Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them. Take my family’s last vacation. It was my six-year-old son’s winter break form school, and we were heading home from Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip. The flight was overbooked, and Delta, the airline, offered us $400 per person in credits to give up our seats and leave the next day. I had meetings in New York,So I had to get back. But that didn't mean my husband and my son couldn't stay. I took my nine-month-old and took off for home.

The next day, my husband and son were offered more credits to take an even later flight. Yes, I encouraged—okay, ordered—them to wait it out at the airport, to "earn" more Delta Dollars. Our total take: $1,600. Not bad, huh?

Now some people may think I'm a bad mother and not such a great wife either. But as a big-time bargain hunter, I know the value of a dollar. And these days, a good deal is something few of us can afford to pass up.

I've made living looking for the best deals and exposing (揭露) the worst tricks. I have been the consumer reporter of NBC's Today show for over a decade. I have written a couple of books including one titled Tricks of the Trade: A Consumer Survival Guide. And I really do what I believe in.

I tell you this because there is no shame in getting your money’s worth. I’m also tightfisted when it comes to shoes, clothes for my children, and expensive restaurants. But I wouldn't hesitate to spend on a good haircut. It keeps its shape longer, and it's the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.

1. Why did Delta give the author's family credits?

A. Their flight had been delayed.

B. They had early bookings.

C.They took a later flight.

D. Their flight had been cancelled.

2.What can we learn about the author?

A. She is very strict with her children.

B. She seldom makes a compromise.

C.She rarely misses a good deal.

D. She is interested in cheap products.

3.What does the author do?

A. She's a media person. B. She's a housewife.

C. She's a teacher. D. She's a businesswoman.

4.What does the author want to tell us?

A. How to expose bad tricks.

B. How to reserve airline seats.

C. How to spend money wisely.

D. How to make a business deal.

You may have experienced the frustration of receiving a parking fine or finding your car towed away (拖走)after leaving it parked for a couple of minutes.

But now a hightech car sticker could help motorists avoid such a situation by allowing a traffic warden(管理员)to get in touch with them. Car owners can buy the sticker and place it inside their car’ s windscreen, having set it up with vital information, such as their phone number. The slim design will include a sensor that will send a text message warning a driver about a coming fine when touched by a traffic warden. The message will ask them to move their car immediately. The driver could then type a reply for the warden using their smartphone, which will appear on the sticker’ s screen.They may choose to write something along the lines of“back in two minutes”in a bid to avoid a fine. Frankfurt-based IT consultant, Daniel Kalliontzis, came up with the idea and is raising funds on Indiegogo to put his 54 sticker into production.

The smart sticker system will rely on the good will of traffic wardens and critically, a German law. The law states:“An officer has to choose the most efficient and inexpensive way for the car owner to remove the vehicle.”It could be cheaper for the authorities to contact the driver than to tow his car.

At the time of writing, Mr Kalliontzis has raised just over 3,000 of his 50,000 goal on Indiegogo. If he manages to raise the money, the stickers will be shipped in June 2015. But it appears that car owners using the smart system could get some unnecessary warning messages, because anyone could touch the smart sticker.

1.The first paragraph is intended to ________.

A. highlight an awkward situation

B. complain about a parking fine

C. introduce the topic of the passage

D. remind motorists of the parking risk

2.What may probably contribute to the application of the TowStop sticker in Germany?

A. The sticker’ s low cost.

B. The mass production.

C. The goodwill of motorists.

D. The law of the country.

3.What can be concluded from the last paragraph about the TowStop Sticker?

A. It takes time and efforts to put it to use.

B. Only traffic wardens can touch the sticker.

C. All car owners will use the sticker in 2015.

D. Kalliontzis is experienced in raising money.

4.What’ s the right order of the following statements according to the passage?

①A message is sent by the sensor.

②The sticker is put inside a car’ s windscreen.

③A traffic warden touches the smart sticker.

④The sticker is set up with vital information.

⑤The motorist sends a message.

A.②④⑤③① B.④②③①⑤

C. ④②③⑤① D.②④①③⑤

Quickly ask yourself: What did you eat today? Now tell me how you actually feel. If you’re complaining of stress, anxiety, depression, aches and pains, foggy thinking, or just a general lack of energy, a new medical theory will blow your mind. The chances are that those disease-like symptoms are all the result of what’s called hidden food allergies(过敏反应).

This is what Ken Drew found out when he was lucky enough to be recommended to medical practitioner Dr. Patel. Patel is considered something of a genius, and has been called a modern day Louis Pasteur. You’ve heard of him, of course—Pasteur figured out how to keep milk from getting spoiled. Dr. Patel is like a Louis Pasteur for keeping your body from getting spoiled from chronic(慢性的) diseases.

“Foggy thinking, slightly constipated(便秘的), heart pain,…you name it. It’s part of getting old,” you say. “It’s just stress.” Most of the body’s immune defenses are all located in your stomach, so when you have a hidden food allergy and you expose yourself to harmful foods, your defenses malfunction(故障) and disease-carrying bacteria take over. Had you not eaten that one food you were allergic to for breakfast, you would never have got sick.

Together, Dr Patel and Ken Drew have developed the Reverse My Disease program, which claims it can bulletproof your body against diseases like arthritis(关节炎), Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease and cancers. You won’t need a prescription and there isn’t any kind of medical procedure involved. There’s no medical jargon, no complicated diet to do. What it does do is claim to tell you how to hack your body’s natural defense system.

Dr. Patel has remained under the radar of the entire medical establishment because his ideas are so threatening to doctors who don’t want you to stop being sick enough for them to write you prescriptions. Those doctor visits cost you, so check out Reverse My Disease if you want to prevent disease by learning how to eat food that won’t harm your body.

1.We can learn from the passage that Louis Pasteur ________.

A. made great contributions to keeping human body from getting spoiled from chronic diseases.

B. has developed the Reverse My Disease program with Dr. Patel.

C. recommended Ken Drew to Dr. Patel.

D. might be a great scientist who did research on bacteria.

2.According to Ken Drew and Dr. Patel, people get slightly constipated and have heart pain because _______.

A. they are getting old.

B. their immune defenses are all located in your stomach.

C. they don’t eat the right food.

D. they are involved in a medical procedure.

3.What does the underlined word “bulletproof” most probably mean?

A. damage B. defend

C. diagnose D. demand

4.What can we know from the passage?

A. Once you get sick or depressed, you should go to the doctor for a prescription.

B. You can find a prescription or a complicated diet from the Reverse My Disease program.

C. Exposing yourself to harmful foods causes problems to your defense system.

D. Reverse My Disease program has been well-accepted by doctors.

5.What is the author’s attitude towards Reverse My Disease?

A. Unconcerned. B. Supportive.

C. Cautious. D. Negative

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