London Underground
The world’s first subway was built in London in 1863. At that time, the government was looking for a way to reduce traffic problems in the city of London. The poor areas of the city were so crowded with people that it was almost impossible for horse carriages to get through. The city officials were interested in trying to make it possible for workers to live outside of London and travel easily to work each day. If people had a cheap and convenient way that they could depend on to go to and from work, they would relocate their homes outside of the city. This would help ease the pressure of too many people living in the poor parts of London. From these problems, the idea of the London Underground, the first subway system, was born.
The plans for building the Underground met with several problems and delays, but the fast track was finally opened in January 1863. A steam train pulled the cars along the fast underground track which was 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) long. About 30,000 people got on the subway the first day. Riders were treated to comfortable seats (standing up while the train was moving was not allowed), and pleasant decorations inside each of the cars. However, the smoke from the engine soon filled the air in the tunnels with ash and soot, as well as chemical gases. Fans had to be put in the tunnels later to keep the air clean enough for people to breathe. Even with its problems, riding in the Underground did catch on. It carried 9 million riders in the first year.
小題1:. What led the British government to build the London Underground?
A．Traffic jams and pollution
B．Population and pollution
C．Overcrowding and traffic jams
D．The poverty and subway problems
小題2:. The underlined phrase “catch on” most probably means “_____”.
A．be troublesomeB．become popular and fashionable
C．keep up withD．seize
小題3: Which of the following is TRUE?
A．To locate the workers’ homes outside London, the government built the subway
B．There were so many problems and delays that in the 18th century the first subway opened
C．The subway greatly eased the pressure of traffic
D．There were not enough seats for the passengers the first day the subway opened.
小題4:. It seems that the writer is going to talk about _____.
A．more problems with subwaysB．subways around the world later on
C．the history and culture of LondonD．the Beijing subway

小題1:. C         
小題1:.B
小題1:.C
小題1:.B
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.
As we all know, Chinese handwriting has infinite power to express differences of character and cultivation. But we have to admit that traditional handwriting has become a __50__ art, now that kids start using keyboards as soon as they begin school. However, writing things out by hand may be a __51__ way we train our brains, several studies suggest. Many psychologists think that handwriting can make you __52__!
Writing by hand is different from __53__ because it requires using strokes to create a letter, __54__ just selecting the whole letter by touching a key, says Virginia Berninger, a professor of psychology at the University of Washington. These __55__ movements activate large regions of the brain __56__ in thinking, memory, and language. Handwriting helps children learn letters and shapes, improves their composition of ideas, and may also __57__ fine-motor skills development.
A study by Berninger found that in grades two, four, and six, children wrote more words, faster, and expressed more __58__ when writing essays by hand than when typing on a keyboard.
A separate study by researchers at Indiana University found that children who practiced printing by hand had more active__59__than kids who __60__ looked at letters.
It’s not just children who __61__ from writing things out by hand, says a study in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. Adults learning a new language remember its __62__ better if they write them out by hand than if they produce them with a keyboard.
As more people __63__ their days on the computer, says neuroscientist P. Murali Doraiswamy of Duke University, “__64__ people in handwriting skills could be a useful cognitive exercise.”
小題1:
A．charmingB．dyingC．mixingD．challenging
小題2:
A．common B．critical C．classic D．standard
小題3:
A．smarterB．calmerC．deeper D．quicker
小題4:
A．clicking B．talking C．typing D．moving
小題5:
A．in addition toB．rather thanC．except forD．other than
小題6:
A．bodyB．eyeC．letterD．finger
小題7:
A．ended B．ledC．included D．involved
小題8:
A．boost B．weakenC．decline D．prospect
小題9:
A．meaningsB．ideas C．informationD．emotions
小題10:
A．mood B．behaviorC．fingers D．brains
小題11:
A．simply B．rarelyC．hardly D．specially
小題12:
A．benefitB．keep C．resultD．learn
小題13:
A．rules B．soundsC．charactersD．sentences
小題14:
A．get B．waste C．spendD．rely
小題15:
A．retreatingB．returning C．repeatingD．retraining

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

It’s really true what people say about English politeness: it’s everywhere. When squeezing past someone in a narrow aisle, people say “sorry”. When getting off a bus, English passengers say “thank you” rather than the driver. In Germany, people would never dream of doing these things. After all, squeezing past others is sometimes unavoidable, and the bus driver is only doing his job. I used to think the same way, without questioning it, until I started travelling to the British Isles and came to appreciate some more polite ways of interacting (交往) with people.
People thank each other everywhere in England, all the time. When people buy something in a shop, customer and retail assistant in most cases thank each other twice or more. In Germany, it would be exceptional to hear more than one thank you in such a conversation. British students thank their lecturers when leaving the room. English employers thank their employees for doing their jobs, as opposite to Germans, who would normally think that paying their workers money is already enough.
Another thing I observed during my stay was that English people rarely criticize others. Even when I was working and mistakes were pointed out to me, my employers emphasized (強調(diào)) several times but none of their explanations were intended as criticism. It has been my impression that by avoiding criticism, English people are making an effort to make others feel comfortable. This also is showed in other ways. British men still open doors for women, and British men are more likely to treat women to a meal than German men. However, I do need to point out here that this applies to English men a bit more than it would to Scottish men! Yes, the latter (后者)  are a bit tightfisted.
小題1:
. What is the author’s attitude towards English politeness?
A．He thinks it is artificial.B．He gives no personal opinion.
C．He appreciates it.D．He thinks it goes too far.
小題2:
What can we learn about customers and retail assistants in Germany?
A．A customer never says thank you to a retail assistant.
B．It’s always a retail assistant who says thank you.
C．They may say thank you only once.
D．they always say thank you to each other.
小題3:
We can learn from the last paragraph that Scottish men __________.
A．a(chǎn)re more likely to be involved in a fighting
B．a(chǎn)re more polite than English men
C．treat women in a polite way
D．a(chǎn)re not so willing to spend money for women
小題4:
The author of this text is most probably ___________.
A．a(chǎn)n EnglishmanB．a(chǎn) German
C．a(chǎn) Scottish manD．a(chǎn) Welshman
小題5:
The author develops the text through the method of ____________.
A．making comparisonsB．telling stories
C．giving commentsD．giving reasons

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Since the early 1990s, the Internet has greatly changed the way people communicate. But some teachers think the changes are not all for the better.
Eleanor Johnson, an English professor at Columbia University in New York, says, “Ｉthink text messaging has made students believe that it is far more acceptable than it actually is to just make spelling and grammatical mistakes.” She says her students over the past several years have increasingly used less formal English in their writing. She says words and phrases like “you know” now appearing research papers. And she now has to talk about another problem in class---incorrect word use.
Professor Johnson doubts a strong connection between the rise of communication online and an increase in writing mistakes. But she admits there may not be much scientific proof, at least not yet.
David Crystal, a British language expert, says the actively changing nature of the Internet makes it difficult to stay unchanged in studying its effects. But he believes its effect on language is small. He says, “The main effect of the Internet on language has been to increase the expressive richness of language, providing the language with a new set of communicative content that didn’t exist in the past.” Erin Jansen, founder of an online dictionary of Internet and text messaging terms, says his new technology has not changed existing language but has greatly added to the vocabulary. “Basically it is a freedom of expression,” she says, “If it is helping them write more or communicate more, that is great. That is what teachers and educators want---to get students communicating.”
But Erin Jansen and David Crystal agree with Eleanor Jonson on at least one thing. Teachers need to make sure students understand the uses and rules of language.
小題1: According to the text, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A．David Crystal thinks the Internet makes the language expression richer.
B．David Crystal believes the Internet’s effects on language use are clear
C．Eleanor Johnson thinks writing mistakes has much to do with the Internet
D．Eleanor Johnson thinks all the Internet effects on language use are good
小題2:. Eleanor Johnson is mentioned to _______.
A．share her idea of the great effects of using the Internet
B．tell people a way to correct students’ writing mistakes
C．serve as an example of teachers’ blaming the Internet
D．warn people against the dangers of using the Internet
小題3: What do the three experts have in common as to the Internet effect?
A．The possibilities of avoiding the use of less formal words
B．The causes of the Internet’s great effects on language
C．The necessity of helping students reduce writing mistakes
D．The importance of students’ knowing how to use language
小題4:. What could be the best title for the text?
A．Students’ Learning and the Internet: Good or Bad?
B．Students’ Writing and the Internet: Good or Bad?
C．Students’ Papers and the Internet: Good or Bad?
D．Students’ Mistakes and the Internet: Good or Bad?

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Being a mother is apparently not like it was in the good old days.
　　Today’s parents yearn for the golden age that their own mothers enjoyed in the 1970s and 1980s, researchers found. Mothers have less time to themselves and feel under greater pressure to handle work and family life than the previous generation. As a result, 88 per cent said they felt guilty about the lack of time they spent with their children.
The survey of 1,000 mothers also found that more than a third said they had less time to themselves than their mothers did – just three hours a week or 26 minutes a day. And 64 per cent said this was because they felt they ‘had’ to go out to work, while nearly a third (29 per cent) said they were under constant pressure to be the ‘perfect mother’, the report found.
Other findings showed social networking and parenting websites, as well as technology such as Skype, were important in providing help and support among female communities. Kate Fox, a member of the Social Issues Research Centre, which conducted the survey for Procter & Gamble, said: ‘With increasing pressure on mothers to work a “double shift” — to be the perfect mother as well as a wage-earner — support networks are more important than ever.
It comes as a separate report examining childcare in the leading industrialised nations found that working mothers in Britain spend just 81 minutes a day caring for their children as a ‘primary activity’. Mothers who stay at home, on the other hand, manage twice as much time – more than two and a half hours – looking after their offspring, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
　　Critics say the pressure on women to work long hours, and leave their offspring in the hands of nurseries or childminders, is putting the well-being of their children at risk.
　　The study also reveals that, despite the fact that more and more modern mothers go out to work, the burden of childcare still falls on them - even if their husband is not in work. A father who is not in work tends to spend just 63 minutes a day looking after his child - 18 minutes less than a mother who goes out to work. Working fathers spare less than three quarters of an hour with their children.
小題1:. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．The good old days of mothers in the 1970s and 1980s.
B．The great sufferings of today’s children.
C．The statistics of working mothers and full-time mothers.
D．The big problems that today’s working mothers face.
小題2:. What does the underlined phrase “yearn for” probably means ___________.
A．hateB．missC．a(chǎn)bandonD．control
小題3: Which of the following problems is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A．Today’s mothers have less time left for their children and themselves.
B．The working mothers can hardly strike the balance between work and family.
C．Most of the mothers can not control their husbands nowadays.
D．Modern fathers do not spend enough time with their children.
小題4: From para. 4, we can infer that ___________.
A．working mothers can seek help on line
B．Skype is a very famous expert in studying social issues
C．working mothers’ double shift is to be a wife and a mother
D．Kate Fox has opened a website offering help to working mothers
小題5:. What critics say means that _____________.
A．it is wise for working mothers to put their kids in nurseries or childminders
B．too much time in nurseries or childminders is bad for kids’ mental and physical health
C．nurseries or childminders are dangerous places for children
D．children do not like nurseries or childminders at all

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Bolivia has a population of three and a half million. About one tenth of the total population are white; one-fourth are mixed Indians and white; and more than half are full-blooded Indians. The government and the industries are under the control of the white people.
The Indians today live in much the same way as their ancestors. Most of them are farmers. Many work in the mines, for mining is the most important industry on Bolivia’s. Of all the mining products, tin is the most important, which makes up three-fourths of all Bolivia’s exports. The eastern slopes of the Andes, since there are very few roads there, are fertile but not highly developed. The two primary means of transportation are river boats and porters. East of the hill region is the great plains where tropical plants are grown. A serious problem for Bolivia is the transport of food from the warm regions, where it is grown to the mountainous regions, where most of the people live.
Bolivia gained its independence from Spain about a hundred years ago. It has been slow in developing, but its rich resources promise a better future in it.
小題1:.
The majority of the Bolivian population are        .
A．full-blooded Indians B．mixed Indian and white
C．white citizens D．a(chǎn)ll whites and mixed-blooded people
小題2:.
. The Indian’s way of life today is       .
A．quite different from that of their ancestorsB．quite interesting
C．a(chǎn)lmost the same as their ancestors’D．very exciting
小題3:.
The main product Bolivia exports is        .
A．tropical plantsB．gold and silverC．tin D．food
小題4:.
Bolivia has been slow in developing, but it has hope for a better future because of its        .
A．mining products B．rich resources
C．independence from SpainD．two primary means of transportation

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

People say that a mother’s love knows no boundaries (邊界). This is true when it comes to my mother. She has given up many things so that my sisters and I could live a better life.
My mother comes from a large family and her parents died when she was quite young. She dropped out of school when she was fifteen because no one could afford to pay her studies. At the age of 19, she married my father and when they had my sisters and I, they moved to the United States so that we could have a better life. My parents did not know English but somehow they communicated with other people. My mother stayed at home and raised us while my father was working. There were so many dangerous incidents that happened where we lived that my mother finally decided that we all moved to Texas when I was seven.
My mother has worked so hard to give us everything. She always tells us that all she wants is for us to be happy.
As the saying goes, “You don’t appreciate (意識到) something until it’s gone.” Well, I finally had a chance to experience it. My mother went to Mexico this winter because she needed to have an operation. It was the first time in my life that my mother was not there to hold and comfort me. Those two weeks when she was away made me realize how much I love her. All she has done for me is incredible (難以置信的). When I suffer she suffers with me. I have to show her how much I care about her. She means the world to me.
小題1:Which is the RIGHT order of the following events?
a. My mother married my father.
b. My mother went to Mexico to have an operation.
c. We all moved to Texas.
d. My mother dropped out of school.
e. They moved to the United States.
f. My mother’s parents died when she was young.
A．a(chǎn), b, f, c, d, eB．d, e, a, c, f, bC．f, d, a, b, e, cD．f, d, a, e, c, b
小題2:What does the underlined word “it” refer to in the fourth paragraph?
A．My mother’s experience.B．My mother’s care for me.
C．The meaning of the saying.D．My mother’s love.
小題3:The writer didn’t realize that he loves his mother very much until ______.
A．they moved to TexasB．his mother told them all she wanted was for them to be happy
C．his mother left home for an operationD．his mother died
小題4:According to the passage, we can infer that the writer writes the passage in a(n) ______ mood.
A．a(chǎn)ffectionate (摯愛的)B．humorousC．serious D．bitter

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Mother’s Day is usually celebrated on the second Sunday of May every year. Do you know that a mom deserves a special gift this year for Mother’s Day? Sure, flowers can always brighten Mother’s Day and a dinner out is always appreciated. However, doesn’t she deserve something more personal or something that lasts longer than an evening?
I’m talking about the gift of fitness. Improved fitness is a gift that is invaluable to everyone. When you give a woman the gift of fitness, you are helping her open her door to better health. I can’t think of a more thoughtful gift that shows the recipient （接受者）how much you care about their well-being. By giving the gift of fitness you are providing them with unlimited health benefits. Besides, it’s a gift that you can truly feel proud to give.
Of course, we all know that exercising can help people stay slim and fit. But, do you also know about all the other great benefits of exercising? Daily physical activities reduce stress and help you sleep better. Fitness has been linked to reducing the risk of some diseases and to warding off depression. Researchers also believe that strength training can help prevent osteoporosis （骨質(zhì)疏松）. Not to mention that exercising also improves self-esteem, increases energy and helps you be able to do continuous work for longer.
All moms would find these benefits extremely great. If they are like most of us, they have probably even mentioned how they would like to drop a few pounds or just get in better shape. In fact, experts say that about 62% of Americans are currently on a diet. By giving the gift of fitness, you are helping provide your mom with extra motivation. She may be more motivated to actually get fit because she doesn’t want to feel guilty about ignoring such a thoughtful gift.
小題1: The first paragraph is likely to tell us that ________.
A．we should give a special gift to our mom for Mother’s Day
B．we should invite our mom to a dinner for Mother’s Day
C．it’s good to send flowers to moms for Mother’s Day
D．moms aren’t worth special gifts for Mother’s Day
小題2: The underlined word “invaluable”（in paragraph 2） means ________.
A．pricelessB．worthlessC．uselessD．helpless
小題3: According to this passage, the gift of fitness will ________.
A．make moms feel prouder
B．let moms free from illnesses
C．keep moms having a healthy diet
D．encourage moms to do more exercise
小題4: Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A．Better Pay Attention to Your Mother’s Health
B．Give the Gift of Fitness This Mother’s Day
C．Moms Like to Accept the Gift of Fitness
D．Help Your Mother Keep a Good Shape

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

While IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tells you how smart you are. EQ (Emotional Quotient) tells you how well you use your smartness. Professor Salovery, the psychologist who created the term, EQ, says that it is IQ that gets you hired but it is EQ that gets you promoted.
Supported by his research, he suggested that when predicting future successes, a person’s brainpower, as measured by IQ tests, might actually matter less than a person’s character, or EQ. Professor Salovery may be correct. For example, have you ever wondered why some of the best and smartest students in your class end up failing exams? Perhaps it is because of their EQ. People often make the mistake of thinking that EQ is the opposite of IQ. It is not. Although it is hoped that people have both high EQs and IQs, there is little doubt that those with low EQs have a hard time surviving in life.
For a long time, researchers discussed if a person’s IQ could be raised. The geneticists said no, while the social scientists said yes. Furthermore, the social scientists said that it was possible to improve a person’s EQ, particularly in terms of “people skills”, such as understanding and communication.
Recently, a professor released the findings of a study on senior high school students. When some normal students were introduced to some disabled students, they found that afterwards they were more willing to help people in difficulties. At the same time, there was a marked change in the disabled students’ attitudes. They became more positive about their disabilities and were more eager to try new things. People with high EQs often have positive attitudes towards life and are open to different ideas, so they tend to be more creative in their thinking. Please remember that having a high IQ is helpful but having a high EQ might even be more helpful.
小題1: The second paragraph tells us that                .
A．people who have a high IQ always have a high EQ
B．EQ is the opposite of IQ
C．people who have a low EQ tend to have a hard life
D．people who have a high EQ always have a high IQ
小題2:What did the professor find from his study of normal students being introduced to some disabled
children?
A．Students with disabilities were not open in trying new things.
B．There was no change in the normal students.
C．The disabled students became more positive and more eager to try new things.
D．The disabled students were more willing to help others.
小題3: Which of the following is the writer’s attitude toward EQ and IQ?
A．IQ is more helpful to people than EQ.
B．IQ can be raised by understanding and communication.
C．EQ can get people hired.
D．A high EQ is of great benefit in getting people promoted.
小題4:Which of the following would be the best title of this passage?
A．A person’s brainpower.B．IQ, EQ and success.
C．IQ and a person’s character.D．A person’s IQ and EQ.

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