As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.

Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping (录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is.”

The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings (兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”

1.The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to _________.

A. show the relationship between parents and children

B. teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table

C. report on the findings of a study.

D. give information about family problems

2. Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because _________.

A. they are busy serving food to their children

B. they are busy keeping order at the dinner table

C. they have to pay more attention to younger children

D. they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family

3. By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children _________.

A. have to help their parents to serve dinner

B. get the least attention from the family

C. are often kept away from the dinner table

D. find it hard to keep up with other children

4. Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

A. It is important to have the right food for children.

B. It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.

C. Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.

D. Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner

Everyone wants to be self-confident, but maybe we just don’t know how to be. Here are some tips on how you can feel more confident about yourself.

1. Everyone has shortcomings. When you have found your shortcomings, work to overcome them. If you are a shy person, take part in social activities, such as parties, and speak to at least one or two people there.

Second, try to spend more time with positive people. Successful and confident people have their own ways of settling problems. 2.

Third, set goals for yourself. With each goal you achieve, your self-confidence will increase. 3. We are afraid that we might lose. Stop thinking like that and give yourself a chance.

Fourth, start each day with a sense of opportunity. 4. Think positively about yourself.

Actually everyone has his or her own way of becoming confident. 5. Friends might have useful suggestions, too. In short, as long as you try new things, you are sure to become more confident.

A. Pay attention and learn from them.

B. You should talk with your friends.

C. First, don’t think about your weak points.

D. It’s not always right to ask friends for help.[

E. Sometimes We might be afraid of trying new things.

F. Start your day by reading something encouraging.

G. First, you should know what your weak points are.

Once there was a man who had lost one of his arms in an accident. Day by day he got more and more , thinking of not being able to do lots of things he used to do. One day he got so disappointed that he to kill himself. He found a tall building and to the top of it. Standing on the edge of the building, he was looking down to have a look at the world before off. Then he caught sight of a man along the sidewalk, whistling and kicking up his heels. When the man came , he found that this man didn’t have any arms at all. He thought to himself, “What am I doing here? sorry for myself? I have one good arm to do things with. the man with no arms dancing on the side-walk is so , maybe I should go on with my life.” He hurried down to the man. He wanted to tell him how he was to see him and how stupid he was to have the of killing himself. He thanked him again for his life and now he knew that he could it with one arm since that guy could go on his life without arms.To his , the man with no arms said nothing began dancing and whistling again.The man with one arm felt even more and finally asked, “Can you tell me why you are so happy, please?”The man replied, “I’m not happy. My body itches (痒)!”

1.A. nervousB. surprised C. depressedD. angry

2.A. whenB. whetherC. thatD. if

3.A. failedB. decided C. likedD. refused

4.A. climbedB. turnedC. flewD. rose

5.A. fastB. best C. last D. first

6.A. shakingB. takingC. showingD. jumping

7.A. yellingB. drinkingC. dancingD. sleeping

8.A. closer B. furtherC. nearlyD. away

9.A. SayingB. FeelingC. BeggingD. Asking

10.A. almostB. stillC. onlyD. just

11.A. Not onlyB. As ifC. So thatD. Now that

12.A. strangeB. happy C. kindD. sad

13.A. teachB. checkC. beatD. catch

14.A. glad B. hardC. slowD. silly

15.A. prideB. joyC. fearD. thought

16.A. lovingB. findingC. savingD. losing

17.A. playB. useC. finishD. make

18.A. surprise B. regretC. delight D. shame

19.A. asB. soC. or D. and

20.A. dangerousB. comfortableC. pleasedD. curious

Last summer, my friend and I hired a car and headed for Toronto. We didn't book a hotel room 1.________ it was at the beginning of September and we thought it would be easy for us 2._______ (find) a hotel.

we 3._______ (drive) for five hours when the weather changed and it looked like a thunderstorm was coming. We got lost and both were4._______(hunger) when I saw an old lady parking her car. I stopped and asked 5.________she knew a hotel nearby. She said there was a hotel down the road，6._______it might have been closed. The lovely old lady looked at me and said，“Why don't you girls just stay the night at 7._______house? I'll cook for you.”

We ended up going to a little island in Lake Muskoka, 8._______ her family lived. We slept in the 9._______ (comfort) beds they built for their kids and they cooked for us. We stayed at their house for three nights in all and also met their friends. Those days were the 10.______ (good) part of our three-week trip! We were glad that we got lost and met the old lady.

短文改错

请你对下面文章进行修改。文中共有10处错误，错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（^），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词。 2．格式错误不得分。3. 只允许修改10处，从第11处起）不计分。

Here is my idea about how a friend is like. Firstly, a friend is someone you can share your secrets . If you tell him a secret, he will never talks about it with anybody else. Besides, a friend is always good listener when you need one. After hear your sad stories, he will say some words that is nice and warm. Still, your happiness makes him happily too. What’s more, a good friend is willing to offer the help to which you need, or can at least give you some advices. In a word, friends are those you like and trust, and you will enjoy every minute that you spent with them.

随着人们生活水平的提高，越来越多的人们喜欢走出家门去领略祖国的秀丽风光，请你以 The advantages of Travel 为题，谈谈旅行的好处，内容包括：

1. 旅行可以开拓眼界，增长知识。

2. 旅行可以帮助人们结识更多的朋友。

3. 旅行可以提高人们解决问题的能力。

注意：1. 字数100左右； 2. 适当发挥想象，增加细节，以使行文连贯。

The National Gallery

Description:

The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of European art ranging from 13th-century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance.

Layout:

The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th-to15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, VanEyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.

The main West Wing houses 16th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titan and Veronest.

The North Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Claude and Vermeer.

The East Wing houses 18th-to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh.

Opening Hours:

The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm（Fridays 10am to 9pm）and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.

Getting There:

Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross（2-minute walk）. Leicester Square（3-minute walk）,Embankment（7-minute walk）,and Piccadilly Circus（8-minute walk）.

1.Where should you enter to enjoy the older collections ?

A．The main entrance.

B．The ground floor entrance.

C．The Trafalgar Square.

D．The East Wing.

2.In which century’s collection can you see paintings in the modern Sainsbury Wing ?

A．The 12th. B．The 14th.

C．The 16th. D．The 18th.

3.Where are Van Gogh’s works shown?

A. In the Sainsbury Wing.

B. In the main West Wing.

C. In the North Wing.

D. In the East Wing.

4.Which of the following is true according to the last 2 paragraphs?

A．You can enjoy the Gallery at 6am on Thursdays.

B．You are advised to go there only on Fridays.

C．Any special exhibitions are absolutely free of charge.

D．Charing Cross is the closest station to the Gallery.

Honey from the African forest is not only a kind of natural sugar, it is also delicious. Most people, and many animals, like eating it. However, the only way for them to get that honey is to find a wild bees' nest and take the honey from it. Often, these nests are high up in trees, and it is difficult to find them. In parts of Africa, though, people and animals looking for honey have a strange and unexpected helper - a little bird called a honey guide.

The honey guide does not actually like honey, but it does like the wax in the beehives (蜂房). The little bird cannot reach this wax（蜂蜡）, which is deep inside the bees' nest. So, when it finds a suitable nest, it looks for someone to help it. The honey guide gives a loud cry that attracts the attention of both passing animals and people. Once it has their attention, it flies through the forest, waiting from time to time for the curious animal or person as it leads them to the nest. When they finally arrive at the nest, the follower reaches in to get at the delicious honey as the bird patiently waits and watches. Some of the honey, and the wax, always falls to the ground, and this is when the honey guide takes its share.

Scientists do not know why the honey guide likes eating the wax, but nothing can prevent the birds from making efforts to get it. The birds seem to be able to smell wax from a long distance away. They will quickly arrive whenever a beekeeper is taking honey from his beehives, and will even enter churches when beeswax candles are being lit.

1.What can we know from paragraph 1?

A. The wild bees’ nests can be easily found.

B. The wild bees’ honey isn’t a natural sugar.

C. A honey guide can help people find the honey.

D. A honey guide is a local villager living in the forest.

2.The underlined word “the follower” in paragraph 2 refers to________.

A. A member of a nest’s bees.

B. A bird which feeds on bees.

C. A person who raises bees.

D. A person who hunts for honey.

3.Which words can best describe a honey guide ?

A. Determined and smart.

B. Selfish and self-centered.

C. Helpful and Humorous.

D. Stubborn and mean.

It happened to me recently. I was telling someone how much I had enjoyed reading Barack Obama’s Dreams From My Father and how it had changed my views of our President. A friend I was talking to agreed with me that it was ,in his words, “a wonderfully written book ”. however, he then went on to talk about Mr. Obama in a way which suggested he had no idea of his background at all .I felt that I was talking to a book liar.

And it seems that my friend is not the only one. Approximately two thirds of people have lied about reading a book which they haven’t .In the World Book Day’s “Report on Guilty（愧疚的） Secrets”, Dreams From My Father is at number 9.The report lists ten books, and various authors, which people have lied about reading, and as I’m not one to lie too often (I’d hate to be caught out ),I’ll admit here and now that I haven’t read the entire top ten .But I am pleased to say that, unlike 42 percent of people, I have read the book at number one ,George Orwell’s 1984.I think it’s really brilliant.

The World Book Day report also has some other interesting information in it. It says that many people lie about having read Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky(I haven’t read him, but haven’t lied about it either )and Herman Melville.

Asked why they lied, the most common reason was to “impress” someone they were speaking to. This could be tricky if the conversation became more in –depth!

But when asked which authors they actually enjoy, people named J.k. Rowling, John Grisham, Sophie Kinsella(ah, the big sellers, in other words).Forty-two percent of people asked admitted they turned to the back of the book to read the end before finishing the story(I’ll come clean: I do this and am astonished that 58 percent said they had never done so).

1.How did the author think of Dreams From My Father?

A. It was his favorite.

B. It made little sense.

C . He was very fond of it.

D. He totally had no idea.

2.What can we learn from “Report on Guilty Secrets”?

A. 58% of people haven’t read 1984.

B. All of the listed authors are unknown.

C. Many people have ever lied about reading.

D. Dreams From My Father isn’t among the top ten.

3.Why do people probably lie about reading?

A. To admire the writer.

B. To advertise the book.

C. To start a conversation.

D. To leave a good impression.

4.What’s the tone (语气) of the author in the article?

A. Very friendly.

B. A little humorous.

C. Rather confusing

D. Quite cautious.

Some people will do just about anything to save money. And I am one of them .Take my family’s last vacation for example .It was my six-year-old son’s winter break form school ,and we were heading home form Fort Lauderdale after a weeklong trip. The flight was overbooked ,and Delta , the airline ,offered us $400 per person in credits(积分) to give up our seats and leave the next day .I had a meeting 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一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(交易) is something few of us can afford to pass up.

I've made a living looking for the best deals and exposing 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 (犹豫)to spend on a good haircut. It keeps it longer, and it's the first thing people notice. And I will also spend on a classic piece of furniture. Quality lasts.

1.Why does the author mention her family’s last vacation?

A. To celebrate her son’s winter break from school.

B. To show she was always ready to save money.

C. To prove the Delta’s service was reasonable.

D. To tell an unforgettable family experience.

2.What can we infer about the author?

A. She tries to make full use of every dollar .

B. She makes a living mainly by writing.

C. She is not a good mother or a wife.

D. She is crazy about cheap products.

3.What does the underlined word mean ?

A. generous with time. B. mean with money.

C. being excited. D. feeling ashamed.

4.What can be a suitable title for the test?

A. How to be a good housewife.

B. How to book airline seats.

C. How to live a rewarding life.

D. How to make every dollar count.