Whatever we may need to buy，we can use our credit cards．This is a change from the older days when we had to first check whether cards were accepted．Today，everybody, from retailers（零售商) to lenders，accepts credit cards．Attitudes towards credit cards have also changed a lot．People used to be

very careful of using their cards；but this is no longer the case. People today prefer to take out their cards as soon as they get to the cash counter．A swipe (刷卡) and a sign are all it takes，and you can walk home with the bill and all the things you buy．

   The credit card is much easier to carry than cash and it is not at all surprising that the former becomes the most preferred way of payment．A credit card takes up very little space in our wallets，and yet，it holds the power of a large sum of cash．Paying by credit cards is also a good way of keeping bills on where all of our money goes．  

   Moreover，it has become much easier to get credit cards these days．I constantly have cold callers calling up to offer me “great new credit card deals”．Salesmen occasionally walk into our office offering discounts if a group of people decide to sign up a certain kind of credit card plan at the same time．However，this can also cause a problem．Nowadays，we always run the

risk of getting some kinds of wastes．When the terms seem too good to be true，we should make sure that we always read the printed items carefully．Before signing for a credit card，it is necessary to know its advantages and disadvantages．The only way to deal with this is to do our homework, before we go credit card hunting．   

1.We learn from Paragraph 1 that      ．   

A．people can use credit cards anytime，anywhere   

B．people used to have to check up on credit cards   

C．people are more careful using credit cards nowadays  

D．people can take their goods home just by swiping their cards 

2.One of the main advantages of credit cards is that    ．

 A．they occupy less space compared with other modes of payment 

 B．they are more powerful than cash   

 C．they are easy to get，and save money   

 D．they help users keep track of what they spend on  

3.When signing for a credit card，people should     .

 A．ask for a discount  

 B．understand the dangers   

 C．read every word of the contract carefully  

 D．understand that the salesman is most likely to offer false information   

4.In the last sentence the writer tells us that      ．  

A．we should know the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards before using them  

B．we should finish work before going shopping with a credit card   

C．we should check which credit cards are accepted before using them 

D．we should make sure that our credit cards are real before using them

D

THE situation seemed hopeless．

From the day he started at my junior-high，Willard P.Franklin lived in his own world，shutting out his classmates and me, his teacher．My attempts at establishing a friendly relationship with him were met with complete indifference(冷淡)．Even a “Good Morning Willard” received only a very low grunt(咕哝)．I could see that his classmates got on no better Willard was completely a loner who seemed to have no desire or need to break his barrier(障碍)of silence．

Shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday，we received word of the annual Christmas collection of money for the less fortunate people in our school district．

“Christmas is a season of giving,” I told my students．“There are a few students in the school who might not have a happy holiday season．By contributing to our Christmas collection，you will help buy food，clothing and toys for these needy people．We start the collection tomorrow．”

When I called for the contributions the next day，I discovered that almost everyone had forgotten，except for Willard P. Franklin．The boy dug deep into his pants pockets as he walked up to my desk．Carefully, he dropped two quarters into the small container.

“I don’t need any milk for lunch,” he said very quietly. For a moment，just a moment, he smiled．Then he turned and walked back to his desk．

That night，after school．I took our meager contributions to the school principal(校长)．I couldn’t help sharing the incident that had taken place．

“I may be wrong，but I believe Willard might be getting ready to become a part of the world around him，”I told the principal．

“Yes, I believe it sounds hopeful．”he nodded．“And I think we might do well to have him share a bit of his world with us．I just received a list of the poor families in our school who most need help through the Christmas collection．Here, take a look at it．”

As I gazed down to read．I discovered Willard P. Franklin and his family were the top names on the list．

72. From the second paragraph, we can see that the teacher___________

A. established a friendly relationship with Willard

B. tried hard to pull Willard out of his own world

C. found Willard got on better with his classmates

D. was positive that Willard would gradually open his heart

73. What do we learn about the collection of money at Christmas?

A. It is intended for the poor families in their school district.

B. Everyone except Willard was willing to contribute to the Christmas collection.

C. Students were encouraged to buy food, clothing and toys for needy people.

D. It is collected every year to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

74. What does the underlined word 'meager' in Paragraph 7 mean?

A. Great.     B. Generous.      C. Huge.      D. Small

75. Which of the following can best describe Willard?

A. Poor but proud.        B. Lonely but loving.

C. Indifferent and sad.     D. Bright and hopeful.

Our “Mommy and Me” time began two years ago. My next-door neighbor and fellow mother, Christie, and I were out in our front yards, watching seven children of age 6 and under ride their bikes up and down. “I wish I could take one of my children out alone,” said Christie.

Then we worked out a plan: When Christie takes one of her children out, I’ll watch her other three. And when she watches two of mine, I’ll take someone out.

The children were extremely quick to accept the idea of “Mommy and Me” time. Christie’s daughter, McKenzie, went first. When she returned, the other children showered her with tons of questions. McKenzie was smiling broadly. Christie looked refreshed and happy. “She’s like a different child when there’s no one else around,” Christie shared with me quickly. With her mother all to herself, McKenzie didn’t have to make an effort to gain attention.

Just as Christie had noticed changes in McKenzie, I also discovered something different in each of my children during our alone times. For example, I am always surprised when my daughter, who is seldom close to me, holds my hand frequently. My stuttering（口吃的）son, Tom, doesn’t stutter once during our activities since he doesn’t have to struggle for a chance to speak. And the other son, Sam, who’s always a follower when around other children shines as a leader during our times together.

The “Mommy and Me” time allows us to be simply alone and away with each child ---talking, sharing, and laughing, which has been the biggest gain. Every child deserves（应得到）to be an only child at least once in a while.

64. What is the text mainly about?

   A. The experience of the only child being with mother.

   B. The advantage of spending time with one child at a time.

   C. The happy life of two families.

   D. The basic needs of children.

65. Right after McKenzie came back, the other children were _____________.

   A. happy        B. curious        C. regretful        D. friendly

66. What is one of the changes the author finds in her children?

   A. The daughter acts like a leader.         B. Sam holds her hand more often.

   C. The boys become better followers.      D. Tom has less difficulty in speaking.

67. The author seems to believe that ___________.

   A. having brothers and sisters is fun

   B. it’s tiring to look after three children

   C. every child needs parents’ full attention

   D. parents should watch others’ children

 Hello, Chicago. If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy(民主)，tonight is your answer.

……

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn’t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $ 5 and $ 10 and $ 20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy(冷漠), who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished(消失)from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn’t do this just to win an election. And I know you didn’t do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime—two wars, a planet in peril(危亡), the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

……

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

1. This passage is most probably taken from a (an)_______.

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

3.The purpose of the speaker is to do the following except______.

4.We can see from the passage that the speaker is a (an)_______person.

C

Why are so many coin banks shaped like pigs? Why not dogs or cats or elephants?

Coin banks weren't always made to look like pigs. In fact, the name "piggy bank" may have come from a kind of clay and not from the animal at all.

The history of the piggy bank goes back to the Middle ages. At that time in Western Europe, metals were expensive, so a cheap orange clay known as pygg was used for everyday items such as dishes and jars. In fact something made from pygg clay was often just called a pygg. The first piggy bank may well have been a pygg in which a person put a few extra pennies to buy a treat on market day.

People have always had a hobby of saving pennies, and using a pygg as a coin bank became common practice. Potters (陶工) began making jars specially for saving coins, and eventually these jars took a pig-like shape. Modeling a bank to look like a pig may have been influenced by the name of the clay. The earliest Roman coin bank ever found was decorated with a pig. Because it was considered as a valuable farm animal in many countries, the pig was an appropriate symbol of wealth and prosperity.

These early clay banks were fragile and easily broken. As time passed, mining became less expensive. Iron, copper, and silver gradually replaced pygg clay in the production of household items. Although pygg clay lost its popularity, the habit of saving pennies did not. Today piggy 'banks are made of every material imaginable.

The familiar saying "A penny saved is a penny earned" is as old as the clearly piggy banks. Marry a child received his or her first coin bank accompanied by this wise advice. The modern-day piggy bank may have changed in sine, shape, and spelling, but it saves our pennies just as well as the first pygg did countries ago.

64. In the Middle ages, people used pygg to make dishes because ________.

A. it was precious                               B. it stood for wealth

C. it had a beautiful color                            D. it was cheaper than other materials

65. What do we know about the pygg bank?

A. Its name might come from an animal.                   B. The first pygg bank looked like a pig.

C. It was designed for children at the beginning.         D. The early piggy banks were easily damaged.

66. Why did pygg day lose its popularity?

A. Other cheap and solid materials appeared.     B. It was inconvenient to carry it to the market.

C. It couldn't be made into other shapes.          D. People had run out of this kind of material.

67. In the last paragraph, the author intends to tell us ________.

A. piggy banks nowadays are not practical          B. piggy banks still play a part in our daily lives

C. piggy banks today are mainly made of iron

D. most children don' t have the habit of saving money