A Russian, a Cuban, an American businessman and an American lawyer were on a train traveling across England. The Russian took out a large bottle of vodka, gave each of the men a drink and then threw the rest half bottle of vodka out of the window. “Why did you do that?” asked the American businessman. “There’s too much vodka in my country,” said the Russian, “And really we have more than we will ever use.” A little later, the Cuban passed around fine Havana Cigars. Then he threw his out of the window. “I thought Cuba is not a rich country,” the businessman said. “But you threw that very good cigars out of the window!”“Cigars,” the Cuban answered, “are the cheapest in my country. We have more of them than we know what to do with.” The American businessman sat quietly for a moment. Then he got up, caught the lawyer by the arm and threw him of the window.
【小題1】The people in the story are from ______ countries.

A．one

B．two

C．three

D．four

【小題2】The four people are traveling by _______.

A．bus

B．a(chǎn)ir

C．train

D．sea

【小題3】Vodka is a kind of _______.

A．treasure(珍寶)

B．wine

C．food

D．medicine

【小題4】The Russian and the Cuban both wanted to _______.

A．tell the businessman that their countries are rich

B．prove(證明) that they were rich

C．a(chǎn)sk the two Americans to visit their countries

D．make the businessman happy

【小題5】What did the businessman want to say by throwing the lawyer out of the window?

A．I want to buy some vodka.

B．We have too many lawyers in my country.

C．I’ll go to Cuba and do some business of cigars.

D．If you need lawyers, come to America.

A couple of years ago, I went to Australia for a meeting with my friend, Chris. We decided to drive across country to Brisbane after the meeting ended. The drive was going to take four days and most of it was across the desert,    81   
The first day was a lot of fun as we were excited and laughing at each other's stupid jokes. By the third day of driving in the seemingly endless desert, we began to get bored. We had been quiet for a few hours when in the distance Chris found some kangaroos. We were both excited and decided to get a closer look.   82  We got closer and closer, and Chris was doing 110 kilometers per hour. We were very close to the kangaroos—too close—when we heard a loud BANG!
Chris stopped the car and we got out. Behind the car was a larger kangaroo lying completely still on the ground.    83  He took off his sunglasses and put them on the kangaroo and did the same with his jacket. Then, he put his arm around the kangaroo and told me to take a photo of them together.   84  While I was focusing the camera, I saw the kangaroo move. It suddenly woke up, looked at Chris, and jumped away into the distance before we could do anything.
I started laughing but Chris looked very serious.   85   I started laughing even harder. I stopped laughing, however, when he said that our car keys were also in the jacket!

A．Chris speeded up to catch up with the kangaroos. B．He said his wallet and passport were in the jacket. C．In order to get there in three days, we drove very fast. D．so we had to take food, water, and extra gas with us. E. Chris went over to the kangaroo and put his baseball cap on its head. F. I was still surprised, but I took out my camera.

A new TV series in England，Away from it all，has surprised everyone by becoming a huge success with young people across the country．Its success is surprising because the series is about the relaxing lifestyles of people who live in the country．There is none of the action that we usually see on TV today．There are also no stressful moments，busy offices or crowded cities．Away from it all is set in the peaceful English countryside and tells simple stories about people’s kindness．  
The director of the TV series says that its success is a sign of teenagers suffering from stress．They say that watching Away from it all helps teenagers forget about the pressures(壓力)of exams and homework，and the troubles that fill the world today．They also say that it’s a good sign of today’s young people switching to(轉(zhuǎn)到)happier TV series as it shows they would like a happier and healthier world．
Although the series’success might have a good side，many teachers and parents are worried，however．They say that some of their students and children are becoming couch potatoes(終日泡在電視機(jī)前的人)and are using Away from it all as an excuse for not completing homework．Some children have even refused to learn for exams because they say that they can only achieve personal happiness by avoiding(避免)stressful situations completely．
And what do the experts(專家)say? Paula Ray，a doctor of education，says that TV can influence children’s lifestyles．But she says that if a child reacts strongly，it’s likely that there are other reasons for his change in behaviour．She says that there is nothing wrong with watching Away from it all but suggests that parents should make sure their children know TV is not the same as real life，
【小題1】The success of the new TV series is surprising because________．

A．it is different from other successful TV series

B．it is the same as other successful TV series

C．it is about the English countryside

D．it is about life in busy offices

【小題2】The director of Away from it all believes that the series helps young people deal with______．

A．simple stories

B．stress

C．couch potatoes

D．exams

【小題3】The success of the series shows that young people would like________．

A．a(chǎn) world with no homework

B．English TV series

C．relaxing jobs

D．a(chǎn) happier and healthier world

【小題4】Who are worried about the effects of the series?

A．Experts and teenagers．

B．Teachers and experts．

C．Teachers and parents．

D．Young people and parents．

A new TV series in England，Away from it all，has surprised everyone by becoming a huge success with young people across the country．Its success is surprising because the series is about the relaxing lifestyles of people who live in the country．There is none of the action that we usually see on TV today．There are also no stressful moments，busy offices or crowded cities．Away from it all is set in the peaceful English countryside and tells simple stories about people’s kindness．  
The director of the TV series says that its success is a sign of teenagers suffering from stress．They say that watching Away from it all helps teenagers forget about the pressures(壓力)of exams and homework，and the troubles that fill the world today．They also say that it’s a good sign of today’s young people switching to(轉(zhuǎn)到)happier TV series as it shows they would like a happier and healthier world．
Although the series’success might have a good side，many teachers and parents are worried，however．They say that some of their students and children are becoming couch potatoes(終日泡在電視機(jī)前的人)and are using Away from it all as an excuse for not completing homework．Some children have even refused to learn for exams because they say that they can only achieve personal happiness by avoiding(避免)stressful situations completely．
And what do the experts(專家)say? Paula Ray，a doctor of education，says that TV can influence children’s lifestyles．But she says that if a child reacts strongly，it’s likely that there are other reasons for his change in behaviour．She says that there is nothing wrong with watching Away from it all but suggests that parents should make sure their children know TV is not the same as real life，
【小題1】The success of the new TV series is surprising because________．

A．it is different from other successful TV series

B．it is the same as other successful TV series

C．it is about the English countryside

D．it is about life in busy offices

【小題2】The director of Away from it all believes that the series helps young people deal with______．

A．simple stories

B．stress

C．couch potatoes

D．exams

【小題3】The success of the series shows that young people would like________．

A．a(chǎn) world with no homework

B．English TV series

C．relaxing jobs

D．a(chǎn) happier and healthier world

【小題4】Who are worried about the effects of the series?

A．Experts and teenagers．

B．Teachers and experts．

C．Teachers and parents．

D．Young people and parents．

In every school there is “top” crowd that sets the pace, while the others follow their lead. For example, if the crowd decides that it is smart to wear bright red sweaters, then very soon everybody is wearing bright red sweaters.
There is nothing wrong with that, except the fact that for some people bright red sweater is really unsuitable.
The situation can even become dangerous, if the top crowd decides that it is smart to drink and to drive cars at seventy miles an hour. Then the people who follow the lead are endangering their lives. They are like the sheep being led to the slaughter(屠殺).
Now it’s possible that you have come across situations like these more than once in your life. In fact you probably did something you knew to be wrong one time or another. You may have excused yourself by saying, “ Gee, the crowd does it.” Well, let the crowd do it, but don’t do it yourself. Learn to say “No”.
Develop your own standards(標(biāo)準(zhǔn))and your own judgment. If you know the crowd is planning something you disagree to, you’d better take the courage to bow out in a polite way. You’ll have the satisfaction of standing on your own two feet.
【小題1】The main idea of the passage is that _____________ .

A．in every school there is a “top” crowd that sets the pace

B．it’s a mistake to follow the “top” crowd blindly

C．people who follow the “top” crowd are endangering their lives

D．you probably did something wrong more than once in your life

【小題2】The author(作者)doesn’t think it good wearing red sweaters if _______.

A．the crowd is wearing them

B．you can't afford them

C．you don't look good in red

D．it is against school rules

【小題3】The writer encourages the readers to ___________ .

A．respect his or her parents

B．find excuses when he or she is wrong

C．learn to stand on their own two feet

D．take the advice of his or her elders

【小題4】What does the underlined phrase “bow out” in the passage probably mean?

A．鞠躬

B．退出

C．參與

D．應(yīng)允

【小題5】The best title for this passage is __________ .

A．Follow the Leader	B．The “Top” Crowd
C．Being Yourself	D．Rules for Teens