Steve Wayne, 16, who worked this summer as a lifeguard and swim teacher in Idaho Falls, was thrilled to see an extra $ 20 in his paycheck when the federal minimum wage increased in July.

“When you’re getting paid minimum wage, anything helps,” Wayne said.

Wayne is one of several hundred thousand American teenagers who earn the minimum wage. The last of three recent increases took the minimum from $5.15 an hour in 2007 to $7.25.

US Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis says the minimum-wage increase will pump an extra $ 5.5 billion into the economy over the next year, which is helpful at a time when the economy is hurting.

“You’re giving people who spend money a raise,” said Kai Filion of the Economic Policy Institute. “Those people will go out and spend that money, and it will circulate through the economy.”

But other economists say raising the wage actually hurts the very people it’s designed to help. A higher hourly minimum, they say, could force businesses to cut workers’ hours, or even lay people off.

“What matters for people earning minimum wage is how much money they take home in total,” explained Rajeev of Georgia State University’s Economic Forecasting Center. “Their hourly rate may go up, but their number of hours may come down, so it’s not an overall increase.”

Business owners also say that raising the minimum wage exerts (施加) upward pressure on other wages. “If the minimum wage is $ 7 and I have to pay $ 8 or $ 9 to hire a dishwasher, then the cooks are going to say they want more,” said Cleveland restaurant owner Rick. “How much can I charge for that hamburger?”

Another argument is that it makes it more expensive for businesses to hire new workers. For many businesses already struggling to make ends meet in these tough times, it will be simply too expensive to keep them or to hire new people.

51. Steve Wayne was excited that ______.

A. his hard work had paid off

B. he had received a big wage increase

C. he has more money due to an increase in minimum wage

D. the wages of American teenage workers have been increased

52. According to the text, the US federal government has increased minimum wage with the aim of ______.

A. decreasing unemployment                             B. promoting economic recovery

C. increasing American teenagers’ wage                 D. narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor

53. What matters most to people in need of help is ______.

A. a higher hourly minimum                  B. more working hours

C. a minimum-wage increase                D. an increase in total income

54. Some are against the increase in minimum wage because they say ______.

A. only very few workers will be helped

B. they have to cut down working hours

C. many business owners can’t afford to employ new workers

D. minimum wage workers will expect more pay rises in the future

I don’t like getting up too early unless I have to. When you’re filming, you’ve got make-up on, which doesn’t happen often. As I’m not filming at present I’ll get up at 8:30.

Work normally means Matt coming over to my house about 10 am. We’re writing at the moment. We’ll chat for a bit before going to my study. One of us will have an idea for a sketch (梗概), we’ll talk about the characters and when we feel we have enough we’ll start writing.

Matt and I met at the National Youth Theatre in 1990 and started doing shows together in ’95, at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. We know we’re onto something if we’ve made each other laugh, and that’s a really special moment. It’s not always like that, but we’re comfortable enough with each other that we can be honest and go. Some days you’re not in the mood to be funny—like writing when my dad was dying of cancer, or when Matt was separating from his partner.

We stop for lunch and sometimes go to Wagamama in Camden, but last time we were followed by paparazzi (狗仔队), which gets you down—who wants to be pictured eating noodles?

When I’m not writing with Matt I work on other projects. My second children’s book comes out later in the year. It’s called Mr. Stink. The first one I dedicated to my three-year-old nephew, Eddie. Both books have been illustrated by Quentin Blake; it’s been a thrill to work with him—like 20 years ago reading a Roald Dahl book and looking at those drawings, then one day that person illustrates your work… magical.

At 5 I go swimming in Soho. My trainer makes me do horrible exercises, but I always feel better after.

Being in all day, I like to go out in the evening and look smart, but not like I’ve come out of the City. I’m a tall, broad guy and well-dressed.

For dinner I’ll meet friends. When you’re a single guy it’s great to have some good female friends. Or I might take my mum to the theatre, as I know she really appreciates it. I like watching TV comedy shows to see what everyone’s doing. When you see something impressive it makes you work harder. I also love Larkin’s poems: they don’t try to transcend (超越) the commonplace; they’re much more straightforward.

Poetry is great to dip into before going to bed, rather than falling asleep reading a novel and being confused over what you’ve read or not. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in seven years; unfortunately, I rely on pills. I’ve tried everything. If I could wish anything for myself, I’d wish I could sleep better.

56. It can be inferred from the passage that _________.

A. the author spends much time with his friends

B. the author and Matt are both famous in the district

C. the author doesn’t care much about what to wear

D. the author works at home and seldom goes out every day

57. Where does the passage most likely appear?

A. In a travel diary.                 B. In a news column.     

C. In an online diary.                D. In a research paper.

58. Why does the author read some poetry before going to bed?

A. Because poetry can often bring him some funny ideas.

B. Because poetry is much easier to understand than novels.

C. Because poetry is very abstract and reflects unusual things.

D. Because poetry can be of some help for him to kill time.

59. What might be the best title for the passage?

A. A day’s work with Matt   B. A new life-style  

C. A life in the day         D. A good way to write

Board, But Not Boring

Roll the Dice and Take a Chance on Something New…

Are you vacationed-out, tired of video-gaming, waterlogged by too many trips to the pool and ready to scream if you see one more “SpongeBob” rerun?

In other words, are you bored with summer?

We’ve got a suggestion: Kill that boredom with some great board boredom games. We went to game expert Lizzy Palmer of Barston’s Child’s Play in the District and ask for suggestions. All the games you see on this page are a ton of fun, she said, and there are sure to be at least one or two that you don’t already have.

Maptangle

Borderline Games

Ages 7 and older, 4 to 6 players, $24.95

This clever take on the classic game of Twister challenges your gymnastic and geographic skills at the same time. A huge floor map of the world serves as the game board. There are lots of geographic elements: countries, oceans,  rivers, deserts, even man-made landmarks. A deck of cards tells you where to put one foot, then the other. The round is over when someone falls.

Jungle Speed

Ages 7 and older, 2 to 8

players, $25.99

This is a fast-paced shape-recognition game. A wooden totem (图腾柱) sits in the middle. Players flip (翻) over cards one at a time. When your card matches another, be the first to grab the totem so that you can give your card to the loser. But be careful: Some cards look the same but aren’t!

Enchanted Forest

Ravensburger Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6 players,

$24.99

A classic memory game. Take a winding path through the forest and check under the trees for

fairy-tale treasure. Remember what you saw so that when you need a particular treasure you can

go back to that tree to get it. Cool rule: You can split your dice (骰子) roll—for example, move five spaces in one direction and two in the other to land at the right tree.

Go fish for Wildlife Birdcage Press All ages, $9.95

Birdcage has several decks (副) of cards that are more like trading cards. You fish for sea creatures,  reptiles, wild animals. Each deck has instructions for several card games, and each card has great photos and fun facts. Great for a trip.

HedBanz Funrise Ages 6 and older, 2 to 6

players, $13.99

Put on a headband and slip in a card that shows an animal or thing. Everyone else can see it but you.Ask questions until you guess what it is—but do it before time runs out!

68. What’s the purpose of writing the article?  

         A. To advertise several board games to attract potential consumers.

         B. To introduce several board games for readers to pass the summer.

         C. To try to persuade readers to give up video games and choose board games.

         D. To make some suggestions on how to spend the long summer.

69. Suppose Doris, a mother with a six-year old boy, wants to buy some board games for her child. How many kinds of board games can she choose?

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

70. Which of the following games will be the best choice for Mr Smith who wants to find an indoor game that can benefit both his daughter’s mind as well as her body?

         A. Go Fish for Wildlife                                            B. Jungle Speed

         C. Maptangle Borderline Games                        D. Hedbanz

71. Which of the following can match the games with their benefits to players?

         (1) Enchanted Forest                                    a. to practice your quick response

         (2) Maptangle Borderline Games    b. to practice your memory     

         (3) Jungle Speed                                            c. to practice your geographic knowledge

         (4) Go fish for Wildlife                         d. to increase the knowledge about animals

         A. bacd                                 B. bcad                       C. cbad                       D. cdab

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