Dash of Hope

"Dash" is a symbol which represents every day we've spent alive on earth. Therefore, how you spend your "dash" is important.

Recently I  36  about a little girl named Hope. After learning more about her life, I couldn't help but feel it was not by  37 , nor happenstance（意外事件）, that she had been named "Hope". The strong feeling of sympathy and generosity  38  in her young heart made a lasting impression on me and countless others.  39  I never had the opportunity to meet her, I wish I had. It seems as though she was wise beyond her tender years and very, very special.

Hope was a twelve-year-old girl who was  40  a "wish" in early December 2010 by the "Make-A-Wish" Foundation after being  41  that she had a rare type of bone cancer. However, when she found out that more than 150  42  in her area were waiting for their wishes to be achieved , she unselfishly used her wish to  43  that those children have their wishes granted. She also asked that it be done  44  January 16, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the organization informed her that her  45   request could not be granted as the funds were simply  46 . They calculated that they would need to raise more than one  47  dollars in thirty days in order to grant her wish.  48 , but not discouraged, she turned her disappointment into an enthusiasm that inspired caring  49  to take up helping grant the wishes of the other children, and eventually  50  as well. Newspaper columnists and reporters for radio and TV stations  51  the story of this caring young girl who had  52  the hearts of so many and as word spread, the community was challenged. Committees were fanned and schools, corporations and various organizations assisted in  53  money to help make Hope's dream come true.

Her efforts were not in vain as they continue to help others, not only  54 , but spiritually and emotionally as well. At the gathering to celebrate her life, "A Celebration of Hope" on January 16, 2011 , the  55  was made that they had indeed received donations totaling more than one million dollars. Her wish had been granted!

1.A. heard            B. thought        C. cared           D. talked

2.A. coincidence     B. independence     C. convenience      D. intelligence

3.A. lost               B. carried          C. expected         D. housed

4.A. Until          B. Unless           C. Though           D. If

5.A. expressed      B. offered          C. made             D. sent

6.A. recognized     B. informed         C. reminded         D. understood

7.A. children           B. citizens         C. villagers        D. relatives

8.A. suggest         B. ask              C. arrange          D. order

9.A. for             B. to               C. on               D. by

10.A. final         B. formal           C. simple           D. noble

11.A. unbearable     B. unbelievable     C. unavailable      D. uncomfortable

12.A. thousand          B. hundred          C. million          D. billion

13.A. Disappointed      B. Surprised        C. Worried          D. Embarrassed

14.A. committees     B. individuals      C. corporations     D. organizations

15.A. theirs         B. ours             C. hers             D. yours

16.A. wrote         B. read             C. broadcast        D. shared

17.A. touched           B. examined         C. won              D. opened

18.A. finding           B. spending         C. raising          D. borrowing

19.A. perfectly     B. physically       C. healthily        D. thankfully

20.A. proposal          B. decision         C. conclusion       D. announcement

短文改錯(cuò)：（共10題，每小題1分，滿分10分）

Thank you very much to your letter. You asked me           1        

how to improve your listening skill. Here is some advices        2        

of mine which I hope may be use for you.                    3        

First, listen as much as you can. The more you listen.           4       

the easy English will be. You must form the habit of              5        

listening to English every day. And don’t listen too long           6         

each other time. Half an hour a day is enough.                  7       

Choosing something easy and interesting as listening materials.    8        

Listen to English programs on radio and TV. Just keep listening     9        

and you will find your way out . Wish you great succeed.          10        

The number of speakers of English in Shakespeare’s time is estimated(估計(jì)) 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(足夠的) 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 present-day 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.

What would be the best title for this passage?

A. The Difficulties of Learning English

B. International Communications

C. The Standard Varieties of English

D. English as a World Language

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.

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.

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.

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.

The biggest safety threat（威脅）facing airlines today may not be a man with a gun ,but the man with portable（便攜式）computer in business class .In the past 15 years ,pilots have reported about over 100 incidents that could have been caused by electro-magnetic interference(電磁干擾) .The source of this interference remain unclear ,but increasingly ,experts are pointing the blame at portable electronic devices（設(shè)備）such as portable computers ,radio and mobile telephones .
RTCA ,an organization which advises the aviation industry ,has suggested that all airlines ban, such devices from being used during “key” stages of flight ,particularly take-off and landing .Some experts have gone further ,calling for a total ban during all flights .Nowadays ,rules on using these devices are left up to airlines. And although some airlines ban passengers from using such equipment during take-off and landing ,most are not willing to exercise a total ban ,if many passengers want to work during flights .
The difficulty is understanding how electromagnetic fields might affect an aircraft’s computers .Experts know that portable devices give off radiation which affects those wave lengths which aircraft uses for communication .But because they have not been able to reproduce these effects in a laboratory ,they have no way of knowing whether the interference might be dangerous or not .
The fact that aircraft may be in trouble because of the interference raises the danger
that some people may use radio systems in order to damage navigation（導(dǎo)航）equipment .As worrying ,though ,is the passenger who can’t hear the instruction to turn off his radio because the music is too loud .
【小題1】.
.What is said about over 100 aircraft incidents in the past 15 years ?
A They may have taken place during take-off and landing .
B They have been caused by the damage to the radio systems .
C They were said to have resulted from electro-magnetic interference .
D They were caused by the passengers’ portable computers .
【小題2】.
. Few airlines want to refuse a total ban on their passengers because ____ .
A they have other effective safety measures to fall back on
B they don’t believe there is such a danger as radio interference
C the effect of electromagnetic interference is yet to be proved
D most passengers refuse to take a plane which bans the use of radio 
【小題3】.
. Why is it difficult to see the effects of electromagnetic fields on computers ?
A Experts lack proper equipment to such research .
B It is dangerous to carry out such research on an airplane .
C It remains a question what wave lengths are to be interfered with .
D Scientists are not able to produce the same effects in laboratory .
【小題4】.
It can be inferred from the passage that the author ___ .
A hasn’t formed his own opinion on this problem
B has fully understood the danger of electromagnetic interference
C regards it is as unreasonable to exercise a total ban during flight
D is in favor of banning passengers’ use of electronic devices

“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.”

  “Two full inches in the first three days!”

   These are the kinds of statements used in magazine, newspaper, radio and television ads, promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device of such products say they can shape the legs, slim the face, smooth wrinkles, or in some other way to beauty or desirability.

   Often such products are nothing more than money-making things for their promoter. The results they produce are questionable, and some are dangerous to health.

   To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public, it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug, FDA(Food Drug Administration)can require proof (證明)under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that it is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device, FDA has no authority to require premarketing proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health, FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily, or it can take legal action ,including seizure (查封) of the product.

  One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor, had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.

  Obviously, most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings (法律訴訟), and new devices appear continually. Before buying, it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.

1.It can be inferred that ads mentioned in the text are ______.

A. objective         B. costly         C. unreliable         D. illegal

2.Which of the following is true according to the text?

A. The court is in charge of removing dangerous product.

B. New products are more likely to be questionable.

C. The production of a device must be approved by FDA.

D. The promoters usually just care about profits.

3.FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product ________.

A. if it is a drug

B. if it is a device

C. if its consumers make complaints

D. if its distributors challenge FDA’s authority

4.The Relaxacisor is mentioned as_______.

A. a product which was designed to produce electricity

B. a product whose distributor was involved in a legal case

C. a successful advertisement of a beauty product

D. an example of a quality beauty product

5. The author intends to __________

A. make consumers aware of the promoters’ false promises

B. show the weakness of the law on product safety

C. give advice on how to keep young and beautiful

D. introduce the organization of FDA