A recent report has shown that people in the United States have experienced a revolution．This revolution is about the people’s attitude toward the work week and the weekend．Throughout the years, people have traditionally regarded Sunday as the beginning of the week．Now, this is changing.

     Although some calendars today still mark the beginning of the week Sunday, more and more people in the United States are coming to take Monday as the first day of the week．They feel that Saturday and Sunday together make the weekend, because they make up of the two-day period during which people don’t have to work.

    In fact, the word “weekend’ did not even exist in the English language until about the middle of the nineteenth century．In England, at that time, Saturday afternoons had just been added to Sundays and holidays as a time set aside for workers to have time off from their jobs．From then on, people had one and a half days, Saturday afternoon and Sunday, free from work each week: this reform became common in the United States in the 1920s.

However, there came the great depression in 1930s, and there was not so much work to do throughout the country．The work week was therefore shortened, and the weekend expanded from one and a half days to two full days, Saturday and Sunday.

Some people thought that this trend （趋势） of having fewer work days would continue, They  felt that the increasing use of automation （自动化） in many parts of life would finally lead to further shortening of the work week, which, they said, might one day decrease to four days, or ever fewer．However, so far this has never happened, and the work week seems to have become fixed at 40 hours made up of five 8-hour days．Yet some people are even talking about adding Monday to the weekend．Do you think this will ever happen?

1．What does the author mainly discuss in the passage?

A．Attitudes toward employment.                      B．Attitudes toward pleasure activities.

C．Offering job chances.                                  D．The development of the weekend.

2．According to the passage, what is changing in the way people think about the week?

A．Which days people should work.                  B．How the week is divided into days.

C．Which day begins the week.                        D．How many weeks there are in a month.

3．What does the author imply about the work week in England in the early 1800s?

A．It was six days long.                                       B．It didn’t include Saturday afternoon.

C．It always included at least one holiday.          D．It didn’t allow the workers time off.

4．According to the passage what effect did some people think the increasing use of automation would have?

A．It would make the work day longer.

B．It would allow people to work on the weekend.

C．It would make pleasure activities expensive.

D．It would create much more free time.

D
Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research.
A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need. Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don’t have to have. Instead, recession-hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health.
Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise.
The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need.
Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties — how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children. Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough.
Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in.
Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television. Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost.
71. It can be inferred that ______________.
A. a week or more holiday is considered beyond many families’ reach
B. children hardly ever need fashionable clothes and lots of toys
C. what a family should have is basic things that they must have
D. annual holidays were once considered necessary and vital
72. In the opinion of most parents, _____________.
A. families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship
B. day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences
C. their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties
D. a week’s holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis
73. Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP?
A. They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year.
B. They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly.
C. They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties.
D. They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable.
74. We can conclude from the last paragraph____________.
A. being able to share experiences is important for families
B. a family needs at least a week away on holiday each year
C. a family home should have a comfortable area to watch TV
D. going on outings and overnight trips is wasting time for families
75. What does the author mainly discuss in the text?
A. Cycling is very important for children’s health.
B. Family holidays once a year have become a luxury.
C. It is vital for parents to eat together with children.
D. Parents are concerned with children’s future.

下面是一篇应用文及其应用场合的信息，请阅读下列应用文和相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。

A.      Activity holidays

For mums, dads and kids. Canoeing, pony trekking, rock climbing and general fun for all. Center based in pleasant surroundings.

B.      Free Holiday in Canada

   Campus for youngsters in Canada requires qualified nurses and teachers or students for National holiday. Return flight paid, free accommodation and pocket money plus a week’s free time.

C.      Cricket and football holidays

Coaching offered at coastal center. Become expert with our friendly and capable instructors. Satisfaction guaranteed!

D.     Language Holidays in family

   Educational visits for school children this holiday. Some courses in Rome and Milan. Accommodation with an Italian family, hiking and activities. This season’s brochure now available.

E.      Staffordshire’s Vale of Trent

    Warm and romantic holiday in peaceful and picturesque surroundings. Mini- guide and farmhouse accommodation.

F.      Scotts castle holidays

Established in 1985 and based in Edinburgh, Scotts Castle Holidays can assist with family or group holidays, weekend break, honeymoons, holiday bookings, conferences, filming locations, family occasions, wedding and any request that involves venues in Scotland.

请阅读下列五个人的想法或计划，然后为他们匹配最佳的国庆节活动。

1. The Smiths are going to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. They are looking for a holiday in which they can enjoy beautiful scenery and a thorough rest.

2. Stephen wants to develop his sports skills under some professional guidance. He also expects to learn teamwork and co-operation through physical training.

3. Susan is a teacher. She is planning a holiday abroad this summer. The holiday attracts her because she can get paid for her service while enjoying leisure time abroad.

4. Mrs White decides to go vacation with her husband and two middle school sons. She is looking for a holiday specially designed for a family and offers unusual physically active activities.

5. John is looking for a holiday for his daughter Lily. He expects Lily to gain some academic improvement while visiting some beautiful foreign cities.

第二节：信息匹配（共5小题，每小题2分，满分10分）

下面是一篇应用文及其应用场合的信息，请阅读下列应用文和相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。最后将答案涂在答题卡的相应序号处. 注意: 请同时涂A,B 表示E; 同时涂C,D表示F.

Activity holidays

For mums, dads and kids. Canoeing, pony trekking, rock climbing and general fun for all. Center based in pleasant surroundings.

Free Holiday in Canada

   Campus for youngsters in Canada requires qualified nurses and teachers or students for National holiday. Return flight paid, free accommodation and pocket money plus a week’s free time.

Cricket and football holidays

Coaching offered at coastal center. Become expert with our friendly and capable instructors. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Language Holidays in family

   Educational visits for school children this holiday. Some courses in Rome and Milan. Accommodation with an Italian family, hiking and activities. This season’s brochure now available.

Staffordshire’s Vale of Trent

    Warm and romantic holiday in peaceful and picturesque surroundings. Mini- guide and farmhouse accommodation.

Scotts castle holidays

Established in 1985 and based in Edinburgh, Scotts Castle Holidays can assist with family or group holidays, weekend break, honeymoons, holiday bookings, conferences, filming locations, family occasions, wedding and any request that involves venues in Scotland.

请阅读下列五个人的想法或计划，然后为他们匹配最佳的国庆节活动。

66. The Smiths are going to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. They are looking for a holiday in which they can enjoy beautiful scenery and a thorough rest.

67.Stephen wants to develop his sports skills under some professional guidance. He also expects to learn teamwork and co-operation through physical training.

68.Susan is a teacher. She is planning a holiday abroad this summer. The holiday attracts her because she can get paid for her service while enjoying leisure time abroad.

69.Mrs White decides to go vacation with her husband and two middle school sons. She is looking for a holiday specially designed for a family and offers unusual physically active activities.

70. John is looking for a holiday for his daughter Lily. He expects Lily to gain some academic improvement while visiting some beautiful foreign cities.