There are labels(標簽) inside all new clothes. The labels tell you how to take care of your clothes. The label for a shirt may tell you to wash it in warm water. A sweater label may tell you to wash in cold water. The label on a coat may say “dry clean only”, for washing may ruin this coat. If you do as the directions on the label, you can keep your clothes looking their best for a long time.

Many clothes today must be dry cleaned. Dry cleaning is expensive. When buying new clothes, check to see if they will need to be dry cleaned. You will save money if you buy clothes that can be washed.

You can save money if you buy clothes that are well made. Well-made clothes last longer. They look good even after they have been washed many times. Clothes that cost more money are not necessarily better made. They do not always fit better. Sometimes less expensive clothes look and fit better than more expensive clothes.

If you want to save money, you had better buy clothes that ______.

       A. don’t fit you                B. don’t last long  

       C. need to be dry cleaned     D. can be washed

The labels inside the clothes tell you______.

       A. how to keep them looking their best    B. how to save money

       C. whether they fit you or not            D. where to get them dry cleaned

We learn from the passage that cheaper clothes ______.

       A. are always worse made    B. must be dry cleaned

       C. can not be washed        D. can sometimes fit you better

The best title for the passage should be ______.

       A. Buy Less Expensive Clothes      B. Taking Enough Money When Shopping

       C. Being a Clever Clothes Shopper    D. Choosing the Labels inside New Clothes

The Haitian tsunami gave scientists a chance to find out how well vital and potentially life-saving warning systems were working.

       Noaa’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory has developed a warning system that picks up signals of tsunamis directly from the sea-floor.

       It is called Dart-the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis. If seismometers(地震儀) detect an earthquake, the Dart buoys（浮標） will determine what is happening to sea levels, and whether a big wave might be on the way. This information is then sent via satellite to a central location which can organize an alarm. Within 50 minutes of the Haiti earthquake, this system was able to issue an alarm to other countries in the Caribbean to say that a small tsunami had been caused to start, and that was unlikely to affect them.

       Dr Bernard said, “The first 30 minutes following the earthquake, we have to rely on education.” The critical aspects of this are: do you feel the earthquake; do you see the ocean draw down; and do you hear that loud roar? If so, you should run for higher ground.

 “But after the first few minutes, it’s crucial that we have the technology—the measurements to avoid unnecessary evacuation(疏散撤離)and tell people when it is safe to return.” Right now, there are 50 of these Dart buoys all over the globe—four of which are in the Caribbean.

Dr Bernard says that, with 75 to 100 buoys worldwide, this system could provide global tsunami warnings within one hour.

 “That’s for everywhere we know that tsunamis have happened. If we wanted to go to half an hour detection, we could probably double or multiply by four times that number,” he said.

       “In some countries, including Haiti, there may not be enough resources to support a specific tsunami warning centre for something that happens so infrequently.”

       He said that this system was relatively inexpensive to fix and operate.

       “To get it down to an hour for everywhere affected would cost $50m initial investment and then 10% of that to maintain it,” he said.

       “That’s not a terribly expensive system considering the potential savings of lives.”

In which section would you probably read the passage in a newspaper?

A. Education and Society                   

B. Culture and Leisure

C. Science and Technology          

D. Health and Medicine

How many buoys would at least be needed for global tsunami warnings within half an hour?

A. 150                 

B. 100                  

C. 75                   

D. 50

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

       A. The system can warn people of the coming of tsunami directly after the earthquake.

       B. We can’t escape the danger of tsunami within 30 minutes following the earthquake.

       C. Each country can easily afford a tsunami warning centre though it seldom happens.

       D. It’s worthwhile to spend money on the warning system for possible savings of lives.

Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A. Tsunami Assessment               

B. Earthquake detecting

C. Disaster Warning System        

D. Life Saving System

Unexpectedly, my hometown experienced _____ most violent snowstorm in _______ November, causing _______ great loss.

        A. a; /; the           B. a; the; the                 C. the; /; a                    D. the; the; a

I’m terribly sorry to turn you down this time, but I promise I will ______ to you next time.

  A. pick it up   B. make it up       C. turn it up        D. set it up

— I think you’d better type this letter again before Mr. Smith see it.   — Oh, dear!           

A. Who cares?   B. No problem    C. I don’t mind at all    D. Is it as bad as that?

It is ___________ the customers’ needs that has made chain stores so popular in big cities in China.

A. meeting                                                          B. met                         

C. to have met                                                            D. being met

The new China was founded in 1949, ______ great changes have taken place.

A. since when      B. after which      C. in which      D. when 

China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate market, the International Finance News reported.

   Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.

The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?

   At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate(控制) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.

What is the average housing price per square meter in China?

A. 8,000 yuan    B. 10,000 yuan     C. 7,000 yuan    D. It’s not mentioned here

Which of the following does NOT support the idea that the average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States?

A. Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality,

environment and supporting facilities.

B. American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people.

C. The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property

developers do when they sell their houses.

D. There are more people who need houses in China.

What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The housing price in China is so high that the government should do something useful to prevent it.

B. There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market

C. The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States

D. Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public.

How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high

housing prices?

A. Four    B. Three    C. Five    D. Two

We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very

good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.

You have to give a speech, and you’re terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank goodness, it’s over. I’m just no good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”

Cheer up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of time doing your research. Then spend plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience.  Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Just remember: be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.

If you follow these simple steps, you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.

The main idea of this article is      .

A. you can improve your speaking ability    B. a poor speaker can never change

C. always make a short speech                           D. it is hard to make a speech

The phrase “talk over their heads” means      .

A. speak too loudly              B. look at the ceiling

C. look down upon them             D. use words and ideas that are too difficult

All of the following statements are true except that      .

A. few people know how to make good speeches

B. a lecturer does not need to organize his speech

C. research is important in preparing a speech

D. there are simple steps you can take to improve your speaking ability

The title for this passage may be “     ”.

A. Do Not Make a Long Speech   B. How To Give A Good Speech

C. How To Prepare For A Speech        D. Try To Enjoy A Speech

The biggest problem with Bob is that he never has got a/ an ___ goal in his life.

A. abstract   B. specific   C. delicate   D. aggressive