the passage. is most probably from答案解析

Reading is very important to help you learn English. To learn as much as you can from reading, you need to read different kinds of English. This book provides not only different kinds of English but also a good way to check your reading ability.
There are four parts in the book :
Part 1 is Messages : In this part somebody wants to send information in writing to somebody else. There is a test on timetables and a test on text messages .
Part 2 is People : In this part all the tests are about people . For example, there is an informal letter between friends . There is formal (正式的) English in biography (传记) . There is a job application as a model to help with your writing, as well as testing your reading .
Part 3 is Places : In this part , too many different kinds of English are shown , some informal and some formal . There is the informal English of a holiday postcard . There is also the formal English in a letter of complaint .
Part 4 is Things : You will find some descriptive writing in this part . There are descriptions of clothes and of a computer .
You can do these tests in any order you like , or you can do all the tests with a formal or informal text .
I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoy using it .
【小题1】We can find the introduction to a product in        .

People nowadays buy a second home for different purposes. If you want to enjoy your vacation in a second home, then you should buy a second home where your family wants to stay during their vacation. And a second home is becoming very important from the real estate (房地产) point of view. It is one of the largest parts of the real estate business. If you want to invest (投资) in a second home, then you should buy one in a great location. When buying a second home, you should select a location where there are great attractions for tourists.
Investing in a second home is becoming very popular now that people have realized the great profit (利润) that can come from second homes. Also you can use your second home as your vacation home until you feel like selling it for a great profit. The price of the second home will always increase as the demand for second homes keeps increasing. Also you can use the second home for rent by buying a second home at a location where there are many attractions for tourists.
If you want to buy or sell second homes, you should contact GMAC Real Estate as it is offering different types of real estate services that will help you to buy and sell your second homes.
1.How many reasons for buying a second home are mentioned in Paragragh1?
A.One       B.Two       C.Three     D.Four
2. According to the author, the price of second homes will always go up because _________.
A.the number of second homes is going down
B.more people use the second homes for rent
C.most second homes are near great attracions      
D.the demand for second homes is increasing
3. The passage is most probably taken from ______.
A.an advertisement    B.a news report
C.a survey report     D.a government report

Much of European train is about efficiency and comfort --- leaving and arriving on time and having a comfortable seat. But the following European trains don’t necessarily offer the fastest journeys --- just the most memorable.

1.Travelling from Montreux to Broc on the Chocolate Train, you ____________.

A. will spend about five hours

B. have to go in winter and spring

C. will see a famous chocolate factory

D. can have lunch on the train

2.Which of the following websites offers more information about Francisco de Goya?

A. www.trans-siberia.com                                                B. www.visitflam.com

C. www.raileurope.com                                                    D. www.elipsos.com

3.Which of the following trains can help you learn about Russian culture?

A. Trans-Siberian Railway.                                       B. The Chocolate Train.

C. Francisco de Goya.                                                       D. The Bernina Express.

4.The passage is most probably taken from a _____________.

A. news report                                                                   B. book review

C. travel magazine                                                             D. geography textbook

The Story of the Farmer and His Donkey (驴子)
One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried pitifully for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway and it just wasn’t worth to save the donkey. So, he decided to bury（埋） it!
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all took shovel（铲子）and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly, then slowly he quieted down till nothing more was heard.
A few shovels later, the farmer finally looked down into the well, and was surprised at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something wonderful—he would shake it off and take a step up!
As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was surprised as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and went off quickly!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells by not stopping, never giving up, shaking it off, and taking a step up!
1. The donkey quieted down, because ________.
A. it was dead                           B. it was tired
　C. it had given up trying                   D. it had a good way to survive
2. We know from the story that ________.
A. all the donkeys in the world are clever         
B. it is easy for donkeys to fall into a well
C. the neighbors helped bury the donkey
D. the owner pushed the donkey into the well
3. The writer of the passage is most probably ________.
A. an optimistic person                  B. a pet lover
C. an animal protector                   D. a cold-hearted man
4. The writer wants to tell us “________”.
A. A cat has 9 lives                　  B. Facing difficulties, never give up
C. A friend in need is a friend indeed       D. No pains, no gains

In July 1994 Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, was struck by 21 pieces of a comet（彗星）. When the fragment（碎片）landed in the southern part of the giant planet, the explosions were watched by scientists here on earth. But what if our own planet was hit by a comet?
The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two fragments will probably hit the southern part of the Earth. The news has caused panic.
On 17 July, a fragment four kilometers wide enters the Earth’s atmosphere with a huge explosion. About half of the fragment is destroyed. But the major part survives and hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and an enormous wave is created and spreads. The wall of water rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. The wave moves into the Indian Ocean and heads towards Asia.
Millions of people are already dead in the southern part of the Earth, but the north won’t escape for long. Tons of broken pieces are thrown into the atmosphere by the explosions. As the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later civilization has collapsed. No more than 10 million people have survived.
Could it really happen? In fact, it has already happened more than once in the history of the Earth. The dinosaurs（恐龙）were on the Earth for over 160 million years. Then 65 million years ago they suddenly disappeared. Many scientists believe that the Earth was hit by a space fragment. The dinosaurs couldn’t survive in the cold climate that followed and they became extinct. Will we meet the same end?
【小题1】 Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the author’s description of the disaster in 2094?
The whole mankind becomes extinct.
All the coastal cities in African are destroyed.
The whole world becomes extremely cold.
The visit of the comet results in wars.
【小题2】Why does the author mention dinosaurs at the end of the passage?

Last December, I performed 30 shows in 11 days. I knew it would be a tiring tour before I set off, but I just wanted to be there to support our men and women.

From the minute I walked onstage the afternoon I arrived at the army, the soldiers were cheering, singing along at the top of their voices. I had done hundreds of concerts, but it was my first time to perform for troops. Looking at the smiling faces of these soldiers --- some of them only teenagers --- I felt great joy moving through me. They were the loveliest fans I had ever met. Then, from out of nowhere, words came into my head. “I want to play you something new … a song just came in my head minutes ago. It’s called Here with Me,” I told them. Cheers rang out. As I sang, I could see the tears in some of soldiers’ eyes. I finished to thunderous applause.

At the autograph(亲笔签名)part afterward, one of the soldiers took out a picture of a high school student. “This is my girl. You know, I miss her so much,” he said. “That new song you sang … it meant so much to me. Those were the words I’ve always wanted to tell her.

I realized that the song wasn’t about me and that it was, in fact, a gift for these men and women. I played it in every concert after that, always with the same unbelievable reaction.

On the long plane ride home I kept thinking about the soldiers I’d met. They risked their lives every day to defend our country, yet they were grateful for a simple concert. I decided to record the new song to thank our men and women           in uniform(制服).

1.Which of the following words can best take the place of the word “troops” in the second paragraph?

A．officials           B．teenagers         C．soldiers           D．students

2.When the author performed on the stage, he felt _____.

A．pleased           B．nervous           C．confident         D．worried

3.What might be the topic of the new song?

A．The tiring army life

B．The danger of being a soldier

C．The excitement of going to a concert

D．The family one misses

4.From the text, we can infer that the author _____.

A．served in the army before

B．received many gifts during shows

C．was impressed by the soldiers

D．always cared for the soldiers

5.The passage is most probably written by a(n) _____.

A．dancer           B．teacher           C．singer            D．official leader

Why texting harms your IQ
The regular use of text messages and e-mails can lower the IQ more than twice as much as smoking marijuana (大麻). That is the statement of researchers who have found that tapping away on a mobile phone or computer keypad or checking for electronic messages temporarily knocks up to 10 points off the user’s IQ. This rate of decline in intelligence compares unfavorably with the four-point drop in IQ associated with smoking marijuana, according to British researchers, who have described the phenomenon of improved stupidity as “infomania”. The research conducted by Hewlett Packard, the technology company, has concluded that it is mainly a problem for adult workers, especially men.
It is concluded that too much use of modern technology can damage a person’s mind. It can cause a constant distraction of “always on” technology when employees should be concentrating on what they are paid to do. Infomania means that they lose concentration as their minds remain fixed in an almost permanent state of readiness to react to technology instead of focusing on the task in hand. The report also added that, in a long term, the brain will be considerably shaped by what we do to it and by the experience of daily life. At a microcellular level, the complex networks of nerve cells that make up parts of the brain actually change in response to certain experiences.
Too much use of modern technology can be damaging not only to a person’s mind, but to their social relationship. 1100 adults were interviewed during the research. More than 62 per cent of them admitted that they were addicted to checking their e-mails and text messages so often that they scrutinized work-related ones even when at home or on holiday. Half said that they always responded immediately to an email and will even interrupt a meeting to do so. It is concluded that infomania is increasing stress and anxiety and affecting one’s characteristics. Nine out of ten thought that colleagues who answered e-mails or messages during a face-to-face meeting were extremely rude.
The effects on IQ were studied by Dr Glenn Wilson, a psychologist at University of London. “This is a very real and widespread phenomenon,” he said. “We have found that infomania will damage a worker’s performance by reducing their mental sharpness and changing their social life. Companies should encourage a more balanced and appropriate way of working.”
【小题1】We can learn from the passage that “infomania” ______.

A．

B．

C．

D．

What happens inside the skull of a soccer player who repeatedly heads a soccer ball? That question motivated a challenging new study of the brains of experienced players that has caused discussion and debate among soccer players, and some anxiety among those of us with soccer-playing children.
For the study, researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York selected 34 adults, men and women. All of the volunteers had played soccer since childhood and now competed year-round in adult soccer leagues. Each filled out a detailed questionnaire developed especially for this study to determine how many times they had headed a soccer ball in the previous year, as well as whether they had experienced any known concussions (脑震荡) in the past.
Then the players completed computerized tests of their memory and other learning skills and had their brains scanned, using a complicated new M.R.I. technique which can find structural changes in the brain that can’t be seen during most scans.
According to the data they presented at a Radiological Society of North America meeting last month, the researchers found that the players who had headed the ball more than about 1,100 times in the previous 12 months showed significant loss of white matter in parts of their brains involved with memory, attention and the processing of visual information, compared with players who had headed the ball fewer times.
This pattern of white matter loss is “similar to those seen in traumatic (外伤的) brain injury”, like that after a serious concussion, the researchers reported, even though only one of these players was reported to have ever experienced a concussion.
The players who had headed the ball about 1,100 times or more in the past year were also generally worse at recalling lists of words read to them, forgetting or fumbling the words far more often than players who had headed the ball less.
【小题1】The passage is most probably a______.

February 28^th, 2009 2:54 am GMT

I have to say that am shocked at just how bad the new music is. This cannot be the same band that produced great albums such as HTDAAB and ATYCLB! This is awful! They either do not care anymore, or have completely lost it. I never thought U2 would become irrelevant, but they have officially become one of those bands that you will now say, “Remember when they were great?”

----- Posted by Ronald Harris

February 28^th, 2009 8:29 pm GMT

Total drivel, Mr Harris. The new album is great, far better than the safe, cynical HTDAAB and ATYCLB. U2 have become inventive again, like they were in the 1990s. thank goodness!

----- Posted by Dan

March 3^rd, 2009 12:09 pm GMT

Agree, Dan. The new album is the best since Actung Baby. Magnificent is an anthem in the waiting, Breathe is unbelievable, and Stand Up Comedy is absolutely outstanding----- to name just three! Loving the new sound, pure class as usual.

----- Posted by Martin

March 4^th, 2009 7:43 pm GMT

Totally agree with you guys. This album is unbelievable. Breathe is definitely a great song, same with Moment of Surrender. I bet their upcoming tour will be amazing. If you haven’t bought the CD yet, you should. I bought mine on Amozon.com for $3.99. I couldn’t believe it.

----- Posted by Josh Briggs

1.According to Ronald Harris, U2’s new album is _________.

2. whose comment is contrary to the others?

3.Martin and Josh Briggs both like the song _________.

4. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

5.The passage is most probably from ________.

This is the first time your child will be away from home for a period of time. We understand that this can be an exciting and anxious time both for parents and students. In this part,we hope to give you a better idea of what to expect in the areas that matter most to you. If you have any question that we have not answered here, please call us at 618-353-1398 or e-mail us at buhssumr@bu. edu.
Housing and Dining
Housing and dining is provided for all High School Summer Program students. Students should live on campus. The dining room in Warren Towers offers a variety of food options. Summer Program includes 19 meals a week, of which five lunches are included in the program fee. Visit www. bu. edu/housing-dining for more information.
Family Visits
If a parent is in town and would like to spend time with his child, he needs to plan the visit during the student’s free time when there are no activities planned. The parent also needs to send written permission to the Summer Term office forty-eight hours before the student is planning to leave campus. The parent can either e-mail or fax a letter of permission including details to buhssumr@bu. edu or 617-353-5532.
Fitness and Recreation
Students may buy membership cards of the Fitness & Recreation Center as long as they are at least 15 years old and have a Permission Form signed by their parents. We suggest that you fill out the forms even if you do not buy membership cards. We have some planned activities at the Fitness & Rercreation Center and student should have the signed Permission Form. Visit www. bu. edu/fitrec to learn more about it .
45. The passage is most probably taken from________.
A. a newspaper                B. a travel guide
C. a health magazine            D. a school website
46. If you want to know more about Summer Program. You could_______.
A. call 617-353-5532
B. call 618-353-1398
C. visit www. bu. edu/housing-dining
D. visit www. bu. edu/fitrec
47. If a parent wants to spend time with his child, he________.
A. can go to the Summer Term office for permission
B. can email to buhssumr@bu. edu after the student leaves campus
C. has to plan the visit and ask the Summer Term office for permission
D. must call the Summer Tern office at 617-353-5532 ahead of time.
48. If a student goes to the Fitness & Recreation Center, he______.
A. needs a Permission Form signed by his parents
B. must buy a membership card
C. can be of any age.
D. should buy tickets first.

The beet (甜菜) is a tasty root vegetable that does not require much work to grow. People think of beets as being always dark red，but they can also be pink，yellow or white. Beets are high in nutrients，and both the root and the tops can be eaten. The leaves make good salads when the plants are young，and the greens can be cooked when the plants are older. Beets grow best in full sun and in loose soil that is not too wet.
Remove stones from the soil while preparing the ground，and test it before adding fertilizer Beet seeds can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked at the start of the growing season. Planting them every two or three weeks will provide a continuous harvest into the fall. A beet seed is a fruit containing several seeds. Overcrowding the plants will mean that the roots cannot spread out and grow，so thin the beets by removing the smaller ones and using them as greens.
A specialist named Cindy Haynes says little or no fertilizer is needed in rich soils. Once the seeds are planted，however，she suggests covering the soil to protect it from the rain and during dry periods. She also suggests putting a fence around the plants to keep away rabbits and deer. She says the only work beets need once they have been thinned is weeding and， when the weather is dry，a weekly watering. For best results，beets should be picked when the roots are two and one-half centimeters around. Larger beets can be tough，and have to be cooked for a long time. Beets can be eaten in many ways.
60.What is the second paragraph mainly about?
A. How to test the soil.           B. How to plant beets
C. When to harvest beets.          D. When to plant beets.
61.Smaller beets are often removed in order to       .
A. give other beets space to grow    B. add more fertilizer to the soil
C. plant new seeds                D. use the green，young leaves in salads
62.What may the next part of the last paragraph be about?
A. When to pick beets.             B. How to eat beets.
C. The uses of beets.              D. The taste of larger beets.
63.The passage is most probably from a(n)     .
A. gardening book   B. education magazine   C. science report   D. entertainment magazine

Not long ago, few little girls imagined they could grow up to become astronauts. For years in the United States, on1y men had that opportunity . In 1983, that changed. Sally Ride made history by becoming the first American woman to travel to space.

On Monday, Ride died at the age of 61, ‘‘Sally was a national hero and a powerful role model,”President Barack Obama said in a statement. “She inspired generations of young girls to reach for the stars.”

Ride became interested in space when she was a kid. “If you asked me when I was 12 whether I wanted to be an astronaut ,I’m sure I wou1d have said yes,” she said in a 2010 interview . “ But I didn’t even think about that as a possible career.”

After studying physics in college and graduate school, Ride got her chance. She was accepted into NASA’s astronaut training program in 1978, and then chosen to be the first American female in space. In 1983, she blasted into space aboard the Challenger shuttle.“There is no amusement park ride on the Earth that even comes so close,” she said.

Ride returned to space on the Challenger a second time in1984 . Between the two missions, she spent a total of 343 hours in orbit. After that, she remained involved with the space program and also worked to share her passion for science with kids. She co-authored six science books for children , and started her own science education company.

Ride knew that she he1d a unique place in history . “ I realized how important it was for a woman to break that barrier and open the door for other women to be able to do the same exciting things that the men had been doing,” she said.

Since Ride’s historic trip, more than 40 other American women have traveled to space. They all had Ride to thank for opening the door to the final frontier.

1.Sally Ride was regarded as a national hero because she___________ .

A. was the first American to travel to space

B. opened a door for women to find jobs suitable for them

C. became the first American female in space

D. was the first to travel on the Challenger

2.By saying ‘‘There is no amusement park ride on the Earth that even comes so close”, Ride really meant____________ .

A. she preferred a ride in an amusement park on the Earth

B. the trip to space was like that in an amusement park

C. she came close to an amusement park on the Earth

D. the trip to space was far more interesting than any ride on the Earth

3. The correct order of the following events that happened to Sally Ride is_____________

a. accepted into an astronaut training program

b. spent a total of 343 hours in orbit

c. co-authored six science books for children

d. traveled to space aboard the Challenger

e. studied physics in co11ege and graduate school

A. e-a-b-c-d       B. a-d-b-c-e        C. e-a-d-b-c        D. e-a-b-d-c

4.The passage is most probably taken out of _________________ .

A. a novel        B. a report        C. a diary         D. an essay

The use of lotteries (彩票) to allocate (分配) school places is to be reviewed by the British government because more than 20 percent of children are failing to get into their first-choice schools in parts of the country.

The struggle for secondary school places has reached record levels this year, increasing anxiety for hundreds of thousands of families. A report from 43 local authorities suggests that in many areas, up to a fifth of children face disappointment. Families in London are the hardest hit.

This week is admissions week, when about 570,000 families will receive notice about their child’s secondary school acceptance. As the recession (不景气) forces more parents to consider a state education rather than a private one for their children, more than a third of local authorities have noted rises in the number of applications for secondary school places.

This year, just 62 percent of children in Richmond-upon-Thames got into their parents’ first-choice school, down from 64 percent last year. The council said this was caused by an increase in applications.

In another London authority, Tower Hamlet, 71.1 percent of children were admitted to their parents’ first choice school. In Leeds and Warwickshire, 85 percent were successful. In Derby the figure was 81 percent, while in Wiltshire, Stockport and Lincolnshire, the figure was 89 percent.

In many authorities, the figures are similar to those of last year. Exceptions include Brighton and Hove, which introduced a lottery system to allocate oversubscribed places last year. This year, it has seen a 3.5 percent increase in the number of children obtaining their first choice, bringing the total to nearly 88 percent. However, more than 5 percent of children in this area have been allocated a place at a school that was not among any of their choices.

Lotteries are being used at the government’s suggestion by a small number of oversubscribed schools in around twenty-five local authorities. They were meant to prevent middle-class parents from abusing the system by buying or renting homes close to the best schools.

1.According to the passage, more and more parents in Britain prefer to send their children to _______.

A．a state school                          B．a private school

C．a school in London                      D．a school in Brighton

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．The lottery system is certainly a good way to allocate school places.

B．Over one in five children fail to get into their first-choice schools in parts of Britain.

C．The lottery system is welcomed by parents around twenty-five local authorities.

D．The number of applications for secondly school places is falling this year.

3.In the following places, the highest preferred school admission rate is in _______.

A．Richmond-upon-Thames                  B．Brighton and Hove

C．Lincolnshire                           D．Derby

4.The purpose of using lottery system is to ________.

A．keep middle-class parents buying or renting homes close to the best schools.

B．increase the number of children obtaining their first choice

C．decrease the number of applications for some good schools

D．create equality between children from different social classes

5.The passage is most probably taken from _______.

A．a survey on education                    B．a textbook on science

C．a speech on radio                       D．an essay on economy

How many coins do you have in your pocket right now? Three? Two? Or one? With a phone card, you can make up to 200 calls without any charges at all．
★What do you do with it?
Go to a telephone box marked "Phone-card"．Put in your card to start, make your phone call and when you have finished, the screen will tell you how much is left on your card．It costs no extra for the cards, and the calls cost 10 p（便士） per unit, the same as any other pay-phone call．You can buy it in units of 10, 20, 40, 50, or 100．
★Appear in a shop nearby．
Near each card-phone place, you will find a shop where you can buy one．They are at bus, train or metro stations．At universities, hospitals, clubs, restaurants and shopping centers, you can also buy it．
★No more broken pay-phones．
It is possible that many pay-phones don't work because they have been damaged． There are no coins in a card-phone to excite the thieves' interest in it．So you are not probably to find a broken one．
Get a phone-card yourself and try it out．Or get a bigger wallet．
【小题1】The passage is most probably ____．

If there is one thing I’m quite sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we still be reading newspapers. Not those newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of the news from the television or have the radio switched on in the background or in the car. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The basic British character won’t change, and one of the characteristics of the British is that we don’t much like talking to each other when we get up. So what better way is there to keep yourself thinking in the morning than to wrap yourself in a newspaper?
Over the past couple of centuries, human beings have developed a close relationship with the newspaper. It has become as natural as breathing or enjoying the sun. And it is not just the British who love newspapers. On suburban trains in Calcutta, for instance, just one person in the whole car will buy a newspaper and read aloud the best bits to his fellow passengers, much to everybody’s enjoyment.
The nature of what is news may change. What essentially makes news is what affects our lives and the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do, whether it’s love or depression. We develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspaper will be transmitted(传送) electronically from the national equivalents of Fleet Street (伦敦的舰队街，以报馆集中而著称) and printed out in our own homes. In fact, I’m pretty sure that that is how it will happen in future. You’ll be probably selecting from a menu, making up your own bespoke newspaper by picking out the things you want to read and say. You might even have an intelligent screening device (装置) to do the job for you.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about the competition between the different media. They actually have a relationship, feeding off each other. It was once predicted that television would kill off newspapers, which hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page is more enduring (持久的) than pictures on a flickering screen or sound lost in the sky. And as for the Internet, it’s never really satisfying to read something just on a screen.
【小题1】The author of the passage is most probably from _______________.

My first most vivid and broad impression of the identity of things seems to me to have been gained on a memorable raw afternoon towards evening near my parents’ tomb in the churchyard.

    “Hold your noise!” came a terrible voice, as a man started up from among the tombs at the side of the church. “Keep still, you little devil(小鬼), or I’ll cut your throat!”

     A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. He seized me by the chin(下巴).

    “Tell us your name!” said the man. “Quick!”

    “Pip, sir.”

    “Show us where you live,” said the man. “Point out the place!”

    I pointed to where our village lay, on the flat in-shore among the alder-trees and pollards, a mile or more from the church.

    The man, after looking at me for a moment, turned me upside down, and emptied my pockets. There was nothing in them but a piece of bread.

    “You young dog,” said the man, licking his lips, “what fat cheeks you ha’ got. Darn me if I couldn’t eat em, and if I han’t half a mind to’t!”

I earnestly expressed my hope that he wouldn’t, and held tighter to the tombstone on which he had put me; partly, to keep myself upon it; partly, to keep myself from crying.

“Now then lookee here!” said the man. “Where’s your mother?”

“There, sir!” said I.

He started, made a short run, and stopped and looked over his shoulder.

“There, sir!” I timidly explained, pointed to the tombstone. “That’s my mother.”

“Oh!” said he, coming back. “And is that your father alonger your mother?”

“Yes, sir,” said I; “him too; late of this parish(教区).”

1. The “voice” in the second paragraph came from______.

A. the church           B. the man          C. the bank         D. the boy

2.The boy probably lived  _____.

A. in the parish        B. in the valley        C. in the city      D. in the country

3.We can infer from the passage _____.

A. the boy was very calm and smart

B. the man hit the boy in the face

C. the boy would forever remember the raw afternoon

D. the man was very kind and considerate

4.The passage is most probably adapted from________.

A. a news report        B. a science fiction        C. a novel      D. a review

February 28^th, 2009 2:54 am GMT

I have to say that am shocked at just how bad the new music is. This cannot be the same band that produced great albums such as HTDAAB and ATYCLB! This is awful! They either do not care anymore, or have completely lost it. I never thought U2 would become irrelevant, but they have officially become one of those bands that you will now say, “Remember when they were great?”

----- Posted by Ronald Harris

February 28^th, 2009 8:29 pm GMT

Total drivel, Mr Harris. The new album is great, far better than the safe, cynical HTDAAB and ATYCLB. U2 have become inventive again, like they were in the 1990s. thank goodness!

----- Posted by Dan

March 3^rd, 2009 12:09 pm GMT

Agree, Dan. The new album is the best since Actung Baby. Magnificent is an anthem in the waiting, Breathe is unbelievable, and Stand Up Comedy is absolutely outstanding----- to name just three! Loving the new sound, pure class as usual.

----- Posted by Martin

March 4^th, 2009 7:43 pm GMT

Totally agree with you guys. This album is unbelievable. Breathe is definitely a great song, same with Moment of Surrender. I bet their upcoming tour will be amazing. If you haven’t bought the CD yet, you should. I bought mine on Amozon.com for $3.99. I couldn’t believe it.

----- Posted by Josh Briggs

According to Ronald Harris, U2’s new album is _________.

A. pretty good    B. so bad    C. the same as before    D. completely fresh

whose comment is contrary to the others?

A. Martin’s     B. Dan’s       C. Josh Briggs’      D. Ronald Harris’

Martin and Josh Briggs both like the song _________.

A. Magnificent    B. Moment of Surrender    C. Breathe     D. Stand Up Comedy

Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

A. Most fans felt disappointed at the new album.

B. The new album is available on the Internet.

C. The people who made comments are fans of U2.

D. U2’s upcoming tour may be a great success.

The passage is most probably from ________.

A. a concert poster     B. a TV review     C. a newspaper     D. the Internet

Reading is very important to help you learn English. To learn as much as you can from reading, you need to read different kinds of English. This book provides not only different kinds of English but also a good way to check your reading ability.

There are four parts in the book :

Part 1 is Messages: In this part somebody wants to send information in writing to somebody else. There is a test on timetables and a test on text messages .

Part 2 is People: In this part all the tests are about people . For example, there is an informal letter between friends. There is formal (正式的) English in biography (传记) . There is a job application as a model to help with your writing, as well as testing your reading .

Part 3 is Places: In this part , too many different kinds of English are shown , some informal and some formal. There is the informal English of a holiday postcard . There is also the formal English in a letter of complaint.

Part 4 is Things: You will find some descriptive writing in this part . There are descriptions of clothes and of a computer.

You can do these tests in any order you like , or you can do all the tests with a formal or informal text .

I enjoyed writing this book and I hope you enjoy using it.

1.We can find the introduction to a product in __________.

A．Part 1            B．Part 2            C．Part 3            D．Part 4

2. Which of the following is most probably written in informal English?

A．A letter of complaint                     B．A computer handbook

C．A letter to a friend                      D．A story of a president

3. The passage is most probably written for ____________.

A．test designers      B．students          C．test-takers         D．teachers

4. What is the best title of the book?

A．Test Your Reading

B．Help with Your Writing

C．Learn Different Kinds of English

D．Practise English in Different Ways

For Americans, a mosquito bite is an itchy bother. But for many in Africa, a tiny bite can be deadly. One million people die each year of malaria, a disease spread by infected mosquitoes. Most of these people live in Africa, and are under age 5.

Malaria can be prevented and treated. However, many African nations don't have the funds to fight it. Nothing but Nets (NBN) hopes to change that. The United Nations Foundation created the campaign in 2006. The aim is to prevent malaria by covering sleeping areas with nets. Hanging bed nets treated with insecticide(杀虫剂) is the simplest way to stop mosquitoes from biting at night. The chemicals last four to five years. For $10, anyone can send a net to Africa and help save a life.

So far, NBN has raised $19 million and delivered 700,000 nets to seven countries. Families are taught how to use the nets. Kids also get vaccines (疫苗)and vitamins. "Women line up for miles to get the medicine for their kids," says NBN director Elizabeth McKee Gore. "They understand the importance."

So do kids in this country. "They get so excited thinking of ways to raise money," says NBN spokesperson and basketball star Ruth Riley.

NBN's biggest fund-raiser is Katherine Commale, 7. She's been spreading the information about bed nets for the past two years. To show how they work, she and her brother made a video. "We teach that bed nets can save lives," she said.

Katherine has raised $42,000 for NBN. "She just wants those who need a net to have one," says her mom, Lynda. "It's pretty simple to her." To find out how you can help, visit nothingbutnets.net.

We know from the passage that NBN is in fact _________.

   A. a deadly disease                B. an organization

   C. a piece of equipment            D. a game

The purpose of the passage is most probably ___________.

   A. to list the sufferings of the African people

   B. to introduce new ways to avoid mosquito bites

   C. to call on people to offer their help to Africans

   D. to tell people how to buy nets in Africa

By saying “So do kids in this country” in Paragraph 4,the author means that kids in this country also ___________.

   A. know the importance of the bed nets

   B. know how to protect themselves

   C. lack nets to protect themselves

   D. suffer from malaria

What do we know about Katherine from the passage?

   A. She set up the website nothingbutnets.net.

   B. She is the youngest money-raiser for NBN.

   C. She raised money by making and selling videos.

   D. She started working for NBN at the age of 5.

While income worry is a rather common problem of the aged, loneliness is another problem that aged parents may face. Of all the reasons that explain their loneliness, a large geographical distance between parents and their children is the major one. This phenomenon(现象) is commonly known as "Empty Nest Syndrome”（空巢综合症）．
In order to find better chances outside their countries, many young people have gone abroad, leaving their parents behind with no clear idea of when they will return home. Their parents spend countless lonely days and nights, taking care of themselves, in the hope that someday their children will come back to stay with them. The fact that most of these young people have gone to Europeanized or Americanized societies makes it unlikely that they will hold as tightly to the value of duty as they would have if they had not left their countries. Whatever the case, it has been noted that the values they hold do not necessarily match what they actually do. This geographical and cultural distance also prevents the grown-up children from providing response in time for their aged parents living by themselves.
The situation in which grown-up children live far away from their aged parents has been described as "distant parent phenomenon", which is common both in developed countries and in developing countries. Our society has not yet been well prepared for "Empty Nest Syndrome".
【小题1】According to the passage, the loneliness of aged parents is mainly caused by ________.