A report by the Consumer Electronics Association says electronics are among the most popular gifts being bought this holiday season. 

    Jim Barry is a spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the CEA study found that electronics represent three of the top five things on its "holiday gift wish list" this year.

JIM BARRY: "Notebook computers are at the top, followed by iPads and then e-readers. IPad is a touch-screen tablet computer and that's really the big player in that category."

The computer company Apple began selling its small, touch-screen computers in April.   People use the touch-screen computers to surf the Web, write e-mails, watch movies and read books. Since the iPad's release earlier this year, several other companies have come out with their own tablet computers just in time for Christmas.

A report from the e-Marketer research group predicts that worldwide, tablet sales will reach more than eighty-one million in two thousand twelve. Still, Jim Barry says these devices are facing tough competition this year from another Christmas favorite.

JIM BARRY: "Another hot category right behind that are the e-readers. So you can read on an iPad or a touch-screen tablet, but the e-book readers are less expensive. The Kindle is the market leader there, from Amazon. But you also have the Nook from Barnes and Noble and the e-reader from Sony. And you have more and more of those e-readers coming into the market as well."

The Consumer Electronics Association report found that iPod music players are also in high demand this holiday season.  

But not all of the things on the holiday gift wish list involved electronics. Clothes, cars and motorcycles also made the list. So did family togetherness and good health. And the one thing that people wanted most?

JIM BARRY: "At the top of the list was peace and happiness."

That is also our wish for you this holiday season.

1.The best title of the passage is         .  

A. How to choose a suitable gift for Christmas

B. iPads, E-Readers, Notebook Computers top wish lists

C. What we should buy for our kids this holiday season

D. How modern technology is changing the way people relate

2.People use the touch-screen computers to do all the following things except         .  

A. surf the Web and write e-mails

B. watch movies and read books

C. surf the Web and contact others on phone

D. surf the internet and use it as an e-reader

3. Which of the following sentences is TURE?   

A. iPads are the most popular gift among all the electronics.

B. Only the computer company Apple releases a touch-screen tablet computer.

C. All of the things on the holiday gift wish list are electronics.

D. There are more and more kinds of e-readers in the market.

4. You don't have enough money for an iPad, but you can buy          for a friend who enjoys reading.   

A. notebook computers                        B. iPod music players

C. touch-screen tablet computer              D. e-book readers

5.We can infer from the last paragraph that         .  

A. people value peace and happiness more than anything else

B. clothes, cars and motorcycles are also popular gifts for Christmas

C. family togetherness and good health don't make the list

D. JIM BARRY also sends their wish for us this holiday season

A report by the Consumer Electronics Association says electronics are among the most popular gifts being bought this holiday season. 
Jim Barry is a spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the CEA study found that electronics represent three of the top five things on its "holiday gift wish list" this year.
JIM BARRY: "Notebook computers are at the top, followed by iPads and then e-readers. IPad is a touch-screen tablet computer and that's really the big player in that category."
The computer company Apple began selling its small, touch-screen computers in April.   People use the touch-screen computers to surf the Web, write e-mails, watch movies and read books. Since the iPad's release earlier this year, several other companies have come out with their own tablet computers just in time for Christmas.
A report from the e-Marketer research group predicts that worldwide, tablet sales will reach more than eighty-one million in two thousand twelve. Still, Jim Barry says these devices are facing tough competition this year from another Christmas favorite.
JIM BARRY: "Another hot category right behind that are the e-readers. So you can read on an iPad or a touch-screen tablet, but the e-book readers are less expensive. The Kindle is the market leader there, from Amazon. But you also have the Nook from Barnes and Noble and the e-reader from Sony. And you have more and more of those e-readers coming into the market as well."
The Consumer Electronics Association report found that iPod music players are also in high demand this holiday season.  
But not all of the things on the holiday gift wish list involved electronics. Clothes, cars and motorcycles also made the list. So did family togetherness and good health. And the one thing that people wanted most?
JIM BARRY: "At the top of the list was peace and happiness."
That is also our wish for you this holiday season.
【小题1】The best title of the passage is         .  

A．How to choose a suitable gift for Christmas

B．iPads, E-Readers, Notebook Computers top wish lists

C．What we should buy for our kids this holiday season

D．How modern technology is changing the way people relate

Dear Liz,

My stay in Thailand has certainly been the experience of my life.

       Life is busy and exciting. Bangkok is just like any other big city with a population of 10 million and heavy traffic. I’m very lucky because my host family is in a nice quiet area outside the city. There are Mr. and Mrs. Phairat, their son Sanan, who is 18, the daughter Chinda, who is 16, and Grandpa and Grandma.

       I, with Sanan and Chinda, go to an international school that teaches about 70 percent in English and 30 percent in Thai. I’ve learned some spoken language, but Thai writing is very difficult. The cooking lesson is my favourite. I’m learning all about Thai food and culture. People don’t use chopsticks here, but spoons and forks. After coming back, I’ll cook you a real Thai meal.

       Last weekend we visited some temples and then drove to Pattaya beach near Bangkok. I thought it was great, but Sanan and Chinda say that next month they’re taking me to Phuket Island, where the beaches are even more beautiful. The month after next, we’re going to travel to Mr. Phairat’s hometown in the north of Thailand. The Phairats own land there, and they have two elephants. I’m going to ride those elephants – and even wash them. Sanan and Chinda say it’s really fun.

       I’m amazed by everything in this country, especially by the elephants. Elephants are an important part of Thai culture and way of life. They have been a traditional symbol (象征) of Thailand for many years in times of war and peace. In the seventh century, a Thai king trained 20,000 elephants for battle.

       I’ll tell you all about my Thai boxing (拳击) lessons next time I write.

Mandy

51.  How many family members are there in Mandy’s host family?
A. 4                        B. 5                   C. 6              D. 7

52.  Mandy writes in her e-mail that the _________ lesson is her favourite.
A. Thai speaking          B. cooking            C. Thai writing      D. boxing    

53.  From the e-mail we know that Mandy is _________ when she stays in Thailand.
A. excited                            B. quiet                C. bored                   D. proud

54.  What is the possible subject of the e-mail?
A. Food culture in Thailand.                           B. Study trip in Thailand    .
C. Elephant riding in Thailand   .                 D. International schools in Thailand.

【小题1】   People use money to buy food, furniture, books, bicycles and hundreds of other things they need or want. When they work, they usually get paid in money.
Most of the money today is made of metal or paper.   【小题2】 One of the first kinds of money was shells.
Shells were not the only things used as money. In China, cloth and knives were used. In the Philippine Islands, rice was used as money for a long time. Elephant tusks, monkey tails and salt were used as money in parts of Africa.
The first metal coins were made in China. They were round and had a square hole in the centre. 【小题3】    Different countries have used different metals and designs for their money. 【小题4】  Sweden and Russia used copper (铜) to make their money. Later some countries began to make coins of gold and silver.
But even gold and silver were inconvenient if you had to buy something expensive. Again the Chinese thought of a way to improve money. 【小题5】   The first paper money looked more like a note from one person to another than the paper money used today.
Money has had an interesting history from the days of shell money until today.

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。
请根据A至F各课程的介绍和个各人的情况说明，选出符合各人要求的最佳选项。
A. A Look at American Literature
A Look at American Literature is a course which gives us a brief outline of American Literature.
B. Works of Some Famous American Writers
Works of Some Famous American Writers show us the introductions to eleven famous writers and their works and also give us some comments on the works.
C. Detailed Reading of American Literature
Detailed Reading of American Literature is a course which focuses on some important and moving details in the works of American literature. It will analyse the detail.
D. Story and Plot
It’s a course which analyses the setting of the main plots in some famous stories. The aim of this course is to help those who want to become writers in the future.
E. Characters and Life
As you know, literature comes from our life, but it’s more than our life. This course will analyze the personalities of some important characters in the world literature, and combine the analysis with our life. It will help us gain wisdom from the characters.
F. Literature Comments
The course is a study of how to write literature comments through some vivid examples.
请阅读以下学生的相关信息，然后匹配他/她和拟要选择的课：
Helen wants to become a famous writer in the future. She is eager to take a course which can help her realize her dream.
Peter was ill last term and missed a lot of lessons in American literature. He wants to take a course which can give him an outline of it.
Kate likes to read literature works and she has many opinions after reading, but she doesn’t know how to express her ideas properly.
Tommy has the basic knowledge of American literature. He wants to take a course which can help him read more famous works about American literature.
Jerry wants to write some articles to show the significance of researching literature today. He is looking for a course which can help him.
待选课程学生                        课程名称
【小题1】 Helen              A.  A Look at American Literature
【小题2】Peter               B.  Works of Some Famous American Writers
【小题3】 Kate               C.  Detailed Reading of American Literature
【小题4】 Tommy              D.  Story and Plot
【小题5】Jerry               E.  Characters and Life
F.  Literature Comments