We found ___ for us to finish the work within two days.

A. it impossible  B.that possible   C.this impossible  D.possible

Daniel's family____their holiday in Huangshan this time next week.

A. are enjoying                          B. are to enjoy

C. will enjoy                              D. will be enjoying

Answer the following questions by using the information taken from a dictionary page. (You may read the questions first.) 

jaguar: n. a type of large, yellow-colored cat with black markings found in the southwestern region of the U. S. and in Central and South America.

jargon: 1. n. speech that doesn’t make sense. 2. n. an unknown language that seems strange or impossible to understand. 3. n. a language made up of two or more other languages: His jargon was a mixture of French and English. 4. n. the special vocabulary of a field or profession: Her report on computers was filled with jargon.

jaunt: 1. n. a trip taken for fun. 2. v. to go on a brief pleasant trip: We jaunted to the country last Saturday.

javelin: 1. n. a spear most commonly used as weapon or in hunting. 2. n. a lightweight metal or wooden spear that is thrown in track-and-field contests. 3. n. the contest in which a javelin is thrown. 4. v. to strike, as with a javelin.

jazz: 1. n. a type of music that originated in New Orleans and is characterized by rhythmic beats. 2. n. popular dance music influenced by jazz. 3. n. slang empty talk. 4. ad. of or like jazz: a jazz band, jazz records.

Jennet: n. a small Spanish horse.

1. Which meaning of the word javelin is used in the sentence below?

At the competition, Jack drew his arm back and threw the javelin 50 yards.

A. Definition 1                           B. Definition 2

C. Definition 3                            D. Definition 4

2. Which meaning of the word jargon is used in the sentence below?

Doctors often speak in medical jargon.

A. Definition 1                           B. Definition 2

C. Definition 3                            D. Definition 4

3. What does the word jazz mean in the following sentence?

Don’t give me that jazz, for I am a practical person.

A. rhythmic beats                 B. a type of music

C. a kind of dance                D. meaningless talk

LONDON — Life for Cathy Hagner and her three children is set to permanent(永久的) fast-forward.

Their full school day and her job as a lawyer's assistant are busy enough. But Hanger also has to take the two boys to soccer or hockey or basketball while dropping off her daughter at piano lessons or Girl Scout Club.

Often, the exhausted family doesn't get home until 7 pm. There is just time for a quick supper before homework. In today's world, middle-class American and British parents treat their children as if they are competitors racing for some finishing line.

Parents take their children from activity to activity in order to make their future bright. It seems that raising a genius has become a more important goal than raising a happy and well-balanced child.

“Doctors across the country are reporting a growing number of children suffering from stomachaches and headaches due to exhaustion and stress,” says child expert William Doherty of the University of Minnesota.

Teachers are dealing with exhausted kids in the classroom. It's a very serious problem. Many children attend after-school clubs by necessity. But competitive pressures also create an explosion of activities. They include sports, language, music and math classes for children as young as four.

“There is a new parenting trend(趨勢) under way which says that you have to tap all your child’s potential(潛能) at a young age; otherwise you will let him down,” says Terry Apter, a Cambridge-based child and adolescent psychiatrist(青少年精神病專家).

“It isn't entirely new: there have always been pushy parents. But what was previously(以前) seen as strange behaviour is now well accepted.”

1. From the second paragraph of this passage we can find that _______.

A. Hagner wastes much time helping her children's lessons

B. Hagner doesn't spend much time on her full-time job

C. Hagner is interested in sports and music

D. Hagner busies herself by following a trend

2. British parents, as the writer described in this passage, _______.

A. treat their children as sports players

B. pay no attention to their children's lessons

C. bring up their children in a simple way

D. give their children little time to develop freely

3. The writer's opinion about after-school clubs is that ________.

A. activities in the country are too competitive

B. children should attend four clubs at a time

C. some clubs result in competitive pressures

D. clubs should have more subjects for school children

4. The last paragraph tells us that in Britain _______.

A. parents used to take their children to every club

B. parents used to be wise on how to raise children

C. parents have all benefited from children’s clubs

D. parents have come to know the standard of education

For more than six million American children, coming home after school means coming home to an empty house. Some deal with the situation by watching TV. Some may hide. But all of them have something in common. They spend part of each day alone. They are called latchkey children. They’re children who look after themselves while their parents work. And their bad condition has become a subject of concern.

Lynette Long was once the headmaster of an elementary school. She said, “We had a school rule against wearing jewelry. A lot of kids had chains around their necks with keys attached. I was constantly telling them to put them inside shirts. There were so many keys, it never came to my mind what they meant.” Slowly, she learned they were house keys.

She and her husband began talking to the children who had them. They learned of the impact(影響) working couples and single parents were having on their children. Fear is the biggest problem faced by children at home alone. One in each three latchkey children the Longs talked to reported being scared. Many had nightmares and were worried about their own safety.

The most common way latchkey children deal with their fears is by hiding. It might be in a shower stall, under a bed in a closet. The second is TV. They’ll often play it at high volume. It’s hard to get statistics(情況, 材料)on latchkey children, the Longs learned. Most parents are slow to admit they leave their children alone.

1. The main idea about “l(fā)atchkey children” is that they _______. 

A. are growing in numbers              

B. are also found in middle-class neighborhoods

C. watch too much television during the day 

D. suffer problems from being left alone

2. Which sentence in the second paragraph is the topic sentence?

A. We had a school rule against wearing jewelry.

B. A lot of kids had chains around their necks.

C. I was constantly telling them to put inside their shirts.

D. They were house keys.

3. The main feeling these children have when they are at home by themselves is _______. 

A. tiredness       B. freedom      C. loneliness       D. fear

4. We may draw a conclusion that _______. 

A. latchkey children enjoy having such a large amount of time alone

B. latchkey children try to hide their feeling

C. latchkey children often watch TV with their parents

D. it’s difficult to find out how many latchkey children there are

Technology is the application(應用) of knowledge to production. Thanks to modern technology, we have been able to increase greatly the efficiency of our work force. New machines and new methods have helped cut down time and expense while increasing overall output. This has meant more production and a higher standard of living. For most of us in America, modern technology is thought of as the reason why we can have cars and television sets. However, technology has also increased the amount of food available to us, by means of modern farming machinery and animal breeding techniques, and has extended our life span via(通過) medical technology.

Will mankind continue to live longer and have a higher quality of life? In large measure the answer depends on technology and our ability to use it widely. If we keep making progress as we have over the past fifty years, the answer is definitely yes. The advancement of technology depends upon research and development, and the latest statistics(統(tǒng)計) show that the United States is continuing to pump billions of dollars annually(每年) into such efforts. So while we are running out of some scarce resources(少的資源) we may well find technological substitutes(代用品)for many of them through our research programs.

Therefore, in the final analysis the three major factors of production(land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology. When we need new skills, on techniques in medicine, people will start developing new technology to meet those needs. As equipment proves to be slow or inefficient, new machines will be invented. Technology responds to our needs in helping us maintain our standard of living.

1. What is the best title for the passage?

A. The definition of technology           B. Modern technology

C. The application of technology          D. The development of technology

2. Which is the main idea of the passage?

A. Modern technology is the key to the improvement of standard of living.

B. The three major factors of production (land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology.

C. Technology is the response to our needs.

D. The United States is making great efforts to advance its technology.

3. According to the passage, people can live a long life with the help of _______.

A. higher quality of life                     B. medical technology

C. modern farming machinery             D. technological substitute

Stand Beside You Forever永遠站在你身后

The passengers on the bus watched sympathetically as the attractive young woman with the white cane made her way carefully up the steps. She   1    the driver and, using her hands to feel the   2    of the seats, walked down and found the   3    which the driver had told her was empty. Then she settled in.

It had been a year since Susan, 34,   4    a medical misdiagnosis (誤診), was suddenly thrown into a world of   5   . Mark, her husband, was an Air Force officer and he loved Susan with all his heart. He   6    her how to rely on her other   7   , specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and   8    to adapt herself to the new environment. He helped her befriend the bus drivers who could   9    for her, and save her a seat.

  10   , Susan decided that she was ready to try the   11    on her own. Monday morning, she said good-bye and for the first time, they went their   12    ways.

On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual. As she was   13    the bus, the driver said, “Boy, I   14    envy you.” Susan had no   15   what the driver was talking about, and asked, “What do you   16   ?”

The driver answered, “You know, every morning for the   17    week, a fine-looking gentleman   18    a military uniform has been standing across the corner   19    you as you get off the bus. He   20    you cross the street safely and he watches until you enter your office building. You are one lucky lady.”           

Tears of gratitude poured down Susan’s cheeks.     

1. A. thanked      B. asked           C. discovered         D. paid

2. A. location      B. shape           C. size         D. cost

3. A. ticket         B. bus              C. seat         D. bag

4. A. according to   B. instead of        C. thanks to    D. due to

5. A. anger         B. darkness          C. happiness    D. light

6. A. asked         B. encouraged      C. taught        D. praised

7. A. feelings      B. sights           C. senses         D. abilities

8. A. how               B. when           C. where         D. who

9. A. make out           B. watch out        C. find out      D. work out

10. A. Finally     B. Luckily           C. However    D. Besides

11. A. visit          B. trip              C. bus         D. work

12. A. opposite           B. separate           C. difficult      D. usual

13. A. getting on    B. getting in        C. getting off         D. getting up

14. A. must         B. may             C. will         D. do

15. A. idea          B. opinion           C. way        D. thought

16. A. want         B. mean           C. say          D. suggest

17. A. next         B. old              C. past         D. following

18. A. by         B. on               C. with        D. in

19. A. searching     B. watching         C. calling        D. noticing

20. A. looks out     B. takes up          C. believes in         D. makes sure

“Do you have to leave now? ”   “I’m sorry, but I really ____.”

A. can’t B,have   C.should  D.must

Do remember or wash the vegetables ___.

A. as clean as possible   B. as cleanly as possible  C. possible as clean as  D. possible as cleanly as

Professor Reason recently persuaded 35 people to keep a diary of all their absent?minded actions for two weeks. When he came to analyse their embarrassing errors, he was surprised to find that nearly all of them fell into a few groups.

     One of the women, for instance, on leaving her house for work one morning threw her pet dog her ear?rings and tried to fix a dog biscuit on her ear. “The explanation for this is that the brain is like a computer,”explains the professor.“People programme themselves to do certain activities regularly. It was the woman's custom every morning to throw her dog two biscuits and then put on her ear rings. But somehow the action got reversed(顛倒) in the programme.” About one in twenty of the incidents the volunteers reported were these “programme assembly failures”.

     Twenty percent of all errors were “test failures”— primarily due to not verifying the progress of what the body was doing. A man about to get his car out

 of the garage passed through the back yard where his garden jacket and boots were kept, put them on—much to his surprise. A woman victim reported:“I got into the bath with my socks on.”

     The commonest problem was information “storage failures”. People forgot the

 names of people whose faces they knew,went into a room and forgot why they were

 there, mislaid something, or smoked a cigarette without realizing it.

     The research so far suggests that while the “central processor” of the brain is liberated from second?to?second control of a well?practised routine, it must repeatedly switch back its attention at important decision points to check that the action goes on as intended. Otherwise the activity may be “captured” by another frequently and recently used programme, resulting in embarrassing errors.

1.The purpose of Professor Reason's research is  _______.

A.to show the difference between men and women in their reasoning

B.to classify and explain some errors in human actions

C.to find the causes which lead to computer failures

D.to compare computer functions with brain workings

2.Which of the following might be grouped under “programme assembly failures”?

A.A woman went into a shop and forgot what to buy.

B.A man returning home after work left his key in the lock.

C.A lady fell as she was concentrating on each step her feet were taking.

D.An old man, with his shoes on, was trying to put on his socks.

3.The word “verifying” in paragraph 3 can be replaced by _______ .

A.improvingB.changingC.checkingD.stopping

4.According to the passage, the information “storage failures” refer to _______ .

A.the destruction of information collecting system

B.the elimination of one's total memory

C.the temporary loss of part of one's memory

D.the separation of one's action from consciousness