Dear sir,
I read your story (of the 4th February) about the cost of living in the country rather than in the town, and I agree with most of the points that you made. My husband and I lived in the middle of Horlton until two years ago — a seaside town of nearly five hundred thousand people. When my husband stopped working, we moved to our present house in a small village at the foot of Roland Hill, and there is no doubt that our costs are higher now.
I have to do my shopping in small shops, where the food is more expensive than in city supermarkets; it costs more to travel by bus; and because the men who come to mend the television or the washing machine, have to come farther, we have to pay them more.
But it does not cost us much to enjoy what is beautiful in the country; and peace and quiet are cheap. Many people spend a great deal of time and money driving into the country to enjoy the simple things of life; yet we can enjoy them just by going out of the front door. It costs more to live here than it did in Horlton but now life really is worth living.
Yours faithfully.
Edith Randall
1.What do you know about Horlton?
A. A quiet town not far from the sea.
B. A middle-sized town until two years ago.
C. A town with a population of nearly half a million.
D. A small village at the foot of Roland Hill
2. What Mrs Randall really wants to express in the letter is that _____.
A. it cost less to live in the country
B. it costs more to live in the country
C. living in the country is no better than in the town
D. she is quite satisfied with the life in the country
3.One can probably find this letter in _____.
A. a guidebook B. a newspaper C. a speech D. a story book
4.According to the passage, which of the following is true?
A. The letter is written by an unknown person.
B. This letter is a reply to the questions of 4th February.
C. Living in the country is better than living in the city.
D. The cost of living in the city is lower than that of the country.
Most British telephone cards are just plain green, but card collecting is becoming a popular hobby in Britain and collectors even have their own magazine, International Telephone Cards. One reason for their interest is that cards from around the world come in a wide variety of different and often very attractive designs. There are 100, 000 different cards in Japan alone, and there you can put your own design onto a blank card simply by using a photograph or a business card.
The first telephone cards, produced in 1976, were Italian. Five years later the first British card appeared, and now you can buy cards in more than a hundred countries. People usually start collecting cards because they are attractive, small and light , and they do not need much space. It is also a cheap hobby for beginners, although for some people it becomes a serious business. In Paris, for example, there is a market where you can buy only telephone cards, and some French cards cost up to 4, 000 pounds. The first Japanese card has a value of about 28, 000 pounds. Most people only see cards with prices like these in their collectors magazine.
1.The text is mainly about ________ .
A. the history of phone cards B. phone card collecting as a hobby
C. reason for phone card collecting D. the great variety of phone cards
2.When did people in Britain begin to use phone cards?
A. In 1971. B. In 1975. C. In 1976. D. In 1981.
3.The main reason for most people to collect phone cards is that ________ .
A. they find the cards beautiful and easy to keep
B. they like to have something from different countries
C. they want to make money with cards
D. they think the cards are convenient to use
4.The writer mentions a market in Paris in order to show that ________
A. card collecting is popular among young people
B. French and Japanese cards are the most valuable
C. people can make money out of card collecting
D. card collectors magazines are very useful
1.Justin Young is a _______.
A. TV reporter B. popular singer C. song writer D. radio reporter
2. Which song does NOT change its place this week?
A. Are You There? B. The Bees. C. Say Cheese. D. Perhaps.
3. How many songs listed above are new this week?
A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four.
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. You can listen to Music Ground once a week.
B. Justin Young is talking about popular songs this week.
C. People can call in to listen to their favorite songs.
D. Stupid Machine is now in the radio station with OK Band.
Several years ago, a farmer owned some land along the sea. He advertised for workers, but no one wanted to work for him. Most people didn’t want to work there 31 they didn’t like the bad storms. Finally, a 32 man, who looked weak and more than fifty years old, came to see the farmer. “Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him.
“Well, I 33 sleep well when the wind blows.” answered the little man.
Although the answer was strange, the farmer let the man stay to work. The little man worked 34 around the farm, busy from morning till evening. The farmer felt very pleased with his work.
Then one night the wind began to blow strongly. Jumping out of the bed, the farmer 35 into the little man’s room. He shook the little man and cried, “Get up! A 36 is coming!”
The little man said slowly, “No sir, I told you----I can 37 well when the wind blows.”
The farmer was very angry, but he had to hurry outside to get ready for the storm. To his 38 , everything was ready outside. 39 could be blown away.
The farmer 40 what the man meant, so he returned to his bed to sleep while the wind was still blowing.
1. A. so B. but C. because D. although
2.A. big B. little C. young D. strong
3. A. can B. must C. need D. should
4. A. well B. badly C. loudly D. clearly
5. A. walked B. rushed C. moved D. drove
6. A. man B. dog C. ship D. storm
7. A. work B. play C. sleep D. listen
8.A. anger B. pride C. surprise D. confidence
9.A. Everything B. Something C. Anything D. Nothing
10.A. understood B. preferred C. heard D. did
It isn’t decided yet __________ a nuclear power station will be built here.
A. that B. where C. what D. whether
Joan saw her boyfriend off at the railway station. She waved until the train was _____.
A. in sight B. out of sight C. at first sight D. lost sight
