Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but there have only been few players who were truly great. How did these players get that way---was it through training and practice, or are great players “born, not made”? First, these players came from places that have had famous stars in the past---players that a young boy can look up to and try to imitate(模仿). In the history of soccer, only seven countries have ever won the World Cup---three from South America and four from western Europe. There has never been a great national team---or a really great player---from North America or from Asia. Second, these players have all had years of practice in the game. Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele. Most players begin playing the game at the age of three or four.
Finally, many great players come from the same kind of neighbourhood---a poor, crowded area where a boy’s dream is not to be a doctor, lawyer, or businessman, but to become a rich, famous athlete or entertainer(艺人). For example, Liverpool, which produced the Beatles, had one of the best English soccer teams in recent years. Pele practiced in the street with a “ball” made of rags(破布). And George Best learned the tricks that made him famous by bouncing the ball off a wall(对着墙壁踢球) in the slums(贫民窟) of Belfast.
All great players have a lot in common, but that doesn’t explain why they are great. Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele. The greatest players are born with some unique quality that sets them apart from all the others.
46. According to the writer, which of the following statements is true?
A. Soccer is popular all over the world, but truly great players are few.
B. Millions of people all over the world are playing soccer, but only seven countries have ever had famous stars.
C. Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but only seven countries from South America and western Europe have ever had great national teams.
D. Soccer is one of the most popular games all over the world, but it seems the least popular in North America and Asia.
47. The world “tricks” at the end of Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. experience      B. cheating         C. skills          D. training
48. The Brazilian streets are mentioned to illustrate that ______.
A. famous soccer players live in slum areas
B. people in poor areas are born with some unique quality
C. children in poor areas start playing football at the age of three or four
D. a great soccer player may be born in a slum area
49. In the last paragraph the statement “…but only one became Pele” indicates that ______.
A. Pele is the greatest soccer player
B. the greatest players are born with some unique quality
C. Pele’s birthplace sets him apart from all the others
D. the success of a soccer player has everything to do with the family background
50. The writer mentions all the factors that may affect a soccer player’s success except ______.
A. his family background               B. his neighbourhood
C. his practice                              D. his character

An allowance(零花钱) is an important tool for teaching kids how to make plans for the use of money, save and make their own decisions. Children remem­ber and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly.
How large an allowance is suitable? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to re­gion, and from family to family.
To set an suitable allowance for your child, work up a weekly plan. Allow for entertainment costs such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these bills’," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to plan for nec­essary costs."
Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can keep your child’s allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose buying power falls away below his peers’ can feel left out.
It can be tough, but don’t excuse your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Ste­phens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke’s mother told her, "you walk home."
One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brook­lyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. "
Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied di­rectly to a child’s daily housework at home. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her early habits.
【小题1】Which of the following is the possible title of the passage?

An allowance is an important tool for teaching kids how to budget, save and make their own decisions. Children remem??ber and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly.

How large an allowance is appropriate? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to re??gion, and from family to family.

To set an appropriate allowance for your child, work up a weekly budget. Allow for entertainment expenditures such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these ‘ ills’," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to budget for nec??essary expenditures."

Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can, keep your child’s allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose purchasing power falls away below his peers’ can feel left out.

It can be tough, but avoid excusing your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Ste??phens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke’s mother told her, "you walk home."

One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brook??lyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. "

Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied di??rectly to a child’s daily chores. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her initiative.

Which of the following is the possible title of the passage?

A. How to develop a child’s initiative.

B. How to work up an amount of pocket money.

C. How to teach a child to save money.

D. How to teach a child about money.

It can be inferred from the passage that if a child is given an allowance, he or she may ________.

A. spend all the money very soon        

       B. be spoiled and finally ruined

C. feel responsible and careful about money

D. lost the money and can not return home

In Paragraph 4, the words “his peers” refer to ________.

A. his parents        B. his teachers              C. his financial experts   D. his friends

The author implies in the passage that ________.

A. paying children for their housework is no good

B. a child’s initiative can be developed if he or she is paid for all the housework

C. children may feel lost and lonely if they have no pocket money

D. children may learn to put aside some money if they are given a great amount of pocket money

D
I wrote to the White House asking about a birthday greeting for my grandfather who will be 95 next year. I received a card signed by Bill and Hillary. They look like real signatures（签名）and are not printed and they are probably produced by autographing（亲笔签名）machines. That says:
Happy Birthday!
Hillary and I are delighted to join your friends and family in congratulating you on this special day. As you look forward to the year ahead, please accept our best wishes for good health and much future happiness.
This was sent in a double envelope so that I could address the inner one to my grandfather and send the sealed（盖章） card to him. The card has the presidential seal printed in gold. The outer envelop is hand addressed. 
NOTE: the postage meter impression on the outer envelope reminded me that the president does not have franking privileges.（邮资特权）
The outer envelope does have a little "B" written on the upper right corner indication that they have a pile of these pre-signed and double-enveloped; when a request comes in, they just write the address on the outer envelope and mail it. 
The return address on both envelopes is simple: The White House, Washington.
73．When did the writer write to the White House?
A．On his grandfather’s birthday.
B．On his birthday.
C．When his grandfather was 94 years.
D．When his grandfather was 95 years old.
74．It’s clear that the card sent by Bill and Hillary was                     .
A．signed by an autographing machine
B．the one that had real signatures of Bill and Hillary
C．the one whose signatures were printed
D．the one that was signed with their own names
75．Form what the card says, we can find it                        .
A．was a public letter for those who were in need of greeting
B．can be sent to all those who write to them both
C．was sent specially to the writer’s grandfather
D．can be sent to anyone whose birthday is coming near
76．The letter “B” on the upper right corner of the outer envelope means              .
A．these are all double envelope having cards with pre-signatures inside them
B．these are all letters which have franking privileges
C．they have written the address on the outer envelopes
D．they have written “The White House, Washington” on both envelopes

An allowance is an important tool for teaching kids how to budget, save and make their own decisions. Children remem­ber and learn from mistakes when their own dollars are lost or spent foolishly.
How large an allowance is appropriate? Experts say there is not right amount. Actual amounts differ from region to re­gion, and from family to family.
To set an appropriate allowance for your child, work up a weekly budget. Allow for entertainment expenditures such as movies and snacks. Next, include everyday expenses such as lunch money, bus fare, school supplies. "If you make the child responsible for these ‘ ills’," says Josephine Swanson, a consumer specialist, " he or she will learn to budget for nec­essary expenditures."
Finally, add some extra money to make saving possible. If you can, keep your child’s allowance in line with that of his friends. A child whose purchasing power falls away below his peers’ can feel left out.
It can be tough, but avoid excusing your children when they make a mistake with their allowance. When Brooke Ste­phens was ten and growing up in Jacksonville, her mother gave her $5 a week, $1.75 of which was for bus fare and lunch." If you lose your money," Brooke’s mother told her, "you walk home."
One week the girl spent all her allowance in a candy store, then she called home for a ride. " Mom made me walk home," recalls Stephens, now a financial planner in Brook­lyn. " At first I was angry. But I finally realized that she was trying to teach me an important lesson. "
Experts advise that an allowance should not be tied di­rectly to a child’s daily chores. Kids should help around the house not because they get paid for it but because they share responsibilities as members of a family. You might, however, pay a child for doing extra jobs at home, which can develop his or her initiative.
63. Which of the following is the possible title of the passage?
A. How to develop a child’s initiative.
B. How to work up an amount of pocket money.
C. How to teach a child to save money.
D. How to teach a child about money.
64. It can be inferred from the passage that if a child is given an allowance, he or she may ________.
A. spend all the money very soon             
B. be spoiled and finally ruined
C. feel responsible and careful about money
D. lost the money and can not return home
65. In Paragraph 4, the words “his peers” refer to ________.
A. his parents      B. his teachers       C. his financial experts      D. his friends
66. The author implies in the passage that ________.
A. paying children for their housework is no good
B. a child’s initiative can be developed if he or she is paid for all the housework
C. children may feel lost and lonely if they have no pocket money
D. children may learn to put aside some money if they are given a great amount of pocket money