In the case of mobile phones, change is everything. Recent research indicates that the mobile phone is changing not only our culture, but our very bodies as well．
First, let's talk about culture. The difference between the mobile phone and its parent, the fixed-line phone, is that a mobile number corresponds to a person, while a landline goes to a place. If you call my mobile, you get me. If you call my fixed-line phone, you get whoever answers it．
This has several implications（含義）. The most common one, however, and perhaps the thing that has changed our culture forever, is the “meeting” influence. People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet. Twenty years ago, a Friday night would need to be arranged in advance. You needed enough time to allow everyone to get from their place of work to the first meeting place. Now，however, a night out can be arranged on the run. It is no longer “see you there at 8”，but "text me around 8 and we'll see where we all are."
Texting changes people as well. In their paper, “Insights into the Social and Psychological Effects of SMS Text Messaging", two British researchers distinguished between two types of mobile phone users: the “talkers” and the “texters”－those who prefer voice to text messages and those who prefer text to voice.
They found that the mobile phone's individuality and privacy gave texters the ability to express a whole new outer personality. Texters were likely to report that their family would be surprised if they were to read their texts. This suggests that texting allowed texters to present a self-image that differed from the one familiar to those who knew them well．
Another scientist wrote of the changes that mobiles have brought to body language. There are two kinds that people use while speaking on the phone. There is the “speakeasy”: the head is held high, in a self-confident way, chatting away. And there is the “spacemaker”: these people focus on themselves and keep out other people.
Who can blame them? Phone meetings get cancelled or reformed and camera- phones intrude（侵入）on people's privacy. So, it is understandable if your mobile makes you nervous. But perhaps you needn't worry so much. After all, it is good to talk.
小題1:According to the two British researchers, the social and psychological effects are mostly likely to be seen on                    

A．talkers

B．the “speakeasy”

C．the “spacemaker"

D．texters

小題2: We can infer from the passage that the texts sent by texters are

A．quite revealing	B．well written
C．unacceptable by others	D．shocking to others

小題3:According to the passage, who is afraid of being heard while talking on the mobile?

A．Talkers.	B．The“speakeasy”
C．The “spacemaker”.	D．Texters.

小題4:Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．The SMS Effect

B．Cultural implications of Mobile Phone Use

C．Changes in the Use of the Mobile

D．Body Language and the Mobile Phone

A “blogger” is a person who writes on an Internet computer Web site called a “blog（博客）”.The word “blog” is a short way of saying Web log, or personal Web site. Anyone can start a blog, and they can write about anything they like. There are millions of blogs on the Internet today. They provide news, information，advertisements, advice and ideas for many people who read them. They contain links to other Web sites. And they provide a place for people to write about their ideas and react to the ideas of others.
A research company called Perscus has studied more than 300 Web logs. It says that blogs are most popular with teenage girls. They use them to let their friends know what is happening in their lives. The study also says that more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity after a year. 
However, some people develop serious blogs to present political and other ideas. For example, the Republican and Democratic parties in the southern state of Kentucky recently started their own blogs. And American companies are beginning to use blogs to advertise their products. At the same time, some long-standing blogs have ended. Last week, blogging leader Dave Winer closed his free blog service “weblogs. com”. He says the site became too costly to continue. He started the blog four years ago. And thousands of people had written on it. They are now upset because they did not know that the site was closing. One blog that is still going strong is called Rebecca’s Pocket. Rebecca Blood created the Web-site in 1999. She wrote about the history of blogs on the site. That article led to a book called “The Weblog Handbook”. It has been translated into four languages so far. Ms. Blood says Rebecea’s Pocket gets about 30,000 visitors a month. She writes about anything and everything — politics, culture and movies. She recently provided medical advice. And she wrote about how to prevent people from stealing money from on -line bank accounts.
小題1:The author wrote this passage mainly to _________.

A．introduce an Internet computer Web site called “blog”

B．introduce a short way of saying Weblog

C．tell readers how to write blogs

D．tell readers about blogs

小題2:From the passage we can learn that blogs cover almost everything EXCEPT ______.

A．a(chǎn)ccount passwords	B．medical advice
C．a(chǎn)dvertisements	D．different ideas

小題3:Dave Winer closed his “weblogs. Com” because __________.

A．more than 100,000 bloggers stopped taking part in the activity

B．American companies used blogs to advertise their products

C．people stole money from on -line bank accounts

D．He couldn’t afford the increasing money needed to run the blogs

小題4:The reason why Rebecca’s Pocket is still going strong is that ______.

A．it was created by a woman

B．it is about the history of blogs

C．it provides useful information and advice

D．it has editions in at least four different languages

小題5:What is the author’s attitude toward blog?

A．Objective	B．Sceptical
C．Disapproving.	D．Sympathetic.

Once upon a time, on an isolated island in the Java sea, lived short people who dominated(支配, 占優(yōu)勢) the food chain. Standing no more than three and a half feet tall, these human ancestors hunted giant rats, lumbering lizards（笨拙的蜥蜴), and miniature elephants.  
It sounds a bit like a fairy tale, but it's true. Unearthed relics on the island uncovered the remains of a race of tiny human ancestors. Homo floresiensis, as the newly discovered species has been named, apparently could date back to 13,000 years ago. This means they have a lot in common with modern humans.
So how and why did these people get so small? Scientists suspect that it's due to the fact that this race lived on an isolated island with limited resources. Take the miniature elephants for example. When elephants first came to the island either by swimming or by some kind of natural land raft, they were probably close to full size. But since there wasn't much to eat, over time smaller elephants lived longer and better. The smaller the elephant was, the less it had to eat to stay strong and healthy.
Scientists call this the "island role", and it can apply to humans as well as animals. Given the island's sparse(稀少) food supply, it makes sense that the early humans living there would have evolved (進(jìn)化) a body size requiring less food to survive. So bigger isn't always better.
In the floresiensis, at least, getting smaller was the way to go.
小題1:According to the passage, the fact Homo floresiensis are very small is based on________.

A．the islanders in the Java Sea	B．the human ancestors
C．the unearthed relics	D．a(chǎn) newspaper report

小題2: The underlined word "miniature" in the first paragraph most probably means______.

A．tiny

B．a(chǎn)ctive

C．rare

D．wild

小題3:People on the island got so small because____________.

A．they did not have enough food to eat.

B．they gradually developed for lack of food.

C．they shared less food with elephants.

D．they remained alive as the elephants.

小題4: What might be the most suitable title of the passage?

A．The history of short people

B．Short people from a fairy tale

C．The proofs on short people

D．Short people on an isolated island

小題5:According to the passage, getting smaller can make people and animals ____

A．run quickly

B．live longer

C．live weaker

D．run slowly

Andy is the most unreasonable, pigheaded life form in the world, and he makes me so angry I could scream! Of course, I love him like a brother. I have to because he is my brother. More than that, he is my twin! That’s right. Andy and Amy(that’s me) have the same curly(卷曲的) hair and dark eyes and equally stubborn character. Yet, though we may look alike, on most issues(事情)  we usually take completely opposite positions. If I say day, you can count on Andy to say night.
Just this week, the hot topic in school was all about the PTA’S proposal(提議) to adopt a school dress principle. Every student would be required to wear a uniform. Uniforms! Can you imagine? Oh, they would be uniforms in color. The dress style would be sort of loose and free.
I think a dress principle is a good idea. The reason is simple. School is tough enough without worrying about looking cool every single day. The fact is, the less I have to decide first thing in the morning, the better. I also wouldn’t mind not having to see guys wearing oversized jeans and shirts. And I certainly would welcome not seeing kids showing off designer clothes.
Andy is surprised at my opinion. He says he can’t believe that I would be willing to give up my all-American teenage birthright by dressing like — well, like a typical teenager. Last night, he even dragged out Mom and Dad’s high school photo albums. What a couple of peace-loving hippies(嬉皮士) they were!
The vote for or against uniforms took place later that day. The results of the vote and the headmaster’s decision will be announced next week. I wonder what it will be. I know how I voted, and I’m pretty sure I know how Andy voted.
How would you vote—for or against?
小題1:The story is about___________.

A．a(chǎn) school policy decision that will affect parents and students

B．a(chǎn) personal experience and is told in the first person

C．a(chǎn) historical event and is told in the third person

D．a(chǎn) conflict of opinions between boys and girls

小題2:Amy’s position on school uniforms is most likely based on________.

A．logical conclusions drawn form her own observation and personal experience

B．a(chǎn)n aggressive reaction to what she has been told by people in authority

C．her preference for designer-labeled clothes

D．not liking anything her brother likes

小題3:Which of the following is the best statement of Andy’s position?

A．School clothing should reflect parents’ values.

B．Teenagers should never follow the latest fashions in dress.

C．How one dresses should be an expression of one’s individuality.

D．Wearing school uniforms means one less decision every morning.

小題4:What is the best title for the text?

A．A School Dress Principle.

B．My Stubborn Twin Brother

C．Endless Fights with My Brother

D．For or Against?--- That Is the Question

It was a bright spring afternoon when Freda told me she wouldn’t need me any more. I had just finished my four-hour work － 36  up and down the stairs of her three-storey home, cleaning the floor and washing the dished. She was  37 jeans and a sweater. Sitting at the table I had just   38 a pile of papers spread around her. Her husband’s 39   was going to be reduced by thirty percent. And they were trying to live as if it had 40  happened. I felt sorry for her, but I also felt a sense of   41 .
I had been cleaning Freda’s house for five years and had   42  an unexpected relationship with the family. It was not just   43  I had become an expert at scraping（刮掉）dirt stuck to their wooden floor.   44  that I had learned exactly how to place toys on the girls’ beds. It was   45  than that, for I felt I had become a part of their    46 .
Freda stayed at home with the kids,   47 I would often see her in the morning 48
them to school. And I’d be there when they   49  home at lunch for sandwiches and piano practice. I had   50  them grow up. Now I was fired, but the   51 thing was that I still wanted to keep scraping away the dirt and dust for the family.   
I left Freda’s  52  relationship with my clients（主顧）. Who am I  53 them? As a matter of fact. I’m   54  an employee － the lowest kind of employee. But I’m also a trusted  55  of the family. I can’t help worrying about what happens around me.

小題1:	A．moving B．coming C．jumping D．stepping

小題2:	A．hanging B．making C．changing D．wearing

小題3:	A．washed B．cleaned C．swept D．brushed

小題4:	A．duty B．pay C．work D．money

小題5:	A．never B．seldom C．a(chǎn)lready D．yet

小題6:	A．loss B．surprise C．fear D．regret

小題7:	A．started B．improved C．developed D．broken

小題8:	A．why B．what C．that D．which

小題9:	A．but B．a(chǎn)nd C．or D．for

小題10:

A．less B．more C．least D．most

小題11:

A．story B．life C．a(chǎn)ctivity D．experience

小題12:

A．so B．a(chǎn)s C．since D．however

小題13:

A．taking B．bringing C．meeting D．calling

小題14:

A．left B．marched C．went D．returned

小題15:

A．found B．noticed C．watched D．realized

小題16:

A．possible B．great C．proper D．strange

小題17:

A．meaning B．result C．nature D．importance

小題18:

A．for B．to C．with D．a(chǎn)t

小題19:

A．merely B．certainly C．probably D．hardly

小題20:

A．member B．person C．relative D．companion

Collecting information about pre-employment and filling out an application form are closely connected, However, filling out an application form is much easier because you have total control and have enough time to think and plan.
　　That you are given a form to fill out does not necessarily mean that you have to answer all the questions in it. If the form contains unclear questions or terms and conditions, you can make some changes before signing(簽約)it, or refuse to answer some of the questions. What you must realize is that those terms and conditions have been written by highly paid lawyers. Each word is important, or it would not be there; and you can be sure that there is not anything there that is written with your interests in mind.
　　I know what I speak of because, as a lawyer for Litton Industries. I wrote the terms and conditions that were printed on the back of order forms, I wrote the most tiring terms and conditions anyone has ever seen. Still, 90 percent of the buyers would just sign on them without questioning anything. If anyone questioned them, we would reach an agreement on something that was acceptable to both sides.
　　So when you see a preprinted application that contains questions or terms and conditions, read it all and read it slowly. If you don’t like something, you can simply change the parts you don’t like, Remember that everything can be settled by discussion. To what degree it can be settled depends on your position, of course, and that is something only you can determine.
小題1:Filling out application forms is much “easier” because_______.

A．everything connected with application forms is easier

B．you can control the form filling with enough time

C．you can plan and have control of the needed time

D．it is easier to collect information about pre-employment

小題2:We can learn from the underlined part “Each word is important” that _______.

A．questions in a form must be answered

B．everything in a form must be read carefully

C．the conditions that interest you are changeable

D．something of your interests is most important

小題3:It can be inferred from the 4th paragraph that_______.

A．you must change a preprinted application before it is discussed

B．questions in a form are more important

C．you have little right to determine the conditions you like most

D．it depends on yourself to settle things in a form

Dear Michelle,
Why can't my daughter manage her life better? She is 17 and an honor student, but she seems to be wasting her life away with a boyfriend who is holding her back.
He consumes every waking minute of her precious time and smooth-talks her as well.
His goal is to get her to agree to go to the college of his choice, not her choice, and because his grades are lower, his choice will be limited.
I feel like I want to rescue her, but she pushes me away and shuts me out. She has only brought us pride and joy; and now this! Help!
A worried mother
Dear Mother of a 17-year-old Girl,
Hmmmmm. What's the matter with kids today? Remember that song from "Bye Bye Birdie"?
Well if you do not, let me fill you in about teenagers and their life-management skills. Do not expect too much too soon because at the ripe age of 17, life-management is not within their reach, nor should it be.
Life experience creates both the conditions and the skills for management, and if management went before experience, there would be little of it.
Your daughter is an honor student for good reasons. She is smart, studies with intelligence and you have given her good values.
When the time comes for her to apply for college, and she visits the ones that are specifically designed for students at the top of their grade, she will most likely break away from her boyfriend's influence.
It is rare for an honor student to change the path of their academic career for puppy love. That being said, there might be some adolescent wisdom in her behavior after all.
Perhaps she is choosing to worry you, her parents, for unconscious reasons. Being such a good girl and being a steady source of joy might have become a bit too much for her.
Let your daughter have her own private moment of 11th grade rebellion. She deserves a break from perfection.
Michelle
小題1:From the mother's letter we can learn that her daughter              .

A．is being fooled by the boy

B．has fallen behind in her studies

C．doesn't talk much with her mother

D．has chosen which college to attend

小題2:According to Michelle, 17-year-old teenagers              .

A．a(chǎn)re too young to manage their life

B．a(chǎn)re old enough to live their own life

C．should have management before experience

D．have reached the age of an adult

小題3:The underlined word "puppy-love" refer to          .

A．false love	B．foolish love
C．pure love	D．a(chǎn)dolescent love

小題4:Michelle seems to believe that the daughter will finally          .

A．come up with the right decision

B．follow her boyfriend's advice

C．worry her parents for unconscious reasons

D．influence her boyfriend's behavior

小題5:The best title for the passage would be           .

A．College of kids' own choice

B．How can I help my girl?

C．How to manage teenagers' life?

D．A 17-year-old girl and her mother

If you are living in the city, have you ever thought of going to live in the country for a change? Many people want to move from the country to the city because they think life in the city is more exciting and better than that in rural (農(nóng)村的) areas, especially young people who like new and modern things.
Often people feel that they can find the latest styles only in the city. Other people are interested in technological (科技的) things and high-tech jobs and think they can find them only in a big city. If they want to find a job, especially a good position in a company, they feel they have to live in a city. To get these jobs, they are willing to put up with many of the disadvantages (不利因素) of city life such as heavy traffic and pollution.
However, it is now possible to enjoy a higher quality of life in the countryside and still enjoy some of the advantages (好處) of living in the city.
Nowadays, travel is fast and information is available (可獲得的) on the Internet, so many people are able to do their work in home offices.
Because they have e-mail and personal computers, they don't have to be in big cities to do their business. It is not important where they actually work because the results of their work can be sent everywhere with technology. Now they can enjoy life in the countryside and still be able to do good business and successful careers.
小題1:The underlined phrase “put up with” (in Para. 3) probably means “_____”.

A．change	B．stand
C．be angry with	D．be pleased with

小題2:Now people can enjoy life in the countryside and still be able to do good business and successful careers _____.

A．because of the Internet and fast travel

B．because of e-mail and personal computers

C．because travel is fast

D．because the rural areas are developing faster than cities

小題3:What is the author's opinion?

A．She / he prefers to live in the countryside rather than live in the city.

B．She / he prefers to live in the city rather than live in the countryside.

C．She / he likes both city life and countryside life.

D．It is not clear which life she / he prefers.

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

A．Life in the city	B．Life in the country
C．Go and live in the city	D．Go and live in the country

What’s in name? Well, apparently, our general happiness. Psychologists say that what we are called has a direct connection with our happiness.
Those called Judy and Joshua are the happiest, while Lynn or Ben is likely to be the unhappiest, according to research. Psychologist Dr David Holmes found that this can cause the association(聯(lián)想) that others make with the name. Hearing the name Judy may make them think of actress Judi Dench or TV presenter Judy Finnigan, and people who are considered good-natured and happy. On the other hand, people think Paulines are unhappy because of the character Pauline Fowler from the TV programme East Enders. The research claims that this association influences the person with the name and so their personality is shaped to fit in. Dr David Holmes said, “This also has some relation with the original meaning of the name, for example, the original meaning of Judy is ‘praised’.”
Certain names also work well in certain aspects of life. In the workplace Richard and Judy are the happiest, while those called Ruth and Carly are the happiest in relationships. At the other end of the scale the unhappiest workers are Stuart and Liz, with the unhappiest in relationships being Frank and Harriet.
Dr Holmes said, “The relation we have with certain names, particularly important namesakes (同名者), also shapes how we see ourselves and so may have an effect on our confidence. Names are like product brands in having a powerful effect on attitudes and should therefore be chosen with care.”
“Other names are connected with being brave, outgoing or serious. Therefore, many celebrities change their names to ones which reflect these characteristic. This, in turn, influences parents when they choose names for their babies,” said Dr Holmes, “while names connected with ordinary people are rarely chosen for their babies.”
小題1:What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．How to choose a good name for babies.

B．The relation between names and happiness.

C．How to have a name connected with celebrities.

D．The relation between names and success.

小題2:According to the passage, which of the following names are better?

A．Joshua and Ben.	B．Pauline and Frank.
C．Richard and Stuart.	D．Ruth and Joshua.

小題3:The author may continue the passage with _________.

A．names and product brands

B．famous people’s names

C．names and personality

D．parents’ choices of baby names

小題4:Which of the following is connected with names according to the passage?

A．Personality and self-confidence.	B．Self-confidence and position.
C．Position and characteristic.	D．Personality and appearance.

People are different. Some are extrovert. These people are outgoing, confident, and know the “gift of the gab”. They also feel very comfortable when in groups of people.
Unfortunately we have the other extreme. This is the introvert. The introvert feels sick in crowds, and does not like them. These people feel awkward in the crowds, when placed in this type of situation. Many introverts are shy and lack confidence. They need to get used to people, and want to run away when questioned by people.
The introvert feels very lonely in a crowd, but this could happen to the outgoing  as well.
I think that I fall into the middle of the two kinds. Sometimes if I am comfortable about the type of people in the crowds, I feel welcome. If for some reason the crowd consists of different types of people, then I do not feel very comfortable in the crowd.
So what do I do when I suddenly feel lost and alone in the crowd? I try to calm my mind by taking deep breath and telling myself that even this will pass. I then try, and get away from the crowd by making excuses or even trying to get to my car and go home. This, of course, is a poor excuse and doesn’t often work well. These are excuses that are employed. The ones that I am not so proud of are acting like I have an emergency to go to. This is a very good lie, but I feel really bad afterwards.
I have tried this one, and have succeeded. I try and find someone who feels just like I do. I then try and make a new friend. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not. This is quite a noble way of staying in the crowd.
小題1:What is the best title of the passage?

A．What is the character of the introvert?

B．Why do people feel lonely in a crowd?

C．How can we make ourselves calm down in a crowd?

D．What do you do when you suddenly feel lonely in a crowd?

小題2:The word “extrovert” is most likely to mean ______.

A．serious

B．excited

C．outgoing

D．nervous

小題3:From the fourth paragraph we can infer that _____.

A．the writer is good at getting along with others

B．the writer does not like to deal with people from other regions

C．the writer sometimes does not feel very comfortable in the crowd

D．the writer has double personality when faced with different types of people

小題4:When the writer feels lonely, he prefers to calm down by _____.

A．making a call	B．making excuses
C．holding his breath	D．deep breathing