It can greet people, show DVDs and hand out balloons. “Ubiko”, a robot-on –wheels with a catlike face, is joining the crew of temporary workers supplied by a Japanese job-referral company, Ubiquitous Exchange, to stores, events and even weddings. Next month, the 44-inch tall robot will be selling mobile phones at a store.
Ubiko can be hired as a temporary worker for two hours for 105,000 yen, or $890.
“We see this as serious business. There are jobs that robots are better at,” Akiko Sakurai said “people do develop a relation with the robot, and it’s lovable.”
The $255,000 robot, which is equipped with a camera and sensors, greets customers with a nasal electronic voice, shows DVDs with a projector in its head and hands out balloons and other goods with wireless remote-controllable arms.
Ubiko sounds like a Japanese female name, which often ends with “ko”.
Tmsuk, the Japanese company that makes the robot, sold three last month to hospital, where they are working as full-time, rather than temporary, receptionists and guides. One of the hospital’s robots serves as a receptionist and has been programmed to greet visitors. It also has a touch-panel(控制板) on its body, and visitors can use it to get directions for where they want to go. 
“Just give it electricity, and a robot can work for long hours, even do repetitive work, and you don’t have to worry about labor laws,” Sudo said.
Japan’s lower birth rate means that in the coming years it could face a labor shortage, and some experts believe robots could be part of the key to that problem. Robots are very popular in Japan partly because of the popularity of cartoons that describe robots as friends and assistants to humans.
小題1:The news report is mainly to _________________.

A．give praise to advanced robots in Japan

B．introduce the development of robots in Japan

C．tell readers the advantage of the robots in Japan

D．introduce a newly-developed robot in Japan

小題2:We can learn from the passage that ____________.

A．the price of Ubiko is $890

B．the purpose for a store to buy the robot is to greet customers

C．Ubiko can work for long hours without using energy

D．three robots have been sold to a hospital

小題3:Which of the following can be inferred about Ubiko according to the passage?

A．It sounds beautiful, like a girl’s voice.

B．It is named after a Japanese girl.

C．It will have a wider market.

D．It was designed for hospitals.

小題4:Which of the following makes robots more popular in Japan?

A．The low price of robots.

B．The interesting shapes of robots.

C．The function of showing DVDs and handing out balloons.

D．Cartoon’s showing good relationship between robots and humans.

小題5:Which of the following about Ubiko is NOT true?

A．It has a face of female.

B．There is a projector in its head.

C．It is equipped with a camera and sensors.

D．It has wireless remote-controllable arms.

When it comes to success in business and success in life, there are few qualities as important as confidence．
People naturally have different levels of confidence．Some have a higher level of confidence than others do, but even those whose confidence is lacking can learn to build their level of confidence and reach their most important goals．Increasing self confidence is one of the most common reasons people give for seeking the help of psychologists and other professionals．
One of the many places where a greater level of confidence is useful is in the workplace．We all know how difficult it can be, for instance, to ask the boss for a raise．This process can be extremely difficult for those who lack confidence in their own abilities．After all, if you are unsure about your own abilities, how will you ever convince your boss that you deserve more money for the work you do?
Even if you are not asking for that big raise, having plenty of confidence in your abilities is important to success．If you are certain of your abilities, chances are that those around you, whether they are your coworkers, your colleagues or your superiors, will see that confidence, and that will help to assure them that you are the best at what you do．
Being thought of as the person to go to, and being seen as an expert in your chosen field, is naturally very important to success on the job．If you can make yourself the person people go to for guidance and advice, you will help to protect yourself from the ever present danger of downsizing（裁員）．After all, if you are a recognized expert at the office, you will be regarded as an indispensable member of the team．
Having a high level of confidence, after all, does not mean overlooking the places where you could improve．Knowing what you do well and where you need help will help you enjoy increased success and confidence．
小題1:What is the passage mainly about?

A．The influence of confidence on one's life．

B．The difference of people's confidence．．

C．The importance of confidence to success

D．The judgment on one's confidence．

小題2:Psychologists and other professionals can offer help to those ______．

A．who dream to be recognized experts

B．who expect to give guidance to others

C．who want to ask the boss for a raise

D．who think their goals are hard to reach

小題3:What message does the author want to convey（傳遞） in the last paragraph?

A．To overlook one's disadvantages．

B．To make full use of one's advantages．

C．To have great confidence in one's abilities．

D．To make objective evaluations of one's abilities．

Brrriiinnng．The alarm clock announces the start of another busy weekday in the morning．You jump out of bed, rush into the shower, into your clothes and out the door with hardly a moment to think．A stressful journey to work gets your blood pressure climbing．Once at the office, you glance through the newspaper with depressing stories or reports of disasters．In that sort of mood, who can get down to work, particularly some creative, original problem-solving work?
The way most of us spend our mornings is exactly opposite to the conditions that promote flexible, open-minded thinking．Imaginative ideas are most likely to come to us when we’re unfocused．If you are one of those energetic morning people, your most inventive time comes in the early evening when you are relaxed．Sleepy people’s lack of focus leads to an increase in creative problem solving．By not giving yourself time to tune into your wandering mind, you’re missing out on the surprising solutions it may offer．
The trip you take to work doesn’t help, either．The stress slows down the speed with which signals travel between neurons （神經(jīng)細胞）, making inspirations less likely to occur．And while we all should read a lot about what’s going on in the world, it would not make you feel good for sure, so put that news website or newspaper aside until after the day’s work is done．
So what would our mornings look like if we wanted to start them with a full capacity for creative problem solving? We’d set the alarm a few minutes early and lie awake in bed, following our thoughts where they lead．We’d stand a little longer under the warm water of the shower, stopping thinking about tasks in favor of a few more minutes of relaxation．We’d take some deep breaths on our way to work, instead of complaining about heavy traffic．And once in the office—after we get a cup of coffee—we’d click on links not to the news of the day but to the funniest videos the web has to offer．
小題1:What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To tell us a specific story．

B．To introduce the topic of the passage．

C．To indicate how busy one usually is in the morning．

D．To show mornings are not suitable for creative work．

小題2:What does the author imply about newspapers?

A．They are normally full of bad news．

B．They are solution providers．

C．They are a source of inspiration．

D．They are more educational than websites．

小題3:By “tune into your wandering mind” （in Para．2）, the author means “_______”．

A．wander into the wild	B．listen to a beautiful tune
C．stop concentrating on anything	D．switch to the traffic channel

小題4:The author writes the last paragraph in order to _______．

A．establish a routine for the future	B．summarize past experiences
C．a(chǎn)dvocate diverse ways of life	D．offer practical suggestions

Mobile phones are an important business tool for farmers in rural areas．But they also put a valuable educational tool in their hands．
The University of Illinois in the United States has a project called SAWBO—Scientific Animations Without Borders．It produces educational videos that can be downloaded to cell phones．The goal is to help people in developing countries improve their lives．
One video shows farmers how to make a natural insecticide from neem seeds to prevent insect damage to crops．The process starts with sorting and drying the neem fruits．Then let the fruit dry in the sun for about three or four days, until they become brown．Using a mortar（碾槌） and stick, the fruits are slightly pounded to remove the shells from the fruits without breaking the seed inside．
The videos use computer animation（動畫）．Some of the animated characters are a little funny looking-like a farmer with a long nose．But the subjects are serious, including a health video on preventing cholera（霍亂）．Team member Francisco Seufferheld says the information in the videos is meant to be quickly understood．He says, “The information is digested in such a way that in two minutes, we can transmit a complex idea．”
The researchers tested the seven-minute video on seven mobile phones．They wanted to see if people would share the video using Bluetooth wireless technology．With Bluetooth, files can be passed to a nearby phone even if neither phone is connected to the internet．As a result, in one month, the video had spread to one hundred eighteen people in fifty different villages．" This is just incredible impact," said Francisco Seufferheld．
The team has made a few videos so far．These are available in a total of eighty languages, dialects and accents．Professor Barry Pittendrigh says there are plans for more videos later this year．
小題1:What is the text mainly about?

A．A best-selling mobile phone

B．A valuable educational project for farmers

C．United States support for developing countries

D．A new type of scientist –farmer relationship

小題2:The SAWBO program is introduced in order to ____．

A．raise farmers’ standard of living

B．do some research on mobile phones

C．develop farmers’ practical skills

D．help farmers prevent insect damage to crops

小題3:The biggest advantage of the program is that it______．

A．includes health video on preventing cholera

B．can be passed to farmers using Bluetooth technology

C．can be used to sort and dry the neem fruits

D．is easy for farmers to understand

小題4:Which of the following words can best take the place of the word “ pound” in the 3^rd paragraph?

A．moved

B．beat

C．picked

D．cut

Homeschool materials are every where .In fact, as a homeschool parent, one of the best learning tools you can use is making use of songs. Think of it .When you hear your favorite songs come on the radio and as soon as the lyrics begin , you can join in at once and sing along. Perhaps,  you haven’t heard this song for months or even years! Doesn’t it amaze you? There is no doubt that learning through lyric and rhyme(韻律)is a great way!
With some careful searching , you can come up with many songs ,lyrics ,and rhymes that fit well with your homeschool lesson plan or unit study. Some places even have songs that have the same themes with the lessons. They are perfect to be used to add to your homeschool materials ! Even if you don’t find a particular great song for what you may be teaching at the time, you can write your own. With a little practice, you can not only write your own songs over time but also be surprised how good you can become.
Take any of the traditional chidren’s  songs and modify(修改) them to meet your needs .This is an interesting exercise for both you and your children. It helps you with reading , recognizing(識別)sounds, and improving memory. Soon you’ll have your children want to write and sing their own songs!
Song and singing is such a great way to teach your children. It’s fun and relaxing. Sometimes. you really need such a break from your study and work .It will cost nothing. So turn your creativity and imagination loose and have fun .Whisrle (吹口哨) while you work!
小題1:In Paragraph 1,the author proves his point through______

A．his favorite songs	B．his own experience
C．people’s common experience	D．singing along with the radio

小題2:What does the underlined word “They” in  Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Songs.

B．Themes.

C．Lessons

D．Places

小題3:According to the passage, modifying traditional songs can ______

A．improve people’s writing ability

B．make materials more interesting

C．help children sing better

D．help people improve memory

小題4:The passage is probably written to______

A．homeschool students

B．homeschool parents

C．a(chǎn)ll the children

D．school teachers

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

A．How to raise children at home

B．How to find homeschool materials

C．Homeschool materials in songs

D．Children’s singing materials

Everyday we talk about and use the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet?
Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer network didn’t work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way computer network system would keep on working on the time.
At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made “surfing” in the Internet more convenient.
Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students.The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people’s life.
小題1:The Internet has a history of more than _______ years.

A．sixty

B．forty

C．fifty

D．twenty

小題2:A new network system was set up to _________.

A．make computers cheaper

B．make itself keep on working all the time

C．break down the whole network

D．make computers large and expensive

小題3:__________ made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

A．Computers

B．Hardware

C．Software

D．Information

小題4:Which of the following is TRUE?

A．In the 1960s, computer network worked well.

B．In the early 1970s, the Internet was easy to use.

C．Today it’s still not easy to get on-line.

D．Sending e-mail is now more popular among students than before.

Starting high school means many changes in your life. Most teenagers look forward to the first day of high school, but still feel a little bit nervous. In order to make your high school life easier, you can follow these tips.
Learn all you can about your first day before the first day. Take part in some activities that are held at the school for new students to know the school better. If parents are invited to these activities, take yours with you. Carefully look over all the materials you receive. Be sure you know where the school’s buildings are.
Get the things you will need for class. Buy the things suggested on your teachers’ supply lists and place your materials for each class separately.
Keep up with your high school workload（工作量）. If you find you’re not doing well in a subject, make use of after-school study groups or ask your teacher to help you with your schoolwork. Consider private tutoring to get you through a difficult time.
There’re more extracurricular（課外的）activities in high school than in middle school, such as clubs, music and theater groups, student government, and sports teams. Make friends and be seen at such school activities. Join a club or other organizations to meet people and develop friendships. Ask someone in school activities if you don’t know how. This is a good time to do what you like doing and an opportunity to try new things. Who said school has to be all work and no play?
Since you’ll attend more activities in high school than in middle school, you’ll have to learn how to manage you time…
小題1:The writer wrote this passage to ______.

A．a(chǎn)dvise us to study hard in high school.

B．tell us how to live an easier life in high school.

C．show that we may live a hard life in high school.

D．explain why there will be many changes in high school.

小題2:In paragraph 2, the writer suggests that we should ______.

A．a(chǎn)sk our parents to walk us to school

B．a(chǎn)sk other students about our high school

C．prepare all the things we need for our classes

D．learn about our high school well before attending it

小題3:According to paragraph 4, what should we do if we are not doing well in a subject?

A．We should get help from others.

B．We should stop going to activities.

C．We should spend most of our time on it.

D．We should give it up if it is not important.

小題4:In paragraph 5, the writer wants to tell us that ______.

A．every coin has two sides

B．the early bird catches the worm

C．where there is a will, there is a way

D．a(chǎn)ll work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

小題5:What will the writer most probably talk about next?

A．How to manage time well in high school.

B．Why we need to learn how to manage time.

C．How to attend more activities in high school.

D．Why middle school is different from high school.

Here's one very simple but lifechanging advice that I first heard from Brian Tracy. Cut down on the TV at night by just one hour. Instead, use that hour to read books that could improve your life.
If you're a salesman, google for the best and most useful books on improving your sales.
This applies (適用) to all fields, not just the work-related (與工作相關的) ones. Maybe you want to improve your health, become a more energetic person. Or maybe you want to improve your study, your relations or perhaps do some personal development.
One hour a day is not much. But if you read for one hour a day on weekdays, that's about 260 hours a year. That's a large number of books and a lot of useful advice.
If you follow the ideas, who knows what great things and feelings could come into your life. Also, all that information and advice will start to open up your mind. You will start to see more chances in your life.
Now, you might think something like this:
1. I really don't have the money...
Answer: Visit your public library or search the database (數(shù)據(jù)庫). Or look for books that are used in places like amazon.com.
2. I really don't have the time...
Answer: Buy audiobooks and listen to them in the car while driving to and from work. Or copy them to your MP3-player and listen while riding your bike /bus to work or school. Recently selling audiobooks through MP3-downloads has become popular...
Shut off the TV a little earlier and start reading.
小題1:What is Brian Tracy’s lifechanging advice about？

A．Watching TV.	B．Listening to MP3.
C．Surfing the internet.	D．Reading helpful books.

小題2:If you’d like to improve your work, you should_______ according to the writer.

A．read work-related books	B．become more energetic
C．improve your study	D．improve your relations

小題3:Which is NOT true about reading an hour a day？

A．It will open up your mind.

B．You will have about 260 hours a year to read.

C．You will read lots of books and get much useful advice.

D．It will probably bring great things and feelings into your life.

小題4:What should you do if you really don't have the money to read?

A．To buy some books from amazon.com.	B．To download MP3 free.
C．To visit the public library.	D．To borrow audiobooks and listen to them.

小題5: What is the writer’s idea about audiobooks?

A．They are more useful.

B．Listening to audiobooks is easier than reading books.

C．It’s dangerous to listen to audiobooks while driving or riding.

D．Audiobooks are a good solution to the problem of having no time to read.

Once upon a time, there was no donkey (驢子) in a small village. One day a merchant (商人) brought one to the village. But the __26__ had a __27__master. So one day it__28__a forest and decided to stay there. But soon a tiger saw it and immediately__29__ at it. At once the donkey started to cry__30__ it could. The tiger was so __31__ by the donkey’s action __32__ it ran away with fright（害怕）.
Not long afterwards the tiger met a fox. __33__ out of breath（上氣不接下氣）, it told the fox what _34__. Then the tiger_35__ the fox to the place_36__ it had met the donkey. When the fox saw the donkey, it laughed and said, “That’s only a 37__ donkey and it only eats_38__. Come, let’s kill it__39__ supper. When the donkey saw them_40__, it quickly_41__ a plan. “Hello, old friend! How nice to see you, and how nice__42__ you to bring me supper, my favorite food — tiger meat.”
Hearing this, the tiger was very__43__ as well as angry. “I’ll teach you a lesson.” It __44__ angrily at the fox, and __45__ one jump, killed it. Then it ran away as fast as it could.

小題1:	A．monkey B．donkey C．tiger D．fox

小題2:	A．cruel B．good C．kind D．selfish

小題3:	A．moved to B．ran away across C．ran away into D．went through

小題4:	A．stared B．came C．saw D．watched

小題5:	A．a(chǎn)s loud as B．so loud as C．a(chǎn)s aloud as D．so aloud as

小題6:	A．surprised B．pleased C．excited D．worried

小題7:	A．a(chǎn)s B．when C．that D．a(chǎn)nd

小題8:	A．Hardly B．Almost C．Already D．Mostly

小題9:	A．a(chǎn)ppeared B．was happened C．had happened D．was taken

小題10:

A．carried B．watched C．showed D．led

小題11:

A．where B．that C．which D．when

小題12:

A．dangerous B．harmful C．terrible D．harmless

小題13:

A．tiger meat B．grass C．a(chǎn)nimals D．birds

小題14:

A．on B．with C．for D．a(chǎn)bout

小題15:

A．coming along B．gone away C．coming in D．going along

小題16:

A．make B．got C．found out D．thought over

小題17:

A．for B．with C．a(chǎn)bout D．of

小題18:

A．a(chǎn)fraid B．fear C．frightened D．horribly

小題19:

A．spoke B．shouted C．said D．told

小題20:

A．with B．have C．take D．for

I learned how to accept life as it is from my father.__36____ , he didn't teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but rather when he was__37___ and ill.
My father was_38__a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness__39__all that away. Now he can no longer walk, and he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is___40___. One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started__41____ about life, and I told them about one of my__42_____. I said that we must very often give things up__43____we grow---our health, our beauty, our friends---but it always__44_____that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father__45____up. He said, "But, Peter, I gave up__46_____! What did I gain?" I thought and thought ,but I couldn't think of anything to say.__47____ ,he answered his own question,"I__48____the love of my family." I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes, along with hope and thankfulness.
I was also__49____by his words. After that, when I began to feel angry at someone, I__50____ remember his words and become___51____. If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be__52__to give up my small anger. In this__53__ , I learned the power of acceptance from my father.
Sometimes I__54__what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this__55____.

小題1:	A．Afterwards B． Therefore C． However D．Meanwhile

小題2:	A．tired B． weak C． poor D． slow

小題3:	A．a(chǎn)lready B． still C． only D．once

小題4:	A．took B． threw C． sent D． put

小題5:	A．impossible B． difficult C． stressful D．hopeless

小題6:	A．worrying B． caring C． talking D． asking

小題7:	A．decisions B． experiences C． ambitions D． beliefs

小題8:	A．a(chǎn)s B． since C． before D． till

小題9:	A．suggests B． promises C． seems D． requires

小題10:

A．spoke B． turned C． summed D． opened

小題11:

A．something B．a(chǎn)nything C． nothing D． everything

小題12:

A．Surprisingly B． Immediately C． Naturally D．Certainly

小題13:

A．had B． accepted C． gained D． enjoyed

小題14:

A．touched B． astonished C． attracted D． warned

小題15:

A．should B． could C． would D． might

小題16:

A．quiet B． calm C． relaxed D． happy

小題17:

A．ready B． likely C． free D． able

小題18:

A．case B． form C． method D． way

小題19:

A．doubt B． wonder C． know D． guess

小題20:

A．a(chǎn)ward B． gift C．lesson D．word