Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.

A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee(黑猩猩).

In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.

In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.

The correct object was chosen in seven out of l0 tests, suggesting that the dog had worked

out the answer by process of elimination(排除法). A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.          

Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed (品种)known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.

It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can't talk back. Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!

From paragraph 2 we know that __        .

A. animals are as clever as human beings

B. dogs are smarter than parrots and chimpanzees

C. chimpanzees have very good word-learning skills

D. dogs have similar 'learning abilities as 3-year-old children

Both experiments show that             .

A. Rico is smart enough to get all commands right

B. Rico can recognize different things including toys

C. Rico has developed the ability of learning mathematics

D. Rico won't forget the names of objects once recognizing them

Which of the following statements is true?

A. The purpose of the experiments is to show the border collie's mental abilities.

B. Rico has a better memory partly because of its proper early training.

C. The border collie is world-famous for recognizing objects.

D. Rico is born to understand its owner's commands.

Which may be the best title of the passage?

A. Do dogs understand us?                       

B. Does your dog understand you?

C. Be careful with dogs.                             

D. Be friendly to your dog.      

For Senior 3 students, choosing which college to attend can be the most exciting and thrilling time in their entire school lives. This is also true for an American girl 26  Melanie.
Melanie’s dad, James Porter, who is the chief of police for a Chicago suburb, wants Melanie to  27  nearby Northwestern University, where she’s  28  been accepted. But Melanie, 17, really wants to go to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, where she’s been wait-listed.
When she gets an unexpected  29  from Georgetown University, she decides to 30 a road trip with a few 31 female friends. Melanie believes it is her first step  32 adulthood. But  33 the fact that this trip is “girls only”, James isn’t  34  with the prospect(期望) of his little princess  35  the world without him. He wants to protect her, so he joins the girls and hopes he can convince Melanie to go to Northwestern.  36  Melanie’s father only has the best of  37 , his presence  38 an endless series of comic encounters（遭遇）.
After following their faulty device  39  into the backwoods (偏远地区), James and Melanie  40  Melanie’s little brother and his pet pig have been hiding in the spare compartment (隔间). What should be a simple tyre change  41  the expensive car rolling down a mountain, forcing them to hike to a nearby hotel…. All these disasters add spice(额外的趣味) to their trip while along the way a father and a daughter  42  get the chance to really  43  each other.
All parents,  44  they have college students or not, can relate to the bittersweet realization that their kids are growing up.  45  what Melanie and James have done, we all can find the delicate (脆弱的) balance between staying connected and letting go.

For over one hundred and fifty years, Americans of all social classes have worn blue jeans.  【小题1】  Whether they are worn for work or for fashion today, Strauss’ invention continues to be popular not only among Americans but also among people around the world.
Levi Strauss was born in Germany in 1829.     【小题2】   He grew up in Kentucky before moving to New York in 1847. Before becoming an American citizen and moving to the West in 1853, Strauss worked in his brother’s dry goods business. This gave him a chance to produce his famous invention. After the gold rush of 1849, Strauss decided to move to the West to seek his fortune.
Strauss did not want to be a person who searched an area for minerals. Instead, he knew he could make a good living by selling supplies to the miners. At first, he planned to sell sewing supplies and cloth.     【小题3】  When he heard miners complaining that their clothes were easily broken or they usually tore their pockets during mining, he decided to use a special fabric to make pants for the miners. These pants proved so popular that he quickly ran out of materials to make more.
In 1873, Strauss received a letter from a Jewish tailor named Jacob Davis who had invented a process of connecting pockets with copper rivets(铆钉). This made the pants last a long time. Because Davis did not have the money to patent his idea, he offered to share it with Strauss if Strauss would agree to pay for the patent.    【小题4】  
By the time Strauss died in 1902, he had made a great contribution to American fashion.
 【小题5】  The business has been growing ever since and Levi Strauss' company is now one of the largest clothing companies in the world.

For many young people, the dream of a lifetime is to travel the world, explore different cultures and landscapes, taste new foods and flavors, and listen to the distinctive sounds of international music and languages.
Unfortunately, few young people have the money or freedom to make this dream come true. But if you can't go out into the world, surely second best is to let the world come to you. And, this year's Shanghai World Expo is exactly where that's happening.
From May 1 to October 31, there will be 194 countries and 50 international organizations on display at the 5-square-km Expo site. Seventy million domestic and international visitors are expected to visit it by the end of October. So, if you can go, you'll be surrounded by people with a wide range of backgrounds, nations, and cultures.
The Expo's theme is "Better City, Better Life". The United Nations estimates that, this year, 55 of the world's people will live in urban settings. This poses a dilemma (困境) for the world's cities: How can they accommodate such a large number of people in a sustainable (可持续的) way? Can they remain places of natural beauty and cultural importance?
Well, that's the challenge the 2010 Expo participants are confronting in a variety of ways. Japan will show off an "eco-breathing" structure to power its building with natural energy like sunlight, rainwater and wind. Germany's pavilion is named "Balancity", which is described as a "balance between innovation (创新) and nature, society and its individuals, work and recreation" (娱乐)
The first themed Expo was held in 1933, and since that time World Expos have featured a participatory and interactive style. The Shanghai Expo is no exception. Young people will have the opportunity to take part in forums to discuss themes like new technology, green energy and conservation.
A trip to the Expo is guaranteed to be much less expensive than a trip around the world. Still, the costs can add up. However, young people can save money by purchasing group or student tickets, which may be available at reduced rates. Many of the participating pavilions offer free samples and treats for the visitors. In addition to handing out free chocolates, the Belgian pavilion will give away a free diamond each week to a visitor who can answer questions related to Belgium.
If you're planning to head to the Shanghai Expo between May and October, don't forget to bring a camera, a notebook, and an open mind (and comfortable shoes). For nearly six months, representatives of the world are coming together to share their best and latest ideas for the future. It's sure to be a memorable experience.
From: http://www.hxen.com/englisharticle./yingyuyuedu/2010-02-09/101092.html
1. Which statement is true according to the passage?
A. You can pay a visit to the Shanghai World Expo at the beginning of this November
B. You can save money by buying student tickets.
C. Whoever comes to the Belgian pavilion will be given a free diamond.
D. How to protest the animals is the theme of the Shanghai World EXPO
2. What dilemma do you think the cities are confronting (面对) now according to the fourth paragraph?
A. How to avoid traffic jams                     B. How to reduce air pollution
C. How to live peacefully with animals          D. How to live harmoniously with nature
3. What's the purpose of the writing the passage?
A. To introduce how to get to the Shanghai World Expo
B. To recommend what to see in the Shanghai World Expo
C. To tell us some information about the Shanghai world Expo.
D. To tell us the history about the World Expo.
4. Where do you think you will probably read this article?
A. In a newspaper      B. On a website         C. In a magazine      D. In a textbook

For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2-year-old dog, and Winnie, a cute cat, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

??? As Amy Paul choked(哽住) on a piece of apple at her home, her dog jumped up, landing hard on her chest and forcing the piece in her throat out. When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be killed by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at the wife Cathy’s hair until she woke up and called for help.

??? No one could explain their timely heroics.

??? Both pets were rescued by their owners in infancy—Toby as a 4-week-old thrown into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Cathy’s husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.

??? As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used broke down, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie went to rescue, the couple’s 14-year-old son was already unconscious. “Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry sound,” Cathy Keesling said. The state police responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.

??? Amy Paul’s husband was at his job when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple. “Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping Magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that’s what caused me to choke,” she recalled. “I couldn’t breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life.”

Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon.

1.Why did Amy Paul choke on a piece of apple?

A. She was too young to care for herself.

B. She had a big bite.

C. The apple was too hard.

D. She didn’t peel the skin as usual.?

2.Winnie saved the lives of its owner’s whole family in an accident by ________.

A. jumping onto its owner??????????????? B. calling for help

C. clawing at Cathy’s hair??????????????? D. making some strange noises

3.Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “infancy” in Paragraph 4?

A. middle age????????? B. youth??????? C. babyhood?????? D. agedness

4.What would be the suitable title for the passage?

A. So Smart Animals Are

B. Dog and Cat Honored for Saving Their Masters

C. Unforgettable Experiences

D. Great Honors for Cat and Dog