阅读理解

閱读下列短文，从每题所给A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

（一）

A

SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PACKS

SAME GREAT DEVONDALE QUALITY

From the green pastures （牧场 ） of Australia comes Devondale， Australias largest community of farming families. The people at Devondale blend dairy goods and clever ideas to bring you great tasting innovative （创新的 ） products， which has been shipped to America， Canada and exported to Austria.

Like our lightest one—instant skim （脱脂的 ） milk powder that makes 10 litres of delicious skim milk. So you never run out of milk again.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE：

TO MIX 1 CUP （250ML）

● Add 1/4 cup （25g） of instant Devondale Skim Milk Powder to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.

● Add more water to make up 1 cup.

● For best result always add powder to water.

● For richer taste and extra nutrition， use additional powder to suit your personal taste or preference.

● To improve the natural taste of this product， we recommend storing the liquid milk in the refrigerator overnight prior to consumption.

NOTICE：

● Store powder in a cool， dry place.

● Keep refrigerated at or below 4 degrees Centigrade no more than 3 days.

● Once opened， store in an airtight container.

1. What word can best describe the people in Devondale？

A. Creative. B. Kind. C. Curious. D. Interesting.

2. What should a user do if he/she wants the milk to taste natural？

A. Add some sugar to the milk. B. Remove the cream from the milk.

C. Put it in the fridge before using it. D. Increase its amount in the liquid milk.

3. Where should you put the powder once consumed？

A. In a warm room. B. In a plastic bowl.

C. In a watertight jar. D. In a closed container.

B

One of my elderly patients who I only looked after for a day wove an outfit for my to?-be child and sent it by post to my work， which was quite unexpected， but so beautiful. Luckily she put her address on the envelope so I had the chance to send her back a small gift to say thanks and wish her good health.

And then， the latest gift of love was from our cleaner at work. What a lovely soul！ A lovely lady who cleans our work place in the mornings， and I usually only get the chance to say hello to her a couple of times a week and have small talks.

Yesterday she left an envelope for me with a card with wishes for me on the arrival of my baby， I was so touched that she actually got me a card， but I was totally dumbfounded when I opened it and saw a $100 note！

She didnt have to do that， and it didnt feel right for me that she spent so much on me—someone she hardly knows that well， so instead， Hubby and I decided we would give it all back to her in a different way. We bought her some small gifts： perfumes， chocolates， jewelry etc. and will give them to her this week as the way to pay her back. Im also leaving work so its a beautiful way to give her something before leaving.

People like her just remind me that there are so many beautiful souls out there！

4. Why did the autors patient send her woven clothes？

A. She would have a baby. B. She could provide help.

C. She begged the patient to do so. D. She was too busy to buy clothes.

5. What made the author surprised when she checked the gift？

A. The card. B. The money. C. The wishes. D. The envelope.

6. Why did the author and her husband buy the cleaner some gifts？

A. To satisfy her everyday needs. B. To encourage her to work better.

C. To show their great thanks to her. D. To return her money in another way.

7. How does the author sound when telling the story？

A. Serious. B. Grateful. C. Excited. D. Ashamed.

C

Close your eyes for a minute and imagine what life would be like if you had a hundred dollars less. Also imagine what it would be like spending the rest of your life with your eyes closed. Imagine having to read this page， not with your eyes but with your fingertips.

With existing medical knowledge and skills， two thirds of the worlds 42 million blind should not have to suffer. Unfortunately， rich countries possess most of this knowledge， while developing countries do not.

ORBIS is an international non-profit organization which operates the worlds only flying teaching eye hospital. ORBIS intends to help fight blindness worldwide. Inside a DC-8 aircraft， there is a fully-equipped teaching hospital with television studio and classroom. Doctors are taught the latest techniques of bringing sight back to people here. Project ORBIS also aims at promoting peaceful cooperation among countries.

ORBIS tries to help developing countries by providing training during three-week medical programs. ORBIS has taught sight saving techniques to over 35，000 doctors and nurses， who continue to cure tens of thousands of blind people every year. ORBIS has conducted 17 plane programs in China so far. For the seven to ten million blind in China， ORBIS is planning to do more for them. At the moment an ORBIS team is working on a long term plan to develop a training center and to provide eye care services to Shanxi Province. ORBIS needs your help to continue their work and free people from blindness.

For just $38， you can help one person see； for $380 you can bring sight to 10 people； $1，300 helps teach a doctor new skills； and for $13，000 you can provide a training program for a group of doctors who can make thousands of blind people see again. Your money can open their eyes to the world. Please help ORBIS improve the quality of life for so many people less fortunate than ourselves.

8. Whats the purpose of the first paragraph？

A. To introduce a new way of reading. B. To advise the public to lead a simple life.

C. To direct the publics attention to the blind. D. To encourage the public to use imagination.

9. What can we learn about existing medical knowledge and skills in the world？

A. They are adequate. B. They have not been updated.

C. They are not equally distributed. D. They have benefited most of the blind.

10. How does ORBIS help the blind？

A. By teaching medical students. B. By training doctors and nurses.

C. By running flying hospitals globally. D. By setting up non-profit organizations.

11. What does the author try to do according to the last paragraph？

A. To appeal for donations. B. To make an advertisement.

C. To promote training programs. D. To show sympathy for the blind.

D

Diet Coke， diet Pepsi， diet pills， no-fat diet or vegetable diet... We are surrounded by the word “diet” everywhere we look and listen. We have so easily been attracted by the promise and potential of diet products that we have stopped thinking about what diet products are doing to us. We are paying for products that harm us psychologically and physically.

Diet products weaken us psychologically. On one level， we are not allowing our brains to admit that our weight problems lie not in actually losing the weight， but in controlling the consumption of fatty， high-calorie and unhealthy foods. Diet products allow us to jump over the thinking stage and go straight for the scale instead. All we have to do is to swallow or recognize the word “diet” in food labels （標签）.

On another level， diet products have greater psychological effects. Every time we have a zero-calorie drink， we are telling ourselves without awareness that we dont have to work to get results. Diet products make people believe that gain comes without pain， and that life can be without resistance and struggle.

The danger of diet products lies not only in the psychological effects they have on us， but also in the physical harm that they cause. Diet foods can indirectly harm our bodies because consuming them instead of healthy foods means we are preventing our bodies from having basic nutrients. Diet foods and diet pills contain zero calorie only because the diet industry has created chemicals to produce these wonderful products. Diet products may not be nutritional， and the chemicals that go into diet products are possibly dangerous.

Now that we are aware of the effects that diet products have on us， it is time to seriously think about buying them. Losing weight lies in the power of minds， not in the power of chemicals. Once we realize this， we will be much better able to resist diet products， and therefore prevent the physical harm that comes from using them.

12. What can we learn about diet products from Paragraph 1？

A. They fail to bring out peoples potential. B. People have difficulty in choosing them.

C. They are misleading people. D. People are fed up with them.

13. One psychological effect of diet products is that people tend to ___ .

A. try out a variety of diet foods B. hesitate before they enjoy diet foods

C. pay attention to their own eating habits D. watch their weight rather than their diet

14. What does the underlined part “gain comes without pain” in Paragraph 3 probably mean？

A. Losing weight is effortless. B. Losing weight costs a lot.

C. Diet products bring no pain. D. Diet products are free from calories.

15. Why do diet products indirectly harm people physically？

A. They are over-consumed. B. They lack basic nutrients.

C. They are short of chemicals. D. They provide too much energy.

（二）

A

The online business model is changing on a satisfaction-first basis. It doesnt matter if someone recommended you an app， nothing beats getting to try out the app first before deciding on whether or not to apply for the service.

● Rhapsody

Listen to Rhapsodys large music library and get the option to download and listen to songs or even full-length albums when youre offline. At the moment， this service is available in 32 countries only. Remember that youll need to cancel within the free trial period to avoid being charged for your first month.

[Trial period—14 days | After trial—$9.99/month | Try now]

● Bigstock

Need save photos for your presentations and artworks？ Go to Bigstock to check out their collection from top artists and photographers around the world. Choose from over 30 million photos， and illustrations （插圖）， with 75，000 images coming in every new week. All you need to start your free trial is your email address.

[Trial period—7 days | After trial—$79/month | Try now]

● Canvas

If you are drowning in paperwork， perhaps it is time to use Canvas and transfer all your paperwork online. Digitalize your work orders， forms etc. so that they can be filled up and completed right on any mobile device. This makes it easy to create， edit， gain valuable data and send it to the people who need it in seconds.

[Trial period—30 days | After trial—$13/month | Try now]

● Backupify

If you have ever lost your phone， you know how important it is to backup （備份） all your important documents， notes， contacts and other personal details. Get cloud-to-cloud protection of up to 3 PB of data with Backupify. You can backup your data for Google apps， Office 365， various social media sites and even Salesforce.

[Trial period—15 days | After trial—$3/month | Try now]

To learn more about the Apps above， Click Here.

1. Who is more likely to use the app Canvas？

A. A secretary. B. A photographer. C. An artist. D. A musician.

2. What can be of some help to save photos？

A. Bigstock and Canvas. B. Backupify and Bigstock.

C. Rhapsody and Backupify. D. Rhapsody and Canvas.

3. What do the four apps have in common？

A. They offer free entertainment services. B. Users will access them via email accounts.

C. They can help brush up users work skills. D. Users can try them without paying money.

B

It was graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day quite unlike the first graduation I attended as a young professor. On that cold day years ago， as we watched the students walking into the hall， one of my colleagues turned to me and said， “Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the saddest time of your life.” At my inquiry， he answered， “Because the students you have gotten to know have to leave.”

As years went by， my previous confusion about my colleagues words no longer existed. When I came across naughty students， I have had to rethink why I chose to be a teacher. It obviously isnt the money. Once a former computer science student of mine called me， asking me if I wanted to have a change. He was working at Nintendo Corporation. His salary was higher than my current one， though I have more education and have worked for over a decade. With my programming skills， he said he could get me hired. I thanked him， but declined his kind offer.

A few days before this current graduation， while working on final grades， I found a note a student had slipped in with her homework. She thanked me for being her teacher and said the things she had learned in my class—not about math， but about life—would be things she would remember long after the math skills had faded away. As I finished reading， I remembered why I had become a teacher.

Now， on this sunny graduation day， as I again observed the sea of blue hats and gowns， I did so with renewed dedication and a deeper sense of satisfaction—I will always be grateful that I am a teacher.

4. How did the author feel when he heard his colleague talking about graduation for the first time？

A. He agreed with them. B. He was very puzzled.

C. He thought it very funny. D. He was very sad.

5. The computer science student called up the author ___ .

A. to inform the author of his present job B. to persuade the author to work with him

C. to say the author wasnt fit to be a teacher D. to share his joy and satisfaction with the author

6. What does the underlined part “blue hats and gowns” in the last paragraph refer to？

A. Life memories. B. Graduates clothes.

C. Graduation ceremonies. D. Decorations in the hall.

7. Whats the authors purpose of writing this passage？

A. To express his devotion to teaching. B. To talk about the meaning of graduation.

C. To give advice on how to be a good teacher. D. To compare two different graduation ceremonies.

C

The meaning of silence varies among cultural groups. Silences may be thoughtful， or they may be empty when a person has nothing to say. A silence in a conversation may also show stubbornness， or worry. Silence may be viewed by some cultural groups as extremely uncomfortable； therefore attempts may be made to fill every gap with conversation. Persons in other cultural groups value silence and view it as necessary for understanding a persons needs.

Many Native Americans value silence and feel it is a basic part of communication among people， just as some traditional Chinese and Thai persons do. Therefore， when a person from one of these cultures is speaking and suddenly stops， what maybe implied （暗示） is that the person wants the listener to consider what has been said before continuing. In these cultures， silence is a call for reflection.

Other cultures may use silence in other ways， particularly when dealing with conflicts among people or in relationships of people with different amounts of power. For example， Russian， French， and Spanish persons may use silence to show agreement between parties about the topic under discussion. However， Mexicans may use silence when instructions are given by a person in authority rather than be rude to that person by arguing with him or her. In still another use， persons in Asian cultures may view silence as a sign of respect， particularly to an elder or a person in authority.

Nurses and other care-givers need to be aware of the possible meanings of silence when they come across the personal anxiety their patients may be experiencing. Nurses should recognize their own personal and cultural construction of silence so that a patients silence is not interrupted too early or allowed to go on unnecessarily. A nurse who understands the healing value of silence can use this understanding to assist in the care of patients from their own and from other cultures.

8. What does the author say about silence in conversations？

A. It implies anger. B. It promotes friendship.

C. It is culture-specific. D. It is content-based.

9. Which of the following people might regard silence as a call for careful thought？

A. The Chinese. B. The French.

C. The Mexicans. D. The Russians.

10. What does the author advise nurses to do about silence？

A. Let it continue as the patient pleases. B. Break it while treating patients.

C. Evaluate its harm to patients. D. Make use of its healing effects.

11. What may be the best title for the text？

A. Sound and Silence B. What It Means to Be Silent

C. Silence to Native Americans D. Speech Is Silver； Silence Is Gold

D

Grown-ups are often surprised by how well they remember something they learned as children but have never practiced ever since. A man who hasnt had a chance to go swimming for years can still swim as well as ever when he gets back in the water. He can get on a bicycle after many years and still ride away. A mother who has not thought about the words for years can teach her daughter the poem that begins “Twinkle， twinkle， little star” or remember the story of Cinderella or Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

One explanation is the law of overlearning， which can be stated as follows： Once we have learned something， additional learning trials increase the length of time. We will remember it.

In childhood we usually continue to practice such skills as swimming， bicycle riding， and playing baseball long after we have learned them. We continue to listen to and remind ourselves of words such as “Twinkle， twinkle， little star” and childhood tales such as Cinderella and Goldilocks. We not only learn but overlearn.

The multiplication tables （乘法口訣表） are an exception to the general rule that we forget rather quickly the things that we learn in school， because they are another of the things we overlearn in childhood.

The law of overlearning explains why cramming （突击学习） for an examination， though it may result in a passing grade， is not a satisfactory way to learn a college course. By cramming， a student may learn the subject well enough to get by on the examination， but he is likely soon to forget almost everything he learned. A little overlearning， on the other hand， is really necessary for ones future development.

12. Whats the main idea of Paragraph 1？

A. Stories for children are easy to remember.

B. Poem reading is a good way to learn words.

C. Children have a better memory than grown-ups.

D. People remember well what they learned in childhood.

13. How does the author explain the law of overlearning？

A. By presenting research findings. B. By setting down general rules.

C. By making a comparison. D. By using examples.

14. According to the author， being able to use multiplication tables is ___ .

A. a result of overlearning B. a special case of cramming

C. a skill to deal with math problems D. a basic step towards advanced studies

15. What is the authors opinion on cramming？

A. Its helpful only in a limited way. B. It leads to failure in college exams.

C. It may cause poor memory. D. It increases students learning interest.

（三）

A

Health， Wellness and Politics of Food

9：00—9：45 AM/Blue Tent

Panelists （專题讨论小组成员）： Jami Bernard， David Kamp， Marion Nestle and Peter Singer.

Moderated （主持） by Denise Grady， science writer for The New York Times.

How does what we eat not only have effect on our bodies， but also the world？ This group of food and nutrition experts discuss the role that diet plays in both personal and global health and food politics.

Sports Writing： For the Love of the Game

9：50—10：35 AM/Blue Tent

Panelists： Christine Brennan， Ira Rosen， Joe Wallace and Joe Drape.

Moderated by William C. Rhoden， sports writer for The New York Times.

Whether catching that key moment of victory or defeat， or covering breaking news， sports writers are anything but audience. Listen as some of the industrys professionals discuss their personal experience of reporting sports news.

The Art of the Review

11：15—12：00 AM/Green Tent

Panelists： John Freeman， Barry Gewen， David Orr， Celia McGee and Jennifer Schuessler.

Moderated by Sam Tanenhaus， editor for The New York Times Book Service.

How much of an effect does the book review have on book sales？ Join this group of critics as they discuss the reality of book review and bestseller lists， and how they choose books for review.

New York Writers， New York Stories

3：00—3：45 PM/Green Tent

Panelists： Cindy Adams， Richard Cohen， Ric Klass and Lauren Redniss.

Moderated by Clyde Haberman， writer for the city part of The New York Times.

Join this inspired group of New York-centric writers as they talk about why New York is a gold mine of ideas for their works.

1. If you like sports writing， you will most probably ___ .

A. attend the Art of the Review B. enjoy Jami Bernards talk

C. listen to Christine Brennans talk D. go to Green Tent at 3：00 pm

2. If you are free in the afternoon， you can attend ___ .

A. The Art of the Review B. New York Writers， New York Stories

C. Health， Wellness and Politics of Food D. Sports Writing： For the Love of the Game

3. About the four activities， we learn that they ___ .

A. are all about writing B. will last 45 minutes each

C. all can be attended freely D. will attract many readers

B

Ashok Gadgil has spent the past three decades helping people in need—and he has no plans to stop. On May 2， Gadgil won the $100，000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation. Each year， the honor is given to an inventor who has improved the lives of people in developing countries. Gadgils inventions have helped more than 100 million people around the world.

Gadgil is a professor and physicist at the University of California. When hes not teaching， he works to find solutions to global problems such as energy efficiency and water safety. “He chooses to focus on problems where his knowledge of science can help.

In the 1980s he came up with a program to make energy-efficient light bulbs more affordable for people in developing countries. Then in the 1990s， Gadgil designed his first life-saving invention， UV Waterworks. The device kills deadly disease—carrying germs （病菌） from drinking water. It costs just one cent to clean five liters of water. Gadgil was inspired to find an inexpensive solution to the clean water crisis after more than 10，000 people in his home country of India died from an outbreak of Bengal cholera， in 1993. The disease is spread through contaminated food and drinking water. So far， the invention has provided safe drinking water to more than five million people in poor areas.

As a professor， Gadgil encourages his students to stay positive about finding solutions to hard problems. “Be optimistic when you try a hard problem，” he says. “Its when you solve a large problem that you can have a big impact on the world.”

4. Gadgil was given Lemelson-MIT Award for ___ .

A. his teaching experience B. his new physical research

C. his vast knowledge D. his helpful inventions

5. What can we learn about UV Waterworks？

A. Its Gadgils first invention. B. Its used to clean water.

C. It was designed for Gadgils home country. D. It saved 10，000 people in total.

6. What does the underlined word “contaminated” in Paragraph 3 probably mean？

A. Wasted. B. Consumed. C. Polluted. D. Packed.

7. According to the last paragraph， Gadgil encourages his students ___ .

A. to learn lessons from failures B. to find problems in peaceful life

C. to make inventions to help poor people D. to be confident when facing difficulties

C

Most sociologists recognize four factors affecting student academic performance， namely： the familys socioeconomic status； the time spent on independent learning and preparation for classes； the time spent working on a job or practicing a hobby； and the school environment. However， a recent study indicates that the role of the social environment may be underestimated， as classmates can greatly influence one anothers behavior and academic success.

Yet the value of many such studies is limited due to serious design flaws （瑕疵）—such as viewing a random group of classmates as ones social network or assuming that a students position in his or her social network is static （靜态的）. Rather than being random， ones social network is a product of conscious and dynamic choice. Social networks can change considerably over time—e.g. a student can break up with an underachieving friend and seek the company of A-graders.

Using 2015—2016 data on the social networks of 117 first-year students of the Faculty of Economics at a Russian university， Director Yudkevich and his two assistants， examined whether students consider academic success in choosing friends among their classmates and whether friends influence each others academic performance. They analyzed the data using random actor-based modeling to address the dynamics and other tiny differences of social group members behavior.

According to their study， in choosing friends， students do not usually consider academic performance， but over time— often in the middle of the academic year—all members in a peer group tend to perform at about the same level. Thus， most students who surrounded themselves with high-achievers improved their performance over time. The opposite was also true. Those who befriended underachievers eventually experienced a drop in grades. While underachievers have a stronger influence on their networks， high performers tend to gain popularity and expand their influence over time， particularly by helping other students with their studies.

8. What factor do most sociologists think may help improve a students study？

A. A good learning habit. B. His or her family location.

C. The friendship with others. D. Clean and tidy environment.

9. Compared with the previous studies， the new one is ___ .

A. far from accurate B. random and static

C. scientific and believable D. full of serious design faults

10. According to Yudkevich， in choosing friends， a student will eventually ___ .

A. ignore academic performance B. be close to an underachieving friend

C. seek the company of high performers D. enlarge and strengthen their networks

11. What is the Yudkevichs research aimed at？

A. Introducing a new way to carry out an experiment.

B. Stressing the importance of the students hard work.

C. Confirming the importance of the students social network.

D. Objecting to the traditional view on how to choose friends.

D

“Sticks and stones may break my bones， but words will never hurt me.”

You probably heard those lines in grammar school， but do you really agree that harsh （嚴厉的） or negative words do not harm us？ Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.

We may not say words to hurt others， but the way we interpret them and how we say them may cause great harm. Heres an example：

An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him： the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone！

The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said， “Congratulations！ King！ You will live many more years. In fact， you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King！”

Both interpreters gave the same interpretation， but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.

Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words， but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive？

People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm， but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer？ They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person？ Remember： Words have power. Use them wisely.

12. The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that ___ .

A. good words can bring good luck to people B. people should be careful when talking to a king

C. one dream sometimes has different explanations D. different ways of saying things have different effects

13. The underlined word “naysayer” in the last paragraph refers to a person who always ___ .

A. talks big B. likes to be praised

C. has a negative attitude D. repeats what others say

14. What is the main purpose of the last paragraph？

A. To advise people to stay away from negative people. B. To show how harsh and negative words hurt people.

C. To show how the dark sides of things affect people. D. To advise people to see and say things positively.

15. What does the passage mainly talk about？

A. The power of words. B. The cruelty of the king.

C. How to understand others. D. How to build good relationships.

（四）

A

Heres a selection of festivals for tourists to the United States in summer.

San Francisco Silent Film Festival

Films at this odd cinematic event have a variety of musical accompaniments， including piano and violin. It includes some classic silent movies. If you want to see them all， you can buy a festival pass.

May 29 to June 6； www.silent film.org

Union Street Festival

This popular street fair stretches out over six blocks of the city， in the fashionable shopping area of Union Street. This year， theres beer， wine tasting and more separate themes—fashion， cuisine， tech， local crafts， and health and fitness.

June 7 to 10； www.unionstreetfestival.com

North Beach Festival

This is San Franciscos oldest street party， with live entertainment， delicious food and arts and crafts. Situated in the Little Italy district， known for its associations with the “Beat Generation”， festival goers are guaranteed plenty of good Italian food. There is also as the “blessing of the animals”， a San Francisco tradition which takes place at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi （610 Vallejo Street） at 2 pm on these days of the festival.

June 14 to 16； www.sfhorthbeach.org

Stern Grove Festival

This is the oldest free summer arts festival of its kind in the United States. It includes a wide variety of acts， from the local symphony orchestra to well-known artists such as Smokey Robinson.

Sundays from June 22 to Aug 24； www.sterngrove.org

1. Which of the following festivals contains the most themes？

A. San Francisco Silent Film Festival. B. Union Street Festival.

C. North Beach Festival. D. Stern Grove Festival.

2. How is North Beach Festival different from the other Festivals？

A. It lasts the shortest time. B. Festival goers can enjoy food in it.

C. It has the longest history of food. D. Some foreign culture is presented in it.

3. When can you enjoy the oldest art festival in the United States？

A. Saturdays in May. B. Saturdays in July.

C. Sundays in May. D. Sundays in July.

B

The associates I hired in my bicycle and lawn mower shop like myself were never perfect； however， they were excellent. Working with them as they improved taught me new ways to show forgiveness， understanding， and patience.

One day the placement officer asked me to interview a young man who was having trouble finding a job. He told me that David was a little shy， did not talk much and was afraid to go on with interviews. He requested that I give David an interview just for practice. He plainly told David that I had no positions open at the time and the interview was just for practice.

When David came in for the interview， he hardly said a word. I told him what we did at the bicycle shop and showed him around. I told David to keep showing up because the number one thing an employer wanted in an associate was dependability.

David was very quiet （he was evaluated as a slow learner in school）. Every ten days or so， for weeks after the interview， David walked into the bicycle shop and stood by the front door. He never said a word， just stood by the door.

One day， shortly before Christmas， a large truck came to the shop， packed with 250 new bicycles. It had to be unloaded right away or the driver would leave.

It was raining. Some of my workers （without physical limitations） chose not to brave the weather to get into work， so I was short-handed. It seemed everything was going wrong and on top of it. David came in the front door and just stood there. I looked at him and shouted， “Well， all right！ Fill out a time card and help me unload this truck！”

David worked for my bicycle shop for eighteen years. He came to work every day thirty minutes early. He could talk； however， he rarely chose to. He drove my truck and made deliveries. The customers would praise David， saying， “He doesnt talk， but he really shows you how to operate a lawn mower！”

4. Why did the author give David an interview？

A. To give him some practice. B. To show sympathy for him.

C. To find a person who is reliable. D. To find a part-time worker in need.

5. Why does the author finally hire David？

A. David kept showing up. B. He realized David was dependable.

C. There were no other workers in the shop then. D. He needed someone who was willing to work then.

6. What can we infer from the last paragraph？

A. The author feels lucky to hire David. B. Some customers just play jokes on David.

C. The author prefers David to be more outgoing. D. David has had his character changed through work.

7. The authors tone in describing David is full of ___ .

A. pity B. wonder C. disappointment D. appreciation

C

People who possess high self-esteem are able to commit better and produce a greater bond in relationships with others. Dr Douglas feels that most people do not value themselves， but with love and self-respect anyone can be above normality and grasp success with the family， the office， or others.

We have become too reliant on intelligence， beauty， and money for our own self-esteem. The loss of esteem reduces the will and ability to set and reach goals. In a series of readings Douglas teaches how to avoid negative statements， how to change them into self-facing behavior， and how to take charge of your mental attitude. Where other motivational and self-help works stop with the theoretical plan for success， Douglas take everyday examples and puts them into this written workshop. From raising children who believe in themselves to using self-esteem to help bridge production gaps in the workplace， he gives readers concrete solutions to the problems that plague （困擾） their interpersonal relations.

Self-esteem building comes from filling your thoughts with positive affirmations and learning to react to failures with motivation instead of self-degradation. These lessons are valuable for anyone who feels that life is even slightly outside of his control. People who feel they have adequate esteem can learn to utilize （利用） it to make their successes grander， faster， and more beneficial for others. Douglas approaches this process of self-development as a means of more than creating good things for the individual but also for setting up keys for influencing good things for others.

For more than thirty years， Dr Douglas has addressed more than two million people on topics from time management to speaking effectively to raising drug-free children. He is the author of fifteen books， including How to Make a Habit of Succeeding.

8. What can we infer from Paragraph 1？

A. Self-esteem matters much. B. Most people behave well enough.

C. Committing better equals greater success. D. Self-respect means being above normality.

9. Why does Douglas put everyday examples into his books？

A. To set and reach goals. B. To offer concrete solutions.

C. To avoid negative thoughts. D. To be reliant on self-esteem.

10. What does the author advise those whose life is slightly out of control to do？

A. Ask for help. B. Learn to be positive.

C. Face it unmotivatedly. D. Admit self-destruction.

11. Whats the most important to be self-development？

A. Gaining more benefits. B. Influencing more people.

C. Creating good things. D. Speaking more effectively.

D

For many people， being on the job might just sound like a picnic compared to a day at home filled with housework， meals and childcare. Even for those with a happy family life， home can sometimes feel more taxing than work.

In a new study， researchers at Penn State University found significantly and consistently lower levels of cortisol （皮質醇） released in response to stress， in a majority of subjects when they were at work compared to when they were at home. This was true for both men and women， and parents and people without children.

Both men and women showed less stress at work. But women were more likely to report feeling happier there. Men were more likely to feel happier at home. Experts say there are other reasons why work is less stressful than home for many. “Paid work is more valued in society，” says Sarah Damaske， the lead researcher on the study. “Household work is boring and not particularly rewarding.”

We get better at our job with time and the increased competence means less stress and more rewards. Yet none of us， no matter how long weve been doing it， ever truly feels like an expert at parenting or even at marriage.

The support and friendship of co?workers also offer stress relief. At home， meanwhile， stress spreads and accumulates quickly. “Thats the reason why most housewives wish they were the bread earners，” Dr Damaske says.

Much of the advice to families and couples includes the warning to leave work stress at the office and even to change our mindset from work to home， for example， a walk around the block. The recent findings， though， suggest our home life， not our attitude， might be due for some change.

12. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “taxing” in Paragraph 1？

A. Stressful. B. Cheerful.

C. Worthwhile. D. Rewarding.

13. What did the research in the second paragraph prove？

A. Men felt better at home. B. Women felt they had less time.

C. Women were easier to feel happier. D. Most people felt more stress at home.

14. What do most people think of work at the office？

A. It is competitive. B. It improves ability.

C. It cant relieve stress. D. It doesnt always pay off.

15. According to the recent findings， what should we change to solve the problem mentioned？

A. Our attitude. B. Our mindset.

C. Our home life. D. Our working style.

（五）

A

Sunnyside School Bookshop Sunnyside Secondary School

A Warm Welcome To All Secondary Pupils！ Congratulations on getting into Singapores premier school. To do well in English， you must have a good English dictionary. May we recommend that you buy any of these two， which have been specially selected by the English teachers in the school. Select the one that fits your needs！

Fosters Advanced Learners Dictionary

The most authoritative and up-to-date dictionary for intermediate （中级的） learners of English.

◆ Over 50，000 references， including new words created over the past ten years.

◆ 20 full-page colour illustrations.

◆ Grammar and spelling rules simply and completely explained.

◆ Lots of examples of how to use words in the correct context.

◆ 10 page appendix （附录） on “How To Write More Effectively”.

Active Learners English Dictionary

A most useful dictionary which not only helps you to learn new words but also shows you different ways of using them in your writing. Particularly useful for foreign students and non-native speakers of English！

◆ Over 48，000 references with explanations focusing on a speakers attitude and intentions.

◆ Each definition together with tips on how to use the word or its synonyms （同義词） in the correct context.

◆ Right margin （页边空白） gives a list of synonyms.

◆ Left margin gives information on grammar and spelling.

◆ Clear pronunciation guide.

1. Whats the purpose of the notice？

A. To make sales. B. To welcome new pupils.

C. To educate the pupils. D. To advertise the bookshop.

2. In what way is Fosters Advanced Learners Dictionary different from Active Learners English Dictionary？

A. It has spelling tips. B. It has grammar tips.

C. It has more word entries. D. It has pronunciation tips.

3. Fosters Advanced Learners Dictionary is particularly suitable for ___ .

A. very young learners B. foreign students

C. learners at middle level D. non-native speakers of English

B

Before breakfast， two young people head down to the woods， struggling a little with the heavy bag of food for the pigs. “Scatter them in different piles，” says the farm staff member.

The teenagers are part of a group from a London secondary school who are staying at Jamie Fieldens farm， one of a number of “care farms” providing a type of eco-therapy. The pupils brought here have been chosen by their teachers： 14-year-old Sofia， for example， has a difficult home life， and George， 14， is extremely quiet.

Most of them have never been to the countryside before. For five days， they get up early， eat wholesome food and do various chores dependent on the season. It is summer and they are pulling up coriander （a plant） from the vegetable beds and feeding animals.

Besides farmwork， the young people have group sessions with the farm phychotherapist （精神治疗医师） who teaches them techniques for dealing with difficult situations. They can do horse-whispering with her， one-to-one therapy （治疗） making use of one of the farm horses. Phones and sweets are banned， as part of the focus on creating a calm， supportive atmosphere.

And the young people seem to be thriving （茁壯成长）. Aaron， a 12-year-old with serious attendance issues， is clearly taken with the horse whispering. “I feel as if the horse is calm and I am calm. I had to work out how to speak calmly to make her do what I wanted.”

A classmate， Hasan， describes a similar feeling. “I expected to be really bored here， but as soon as we arrived it was fantastic.” Hasan has a complicated home life and needs support.

A week after the pupils arrive back at school in west London， teachers report a difference in behavior. There is no doubt that they will continue to send pupils to the farm in years to come.

4. What do pupils at Jamie Fieldens farm have in common？

A. They are animal lovers. B. They prefer country life to city life.

C. They have learning difficulties. D. They are troubled by certain problems.

5. How does the “care farm” function？

A. By encouraging fine teamwork. B. By turning to heavy physical work.

C. By combining farmwork with therapy. D. By building close personal relationships.

6. Why does the author mention Aaron and Hasan？

A. To explain horse whispering. B. To describe the beauty of the farm.

C. To show the effectiveness of care farm. D. To introduce the pupils daily routine.

7. What does the text mainly talk about？

A. The power of nature. B. Behavioral problems.

C. Devoted care workers. D. A special kind of farm.

C

The term “boomerang kids” refers to adult children who move back into their parents house after a period of living on their own.

Traditionally， Americans expect to finish their schooling， get a job， and then move out of their parents home as soon as they become financially independent. Unlike in other countries where it is common for adult children to live with their parents until they marry， or even after they are married， in the US， adults living with their parents after graduating and getting a job is not the typical pattern.

However， things may be changing. The current generation of young adults are being called the “boomerang generation” because the lack of jobs has driven many of them to move back with their parents， after having lived on their own while in college or after getting a full-time job. Fewer parents are experiencing what we sometimes call an “empty nest”， a home where the adult children leave and only the parents remain.

In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2011， about 30% of people ages 25 to 34 reported that they had moved back with their parents at one time or another. While many of these adult children say that this is a satisfactory situation， with over 75% of these young adults saying they like their living arrangement， sometimes its not easy for the parents. 65% parents say that it is difficult to adjust to the return of their children， especially when deciding how much help to give them.

How does this living arrangement affect the relationships between parents and adult children？ About a quarter of the young adults say that their relationship with their parents has improved， a quarter say it has worsened， and about 50% say it hasnt had any effect either way.

8. From Paragraph 1， we can learn that “boomerang kids” refers to people who _____ .

A. are adults but quite mentally childish B. still live on their parents when growing up

C. care about their parents by living with them D. can save little money at the end of every month

9. Whats the traditional life pattern about young adults in America？

A. They live with their parents after graduation. B. They live on their own after they are married.

C. They live on their own and support themselves. D. They find a full-time job with their parents help.

10. What may lead to the “boomerang generation” phenomenon？

A. Lack of life experience. B. Parents overprotection.

C. The tight employment market. D. Parents fear for the “empty nest”.

11. According to the study， how do the majority of the parents feel about the return of their children？

A. Satisfied. B. Uncomfortable. C. Acceptable. D. Unaffected.

D

“Children who eat less salt and drink fewer sugar-sweetened soft drinks may significantly lower their risks of obesity （肥胖），” researchers recently reported in the journal Hypertension.

“Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are a significant source of calorie intake in children，” said Feng J. He， a researcher at St Georges University of London， England. “It has been shown that sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption is related to obesity in young people.” They wanted to know whether there is a link between salt intake and sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption.

Dr He and colleagues analyzed data from a 2013 national survey of more than 2，000 people between 4 and 18 in Britain. “We found that children eating a lower-salt diet drank less fluid （液體），” said He. “From our research， we estimated that 1 gram of salt cut from their daily diet would reduce fluid intake by 100 grams per day.”

The researchers also found that children eating a lower-salt diet drank fewer sugar-sweetened soft drinks. From their research， they predicted that reducing salt intake by 1 gram each day would reduce sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption by 27 grams per day. “If children aged 4 to 18 cut their salt intake by half， there would be a decrease of about two sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week per child， so each child would decrease calorie intake by almost 250 kilocalories per week，” Dr He said.

In previous studies， researchers found that a low-salt diet lowers blood pressure in children， and prevents the development of high blood pressure later in life. “Both high blood pressure and obesity increase the risk of having strokes and heart attacks，” Dr He said.

Dr He recommends that parents check labels and choose low-salt food products. “Small reductions in the salt content of 10 to 20 percent cannot be detected by the human salt taste receptors （感受器） and do not cause any technological or safety problems，” Dr He said.

12. According to the passage， obesity is directly linked to ___ .

A. high blood pressure B. sugar-sweetened soft drinks

C. high-salt foods D. strokes and heart attacks

13. What does the recent study find？

A. A lower-salt diet may mean less sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption.

B. A low-salt diet keeps children out of high blood pressure.

C. Children face the risk of having strokes and heart attacks.

D. There is a link between salt intake and obesity.

14. Which of the following statements would Dr He agree with？

A. Drinking less water contributes to losing weight.

B. Children should reduce fluid intake in their daily life.

C. The less salt people eat， the healthier people become.

D. A low-salt diet may prevent both high blood pressure and obesity.

15. What kind of food products should parents choose according to Dr He？

A. Those that taste good. B. Those of famous brands.

C. Those with beautiful labels. D. Those with low-salt content.

（六）

A

Aquarium Event

Sea of Light

As a child in Laguna Beach， Richard Salas often wished he could swim through the tide pools and the underwater world.

A photography class in high school gave his life new purpose， and further studies at the Brooks Institute of Photography inspired Salas to take his love for the ocean in a new direction.

Join the Santa Barbara photographer as he records the undersea beauty of Californias Channel Islands. For the last five years Salas has braved the cold waters and unpredictable currents to create a collection of portraits and seascapes. Not content to simply record the well-known life forms， Salas uses dramatic lighting to uncover a world of never-ending color and texture （紋理） that is inhabited by personalities ranging from the funny to file evil.

Copies of Richard Salass book Sea of Light will be for sale at Pacific Collections and there will be a book signing after the lecture.

1. According to the text， what can we know about Salas？

A. He developed a love for oceans at college. B. He had a gift for photography in his childhood.

C. He felt confused about the direction of his life. D. He recorded the undersea beauty through hard work.

2. What can we know about Aquarium Event？

A. You can go there in the morning. B. It will be free for everyone.

C. Tickets for it can be bought online. D. Nobody can get Salass signature there.

3. What is the advertisement about？

A. A course of the tide pools. B. A journey to Californias Channel Islands.

C. A photography class in a high school. D. A photographers lecture and book on seas.

B

Adrians “Amazing Race” started early when his parents realized that he， as a baby， couldnt hear a thing， not even loud noises. In a special school for the hearing-impaired （聽觉受损的）， he learned sign language and got to mix with other disabled children. However， the sight of all the disabled children communicating with one another upset his mother. She wanted him to lead a normal life. So after speaking to an advisor， she sent him to private classes where he learned to read lips and pronounce words.

Later on， Adrians parents decided to send him to a regular school. But the headmaster tried to prevent them from doing so， saying regular school couldnt take care of a special needs students. His parents were determined to take the risk and push him hard to go through his work every day because they wanted to prove that， given the opportunity， he could do anything. Adrian made the grade and got accepted. It was a big challenge. The pace was faster so he had to sit at the front of the class and really pay attention to the teacher， which wasnt always easy. But he stuck to it and did a lot of extra work after school.

The efforts made by Adrian and his parents paid off. Adrian graduated with good grades and got into a top high school. He also achieved a lot in life outside school. He developed a love for the outdoors and went to Nepal to climb mountains. He even entered the World Yacht Race 05/06—being the first hearing-impaired Asian to do so.

But none of these achievements would have been possible without one of the most important lessons from his mother. “If you believe in yourself and work hard， you can achieve great results.” She often said.

4. How did Adrian communicate with other children in the special school？

A. By speaking. B. By using sign language.

C. By reading lips. D. By making loud noises.

5. Why did Adrians parents decide to send him to a regular school？

A. They wanted him to live a normal life. B. They wanted to prove the headmaster was wrong.

C. He wouldnt mix with other disabled children. D. He wasnt taken good care of in the special school.

6. How did Adrian finally succeed in his study？

A. He did a lot of outdoor activities. B. He was pushed hard to study every day.

C. He attended private classes after school. D. He worked very hard both in and after class.

7. Why is Adrians life described as an “Amazing Race”？

A. He did very well in his study. B. He succeeded in entering a regular school.

C. He reached his goals in spite of his disability. D. He took part in the World Yacht Race 05/06.

C

Todays children are the “result” of the modern society. Our parents have jobs that keep them busy almost all day long. They only have a free day in a week. This doesnt allow them to keep an eye on their children.

On the other hand， the modern society gives more freedom to the children than they could “handle”. As a child， you dont know how to grow up by yourself until you reach a certain age. That is why you need school and parents to be by your side all the time. If you dont have either of them you may make a lot of mistakes. The social system of the modern society is very lenient especially with the children.

Most of the children today are rebels. They are rude. They are given too much freedom by their families. This is their parents mistake. They ought to know that the freedom they give to their children is misunderstood.

For example， it is a bad thing for a 17-year-old child to go out in the evening on weekends. Parents are also guilty of the way their children show up in the street or at school. The same guilt belongs to the teaching system as well. Pupils shouldnt be allowed to dress like they were on a fashion presentation at school.

Another important fact we can think of regarding the freedom of children is their free will of spending money. Parents shouldnt allow their children to spend money on whatever they want.

I think children are given too much freedom not only by their parents， but also by the society. The latter is more to be blamed！

8. We can infer from the passage that parents busy lifestyle ___ .

A. is harmful to their childrens health B. is likely to create a troubled generation

C. makes their children become independent D. may lead to a tense parent-child relationship

9. What does the underlined word “lenient” in Paragraph 2 mean？

A. Not responsible. B. Not strict. C. Unkind. D. Unfair.

10. It seems that the writer agrees that students ___ .

A. should have a sense of financial security B. should stay at home on weekends

C. had better wear school uniform at school D. can be allowed to go out in the evenings

11. According to the writer， which of the following should be responsible for childrens problems？

A. The social environment. B. The educational system.

C. The family. D. The school.

D

Many jobs must be done with two people. One person takes the lead. The other helps. So it is with the human body. Much of our body depends on the cooperation between substances. When they work together， chemical reactions take place smoothly. Body systems are kept in balance.

Some of the most important helpers in the job of good health are the substances we call vitamins. The word “vitamin” dates back to Polish scientist Casimir Funk in 1912. He was studying a substance in rice. Funk believed the substance belonged to a group of chemicals known as amines （胺類）. He added the Latin word “vita”， meaning life. So he called the substance a “vitamine”—an amine necessary for life.

Other studies found that not all vitamins were amines. So the name was shortened to vitamin. But Funk was correct in recognizing their importance.

Scientists have discovered 14 kinds of vitamins. They say vitamins help to carry out chemical changes within cells. If we do not get enough of the vitamins， we are at the risk of developing a number of diseases. This brings us back to James Lind of Scotland. In the 1740s， Lind was a doctor for the British Navy. He was investigating a problem that had existed in the Navy for many years.

The problem was the disease scurvy （坏血病）. The sailors were weak from bleeding inside their bodies. Even the smallest wound would not heal. Doctor Lind thought the sailors were getting sick because they failed to eat some kinds of foods when they were at sea for many months.

Doctor Lind separated twelve sailors who had scurvy into two groups. He gave each group different foods to eat. One group got oranges and lemons. The other did not. The men who ate the fruit began to improve within seven days. The other men got weaker.

12. Why was the name “vitamine” shortened to “vitamin”？

A. Vitamine was a wrong word. B. Some vitamins are not amines.

C. Vitamine is important for life. D. The latter was easy to remember.

13. What does the underlined word “This” in Paragraph 4 refer to？

A. People tend to develop many diseases. B. Lack of the vitamins causes disease.

C. Vitamins help chemical changes within cells. D. It is common for people to get no enough vitamins.

14. How did Doctor Lind prove eating fruits can prevent scurvy？

A. By comparing. B. By analyzing. C. By surveying. D. By questioning.

15. Whats the text mainly about？

A. The scientist who discovered vitamins. B. The benefits of vitamins.

C. Research into scurvy. D. Facts about vitamins.

（七）

A

For tourists holding the Barcelona Card， the information below will be useful if you plan to admire some artworks or architectures there.

Sagrada Familia

Opening hours： 09：00—18：00 （0ctober—March）； 09：00—20：00 （April—September）

Admission： $11， or $10 with the Barcelona Card.

The projects vast scale and its special design have made it one of Barcelonas top tourist attractions for many years.

La Pedrera

Opening hours： November—February： 09：00—18：30； March—October： 09：00—20.00

Admission： $9.50. Save 20% with the Barcelona Card.

It is a unique modernist building made of bricks and colorful tiles （瓦）. Visitors can see the amazing 800 square meters attic （閣楼） with 270 brick arches that give you a feeling that you are walking inside the skeleton of a whale.

Barcelona FC Museum

Opening hours： 6th April—4th October： 10：00—20：00； the rest of the year： 10：00—18：30

Admission： $8.50 for entry to the museum and $17 for a guided tour.

When you buy your ticket you have two options： a ticket for the museum to see the football stadium or a special one for $15 where you get to see the stadium and the scenes at the club.

Picasso Museum

Opening hours： Check the website for details as they vary depending on the time of the year.

Admission： $9 for main exhibition-extra for special showings. Save 50% with the Barcelona Card.

The museum has arranged Picassos paintings from his early days to his final works. Arranging the paintings in this way gives you a fascinating insight into the development of Picasso.

1. Which of the following will attract football fans？

A. La Pedrera. B. Sagrada Familia.

C. Picasso Museum. D. Barcelona FC Museum.

2. How much should you pay to visit the stadium and the club with a tour guide in Barcelona FC Museum？

A. $25.5. B. $32. C. $34. D. $42.5.

3. What do the attractions have in common？

A. The Barcelona Card is a must for visiting them.

B. They are all famous for their architectural styles.

C. Their opening hours are changeable in different seasons.

D. Tourists can have a discount of 20% with the Barcelona Card.

B

I grew up in a busy family， both parents working jobs that demanded their attention. I was little and rushed around， always at risk of moving too quickly， missing the bus and making mistakes.

Luckily， my enthusiasm for the world took me from the troubles at home to climbing mountains. When I was 19， I learned something called the “rest step” from an old mountain climber. He advised me to rest in the middle of each step completely but briefly. The rest step， which I still practice today， allows me to move quickly yet still find a pause in every step. Even when needs seem most urgent， the practice of slowing down offers calm and clarity.

In 1987， I was in Pakistan to climb Gasherbrum. It was a very big mountain. Our expedition （探險队） faced more than its share of difficulty： A long storm wiped out most of our goods and an avalanche （雪崩） destroyed our camp site. One of our party developed altitude sickness. In the face of each disaster， we carefully developed a new plan. Snow caves replaced lost tents. Soups replaced gull meals. Eventually we climbed slowly to the top， and then made our way sagely down.

There is magic in any faith. Every once in a while， my belief in pace rises up， slows me down and shows me a view of a sunset， a smile from a stranger or a conversation with a child. I owe these moments to what I learned from an old mountain climber and have practiced ever since.

4. What was the author like when he was little？

A. He didnt have a steady character. B. He didnt get along with his parents.

C. He was unable to focus his attention. D. He wasnt fond of mountain climbing.

5. “Rest step” is a way ___ .

A. to keep practicing B. to be devoted to what you love

C. to pause a while to do better later D. to have a rest after climbing a mountain

6. How did the authors expedition survive the disasters？

A. By having gull meals. B. By living in the tents.

C. By saving their goods. D. By changing their plan.

7. What can be the best title of the text？

A. Every Step Counts B. A Magic Experience

C. An Old Mountain Climber D. The Practice of Slowing Down

C

Goldfish have pretty boring lives， so maybe its a good thing they can only concentrate for nine seconds！ But according to a new research， humans are becoming like goldfish. Our attention span （时长） is getting shorter... and its all because of technology.

“We move quickly from one site to another on the web，” says Doctor Ted Selker， a computer scientist from Massachusetts， “and we are losing the ability to concentrate.” With millions of websites to choose from， the attention span of the average Internet user is just seconds. There are other digital distractions too： e-mail， instant messaging and quickie movies on websites.

Some people are worried about the effect on young people. “You need time to understand and think about what you read，” says Julia Wood， from London. “Young people search the net all the time and their brains become full of useless information but there is no time to make sense of it. I am trying to persuade my pupils to read more books， so that they concentrate on one subject for longer.”

Other teachers are trying more unusual methods to improve students concentration. Anne Savan， from Wales， was so worried about her students that she started playing Mozart during her science lessons. She said that it had an amazing effect： “The music made them calmer， and their concentration was much better.”

But not everyone believes that there is a problem. Ray Cole， an educational psychologist said： “On the web， young people learn to make quick decisions about what is and isnt worth reading. They might look at five unhelpful websites very quickly， before stopping and reading a sixth useful website more carefully. In a world with so much information available， this is an important skill.”

8. Why does the writer mention “goldfish”？

A. To analyze data. B. To introduce a topic.

C. To settle problems. D. To suggest a way out.

9. What may cause a shorter attention span according to Dr Ted Selker？

A. Skipping on the Internet. B. Making decisions.

C. Traditional methods of reading. D. Time to digest information.

10. What will help students overcome a short attention span？

A. Receiving e-mails. B. Texting messages.

C. Reading more books. D. Watching quickie movies.

11. What is Ray Coles attitude towards looking through websites quickly？

A. Cautious. B. Unfavorable.

C. Worried. D. Supportive.

D

Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious； that is， they are concerned with their own appearance and actions too much. Negative thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds： What kind of impression am I making？ Do they like me？ Do I sound stupid？ Am I wearing unattractive clothes？

It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must affect people unfavorably. A persons self-concept is reflected in the way he or she behaves and the way a person behaves affects other peoples reactions. In general， the way people think about themselves has a deep effect on all areas of their lives.

Shy people， who have low respect， are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need faith that they are doing “the right thing”. Shy people are very sensitive to criticism. It makes them feel inferior. They also find it difficult to be pleased by praises because they believe they are unworthy of praise. A shy person may respond to a praise with a statement like this one： “Youre just saying that to make me feel good， I know its not true.” It is clear that， while self-awareness is a healthy quality， overdoing it is harmful.

Can shyness be completely got rid of， or at least reduced？ Fortunately， people can overcome shyness with determination since shyness goes hand in hand with lack of self respect. It is important for people to accept their weakness as well as their strengths. Each one of us has his or her own characteristics. We are interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves， the easier it becomes to live up to our chances for a rich and successful life.

12. Whats the first paragraph mainly about？

A. The cause of shyness. B. The feelings of shy people.

C. The effect of shyness on people. D. The questions in the minds of shy people.

13. What does the underlined word “inferior” in Paragraph 3 mean？

A. Proud. B. Optimistic. C. Bad. D. Guilty.

14. What is “self-awareness” regarded as by the writer？

A. A good characteristic. B. A kind of harm to people.

C. The cause of unhappiness. D. A weak point of shy people.

15. We can learn from the passage that shyness can ___ .

A. make us lose our own characteristics B. block our chances for a successful life

C. have nothing to do with lack of self respect D. be got rid of easily with high self-awareness

（八）

A

Late Summer and Fall Cruise Deals for Families

If you and the kids are expecting a different type of holiday， a cruise might be what youre looking for. These completely packaged cruises are available for September， October and December sailings， so chat with a travel expert and book now！

8-Night Caribbean Vacation

What： For an after-holiday cruise， a 7-night Caribbean cruise aboard Royal Caribbeans Oasis of the Seas on December 26 might be the way to go， with rates that start at $1，799 per person.

Whats Included： This package includes a 7-night cruise， a 1-night hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale， and transfers to ship.

9-Night Hawaii Vacation

What： Sail aboard Norwegians Pride of America to Hawaii and discover its heritage and history with this 9-night package that starts at $1，755 per person for the October 24 sailing.

Whats Included： The package includes a 7-night cruise， a 2-night hotel stay in Honolulu， a 2-night car rental， and ship and airport transfers.

10-Night Alaska Cruise Tour

What： Aboard NCLs Norwegian Sun， see glaciers， icebergs， whales and quiet Alaskan fishing towns on September 7 just before summer officially ends. Rates start at $1，614 per person.

Whats Included： This summer package includes a 7-night cruise， a 3-night cruise tour， and transfers to ship.

8-Night Alaska Vacation

What： Take a 7-night Alaskan cruise with the kids aboard NCLs Norwegian Jewel on September 12， with money-saving rates that start at $1，092 per person.

Whats Included： The package includes a 7-night cruise， a 1-night hotel room near the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport， and transfers to your hotel and ship.

1. Which is proper for a family to have a vacation in October？

A. 8-Night Caribbean Vacation. B. 9-Night Hawaii Vacation.

C. 10-Night Alaska Cruise Tour. D. 8-Night Alaska Vacation.

2. How much should one pay at least to enjoy the Alaskan fishing towns？

A. $1，799. B. $1，755. C. $1，614. D. $1，092.

3. One who has a tight budget but wants to spend a few days at sea might choose ___ .

A. 8-Night Caribbean Vacation B. 9-Night Hawaii Vacation

C. 10-Night Alaska Cruise Tour D. 8-Night Alaska Vacation

B

Mahendra， a former senior officer at the State Bank of India， talks about his disabled and wounded dogs like a father about his children—with the same love， affection， and warmth. Hes a well?-known animal rights activist， the secretary at People for Animals （PFA）. But nothing explains Mahendra better than his love for animals. It was this love that led him to establish Indias first shelter home for dogs living with disabilities.

It all started in 1998， while taking a midnight walk， Mahendra came across a very weak dog on the street， whose bones were seen under its skin. Mahendra decided to feed it and for the next couple of days it became the centre of his life， until the night when he found it dead. Since then， Mahendra started providing treatment to all wounded and sick dogs he came across. After some time， somebody told Mahendra about PFA， Indias largest animal welfare organization， chaired by Mrs Maneka Gandhi. Mahendra contacted her and， impressed by the work he was doing， Mrs Gandhi asked him to start a PFA chapter in Ahmedabad.

Thus， in 2014， he started the shelter. It took a long time for Mahendra to find land where the shelter could be set up. Finally， Ramesh Bhai Patel， a farmer from a village named Jundal， agreed to give his land for nothing. Along with a team of four doctors and many volunteers， the shelter now has twenty?-five dogs that were unable to walk at all when they were brought in. Today， theyre slowly healing.

Dogs that have healed with proper treatment are sent back to where they came from if the environment there is safe. However， the shelter will be home to the blind dogs for all their lives， says Mahendra.

The shelter runs on the money coming from Mahendras own pocket. There have been some financial crunches now but Mahendra is determined that no matter what challenges come their way， theyll fight through.

4. What can we know about Mahendra from Paragraph 1？

A. His affection for animals. B. His love for senior people.

C. His care for disabled people. D. His devotion to protecting his children.

5. Mahendra decided to do something for animals because of ___ .

A. the death of a homeless sick dog B. his meeting with a sick dog one night

C. the encouragement of Mrs Gandhi D. his contact with the organization PFA

6. In his effort to build the shelter， Mahendra ___ .

A. spent much money hiring workers B. got a free land from a farmer

C. received little support from others D. got financial aids from the government

7. What does the underlined word “crunches” in the last paragraph mean？

A. Aids. B. Markets. C. Services. D. Difficulties.

C

A new study shows students who write notes by hand during lectures perform better on exams than those who use laptops （筆记本电脑）.

Students are increasingly using laptops for note taking because of speed and legibility （清晰度）. But the research has found laptop users are less able to remember and apply the concepts they have been taught.

Researchers performed experiments that aimed to find out whether using a laptop increased the tendency to make notes “mindlessly” by taking down word for word what the professors said.

In the first experiment， students were given either a laptop or pen and paper. They listened to the same lectures and were told to use their usual note taking skills. Thirty minutes after the talk， they were examined on their ability to remember facts and on how well they understood concepts.

The researchers found that laptop users took twice as many notes as those who wrote by hand. However， the typists performed worse at remembering and applying the concepts. Both groups scored similarly when it came to memorizing facts.

The researchers report said，“While more notes are beneficial， if the notes are taken mindlessly， as is more likely the case on a laptop， the benefit disappears.”

In another experiment aimed at testing long term memory， students took notes as before but were tested a week after the lecture. This time， the students who wrote notes by hand performed significantly better on the exam.

These two experiments suggest that handwritten notes are not only better for immediate learning and understanding， but that they also lead to superior revision in the future.

8. More and more students use laptops ___ .

A. to write more notes B. to get higher scores

C. to digest concepts better D. to understand lectures better

9. While taking notes， laptop users tend to be ___ .

A. thoughtful B. mindless C. skillful D. tireless

10. Whats the authors purpose in writing the text？

A. To promote the use of laptops. B. To explain the process of taking notes.

C. To stress the benefit of taking notes by hand. D. To examine the importance of long term memory.

11. Where can we probably find this text？

A. In a finance report. B. In a science magazine.

C. In a computer textbook. D. In a newspaper advertisement.

D

One of the most exciting and attractive fields of work today is the fashion industry. Some of the most well-known people in this industry are the fashion designers with unbelievable financial Kingdoms. But most of the clothes that you wear have been designed by people that the world has never heard of. Although these unknown fashion designers will never make a very large amount of money as their famous workmates， most still would not think of changing their careers. They are doing what they love.

If you spend hours looking through fashion magazines and like making your own clothes， a career as a fashion designer might be right for you. You do not have to go to design school to become a fashion designer， but many people who want a career in this field do. One of the most famous places to study is the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. It is located in the heart of the “garment” district on Eighth Avenue， also known as Fashion Avenue.

Becoming a fashion designer is not just a matter of classroom education. Students know that they cannot just leave school and start designing on their own. Many think that they need at least four years experience working for someone else after they graduate. The best schools encourage students to work closely with the fashion industry while they are still studying.

You need ambition and hard work to get a career in fashion. Students often work 12 hours a day. They are encouraged to have realistic ambitions and not to expect success overnight， if ever. Success means finding a job in the fashion industry and more years of hard work.

12. What can we learn from the first paragraph？

A. Unknown fashion designers earn little.

B. Most fashion designers dont like their own jobs.

C. Most of the clothes are designed by famous designers.

D. Some famous fashion designers can make a lot of money.

13. In order to have a career in fashion design， one had better ___ .

A. look through magazines B. go to New York City

C. study in a design school D. have the ability of making his own clothes

14. Which of the following sayings shows the writers opinion about learning fashion design？

A. Experience is the best teacher. B. Well begun is half done.

C. Better late than never. D. Seeing is believing.

15. What can be inferred from the passage？

A. Famous designers graduate from famous school.

B. Most famous design schools are located in New York City.

C. To be a fashion designer， design school education is a must.

D. Design school students had better do some practice while studying.