You’d better use another dictionary, because ______ page of the dictionary is missing, and ______ cover looks old.

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

In the past ten years, I ______ my best to study English.

A. have tried          B. tried            C. was trying         D. had tried

Peter received a letter just now ______ his grandma would come to see him soon.

A. said            B. says                    C. saying        D. to say

 “Things ______ never come again!” I couldn’t help talking to myself.

A. lost            B. losing            C to lose          D. have lost

Selecting a mobile phone is no easy task because technology ______ so rapidly.

A. changed            B. is changing        C. has changed      D. will change

Since we now live in a digital world, the students’ technology needs have also changed. For the early years, say when you are in primary school, you can get by with no technology at all. Even if you have a computer, it's a good idea to get the children familiar with libraries. At this age, trips to the library are like family outings.

As you get closer to middle school, a computer with Internet access becomes more of a necessity. Teachers will often give assignments that require a student to use the Internet for research. After a computer, technology choices for students become more difficult to make --- especially when it comes to cell-phones. Kids will beg their parents for a cell-phone, especially in middle school. For many parents, it's a safety issue: They want to know that their kids can reach them quickly if necessary. For teachers, cell phones can be used to record lessons when students are absent. But many teachers dislike cell-phones. Some kids send messages or have talks in the class. Sending messages also raises the problem of cheating on exams. More and more schools are now forbidding the use of cell-phones.

Many kids see iPods as necessary things to have. iPods are great for music, but do they do anything good for your children’s education? Maybe they do. That’s the opinion of Doug Johnson, an educator for 30 years. Johnson says that educators should accept all new forms of technology in the classroom, including iPods. “Some do more with their cell-phones than we can do with our laptops,” he jokes. “I don’t think we should be afraid. The truth is that it’s easier to change the way we teach than to change the technology habits of an entire generation.”

41. According to the author, primary school children should___.

A. use the computer and the Internet regularly　　

B. ask their parents to buy them cell-phones

C. buy iPods to listen to music　　　　　　　

D. go to libraries to read more books

42. Why do parents agree to buy their children cell-phones?

A. They want their children to be cool.

B. They think cell-phones be helpful to their study.

C. They want to keep in touch with their children.

D. They want their children to keep up to date.

43. The following are all reasons why many teachers dislike cell phones EXCEPT ____.

A. cell-phones can be used to cheat on exams　

B. schoolchildren will send messages during class

C. cell-phones can be used to record lessons　　

D. schoolchildren might talk on them during class

44. What does the underlined word “that” refers to?

A. iPods can be used to listen to music.　　　　

B. iPods can be helpful for children’s education.

C. iPods can be used to play games.　　　　　　

D. iPods are necessary for children’s lives.

45. We can infer from what Doug Johnson said that _____.

A. cell phones are not useful to students

B. teachers should let students use cell-phones

C. it’s better for teachers to change their teaching methods

D. schoolchildren should follow the trends of fashion

Do you know that the truth can also be used to deceive people? When someone tells you something that is true, but leaves out important information that should be included, he can give you a false picture. For example, someone might say, “I just won a hundred dollars on the lottery. It was great. I took that dollar ticket back to the store and turned it in for one hundred dollars!” This guy's a winner, right? Maybe yes, maybe no. We then discover that he bought $ 200 worth of tickets, and only one was a winner. He’s really a big loser! He didn’t say anything that was false, but he left out important information on purpose. That’s called a half-truth. Half truths are not technically lies, but they are just as dishonest.
    Some politicians often use this trick. Let’s say that during Governor Smith’s last term, her state lost one million jobs and gained three million jobs. Then she seeks another term（任期）. One of her opponents says, “During Governor Smith’s term, the state lost one million jobs!” That’s true. However, an honest statement would have been, “During Governor Smith's term, the state had a net gain of two million jobs.”
    Advertisers will sometimes use half-truths. It’s against the law to make false statements so they try to mislead you with the truth. An advertisement might say, “Nine out of ten doctors advised their patients to take Yucky Pills to cure toothache.” It fails to mention that they only asked ten doctors and nine of them work for the Yucky Company.
    This kind of cheat happens too often．It’s a sad fact of life：Lies are lies，and sometimes the truth can 1ie as well.
36．How much did the lottery winner lose?
   A．One hundred dollars.                              B．Two hundred dollars.
   C．Three hundred dollars.                           D．Four hundred dollars.
37．Which of the following is true according to the passage?
   A．Using half truths is against the law.
   B．Technically, half truths are in fact lies.
   C．Yucky Pills is a very good medicine for toothache.
   D．Governor Smith did a good job during her last term.
38．How many examples does the writer give to show how the truth is used to deceive?
   A．One．            B．Two．           C．Three．                D．Four．
39．We may infer that the author believes people should ____ .
   A．buy lottery tickets if possible.
   B．make use of half-truths.
   C．be careful about what they are told.
   D．not trust the Yucky Company.
40．Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?
   A．He’s really a big loser!
   B．Sometimes the truth can lie as well.
   C．Advertisers will sometimes use half truths.
   D．It’s against the law to make false statements.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is based on the simplicity and power of friendship．It is a program which provides friendship and fun by matching vulnerable young people (ages 7--17) with a volunteer adult who can be both a role model and a supportive friend.

　　Volunteer tutors come from all walks of life --- married, single, with or without children. Big Brothers and Big Sisters are not replacement parents or social workers. They are tutors: someone to trust, to have fun with, to talk and go to when needed.

A Big Sister and Little Sister will generally spend between one and four hours together three or four times each month for at least twelve months. They enjoy simple activities such as a picnic at a park, cooking, playing sport or going to a football match. These activities improve the friendship and help the young person develop positive self-respect, confidence and life direction.

Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations exist throughout the world. It is the largest and most well-known provider of tutor services internationally and has been operating for 25 years.

Emily and Sarah have been matched since 2008. Emily is a 10-year-old girl who has experienced some difficulties being accepted by her schoolmates at school. “ I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me.”

Emily’s mum came across Big Brothers Big Sisters and thought it would be of benefit to Emily by providing different feedback (反饋) about herself rather than just relying on schoolmates to measure her self-worth.

Sarah wanted to get involved in a volunteer program. “I googled it and found out how to be a part of it. I thought it would be fun for me to get involved in making time to do something because sometimes it is all work and no play.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters has been of great benefit and enjoyment to both Emily and Sarah. They love and look forward to their time together and the partnership has certainly helped Emily be more comfortable in being the wonderful, happy and unique girl she is!

31．What is the aim of Big Brothers Big Sisters?

　　　 A．To offer students public services．

　　　 B．To help students improve their grades．

　　　 C．To organize sport activities for young people．

　　　 D．To provide partnership and fun for young people．

32．A volunteer is usually expected to work within a year for at least______．

　　　 A．24 hours　　　　 B．36 hours　　　　 C．48 hours　 　 D．72 hours

33．According to Emily’s mother, this program may provide Emily with______．

　　　 A．a(chǎn)dvice from her teachers　　　　　　　　　　

　　　 B．a(chǎn) new way to assess herself

　　　 C．a(chǎn) new way to judge her schoolmates　　

　　　 D．more opinions from her schoolmates

34．Why did Sarah want to get involved in the program?

　　　 A．She used to be a volunteer.　　　　　　　　　 B．She needed a part-time job.

　　　 C．She felt a bit bored with her life.　　　　　 D．She wanted to get a challenging job.

35．According to the passage, “vulnerable young people” are probably those who are _________.

　　　 A．popular at school　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．rather weak physically

　　　 C．easily hurt emotionally　　 　　　　　　　　 D．very confident in themselves

I’ve loved my mother’s desk since I was just tall enough to sit above the top of it. Mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be a most wonderful thing in the world.

Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. “But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth.”

I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed in action. But as a young girl, I wanted to have heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.

They never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易動感情的)”. But she lived “on the surface (表面)”.

As years passed, I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.

My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace – it seemed that nothing happened. I couldn’t be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.

But the present of her desk told me, as she’d never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside – a photo of my father and a one-paper letter, folded and refolded many times. It was my letter.

“In any way you choose, Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.”

26．The writer began to love her mother’s desk________.

A．a(chǎn)fter Mother died                        B．before she became a writer

C．when she was a child                      D．when Mother gave it to her

27．The passage shows that_________.

A．Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to her daughter

B．Mother was too serious about her daughter in words

C．Mother wrote to her daughter in careful words

D．Mother wrote to her daughter in careless words

28．The underlined word “gulf” in the passage means_______.

A．deep understanding between the old and the young

B．different ideas between mother and daughter

C．free talks between mother and daughter

D．part of the sea going far in land

29．What did Mother do with her daughter’s letter asking for forgiveness?

A．She had never received the letter.

B．For years, she often talked about the letter.

C．She didn’t forgive her daughter at all in all her life.

D．She read the letter again and again till she died.

30．What’s best title of the passage?

A．My letter to Mother                    B．Mother and children

C．My Mother’s Desk                              D．Talks between Mother and me

Japanese foods even have a soul. Do you believe that eating   16   bowl of ramen （日本拉面）can influence your mood? In making ramen, a chef’s emotion will change into the food taste. When a chef is sad, people   17   eat ramen the chef makes will be sad, too. That’s why people say Japanese foods have a soul.

Japanese foods are very beautiful and that is why you are suggested to enjoy them with your eyes first, before starting to feed them into   18   stomach. The colors arrangement in the dishes you enjoy is based   19   the colors of four seasons. This is the only way   20  （feel）Japan’s seasons without going there!

Japanese people call it harmony（和諧）, which is born from Japanese people’s   21  （enjoy）of artistic sense and beauty. Through Japanese foods, you can feel the cherry blossoms in spring, the   22   (color) leaves in autumn, and the warmth of the sun in summer. You can also find tuna, herring and bamboo shoots in summer, or chestnuts and mushroom in autumn. They are not only good in your eyes, but also good for your health.

According to some results of a research, Japanese people have lower rates of heart disease than most other countries. They also have   23  （long）age! Many Japanese can reach more than 100 years of age, and they can work normally as the young. The secret may be their diet. There is no doubt to say Japanese cuisines（料理）are one of the healthiest in the world!

Over the past years Japanese businessmen   24  （open）a large number of Japanese restaurants all over the world and they are so famous and becoming very popular   25   the locals. You may be eating a bowl of soba and miso, having sushi, or enjoying a cup of green tea right now.