boss stepped forward to deliver a eulogy(悼詞) and was soon in tears. She carried on, in Chinese of course, but at the end said in English: "There will be no more deadlines for you in heaven." Next came a long-term colleague who also dissolved in tears but carried on with her speech despite being almost overcome by emotion. Then a close friend of the dead man paid tribute, weeping openly as he spoke. Sorrow is spreading. Me and women were now sobbing uncontrollably. Finally, the man's mother, supported between two women, addressed her son in his coffin. She almost collapsed and had to be held up. We were invited to step forward to each lay a white rose on the casket. Our dead colleague looked as if he was taking a nap. At the end of the service I walked away from the funeral parlor stunned at the outpouring of emotion.
In the UK, families grieve privately and then try to hold it together and not break down at a funeral. Here in China it would seem that grieving is a public affair. It strikes me that it is more cathartic to cry your eyes out than try to keep it bottled up for fear of embarrassment, which is what many of us do in the West.
Afterwards, a Chinese colleague told me that the lamenting at the funeral had been restrained(克制) by Chinese standards. In some rural areas, she said, people used to be paid to mourn noisily. This struck me like something out of novel by Charles Dickens. But we have all seen on TV scenes of grief-stricken people in Gaza and the West Bank, in Afghanistan, Iraq and the relatives of victims of terrorist bombings around the world. Chinese grief is no different. I realized that it's the reserved British way of mourning that is out of step with the rest of the world.
【小題1】At the funeral, ________.

A．five individuals made speeches

B．the boss’s speech was best thought of

C．the writer was astonished by the scene

D．everyone was crying out loudly

【小題2】According to the writer, people in the West ________.

A．prefer to control their sadness in public

B．cry their eyes out at the public funeral

C．a(chǎn)re not willing to be sad for the dead

D．have better way to express sadness

【小題3】It is implied that ________.

A．Chinese express their sadness quite unlike other peoples

B．the English might cry noisily for the dead in Dickens’ time

C．victims of terrorist bombings should be greatly honored

D．English funeral culture is more civilized than the others

【小題4】This passage talks mainly about_______.

A．a(chǎn)n editor’s death	B．funeral customs
C．cultural differences	D．western ways of grief

Scotland is a unique place, loaded with history, where you can find aristocratic（貴族的）palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes.
In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today and what formed the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains（格蘭扁山區(qū)）, beautiful and plain. The Scots conquered the environment with simple spades and strong arms, for it was difficult to farm.
The history of this ancient struggle, and its people’s ancient love with the hard land, can be felt within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here.
From coastal Aberdeen in towards the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses（堡壘）, which are witnesses of continual fights against the control of neighboring England in Scottish history.
Perhaps the most exciting moment for Scottish autonomy is the one experienced inside this ancient church of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation（鼓動）of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, for whom cinema has designed the wonderful film Brave Heart, the winner of the five Oscars.
This is Glamis Castle, where King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth used to live. Among the most frequent guests here are the predictable ghosts, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs. These have been handed down over the centuries by people tending to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural.
Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Whether it’s real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3,000 sightings over the last 50 years.
The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various social groups.
Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings.
【小題1】Take a look at the Angus Folk Museum, and we can learn about _______.        .

A．the love of ancient Scottish to the hard land

B．the rural atmosphere in Grampian Mountains

C．a(chǎn)ncient Scottish people’s fighting against the enemy

D．the history of the Scottish famous palaces and castles

【小題2】What were the fortresses built for?

A．Fighting against the invaders of England.

B．Developing business with neighbor areas.

C．Preventing the people from moving around.

D．Providing a shelter from tough weather for travelers.

【小題3】In the fifth paragraph, the underlined “the one” refers to the moment of _______.

A．the film Brave Heart winning the five Oscars

B．the plan for Scottish autonomy being carried out

C．the instigation of King Robert the Bruce

D．the celebration of the Declaration of Independence

【小題4】 According to the passage, which one is TRUE?

A．The film Brave Heart is mainly about King Robert Bruce.

B．The Scottish film industry is one of the attractions of the land.

C．Highland gatherings are often marked with bagpipes and dancing

D．The supernatural forces in Glamis Castle may change a person’s belief.

【小題5】The purpose of the writer is to _______.

A．a(chǎn)dvise readers to pay a visit to Scotland

B．teach students about the customs of Scotland

C．introduce cultural background about Scotland

D．a(chǎn)nalyze the geographic formation of Scotland