People are being lured(引誘) onto Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service, and don’t realize that they’re paying for it by giving up loads of personal information. Facebook then attempts to make money by selling their data（資料） to advertisers that want to send targeted (目標(biāo)的)messages.
Most Facebook users don’t realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they’re paying for Facebook, because people don’t really know what their personal details are worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules. Early on, you could keep everything private. That was the great thing about Facebook—you could create your own little private network. Last year, the company changed its privacy rules so that many things—your city, your photo, your friends’ names—were set, by default（默認(rèn)）, to be shared with everyone on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s vice president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don’t share information, they have a “l(fā)ess satisfying experience.”
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. Its original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them at the side of the page, totally failed. Who wants to look at ads when they’re online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April, Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Commission to set guidelines for social-networking sites. “I think the senators rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them,” Schrage admits.
I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade（侵犯）our privacy, it’s only the beginning，which is why I’m considering deactivating（撤銷） my account(賬號). Facebook is a handy site, but I’m upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don’t trust. That is too high a price to pay.
【小題1】What do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph?

A．It is a website that sends messages to targeted users.

B．It makes money by putting on advertisements.

C．It earns money by selling its user’s personal data

D．It provides a lot of information to its users

【小題2】What does the author say about most Facebook users?

A．They don’t know their personal data enriches Facebook

B．They are unwilling to give up their personal information

C．They don’t identify themselves when using website

D．They care very little about their personal information

【小題3】Why does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage?

A．To help its users make more friends

B．To obey the Federal guidelines

C．To make money by attracting more users

D．To offer better service to its users

【小題4】What does Senator Charles Schumer argue for?

A．Setting guidelines for advertising on websites

B．Setting rules for social-networking sites

C．Stopping sharing user’s personal information

D．Removing ads from all social-networking sites

【小題5】Why does the author plan to stop using his Facebook account?

A．He is dissatisfied with its service.

B．He finds many of its users untrustworthy.

C．He doesn’t want his personal data badly used.

D．He is upset by its frequent rule changes.

Suppose you don't need your car today.And suppose，as it happens that a stranger in your area does need a car.Would you be willing to rent yours out?
Several car­sharing start­ups，including Getaround，RelayRides and JustSharelt，are eager to connect car owners with renters this way.The companies have different rules，but participating owners receive，generally speaking，about two­thirds of the rental earnings.RelayRides says an owner of a mid­size，late­model sedan who rents out a car for 10 hours a week could expect to clear about $ 3,000 a year.
Peer­to­peer car­sharing remains in the trial stage；it can be found in San Francisco and a few other places.It has a long way to go before it becomes the auto equivalent of Airbnb，the  surprise success story for peer­to­peer sharing of space in apartments and houses.
Shelby Clark，founder of RelayRides，says potential investors in his company have been concerned that owners will be afraid to hand their car over to strangers.To address that，he points to Airbnb，saying，“Letting people sleep in your living room is much more of a disturbance into your personal space than letting someone use your car.”
All of these companies offer their own insurance coverage for their renters，which are supposed to put owners' minds at ease.But only two states—California and Oregon—have passed  laws to clarify that an owner will not suffer any consequences should a car­sharing renter have an accident.
“In all the other states，legal ambiguity remains，” Shelby Clark says.“If a renter should be involved in a serious accident in those states，the victim can be expected to go after every party possible，including the car's owner.”
Also to remove the worries of car owners，the driving records of renters are checked for recent serious violations..
【小題1】What does the underlined word “sedan” in Paragraph 2 probably refer to?

A．A kind of car.

B．An owner of a car.

C．A renting company.

D．A car­sharing renter.

【小題2】Which of the following is true of Aribnb?

A．It cares little about personal privacy.

B．It deals with house­sharing successfully.

C．It is a very popular car­sharing company.

D．Its ideas are being tried out in some states.

【小題3】If a car­sharing renter should have an accident in California，the car's owner ________.

A．has to take legal responsibility

B．will not suffer the consequence

C．is not covered by health insurance

D．must pay the insurance for the renter

【小題4】According to the text，more car­owners will participate in the service，if ________.

A．legal ambiguity is clarified in all the states

B．renters are warned not to violate traffic rules

C．more money is given to participating owners

D．people are aware of the importance of sharing

【小題5】It can be learned from the text that car­sharing ________.

A．makes no profit

B．remains in popularity

C．is against the state law

D．is a new business model

Until the 1980s, the American homeless population is mainly made up of older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient(變化無常的) and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems — both legal and educational — for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers.
Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis. But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly.
One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the “throwaway” youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not treated as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets.
Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions（規(guī)定） of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education.
【小題1】It is implied in the first paragraph that ____.

A．the writer himself is homeless, even in his eighties

B．many older homeless residents are going on strike in 25 cities

C．there is a serious shortage of academic facilities

D．homeless children are denied the opportunity of receiving free education

【小題2】The National Coalition for the homeless believes that the number of homeless children is _____.

A．350,000

B．1,500,000

C．440,000

D．110,000

【小題3】One part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate. The reason might well be ____.

A．the homeless children are too young to be treated as children

B．the homeless population is growing rapidly

C．the homeless children usually stay outside school

D．some homeless children are deserted by their families

【小題4】The McKinney Act is mentioned in this passage in order to show that ___.

A．the educational problems of homeless children are being recognized

B．the estimates on homeless children are hard to determine

C．the address of grade-school children should be located

D．a(chǎn)ll homeless people should have free education

Shopping for clothes is not the same experience for a man as it is for a woman. A man goes shopping because he needs something. His purpose is settled and decided in advance. He knows what he wants, and his objective is to find it and buy it; the price is a secondary consideration. All men simply walk into a shop and ask the assistant for what they want. If the shop has it in stock(有現(xiàn)貨的), the salesman promptly produces it, and the business of trying it on follows at once. All being well, the deal can be and often is completed in less than five minutes, with hardly any chat and to everyone's satisfaction.
For a man, slight problems may begin when the shop does not have what he wants, or does not have exactly what he wants. In that case the salesman, as the name implies, tries to sell the customer something else, he offers the nearest to the article required. No good salesman brings out such a substitute impolitely; he does so with skill: “I know this jacket is not the style you want, sir, but would you like to try it for size? It happens to be the color you mentioned.” Few men have patience with this treatment, and the usual response is: “This is the right color and may be the right size, but I should be wasting my time and yours by trying it on.”
Now how does a woman go about buying clothes? In almost every respect she does so in the opposite way. Her shopping is not often based on need. She has never fully made up her mind what she wants, and she is only “having a look round”. She is always open to persuasion; indeed she sets great store by what the saleswoman tells her, even by what companions tell her. She will try on any number of things. Uppermost in her mind is the thought of finding something that everyone thinks suits her. Contrary to a lot of jokes, most women have an excellent sense of value when they buy clothes. They are always on the lookout for the unexpected bargain. Faced with a roomful of dresses, a woman may easily spend an hour going from one rail to another, to and fro, often retracing her steps, before selecting the dresses she wants to try on. It is a laborious process, but apparently an enjoyable one. Most dress shops provide chairs for the waiting husbands.
【小題1】The underlined sentence “the price is a secondary consideration” in the first paragraph means when a man is shopping ______.

A．he buys good quality things, so long as they are not too dear

B．he buys whatever he likes without considering its value

C．he does not mind how much he has to pay for the right things

D．he often buys things without giving the matter proper thought.

【小題2】What does a man do when he can not get exactly what he wants?

A．He buys a similar thing because of the color he wants.

B．He usually does not buy anything.

C．At least two of his requirements must be met before he buys.

D．So long as the style is right, he buys the thing.

【小題3】What is the most obvious difference between men and women shoppers?

A．Men do not try clothes on in a shop while women do.

B．Women bargain for their clothes, but men do not.

C．The time they take over buying clothes.

D．Men go shopping based on need, but women never.

I have nothing to say about whether or not “A Day Without Immigrants(移民)” had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country. I'll leave that question to others.
Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious. Using the theme of “A Day Without” as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public consciousness about other issues that affect daily life in America. Here are my top three examples:
“A Day Without Speeding.” How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge.
“A Day Without Losing Your Temper.” A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience. When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but bursting into anger usually has nothing to do with the approach to the heart of the matter.
“A Day Without Having All The Answers.” I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, “Here’s what you’re doing wrong.” Right now the US is packed with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it in a moment. I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices.
I wonder how would average Americans react to such a national pause? Would it be a day of reaction against anger, or joyful celebrations?
【小題1】The first paragraph suggests ________.

A．the writer is against “A Day Without Immigrants”

B．immigrants are not equally treated by the US government

C．the immigrants issue is so complex that the author has to refer to others

D．some move to America without the permission of the US government

【小題2】The author uses his “top three examples” to________.

A．criticize the undocumented illegal immigrants in America

B．show public consciousness of some subjects could be raised

C．encourage common people to create more similar activities

D．indicate some bothering issues affecting people’s daily life

【小題3】According to the author, losing one’s temper is ________.

A．unpleasant

B．pointless

C．relaxing

D．personal

【小題4】The writer suggests “a day without having all the answers”, because ________.

A．he thinks the Americans are too proud

B．he wants to have a chance to speak his mind

C．he expects others to keep quiet and calm

D．he hopes to get a break from the problems

Without mutual(相互的)respect, any relationship will be an unhappy one . People who respect each other: a) value each other’s opinions, b) listen to each other, and c) disagree without screams or insults（侮辱）. And remember, your parents have lived longer than you—don’t discount their experience and knowledge.
Your parents want to know what’s going on in your life. If you don’t tell them they won’t know when you need their help or whether they can trust you. Tell them what you’re doing, share your thoughts and feelings with them, and ask for their advice for your problems( you don’t have to follow it). Communication builds closeness. Trust is your key to freedom. The way to build trust is through honesty and responsibility. Honesty means you don’t lie or manipulate(作假). Responsibility means that you are reliable(可依賴的) and make good choices to use good judgment. When your parents trust you, it’s a lot easier for them to say “Yes.”
These guidelines(指導(dǎo)方針) work both ways. If sometimes, your parents break any of these guidelines, talk to them about it. Pick a time when you are both calm and feeling good toward each other(never when you are angry). Then , explain to them what they did, how it makes you feel, and what you’d like them to do instead.
Unfortunately, these guidelines don’t always work. Since we can only control what we do, and not what our parents do, sometimes we just cannot change a bad relationship. If this is the case, try to use these guidelines to at least improve things a little, and talk with a trusted adult who may be able to help you
【小題1】What’s the probable meaning of the underlined word” discount” in the first paragraph?

A．To think or say that something is not important or not true.

B．To disagree with somebody’s opinions.

C．To respect somebody’s opinions

D．To accept somebody suggestions.

【小題2】The main idea of the second paragraph is about_______

A．feelings

B．a(chǎn)dvice

C．closeness

D．communication

【小題3】From this passage we know that the writer may be________.

A．a(chǎn)n editor

B．a(chǎn)n expert

C．a(chǎn) doctor

D．a(chǎn) teacher

【小題4】The main purpose of the passage is_______.

A．to show that your parents want to know what’s going on in your life.

B．to discuss how to have great relationship with your parents.

C．to discuss how to talk with a trusted adult who may be able to help you

D．to discuss how to respect your parents.

Life gets noisier every day and very few people can be free from noise of some sort or another. It doesn’t matter where you live－ in the middle of a modern city, or a faraway village the chances that you will be disturbed by jet aeroplanes, transistor radios, oil-powered engines, etc, are almost everywhere. We seem to be getting used to noise, too. Some people feel quite lonely without background music while they are working.
Scientific tests have shown that total silence can be very frightening experience for human beings. However, some people enjoy listening to pop music which is very loud, and this can do harm to their eardrums(耳鼓). The noise level in some disco is far above the usual safety level for heavy industrial areas.
One recent report about noise and concentration(專心) suggested that although a lot of people say that any noise disturbs their concentration , what really affects their ability to concentrate is a change in the level of noise. It goes on to say that a background noise, which doesn’t change too much (music, for example ) may even help people to concentrate.
【小題1】The best title for this passage is________.

A．Noisy Life	B．Background Noise
C．Disturbed Concentration	D．Changeable Noise

【小題2】From this passage, the pollution of noise__________.

A．doesn’t matter much

B．has become worse everywhere

C．has become better in big cities

D．has become better in villages

【小題3】“Background music” in the passage means___________.

A．music played in the concert

B．a(chǎn) kind of noise coming into your ears

C．music helps people to concentrate

D．music played while people are working

【小題4】Scientists have discovered that what prevents people from concentrating is _________.

A．a(chǎn)ny kind of noise

B．great changes in level of noise

C．background noise

D．various background music

We can make mistakes at any age. Some mistakes we make are about money. But most mistakes are about people.“Did Jerry really care when I broke up with Helen?” When I got that great job, did Jim really feel good about it, as a friend? Or did he envy(嫉妒)my luck?”“And Paul-why didn’t he pick up that he was friendly just because I had a car?”When we look back, doubts like these can make us feel bad. But when we look back, it’s too late.
Why do we go wrong about our friends or our enemies? Sometimes what people say hides their real meaning. And if we don’t really listen we miss the feeling behind the words. Suppose someone tells you, “You’re a lucky dog.”that’s being friendly. But“l(fā)ucky dog”?There’s a bit of envy in those words. Maybe he doesn’t see it himself. But bringing in the “dog” bit puts you down a little. What he may be saying is that he doesn’t think you deserve your luck.
“Just think of all the things you have to be thankful for ”is another noise that says one thing and means another . It could mean that the speaker is trying to get you to see your problem as part of your life as a whole. But is he? Wrapped up(包藏) in this phrase is the thought that your problem isn’t important. It’s telling you to think of all the starving people in the world when you haven’t got a date for Saturday night.
How can you tell the real meaning behind someone’s got a date for Saturday night? Good look at the person talking. Do his words fit the way he looks? Does what he says agree with the tone of voice? His posture(姿態(tài))?The look in his eyes? Stop and think. The minute you spend thinking about the real meaning of what people to you may save another mistake.
【小題1】This passage is mainly about_____.

A．how to interpret(understand) what people say

B．what to do when you listen to others talking

C．how to avoid mistakes when you communicate with people

D．why we go wrong with people sometimes

【小題2】According to the author, the reason why we go wrong about our friends is that_______.

A．we fail to listen carefully when they talk

B．we tend to（傾向）doubt what our friends say

C．people usually state one thing but means another

D．people tend to be annoyed when we check what they say

【小題3】In the sentence “Maybe he doesn’t see it himself.”In the second paragraph, the pronoun “it”refers to____.

A．being friendly

B．a(chǎn) bit of envy

C．lucky dog

D．your luck

【小題4】When we listen to a person talking , the most important thing for us to do is _______.

A．notice the way the person is talking

B．take a good look at the person talking

C．mind his tone, his posture and the look in his eyes

D．examine the real meaning of what he says based on his manner, his tone and his posture

A father in Wuhan, nicknamed "Eagle Dad" for his controversial parenting style, has dismissed critics' claims that he pushes his 4-year-old son too hard.
Police officer Wang Shaoyan came under the spotlight this month after his child took part in an 18-kilometer race in the Hubei provincial capital.
Some parents attacked his methods of extreme physical training, while others reacted strongly to his admission that he regularly exposes the youngster to cold showers. "I just want my son to reach his full potential," Wang said, adding that 4-year-old son not only runs 3 km every day he also takes cold showers from time to time to strengthen his body's resistance and willpower.
"He has never taken any sick leave from kindergarten," he said proudly. However, some parents find his methods too extreme.
"I'm not sure a 4-year-old is prepared for such intense training," said Zhang Ruxia  a woman who gave birth to two boys in October in Tianjin. "You can have good intentions to train your child at an early age but you also have to consider whether he can take it." Wang responded by saying children are too young to make decisions, and it is up to parents to lead them on the right path.
"I read many materials before and the whole process is step-by-step without pushing or imposing on my son," Wang said. The father said he was not acting rashly but following a scientific way of education. He said the doubts about his methods reflect the declining standards of modern education.
"Many people in Japan give their children cold showers too ,and no one is fussing about it，" he said. The traditional way of education applied by most of his peers might not necessarily help bring the best out of a child he said.
Wang said in addition to the physical training, he has also laid out a detailed and particular program to strengthen the intelligence of the child. "I have hired some university students to expand his knowledge in natural sciences, while playing the video for English-language teaching as well," he said.
【小題1】For what reason was Wang made known to the public?

A．He employed some college students to teach his son.

B．He made his kid take a long distance race.

C．He exposed his 4-year-old to cold showers.

D．He forced his youngster to run 3 km every day.

【小題2】Which statement is supported by the parents who hold the opposite opinion?

A．Extreme physical training can explore children's full potentials.

B．Taking cold showers regularly is beneficial for children's development.

C．It's up to parents to lead children on the right path.

D．The way to educate children should agree with their age.

【小題3】What does the phrase "fussing about” probably mean in the 8th paragraph?

A．Minding about.	B．Paying attention to.
C．Laughing at.	D．Talking about.

【小題4】In Eagle Dad’s opinion, his extreme parenting was questioned because____.

A．he didn’t take it step by step in a scientific way

B．the highly tense work-out was misunderstood

C．modern education is not challenging enough

D．some parents were jealous of his success

I have nothing to say about whether or not “A Day Without Immigrants(移民)” had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country. I'll leave that question to others.
Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious. Using the theme of “A Day Without” as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public consciousness about other issues that affect daily life in America. Here are my top three examples:
“A Day Without Speeding.” How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge.
“A Day Without Losing Your Temper.” A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience. When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but bursting into anger usually has nothing to do with the approach to the heart of the matter.
“A Day Without Having All The Answers.” I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, “Here’s what you’re doing wrong.” Right now the US is packed with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it in a moment. I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices.
I wonder how would average Americans react to such a national pause? Would it be a day of reaction against anger, or joyful celebrations?
【小題1】The first paragraph suggests ________.

A．the writer is against “A Day Without Immigrants”

B．immigrants are not equally treated by the US government

C．the immigrants issue is so complex that the author has to refer to others

D．some move to America without the permission of the US government

【小題2】The author uses his “top three examples” to________.

A．criticize the undocumented illegal immigrants in America

B．show public consciousness of some subjects could be raised

C．encourage common people to create more similar activities

D．indicate some bothering issues affecting people’s daily life

【小題3】According to the author, losing one’s temper is ________.

A．unpleasant

B．pointless

C．relaxing

D．personal

【小題4】The writer suggests “a day without having all the answers”, because ________.

A．he thinks the Americans are too proud

B．he wants to have a chance to speak his mind

C．he expects others to keep quiet and calm

D．he hopes to get a break from the problems