The glass doors have taken the place of the wooden ones at the entrance,_____ in the natural light during the day.

Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two.

Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself, each extra dollar makes less and less difference.

Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues.

“Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better,” conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways－scientists or actors, for example－may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs.

In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desire－not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health－rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap(差距). Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. “The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income.” Says Michalos.

Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. “Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?” asks Professor Laura Carstensen.

In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often.

Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they’re more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve. But Carstensen thinks that with times running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don’t.

“People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever,” she says. “A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20.”

1.According to the passage, the feeling of happiness __________.

2.Some actors would like to accept poorly-paid jobs because the jobs ____________.

3.Aged people are more likely to feel happy because they are more _________.

4.Professor Alex Michalos found that people feel less happy if __________.

Almost every child is scared of something, from monsters in the cupboard to dogs in the park. But the fact that such fears are common and normal doesn’t mean they can be taken lightly. Kids experience fears and phobias(恐惧症) much more strongly than adults. And the influence of the fear can be physical as well as psychological(心理的). It can build up so they almost seem scared of everything－a kind of childhood anxiety. Dr. Creswell says: “Your child may always seem to expect the worst to happen and lack confidence in his or her ability to deal with any challenge.” So don’t make the same old mistake of treating them as if they’re silly for being a “scaredy cat”. Handling the fears is essential.

Children can be born nervous and, if you have such a baby, you’ll tend to prevent them from getting worried. So if they fear dogs, you’ll keep them away from dogs, but in fact that can just confirm to the child that dogs are scary. What is worse, keeping your child away from what they fear can turn that feeling into a phobia. Instead, you should encourage them to get in touch with the thing they fear, in a safe and supportive environment. Dr. Andy Field, a researcher of childhood fears, says: “You shouldn’t force, for example, a dog anxious child to go up to a dog. But you can approach it yourself, show them there is nothing to be afraid of, stroke(抚摸) it, and talk about the dog being friendly. Once your child dares to stroke a dog－one that’s good with children, of course－then you should encourage them to carry on until they feel calmer, and reward them for ‘being brave’.”

1.Children’s fears are usually taken lightly because __________.

2.If we fail to help children to overcome fears, they will ___________.

3.According to Dr. Andy Field, if a child is afraid of a cat, parents should __________.

How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?

In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.

Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces, They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks（象牙）, and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.

Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3 –4 days, and can store water in a  “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders – they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung（粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.

During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine（尿液）to make them muddy!

As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

1.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “           ”.

2.Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they _________.

3.The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with __________.

4.What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?

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，并将答案写在答题卡上的相应题号后。

31．They sat together around the table , with          （门关着）.（shut）

32．I haven’t the slightest idea          （他正在说什么）.（talk）

33．The fact          （他失败了数次）makes him very upset. （he , fail ）

34．Last night , John was answering the letters that          （寄给他的）during the past two weeks . （arrive）

35．He believes that children          （应允许……学习）at their own pace ; （allow）

36．She has an excellent          （对名字的记忆力），which helps her quite a lot in her work . （memory）

37．        （他是否出过国）doesn’t make much difference . （he，abroad）

38．The factory’s output of cars this year is          （大约是去年的三倍）.（as，great）

39．Not only          （要帮助）the disabled to find jobs , but also medical treatment will be provided for those who need it . （give）

40．It is possible that the King of Stonehenge was linked to the stones ; he          （可能参与）in planning the monument , or in helping transport and pull up the stones . （hand）

Water can absorb and give off a lot of heat without big changes in temperature , thus creating a        environment .

If the firms failed to make enough money , they would        .

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

1._ One of the best things you can possibly do is to start you own club. It’s great fun especially if you are the sort of person who feels there’s never anything to do during the school holidays.

The first thing you need to come up with is an idea for your club. 2. Pets, clothes, pop music or dancing groups, sports, making things? The list is endless.

Next you need some friends to be in your club with you. _3._ All you need is three or four other people who are interested in the same thing as you.

4.You should all sit down somewhere together with lots of pieces of paper and write down every name you can think up. That’ll keep you busy for ages.

At your first meeting you should make up a rule book. And the first rule should be no grown-ups or little/big brothers or sisters! The best clubs are always secret!

Now you have just about everything you need, except membership cards. These are very important and again you can speed a lot of time making them.5.Why not leave some space for a photo of yourself? That will make the membership card really look like it.

So there you are, get clubbing! Once you get started you’ll think of loads of more interesting things to do!

E.     Some vacation is just around the corner.

F.     Then you need to pick a name for your club.

G.    Use a bright thick pen to make a special design.

阅读下面的短文，然后按照要求写一篇150词左右的英语短文。

Dear Ari,

     As you sleep in my arms, I'm amazed at how light you feel. I stare at your tiny body, so fragile that a sudden wind could lift you up into the air. I love this feeling of protecting you and dreaming of all I have in store for you.

     I intend to bring you up to be brave and successful in an often difficult society. That's why your mommy and I have named you Ari, which means "lion". It's our hope that you will grow strong and eagerly grasp every opportunity to do well for yourself and others.

     Before you came into the world, we had spent months imagining what you'd be like. Would you be a boy or a girl? Would you look like Mommy, Daddy or your elder brothers? Anyway, we would find out soon.

     Finally your mother's labor came. And several hours later, we met the first time. I held you high up in the air. I then was able to cut your umbilical cord (脐带) and put you in your mother's arms. She still had enough energy to radiate the love while she pressed you to her face.

     And here we are tonight. As I hold you close, you sleep so peacefully. I press my ear to your chest and hear your strength. I am listening to the first beats of a lion's heart. Welcome to the world, Ari.

      Love,

      Daddy

[写作内容]

    假设你就是信中的Ari，父亲在你出生的时候写了这封信。今天是父亲50岁生日，你准备以写信的方式，祝贺他的生日。以下是信的内容(信的开头和结尾已经为你写好)：

1．以约30个词概括父亲在他信中对你的期望；

2．以约120个词表达你对父亲的感恩，并包括如下要点：

(1)读信后的感受；

(2)以你自己成长的经历说明你的感受；

(3)表达你对父亲的感激和祝福。

 [写作要求]

1．作文中可使用自己的亲身经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容但不得直接    引用原文中的句子；

2．信中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

 [评分标准]

概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，篇章连贯。

基础写作(共1小题，满分15分)

上周，我们以“谁是你的偶像”为题，在2600名学生中进行了一次调查(survey)。以下是调查数据：

[写作内容]

根据以上数据，写一篇短文，包括以下内容：

  1．调查时间、调查问题以及调查对象；

  2．男女生在以明星为偶像方面的差异；

  3．“父母”在男女生偶像中的排序差异；

  4．男女生在以伟人为偶像方面的异同；

  5．你的偶像及理由。

  [写作要求]

  1．只能使用5个句子表达全部内容；

  2．文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

[评分标准]

句子结构准确，信息内容完整，篇章结构连贯。