Among rich countries, people in the Untied States work the longest hours. They work much longer than in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity per hour worked is the same in the Untied States as it is in France, Spain and Germany, and it is growing at a similar speed.
In most countries and at most times in history, as people have become richer they have chosen to work less. In other words they have decided to “spend” a part of their extra income on a fuller personal life. Over the last fifty years Europeans have continued this pattern, and hours of work have fallen sharply. But not in the Untied States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be greatly lower taxes in America, which increase the rewards（回报）to work. Another may be more satisfying work, or less satisfying personal lives.
Longer hours do of course increase the GDP（国民生产总值）. So the United States has produced more per worker than, say, France. The United States also has more of its people at work, while in France many more mothers and older workers have decided to stay at home. The overall result is that American GDP per head is 40% higher than in France, even though productivity per hour worked is the same.
It is not clear which of the two situation is better. As we have seen, work has to be compared with other values like family life, which often get lost in its interest. It is too early to explain the different trends（趋势）in happiness over time in different countries. But it is a disappointing idea that in the Untied States happiness had made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the work-life balance（平衡）?
1.From the text we know that author ________.
A. says nothing certain about which pattern is better
B. prefers shorter working hours to longer ones
C. believes that longer working hours is better
D. thinks neither of the patterns is good
2.Which of the following countries has more of its people at work?
A. Spain B. America C. Germany D. France
3.In the last paragraph , the underlined word “which” refers to _______.
A. family life B. situations C. other values D. trends
4.What message can we get from the text?
A. People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.
B. Americans are happier than Europeans
C. The GDP of Europe is higher than that of America.
D. Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.
5.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Staying at Home B. Work and Happiness
C. Work and Productivity D. Americans and Europeans
In many countries the standard of living enjoyed by their people has increased rapidly in recent years. Sadly, not everyone in these countries is so fortunate and many people in rich countries are homeless.
The reasons for homelessness are various, but poverty（贫穷）is undoubtedly one of the main causes. The homeless people may have become jobless and then been unable to pay their rent and so no longer have a roof over their heads. Often, the fact that unemployed people get help from the government prevents this from happening , but not always.
Some homeless people are mentally ill and have no one to look after them. Some are young people who, for one reason or another, have left home and have nowhere to live. Many of them have had a serious disagreement with their parents and have left home, choosing to go to a city and live on the streets. Sometimes they have taken such action because they have been unable to get on with a step-parent.
Many homeless people get into the habit of begging to get enough money to stay alive, but many of the general public refuse to give anything to beggars. Often they are moved on by the police , being accused（指控）, whether rightly or wrongly, of forceful begging. There are many who disrespect homeless people.
Some cynics（愤世嫉俗的人）declare that homeless people choose to live the life which they lead. But who would willingly choose to live in a shop doorway, under a bridge or in a cardboard box?
1.According to the text, what causes some people to be homeless?
A. The increased standard of living B. No government help
C. Agreement with their parents D. Lack of money
2.It can be inferred from the text that_______.
A. you will not find homeless people in countries with a high standard of living
B. the mentally ill live on the streets because they want the company of other homeless people.
C. the unemployed who receive help may still be among the homeless
D. the homeless are willing to live under a bridge or in a cardboard box
3.In paragraph 2, “a roof over their heads” most probably means _______.
A. a home B. a cap C. a car D. a covering
4.The author thinks that the homeless people are ______.
A. admirable B. respectable C. troublesome D. pitiful
If you’re like most students, you probably read both at home and outside your home: Perhaps somewhere on your schoolyard and maybe even at work during your breaks. Your reading environment can have a great effect on your understanding, so give some thought to how you can create（营造）or choose the right reading environments. The right environment allows you to stay alert （专注的）and to keep all of your attention on the text, especially when it is both interesting and difficult.
When you’re at home, you can usually create effective conditions for reading. You might want to choose a particular place-----a desk or table, for example ----where you always read. Make sure the place you choose is well lighted, and sit in a chair that requires you to sit straight. Reading
In a chair that’s too soft and comfortable is likely to make you sleepy! Keep your active reading tools (pens, markers, notebooks or paper) and a dictionary close at hand.
Before you sit down for a reading period, try to reduce all possible interruptions. Turn off your phone, the televisions, and the radio. Tell your family members or roommates that you’ll be busy for a while. If necessary , put a “Do not disturb” sign on your door! The more interruptions you must deal with while you read, the harder it will be to keep your attention on the task at hand.
1.The author believes that the right reading environment _______.
A. helps readers a little in their reading tasks
B. helps readers a lot in their reading tasks
C. can only be created at one’s home
D. can only be created outside one’s home
2.Which type of the following interruptions is mentioned in the text?
A. Dictionaries B. Paper C. Notebooks D. Phone calls
3.What would be the best title for the text?
A. What to Read B. The Ways to Reduce Possible Interruptions
C. Creating an Effective Reading Environment D. How to Read Fast
假定你是李华，亚洲冬季运动会将在你居住的地方举办，现正在招募志愿者，你希望成为其中一员。请按要求用英文给组委会写一封信。内容应包括：
*1． 个人情况：年龄，性别，学历
*2． 个人条件：英语好，爱好体育，善于交际，乐于助人，熟悉本地情况
*3． 承诺：提供最佳服务
注意：
*1． 词数100左右，开头语已为你写好
*2． 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
*3． 生词：申请—apply (v.),application(n.)
志愿者—volunteer
Dear Sir / Madam:
My name is Lihua .I would like to work as a volunteer for the Winter Asian Games.
此题要求改正所给短文中的错误。对标有题号的每一行作出判断：如无错误，在该行右边横线上画一个勾（√）；如有错误（每行只有一个错误），则按下列情况改正：
此行多一个词：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉，在该行右边横线上写出该词，并也用斜线划掉。
此行缺一个词：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），在该行右边横线上写出该加的词。
此行错一个词：在错的词下划一横线，在该行右边横线上写出改正后的词。
注意：原行没有错的不要改。
An American and a Frenchman dicided to cross the sea
between France and England in the balloon in 1784 .High 1.
over the water ,they discover a hole in the balloon .The 2.
hole became bigger and bigger .The air keeps the 3.
balloon up was escaping quickly and the balloon was 4.
coming up. The two men threw all their equipment into 5.________
the water to make the balloon light.It started to rise 6.
higher again. So it was still too close to the water. 7.
Finally, the men threw away most of his clothes to 8.
save themselves .The crowd waiting for to greet them in 9.
England was very surprised see this when the balloon 10.
landed in front of them.
根据下列句子及所给汉语注释，在句子右边的横线上写出空缺处各单词的正确形式。（每空只写一词）
1.I’m very hungry –I ( )（错过）lunch.
2.Jack took a deep ( )（呼吸）and then dived into the water.
3.I ‘ve got an ( ) （普通）sort of car,nothing special.
4.I want to thank everyone who has ( )（鼓励）and supported me .
5.Jenny spends hours in front of the ( ) （镜子）!
6.It is ( ) （稍微）colder today than it was yesterday.
7.The story is written by an ( )（澳大利亚）engineer.
8.Tom was ( ) （羞愧）of having lied to his parents.
9.( )（一月）is the first month of the year.
10.Can you ( ) （想像）standing up there and giving a speech?
