Dear Editor,

I have been reading your newspaper, the Hometown Gazette, for the past two years, ever since I moved to Smithville. We moved here from New York City, so I am accustomed to reading excellent newspapers such as the New York Times. In fact, we still have the Times delivered on Sundays. The entire family enjoys reading the recipes (食谱) in the magazine, as well as the Styles section.

The Times is great, but the Gazette is another story. I’ve never read an article that doesn’t contain at least three or four spelling or grammatical errors. For instance, in last week’s issue, you misspelled the word “secretary,” used a singular verb with a plural noun, and used “it’s” as a possessive (所有格). And that was just in the lead story! In case you never went to a primary school, “it’s” means “it is.” It’s not a possessive adjective!

It’s a pity that this tiny little hick (乡下的，老土的) town has only one newspaper, because I’d like to have an alternative to the rag you publish. I find it hard to believe your news stories. If you can’t spell correctly, how can you get your facts right?

I’ve been meaning to get this off my chest for some time. Please cancel my subscription (订阅). And buy yourself a dictionary.

Sincerely,

Jane Z.Jones

1．Which phrase from the passage shows the writer’s prejudice (偏见)?

A．a possessive adjective                          B．three or four spelling or grammatical errors

C．tiny little hick town                              D．reading the recipes in the magazine

2．The author’s tone in this passage can best be described as __________.

A．happy                                                 B．angry                            

C．sympathetic                                        D．humorous

3．Which statement in the following is a FACT?

A．It’s a pity this tiny little hick town is not fit to live in.

B．The Times is great, but the Gazette brings us nothing good.

C．We still have the Times delivered on Sundays.

D．You never went to a primary school.

4．The underlined phrase in the last paragraph means that ________.

A．The writer wants to express his dissatisfaction with the newspaper

B．The writer wants to see a doctor for there is something wrong with his chest

C．The writer wants to put an end to talking about the newspaper

       D．The writer thinks the poor newspaper has damaged his health

After years of hearing drivers complain about scratches on their cars, Japan’s Nissan Motor Company has officially announced the next big thing — a paint that not only resists scratches (擦痕) and scrapes (刮伤), but actually repairs itself within a few days.

The new material, developed by Nippon Paint Company, contains an elastic rubbery-like resin (弹性树脂) that is able to heal (愈合) minor marks caused by car wash equipment, parking lot encounters, road debris (石头碎片) or even on-purpose destruction.

The automaker admits its results vary depending on the temperature and the depth of the damage, but adds this is the only paint like it in the world, and tests prove it works. Minor scratches, the most common type, are said to slowly fade over the time.

The special paint is said to last for at least three years after it is first applied, but there is no word yet on whether more can be added after that period.

Nissan claims car washes are the worst offenders for this type of damage, accounting for at least 80 percent of all incidents. And once they’re gone about a week later, there is no trace that they were ever there.

But the complete auto-healing won’t come without scratching your wallet. The vehicle maker notes the special paint adds about $100 U.S. to the price of a car.

It plans to use its new chemical mixture only on its X-Trail SUVs in Japan now, as it looks for a more widespread presentation. And while plans to offer the feature overseas haven’t been made yet, if it’s a hit there, you can be almost sure market forces will drive it to these shores, as well.

1．From the article, we can find that _________.

A．the paint has already been used on all cars by now

B．Nissan beats other products of its kind for its unique design

C．car damage is mainly caused by poor road condition

D．marketing this paint abroad is not under way

2．The paint used on cars can ____________.

A．last 3 years before it is re-applied again

B．fade only in a few days

C．help to protect cars from minor paint damage

D．reduce car scrape incidents to 20 percent

3．What does the underlined part refer to?

A．Certain models of Nissan.                     B．Name for a kind of paint.

C．Somewhere in Japan.                           D．A word standing for a car-dealer store.

4．What can be inferred from the article?

A．The paint was developed by Nissan Motor Company.

B．The paint might work better in summer than in winter.

C．The mark on the car could disappear as soon as the paint is applied.

       D．The paint is very popular in Japan.

Do you want to live with a strong sense of peacefulness, happiness, goodness and self-respect? The collection of happiness actions broadly categorized as “honor” help you create this life of good feelings.

Here’s an example to show how honorable actions create happiness.

Say a store clerk fails to charge us for an item. If we keep silent, and profit from the clerk’s mistake, we would drive home with a sense of sneaky (偷偷摸摸的) excitement. Later we might tell our family or friends about our good fortune. On the other hand, if we tell the clerk about the uncharged item, the clerk would be grateful and thank us for our honesty. We would leave the store with a quite sense of honor that we might never share with another soul.

Then, what is it to do with our sense of happiness?

In the first case, where we don’t tell the clerk, a couple of things would happen. Deep down inside we would know ourselves as a type of thief. In the process, we would lose some peace of mind and self-respect. We would also demonstrate that we cannot be trusted, since we advertise our dishonor by telling our family and friends. We damage our own reputations by telling others. In contrast, bringing the error to the clerk’s attention causes different things to happen. Immediately the clerk knows us to be honorable. Upon leaving the store, we feel honorable and our self-respect is increased. Whenever we take honorable action we gain the deep internal rewards of goodness and a sense of nobility (高尚).

There is a beautiful positive cycle that is created by living a life of honorable actions. Honorable thoughts lead to honorable actions. Honorable actions lead us to a happier existence. And it’s easy to think and act honorable again when we’re happy. While the positive cycle can be difficult to start, once it’s started, it’s easy to continue. Keeping on doing good deeds brings us peace of mind, which is important for our happiness.

1．According to the passage, the positive action in the example contributes to our _________.

A．self-respect                                       B．financial rewards 

C．advertising ability                                D．friendly relationship

2．The author thinks that keeping silent about the uncharged item is equal to __________.

A．lying                                                   B．stealing                         

C．cheating                                              D．advertising

3．The phrase “bringing the error to the clerk’s attention” (in para. 5) means __________.

A．telling the truth to the clerk                   B．offering advice to the clerk

C．asking the clerk to be more attentive      D．reminding the clerk of the danger

4．Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?

A．How to Live Truthfully                         B．Importance of Peacefulness

       C．Ways of Gaining Self-respect  D．Happiness through Honorable Actions

What makes a house a home?

Not size, of course. I’ve been in some of the grandest houses in America, and it’s apparent no one lives there. Earlier this year, I had dinner in a mud hut in Ethiopia, where we sat on chairs next to the hostess’ bed — a home that had more warmth than any house I’ve been in since.

Now John Edwards is exploring what makes a house a home in his just-released Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives. There Edwards writes, “This isn’t a book about houses; it’s a book about home. About the values they rest on, the dreams they are filled with, and the people they have shaped,” Edwards writes. “The houses and circumstances are different, but much of what you find inside will be familiar.”

Whether you’re sitting in an airport right now, waiting to fly to your childhood home for Thanksgiving, or in your own home waiting for the relatives to arrive, you know what he’s talking about.

We’ve lived in our townhouse for 21 years. It’s home now. The loose windows that rattle in the wind. The fireplace so shallow that it holds only one log. The kitchen window that offers a view of the world passing by. It’s where friends sit on the kitchen counter drinking wine while dinner is being fixed. It will always be my true home. Even the lamp in the west living room window, which I could see far down the road when driving home late at night, still shines.

While all this talk about childhood memories can be warm and comforting, home is whom you’re with, not where you are. As Edwards writes, “Home is family. Home is safety. Home is faith.”

Happy homecoming.

1．According to the author, what makes a house a home?

A．All the belongings in the house.             B．Feelings of warmth and comfort.

C．The houses and furniture.                     D．The houses and decorations.

2．About the book Home: The Blueprints of Our Lives, we know that _________.

A．it was the description of Edwards’ houses

B．it is mainly about houses

C．it helps us understand the concept of home

D．it was written by the author of the text

3．What did the author mean when he mentioned the loose windows and the shallow fireplace?

A．His house was too old to live in.            B．He missed the feelings of home.

C．He hated living there.                            D．He missed his old friends too much.

4．It can be inferred according to the text that __________.

A．the author’s family were very rich         B．every happy home is the same

C．the author has been living an unhappy lifeD．the author and Edwards hold similar ideas

“Tear’em apart!” “Kill the fool!” “Murder the referee (裁判)！”

These are common remarks one may hear at various sporting events. At the time they are made, they may seem innocent (清白) enough. But let’s not kid ourselves. They have been known to influence behavior in such a way as to lead to real bloodshed. Volumes have been written about the way words affect us. It has been shown that words having certain connotations (含义) may cause us to react in ways quite foreign to our usual behavior. I see the term “opponent” as one of those words. Perhaps the time has come to delete it from sports terms.

The dictionary meaning of the term “opponent” is “enemy”; “one who opposes your interests.” Thus, when a player meets an opponent, he or she may tend to treat that opponent as an enemy. At such times, winning may dominate (占据) one’s mind, and every action, no matter how aggressive, may be considered justifiable. I recall an incident in a handball game when a referee refused a player’s request for a time out for a glove change because he did not consider them wet enough. The player proceeded to rub his gloves across his wet T-shirt and then exclaimed, “Are they wet enough now?”

In the heat of battle, players have been observed to throw themselves across the court without considering the consequences. I have also witnessed a player reacting to his opponent’s blocking by deliberately hitting him with the ball as hard as he could during the course of play. Off the court, they are good friends. Does that make any sense? It certainly reflects a court attitude which departs from normal behavior.

Therefore, I believe it is time we elevated (提升) the game to the level where it belongs, thereby setting an example to the rest of the sporting world. Replacing the term ‘opponent’ with ‘associate’ could be an ideal way to start.

The dictionary meaning of the term “associate” is “colleague”; “friend’; ‘companion.’ You may soon see and possibly feel the difference in your reaction to the term “associate” rather than “opponent.”

1．Which of the following statements best expresses the author’ view?

A．Aggressive behavior in sports can have serious consequences.

B．The words people use can influence their behavior.

C．Unpleasant words in sport are often used by foreign athletes.

D．Unfair judgments by referees will lead to violence on the sports field.

2．Sharp words are spoken during games because the players ___________.

A．are too eager to show off themselves

B．are usually short-tempered and easily offended

C．cannot afford to be polite in fierce competitions

D．treat their rivals as enemies

3．According to the passage, players, in a game, may __________.

A．deliberately throw the ball at anyone blocking their way

B．keep on screaming and shouting through the game

C．leave the court as an act of protest

D．kick the ball across the court with force

4．The author hopes to have the current situation in sports improved by ___________.

A．calling on players to use clean language on the court

B．raising the referees responsibility

C．changing the attitude of players on the sports field

       D．promoting the relationship between players and referees

最近报纸上刊登了一篇报道：海南渔民张建民为8岁的女儿张慧敏设计了一个疯狂“夏令营”：用56天跑完3588公里，从三亚跑到北京。为此，媒体展开了讨论。请你根据下表，用英语给The 21st Century写一篇短文。

注意：1．词数在110左右。2．不必逐条翻译，可适当发挥。

It has been reported that …

As he works in a remote area, he visits his parents only__________.

A. occasionally          B. anxiously      C. practically         D. urgently

When she first arrived in China, she wondered what the future might have_____ for her, but now all her worries are gone.

A. in need           B. in time      C. in preparation      D. in store

阅读下列各小题，根据括号内的汉语提示，用句末括号内的英语单词完成句子。

1.__________(最长的三条河流)in the world are the Niles, the Amazon, and the Changjiang River.(long)

2.Seldom____________(他们玩)video games ever since they entered college.(play)

3.The city__________(我成长的)is very hot and damp in summer.(grow)

4._________(我花了)one thousand dollars to buy the painting last week.(cost)

5.I fell so sick .I wish Mum__________(没有逼我)to eat so much.(force)

6.—You’d better go and_________(把你的轿车洗洗).

   --No, I’ll do it myself.(wash)

7.With the rapid development of science and technology, I can’t imagine________(我的家乡会是什么样子)in ten years.(what)

8.Ir is your efforts, not your intelligence,_______(决定)your success.(determine)

9. He looks sleepy. He must________(熬夜了)last night, writing the essay.(stay)

10.At present, lots of food, water, tents, and medicine__________(正在运往)from all over China and other parts of the world to the earthquake-stricken areas.(transport)

On a warm Monday, Jenny Neitson bought a sandwich and parked her car under some trees. Rolling down the windows to _1__in fresh air, she settled bad to enjoy her lunch. Suddenly she __2__a big bald(秃顶的)man running through the parking lot. Before she __3__what would happen, the man was there, shouting through window. “Get out!”

Neilson__4__.

Pulling open her door, the man seized her __5__the neck and hair, and threw her out of the car onto the ground. She screamed,__6__her purse and the keys.

Two reporters of the local newspaper, Robert Bruce and Jeff Jackson, just outside their office building on a __7__,heard the screams and began running.

When they _8__Neilson’s car, the attacker had jumped into the driver’s seat and was __9__ searching for the keys. Bruce opened the door, and he and Jackson dragged the man out. The attacker __10__ back. But even in his cornered panic, he was no__11__for the two athletic men.

Reggie Miller, a worker of the local newspaper, heard the screams, too. He rushed back to the office to__12__the police ,and then ran back with some plastic ropes—used to tie up newspapers.

With his arms__13__tightly behind him, the prisoner looked up and said __14__.“I hope you guys feel good about yourselves—you just caught one of the most wanted men.” They __15__him and waited for the police.

Later, Bruce and Jackson were shocked to learn the man was the __16__carjacker(劫车者)and suspected murderer,whose__17__--but with a full head of hair—had been recently printed in their own newspaper.

Neilson considers herself lucky __18__she suffered injuries. She believes the story might have had a __19__ending if those good people had not come to her aid. “Unfortunately,” she says, “many people would__20__have done what they did, and that is the real truth.”

1. A. bring              B. let               C. gather              D. send

2. A. recognized         B. watched           C. noticed             D. met

3. A. realize            B. understand         C. imagine             D. conclude

4. A. escaped           B. struggled           C. refused             D. obeyed

5. A. by               B. around             C. with               D. on

6. A. burying           B. forgetting           C. offering            D. grabbing

7. A. trip              B. visit                C. break              D. holiday

8. A. started            B. stopped            C. entered               D. reached

9. A. carefully          B. madly              C. disappointedly         D. patiently

10. A. fought            B. turned             C. jumped              D. shouted

11. A. match             B. target             C. equal                D. companion

12. A. remind            B. phone             C. invite                D. beg

13. A. rolled             B. folded             C. bent                 D. tied

14. A. angrily            B. kindly             C. coldly                D. warmly

15. A. caught             B. thanked            C. comforted            D. ignored

16. A. ordinary           B. professional        C. honest                D. outstanding

17. A. picture            B. background         C. character              D. story

18. A. and               B. but               C. though                D. when

19. A. ridiculous            B. similar            C. strange                D. different

20. A. sometimes          B. never             C. often                  D. forever