The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It’s said that it’s the day that store ledgers(分类账)move into the black and companies become profitable. On that day, retailers slash(砍) prices to get consumers to buy.  It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee tells us how the economy may affect consumers on that bargain day.
This day should be a shopper’s dream. “It’s just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price,” said Sandy Thomas, a shopper. But it’s a nightmare for others. “I think it’s crazy. I’ve done all of my shopping throughout the week so I don’t have to go out on Friday,” she said. It’s called Black Friday, the start of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States. Every year it’s the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise and there are deep discounts everywhere you look.
Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-mart worker in a New York suburb. This year, many stores are increasing security while they slash prices. “This is a huge time for the retail stores,” said Fred Joutz from George Washington University. “This is when they begin making their profits for the year.”
Economics professor Fred Joutz says how Americans spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.
With the unemployment rate above 10 percent, Joutz says Americans are saving more and spending less. Some retailers are attracting consumers by opening on Thanksgiving Day, when shops are traditionally closed.  Other stores open their doors anywhere from midnight to four in the morning.
And shoppers will be lining up in front of the doors in order to be one of the first ones to walk through and get a big discount. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually the first items to go. Sandy Thomas says it’s an annual family tradition and well worth it. “I just save maybe half of what I would have spent on a regular, you know, shopping trip,” she said.
Economists say U.S. consumers will spend money this Black Friday, but they will spend it more carefully.

  1. 1.

    By saying “This day should be a shopper’s dream”, the writer means ________ .

    1. A.
      shoppers have longed for this day for a long time
    2. B.
      the shops will be very crowded on that day
    3. C.
      the shops will keep open until the daybreak of next day
    4. D.
      shoppers can buy many items at low prices on that day
  2. 2.

    Why are many stores increasing security according to the passage?

    1. A.
      Because there are too many people saving more and spending less.
    2. B.
      Because it’s a time when they begin making their profits for the year.
    3. C.
      Because last year a crowd of bargain-hunters caused an accident.
    4. D.
      Because many stores open their doors from midnight to four a.m.
  3. 3.

    From the passage we know that_________.

    1. A.
      Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception.
    2. B.
      Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually least discounted.
    3. C.
      The economy only affects consumers on that bargain day.
    4. D.
      Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.
  4. 4.

    We can find this passage in_________.

    1. A.
      a science fiction
    2. B.
      a travel brochure
    3. C.
      an economic research report
    4. D.
      a book on psychology
  5. 5.

    Why American people call it a black day?

    1. A.
      Because they organize activities in honor of some great person.
    2. B.
      Because there are too many people going out shopping for Christmas.
    3. C.
      Too many people are celebrating Thanks giving.
    4. D.
      The sky is black that day.

The Luck of the Irish
Look at a map of Britain, and the island on the left is Ireland. It’s a small but beautiful country with a long tradition of folk music. Up until 10 years ago just about the only thing that Ireland was famous for was its specialty black beer.
Now Ireland is famous around the world for its music with names like "Kenya","U2" ,"Van Morrison"and more recently "the Corers". "Boyzone",one of the world's top boy bands ,is from Ireland too.What's more,Boyzone member shane has twin sisters,Adele and Heavy,who are members of "B Witched"
The "Boyzone"story is interesting because they were created in 1993 by Dublin nightclub owner John Reynolds.They advertised in newspapers to find members for the group and 300wannabe pop stars applied!
Ronan,who was just 17 when he dropped out of school to make his bid for stardom,and shane,who had been working as trained mechanic in his father's garage when he left to join Boyzone,were both lucky enough to be chosen. The other members are shoe-shop attendant stephen lately,former mechanic Mike Graham and one-time clothes store assistant Keith Dully.
Many people expect bands that have been created by the music industry to produce boring music which doesn't become popular. Even the boys themselves knew they the would not easily achieve international pop music success.
Boyzone quickly proved that they were more than just pretty faces and have sold millions of records around the world.At the moment ,they are not big stars in America,but they say that will change,when they begin a tour of the United States.
Ronan will shortly also start recording as a solo artist. That does not mean the band will spilt yet,but we can expect Boyzone to split sometime in the next 18 months or so.Ronan has also recently become involved as one of the managers of new Irish boy band "West Life" whose song "Swear It Again"has recently been Number 1 in the British charts.

  1. 1.

    Ireland is famous for         now.

    1. A.
      its black beer
    2. B.
      its long tradition
    3. C.
      popular music
    4. D.
      its scenery
  2. 2.

    The words “wannabe pop stars” in the third paragraph mean      .

    1. A.
      the pops who want to join the band
    2. B.
      the persons who want to become pop stars
    3. C.
      the pop stars who want to become more popular
    4. D.
      the persons who want to be as famous as they are
  3. 3.

    Boy zone was formed by       members in 1993.

    1. A.
      3
    2. B.
      4
    3. C.
      5
    4. D.
      6
  4. 4.

    Acording to the passage, we know that        .

    1. A.
      Boy zone will split some day
    2. B.
      Boy zone was successful because it was created by music industry
    3. C.
      The boys in Boy zone were certain that they would be famous one day
    4. D.
      Boy zone are going to perform in the States for Americans love them very much

The Yangtze River, the biggest river in China, starts with the Tuotuo River at the Roof of the World, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, takes in countless rivers, and flows eastward across the inner part of China. With a total length of more than 6,300 kilometers, it marches toward the East China Sea, singing the songs of the four seasons with its waves. The Yangtze River, only next to the Amazon and the Nile, is a cradle that breeds the ancient civilization of the Chinese nation.
The Three Gorges have showed the magic workings of nature with their beautiful mountains and waters. The peaks and rocks on the two sides are telling us the history of the region in the past billion years. Every year, many visitors around the world are attracted by the charming thousand-year-long history of the region, the great ancient relics of human civilization, and the mysterious folk tales.
Sandwiched between the mountains, the Three Gorges run across Fengjie and Wushan Mountain in Sichuan Province and Badong, Zigui and Yichang in Hubei Province, extending 193 kilometers long to include Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge. The City of White Emperor in Fengjie is the important passage of the west part of the Three Gorges. Nanjinguan in Yichang is the important gateway of the east part. Along the banks of the Yangtze River, the high peaks, overhanging rocks tower, rise into the clouds, dangerous cliffs seem to reach the sky, waterfalls are spraying and sparkling, clouds and thin fogs are curling, rapids and torrents are boiling. On the whole, Xiling Gorge is dangerous for its shallow shores and rapid currents. However, Yichang is regarded by most people as the best start point to tour the Three Gorges.

  1. 1.

    The Yangtze River is important to Chinese people, mainly because _______.

    1. A.
      it extends its way from the west to the east of China
    2. B.
      the ancient Chinese civilization began here
    3. C.
      the scenery on both sides is very beautiful
    4. D.
      the Three Gorges is located on it
  2. 2.

    We can see the Three Gorges _______.

    1. A.
      on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau   
    2. B.
      in Hubei Province
    3. C.
      in Sichuan Province       
    4. D.
      Both A and B
  3. 3.

    According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

    1. A.
      The Three Gorges have a total length of 193 kilometers.
    2. B.
      The shapes of the Three Gorges are like sandwiches.
    3. C.
      The Three Gorges is famous for beautiful scenery and relics.
    4. D.
      The Xiling Gorge are very dangerous for ships to sail.
  4. 4.

    As a tourist, you’d better go to _______ to start your trip to the Three Gorges.

    1. A.
      Nanjinguan     
    2. B.
      Wushan      
    3. C.
      Badong      
    4. D.
      Zigui

The requirements for high school graduation have just changed in my community. As a result, all students must1sixty hours of service learning,2they will not receive a diploma(文凭).3of service learning include cleaning up a polluted river, working in a soup kitchen, or tutoring a student. During a service experience, students must keep a journal and then write a4about what they have learned.
Supporters state that there are many5of service learning. Perhaps most importantly, students are forced to think 6their own interests and become aware of the needs of others. Students are also able to learn real-life skills that 7responsibility, problem-solving, and working as part of a team. Finally, students can explore possible careers8service learning.
For example, if a student wonders what teaching is like, he or she can choose to work in a primary school classroom a few afternoons each month.9there are many benefits, opponents (反对者) point out problems with the new requirement. First, they10that ,because service learning is time-consuming, students spend11time studying the core subjects. Second, they believe that forcing students to work without12goes against the law.
In my view, service learning is a great way to13to the community, learn new skills, and explore different careers.14, I don' t believe you should force people to help others – the15to help must come from the heart. I think the best solution is one that gives students choices. Choice encourages both freedom and responsibility.

  1. 1.
    1. A.
      spend
    2. B.
      gain
    3. C.
      complete
    4. D.
      save
  2. 2.
    1. A.
      and
    2. B.
      or
    3. C.
      but
    4. D.
      for
  3. 3.
    1. A.
      Subjects
    2. B.
      Ideas
    3. C.
      Procedures
    4. D.
      Examples
  4. 4.
    1. A.
      diary
    2. B.
      report
    3. C.
      note
    4. D.
      notice
  5. 5.
    1. A.
      courses
    2. B.
      benefits
    3. C.
      challenges
    4. D.
      features
  6. 6.
    1. A.
      beyond
    2. B.
      about
    3. C.
      over
    4. D.
      in
  7. 7.
    1. A.
      possess
    2. B.
      apply
    3. C.
      include
    4. D.
      develop
  8. 8.
    1. A.
      through
    2. B.
      across
    3. C.
      of
    4. D.
      on
  9. 9.
    1. A.
      So
    2. B.
      Thus
    3. C.
      Since
    4. D.
      While
  10. 10.
    1. A.
      argue
    2. B.
      doubt
    3. C.
      overlook
    4. D.
      admit
  11. 11.
    1. A.
      much
    2. B.
      full
    3. C.
      less
    4. D.
      more
  12. 12.
    1. A.
      cost
    2. B.
      pay
    3. C.
      care
    4. D.
      praise
  13. 13.
    1. A.
      contribute
    2. B.
      lead
    3. C.
      attend
    4. D.
      belong
  14. 14.
    1. A.
      Therefore
    2. B.
      Besides
    3. C.
      but
    4. D.
      However
  15. 15.
    1. A.
      courage
    2. B.
      desire
    3. C.
      emotion
    4. D.
      spirit

The USA, New York—Whales and dolphins are facing increasing threats from climate change, according to a new report published by WWF and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS).
The report "Whales in hot water?" draws attention to the growing impacts of climate change on whales.They range from changes in sea temperature and the freshening of the seawater because of the melting of ice and increased rainfalls, to a sea level rise, loss of icy polar habitats and the decline of krill populations in key areas.Krill, a tiny shrimp that is dependent on sea ice, is the main source of food for many of the great whales.
The speeding up of climate change adds greatly to trouble from other human activities, such as chemical and noise pollution, which kills some 1000 whales every day.
"Whales and dolphins have an ability to adapt to their changing environment," said Mark Simmonds, International Director of Science at WDCS."But the climate is now changing at such a fast pace that it is unclear to what extent whales and dolphins will be able to adjust."
Climate change impacts are currently greatest in the Arctic and the Antarctic.According to the report, cetaceans that rely on polar, icy waters for their home and food resources are likely to be greatly affected by the reduction of sea ice cover.
WDCS and WWF are urging governments to cut global production of C02 by at least 50 percent by the middle of this century.The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change showed it was possible to stop global warming if the world's emissions start to decline before 2015.

  1. 1.

    Which of the following is the most important for whales and dolphins?

    1. A.
      Rainfall
    2. B.
      Krill
    3. C.
      Sea ice cover
    4. D.
      High sea level
  2. 2.

    From the passage, we can learn that whales mainly feed on _____.

    1. A.
      dolphins
    2. B.
      krill
    3. C.
      sea horses
    4. D.
      sharks
  3. 3.

    The underlined word "decline" in Paragraph 2 means _____.

    1. A.
      increase
    2. B.
      control
    3. C.
      protection
    4. D.
      fall
  4. 4.

    In what place is climate change greatest?  

    1. A.
      The Pacific Ocean
    2. B.
      Asia.
    3. C.
      Two polar areas.
    4. D.
      Equator.
  5. 5.

    Which of the following is not right according to the passage?

    1. A.
      Climate change will lead to the changes in sea temperature.
    2. B.
      Climate change will result in the freshening of the sea water.
    3. C.
      Climate change will have a bad effect on human activities and whales.
    4. D.
      Human beings will forever have no ability to stop global warming.

The key to learning English well is to overcome your shyness and fear , said taxi driver Zhang, who is attending the English training program run by the West Lake Taxi Company. “Out teacher Mrs.Yang encourages us many times to open our mouths and speak English out loudly in her class ,” said Zhang.
Chen Zhong, another fluent(流利的) English speaker, shared his opinion. “I didn’t think English was important to us at the beginning since many foreign passengers could speak some Chinese to me. But when I did speak some English, the foreigners were always pleased and said I was the first taxi driver they had met who could speak English.
Chen said he found studying English extremely interesting. The 160 minutes’ study per week was simply not enough for him. He bought books , tapes and VCDs to learn English on his own.. “Though it cost me a lot of time and energy , I did find it is useful in the long term” he said.
The reward of learning English is more than Chen has expected. Now he has made several foreign friends who book his taxi when they need. Some foreign passengers even give him tips (小费when he communicates with them in English.
To facilitate their studies, the company developed a bilingual(双语的) tape which includes the most frequently used sentences for taxi drivers and the names of major streets and buildings in Shenzhen.
“It has helped me out, ” said Chen. “Once I failed to express ‘Chinese Folk Culture Villages’ in English when I was asked to go there by a foreigner, I played the tape and got its meaning.”

  1. 1.

    What difficulty did Mr.Zhang have learning English at first?

    1. A.
      He had no time to study English
    2. B.
      His company didn’t allow them to study English
    3. C.
      He had no courage to speak out.
    4. D.
      He had no chance to speak English.
  2. 2.

    Which of the following is NOT the benefit Chen gets from learning English?

    1. A.
      He gets some good advice on learning English from foreigners.
    2. B.
      He earns more money from some regular foreign customers.
    3. C.
      He has to spend both money and effort learning English.
    4. D.
      He gets great fun and encouragement in learning English.
  3. 3.

    We can infer from the passage that _____.

    1. A.
      the company is the first to encourage its drivers to learn English
    2. B.
      all the drivers have made money after learning English
    3. C.
      the company has developed and English tape for its drivers
    4. D.
      the tape is welcomed by the drivers learning English
  4. 4.

    What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “facilitate” in the fifth paragraph?

    1. A.
      To make easy  
    2. B.
      To increase    
    3. C.
      To encourage  
    4. D.
      To check

The British love to think of themselves as polite and everyone knows how fond they are of their “pleases"and “thank yous".Even the simplest business such as buying a train ticket requires1seven or eight of these.Another 2of our good manners is the queue.New?comers to Britain could be forgiven for thinking that queuing rather than football was the3national sport.Finally,of course,motorists generally stop at crossings.But does all this mean that the British should consider themselves more polite than their European neighbours?I think not.
Take forms of address (称呼)for example.The average English person4 he happens to work in a hotel or department store—would rather die than call a stranger “Sir" or“Madam".Yet in some European countries this is the most basic of common address.Our 5“you" for everyone may appear more democratic,but it means that we are forced to seek out complicated ways to express 6.I am all for returning to the use of “thee"and “thou"(Thee and thou are old?fashioned poetic words for“you");“you" would be7lfor strangers and professional relationships.
And of course,the English find touching and other shows of friendship truly terrifying.Have you noticed how the British 8ever touch?Personlly, I find the Latin habit of shaking hands or a friendly kiss quite charming.Try kissing the average English person,and they will either take two steps backwards in horror;or,if their escape is9,you will find your lips touching the back of their head.Now what could be10than that ?

  1. 1.
    1. A.
      at least
    2. B.
      at most
    3. C.
      less than
    4. D.
      not more than
  2. 2.
    1. A.
      signal
    2. B.
      scene
    3. C.
      sign
    4. D.
      sight
  3. 3.
    1. A.
      true
    2. B.
      original
    3. C.
      superior
    4. D.
      advanced
  4. 4.
    1. A.
      if
    2. B.
      whether
    3. C.
      when
    4. D.
      unless
  5. 5.
    1. A.
      universal
    2. B.
      unique
    3. C.
      regular
    4. D.
      normal
  6. 6.
    1. A.
      politeness
    2. B.
      gratitude
    3. C.
      democracy
    4. D.
      consideration
  7. 7.
    1. A.
      ordered
    2. B.
      reserved
    3. C.
      offered
    4. D.
      stocked
  8. 8.
    1. A.
      highly
    2. B.
      mostly
    3. C.
      hardly
    4. D.
      nearly
  9. 9.
    1. A.
      confirmed
    2. B.
      assured
    3. C.
      jammed
    4. D.
      blocked
  10. 10.
    1. A.
      better
    2. B.
      ruder
    3. C.
      more polite
    4. D.
      more frightening

The United States is a sports-loving nation. Sports in America take various forms: organized competitive struggles, athletic games, hunting and fishing. Most sports are seasonal, so that what is happening in sports depends upon the time of year.
Baseball is the most popular sport in the US. It is played throughout the spring and summer, and professional baseball teams play well into the fall.
Football is the most popular sport in the fall. The game originated as a college sport more than 75 years ago. It’s not the same as European football or soccer. In American football there are 11 players as well on each team, and they are dressed in padded uniforms and helmets because the game is rough and injuries are likely to occur. It is still played by almost every college and university in the country.
Basketball is the winner sport in American schools and colleges. Like football, basketball originated in the US, many Americans prefer it to football because it is played indoors throughout the winter and because it is a faster game. And the famous NBA games are considered the best of this game.
Other sports attracting a great many people include wrestling, boxing and horse racing. Although horse-racing fans call themselves sportsmen, the exactness of the term is questionable, as only the jockeys who ride the horses in the races can be considered athletes. The so-called sportsmen are the spectators, who do not come primarily to see the horses race, but to bet upon the outcome of each race. Gambling is the attraction of horse racing.

  1. 1.

    Baseball is so popular in America that some professional teams play it until ___________.

    1. A.
      spring
    2. B.
      summer
    3. C.
      fall
    4. D.
      winter
  2. 2.

    When playing football, American players are dressed in a special uniforms ___________.

    1. A.
      to avoid unexpected injuries
    2. B.
      to play it like European football
    3. C.
      to make the game rough enough
    4. D.
      to look like professional players
  3. 3.

    Many Americans prefer basketball to football because______.

    1. A.
      NBA games are very popular
    2. B.
      it is originated in the US
    3. C.
      it is much faster than football
    4. D.
      it is played indoors throughout winter
  4. 4.

    Horse-racing fans can’t be exactly considered as sportsmen because they ________.

    1. A.
      mainly stand and watch the races
    2. B.
      don’t ride horse in the races
    3. C.
      are only interested in the results
    4. D.
      don’t care who wins in the races
  5. 5.

    The underlined word “jockeys” in the last paragraph refers to _______.

    1. A.
      the person who bets upon the the race
    2. B.
      the person who cares about horse-racing
    3. C.
      the rider who enjoys watching the race
    4. D.
      the rider who competes in horse-racing

The Ice Hotel
Are you going into skiing? Is winter your favorite time of year? If you like snow and ice, maybe you should stay at Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada. But, you can only check in at this hotel during the winter. Why ? Because this hotel is built every December. It has 32 rooms and 80 people can stay there each night. The hotel even has a movie theatre, art gallery, and church. Of course, all of these parts of the hotel are made of ice. In fact, all the furniture, art, lights, and even plates and drinking glasses are made out of ice.
Because this hotel is so unusual, it is becoming very popular. People from all over the world come to the Ice Hotel to look at the fantastic ice art, drink and eat from designed ice dishes and experience the unique atmosphere (独特的气氛). Some couples have even got married in the hotel's ice church. But all these guests keep their winter coats on! Because of all the ice, the temperature inside the hotel is always between - 2ºC and - 5ºC. Surprisingly, sleeping is not a problem in the freezing cold hotel rooms. Every guest gets a special cold-weather sleeping bag and some fur blankets. These keep the room cozy and warm until morning.

  1. 1.

    What is the main idea of this reading?

    1. A.
      How the Ice Hotel is built
    2. B.
      What makes the Ice Hotel special
    3. C.
      Why the Ice Hotel is made of ice
    4. D.
      The services of the Ice Hotel
  2. 2.

    Why is sleeping NOT a problem in the hotel?

    1. A.
      the rooms are warm
    2. B.
      the temperature is -2ºC
    3. C.
      the sleeping bags are warm
    4. D.
      the furniture is warm
  3. 3.

    In which part of the hotel would you probably find "plates"?

    1. A.
      the church
    2. B.
      the restaurant
    3. C.
      the rooms
    4. D.
      the art gallery

The $ 11 billion self – help industry is built on the idea that you should turn negative thoughts like “ I never do anything right” into positive ones like “I can succeed.” But was positive thinking advocate Norman Vincent Peale right? Is there power in positive thinking?
Researchers in Canada just published a study in the journal Psychological Science that says trying to get people to think more positively can actually have the opposite effect: it can simply highlight how unhappy they are.
The study's authors, Joanne Wood and John Lee of the University of Waterloo and Elaine Perunovic of the University of New Brunswick, begin by citing older research showing that when people get feedback which they believe is overly positive, they actually feel worse, not better. If you tell your dim friend that he has the potential of an Einstein, you're just underlining his faults. In one 1990s experiment, a team including psychologist Joel Cooper of Princeton asked participants to write essays opposing funding for the disabled. When the essayists were later praised for their sympathy, they felt even worse about what they had written.
In this experiment, Wood, Lee and Perunovic measured 68 students' self-esteem. The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts and feelings for four minutes. Every 15 seconds, one group of students heard a bell. When it rang, they were supposed to tell themselves, "I am lovable."
Those with low self-esteem didn't feel better after the forced self-affirmation. In fact, their moods turned significantly darker than those of members of the control group, who weren't urged to think positive thoughts.
The paper provides support for newer forms of psychotherapy (心理治疗) that urge people to accept their negative thoughts and feelings rather than fight them. In the fighting, we not only often fail but can make things worse. Meditation (静思) techniques, in contrast, can teach people to put their shortcomings into a larger, more realistic perspective. Call it the power of negative thinking.

  1. 1.

    What do we learn from the first paragraph about the self-help industry?

    1. A.
      It is a highly profitable industry.
    2. B.
      It is based on the concept of positive thinking.
    3. C.
      It was established by Norman Vincent Peale.
    4. D.
      It has yielded positive results.
  2. 2.

    What is the finding of the Canadian researchers?

    1. A.
      Encouraging positive thinking many do more harm than good.
    2. B.
      There can be no simple therapy for psychological problems.
    3. C.
      Unhappy people cannot think positively.
    4. D.
      The power of positive thinking is limited.
  3. 3.

    What does the author mean by "you're just underlining his faults" in the third paragraph?

    1. A.
      You are not taking his mistakes seriously enough.
    2. B.
      You are pointing out the errors he has committed.
    3. C.
      You are emphasizing the fact that he is not intelligent.
    4. D.
      You are trying to make him feel better about his faults.
  4. 4.

    It can be inferred from the experiment of Wood, Lee and Perunovic that        .

    1. A.
      it is important for people to continually keep their self - esteem
    2. B.
      self – affirmation can bring a positive change to one’s mood
    3. C.
      forcing a person to think positive thoughts may lower their self - esteem
    4. D.
      people with low self – esteem seldom write down their true feelings
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