When you see homework covering the kitchen table and toys are piling up around the sofa, you probably wish there was a bit more space. You are not alone. Nearly a third of parents say they feel squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move to a bigger property, a report reveals today.
Twenty-nine percent say "their property is too small to fit the size of their family—rising to 40 percent for those 34 and under". One in four children is 'forced to share' a bedroom, according to the Finda-Property. Com website. Property analyst Samantha Baden said: "Afford-ability remains a key issue for families, with the average cost of a three-bedroom home around ￡193,000."Very few can afford to buy or to rent a property of the size they want and in the area they desire to live in, according to Miss Baden.
A recent report, from investment firm LV, also found that many 'space-starved parents’are pushed into a two-bedroom home which was perfect when they were a young couple, but has no space for three or so children. Grown-up children who cannot afford to leave homo are also adding to the problem facing families in Britain's 'big squeeze'.
For a home to be the correct size, which means it is not overcrowded, parents must have their own bedroom. Children under ten can share, as well as same-sex children between ten and 20.Anyone over 21 also needs their own room.
The report comes as official figures, published yesterday by the Land Registry, revealing house prices are falling sharply in every region except London. The worst – hit area is the North East where average house prices have fallen to below ￡100, 000 for the first time in seven years. However, they remain unaffordable for millions.
1.According to Paragraph 1, the report reveals .
A. children like to do homework in the kitchen
B. some families can't afford a bigger property
C. only a few families have housing problem
D. people are satisfied with their living condition
2.What Miss Baden said in Paragraph 2 means .
A. most families don't have enough money yet
B. no family could afford a three - bedroom home
C. it is common to live in a three - bedroom home
D. the price of a bigger property is still acceptable
3.The report from the investment firm LV shows .
A. young couples should live in a two - bedroom home
B. families with three or so children couldn't afford a home
C. parents should buy houses for their grown - up children
D. some grown - up children couldn't afford a separate home
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. House prices are falling down everywhere.
B. People are able to buy a home of correct size.
C. The house prices in London has not fallen down.
D. The North East is now an area suitable to live in.
Ban Fur? Then Why Not Leather?
Much to the displeasure of some local businesses, the City Council in West Hollywood, California, voted without opposition last week to ban the sale of fur products. Should laws be involved in this issue? Is it unfair to ban sales of fur, but not sales of leather and hides (兽皮)?
Animals Do Not Have Rights
By Tibor R. Machan
My view is that animals do not have basic rights. It is a matter of ethics (伦理学) and not of the laws of human societies. If animals had such rights as human beings do, they would have to be held responsible for killing fellow animals in the wild. That way of thinking about animals makes a category mistake. Using animals, including their fur or organs, to improve people's lives is acceptable.
A Small Step Against Cruelty
By Kate Carter
Both fur and leather are the skins of dead animals. Why should we think that the lovable furry ones deserve more of a life than the less pleasing ones? Some say leather is less cruel because it's a byproduct (副产品) of the meat industry. But this isn't really true. Some cheap leather may be a byproduct of the meat industry, but often it's the other way round. In South Africa, where there is a developing market for ostrich(鸵鸟)farms, the skins account for roughly 80 percent of the slaughtered (宰杀)birds' value, a mere 20 percent of which comes from the meat.
"Who" Are You Wearing?
By Marc Bekoff
West Hollywood's ban is a move in the right direction. However, we must work to ban the sales of leather and hides, too. Furs come from animals who are attacked to become clothing, while some leather and hides come from slaughterhouse(屠宰场) animals. We must remember that when people choose to wear fur, leather and hides, they are wearing formering conscious beings. So it's a matter of who they are wearing, not what they are wearing because these animals must be referred to as who and not what or that.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. West Hollywood's ban on fur products.
B. Differences between fur and leather sales.
C. The government's role in protecting animals.
D. The ecological imbalance in West Hollywood.
2.Tibor R. Machan seems to believe that .
A. laws should be passed to protect animals
B. humans are respornsible for killing animals
C. it is not reasonable to use animals to improve life
D. animals and humans aren't supposed to share equal rights
3.What is Kate Carter's opinion about wearing fur and wearing leather?
A. Both are decided by the meat industry.
B. There is little distinction (区别) between them.
C. Wearing fur is generally more acceptable.
D. Wearing leather is cheaper than wearing fur.
4.What is Marc Bekoff’s attitude towards sales of fur?
A. Sympathetic. B. Careless. C. Tolerant. D. Opposed.
The International Space Station allows astronauts to live in space for extended amounts of time, enabling them to explore the outside universe and conduct many experiments. However, nothing like that exists for our oceans, and thanks to the high water pressure, ocean researchers are able to explore what lies undersea for very short periods of time.
They are therefore never able to fully explore the deep inside areas of our oceans. However, if French architect Jacques Rougerie has his way, that will change soon.
Jacqucs has designed a ship that will allow researchers to spend a long period of time observing the sea life and conducting experiments. The huge 167ft ship, named 'Sea Orbiter', consists of two areas—one above the water where the scientists and crew will live, and a lower pressurized deck (甲板), where scientists will be able to spend as much time as they wish. Since it is powered by sea currents and wind, he expects it to drift (漂流) along the oceans slowly, taking about two years to circumvent the globe.
Jacques will make their life as comfortable as possible in the ship. Besides being equipped with the latest sailing tools and communication equipment, the ship will also have a gym, a television and a DVD player. And these guys will not be eating freeze-dried food like astronauts. Instead, Jacques, an accomplished chef, plans on cooking them delicious meals every day.
The biggest problem to this giant ship is the cost, which is expected to be over $500 million—per ship! However, Jacques, who strongly believes that the secrets of our oceans may be the key to solving global warming and a vital supply for food and medicine in the future, is confident he will be able to convince governments all over the world to help out, and expects to start construction on not one, but four or five of these amazing ships soon!
1.Why can’t ocean researchers explore the deep oceans for a long time?
A. Because they can’t stand the high water pressure.
B. Because it’s too cold in deep ocean.
C. Because time for experiments is too limited.
D. Because it’s dangerous to observe the sea life.
2.The underlined word "circumvent" probably means .
A. fly away B. get around C. travel through D. move into
3.From the fourth paragraph we can learn that .
A. Jacques intends to design the ship mainly for sightseeing and traveling
B. living a comfortable life helps to do the ocean research quickly
C. it’s much more expensive to eat freeze-dried food
D. researchers on Jacque’s ship will live more comfortably than astronauts
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Sea Orbiter—the ship of the future
B. A new way to explore the deep oceans
C. A great architect—Jacques Rougerie
D. Travel around the globe in Sea Orbiter
The koala, one of Australia’s most treasured creatures, is in trouble.
Affected by habitat (栖居地) loss and climate change, like many other uniquely Australian animals, koalas are being squeezed into smaller regions. But at present, it is a deadly disease, a somewhat silent killer that causes a further decline in the koala population, that is worrying many scientists about the fate of the koala.
The killer is Chlamydia, which has caused symptoms in up to 50 percent of the wild koalas, with probably even more infected (感染) but not showing symptoms. It has been particularly severe in Queensland, where nearly all koalas are infected. The disease causes many symptoms including eye infections, which can lead to blindness, making it difficult for them to find their primary food.
Treating Chlamydia in wild koalas is a challenge. There is no treatment available for it. Only a small percentage of the animals can be treated successfully and returned to the wild. Besides, there is no national plan in Australia to save the koala; it is up to each region to make management plans for its koala population.
The good news is that researchers are working to test a vaccine (疫苗) that would help prevent further spread. If all goes well, plans can be carried out to distribute the vaccine more widely. But it’s impossible to vaccinate (给注射疫苗) all wild koalas.
Another possibility would be to make vaccine distribution a routine part of treatment for the thousands of koalas brought into care centers every year after they are injured by cars or dogs.
While it is a combination of problems that are affecting the wild koala population, many experts believe this vaccine would be an important step in helping koalas survive longer. It may be enough time to give researchers a chance to solve some of the other problems facing Austalia’s koalas.
1.Which isn’t considered the main cause of koala’s population decline?
A. A deadly disease.
B. Injuries from cars and dogs.
C. Climate change.
D. Habitat loss.
2.The third paragraph mainly tells us .
A. the serious result Chlamydia has caused to the koala
B. Chlamydia affected the koala only in particular regions
C. the most serious symptom of Chlamydia is eye infections
D. Chlamydia can seriously affect koala’s primary food
3.We can learn from the text that the vaccine .
A. would cure the killer Chlamydia quite effectively
B. would only be distributed in koala care centers
C. has already been put into practical use in Australia
D. cannot be distributed to all the infected koalas
4.It can be inferred from the text that .
A. a national plan for saving koalas will be made soon in Australia
B. koala population is declining only in a few regions
C. researchers need enough time to solve the koala problems
D. experts have lost the best chance to save the infected koalas
JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, has signed a deal with Little, Brown and Company, to publish her first ever novel for adults, which is set to become one of the most anticipated (期望的) book in years.
The deal means that Rowling’s long-standing relationship with Bloomsbury, the London-based publisher that launched (发行) the Harry Potter books, has come to an end, at least in terms of new works by the author.
Rowling is keeping her fans guessing about the characters and plot of her new book. She only said that the new novel will be nothing like the Harry Potter series, which was sold over 30 million copies in the UK alone. She thought that with the move from children’s to adult fiction, a switch to a new publisher seemed like a natural and reasonable step.
She said, "Although I've enjoyed writing it every bit as much, this book will be very different from the Harry Potter series. The freedom to explore a new field is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me."
Ian Rankin, the Edinburgh-based author whose highly-successful detective novels are also set in the city, suggested Rowling’s book will be a crime novel.
"Wouldn’t it be funny if JK Rowling’s first novel for adults turned out to be a crime story set in Edinburgh?" he said.
Industry insiders guessed that the deal is worth more than ￡5 million and the new book is expected to come out later this year.
A spokesman said, "JK Rowling’s audience is vast and her position is unique. Harry Potter books were a global success and her fans are very loyal. Children that were eight, nine, or ten when the books first came out in the 1990s are now in their 20s. Plenty of adults, loved the books regardless of whether they had children, so the potential market for her is huge."
1.What does the text mainly tell us?
A. JK Rowling has signed a deal with a new publisher.
B. JK Rowling's new book will be more successful than her Harry Potter series.
C. JK Rowling’s first book for adults will be published later this year.
D. JK Rowling has to switch to a new publisher in order to publish her new book.
2.JK Rowling’s new book for adults .
A. has been sold 30 million copies in the UK alone
B. is poorly thought of by the London-based publisher Bloomsbury
C. has nothing in common with the Harry Potter series
D. is expected to bring her more money than the Harry Potter series
3.The author used Ian Rankin’s words in order to .
A. tell us that some famous novelists offer to give Rowling some advice
B. show that many readers are curious about Rowling’s new book
C. tell us that many readers prefer to read detective or crime novels
D. prove that a crime story set in Edinburgh is sure to be successful
4.We can learn from the text that .
A. Little, Brown and Company is specialized in publishing adult books
B. the author has no doubt about the success of Rowling’s new book
C. JK Rowling will be a crime novelist as good as Ian Rankin
D. it was in Edinburgh that Ian Rankin got to know JK Rowling
Spend a pound to win a penny
Some people were steaming peas under a tree in order to make a meal for their horses. Up in the branches sat a monkey, 36 what they were doing.
"Aha" thought the monkey. “I spot my 37 !” So when the men had finished steaming the peas and 38 for a moment to look after the horses, 39 ,the monkey let himself down from the tree. He snatched (抓) the peas and filled his 40 and both hands as full as they could 41 . Then he climbed up the tree and sat there, eating happily.
Suddenly one pea fell.
"Oh dear! Oh my pea!" cried the monkey. The other peas 42 to drop out of his mouth. He 43 his hands in despair(绝望地), and the peas fell out of his hands too, but he took no 44 . All he thought of was that one pea was gone,__45__ he climbed down the trunk to hunt for his lost pea on the ground. At this time, the men came back. When they saw a monkey 46 with their pots, they all 47 their arms and shouted, "Shoo! Shoo!" Then they picked up stones and began to 48 the monkey with them. The monkey was so 49 that he gave one jump to the nearest 50 , and swung himself up to the top of the tree.
"After all," said he to himself, “it was 51 one pea.” But he ought to have thought of that 52 ,for now all the other peas had gone too.
That day the monkey had to content himself with the 53 of boiled peas for dinner, and I hope the 54 taught him not to be so 55 in future.
1.A. watching B. enjoying C. describing D. guessing
2.A. shelter B. neighbors C. dinner D. friends
3.A. turned up B. turned away C. gave up D. gave away
4.A. easily B. gently C. safely D. confidently
5.A. bowl B. pocket C. mouth D. bag
6.A. receive B. hold C. support D. put
7.A. seemed B. began C. hurried D. failed
8.A. crossed B. hid C. touched D. squeezed
9.A. interest B. time C. notice D. sign
10.A. so B. because C. although D. if
11.A. helping B. playing C. mixing D. dealing
12.A. carried B. broke C. waved D. bent
13.A. attack B. separate C. destroy D. bother
14.A puzzled B. disappointed C. terrified D. annoyed
15.A. branch B. stone C. pea D. horse
16.A. still B. even C. only D. almost
17.A. earlier B. sooner C. longer D. later
18.A. image B. smell C. dream D. taste
19.A. trick B. disaster C. loss D. process
20.A. curious B. ambitious C. proud D. greedy
