Cities in Europe and around the world may be growing “bike trees” in the near future. Invented by Japan’s JFE engineering Corp., the invention proved useful in the busiest parts of this nation’s crowded cities.
Local governments of Japan have struggled for ways to encourage people to park their bikes considerately, particularly close to big stations, but that may block some roads and entrances to home and businesses. “Our cities do not have a lot of space for any kind of parking, including bicycles.” said Mitsuharu Oshima, a spokesman for JFE Engineering. The bike tree comes in two types; one in a tower that is above ground, and on the contrary, the other in a subterranean structure.
A cyclist registers（登記）with the operator of the equipment, pays a monthly fee and pushes the wheels of his bicycle into restraints at the base of the bike tree. Each bicycle is fitted with an electronic card with the owner’s details. A mechanical arm then pulls the bike into the base of the tower and moves it to a free location inside. To collect the bike later, the cyclist puts his card through a reader and his bike is automatically (自動(dòng)地)returned to him in seconds. “The science of the equipment has been difficult----even though they may look simple ----because bikes come in many different shapes and sizes.” said Oshima.
As well as clearing away the road, bicycles cannot be stolen from a bike tree. There are presently versions at seven sites in Japan and two others are under construction, while work is under way on an even larger version----with room for 9,400 bicycles---in Thailand. And Oshima believes that the idea could catch on in Europe, particularly in countries such as France, Holland and Denmark, where cycling is so popular.
小題1: What is the right order of the following things when you use the bike tree?
① the wheels of the bicycle are put into restraints at the base
② the card is read and the bike is automatically returned
③ an electronic card with the owner’s details is given
④ the bike is pulled and moved to a free location inside

A．③②①④

B．②①④③

C．③①④②

D．②④③①

小題2:What made it difficult to design “bike trees”?

A．The location of “bike trees”

B．The differences of the bikes

C．The method of finding enough bikes

D．The importance of traffic safety

小題3: From the passage, we can know that___________.

A．cyclists can use “bike trees” for free in Japan

B．there are seven “bike trees” used for holding bikes in Japan

C．local government of Japan encourage people to ride bikes

D．countries with many cyclists in Europe will like the idea of “bike trees’

At first all films were in black and white, but in 1932 the first color film was made. It proved as unpopular as making films had done in the late 1920’s. It was not until 1938 that a full length color film was made, and the success of this film made producers(制片人) everywhere change from black and white to color. This first full-length color film was translated （翻譯）into ten different languages and made Hollywood（好萊塢）the main center（ 中心）of film industry(電影業(yè))
In the early days of the cinema, other countries had also film industries. Very good films were made in Sweden, Britain, Russia and France. However, because Holleywood had so much money to spend, it kept its position as the world’s most important film center. Film actors went to America because they knew they could get a lot of money for every film they made. In 1918 Charlie Chaplin （查理·卓別林）received $5 each day.
However, life was not always easy for the film actors. Newspapermen followed them everywhere, and after Charlie Chapine married for the fourth time he became so unpopular with the American public that he had to leave the country and live in Europe.
小題1:. Which of the following is correct?

A．People liked the color film as soon as it was made.

B．At first making films were not popular.

C．Color films were at first silence.

D．Talking films were all color films.

小題2:.. The first full-length color film was made ___________

A．in Holleywood

B．in Sweden

C．by Charlie Chapine

D．in Britain

小題3:. Many film actors went to America because ___________

A．America was the only country that made good films.

B．no other countries had film industries

C．they could make a lot of money there

D．they wanted to become famous actors

小題4:.. Life was sometimes difficult for actors because ______________

A．films often cost huge amount of money to make

B．they had to leave their countries

C．sometimes films lose money

D．they could not get away from newspapermen

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 troublesome	B．become popular and fashionable
C．keep up with	D．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 subways	B．subways around the world later on
C．the history and culture of London	D．the Beijing subway

Explore the State of California
California is one of the most interesting states of America that offers a lot of wonderful sceneries and fun attractions. It is also the most populated state and the third largest in land area. Anyone who has been to California would agree that it is indeed a place that offers a lot to tourists of all ages. Here are some top picks of the best places to visit in California State.
San Francisco Bay Area - Witness the famous San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge which is one of the city's landmarks; and enjoy the beauty of Fisherman's Wharf that offers a lot of seafood restaurants. You should not miss the city's world-famous Cable Car System which is by far the only manually operated cable car system in the whole world.
Yosemite National Park - This is one of the very first wilderness parks in the whole of America. It is known for its natural beauty and breathtaking sceneries. It offers a breath of fresh air away from the city life. Major places to visit include the Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point among many others.
Los Angeles - Explore the home of the L.A. Lakers and do not fail to visit the Disneyland which is one of the major attractions of the city. The warm weather in Los Angeles makes it possible to do a lot of outdoor activities especially during the summer months. It is a family-friendly place that offers a wonderful shopping and dining experience. For those who particularly love the city and night life, L.A. can offer the best of almost everything.
Napa Valley - With over a million visitors every year, Napa Valley is indeed a place you should not miss if you are in California. It is California's most popular wine growing region. You can also experience the Wine Train and hot air balloon ride over the valley.
小題1: From the first paragraph, we know that_____.

A．the State of California has the largest population in the US

B．California offers a lot to tourists of young people

C．California is also the largest in land area

D．California is the most interesting state of America

小題2:. According to the passage, if you want to breathe the fresh air, you’ll go to _____.

A．San Francisco Bay Area

B．Yosemite National Park

C．Los Angeles

D．Napa Valley

小題3:. The underlined word “region” in the last paragraph may probably mean _____.

A．company

B．valley

C．factory

D．a(chǎn)rea

小題4:. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Napa Valley will bring us a wonderful shopping and dining experience.

B．San Francisco Bay Area is California's most popular wine growing region.

C．Los Angeles allows us to visit the Disneyland and enjoy almost everything.

D．In Yosemite National Park, we can see the Yosemite Falls, Golden Gate Bridge.

In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous, and real, yet fade away in a short time if things change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greeting for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while—then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it's left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people's homes and share their holidays without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation. Do not hesitate to accept hospitality because you cannot give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves easily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as "merely" home cooked food, not "doing something" for your guest. It is felt that restaurant entertaining shows more respect and welcome. Or for various other reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one's home than to go to a public place, except in pure business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
小題1:.
. In the United States, friendships might ________ if things become different.

A．disappear little by little	B．last forever
C．be heartbreaking	D．end suddenly

小題2:.
All the following factors but ________ prevent people from inviting their friends home for
dinner according to the passage.

A．different languages	B．naughty children
C．different customs	D．small houses

小題3:.
. We can infer that ________ in America according to this passage.

A．friendships are difficult to get but easy to lose

B．it is hard for a person to pick up the friendship when he comes across his long lost friend

C．you might be considered as a person hungry for social activities if you accept an invitation too easily

D．people care little about where they are invited to go for dinner

小題4:.
. Why is giving a dinner party at home considered less hospitable in some countries?

A．Because eating at the restaurant is a sign of respect.

B．Because having dinner at home seems less friendly.

C．Because dishes prepared at home are less delicious.

D．Because a dinner at the restaurant is more expensive.

Thanksgiving Day was near. Lucy, the first grade teacher, gave her class a fun   36 — to draw a picture of somebody or something for which they were    37  . When the students    38  
their assignment, she found most of them drew some pictures of their family, teachers, friends or neighbors.
Douglas, however, made a different kind of picture. He was a   39   boy. He didn’t act the same as others. He always seemed to be shy and sad. He   40  played with other children during the break   41  they kindly invited him to. Lucy treated him very well. She always helped him and   42   him to be confident. Yes, his picture was different. He just drew a   43 . Nothing else. His abstract image   44   the imagination of his classmates. Whose hand could it be? One guessed it was a mother’s hand, for mother’s hand gives children warmth and   45  . Another child guessed it was a police officer’s hand, because the police   46  people and care for people. And so the discussion   47 .
When the children were discussing it, Lucy paused at Douglas’ desk,   48  down, and asked him whose hand it was. The little boy murmured, “It’s   49 , teacher.” Douglas was most thankful for her hand. She was   50  and felt tears in her eyes. She thought of the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there. She   51   how often she had said to him, “Take my   52 , Douglas. We’ll go outside.” or “Let me show you how to hold your pencil.”
The story speaks of   53  thankfulness. It also says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship. They might not always say “  54 ” out, but they’ll remember the hand that you   55 out to give them love and be grateful to you always.
小題1:..

A．a(chǎn)ssignment

B．question

C．suggestion

D．solution

小題2:.

A．sorry

B．regretful

C．thankful

D．responsible

小題3:.

A．gave in

B．handed in

C．put off

D．called off

小題4:..

A．strong

B．kind

C．different

D．humorous

小題5:..

A．often

B．usually

C．seldom

D．ever

小題6:..

A．because

B．though

C．a(chǎn)s

D．since

小題7:..

A．encouraged

B．discouraged

C．cheered

D．praised

小題8:..

A．hand

B．face

C．ear

D．leg

小題9:.

A．reduced

B．ruined

C．inspired

D．used

小題10:..

A．comfort

B．praise

C．sorrow

D．coldness

小題11:..

A．search

B．question

C．meet

D．protect

小題12:..

A．ended

B．succeeded

C．continued

D．failed

小題13:..

A．broke

B．pulled

C．looked

D．bent

小題14:..

A．his

B．yours

C．my mother’s

D．my father’s

小題15:..

A．disappointed

B．a(chǎn)nnoyed

C．tired

D．touched

小題16:..

A．forgot

B．regretted

C．recalled

D．understood

小題17:..

A．hand

B．book

C．lesson

D．gift

小題18:..

A．rather than

B．more than

C．a(chǎn)nything but

D．nothing but

小題19:..

A．I’m sorry

B．Take care

C．I’m all right

D．Thank you

小題20:..

A．get

B．reach

C．put

D．make

The American book Who Moved My Cheese has been a bestseller all over the world. It teaches people how to face changes in their lives. Now its author Spence Johnson has written a book just for teens. The book tells us that when facing change in our lives, like a new school or new friends, don't be afraid. Instead, use this change to make a better life. The book gives an example of a change at school. A school is changing from having two terms to three terms because there are too many students.
Several teens are talking about this. Most of them are unhappy and worried. But Chris is not. He laughs and tells a story about two mice, two “l(fā)ittle people” and some cheese.
The four are in a maze looking for the cheese. Here, cheese means something important in life, like moving to a new class or getting into college. But they find the cheese is gone. The mice realize that they can’t change what has happened and have to find more cheese. This means finding different dreams. The little people, however, can’t do this. They are afraid of change so they find no cheese.
After Chris finishes the story, the friends understand one thing: to get more cheese, move in a new direction quickly. His friends understand how this can be used in the changes all teens face, such as doing well at school or having good relationships or just feeling good about yourself.
小題1:The book Who Moved My Cheese is __________.

A．written all over the world	B．read across the world
C．sold only in America	D．loved only by teens

小題2:What does the text mainly discuss?

A．Never change in our life.	B．Change whenever you like .
C．Change with the changes.	D．Pay attention to the changes,

小題3: The underline word “four”（paragraph 3） refers to __________.

A．mice and little people	B．students
C．cheese	D．readers

小題4: In our lives, we should learn from __________.

A．mice

B．little people

C．Chris

D．Spence Johnson

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 ancestors	B．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 plants

B．gold and silver

C．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 Spain	D．two primary means of transportation

Read the following reviews for movies that are showing at the moment. And then answer questions.
Happiness(Romance) ★★★★
Happiness tells the story of two people (Lisa Turbot and Danny Roy) who work for different advertising companies. They talk on the phone all the time and don't like each other. But then they correspond by email and fall in love. This movie will be very popular with teenagers and people who like romances. It also has beautiful music.
I Scream (Thriller) ★★
In I Scream, Paul (Colin Jacks) is a young man who joins a thriller club. Each of the members tries to frighten the others. Paul is told to stay in an old house for the night. Everyone who has tried to stay in the house before has died. This movie is very frightening but also quite silly. It doesn't make sense for Paul to stay in the house when things start to go wrong. Only for people who like thrillers.
Paul's Heroes (Comedy) ★★★
This is a very funny war movie set in World War Two. Six soldiers (including Sammy Turblow) have to get to Italy to take secret messages to the American army there. During the movie, they dress up as women and fight with Italian workers. You can guess the ending, but it's great fun getting there.
______________ (Drama) ★★★★
This is a very good drama with Jack Ross, who pays a hard-working truck driver. His wife becomes ill and he has to find a doctor who can help her. In his travels he meets Dr. Lloyd (Phil Driver) who has found the cure for the illness, but Jack Ross has only twelve hours to get the medicine back to his wife on the other side of America. This is an excellent movie, which is very exciting.
小題1:.Which of the four movies is the least popular with people?

A．The 1st one.

B．The 2nd one.

C．The 3rd one.

D．The 4th one.

小題2:. The underlined word "correspond" can be replaced by ______________.

A．date

B．exchange

C．write

D．communicate

小題3:.A thriller is most probably a film which tells something _______________.

A．frightening

B．instructive

C．humorous

D．interesting

小題4:. Which of the following is the best title for the fourth film?

A．A Hard-working Truck Driver.	B．Medicine.
C．A Strange Illness.	D．Twelve Hours.

The days of elderly women doing nothing but cooking huge meals on holidays are gone. Enter the Red Hat Society—a group holding the belief that old ladies should have fun.
“My grandmother didn’t do anything but keep house and serve everybody. They were programmed to do that,” said Emily Cornette, head of a chapter of the 7-year-old Red Hat Society.
While men have long spent their time fishing and playing golf, women have sometimes seemed to become unnoticed as they age. But the generation now turning 50 is the baby boomers (生育高峰期出生的人), and the same people who refused their parents’ way of being young are now trying a new way of growing old.
If you take into consideration feminism (女權(quán)主義), a bit of spare money, and better health for most elderly, the Red Hat Society looks almost inevitable (必然的). In this society, women over 50 wear red hats and purple (紫色的) clothes, while the women under 50 wear pink hats and light purple clothing.
“The organization took the idea from a poem by Jenny Joseph that begins: “When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple. With a red hat which doesn’t go,” said Ellen Cooper, who founded the Red Hat Society in 1998. When the ladies started to wear the red hats, they attracted lots of attention.
“The point of this is that we need a rest from always doing something for someone else,” Cooper said. “Women feel so ashamed and sorry when they do something for themselves.” This is why chapters are discouraged from raising money or doing anything useful. “We’re a ladies’ play group. It couldn’t be more simple,” added Cooper’s assistant Joe Heywood.
小題1:. The unlined word “chapter” in Paragraph 2 means ___.

A．one branch of an organization	B．a(chǎn) written agreement of a club
C．one part of a collection of poems	D．a(chǎn) period in a society’s history

小題2:. From the text, we know that the “baby boomers” are a group of people who ___.

A．have gradually become more noticeable	B．a(chǎn)re worried about getting old too quickly
C．a(chǎn)re enjoying a good life with plenty of money to spend
D．tried living a different life from their parents when they were young

小題3:. It could be inferred from the text that members of the Red Hat Society are ___.

A．interested in raising money for social work	B．programmers who can plan well for their future
C．believers in equality between men and women	D．good at cooking big meals and taking care of others

小題4:.. Who set up the Red Hat Society?

A．Emily Cornette

B．Ellen Cooper

C．Jenny Joseph

D．Joe Heywood

小題5:.. Women join the Red Hat Society because ___.

A．they want to stay young	B．they would like to appear more attractive
C．they would like to have fun and live for themselves	D．they want to be more like their parents