Among rich countries, people in the United States work the longest hours. They work much longer than in Europe. This difference is quite surprising because productivity(生产力) per hour worked is the same in the United 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 United States. We do not fully know why this is. One reason may be greatly lower taxes in America, which increase the rewards to work. Another may be more satisfying work, or less satisfying personal lives.
Longer hours do of course increase the GDP(国内生产总值). 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 situations 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 United States happiness has made no progress since 1975, while it has risen in Europe. Could this have anything to do with trends in the work-life balance?
1.Which of the following countries has more of its people at work?
A. Spain. B. France. C. Germany. D. America.
2.What message can we get from the text?
A. The GDP of Europe is higher than that 
of America.
B. Two possible reasons are given for working longer hours in the US.
C. People all over the world choose to work less when they are richer.
D. Americans are happier than Europeans.
3.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Americans and Europeans
B. Staying at Home
C. Work and Productivity
D. Work and Happiness
LONDON Thursday July 26(Reuters)—Eddy missed his girlfriend Anna so much he flew back to Britain from Australia to propose(求婚) to her. The problem is she did the same in the opposite direction.
He and Anna even managed to miss each other when they sat in the same airport waiting room in Singapore at the same time to wait for connecting flights.
Anna, heartbroken, when she arrived at Eddy’s Sydney flat to find he had flown to London, told The Times, “It was as though someone was playing a cruel joke on us.“
“He is the most romantic(浪漫的) person I have ever known. I think our problem is that we are both quite impulsive(冲动的) people. We are always trying to surprise each other.”
After an 11,000-mile flight across the globe, she was greeted by Eddy’s astonished roommate asking what she was doing there.
Eddy, a 27-year-old engineer, had taken a year off to travel round Australia. But he was missing Anna, a 26-year-old secretary, so much he got a job on a Sydney building site(工地) and started saving for a surprise.
He then flew home to Britain and went to her flat armed with an engagement(订婚) ring, wine and flowers.
“I really missed Anna and I’d been thinking about her all the time. I was so excited when she phoned me from Australia,” he said.
Eddy then asked Anna to marry him on the phone. “I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but I accepted,” she said.
Anna was given a tour of Sydney by Eddy’s friends before going back home. Eddy had to stay in Britain for two week
s because he could not change his ticket.
1.What does the last sentence of the first paragraph tell us?
A. Anna flew to Britain from Australia to marry him.
B. Anna flew to Australia from Britain to marry him.
C. Anna flew to Britain from Australia to propose to him.
D. Anna flew to Australia from Britain to propose to him.
2.The underlined word “miss” in Paragraph 2 most probably means_______.
A. escape from B. fail to understand
C. fail to meet D. long to see
3.Eddy got a job on a Sydney building site because he________.
A. wanted to travel round Australia
B. needed money to pay his daily cost
C. was an engineer at this building site
D. hoped to make money from this job
4.Which of the following is TRUE about Eddy and Anna according to the text?
A. Eddy proposed to Anna on the phone and Anna accepted.
B. Anna stayed in Australia waiting for Eddy’s arrival.
C. Anna had a good time touring Sydney with Eddy.
D. Eddy met Anna in the airport waiting room by chance.
Ma
ny years ago, when I was fresh out of school and working in Denver, I was driving to my parents’ home in Missouri for Christmas. I stopped at a gas station(加油站)about 50 miles from Oklahoma City, where I was planning to stop and visit a friend. While I was standing in line at the cash register(收款台), I said hello to an older couple who were also paying for gas.
I took off, but had gone only a few miles when black smoke poured from the back of my car. I stopped and wondered what I should do. A car pulled up behind me. It was the couple I had spoken to at the gas station. They said they would take me to my friend’s. We chatted on the way into the city, and when I got out of the car, the husband gave me his business card.
I wrote him and his wife a thank-you note for helping me. Soon afterward, I received a Christmas present from them. Their note that came with it said that helping me had made their holidays meaningful.
Years later, I drove to a meeting in a nearby town in the morning. In late afternoon I returned to my car and found that I’d left the lights on all day, and the battery(电池)was dead. Then I noticed that the Friendly Ford dealership - a shop selling cars - was right next door. I walked over and found two salesmen in the showroom.
“Just how friendly is Friendly Ford?” I asked and explained my trouble. They quickly drove a pickup truck to my car and started it. They would accept no payment, so when I got home, I wrote them a note to say thanks. I received a letter back from one of the salesmen. No one had ever taken the time to write him and say thank you, and it meant a lot, he said.
“Thank you” - two powerful words. They’re easy to say and mean so much.
1.The words “took off” underlined in Paragraph 2 mean “______”.
A. turned offB. moved offC. put upD. set up
2.What happened when the author found smoke coming out of his car?
A. He had it pulled back to the gas station.
B. The couple sent him a business card.
C. The couple offered to help him.
D. He called his friend for help.
3.The battery of the author’s car was dead because_______.
A. something went wrong with the lights
B. the meeting lasted a whole day
C. he forgot to turn off the lights
D. he drove too long a distance
4.By telling his own experiences, the author tries to show______.
A. how to write a thank-you letter
B. how to deal with car problems
C. the kind-heartedness of older people
D. the importance of express
ing thanks
假如你是新华中学的学生李华，你的美国朋友Tom一周前给你发电子邮件，询问你暑假里的打算，但你因准备期末考试未能及时回复。请根据以下要点给他回封邮件：
未及时回信的原因；
你假期的打算（如做兼职、旅行、做志愿者等）
注意：1. 词数：120-150；
2 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
阅读下面短文，请根据文后的要求进行答题。（请注意问题后的字数要求）
I like watching TV very much for I think it has many advantages. First of all, watching TV is a good rest. After a day of hard work, we need a good rest. The pleasant music and interesting TV plays can make our mind and body not tired any more. Besides, watching TV is entertaining. There are many kinds of entertainments, such as sports activities, singing and dancing concerts, plays and the activities within a short time. We need at least ten hours to fly from New York to Paris, a week by train from Beijing to Moscow and an hour to drive from Queens Distric to Manhattan Distric. _________, within just one second, TV can bring us from an NBA game in New York to a fashion show in Paris by changing the channels.
Most importantly, watching TV is educational. Our children can learn every kind of subjects through the educational programs and the special reports on TV, and it’s easy for them to learn Chinese from a Chinese teacher in Beijing and to learn Russian lessons from a Russian teacher in Moscow. Even we can learn how to behave well from the TV plays. Meanwhile, a teacher can teach millions of students without a huge classroom.
1.What’s the best title for the text ? (no more than 8 words)
__________________________________________________________________________.
2.According to the writer, what’s the most important reason for watching TV? (no more than l2 words)
__________________________________________________________________________.
3.Why can watching TV make us have a good rest? (no more than 18 words)
__________________________________________________________________________.
4.What does the underlined word “ them” in the second paragraph refer to? (no more than 2 words)
__________________________________________________________________________.
5.Fill in the blank in the first Paragraph (l word)
__________________________________________________________________________.
Attention STARBUCKS
Owners of Stainless Steel Travel Mug
Mug lid Recall---16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug
We’ve recognized a fault at the cup. The fault might cause some lids to lift slightly from the body of the mug, and could possibly account for injury from hot liquid leaking(漏). So, we have given a lid recall notice immediately. The notice is only about STARBUCKS 16 oz Stainless Steel Travel Mugs which were sold between November 2012 and February 2013. The bottom of the mug is printed with “ThermoSServ”, the distributor’s name. There is not any printing on the mug handle.
At STARBUCKS, customers’ safety is valued above anything else. Therefore, no matter whether your lid is leaking , for your safety, we request you bring your mug to your nearest STARBUCKS ( NOT including Esso STARBUCKS), where they are sure to exchange the lid for a new lid that fits well and safely. The new lids are going to arrive March 1, 2013.
Don’t use your mug until you exchange the lid, please.
Here’s what you do:
* Please do not use your mug until you have exchanged the lid for a new one.
* New lids will arrive March 1, 2013.
* Return your travel mug to a STARBUCKS store.
* Your lid will be exchanged for a new lid.
If you’d like to return the entire mug, bring it back at any time for a full repayment.
If you have any questions about this recall, please call us at:
Toll Free Number: 1-999-701-1717
9:30 am - 6:00 pm Eastern Standard Time STARBUCKS
1.The passage is written in order to ________.
A. warn against the danger of using the mug
B. tell people to exchange a lid
C. persuade people to buy a new lid
D. introduce a new type of mugs
2.The passage is mainly aimed at those who ________.
A. have 16 oz stainless steel mugs
B. often travel around
C. want to buy 16 oz stainless steel mugs
D. are selling the mugs
3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. People should stop using the mug immediately.
B. People can get the money back if they return the mug.
C. People with questions can call the company free of charge.
D. People can return the lid between November 2012 and February 2013.
4.We can learn that STARBUCKS from the passage ________.
A. is a club for travelers
B. wants to make more money
C. is an organization helping customers
D. cares about the customers’ safety
5.The passage is most likely taken from a(n) ________.
A. news reportB. advertisementC. tour-guide book D. novel
