Why do 33% of the households in the USA have cats? And how do you explain why there are 16 million more pet cats than dogs? Yes, kittens are adorable (讨人喜欢的).Yes, they can grow up to be good mousers and are very entertaining to watch.And yes, cats are independent and don't require as much care as dogs.But research shows cats can also be caretakers for us and our families, improve our health and teach us and our children to be kinder, gentler souls.
Theodora Wesselman is 94 and has lived the past two years with her elderly cat, Cleo, at TigerPlace, a retirement community in Columbia, Mo.Their enduring friendship is a classic example of how humans and animals can become family and look out for each other.
Wesselman visits other residents, and her children stop by, but Cleo is her best friend, she says.They've been together nearly 21 years.
"She sleeps on her own pillow right beside mine," Wesselman says."In the morning, she pecks on my cheek to wake me up.It's really sweet.I pet her, tell her I love her and take her to the kitchen to prepare her food."
Research shows that being able to care for a pet improves our morale (士气;精神状态), helps validate us and encourages us to take care of ourselves, says Rebecca Johnson, director of the University of Missouri's Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction.The body of research is leading more retirement communities and universities to roll out the welcome mat for pets.

  1. 1.

    According to the context, where do you think the sentence “They start and end the day together” should appear in the passage?

    1. A.
      Between para.1 and para.2
    2. B.
      Between para.2 and para.3
    3. C.
      Between para.3 and para.4
    4. D.
      Between para.4 and para.5
  2. 2.

    Which of the following words best describe the author’s attitude towards keeping pet cats?

    1. A.
      Favorable
    2. B.
      Critical
    3. C.
      Reserved
    4. D.
      Doubtful
  3. 3.

    Why does the author take 94-year-old Theodora Wesselman as an example in the passage?

    1. A.
      To show that the elderly like Theodora Wesselman in the USA have pet cats.
    2. B.
      To suggest to what degree humans and pet cats can be caretakers for each other.
    3. C.
      Because Theodora Wesselman has been living with a pet cat for the past two years.
    4. D.
      Because Theodora Wesselman pets her cat Cleo and tells her she loves her.
  4. 4.

    What does “to roll out the welcome mat for pets” in the last paragraph imply?

    1. A.
      To give a special welcome to pets.
    2. B.
      To make the welcome mat flat on the ground for pets.
    3. C.
      To open out the welcome mat for pets to sleep.
    4. D.
      To wrap the welcome mat to make room for pets.

For the past two years, 8-year-old Harli Jordean from Stoke Newington, London, has been selling marbles(弹珠).His successful marble company, Marble King, sells all things marble-related—from affordable tubs of the glass playthings to significantly expensive items like Duke of York solitaire(独粒宝石)tables—sourced, purchased and processed by the mini-CEO himself.
“I like having my own company. I like being the boss,” Harli told The Mirror.
With profits now in the thousands, “the world's youngest CEO” has had to get his mother and older brothers to help him meet the growing demand.
Harli launched Marble King after swapping(交换)marbles at school led to schoolchildren depleting(削减) his marble collection. Yes, he literally(确切地)“lost his marbles.” Harli and his mother, Tina, turned to the Internet to find replacements.
Harli saw an empty space online: the marbles he wanted were hard to find. Within months, Harli had his own marble-selling website and orders started pouring in.
Tina says her son's obsession(迷恋) with marbles started when he was just 6.
“His obsession became so big we started calling him the Marble King, so when he wanted to set up a website it was the natural name for it,” she told The Sun.
“I never thought it would become so popular—we are struggling to cope with the number of orders at times.”
The 8-year-old boy has his sights set on expanding his business and launching his own brand of marbles.
“Sometimes his ideas are so grand we have to scale them back a bit. But his dream is still to own Britain's biggest marble shop and open stores around the world.” Tina told The Daily Mail.
“At the minute he is annoying me by asking about creating his won Marble King marbles, so that could well be the next step for him.”

  1. 1.

    Why did Harli's marble company become popular as soon as he launched it?

    1. A.
      Because it was run by “the world's youngest CEO”.
    2. B.
      Because it filled the gaps of marble business.
    3. C.
      Because Harli was fascinated with marble collection.
    4. D.
      Because his mother and brothers helped him a lot.
  2. 2.

    How many mass media are mentioned in the passage?

    1. A.
      One.
    2. B.
      Two.
    3. C.
      Three.
    4. D.
      Four.
  3. 3.

    Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined expression “scale back”?

    1. A.
      make smaller
    2. B.
      carry out
    3. C.
      turn down
    4. D.
      frighten away
  4. 4.

    What message do the last two paragraphs carry?

    1. A.
      Conflicts often occur between Harli Jordean and his family.
    2. B.
      Harli's mother and brothers are worried about Marble King's future.
    3. C.
      Marble King marbles will be more popular with marble fans around the world.
    4. D.
      The “Marble King” has great ambitions for his Marble King Company.

Everyone agrees that all the creatures want happiness and are afraid of pain and grief. The question, however, is “What is real happiness?” The desire for happiness has no meaning without understanding the real nature of happiness.
Generally, ordinary beings consider sensual(感觉的) pleasures as happiness, and their actions are directed toward gaining these. According to them, searching for happiness means searching for pleasures of the senses. The question, “What is happiness?”, does not arise(出现) in their hearts, because in their hearts they think of a life full of sensual joys as a happy life.
Some thinkers say, “Happiness does not lie in the objects of enjoyment; happiness or unhappiness lies in the imagination.” To prove their belief they give examples like the following one. A man has a two-storey house. When he thinks of those who have a house with three storeys or more, he feels unhappy. When he thinks of those who have just a cottage, he feels happy. Such happiness does not lie in possessions(占有物), but in the imagination. They advise people to take inspiration from those who have few possessions but are quite happy. If you only consider people wealthier than yourself, you will always be unhappy.
If you want to be happy, they say, look at the poor. But it is unreasonable to hold that happiness lies in the imagination. And it is inappropriate to think that someone is happy if he only imagines himself better than the poor and the unhappy. This attitude also satisfies the sense of pride of possession. This can never be called happiness. Unless we find out where happiness lies, we cannot really become happy.
Some ask people to do this or that, and say, “This way your desires will be satisfied. That way you will get what you want and become happy.” People holding these views regard happiness as satisfaction of desires and unhappiness as denial(否定) of such satisfaction.

  1. 1.

    What kind of life can make common people feel happy?

    1. A.
      Life without pain and grief.
    2. B.
      Life full of sensual pleasures.
    3. C.
      Life with desire for possessions.
    4. D.
      Life full of imagination.
  2. 2.

    The underlined word “cottage” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to ________.

    1. A.
      a house in one’s imagination
    2. B.
      a modern building
    3. C.
      a desired object
    4. D.
      a small house
  3. 3.

    The author may agree that ________.

    1. A.
      by comparing themselves with the poor, people will feel happy
    2. B.
      people won’t feel happy without a desire for happiness
    3. C.
      possessing wealth may lead to a sense of pride
    4. D.
      people have to experience pain and grief before finding happiness
  4. 4.

    The best title for this passage would be “________”.

    1. A.
      What Is Happiness?
    2. B.
      How to Get Happiness
    3. C.
      Happiness and Desire
    4. D.
      Happiness and Imagination

Music is an international language. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are beautiful to all people everywhere.
Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers (扬声器) and play the music loudly as they drive on the street.
Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics, and activities of the American people. But most of the radio broadcast is music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.
Besides pop music, there are two other kinds of music that is important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. The other is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music.

  1. 1.

    In America, every student likes ______.

    1. A.
      folk music
    2. B.
      country music
    3. C.
      pop music
    4. D.
      western music
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, most of the car radio broadcast is ______.

    1. A.
      sports
    2. B.
      the weather
    3. C.
      politics
    4. D.
      music
  3. 3.

    What do the cowboys do according to the passage?

    1. A.
      They sell cows.
    2. B.
      They watch cows.
    3. C.
      They sing and dance.
    4. D.
      They travel around.
  4. 4.

    How many kinds of music are mentioned in the passage?

    1. A.
      Three.
    2. B.
      Four.
    3. C.
      Five.
    4. D.
      Six.
  5. 5.

    What’s the best title of the passage?

    1. A.
      Music in America
    2. B.
      Music Listeners
    3. C.
      Cowboys in America
    4. D.
      International Language

The average person learns most of the 30 000~40 000 words whose meanings he or she recognizes by hearing them or getting familiar with them in the context or simply absorbing them without conscious(意识到的) effort. The best way to build a good vocabulary, therefore, is to read a great deal and to participate in a lot of good talks. There are relatively few words that we learn permanently(永久的)by purposefully referring to dictionaries or keeping word lists. However, even those extra few are of value, and no one will make a mistake by working on developing a larger vocabulary. Here are some suggestions of how to do it.
Read plenty of good books. When you come across a new word, or a new meaning of an old word, stop and see if you can understand it from its context. If you can't, and if you can manage without interrupting the thought of the book too much, look it up in a dictionary or ask somebody and then repeat its meaning to yourself a couple of times. If you are really conscientious(认真的), write the word and its meaning in a personal vocabulary list — preferably using it in a sentence, or you can keep a special vocabulary notebook. Go over the list from time to time. Further, try to use a new word in writing or conversation a few times over the next several days.
Listen to good talks and be alert to new words you hear or to new meanings of words you already know. Then treat them just as you treat the new words you read.
Learn and be alert to the parts of words: prefixes, suffixes and roots. Knowing them enables you to make intelligent guesses about the meaning of words.
If you are studying a foreign language, be alert to words in that language which relate to words in English. English has inherited(继承) or borrowed much of its vocabulary of 500 000~600 000 words from Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and German.

  1. 1.

    When you meet a new word in reading, what should you do?

    1. A.
      Guess its meaning.
    2. B.
      Ask somebody.
    3. C.
      Look it up in a dictionary.
    4. D.
      All of the above.
  2. 2.

    According to this passage, the best way to build a good vocabulary is _______.

    1. A.
      to remember a lot
    2. B.
      to read a great deal
    3. C.
      to take part in a lot of good talks
    4. D.
      both B and C
  3. 3.

    The phrase “be alert to” in the third paragraph may best be replaced by “_______”.

    1. A.
      look at
    2. B.
      pay attention to
    3. C.
      write down
    4. D.
      learn by heart
  4. 4.

    In the fourth paragraph, the word “them” refers to _______.

    1. A.
      the parts of words
    2. B.
      prefixes
    3. C.
      suffixes
    4. D.
      roots

Welcome to Banff, Canada’s first, most famous and arguably most fascinating national park. If you’ve come to ski or snowboard, we’ll see you on the slopes. Skiing is a local favourite too.
While you’re here, try other recreational activities available in our mountains. Popular choices include a Banff Gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, bathe in the natural mineral waters at the Upper Hot Spring, horse-drawn sleigh ride, drive-your-own-team dog sled excursion, and snowmobile tour to the highland(but not in the national park).
We also recommend you make time to enjoy simple pleasures. After looking around Banff Ave shops, walk a couple of blocks west or south to the scenic Bow River.
True ice skating on frozen Lake Louise where Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition Works are displayed after Jan 25. You can rent skates in Banff or at the sport shop in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel.
Banff’s backcountry paths access a wilderness world of silence and matchless beauty—cross country skis and snowshoes provide the means. Banff sport shops rent equipment and clothes, or join an organized tour. Although we’ve been many times, we still find the cliffs and icefalls of our frozen canyons worth visiting.
Wildlife watching also creates satisfying memories. We have seen hundreds of the elk and bighorn sheep that attract visitors, yet they still arouse a sense of wonder. And the rare spotting of a cougar, wolf or woodland caribou takes our breath away.
See if simple pleasure work for your Fight in the snow with your kids, walk beside a stream or climb to a high place and admire the view.
—Banff Resort Guide Editors

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, Banff’s backcountry is accessible by_______.

    1. A.
      cross country skiing             B, horse-drawn sleigh riding
      C. snowmobiling                   D. dogsledding
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is true according to the passage?

    1. A.
      Dogsledding is the most popular sport among local people.
    2. B.
      Watching wildlife is a memorable experience.
    3. C.
      Travelers should bring their own sports equipment.
    4. D.
      Shopping is too simple a pleasure to enjoy.
  3. 3.

    The purpose of the writing is to _______.

    1. A.
      promote scenic spots in Canada
    2. B.
      advertise for the sports in Banff
    3. C.
      introduce tourist activities in Banff
    4. D.
      describe breathtaking views in Banff

The program allows users to display alerts on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version(版本)of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it.” One customer sent a message saying,’ You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop’s speakers will say: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now.”
The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs .Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access details.
If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
Thousands of laptops are stolen every year form homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer.

  1. 1.

    The expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind “can be understood as “_______”

    1. A.
      to give the thief an alert mind
    2. B.
      to express the owners’ anger to the thief
    3. C.
      to remind the thief of this conscience
    4. D.
      to make the thief give up his mind
  2. 2.

    Different from other security software, Retriever can_______.

    1. A.
      record the stealing process
    2. B.
      help recognize the lost laptop
    3. C.
      lock down the computer remotely
    4. D.
      send a spoken message
  3. 3.

    One function of the program is that it allows the owner to _______ at a distance.

    1. A.
      change some access details for switching on the laptop
    2. B.
      turn on the laptop by using the original password
    3. C.
      operate the laptop by means of and alternative password
    4. D.
      erase the information kept in the stolen laptop
  4. 4.

    Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?

    1. A.
      With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year.
    2. B.
      A new soft ware provides a means to reduce laptop theft.
    3. C.
      Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers.
    4. D.
      A new program offers a communication platform with the thief.

A bully(欺凌弱小的人) is a boy or a girl who acts mean (unkind) or hurtful to others, especially weaker persons bullies sometimes hit, kick, or push people, and they sometimes use words to call names or scare them. A bully might say mean things about someone, take a kid’s possessions or make fun of someone on purpose. Some bullies force people to do things they don’t want to do.
Why do bullies act so badly? Just to look for attention. They might think bullying is a way to be popular or a way to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves felt more important-when they pick on someone else, it makes them fell big and powerful. Some bullies come from families where everyone around has a normal way to act. Some bullies are copying what they’ve seen someone else do. Some have been bullied themselves.
Bullying can be a big pain, but you don’t have to let bullying get the best of you. Sometimes just acting bravely is enough to stop a bully. If you walk by and hold your head high as though you’re not afraid, a bully may be less likely to give you trouble. Bullies want a big reaction to their meanness. Acting as if you don’t notice and don’t care is like giving no reaction at all, and this just might stop a bully’s behavior. If you are being bullied, it’s very important to tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom helpers at school can all help to stop bullying. Don’t hit, kick, or push back to deal with someone bullying you or your friends. Fighting back just satisfies a bully, and it’s dangerous, too, because someone could get hurt.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is advisable if you are being bullied?

    1. A.
      Giving the bullies a satisfactory reaction.
    2. B.
      Putting up with the bullies’ behavior.
    3. C.
      Turning to grown-ups for help.
    4. D.
      Acting bravely and fight back.
  2. 2.

    According to the writer, the bullies’ purpose of bullying others is to ____________.

    1. A.
      find people to take care of them
    2. B.
      shout and let out their anger
    3. C.
      make people notice them
    4. D.
      show their ability
  3. 3.

    The underlined phrase “get the best of” in paragraph 3 means __________.

    1. A.
      get rid of
    2. B.
      look down upon
    3. C.
      do one’s best
    4. D.
      get the upper hand of
  4. 4.

    What might be the best title for this passage?

    1. A.
      Bullying those who bully
    2. B.
      Getting the best of bullies
    3. C.
      Dealing with bullies
    4. D.
      Caring about bullying

Thousands of years ago, birthdays were considered special days. On birthdays, the bad spirits were able to harm you and change your life. It was believed that the only way to solve the problem was to have your friends and family around you, so that good wishes and presents would keep the bad spirits away. Also, noisemakers were thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the evil spirits.
The custom of lighting candles was created by people believing that the gods lived in the sky. By lighting candles and torches, they were sending a signal or prayer to the gods, so they could be answered. Blowing out the candles and making a wish were thought to be another way of sending a signal or a message.
This is how the way we celebrate our birthdays came about. But different cultures celebrate in different ways.
The birthday story in the Bible(圣经) that we know best is about the birth of the Christ in Bethlehem(地名:伯利恒). For nearly 2000 years since that day, the Christian world has been honoring this birth. The day many Englishmen celebrate is, of course, Christmas. There are other references to birthday parties. King Pharaoh celebrated his birthday by making a feast for his court followers. That was over 4000 years ago. The story of King Herod tells that on his birthday he made a supper for his lords, high captains and other special friends in Galilee (地名:加利利).

  1. 1.

    According to the passage, good wishes and presents given by one’s friends and family on his birthday can _____________________.

    1. A.
      cheer him up
    2. B.
      prove that he’s a popular person
    3. C.
      bring him a big fortune
    4. D.
      push bad spirits away
  2. 2.

    Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

    1. A.
      The custom of lighting candles originated with the gods.
    2. B.
      The gods celebrate their birthdays by lighting candles.
    3. C.
      People send messages to the gods by lighting or blowing out the candles.
    4. D.
      The gods will help people realize their dreams on their birthdays.
  3. 3.

    The two ancient kings’ ways of celebrating their birthdays show__________________.

    1. A.
      how great the two kings were
    2. B.
      how different cultures celebrate in different ways
    3. C.
      the two kings’ excellent cooking skills
    4. D.
      that their court followers were awarded the special honors
  4. 4.

    The passage is mainly about __________________.

    1. A.
      the functions of the noises made on birthdays.
    2. B.
      how to scare away the bad spirits on birthdays
    3. C.
      the origin of a famous day Christmas
    4. D.
      how birthdays came about

In the days when an ice cream sundae(圣代冰淇淋)cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress came to his table and put a glass of water in front of him. “Miss, how much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and counted(数) the coins in it.
“Okay then, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he asked. By now, more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she replied rudely. The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream sundae, put the bill on the table, and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier, and left.
When the waitress came back to that table, she began to cry as she wiped(擦) it with the wash cloth. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish were fifteen cents.
You see, the little boy couldn’t have the sundae because he wanted to have enough coins to leave her a tip. The waitress regretted having treated the little boy like that. And from that, she learned that she should treat all her customers well.

  1. 1.

    Why didn’t the little boy have an ice cream sundae?

    1. A.
      Because he didn’t have enough money for one.
    2. B.
      Because he liked a plain dish of ice cream better.
    3. C.
      Because he wanted to have enough coins to leave a tip.
    4. D.
      Because he was told not to have such an expensive ice cream.
  2. 2.

    When the little boy ordered a plain dish of ice cream, the waitress looked ______.

    1. A.
      happy   
    2. B.
      surprised   
    3. C.
      impatient    
    4. D.
      ashamed
  3. 3.

    We infer that the waitress cried most probably because_____.

    1. A.
      she had never received a tip before
    2. B.
      she was touched by the little boy’s deed
    3. C.
      she knew the little boy wouldn’t come back again
    4. D.
      the boy was too generous
  4. 4.

    According to the last paragraph, what did the waitress regret?

    1. A.
      Not having offered the little boy an ice cream sundae.
    2. B.
      Not having asked the little boy for more money.
    3. C.
      Not having treated everybody the same.
    4. D.
      Not having treated the little boy well.
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