According to sociologists, every modern industrial society has some form of social stratification（階層）. Class, power and status are important in deciding people’s rank in society.
Class means a person’s economic position in society. A commonly used classification is lower class, middle class and upper class. While sociologists disagree on how these terms should be exactly defined, they do describe societies like the United States quite well. One study shows that 53% of Americans belong to the lower class, 46% the middle class, and 1% the upper class. Interestingly, a surgeon earning ＄500,000 a year and a bus driver earning ＄50,000 a year both regard themselves as the middle class!
Power refers to the amount of control a person has over other people. Obviously, people in positions of great power (such as governors) exercise（行使）big power, but people who take orders from others have less power. Power and class do not always go hand in hand, however. For example, the governor of a state has great power, but he or she may not belong to a corresponding （相應(yīng)的）economic class. Generally, however, there is a relationship between power and class.   
To our knowledge, there aren’t too many people who aren’t millionaires in the U.S. Senate!
Status is the honor or respect attached to a person’s position in society. It can also be affected by power and class, but not necessarily so. For example, a university professor may have a high status but not belong to a high social class or have a lot of power over others.
【小題1】What can we learn about “the middle class” from Paragraph 2?

A．People earning ＄50,000 a year belong to the middle class.

B．Nearly half Americans belong to the middle class.

C．People generally consider bus drivers as the middle class.

D．Sociologists have a clear definition of the middle class.

【小題2】According to the text, we know that _____.

A．power and class do not always correspond with each other

B．status refers to a person’s economic position in society

C．people with high status have a lot of control over others

D．class is less important in deciding a person’s social rank

【小題3】Which of the following shows the structure of the whole text?

Producing money requires both artistic and technological skills． Dollar bills are made so that they are interesting to look at but very hard to copy． In total, there are sixty-five separate steps required to make a dollar bill．
The money making process begins when． a yearly order is sent by the Federal Reserve Board． That order will then be divided in half． Half will be done here in Washington, D． C．a(chǎn)nd the other half will be done in Fort Worth, Texas． Next, the Bureau orders special paper which is actually cloth since it is 75% cotton and 25% linen．
This paper is made so that it can last a long time． And, it is made with details that make it hard to copy． For example, bills contain security threads． These narrow pieces of plastic are inside the paper and run along the width of the bill． This special paper is also made with very small blue and red fibers．
Once the money is printed, guillotine cutters separate the sheets into two notes, then into individual notes． The notes are organized in "bricks," each of which contains forty one-hundred-note packages． The bricks then go to one of twelve Federal Reserve Districts, which then give the money to local banks． Ninety-five percent of the bills printed each year are used to replace money that is in circulation, or that has already been removed from circulation．
You may know that America's first president, George Washington, is pictured on the one- dollar bill． But do you know whose face is on the two, five, ten, twenty, fifty and one hundred-dollar bills? They are, in order． President Thomas Jefferson, President Abraham Lincoln, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, President Andrew Jackson, President Ulysses Grant and statesman Benjamin Franklin．
The average life span of a one-dollar bill is twenty-one months． But a ten-dollar bill lasts only about eighteen months． The one hundred-dollar bill lasts the longest, eighty-nine months． One popular question is about the two-dollar bill． This bill is not printed very often． This is because many Americans believe two-dollar bills are lucky, so they keep them． 
【小題1】During money production, we must consider all EXCEPT that it must                   .

A．last a long time

B．be hard to copy

C．be interesting to look at

D．be done by the president's order

【小題2】We can learn from the passage that the security threads                   .

A．a(chǎn)re narrow pieces of plastic

B．a(chǎn)re pressed outside the bills

C．a(chǎn)re longer than the width of the bills

D．a(chǎn)re actually made of cotton and linen

【小題3】How many presidents are printed on the American money?

A．Four

B．Five

C．Six

D．Seven

【小題4】Why are the two-dollar bills not made often?

A．Because no one wants them．

B．Because their material is a bit more expensive．

C．Because they aren't used in America any more．

D．Because they aren't damaged quickly like other bills．

The day I became a mom was not the day my daughter was born, but seven years later. Up until that day, I had been too busy trying to survive my abusive(辱罵的) marriage. I had spent all my energy trying to run a "perfect" home that would pass inspection each evening, and I didn't see that my baby girl had become a toddler. I'd tried endlessly to please someone who could never be pleased and suddenly realized that the years had slipped by and could never return. 
Oh, I had done the normal "motherly" things, like making sure my daughter got to ballet and gym lessons. I went to all of her recitals and school concerts, parent-teacher conferences and open houses alone. We suffered from my husband's rages(暴怒) when something was spilled(溢出) at the dinner table, telling her, "It will be okay, Honey. Daddy's not really mad at you." I did all I could to protect her from hearing the awful shouting and complaints after he returned from a night of drinking. Finally I did the best thing I could do for my daughter and myself: I removed us from the home that wasn't really a home at all. 
That day I became a mom was the day when my daughter and I were sitting in our new home having a calm, quiet dinner just as I had always wanted for her. We were talking about what she had done in school and suddenly her little hand knocked over the full glass of chocolate milk by her plate. As I watched the white tablecloth and freshly painted white wall become dark brown, I looked at her small face. It was filled with fear, knowing what the consequence of the event would have meant only a week before in her father's presence. When I saw that look on her face and looked at the chocolate milk running down the wall, I simply started laughing. I am sure she thought I was crazy, but then she must have realized that I was thinking, "It's a good thing your father isn't here!" She started laughing with me, and we laughed until we cried. They were tears of joy and peace and were the first of many tears that we cried together. That was the day we knew that we were going to be okay. 
Whenever either of us spills something, even now, seventeen years later, she says, "Remember the day I spilled the chocolate milk? I knew you had done the right thing for us." That was the day I really became a mom. I discovered that being a mom isn't only going to ballet or gym, recitals, and attending every school concert and open house. It isn't keeping a tidy house and preparing perfect meals. It certainly isn't pretending things are normal when they are not. For me, being a mom started when I could laugh over spilled milk. 
---- By Linda Jones from “Chicken Soup for Soul”
【小題1】What does the underlined part "the right thing" refer to?

A．Becoming a single mother.

B．Divorcing with her abusive husband.

C．Doing all the motherly things well and running the family.

D．Not blaming on her daughter’s spilling the chocolate milk.

【小題2】Which statement is NOT true?．

A．The author had suffered from an unfortunate marriage for a long time.

B．All the things the author did were to protect her daughter

C．The author hadn’t been a mother until she removed from her marriage.

D．Both the author and her daughter were frightened at the husband and father.

【小題3】Why did the author and her daughter laugh and then cry?

A．Because it was a thorough relief after they had suffered too much.

B．Because they were actually crazy.

C．Because they wouldn’t see the abusive man any more.

D．Because spilling the chocolate milk on the wall was really funny.

【小題4】What is the best title for this article?

A．How To Be a Better Mon?	B．The Day I Became a Mom
C．A Thing Happened 17 Years Ago	D．Survive an Abusive Marriage

In just two months, the latest buzzword from the Internet, diaosi, has spread so much that it can be found everywhere—from online forums(論壇) to micro blogs. Many people even call themselves diaosi. It’s not the first time a term has gone popular on the Internet in China. However, why is the word so viral that is has become a cultural phenomenon? Here, we tell you something you want to know about it.
Where it began
The word originated in Baidu. Com’s Tieba (a top Chinese bulletin board system) of soccer player Li Yi. There, fans of Li, who are called yisi in Chinese, not only talk about soccer but complain about their lives, work and relationships. Yisi, who are known for their rude and dirty language, were given the name diaosi by others who have seen their posts.
What a “diaosi” is like
The word diaosi was coined first by single, young men who feel they have dead-end lives. Generally, men in this category don’t earn enough, are not good-looking, and have difficulty winning promotion(晉升). Unlike their upper-class contemporaries(同代人), they lack influential families, useful social networks for their careers, and most importantly, suitable women to marry. “I’m just a diaosi, poor and plain-looking. Who will marry me?” The sigh can be heard, which is half self-mockery(自嘲), half reality. Many young men call themselves diaosi because they feel they are among the lowest classes of the society.
“Diaosi” culture reflects social changes
According to Zhu Chongke, a professor in the School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, the popularity of this word diaosi stems from the fact that is was created by common people and thus resonates(共鳴) with a huge population. “Labeling yourself a diaosi offers a way for people to mock themselves and relieve pressure, hence it spread quickly,” he told Xinhua Agency. “The attitude is basically: ‘I already have little to lose, so why don’t I mock myself for gun?’.” The phenomenon reflects a larger social issues. These young people have no influential family background, no chances of receiving promotion at work or no economic strength to find a proper woman to marry. It reflects a deep sense of loss.
【小題1】Diaosi refers to the ones with following features except      .

A．the ones who don’t earn much.

B．the ones who are not good-looking.

C．the ones who have difficulty winning promotion

D．the ones who have suitable people to marry.

【小題2】The word “diaosi” is so popular because         .

A．It was used to describe the fans of soccer player Li Yi.

B．It was created by common people and resonates with a huge population.

C．It is new and interesting.

D．It helps people who are among the lowest classes mock themselves.

【小題3】Which of the following is NOT true?

A．It’s not the first time a term like “diaosi” has gone popular on the Internet.

B．The name “diaosi” was given by those people who are among the lowest classes.

C．Many young people call themselves diaosi because they have a deep sense of loss.

D．Calling yourself diaosi can probably mock yourselves and release pressure.

【小題4】The author’s attitude to diaosi is      .

A．positive

B．negative

C．neutral(中立的)

D．indifferent

As a leading safari(狩獵游)company in Kenya，Game-watchers has been recognized s the Tour Operator of 20 11 Kenya Travel Awards，and rewarded with some other international tour prizes in recent years．
Safari tours go to some of the best wildlife national parks and game parks in Africa， even the Masai Mara in Kenya．We are ready to offer a more personalized service，including staying in smaller safari eco-camps and providing high quality professional safari guides，plus 4x4 safari vehicles for game drives．We can also offer you the choice to fly straight into the wildlife areas，using light airplane，to avoid lengthy road journeys．
Here is a typical Tour Plan of Game-watchers(2 nights／3 days)

If you have any further questions, please contact us at www. Gamewatchers. com or call us at 0944-598-580.
【小題1】According to the passage，Game-watchers is

A．a(chǎn) travel plan in Kenya’s best national parks

B．Kenya’s largest and best safari company

C．Kenya’s online travel company of game drives

D．a(chǎn) winner of many travel awards home and abroad

【小題2】Which of the following is offered as an alternative means of transportation if you can’t wait to get into the wildlife areas?

A．4×4 safari vehicle．	B．Plane
C．Walk．	D．Bus

【小題3】How many meals are offered in a typical Tour Plan of 2 nights／3days?

A．Nine．	B．Eight
C．Seven．	D．Six.

【小題4】The author’s purpose of writing the passage is

A．to introduce the beautiful scenery of Kenya

B．to make an advertisement for a tour company

C．to inform tourists of the detailed tour information

D．to make people curious about the wild life in Kenya

Winning the lottery (彩票) is not the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for many past winners. Sad stories do exist in large numbers for the past lottery winners and that's why some financial experts say "70 percent of lottery winners will squander away (亂花) winning within a few years." Some end up losing all within two years, family relationships destroyed or even worse.
Wayne Schenk was an old soldier diagnosed with lung cancer. When he won a million dollars in a lottery he thought his troubles were over and he would get the advanced medical treatment that might save his life. But Lottery officials refused to pay him the total sum in a single payment and they said they could not make an exception to the regulations. When Schenk died in 2007, he'd only received one payment of $34,000.
Another lottery winner, Billy Bob Harrell, Jr. killed himself two years after winning 31 million dollars in the Texas lottery in 1997.He'd spent large amounts of money and given large amounts away, but he didn't end me expected peace that should have come with the freedom of money.
Other lottery winners have ended up in prison for crimes. Many suffer bankruptcy (破產(chǎn)) after the big jackpot (頭獎(jiǎng)) is spent and given away, including some of the eight people who won the 365 million Powerball in 2006.
The examples given paint a sad picture of what can happen if you win a big lottery jackpot, but fortunately, these examples don't tell the stories of all jackpot winners.
【小題1】What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

A．Most lottery winners use up money quickly.

B．Most lottery winners don't really end up well.

C．Winning lottery means relationships destroyed.

D．Financial experts are against the lottery industry.

【小題2】Why did lottery officials refuse to give Wayne Schenk the million dollars in one payment?

A．He was diagnosed with lung cancer.

B．He was unwilling to give away his money.

C．They had to observe the official rules.

D．They didn't want to disturb his peace.

【小題3】The author supports his main idea by ____.

A．giving examples	B．making comparisons
C．listing numbers	D．listing reasons

【小題4】In the following paragraph, the author will probably talk about_____.

A．a(chǎn)dvice given by financial experts

B．happy stories of the lottery winners

C．conclusion drawn by the author

D．regulations about lottery winning

WELCOME Welcome to Windsor Castle, the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences(住所) of the Queen, who sometimes stays here. 　 Audio tours Free audio tours are available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. There is a descriptive audio tour for blind and poor-sighted visitors. Guided tours Visitors can explore the history of the Castle through a tour of the Precincts with an expert guide. Tours depart（出發(fā)，起程）at regular intervals（每隔一定時(shí)間/距離）throughout the day from the Courtyard and finish at the entrance to the State Apartments. Visitors with children For those visiting with children, a special family tour and various activities are offered during school holidays and at weekends. Please note that, for safety reasons, pushchairs are not permitted in the State Apartments. However, baby carriers are available to borrow. St George's Chapel Visitors arriving at the Castle after 15:00 from march to October are advised to visit St George's Chapel first, before it closes.

Shopping Shops offer a wide range of souvenirs designed for the Royal Collection, including books, postcards, china, jewellery, and children's toys. Please ask at the Middle Ward shop about our home delivery service（送貨服務(wù)）. Refreshments Bottled water can be purchased from the Courtyard and Middle Ward shops. From April to September ice cream is also available. Visitors wishing to leave the Castle for refreshments in the town may obtain re-entry permits from the castle shops. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the State Apartments or St George's Chapel. Photography and mobile phones Non-commercial photography and filming are welcomed in the Castle. Photography, video recording and filming are not permitted inside the State Apartments or St George's Chapel. Mobile phones must be switched off inside the State Apartments and St George's Chapel in consideration of other visitors. Security As Winter Castle is a working royal palace, visitors and their belongings should get through airport-style security checks. For safety and security reasons a one-way system operates along the visitor route.

 
【小題1】A visitor can apply for a free audio tour ___________.

A．in the Courtyard	B．in the State Apartments
C．a(chǎn)t the Admission Center	D．a(chǎn)t St George's Chapel

【小題2】What is specially offered to visitors with kids?

A．A security guard

B．A pushchair

C．A free toy

D．A baby carrier

【小題3】Who can get re-entry permits?

A．Visitors wishing to eat outside the Castle

B．Visitors buying gifts in the castle shops

C．Visitors buying water from the Courtyard

D．Visitors eating outside St George's Chapel

【小題4】Why are visitors required to turn off their mobile phones?

A．To ensure the safety of others

B．To ensure the security of the Castle

C．To prevent them from disturbing others

D．To prevent the use of the built-in cameras

【小題5】In the last part, a "working royal palace" refers to one_____.

A．still being constructed	B．still used by the royal family
C．where the Queen usually works	D．where works of art are on show

“Homestay is a form of study abroad program. It allows the visitor to rent a room from a local(當(dāng)?shù)氐? family to better understand the local lifestyle. It also helps to improve the visitor’s language ability,” said a teacher during a school meeting last term. “Students who wish to learn more about foreign cultures or to get foreign experience should join this kind of holiday. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.”
After this special meeting, I always thought about this kind of holiday. Last month, I had a chance at last to go on such a holiday with some of my schoolmates and we went to London, a place where I had wanted to go since years ago.
As we were still young, we had a group leader who planned things for us and looked after us. After we got to London, we went to stay with different families. I was lucky that my host family(寄宿家庭) was a white couple who had a daughter about my age. They treated me as a daughter of their family during my stay there. They were interested in me and I learnt a lot of things from them, too.
The holiday was filled with activities every day. After breakfast, a local teacher would come to take us in his car. Then we would have classes or go on a sight-seeing trip to different places of interest like the Big Ben, the London Bridge, and the Buckingham Palace. We would go back to our own homes after the activities.
The holiday was a valuable experience for me. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yet, time really flew fast. Three weeks later, we had to leave “home” for Hong Kong.
【小題1】In the “homestay” program, a visitor can _____.

A．learn more about holidays	B．understand his culture better
C．improve the language ability	D．take part in foreign meetings

【小題2】The writer had wanted to visit London since _______.

A．last month	B．a(chǎn) long time ago
C．the special meeting	D．her stay abroad

【小題3】The writer’s host family ______.

A．was very kind to her	B．went sight-seeing with her
C．had two white daughters	D．was interested in her activities

【小題4】From the passage, we know that the writer ______ in London.

A．wished to stay a little longer

B．had a wonderful time

C．had classes in many interesting places

D．helped the teacher take the students in a car

When my family moved to America in 2010 from a small village in Guangdong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive Americans are and how they dislike the description “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
By Jack
【小題1】Jack brought the couple their food very fast because _______.

A．the manager asked him to do so	B．he respected the elderly
C．the couple wanted him to do so	D．he wanted more pay

【小題2】When Jack called the couple “elderly”, they became _______.

A．nervous

B．satisfied

C．unhappy

D．excited

【小題3】In Jack’s hometown, _______.

A．people dislike being called “old”

B．people are proud of being old

C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty

D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants

【小題4】After this experience, Jack _______.

A．lost his job in the restaurant

B．made friends with the couple

C．no longer respected the elderly

D．changed his way with older people

【小題5】 Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got.

B．Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience.

C．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple.

D．From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture.