The word I'm going to introduce to you today is — phubbing. Let's see the definition of this term：

phubbing n. the act of snubbing(冷落)someone in a social setting by looking at your cell phone instead of paying attention
As you can probably guess，phubbing is a blend of phone and snubbing. The term was coined by a 23—year—old Melbourne resident Alex Haigh. Obviously，he got fed up with how people are always checking Facebook or Twitter on their phones when they are supposed to be interacting with someone face to face. He wanted to put an end to this social phenomenon，therefore he came up with this catchy term.
And it did catch on. The word's earliest media mention dates back to June 2012，and in a little over a year's time，phubbing has already been picked up by almost all the mainstream media outlets one can think of.
Here is a typical example from the British newspaper The Independent. In the article titled The Rise of Phubbing，which was published on August 5，2013，Tom Chatfield writes，there's an uncomfortable truth at the heart of phubbing：other people are easier to handle when seen on screen. They're less likely to demand unreasonable efforts such as undivided attention or clean shirts.
While the term phubbing has undoubtedly taken off，some people question why it is called phubbing instead of phnubbing. Alex Haigh has not personally addressed the issue，but word has it that phubbing sounds more crispy and thus easier to remember.
Phubbing is indeed a universal problem that can no longer be ignored. So why do people keep phubbing each other if they know it's rude? Is there anything we can do to stop it? Or maybe we should just be more kind，because sometimes there are good excuses to phub.
I think there is plenty we can do to try and stop phubbing. For starters，we can join Alex Haigh in his Stop Phubbing campaign. Remind our friends and family that phubbing is not appreciated. We can also make or download some anti—phubbing posters to spread the word in public places. And don't forget that some phubbers simply do not realize the harmful effect their behavior has on others，so be brave enough to stop them，even if you are a total stranger.
【小題1】This passage is mainly talking about _______.

A．the rise of phubbing in all the mainstream media outlets

B．a(chǎn) new term “phubbing”and its problem

C．the campaign of keeping phubbing

D．different opinions on phubbing

【小題2】 The author’s attitude towards the act of phubbing can be described as ___________.

A．bearable

B．unacceptable

C．reasonable

D．understandable

【小題3】What can we infer from this passage?

A．People are easier to handle when seen on screen.

B．Alex Haigh doesn’t like the term “phnubbing”

C．More and more people have become phubbers.

D．We can phub if we have proper excuses.

【小題4】The write suggests we should _________.

A．stop phubbing in public places

B．not be afraid of the harmful effect

C．be brave to support a stranger phubbing

D．remind our friends of Stop Phubbing campaign

Waste can be seen everywhere in the school. Some students ask for more food than they can eat and others often forget to turn off the lights when they leave the classroom. They say they can afford these things. But I don't agree with them.
Waste can bring a lot of problems. Although China is rich in some resources , we are short of  others,  for example,  fresh water(淡水). It is reported that we will have no coal or oil to use in 100 years. So if we go on wasting our resources,  what can we use in the future and where can we move? Think about it. I think we should say no to the students who waste things every day. Everybody should stop wasting as soon as possible.
In our everyday life,  we can do many things to prevent waste from happening, for example, turn off the water taps when we finish washing,  turn off the lights when we leave the classroom, try not to order more food than we need,  and so on. Little by little,  everything will be changed. Waste can be stopped one day,  if we do our best.
【小題1】From the passage we know that some students often ________ in the school.

A．waste things	B．don't work hard
C．eat too much	D．throw rubbish everywhere

【小題2】Which is not mentioned in this passage?

A．Forest.

B．Fresh water.

C．Oil.

D．Coal.

【小題3】What may happen in 100 years?

A．We may still have enough oil.

B．We may still have enough coal.

C．We may have a little oil.

D．We may have no coal or oil to use.

【小題4】Which is the best title of this passage?

A．School life	B．Stop Wasting
C．Waste in the School	D．Rich Resources in China

Cultural Center Adds Classes for Young Adults
The Allendale Cultural Center has expanded its arts program to include classes for young adults. Director Leah Martin announced Monday that beginning in September, three new classes will be offered to the Allendale community. The course titles will be Yoga for Teenagers; Hip Hop Dance: Learning the Latest Moves; and Creative Journaling for Teens: Discovering the Writer Within. The latter course will not be held at the Allendale Cultural Center but instead will meet at the Allendale Public Library.
Staff member Tricia Cousins will teach the yoga and hip hop classes. Ms. Cousins is an accomplished choreographer (舞蹈教師) as well as an experienced dance educator. She has an MA in dance education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where she wrote a thesis on the pedagogical (教學(xué)法的) effectiveness of dance education. The journaling class will be taught by Betsy Milford. Ms. Milford is the head librarian at the Allendale Public Library as well as a columnist for the professional journal Library Focus.
The courses are part of the Allendale Cultural Center’s Project Teen, which was initiated by Leah Martin, Director of the Cultural Center. According to Martin, this project is a direct result of her efforts to make the center a more essential part of the Allendale community. Over the last several years, the number of people who have visited the cultural center for classes or events has steadily declined. Project Teen is primarily funded by a generous grant from The McGee Arts Foundation, an organization devoted to bringing arts programs to young adults. Martin oversees the Project Teen board, which consists of five board members. Two board members are students at Allendale’s Brookdale High School; the other three are adults with backgrounds in education and the arts.
The creative journaling class will be cosponsored by Brookdale High School, and students who complete the class will be given the opportunity to publish one of their journal entries in Pulse, Brookdale’s student literary magazine. Students who complete the hip hop class will be eligible to participate in the Allendale Review, an annual concert sponsored by the cultural center that features local actors, musicians, and dancers. All classes are scheduled to begin immediately following school dismissal, and transportation will be available from Brookdale High School to the Allendale Cultural Center and the Allendale Public Library. For more information about Project Teen, contact the cultural center’s programming office at 988-0099 or drop by the office after June 1 to pick up a fall course catalog. The office is located on the third floor of the Allendale Town Hall.
【小題1】Which of the following statements is correct? 

A．Tricia Cousins will teach two of the new classes.

B．The new classes will begin on June 1.

C．People who want a complete fall catalogue should stop by the Allendale Public Library.

D．The cultural center’s annual concert is called Pulse.

【小題2】According to Leah Martin, what was the direct cause of Project Teen?

A．Tricia Cousins was available to teach courses in the fall.

B．Community organizations were ignoring local teenagers.

C．The McGee Arts Foundation wanted to be more involved in Allendale’s arts programming.

D．She wanted to make the cultural center a more important part of the Allendale community.

【小題3】Which of the following factors is implied as another reason for Project Teen?

A．The number of people visiting the cultural center has declined over the last several years.

B．The cultural center wanted a grant from The McGee Arts Foundation.

C．The young people of Allendale have complained about the cultural center’s offerings.

D．Leah Martin thinks classes for teenagers are more important than classes for adults.

【小題4】This article is organized in which of the following ways?

A．In time order, from the past to the future.

B．Most important information first, followed by background and details.

C．Background first, followed by the most important information and details.

D．As sensational news, with the most controversial topic first.

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare's time is estimated to have been about five million. Today it is estimated that some 260 million people speak it as a native language, mainly in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to the standard varieties of English found in these areas, there are a great many regional and social varieties of the language as well as various levels of usage that are employed both in its spoken and written forms.
In fact, it is impossible to estimate the number of people in the world who have acquired an adequate working knowledge of English in addition to their own languages. The purpose for English learning and the situations in which such learning takes place are so varied that it is difficult to explain and still more difficult to judge what forms an adequate working knowledge for each situation.
The main reason for the widespread demand for English is its present­day importance as a world language. Besides serving the indefinite needs of its native speakers, English is a language in which some of important works in science, technology, and other fields are being produced, and not always by native speakers. It is widely used for such purposes as meteorological and airport communications, international conferences, and the spread of information over the radio and television networks of many nations. It is a language of wider communication for a number of developing countries, especially former British colonies. Many of these countries have multilingual populations and need a language for internal communication in such matters as government, commerce, industry, law and education as well as for international communication and for entrance to the scientific and technological developments in the West.
【小題1】Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．Some 260 million people in the world have an adequate working knowledge of English.

B．There are some 260 million native speakers of English in the world.

C．It is almost impossible to estimate the number of people with an adequate working knowledge of English.

D．People learn English for a variety of reasons.

【小題2】According to the passage, what is the main reason for the widespread use of English?

A．It was popular during Shakespeare's time.

B．It is used in former British colonies.

C．It serves the needs of its native speakers.

D．It is a world language that is used for international communication.

【小題3】What forms an adequate working knowledge of English?

A．The ability to read a newspaper.

B．It is difficult to judge because it differs for each situation.

C．Being a multilingual.

D．Being a native speaker.

【小題4】What type of developing countries would be most likely to use English?

A．Those geographically close to the United States.

B．Those interested in the culture of the United States.

C．Former colonies of Great Britain.

D．Countries where international conferences are held.

When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob （烤肉串）hit the senses, you are incapable of calling it anything less.
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack.
The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly chaiming.
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customer especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Easrern cooking.
A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, wathcing news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, an reading local Persian nespapers all the while trying to finish off their plates piled wit food.
The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large. Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10, so not only is it affordably but practical as well.
The food, especially appeals to health-conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy,made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill（烤肉架）.
The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat.
One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Jooieh Kabob, which is made of grille chicken pieces served with either rice or bread. Another great kabob is the Chelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef.
Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious. It is a plan that should not be overlooked.
【小題1】When first entering the restaurant ,one can find that it

A．is splendidly decorated.

B．has pleasant smells of kabobs.

C．is crowded with dining table.

D．looks like a common restaurant.

【小題2】What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?

A．Watching news events on TV.

B．Drinking a kind of black coffee.

C．Reading local English newspaper.

D．Discussing world topics in low voices.

【小題3】The food of the restaurant _____________. 

A．is served in small amounts.	B．is rather expensive.
C．is rich in variety.	D．is very healthy

【小題4】What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of ？

A．Rice

B．Chicken

C．Bread

D．Beef

We can begin our discussion of “population as a global issue” with what most person mean when they discuss “ the population problem”: too many people on earth and a too rapid increase in the number added each year. The facts are not in dispute. It was quite right to employ a similar matter that linked demographic(人口統(tǒng)計學(xué)）growth to “ a long, thin power fuse that burns steadily from time to time until it finally reaches the limit, and explodes”.
To understand the current situation, which is characterized by rapid increases in population, it is necessary to understand the history of population trends. Rapid growth is a comparatively recent phenomenon. Looking back at the 8,000 years of demographic history. We find that population have been really stable or growing very slightly for most of human history. For most of our ancestors, life was hard, often nasty, and very short. For most of human history, it was seldom the case that one in ten persons would live past forty, where infancy and childhood were especially risky periods. Often, societies were in clear danger of extinction because death rates could exceed their birth rates. Thus, the population problem throughout most of history was how to prevent extinction of the human race.
This pattern is important to know. Not only does it put the current problems of demographic growth into a historical perspective, but it suggests that the cause of rapid increase in population in recent years is not a sudden enthusiasm for more children, but an improvement in the conditions that traditionally have caused high rate of death.
Demographic history can be divided into two major periods: a time of long, slow growth which extended from about 8000B.C. till approximately 1650 A.D. And a period of rapid growth since 1650. In the first period of some 9,600 years, the population increased form some 8 million to 500 million in 1650. Between 1650 and the present, the population has increased from 500 million to more than 4 billion. And it is estimated that by the year 2020 there will be 8 billion people throughout the world. One way to appreciate this dramatic difference in such abstract numbers is to reduce the time frame to something that is more manageable. Between 8000B.C. and 1650, an average of only 50,000 persons was being added annually to the world’s population each year. At present, this number is added very six hours. The increase is about 80,000,000 persons annually.
【小題1】According to the passage, “population as a global issue” ____.

A．is quite unlike the population problem and thus doesn’t need our concern

B．focuses on tracking down the reason of rapid population growth

C．deals with the same problem aroused by the population problem

D．will manage the population growth problem from global perspectives

【小題2】It can be inferred from the example of a power fuse that _____.

A．too much population will one day lead to the doom of human beings

B．the trend of population growth will keep unsteady until the destruction of Earth

C．demographic growth will follow a certain pattern of ups and downs

D．it is likely in the near future that population will reduce gradually

【小題3】What leads to a stable growth of population for most of human history?

A．Species competition

B．Low fertility

C．Tribal fights

D．High rate of death

【小題4】The reason for a rapid growth of population lies in the fact that ______.

A．people are permitted to have more children

B．people can live better than before

C．newborn babies die less than before

D．we have found the secret of longevity

【小題5】How many people are born every six hours at present, according to the author?

A．Eighty million.	B．Eight thousand
C．Fifty thousand	D．Five million

On the high-speed train Avignon to Paris, my husband and I landed in the only remaining seats on the train, in the middle of a car, directly opposite a Frenchwoman of middle years. It was an extremely uncomfortable arrangement to be looking straight into the eyes of a stranger. My husband and I pulled out books. The woman produced a large makeup case and made up her face. Except for a lunch break, she continued this activity for the entire three-hour trip. Every once in a while she surveyed the car with a bright-eyed glance, but never once did she catch my eye. My husband and I could have been a blanket wall.
I was amused, but some people would have felt uncomfortable , even repulsed(厭惡的）.there is something about making up in public that calls up strong emotional reactions. Partly it’s a question of hygiene. And it’s a matter of degree. Making up --- a private act--- has a way of neglecting the presence of others. I was once seated at a party with a model-actress who immediately waved a silly brush and began dusting her face at the table, demonstrating that while she was next to me, she was not with me.
In fact, I am generally prohibited from making up in public, except when I am in the company of cosmetics moment. In a gathering more professional than social, I would do so.
Kathy Peiss, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst says that nose-powdering in the office was an occasion for outrage in 1920’s and 30’s. Deploring the practice as a waste of company time, trade journals advises managers to discourage it among workers. Peiss theorizes that it was female’s making up in what has been an all-male field that disturb some gentlemen.
Peiss tells me that after the 30’s , pulling out a make-up case was no longer an issue. It became an accepted practice. I asked if she feels free to apply lipstick at a professional lunch herself. Sounding mildly shocked, she says she would save that for the privacy of her car afterward. Why? Because it would be “a gesture of inappropriate feminity(女性化）.” One guess is that most professional women feel this way. There is evidence of the popularity of the new lipsticks that remain in place all day without retouching.
【小題1】According to the author, “My husband and I could have been a blanket wall.” (Line 6, Para.1) most probably means “________”.

A．We were treated with an expressionless face.

B．We looked at the French woman expressionlessly

C．We used books as a wall to avoid the woman’s eyes

D．We were of no existence in the French woman’s eyes

【小題2】In the author’s opinion, she _______.

A．a(chǎn)llows public making up on certain occasions

B．feels comfortable when making up in public

C．only makes up on social occasions

D．makes up before any professional gatherings

【小題3】According to Peiss, nose powdering in an office was criticized mainly for the reason that ____.

A．normal office work was disturbed

B．it discouraged women’s interest in career

C．make dominance was emphasized there

D．it distracted make workers’ focus on work

【小題4】Why do most professional women give up using lipsticks in public?

A．Because they are worried about being looked down upon

B．Because it emphasizes their female features in wrong situations

C．Because it implies women’s disadvantages in academic fields

D．Because they are ashamed to be seen making up in front of males/

【小題5】It can be inferred that in a highly open society, the differences between men and women ______.

A．have attracted little attention

B．hinder the social development

C．a(chǎn)re attractive topics in talk shows

D．still call for great concern

You probably hear it all the time — people telling you to “l(fā)earn English”. But does this mean children in English-speaking countries don’t need to bother learning a new language? Not at all. In fact, an even larger number of young people will soon be taught foreign languages, thanks to the mental advantages of bilingualism.
Psychologists once thought that growing up bilingual might lead to verbal delays－a late or absent development of talking. But US magazine Scientific American has revealed that this is not true, and reported that children who speak more than one language “show greater mental flexibility, a superior grasp of abstract concepts and a better working memory.” As the New York Times put it, “being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter.”
In Europe, learning foreign languages is increasingly popular. A European report shows that from 2005-2010, the percentage of European students learning a foreign language rose from 67.5 percent to 79.2 percent. Most European kids start learning another language at age 6. In Belgium, it starts at 3. New reforms being introduced in the UK will mean all children could be taught a foreign language, such as Mandarin or Greek, from the age of 7. The most popular foreign language for European kids was English, followed by German and French.
In comparison, Americans don’t give a fig for learning foreign languages. Compared to 50 percent of European adults who are bilingual, only 9 percent of adults in the US are fluent in more than one language, according to a 2011 report. American students are often not exposed to a second language until high school.
However, recent statistics show demand is growing in the US for people to become more bilingual. According to a USA Today chart released in July, 21 percent of US children speak another language at home. A number of institutions in the country are also pushing foreign languages in schools. Three school districts in Delaware will launch Chinese and Spanish programs next year. More people are learning Chinese, French and Spanish.
【小題1】Psychologist used to believe that children who grow up bilingual ________.

A．a(chǎn)re more flexible mentally

B．a(chǎn)re slow in the development of talking

C．have a poorer working memory

D．a(chǎn)re smarter in understanding abstract concept

【小題2】It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．Americans are more interested in learning another language than Europeans

B．British kids began to learn foreign languages at the earliest age

C．21% of US children study a foreign language in the school

D．not all schools in America are teaching foreign languages

【小題3】What does the underlined phrase “give a fig for” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．a(chǎn)ttach importance to

B．have talent for

C．invest money in

D．have demand for

【小題4】Which are the most popular foreign languages in the US?

A．Mandarin and Greek.

B．English, German and French.

C．Chinese, French and Spanish.

D．Chinese, German and Greek.

【小題5】What is the main idea of this passage?
A. Chinese is becoming more popular in western countries.
B. The benefits and advantages of growing up bilingual.
C. Western worlds are paying more attention to learning foreign languages.
D. The differences between bilingual education in Europe and USA.

In China, people usually set off firecrackers to celebrate Spring Festival. But this year seemed very quiet. It was really different. A man called Zhang Wei was asked by a reporter in an interview. He said that his friends and he hadn’t set off a single firecracker.
“We all suffered from last month’s smog(霧霾). If we don’t call an end to the firecracker, the environment will get worse and worse during the holiday.” Said Zhang Wei. He put up a notice in his community in Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province. In the notice, he called on more people to set off fewer firecrackers during this year’s Spring Festival holiday.
Lots of parents agreed with Zhang Wei’s idea. They said that they hated the noise of firecrackers. The noise used to wake up their babies too early. The babies really needed quiet mornings,
More Chinese looked forward to celebrating the holiday in a greener way. They decided not to set off firecrackers. They also decided not to waste food. They said that the new celebrations sounded fashionable.
“My family didn’t buy any fireworks this year. Instead, we donated the money to charity. It’s good for the environment and charity as well.” Internet user “Fighter” wrote on Sina Weibo.
【小題1】How do people usually celebrate Spring Festival in China?

A．By setting off firecrackers.

B．By donating the money to charity.

C．By not wasting food.

D．By putting up a notice.

【小題2】Lots of parents hated the noise of firecrackers because____.

A．they couldn’t afford to buy them.

B．firecrackers were too expensive.

C．the noise might wake up their babies.

D．firecrackers might cause fire

【小題3】More people decided _____.

A．not to get together

B．not to set off firecrackers

C．not to throw away more food

D．to call an end to all the celebrations

【小題4】What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Don’t Waste Food	B．Spring Festival Celebrations
C．Spring Festival Goes Green	D．Firecrackers and Noise

Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Frequently it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits died hard, and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.
Many roads and places in Singapore are named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries ---- in both the West and the East.
Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus ---- obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.
Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Bras Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay(馬來語). Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.
A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent (月牙) because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again.
【小題1】We learn from Paragraph 1 that _____.

A．the government is usually the first to name a place

B．many places tend to have more than one name

C．a(chǎn) ceremony will be held when a place is named

D．people prefer the place names given by the government

【小題2】What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Change suddenly.

B．Change significantly.

C．Disappear mysteriously.

D．Disappear very slowly.

【小題3】Which of the following places is named after a person? ______________.

A．Raffles Place.

B．Selector Airbase.

C．Piccadilly Circus.

D．Paya Lebar Crescent.

【小題4】Bras Basah Road is named _______.

A．a(chǎn)fter a person

B．a(chǎn)fter a place

C．a(chǎn)fter an activity

D．by its shape

【小題5】What can be inferred from the passage? ______________.

A．Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain.

B．Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.

C．The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.

D．Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.