You can’t see your sleeping pets brain waves, but its behavior can tell you when your cat might be dreaming. If you watch closely, you’ll see that as she falls asleep, her breathing becomes slow and regular with her body still. She has entered the first stage of sleep, called slow-wave sleep. After about 15 minutes you’ll notice a change in her breathing. Her eyes move under her closed lids, her paws twitch (抽动) and she flicks (尤指用手指或手快速地轻抚) an ear. She has entered dreaming. Although she twitches and makes little grunting (嘟嘟) noises, messages from her brain to the large muscles in her legs are blocked, so she can’t run about. She is in a state of “sleep paralysis (麻痹)”.

Michel Jouvet, a French scientist, interrupted their sleep paralysis. Even though they were completely asleep, the dreaming cats began to run for balls that Jouvet couldn’t see and arched (弓起) their backs at unseen enemies. He figures he was watching them act out their dreams! Obviously, the dreaming cats seemed to be practising important cat skills: following, pouncing (猛扑), and fighting.

In another study, Matt Wilson recorded rats brain waves while they learned mazes (迷宫). One day, he left the brain-wave-recording machine on while the rats fell asleep. The pattern of brain waves in the sleeping rats matched the pattern from the maze so closely that Wilson could figure out exactly which part of the maze each rat was dreaming about!

Many researchers now think that in both people and animals, one purpose of dreams is to practise important skills and figure out recent caning. This may explain why so many people dream about fighting and escaping, skills that were probably important to our ancestors, and why dreaming affects our ability to learn.

Do all animals dream? From looking at the brain waves of sleeping animals. How often animals dream seems to be tied to body size. Cats dream about every 15 minutes, mice every 9 minutes, and elephants every 2 hours. And though cows and horses usually sleep standing up, they only dream when lying down.

1.What does Michel Jouvet find in his study?

A. The dreaming cats are in a state of body paralysis.

B. The dreaming cats often practise their important skills.

C. The eyes of dreaming cats moved while bodies are still.

D. The muscles of the dreaming cats are blocked to move.

2.What can you know about dreaming from the passage?

A. Dreaming a lot can help humans learn more.

B. Learning mazes is the basic skill for cats to learn.

C. Rats often dreams to make certain their recent learning

D. Fighting and escaping are not important skills for ancestors.

3.Which animal may dream most frequently?

A. Rats. B. Dogs.

C. Cows. D. Elephants

4.How does the author develop his passage?

A. By making comparisons. B. By using figures

C. By telling stories D. By showing facts

    When the tornado (龙卷风) passed, Lewis returned to her house after that awful night, and the Bible was the first thing she looked for. She had bought it 35 years earlier, at the start of her marriage. Like many folks, she’d used it to preserve the family’s history: decades-old photos, newspaper obituaries (讣告) of loved ones, a handkerchief from her great-grandmother, even a piece of a scarf her uncle bad brought back from the Korean War.

The Bible was not where she d last seen it, on top of an antique dresser in her bedroom. The only thing left was the solid pieces of marble that had been on the top of the furniture. After an hour of searching, one of the volunteers ran up to her and found the bible while clearing through ruins. She had tears streaming down her cheeks. It had flown about ten feet from the dresser. Surprisingly, while many books had been destroyed beyond recognition, the Bible was still intact, even though it had sat in the rain for days. “It was a miracle,” says Lewis.

A few of the Bible’s treasures did go missing. Yet ever so slowly, they, too, began reappearing in Lewis’s life. Days after the Bible was found, volunteers discovered one of the newspaper obituaries outside the home. Two weeks later, a neighbor found another newspaper clipping (剪辑) by her house. “It was a shock,” say Lewis.

Now the Bible already has its well-deserved place of honor, on the dresser. She knows that while every good book tells stories of disastrous weather and unlikely survival, this one actually lived it.

1.Why was the Bible the first thing to look for?

A. It is a book telling good stories.

B. It was a valuable gift for her marriage.

C. It records her family’s trees and history.

D. It keeps things recalling family’s stories.

2.What does the underlined word “intact” probably mean?

A. Unfolded B. New

C. Undamaged D. fragile

3.What is the best title for tie text?

A. The Bible Beats a Tornado.

B. The Bible Blesses Lewis’ Family

C. Antique Treasures Are Never Gone.

D. Family Treasures Are Along With Us.

    Bright Side did some research on many places throughout the world where you can buy a house for 1 dollar or for free!

Roubaix, France

If you like France, Roubaix located in the north of France is just for you. The local authorities want it to be populated and attractive. You can buy a small house in the industrial district for just $1. The buyer is supposed to live in this house for 3 years.

Buffalo. USA

Buffalo offers whoever qualifies to buy a house for $1. All you need is to be a lawful citizen of the city and invest amount of money into its decoration. Doing this, the authorities are hoping to make the city beautiful again without spending money.

Liverpool, Great Britain

In Liverpool, most of houses were abandoned by the working class during the years of unemployment. The government is trying to sell the houses for just $1. If you want to buy such a house, it has to be your first deal on buying property (不动产).

Candela, Italy

If you still have any doubts about spending SI on a house, you should know: the government will pay you some money, if you move to Candela. In order to be paid, you need to become a permanent citizen and have an income of $7500 per year. If moving a, ne, you will get S800, and if you are going with your family, the pay can be four times as much as only one person.

For more information of other cities, please Click Here.

1.Why do the authorities of Buffalo provide a house for people with 1$?

A. To improve the lives of poor people.

B. To make the city attractive at no cost.

C. To solve the problems of employment.

D. To attract people to the industrial areas.

2.What is required to buy a house for 1 dollar in Liverpool?

A. You need to be an unemployed citizen.

B. You should live in the house for 3 years.

C. You must make the first house purchase.

D. You have to repair and decorate the house.

3.How much money can you get if moving to Candela with a whole family?

A. $3200 B. $1

C. $800 D. $7500

4.Where does this passage come from?

A. a textbook. B. a magazine.

C. the Internet. D. an announcement.

假设你是晨光中学学生李津，你的美国朋友Chris从某网站得知中国外交部在4月16日为天津举办了主题为“新时代的中国：活力天津，走向世界”全球推介活动，希望你能介绍相关情况。为了让Chris更好的了解天津，请根据以下提示给他写一封电子邮件。

（1）简单介绍“外交部天津全球推介活动”引起的反响；

（2）介绍天津风景名胜和丰富多彩的历史文化；

（3）希望他有机会来访天津。

参考词汇：中国外交部MFA

Dear Chris,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Jin

阅读短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

After we all came to the conclusion that our family could responsibly care for a dog, my husband and I started our search at a local animal shelter.

We discovered a medium-sized male dog named Duke. This dog was approximately only two years old and seemed to have the sweetest character. He looked at us through intelligent eyes and already knew how to fetch a ball. My husband and I immediately adopted him Duke quickly fit into our family's lifestyle . And he quickly learned the tricks like “sit”，“stay”，and “come”.

But there was one skill that Duke could not seem to grasp — that of a watchdog. My husband was trying to teach him to remind us by giving a single warning bark when someone came into the yard. Duke would listen carefully to my husband's commands, but would cock (竖起) his head to one side in confusion and disappointment as if to tell his master that he just didn't understand what my husband was asking him to do. My husband would give his “watch” command. Duke would stand up -- muscles tightened in readiness, but would not have a clue as to what he was in readiness for.

One morning we heard the garbage collectors come up the driveway to get our garbage. My husband went to the open bedroom window so Duke could hear and see the men through the screen .

“Watch!” my husband commanded. Duke rose up in readiness, looked at my husband as sudden comprehension dawned on him, gave a quick tail wave, and leaped through the window screen, jumping happily out to greet the garbage men.

Seeing that, I couldn't help laughing. My laughter did nothing for my husband's mood when he found what was happening and he just went away to repair the screen with no expression on his face.

Duke brought our family so much fun. We never scolded or beat him. He was one of our family members.

1.What was Duke like when the author adopted him? (no more than l0 words)

2.What did Duck learn after being adopted by the author's family? (no more than 15 words)

3.What is the meaning of the underlined part in Paragraph 5? (no more than 10 words)

4.How did the author and her husband feel about Duke's leaping through the window? (no more than 10 words)

5.How do you think people should treat their pets? (no more than 20 words)

    Albert Einsein said，“Only a life lived for others is worth living.”

How does this job offer sound? You’ll need to be available on short notice，including late at night and on weekends. You could be asked to do anything from helping at community events to responding to life-threatening emergencies (sometimes putting your own safety at risk). This job also involves a lot of regular training. Oh, and you won't be paid for any of this. Would you take the job?

This job might not necessarily appeal to everyone, but if this sounds like an opportunity you’d eagerly accept，then you’d fit right in with Western Australia’s 26,000 emergency service volunteers. The emergency services aren't the only industry benefiting from volunteers. Across both Australia and America, between a quarter and half of the population volunteer each year in areas including education, sports, health, religion, and social services.

What motivates people to volunteer? Yes, volunteers don't get paid. But it doesn't mean people don't get benefits from volunteering. Indeed, research shows there are significant mental health benefits coming with volunteering. It can be a means to make new friends, build new skills or try things out of your comfort zone. It can also be a means to help loved ones. A case is someone close to me who recently lost her husband to a disease. When her husband was admitted to a nursing facility, she decided to volunteer for the patient advocacy committee. She found great support and felt she could make a difference in the lives of the patients. After her husband's passing, she decided to continue volunteering for the committee not only as a way to show gratitude for the great care her husband received but also because she made friends there. She found a way to put her career skills to use for the common good and keep active after retirement.

There are countless ways to volunteer. No matter how you do it, it is definitely worth every minute you put into it.

1.If we are committed to “this job” described in Para. 2, we are _______.

A. always in danger of losing our lives

B. on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

C. busy providing first-aid training in communities

D. going to work on weekends and rest on weekdays

2.What does the author mainly tell us in the third paragraph?

A. Not everyone is fit to be a volunteer.

B. Many industries in the world need volunteers.

C. Many emergency services exist in Western Australia.

D. Many people devote themselves to volunteering in Australia and America.

3.We can come to the conclusion that volunteering _______.

A. is a win-win situation

B. benefits both the body and the mind

C. spreads quickly among people

D. is hard to stick to without rewards

4.The author's friend kept volunteering after her husband's death _________.

A. for her interest to learn career skills

B. to stay helpful and related to people

C. as a means to get over her great loss

D. because it was her husband's last will

5.What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?

A. To encourage volunteering.

B. To advertise a job opportunity.

C. To express gratitude to volunteers.

D. To give advice on volunteering.

    In some islands north of Scotland, if head lice (头虱) left their host, he became sick and feverish. Therefore, sick people had lice put in their hair intentionally. There was a method in their madness： As soon as the lice had settled in again, the patient improved. The story explains the confusion of cause and effect. If the lice leave the sick host, it is because he has a fever and they simply get hot feet，and when the fever breaks，they return. Such false causality (假因果关系）misleads us every day.

Consider the headline: “Fact: Women Who Use Shampoo XYZ Every Day Have Stronger Hair.” It says very little -- least of all, that the shampoo makes your hair stronger. It might simply be the other way round: women with strong hair tend to use Shampoo XYZ -- and perhaps that’s because it says “especially for thick hair” on the bottle.

Another example: Scientists found that long periods in the hospital did harm to patients. But, clearly, patients who are dismissed immediately are healthier than those who must stay on for treatment.

Recently I read that students get better grades at school if their homes contain many books. This study was surely a shot in the arm for booksellers, but it was also false causality. This simple truth is that educated parents tend to value their children's education more than uneducated ones do, and they often have more books at home. In short, a dust-covered copy War and Peace alone isn't going to influence anyone's grades; what counts is parents' education levels, as well as their genes.

There was also the supposed relationship between the birth rate and the numbers of stork (鹳）pairs in Germany. Both were in decline, and if you plot (描绘） them on a graph (曲线图)，the two lines of development from 1965 to 1987 appeared almost the same. Does this mean the storks actually bring babies? Obviously not. This was a purely accidental connection.

In conclusion: Connection is not causality. Take a closer look at linked events: Sometimes what is presented as the cause turns out to be the effect, or just the other way round， and sometimes there is no link at all -- just like with storks and babies.

1.According to the first paragraph, people in some islands north of Scotland _________.

A. found a way to get rid of head lice

B. used an effective method to keep flt

C. made head lice a part of their life

D. died due to infections with head lice

2.Which is an example of false causality?

A. Women with strong hair tend to use a certain shampoo.

B. The birth rate and the stork population are connected.

C. Longer periods in the hospital benefit patients.

D. Lice can make a person sick and feverish.

3.The underlined phrase “ a shot in the arm” in Paragraph 4 means _______.

A. pain B. defeat

C. guidance D. encouragement

4.According to the author, students get better grades probably because ______.

A. their homes are full of books

B. they have read War and Peace

C. their educated parents value education

D. their parents are successful booksellers

5.We can draw the conclusion from the passage that _______.

A. connection arc pure accidents

B. cause and effect are interdependent

C. connections are mostly cause and effect

D. linked events may turn out to be unrelated

    The Governor’s School is described as a unique opportunity for high school students to involve themselves in math, science, and technology. When I signed up for computer programming, I expected to learn about coding (编程). However, what I didn’t expect was that I would also learn how to build strong friendships.

Just before I went there, I didn't know what to expect in the school, feeling quite at a loss. A sense of uncertainty about my future was flooding over me. On the first day, the students awkwardly moved around at the opening ceremonies. Although it is embarrassing to admit, I hadn't been able to succeed in my friendship in the past because I was too focused on myself. This time, I got rid of the desire to share personal stories and instead was eager to ask others about themselves.

After sunset on the second night, I heard three girls trying to recall the schedule for an upcoming museum trip. After effective communication, I knew they were Bree, Megan and Avery. Bree and Avery were in environmental science， and Megan was studying mathematics.

We had a lot in common among us four, such as our love for movies, which strengthened our friendships. Meanwhile, we were able to introduce each other to new activities. Bree introduced us to anime (日本动漫). Enthusiastically, Megan encouraged us to play tennis. Avery and I kept the other two motivated to work out at the gym. The fact that none of us was particularly skilled with equipment resulted in shared laughter almost every day.

After four weeks, I left with the ability to successfully code an educational computer game. More importantly, I also left with knowledge about the code of friendship -- the fact that I could make more friends in a month by showing interest in them than I could in a year by trying to attract others’ interest in me.

1.The author went to the Governor's School to originally learn how to _______.

A. code computer programs

B. make friends with others

C. develop her personal hobby and interest

D. share her personal stories with others

2.The author had failed in her friendship mainly because _________.

A. she was embarrassed to stay with her friends

B. she cared little about others

C. she longed to know about others

D. she focused her attention on her study

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Avery studied mathematics in the school.

B. The four girls had a wonderful time at school.

C. Though the four girls had nothing in common, they became good friends.

D. Before going to the Governor's School, the author had the basic knowledge about computers.

4.According to the author, the success code of friendship is _____.

A. getting others to be interested in her

B. adding more laughter to others’ life

C. keeping others motivated by stories

D. becoming more interested in others

5.What does the author tell us in the passage?

A. Her interest in the Governor’s School.

B. A close relation with three schoolmates.

C. Her experience in the Governor’s School.

D. Big changes in her study.

    Beaches are not only great for lying on and doing water sports，and in fact one of the best ways of enjoying them is a classic beach walk. Here at iWantSun.co.uk we’ve been searching the globe to find you the world’s best and most famous beach walks，and here’s our pick of the top. Click on the most interesting walks and join our tourist program.

The Footpath of the Gods, Amalfi Coast，Italy

The name says it all really and you truly feel excited there, walking along this wonderful mountain path, which offers some of the most striking views on (he planet. The path begins at the town of Bomerano to charming Positano along the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Amalfi Coast. The whole walk will take you about four and a half hours to complete and pass over narrow rocky paths.

Sydney's Great Coastal Walk, Australia

Sydney's coastline is one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. Here you have national parks, historic sites, shining and quiet beaches all in one place. Sydney's Great Coastal Walk runs all the way from Barrenjoey in the north to Royal National Park in the south and takes an unbelievable seven days to complete. However, if you're not up to doing the full walk, there are many different parts of the walk that you can do right in the city itself. Walking from the city9s famous Bondi Beach to the sweeping curve (大半径曲线）of Brone Beach takes just an hour, which takes in some top sceneries.

Great Ocean Walk, Australia

The Great Ocean Walk covers 104 km along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road, located on the southern coast of Australia, from the holiday town Apollo Bay to the splendid Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles are the area's famous stone landmarks which stand out like giants from the sea. The walk passes through a range of landscapes and sights, from national park, famous surfing spots and deserted beaches, to wild coastlines, waterfalls, lush (茂盛的）forests, historic lighthouses. Day walks and shorter three-hour walks such as The Wreck Beach Walk or the Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk can also be enjoyed.

So next time when you're looking for a beach holiday, don't just think about the holiday towns and the sand, but consider a more active sun holiday. If you have interest in any of the above places, please contact us, and we can give you the best services.

1.When you arrive at Amalfi Coast,_________.

A. the scenic beauty can fill you with charm

B. the walking can be started from Positano

C. you must be fed up with the footpath

D. narrow rocky paths may trap you

2.What are the distinct characteristics of Sydney's Great Coastal Walk?

A. It takes more than a week to complete the walk.

B. It provides visitors with a variety of great landscapes.

C. It really has the longest coastline in the world.

D. It starts from Royal National Park in Che south.

3.From the Great Ocean Walk, Australia we can know that _______.

A. most visitors have to finish the 104 km walk quickly

B. the Twelve Apostles stand below the surface of the sea

C. Apollo Bay is at the end of the Great Ocean Walk

D. visitors have various walking choices there

4.Where can we probably read the passage?

A. travel magazine. B. A handbook to tourists.

C. An online advertisement. D. A poster in a foreign travel agency.

5.The author intends to ________.

A. introduce the beautiful beaches in Australia

B. present the wonderful beaches in the world

C. tell us the ideal tourist destination for health

D. ask us to join the tourist program

    As a teenager dreaming of a writing career, I was inspired to discover that two of my favorite movies were both written by a female team: Kirsten and her writing partner, Karen.

I didn’t think they’d take a young writer like me __ . But still, I wrote Kirsten an email letting her know that I had an idea I wanted to __ with her and Karen, and asked if they’d be __ to meet with me.

I didn’t even expect a(an) __ to my email. However, 12 days after I sent it, I received a(an) __ reply from Kirsten.

Her email included this line, which made me __ up from my computer chair: “Karen and I would be honored to __ you and to hear more about everything you're working on.” We met for ___the following week, and after a three-hour meal __ laughs and sisterly advice, a friendship was born.

___, Kirsten and Karen __ the idea I shared with them.

Their __ in my ideas at the earliest stage of my career is something I’ll never forget; it’s what made me believe that I could be a good __ too, just like them. And more importantly, our __ is still going strong all these years later.

In fact, Kirsten is the first person who ever suggested I __ a novel. Actually, she gave me this __ while we were standing on the Teens section of Barnes & Noble, a bookstore where several years later, our __ would sit together on the shelves.

I wish every young writer had someone like Kirsten in their life to help __ them on their way. As I looked at our books hanging out together on the bookstore shelf, I once again though how glad I was that I sent that __ years ago.

If you too have an idol who you would love to learn from, simply __ out and ask them. That might be all it takes to set you on the path to your dreams.

1.A. proudly B. seriously C. surprisingly D. kindly

2.A. share B. work C. experiment D. compare

3.A. ready B. hesitant C. willing D. satisfied

4.A. introduction B. comment C. suggestion D. response

5.A. accurate B. reliable C. convincing D. warm

6.A. jump B. throw C. turn D. look

7.A. call B. visit C. meet D. teach

8.A. training B. fun C. business D. dinner

9.A. replaced by B. filled with C. involved in D. based on

10.A. Amazingly B. Certainly C. Ridiculously D. Naturally

11.A. criticized B. doubted C. understood D. loved

12.A. improvement B. practice C. belief D. pride

13.A. actress B. writer C. director D. judge

14.A. friendship B. confidence C. difficulty D. pressure

15.A. write B. read C. buy D. lend

16.A. present B. chance C. advice D. task

17.A. books B. friends C. goods D. photos

18.A. remind B. comfort C. challenge D. guide

19.A. question B. paper C. email D. novel

20.A. watch B. reach C. drop D. stretch

______ for the fire at Notre Dame de Paris, a church famous for its large collection of art treasures, I would be there for a visit this summer vacation.

A. Had it not been B. Should it not be

C. Were it not be D. If it had not been

You have to rewrite the monthly report because you _____ many important details.

A. turned off B. left out

C. dropped by D. put up

-- What did she want to know, Tom?

-- She wondered _______ we could complete the experiment.

A. when was it B. it was when that

C. it was when D. when it was that

Mark has lived in China for many years, yet he still can't ________ himself to the Chinese customs.

A. observe B. adapt

C. lead D. devote

We had better put off interviewing the athlete, for he Is busy preparing for an international contest __________ in Shanghai next month.

A. held B. to hold

C. being held D. to be held

Tianjin soccer fans wonder how long it will be ______ the popular soccer star - Sunke can appear in the fields in Tianjin as a member of Tianjin Tianhai soccer team.

A. before B. since

C. until D. where

-- Our team has just narrowly won the game. I feel so relieved now.

-- __________!

A. Cheer up B. You bet

C. What a pity D. Well done

-- Turn off the TV, Jack. _______ your homework now?

-- Mum, just ten more minutes, please.

A. Will you be doing B. Should you be doing

C. Shouldn't you be doing D. Couldn’t you be doing

_______ with all sorts of affairs, the manager had little time to have a good sleep.

A. Occupying B. Being occupied

C. Occupied D. Having occupied

I was going to pay by cash when it suddenly occurred to me _________ I had left my purse at home.

A. whether B. what

C. that D. where

China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, whose positioning ________ will reach 2.5 meters by 2020, will soon provide services for more countries.

A. accuracy B. category

C. function D. reference

This semester our school offers many optional courses for the students, _______ appeals to many students.

A. each of which B. all of whom

C. each of whom D. all of which

-- I have heard Mr. Morgan will be here at 4:00 pm. next Thursday.

-- No, he _______ at that time.

A. was boarding B. would be boarding

C. will be boarding D. is boarding

It is not surprising that she was elected ______ monitor ;she is ______ very smart girl who has the ability to organize the class well.

A. /; the B. /; a

C. a;a D. the;/

-- What about the two of us going downtown?

-- ___________ . I have spending time hanging around.

A. That suits me fine B. Why not

C. It depends on the weather D. Well, that's the last thing I will do

下面图表是对某校高三学生填报高考志愿时所考虑因素的调查结果。请用英语写一篇简要的报告，并说说你自己的观点。

注意：1.文章的开头已经写好，不计入总词数；2.词数120左右；3.适当发挥使文章连贯。

Some senior middle school graduates have different opinions on how to choose their majors and universities.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

阅读表达：阅读下面短文，按照要求完成阅读任务。

A daughter complained to her father about her life and how things have been so hard for her.She did not know how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up.She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and placed the fire on high Soon the three pots came to a boil.In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and the last he placed ground coffee beans.He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

The daughter impatiently wondered what he was trying to do. In half an hour he walked over to the stove and turned down the fire.He pulled the carrots out and placed them in the bowl.He pulled the eggs out and placed them in the bowl.Then he ladled（盛）the coffee out and placed it in a cup.Turning to her he asked.“Darling what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee.”she replied.

He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.She did and noted that they were soft.He then asked her to take an egg and break it.After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled ege. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.She smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma（芳香）.

Humbly, she asked.“What does it mean Father?”

He explained.“Each of them faced the same adversity,however each reacted differently.The carrot went in strong, hard.But after going through boiling water, it softened and became weak.The egg was fragile.A thin outer shell protected a liquid center.But after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.The coffee beans are unique however.After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water”

“Which are you,”he asked his daughter, “When adversity knocks on your door, how do yourespond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

1.How did the daughter feel about her life?（No more than 10 words）

2.Why did the father take his daughter to the kitchen?（No more than 12 words）

3.What does the underlined word“adversity”in the last paragraph probably mean in English?（No more than 12 words）

4.What advice did the father give his daughter?（No more than 10 words）

5.What kind of man do you think the father was and why?（No more than 25 words）

    In Western countries people have been using the installment plan since the first half of the twentieth century.Today, a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by installments In the U.S.A, the figure is much higher than in Great Britain, and people there spend over 10 percent of their income on the installment plan.

The price of an article bought on installments is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash.There is a charge for interest.The buyer pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment when the goods are delivered to him.He then makes regular payments, weekly or monthly,until the full price is paid up.The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.

Installment buying has advantages and disadvantages. It can help couples with small incomes to fumish their homes and star housekeeping, It increases the demand for goods, and in this way helps business and employment .There is ,however, the danger that when business is bad, installment buying may end suddenly, making business much worse.This may result in a great increase in unemployment.If the people on the installment plan lose their jobs, they will probably not be able to make their payments.If great numbers of people are not able to pay their installment debts, there is a possibility that businessmen cannot collect their debts and will therefore lose money.If businessmen lose money or fail to make a satisfactory profit, it becomes more likely to have a depression .This is why, in some countries,the government controls the installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment and installments to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.

1.Which of the following is NOT TRUE about the installment plan?

A. A lot of British families use the installment plan.

B. More than 10 percent American families buy things on installments.

C. Americans depend more on installment than British people do.

D. Americans spend one tenth of their income on installment buying.

2.Goods bought on installments are more expensive than goods bought by cash because ________ .

A. the buyer has to pay extra money as interest

B. the delivery of the goods charges extra money

C. the buyer has to pay a down payment

D. the service offered by installment plan charged extra money

3.What will happen to a buyer if he fails to make the full payment for an item bought on installments?

A. He might lose his job.

B. He will stop owning the item he has bought

C. He will have to sell what he has bought.

D. He will go into debt

4.The advantage of installment buying might include all the following EXCEPT that ________ .

A. purchasing power is strengthened.

B. employment might be increased

C. people develop a good habit of saving money

D. young couples are able to furnish their homes

5.In some countries,the governments control the installment plan to ________ .

A. increase employment

B. avoid depressions

C. ensure that businesses make good profits

D. ensure that people can pay for what they buy

    Have you ever complained, “I remember reading it, but I can’t remember what it said? ” then you should try the SQ4R reading method.

S = Survey.The first step is to take a few minutes skimming the chapter. Don’t read it yet, just look at topic headings, key words, and read the summary.

Q = Question. As you prepare to read the chapter,turn the first topic into a question or two.As you read, seach for the answer.This will help you organize your reading-find the parts that answer your question, give an example ,consist of related information or that may answer a later question.Most importantly, this gives you a reason to read the next paragraph.

R = Read.Read in short “bites”（部分）,then determine how that answers question（s）you originally posed（提出）.Often as you read other questions will arise.

R = Recite. Now can you answer your question（s）in your own words? If you can’t, reread the material to find the answers or determine if you need to change the question.You are rehearsing（重复，默诵）for the time when you will need o know the answer.A good technique for rehearsing answers is to briefly jot down（草草记下）the key words that remind you of the essence of the answer without writing down every detail.

R = Relate.Most of us try to relate what we are reading to what we already know.It is always easier and more satisfying to remember information that is personally meaningful. Everything has a context.Some information may take more reflection before you are able to grasp its relationship with what you already know while other information may simply require more research, to understand how it fits with other data.

R = Review.One way to minimize memory decay（衰退）and to store the material you have studied firmly in your mind is by reviewing it.After you finish reading the entire chapter, skim back over it and any note you made.

Effective studying requires effective reading.Rather than getting“intellectual indigestion” while reading straight through a chapter, instead you should stop to survey, question, read, recite, relate, and review so as to improve your reading comprehension.

1.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. Six steps to skim through a chapter.

B. The purpose of using the SQ4R reading method.

C. An effective way of getting“intellectual indigestion”.

D. A method to help you learn what you read effectively.

2.In author’s view, the step of“reading”is a process that ________ .

A. you determine what questions should be posed an answered

B. you find key words to remind you of the essence of a chapter

C. you search for answers to the questions you created before reading

D. you make preparation for the next steps -recite and relate

3.Why does the author advise readers to relate what they learn while reading a chapter?

A. Because it can make us recognize the meaningful information.

B. Because the purpose of reading is to know relationships between data.

C. Because it’ll be more enjoyable as we’ll be reminded of what we’ve known.

D. Because it’ll be easier to grasp and remember the information from the chapter.

4.How can we remember what we have learned firmly according to the passage?

A. By reading it. B. By reviewing it.

C. By questioning it. D. By relating it.

5.Unlike the SQ4R reading method, “intellectual indigestion”may result from the way of ________ .

A. rehearsing for the time when you will need to know the answer

B. not finding a purpose for reading the next paragraph

C. reading straight through a chapter ineffectively

D. reviewing many times to store materials in your mind

    One evening in February 2007, a student named Paula Ceely brought her car to a stop on a remote road in Wales.She got out to open a metal gate that blocked her path.That’s when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train.Her Renault Clio was parked across a railway line.Seconds later, she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks.

Ceely’ s near miss made the news because she blamed it on her GPS device.She had never driver the route before.It was dark and raining heavily.Ceely was relying on her GPS, but it made no mention of the crossing.“I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train, ”she told the BBC.

Who is to blame here? Rick Stevenson, who tells Ceely’s story in his book When Machines Fail Us,points the finger at the limitations of technology.We put our faith in digital devices, he says, but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job.They are filled with small problems.And it’s not just GPS devices:Stevenson takes us on a  tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless keyboards.

The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s not clear why he only focuses on digital technology, while there may be a number of other possible causes.A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map.Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention.Perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signaling system .Or maybe someone has studied the relative dangers and worked out that there really is something specific wrong with the GPS equipment. But Stevenson doesn’t say.

It’s a problem that runs through the book.In a section on cars, Stevenson gives an account of the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars.He offers two independent sets of figures on car theft; both show a small rise in some parts of the country.He says that once again not all new locks have proved reliable,Perhaps, but maybe it’s also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets .Or changing social circumstances.Or some combination of these factors.

The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex.It is shaped by economics and psychology and the cultures we live in.Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be a way for a wiser use of technology.

If there is such a way, it should involve more than just an awareness of the shortcomings of our machines.After all, we have lived with them for thousands of years.They have probably been fooling us for just a.s long.

1.What did Paula Ceely think was the cause of her accident?

A. She was not familiar with the road.

B. It was dark and raining heavily then.

C. The railway workers failed to give the signal.

D. Her GPS device didn’t tell her about the crossing.

2.The phrase “near miss”（Paragraph 2）can best be replaced by ________.

A. close hit B. heavy loss

C. narrow escape D. big mistake

3.Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with?

A. Modern technology is what we can’t live without.

B. Digtal technology often falls short of our expectation.

C. Digital devices are more reliable than they used to be.

D. GPS error is not the only cause for Ceely’s accident.

4.In the writer’s opinion,Stevenson’s argument is ________ .

A. one-sided B. reasonable

C. puzzling D. well-based

5.What is the real concern of the writer of this article?

A. The major causes of traffic accidents and car thefts.

B. The human unawareness of technical problems.

C. The shortcomings of digital devices we use.

D. The relationship between humans and technology.