If you look for a book as a present for a child，you will be spoiled for choice even in a year there is no new Harry Potter． J．K Rowling’s wizard is not alone．The past decade has been a harvest for good children’s books, which has set off a large quantity of films and an increased sales of classics such as The Lord of the Rings．
Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children．According to statistics in 1997, 23% said they didn’t like reading at all．In 2003, 35% didn’t．And around 6% of the children leave primary school each year unable to read properly．
Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games．Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile．Either way, Chancellor Cordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class．In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most．
Reading Recovery is aimed at six year olds, who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher．An evaluation this year reported that children on the school made 20 months’ progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months’ progress ,and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age．
International research tends to find that when British children leave primary school, they read well, but read text often for fun than those elsewhere．Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can report lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success．According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage．

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is true of Paragraph 1?

    1. A.
      Many children’s books have been adapted from films．
    2. B.
      Many high-quality children’s books have been published．
    3. C.
      The sales of classics have led to the popularity of films．
    4. D.
      The sales of presents for children have increased．
  2. 2.

    Statistics suggested that____________．

    1. A.
      the number of top students increased with the use of computers
    2. B.
      a decreasing number of children showed interest in reading
    3. C.
      a minority of primary school children read properly
    4. D.
      a huge percentage of children read regularly
  3. 3.

    What do we know about Reading Recovery?

    1. A.
      An evaluation of it will be made sometime this year．
    2. B.
      Weak readers on the project were the most hardworking．
    3. C.
      It aims to train special teachers to help children with reading．
    4. D.
      Children on the project showed noticeable progress in reading．
  4. 4.

    Reading for fun is important because book-loving children _________．

    1. A.
      take greater advantage of the project
    2. B.
      show the potential to enjoy a long life
    3. C.
      are likely to succeed in their education．
    4. D.
      would make excellent future researchers
  5. 5.

    The aim of this text would probably be _________．

    1. A.
      to overcome primary school pupils reading difficulty．
    2. B.
      to encourage the publication of more children’s books
    3. C.
      to remind children of the importance of reading for fun
    4. D.
      to introduce a way to improve early children reading

Working hard for fun
No more pencils! No more books
No more teacher’s serious looks!
After a long period of study and work, the young Americans burst through the school doors singing.
But unfortunately, American students do very poorly and are among the worst students in the world. In the entire field of subjects---from geography and maths to science and general knowledge. American students are the poorest performers. Why? What’s the reason behind the scene? One problem lies in the fact that so little is expected from them. The standards of success are too low. Teachers are not willing to give out low grades and fail students. Besides, the existing negative results are few and mean little to students if their performance in study is poor . Of course some students realize that a high school diploma is a measure of success and will be important to get a job or get admitted into college. But they only have to go through the motions without really trying. They learn to get by with a minimum of effort.
In America, it is simply too easy for high school students to enter college. This forms a sharp contrast with the students in China and other Asian countries who have to suffer heavy pressure from parents, teachers and cruel social facts. Chinese students have to study hard for long years to pass the national college entrance examination which few Americans will take such trouble to enter to university. The majority American students know that they will be able to get into some college, so they do not really worry about it.
It turns out that American high school students are just too busy to find time to study. They spend almost no time on study while students from other countries spend four or five hours per day on homework. American students on the average give less than five hours per week to their studies. Learning and reading for future are not important to them. Many American never read. It is little wonder why Americans knows less than students from other countries.

  1. 1.

    Why are American students the poorest performers in the entire field of subjects?

    1. A.
      Because they are too busy to find time to study.
    2. B.
      Because they are too stupid and too lazy.
    3. C.
      Because they care little about their study.
    4. D.
      Because so little is required from them
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is Not true ?

    1. A.
      Most of American students spend less than five hours on their study every week.
    2. B.
      Few American students have trouble to enter college.
    3. C.
      American students can be admitted into college even without a high school diploma.
    4. D.
      It is hard for the students in China to enter college.
  3. 3.

    What seems to be the writer’s attitude towards American students?

    1. A.
      He probably thinks much should be expected from them.
    2. B.
      He is in favour of American students’ learning methods.
    3. C.
      He shows no interest in American students’ study.
    4. D.
      He thinks American students study hard.

Karen,grown up in a very traditional family in the western United States,maintained high moral(道德的) standards throughout her youth.In 1984,at the age of 23,she married Bill.They were blessed with two children,a boy and a girl.
By 1991 their love had deepened,and they were happy.Later that year,Bill developed a white spot on his tongue.He visited a doctor.
One day shortly after that,Bill called Karen to sit beside him.He said with tears in his eyes that he loved her and wanted to live forever with her.The doctor suspected that he had been infected with HIV,the virus that leads to AIDS.
The family was tested,Bill and Karen’s results were positive.Bill had become infected before he met Karen;then he passed the virus on to Karen.The children’s results were negative.Within three years,Bill was dead.“I don’t know how to express what it is like to watch the once handsome man you love and intend to live with forever dying slowly.I cried many nights.He died three months short of ten years of our marriage,”says Karen.Though a doctor told Karen that she would soon follow her husband into death,she is still alive.The infection has progressed to the early stages of AIDS.
Karen is but one of about 30 million people now living with HIV/AIDS,a figure larger than the combined populations of Australia,Ireland and Paraguay.According to one UN report,Africa has 21 million of these victims.By the turn of the century that number could reach   40  million and the disease will bring on the greatest disaster in human history.Of the world’s sexually active adults aged 15 to 49,1 in 100 has already been infected with HIV.Of these,only 1 in 10 realizes that he or she is infected.In some parts of Africa,25 percent of the adults are infected.
Since the beginning of the spread of AIDS in 1981,about 11.7 million people have died of it.It is roughly calculated that in 1997 alone,about 2.3 million people died of it.Nevertheless,there are fresh reasons for optimism in the battle against AIDS.During the past few years,there has been a drop in new AIDS cases in wealthy nations.In addition,promising drugs hold out hope of better health and longer life.

  1. 1.

    By telling the story of Karen,the author intends to______.

    1. A.
      warn people against high risk behaviors
    2. B.
      stress the importance of medical tests
    3. C.
      express sympathy for AIDS victims
    4. D.
      show the consequences of AIDS
  2. 2.

    The underlined part in Paragraph 1 most probably means “_______”.

    1. A.
      were lucky in having
    2. B.
      were asked to adopt
    3. C.
      regretted having
    4. D.
      gave birth to
  3. 3.

    Bill was suspected of being infected with HIV after______.

    1. A.
      he got married to Karen
    2. B.
      the family members were tested
    3. C.
      Karen persuaded him to see the doctor
    4. D.
      he found something wrong with his tongue
  4. 4.

    It can be concluded from the passage that______.

    1. A.
      promising drugs will soon stop AIDS
    2. B.
      the spread of AIDS could be controlled
    3. C.
      it is hopeless to win the battle against AIDS
    4. D.
      the death rate of AIDS patients has been reduced

How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia,and the Sahara lands of Mall further north,the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant,the desert cousin differs in many ways.Their bodies are smaller,to absorb less heat,and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces.They are taller,to reach higher branches.They have shorter tusks(象牙),and most importantly,longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and water-holes,and have a larger group of families.They drink only every 3-4 days,and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat,which is only used when badly needed.Desert elephants are careful feeders—they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches,and thus maintain what little food sources are available.Young elephants may even eat the dung(粪便) of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly.Desert elephants have sand baths,sometimes adding their own urine(尿液) to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet,it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

  1. 1.

    The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “_______”.

    1. A.
      remains in the African countries
    2. B.
      drinks 120 liters of water a day
    3. C.
      manages to live in desert areas
    4. D.
      eats 150 kilograms of food daily
  2. 2.

    Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they______.

    1. A.
      rarely ruin trees
    2. B.
      drink only every 3-4 days
    3. C.
      search for food in large groups
    4. D.
      protect food sources for their young
  3. 3.

    The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with______.

    1. A.
      stories and explanation
    2. B.
      facts and descriptions
    3. C.
      examples and conclusion
    4. D.
      evidence and argument
  4. 4.

    What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?

    1. A.
      Overheating the earth can be stopped.
    2. B.
      Not all animal species are so adaptable.
    3. C.
      The planet will become hotter and hotter.
    4. D.
      Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.

Zipped into a bag, it looks like a large umbrella. Unfolded, it goes along the street like any other bicycle.
It's the "A-bike", the brainchild (脑力劳动的产物) of British inventor Sir Clive Sinclair, who made history in the 1970s by developing the world's first pocket calculator. He described his new invention as "the world's smallest, lightest foldable bicycle".
"My original thought was that if you could have a bicycle that was dramatically lighter and more firm than the ones that exist today, it would change the way in which bicycles are used,"said Sinclair.
The mini-bike, showed in Singapore last week and set to go on sale worldwide in 2005 at a price of nearly US$300, is built for riders as heavy as 112 kilograms and is height-adjustable（可调整高度的）. It takes about 20 seconds to fold or unfold.
Its wheels are a quarter the size of those on a regular bicycle, but Sinclair promises a smooth ride for most cyclists. "You require no extra energy to ride the A-bike and it can go up to 15 miles per hour (24 kilometers per hour)," he said. Constructed mainly of plastic, the 5.5-kilogram bicycle folds into a package of less than 0.03 cubic meters （立方米）.
Sinclair also invented the first pocket TV in 1984 and the futuristic C5 electric tricycle in 1985. He said he hoped the bicycle would attract common citizens, officials, campers or anyone needing transport for a short trip and he said the next step for the A-bike was to add an electric motor in a few years.

  1. 1.

    The most important character of this kind of bike is its ________ .

    1. A.
      big size
    2. B.
      light weight
    3. C.
      beautiful appearance
    4. D.
      foldable structure
  2. 2.

    The wheels of a regular bicycle is ________ the size of this kind of bike.

    1. A.
      four times
    2. B.
      three times
    3. C.
      one-fourth
    4. D.
      one-third
  3. 3.

    This kind of new bike is mainly made of ________ .

    1. A.
      plastic
    2. B.
      packages
    3. C.
      bags
    4. D.
      metal
  4. 4.

    The best title of the text is ________ .

    1. A.
      World's smallest foldable bicycle arriving
    2. B.
      A new bike, a large umbrella
    3. C.
      A foldable bike, a large bag
    4. D.
      A great inventor of a new bike
  5. 5.

    This kind of new bike hasn't been fixed with ________ .

    1. A.
      a wheel
    2. B.
      an electric motor
    3. C.
      pedal
    4. D.
      a hand

The wheel was one of man’s first inventions and yet it has also proved one of the most useful. So wide and varied are the uses of the wheels, in machines and vehicles of all kinds, that it is difficult to imagine what the world would be like without them. It is surprising to hear it said, therefore, that the wheel’s importance will perhaps be greatly reduced by the end of the century by an invention so new as to be still unnamed.
The invention is a machine the floats above any surface on a cushion of air. The cushion is formed when air is blown into this saucer, the machine rises to a height that may vary from a few inches to a few feet.
Industry is already using one form of the inversion to deal with heavy loads. It can lift them. with ease and since there are no wheels, and therefore no friction , they can be put into motion with the touch of a finger.
The new invention, however , is having a great effect on transport, Not only does it make expensive road systems unnecessary, but it enables vehicles to travel well over land or water. This unique to reach most destinations has given rise to the prediction that wheeled vehicles may be uncommon at the end the century as aeroplanes were at the beginning.

  1. 1.

    The first paragraph tells us that______.

    1. A.
      the wheel was man’s earliest invention.
    2. B.
      the wheel’s usefulness has yet to be proved.
    3. C.
      wide wheels have a variety of important uses.
    4. D.
      a new invention may make wheels less important.
  2. 2.

    The phrase “with the touch of a finger” in the third paragraph means______.

    1. A.
      without difficulty                  
    2. B.
      by electricity .
    3. C.
      without friction                    
    4. D.
      by hand.
  3. 3.

    The passage tells us that the new invention __________.

    1. A.
      is more important for industry than for transport.
    2. B.
      will one day be used instead of aeroplanes.
    3. C.
      makes it possible to travel without using roads.
    4. D.
      will replace wheeled vehicles using roads.
  4. 4.

    According to the passage, the new invention _______.

    1. A.
      will soon get a name                       
    2. B.
      can go almost anywhere
    3. C.
      is lighter than air                            
    4. D.
      was uncommon a century ago

Tight-lipped elders used to say, "It's not what you want in this world, but what you get."
Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things.
You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living.If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served.
Similarly, If you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself.In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services.
This account of yourself is actually a general description of your working life and should include education, experience and references.Such an account is valuable.It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews.While talking to you, your could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications will pay him to employ you and your abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.
When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something tangible to sell.Then you are ready to look for a job.Get all the possible information about your could-be job.Make inquiries about the details concerning the job and the firm.Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment.Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the position you wish for, and keep in mind: Obtaining a job is your job now.

  1. 1.

    What do the elders mean when they say, “It’s not what you want in this world, but what you get.”?

    1. A.
      You’ll certainly get what you want.
    2. B.
      It’s no use dreaming.
    3. C.
      You should be dissatisfied with what you have.
    4. D.
      It’s essential to set a goal for yourself.
  2. 2.

    A blueprint made before inviting a friend to dinner is used in this passage as ________.

    1. A.
      an illustration of how to write an application for a job
    2. B.
      an indication of how to obtain a good job
    3. C.
      a guideline for job description
    4. D.
      a principle for job evaluation
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, one must write an account of himself before starting to find a job because ________.

    1. A.
      that is the first step to please the employer
    2. B.
      that is the requirement of the employer
    3. C.
      it enables him to know when to sell his services
    4. D.
      it makes him become clearly aware of himself
  4. 4.

    When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something______.

    1. A.
      specific to offer
    2. B.
      imaginary to provide
    3. C.
      precious to supply
    4. D.
      desirable to present

What Is Natural Medicine
Natural Medicine is to use the natural environment, the nature of the material itself to cure diseases and restore the health. It involves bettering one’s breathing way, sunbathing, improving one’s diets and so on, which play an important part in our healthcare.
Start a Rewarding Career Today
The Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural Medicine provides you with Nationally Recognized natural medicine courses that can be studied in the comfort of your own home, or at our Brisbane campus in the heart of Stones Corner. AIAS College of Natural Medicine has been providing accredited (官方认可的) natural health courses for more than 20 years, and offers accredited certificate, diploma and advanced diploma level natural medicine, beauty and massage (按摩) courses.
Why Study at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences
With over 36 years of specialized training and 120 courses, our Natural Medicine College is Australia’s longest running and most sought after training provider for Natural Medicine Education. Our state of the art facilities, highly experienced instructors and friendly support staff make us the first choice for Distance Education and On-campus study.
Studying at Home
All of our courses are available to study at home. We provide all the material and support you will need to successfully complete your course.
Benefits of Studying at Home
●Work at your own pace.
●No need to travel or relocate closer to a campus.
●No interruption to your existing commitments.
●You are still in full contact with the college via Telephone, Email and Post, so you won’t be out of touch with the latest training techniques.

  1. 1.

    You can learn how to ______ at the Australian Institute of Applied Sciences College of Natural
    Medicine.

    1. A.
      apply science to our life                        
    2. B.
      operate on various patients
    3. C.
      adjust one’s diet or breath                     
    4. D.
      look after mentally-ill people
  2. 2.

    One of the reasons for your choice of going to the college is that _______.

    1. A.
      it is the oldest college of this type in Australia
    2. B.
      it offers more courses than any other college
    3. C.
      you may find the best art facilities there
    4. D.
      you will get accredited certificate or diploma
  3. 3.

    If you take the courses at home, you are more likely to _______.

    1. A.
      focus on your own interests             
    2. B.
      adjust your study schedules
    3. C.
      get any help from instructors           
    4. D.
      keep up with new techniques

Specialists say it is not easy to get used to life in a new culture. “Culture shock” is the term these specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. There are three stages of culture shock, say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers begin to adjust to their surroundings and, as a result, enjoy their life more.
There are some obvious factors（因素）in culture shock. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems—the telephones, post office, or transportation—may be difficult to work out. The simplest things seem to be big problems. The language may be difficult.
Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their own community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without any identity. They have to build a new self-image.
Culture shock gives rise to a feeling of disorientation（迷失方向）. This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create an escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience — these are the long-term solutions to the problem of culture shock.

  1. 1.

    When people move to a new country, they _______.

    1. A.
      will get used to their new surroundings with difficulty
    2. B.
      have well prepared for the new surroundings
    3. C.
      will get used to the culture of the country quickly
    4. D.
      will never be familiar with the culture of the country
  2. 2.

    According to the passage, factors that give rise to culture shock include all of the following except __________.

    1. A.
      language communication                         
    2. B.
      weather conditions and customs
    3. C.
      public service systems                                  
    4. D.
      homesickness
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _______.

    1. A.
      the fewer difficulties you may have abroad     
    2. B.
      the more difficulties you may have abroad
    3. C.
      the more money you will earn abroad          
    4. D.
      the less homesick you may feel abroad
  4. 4.

    When people are homesick, they tend to ______.

    1. A.
      find some people to talk to                                  
    2. B.
      go outside to have a walk
    3. C.
      visit their friends far away                                  
    4. D.
      stay indoors all the time
  5. 5.

    The writer tells us that the best way to overcome culture shock is to ______.

    1. A.
      protect ourselves from unfamiliar environment    
    2. B.
      develop a strange sense of self-protection
    3. C.
      get familiar with new culture                            
    4. D.
      return to our own country

In 2008, the main candidates（候选人）for President each used this expression: “You can put lipstick（口红）on a pig, but it is still a pig.” This means that it is a waste of time to change something from ugly or unpleasant–looking to beautiful.
There are other expressions about improving a pig’s appearance, like this one: “A hog in a silk waistcoat is still a hog.” Hogs are similar to pigs, only bigger. Americans use many other expressions about pigs, hogs and female hogs called sows, like this one, “You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” This means you cannot create something valuable from something that has no value. Then there is the expression “Cast pearls before swine（猪）.” That means wasting something valuable on someone who will not be thankful or care about it.
Hogs, which are very large animals, take up a lot of space but people should not take up more than their share. If one of your children is taking up too much space sitting in front of the television, other children might say: “Do not hog the couch.” And a road hog is a driver who uses more than his share of the road. Such a driver increases dangers for other drivers.
Pig terms are also used in American politics. Farmers mark their pig’s ears to identify them. In politics, earmarks are money set aside for projects in a congressman’s home state.
In many areas, pigs provide ham, bacon and other pork products to eat. All Americans want to be able to bring home the bacon because they want to earn enough money to provide the necessities of life. Experts say this term was first used in the 1920s. But it is believed to come from the much older game of catching a greased（涂了油的）pig. This was a popular event at country fairs in which the winner was awarded the pig.

  1. 1.

    The author writes this passage mainly to _________.

    1. A.
      express his support for the Presidential Election
    2. B.
      introduce some expressions used in Americans’ daily life
    3. C.
      criticize the bad influence caused by expressions about pigs
    4. D.
      discuss some problems caused by expressions about pigs
  2. 2.

    If you give a good book to a person who can’t read, which of the following is the most suitable to describe it?

    1. A.
      Cast pearls before swine.
    2. B.
      You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig.
    3. C.
      A hog in a silk waistcoat is still a hog.
    4. D.
      You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
  3. 3.

    A driver who takes up too much space on the road is often referred to as _________.

    1. A.
      a greased pig                                        
    2. B.
      a couch hog
    3. C.
      a road hog                                            
    4. D.
      a road earmark
  4. 4.

    How many words which refer to the same animal are mentioned in this passage?

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

    Which of the following expressions are similar to “You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”?

    1. A.
      When pigs fly!                                           
    2. B.
      To eat like a pig
    3. C.
      To sell a pig in a pork.                                
    4. D.
      To sweat like a pig.
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