The British National Health Service (NHS) was set up in 1948 and was designed to provide equal basic health care, free of charge, for everybody in the country. Before this time health care had to be paid for by individuals.

Nowadays central government is directly responsible for the NHS although it is administered by local health authorities. About 83 percent of the cost of the health service is paid for by general taxation and the rest is met from the National Insurance contributions paid by those in work. There are charges for prescription and dental care but many people, such as children, pregnant women, pensioners, and those on Income Support, are exempt from payment.

Most people are registered with a local doctor (a GP, or General Practitioner) who is increasingly likely to be part of a health centre which serves the community.

As the population of Britain gets older, the hospital service now treats more patients than before, although patients spend less time in hospital. NHS hospitals—many of which were built in the nineteenth century—provide nearly half a million beds and have over 480, 000 medical staff. The NHS is the biggest employer in Europe although Britain actually spends less per person on health care than most of her European neighbours.

During the 1980s there was considerable restructuring of the Health Service with an increased emphasis on managerial efficiency and the privatization of some services (for example, cleaning). At the end of the 1980s the government introduced proposals for further reform of the NHS, including allowing some hospitals to be self-governing, and encouraging GPs to compete for patients. Patients would be able to choose and change their family doctor more easily and GPs would have more financial responsibility. The political questions continue of how much money should be provided to support the NHS and where it should come from.

We can know from the first paragraph that ______.

A. the original aim of the NHS was to provide equal basic health care for everybody

B. people didn’t have to pay for health care since the NHS was set up

C. patients were charged for receiving health care before 1948

D. the NHS was an organization which gave free advice to villagers

. What do we know about the NHS?

A. It’s managed by the central government.

B. Its cost is mainly paid for by the National Insurance contributions.

C. It hires more people than any other unit in Europe.

D. Fewer patients go to its hospitals than before because they spend less on health care.

All the following statements about GPs are true except that they ______.

A. take care of the local people’s health

B. often take part in competitions to see who is the best

C. work under high pressure nowadays

D. have more responsibilities than before

What does the underlined word “exempt” probably mean?

A. suffering                  B. different          C. prevented                 D. free

The biggest problem for the NHS is ______.

A. many hospitals are too old to be used

B. some services are in the charge of individuals

C. more and more patients go to GPs for treatment

D. there is not enough money for further reform

   It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of labor, he returned to find his bike gone.

   The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries（食品杂货），saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live.

   I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our area offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before.

   People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it strengthened our faith in humanity（人性）as a whole. And it has influenced（影响）us to be more mindful of ways we, too, can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be everlasting.

56. Why was the bike so important to the couple?

   A. The man’s job was bike racing.                               B. It was their only possession.

   C. It was a nice Kona 18 speed.                           D. They used it for work and daily life.

57. We can infer from the text that ____________.

   A. the couple worked 60 hours a week.                 B. people were busy before Christmas

   C. the stranger brought over the bike                    D. life was hard for the young family.

58. How did people get to know the couple’s problem?

   A. From radio broadcasts.                                           B. From a newspaper.

   C. From TV news.                                                     D. From a stranger.

59. What do the couple learn from their experience?

   A. Strangers are usually of little help.                          B. One should take care of their bike.

   C. News reports make people famous.                   D. An act of kindness can mean a lot.

Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big, noisy cities. They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the country-side to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.

In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area (住宅区) nearby where the factory workers can live. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so many people come to live in the area to provide these services and a city grows.

In every major city in the world, there is a business district(商业区) where the big companies have their main offices. In

the United States, this area is usually in the city centre downtown. It is here that you can see the huge skyscraper office

blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day. Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.

But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller town and villages.

What does the underlined phrase "urban areas" mean?

A. Areas of the countryside. B. Areas of a town or a city.

C. Areas near the countryside.D. Areas near a town or a city.

In the United States, many people work in the centre of a big city ________ .

A. while living on the far away edge of the city        B. and live there

C. but live in another city           D. but live far away out of the countryside

You are a German living in Berlin. One day you’ re walk??ing down the street, minding your own business, when sudden??ly a stranger comes up with a smile on his face. After stopping you, he holds a small electronic device (装置) close to his face and speaks slowly into it, saying, in English," Can you tell me where I can buy some sauerkraut?" What should you do? (a) Run away; (b) Call the police; or (c) Listen closely for the device to say in German," Konnen Sie mir bitte sagen, welches sauerkraut haufen kann?"

The most proper answer would be (c) because the person in front of you is only a tourist trying to enjoy himself. The de??vice is said to be the world’s first portable(便携的) translator — a hand-held microcomputer that at the same time translates one spoken language into another. The four-pound, battery-op??erated product is called the Voice, and it is the invention of Advanced Products and Technologies, an American electronics company. When the Voice is introduced in the Unite States in late April — at a price of (1,500 — it will be used to trans??late spoken English into Italian, German, French and Span??ish. The product comes with separate cartridges(盒式存储器) for each of the four languages, which can be changed when the user travels from one country to another. It will be sold in Eu??rope soon after the US introduction, with cartridges that trans??late Italian, German, French and Spanish into English.

The Voice uses a microchip(微型集成电路片) to trans??late languages. It is Started by voice command and produces voice output through a built-in speaker. When the user makes a statement or asks a question, the Voice immediately repeats what has been said in another language.

The device held by the stranger is probably a kind of________.

A. a two-way radio                      B. language translator

C. easily-carried speaker                     D. a multi-functioned computer

. What does the last sentence of the first paragraph mean?

A. Can you tell me where I can buy some sauerkraut?

B. Can I ask for some information from the police?

C. Would you like to try my device?

D. Would you not run away if I ask you where to buy some sauerkraut?

When the stranger says," Can you tell... sauerkraut?" he is ________.

A. learning German from his device

B. asking you the way to the sauerkraut shop

C. making fun of you with his device

D. testing his device for fun

Which of the following is not mentioned in the text?

A. The price of the hand-held microcomputer.

B. The function of the product Voice.

C. The producer pf the small electronic device.

D. The number of the device sold to the European coun??tries.

Computers. Love them or hate them, it is impossible to escape from them in the modern age. They are so much a part of our everyday lives—from instant messaging to e-mails. With many people preferring to use e-mail rather than traditional regular mail, it has become very important to be aware of how we express ourselves when using e-mail. The requirement of etiquette（网络礼仪）is obviously needed.

Grammar and spelling

Firstly, if you are dealing with a formal e-mail, pay close attention to grammar and spelling. Don’t forget to run your spell-check (program) at the end of the document, but don’t treat it as the final word. Carefully re-read it yourself, as sometimes even spell and grammar checking programs come up with some strange explanations. Remember, your first e-mail to a potential employer or college could be your last — you won’t want to spoil your first impression by making basic errors.

E-mail addresses

Also, for official e-mails, carefully consider your existing e-mail address. A funny e-mail address (such as pinkfluffycutiepie@…com) may be fine for using with your friends, but what impression do you think this address might give to an employer or college admissions officer? Consider using one address for personal e-mails and a different one for formal use.

Upper case（大写字母）

Take care also NOT TO TYPE UNNECESSARILY IN UPPER CASE, as this is the e-mail version of shouting.

Personal information

You should beware too about giving away too much personal information over the Internet. It may feel much more comfortable to “talk” using instant messages as there are no uncomfortable silences or awkward moments, but never forget that—unless the person you are speaking to is a friend or family member—you really know nothing about them, so be careful. Further to this, NEVER agree to meet a stranger that you have spoken to online, as it can be extremely dangerous.

My final message though is—have fun! The Internet is exciting, useful and informative. But, as with so many things that we believe we can’t live without, it is a much better servant than a master.

60．The text is mainly about______.

      A．how to express ourselves when using e-mail

      B．computers, so much a part of our everyday lives

       C．the Internet, a much better servant than a master

       D．paying close attention to grammar and spelling when dealing with a formal e-mail

61．What does the underlined word “beware” mean?

      A．think           B．be careful           C．care     D．know

62．If you use all capital letters, it looks like you are______.

      A．yelling              B．careful              C．unprofessional        D．childish

63．Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

      A．As time goes by, many people prefer to use traditional regular mail again.

      B．It’s fun to meet a stranger that you have spoken to online.

      C．If you want to apply for a job, you can’t use a funny e-mail address when writing e-mails..

      D．Grammar and spelling are not important when you write e-mails.