Sensible people don’t think it is_______ to buy things which are not needed even at a low price.

A. worth    B. worthy    C. worthless  D. worthwhile

Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers. Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when a short television program can tell you all that you want to know?

   Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbacks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book for ever and read it many times.

   Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too, because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books., science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.

It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

   A. TV programs are a chief provider of knowledge

B. cinemas are the best choice in getting information

   C. reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun   

D. newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself

What does the sentences “Television has not killed reading, however ” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?

   A. People only need reading, though.              B. Reading is still necessary today.

   C. Reading is more fun than television.     D. Watching television doesn’t help reading.

What can we learn from the passage?

   A. Fewer and fewer people will buy books. 

B. A good dictionary should be kept in every home.

   C. Books with hard covers sell better than paperbooks.

   D. More people like TV programs about famous men.

Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening. 

One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one’s own. 

Then, in the country one can rest from the noise and hurry of the town. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one’s free time digging, planting, watering and doing the hundred and one other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature. 

Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional walk in one of the parks and a fortnight’s (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night. 

1. Which of the following statements is NOT true? 

A. People who like country things prefer to live outside the city. 

B. People who work in London prefer to live in the country. 

C. Because of certain disadvantages of living outside London, some people who work in London prefer to live inside London. 

D. Because of certain advantages of living outside London, many people who work in London prefer to live outside London. 

2.One can use the same money for ________ to buy a little house with a garden in the country.

A. getting a small flat with a garden            B. having a small flat with a garden

C. renting a small flat without a garden        D. buying a small flat without a garden

3.When the flowers and vegetables in the garden come up, those _______ have the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature. 

A. who live in the country                        

B. who have spent time working in the garden

C. who have a garden of their own                    

D. who have been digging, planting and watering

4. People who think happiness lies in the town would feel that _______ if they had to live it outside London. 

A. their life was meaningless              B. their life was invaluable

C. they didn’t deserve a happy life      D. they were not worthy of their happy life

5.The underlined word “rest” in the last paragraph refers to ________.

A. the rest time                                         B. the rest people

C. the rest of the country                                D. the rest of the parks and of the sea

About 97% of the world’s water is salty and is found in our oceans and seas. But, as we can’t drink sea water, how can it be important?

Every part of our seas and oceans contains an amazing number of animals and fish that live at different ocean depths. Most of the different species of animals and fish depend on simple plants for their food. These simple plants called algae (海藻) drift near the surface of the ocean and use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. In fact, algae produce over half of the oxygen people breathe. How important sea water is!

Each plant or animal in our seas and oceans is an important link in a food chain. The algae are eaten in large amounts by microscopic animals, which are in turn consumed by larger animals. These food chains are delicately balanced.

The bad news about the food chains in the oceans is that they are under threat because of man. People once thought that the oceans were so big that it didn’t matter if we dumped rubbish into them or caught huge quantities of fish and whales for food. But we now know this is not true and fish stocks in the oceans have started to drop.

Thankfully, the world is taking steps to protect the future of our oceans by introducing international agreements to protect marine habitats. Most countries have introduced fishing restrictions to protect fish stocks in the oceans and new techniques are being pioneered to cope with pollution. Finally, the importance of protecting oceans is being made known to more people. This is just the beginning of a long process to protect the oceans for our future. We depend on the oceans for fish which are an important part of the human diet. How important sea water is! 

46. Which of the following is the proper order of the food chain?

A. small animals→algae→microscopic animals→large animals→man

B. algae→microscopic animals→large animals→larger animals→man

C. small animals→algae→large animals→microscopic animals→man

D. microscopic animals→algae→large animals →larger animals→man

47. People used to think that the rubbish thrown into the sea ________.

A. wouldn’t harm the fish in the sea   B. would change the balance of the food chain

C. would be broken down in the sea   D. wouldn’t do much harm to the sea

48. From the passage, we learn that _________. 

A. most fish and sea animals live at the surface of the seas

B. it is very difficult to break the balance of a food chain

C. excessive fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock

D. it won’t be long before the problems concerning oceans will be solved

49. Which of the following is NOT a way being used to protect oceans?

A. The use of international agreements.   

B. Forbidding fishing to protect fish stocks.

C. The use of new techniques.          

D. Raising people’s awareness of the need to protect oceans.

50. What would be the best title of the passage?

A. The importance of seawater.

B. Life in the oceans.

C. How to protect food chains.

D. How to deal with seawater pollution.

It’s obviously true that not all people like to work, but everyone likes to play. All over the world, men and women, young and old, enjoy recreational activities. So, beyond doubt, entertainment plays an important role in our daily lives. In modern society, there is a broad range of recreational activities—from online computer games to lovely picnics—that meet the needs of different groups of people. Therefore, it won’t be difficult for you to find some recreation to refresh your body and mind.

Recreational activities have a number of benefits, especially in this highly competitive society. They can help us relax, have fun and relieve stress. In fact, I believe there is no better way to get exercise and relieve stress than to take an active part in recreational activities. But can recreational activities do us harm? Of course they can. Let’s take TV as an example. There is no denying that TV offers access to the latest news and to useful knowledge, while providing us with entertainment. However, if we spend too much time watching TV, it will numb our mind and destroy our creativity, which is exactly the opposite of what we really want. What’s more, TV can also show some pornographic programs, which are absolutely unsuitable for us young students. So, just as the old saying goes, every coin has two sides, and watching TV is no exception.

As a student, I think recreational activities are very important for us. But this doesn’t mean we should take up whatever recreational activities are available. Instead, we should strike a balance between work and rest. We should have our own judgment, which means knowing what is good for us and what is not. And we should exercise self-control so as not to become addicted to them. I believe moderate recreational activity will benefit us in many ways and help us live a full, meaningful life.

Why does entertainment play an important role in people’s daily lives?

A. Because online computer games are popular with people.

B. Because entertainment can help people have fun instead of relieving stress.

C. Because people of all ages enjoy recreational activities.

D. Because it is easy and convenient to take up any recreational activity.

Which of the following statements is not counted as the disadvantage of TV?

A. People are addicted to watching TV.

B. TV provides people with the latest news.

C. Some programs are unsuitable for young students.

D. Spending too much time on it may destroy people’s creativity

In the author’s opinion, what is the proper attitude to recreational activities?

A. Spending as much time as we like watching TV.

B. Taking part in any recreational activities available.

C. Learning to control ourselves about entertainment.

D. Benefiting us by taking part in different activities.