Although being famous might sound like a dream come true, today’s star, feeling like zoo animals, face pressures that few of us can imagine. They are at the center of much of the world’s attention. Paparazzi camp outside their homes, cameras ready. Tabloids (小報) publish thrilling stories about their personal lives. Just imagine not being able to do anything without being photographed or interrupted for a signature.
According to psychologist Christina Villarreal, celebrities—famous people—worry constantly about their public appearance. Eventually, they start to lose track of who they really are, seeing themselves the way their fans imagine them, not as the people they were before everyone knew their names. “Over time,” Villarreal says, “they feel separated and alone.”
The phenomenon of tracking celebrities has been around for ages. In the 4th century B.C., painters followed Alexander the Great into battle, hoping to picture his victories for his admirers. When Charles Dickens visited America in the 19th century, his sold-out readings attracted thousands of fans, leading him to complain about his lack of privacy. Tabloids of the 1920s and 1930s ran articles about film-stars in much the same way that modern tabloids and websites do.
Being a public figure today, however, is a lot more difficult than it used to be. Superstars cannot move about without worrying about photographers with modern cameras. When they say something silly or do something ridiculous, there is always the Internet to spread the news in minutes and keep their “story” alive forever.
If fame is so troublesome, why aren’t all celebrities running away from it? The answer is there are still ways to deal with it. Some stars stay calm by surrounding themselves with trusted friends and family or by escaping to remote places away from big cities. They focus not on how famous they are but on what they love to do or whatever made them famous in the first place.
Sometimes a few celebrities can get a little justice. Still, even stars who enjoy full justice often complain about how hard their lives are. They are tired of being famous already.
【小題1】It can be learned from the passage that stars today___________.

A．a(chǎn)re often misunderstood by the public

B．can no longer have their privacy protected

C．spend too much on their public appearance

D．care little about how they have come into fame

【小題2】What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Great heroes of the past were generally admired.

B．The problem faced by celebrities has a long history.

C．Well-known actors are usually targets of tabloids.

D．Works of popular writers often have a lot of readers.

【小題3】What makes it much harder to be a celebrity today?

A．Availability of modern media.

B．Inadequate social recognition.

C．Lack of favorable chances.

D．Huge population of fans.

【小題4】What is the author’s attitude toward modern celebrity?

A．Sincere.

B．Skeptical.

C．Disapproving.

D．Sympathetic.

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) 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

You may have seen a lot of frogs, but if you haven't, you must have heard about frogs. However, have you heard about a frog that can kill a person?
These small brightly colored amphibians (兩棲動物) live in the tropical  rain forests of Central and South America. They are best known for their ability to kill persons even though they are no more than 2 inches long. If we touch their poisonous skin without proper protection (such as gloves), we may die! For animals of this size that can be so deadly, they are certainly one of the world's most poisonous animals! Who are they? They are poison arrow frogs or, simply, poison frogs.
Poison frogs acquired their name from the Indians. The Indians catch and kill many of these frogs before hanging them upside down over a campfire. As the frogs get hot, the poison drips out of their skin. The Indians collect the poisonous liquid in a bottle and dip(蘸) the tips of their arrows into the bottle. Once the tips are dried, they are ready to be used for their arrows for hunting.
There are about 170 different types of poison arrow frogs in the world. Though most species have bright markings, either in stripes or patches, on their black bodies, some just wear noticeable single-colored coats. Their shocking skin colors-usually in yellow, red, green, blue or orange-serve as a warning sign to other animals. The sign simply says,” Stay away or pay with your life!” They certainly do not bluff.
【小題1】We can infer that the Indians may kill poison frogs in order to______.

A．treat diseases	B．a(chǎn)void being bitten
C．hunt animals	D．eat their meat

【小題2】According to the passage,  poison frogs______.
A can grow to several meters long                   B. like to change colors on the back
C. have bright-colored skin or markings            D. are on the edge of dying out
【小題3】Which of the following best explains the last sentence of the passage?

A．Poison frogs don't want to kill others.

B．Poison frogs do not just scare others.

C．Poison frogs want to stop others from coming near.

D．Poison frogs just pretend to be dangerous animals.

Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting. And they may be right.
A Swedish study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention concludes that digital billboards hold the gazes of drivers longer than two seconds. Previous studies have shown that anything that takes a driver’s eyes off the road for that length of time increases the risks of a crash. “This study proves what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards,” says Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to limit billboards. “Bright, constantly changing signs on the sides of roads are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that this is exactly what they do.”
The Federal Highway Administration allowed digital signs for the first time in 2007 after concluding they did not pose a significant danger. But a follow-up report is pending (待定的) and could be released this year. California has no law banning the billboards, and is one of 39 states that allows them. “We would need to review more research, so it’s too early to call for a ban,” says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. “There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages.”
There are more than 1,800 digital billboards nationwide, more than double the number five years ago. While no data indicate an increase in accidents due to the Bay Area signs, many drivers are opposed to them.
“Monstrosities” is what Merlin Dorfman of San Jose calls them, while insurance agent David Whitlock says he has found them a major distraction. “They’re much too bright at night,” he says. “When the advertisement switches from a bright color to a darker one, your eyes cannot adjust fast enough, and you end up losing sight of the roadway.”
Officials with sign companies could not be reached for comment, but Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that “there’s no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction.”
【小題1】Which of the following is TRUE?

A．The brightness of digital billboards is harmful to people’s eyes.

B．The Federal Highway Administration banned digital signs in 2013.

C．There is evidence indicating an increase in accidents duo to digital billboards.

D．Digital billboards are used to convey messages.

【小題2】What do we learn from the text?

A．Scenic America is an organization that is in favor of digital billboards.

B．Drivers in the Bay Area are against the digital billboards.

C．California has banned digital billboards.

D．There were about 1,800 digital billboards nationwide five years ago.

【小題3】What is Bryan Parker’s attitude towards digital billboards?

A．Supportive.	B．Indifferent.
C．Opposed.	D．Uncertain.

【小題4】What is the main idea of the text?

A．Studies have shown digital billboards pose a danger to drivers.

B．People’s eyes cannot adjust fast enough to the brightness of digital billboards.

C．A study says flashing digital billboards are too distracting.

D．Experts doubt it is necessary to limit digital billboards.

【小題5】We are most likely to find the text in the ________ section of a magazine.

A．international culture	B．traffic and safety
C．fashion and travel	D．personal health

Gallows humor（黑色幽默）seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress. “Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it's not,” says James M. Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware.
Psychologists say that just because you're laughing doesn't mean you’re wasting time. Occasional teasing among colleagues, particularly if it revolves around things associated with the job, can boost creativity, departmental cohesiveness（凝聚力）and performance.
“There are a lot of stressors out there,” says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist with the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning in Chicago. “But gallows humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult.”
This is true as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be inspiring people --- not laughing at them. “Anything that would lift morale（士氣）in terms of the company would be good humor,” says Thierry Guedj, a professor of business and psychology at Boston University. “Before you say or do anything, think about, ‘How is this helping my employees’ morale?’”
You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don’t make observations that are aggressive. Most obviously, Dr Guedj says, don’t make comments about people’s physical appearance, or faith. If you have any doubt, it's appropriate, don't go through with it.
Or you can take aim at the one person you know won't be offended（冒犯）:Yourself. “If there's going to be a joke or story, it should be you,” Mr. Dunkelblau says. For example, if you're a marketing manager reviewing a failed campaign that you led, begin with a line like, “The guy who gave permission to this deal might just be looking for work next week.”
“People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves too,” Mr. Jones says. “And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself.”
【小題1】According to the text, gallows humor has the following functions EXCEPT ________.

A．improving performance

B．reducing pressure

C．leading to a big mistake

D．making people more creative

【小題2】What is Ed Dunkelblau’s attitude towards gallows humor?

A．Negative.

B．Positive.

C．Uncertain.

D．Neutral.

【小題3】Which of the following would Dr. Guedj most probably agree with?

A．Gallows humor allows people to laugh at others.

B．Gallows humor is the basic source of morale.

C．Anything that may lift morale can be called gallows humor.

D．Gallows humor may sometimes be used for the wrong purpose.

【小題4】When people use gallows humor, they should ________.

A．show a sense of belonging

B．observe who is aggressive

C．try to avoid irritating others

D．doubt about the result of humors

【小題5】What can we infer from the text?

A．Laughing at ourselves can help relieve the stress of others.

B．People tend to laugh at others rather than themselves.

C．People who laugh at themselves are hard to be friends with.

D．People can’t avoid offending others with gallows humor.

Understanding the process of making career choices and managing your career is a basic life skill that everyone should understand.
Your career decisions have such a profound effect on all aspects of your life. It’s important to have the knowledge and resources needed to make smart, informed decisions. Whether you are looking for a new job, aiming to take the next step at your current job or planning your retirement options, you are making career decisions. Using good resources and the guidance of a career counselor can help you to make those decisions well.
Many people mistakenly believe that choosing a career is a one-time event that happens some time in early adulthood. However, career management is actually a life-long process, and we continue to make consequential (重大的) career choices over the years. When people want to take action in their career, career management and job search are about so much more than writing a good resume. If you learn about and act on the following areas of career management, you’ll be rewarded throughout your career.
Your interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities should all be taken into account in any career decision making process. You spend countless hours at work, and it impacts your life in so many ways; it makes sense that you should be fully informed before making such profound decisions.
Do you know how many different career choices are available to you? Both The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (American) and The National Occupational Classification (Canadian) list well over 20,000 different job titles. So unless you’ve actively explored a variety of career options, there’s a very good chance that there are great possibilities available to you, and you don’t even realize they exist.
Match your understanding of yourself with your understanding of possible career options. Once you have developed a good understanding of yourself, you will be able to combine that self-knowledge with your career and labor market research to determine potential careers that are a great fit for you.
When you’ve made a well informed decision, then you’re ready to make it happen. Making use of good career guidance and resources will help you to acquire the education, skills, and experience needed to get the job and learn and implement (實施) effective job search strategies.
Time spent understanding your needs, researching your career options and developing outstanding job search skills, guided by great career resources, is a powerful investment in your future.
【小題1】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．In the process of making career decisions, people should consider interests, abilities, values, personal needs and realities.

B．All the people should have a good knowledge of how to make career choices and manage their career.

C．Career decisions have a great impact on people’s life.

D．There are various possibilities available to you of making career decisions.

【小題2】How many tips does the author give on career management?

A．1.

B．2.

C．3.

D．4.

【小題3】It can be inferred that _______.

A．career decision is misunderstood by many people because they don’t take it as a life-long process

B．your career will be definitely successful if you make a well informed decision

C．making yourself understood can help you make a final choice

D．writing a good resume can find a good job

【小題4】Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?

A．Your interests in the occupation you choose are vital.

B．Good career guidance and resources can help you gain the skills and experience.

C．You are to make significant decisions without good resources and the guidance of a career adviser.

D．Planning your retirement options is related to career management.

Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
----- Reported by Sheila Carrick
Why did the chicken cross the road？ To get to the other side. Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road. Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads， the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact， only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason？ Road kill. "Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts, " said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society. But do animals actually use the ecopassages？The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage. Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses. The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass！
【小題1】The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that_________.

A．wild animals have become more dangerous

B．the driving conditions have improved greatly

C．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

D．a(chǎn)n increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

【小題2】When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”， he means_________.

A．a(chǎn)nimals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B．a(chǎn)nimals begin to learn to use ecopassages

C．a(chǎn)nimals are crossing the road in groups

D．a(chǎn)nimals are increasing in number

【小題3】The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.

A．wild animals may attack cars

B．wild animals may jam the road

C．they may see wild animals in the park

D．they may see wild animals on ecopassages

INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF PANLAND
 
【小題1】Considering all imports and exports, what statement can be made about Panland’s trade?

A．Panland imports food and exports raw materials（原材料）.

B．Panland imports manufactured goods（加工品） and exports food.

C．Panland imports manufactured goods and exports raw materials.

D．Panland imports raw materials and exports manufactured goods.

【小題2】 With which of the following does Panland carry on the most trade?

A．Asia.

B．Africa.

C．Middle East.

D．United States.

【小題3】What is probably Panland’s largest import from the Middle East?

A．oil

B．food

C．wood

D．cotton

【小題4】Judging from its economy, it could be concluded that most of Panland’s working people are _____

A．farmers	B．fishing people
C．unskilled laborers	D．skilled factory workers

In every school there is a “top” crowd that sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. Let’s say the top crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters. Pretty soon everybody is wearing a bright red sweater. 
There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that on some people bright red sweater is extremely unbecoming. The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink or to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives. They are like the sheep being led to the butcher. 
Now, chances are that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life; chances are that one time or another you probably did something you knew to be wrong. You may have excused yourself by saying, “Gee, the crowd does it.” Well, let the crowd do it, but don’t do it yourself. Learn to say, “No.”
Develop your own standards and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree to, have the courage to bow out mannerly. You’ll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet. 
【小題1】Which is the best title for this passage? 

A．Follow the Lead.	B．Top Crowd.
C．Being Yourself.	D．Bright Red.

【小題2】The author doesn’t think it good wearing red sweaters if ________.

A．the crowd does it	B．you can’t afford them
C．you don’t look good in red	D．the situation isn’t safe

【小題3】According to the passage, people who follow the crowd _______.

A．sometimes do things against their better judgment

B．make mistakes blindly

C．a(chǎn)re willing to put their lives in danger

D．will in the end become pace-setters

It's really true what people say about English politeness: it's everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow passage, people say "sorry". When getting off a bus, English passengers say "thank you" rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started traveling to the British Isles, and here are some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people in UK.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customers and retail assistants in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter are a bit tightfisted.
【小題1】What is the author's attitude towards English politeness?

A．He thinks it is artificial.	B．He thinks little of it.
C．He appreciates it very much.	D．He thinks it goes too far.

【小題2】 What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The author think it's unnecessary to say "thank you" to the bus driver.

B．In Germany, employers often say "thank you" to employees for their job.

C．German men never treat a woman to dinner.

D．Germans think it is unnecessary to thank workers because payment is enough.

【小題3】We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men _______.

A．a(chǎn)re more likely to be involved in a fighting

B．a(chǎn)re as generous as English men

C．treat women in a polite way

D．a(chǎn)re unwilling to spend money for women

【小題4】Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．English drivers often say "thank you" to passengers when they get off the bus.

B．In Germany, passengers sometimes say "thank you" to bus drivers.

C．English people try to avoid criticizing others in the daily life.

D．Germans are more considerate and polite than Englishmen.

【小題5】The author develops the text through the method of

A．making comparisons	B．telling stories
C．giving comments	D．giving reasons/examples