Besides containing attractive flowers, trees and other plants that beautify the community, eco-friendly rain gardens are healthy for the environment and the people living and working nearby.
A rain garden （雨水花园）is not very different from a traditional garden. It is just a far more eco-friendly garden. Usually it is built lower than the ground. Rain gardens make smart use of rain and storm water by temporarily holding water from rain and storms and letting it soak（浸入）slowly into the ground before it runs into streams or enters the public drinking water supply.
Thus, a rain garden keeps the water, allowing it to be used as needed by plants in the rain garden, rather than flowing immediately into nearby streams and going unused. The water will soak slowly into the ground within a day or two. This creates an advantage that the rain garden does not allow mosquitoes to breed. This is a simple, attractive, and eco-friendly “green” way to treat storm water.
What’s more, planting a rain garden helps reduce pollution and improve the environment. Without using expensive machinery and chemicals, rain gardens remove harmful chemicals in the rainwater and cut down on the amount of pollution reaching streams and rivers by up to 30%.
Native plants are recommended for rain gardens because they are more used to the locals climate, soil, and water conditions. They may attract local wildlife such as native birds. Water your rain garden immediately after planting and once a week, unless you have had at least an inch of rain during the week. Once the native plants establish the necessary root system, it will require little care.
Often, local governments and private businesses develop large rain gardens in their yards and in public parks as a way to improve the environment and solve flooding problems. However, you don’t need to be a professional environmental engineer to create a rain garden. As long as you’re eco-conscious homeowners, you can help the environment by building smaller rain gardens in your yards

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is NOT RIGHT for the function(功能) of rain gardens?

    1. A.
      They are good for living conditions
    2. B.
      They increase pollution
    3. C.
      They can beautify the community
    4. D.
      They improve the environment
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is the eco-friendly function of rain gardens discussed in Paragraph 4?

    1. A.
      They can keep the rain and storm water
    2. B.
      They can help reduce the pollution problem
    3. C.
      They can be healthy for the people around
    4. D.
      They can make the environment more beautiful
  3. 3.

    One of the main reasons why native plants are recommended is that           

    1. A.
      they cost less and are much easier to get
    2. B.
      they may attract local wildlife to come
    3. C.
      they require little care from the local gardener
    4. D.
      they are more used to the local growing conditions
  4. 4.

    What do we know about rain gardens?

    1. A.
      They need little water after all the plants are planted
    2. B.
      They usually need at least an inch of rainwater a week
    3. C.
      They may attract local birds and change the locals climate
    4. D.
      They may reduce the water pollution problem by 70%
  5. 5.

    Who are the intended readers of the passage?

    1. A.
      Homeowners
    2. B.
      Students
    3. C.
      Engineers,
    4. D.
      Educators

Growing up on a tobacco farm, Emma Avery was used to hard times. When she was seven, her family’s farmhouse burned to the ground. Her father made a temporary (临时的) shelter, where eight people had to sleep in two beds. As soon as Emma and her four brothers and two sisters were big enough, they were out in the fields.
Emma would find her comfort in school, even as a C student, thanks to one teacher. When she moved on to middle school, Emma was alarmingly far behind her classmates. She kept her head down, trying not to be noticed, struggling to catch up, and feeling like an outsider.
Then one day, when Emma was 16, a teacher named Mr. Potts changed everything. Looking his students in the eye, Mr. Potts said, "Being a C student does not mean you do not have a valuable contribution to make. Some of you have to work in the fields in the evening and do not have time to study. But if you do your best, you have a gift to give."
The teacher’s words made Emma believe she could do well, and she worked harder. In the end she won a scholarship to St. Paul’s College, graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1967, and got a job in the public-school system. Then, at George Washington University, she received a master’s in education in 1970, and afterwards in the same year she married Ron Smothers.
Over the next six years, Emma taught in public schools in Miami. In 1976, after saving $10,000, she opened her first restaurant in Los Angeles. Eventually Emma stopped teaching, and her business expanded (扩展) to six restaurants.
In gratitude (感激) for what she has been able to achieve, Emma donates a lot. She has no idea how much money she’s given away. She says, "Those I want to help are the C students who just need help, direction and confidence."

  1. 1.

    The first paragraph serves to show that Emma ______

    1. A.
      was poor and had no time to study
    2. B.
      was born on a tobacco farm
    3. C.
      was sad to lose her house
    4. D.
      was kind enough to help support the family
  2. 2.

    From the text we learn that Emma ______

    1. A.
      won a scholarship to George Washington University
    2. B.
      was unsuccessful as a businesswoman
    3. C.
      was thankful to Mr. Potts
    4. D.
      disliked teaching, and gave up the job
  3. 3.

    From the second paragraph we can infer that Emma was ______

    1. A.
      unintelligent
    2. B.
      unconfident
    3. C.
      hard-working
    4. D.
      Considerate
  4. 4.

    The text mainly wants to tell us ______

    1. A.
      confidence is the first step to success
    2. B.
      memory of the past is the teacher of the future
    3. C.
      something attempted, something done
    4. D.
      nothing is impossible to a willing heart

Aggie Bonfire (篝火) was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry (竞争) with the University of Texas at Austin. For 90 years, Texas A&M students—known as Aggies—built and burned a bonfire on campus each autumn. Known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire", the annual autumn event symbolized Aggie students' "burning desires”. The bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in connection with festivities surrounding the annual college football game.
Although early Bonfires were little more than piles of trash, as time passed, the annual event became more organized. Over the years the bonfire grew bigger, setting the world record in 1969. Bonfire remained a university tradition for decades until, in 1999, a collapse during construction killed twelve people—eleven students and one former student—and injured twenty-seven others.
The accident led Texas A&M to declare a pause on an official Bonfire. However, in 2002, a student-sponsored-and-off-campus "Student Bonfire" came up.
In 2003, the event became known as Student Bonfire. In a design approved by a professional engineer, Student Bonfire uses a wedding cake design, but, in a departure from tradition, every log in the stack (堆) touches the ground. For added support, four 24 feet poles are spaced evenly around the stack and then bolted to the 45 feet center pole with a steel pipe. Since the group does not receive funding, Student Bonfire charges a fee to each attendee to cover expenses. Attendance for Student Bonfire ranges from 8,000–15,000 people and the event is held in Brazos County or one of the surrounding counties

  1. 1.

    When did Aggie Bonfire come into being?

    1. A.
      In 2003
    2. B.
      1999
    3. C.
      1909
    4. D.
      2002
  2. 2.

    Which of the following statements is true according to the above passage?

    1. A.
      Texas A&M University started Aggie Bonfire
    2. B.
      The University of Texas at Austin started Students Bonfire
    3. C.
      Texas A&M University and The University of Texas started Students Bonfire
    4. D.
      Texas A&M University and The University of Texas started Aggie Bonfire
  3. 3.

    Why did Aggie Bonfire once stop?

    1. A.
      Too many people wanted to join in it
    2. B.
      Some serious accidents occurred during the activity
    3. C.
      It ran out of fund and then stopped
    4. D.
      There were no official supports
  4. 4.

    Which of the following might serve as the best title of the whole passage?

    1. A.
      From Aggie Bonfire to Student Bonfire
    2. B.
      A brief history of American Bonfire
    3. C.
      Why not join Bonfire?
    4. D.
      Bonfire in Texas of the United States

On the evening of June 21, 1992, a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes entered the beautiful hall of the Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’an with his bicycle. The hotel workers received him and telephoned the manager, for they had never seen a bicycle in the hotel ball before though they lived in “the kingdom of bicycles.”
Robert Friedlander, an American, arrived in Xi’an on his bicycle trip across Asia which started last December in New Delhi, India.
When he was 11, he read the book Ma-rco Polo and made up his mind to visit the Silk Road. Now, after 44 years , he was on the Silk Road in Xi’an and his early dreams were coming true.
Robert Friedlander’s next destinations (目的地) were Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, etc. He will complete his trip in Pakistan

  1. 1.

    The best headline(标题) for this newspaper article would be________

    1. A.
      The Kingdom of Bicycles
    2. B.
      A Beautiful Hotel in Xi’an
    3. C.
      Marco Polo and the Silk Road
    4. D.
      An American Achieving His Aims
  2. 2.

    The hotel workers told the manager about Friedlander coming to the hotel because

    1. A.
      he asked to see the manager
    2. B.
      he entered the hall with a bike
    3. C.
      the manager had to know about all foreign guests
    4. D.
      the manager knew about his trip and was expecting him
  3. 3.

    Friedlander is visiting the three countries in the following order,       

    1. A.
      China, Pakistan, and India
    2. B.
      Pakistan, China, and India
    3. C.
      India, China, and Pakistan
    4. D.
      China, India, and Pakistan

To see the world is one thing; to have someone to share it with is another. Indeed, travel becomes more interesting when you have a travel partner. A travel partner can be a close friend, a family member, a pal you’ve met online, or a business friend.
You can have someone to talk to
Traveling alone is fun, but wouldn’t you feel lonely? Having a travel partner can remove the feeling of loneliness. This is especially true if you can get a travel companion who is very familiar with the place you’re traveling to. You don’t have to ask any information from the locals, and you can increase the time you spend in the country.
                           
One of the major headaches in traveling is the costs involved. You can’t simply ignore the rising price of hotels or plane tickets. You should also think about your daily needs, such as your food. Of course, you can’t simply go back without bringing any souvenirs (纪念品) to your friends and family. All these can ruin your budget. However, when you have a travel friend, you can have someone to share the expenses with.
You can meet a good friend
Having a travel mate is a good way of meeting a new friend or even a lifelong partner. You can never count the number of couples who actually found their way into each other’s heart while traveling together in another country.
You can have someone to watch out for you
When you’re in a foreign land, you’ll never be really safe. You don’t know the rules as well as the culture of the people. A travel will be perfect to remind you of your duties in the country and to watch your back just in case you get lost. So why don’t you find a travel companion now!
Let’s find out how…

  1. 1.

    What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

    1. A.
      To introduce a travel company
    2. B.
      To encourage us to have a travel partner
    3. C.
      To explain how to be a perfect travel partner
    4. D.
      To tell an interesting experience with a travel partner
  2. 2.

    What’s the best title for the 3rd paragraph?

    1. A.
      You can have someone to share the expenses with
    2. B.
      You can know the local culture well
    3. C.
      You can enjoy food with your partner
    4. D.
      You can save money by bargaining together
  3. 3.

    Which of the following statements agrees with the author’s opinion?

    1. A.
      Traveling alone is not fun
    2. B.
      Buying souvenirs isn’t necessary
    3. C.
      Many people fall in love when traveling
    4. D.
      It’s better to choose a stranger as a travel partner
  4. 4.

    Which of the following things is NOT mentioned?

    1. A.
      A travel partner can help you take care of your child
    2. B.
      A travel partner can help get rid of loneliness
    3. C.
      A travel partner can help you save money
    4. D.
      A travel partner can make you safer

As computers become more and more popular in China, Chinese are increasingly relying on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes(笔画) of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more widespread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer. All the students interviewed say they usually use computers.
It's faster and easier to correct the mistakes if using a computer. And that’s why computers are being used more and more often in modern education. But when people are taking stock in computers increasingly, problems appear.
“When I'm writing with a pen, I find I often can’t remember how to write a character, though I feel I'm familiar with it.”
“I'm not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper.”
Many students don’t feel this is something to worry about. Now that it's more convenient and efficient to type on a computer, why bother to write by hand?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei , the headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, “Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic (审美的) value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. Besides, handwriting contains the writer's emotion. Through one's handwriting, people can  learn one's thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression.”
To encourage students to write more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory and in universities, some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand

  1. 1.

    Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      The Importance of Typing
    2. B.
      Practical and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters
    3. C.
      Writing by Computer Will Replace Writing by Hand
    4. D.
      To Type or to Write by Hand
  2. 2.

    The students interviewed prefer to type on a computer mainly because_______

    1. A.
      they can correct the mistakes quickly and conveniently
    2. B.
      they are usually asked to e-mail their homework and essays
    3. C.
      they find it hard to remember how to write a character
    4. D.
      computers have become a trend and fashion in China
  3. 3.

    Which of the following statements is NOT true about advantages of handwriting?

    1. A.
      Handwriting contains the writer's emotion
    2. B.
      Handwriting can impress people well and build their self-confidence
    3. C.
      The writer's thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting
    4. D.
      Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value
  4. 4.

    The underlined phrase in Paragraph 3 probably means________

    1. A.
      getting bored with
    2. B.
      becoming crazy about
    3. C.
      becoming dependent on
    4. D.
      getting curious about

In March 1987, I started a new magazine called Creating Excellence. It was a very proud moment for me. I’d worked hard for over a year to create it, and the premiere issue (首次发刊) was a real success.
Shortly after we mailed 25,000 copies, I received one in the mail. But this one wasn’t as beautiful as the ones we’d sent out. It was marked in red ink correcting the grammatical errors (语法错误) in it. A talented editor had read the issue carefully and found more errors than I could have imagined.
I felt abashed. A magazine called Creating Excellence should be perfect in its content (内容). The stories were good, but the errors this woman had found showed that we were far from being excellent.
At first, I was upset with my editor for not having caught more mistakes, and also upset with the woman who seemed to have taken pleasure in pointing them out. Later, I was upset with myself for not having employed a better editor.
Then I realized that I had to face up to my mistakes. I called the woman who had shown me that we were not so excellent. I thanked her for taking the time to read our magazine so carefully. As painful as it was, I accepted responsibility for it.
Then I offered her the job of editing our publication. The result was a great improvement in it; we could now be very proud of our magazine.
From this I learnt that an upsetting moment could be an opportunity to see the truth, and accepting responsibility could help to prevent one making the same mistakes for a second time, and to make "excellence" a reality

  1. 1.

    From the first paragraph we learn that _____

    1. A.
      the author put little effort into his first magazine
    2. B.
      the author’s job was selling magazines
    3. C.
      the author was very satisfied with his work
    4. D.
      the author experienced a total failure
  2. 2.

    What does the underlined word "abashed" mean?

    1. A.
      excited
    2. B.
      embarrassed
    3. C.
      interested
    4. D.
      exhausted
  3. 3.

    What do we learn about the woman who had found the errors in the magazine?

    1. A.
      She was causing trouble on purpose
    2. B.
      She liked pointing out the errors of others
    3. C.
      She contributed a lot to the success of the premiere issue
    4. D.
      She ended up joining the magazine
  4. 4.

    What do we learn from this passage?

    1. A.
      Pride is the biggest enemy of success
    2. B.
      Success is behind many failures
    3. C.
      Picking holes in something can help you find a job
    4. D.
      Accepting responsibility for one’s errors can lead to real excellence

The UK's education system is ranked（排列） sixth best in the developed world, according to a global league table published by education firm Pearson in October,2012.
The first and second places are taken by Finland and South Korea.The rankings combine international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010.
Sir Michael Barber, Pearson's chief education adviser, says successful countries give teachers a high status and have a "culture" of education.
International comparisons in education have become increasingly significant - and this latest league table is based upon a series of global test results combined with measures of education systems, such as how many people go on to university.
The two education superpowers - Finland and South Korea - are followed by three other high-performing Asian education systems - Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
The UK is then only ranked at the head of an above-average group including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland.
These are ahead of a middle-ranking group including the United States, Germany and France. At the lowest end are Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia.
These comparisons draw upon tests that are taken every three or four years, in areas such as maths, science and literacy - and so present a picture lagging by several years.
Looking at education systems that succeed, the study concludes that spending is important, but not as much as having a culture that is supportive of learning.
It says that spending is easier to measure, but the more complex impact of a society's attitude to education can make a big difference.
The success of Asian countries in these rankings reflects the high value attached to education and the expectations of parents. This can continue to be a factor when families migrate to other countries, says the report.
Looking at the two top countries - Finland and South Korea - the report says that there are many big differences, but the common factor is a shared social belief in the importance of education and its "underlying moral purpose"

  1. 1.

    What’s the main idea of the passage?

    1. A.
      The two different education superpowers
    2. B.
      The result of one report about education system
    3. C.
      The UK's education system is worst
    4. D.
      Finland and South Korea’S education system
  2. 2.

    According to Sir Michael Barber, Hong Kong’s education system is ranked       in the world

    1. A.
      2nd
    2. B.
      3rd
    3. C.
      4th
    4. D.
      5th
  3. 3.

    All of the following statements is NOT true EXCEPT ________

    1. A.
      At the lowest end are Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia
    2. B.
      Education firm Pearson is disappointed at The UK's education system
    3. C.
      The United States’ education system is one of the best
    4. D.
      There are many big differences in Finland and South Korea
  4. 4.

    What does the underlined phrase “comparisons” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

    1. A.
      比较
    2. B.
      结果
    3. C.
      研究
    4. D.
      考试
  5. 5.

    What’s the common factor about the education system at the two top countries?

    1. A.
      The shared social belief in the importance of education and its "underlying moral purpose"
    2. B.
      The developed economy
    3. C.
      The high value attached to education and the expectations of parents
    4. D.
      Having a culture that is supportive of learning

As the railroads and the highways shaped the American West in the past centuries, a new electrical generating(发电)and transmission (输送) system for the 21st century will leave a lasting mark on the West, for better or worse. Much of the real significance of railroads and highways is not in their direct physical effect on the scenery, but in the ways that they affect the surrounding community. The same is true of big solar plants and the power lines that will be laid down to move electricity around.
The 19 th century saw land grants(政府拨地) offered to railroad companies to build the transcontinental railroads, leaving public land in between privately owned land. In much of the West, some of the railroad sections were developed while others remained undeveloped, and in both cases the landownership has presented unique challenges to land management. With the completion of the interstate highway system, many of the small towns, which sprang up as railway stops and developed well, have lost their lifeblood and died.
Big solar plants and their power lines will also have effects far beyond their direct footprint in the West. This is not an argument against building them. We need alternative energy badly, and to really take advantage of it we need to be able to move electricity around far more readily than we can now.
So trade-offs will have to be made. Some scenic spots will be sacrificed. Some species(物种) will be forced to move, or will be carefully moved to special accommodations. Deals will be struck to reduce the immediate effects.
The lasting effects of these trade-offs are another matter. The 21st century development of the American West as an ideal place for alternative energy is going to throw off a lot of power and money in the region. There are chances for that power and money to do a lot of good. But it is just as likely that they will be spent wastefully and will leave new problems behind, just like the railroads and the highways.
The money set aside in negotiated trade-offs and the institutions that control it will shape the West far beyond the immediate footprint of power plants and transmission lines. So let’s remember the effects of the railroads and the highways as we construct these new power plants in the West

  1. 1.

    What was the problem caused by the construction of the railways?

    1. A.
      Small towns along the railways became abandoned
    2. B.
      Land in the West was hard to manage
    3. C.
      Some railroad stops remained underused
    4. D.
      Land grants went into private hands
  2. 2.

    What is the major concern in the development of alternative energy according to the last two paragraphs?

    1. A.
      The use of money and power
    2. B.
      The transmission of power
    3. C.
      The conservation of solar energy
    4. D.
      The selection of an ideal place
  3. 3.

    What is the author’s attitude towards building solar plants?

    1. A.
      Disapproving
    2. B.
      Approving
    3. C.
      Doubtful
    4. D.
      Cautious
  4. 4.

    Which is the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      How the Railways Have Affected the West
    2. B.
      How the Effects of Power Plants Can Be Reduced
    3. C.
      How Solar Energy Could Reshape the West
    4. D.
      How the Problems of the Highways Have Been Settled

When you think of all the ways your body can get hurt---falling off a bike, stepping on a nail, being bitten by a crazed dog---the aches and pains that come from sitting at a computer may not seem like much.
But more doctors are getting worried about just that. If you sit at a PC the wrong way, the nerves and muscles in your back, neck and arms can get out of line.
Ergonomics is the study of how people work and how jobs and equipment can be designed so that people are safer and more comfortable in the things they do---whether that’s working on a factory assembly line or sitting in front of a computer.
The monitor
You should not have to tilt（倾斜） your neck up or down to lock at the screen. Your eyes should be level with the top of the screen.
How far away should you sit? Reach your arm out so your fingertips just touch the screen.
The keyboard
It should be directly in front of you. Don’t unfold the legs on the bottom of the keyboard so that it tilts up toward you---it should be as flat as possible, or even tilted away from you. You want your wrists “neutral,” which means straight, not bent. This puts less strain on your nerves and muscles.
Arms should be close to the body. Don’t look at your fingers as you type. Use a document holder to hold papers at the same level as the monitor. Keep the mouse on the same level as the keyboard and close by--- so you don’t have to reach for it.
The chair
Your feet shouldn’t dangle---the blood will pool in your feet. They should rest flat on the floor, or on phone books, if necessary. Your back needs support. Roll up a towel and stick it there.
The Body
If you think of your body as a collection of right angles when you sit at a computer, you should be just fine.
Your hips should be at a 90-degree angle to your back. That takes the pressure off the spine. And your knees should bend at a 90 degree angle so your feet are flat

  1. 1.

    The passage mainly talks about        

    1. A.
      avoiding pains caused by using PC
    2. B.
      the science of ergonomics
    3. C.
      illness caused by a computer
    4. D.
      how to keep fit
  2. 2.

    The underlined word “ergonomics” most probably means ______ in Chinese

    1. A.
      管理学
    2. B.
      人机工程学
    3. C.
      机械工程学
    4. D.
      经济学
  3. 3.

    How high should a monitor be placed according to the passage?

    1. A.
      As high as your arms
    2. B.
      A little higher than your eyes
    3. C.
      A little lower than your eyes
    4. D.
      At the same level as your eyes
  4. 4.

    How shouldn’t a keyboard be placed?

    1. A.
      Tilting away from you
    2. B.
      Tilting up toward you
    3. C.
      Flat
    4. D.
      Not mentioned
  5. 5.

    How should you place your foot?

    1. A.
      Rest them on a phone book
    2. B.
      Rest them on the floor
    3. C.
      They should rest flat
    4. D.
      They should dangle
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