Listening to a radio broadcast in a foreign language is difficult for many of us. We may have studied the language for several years, and are able to read it, perhaps even write in it. But listening and understanding the spoken language require special skills. Some people have a natural ability that helps them to learn a language quickly, while others must study for a long time. Everyone, however, can improve his or her listening skills with practice.
We are good listeners in our own language because we have had years of practice. We understand the grammar and the language. We know what to expect a person to say to us in almost any situation. We have been in similar situations many times, and we have heard it all before. We can understand it, even if we do not listen carefully.
But this is not true with a foreign language. We must listen with our full attention. And we must try not to let the cultural style of our language affect our understanding of the foreign language. Listening to a foreign language broadcast is easier if we know something about it. There are clues that can help us. One clue is the time of a day. Morning programs usually contain many short items of news, information or entertainment. The items are short because most of us are getting ready to go to work in the morning. Often we do not have time to listen to long programs. Evening programs are different. There is time for more details about the subjects discussed.
We can get a clue about the program from the music at the beginning, but we must be familiar with the music of the foreign culture. The kind of music—serious and slow, or fast and light—can tell us what kind of program to expect. The name of the program can give us good information about what it will contain.
Another good clue is the broadcaster. The more we listen to the same person, the easier it will be to understand him. His speaking style will become familiar to us. Further, the broadcaster provides clues to the organization of the broadcast at the beginning of the program. The broadcaster usually gives us the highlights of the program to prepare us for the details that will follow.
小題1:We are good listeners in our own language because ________.

A．we have a natural ability of learning language	B．our own language is much easier
C．we listen to our own language more carefully	D．we have practiced it for years

小題2: If you don’t have enough time, you can listen to ________.

A．evening programs	B．programs with soft music
C．morning programs	D．familiar programs

小題3:You can know the information of the program according to ________.

A．its music	B．the broadcaster
C．its name	D．the time of the program

There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment (片段).
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought，which brings us to the cellphone.
The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cellphone’s disruption (中斷) of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is by and large a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept – we have “Do Not Disturb” signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication. Until the recent mass deployment (使用) of cellphones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the globe. We came to take it for granted.
But cellphones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves. Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees, myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. All that’s required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt (輕視) for the rings of our own phones. Given the ease of making and receiving cellphone calls, if we don’t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cellphone call deserves no greater priority (優(yōu)先考慮的事) than a random (隨機(jī)的) word from the person next to us. Though the call on my cellphone may be the one–in–a–million from Steven Spielberg–who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
小題1:What is the point of the anecdote（軼事，趣聞） about the poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?

A．To direct readers’ attention to the main topic.

B．To show how important inspiration is to a poet.

C．To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cellphone.

D．To encourage readers to read the works of this poet.

小題2:What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cellphones?

A．It is a way of signaling that you don’t like the caller.

B．It is natural to tell lies about small things.

C．It is basically a good way to protect one’s privacy.

D．We should feel guilty when we can’t tell the truth.

小題3:According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cellphones?

A．People get annoyed by the cellphone rings that they fail to notice anything else.

B．People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cellphones.

C．Cellphones interrupt people’s private time.

D．With cellphones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.

小題4:What does the last paragraph suggest?

A．A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention.

B．Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel.

C．You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cellphone.

D．Never let cellphones interfere too much with your life.

University is generally regarded as one of the most important times in a person’s life, yet the function of this institution continues to arouse debate. Many believe that arts subjects are  too easy, that practical skills are more useful and that a chosen subject for study should be clearly linked to a career. However, this view is far too simplistic. Arts subjects are very difficult. They can prepare students for any number of careers as well as allowing the student to take time to make a decision. The function of the modern university is to cater to different types of student.
Arts subjects are not easy. For example, a degree in Literature is not an easy option. No question in a Literature class has a single, simple answer. Debate is conducted in a spirit of openness, texts are very closely analyzed and skills in close reading are developed. Literature is about language, our primary means of communication. Arts subjects require the same concentrated study as any other subject.
Arts subjects can prepare students for any number of careers. A degree in an arts subject teaches skills in well organized debates and defence of a position through the provision of evidence. These are applicable to many types of career. Law, for example. The point is that an undergraduate degree in any Arts subject trains the student in analysis and structure. Therefore, Arts graduates can pursue any number of careers.
Arts subjects allow the student to take time to choose a career. Love of the subject for its own sake may well be the initial motivation for the Arts undergraduate but because the subject they have chosen is not so clearly linked to a career they have time to reflect, making a decision only when they are absolutely certain. Students who pursue Arts subjects therefore have the leisure to make a carefully considered choice.
In conclusion, it is clear that Arts subjects are not a waste of time. They are flexible when it comes to relating them to a career and they allow the student to discover an appropriate career path. Many industries now acknowledge that a degree in Literature can be just as valuable as any other subject, especially when it is evident that Arts graduates tend to think more creatively. Not all undergraduates have clearly defined goals and not all subjects can be simply matched to a career. Acknowledging this difference should be the main function of a modern university
小題1: What does the author mainly argue in this article?   

A．Universities should be aware of diversity	B．Universities should focus on practical courses.
C．Arts courses should be promoted.	D．Arts subjects are inappropriate for work.

小題2:What does the author imply about universities’ attitude to students?   

A．They need to be more understanding of students’ needs.

B．They need to keep out arts students.

C．They need to link courses to careers.

D．They need to offer more arts courses.

小題3:The author suggests that technical subjects ____________.  

A．a(chǎn)re more important than arts subjects.	B．a(chǎn)re more useful to the modern world.
C．have equal value to arts subjects.	D．a(chǎn)re not as important as arts subjects.

小題4:From the article, we know skills acquired by arts undergraduates include___________. 

A．Perception and investigation	B．Technique and motivation
C．Appreciation and dedication	D．Analysis and structure

小題5:According to the author, the students choose arts courses initially because ___________. 

A．they are unsure about a career	B．they are interested in the subject
C．they hate technical subjects	D．they are creative people

When my son, Mark, was in the third grade, he saved all his pocket money for over three months to buy holiday presents. The third Saturday in December Mark said he had made his list and had twenty dollars in his pocket.
I drove him to a nearby supermarket. Mark picked up a hand basket and went in while I waited and watched in the car. It took Mark over 45 minutes to choose his presents. Finally he came to the checkout counter (交款處) and reached into his pocket for his money. It was not there! There was a hole in his pocket, but no money. Mark stood there holding his basket, tears falling down his face.
Then a surprising thing happened. A woman came up to Mark and took him in her arms. "You would help me a lot if you let me pay for you," said the woman. "It would be the most wonderful gift you could give me. I only ask that one day you will pass it on. When you grow up, I  would like you to find someone you can help. When you help others, 1 know you will feel as good about it as I do now."
Mark took the money, dried his tears and ran back to the checkout counter as fast as he could. That year we all enjoyed our gifts almost as much as Mark enjoyed giving them to us.
I would like to say ’"thank you" to that very kind woman, and tell her that four years later, Mark went house to house collecting blankets (毯子) and clothes for the homeless people in the fire. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing it on.
小題1:When did the story probably happen?

A．On Christmas Day.	B．Before Christmas Day,
C．On New Year’s Day.	D．After New Year’s Day.

小題2:Why did the writer want to say ’’thank you" to the woman?

A．Because she bought Mark a nice present.

B．Because she always paid money for others.

C．Because she collected clothes for the homeless.

D．Because she taught Mark to help people in need.

小題3:What’s the best title for this passage?

A．A big supermarket	B．A kind woman
C．A happy family	D．A wonderful gift

Believe it or not,the ability to choose is the power to change.If you can choose to live your life differently,will you be the same person?
Well,choosing to do the following few “simple”things will help to change your life.
Review your life.Take time to go through your life and ask yourself, “If I do the same thing I do every day,will there be a change?If I want to change,where will my first step be?”
Make careful choices.Choose exactly what you wish to get to live your life;describe and think what you really want
Keep up with chances.Find out about the possibilities and ways that can make you move toward your goals,write them down and see which one suits you most.
Get down to business.Start working on your goals.People may bring you down;you may have difficulties;you will fail and want to give up.But the most important thing is never to give up.
If you try these “simple”things,you will find that success is something for everyone,and you will finally become what you want to be.Remember,success is more than what you hold in your hands;It is something from the heart.
小題1:How many pieces of advice does the writer give on changing one’s life?

A．Three

B．Four

C．Five

D．Six

小題2:Once you get down to business,the most important thing is to         .

A．see possibilities

B．set goals

C．a(chǎn)sk for help

D．keep on trying

小題3:The underlined word “it”in the last paragraph refers to            .

A．choice

B．change

C．success

D．life

小題4:This passage mainly discusses the relationship between           .

A．choice and change	B．power and life
C．choice and difficulties	D．power and success

Are you a man or a mouse? When people ask this question they want to know __36_  you think you are a  _37_  person or a coward(懦夫). But you will never really know the answer to this question __38__ you are tested in real life. Some people __39__ they are brave but when they come face to face with real __40_ , they act like cowards. Others think of themselves as cowards, but when they meet danger, they act like __41_.
Lenny had always thought of himself as a __42__ person. He got worried before examinations. He worried about his job and his health. All he wanted in life was to be safe and healthy. __43__ , on January 15^th, 2002, a plane crashed into the Potomac River in Washington. Lenny went to the river to see what was happening. He saw a woman in the __44__ water. Lenny did not feel afraid. He kept very __45__ and did a very courageous thing. He jumped into Potomac, __46__ to the woman, and kept her head __47__ the water. Seventy-eight people died that day. Thanks to Lenny, it was not __48__ .
When you are in a very __49__ situation and feel afraid, the body automatically（自動(dòng)地）produces a chemical in the blood. This chemical is called adrenalin(腎上激素). __50__ adrenalin in the blood system, you actually feel stronger and stronger and are __51__ to fight or run away. However, when you are absolutely terrified, the body can produce too much adrenalin. When this __52__  , the muscles become very hard and you find you __53__ move at all. You are paralyzed(使無(wú)能為力) with fear. This is __54__  when we are very frightened, we sometimes say we are ‘petrified’, this word comes from a Greek word ‘petros’, which means ‘stone’. We are __55__ frightened that we become stonelike.

小題1:	A．how B．neither C．whether D．either

小題2:	A．brave B．real C．hard D．certain

小題3:	A．when B．until C．a(chǎn)fter D．once

小題4:	A．realize B．find C．think D．a(chǎn)gree

小題5:	A．life B．question C．mouse D．danger

小題6:	A．soldiers B．mice C．heroes(英雄) D．cowards

小題7:	A．useful B．brave C．nervous D．terrible

小題8:	A．So B．Therefore C．Then D．Actually

小題9:	A．fresh B．poisonous C．warm D．ice-cold

小題10:

A．nervous B．calm C．frightened D．excited

小題11:

A．went B．helped C．spoke D．swam

小題12:

A．in B．under C．a(chǎn)bove D．from

小題13:

A．a(chǎn)n accident B．a(chǎn) mistake C．seventy-eight D．seventy-nine

小題14:

A．dangerous B．comfortable C．different D．favorable

小題15:

A．With B．Without C．For D．Like

小題16:

A．a(chǎn)fraid B．unable C．ready D．a(chǎn)nxious

小題17:

A．gets B．disappears C．happens D．goes

小題18:

A．needn’t B．can’t C．mustn’t D．shouldn’t

小題19:

A．where B．how C．because D．why

小題20:

A．really B．very C．such D．so

You are watching a film in which two men are having a fight．They hit one another hard．At the start they only fight with their fists．But soon they begin hitting one another over the heads with chairs．And so it goes on until one of the men crashes through a window and falls thirty feet to the ground below．He is dead! Of course he isn’t really dead．With any luck he isn’t even hurt．Why? Because the men who fall out of high windows or jump from fast moving trains, who crash cars of even catching fire, are professionals．They do this for a living．These men are called stuntmen．That is to say, they perform tricks．There are two sides to their work．They actually do most of the things you see on the screen．For example, they fall from a high building．However, they do not fall on to hard ground but on to empty cardboard boxes covered with a mattress．Again, when they hit one another with chairs, the chairs are made of soft wood and when they crash through windows, the glass is made of sugar! But although their work depends on trick of this sort, it also requires a high degree of skill and training．Often a stuntman’s success depends on careful timing．For example, when he is “blown up” in a battle scene, he has to jump out of the way of the explosion just at the right moment.
Naturally stuntmen are well paid for their work, but they lead dangerous lives．They often get seriously injured, and sometimes killed．A Norwegian stuntman, for example, skied over the edge of a cliff a thousand feet high．His parachute failed to open, and he was killed．In spite of all the risks, this is no longer a profession for men only．Men no longer dress up as women when actresses have to perform some dangerous action．For nowadays there are stuntwomen too.

A recent online poll (民意調(diào)查) asked kids what they hated most about school. “Classes are boring” came in first. “Too much homework” was a close second. Since all activities remain interesting for only so long, too much homework can lead to ennui. So, why are some kids getting homework overload? Teachers give two reasons. First, they say, the government now requires schools to meet higher-than-ever achievement goals for students. If students don’ t succeed, the school faces punishment. Second, many parents want their children to be able to get into the best colleges and universities. These parents believe homework is a way to ensure that students are learning as much as possible.
People who favor homework argue that it can have many beneficial effects. They claim it can help students develop good study habits. Homework can help students recognize that learning can occur at home as well as at school. It can help develop their independent learning and responsible character traits(性格特征).
But studies show that middle school students doing 60 to 90 minutes of homework a night are doing just as well in school as those doing more than 90 minutes. And homework can have negative effects. Homework can deny students access to leisure(休閑) activities that also teach important skills. For example, sports teams teach cooperation and leadership, in addition to helping kids stay physically active. Another problem with too much homework is that parents can get too involved. They can put too much pressure on their kids.
So what should be done? Good homework assignments in the proper amount will have positive effects. Too much homework, however, will have negative effects. The bottom line: Students in grades three through six should do no more than 30 to 60 minutes of homework each night.
小題1:The underline word “ennui” in Paragraph 2 can be replaced by “______” .

A．relaxation

B．fancy

C．boredom

D．intelligence

小題2: According to Paragraph 1, the kids are given much homework because ________.

A．schools are evaluated in terms of students’ achievement.

B．the government doesn’t take the problem seriously

C．it is a good way to improve the students’ ability

D．time will be made full use of in this way

小題3:Those who are in favor of homework think that _______.

A．homework helps students to succeed

B．it’s good for kids to help each other in learning

C．parents are a great help when kids do homework at home

D．homework helps children to learn independently

小題4: Which of the following is NOT a negative effect of too much homework?

A．Kids have little time to do leisure activities.

B．There is a lack of sleeping time.

C．The chances of learning other skills are lost.

D．Kids are under pressure from their parents.

小題5: The author’s purpose in writing the passage is _______.

A．to criticize the school teachers

B．to attract public attention to kids’ study

C．to offer more help to today’s kids

D．to call for proper amounts of homework

The Internet has got into all the fields of our life. We can study and work on it. We can find a job on it. We can communicate on it. We can treat friends on it. We can buy and sell on it. We can do almost everything on the Internet, and almost anywhere, anytime.
However, although the Internet provides services for us, it is silently getting our privacy(隱私) to some degree. The services on most websites require our personal information. If we want to enjoy these services, we have to provide much of our information, including our names, sex, addresses, telephone numbers and sometimes bank accounts(帳戶). Because weak network sometimes is unsafe, our information might be open, stolen or sold. Even sometimes it will be used freely by others.
Considering（考慮到...） the above mentioned, you must pay attention to the safety when using the Internet. First, when you need Internet service, you should always look through those big legal(合法的) websites. Second, if the service requires important personal information, you should think twice before you type it in. Third, store your own important card key(電子鑰匙) and don’t tell others easily.
小題1:According to the passage, we shouldn’t ______by using the Internet.

A．learn English	B．give our friends’ information to others
C．chat with friends	D．look for jobs

小題2:The underlined word “it” refers to ______.

A．the telephone number

B．the name

C．the information

D．the bank account

小題3:Which of the following ways is correct to protect our information on the Internet?
a. Surf the safe Web       .    b. Think over and over before typing it in.
c. Don’t chat with friends on line  d. Don’t use your key easily. 

A．a(chǎn),b,c.

B．b,c,d.

C．a(chǎn),b,d.

D．a(chǎn),c,d.

小題4:What can we learn from the passage?

A．Don’t believe others if you don’t know them.

B．Remember never use the ID card on the Internet.

C．Never use the Internet in the future.

D．From now on, we must pay attention to the safety of the information on line.

We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.
“Look down, Elsa,” father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the center of the village. And I saw the crisscross (十字形) of twisting, turning streets leading to the square. “See, my dear,” father said gently. “There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another.”
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.
When I turned to father for help, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.
At school the next day, I secretly poured my luncheon（午餐）soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I asked our cook to serve it to mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered（噴濺出）“ The cook must have gone mad！” Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed I often remembered the lesson father taught me. I began to work as a fashion designer two years ago. I wouldn’t stop working until I tried every possible means to my goal. Father’s wise words always remind me that there is more than one way to the square.
小題1:The author’s father took her to the top of a church tower to ____________.

A. enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole town

B. find out how many ways lead to the square

C. inspire her to find out another way to solve her problem

D. help her forget some unpleasant things earlier that day

小題2:What did the author want her mother to do earlier that day?.

A. Do something delicious for lunch.

B. Taste her awful lunch.

C. Dismiss the mad cook.

D. Speak to the school about lunch.

小題3:The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph suggests that__________________.

A. the cook agreed to serve the soup to the writer’s mother.

B. the author’s mother was angry with the cook.

C. her father persuaded her mother successfully.

D. the method the author thought of was effective.

小題4:What did the author’s mother think of her luncheon soup after she tasted it?

A. It was delicious.	B. It wasn’t so bad as the author said.
C. It is terrible..	D. It was as good as her cook did.

小題5:By sharing her own experiences, the author tries to tell us ____________.

A. when one road is blocked, try another

B. how bad the lunch of her school is

C. how wise her father is

D. about the church tower near her home