The British usually expect one or two snowfalls each year but the amount of snow rarely affects everyday life. However, this week Britain has had the worst snow it has seen in around 18 years. Some places had more than 30cm in a day.
The bad weather caused severe disruption. More than 3000 schools had to close as teachers and pupils were unable to get to school. School children weren’t too unhappy about it though as they headed out to play the snow, building snowmen, having snowball fights, sledging and some even snowboarding and skiing.
In London, bus services were withdrawn for a day and tubes and trains were cancelled. Major motorways in the country had to close. Many people were unable to get to work and it is thought the cost of this lost labor is around &1 billion (10 billion yuan) to businesses and the economy.
Anyone who wanted to leave the country had problems too. Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports because of the amount of snow. Hundreds of flights were cancelled leaving some passengers stranded at airports.
So why is the UK so ill-prepared for snow? The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, explained that there aren’t enough snow –ploughs（鏟雪機）and gritters（撒沙機）and it doesn’t make sense to buy such equipment when it snows so infrequently.
The south-east of England was the hardest hit at the beginning of the week but the snow is now moving northwards where the chaos continues.
More ice and snow is forecast throughout the week and the advice from travel and weather organizations is to stay indoors unless you really need to venture out!
小題1: Which of the following facts is FALSE according to the passage?

A．More than 3000 schools had to close for the heavy snow.

B．Major motorways in the country had to close for the bad weather.

C．Runways were closed at all the UK’s major airports for the amount of snow.

D．The government organized to clear the snow away with snow-ploughs and gritters.

小題2: What does the underlined phrase venture out probably mean in last paragraph?

A．go out	B．search out
C．take no risks	D．stay indoors

小題3: What can we learn from the passage?

A．School children seemed happy to head out to play in the snow though schools had to close.

B．The cost of the lost labor reached around 10 billion yuan to businesses and the economy.

C．Hundreds of flights couldn’t land because the runways were closed at major British airports.

D．Tubes and trains in London were cancelled, but drivers were still driving in main motorways.

小題4:What can we infer from the passage?

A．The heavy snow is what the British have been expecting for 18 years.

B．The heavy snow has been a very rare heavy one in the UK for 18 years.

C．The heavy snow doesn't please school children at all.

D．The government isn’t ill-prepared for snow.

小題5:Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Harsh Winters Visit Britain

B．Heavy Snow Hits the UK

C．Bad Weather Causes Chaos Just in London

D．Heavy Snow Causes Disruption Only in Motorways

2.26-meter-tall Yao Ming made his NBA debut (初次登臺) on October 23, 2002 and got 6 points for the Houston Rockets in the game. The next day, he got 13 points in another game.
Most people think that Yao Ming is a born basketball player. But Yao said, "When you watch it on TV, it looks very easy. But when you are playing in the NBA, it is really not so easy." He said that joining the Houston Rockets was a new start and a new challenge. "I hope that through very hard work I can make everyone happy and help the Rockets win more games," he said.Yao Ming speaks some English. Both he and his teammates can understand each other. They don't think there is a language problem. While Yao Ming faces this new challenge, the people of Houston have shown great interest in him and they hope Yao Ming will bring new energy to the Rockets. The team has started having lessons to learn more about China, and many people who work for the Rockets have learned to speak some Chinese.
小題1:Yao Ming got 13 points on October _____, 2002.

A．22

B．23

C．24

D．26

小題2:Yao Ming said that _____.

A．playing in the NBA was difficult

B．it was hard to watch NBA games on TV

C．he was an NBA star

D．it was boring to play basketball

小題3:From the passage we can know that Yao Ming ________.

A．will work hard for his team

B．made the highest score in his first NBA game

C．can't understand his teammates

D．teaches the Rockets workers Chinese himself

小題4:The passage is probably ______.

A．an advertisement

B．a notice

C．a news report

D．an instruction

Your teenage daughter is supposed to be doing homework, but you catch her chatting online. She tells you that she’s talking about the math test tomorrow. Before your eyes start rolling, listen up: teens are using social networking sites for more than just gossip, according to a new study by the National School Boards Association.
The students who took part in the online survey, aged 9 to 17, said they spent almost as much time on social networking online as they did watching television. And it is what these kids are talking about online that is causing such a cheer: education. Of the students who took part in the study 60 percent reported that some of the most popular social networking topics were college planning, learning outside of school, careers, and schoolwork. They also reported posting writing and art projects that might have nothing to do with schoolwork.
Ann Flynn, director of education technology for the National School Boards Association, says incorporating (合并) social networking tools into educational curriculum (課程) is the way forward. Flynn says a school in Cleveland, Ohio is posting students’ book reports on a blog for students of their own ages, parents and other teachers to read and comment on. “If someone reacts other than the teacher, a child is much more likely to take an assignment seriously,” Flynn says.
Not only students but also parents can benefit. Now parents can go online and know what the class is doing. So, next time your child says her blog is educational, get curious, sit down and check out the blog with her. You might just learn something new yourself.
小題1:We can infer from the text that Ann Flynn       .

A．supports students in using social networking sites

B．used to think badly of students’ using social networking sites

C．suggests schools set up their own social networking sites

D．suggests teachers inspect what students do on social networking sites

小題2:How does the school in Cleveland mentioned in the text use social net-working sites?

A．It asks each student to keep a blog.

B．It invites parents to comment on students’ work.

C．It welcomes comments on students’ book reports online.

D．It lets students keep in touch with their teachers online.

小題3:A student will not probably take an assignment seriously if he gets comments from       .

A．a stranger

B．his teachers

C．his parents

D．his classmates

小題4:Why can parents benefit from social networking sites?

A．Because parents can make a lot of friends online.

B．Because parents can help their children with their schoolwork.

C．Because parents can know their children’s learning at school.

D．Because parents can keep up with social development.

On a summer day, John was sitting on a beach in Hawaii with his parents. The six-year-old child suddenly said he was so lucky because he had so many toys to play with at home.
His surprised parents replied that he was lucky, since a lot of kids didn’t have any toys at all. “How can that be?” John said, confused, but then he said that he would like to get toys for those children. His parents naturally thought their son was just kidding. But as soon as they returned home, John began using his pocket money to buy toys for other kids and asking his friends to do the same. His parents responded by organizing pizza suppers for other families interested in helping other children that can’t afford to buy toys. John thought that he just wanted to cheer those kids up.
John’s parents started to find a place that would allow children as young as six and seven to volunteer. They finally find a day care center for disabled children to let John and his friends visit. They went and played with these kids, playing around the room as if they belonged there.
John and his friends named their work Kids Cheering Kids. John and his friends visited kids at some childcare centers, helping out with a party they organized. They also prepared a performance for children with disabilities. Their activities have drawn public concern.
The spirit of helping is as fresh as it was that day in Hawaii. “The whole purpose,”
John says, “is to make the kids feel better.”
小題1:Why did John get toys for the children who didn’t have any toy at all?

A．Because he wanted to make them happy.

B．Because he wanted to show off his toys.

C．Because he wanted to share his toys with them.

D．Because he wanted to make friends with them.

小題2:What was John’s parents’ attitude towards his plan?

A．Positive.

B．Critical.

C．Doubtful.

D．Puzzled.

小題3:What do we learn about Kids Cheering Kids?

A．It’s a children’s game enjoyed by John and his friends.

B．It’s a project started by John to help other kids.

C．It’s a program performed by John and his friends.

D．It’s an after-school activity planned by John’s friends.

小題4:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．An unforgettable vacation	B．A valuable experience
C．Let kids cheer kids	D．Let kids learn to share

It is quite reasonable to blame traffic jams, the cost of gas and the great speed of modern life, but manners on the road are becoming horrible．Everybody knows that the nicest men would become fierce tigers behind the wheel．It is all right to have a tiger in a cage, but to have one in the driver’s seat is another matter altogether.
Road politeness is not only good manners, but good sense too．It takes the most cool-headed drivers great patience to give up the desire to beat back when forced to face rude driving．On the other hand, a little politeness goes a long way towards reducing the possibility of quarrelling and fighting．A friendly nod or a wave of thanks in answer to an act of politeness helps to create an atmosphere of good will and calm so necessary in modern traffic condition．But such behaviors of politeness are by no means enough．Many drivers nowadays don’t even seem able to recognize politeness when they see it.
However, misplaced politeness can also be dangerous．Typical examples are the driver who waves a child crossing the street at a wrong place into the path of oncoming cars that may be not able to stop in time．The same goes for encouraging old ladies to cross the road wherever and whenever they want to．It always amazes me that the highways are not covered with the dead bodies of these grannies (奶奶).
An experienced driver, whose manners are faultless, told me it would help if drivers learnt to correctly join in traffic stream without causing total blockages that give rise to unpleasant feelings．Unfortunately, modern drivers can’t even learn to drive．Years ago, experts warned us that the fast increase of the car ownership would demand more give-and-take from all road users．It is high time for all of us to take this message to heart.
小題1:According to the passage, troubles on the road are often caused by        .

A．road conditions	B．the speed of modern life
C．the large number of cars	D．the behavior of the drivers

小題2:In the writer’s opinion,        .

A．drivers should show road politeness properly.

B．strict traffic rules are badly needed

C．unskillful drivers should be punished

D． drivers should avoid traffic jams

小題3:The underlined word “give-and-take” in the passage means        .

A．politeness and impoliteness

B．willingness to give in to each other’s wishes

C．offering help to others as much as possible

D．good manners and bad manners

小題4:What is the best title of the passage?
A．Road Politeness
B．Traffic Problems
C Bad Manners on the Road              
D．Good Drivers and Bad Driver

The long, lonely voyage of the Japanese ghost ship is over．

A US Coast Guard cutter poured cannon fire into an abandoned Japanese ghost ship that had been drifting since last year’s tsunami, sinking the vessel into waters more than 305 meters deep in the Gulf of Alaska and removing the danger it posed to shipping and the coastline on Thursday．
The cutter’s guns tore holes in the 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru, and then it began to take on water and lean to one side． In about four hours, the ship disappeared into the sea, said Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow．
The ship had no lights or communications system, and its tank was able to carry more than 7,570 liters of diesel fuel． Officials, however, didn’t know exactly how much fuel was aboard．
“It’s less risky than it would be running into shore or running into other ships,” coast guard spokesman Paul Webb said．
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency studied the problem and decided it is safer to sink the ship than let the fuel evaporate and pollute the sea environment．
Ryou-Un Maru was probably among the first wave of the 1．5 million tons of garbage of refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, roofs and fishing nets heading toward North America since last March when a magnitude-9．0 earthquake struck Japan．
As the coast guard was ready to fire on the vessel, a Canadian fishing vessel, the 19-meter Bernice C, claimed the rights to save the ghost ship in international waters．
Plans to sink it were paused so the Canadian crew could have a chance to take the stricken ship． A Canadian official with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that the Bernice C was unable to drag it．
Then the Canadian boat left, and once it was about 10 kilometers from the Japanese vessel, the Coast Guard began to fire, first with 25 mm shells, then a few hours later with ammunition twice that size．
State officials have been working to test the danger of garbage including materials affected by a damaged nuclear power plant, to see if Alaska residents, seafood or wild animals could be affected．
小題1:Which of the following is NOT the reason for sinking the Japanese ship?

A．It had no lights or communications system.

B．It might be washed up onto the shore．

C．It was a danger to other passing ships．

D．The oil it carried could pollute the sea．

小題2:The plan to fire on the Japanese ghost ship was paused because ____________．

A．the ghost ship was beyond the reach of the Coast Guard’s guns

B．the shells were not powerful enough to sink the ghost ship

C．state officials worried the ghost ship might give out radiation

D．a Canadian fishing boat wanted to save the ghost ship

小題3:Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Japanese ghost ship arriving at US

B．Tsunami garbage heading to US

C．Cannon fire sinking Japanese ghost ship

D．Japanese ghost ship polluting the Pacific

In recent years, the black bear population in the US has risen. Forests once cleared for farming have started to grow back and black bears have returned to them. But the bears are finding that their forest habitat has changed. Instead of thick forests covering thousands of acres, bears now have neighbors nearby. Roads, homes, schools, and shopping centers have been built at the edge of their forest home. And with humans and bears trying to share the same space, problems arise.
Black bears usually prefer to avoid people, but their nose may lead them into trouble. Their normal diet includes nuts, insects, and plants. But given the opportunity, they will gladly help themselves to whatever they can find.
With the great sense of smell, the bears can sniff out a tasty treat 2 or 3 miles away. Food left out in a park or backyard is an invitation to dinner. And while raiding (劫掠) a cooler, bird feeder (喂鳥器), trash can, car, or even a home, they can do a lot of damage. When that happens, people get angry. If another solution doesn’t immediately appear, they often want the bears killed.
Bear Aware, Bear Wise, and Bear Smart are trying to keep that from happening. They want people to respect bears, not fear them, and are suggesting ways to reduce the chances of bears stopping by for a snack. They’re convincing (使相信) people that by following some simple steps, it’s possible to live peacefully with our wild neighbors.
小題1:More black bears have appeared in the US because__________.

A．farmers have grown more food

B．forests have increased in the US

C．people stopped killing black bears

D．roads were built nearer to the forests

小題2:We learn from the text that black bears _________.

A．hate insects in forests	B．eat different foods
C．usually live in big groups	D．like to share space with humans

小題3:The underlined words “sniff out” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”.

A．to express a low opinion	B．to find something by chance
C．to refuse something in a proud way	D．to discover something by its smell

Bamboo is one of the nature’s most surprising plants. Many people call this plant a tree, but it is a kind of grass.
Like other kinds of grass, a bamboo plant may be cut very low to the ground, but it will grow back very quickly. A Japanese scientist recorded one bamboo plant that grew almost 1.5 meters in 24 hours! Bamboo grows almost everywhere in the world except Europe. There are more than 1,000 kinds of bamboo that grow around the world on both mountains and plains.
Not all bamboo looks the same. Some bamboo plants are very thin. They may only grow to be a few centimeters wide while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across. This plant also comes in different colors, from yellow to black to green.
Many Asian countries have been using bamboo for hundreds of years. They often use bamboo for building new buildings. As a matter of fact, the cables(繩索) that hold up the hanging bridge across the Min River in Sichuan are made of bamboo. The bridge has been in use for more than 1,000 years, and is still holding strong.
In Africa, engineers are teaching poor farmers how to find water using bamboo. These African countries need cheap ways to find water because they have no money, and their fields often die from no rain and no water. It seems that bamboo is one of the best things they can use. Bamboo pipes and drills(鉆) can help to make the poor thirsty fields to be watered.
小題1:How is bamboo like grass?

A．It is thin and easy to cut.	B．It grows everywhere.
C．It grows quickly after its cut short.	D．It is short and green.

小題2:The underlined sentence “while others may grow to more than 30 centimeters across.” means “Some other bamboo plants may grow to be very _______.”

A．short

B．strong

C．thick

D．tall

小題3:From the text we know ______.

A．most people call bamboo plant trees

B．a bamboo plant may grow 4.5 meters in three days

C．the bamboo plant changes its colors when it grows

D．a bridge held by bamboo cable was built thousands of years ago

小題4:Why did the engineers teach the poor farmers in Africa to make use of bamboo?

A．Because it is cheap.	B．Because it is colorful.
C．Because it drills fast.	D．Because it is used by Asians.

小題5:Which of the following is NOT true?

A．There are many different kinds of bamboo with different colors.

B．Cables made of bamboo can last for over a thousand years.

C．Bamboo can be used for buildings, bridges and watering projects.

D．Bamboo plants are able to grow well in any part of the world.

Six Chinese surveillance ships have entered waters near islands claimed by both China and Japan.
China said the ships were carrying out "law enforcement" to demonstrate its jurisdiction(管轄權) over the islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.
At least two of the vessels left after the Japanese coast guard issued a warning, Japanese officials say.
The move came after Japan sealed a deal to buy three of the islands from their private Japanese owner. Japan controls the uninhabited but resource-rich East China Sea islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan.
The Japanese Coast Guard said the first two Chinese boats entered Japan's territorial waters at 06:18 local time (21:18 GMT Thursday), followed by another fleet of four other ships just after 07:00. The first two ships then left the area. A third ship left later on Friday morning, one report said. No force was used, Japanese officials added. "Our patrol vessels are currently telling them to leave our country's territorial waters," the coastguard said in a statement.
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed that its ships were there. “These law enforcement and patrol activities are aimed to demonstrate China's jurisdiction over the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated(附屬的) islets and ensure the country's maritime(海事的) interests,” a statement said.
The US has called for ''cooler heads to prevail'' as tension intensifies between China and Japan over the islands, which lie south of Okinawa and north of Taiwan. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is due to visit both Japan and China from this weekend as part of a tour of the region that also includes New Zealand.
The dispute has seriously marred diplomatic relations between China and Japan and threatens to damage the strong trading relationship, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Beijing. The row(爭端) has also generated strong nationalist sentiment on both sides that observers say now makes it very difficult to be seen to be backing down, says our correspondent.
The Japanese government says it is buying the islands to promote their stable and peaceful management. Its move followed a bid by right-wing Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara to buy the islands using public donations - an action that would likely have further provoked(觸怒) China.
China, on the other hand, says the islands have historically been its territory and fishing grounds.
Meanwhile Japan's newly-appointed ambassador to China, Shinichi Nishimiya, remains in hospital in Tokyo after he was found unconscious near his home in Tokyo on Thursday. No details have been given on his condition. He was appointed on Tuesday to replace Uichiro Niwa, who has been criticised for his handling of one of the worse diplomatic rows between Japan and China in recent years.
小題1:The Diaoyu Islands are actually inhabited by           .

A．Japan

B．China

C．America

D．Nobody

小題2:Which of the following is true?

A．Japan fired at the 6 Chinese ships to warn them to leave the waters.

B．China admitted that the 6 ships had been forced to leave the waters.

C．The US called on both sides to calm down.

D．Shinichi Nishimiya was unconscious in the hospital because somebody attacked him.

小題3:Why was Uichiro Niwa replaced?

A．He is not iron enough in handling the diplomatic rows between Japan and China.

B．His health condition is not good enough to work there.

C．He didn’t do a good job in dealing with the dispute about the Diaoyu Islands.

D．He criticized the Chinese government publicly in an improper way.

小題4:This news report is most likely to be selected from the          newspaper.

A．British

B．Chinese

C．Japanese

D．American

Tabb doesn't look like a typical music teacher. But every weekday evening in the French Quarter New Orleans, he beats out the rhythm on his music stand as students play their chosen instruments.
“I'm doing my best to take young people away from harmful things,” said Tabb. His program,  "The Roots of Music”, offers free music education to more than 100 students. He struggles to keep young people on the straight and narrow in the city with the nation's highest murder rate(兇殺率).
Tabb chose to target 9­to14­year­olds with his program. “That's a very important time in your life,” he said. “If I catch them then, I can hold onto them for at least four or five years and guide them the way that will lead them to success.”
Students meet from 4 pm to 7 pm every weekday, all year round. They work with tutors(助教) on schoolwork, practice their music and eat a hot meal before heading home. With the money provided by some people, Tabb's group is able to provide bus transportation, instruments and food for free. He calls it his “no excuse” policy. “You have no excuse why you're not here,” Tabb said. Tabb owes the success in part to the nature of music. “You're always learning something new,”he said. “That's what keeps the kids coming back every day.”
But the program isn't only about fun. “Music is about discipline (紀律),”said Tabb. He insists on good behavior and keeps kids in order with threats of sit­ups(仰臥起坐), pushups(俯臥撐) or tasks like picking up grains of rice — but these measures aren't just punishment. Tabb wants young people to realize that music can help them build a better future. “I don't say that I'm saving lives,” he said. “I say I'm giving life — a whole different life of music.”
小題1:The underlined phrase  "keep young people on the straight and narrow” may mean ________.

A．keep young people standing straight

B．keep young people on the correct life track(道路)

C．keep young people busy performing music

D．keep young people away from the dangerous parts of the city

小題2:Which of the following kids may NOT be included in Tabb's program “ The Roots of Music”？

A．Jack, 8 years old.	B．Tom, 9 years old.
C．John, 11 years old.	D．Linda, 13 years old.

小題3:What attracts children to join in the program to learn music?

A．The free food and transportation.	B．The famous music teacher.
C．The chance to learn new things.	D．The strict discipline rules.

小題4:By saying “music is about discipline”, Tabb means ________.

A．keeping discipline is more important than learning music

B．obeying(遵守) rules is important in playing music well

C．music is also connected with kids' grades

D．kids can learn how to behave through music

小題5:What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Tabb's program offers young people help.

B．Kids improve grades through music learning.

C．Tabb offers kids free food to learn music.

D．Tabb performs music for street children.