In many cultures white is often associated with something positive. A white-collar job, for instance,
is the kind of job many people look for, working with your brain and not your hands.
     White has a clean and pure image.That is why doctors, dentists, and nurses usually wear white
uniforms. Babies are dressed in white at baptisms (洗礼) and brides wear white wedding gowns at
weddings.White in these cases is the symbol of innocence or purity.
     Sometimes white is used in expressions that are not good. "Whitewash" is one such expression.At
first, "whitewash" meant to paint over something with white paint to make it look better. However, it
means something different today: to hide or to cover up mistakes or failures.
     A "white elephant" is another example of white used in a negative way. In ancient Thailand, a white
elephant was regarded as a sacred animal, but it was very expensive to keep. The kings of those days
presented a white elephant to the people they wanted to ruin.Once they received this holy, royal animal
      as a gift, they were not allowed to sell or kill it.Today, a "white elephant" means something that is
big, useless, and unwanted. In America, when people want to get rid of their furniture or clothes, they
often have a "white elephant sale".

1. The text is mainly about _____.

A. the meanings of white in English culture
B. the history of some English idioms
C. some interesting customs in English culture
D. some useful English words and expressions

2. Which expression has an historical background?

A. White-wash.
B. White-collar.
C. White elephant.
D. White elephant sale.

3. In which statement does"white" have a negative meaning?

A. A boy is dressed in white at baptisms.
B. A bride wears a white wedding gown.
C. A man whitewashes his crime.
D. A girl finds a white collar job.

4. The author develops the text mainly by ______.

A. analyzing its cause and effect
B. providing typical examples
C. comparing different ideas
D. following the time order

     Americans are proud of their variety and individuality (个性), yet they love and respect few things more
than a uniform, whether it is the uniform of a lift operator or the uniform of a five-star general. Why are
uniforms so popular in the United States?
      Among the arguments for uniforms, one of the first is that in the eyes of most people they look more
professional than civilian (百姓的) clothes. People have become conditioned to expect higher quality from
a man who wears a uniform. The television repairman who wears a uniform is likely to inspire more trust
than one who appears in civilian clothes. Faith in the skill of a garage mechanic is increased by a uniform.
What easier way is there for a nurse, a policeman, a hairdresser, or a waiter to lose professional identity
(职业身份) than to step out of uniform?
      Uniforms also have many practical good points. They are often more comfortable and more lasting than
civilian clothes.
      Primary facts among the argument against uniforms is their lack of variety and the loss of individuality
experienced by people who must wear them. Though there are many types of uniforms, the wearer of any
particular type is generally stuck with it, without change, until retirement. When people look alike, they are
likely to think, speak, and act similarly on the job at least.
      Uniforms also give rise to some practical problems. Though they are long-lasting, often their initial
expense is greater than the cost of civilian clothes. Some uniforms are also expensive to maintain, requiring
professional dry cleaning rather than the home laundering possible with many types of civilian clothes.

1. What surprises us is that Americans ______.

A. still judge a man by his clothes
B. think highly of uniforms
C. less prefer wearing civilian clothes
D. respect a elevator operator in uniform

2. People are likely to think that a man in uniform ______.

A. suggests quality work
B. shows his social position
C. appears to be more practical
D. looks more fresh and attractive

3. Those who are against uniforms believe that people wearing uniforms ______.

A. are usually helpful
B. have little freedom
C. lose personal character
D. enjoy greater popularity

4. It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A. people generally trust a person in uniform more
B. people enjoy wearing comfortable uniform
C. the cost of the uniform is acceptable to people
D. people wear uniforms to show they should be respected

     The writings of Shakespeare are today little read by young people in Britain. His young readership is limited
to those who choose to study literature at university.
     Shakespeare's work, together with most other classics, is seen as remote, and written in a 400-year-old
version of English that is about as inviting as toothache.
     Still, in British schools, it is compulsory to study the bard (诗人), and when something is made compulsory,
usually the result is boredom, resentment (憎恨) or both.
     This was my experience of the classics at school. But when I reached my late teenage years, I had a change
of heart. Like every other young person since the dawn of time, the world confused me. I wanted answers, so
I turned to books to find them.
     I went on to take a PhD in literature and have taught it in Britain and China. I have never regretted it. There
is something in literature that people want, even if they don't read books. You see this in the popularity of TV
and movie adaptations of great works, the recent film version of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice being a case
in point. These popular adaptations may help increase people's interest in the classics.
     Reading a simplified Romeo and Juliet may perhaps lead to a reading of Shakespeare play. If that is the case,
then I welcome the trend. But do not make the mistake of thinking that it is the same thing. Shakespeare is a
poet. His greatness is in his language. Reading someone else's rewriting of his work is like peeling a banana,
throwing away the fruit, and eating the skin. Take on the original. It really is worth the effort.

1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A. The language used in classics is no longer in use today.
B. British students usually find compulsory reading dull.
C. Only those studying literature read Shakespeare's works.
D. For British people, Shakespeare's works are no longer classics.

2. According to the passage, the writer _____.

A. has liked literary classics since an early age
B. was forced to read the classics for a PhD
C. turned to literature to seek answers in his teens
D. thinks only people who read books like literature

3. The popularity of TV and movie adaptations of great works may help people _____.

A. learn more about tradition
B. get a PhD in literature
C. seek their answers about the world
D. become more interested in the classics

4. The underlined phrase "a case in point" in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to "_____".

A. a great hit
B. a good example
C. a movie adaptation
D. a popular phenomenon

5. What does the writer intend to tell us in the last paragraph?

A. The fruit of a banana is more useful than its skin.
B. The rewriting trend does more harm than good.
C. Readers should try to read the original versions.
D. Readers need to learn the language in the classics.

     The Barbie doll first appeared at the toy fair in New York in 1959. Its creator was Ruth Handler, an
American businesswoman. She and her husband Elliott along with Harold Matt Matson started the toy
company Mattel. She based the design of the new doll on a German doll named Bild Lilli and named her
after their daughter Barbara.
     The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit and had her hair in a ponytail (马尾辫). She looked
very grown-up. But any concerns that parents would not want to buy it for little girls were soon proved
wrong.
     Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at a price of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old
Barbie in good condition might cost more than 27,000 dollars. Barbie dolls have represented 50 different
nationalities and are sold in 150 countries. Mattel says 90% of girls in the United States between the ages
of three and ten own at least one Barbie doll. It says girls between the ages of three and six own an average
of about 12.
     Barbie also faced her share of critics. A well-known example was when women's education groups
objected to a talking Barbie doll that declared, among other things, “Math class is tough!” Mattel agreed to
change it. Saudi Arabia has banned Barbie dolls. And a lawmaker in the American state of West Virginia
would like to do the same. Last month, he proposed banning sales of Barbie and other dolls that influence
girls to put too much importance on physical beauty.
     Some people say Barbie is an unhealthy role model for young girls. Robin Gerber disagrees. She wrote
a book about Barbie. She points out dolls like scientist Barbie and race car driver Barbie. She says people
who criticize Barbie should tell girls the story of the businesswoman who created her. She says Ruth
Handler wanted the dolls to help girls think about what they wanted to do with their lives.

1.The first Barbie doll might not be popular among little girls because ______.

A. her hairstyle was out of fashion
B. her appearance looked much too mature
C. her way of dressing was against the tradition
D. physical beauty wasn't thought to be important

2. From the passage we know that Mattel ______.

A. is one of the world's largest toy companies
B. is the director of an American toy company
C. was the woman who originally created Barbie
D. was a salesman who was good at selling Barbie dolls

3. Barbie dolls are criticized partly because they make girls ______.

A. pay too much attention to their physical beauty
B. neglect their schoolwork and inner beauty
C. prefer physical beauty to inner beauty
D. waste too much time and money on clothes

4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that in her book Robin Gerber _______.

A. shows Barbie dolls have a negative influence on girls
B. praises a successful person who sells Barbie dolls
C. expresses her own favorable opinion about Barbie
D. argues for banning the sales of Barbie dolls

     The other day, my friend Jane was invited to a 40th birthday party. The time printed on the invitation
was 7:0 pm. Jane went off with her husband, expecting a merry evening of wine, food, and song.
     By 9:45, everybody was having great fun, but no food had appeared. Jane and David were restless.
Other guests began whispering that they, too, were starving. But no one wanted to leave, just in case some
food was about to appear. By 11:00, there was still no food, and everyone was completely off their heads.
Jane and David left hungry and angry.
     Their experience suggests that the words and the printed invitations need to be made clearer. Everyone
reads and understands the invitations differently. Most of us would agree that 6:30-8:30pm means drinks
only, go out to dinner afterwards; 8:00 pm or 8:30 pm means possible dinner, but 9:30 pm and any time
thereafter means no food, oat beforehand, roll up late. 
     But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6:30 pm, it is normal for guests not to
appear before midnight, if at all, and no one cares. Being the first to arrive-looking eager-is social death.
When my mother is asked to a party for 6:30, she likes to be them, if not on lime, then no later than seven.
My age group (late thirties) falls somewhere between the two, but because we still think we're young,
we're probably closer to student-time than grown-up time.
     The accepted custom at present is confusing (混乱的), sometimes annoying, and it often means you
may go home hungry, but it does lend every party that precious element (成分) of surprise.

1. The underlined words "off their heads" probably mean ______.

A. tired
B. crazy
C. curious
D. hopeless

2. Jane and David' s story is used to show that ______.

A. petty-goer8 usually get hungry at parties
B. party invitations can be confusing
C. people should ask for food at parties
D. birthday parties for middle-aged people are dull

3. For some young people, arriving on time for a students' party will probably be considered ______.

A. very difficult
B. particularly thoughtful
C. friendly and polite
D. socially unacceptable

4. According to the writer, people in their late thirties ______. 

A. are likely to arrive late for a party
B. care little about the party time
C. haven' t really grown up yet
D. like surprises at parties

5. What is the general idea of the text? 

A. It' s safe to arrive late just when food is served.
B. It' s wise to eat something before going to a party.
C. It' s important to follow social rules of party-going.
D. It' s necessary to read invitations carefully.

     Meeting people from another culture can be difficult. From the beginning, people may send the wrong
signal. Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize (强调) the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree.
For example, business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust. Even with
people at work, it is necessary to spend a lot of time in "small talk", usually over a glass of tea, before
they do any job. In many European countries - like the UK or France - people find it easier to build up a
lasting working relationship at restaurants or caf?s rather than at the office.
     Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures. I once made a speech in Thailand. I had
expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion; instead, there was an uncomfortable
silence. The people present just stared at me and smiled. After getting to know their ways better, I
realized that they thought I was talking too much. In my own culture, we express meaning mainly through
words, but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
     Even within Northern Europe, cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and
German cultures share similar values; however, Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly.
We think that they are rude. In fact, this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
     People from different parts of the world have different values, and sometimes these values are quite
against each other. However, if we can understand them better, a multicultural environment will offer a
wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.

1. The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that _________. 

A. the English prefer to make long speeches      
B. too many words are of no use
C. even talk and silence can be culturally different
D. people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

2. According to the text, how can people from different cultures understand each other better? 

A. By sharing different ways of life.    
B. By accepting different habits.
C. By recognizing different values.    
D. By speaking each other's languages.

3. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Multicultural Environment          
B. Cross-Cultural Differences
C. How to Understand Each Other      
D. How to Build Up a Relationship

     Mauritius, an island country, lies 1,200 miles off the southeastern coast of Africa, and just east of Madagascar, another African island country, which is larger by far than Mauritius. It covers 788 square miles and has a population of 1,100,000, about 750,000 Indians, 300,000 Clioers, 30,000 Chinese and 20,000 Whites included. They are living together peacefully.
     The country can be divided into many parts with different climates all because of its peculiar terrains(地形).In the center there are volcanoes several thousand feet high, and 90 percent of its arable land is covered with sugarcane.
     There were no people living on the island before the Dutch landed on it in 1638. The Dutch abandoned it in 1710, and five years later, the French came and succeeded in planting sugarcane there. It was conquered by Britain in 1810.
     Mauritius was extremely poor when it declared its independence in 1968. In the past ten years, obvious economic prosperity (繁荣) has shown itself in this island country.

1.  The underlined words "abandoned it" in third paragraph means______.

A. gave it up
B. took its place
C. left for it
D. held it out

2. The right order that shows the history of Mauritius should be ____     .
a. seized by the French
b. became its master
c. ruled by the Dutch
d. conquered by the British

A. b, a, c, d
B. a, c, d, b
C. c, a, d, b
D. d, c, a, b

3. According to the passage all of the following statements are TRUE EXCEPT       .

A. It was the rule of foreigners that made the Mauritius people live in poverty
B. Arable land covers 90 percent of the country's total area
C. More than half of Mauritius population are Indians
D. Britain ruled the island longer than French and Holland

4. Which of the following maps shows the right position of Mauritius?
(Mau=Mauritius   Ma: Madagascar   A: Africa)

     The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's greatest art museums. Millions
of people have entered its doors to see paintings by the world's fine artists. But if these priceless
masterpieces are to be preserved, the Gallery must protect them carefully. The Gallery's 135-man guard
force has successfully prevented them from being stolen, but protecting the paintings from nature is a
greater problem.
     In past times, the owners of paintings did not protect them from damaging changes in humidity (湿度)
and temperature. As a result, the life of these paintings were shortened. In the National Gallery, however,
humidity and temperature are carefully controlled. The building is air-conditioned in summer and heated
in winter. The air-conditioning and heating system are so important to the life of the painting that the
Gallery has two of each system. If one should fail, the extra one can take over.
     Light is another enemy of paintings. Ultraviolet rays (紫外线) in light cause paintings to fade (褪色).
Long ago, paintings often hung in dark churches and palaces. A coat of varnish (清漆) was a protection
from the weak light. But when museums took over the care of many paintings, they were often hung in
brighter light than before. Soon they were in danger of fading. The damaging effects of light were
increased when the museums removed the varnish coating, yellowed with age.
     To protect its paintings, the National Gallery put a special kind of glass in its skylights. This glass
allows visible lights to enter the building but it keeps out harmful ultraviolet rays. The Gallery has also
developed new and better varnishes which help to keep paintings from fading.
     Thanks to these new precautions, many of the world's greatest paintings are being well protected for
future generations to enjoy.

1.The text mainly tells us about ______.

A. the guard force in the National Gallery
B. protecting great paintings from nature
C. priceless paintings of past times
D. the air-conditioning and heating systems in the National Gallery

2. Which of the following is NOT an enemy of paintings?

A. Varnish.
B. Temperature.
C. Light.
D. Humidity.

3. The underlined word "precautions" in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ______.  

A. decorations
B. problems
C. suggestions
D. applications

4. From the text we can infer that_______.

A. great artists painted in dark churches and palaces
B. you can touch these paintings while you are in the National Gallery
C. the care of the world's greatest paintings is both a big responsibility and a great challenge
D. the guard force in the Gallery has not done a good job

     In Britain and other countries, young people sometimes take a "gap  year," a year off between high
school and college. This idea never gained a big following in America. Recent news reports have
suggested that interest may be growing, though there are no official numbers.
     Charles Deacon, Dean of Admissions at Georgetown  University in Washington, D.C., estimates that
in the current first-year class of 1,600 students, only about 25 decided to take a year off. He says this
number hasn't changed much over the years.
     Mr. Deacon says the most common reason for taking a "gap year" is to have a chance to travel, but
he says international students may take a "gap year" to meet requirements at home for military duty.
Some high school graduates see a year off as a chance to recover after twelve years of required
education, but it can also give students a chance to explore their interests. Students hoping to be doctors,
for example, could learn about the profession by volunteering  in a hospital.
     Many colleges and universities support gap-year projects by permitting students to delay their
admission. Experts say students can grow emotionally and intellectually as they work at something they
enjoy.
     The Harvard admissions office has an essay on its Web site called "Time Out or Burn Ou >t for the
Next   Generation." It praises the idea of taking time off to step back, think and enjoy gaining life
experiences outside the pressure of studies. It also notes that students are sometimes admitted to
Harvard or other colleges partly because they did something unusual with that time.
     Of course, a gap year is not for everyone. Students might miss their friends who go on directly to
college, and parents might worry that their children will decide not to go to college once they take time
off. Another concern is money. A year off, away from home, can be costly.
     Holly Bull's job is to specialize in helping students plan their gap year. She notes that several books
have been written about this subject. She says these books along with media attention and the availability
of information on the Internet have increased interest in the idea of a year off, and she points out that
many gap-year programs cost far less than a year of college.          

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. If you want to go to an American university, take a gap year first.
B. More and more American students are choosing to take a year off.
C. It is likely that taking a "gap year" is becoming popular in America.
D. Americans hold different opinions towards students' taking a "gap year".

2. How many reasons for students' taking a "gap year" are mentioned in the    passage?  

A. 2.              
B. 3.                  
C. 4.                
D. 5.

3. The essay "Time Out or Burn Out for the Next Generation." suggests that ______.

A. every student must take a "gap year" before applying for a famous university
B. some famous universities encourage students to gain more life experiences
C. taking a 'gap year' can make students free from life learning
D. the stress of studies does harm to the students' health

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A. Charles Deacon doesn't support the idea of the students' taking a "gap year".
B. Books and media have contributed to the students' interest in school learning.
C. Parents might disagree with the program, concerned about their children's future.
D. Experts agree taking a year off will benefit the students emotionally and physically.