As people slowly learn to cure diseases, control floods, prevent hunger, and stop wars, fewer people die every year. As a result, the population of the world is becoming larger. In 1925 there were about 2 billion people in the world; today there are over 6 billion.
When the number rises, extra mouths must be fed. New lands must be brought under development, or land already farmed must be made to produce more crops. In some areas the land is so over-developed that it will be difficult to make it provide more crops. In some areas the population is so large that the land is divided into too tiny units to make improvement possible with farming methods. If a large part of this farming population went into industrial work, the land might be farmed much more productively (多产地) with modern methods.
There is now a race for science, technology, and industry to keep the output of food rising faster than the number of people to be fed. New types of crops, which will grow well in bad weather, are being developed, so there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle in Siberia and North America. Irrigation (灌溉) and dry-farming methods bring poor lands under the plough. Dams hold back the waters of great rivers, which can provide water for the fields in all seasons and provide electric power for new industries. Industrial chemistry provides fertilizer to suit different soils. Every year, some new methods are made to increase or to protect the food of the world

  1. 1.

    The author says that the world population is increasing because _____

    1. A.
      there are many rich valleys and large fields
    2. B.
      farmers are producing more crops than before
    3. C.
      people are living longer due to better living conditions
    4. D.
      new lands are being made into farmlands
  2. 2.

    The author says that in areas with large populations, land might be more productively farmed if _____

    1. A.
      the land was divided into smaller pieces
    2. B.
      people moved into the countryside
    3. C.
      industrial methods were used in farming
    4. D.
      the units of land were much larger
  3. 3.

    We are told that there are now farms beyond the Arctic Circle. This has been made    possible by _____

    1. A.
      growing new types of crops
    2. B.
      irrigation and dry-farming means
    3. C.
      providing fertilizers
    4. D.
      destroying pests and diseases
  4. 4.

    Why do some people use dams to hold back waters from great rivers?

    1. A.
      To develop a new kind of dry-farming methods
    2. B.
      To prevent crops from floods
    3. C.
      To provide water and electricity in all seasons
    4. D.
      To water poor lands in bad weather

When my father was getting ready for work, our house was ruled by knocks and words.He used to come downstairs to breakfast.The morning paper lay beside his plate.He always read the “Deaths” first, and then he knocked once on the table.One of my sisters brought his bread, already buttered for him.Usually he said nothing, but once I heard him say, “I love you very much, Edith.I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides.” He read the paper all through breakfast.Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.” If a single knock followed that meant, “More bread, please.”
After breakfast he said, “Boots.” The paper was spread（展开） for him over the back of an arm-chair.Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought to him, freshly cleaned.He read standing at the same time putting on his boots.With one boot finished he said, “Bus.” At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.Her job was to stop a bus when it came.It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father.“Overcoat, hat.” One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat.Now she held it open for him.Another girl came with his hat, nicely brushed.“Handkerchief, pipe（烟斗）.” They were brought and put, with his tobacco（烟草）, into his pocket.He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”.It was handed to him.Ready now, he was still reading the paper.He didn’t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out.The girls breathed freely.
How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home!

  1. 1.

    When the father made the first knock, he meant _______.

    1. A.
      he had begun to read the morning newspaper
    2. B.
      he was made to feel sad by the” Deaths” news
    3. C.
      he would start to read the other parts of the paper
    4. D.
      his breakfast should begin
  2. 2.

    What does “Edith” mean?

    1. A.
      A kind of bread.         
    2. B.
      One of the writer’s sisters.
    3. C.
      The writer.          
    4. D.
      The writer’s mother.
  3. 3.

    All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because _______.

    1. A.
      their father never helped them
    2. B.
      their father always gave different instructions at the same time
    3. C.
      each of them had to start and finish her job just on time
    4. D.
      they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs
  4. 4.

    What was the father’s favorite?

    1. A.
      Reading newspaper.    
    2. B.
      Having bread buttered on both sides.
    3. C.
      Giving instructions.     
    4. D.
      Being clean and tidy.

Tristan da Cunha, a 38 –square –mile island, is the farthest inhabited island in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. It is 1,510 miles southwest of its nearest, St. Helena, and I, 950 miles west of Africa. Discovered by the Portuguese admiral (上将) of the same name in 1506, and settled in 1810, the island belongs to Great Britain and has a population of a few hundred.
Coming in a close second –and often wrongly mentioned as the most distant land –is Easter Island, which lies 1,260 miles east of its nearest neighbor, Pitcairn Island, and 2,300 miles west of South America.
The mountainous 64 –square –mile island was settled around the 5th century，supposedly by people who were lost at sea. They had no connection with the outside world for more than a thousand years, giving them plenty of time to build more than 1,000 huge stone figures, called moai, for which the island is most famous.
On Easter Sunday, 1722, however, settlers from Holland moved in and gave the island its name. Today, 2,000 people live on the Chilean territory (智利领土). They share one street, a small airport, and a few hours of television per day.

  1. 1.

    It can be learned from the text that the island of Tristan da Cunha ________.

    1. A.
      was named after its discoverer
    2. B.
      got its name from Holland settlers
    3. C.
      was named by the British government
    4. D.
      got its name from the Guinness Book of Records
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is most famous for moai?

    1. A.
      Tristan da Cuha.
    2. B.
      Pitcairn Island.
    3. C.
      Easter Island.
    4. D.
      St. Helena.
  3. 3.

    Which country does Easter Island belong to?

    1. A.
      Britain.
    2. B.
      Holland.
    3. C.
      Portugal.
    4. D.
      Chile.

Autumn blues? Let the sunshine in falling leaves, flowers, and cold winds. For many people late autumn can be a season of depression.
Those who suffer from “ the autumn blue” are often extremely tired, lack energy, need more sleep, feel increased appetite and gain weight. "The exact cause of this condition, often called seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is not known yet," says Chen Jue, associate professor at Shanghai Mental Health Center. "But recent studies indicate that weather change is influential and strongly suggest that this condition is caused by changes in the availability(得到) of sunlight."
One theory is that with decreased exposure to sunlight, the biological clock that regulates mood, sleep, and hormones is delayed, running more slowly in winter. Exposure to light may reset the biological clock. Another theory is that brain chemicals that transmit information between nerves, called neurotransmitters (for example, serotonin), may be altered in individuals with SAD. It is believed that exposure to light can correct these imbalances. "It is a sad season, but you can try to make it happy. Remember, spring always lives in your heart," Chen says. “Going outdoors to get some sunlight may reduce the tension that brings you the low spirits. Relax at work. Stretch, breathe deeply. Take a tea break. Think of your next vacation. Color treatment also works in handling low mood. Music also plays a role in treating autumn blues.”

  1. 1.

    Autumn blues is also called autumn________.

    1. A.
      depression
    2. B.
      sunshine
    3. C.
      blue music
    4. D.
      cold winds
  2. 2.

    From the 3rd paragraph we know that there _______ that can help to deal with autumn blues.

    1. A.
      is no biological clock
    2. B.
      is a real example
    3. C.
      is no possibility
    4. D.
      are some ways
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is true according to the text?

    1. A.
      The real cause for autumn blues is still unknown.
    2. B.
      Autumn blues can be feelings of happiness.
    3. C.
      People feel tired in autumn.
    4. D.
      Weather doesn’t change people.
  4. 4.

    Which of the following CAN’T you do in order to deal with autumn blues?

    1. A.
      Reset the biological clock regulating mood, sleep and hormones.
    2. B.
      Eat more food very low in calories and sugar.
    3. C.
      Keep the balance of nerves that transmit information.
    4. D.
      Take outdoor activities or sports.

The majority of astronauts from America have been men. At the start of the space programme there was strong resistance from some people against having women in space. However, some women were very keen to become astronauts and in the end they were successful. In 1978, NASA began the first training programme for women astronauts.
Judy Resnick and Christa McAuliffe were both astronauts and they were both women, but in many other ways they were very different. Both of them were on Flight STS-5L-L. Judy Resnick was born in 1949 and studied engineering at university and went on to obtain a PhD in 1977. She was a member of the first group of women selected for astronaut training in 1978, and in 1984, she became the second woman in space. During that flight, she helped to launch three new satellites and she carried out a programme of research. She was, in many ways, a professional astronaut whose whole life was devoted to space travel.
Christa McAuliffe was born in 1948 and she was an astronaut almost by accident. In 1984, NASA decided to find a teacher who could accompany astronauts into space. They hoped that she would be able to communicate with students from space and encourage every one of them to be interested in space travel. Christa was a secondary teacher in history and social studies. She was a gifted teacher and she was selected from over 11,000 applicants to go on flight STS-51-L. She was also a very good communicator and she immediately established a very good relationship with the news media(radio, television and newspapers）. It was partly because of this that there was a great deal of interest and excitement about the flight. Thousands of students in schools and universities all around the country were looking forward to communicating with Christa in space. Millions of people were watching her flight with great interest. It is partly because of the excitement over McAuliffe's place in the flight that the disaster in 1986 had such an effect on people.

  1. 1.

    We can learn from the first two paragraphs that ___________.

    1. A.
      Judy was against the idea of having women in space at first
    2. B.
      Judy was the first woman selected for astronaut training
    3. C.
      Judy helped to launch three new satellites at the age of 35
    4. D.
      Judy carried out a programme during her second space travel
  2. 2.

    Christa McAuliffe was chosen for training because _______.

    1. A.
      she was popular with the news media
    2. B.
      she expected to give history lessons in space
    3. C.
      she was an excellent teacher and communicator
    4. D.
      she made the students in space very excited
  3. 3.

    The reason why there was great interest in Flight STS-51-L is that ________.

    1. A.
      both Christa and Judy got PhD degrees in the same year
    2. B.
      a young secondary school teacher was on the flight
    3. C.
      students were going to learn more about space travel
    4. D.
      it was the first time for women to travel in space
  4. 4.

    What would be the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      Two Astronauts
    2. B.
      Flight STS-51-L
    3. C.
      Travelling in Space
    4. D.
      The Training Programme

Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to college. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with（涉及）special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all

  1. 1.

    The oldest university in the US is _________

    1. A.
      Yale
    2. B.
      Harvard
    3. C.
      Princeton
    4. D.
      Columbia
  2. 2.

    From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years,______

    1. A.
      those colleges and universities were the same
    2. B.
      people, young or old, might study in the colleges
    3. C.
      students studied only some languages and science
    4. D.
      when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers
  3. 3.

    Modern languages the Harvard taught in 1825 were ________

    1. A.
      Latin and Greek
    2. B.
      Latin, Green, French and German
    3. C.
      American history and German
    4. D.
      French and German
  4. 4.

    As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach_______

    1. A.
      everything that was known
    2. B.
      law and something about medicine
    3. C.
      many new subjects
    4. D.
      the subjects that interested students
  5. 5.

    On the whole, the passage is about___________

    1. A.
      how to start a university
    2. B.
      the world-famous colleges in America
    3. C.
      how colleges have changed
    4. D.
      what kind of lesson each college teaches

Grandparents might be known for spoiling grandchildren, but a new study says they might also be helping the kids improve their social skills and behavior.
Spending time with grandma and grandpa especially appears to help children from single-parent, divorced/separated or stepfamily households, according to the report, published in the February Journal of Family Psychology.
"Grandparents are a positive force for all families but play a significant role in families undergoing difficulties," the study's lead author, Shalhevet Attar-Schwartz, of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said in an American Psychological Association news release. "They can reduce the negative influence of parents separating and be a resource for children who are going through these family changes."
In interviewing 11- to 16-year olds from England and Wales, Attar-Schwartz and her team found that the more conversations the youths had with a grandparent, including asking for advice or even money, the better they got along with their peers and the fewer problems they had, such as hyperactivity and disruptive behavior.
"This was found across all three family structures," she said. "But adolescents in single-parent households and stepfamilies benefited the most. The effect of their grandparents' involvement was stronger compared to children from two biological parent families."
The study did not look at children who lived solely with their grandparents, though.
The findings have great implications for people in the United States, the authors said, because American grandparents are increasingly sharing living space with their grandchildren. A 2004 U.S. Census Bureau survey found that more than 5 million households include a grandparent and a grandchild under 18, up 30 percent since 1990, according to background information in the news release.

  1. 1.

    It is generally believed that a grandmother __________ .

    1. A.
      can help a child through hard times
    2. B.
      can help kids develop social skills
    3. C.
      can spoil a child
    4. D.
      is a positive force for all families
  2. 2.

     According to the passage, grandparents will be of least benefit to a child __________ .

    1. A.
      from two biological parent families
    2. B.
      from a single—parent household
    3. C.
      from a divorced household
    4. D.
      from a stepfamily household
  3. 3.

    A child who asks his grandmother for money will __________ .

    1. A.
      have difficulty in getting along with his peers
    2. B.
      still get along well with his peers
    3. C.
      be easier to be spoiled than his peers
    4. D.
      not be popular with peers
  4. 4.

     We can learn from the last paragraph that ___________ .

    1. A.
      there are more families in America undergoing difficulties
    2. B.
      American parents are much busier than those from other countries
    3. C.
      American grandparents are much better at bringing up their grandchildren
    4. D.
      American kids like to share more living space with their grandparents
  5. 5.

     The passage implies that __________ .

    1. A.
      children who live solely with their grandparents may benefit the most
    2. B.
      grandparents are a source of comfort to children from families undergoing difficulties
    3. C.
      grandparents play a more positive role than parents in children’s growth
    4. D.
      all families should leave their children to be brought up by grandparents

One of the requirements of every graduation ceremony speaker is that they offer some advice. Well, get ready, here it comes.
Soon you will be leaving the company of those who think they have all the answers –your professors, instructors and counselors-and going out into what we like to call the real world. In time you will meet up with other people who think they have all the answers. These people are called bosses. My advice is: humor them.
A little later you’ll meet additional people who think they have all the answers.
These are called spouses (配偶) . My advice is: humor them, too.
And of all goes well, in a few years you will meet still another group of people who think they have all the answers. These are called children. Humor them.
Life will go on, your children will grow up, go to school and someday they could be taking part in a graduation ceremony just like this one. And who knows, the speakers responsible for handing out good advice might be you. Halfway through your speech, the graduate sitting next to your daughter will lean over and ask, “Who is that woman up there who thinks she has all the answers?”
Well, thanks to the reasonable advice you are hearing today and that I hope you will all pass on, she will be able to say, “That is my mother. Humor her.”

  1. 1.

    According to the text, at a graduation ceremony you’ll most probably hear ________ given by the speaker.

    1. A.
      wishes
    2. B.
      proposals
    3. C.
      warnings
    4. D.
      instructions
  2. 2.

    Among the people mentioned who think they have all the answers, which of the following are not referred to?

    1. A.
      teaching staff
    2. B.
      company staff members
    3. C.
      recreational and sports person
    4. D.
      family members
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is closest in meaning to the expression “have all the answers”?

    1. A.
      know a great deal about something through man’s life
    2. B.
      know all the keys to any test before any graduation
    3. C.
      be clever enough to do anything well in school
    4. D.
      be experienced in giving advice on any subject
  4. 4.

    What should you do with those who think they know all the answers according to the writer?

    1. A.
      Argue with them to keep them angry
    2. B.
      Keep them happy by accepting their wishes
    3. C.
      Refuse them to make them complain
    4. D.
      Turn deaf ears to them
  5. 5.

    What is the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      The Requirement Of Speakers
    2. B.
      How to Offer Advice
    3. C.
      Humour them!
    4. D.
      To Hell with them!

When I was young, I wished for a good car and a big house. That was my idea of success. I took all the advanced classes and tried to do well in the exams with my mind set on going to a key school. I just knew that I would somehow become famous and be able to afford the car and the dream house. All the way through junior years, my mind was planning this beautiful future.
Then in the eleventh grade, many losses changed my mind. First, one of my friends died at 16. Soon after, my great-grandmother passed away, followed by my beloved fourth-grade teacher. These events left me not knowing what to do or where to go . Death had never touched me so closely.
After a long period of emptiness, it finally struck me: Life is not promised and neither is future success. Though I was attempting to achieve material success, I was not enjoying my daily life. I realized that finding inner peace, purpose and happiness will stick with me forever and that is real success.
Enjoying life's precious quirks ( 偶发事件 ) makes an ordinary person more successful than a wealthy person who isn't content and takes everything for granted. The summer before senior years, my attitude changed greatly. Instead of memorizing facts, I began learning skills. Instead of focusing on the future, I focused on today and the many blessings and successes that came with it.
I still get excellent grades, but now I devote weeks to studying instead of struggling for exams, and I think about the future with a deeper sense of meaning. For me, being successful means truly living life each day.

  1. 1.

    The reason why the author changed his idea of success is that ________ .       

    1. A.
      he can't afford his house
    2. B.
      his beloved teacher was dead
    3. C.
      he didn't know what to do or where to go
    4. D.
      he lost a few beloved persons in a short time
  2. 2.

    According to the author which of the following is the real success for a person?

    1. A.
      Being famous.
    2. B.
      Truly living life each day.
    3. C.
      Good car and big house.
    4. D.
      Material achievements.
  3. 3.

    What does the author want to tell the readers?

    1. A.
      The true meaning of the life.
    2. B.
      The true meaning of studying.
    3. C.
      How to achieve success.
    4. D.
      His opinion about success.
  4. 4.

    According to the passage, which of the following is true?

    1. A.
      The writer thinks that success is not promised.
    2. B.
      His teacher died before the death of his grandpa.
    3. C.
      The writer didn't do well in all the exams.
    4. D.
      He didn't want to take all the exams.

Have you ever thought of such questions as “Why do I have to study math?”or “I am not interested in history at all. My dream is to be an actor. Should I give history up?”
Maybe you are right. After you leave school, it’s not necessary for you to understand everything. But please remember that at school,besides getting knowledge, you should pay attention to some other important things.
First, try to find what you are most interested in. At school, you study many subjects. Try to find what you like and what you don’t like. This may be helpful to you in the future.
Second, maybe you don’t like math and you want to drop it. But the logical thinking ability from math can help you solve some problems.At school, you should practice your brain by thinking.
Third, you should believe in yourself. Maybe you learn French at school, but you don’t need to speak French at all.But learning French can prove that you have the ability of learning languages. Suppose you go to France one day and find a good job well. At school I learned French well, and now I must be able to learn German. But if you have no confidence, what will happen?
Try to challenge yourself as often as possible. I think many of us like playing computer games. When we fail in a game, we always want to try it again. Why? Because it is hard for us to get the highest mark. If we want to challenge ourselves, we must face more difficult things and make greater progress.

  1. 1.

    At school you should             .

    1. A.
      stop learning the subjects you don’t like
    2. B.
      both get knowledge and improve your ability
    3. C.
      pay more attention to math and French
    4. D.
      learn French instead of English
  2. 2.

    Math can improve one’s           .

    1. A.
      logical thinking ability
    2. B.
      skills in computer
    3. C.
      interest in other subjects
    4. D.
      ability of finding a job
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is TRUE?       

    1. A.
      You will use everything you learn at school in your future job.
    2. B.
      It’s not necessary to know what you like at school.
    3. C.
      Everything you learn at school has an influence on you.
    4. D.
      Logical thinking ability is the most important ability.
  4. 4.

    Learning French can help us            .

    1. A.
      have confidence in learning languages
    2. B.
      go to France
    3. C.
      get a good result in the exam
    4. D.
      make greater progress
  5. 5.

    The last paragraph tells us that             .

    1. A.
      everyone loves to play computer games
    2. B.
      it is not easy to get high marks in computer games
    3. C.
      we should do some very different things
    4. D.
      we should challenge
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