A recent survey in the United States showed that the average family spent more money on its pets than on its children. Although rather shocking, it should not surprise anyone who has seen the doggy parlors(客厅) where loved pets rest. Are Americans unique in treating their little friends in this way? No, the English, too, pay more attention to their pets.

This can clearly be seen when we look at pet foods, which often contain more vitamins than human food. They certainly cost much. Last year the British public spent two hundred million pounds on pet food alone, to say nothing of veterinary bills or animal furniture. It is difficult not to feel angry about this when considering what the same amount could do for victims of starvation and poverty, so it is not unusual for me to get hot under collar when I read an old man left all his money to his dog instead of his children.

There are a variety of reasons why I find pets-raising alarming. They cause physical problems. An example of this is New York where they have great difficulty getting rid of the mess that dogs leave on the streets. Many people find this funny, but in a number of large cities it is a major problem. Animals can cause disease, too. It is the threat of rabies — a disease with no known cure.

Another problem is the carelessness of pet owners. Most little children want a dog or a cat, and they continually push their mothers and fathers until they get one. It is only when the "sweet little thing" has been brought home that the parents realize how much time and money must be spent on "Rover" or "Bonzo". Then they just abandon it. As a result, they are allowed to run free. English farmers lose hundreds of sheep a year, killed by someone's pet and you must have read of children being hurt by some pets of their own.

Lastly, I would only suggest that we have got our priorities wrong and that something should be done about it. In my view, it's time we stopped being sentimental about pets. I can see no reason why we should get upset when animals are cut up for medical experiments. This will lead us to discovering cures for serious human diseases, then I say, “keep cutting!”

1.The doggy parlors are mentioned in the 1st paragraph to show ________.

A. where Americans keep their pets

B. what costly lives the pets are living

C. why children love their pets so much

D. how much pets depend on their masters

2.In the second paragraph "to get hot under the collar" probably means ________.

A. getting quite hot B. feeling overwhelmingly angry

C. becoming excited D. receiving a fashionable shirt

3.According to the author, in which field can animals be most useful?

A. Pet. B. Food. C. Medicine. D. Sports.

4.What is author’s attitude towards pets-raising?

A. Pitiful. B. Neutral. C. Opposed. D. Supportive.

阅读表达

Why do Americans struggle with watching their weight while the French, who consume rich food, continue to stay thin? Now a research by Cornell University suggests how life style and decisions about eating may affect weight. Researchers conclude that the French tend to stop eating when they feel full. However, Americans tend to stop when their plate is empty or their favorite TV show is over.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating as an important part of their life style. They enjoy food and therefore spend a fairly long time at the table, while Americans see eating as something to be squeezed between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans lose the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and frozen foods for the week. The French, instead, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs as well as high-quality meats for each meal.

After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women .Don’t Get Fat, decided to write about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid food. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym.

In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent life style changes may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains acceptance and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17% — and is growing.

1.What does the research by Cornell University show? (No more than 10 words)

__________________________________________________________________________________

2.What do the French think of eating according to Dr. Joseph Mercola?(No more than 15 words )

__________________________________________________________________________________

3.Why do you think Mireille Guiliano can stay thin though she rarely goes to the gym? (No more than 10 words )

__________________________________________________________________________________

4.What does the underlined word “obesity” mean in the last paragraph?(No more than 3 words)

__________________________________________________________________________________

5.Do you think enjoying food has close connection with getting fat? Give your reasons. (No more than 25 words)

Welcome to your future life!

You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and young-looking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people your age could live to be 150, so at 40, you’re not old at all. And your parents just had an anti-aging(抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age !

You say to your shirt, “Turn red.” It changes from blue to red. In 2035, “smart clothes” contain particles(粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed to change your clothes’ color or pattern.

You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, “You shouldn’t drink that!” Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk , and it knows the milk is old . In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.

It’s time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your “smart car” where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve(袖子). Such “smart technology” is all around you.

So will all these things come true? “For new technology to succeed,” says scientist Andrew Zolli , “it has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already.” The Internet is one example --what will be the next?

1.We can learn from the text that in the future__________.

A. people will never get old

B. everyone will look the same

C. red will be the most popular color

D. clothes will be able to change their pattern

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A. Milk will be harmful to health.

B. More drinks will be available for sale.

C. Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information.

D. Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer.

3.What is the text mainly about?

A. Food and clothing in 2035.

B. Future technology in everyday life.

C. Medical treatments of the future.

D. The reason for the success of new technology.

阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

It was Mother’s Day and I was shopping at the local supermarket with my five-year-old son, Tenyson. As we were , we realized that only minutes earlier an woman had fallen over at the entrance and hit her head on the ground. was with her, but there was blood everywhere and the woman was embarrassed and clearly in shock. a lot of people stopped to help out.

we were walking towards the scene, Tenyson became very about what had happened to the elderly couple. He to me, “Mom, it’s not much fun falling over in front of .” Seeing that there was a flower stall(摊位)at the front of the supermarket, he added, “Why shouldn’t we the lady a flower? It will make her feel better.” I was that he’d come up with this idea. So we went over and told the flower seller we wanted. “Just take it,” she replied. “I take your money for such a wonderful .”

By now medical staff had arrived, and were the injured woman. We gave the flower to the woman’s husband and I told him it was my son. At that, the old man started crying and said, “Thank you very much.” He then turned to me, “You have a son. Happy Mother’s Day to you.”

The man bent down and gave his wife the flower, telling her who it was from. being badly hurt, the old lady looked up at Tenyson with in her eyes and gave him a little .

1.A.leaving B. driving C. moving D. stopping

2.A. injured B. awkward C. honest D. elderly

3.A. Her husband B. My son C. The crowd D. The seller

4.A. Specifically B. Particularly C. Interestingly D. Fortunately

5.A. If B. Since C. While D. Unless

6.A. guilty B. curious C. angry D. worried

7.A. complained B. said C. lied D. responded

8.A. no one B. someone C. everyone D. anyone

9.A. lend B. bring C. leave D. buy

10.A. amazed B. shocked C. puzzled D. concerned

11.A. wise B. sweet C. innocent D. crazy

12.A. which B. when C. what D. whether

13.A. must not B. can’t C. may not D. needn’t

14.A. scene B. habit C. flower D. deed

15.A. checking with B. looking after C. operating on D. paying for

16.A. from B. to C. with D. about

17.A. respectful B. cheerful C. successful D. wonderful

18.A.out of B. regardless of C. Thanks to D.As to

19.A. love B. hope C. pity D. pain

20.A. idea B. money C. smile D.comfort

Owning a smartphone may not be as smart as you think.They may let you surf the Internet,listen to music and snap photos wherever you are...but they also turn you into a workaholic,it seems.A study suggests that,by giving you access to emails at all times.the all-singing.all-dancing mobile phone adds as much as two hours to your working day.

Researchers found that Britons work an additional 460 hours a year on average as they are able to respond to emails on their mobiles.The study by technology retailer Pixmania,reveals the average UK working day is between nine and ten hours,but a further two hours is spent responding to or sending work emails,or making work calls.Almost one in ten admits spending up to three hours outside their normal working day checking work emails.Some workers confess they are on call almost 24 hours a day,with nine out of ten saying they take work emails and calls outside their normal working hours.Nearly two-thirds say they often check work emails just before they go to bed and as soon as they wake up,while over a third have replied to one in the middle of the night.

Ghadi Hobeika,marketing director of Pixmania,said:“The ability to access literally millions of apps,keep in contact via social networks and take photos and video as well as text and call has made smartphones valuable for many people.However,there are drawbacks.Many companies expect their employees to be on call 24 hours a day,seven days a week,and smartphones mean that people literally cannot get away from work.The more constantly in contact we become。The more is expected of us in a work capacity.”

1.The text is probably taken from___________.

A.a scientific report

B.a financial report

C.a newspaper

D.a literary journal

2.The underlined word “drawbacks” in the last paragraph probably means_________.

A.advantages B.faults C.mistakes D.features

3.Ghadi may agree that___________.

A.employees are supposed to be on call 24 hours a day

B.the ability to access many apps made smartphones worthless

C.smartphones might turn a person into a workaholic

D.people literally cannot get away from work without smartphones

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A.Smartphones are lengthening working hours

B.Smartphones are becoming valuable for many people

C.Britons work art additional 460 hours a year on average

D.Smartphones are more beneficial to our life than we think

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