People think what I do is so wonderful because I interview stars.And I have to admit that when I first started working at Sassy in 1987 I was excited about that part of my job for the first couple of months，anyway.Then I noticed how stars would fool me around for months.I could never get enough time with a star to find out anything interesting，and some acted just simply rudely.I started hating the way I was treated，and I was really disappointed to see that these people I had worshipped (崇拜) before were pretty ordinary.So I decided I would just tell the truth instead of keeping up their myths (神秘)．If the star was a bad guy，I would say so.If I thought anyone was stupid，I did not hold back that information.
I thought readers would appreciate that kind of honesty.Surprisingly，many of them hated me for it.I have gotten so many attacks on my character.In their eyes，being famous is everything，even more desirable that being truly creative and talented.
Why do we need stars？In fact，the media created stars to satisfy our basic need for gossip (閑聊)．Over time，talking about people we have never met and we are never likely to meet has become what we are crazy about.Thus，some people are more interested in the personal lives of the stars than in the lives of their own family and their own friends.That is why it is so ridiculous when a star wants to discuss only his or her work in an interview—as we care.We want the dirt on their personal lives.
There is another reason we worship stars.As a whole，our society is not as religious as it once was.It seems that people need something to fulfill them the way religion once did.Star worship exists as an unfulfilling desire for true heroes.
We make them stars，but then their reputation makes us feel unimportant，and we truly feel better about ourselves when they die.I am part of this whole process.No wonder I feel soiled at the end of workday.
【小題1】What are the stars like according to the author?

A．They always treat others rudely.

B．They always talk about something dull.

C．They are actually ordinary people.

D．They are usually honest and polite.

【小題2】We worship stars because ________.

A．we need true mental heroes to support us

B．we can learn something useful from famous stars

C．we concern about the stars，family and friends

D．we like talking about the star's dressing styles

【小題3】When the author is writing this article，his tone sounds ________.

A．excited	B．angry
C．worried	D．calm

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

A．To show the disadvantages of working with stars.

B．To remind us not to worship famous stars blindly.

C．To laugh at the failures of stars he has interviewed.

D．To talk about the reasons why we worship stars.

Millions of Americans return from long-distance trips by air, but their luggage doesn’t always come home with them. Airline identification tags（標簽） can come loose, and the bags go who-knows-where. And passengers leave all kinds of things on planes.
The airlines collect the items and, for 90 days, attempt to find their owners. They don’t keep them, since they’re not in the warehouse business. And by law, they cannot sell the bags, because the airlines might be tempted to deliberately misplace luggage.
So once insurance companies have paid for lost bags and their contents, and they no longer belong to passengers, a unique store in the little town of Scottsboro, Alabama, buys them. The “Unclaimed Baggage Center,” is so popular that the building, which is set up like a department store, is the number-one tourist attraction in all of Alabama. More than one million visitors stop in each year and take one of the store’s shopping carts on a hunt for treasures.
Each day, clerks bring out 7,000 new items, and veteran（老練的）shoppers rush to paw over them. You can find everything from precious jewels to hockey sticks, best-selling novels, leather jackets, tape recorders, surfboards, even half -used tubes of toothpaste.
The store’s own laundry washes or cleans all the clothes found in luggage, then sells them. The Unclaimed Baggage Center has found guns, illegal drugs and even a live rattlesnake.
The store has a little museum where some of its most unusual acquisitions（獲得物） have been preserved. They include highland bagpipes, a burial mask from an Egyptian pharaoh's tomb, and a medieval suit of armor.
Statistics indicate that less than one-half of one percent of luggage checked on U.S. carriers is permanently lost and available to the store.
【小題1】 Paragraph1 shows that many passengers lose their luggage because______.

A．they are forgetful

B．they are in a hurry

C．there is no lost and found office in many airports

D．the owners of some luggage can’t be identified

【小題2】 The reason why the airlines cannot sell the bags is that ______.

A．they have to find the owners

B．they are likely to make a profit on the bags on purpose

C．some bags are expensive

D．they have to keep the bags as long as possible

【小題3】The Unclaimed Baggage Center is very popular because______.

A．there's a large variety of goods.

B．all thethings there are very cheap.

C．visitors may purchase something undervalued.

D．Visitors will enjoy some amusing activities there.

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

A．A little museum will keep all the precious unclaimed baggage.

B．The percentage of passengers who lose their baggage for ever is small.

C．The things in the Unclaimed Baggage Center are articles for daily use.

D．People are not allowed to buy the illegal things in the store.

【小題5】What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce how the unclaimed baggage in the airports is handled in America.

B．To introduce an attractive place to tourists.

C．To remind passengers of taking care of their baggage.

D．To advise the airlines to find the owners of the unclaimed baggage.

  People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms(體育館). Here, people are learning on special climbing
wall. The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb, you need special shoes and harness(保護帶) around your chest to hold you. There are ropes(繩索)tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult part is to control your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete workout. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.
【小題1】The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is _______.

A．to tie ropes to your shoes	B．to control your fear
C．to move away from the wall	D．to climb straight up

【小題2】The word “workout” underlined in the last paragraph most probably means _________.

A．settlement	B．exercise
C．excitement	D．tiredness

【小題3】 Why does the author write this passage?

A．To tell people where to find gyms.

B．To prove the basic need for climbing

C．To encourage people to climb mountains.

D．to introduce the sport of wall climbing

    In England, we look forward to our birthdays for 364 days a year!
We invite special people to celebrate it with us.
The Presents
Presents are opened as soon as the children are awake. They can’t wait for the birthday cake later in the day!
The Cards
Friends and family send birthday cards. Sending birthday cards is a custom (風俗) that began in England about 100 years ago.
The Party
The birthday child will have a party to which friends and family are invited. Visitors to the party bring presents for the birthday child. The children play games such as musical chairs and pass the parcel (包裹).
The Cake
The birthday cake is decorated on a theme (主題). A candle for each year is lit and placed on top and the child blows out the candles making a wish. We don’t put objects inside the cake as stated on many websites.
The Bumps (碰撞)
It used to be traditional for the birthday child to have the bumps. Friends would hold the child by the legs and under the arms and lift the child up and down bumping them gently on the ground. The number of bumps given is the age of the child plus one for extra good luck. As this can be dangerous, clapping (拍手) is often done instead.
The Sweets
Some children do take sweets to school to share with their classmates on their birthdays.
【小題1】 In England, the birthday present is opened _____.

A．before the child wakes up

B．immediately after the child wakes up

C．as soon as the child gets up

D．during the birthday party

【小題2】 If Alice is celebrating her 7th birthday, how many bumps will she be given?

A．Six.	B．Seven.
C．Eight.	D．Nine.

【小題3】 Which of the following facts about birthdays in England is NOT true?

A．All the children will receive birthday cards on their birthdays.

B．Clapping is often done for the birthday child.

C．Objects meaning good luck are usually placed inside the birthday cake.

D．Nowadays children may share sweets with their classmates on their birthdays.

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

A．How birthdays are celebrated in the world

B．Where to hold an English birthday party

C．What to send when invited to a child’s birthday

D．How English children celebrate their birthdays

Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal（信號）. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize（強調）the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job．In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafes rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand．I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled．After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
【小題1】In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to _______.

A．develop closer relations	B．share the same culture
C．get to know each other	D．keep each other company

【小題2】The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _______.

A．the English prefer to make long speeches

B．too many words are of no use

C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

D．even talk and silence can be culturally different

【小題3】According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?

A．By sharing different ways of life.

B．By accepting different habits.

C．By recognizing different values.

D．By speaking each other' s languages.

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

A．Multicultural Environment.

B．Cross-Cultural Differences.

C．How to Understand Each Other.

D．How to Build Up a Relationship.

India has many festivals, with some celebrations that last for weeks. However, none of them come even close to Holi, India’s most colorful and fun festival. Celebrated on the day following the full moon, this year’s festival happens to be on March 19th.
As with most Indian festivals, this one also has many different folk stories. Most of them center around the success of good over evil. The most popular one is about a king, who hates his son Prahlada for loving the creator of the Universe—Lord Vishnu. When every attempt to stop him fails, his sister, Holika believed to be immune(免疫的) to fire, joins in the effort by inviting the young boy to sit with her inside a huge fire. Helped by the power of Lord Vishnu, Prahlada escapes safely, while the evil Holika is burned to death. To remember this event, huge outdoor fires are lit in the night before Holi in order to clean the air of evil spirits and to celebrate the death of the evil.
So what’s so great about this day? While there are some fun parades(游行) and folk songs and dance performances, the most fun of all is walking to the streets and splashing(潑灑) people with water guns and dry colors and even covering them with entire buckets of colored water. On this day, everybody is fair game, no matter how old or how young.
At about midday, the splashing comes to an end and people living close to oceans or rivers usually take a bath in the water to clean themselves before going home to a delicious home-made big dinner and a well-deserved short sleep, following this full day of fun and activities.
【小題1】Why does the king dislike his son Prahlada?

A．Because Prahlada doesn’t love him.

B．Because Prahlada is rude to Holika.

C．Because Prahlada loves Lord Vishnu.

D．Because Prahlada concentrates on his own success.

【小題2】Prahlada gets out of danger __________.

A．with the help of Lord Vishnu

B．because of his good luck

C．by beating his aunt Holika

D．using his amazing talent

【小題3】The underlined phrase “fair game” in Paragraph 3 refers to a person who __________.

A．fights against others fairly

B．enjoys splashing people

C．plays a trick on others

D．is the aim of splashing water

【小題4】After the fun activities, people living close to oceans or rivers often take a bath because __________.

A．they have got dirty with dry colors and colored water

B．going home with colored water means bad luck

C．they believe clean water will bring good luck

D．taking a bath shows their true love for Lord Vishnu

　Do you love holidays but hate the increase weight that follows? You are not alone.
Holidays are happy days with pleasure and delicious foods. Many people, however, are worried about the weight that comes along with these delicious foods.
With proper planning, though, it is possible to control your weight. The idea is to enjoy the holidays but not to eat too much. You don't have to turn away from the foods that you enjoy. The following suggestions may be of some help to you.
Do not miss meals. Before yon leave home for a feast(宴會),have a small, low-fat snack(小吃). This may help to keep you from getting too excited before delicious foods. Begin with clear soup and fruit or vegetables. A large glass of water before you eat may help you feel full. Use a small plate; a large plate will encourage you to have more than enough.
Better not have high-fat foods. Dishes that look oily or creamy have much fat in them.
Choose lean meat(瘦肉 ).Fill your plate with salad and green vegetables.
If you have a sweet tooth, try mints (薄荷) and fruits. They don’t have fat content as cream and chocolate.
Don’t let exercise take a break during the holidays. A 20-minute walk after a meal can help burn off excess(過多的) calories.
【小題1】Holidays are happy days with pleasure but they may ______

A．bring weight problems

B．bring you much trouble in your life

C．make you worried about your foods

D．make you hate delicious foods

【小題2】 In order to really enjoy your holidays without putting on weight, you'd better__

A．drink much water and have vegetables only

B．not eat the food in high fat

C．not accept invitations to feasts

D．turn away from delicious foods

【小題3】According to the passage, ___ is a necessary part to stop you from putting on weight.

A．physical exercise	B．water
C．calories of energy	D．vegetables

【小題4】Many people can't help putting on weight after the holidays because they _______ .

A．enjoy delicious food

B．go to too many feasts

C．can't control themselves

D．can't help turning away from the foods

Cold weather can be hard on pets, just like it can be hard on people. Sometimes owners forget that their cats are just as used to the warm shelter (住所) as they are. Some owners will leave their animals outside for a long period of time, thinking that all animals are used to living outdoors. This can put their pets in danger of serious illness. There are things you can do to keep your animal warm and safe.
　Keep your pets inside as much as you can when the weather is bad. If you have to take them out, stay outside with them. When you're cold enough to go inside, they probably are too. If you must leave them outside for a long time, make sure they have a warm, solid shelter against the wind, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water.
　　If they are left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very smart in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide somewhere. Watch them closely when they are left outdoors, and provide them with shelter of good quality. Keep an eye on your pet's water. Sometimes owners don't realize that a water bowl has frozen and their pet can't get anything to drink. Animals that don't have clean and unfrozen water may drink dirty water outside, which may contain something unhealthy for them.
【小題1】 What do we learn about pets from Paragraph 1?

A．Thy are often forgotten by their owners

B．They like to stay in warm places.

C．They build their own shelter.

D．They are used to living outdoors.

【小題2】. Why are pet owners asked to stay with their pets when they are out in cold weather?

A．To keep them company

B．To keep them from eating bad food.

C．To know when to bring them inside

D．To help them find shelters.

【小題3】 If pets are left on their own outdoors in cold weather, they may ________.

A．run short of clean water	B．dig deep holes for fun
C．dirty the snow nearby	D．get lost in the wild

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

A．To give practical advice.

B．To solve a problem.

C．To tell an interesting story.

D．To present a research result.

Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong signal (信號). Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize (強調) the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree. For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before they do any job. In many European countries -- like the UK or France -- people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or café’s rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead there was an uncomfortable silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly. We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment (多元文化環(huán)境) will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
【小題1】In some countries, eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to _______.

A．develop closer relations	B．share the same culture
C．get to know each other	D．keep each other company

【小題2】The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________.

A．the English prefer to make long speeches

B．too many words are of no use

C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

D．even talk and silence can be culturally different

【小題3】According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better?

A．By sharing different ways of life.

B．By accepting different habits.

C．By recognizing different values.

D．By speaking each other' s languages.

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

A．Multicultural Environment.	B．Cross-Cultural Differences.
C．How to Understand Each Other.	D．How to Build Up a Relationship.

Have you ever picked a job based on the fact that you were good at it but later found it made you feel very uncomfortable over time? When you select your career, there's a whole lot more to it than assessing your skills and matching them with a particular position. If you ignore your personality, it will hurt you long-term regardless of your skills or the job’s pay. There are several areas of your personality that you need to consider to help you find a good job. Here are a few of those main areas;
1) Do you prefer working alone or with other people?
There are isolating jobs that will drive an outgoing person crazy and also interactive jobs that will make a shy person uneasy. Most people are not extremes in either direction but do have a tendency that they prefer. There are also positions that are sometimes a combination of the two, which may be best for someone in the middle who adapts easily to either situation.
2) How do you handle change?
Most jobs these days have some elements of change to them, but some are more than others. If you need stability in your life, you may need a job where the changes don't happen so often. Other people would be bored of the same daily routine.
3) Do you enjoy working with computers？
I do see this as a kind of personality characteristic. There are people who are happy to spend more than 40 hours a week on a computer, while there are others who need a lot of human interaction throughout the day. Again, these are extremes and you'll likely find a lot of positions somewhere in the middle as well.
4) What type of work environment do you enjoy？
This can range from being in a large building with a lot of people you won't know immediately to a smaller setting where you'll get to know almost all the people there fairly quickly.
5) How do you like to get paid?
Some people are motivated by the pay they get, while others feel too stressed to be like that. The variety of payment designs in the sales industry is a typical example for this.
Anyway, these are a great starting point for you. I've seen it over and over again with people that they make more money over time when they do something they love. It may take you a little longer, but making a move to do what you have a passion for can change the course of your life for the better.
【小題1】What is unnecessary in your job hunting?

A．Assessing your skills

B．Going to different areas

C．Matching your skills with a position

D．taking your personality into consideration

【小題2】Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Isolating jobs usually drive people mad.

B．Interactive jobs make people shy easily.

C．Extreme people tend to work with others.

D．Almost everyone has a tendency in jobs.

【小題3】What does the underlined sentence in paragraph one mean?

A．Before you select your job, you should assess your skills and match them with your position

B．There are more important things than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.

C．Nothing is important than assessing skills and match them with the position when you select job.

D．You should ignore your skills when you select job.

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

A．Lifestyles and Job Pay	B．Jobs and Environment
C．Job Skills and Abilities	D．Personalities and Jobs