Many families in the United States have a larger income now than ever before, but people are finding it difficult to make ends meet anyway. Almost everyone is wondering, “What happens to all my money? I never seem to have anything left to put away.”

      Why isn’t a dollar worth as much as it used to be? One dollar is always worth the same amount, that is, 100 cents. But the value of a dollar is how much it can buy. The value of money depends on the cost of living. Economists say that the cost of living is the money that a family must pay for the necessities of life such as food, housing or rent, clothes and medical expenses. For many years now  the cost of living has increased greatly, so the value of the dollar has decreased. When a dollar has a low value, you cannot buy as many things with it.

      No one fully understands why the cost of living keeps increasing, but economists believe that workers and producers can make prices go up. As workers earn more money, they have more money to spend, so they demand more goods. If there is a great demand for certain goods, the prices of these goods go up. At the same time, if there’s a shortage of goods, the price also goes up. For example, if everyone wants to buy more and more gas, the price of gas goes up. When companies withhold gas from buyers, they can also make the price of gas go up.

      Families need to know what happens to their money. They need to make their income meet the cost of living, so many people plan a family budget. A budget is a list of monthly expenses. If your expenses add up to more than your income, you must find ways to save money. Maybe you’re spending too much on entertainment. Or if you’re spending too much on clothes, you may want to sew your own clothes. Budgeting helps you spend your money wisely as the cost of living increases.

41. What has troubled many families in the United States?

A not-large-enough income.                                B. Nothing is left over to put away.

C.The increasing cost of living.                           D. A shortage of certain goods.

42.    Why does the cost of living keep increasing?

A. There are always shortages of goods.              B. The workers are getting lower and lower pay.

C. The government makes no difference.              D. People demand more and better goods.

43.    Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Housewives needn’t know anything happening to the market.

B. People’s lives are affected by the value of money.

C. There seems no need for everyone to know about the rising cost of living.

D. The prices will go up if more goods are produced.

44.    According to the passage, when people find it hard to make ends meet, they need to _________.

A. find ways to save money                              B. do extra work to earn more money

C. try some other means of making money         D. raise a protest against the high cost of living

45.    Budgeting helps _____________.

A. one to make his income meet the cost of living

B. the government to battle the rising cost of living

C. merchants to produce more goods

D. the workers to earn more money

       It has been said before, but experiencing it myself has made  31  want to say it again: a smile can cross all language barriers.

I recently moved from Canada to a small city on the south coast of South Korea to work as an English teacher. One night, after a long day at work, I was feeling particularly worn-out. My legs  32  (ache) and I wasn’t looking forward to cooking dinner. Just as I was about  33  (push) the key into the door, the old landlady called to me and motioned me into her apartment. I didn’t understand a word that she said,  34  I understood her smile. I followed her into her kitchen,  35  smelled like the wonderful Korean foods I was coming to love.  36   (put) many dishes of food on the table, she sat down across from me. We were both laughing the whole time at our complete  37  (able) to communicate in words.

38  it was time to leave, I said “thank you” in Korean, using some of  39  few words I had learned. I felt 40  (lonely) than I had expected that night.

       That’s the greatest gift I’ve ever received. On my 15^th birthday, this past December, I was anxiously  21  when my father and mother insisted that I go on a “mystery drive” with them. I figured it must be something  22 , as it was my birthday. I didn’t realize exactly how happy I would be, though,  23  we pulled up in the parking lot of a huge  24  supply store. This was the day that my family was going to open the door to a new opportunity for me. It was after opening their wallet, of course.

As you might have guessed, they bought me a sewing machine. This may sound nice, or some may even think it a dumb  25 . I don’t think of it only as a machine. To me, it means many things. For one, it’s my parents’ acceptance of my  26  and inspirations. They know that I have big plans for designing and think that I can achieve my goals. Not only that, but it is the realization that my parents no longer think of me as a  27  with strange and unrealistic goals. They, for one of the first times in my life,  28  me like a real adult. Besides, the knowledge that they were willing to  29  a lot for the machine showed that they  30  me. My family thinks that my creativity and design are so unique that it’s worth it for me to get started on something real.

    At the Kyoto conference on global warming in December 1997, it became much clear how complex it has become to work out international agreements relating to the environment because of economic concerns unique to each country.  It is no longer enough to try to forbid certain activities or to reduce giving off certain substances.  The global challenges of the interlink between the environment and development increasingly bring us to the core of the economic life of states.  During the late 1980s we were able, through international agreements, to make deep cuts in giving off harmful substances to the ozone（臭氧）layer.  These reductions were made possible because substitutions（替代品）had been found for many of the harmful chemicals and, more important, because the harmful substances could be replaced without negative effects on employment and the economies of states.

    Although the threat of global warming has been known to the world for decades and all countries and leaders agree that we need to deal with the problem, we also know that the effects of measures, especially tough measures taken in some countries, would be of no use if other countries do not control

their giving off.  Whereas the UN team on climate change has found that the carbon dioxide would have to be cut globally by 60%.  This path does not work for several reasons.  Such deep cuts would cause a breakdown of the world economy.  Many developing countries are not yet willing to control their energy uses.  In addition, the state of world technology would not yet permit us to make such a big leap.

    We must, however, find a solution to the threat of global warming early in the 21 S` century.  Such amission would require a degree of shared vision and common responsibilities new to humanity.  Success lies in the force of imagination, in imagining what would happen if we fail to act.  Although many living in cold regions would welcome the global-warming effect of a warmer summer, few would cheer the arrival of the following tropical disease, especially where had been none.

51The main purpose or ims passage is to

    A.  convince people that global warming is a threat

    B . criticize some countries for refusing to cut down giving off harmful substances to the ozone layer.

    C.  analyze the problem of global warming

    D.  argue against making deep cuts in giving off harmful substances

52.  The reason why it is difficult to get rid of the threat of global warming is that＿.

    A.  the leaders of many countries are not fully aware of the gravity of the problem.

    B . world technology is not able to solve the problem

    C.  not.  all the countries are willing to make deep cuts in giving off harmful substances

    D.  many people welcome the global-warming effect of a warmer summer

53. In the passage the author implies that＿.

    A . it is always difficult to work out international agreements to cut down giving off harmful substances to the ozone layer

    B.  it is no longer easy to reach international agreements relating to the environment

    C.  the world has recently become aware of the threat of global warming

    D.  the problem of global warming has largely been solved

54.  According to the author, it is impossible at present to cut 60% of .  carbon dioxide globally  because

    A.  it is only a goal to be reached in the future

    B . some people are lacking in imagination

    C . some people are irresponsible

    D.  it would cause a turndown of the world economy

55. What should all countries do to help solve the problem of global warming?

    A . They should replace all the harmful substances.

    B . They should willingly undertake legal commitments, about their energy uses.

    C.  They should hold another world conference on climate change.

    D.  They should provide advanced technology.

    CHICAGO (AP) On Jan.  l，an order went into effect requiring that every checked bag at more than 400 of the nation's commercial airports be screened for bombs and weapons.

    Sunday was expected to the heaviest travel day since Jan.  l. Yet spot checks on Sunday at several  of the nation's airports showed no major delays caused by the new security measures.

    At the international terminal for Northwest Airlines at John F.  Kennedy International Airport in New York, passengers waited up to 30 minutes longer than usual.  Their bags were sent through giant screening machines and workers tore open taped boxes and searched through their contents before closing them up again.

    Most travelers simply accepted stricter screening developed since the terrorist attacks on Sept.  11，2001，before which only 5 percent of the roughly 2 million bags checked each day were screened for bombs.

    The U. S.  government has put an additional 23,000 people into airports to carry out the new order.

    Sonny Salgatar, a 23-year-old college student flying home to San Diego from Chicago, was told by an airport officer after the first pass that one of his bags was "hot", meaning there was something he couldn't identify and he wanted to open the bag for an inspection.

    The "hot" item turned out to be Salgatar's clothing iron.

    "Listen, anything they want to do for security is OK for me," Salgatar said.  But not all of the passengers hold the same viewpoint as Salgatar's, complaining that they had to arrive at the airport too much time ahead of their schedule.

46.  The new measure was adopted to guard against一一一一一.

    A . terrorist attacks                           B. luggage damage

    C.  flight delays                                D.  air crash

47.  The word 'hot' (Para.  7) most probably means

    A.  heated                                       B.  popular

    C.  expensive                                  D.  suspicious

48.  Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

    A . Major delays were caused after the security order went into effect.

    B . Most passengers regard the new measure as necessary.

    C.  Passengers complain about longer delay at the airport.

    D.  There will be more and stricter security measures.

49.  What was the attitude of Sonny Salgatar towards the security measure taken?

    A.  He was annoyed.                            B.  He had no objection.

    C.  He thought it useless.                      D.  He didn't worry about it.

50.  The best title of the passage might be

    A . Fear of Terrorist Attacks                 B. Latest Screening Technology

    C . New Security Measures Adopted     D.  Inspection of Bombs and Weapons

    One dark and stormy night, an elderly man and his wife entered the hall of a small hotel in Philadelphia, hoping to get shelter for the night.

    The clerk, a friendly man with a beautiful smile, explained that there were three conferences in town.  "All of our rooms are taken," the clerk said, "but I can't send a nice couple like you into the rain at one o'clock in the morning.  Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? It's not a suite, but it will be good enough to make you comfortable for the night. " The couple agreed.

    As the elderly man paid the bill the next morning, he told the clerk, "You are the kind of person who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States.  Maybe someday I’ll build one for you. "The clerk looked at them and smiled.  The three of them had a good laugh.

    Two years passed.  The clerk had almost forgotten the incident when he received a letter from the elderly man; asking the clerk to pay him a visit.  The elderly man met him in New York, and led him to the corner of. 1he Fifth Avenue and 34^th Street.  He then pointed to a great new building there, a reddish stone one with watchtowers thrusting up to the sky, and told the clerk that it was the hotel he had just built for him to manage.

    That wonderful building was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  And this young clerk whose names was George C.  Boldt never foresaw the return of events that would lead him into the manager of one of the world's most attractive hotels.

41 . When the elderly couple left the hotel, they

    A . took what they said as a joke

    B . wanted to build the same hotel in the future

    C . hoped that the clerk would replace the boss of the hotel

    D.  thought the clerk was talented in managing hotels

42.  Why did the elderly man build a hotel for the clerk?

    A . He was grateful to the clerk.                 B. They had a bet at first.

    C.  He wanted to please the clerk.               D.  He wanted to sell the hotel.

43. According to the text, the clerk

    A.  helped the couple because he thought they were poor

    B . hoped that the old couple could give him a large amount of money

    C.  didn't expect to receive things in return from the old couple.

    D.  became rich, thanks to his own efforts

44.  From the text, we can infer that

    A.  anybody can be a successful manager                 B.  old people are always very rich

    C.  good luck is always waiting for lucky people        D.  kindness can bring a good return

45. What do you think of the clerk?

    A.  He was willing to help.                                    B.  He was very attractive.

    C . He tried to make money for his hotel.                D.  He liked making friends.

  阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为31-40的相应位置上。

“When a customer enter my store, forget me.  He is 31 king. ”said John Wanamaker, the boss of the world's first department store.  Convincing 32 this slogan was, in truth the shopper wascheated out of the crown.  33 the manufacturing efficiency increased the variety of goods andlowered prices, people still relied on advertisements which spoke to an audience 34 (restrict) to just a few radio or television channels or a limited number of publications.  Now media choice has exploded, and consumers select 35 they want from a far greater variety of sources-----especially with a few clicks of a computer mouse.  Thanks to the Internet, the consumer is finally seizing power.

  As our survey shows, consumer power has great implications for companies, because 36 is changing the way the world shop.  Many firms already claim to be "customer-driven" or"consumer-centered".  Now their claims will 37 (test) as never before.  Taking advantage of 38 (shopper) ignorance will no longer be possible：people will know ----and soon tell others, even those without the Internet ----that prices in the next town are 39 (cheap).  The Internet is working wondersin 40 (raise) living standards.

你校将出版校庆英文特刊介绍学校的相关情况，你将参与编写工作。

写作内容

 请根据以下构思图，写一份关于你校植物园的英语简介：

参考词汇∶植物园 botanical garden

写作要求：

  只能使用5个句子表达全部内容。

      Bobks are not Nadia Konyk's thing.  Her mother, hoping to 21 her, brings home many colourful and interesting books from the library, but Nadia 22 shows an interest.  Instead, like so many other teenagers, Nadia, 15 years old, is addicted to the 23 .  She regularly spends at least six  hours a day in front of the computer.

      Nadia checks her e-mails and reads carefully through myyearbook. com, reading messages or 24 updates on her personal space on her mood.  She searches for music videos on youtube. com and logs onto gaiaonline. com, a role-playing 25 where members exchange identities as cartoon characters.

   But she spends most of her time on quizilla. com or fanfiction. net, reading and commenting on stories written by other users.

   Her mother, Deborah Konyk, would prefer that Nadia read books for a 26 , but at this point Ms.   Konyk said, "I，m just pleased that she reads something anyway. "Children like Nadia lie at the heart of a passionate debate about just what it means to read in the digital age.  As teenagers' scores on standardized reading tests have 27 , some argue that the hours  spent surfing the Internet is the enemy of reading ----reducing literacy, destroying attention spans and a 28 common culture that exists only through reading books.

    But others say the Internet has created a new kind of reading, one that schools and society should  not 29 .  The Web inspires a teenager like Nadia, who might 30 spend most of his leisure time watching television, to read and write.

  阅读下面上则新闻，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文

The headmaster of a middle school in southern England, David Hayes, has suspended（停课） students at his schoo1 478 times over the past year --one in twenty of all the student suspensions in England.

Although some people believe that his actions go too far, he seems to be getting results. The number of students receiving ‘‘A’’ grades in the nationa1 senior schoo1 exam has increased from 48% in 2004 to 74% this year.  

    Mr. Hayes says that many schools could achieve similar improvements if they improve their school students’ behavior. He also says the British government is wrong for pressuring schools not to suspend troublesome students and points out the harmful effects such students have on the quality of teaching and student learning. Suspensions often get many naughty students to improve their behavior, he says.

    The school was below average in 2003. Mr. Hayes joined the following year and now suspends two of the school’s 1880 students on average each school day. The total of 478 suspensions over the year means that almost one in four students have been punished this way. This year the school’s academic performance was judged as excellent.

写作内容：

  你在某英文报刊看到这则新闻后，准备就学生违纪的处理方式写一篇简评给该报编辑部，题目是“Should Schools Suspend Troublesome Students？”。 内容要点包括： 

1．以约30词简要概括新闻内容；                 

2．然后以约120词谈谈你的观点，内容包括：

  （1）你是否支持该校长的做法，并陈述理由；

  （2）假设你是学校校长，谈谈你将如何处理违纪学生，并陈述理由。

写作要求： 

 1. 可以使用实例或其他论述方法支持你的论点，也可以参照阅读材料的内容，但不得直接引用原文中的句子；

 2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称；

 3. 文章开头己给出，不计入单词总数。