What's the probable relationship between the speakers?

A. Boss and secretary.    B. Taxi driver and passenger.    C. Driver and conductor.

What does the woman want to do?

A. Open the window.    B. Open the door.    C. Let the man in.

When did the alarm clock ring?

A. At 6 o'clock.    B. At 8 o'clock.    C. At 7 o'clock.

假如你是李华，你所在的学校正在举办“机器人设计大赛”，请设计一款你心目中理想的机器人，并把它介绍给你远在美国的朋友Peter，内容包括:

1.机器人的名字，外观；2.介绍其功能和特点；3.阐述你的设计理由。

注意:1词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

参考词汇:机器人android

Dear Peter,

I am writing to tell you that …

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：把缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2. 只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

I enjoy do many things in my spare time. I read many kind of books and newspapers. The stories and news in them is very interesting. I was also a music lover and my favorite sing is Whitney Houston. In order to be healthily and strong, I often go running in the morning. In the afternoon, I will play the basketball with my classmates. When I am doing sports, I forget all her troubles and worries. Reading books, listening music and doing sports are all very good for both my health or my studies.

语法填空

The party began shortly after nine． Mr． Wood， who lived in the flat below， sighed to himself as he heard 1. （ excite） voices and the noisy music． Luckily， he had brought some work home from the office， with 2. he kept himself busy for a couple of hours， thus managing to pay no attention3. the noise overhead． But by eleven o'clock he felt tired and was ready to go to bed though from his 4.（ early） experience he knew it was no use5.（ try） to get to sleep． He undressed and6.（ lie） for a while in bed， trying to read， but he found himself reading the same page over and over again． He then turned off 7. light and buried his head in the pillow． But even so he could not shut off the noise． Finally， after8. seemed hours， his patience was gone．

He jumped out of bed， put on some clothing， marched firmly up the stairs， and walked into his neighbor's apartment． The owner of the apartment came across the room and， 9. Mr． Wood could say anything， cried， "My dear fellow， come and join us． I know our parties would trouble you． I meant to send you an invitation．" Mr． Wood's anger disappeared then and there． He said， "I'd better go and get changed．" Minutes later， he returned，10.（ proper） dressed， only to find that the party was nearly over．

5-year-old Lucy Green is from California. She didn’t _______ to become a(n) hero when she went for a walk with her mom recently. But when some strangers called out for _______, Lucy and her mom ran to their side.

It turns out that some ducklings(小鸭子) had gotten stuck and the people who found them were unable to _______ them. But luckily for the ducklings, Lucy had just what it took to bring them to _______. Now the 5-year-old’s _______ act is being talked about.

It all _______ when a family found a mother duck _______ with only one duckling. The father duck was nearby, but strangely, there were no _______ ducklings following them. _______ the family knew that ducks often travel in flocks (群), they __________ that something was probably wrong.

Then suddenly, there were strange sounds coming from a drainage pipe (排水管). They were the __________ of ducklings. It turned out that the other ducklings had __________ into the pipe and gotten stuck. Unluckily, no one in the family had __________ enough arms to reach down and pull out the ducklings ---but __________, there was a hero nearby.

The family __________Lucy and her mom, who rushed to them in a hurry. The family filled Lucy and her mom in on what had happened, and Lucy decided to take __________immediately and try to bring the ducklings out.

Lucy put her arm down into the __________ and carefully __________out the first duckling. And the next…until she had brought all eight ducklings out.

After Lucy saved the little creatures from __________, the __________mother duck went off with her beloved ducklings.

1.A. expect    B. believe    C. wish    D. desire

2.A. advice    B. treatment    C. help    D. encouragement

3.A. lose    B. save    C. protect    D. feed

4.A. health    B. safety    C. joy    D. strength

5.A. smart    B. creative    C. fair    D. kind

6.A. succeeded    B. failed    C. cancelled    D. started

7.A. working    B. playing    C. waiting    D. wondering

8.A. another    B. others    C. other    D. the others

9.A. Though    B. If    C. Before    D. Since

10.A. assured    B. realized    C. guaranteed    D. recognized

11.A. cries    B. warnings    C. laughter    D. smells

12.A. broken    B. fallen    C. looked    D. flown

13.A. fatty    B. strong    C. slim    D. powerful

14.A. surprisingly    B. fortunately    C. naturally    D. clearly

15.A. nodded to    B. listened to    C. laughed at    D. shouted at

16.A. notice    B. care    C. action    D. measurement

17.A. brightness    B. length    C. tunnel    D. darkness

18.A. lifted    B. examined    C. covered    D. guided

19.A. fear    B. doubt    C. danger    D. anger

20.A. depressed    B. overjoyed    C. disappointed    D. frightened

You can’t choose friends for your child, but you can help him learn to choose friends wisely. 1. Here are a few ways to help your child make friends.

Build your child's self-confidence.

When he succeeds or has made a great choice, tell him you are proud of him. 2.Your middle school student is going through many changes and may feel like he isn't “good enough”. Building his self-confidence will help him feel more confident and will make it easier for him to form healthy friendships.

3.

Give him your full attention when he talks, and really listen to what he has to say.

Discuss the qualities in a friend with your child.

Discuss with your child the qualities that matter most, such as being reliable and kind, and making good choices when it comes to avoiding alcohol and cigarettes.

Get to know your child's friends.

4. It’s more important to talk with them and find out what they like to do. Allow your child to invite his friends over and get to know them better.

5.

After-school clubs and sports programs are good places for meeting new people. Be open to exploring different activities with your child to find something that he enjoys.

A. When he does not succeed, help him feel better and keep trying.

B. You can teach him ways to find friends who will have a positive influence on him.

C. There are many types of friends and we should be careful when making our choices.

D. Introduce your child to new groups of people.

E. Friends are very important for us.

F. Talk with your child every day and listen to his concerns.

G. Try not to judge your child's friends according to how they dress.

Stay-at-home kids are named “generation nini” in Spain. They are those adults who still live at home and are neither working nor studying. But the problem is not limited to Spain. It is a worldwide problem.

In Italy, they are known as “bamboccioni” or big babies. There are nearly 60 percent of 18-34-year-old adults still living in their parents’ home, up from almost 50 percent since 1983. Once kept there by the love for their mama’s home-cooked food, the economic crisis(经济危机) has seen a rise in adults left unable to hold down a steady job or afford a home of their own. Last year, an Italian government minister admitted that his mother washed his clothes and made the bed for him until he was 30. He demanded a law forcing young Italians to leave their parents’ home at 18 to stop them becoming hopelessly dependent on their parents.

In the UK, the government has made the term NEETS—not in employment, education or training for these children. In England alone the percent of NEETS aged 19-24 surged to 18.8 percent of the age group-in the last quarter of 2010, up 1.4 percent on the same period a year before. The number of British men in their 20s living with their parents has risen from 59 percent to 80 percent in the past 15 years, while the number of women has risen from 41 percent to 50 percent. The average age of the first-time house buyers is now 38.

In the US, the problem is known as the “full nest syndrome(综合症)”. Adults there are left struggling to support adult children who have stayed at home with student debts and facing few job opportunities in a weak economy. A recent study showed almost a third of American adults aged 34 and under are living with their parents.

1.“Big babies” mentioned in Paragraph 2 refers to those adults who ________.

A. depend on their parents for a living    B. are not as smart as others

C. lose their job in the bad economy    D. are poorly educated

2.The Italian government minister thinks that ________.

A. parents should make their children feel hopeless

B. parents should never make the bed for their children

C. young people should live on their own after 18

D. it is OK for adult children to live with their parents

3.The underlined word “surged” in paragraph 3 can be replaced by ________.

A. moved    B. reduced    C. recovered    D. jumped

4.What does the last paragraph tell us?

A. America has the most adult children compared with other countries.

B. American parents are happy to live with their children.

C. Some American adult children are causing trouble for their parents.

D. It is a tradition for adult children to live with their parents in America.

Princess quiz time! How did Snow White survive? How did Cinderella (《灰姑娘》) leave her evil stepmother? How did Sleeping Beauty finally wake up?

A kind-hearted person always comes to save the princess, like a prince or a godmother. Princesses cannot protect themselves, though they are very pretty and nice. They always need the help of others.

However, in fact, women can’t put their life in the hands of a prince-like man. They need to work and even fight for their own happiness. The traditional image(形象) of a princess is getting out of date.

Recently, Disney, a company famous for its princess movies, posted the “top 10 rules for being a modern princess”. You will not find any rules related to beauty or looks. The rules focus on loyalty, honesty and other moral values. The rules say princesses need to believe in themselves and try their best to get out of trouble, instead of waiting for a prince’s help.

It’s not the first time Disney princesses have caught up with society’s development. In 1950, when people’s hearts were broken by World War II, Disney created Cinderella. In 1990, Princess Belle from Beauty and the Beast (《美女与野兽》) loved reading when education was a man’s special right in the past. Belle showed the improvement of women’s position in society. Now is Elsa from the film Frozen (《冰雪奇缘》), a symbol of modern princess.

“This is brilliant – ‘The top 10 rules of being a modern princess’ – (it’s) about time,” a group named Confidently Mom said on social media website Twitter. Princesses are still very beautiful, but inner character is the key to being a princess.

1.What does the story think modern women should be like?

A. They should turn to others for help.

B. They should depend on themselves for their own happiness.

C. They don’t need to care about their appearances.

D. They should depend on men to do most things.

2.Disney’s rules for being a modern princess focus on a girl’s _____.

A. looks    B. education    C. position in society    D. moral values

3.The images were created in order to catch up with the society’s development except _____.

A. Belle    B. Cinderella    C. Godmother    D. Elsa

4.What does the group Confidently Mom think of the rules?

A. Fantastic.    B. Meaningless.    C. Doubtful.    D. Social.

When I was growing up, Mother’s Day was as important as Christmas.

The energy around the house was always positive, mostly thanks to my father who made sure that his kids appreciated their mother. We would clean the house, and Mum got breakfast in bed in the morning and didn't have to lift a finger all day. And in the evening, we went to a restaurant for a traditional Mother’s Day dinner.

What I learned from my father over the years, was that no matter what, he always put my mother before himself. He absolutely loved her and never let her forget that.

I maintain(保持) my father’s Mother’s Day tradition with my wife. Growing up, I learned that showing affection to the woman you love or who gave birth to you is an important part of life. You see, it goes both ways, and the love you have for your mother comes back to you again and again.

Believing that and feeling it when you can may keep you from being lonely, even if your mum isn’t close by or has passed away. There are a number of us who no longer have a mother in our lives, and truth be told, there are often times when I wish my mum were still here to comfort me. So instead, I remember the times she did just that. It makes me smile, and somehow, those memories of a more simple and loving life give me the comfort I’m looking for.

If you are mum-less, you too should find a deserving woman in your life and celebrate Mother’s Day with her. If you don’t know anyone, there are plenty of lonely mums in rest homes who would enjoy your company for a couple of hours. The visit will make both of your days, and perhaps your lives, a little bit better.

1.What did the author (作者) learn from his father?

A. We should always put others before ourselves.

B. It’s necessary to express love to those we love.

C. It’s important to have an interesting family tradition.

D. Mother’s Day is just as important as Christmas.

2.Why does the author value the idea of showing love for one’s mother?

A. It can set a good example for kids to follow.

B. It is what mothers expect their children to do.

C. It’s important to follow your father’s rules.

D. It can warm your mother’s heart as well as yours.

3.What is the author’s advice to someone whose mum has passed away?

A. Visit lonely mums in rest homes on Mother’s Day.

B. Try to get used to life without a mum.

C. Turn to other family members for love.

D. Give all your attention to your mother-in-law.

Teachers’ Day is, interestingly, not celebrated on the same day all over the world. In some countries it is marked by a holiday, in others it is a working day.

International Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5. Being held ever since 1994, it is in honor of teachers' organizations worldwide. Its aim is to encourage supports for teachers and to meet the needs of students.

China ― In 1939, Teachers’ Day was set for August 27, Confucius' birthday. In 1951, the celebration was stopped. However, it was founded again in 1985, and the day was changed to September 10.

India ― Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, whose birthday falls on that day.

Russia ― In Russia, Teachers’ Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of October between 1965 and 1994. Since 1994, the day is observed on the October 5, just the same day as World Teachers Day.

The US ― In the US, Teachers’ Day is non-official holiday. It is celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. A number of activities are organized in schools to honor teachers. The celebrations can continue for the whole week of May.

Thailand ― In Thailand, National Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on January 16. The first Teachers’ Day was held in 1957. The day is a holiday in schools.

1.What country celebrates Teachers’ Day in October?

A. India.    B. The US.    C. Thailand.    D. Russia.

2.Which of the following has the same meaning as the underlined word “observed”?

A. celebrated    B. held    C. stopped    D. fell

3.Which of the following is possibly true?

A. China has celebrated Teachers’ Day since the year 1931.

B. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday is in September.

C. Teachers’ Day is a working day in schools of Thailand.

D. Teachers’ Day is an official holiday in the United States.

4.From the passage we can learn that ________.

A. International Teachers’ Day aims to benefit the students

B. Teachers’ Day falls on Confucius' birthday in China

C. the first Teachers’ Day was held in 1965 in Thailand

D. a lot of activities are held on Teachers’ Day across the world

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.In which part of Minnesota will the storm start?

A. The eastern part.    B. The southern part.    C. The northern part.

2.When will the storm get to the East Coast?

A. On Wednesday.    B. On Thursday.    C. On Friday.

3.How deep will the snow be in the mountains of New York?

A. About four inches.    B. About eight inches.    C. About twelve inches.

4.What should people be careful about?

A. The high winds.    B. The low temperatures.    C. The heavy snowfalls.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the man think is useful about Kayak. com?

A. To look at flexible dates.    B. To compare different airlines.

C. To choose nonstop flights.

2.What do the man’s aunt and uncle care most about the flight?

A. The time.    B. The price.    C. The stops.

3.Where do the speakers probably live?

A. In Philadelphia.    B. In Chicago.    C. In New York.

4.On which day will the man’s sister get married?

A. May 28th .    B. May 29th .    C. May 30th.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What is the woman doing?

A. Asking for advice.    B. Giving an interview.    C. Introducing her family.

2.Who might the woman be talking to?

A. A university student.    B. A private researcher.    C. A school teacher.

3.What will the woman do tonight?

A. Interview more people.    B. Choose another topic.    C. Prepare some questions.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What does the woman’s husband want to drink?

A. Orange juice.    B. Hot milk.    C. Lemon tea.

2.When does the woman want the drinks?

A. At about 7: 30 am.    B. At about 8: 00 am.    C. At about 8: 30 am.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What take up most of the room in the garden?

A. The flowers.    B. The trees.    C. The vegetables.

2.What does the woman have trouble with?

A. The ants.    B. The spiders.    C. The mosquitoes.

How many languages is the man learning now?

A. One.    B. Two.    C. Three.

What does the man think of his new computer?

A. It's quite expensive.    B. It is hard to use.    C. It is of good value.

What is the man going to do first?

A. Sweep the floor.    B. Do the cooking.    C. Remove the rubbish.

What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A. A museum.    B. A garden.    C. A painting.

How will Uncle Tom come?

A. By motorbike.    B. By taxi.    C. By car.

为了更好地接待前来观光考察的美国朋友，某市旅游局拟招聘一批志愿者，下面是招聘要求．

Volunteers Are Wanted

☆Ready to serve others

☆Healthy and strong for traveling

☆Good English is needed for serving

☆Good knowledge of tourism

假设你是某高中学生李华，发现自己完全符合招聘条件．请你给该旅游局（Travel and Tourism Administration）招聘负责人写一封应聘信，包括如下内容：

1．说明写信的目的；

2．介绍个人信息和优势；

3．询问是否能够被聘用．

注意：1．词数100左右；

2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3．开头和结尾已为你写好．

Dear officer，

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am looking forward to your answer．

Best wishes

Yours，

Li Hua．

短文改错

Are home visits necessary when they are so many ways to communicate with the students’ parent? Some people are for home visits. They thought home visits will make it easily for parents and teachers to communicate and work more closely to help students learn. Home visits will give teachers a chance to better understanding their students. Besides, others think it is a waste of the time and energy to pay home visits. If they keep on touch with the students’ parents with text messages, QQ or E-mails, it will be more convenient and save a lot of time. Personally, I think home visits is positive, and teachers can educate their students effectively through home visits.

阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Everybody in David’s class packed their bags and got ready 1. (go) home last Saturday. Usually David’s mother would fetch him home but that day she was not there, so he walked home by himself.

When he reached home, he knocked on the door as he didn’t bring his keys. 2. (surprising), no one answered the door. He 3. (knock) again when one of his neighbors 4. (name) John called him. He told David his mother was out and invited him to stay in his house till his mother came back. David knew that if his mother 5. (be) at home, she would have answered the door soon. So David went to John’s house and played with him. 6. (stay) in John’s house for a few 7. (hour), David saw his mother come back. They thanked John and his family. It turned out that David’s mother had 8. serious backache so she had to see the doctor.

9. this experience, David has learnt that neighbors are people 10. help each other. The relationships among neighbors are like building a bridge and they will build a good bridge one day.

When I was younger, I was very sporty. My dad is a runner who great ____ me. My great hobby between the ages 11 and 14 was cross-country____. However, when my family ____, my new school didn't pay attention to ____, and had no after-school activities like football or running.

Over the next few years, I ____ exercising except during P.E. lessons at school. I was ____ that I could eat what I wanted and didn't put on any weight, so it looked like I was healthy, but in reality I was very ____.

When I started university, I decided that I would try and get fit, but by then I was worried about ____ myself in front of other people. ____, this year, one of my New Year's promises has been to try and get in shape. This ____ came after I was late for a bus, tried to run after it and was very out of ____ in under a minute! I considered ____ running again, yet my housemate tried to practice yoga, so my New Year's ____ was delayed.

Finally, one of my friends ____ a swimming pool close to my house that she had gone to a few times. Now, I love ____, and I find doing laps in the pool very relaxing. Experts say everyone should do 30 minutes of proper ____ every day, so I'm starting with an hour three times a week and ____ every day. I hope that I will soon start to feel the ____ of regular exercise, and will become fitter and ____. In the long term, I know it will be very good for me, and ____ all sorts of health problems that often occur in later life.

1.A. understood    B. created    C. discouraged    D. influenced

2.A. skiing    B. jogging    C. running    D. driving

3.A. collected    B. moved    C. saved    D. travelled

4.A. sports    B. lessons    C. parents    D. seats

5.A. tried    B. stopped    C. enjoyed    D. risked

6.A. obvious    B. rich    C. lucky    D. nervous

7.A. unusual    B. unlucky    C. unconscious    D. unfit

8.A. helping    B. introducing    C. embarrassing    D. teaching

9.A. Even    B. However    C. Also    D. Thus

10.A. decision    B. advice    C. method    D. praise

11.A. control    B. order    C. date    D. breath

12.A. taking in    B. holding up    C. taking up    D. turning out

13.A. resolve    B. present    C. party    D. welcome

14.A. saw    B. ran    C. met    D. recommended

15.A. swimming    B. running    C. boating    D. touring

16.A. place    B. way    C. exercise    D. light

17.A. getting up    B. building up    C. putting up    D. making up

18.A. actions    B. hobbies    C. glasses    D. benefits

19.A. quicker    B. stronger    C. higher    D. braver

20.A. prevent    B. suffer    C. treat    D. show

How to improve reading efficiency

1. Make sure of your purpose of reading.

Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. Most people read for two main reasons: pleasure or knowledge. Being specific and clear about your reading purpose not only helps you to avoid books that you don’t need to read, it also reminds you the book is important to you.1.

2. Read only what you are attracted to.

Whether you are reading fiction or nonfiction, it's important to enjoy what you read. Your friends may recommend books that they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy. 2.

3. Give up books that you don't enjoy.

You may have selected books that match your purpose. You may have selected books that you are attracted to. But you are reading them, there may still be some books that you won't enjoy reading. 3. Remember reading shouldn't make feel annoyed.

4. 4.

Having a reading goal helps you figure out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day.

5. Give yourself a deadline to finish each book.

Before you read each book, ask yourself when you need to finish this book. What I find interesting is that I tend to read books that I borrow from libraries faster than the books I bought. 5. I don't need to return those books. When you don't set a deadline to finish you book, there isn't a sense of urgency. And when something isn't urgent, you tend to slow down.

A. Set a reading goal.

B. Understand each word of the sentence.

C. Read books which you are interested in.

D. Reading is the most important way to get knowledge.

E. The reason is that the books I bought don't have a due date.

F. This encourages you to keep reading and complete the book faster.

G. Whenever you realize that you aren't enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.

Being a parent is tough. Prejudice against parents in the workplace only makes it harder.

Asking for flexible schedule is not unique to working parents only. I've worked with people in their twenties that requested to work a four-day schedule so they could go back to school part time. I've seen older adults in the workplace change their schedules so that they can spend more time at home. Almost everyone has to cut out of the office every now and again for a doctor's appointment or other personal matters. Flexible schedules seem to be synonymous(代名词) with working parents, but in reality, they are not.

Parents aren't devoted to their jobs. This is really surprising because it's quite the contrary. There is actually strong evidence that parents are more devoted to their jobs than many other employees. They are some of the most focused employees out there. Parents are less likely to change jobs than other employees. Stability(稳定) is key when raising a family.

Parents aren't good team members. Since it is parents that need to leave the office at 5 or aren't able to come in before 9, most people think that the singletons on the team need to make up for it. In today's technology world, this is hardly the case. While many parents do limit their physical "in office" hours, most spend time on weekends, early mornings, and after work working. Besides, parents may be more likely to take vacations during major holidays due to children's school schedules.

Parents are at work only out of financial needs. Why would anyone want to leave their children behind and come to the workplace if they didn't have to? Actually, a lot of people do. Caring for children is a wonderful experience, but everyone needs a break. Many parents may still be interested in their field of work, finding work interesting. Money is nice, but it's certainly not the only reason that parents are there.

1.Why do some young people ask for a four-day work schedule?

A. To see their working parents.    B. To return to school part time.

C. To spend more time at home.    D. To make an appointment with doctors.

2.What does the author think of parents' attitude towards their work?

A. They are flexible with their work.    B. They always show interest in their work.

C. They believe their work is unique.    D. They are rather devoted and focused.

3.The word "singletons" in the fourth paragraph can be most suitably replaced by ____.

A. good team members    B. parents

C. the unmarried    D. hard-working people

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Unreasonable opinions about working parents.

B. Pressure that working parents suffer.

C. The contributions that parents make.

D. The profession parents are interested in.

The printing press has a long history. It was invented in Germany by Joannes Gutenberg around 1440, and brought to England by William Caxton in the 1470s.Yet the basic technology of printing remained the same up to the end of the 18th century, requiring two men to operate a wooden screw press by hand, producing about 200 impressions an hour. The 19th century was the period in which this process was mechanised, automated, and made many times faster.

A key moment in the development of mass newspapers was the development of the steam-powered printing press, adopted by the times in 1814. The new presses were able to print per hour around five times the number produced by the machines. The editor, John Walter, had the machines fixed secretly at night, so that when his printers reported for duty the next morning the majority of them found that they were out of work. The Times went from a circulation of 5,000 a day in 1815 to around 50,000 in the middle of the century. This was not caused by the steam press, but neither could it have happened without it.

Later developments improved this effect: the Applegath machine achieved 5,000 impressions per hour, and the Hoe press, an import from the United States, reached to 20,000 impressions per hour. Increase in the speed of papermaking in this period brought down the cost of printed materials both for the producer and the customer. In 1896, the Daily Mail was sold at the cost of only half a penny, and by 1900 it was selling nearly 1,000,000 copies a day.

If print production was completely changed in those years, then so was its distribution. The appearance of the steam railway meant that for the first time newspapers could be distributed across the country on a daily basis.

1.What can we learn about the basic technology of printing?

A. It was invented first in the middle of the 15th century.

B. It was brought into England by Joannes Gutenberg.

C. It took over 400 years to change after invention.

D. It took two hours to produce about 200 impressions.

2.How many impressions did the new press produce an hour in 1814?

A. About 20,000.    B. About 1,000.

C. About 2,000.    D. About 5,000.

3.Increase in the speed of papermaking led to ____.

A. the invention of steam printing press    B. the development of the steam railway

C. the appearance of the Daily Mail    D. the decline of printing expenses

4.The passage is developed mainly by ____.

A. providing examples    B. making comparisons

C. following the order of time    D. following the order of space

Dear Graham,

My partner and I have recently lost a pet quite suddenly. Normal life is continuing with so much sadness for my pet meant so much to me. Lots of people won't understand my feeling this way about the death of an animal. This obviously isn't the first time someone in my life has passed away: when I was younger we lost elderly relatives who I loved very much, and naturally much-loved family pets died occasionally too. But this has hit me so much harder. I put so much love into the relationship and I'm just finding it hard to get my head around the fact that it's gone.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

ANON, VIA EMAIL

Dear Anon,

Something you loved deeply has gone from your life, so of course you are sad. We love our pets differently from family members or friends and part of that is because we know they will probably die before us. Our time with our dogs or cats is precious precisely because we understand it is limited.

As humans, we go through most of life understanding we would die one day. But animals don’t. We are the keeper of the secret. Of course, living a life unencumbered(不受妨碍) by thoughts of death means that our pets, in general, lead very simple, happy lives. It’s one of the reasons why they are such a joy to be round. You are, of course, correct when you say that many people don't understand your grief, so don't talk to them. Share your feelings with like-minded souls. I'm sure a simple search online will reveal many practical advice for moving on.

And when you are ready, you can welcome another animal into your life and then you will enjoy happiness again.

GRAHAM, VIA EMAIL

1.What can we learn about Anon?

A. She feels bored with her normal life.    B. Her pet's sudden death hits her greatly.

C. Her partner won't understand her feeling.    D. She can't get along well with her relatives.

2.Graham thinks that our time with pets is precious because ____.

A. they have no secrets    B. they are very simple

C. their life is very short    D. they are always happy

3.In Graham's opinion, Anon should ____.

A. tell her pet from family members    B. avoid telling others her own secrets

C. adopt another animal as her new pet    D. try her best to understand other's grief

4.Who would Graham probably be?

A. One of Anon's family members.    B. One of Anon's like-minded friends.

C. A pet lover who provides advice online.    D. An expert on dealing with relationship.