Stepfamilies are commonplace in the United States and their number continues to grow．While stepfamilies differ widely in their make-up， they all consist of a parenting couple and children， one or more of whom is of a previous union．Such combinations of his kids， her kids， and then， possibly， kids of the new union make for complicated and often trying difficulties， more challenging than those of traditional families．

       Since stepfamilies involve more people and， consequently， more potential problems from the start than do childless new marriage， it is wise for the couple to do some careful planning prior to （＝before） marriage．Not only do the prospective（预期的） marital partners need agreement about their own carriers， life goals， finance and special interests， they must also prepare for new relationship with their children and attempt to accommodate their individual needs and feelings．Furthermore， there are often the rights of other relatives to consider．

       As for any family， the basic ingredient（成分） of a successful stepfamily are affection， kindness and mutual（相互的） respect．However， love alone is not enough．Certainly love is the cornerstone upon which the foundation of any family is built， but there are also many other important ingredients involved in building a successful stepfamily．

       Surveys reveal that successful families regard the ability to communicate openly as the most important factor in their success．Communication is what keeps families on track and functioning as a unit．Although healthy communication is easier for some people than for others， this skill can be learned and improved．Healthy communication involves speaking clearly and listening carefully．

       By their very nature， stepfamilies often are complicated by past events that give rise to ambivalent（矛盾的） loyalties， lingering（持久的） hurts， fears， feelings of guilt and unrealistic dreams．The difficulties that arise within the stepfamilies are human and understandable．However， there are ways to confront（面临） and resolve them．For example， support groups and professional counselors（法律顾问） are available in most communities to provide help and guidance when communications stopped and problems seem overwhelming（压倒性的）．

       Planning and building a stepfamily is not a responsibility to take lightly．It can be a very trying and， at times， seemingly impossible effort．Many potential troubles can arise and threaten to destroy the stepfamily．Nevertheless， meeting and mastering these special challenges can bring unexpected satisfactions and rewarding depths of family closeness and affection．

According to the passage， there are 　　　　 in the United States．

       A．no stepfamilies

       B．more stepfamilies than ever before

       C．fewer stepfamilies than ever before

       D．fewer stepfamilies than traditional ones

Which of the following can help avoid the potential problems arising in a stepfamily？

       A．The pursuit of the same careers．

       B．Professional interventions（干涉）．

       C．The development of special interests．

       D．Careful planning before the marriage．

Many people believe that 　　　　 contributes most to the building of a successful stepfamily．

       A．everlasting loyalties

       B．open communication

       C．kindness and mutual respect

       D．persistent（持久稳固的） affection

It is natural for a stepfamily to be 　　　　．

       A．unrealistic

       B．complicated

       C．ambivalent

       D．guilty

According to the author， planning and building a stepfamily is 　　　　．

       A．impossible

       B．satisfying and rewarding

       C．discouraging and frustrating

       D．a difficult and trying experience

D
　　BBC(May 11,2008) - Edinburgh Zoo makes plans to bring a pair of giant pandas from China to Scotland.Zoo representatives recently returned from China,where they signed a letter of intent(意向书) making a promise to bring giant pandas to Edinburgh.
　　It's been suggested that a breeding pair should be on loan(暂借) to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland(RZSS) for 10 years.It is hoped that they would give birth to cubs during that time.Edinburgh Zoo would be only the eighth Zoo in the Western hemisphere(半球) to care for the species if the project goes ahead.
　　Zoo chiefs said that looking after the endangered animals could benefit conservation.David Windmill,chief executive of RZSS,said,"Working with giant pandas means so much more to us than introducing a new species to our collection.It's an opportunity to work on a global level with other conservationists to gain a better understanding of giant pandas,the threats they face,and what we can do to ensure their survival."
　　At present there're only around 1,500 giant pandas in the wild.RZSS has been working on the project for almost a year,and hopes to have giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo by 2009 ,the year of the society's centenary(一百周年纪念日).
　　Mr.Windmil said that the project had received strong support from the UK and the Scottish government and that this must continue if the zoo was to reach an agreement with the Chinese.As part of the proposed agreement with the Chinese government,Edinburgh Zoo will collaborate(合作) on research projects benefiting conservation in the wild.
　　RZSS will also provide considerable money to support giant panda conservation projects in the wild.Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China and feed almost only on bamboo,which makes up 99% of their diet.
　　68.What is the best title for the passage?
　　　A.Edingburgh Zoo does research into giant pandas.
　　　B.Giant pandas live happy at Edinburgh Zoo.
　　　C.Edinburgh Zoo expects giant pandas from China.
　　　D.Scotland supports giant panda conservation.
　　69.If Edingburgh Zoo can borrow giant pandas,what will happen?
　　　A.RZSS will have a better understanding of living habits of giant pandas.
　　　B.RZSS will celebrate its centenary in 2009.
　　　C.Scotland will be the eighth country to have giant pandas.
　　　D.Edinburgh Zoo will be the eighth zoo to have giant pandas in the world.
　　70.At present what seems to be the key factor for giant pandas to successfully go to Edinburgh Zoo?
　　　A.RZSS's attitude.
　　　B.The Scottish government's attitude.
　　　C.Edinburgh Zoo's support.
　　　D.The Chinese government's attitude.

Back in my country, when I was a child, I used to go to “market day” with my mother. One day each week, farmers used to ___1___ their fruit and vegetables into the city. They ___2___ one street to all cars, and the farmers set up tables for their ___3___. This outdoor market was a great place to ___4___. Everything was fresher than produce in grocery stores because the farmers brought it in ___5___ after the harvest. My mother and I always got there early in the morning to get the ___6___ produce.

The outdoor market was a wonderful adventure for a small child, ___7___ was like a festival — full of colors and ___8___. There are red tomatoes, yellow lemons, green lettuce, peppers, grapes, onions. The farmers did their own ___9___. They all shouted loudly for ___10___ to buy their produce. “Come and buy my beautiful oranges! They’re juicy and delicious and full of vitamins to ___11___ your children healthy and strong!”

Everyone used to ___12___ with the farmers over the ___13___ of their produce. It was like a wonderful drama in a theatre; the buyers and sellers were the “___14___” in this drama. My mother was an ___15___ at this. First, she picked the freshest, most attractive tomatoes, for example. Then she asked the price. The seller told her.

“What?” she said. She looked very surprised. “ So ___16___?”

The seller looked terribly ___17___. “My dear lady!” he replied. “I’m a poor, ___18___ farmer. These are the cheapest tomatoes on the market!”

They always argued for several minutes before agreeing ___19___ a price. My mother took her tomatoes and left. Both buyer and seller were ___20___. The drama was over.

1. A. carry      B. take　　　 C. bring         D. fetch

2. A. opened　       B. closed　　 C. started　　 D. stopped

3. A. produce　     B. goods　　　     C. food　　   D. product

4. A. buy B. sell　　　　     C. bargain　　      D. shop

5. A. hurriedly       B. immediately      C. directly      D. straightly

6. A. best　　 B. finest　　  C. freshest      D. cheapest

7. A. who　    B. that　　　　     C. which　　 D. what

8. A. voices    B. noises　　 C. sounds　    D. accent

9. A. shopping       B. business　　     C. shouting　　     D. advertising

10. A. customers    B. producers　       C. themselves　     D. sellers

11. A. keep　　     B. let      C. except D. make

12. A. argue    B. talk　　　 C. discuss　　       D. speak

13. A. order    B. price　　　      C. quality　    D. form

14. A. viewers B. listeners　  C. actors  D. directors

15. A. actress　      B. inventor　  C. advancer　 D. expert

16. A. wonderful    B. exciting　　      C. cheap　　　     D. expensive

17. A. injured　     B. hurt　　    C. damaged　 D. wounded

18. A. excellent      B. fair　　　 C. honest　　 D. easy

19. A. with     B. to　　　    C. in　　　　       D. on

20. A. disappointed B. encouraged C. satisfied     D. tired

The big- eyed girl came in, ________ a cake with two ________ candles on it.

　　A. bring; lit　　　　　　　　　　　B. brought; lighted

　　C. carrying; lighted　　　　　　　　D. taking; lighting

Good advice is like medicine for the soul. What kind of 1　 have you recently received? Who do you go to got advice? Do you have a mentor(顾问)? A mentor is a　 2　 adviser.
　 Parents, teacher and friends are often great 　 3 .Sports figures, public officials can also be good 　4　 of mentors, but a person with whim you are a personal relationship will most likely be able to 　5 you the best advice.
　 Mentors teach things that seem to be 　6　 sense. Proverbs are wise old sayings that are common in every language and　 7　 , and can sometimes be　 8 for a nonnative to understand. For example, all that　 9　 is not gold(some things are not as 　　10 as they appear ).
　 Advice 11 in newspapers and magazines are another way to 12　 advice.
　 Talk shows on radio and television are also very popular. Americans and Canadians love to 　　 13　 themselves. Many people are not　 14 to ask for help or　 15 about a problem in order to receive advice. People generally will 16　 their own experience to 17 their friends. Overcoming a difficult situation is 18　 respecter in North America. People love to heat motivational (积极的) stories and 19　 . One proverb, a friend in need is a friend indeed, shares the concept that a true friend will help you out in times of 　 20　 .

1. A. success　　　　 　　　 　　　 B. measure　　　 　　　　　 C. position　　　　 　　　 D. advice

2. A. devoted　　　 　　　 B. united　　　　　 　　　　 C. trusted　　　　　 　　　　 D. expected

3. A. interviewers　 　　 B. mentors　　　　 　　　　　 C. followers　　　 　　　　　 D. competitors

4. A. examples　　　 　　　 B. mentors　　　　 　　　　　 C. manners　　　 　　　　　 D. services

5. A. consider　　　 　　　 B. exchange　　　 　　　　　　 C. adapt　　　　　 　　　　 D. offer

6. A. present　　　　 　　　 B. attractive　　　 　 　　　 C. common　　　 　　　　　 D. particular

7. A. experience　 　　 　　　 B. difference　　　 　　 　　　 C. culture　　　　　 　　　　 D. behavior

8. A. simple　　　　　 　　 　　　 B. difficult　　　　 　 　　　 C. natural　　　　　 　　　 　　　 D. brief

9. A. glitters B. packages C. acts D. forces

10. A. different　　　 B. negative　　　　 　 　　　 C. primary　　　　 　　　　　 D. valuable

11. A. columns　　 　 　　　 B. materials　　　　 　 　　　 C. wonders　　　 　　　　　 D. add

12. A. reduce　　　 　　　 B. add　　　　　　　 　　　　　 C. keep　　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. get

13. A. enjoy　　　　 　　　 B. teacher　　　　　 　　　 C. express　　　　 　　　　 D. defeat

14. A. brave　　　　 　　　 B. afraid　　　　　　 　　 　　　 C. honest　　　　　 　　　 D. lucky

15. A. talk　　　　　 　　　 　　　 B bring.　　　　　　　 　　 　　　 C. care　　　　　　　 　　　　　　 D. look

16. A. remind　　　　 　　　 B. suggest　　　　 　　　　 C. clone　　　　　 　　　　　 D. share

17. A. lead to　　　　 　　　 B. set free　　　　 　　　　 C. help out　　 　　　　 D. take over　　　　

18. A. originally　　 B. highly　　　　　 　　　　 C. equally　　　 　　　　　　 D. closely　　　

19. A. encouragementB. sadness　 　　　　 　　　 C. movement　 　　　　 D. adventure　　　

20. A. happiness　 　　 　　　 B. trouble　　　　　 　　　　 C. excitement　 　　　　 D. nature