The speaker, a teacher from a community college, addressed a sympathetic(赞同的) audience. Heads nodded in agreement when he said, “High school English teachers are not doing their jobs.” He described the inadequacies of his students, all high school graduates who can use language only at a grade 9 level. I was unable to determine from his answers to my questions how this grade 9 level had been established.
My topic is not standards nor its decline(降低). What the speaker was really saying is that he is no longer young; he has been teaching for sixteen years, and is able to think and speak like a mature adult.
My point is that the frequent complaint of one generation about the one immediately following it is inevitable. It is also human nature to look for the reasons for our dissatisfaction. Before English became a school subject in the late nineteenth century, it was difficult to find the target of the blame for language deficiencies (缺陷). But since then, English teachers have been under constant attack.
The complainers think they have hit upon an original idea. As their own command of the language improves, they notice that young people do not have this same ability. Unaware that their own ability has developed through the years, they assume the new generation of young people must be hopeless in this respect. To the eyes and ears of sensitive adults the language of the young always seems inadequate.
Since this concern about the decline and fall of the English language is not perceived(察觉) as a generational phenomenon but rather as something new and peculiar(特有的) to today’s         young people, it naturally follows that today’s English teachers cannot be doing their jobs. Otherwise, young people would not commit offenses against the language.

  1. 1.

    The speaker the author mentioned in the passage believed that _____.

    1. A.
      the language of the younger generation is usually inferior(差的) to that of the older
      generation
    2. B.
      the students had a poor command of English because they didn’t work hard enough
    3. C.
      he was an excellent language teacher because he had been teaching English for sixteen
      years
    4. D.
      English teachers should be held responsible for the students’ poor command of English
  2. 2.

    In the author’s opinion, the speaker ______.

    1. A.
      gave a correct judgment of the English level of the students
    2. B.
      had exaggerated(夸大) the language problems of the students
    3. C.
      was right in saying that English teachers were not doing their jobs
    4. D.
      could think and speak intelligently
  3. 3.

    The author’s attitude towards the speaker’s remarks is ______.

    1. A.
      neutral
    2. B.
      positive
    3. C.
      critical
    4. D.
      compromising
  4. 4.

    It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

    1. A.
      it is justifiable(有理由的) to include English as a school subject
    2. B.
      the author disagrees with the speaker over the standard of English at Grade 9 level
    3. C.
      English language teaching is by no means an easy job
    4. D.
      language improvement needs time and effort
  5. 5.

    In the passage the author argues that ______.

    1. A.
      it is unfair to blame the English teachers for the language deficiencies of the students
    2. B.
      young people would not commit offences against the language if the teachers did their
      jobs properly
    3. C.
      to eliminate(消除) language deficiencies one must have sensitive eyes and ears
    4. D.
      to improve the standard of English requires the effort of several generations

Looking back on my childhood, I believe that naturalists are born and not made. Although we were all brought up in the same way, my brothers and my sisters soon gave up their flowers and insects. Unlike them, I had no ear for music and languages. I was not an early reader and I could not do maths well.
Before World War I we spent our summer holidays in Hungary. I have only the dim memory of the house we lived in, of my room and my toys. Nor do I remember clearly the large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who gathered next door. But I do have a crystal clear memory of the dogs, farm animals, local birds, and above all, insects.
I am a naturalist, not a scientist. I have a strong love for the natural world and my passion has led me into varied explorations. I love discussing my favorite topics and enjoy burning the midnight oil reading about other people’s observations and discoveries. Then something brings these observations together in my mind. This has resulted in my publishing 300 papers and books.
But curiosity, a keen （敏锐的）eye, a good memory and enjoyment of the animal and plant world do not make a scientist. A scientist, up to a point, can be made. A naturalist is born. If you can combine the two, you get the best of both worlds.

  1. 1.

    The first paragraph tells us the writer        .

    1. A.
      was interested in flowers and insects in his childhood
    2. B.
      lost his hearing when he was a child
    3. C.
      didn’t like his brothers and sisters
    4. D.
      was born into a naturalist’s family
  2. 2.

    The writer can’t clearly remember his relatives probably because        .

    1. A.
      he didn’t live very long with them
    2. B.
      the family was very large
    3. C.
      he was too young when he lived with them
    4. D.
      he devoted himself to observing nature
  3. 3.

    It can be inferred from the passage that the writer was        .

    1. A.
      a scientist as well as a naturalist
    2. B.
      not a naturalist but a scientist
    3. C.
      only a born naturalist
    4. D.
      first of all a scientist
  4. 4.

    According to the writer, a born naturalist should first of all be        .

    1. A.
      good at maths
    2. B.
      full of passion
    3. C.
      knowledgeable
    4. D.
      self-controlled

Parking has long been a major headache for drivers in Shanghai. The Transportation Department is mapping out a new plan for the city’s parking system. There are one million cars on the road in Shanghai but only enough public parking space to provide room for 15 percent of these vehicles(交通工具). It is no wonder that local drivers get so worried trying to find a place to park.
The city is seeing a rise in private car owners. In March, the city sent out 2,000 private car licenses, the highest number of licenses ever sent out in a month. And prices rose to 14,600 yuan, 500 more than in February. Industry experts say this suggests that local people have a strong, active interest in buying cars.
By the year 2020, the number of automobiles in Shanghai will probably reach two million. If one parking lot is for each car, then a lot of parking space should be built for these vehicles.
Downtown Shanghai is most short of parking space. However, experts point out that simply building more parking lots in downtown areas is not practical and doesn’t provide an ideal solution. The idea of “ Park & Ride” system has been suggested. This means that drivers can leave their vehicles in car parks nearby subway or bus stations and ride public transport to go downtown. Based on this idea, the city will limit the number of parking lots in downtown areas and demand higher parking fees but build more parking areas near main subway and bus stops

  1. 1.

    The underlined phrase “mapping out” in the first paragraph means __________

    1. A.
      making
    2. B.
      arguing
    3. C.
      demanding
    4. D.
      requesting
  2. 2.

    About __________ drivers can find places to park their cars in Shanghai now

    1. A.
      850,000
    2. B.
      1,000,000
    3. C.
      150,000
    4. D.
      2,000,000
  3. 3.

    What can we infer from the second paragraph?

    1. A.
      The city sent out more private licenses in February
    2. B.
      Less and less people bought cars in March
    3. C.
      The city sent out less private licenses in March
    4. D.
      More and more people are going to buy cars
  4. 4.

    According to the idea of a “ Park & Ride ” system, the city will __________

    1. A.
      send out more private car licenses
    2. B.
      build more parking lots near bus stops
    3. C.
      encourage people to buy more cars
    4. D.
      build more parking areas downtown

Reading is the key to success in all school subjects. With a bit of creativity, you can help your child enjoy reading more, and encourage him to do more!
Buy or borrow a lot of “fun” books. Choose books that are slightly below his level of reading ability. Don’t forget what your child likes to do when choosing books for him. Don’t comment about the books. Simply leave the books lying on the table where your child is sure to see them. Computer games are not as harmful as most parents usually think them to be. Instead, you should take advantage of your child’s love of computer games to purchase those that require a lot of reading and avoid those that are simply computerized video games.
Buy your child a bedside reading lamp, or a tiny book light. Tell him that from now on, he must be in bed by a specific time (say 8:30) and that he can either sleep or read. Most kids will do anything else rather than go to sleep, so there’s a chance you’ll create a new bedtime reading habit.
Many children will read when they are sitting alone having a snack, or when they have a few minutes of unplanned free time. Put a box of books and magazines near the kitchen table so that reading material is available.
Often, once children learn to read independently, parents stop reading to them. This change of routine causes great sadness to a child who has come to love falling asleep as you read. Even a teenager will enjoy being read to if you pick books that interest him. Select books together, and make sure they’re ones you enjoy as well, so your enjoyment will come through as you read to them.

  1. 1.

    To make children become interested in reading, parents should _______.

    1. A.
      choose books based on their interest
    2. B.
      tell them what they can learn from these books
    3. C.
      choose the easiest books for them to read
    4. D.
      always read books together with them
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is NOT what parents are advised to do?

    1. A.
      Pick the right computer games.
    2. B.
      Reduce children’s sleeping time.
    3. C.
      Have reading material available.
    4. D.
      Read to children when possible.
  3. 3.

    What attitude do most parents hold towards children playing computer games?

    1. A.
      Supportive.
    2. B.
      Doubtful.
    3. C.
      Negative.
    4. D.
      Neutral (中立的).
  4. 4.

    The main idea of the passage is to ________. 

    1. A.
      help children succeed in school subjects
    2. B.
      give parents advice on how to educate children
    3. C.
      remind parents of the importance of reading
    4. D.
      teach parents how to encourage children to read

The manager had something more important to do, as a result he couldn’t _________ here this evening．


  1. A.
    pick up
  2. B.
    take up
  3. C.
    make up
  4. D.
    turn up

Last year when Tom graduated from school, he came to Taibei. He didn't like to work on his father's farm and hoped to find a job in a big city. He went from one company to another but no one wanted him. With little money left, he got to the station, sad and tired. All he wanted to do was go back to his small town. It was very late at night and the station was full of people. They were waiting to buy tickets of the last train. He bought the last ticket, and he was very happy.
At that time, a woman with a crying baby walked to him and asked him to sell her the ticket. He gave her the ticket because he thought they needed it more than he did. After the train left, he sat on the bench and didn't know where to go. Suddenly, an old man came and said, "Young man, I have seen what you did to the woman. I am the owner of a big company. I need a good young man like you. Would you like to work for me?"

  1. 1.

    Tom came to the station to _______.

    1. A.
      find a job
    2. B.
      take the train home
    3. C.
      sell the ticket
    4. D.
      take the train to Taibei
  2. 2.

    The woman walked to Tom because _______.

    1. A.
      she was Tom's old friend
    2. B.
      her child wanted to talk to Tom
    3. C.
      she needed to take the train
    4. D.
      she had no money to buy a ticket
  3. 3.

    Tom didn't take the train because _______.

    1. A.
      he didn't take a train ticket
    2. B.
      he missed the train
    3. C.
      he wanted to talk to the old man
    4. D.
      he gave his ticket to the woman
  4. 4.

    What can we learn from this story?

    1. A.
      Many people find job in a train station.
    2. B.
      Don't buy the last ticket of the train.
    3. C.
      If we try our best to help others, others will help us.
    4. D.
      We should not give our ticket to others in a train station.

It was when I was attending high school that I first read Asimov’s stories. At the time, a few science fiction magazines began to introduce this author, and to translate a few pieces from his “Robot Series”. Of Asimov’s works, the one that left the deepest impression on me was Pebble in the Sky. This novel directly influenced my early science fiction writing. Asimov was one of the leading writers of western science fiction’s Golden Age, so although his writing may not have a direct influence on writers of today, his underlying (潜在的) influence on many levels is undeniable — the famous Three Laws of Robotics, and many classic writing techniques, for example. Asimov’s novels are marked by a fully integrated (完整的) logical system, and his stories are a pleasure to read. This is the reason his novels still attract readers today. Naturally, western science fiction has few people these days who follow Asimov’s creative methods. But still the majority of Chinese science fiction readers would rather read the classic works of Asimov. Compared with the “Robot Series”, Asimov’s “Foundation Series” is a little less well-known in China. In fact, the “Foundation Series” creates an entire world, even grander than that of the “Robot Series”; this science fiction had a direct influence on later western science fiction, the most famous example being Star Wars.

  1. 1.

    We learn from the passage that the writer is probably a _________.

    1. A.
      science fiction writer
    2. B.
      science fiction publisher
    3. C.
      high school student
    4. D.
      science fiction fan
  2. 2.

    The purpose of the passage is to _________.

    1. A.
      compare Asimov with other science fiction writers
    2. B.
      advise people to read Asimov’s stories
    3. C.
      give some comments on Asimov’s influence
    4. D.
      explain why Asimov is popular in China
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

    1. A.
      Asimov is criticized by today’s science fiction writers.
    2. B.
      Asimov still has many readers in China.
    3. C.
      Asimov wrote Star Wars in his later life.
    4. D.
      Asimov’s writing techniques are still widely used.
  4. 4.

    In the writer’s opinion, Asimov’s “Foundation Series” _________.

    1. A.
      was not as successful as his “Robot Series”
    2. B.
      is better known to readers than his “Robot Series”
    3. C.
      was more logically organized than his “Robot Series”
    4. D.
      was written better than his “Robot Series” in some ways

Prince Charles yesterday promised to reduce the royal impact on the environment through sweeping changes to his personal lifestyle and official schedule. The prince will replace carbon-heavy private jets and helicopters with scheduled flights and train services.
The move came as Prince Charles urged business leaders to publish the environmental pact(条款、协议) of their activities.
He said, “Few accountants and business decision-makers ask, ‘How much of our critical natural resource is left? How many miles of polar ice cap has our business helped melt this year? By how many inches have we raised sea levels? How many species have we put at risk? How many homes will be flooded, how many people will die of thirst or starvation because of our activities? ’ These are not comfortable questions, but, by God, they need to be asked.”
He added, “At the moment these costs do not appear in anyone’s books… Yet they are real, they are incurred now and in a relatively short time, the damage being caused may be beyond remedy.” He said the world was “running up the biggest global credit card debt in history, but with little or no thought for how the bill will ever be paid”.
Flanked by the prime minister and business and community leaders at St James’ Palace, the prince said his new “accounting for sustainability” project would give consumers the power to choose products that caused less damage to the planet.
Duchy Originals, the prince’s food company, is taking steps to work out how much carbon dioxide and other green-house gas are emitted in growing, processing and distributing its products. The changes to the prince’s travel arrangements announced yesterday are part of a wider review of the carbon footprint associated with activities at all three of his residences. Clarence House in London, Highgrove and Birkhall on the Balmorals estate, as well as the activities of his 21 personal and 105 full-time staff. Measures include a review of electricity use, commuter and other staff travel and are intended to identify further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. The review will report in June , when Clarence House will announce annual targets to reduce carbon emission.

  1. 1.

    How does Prince Charles feel about business leaders in terms of environmental protection?

    1. A.
      Dissatisfied.
    2. B.
      Disappointed.
    3. C.
      Doubtful.
    4. D.
      Impatient.
  2. 2.

    In response to Prince Charles’ calls, Duchy Originals will ______.

    1. A.
      make as much green food as possible
    2. B.
      cut down its cost
    3. C.
      figure out its greenhouse gas emission
    4. D.
      continue its greenhouse gas emission
  3. 3.

    The underlined phrase in paragraph 4 probably refers to ______.

    1. A.
      the great amount of waste produced by industry
    2. B.
      the high cost of industry in their producing process
    3. C.
      the great amount of debts of the royal family
    4. D.
      the great damage caused to the environment
  4. 4.

    What would be the best title for the passage?

    1. A.
      Prince Charles promised Greener Royal Lifestyle
    2. B.
      Better Late than Never
    3. C.
      Prince Charles and His Concern for Environment
    4. D.
      The Royal Family Has a Role to Play in Environment Protection

In the suburban district of a city lived an old woman quite alone. Her husband died thirty years ago and two years later, her only son went away with lung cancer. So she had no family still living and her only friend was a little white dog who went everywhere with her - with one exception. The dog loved the fireplace in winter, and after the old woman went to bed he would sometimes go and lie in front of the warm coals. Usually though, the dog lay on a rug right next to the bed.
Deeply as the old woman loved her dog, she wouldn't allow the dog on the bed with her. However, if she became frightened or had a nightmare, she would put her hand down to her little white dog and he would lick it to calm her down.
One night she was reading the newspaper just before going to sleep. She trembled and pulled the duvet（羽绒被褥）up around her as she read that a mental patient had wandered out from a nearby hospital. No one knew if the patient was dangerous or not, but he was a suspect in the murders of several women who lived alone.
The woman turned off the lights and tried to sleep, but she was frightened, and turned over continually. Finally, she reached down to where her little white dog slept. Sure enough, a warm, wet tongue began to lick her hand. The woman felt reassured and safe, and left her hand hanging off the side of the bed. As she turned to settle in comfortably she opened her eyes for a moment and looked through the open door into the living room.
There in front of the fireplace, sat her little white dog, gazing at the coals and wagging his tail. And down beside her bed, something was still licking her hand.

  1. 1.

    From the first paragraph we can know that _________.

    1. A.
      her husband died following her son
    2. B.
      the old woman was through with her relatives
    3. C.
      the dog wasn’t always keeping her company .
    4. D.
      the dog sometimes was tired of her
  2. 2.

    Why didn’t she allow the dog on the bed with her?

    1. A.
      Because the dog was too dirty.
    2. B.
      Because she was fearful of dogs.
    3. C.
      Because the author dislikes keeping dogs.
    4. D.
      The author didn’t mention the reason for it.
  3. 3.

    The reason the old woman shivered was that _____________.

    1. A.
      she was too old to stand the cold weather
    2. B.
      the room temperature came down with a run
    3. C.
      she was reading a frightening story
    4. D.
      a news story was carried in the paper
  4. 4.

    Seeing the dog still sitting by the fireplace, __________.

    1. A.
      the old woman would call him to her
    2. B.
      the old woman would be frightened to half death
    3. C.
      would be luck to have another dog
    4. D.
      would feel puzzled what was under her bed

No one knows yet the accurate number of lives which have been lost in this terrible fire .But reports suggest that it is more than one hundred .
A wall of flames fifty feet high and at least one hundred and fifty miles wide is now racing towards the forests and rich farmlands of southern Victoria . Towns less than one hundred miles from Melbourne will be in danger unless the wind changes . People are rushing excitedly into the streets . The police have warned them not to see the fire but many people are doing so .
The cause of the fire is unknown . No rain has fallen in this part of Australia for three months , and the hot , north-west wind from the great central desert is blowing at more than thirty miles an hour .
The firefighters are travelling to the fire by road , rail and air . But it is not easy to get there . Flames and fallen trees have cut off or blocked roads and railway lines . The thick smoke often prevents them from finding the air strips (飞机跑道).
It is said that the fire has brought the greater danger to the country since the Second World War .

  1. 1.

    By the time the article was written , the fire        .

    1. A.
      had just broken out
    2. B.
      had been put out
    3. C.
      was spreading violently
    4. D.
      was coming to an end
  2. 2.

    The writer wrote this article mainly to tell people        .

    1. A.
      the fire was terrible and dangerous
    2. B.
      it was impossible to put out the fire
    3. C.
      more than one hundred people died of the fire
    4. D.
      to join in the fight against the fire
  3. 3.

    In the 4th paragraph , the writer suggested that        .

    1. A.
      the fire would soon be controlled by the firefighters
    2. B.
      it would be very difficult to put out the fire
    3. C.
      the government was paying great attention to the fire
    4. D.
      the fire had caused great losses and the airport was in ganger
  4. 4.

    The underlined word “ accurate” in the first sentence has the same meaning as        .

    1. A.
      recent
    2. B.
      whole
    3. C.
      rough
    4. D.
      exact
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