You can mail a letter or package under 16 oz. (unit of weight, 454g) in a mailbox, a blue box found on many street corners in U.S. cities and towns. Each mail box should have pick-up times clearly posted on top.
!Packages over 16 oz. placed in a mailbox will not be sent. Bring the package to the post office or retail (零售的) mailing shop instead. The clerk will process if for you.
The Post Office
In the larger cities, when you go to the post office you must take a number and wait in line. Post offices tend to be extremely crowded around Christmas. Try to go as early in the morning as possible. Post office branches open at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. while main branches close at 6 p.m.
Buying Stamps
! The cost of a first-class postage stamp to mail a letter is currently 39 cents, although rates tend to change often.
Stamps are sold individually or in booklets (小冊子) of 10 (US$3.90) or 20(US$7.80) or in rolls of 100(US$9.00). You can buy stamps at the following locations:
·online, if you have a computer.
Link to the U.S. Postal Service website (http://www. usps.com) and click on “stamps online”.
·at your local post office
·at some ATMs (automated teller machine)
·at some supermarkets
·by mail
·retail mailing stores(you may have to pay extra for stamps and to mail packages through the U.S. Postal Service)
Postal Rates and Fees
The U.S. Postal Service’s online postage calculator(計算器) tells you the cost to mail a letter or package anywhere in the world. But you should know the weight of the package and the post code of the package’s origin and destination. If you don’t know the weight of the letter or package to be mailed, you can go to your local post office and the postal clerk will weigh it for you.
小題1:When do the post office main branches close?

A．At 9 p.m.

B．At 6 p.m.

C．At 5 p.m.

D．At 5:30 p.m.

小題2:If you have only 39 cents, you can NOT buy a stamp at_____.

A．a local post office	B．a supermarket
C．an ATM	D．a retail mailing store

小題3:The cost to mail a letter can be calculated when you know _____.
①its weight   ②its origin   ③its destination
④its origin’s post code     ⑤its destination’s post code

A．①③④

B．①④⑤

C．①②③

D．①②⑤

For those who make journeys across the world, the speed of travel today has turned the countries into a series of villages. Distances between them appear no greater to a modern traveler than those which once faced men as they walked from village to village. Jet planes fly people from one end of the earth to the other, allowing them a freedom of movement undreamt of a hundred years ago.
Yet some people wonder if the revolution in travel has gone too far. A price has been paid, they say, for the conquest (征服) of time and distance. Travel is something to be enjoyed, not endured (忍受). The boat offers leisure and time enough to appreciate the ever-changing sights and sounds of a journey. A journey by train also has a special charm about it. Lakes and forests and wild, open plains sweeping past your carriage window create a grand view in which time and distance mean nothing. On board a plane, however, there is just the blank blue of the sky filling the narrow windows of the airplane. The soft lighting, in-flight films and gentle music make up the only world you know, and the hours progress slowly.
Then there is the time spent being ‘processed’ at a modern airport. People are conveyed like robots along walkways; baggage is weighed, tickets produced, examined and produced yet again before the passengers move to another waiting area. Journeys by rail and sea take longer, yes, but the hours devoted to being ‘processed’ at departure and arrival in airports are luckily absent. No wonder, then, that the modern high-speed trains are winning back passengers from the airlines.
Man, however, is now a world traveler and cannot turn his back on the airplane. The working lives of too many people depend upon it; whole new industries have been built around its design and operation. The holiday-maker, too, with limited time to spend, patiently endures the busy airports and the limited space of the flight to gain those extra hours and even days, relaxing in the sun. Speed controls people’s lives; time saved, in work or play, is the important thing—or so we are told. Perhaps those first horsemen, riding free across the wild, open plains, were enjoying a better world than the one we know today. They could travel at will, and the clock was not their master.
小題1: What does the writer try to express in Paragraph 1?

A．Travel by plane has speeded up the growth of villages.

B．Man has been fond of traveling rather than staying in one place.

C．The speed of modern travel has made distances relatively short.

D．The freedom of movement has helped people realize their dreams.

小題2:How does the writer support the underlined statement in Paragraph 2?

A．By giving examples.

B．By giving instructions.

C．By analyzing cause and effect.

D．By following the order of time.

小題3:According to Paragraph 3, passengers are turning back to modern high-speed trains because ______.

A．they pay less for the tickets

B．they feel safer during the travel

C．they can enjoy higher speed of travel

D．they don’t have to waste time being ‘processed’

小題4: What does the last sentence of the passage mean?

A．They could travel with their master.

B．They needed the clock to tell the time.

C．They preferred traveling on horseback.

D．They could enjoy free and relaxing travel.

Roger Alvarez, 22, was one of the 52 percent of students who didn’t make it through his senior year at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles.
He dropped out several years ago, but by the time he was in ninth grade, Alvarez says he already knew he wasn’t going to graduate.
“There’s a certain amount of knowledge you have to have when you enter in a specific grade, and I didn’t have it.” Alvarez says,“Every class I used to go in, I was like, ‘Do I know this? I don’t know this.’”
It was a shameful attitude, he tells his former English teacher, Antero Garcia, 29.
“You were determined to help me, but what was I willing to give? I could have actually tried.”
For his part, Garcia wants to know how he could have reached out to Alvarez better, but Alvarez says Garcia had always been helpful.
“I mean, you could cheer me up, and then I see other students doing way better,” Alvarez says,“So then, I get nervous. I get stuck, and then my motivation goes to the floor.” He felt the situation was hopeless.
“You talked to me like if I could do it, but inside me, I knew I couldn’t.” he tells Garcia,“I just didn’t want you to think that I’m…stupid.”
Now, school is a life tool that Alvarez says he’s missing—but his teacher isn’t to blame.
“Always, I just wanted you to know…you were a good teacher, and I always respected you.” he tells Garcia,“Some teachers, I felt like they only wanted to teach a certain group of people. But you looked at me and you paid attention.”
“Maybe it didn’t get me to graduate, but there’re a lot of teachers, they don’t take the time to take a look. And it was never your fault.”
Alvarez now works the night shift at a loading dock(碼頭). He still hopes to get his degree one day.
小題1:When Alvarez entered a grade, he was sure that ___________.

A．he wasn’t going to pass the class

B．he would do better than other students

C．he might learn an amount of knowledge

D．he would try his best to learn at class

小題2:By saying “my motivation goes to the floor”,  Alvarez meant __________.

A．he hid his goal from others	B．he lost heart gradually
C．he built up his motivation	D．he fell to the ground completely

小題3:In the opinion of Alvarez, most teachers _______.

A．paid no attention to teaching	B．had no time to read books
C．didn’t care about what he did	D．showed no respect to students

小題4:The passage mainly tells us that _________.

A．a dropout complains about being treated badly

B．a dropout plans to get his degree again

C．a dropout shows respect for not graduating

D．a dropout has thanks to his teacher not blame

I woke up this morning. There is an empty feeling that I have had so many times before and it seems to be coming back into my mind. What is it? I can’t figure it out.
I got ready for work. On the way I decide to stop and get a cheese from the little shop just down the road. I have never been there before but I was hungry and it would be 5 hours before I got off work.
The owner of the store took my order. He asked me what I wanted and I told him I heard he made a great cheese. He seemed pleased to hear that.
As I was sitting in the small space，there was an elderly gentleman finishing his breakfast. He paid the waitress, received this change and made a small joke. As he turned to get up, which was quite a difficult feat for this gentleman, he looked over at me. I gave a small smile.
He looked again in my direction for a moment and said to me, “Has anyone ever told you, you have the most beautiful brown eyes?”
Seeing as I have blue eyes, I can’t say I have ever heard that before. I humored him and said, “No, I can’t say anyone has ever told me that before.”
He smiled, and said,“Well since they are blue you wouldn’t have heard that, but you have beautiful blue eyes.”
I laughed and said thank you very much. He began to tell me a few one liner jokes so I smiled and laughed at his jokes.
He tried to get up to leave again and looked at me and said“Your smile really brightens a room, do you know that?”I said,“Thank you very much.”
He proceeded to get up, which took him quite some time. As he got up he said,“Take care of that smile.”
I felt a sense of comfort wash over me and I reflected on my morning and that empty feeling I had. For a moment in time it seemed to be filled.
小題1:Before the writer went to work, he felt________.

A．sleepy

B．energetic

C．sick

D．unhappy

小題2:From the text, we can infer the old man __________.

A．was optimistic about life	B．liked to play a joke on others
C．was unwilling to leave	D．had difficulty in hearing

小題3:By saying“since they are blue”, the old man meant“_____________”.

A．because they feel cold	B．because they are sad
C．because they have blue eyes	D．because they are hungry

小題4:What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．We should find comfort from stranger.

B．We should pay attention to our own business.

C．We should laugh off our worries in life

D．We should show respect to the old people.

No matter what type of business you run, it has to deal with situations in which things go wrong from your customer’s point of view. Complaints can be a great source of information for the organizations. So it’s important to learn to deal with customer complaints efficiently.
Firstly, listen actively to what the customer has to say by keeping comfortable eye contact and giving full attention with no interrupting. You should also show your customer that you do understand him.
Secondly, when receiving a complaint you should apologize for the failure the customer has identified. It’s important for you to know that your apology must appear authentic to the customer, and not an empty exercise. And also you should show the customer you’ve accepted the responsibility and provide him with choices if you have some in hand or otherwise assure the customer you’ll do something about his complaint.
Thirdly, talk with the consumer and discover the best means to resolve his problem. There will be times when, after gathering the facts of a situation, you’ll be unable to resolve the problem immediately. In this case it’s important to let your customer know how long it’ll take to take action on his complaint.
Fourthly, a simple “Thank you” is one way to let the customer know you appreciate the time and effort he has taken to inform you about a problem with your company’s service or product you need to know about.
Lastly, give your customer something that shows your appreciation for him giving the feedback to you. And let him know you’re sorry for the mistake that was made. It isn’t necessary to give something that is costly; but a coupon(贈券) for a free drink or movie is fine.
Your professional and well-organized method of dealing with your customer complaints is one more way that will make you stay ahead of your competitors.
小題1:What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Importance of dealing with customer complaints.

B．Effects of customer complaints on business.

C．Tips for handling complaints from customers.

D．Several factors resulting in customer complaints.

小題2:The author thinks that customer complaints _____________.

A．are easy to deal with	B．are really quite annoying
C．can actually be avoided	D．are sometimes beneficial

小題3:The underlined word “authentic” in Paragraph 3 most probably means _______.

A．touching

B．believable

C．attractive

D．clever

小題4:According to the passage, what is the first thing you should do when facing the customer complaints?

A．Showing sincere attitude.

B．Making an honest apology.

C．Making an absolute promise.

D．Listening to the complaint attentively.

Zhang Li is studying at Cambridge, UK. She has bought a bicycle and is worried about security. Her friend, Kate, found this article and sent it to her.
Introduction
A lot of crime is against bicycles. About 150,000 bicycles are stolen every year and most are never found. You can prevent this happening by following a few careful steps.
Basic Security
Do not leave your bicycle in out-of-the-way places. Always lock your bicycle when you leave. Secure it to lampposts(燈柱) or trees. Take off smaller parts and take them with you, for example lights and saddles(車座).
Locks
Get a good lock. There are many different types in the shop. Buy one that has been tested against attack. Ask for advice from a bike shop.
Marking
Security marking your bike can act as a deterrent to a thief. It can also help the police find your bicycle. It should be clearly written and include your postcode and your house or flat number. This will provide a simple way to identify your bicycle.
Registration
There are a number of companies who will security mark your bicycle for you. They will then put your registration number and personal details on their computer database(數據庫). Then if your bicycle is found it will be easy to get in touch with you.
Finally
Keep a record of the bicycle yourself: its make, model and registration number. You can even take a photograph of it. This will prove the bicycle belongs to you.
小題1:Which part of the article gives you information on how to lock up your bicycle when you leave it?

A．Locks

B．Marking

C．Registration

D．Basic Security

小題2:The underlined phrase “act as a deterrent to a thief” means__________.

A．help you recognize your bike

B．help the police find your bicycle

C．stop someone from stealing your bicycle

D．stop you worrying about your bike

小題3:The article advises you to keep a record of your bicycle        .

A．in the bike shop and your computer.

B．in a police station and security company.

C．in a security company and your university.

D．by yourself and in a security company.

小題4:The main purpose of this article is          .

A．to tell you what to do if your bicycle is stolen

B．to suggest ways of keeping your bicycle safe

C．to give you advice on where to buy a good lock

D．to say why you shouldn’t keep your bicycle in a quiet place

The Gold Coast family holidays are always great fun whether you are from Australia or from abroad. There are beautiful beaches, adventure parks, nature parks and so much more.
There are so many sights to see here. It is a pity to drive in a car and you’ll miss a great part of it. Australia is home to many animals and birds that can only be seen when moving slowly and going into the areas that they live.
When you are on a bicycle, you have the advantage of being able to stop whenever you want to see an interesting animal or bird that you have never seen before. It is a quieter mode （方式） of transportation as well, so you might even be able to take a picture. When you are on the beach, you can breathe that clean air and view the beauty of the water and sand. It is a totally different experience from either simply sunbathing or passing it in a car.
There are many choices of hiring a bicycle to experience the Gold Coast attractions. There are stores that will fit a bike perfectly to your size. These bikes for both adults and children are in many styles and colors to please any taste. If you have ever wanted to try a tandem bike （雙人單車）, now is your chance, because they have those too.
A bicycle hire on Gold Coast is something that everyone should try at least once. This is a wonderful chance for anyone who likes to cycle and it is also a cheap way to travel with your family.
小題1:You’d better not drive in a car on Gold Coast because ________.

A．you will break the traffic rules

B．you will cause much noise

C．you can’t enjoy the beautiful sights well

D．you can’t drive into some parks

小題2:The following advantages of hiring bikes are mentioned EXCEPT that ________.

A．you can take photos of animals

B．it is a cheap way of traveling

C．you can get a clearer sight of animals

D．it is a good way to do sunbathing

小題3:What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．How to hire bikes on Gold Coast.

B．What kinds of bikes there are in stores.

C．What bikes are the most popular.

D．Who can hire bikes on Gold Coast.

小題4:What’s the author’s attitude towards a bike hire on Gold Coast?

A．He supports it very much.

B．He thinks it’s a personal choice.

C．He doesn’t like this way of traveling.

D．He thinks it’s only good for adults.

Home to me means a sense of familiarity and nostalgia(懷舊). It's fun to come home. It looks the same. It smells the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. Home is where we can remember pain, live, and some other experiences; We parted here; My parents met here; I won three championships here.
If I close my eyes, I can still have a clear picture in mind of my first home. I walk in the door and see a brown sofa surrounding a low glass-top wooden table. To the right of the living room is my first bedroom. It's empty, but it's where my earliest memories are.
There is the dining room table where I celebrated birthdays, and where I cried on Halloween-when I didn't want to wear the skirt my mother made for me. I always liked standing on that table because it made me feel tall and strong. If I sit at this table, I can see my favorite room in the house, my parents' room. It is simple: a brown wooden dresser lines the right side of the wall next to a television and a couple of photos of my grandparents on each side. Their bed is my safe zone. I can jump on it anytime - waking up my parents if I am scared or if I have an important announcement that cannot wait until the morning.
I'm lucky because I know my first home still exists. It exists in my mind and heart, on a physical property (住宅) on West 64th street on the western edge of Los Angeles. It is proof I lived, I grew and I learned.
Sometimes when I feel lost, I lie down and shut my eyes, and I go home. I know it's where I'll find my family, my dogs, and my belongings. I purposely leave the window open at night because I know I'll be blamed by Mom. But I don't mind, because I want to hear her say my name, which reminds me I'm home.
小題1:Why does the author call her parents' bed her "safe zone"(Paragraph 3)?

A．It is her favorite place to play.

B．Her needs can be satisfied there.

C．Her grandparents' photos are lined on each side.

D．Her parents always play together with her there.

小題2:What can be learned from the passage?

A．The old furniture is still in the author's fist bedroom.

B．The author can still visit her first physical home in Los Angeles.

C．The author's favorite room in her first home is the dining room.

D．Many people of the author's age can still find their first physical homes.

小題3:Sometimes when she feels lost, the author will _______.

A．Open the window at night

B．lie down in bed to have a dream

C．try to bring back a sense of home

D．go to Los Angeles to visit her mom

小題4:What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?

A．To express how much she is attached to her home.

B．To declare how much she loves her first house.

C．To describe the state of her family.

D．To look back on her childhood.

Astronauts on shorter shuttle missions (使命) often work very long days.  Tasks are scheduled (安排) so tightly that break times are often used to finish the day’s work.  This type of schedule is far too demanding for long missions on the International Space Station (ISS).  ISS crewmembers usually live in space for at least a quarter of a year. They work five days on and two days off to mimic the normal way they do things on Earth as much as possible. Weekends give the crew valuable time to rest and do a few hours of housework.  They can communicate with family and friends by email, internet phone and through private video conferences.
While astronauts cannot go to a baseball game or a movie in orbit, there are many familiar activities that they can still enjoy. Before a mission, the family and friends of each ISS crewmember put together a collection of family photos, messages, videos and reading material for the astronauts to look at when they will be floating 370 kilometers above the Earth.  During their mission, the crew also receives care packages with CDs, books, magazines, photos and letters. And as from early 2010, the internet became available on the ISS , giving astronauts the chance to do some “web surfing（沖浪）” in their personal time. Besides relaxing with these more common entertainments, astronauts can simply enjoy the experience of living in space.
Many astronauts say that one of the most relaxing things to do in space is to look out the window and stare at the universe and the Earth’s vast land mass and oceans.
小題1:What does the word “mimic” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A． Find

B． Copy

C．Change

D．Lose

小題2: Which of the following best describes the families of the astronauts on the ISS ?

A．They are caring and thoughtful.

B．They are patient and annoyed.

C．They are impatient and annoyed.

D．They are excited and curious.

小題3:In the final paragraph, the author shows that astronauts          .

A．get more pleasure in space than on the Earth

B．find living in space a bit boring and tiring

C．regard space life as common

D．love to see the Earth from space

小題4:The passage mainly discusses how astronauts          .

A．work for longer missions in space

B．connect with people on the Earth

C．observe the Earth from space.

D．spend their free time in space

If your boss asks you to work in Moscow this year, he’d better offer you more money to do so — or even double that depending on where you live now. That’s because Moscow has just been found to be the world’s most expensive city for the second year in a row by Mercer Human Resources Consulting.
Using the cost of living in New York as a base, Mercer determined Moscow is 34.4 percent more expensive including the cost of housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment(娛樂).
A two-bedroom flat in Moscow now costs $4,000 a month; a CD $24.83, and an international newspaper $6.30, according to Mercer. By comparison, a fast food meal with a hamburger (漢堡包) is a steal at $4.80.
London takes the No.2 place, up from No.5 a year ago, thanks to higher cost of housing and a stronger British pound relative to the dollar. Mercer estimates (估算) London is 26 percent more expensive than New York these days. Following London closely are Seoul and Tokyo, both of which are 22 percent more expensive than New York, while No.5 Hong Kong is 19 percent more costly.
Among North American cities, New York and Los Angeles are the most expensive and are the only two listed in the top 50 of the world’s most expensive cities. But both have fallen since last year’s study — New York came in 15th, down from 10th place, while Los Angeles fell to 42nd from 29th place a year ago. San Francisco came in a distant third at No. 54, down 20 places from a year earlier.
Toronto, meanwhile, is Canada’s most expensive city but fell 35 places to take 82nd place worldwide. In Australia, Sydney is the priciest place to live in and No. 21 worldwide.
小題1: What do the underlined words “a steal” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．an act of stealing	B．something very cheap
C．something delicious	D．an act of buying

小題2:London has become the second most expensive city because of ______.

A．the high cost of clothing

B．its expensive transportation

C．the stronger pound against the dollar

D．the high prices of fast food meals

小題3: Which city is the third most expensive on the list?

A．Sydney.

B．Hong Kong.

C．Moscow.

D．Tokyo.

小題4:Which city has dropped most on the list in North America?

A．Toronto.

B．Los Angeles.

C．San Francisco.

D．New York.