In many ways, our society doesn’t simply prepare for the kinds of lives that the elderly must lead. We have made medical advances that allow people to live longer than ever before, but we do not seem to know what to do with them after we have saved their lives. Too little allowance (津贴) is made for the person who is no longer earning a living, who can not walk long distances or drive a car, or who may have physical or mental disabilities that keep him from communicating with others. The institutional (慈善机构的) care we give our older people is a good reflection of the overall attitude of our society toward the aged.
In the past few years, nursing homes have received wide attention as boring, meaningless places where old people often have little else to do but wait for the end of their lives. Elderly wards in mental hospitals are even worse. One of the most shocking things abort nursing homes has been the unwillingness of people on the outside to show real concern for what happens in these institutions. Even people who are entrusting (委托) a parent to the care of a home rarely ask about the nurse-parent ratio (比率), about the kinds of creative facilities or physical treatment equipment available, or about the frequency of doctors’ visits.
And the government has provided federal money without enforcing high standards of care. In fact federal standards were lowered in 1974. Therefore, in some sense our concern for the aged seems to be moving backwards, not forwards. This picture is in striking contrast to the treatment of respectable patriarchs (男长者) and matriarchs (女长者) in many societies.
1. What would be the most suitable title for this passage?
A. Failure of Care for the Elderly B. The Elderly
C. Institutional Care D. A National Shame
2. We can conclude from this passage that the writer feels ____.
A. nursing homes should be got rid of
B. a country that can help people live longer should also be able to care for them better
C. people have no thanks toward their parents
D. our society’s institutions need to be reformed
3. The writer believes that people who place a parent in a nursing home should ____.
A. demand higher federal standards
B. consider the example set in other countries
C. be ashamed of not keeping the parents in their own homes
D. investigate it first
4. The writer complains ____.
A. about the indifference of some people towards nursing homes
B. about the shortage of equipment in nursing home
C. that nursing homes keep the aged from communicating with others
D. both A and B
No one can change the weather. Nobody can control the weather. But if we read correctly the signs around us, we can tell what the more important changes in the weather will be. This way of telling what the weather will be like on the following day or two is called weather forecasting(天气预报).
For many centuries and in all countries, people have studied the weather and tried to make weather forecasting. Rings around the sun are a sign of coming rain. That many people feel their joints(关节) hurt is a sign of wet weather. Some birds fly high if fine weather is coming, but they fly near the ground if rainy or stormy weather is on the way. If you see a rainbow during rainy weather, this is a sign that the weather will become clear and fine. Such rainbows come in the evening. If the stars twinkle clearly at night, then fine weather will continue. If a fog appears in the morning just above a river, then the day will be warm. If the sunset is mostly red in colour, then the following day will be fine. If a rainbow appears in the morning, rainy weather will probably come.
Most of the above sayings have been made by the people who have used their eyes and brains to make weather forecasting.Which is true about weather forecasting?
| A．Weather forecasting is a way of telling what the weather will be like. |
| B．Weather forecasting is a report about the weather. |
| C．Weather forecasting is a sign of coming rain. |
| D．People can change the weather forecasting. |
Which of the following can be used here to replace(取代) the underlined phrase "on the way"?
| A．away. | B．gone. | C．coming. | D．disappearing. |
When you see the stars twinkle clearly at night, the weather will be _______.
| A．clear and fine | B．warm | C．rainy | D．cold |
Which of the following signs can tell the weather will probably be rainy?
| A．Some birds fly high. |
| B．A rainbow appears in the morning. |
| C．The sunset is mostly red in colour. |
| D．Fogs appear in the morning just above a river. |
We must __________ to make weather forecasting.
| A．use our eyes and brains | B．study the weather hard |
| C．read correctly the signs | D．All of the above |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friend can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friends your parent don’t like?Many teenagers think their _______ know them better than their parents do.
| A．friends | B．teachers | C．brothers and sisters | D．classmates |
When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.
| A．go to their friends | B．talk with their parents |
| C．have a discussion with their family | D．talk with their friends on the phone |
Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?
| A．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
| B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
| C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
| D．Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends. |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
| A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
| B．In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
| C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
| D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
The main idea of this passage is that ___________.
| A．Teenagers need friends |
| B．Friends can give good advice |
| C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them |
| D．Good friends can communicate with each other |
A student is learning to speak British English. He wonders (想知道): Can I communicate with Americans? Can they understand me? Learners of English often ask: What are the differences between British and American English? How important are these differences?
Certainly! there are some differences between British and American English. ‘There are a few differences in grammar. For example, speakers of British English say “in hospital” and “Have you a pen?” Americans say “in the hospital!” and “Do you have a pen?”. Pronunciation is sometimes different. Americans usually sound theirs in words like “bird” and “hurt”. Speakers of British English do not sound theirs in these words. There are differences between British and American English in spelling and vocabulary. For example, “colour” and “honour” are British, “color” and honor” are American.
These differences in grammar, pronunciation, spelling and vocabulary are not important, however. For the most part, British and American English are the same language.According to this passage, a student who is learning to speak American English might be afraid that_______.
| A．British people cannot understand him |
| B．American people cannot understand him |
| C．the grammar is too hard for him |
| D．the spelling is too hard for him |
American English and British English are different in ________.
| A．spelling | B．pronunciation | C．grammar | D．all of the above |
What is not mentioned (提及) in the passage?
| A．Whether there are differences between British English and American English. |
| B．Whether British English and American English are one language or two. |
| C．How the differences between British English and American English came about. |
| D．How important the differences are. |
Most ________ say “Do you have a watch?”
| A．British people | B．Americans | C．children | D．teachers |
According to this passage, British people and Americans have _________ difficulty in understanding each other.
| A．little | B．much | C．some | D．great |
There is a Web site called the “World Database of Happiness.” It combines and analyzes the results of hundreds of surveys from around the world that have been conducted on life satisfaction. Most of the findings are predictable, but a few are surprising.
The database makes it clear that there is not a strong connection between material wealth and general contentment. It is a cliché to say that money can’t buy happiness, but the old saying seems to be supported by research. Many people still cling to the belief that gaining riches will be the answer to all their problems, yet they are probably mistaken.
Studies have been carried out on people who acquired sudden wealth, such as lottery winners. In most cases, after the initial joy had worn off, people were not left with a sense of lasting happiness. In fact, they tended to revert to the way they felt before they became rich. Previously contented people continue to be contented, while those who were miserable before sink back into misery.
If material wealth does not bring happiness, then what does? Perhaps happiness has something to do with where you live. The authorities at the World Database on Happiness have surveyed levels of happiness in different countries. Apparently, people in America, Canada, and Singapore are very happy; people living in India and Russia, not surprisingly, are not happy.
Other surveys consistently point to the importance of relationships. Family relationships in particular seem to be the key to long-term contentment. The Web site suggests that falling in love and having children are two of the situations that bring the greatest happiness.
Nowadays people look to technology as an alternative source of satisfaction. People increasingly spend more time alone watching TV or surfing the Internet rather than spending time with family. Can technology truly make people happy? It is too difficult to tell, but one thing is sure: If the Web site’s research is accurate, time spent with your family is a better investment than time spent making money.Which description is right according to the passage?
| A．The material wealth and general contentment are strongly connected with each other. |
| B．The more one’s wealth is, the happier he will be. |
| C．Many people have wrong concept towards the relation between love and money. |
| D．Money can solve all the problems. |
Which factor can bring lasting happiness definitely according to the study?
| A．Sudden wealth. | B．Surfing the Internet. |
| C．Family relationship. | D．Winning lottery. |
If you get extra money, ______.
| A．you will be happy permanently |
| B．you will be happy temporarily |
| C．your life will be the same regardless of the extra money. |
| D．you will change your life style for a long run. |
What’s the author’s attitude towards technology according to the passage?
| A．Technology is the key to happiness. |
| B．Technology has nothing to do with happiness. |
| C．Technology can guarantee the long-term contentment. |
| D．The author is not sure about the relationship between technology and happiness. |
What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Love or money? |
| B．Love and technology |
| C．Material wealth can guarantee happiness |
| D．Studies on sudden wealth |
It’s official, not making your bed keeps you healthy. Dust mites (尘螨) present in everyone’s home can cause asthma, but they can not live in the dry conditions of an unmade bed.
The average bed is home to one and a half million mites, and they cause a number of common allergies (过敏症), as they chomp away on human skin in the night; and then produce the allergens which we inhale (吸入).
Dust mites grow in the warm humid conditions prevalent in the occupied bed, but they cannot multiply without moisture. So leaving the bed unmade during the day means that the water is not retained by the sheets, which means that the mites dehydrate (脱水) and die.
Researcher Dr. Stephen Pretlove who has developed a computer model to track how changes in the home can reduce a numbers of dust mites said, “We know that mites can only survive by taking in water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of their body.”
In the next stage of their research, the scientists are putting mite pockets into beds in 36 houses around the United Kingdom. This will test the validity of the computer model and will investigate how people’s daily routines affect mite populations.
Building features such as heating ventilation (空气流通) and insulation (隔热) will also be adjustable to monitor how the mites cope and react to different atmospheres.
Dr. Pretlove said the research had potential to reduce the ￡700 million spent treating mite-induced illnesses each year in the UK.
“Our findings could help building designers create healthy homes and health care workers point out environments most at risk from mites.”
Dr. Matt Hallsworth, of the charity Asthma UK, said, “House-dust mite allergen can be an important trigger for many people with asthma, but at present many people find they are inevitable.”What is the best title of the passage？
| A．The Causes of Asthma |
| B．Research on Allergies |
| C．Don’t make your bed and stay healthy |
| D．The Bad Effects of Mites |
The underlined word “validity” means ______.
| A．confirmation | B．imagination | C．supposition | D．criticism |
Which statement is not true according to the passage?
| A．Building features can affect the growth of mites. |
| B．The research carried out will save a lot of money spent on treating mite-related illnesses. |
| C．At present it is impossible for people to get rid of house-dust mites related asthma. |
| D．Dust mites can survive in all kinds of conditions. |
What can not be inferred from the passage?
| A．Traditionally, people think that making bed can make one healthy. |
| B．Mites can not survive in humid atmosphere. |
| C．people in many fields will benefit from the research. |
| D．The research will change much in people’s concept on mites. |
Which one will not benefit from the research according to the passage?
| A．The patient with asthma. | B．The health-care worker. |
| C．The income of the hospital. | D．The building designer. |