BELIEVE it or not, the color of the tie Barack Obama wears to the inauguration（就职典礼） is now a hotly debated topic. The level of public interest in Obama’s tie might seem strange but many people believe his choice will symbolize the type of government he plans to run, as the color of a politician's tie is thought to convey ideas of power, trustworthiness and more.
Polities of ties
It may be the least practical item of male dress, but it is arguably the most expressive. In the UK and many other countries around the world, conservative（保守的）politicians may wear a blue tie and their liberal opponents a red one. In America, the colors go the other way round. The Republicans have in recent years become associated with the color red, and the Democrats with blue. But in spite of this, Bush wears blue ties more often than any other color.
What they mean
According to Sharon Haver, editor of focusonstyle, com, in America the feelings associated with colors overrule （压制） their political significance. “A guy who wants to be regarded as strong and in charge would wear red,” Haver says. Unsurprisingly, the business tycoon Donald Trump is known for wearing red ties. But what about blue? According to Haver, “Blue is a softer color…Look at the sky. It's peaceful and calm and trustworthy.”
Selecting the right tie for the right occasion
● Perfect job interview tie
Perhaps no other tie-wearing occasion is as important as the job interview. Gilchrist, the fashion expert, advises playing it safe and choosing a conservative one. Best choices are solids, stripes or small patterns. An excellent color is burgundy（酒红色）or another serious color. Avoid pink or yellow, which suggest that the wearer lacks gravity.
Pattern ties, Gilchrist suggests, should be limited to a maximum of three colors. A striped tie is a safe choice as this is acceptable to everyone. Last, Gilchrist recommends saving the expensive “hip” tie for those applying for glamorous creative jobs.
● Date-night tie
When picking out the fight tie for taking a girl out on a date, spend more time considering color than pattern. According to studies, women are attracted to men wearing the color blue, because blue gives the image of a "stable, faithful, constant, always there" person. So what is the worst color to wear on a date? “flattened caterpillar（毛虫）yellow-green”, according to Gilchrist, “it will repel both sexes equally.”
1.Why are people interested in the tie that Obama wears to the inauguration?
A．Because they think the tie he wears will enable them to know about his personalities and policies.
B．Because they want to advise him on how to select an appropriate tie for such a big
occasion.
C．Because they think the ties will tell if he is trustworthy as they expected when he assumes
office.
D．Because they believe the tie is an essential part of dressing to a mature politician like
Obama.
2.What can we infer about Bush, the former president, from the passage?
A．He was probably liberal in his policies when he was in power.
B．He was a Republican when he served as president.
C．He wore only blue ties and had no ties of alternative colors.
D．He wanted to make himself unique by the tie that he wore.
3.The example of "the business tycoon Donald Trump" is given to .
A prove that color reflects people's feelings to a certain degree.
B．show that Donald is so wealthy that he can afford expensive ties.
C．tell that Donald is physically strong and can handle everything.
D．explain that red is a popular color, especially with businessmen.
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A．Ties can be ignored by politicians since it is the least practical item of male dress.
B．Do choose ties carefully before dating, because it is the most important occasion.
C．Why to avoid pink or yellow in job interviews is that they don't match the atmosphere.
D．The more colorful the tie is, the more likely you'll get the job you want.
5.The underlined word "repel" in the last paragraph is most close to “ ”in meaning.
A．puzzle B．attract C．delight D．disgust
A study into character, intelligence and usefulness shows dogs are better pets than cats—but only by a whisker.
Staff at New Scientist magazine first listed the areas where cats fared better. These included having bigger brains—compared to their body size. Cats’brains also contain 1.4 million more cells, devoted to complex functions such as memory and attention, than dogs. Cats’second point was given for being more popular, with 204 million living in the top ten cat-owning nations compared to 173 million dogs in the ten countries where dogs are favored. Cats also get more attention from humans, with purrs （呼噜声）and miaows easily to be noticed. Although dogs can vary their barks, they cannot match the attention-seeking of cats. It is a similar story when it comes to senses. Cats can see in lower light than dogs and have a far wider hearing range and a sharper sense of smell. They are also said to be’greener’pets because their smaller appetites mean less area of land required to farm their food.
But in the other six categories examined—many of which related to getting on with humans dogs had the edge.
Dogs have a longer shared history with humans, maybe as long as 135,000 years. Cats are relative newcomers to our homes. Similarly, dogs have a greater ability to bond with their masters. Even four-month-old puppies choose a human companion over another dog. Dogs scored a third point for their better powers of understanding and following human gestures. One study found that a dog called Rico had mastered the meaning of more than 200 words. The ability to perform roles such as being a guide dog for the blind meant dogs were rated better than cats when it came to their problem-solving abilities. And they are easier to train.
With the scores tied at five-all, the deciding point fell on usefulness—with dogs coming out on top.
Dogs, studies show, help cut human stress, while taking them for walks keeps their owners fit and helps them meet new people. New Scientist says: “Dogs can hunt and guard. They can sniff out drugs and bombs; they guide blind and deaf people, find someone buried in ruins, and possibly even predict earthquakes.”
And in a conclusion certain to set off argument, it adds: “Cats are good if you have rodents （啮齿类动物）.”
1.Which of the following is not cats’ advantage?
A．Better at grasping their owners’ instructions.
B．Having relatively larger brains.
C．Affecting the environment less.
D．More likely to drawing attention.
2.The underlined phrase “by a whisker”（paragraph 1）probably means “ ”.
A．quite considerably B．just a little bit
C．most significantly D．in some aspects
3.We can learn the fact from the passage that .
A．Dogs are far from satisfactory in terms of their ability to catch rodents
B．Dogs can better help people who have problems with their sight and hearing
C．Comparatively speaking, cats have a better interaction with humans
D．Dogs beat cats when it comes to their senses of sight, heating and smell
4.Which would be the best title for the passage?
A．Cats beat Dogs B．Fight like Cat and Dog
C．Cats versus Dogs D．Cats away, Dogs Play
About H1N1
2009 H1N1 viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get infected with H1N1 virus from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
Spread of H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that seasonal flu does, Viruses are transmitted mainly through droplets（小滴）from coughing or sneezing of an infected person. Keeping a safe distance is recommended. Studies have also shown that flu virus can survive on object surfaces for 2 to 8 hours. Sometimes viruses can be spread when a person touches something like the surface of a desk that is polluted with droplets, and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth before washing their hands.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and body aches. Severe illnesses and death have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.
Protect-Yourself Tips
1．CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
2．If you get seasonal or novel H1N1 flu, anti-viral drugs can treat the flu.
3．For treatment, anti-viral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.
4．Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
5．Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
6．Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
7．Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
8．If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
9．Follow public health advice, and avoid crowds.
10．Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of OTC medicines, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public.
To stay well during flu season, click 2009 H1N1 Flu （Swine Flu） and You for other helpful advice and information.
1.In order to keep fit during flu season, we should keep in mind that
A．pork is not a medium of spreading and we can eat it however it is prepared
B．touching objects polluted by virus is the major cause of getting infected
C．droplets of an infected person definitely get people infected
D．the period of the virus staying alive on the surfaces can be up to eight hours
2.What should you do if you get H1N1 flu according to the passage?
A．Take a H1N1 flu vaccine immediately.
B．Use antiviral drugs quickly.
C．Stay home for at least 24 hours.
D．Prepare some OTC medicines.
3.Where will you probably read this passage?
A．In a daily-life newspaper. B．In a popular magazine.
C．On a disease-prevention website. D．In a medical handbook.
4.The abbreviation CDC most possibly stands for .
A．Centers for Disease Control B．Citizens' Defense Corps
C．Control Data Corp D．Civil Defense Council
“Sam” the koala, the most famous survivor of Australia's worst-ever wildfires, is healing well thanks to the efforts of caretakers at a rescue—and she even has a new boyfriend, “Bob”
Sam, who captured hearts around the world after she was photographed drinking from a firefighter's water bottle, has also won the affection of "Bob", another koala whose paws were scorched, caretaker Lynn Raymond said Thursday.
Neither koala is likely to be healthy enough for release for at least four months, and both are being comforted by caretakers for their scorched paws every few hours.
Global interest in the fate of Sam has been intense since a photograph of firefighter David Tree offering her a bottle of water in a burned-out forest was splashed across the Internet, in newspapers and on television broadcasts. The telephone at the shelter has rung continually with callers eager for update on the creature's condition.
“It's crazy,” Raymond said with a laugh. "（But） everybody has been absolutely wonderful."
Sam was found moving on scorched paws by a fire patrol Sunday. Tree then held out a bottle of water for her to drink, which she eagerly accepted, holding Tree's hand as he poured water into her mouth.
After suffering second-and-third-degree burns to her paws, Sam has been sharing a cage with Bob, who took an immediate interest in her when she arrived on Sunday.
Both Sam and Bob were given painkillers when they first arrived, but they're off the drugs now. The two are still receiving antibiotics（抗生素）and have their bandages changed regularly to avoid infections.
The koalas are likely to be in the shelter at least four months, depending on how quickly their burns heal.
1.What is Sam well-known for?
A．Her falling in love with Bob. B．Her taking part in fighting the fire.
C．Her saving a firefighter. D．Her drinking a firefighter's water.
2.How do people show their concern about Sam?
A．They call the shelter to learn about her latest condition.
B．They take care of her via the media.
C．They donate bottles of water or money for her.
D．They send many photos of her to the Internet.
3.From the passage we know that Bob and Sam .
A．are taking some drugs other than painkillers
B．are still under treatment
C．have completely healed from the treatment
D．are free of infections
A boy walked along Carver Street, singing a sad song. He walked with his head down. Once he looked up and noticed the sign across the empty street, painted on the side of an old house. On the sign a big woman with yellow hair and a five-mile smile held out a big bottle. “Coca-Cola. Drink-Cola-Cola,” the sign said.
“Boy!” the silence was cut by a sudden cry. He turned around quickly to see who had called.
An old woman was standing at her door.
“You boy! Come here this minute!”
Slowly the boy 1onto the cold flat stones leading to the old woman’s house. When he arrived at her house, she 2out her hand and wrapped（缠住）her 3old fingers around his arm.
“Help me inside, boy,” she said. “Help me 4to my bed. What’s your name?”
“Joseph,” he said.
The old woman on the bed tried to 5up, raising herself on her elbow（肘）. Water 6from her eyes and mouth. The sight of her made Joseph feel 7.
“I’m dying, Joseph. You can see that, can’t you? I want you to write a 8for me. There’s paper and pencil on the table there.”
Joseph looked down at the 9, and then looked out of the window. He saw the sign again, “Coca-Cola. Drink Cola-Cola.”
“I want my silver ring to 10to my daughter.”
Joseph bent his small body over the table and 11the pencil slowly across the paper.
“There’s my Bible（圣经）,” the old woman said. “That’s for my daughter, too. I want a 12Christian burial（基督葬礼）with lots of singing. Write that down, too. That’s the last 13of a poor old woman.”
The boy laboured over the paper. Again he looked out of the window.
“Here. Bring it here so I can 14it.”
Joseph found the Bible, and, 15the paper inside, laid it next to the bed.
“ 16me now, boy,” she sighed. “I’m tired.”
He ran out of the house.
A cold wind blew through the 17window, but the old woman on the bed 18nothing. She was dead. The paper in the Bible moved back and forth in the wind. 19on the paper were some childish letters. They 20the words, “Coca-Cola. Drink Coca-Cola.”
1.A．rushed B．struggled C．hurried D．stepped
2.A．reached B．let C．pushed D．pointed
3.A．firm B．smooth C．dry D．fresh
4.A．back B．up C．away D．ahead
5.A．sit B．get C．stand D．wake
6.A．fell B．burnt C．burst D．ran
7.A．ill B．sick C．unpleasant D．funny
8.A．letter B．note C．will D．message
9.A．table B．pen C．paper D．woman
10.A．send B．go C．belong D．come
11.A．moved B．drew C．used D．pulled
12.A．great B．merry C．splendid D．real
13.A．hope B．chance C．opinion D．wish
14.A．sign B．read C．remember D．copy
15.A．setting B．hiding C．placing D．laying
16.A．Hold B．Leave C．Excuse D．Pardon
17.A．large B．open C．small D．pretty
18.A．did B．saw C．felt D．knew
19.A．Described B．Printed C．Recorded D．Written
20.A．formed B．spelled C．organized D．repeated
--- Do you think Bob will attend the meeting this afternoon? --- ______．
A．I hope not B．I don’t hope so C．I don’t think it D．I hope he would
