If you look for a book as a present for a child，you will be spoiled for choice even in a year there is no new Harry Potter． J．K Rowling’s wizard is not alone．The past decade has been a harvest for good children’s books, which has set off a large quantity of films and an increased sales of classics such as The Lord of the Rings．
Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children．According to statistics in 1997, 23% said they didn’t like reading at all．In 2003, 35% didn’t．And around 6% of the children leave primary school each year unable to read properly．
Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games．Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile．Either way, Chancellor Cordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class．In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most．
Reading Recovery is aimed at six year olds, who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher．An evaluation this year reported that children on the school made 20 months’ progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months’ progress ,and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age．
International research tends to find that when British children leave primary school, they read well, but read text often for fun than those elsewhere．Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can report lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success．According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage．
1.Which of the following is true of Paragraph 1?
A．Many children’s books have been adapted from films．
B．Many high-quality children’s books have been published．
C．The sales of classics have led to the popularity of films．
D．The sales of presents for children have increased．
2.Statistics suggested that____________．
A．the number of top students increased with the use of computers
B．a decreasing number of children showed interest in reading
C．a minority of primary school children read properly
D．a huge percentage of children read regularly
3.What do we know about Reading Recovery?
A．An evaluation of it will be made sometime this year．
B．Weak readers on the project were the most hardworking．
C．It aims to train special teachers to help children with reading．
D．Children on the project showed noticeable progress in reading．
4.Reading for fun is important because book-loving children _________．
A．take greater advantage of the project
B．show the potential to enjoy a long life
C．are likely to succeed in their education．
D．would make excellent future researchers
5.The aim of this text would probably be _________．
A．to overcome primary school pupils reading difficulty．
B．to encourage the publication of more children’s books
C．to remind children of the importance of reading for fun
D．to introduce a way to improve early children reading
Below is some advice on how to prevent cancer:
8 Ways to Avoid Cancer in Your Life
1. Eat Blueberries
Aside from being a healthy and delicious snack, blueberries contain pterostilbene, which has important colon（结肠） cancer-fighting prosperities. But wait, it gets better. Blueberries also offer a large dose of vitamins C (14 milligrams per cup). So at breakfast, try to take in a cup and a half of blueberries in your cereal or yogurt, or mixed with other berries.
2. Drink Pomegranate（石榴）Juice
The deep red juice of the pomegranate contains polyphenols, isoflavones and ellagic acid, which together create a powerful anticancer mixture. Most recently, researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison has discovered that 16 ounces of pomegranate juice per day also may inhibit the growth of lung cancer.
3. Relax
Feeling stressed or worried? Find ways to relax and you may reduce your chances of developing cancer. Purdue University researchers tracked 1,600 men over 12 years and found that half of those with high levels of worry died during the study period. Only 20 percent of the optimists died before the study were completed, while 34 percent of the extremely anxious men died of some type of cancer. Instead of stressing about the past or future, focus on the present and relax!
4. Take Selenium（硒）
Selenium is well known for its cancer-fighting properties. In a study of almost 1,000 men, researchers from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that when men with the lowest initial levels of selenium in their bodies received a daily supplement over a 4 year period, they cut their prostate（前列腺） cancer risk by a remarkable 92 percent. However, it is possible to get too much of a good thing, so monitor your intake of selenium-containing supplements, Brazil nuts, tuna, meats and grains carefully.
5. Eat Sushi（寿司）
Seaweed may not be your idea of a great snack, but it is high in fiber, calcium and iron, and dry, roasted seaweed sheets used in sushi provide the additional benefits of vitamins A and C. Sushi rolls are also high in protein— a typical spicy tuna roll has only 290 calories but packs 24 grams of protein. So don’t skimp（节省）on the Sushi!
6. Enjoy the Outdoors
Vitamin D causes early death of cancer cells. A study published in the American Journey of Clinical Nutrition reported that women who supplemented their diets with 1,000 international. Units of vitamin D every day had a 60 percent to 77 percent lower incidence of cancer ever a four-year period that did women taking a placebo(无效对照剂). Experts recommend supplementing your fun in the sun with 1,100 to 2,000IU of vitamin D each day.
7. Breathe Clean Air
There’s no question that secondhand smoke kills. A recent American Journal of Public Health study showed that nonsmokers working in smoky places had three times the amount of carcinogen（致癌物质） in their urine（尿） than nonsmokers working in smoke-free locations. What’s worse, their levels of the carcinogen rose 6 percent for every hour worked. Nine states have banned smoking in all workplaces, bars and restaurants. The message is clear: Do whatever you can to avoid the cloud of smoke.
8. Break a Sweat
Even a small amount of exercise can offer major cancer-fighting benefits. In a study of 29,110 men published in the International Journal of Cancer, men who exercised just once a week had a percent lower risk of metastasis(转移性) prostate cancer than men who didn’t work out at all. The better the frequency, duration and intensity of the exercise, the bigger the reduction in risk, according to the study.
1.To prevent yourself from catching colon cancer, you should eat ____ as often as possible.
A．sushi B．blueberries C．pomegranates D．Vitamin D
2. A person is very likely to catch some type of cancer if ______.
A．he is very fond of exercise every day.
B．he is addicted to smoking
C．he is always feeling extremely stressed or worried
D．he likes to have meals in restaurants
3. _____ will remarkably reduce the risk of men’s prostate cancer.
A．Having a daily supplement of selenium
B．Drinking a cup of pomegranate juice every day
C．Breathing fresh air now and then
D．Taking exercise at least once a week
4.If you want to keep cancer away, it is particularly important to ______.
A．have a daily supplement of vitamins B and C
B．try to ignore the secondhand smoking
C．take in as many selenium-containing supplements as possible
D．having exercise as often as possible
My father had always been an alert observer of human character. Within seconds of meeting someone, he could sum up their strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my boyfriends could pass Dad’s test. None did. Dad was always right---they didn’t pass my test either. After Dad died, I wondered how I’d figure it out on my own.
That’s when Jack arrived on the scene. He was different from any other guy I’d dated. He could sit for hours on the piano bench with my mother, discussing some composers. My brother Rick loudly announced that Jack wasn’t a turkey like the other guys I’d brought home. Jack passed my family’s test. But what about Dad’s?
Then came my mother’s birthday. The day he was supposed to drive, I got a call. “Don’t worry,” he said, “but I’ve been in an accident. I’m fine, but I need you to pick me up.”
When I got there, we rushed to a flower shop for something for Mom. “How about gardenias?” Jack said, pointing at a beautiful white corsage(胸花). The florist put the corsage in a box.
The entire ride, Jack was unusually quiet. “Are you all right?” I asked. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said. “I might be moving.” Moving? Then he added, “Moving in with you.” I nearly put the car on the sidewalk. “What?” I asked. “I think we should get married,” he said. He told me he’d planned his proposal in a fancy restaurant, but after the accident, he decided to do it right away. “Yes,” I whispered. We both sat dumbfounded, tears running down our cheeks. I’d never known such a tender moment. If only Dad were here to give his final approval.
“Oh, let’s just go inside.” Jack laughed. My mother opened the door. “Happy Birthday!” we shouted. Jack handed the box to her. She opened it up. Suddenly, her eyes were filled with tears. “Mom, what’s wrong?” I asked. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her eyes. “This is only the second gardenia corsage I’ve ever received. I was given one years ago, long before you kids were born.” “From who? ” I asked. “Your father,” Mom said. “He gave me one right before we were engaged.” My eyes locked on Jack’s as I blinked away(眨掉) tears. Dad’s test? I knew Jack had passed.
1. According to the text, we know the writer’s father was __________.
A．interested in observing things around
B．good at judging one’s character
C．strict with her boyfriend
D．fond of challenges
2.What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
A．Jack got the family’s approval except Dad’s.
B．Jack was different from any other boy.
C．Jack was getting on well with Mother.
D．Jack knew a lot about piano.
3.The underlined word “proposal” in Paragraph 5 means __________.
A．piece of advice B．wedding ceremony
C．celebration of birthday D．offer of marriage
4.On hearing “moving in with you”, the writer felt __________.
A．pleased B．worried
C．surprised D．disappointed
5. Why did the writer’s mother cry?
A．The gift was the same as the one her husband gave her.
B．She had never received such a beautiful gift.
C．Her daughter found her life partner at last.
D．The gardenia corsage was too expensive.
完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
My husband and I insisted that our children were old enough to clean their rooms and make their beds. But they thought 41 . My complaints, even self-justified shouting, were always landing on 42_ ears. Very often a whole hour’s scolding would end with their 43 into tears, I felt very frustrated (沮丧的).I realized I needed to 44 my method of “mothering”.
One day when they were at school, I spent some time 45 their rooms. On their desks, in plain __46 , I left the cards: “Dear Bill (the other card was 47 to Sarah), your room was messy this morning and I’m sure you like it clean. Love, the Room Fairy.” 48 arriving back, the children were __49 excited to receive the little note from the Room Fairy. The next day, their rooms were fairly tidy. Sure enough, there was another note from the Room Fairy ___50 for them, thanking them for their nice “gift” of a clean room and 51 asking them to play a certain violin 52 . Each day, thank--you notes would be written differently to keep the ideas 53 .
Sometimes the Room Fairy would propose a little 54 : “If you can finish your homework and __55 your lessons before dinner, I’ d like to watch a particular television program with you tonight.” Sometimes some colored markers or other little items would be left in 56 of well done jobs the day ___57 .
58 I can’t remember how long “the Room Fairy” continued leaving her love notes. When they were age appropriate, we used various versions of Post-Its(贴条). The bathroom mirror became the 59 centre of our home. Appointments, notices about visiting relatives, lesson schedules, and changes in plans could be posted.
We all benefited from and 60 the idea of sharing reminders and daily details of life through notes. I believe the true advantage of the Room Fairy notes survives in our frequent and enjoyable communication.
1. A．differently B．gratefully C．doubtfully D．hopefully
2. A．side B．deaf C．neither D．either
3. A．crying B．breaking C．bursting D．bumping
4. A．adjust B．adopt C．access D．addict
5. A．clearing B．tidying C．emptying D．searching
6. A．distance B．words C．speech D．sight
7. A．sent B．read C．delivered D．addressed
8. A．As B．At C．In D．Upon
9. A．more than B．rather than C．no more than D．other than
10. A．asking B．waiting C．praying D．expecting
11. A．politely B．happily C．gently D．toughly
12. A．music B．song C．piece D．tone
13. A．respectable B．uninteresting C．incredible D．fresh
14. A．challenge B．question C．suggestion D．advice
15. A．go with B．look up C．go over D．look into
16. A．response B．answer C．praise D．honor
17. A．ahead B．before C．over D．ago
18. A．Actually B．Even so C．Even if D．Though
19. A．life B．main C．memory D．reminder
20. A．learned B．appreciated C．shared D．thanked
Giving up my job to go back to full-time education was a big __________, but now I know it was the best decision I ever made.
A．project B．commitment C．competition D．ambition
The new tax would force companies to __________energy-saving measures.
A．adapt B．adopt C．adjust D．address
