If you are in town in a western country, you will often see people walking with their dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful animal in the world, but the reason why one keeps a dog has changed. Once upon a time, a man met a dog and wanted it to help him in the fight against other animals, and he found that the dog listened to him and did what he told it to. Later people used dogs for the hunting of other animals, and the dogs didn't eat what they got until their masters agreed. So dogs were used for driving sheep and guarding chickens. But now the people in the towns and cities do not need dogs to hunt other animals. Of course they keep them to frighten thieves, but the most important reason is that people feel lonely in the city. For a child, a dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For a young wife, a dog is her child when she doesn't have her own. For old people, a dog is also a child when their real children have grown up and left. Now people do not have to use a dog but they keep it as a friend, just like a member of the family.

17. In town in a weatern country, dogs are often seen to ________.

A. walk with hunters

B. walk with their masters

C. fight against other animals

D. play with other animals

18. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. People used to keep dogs to protect their house birds.

B. Dogs were used to hunt other animals.

C. Dogs will eat what they've got.

D. Dogs can perhaps drive thieves away.

19. The main reason why people in towns and cities raise dogs now is that ________.

A. they want dogs to frighten thieves for them

B. they use dogs for the hunting of other animals

C. they train dogs to drive sheep

D. they want to keep the dogs as friendly members of their families

20. The sentence "Now people do not have to use a dog" means ________.

A. a dog is not as useful as it was before

B. that it isn't necessary for people to use dogs to serve them

C. it isn't necessary for people to keep dogs any longer

D. people don't feel lonely now

Most animals have little connection with animals of a different kind, unless they hunt them for food. Sometimes, however, two kinds of animals come together in a partnership which does good to both of them. You may have noticed some birds sitting on the backs of sheep.This is not because they want a ride, but because they find easy food in the parasites(寄生虫) on sheep. The sheep allow the birds to do so because they remove the cause of discomfort. So although they can manage without each other, they do better together.

Sometimes an animal has a plant partner. The relationship develops until the two partners cannot manage without each other. This is so in the corals of the sea. In their skins they have tiny plants which act as "dustmen", taking some of the waste products from the coral and giving in return oxygen(氧气) which the animal needs to breathe.

If the plants are killed, or are even prevented from light so that they cannot live normally, the corals will die.

13. Some birds like to sit in a sheep because ________.

A. they can eat its parasites

B. they depend on the sheep for living

C. they enjoy travelling with the sheep

D. they find the position most comfortable

14. The word "they" in the last sentence of the first paragraph refers to _______ .

A. birds and parasites

B. birds and sheep

C. sheep and parasites

D. sheep, birds and parasites

15. From the passage we know that the coral is a kind of ________.

A. plant that needs oxygen

B. plant that can produce oxygen

C. animal that needs oxygen

D. animal that can produce oxygen

16. What does the second paragraph mainly discuss?

A. Some animals and plants depend on each other for living.

B. Some animals and plants develop their relationship easily.

C. Some plants depend on each other for food.

D. Some animals live better toghther.

Mr Hart, a london taxi driver, has a new black taxi. With his taxi, he hurries through the busy streets every day.

One day when he was having a short rest, a young man jumped into his taxi.

"To the station as fast as you can," shouted the man in a very unfriendly way. "My train leaves at three o'clock."

Mr Hart did his best, but there was a lot of traffic. At every corner there was a red light.

"Hurry up, man! I don't want to miss my train," said the young man.

"And I don't want to have an accident," replied Mr Hart quickly.

While he was driving, Mr Hart suddenly recognized the man's face. He was a thief. The police were looking for him. His picture was in the newspapers. Mr Hart raced through the street and drove through red lights. Soon there was a police car behind him. Mr Hart raced on until he reached the station. He stopped in front of the station at two minutes to three, and the young man quickly jumped out of the taxi.

"Stop! Stop!" cried Mr Hart. At that moment the police car stopped, too. "Quick! He is the thief!" shouted Mr Hart. Two policemen rushed into the station. Three minutes later they returned with the young man.

"Well done!" a policeman said to Mr Hart as they were taking the thief to the police car.

9. The young man wanted to________.

A. go back home by train

B. drive through the busy street

C. take the 3:00 train to London

D. leave London as soon as possible

10. How did Mr Hart know that the young man was a thief?

A. He had never met such a rude person as the young man.

B. He had seen the young man's picture in the newspapers.

C. The police told him something about the young man.

D. The young man was trying to run away.

11. Mr Hart raced through the street and drove through red lights so that ________.

A. he could drive faster than the police car

B. he could reach the station on time

C. he could get the attention of the policemen

D. he could go home earlier than usual

12. Where did the policemen catch the young man?

A. In Mr Hart's taxi.

B. In the station.

C. In the street.

D. At the corner.

"Tipping" (给小费)is always a difficult business. You do not want to give too much or too little, or tip the wrong person.

In Britain and America, people usually tip waiters in restaurants, porters, taxi drivers and hairdressers. They do not tip people in offices, cinemas, garages or airports.

Do you invite your friend to the restaurant? Then you pay the bill. Does your friend invite you? Your friend pays. If there are men and women in the party, the men usually pay.

These days, men and women are equal in many ways. If you work in Britain or America, your boss could be a man or a woman. There are increasing numbers of women in important positions in politics, law, medicine and in the business world.

But it is still polite for men to open doors for women and to ask them to go first.

And it is polite for men to stand up when they are introduced to women.

5. In this passage, the writer tells us ________.

A. not to give any tip to others

B. only to give tip to women

C. only to give tip in restaurants

D. to give tip to the right person

6. If you have had a meal with your friend in a restaurant, ________.

A. you should pay the bill

B. your friend should pay the bill

C. the person who invites the other person should pay the bill

D. you should ask your friend to pay the bill

7. Today in Britain and America _______ .

A. women are quite equal to men

B. men hold all the important positions in politics

C. women hold all the important positions in business

D. women have changed their conditions in many ways

8. It is impolite for a man to ________.

A. open a door for a woman and to go first himself

B. stand beside a woman

C. let a woman go first

D. stand up when he is introduced to a woman

Some houses are designed to be smart. Others have smart designs. An example of the second type of house won an Award of Excellence from the American Institute of Architects.

Located on the shore of Sullivan's Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped（立方体形状的） beach house was built to replace one smashed（破碎）to pieces by Hurricane Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.

Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina's shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement（执行）of building codes wasn't strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo's wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan's Island should be able to survive Category 3 hurricanes with peak（最高点的） winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.

At first sight, the house on Sullivan's Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell（外形） makes it look like "a large party lantern ( 灯笼 )" at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving（蒙蔽）. The house's wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.

To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7

meters off the ground on timber pilings（木桩） - long, slender columns of wood anchored（锚）deep in the sand. Pilings might appear insecure（不安全的）, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also lift up the house above storm surges（波涛）. The pilings allow the surges to run under the house instead of running into it. "These swells of water come ashore at fantastic speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings," said Huff.

Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially hidden by the house's ground-to-roof shell. "The shell masks（掩饰） the pilings so that the house doesn't look like it's standing with its pant legs pulled up," said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.

1. After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina's shoreline are required _______ .

A. to be easily reinforced

B. to look smarter in design

C. to meet stricter building standards

D. to be designed in the shape of cubes

2. The award-winning beach house is quite strong because________.

A. it is strengthened by steel rods

B. it is made of redwood

C. it is in the shape of a shell

D. it is built with timber and concrete

3. The main function of the shell is _______ .

A. to strengthen the pilings of the house

B. to give the house a better appearance

C. to protect the wooden frame of the house

D. to slow down the speed of the swelling water

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the shell should be ________.

A. funny-looking

B. waterproof

C. easily breakable

D. extremely strong

Tim Becker and his neighbors are doing something to make their neighborhood a trouble-free area.

When Tim Becker gets in his car to go shopping, he doesn't　　1　　drive to a store and back home. He always looks　　2 　 up and down the streets of his neighborhood. He looks for anything　　3　 , such as strange cars, loud noises,　　4 　 windows, or people gathering on street corners.

Tim　　5　 to a neighborhood watch group in Stoneville, Indiana, USA. The neighborhood watch group　 6 　 on the third Wednesday of every month. That's　　7 　 Tim get together with about ten of his neighbors to discuss community　 8 　 . Members of the neighborhood watch group want to help the police 　 9 　 their homes, streets, and families safe.

Tim Stedman, president of　 10 　 neighborhood watch group, agrees with Tim. "People seem to think that crime(犯罪) happens to other people but not　 11 　 them. Well, it's never happened to me," he said, " but I don't think anyone has the　 12　 to steal from other people or to make them feel　 13　 sitting in their own homes." Alex, a member of the group, said that all the neighbors　 14 　 out for one another. "We　 15　 each other's homes. We keep watch on the neighborhood at night and on weekends. Usually a　　16　 of four or five of us goes out together. If something doesn't look right, then we call the　　17 　 . For example, if we notice a group of teenagers who seem to be looking for　　18 　 , or someone destroying property, we report to the police."

Alex feels the neighborhood watch group　　19　 a lot in keeping crime down. Her husband Jim agrees, "Police are good people, but they can't do　 20 　 ."

1. A. yet B. still C. just D. rather

2. A. carefully B. clearly C. nervously D. coldly

3. A. familiar B. unusual C. expensive D. interesting

4. A. new B. open C. old D. broken

5. A. attends B. belongs C. goes D. turns

6. A. meets B. quarrels C. sings D. searches

7. A. where B. why C. when D. how

8. A. politics B. wealth C. health D. safety

9. A. keep B. hold C. let D. protect

10. A. its B. his C. their D. your

11. A. round B. on C. about D. to

12. A. right B. chance C. courage D. mind

13. A. unlucky B. unsafe C. disappointed D. discouraged

14. A. set B. let C. hold D. look

15. A. care B. enter C. watch D. manage

16. A. group B. set C. number D. crowd

17. A. judges B. police C. firemen D. doctors

18. A. work B. burden C. service D. trouble

19. A. produces B. finds C. gets D. helps

20. A. anything B. everything C. harm D. wrong

The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is plagues(疫病) that flesh receives.

The most widespread fallacy (谬误) of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused by viruses(病毒)passing on from person to person. You catch a cold by coming into contact, directly or indirectly, with someone who already has one. If cold caused colds, it would be reasonable to expect the Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in isolated arctic regions explorers have reported being free from colds until coming into contact again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes. During the First World War soldiers who spent long periods in the trenches(战壕), cold and wet, showed no increased tendency to catch colds. In the Second World War prisoners at the notorious Auschwitz concentration camp (奥斯维辛集中营), naked and starving, were astonished to find that they seldom had colds. At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in Experiments in which they gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet r long stretches of time. After taking hot baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in drafty room. Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose.

If, then, cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in the winter?Despite the most painstaking research, no one has yet found the answer. One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and this makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on. No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain suppressors(止痛片) such as aspirin, but all they do is relieve the symptoms (症状).

1. The writer offered________examples to support his argument.

A. 4 B. 5 C. 6 D. 3

2. Which of the following does not agree with the chosen passage?

A. The Eskimos do not suffer from colds all the time.

B. Colds are not caused by cold.

C. People suffer from colds just because they like to stay indoors.

D. A person may catch a cold by touching someone who already has one.

3. Arctic explorers may catch colds when ________.

A. they are working in the isolated arctic regions

B. they are writing reports in terribly cold weather

C. they are free from work in the isolated arctic regions

D. they are coming into touch again with the outside world

4. Volunteers taking part in the experiments in the Common Cold Research Unit________.

A. suffered a lot

B. never caught colds

C. often caught colds

D. became very strong

5. The passage mainly discusses________.

A. the experiments on the common cold

B. the fallacy about the common cold

C. the reason and the way people catch colds

D. the continued spread of common colds

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons, events and the resulting effects upon their minds.

People who are to be happy fix their attention on the convenience of things-the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-prepared dishes, the goodness of the wine, the fine weather. They enjoy all the cheerful things. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the opposite things. Therefore, they are continually dissatisfied. By their remarks, they sour the pleasure of society, offend (hurt) many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation (模仿). It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it may be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects on their interests and tastes. I hope this little warning may be of service to them, and help them change this habit.

Although in fact it is chiefly an act of imagination, it has serious results in life since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. Those people offend many others; nobody loves them, and no one treats them with more than the most common politeness and respect. This frequently puts them in bad temper and draws them into arguments. If they aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone start a step or speak a word to favor their hopes. If they bring on themselves public objections, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join to criticize their wrongdoings. These should change this bad habit and be pleased with what is pleasing, without worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact (接触) with them. Otherwise, it can be disagreeable and sometimes very inconvenient, specially when one becomes mixed up in their quarrels.

1. People who are unhappy__________.

A. always consider things the same as others

B. are usually affected by the results of certain things

C. usually misunderstand what others think or say

D. always discover the unpleasant side of certain things

2. The underlined phrase"sour the pleasure of society"most probably means "__________".

A. have a good taste with social life

B. make others unhappy

C. tend so scold others openly

D. enjoy the pleasure of life

3. We can conclude from the passage that __________.

A. we should pity all such unhappy people

B. such unhappy people are dangerous to social life

C. people can get rid of the habit of unhappiness

D. unhappy people can not understand happy persons

4. If such unhappy persons insist on keeping the habit, the author suggests that people should__________.

A. prevent any communication with them

B. show no respect and politeness to them

C. persuade them to recognize the bad effects

D. quarrel with them until they realize the mistakes

5. In this passage, the writer mainly __________.

A. describes happy people

B. laughs at the unhappy people

C. suggests ways to help the unhappy

D. tells people how to be happy in life

It's back-to-school time again. In the morning you wave goodbye, and that__1__ evening you're burning the late-night oil in sympathy (同情). In the race to improve educational standards, __2__are throwing the books at kids. __3__primary school pupils are complaining of homework __4__. What's a well-meaning parent to do?

As hard as it may be, sit back and keep cool, experts __5__. Though you've got to get them to do it, by__6__ too much, or even examining__7__too carefully, you may__8__them from doing it by themselves. "I wouldn't advise a parent to check every__9__exercise," says psychologist (心理学家) John Rosemond, author of Ending the Tough Homework. "There's a __10__of understanding for trial and error (错误). Let your children __11__ the grade they are worthy of."

Many experts believe parents should gently look over the work of younger children and ask them to rethink about their __12__, but don't want them to feel it has to be __13__.

That's not to say parents should pay no attention to their children's __14__, they should monitor how much homework their kids __15__. Thirty minutes a day in the early elementary (基础) years and an hour in __16__ four, five, and six is standard. For junior-high students it should be __17__ than an hour and a half, and two for high-school students. If your child __18__ has more homework than this, you may want to check with other__19__and then talk to the teachers about __20__homework.

1. A. very B. just C. exact D. usual

2. A. officials B. experts C. parents D. schools

3. A. Also B. Then C. Even D. However

4. A. tiredness B. duty C. mistakes D. puzzle

5. A. demand B. explain C. persuade D. suggest

6. A. worrying B. helping C. talking D. thinking

7. A. questions B. standards C. answers D. rules

8. A. ask B. make C. encourage D. keep

9. A. single B. practical C. simple D. difficult

10. A. drop B. cut C. lot D. lack

11. A. have B. gather C. earn D. reach

12. A. good B. mistakes C. achievements D. teachers

13. A. perfect B. unusual C. worse D. complete

14. A. grade B. mistakes C. examinations D. homework

15. A. have B. make C. prepare D. lose

16. A. classes B. grades C. groups D. terms

17. A. later B. sooner C. most D. less

18. A. hardly B. merely C. seldom D. always

19. A. parents B. teachers C. subjects D. schools

20. A. finishing B. reducing C. lowering D. refusing

Some people have complained about this year's collection, New Writing 3, although I cannot understand why. Surely 500 pages of original writing of this quality, for ￡ 6.99, is pretty amazing?

Fiction-both parts of novels and complete short stories-makes up most of the book. There are some enjoyable pieces by famous writers, such as Candia McWilliam and Rose Tremain. It's a strange fact that the less well-known people seem to have written mainly about food. Take my advice about Jane Harris's Those Nails-this piece should definitely not be read just after meals. It contains some very unpleasant scenes which could turn your stomach!

There is fine work from nineteen poets, including R.S. Thomas and John Burnside. There are pieces from novels-in-progress by Jim Crace and Jane Rogers. Finally, there is a little non-fiction, which includes a very funny article by Alan Ursula Owen. This is an exceptional collection and I for one can't wait to see what next year's choice will include.

72. The writer of this passage is trying to give ________.

A. her (his) opinions about a new book

B. some information about new writers

C. some advice to new writers

D. her (his) opinions of newspaper journalists

73. The readers will ________ after reading the text.

A. find out more details about New Writing 3

B. learn what next year's collection will contain

C. find out something about Alan Ursula Owen's new novel

D. have no idea how to read a good book

74. The writer suggested that you might feel ________ after reading Jane Harris's piece.

A. hungry B. excitedC. happy D. sick

75. Which of the following statements best describes New Writing 3?

A.

B.

C.

D.