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.

Walt Disney is credited for creating such wonderful things as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse. However, he cannot take the credit for creating other well-loved characters, such as Cinderella and Snow White. They are almost automatically associated with Disney because Disney turned old fables(寓言) into cartoon movies.
The original Cinderella varies very much from the Disney version we know today. It started off with the girl mourning her mother’s death and going to her tomb three times a day. In addition, there were only birds that helped Cinderella; there was no such thing as a fairy godmother or helpful mice, nor was there mention of a horse and carriage.
The stepsisters were cruel: they always threw Cinderella’s food into the ashes of the fire and made her sleep on the ashes on the floor, hence（因此）her name.
In the original story, the king’s ball actually lasted for three days. With the help of the birds, the girl, beautifully dressed, danced with the prince on all three nights and the prince fell in love with her. However, she broke away from him to rush back home each night. On the last night, the prince placed soothing sticky on the stairs; as Cinderella made her escape, a shoe got stuck on it.
Here now is where the story becomes unpleasant: when the prince went to the house looking for the girl whose foot fit the shoe, the wicked(邪惡的) stepmother told one of her two daughters to cut off her big toe to fit into the shoe. The daughter did as told. So the prince took her away to be his bride. But when they passed the tomb of Cinderella’s mother, the birds called out to the prince,
“Turn and peep, there’s blood in the shoe;
the shoe is too small, the true bride waits for you.” ZXXK
Realizing he had been tricked, the prince returned the daughter to her mother. The other then had to cut off part of her heel in order to fit into the shoe, with the same result. Only Cinderella’s foot fit perfectly and so the prince chose to marry her. The story ends with the wedding day: as Cinderella’s two stepsisters followed her, pretending to be devoted to her so that they could enjoy the king’s riches, two birds flew by and plucked(啄) out their eyes. Because of their wickedness and falsehood, they had to spend the rest of their days blind.
The original Cinderella is so different from the Disney version. Thank goodness Disney made such changes; it indeed was a wise move.
【小題1】What dose the underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refer to?

A．Such wonderful things.

B．Other well-loved characters.

C．Old fables.

D．Cartoon movies.

【小題2】How did Cinderella get her name?

A．The Birds came up with it.

B．It was given by Disney.

C．It came from the word “ash”.

D．She got it from her mother.

【小題3】Which of the following is TRUE according to the original story?

A．Helpful mice got Cinderella a beautiful dress.

B．The ball was held to celebrate the prince’s wedding.

C．Cinderella left her shoe on the stairs on purpose.

D．The birds told the prince that he had been cheated.

【小題4】The moral of the original story is that ____________.

A．a(chǎn) wicked person cannot escape punishment.

B．a(chǎn) devoted person certainly deserves respect.

C．a(chǎn) well-behaved child earns a great reward.

D．a(chǎn) dishonest child cannot get mother love.

【小題5】What does the author think of the Disney version?

A．Excellent.

B．Ordinary

C．Dull.

D．Ridiculous.

Should we allow modern buildings to? be built next to older buildings in a historic area of  a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons for example, economic (經(jīng)濟(jì)的) reasons-why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影響) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破壞) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people's feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before,we would all still be living in caves . Thus , I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.
【小題1】What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?

A．Some of them are not attractive.

B．Most of them ate too expensive to preserve.

C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

【小題2】Which of the following is true according to the author ?

A．We should reproduce the same old buildings.

B．Buildings should not dominate their surroundings.

C．Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in.

D．No one understands why people speak against new buildings.

【小題3】By “move things forward ” in the last paragraph , the author probably means“     ”

A．Destroy old buildings

B．Put things in a different place

C．Choose new architectural styles

D．Respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

【小題4】What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To explain why people dislike change.

B．To warn that we could end up living in caves.

C．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

D．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.

A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan. This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living. As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them. Specially­made lanterns(燈籠) are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way. All night long, people dance and sing. In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it. In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before, are placed into the water when the festival is over. Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world. This is a moving spectacle(景象，場面), for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.
【小題1】The festival is a cheerful one，because________.

A．people specially make some lanterns

B．a(chǎn)ll night long, people dance and sing

C．people make much delicious food

D．the dead are said to return to their homes and are welcomed by the living

【小題2】Specially­made lanterns(燈籠) are hung outside each house to________.

A．help the dead to find their way

B．a(chǎn)dd the cheerful atmosphere

C．welcome the dead to go home

D．help the dead to find the food

【小題3】What happens to the lanterns at the end of the festival?

A．The lanterns are put away to be used next year.

B．They are thrown away.

C．They are placed into the water.

D．They are hung outside all the way.

Americans like to travel all their yearly holiday. Today，more and more travelers in the United States are spending nights at small houses or inns instead of hotels. They get a room for the night and the breakfast the next morning.
Rooms for the night in private homes with breakfast have been popular with travelers in Europe for many years. In the past five to ten years，these bed­breakfast places have become popular in the United States.Many of these America's bed­and­breakfast inns are old historic buildings.Some bed­breakfast inns have only a few rooms；others are much larger.Some inns do not provide telephones or televisions in the rooms；others do.
Staving at a bed­and­breakfast inn is much different from staying at a hotel.Usually the cost is much less.Staying at an inn is almost like visiting someone's home.The owners are glad to tell about the areas and the interesting places to visit.Many vacationers say that they enjoy the chance to meet local families.
【小題1】Americans like to take a holiday trip ________.

A．a(chǎn)ll the year round	B．for years
C．every year	D．every other year

【小題2】According to the passage，which of the following is NOT true?

A．Some Americans like to stay at bed­and­breakfast homes instead of at hotels.

B．The bed­and­breakfast inns are private homes opened to vacationers.

C．The bed­and­breakfast inns have been popular in America for a long time.

D．The bed­and­breakfast inn owners provide a morning meal for their visitors and a room for the night.

【小題3】Why do American travelers prefer staying at bed­and­breakfast inns?

A．It is like visiting someone's home.

B．The money they spend there is much less.

C．They can meet local families.

D．All of the above.

【小題4】Staying at the bed­and­breakfast inns，________.

A．the travelers needn't pay anything

B．the travelers don't have to pay for the telephone or television

C．the travelers can meet and talk with the local people

D．the owners will show the travelers around the area

It's such a happy­looking library, painted yellow, decorated with palm­tree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof. About the size of a microwave oven, it's pedestrian­friendly, too, waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach Country Estates, along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens.
It's a library built with love.
A year ago, shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization, a Wisconsin­based nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available, she announced to her family of four, “That's what we're going to do for our spring break！”
Son Austin, now a 10th­grader, didn't see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox. But Janey insisted, and husband Peter unwillingly got to work. The 51­year­old owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he'd built years earlier for daughter Abbie's toy horses, and made a door of glass.
After adding the library's final touches(裝點(diǎn)), the family hung a signboard on the front, instructing users to “take a book, return a book，” and making the Henriksen library, now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world, the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County.
They stocked it with 20 or so books they'd already read, a mix of science fiction, reference titles, novels and kids' favorites. “I told them, keep in mind that you might not see it again，” said Janey, a stay­at­home mom.
Since then, the collection keeps replenishing(補(bǔ)充) itself, thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers. The library now gets an average of five visits a day.
The project's best pay­off, says Peter, are the thank­you notes left behind. “We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular.”
【小題1】In what way is the library “pedestrian­friendly”？

A．It owns a yellow roof.

B．It stands near a sidewalk.

C．It protects book lovers from the sun.

D．It uses palm­tree stickers as decorations.

【小題2】Janey got the idea to build a library from ________.

A．a(chǎn) visit to Brian Williams

B．a(chǎn) spring break with her family

C．a(chǎn) book sent by one of her neighbors

D．a(chǎn) report on a Wisconsin­based organization

【小題3】The library was built ________.

A．by a ship supply company

B．on the basis of toy horses

C．like a mailbox

D．with glass

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

A．It was made by a user of the library.

B．It marked a final touch to the library.

C．It aimed at making the library last long.

D．It indicated the library was a family property.

【小題5】The passage tells us that the users ________.

A．donate books to the library

B．get paid to collect books for the library

C．receive thank­you notes for using the library

D．visit the library over 5 times on average daily

Brighton: It is a seaside resort on the English Channel. Only 50 miles from London, it offers a good variety of lively entertainment. It is a cheerful place, busy and crowded in the summer, but alive in every season of the year. Its royal pavilion(布萊頓皇宮)is a masterpiece of English architecture.
Durham: Whatever travelers see or don't see in England, they must see this city, in the northeast, just south of Newcastle­upon­Tyne. No one will forget the sight of its cathedral(教堂)and castle rising together on a steep hill overlooking a loop in the River Wear, which almost surrounds them. The cathedral itself is one of the great medieval(中世紀(jì)的，公元476～1500)buildings in Europe.
Liverpool: A port in the northwest of England which possesses a quality that is not found in quite the same way anywhere else in England: the quality of grandeur (壯觀). Liverpool has this grandeur in its site on the broad River Mersey (more than half a mile wide) with the houses rising near it; in its great dock buildings, its broad streets, and its two enormous cathedrals.
Edinburgh: It has long been the capital of Scotland. Edinburgh Castle is Edinburgh's important building, controlling the city from its perch on a rock over a hundred meters above sea level. Another important building is the Palace of Holyrood House, begun by James Ⅲ around 1500. Between the castle and the palace is the Royal Mile, which was the center of Edinburgh life before the 17th century and is fascinating to visit now.
【小題1】Which is the suitable time to visit Brighton ?

A．Only summer	B．All the year around
C．Holidays	D．Weekdays

【小題2】Which of the following place mentions both a castle and a cathedral ?

A．Brighton	B．Durham
C．Liverpool0	D．Edinburgh

【小題3】From this article, which of the following statements is WRONG?

A．Around the broad River Mersey you can enjoy the unique quality of Liverpool .

B．The sight of Durham's cathedral and castle is probably best seen from the banks of the Riverwear .

C．The Palace of Holyrood House is much older than the cathedral in Durham.

D．Edinburgh Castle was built over a hundred meters above sea level.

【小題4】This article can be found in ________.

A．a(chǎn) travel magazine

B．a(chǎn) daily newspaper

C．a(chǎn) chapter of science fiction

D．a(chǎn) column in the financial press

Below is adapted from an English dictionary. Use the dictionary to answer the following questions.
figure / fīg? / noun, verb
● noun
1. a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade / sales figures
2. a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary
3. (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers
4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history.
5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly
6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it
7. the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure
8. a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating
* be / become a figure of fun: be / become sb. that others laugh at
* cut a…figure: sb with a particular appearance: He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket.
* put a figure on sth:  to say the exact price or number of sth.
* a fine figure of man / woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person
* figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect
* figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority)
● verb
1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or  is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning.
2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn’t seem to figure at all.
3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth: We figured that attendance at 150,000.
* figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel?
* figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home so late.
* figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost?
* It / That figures!:  That seems reasonable.
【小題1】According to the information above, which of the following sentence is not right?

A．This year’s sales figures were quite excellent.

B．I couldn’t figure out what the teacher was talking about.

C．She was the leading figure in British politics in the 1980s.

D．He was about to speak but she put a figure on his lips to stop him.

【小題2】 — She was coming late again for the work.
— ______! That’s typical of her. You just can’t do anything to stop her doing that.

A．It figures her out	B．She is a figure of fun
C．It cuts a poor figure	D．It figures

【小題3】The phrase “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure.” means “______”.

A．a(chǎn)dd the numbers	B．have sports
C．try not to get fat	D．watch games

【小題4】Which sentence is used as figure of speech?

A．John is fond of animals and raises a rabbit as a pet.

B．In some countries, bamboo can be used to build houses.

C．We all regard Mr. Smith as an important figure in our company.

D．I didn’t really mean my partner was a snake.

What exactly is a Dream Career? I am sure it means different things to different people. You could presently be unsure about what your final job would be. If you have any doubts about what your dream career is, you may know which careers you definitely would not like to do. For example, if you have an interest in art, and do not like math, you most certainly would not like being a mechanical engineer. If you love art, and have no artistic talent, maybe you would like to be around art instead, as an art curator(館長).
A career related to your passion, hobby, or special interest, is the path to follow in finding your dream job. Try thinking about what things you like to do in your spare time. Many are attracted toward turning what they love to do in their off work hours into a full time job. For example, if you like to put together model cars, maybe you would like opening your own hobby shop, or work for someone who owns one.
Once you find what you are interested in doing, you can then match this to a career which will be similar to what you are passionate about. What you consider a dream career has to center around what kind of person you actually are. This is called your Career Personality. What type of person do you consider yourself to be? People are naturally attracted to those things which reflect who they are as unique individuals. For example, if you are slightly on the shy side, maybe you would like a job where you work on your own, relatively unsupervised, behind a computer. If you are outgoing, maybe you would like to work with others, and be the supervisor.
All it may take to find our dream career is to know ourselves a little better, trust in our own judgment, and be realistic about what we can attain occupationally. This is how I found what I am doing now.
【小題1】What’s the main purpose of the passage?

A．To explain what a dream career really is.

B．To offer tips on finding a dream career.

C．To tell us what Career Personality means.

D．To give examples of different personalities.

【小題2】Which of the following about Career Personality is TRUE?

A．One should choose a dream career by his／her personality.

B．Choosing a dream career depends on a person’s ability.

C．One should choose a dream career according to the reality.

D．One should try different types of careers by his／her ability.

【小題3】Which of the following is what we need to find a dream career?
a. Realizing our ability.
b. Believing in ourselves.
c. Having a better understanding of ourselves.
d. Considering the background of our family.

A．a(chǎn), c, d	B．a(chǎn), b, c
C．b, c, d	D．a(chǎn), c, d

【小題4】From the second paragraph we learn your dream career has something to do with the following EXCEPT         .

A．your hobby	B．your special interest
C．your part—time job	D．your passion

The music of your teenage years probably will stay with you for the rest of your life.I think music is deeply connected with memory because of the emotions it awakens.Music also helps to mark time because of the way the fashions and stars of pop culture come and go.I often connect some summers with particular records (唱片 ) that came out while I was on holiday.But what's really the best way to record your youth? Is it your favorite song, or a picture of the singer?
In my teenage years, one of the special things about Britain was the huge amount of information about music.There were 3 weekly newspapers about music：Sounds, Melody Maker and the New Musical Express.Buying records was expensive and it also meant making a choice.So it was wise to read about music instead, and in some ways, it was actually better as well.It was possible for a group to get onto the front cover of one of the music papers without even having made any records—but they needed things to say for the reporters to write about.In fact, the best pop stars of the 1980s were people whose main talent was exactly that.They weren' t great musicians or singers and they weren't especially good?looking, but they had some unusual acts or habits and a nice way with clever phrases.They were ideal for filling music papers.
When The Face magazine first came out in May, 1980, it was meant to be a rock magazine.I have given away or sold all the records I bought as a teenager, but I think my old copies of The Face will stay with me for ever.Although it started out as a source of information about music, the writers quickly realized that it wasn't really the music that was important—it was the way people spoke and acted, and, above all, the way they looked.
【小題1】According to the author，music can NOT ________.

A．improve memory	B．a(chǎn)waken emotions
C．mark time	D．stay in the mind

【小題2】We can infer that during the author's teenage years，________.

A．there were few records for customers to buy

B．some songs he heard while on holiday impressed him

C．he spent most of his holiday time on music

D．he loved one pop song the most

【小題3】According to Paragraph 2，during the author's teenage years，________.

A．people had few chances to buy records

B．it was hard to judge whether records were good or not

C．it was not an easy thing for teenagers to get records

D．the choice of buying records only depended on newspapers

【小題4】The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 means that ________.

A．people could get onto the music papers without having made any records

B．people's talent was not what reporters needed to write about

C．reporters wrote about the talents of pop stars

D．people read about music