When milk arrived on the doorstep
When I was a boy growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s, we had a milkman delivering milk to our doorstep. His name was Mr. Basille. He wore a white cap and drove a white truck. As a 5-year-old boy, I couldn’t take my eyes off the coin changer fixed to his belt. He noticed this one day during a delivery and gave me a quarter out of his coin changer.
Of course, he delivered more than milk. There was cheese, eggs and so on. If we needed to change our order, my mother would pen a note----“Please add a bottle of buttermilk next delivery”----and place it in the box along with the empty bottles. And then, the buttermilk would magically appear.
All of this was about more than convenience. There existed a close relationship between families and their milkmen. Mr. Basille even had a key to our house, for those times when it was so cold outside that we put the box indoors, so that the milk wouldn’t freeze. And I remember Mr. Basille from time to time taking a break at our kitchen table, having a cup of tea and telling stories about his delivery.
There is sadly no home milk delivery today. Big companies allowed the production of cheaper milk, thus making it difficult for milkmen to compete. Besides, milk is for sale everywhere, and it may just not have been practical to have a delivery service.
Recently, I saw an old milk box in the countryside. I took it home and planted it on the back porch （门廊）. Every so often my son’s friends will ask what it is. So I start telling stories of my boyhood, and of the milkman who brought us friendship along with his milk.Mr. Basille gave the boy a quarter out of his coin changer____.
| A．to show his magical power |
| B．to pay for the delivery |
| C．to satisfy his curiosity |
| D．to please his mother |
What does “this” in the third paragraph refer to?
| A．The milkman’s magic power |
| B．The milkman’s kindness to me |
| C．The note to change an order |
| D．The home delivery service |
What can be inferred from the fact that the milkman had the key to the boy’s house?
| A．He wanted to have tea there. |
| B．He was a respectable person. |
| C．He was treated as a family member. |
| D．He was fully trusted by the family. |
Why does home milk delivery no longer exist?
| A．Nobody wants to be a milkman now. |
| B．It has been driven out of the market. |
| C．Its service is getting poor. |
| D．It is forbidden by law. |
Why did the author bring back home an old milk box?
| A．He missed the good old days. |
| B．He wanted to tell interesting stories. |
| C．He missed it for his milk bottles. |
| D．He planted flowers in it. |
She is quiet, soft-spoken and has a kind face and a strong heart. She is my mom, Lili.
When I was nine, Lili quitted her job and started her own business. She said she didn’t want to stay at home and work as a housewife: “It’s a waste of life.” Lili became so busy that she spent less and less time with me. She didn’t help me with my schoolwork. It was, in her words, “so that you can develop your independence”. We quarreled because she rarely showed up at parents’ meetings.
Like mother, like daughter. I have many things in common with Lili. I want everything to be under control. I want to be perfect and I don’t expect other people to help me. I push myself hard to achieve my goals.
After I started to go to high school, Lili and I were too busy to communicate much with each other.
In biology class I began to be depressed. When the teacher showed us a picture of a butterfly, I was scared and screamed. I had a vision of thousands of butterflies flying toward me.
That night I told Lili about it. The next morning, I saw that she had red eyes with black circles around them.
She took me to see a therapist (治疗师). Three hours later, the therapist told Lili that my life was like a wheel spinning (旋转) faster and faster and that was the reason for what had happened to me. I only realized it when my body couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. At these words, Lili burst into tears. “It’s all my fault, she’s just a kid and I didn’t have time to take care of her….” To be honest, I had never seen Lili cry before.
After that, Lili began to spend more time at home, cooking and dragging me to do sports. I realized she was the one who would always be there when I was in real trouble. No mom is perfect, but she is the one who really cares about her kid.Lili quitted her job and started her own business because _________.
| A．she wanted to make more money | B．she was not willing to look after me |
| C．she didn’t want to waste her life | D．she likes keeping busy |
We quarreled because __________.
| A．she began to spend less and less time with me |
| B．she didn’t help me with my schoolwork. |
| C．she seldom attended the parents’ meetings in my school. |
| D．Lili and I were too busy to communicate much with each other. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Most women don’t want to be a housewife. |
| B．Most children want their mothers to accompany them at home. |
| C．We need to understand our mothers’ busy life. |
| D．Although mothers are not perfect, they all love the children |
Which of the following statements is WRONG?
| A．Lili is a quiet, strong-willed woman. |
| B．Lili began to spend more time at home after visiting the therapist. |
| C．I was scared and screamed in biology class because I hate butterflies. |
| D．I only realized my life was like a wheel when my body couldn’t stand the pressure anymore. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．Mom Does Care. | B．A Busy but Successful Mother. |
| C．Change From Mother to Businessman. | D．A Student’s Opinion on Mother. |
Cosmo Books Ltd., 14, Woodman Road,
Hertford Estate, Two Bridges,
Rickmansworth, West Sussex.
Middx.
25th February
Dear sir,
Just over six months ago, I saw an advertisement in the Morning Mail for a set of the complete works of William Shakespeare. Your company, Cosmo books Ltd., offered this set ( eight books of plays and two books of poetry) at what was claimed to be a ‘remarkable’ price: fifteen pounds and fifty pence, including postage and packing. I had wanted a set of Shakespeare’s plays and poems for some time, and these books, in red imitation leather, looked particularly attractive; so I sent for them.
Two weeks later, the books arrived, together with a set of the complete works of Charles Dickens which I had not ordered. So I returned the Dickens books to you, with a cheque for fifteen pounds and fifty pence for the works of Shakespeare. Two more weeks passed. Then there arrived on my door step a second set of the works of Shakespeare, the same set of novels by Dickens and a six book set of the plays of Moliere, in French. Since I do not read French, these were of no use to me at all. However, I could not afford to post all these books back to you, so I wrote to you at the end of August of last year, instructing you to come and collect all the books that I did not want, and asking you not to send any other books until further notice.
You did not reply to that letter. Instead you sent me a bill for forty two pounds , and a set of the plays of Schiller, in German. Since then, a new set of books has arrived every two weeks, the works of Goethe, the poems of Milton, the plays of Strindberg; I hardly know what I have. The books are still all in their boxes, in the garage, and my car has to stand in the rain outside.
I have no room for any more books, and even if I read from now until the Last Judgement, I should not finish reading all the books that you have sent me.
Please send no more books, send no more bills, send no more angry letters demanding payment. Just send one large lorry and take all the books away, leaving me only with the one set of the complete works of Shakespeare for which I have paid.
Yours faithfully,
SIMON WALKERSimon Walker wrote the letter to ________
| A．complain about sending him books he had not ordered. |
| B．urge Cosmo Books Ltd. to take away the books he had not ordered. |
| C．laugh at Cosmo Books Ltd.. |
| D．advise readers not to order books from Cosmo Books Ltd.. |
The advertisement that Mr. Walker saw in the Morning Mail was for ____
| A．unlimited number of Cosmo Books. |
| B．a set of 10 books of the works of Shakespeare. |
| C．a book containing all the plays and poems of Shakespeare. |
| D．fifteen pounds and fifty pence. |
Mr. walker answered the advertisement because ________
| A．he wanted a set of Shakespeare’s works, and this set was cheap, and looked attractive. |
| B．he claimed that the books were being offered at a remarkable price. |
| C．he had ordered the set and had been waiting for them to come for some time. |
| D．the set he already had was not particularly attractive. |
Cosmo Books have _______
| A．sent bills for books that they have not sent. |
| B．continued to send books that Mr. Walker did not order. |
| C．still not sent Mr. Walker the books that he ordered. |
| D．made a gift to Mr. Walker of several sets of books. |
The tone of the letter is that of _______
| A．bitterness | B．respect | C．annoyance | D．humor |
Everybody knows that words can carry messages. People communicate with words. Books, magazines, TV, radio and films all help us to communicate with others. They all help us to know what is going on in the world and what other people are thinking about.
Do you think you can communicate without words? A smile on your face shows you are happy or friendly. Tears in your eyes tell others that you are sad. When you put up your hand in class, the teacher knows you want to say something or ask a question. You shake your head, and people know you are saying “No”. You nod and people know you are saying “Yes”.
Other things can also carry messages. For example, a sign at the bus stop helps you to know which bus to take. A sign on the wall of your school helps you to find the library. Signs with arrows on doors tell you where to go in or out. Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of signs around you and that you receive messages from them all the time?
People can communicate in many ways without words. For example, an artist can use his drawings to tell about beautiful mountains, about the sea and many other things. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．It is a most popular way for man to communicate with words. |
| B．Words are the only way for man to communicate. |
| C．Using radio is one of the ways for man to communicate. |
| D．TV can help people to know the world better. |
Besides words, which can also be used to express oneself?
| A．Sign language. | B．Smile. |
| C．Head shaking. | D．Nodding. |
Which of the following signs is usually used to show you the direction?
| A．Picture. | B．A number. |
| C．A kind of color. | D．An arrow. |
According to the passage, how does an artist often express himself?
| A．He writes articles. | B．He gives reports. |
| C．He sings songs. | D．He draws pictures. |
My basketball coach at Princeton used to say, "On the court, you can tell who is selfish(自私的)."
When my sister Michelle brought Barack Obama home to meet the family, she said to me, "I want you to take him out to play, to see what type of man he is when he’s not around me." So I invited Barack to play basketball with a few friends of mine.
I was very nervous although I had already met Barack a few times. I was thinking this guy seemed like a good guy. We played a hard five-on-five. He was thin but not weak. He played extremely left-handed. He dealt with everything perfectly. He wasn’t the best guy out there or the worst guy. I liked the fact that he was confident but wasn’t proud. Barack was very team-oriented (有团队精神的), very unselfish. He played as if he was one of us —he wasn’t trying to be president of Harvard Law Review. But the best part about it was that when we were on the same team, he did not pass me the ball each time. He wasn’t trying to suck up to my sister through me. I was glad to give my sister the good news, "Your boy is straight."
He isn’t selfish, which is the greatest praise you can give both a player and a leader. America has got a guy who is running a government in an efficient (有效率的) mann
er. That’s the same guy I got to know playing basketball when he was visiting my family.
Why does the author begin the passage with his coach’s words?
| A．He wants to remember and thank his coach. |
B．He wants to show that he is a basketball player. |
C．He wants to tell his sister about the words. |
D．He wants to use the words to test a person. |
Why did Michelle ask the author to take Barack to play basketball?
| A．To see whether he was confident. |
B．To see whether he was good at sports. |
C．To see whether he was selfish or not. |
D．To see whether he could get along with others. |
During the basketball game, Barack ______.
| A．played best all the time | B．was strong enough to play |
C．was not confident | D．wanted to be the team leader |
The underlined phrase in the third paragraph can be replaced by "______".
| A．please （使满意） | B．know about | C．help | D．look for |
In the Caucasus region of the Soviet Union, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100,000 reach 100. But these Soviet old people aren’t alone. The Pakistani Hunzas, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Vilacbambans of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador seem to share the secret of long too.
These peoples remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time. While many older persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s, some Soviet Georgians, aged 110 to 140, work in the fields beside their great- great- grandchildren. Even the idea of aging is foreign to them. When asked, “At what age does youth end?”, most of these old people has no answer. Several replied, “Well, perhaps at age 80.” The very youngest estimate was age 60.
What accounts for this ability to survive to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all of these long-lived peoples. They begin their long days 
of physical labor as children and never seem to stop. For example, Mr. Rustam Mamedov is 142 years of age. He remember his life experiences: the Grimean War of 1854; the Turkish War of 1878; the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. His wife is 116 years old. They have been married for 90 years. Mr. Mamedov has no intentions of retiring from his life as a farmer. “Why? What else would I do?” he asks. Oh, he has slowed down a bit. Now he might quit for the day after 6 hours in the field instead of 10.
All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work. They all come from mountainous regions. They live and work at elevations of 5,000 to 12,000 feet (1,660 to 4,000 meters) above sea level. The air has less oxygen and is pollutionfree. This reduced-oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel system stronger.
Another factor that may contribute to the good health of these people is their isolation. To a great ext
ent, they are separated from the pressures and worried of industrial society.
Inherited factors also play some role. Most of the longest-lived people had parents and grandparents who also reached very old ages. Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer.
Finally, although these three groups don’t eat exactly the same foods, their diets are similar. The Hunzas, Vilacbambans, and Soviets eat little animal meat
. Their diets are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, cheese, and milk. They never eat more food than their bodies need.
It is clear that isolation from urban pressures and pollution, clean mountain air, daily hard work, moderate diets, good genes, and a youthful approach to life all contribute to the health and remarkable long life of all these people. What kinds of things contribute to the remarkable long life of these peoples?
| A．Moderate diets | B．Clean mountain air. |
| C．Daily hard work. | D．All the above factors（因素）. |
How do you think the author feels about these long-lived people?
| A．He is impressed with them | B．He doesn’t care. |
| C．He doesn’t like them. | D．He admires them. |
According to the passage, the phrase “the passage of time” means .
| A．have time to do what they want | B．being on time |
| C．time going by | D．limited time |
In the passage, why does the author describe Mr. Mamedov?
| A．An example of a typical long life among these people. |
| B．An example of an unusual long life among these people. |
| C．An explanation of why he is still healthy. |
| D．An example of why his wife died early than him. |
What is the main subject of this article?
| A．Mr. Mamedov’s life. |
| B．A description of several societies where people live a long time. |
| C．Suggestions for how you can live long life. |
| D．People are healthy in mountainous regions. |
Does your pet have a slim figure? According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), about half of all dogs and nearly 60% of all indoor cats are overweight. Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says he sees an overweight pet nearly every day, and unusually the owner is overweight. So talking about the topic can be touchy. “I talk about their pet’s health. Still, some clients take it personally.”
Here are some tips for pet weight loss:
See the vet(兽医). Have your vet put together a plan and treat any existing medical problems. Pain relief and diet changes may be required for arthritic(患关节炎的) pets, which will allow for exercise to at least begin.
Skip the crash diet (an attempt to lose weight quickly by strictly limiting the diet). A special weight-loss diet may be suggested. For example, look for the supplement which burns fat and builds muscle mass in foods. Never place any pet on a crash diet, especially cats, which can suffer a potentially fatal liver disease as a result. There’s a safe weight-loss drug for dogs you can ask your vet about.
Dine alone. “Cut out treats and resist temptation by keeping pets out of the room you’re dining in,” says Chicago vet Sheldon Rubin. You can buy low-calorie treats for dogs and cats. Rubin also recommends mini carrots, small apple slices or blueberries for dogs. What’s important is finding other ways, aside from food, to show your love. Play with your cat using an interactive toy, and take your dog for walks. Wa
lks are great for bonding, and good for you. Studies show people are actually more willing to lose weight themselves if it also will help their pet.
Feed pets at special times. Pre-measure food carefully—don’t give them a larger meal than ever—and leave it in various places, so pets sniff it out and use the stairs. It’s fun, and it’s good exercise.The underlined word “touchy” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________
| A．sensitive | B．exciting | C．moving | D．pleasant |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Overweight people usually like overweight pets. |
| B．Pets’ weight is easier to lose than humans’. |
| C．Cats have a greater chance of serious liver disease. |
| D．Overweight people often ignore their pets’ weight. |
Which of the following methods is healthy for your pets?
| A．Providing them with mini carrots or blueberries. |
| B．Keeping them with you when you’re dining. |
| C．Supplying them with larger meals or drinks. |
| D．Leaving the food in a fixed place for your pets. |
What does the passage mainly tell us?
| A．How to feed pets without a crash diet. |
| B．The importance of pet weight loss. |
| C．How to help pets lose weight. |
| D．The problems that pets will meet. |
If you plan on visiting to Fiji, you are probably looking for some fun things to do. Below are four unusual places.
The Poseidon Resort
The Poseidon resort is an underwater resort that gives visitors a beautiful view of sea life. This resort covers 255 acres. It’s covered and surrounded by a lagoon (咸水湖) that covers 5,000 acres and is about 90 feet under water, giving you a beautiful view of sea life righ
t before your eyes. This resort even has a hotel for those who would prefer to have the unusual experience of sleeping and waking up to the beautiful scenery all around them.
The Sabeto Mud Pool
If you’re looking for something unusual to do, you can’t pass up the mud pool at Sabeto. It is located in a mountain range with a huge group of Geothermal (地热的) pools full of nice, warm mud. Getting down and into the mud in the pool is believed to have benefits for healthy skin. This is unusual, but adults and especially kids will love it.
Fire Walking
Fire walking in Fiji is believed to have originated on the island of Beau. Fire walking is when you walk on white-hot stones barefoot. To do this, you have to be mentally prepared for it. Trust me; there is a lot of preparation and strict rules that travelers follow in order to do this safely.
The Fiji Museum
The Fiji museum is unusual due to all the amazing artifacts you’ll see dating back 3,000-4,000 years. This museum has a certain attraction that makes it funny—a shoe. It’s been said that a man named Thomas Baker was eaten by the locals several centuries ago and the only thing left was his shoe. This unusual museum is a great idea if you bring the whole family to Fiji.Visitors who have the unusual experience of sleeping at the Poseidon resort can _________.
| A．enjoy the excellent service in the hotel |
| B．open windows to see sea life swimming |
| C．see sea life around them in the room |
| D．only watch videos about sea life |
Why do adults like to get down into the mud pool?
| A．To float on the warm mud |
| B．To make them strong |
| C．To play with the warm mud |
| D．To keep their skin healthy |
Which of the following things needs more courage and stricter rules?
| A．Trying fire walking |
| B．Visiting the Poseidon resort |
| C．Getting into the Sabeto Mud Pool |
| D．Visiting the Fiji museum |
The underlined word “artifacts” in Paragraph 5 means__________.
| A．historic things made by man |
| B．things invented not long ago |
| C．things that look very strange |
| D．useful things in people’s daily life |
It is football time again．Currently, the qualifying rounds are being played to decide which countries will send teams to the next World Cup．Some Soccer is becoming more and more popular on a worldwide scale and these qualifying legs are causing much excitement．
The game is popular at club level as well．Many fans go every week to support their teams, whether the event is a home or away one, hoping to get a result．They all hope an attacking game, with a lot of goals being scored．Obviously, they do not want to see a boring, defensive match where the players are aimlessly passing the ball to each other．
Sadly, not all the action always takes place on the ground．All too frequently, there is action in the stands, too．Football supporters, most of whom declare their loyalty , by wearing their team colors, in the form of shirts, are not known for their quiet behavior．They are often very noisy, shouting noisy encouragement to their team and singing deafening songs．
There is much rivalry between supporters．Mostly, this is good-natured, but trouble can easily arise．Fans get angry if they feel that a referee has made a wrong decision, perhaps giving one of their team a red or yellow card unfairly, or perhaps failing to notice a foul committed by a member of the other team．
When trouble breaks out in a football crowd, it can be difficult to control．Stadium officials often seat the opposing fans in separate parts of the ground as a precaution against fighting． However, preventing trouble is more difficult outside the ground．In the worst cases, riot （暴乱）police have to be called in．
Unfortunately, there are some fans who enjoy this violent aspect of football．These football hooligans （流氓） really enjoy a running battle with the police, and call up other people to throw stones and bottles at them．They regard football not only as a sport, but as an excuse for trouble makings．Inevitably, their behavior spoils the reputation of the game．The qualifying rounds are played to ______．
| A．make the game more exciting | B．attract soccer fans at club level |
| C．raise funds for the organization | D．select the teams for the next rounds |
What do football fans hope to see?
| A．A home game． | B．A defensive game． |
| C．An exciting game． | D．An evenly matched game． |
Riot police are called in ______．
| A．to stop lighting occurring outside the ground |
| B．to separate the opposing fans inside the ground |
| C．as a precaution against trouble inside the ground |
| D．as a precaution against lighting outside the ground |
It is implied in the last paragraph that ______．
| A．football has a poor reputation |
| B．football hooligans are crazy about the games |
| C．football fans enjoy spoiling games |
| D．football can be an excuse for troublemaking |
To whom it may concern,
This letter describes the worst travel experience I have ever had．The problems we had were the result of poor management and thoughtless employees．Your airline should be ashamed of treating its customers so poorly．
On January 5, we arrived in Denver from Houston and checked in for our next flight．It wasn’t long before the agent announced that our flight would be delayed because of a mechanical problem． The equipment was in Aspen, and they expected it to be repaired soon．
Soon shortly turned to much later, and during the delay, weather temporarily closed the Aspen airport．The weather cleared in Aspen and the plane took off very late for Denver．While it was in the air, the agent announced that the plane would be used for the next flight and that our flight was being cancelled．
This cancellation struck me as being unfair．There was a mad scramble （争先恐后） as the 50 or so passengers scheduled for our flight fought for seats on later flights．When the dust settled, we were wait-listed on the 9’-00 flight the next morning．We had to spend the night in the airport．
Coming home was no better．Because of a mechanical problem, it looked like we would miss our connection in Denver．The agent assured us they would hold the Newark flight for us．Needless to say, the flight to Houston taxied out as we pulled into the gate．Arrangements were made for us to take the next flight, so we sat in the airport for 5 hours．When we finally arrived in Houston, our skis were missing．As of this writing, the skis have not been found．
Nothing you can do will make us feel better about our flights．If you are a responsible business, however, you will do what you can to see that passengers in the future are treated better．
With great displeasure,
Phyllis DooleyWhen Phyllis wrote her letter, she felt ______．
| A．tired | B．fooled | C．annoyed | D．ashamed |
What was Phyllis’ destination when she left home on January 5?
| A．Denver． | B．Houston． | C．Aspen． | D．Not mentioned |
What happened to Phyllis on her day coming home?
| A．She took a taxi to Houston airport． |
| B．Her flight to Houston was cancelled． |
| C．Her flight was delayed for five hours． |
| D．She missed her connection in Denver． |
Forgiving someone who has hurt you or let you down is never an easy thing. Several new studies, however, say that it could have a lot of health benefits. When you think of forgiveness, you probably don’t think of it as being a health or medical problem. Studies from Stanford University, on the other hand, show that something like anger can change your well-being.
When cartoon book characters like the Incredible Hulk get angry, they change colours and often gain special power. In the real world, anger is less obvious and may be more dangerous. That’s why Professor Fred Luskin, founder of the Stanford Forgiveness Project and author of Forgive for Good, says holding on to anger and hatred can harm your physical and mental health. Two new studies seem to show the same idea.
The studies find that people who are able to forgive feel less stress, less back pain, and less depression(抑郁). They also have fewer headaches, lower blood pressure, and fewer problems on sleeping.
So it doesn’t matter if your anger is caused by the traffic or other things. Learning to let it go is important. Techniques such as deep breath or thought can help. Or just ask yourself if it’s worth hurting yourself by staying angry with someone else.
Forgiveness does not mean that you simply accept what happened and say it’s OK. Instead, it’s a way of making peace with yourself about what happened in the past. The author of the passage tries to make his viewpoint clear__________.
| A．by raising his own examples | B．based on his own experience |
| C．by mentioning some studies | D．by mentioning some typical patients |
The example of the cartoon book characters is taken in the passage to__________.
| A．support the viewpoint that anger and hatred harm physical and mental health |
| B．introduce a famous expert |
| C．let the reader know the different colours of cartoon faces |
| D．show how to control one’s temper |
The underlined phrase“holding on to”in this passage possibly means“__________”.
| A．removing | B．keeping up | C．getting rid of | D．learning about |
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in this passage?
| A．People who are able to forgive feel less stress. |
| B．People who are able to forgive feel less depression. |
| C．People who are able to forgive have fewer problems on sleeping. |
| D．People who are able to forgive feel less tired. |
The best title for this passage is probably__________.
| A．Forgiveness | B．Forgiveness Is Good for Health |
| C．A Secret to Keeping Health | D．Anger Is Bad for Health |
Like all other mothers who have small children, I, too, have to steal time-from my own children at home and from the children who know me as their teacher-just to put a few words down on paper. Many times I’ve wanted to write for myself, for other women, for my parents, for my husband, and especially for my children. I would have liked to leave a legacy (遗产) of words explaining what it has meant to have twins. One reason that there is not a great deal written about being a mother of a new baby is that there is seldom a moment to think of anything else but the baby’s needs.
With twins, I did not have a spare hand to write with.
Before my twins were born, my days were long and I had nothing to write about. After the twins’ birth I did have something to write about, but I found myself facing not a pen and paper but milk bottles.
Some nights, friends would visit. They would leave at 11 p.m., heading for bed, and for us the night was only just beginning. With twins, there is really no night. Each feeding lasts a long time. At 1:00 a.m., each of them would begin crying from hunger. At 4:00am, when I finally put them down, I felt exhausted.
Two years have passed since then and we’ve managed to live through it all. My days are still very full and even now there isn’t one evening when I put the twins down for the night that I don’t have a break. At last a little time for myself.When did the writer have time but she didn’t feel like writing anything?
| A．Before the birth of her twins. |
| B．When she faced bottles of milk. |
| C．After her friends visited her home. |
| D．When she had to think about the babies’ needs. |
What does the writer mainly write about?
| A．Her role as a wife. | B．Her work as a writer. |
| C．Her experience as a mother. | D．Her feeling as a woman. |
Why did the writer say the night was just beginning (in the 4th paragraph)?
| A．Because her friends left her house too late. |
| B．Because she started to take care of the twins even at night. |
| C．Because her babies often cried and she woke up. |
| D．Because she could not sleep till four in the morning. |
This passage is probably from a(n) _________.
| A．blog | B．newspaper | C．guidebook | D．advertisement |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The writer was unhappy because of no time for writing. |
| B．The writer cared about her babies more than her own interests. |
| C．The writer hated to be a mother of twins. |
| D．The writer could steal a little time at night. |
You probably know you should say “please” and “thank you” at restaurants. You probably know the rules of a library. You know you should respect and be nice to your classmates. But do you have music manners?
Keep It Down! You have to notice the volume of your music. You should not play your music so loud that everyone around you can hear it. Some people might even get angry. Usually, when you play the music loud on an MP3 player, other people can’t hear the words of the song. They just hear a loud sound. No one wants to listen to this. Very loud music can also be bad for your ears. So even if you are alone when listening to our MP3 players, you shouldn’t turn it up too high.
Take Them Off! You need to know when to turn your MP3 off and put it away. Libraries, and schools don’t allow MP3 players. There are other places, like museums, that don’t have rules, but it would be rude to have your MP3 player on. Sometimes, it doesn’t make sense to listen on your MP3 player at event. Why would you listen to music at a play, a movie or a sporting event? You would miss what is going on and others would wonder why you even came.
Take One Out! Once in a while it’s okay just to take out one earphone and not other. Imagine you are listening on your MP3 player when someone asks you the way. It would not be rude to take out one earphone, tell him the way, and put back the earphone and continue listening. You can also do this when you order food at a fast-food restaurant or when you answer 
the telephone and it’s not for you.
It’s Your Choice! There are times when you need to decide what is best. F
or example, some people can listen to music on their MP3 players when reading books, while others think it is disturbing. In cases like this, you need to do what seems right for you.The underlined word “volume” in Paragraph Two probably means “_________.”
| A．the type of music | B．the amount of a sound |
| C．the length of a song | D．the colour of an MP3 player |
No one wants to listen to_________from others’ MP3 players.
A. a loud sound B. sad stories
C. a long movie D. the words of a song
43. We should turn down the mu
sic when we are alone because loud music_________.
A. is not enjoyable B. makes us tired
C. is bad for MP3 players D. hurts our ears If we listen to our MP3 player a
t a play, _________.
| A．the theatre won’t allow it | B．the actors will get angry |
| C．others won’t hear the play well | D．we will miss part of the play |
We can take one earphone out when we _________.
| A．show others the way | B．talk to friends on the phone |
| C．watch a sporting event | D．have dinner with our parents |
The government-run command post in Tunis is staffed around the clock by military personnel, meteorologists and civilians. On the wall are maps, crisscrossed with brightly colors arrows that painstakingly track the fearsome path of the enemy.
What kind of invader gives rise to such high-level monitoring? Not man, not beast, but the lowly desert locust(蝗虫). In recent months, billions of the 3-inch-long winged warriors have descended on Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, blackening the sky and eating up crops and vegetation. The insect invasion, the worst in 30 years, is already creating great destruction in the Middle East and is now treating southern Europe. The current crisis began in late 1985 near the Red Sea. Unusually rainy weather moistened the sands of the Sudan, making them ideal seedbed for the locust, which lays its eggs in the earth. The insect onslaught threatens to create yet another African famine. Each locust can eat its weight (not quite a tenth of an ounce) in vegetation every 24 hours. A good-size swarm of 50 billion insects eats up 100,000 tons of grass, trees and crops in a single night.
All ﹩150 million may be needed this year. The U.S. has provided two spraying planes and about 50,000 gal. of pesticide. The European Community has donated ﹩3.8 million in aid and the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan and China have provided chemical-spraying aircraft to help wipe out the pests. But relief efforts are hampered by the relative mildness of approved pesticides, which quickly lose their deadly punch and require frequent replications. The most effective locust killer dieldrin has been linked to cancer and is banned by many Western countries and some of the affected African nations. More than 5 million acres have been dusted with locust-killing chemicals; another 5 million will be treated by the end of June.
On May 30, representatives of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Mauritania will meet in Algiers to discuss tactics to wipe out the ravenous swarms. The move is an important step, but whatever plan is devised, the locust plague promised to get worse before the insects can be brought under control.The main idea of the first sentence in the passage is that ______.
| A．the command post is stationed with people all the time. |
| B．the command post is crowded with people all the time. |
| C．there are clocks around the command post. |
| D．the clock in the command post is taken care of by the staff. |
The favorable breeding ground for the locust is ______.
| A．rich soil. | B．wet land |
| C．paces covered crops and vegetation | D．the Red Sea |
People are alert at the threat of the locust because ______.
| A．the insects are likely to create another African famine. |
| B．the insects may blacken the sky. |
| C．the number of the insects increases drastically. |
| D．the insects are gathering and moving in great speed. |
Which of the following is true?
| A．Once the pesticides are used, locust will die immediately. |
| B．Relief efforts are proved most fruitful due to the effectiveness of certain pesticides. |
| C．Dieldrin, the most effective locust killer, has been widely accepted in many countries. |
| D．Over 10 million acres of affected area will have been treated with locust-killing chemicals by the end of June. |
The purpose for affected nations to meet in Algiers on May 30 is ______.
| A．to devise anti-locust plans. |
| B．to wipe out the swarms in two years. |
| C．to call out for additional financial aid from other nations. |
| D．to bring the insects under control before the plague gets worse. |
Everyone has got two personalities — the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real．You don’t show your secret personality when you’re awake because you can control your behavior，but when you’re asleep， your sleeping position shows the real you．In a normal night，of course，people frequently change their position．The important position is the one that you go to sleep in．
If you go to sleep on your back，you’re a very open person．You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas．You don’t like to upset people，so you never express your real feelings．You’re quite shy and you aren’t very confident．
If you sleep on your stomach，you are a rather secretive（不坦率的）person．You worry a lot and you’re always easily upset．You’re very stubborn（顽固的），but you aren’t very ambitious．You usually live for today not for tomorrow．This means that you enjoy having a good time．
If you sleep curled up（卷曲），you are probably a very nervous person．You have a low opinion of yourself and so you’re often defensive．You’re shy and you don’t normally like meeting people．You prefer to be on your own．You’re easily hurt．
If you sleep on your side，you have usually got a well-balanced personality．You know your strengths and weaknesses．You’re usually careful． You have a confident personality．You sometimes feel anxious，but you don’t often get depressed．You always say what you think even if it annoys people． According to the writer，you naturally show your secret and real personality __________.
| A．only in a normal night |
| B．only when you go to sleep |
| C．only when you refuse to show yourself to the world |
| D．only when you change sleeping position |
Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person’s personality？
| A．He or she is always open with others． |
| B．He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others． |
| C．He or she is always easily upset． |
| D．He or she tends to believe in others． |
Point out which sentence is used to show the personality of a person who is used to sleeping
on his or her stomach？
| A．He or she is careful not to offend others． |
| B．He or she doesn’t want to stick to his or her opinion． |
| C．He or she can’t be successful in any business． |
| D．He or she likes to bring others happiness． |
Maybe you don’t want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up．Why？
| A．He or she would rather be alone than communicate with you． |
| B．He or she is rarely ready to help you． |
| C．He or she prefers staying at home to going out． |
| D．He or she wouldn’t like to get help from you． |
It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because ________________．
| A．he or she always shows sympathy for people |
| B．he or she is confident，but not stubborn |
| C．he or she has more strengths than weaknesses |
| D．he or she often considers annoying people |
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