Lego, the inventor of those colorful bricks that have inspired kids’ imaginations world-wide, has celebrated its 50th anniversary. 
On January 28, 1958, a man named Godtfred Kirk Christiansen created the plastic building bricks that can now be found in almost every child’s toy box. The simple building block has become one of the most well-known and popular toys around the world.
"The Lego brick continues to be very attractive, because it allows children, and others, to develop their creativity and imagination," said Charlotte Simonsen, a spokeswoman of the Danish Lego company.
The company’s building brick allows an infinite number of links. With just two bricks there are 24 different links, and with six, there are 915 million possibilities, according to Lego.
A half-century after its creation, more than 400 million children and adults spend five billion hours a year putting the bricks together and pulling them apart. Also, the bricks made today can still interlock with those made in 1958.
Lego bricks are not just child’s play: they also attract the interest of adults. South Korean adventurer, Heo Young-Ho, who climbed Mount Everest in 1987, left a Lego toy behind in the snow during his climb.
After its great success Lego experienced a severe crisis at the end of the 1990s, hit hard by fierce competition from electronic games. This so-called "Toy of the Century" then suffered a dark period that lasted several years.
With great efforts, the company began to prosper again, and in 2006 it earned about 1.5 billion dollars in 130 countries. Seven boxes of Lego are now sold every second around the world, and 19 billion bricks are produced each year: enough to encircle the Earth five times！The Lego bricks have remained popular in the past 50 years as a result of _______.
| A．attracting many children worldwide | B．brought imagination to the children worldwide |
| C．making the children and even adults worldwide creative and imaginative | |
| D．having infinite links that bring many imagination |
The author gave the example of South Korean adventurer Heo Young-Ho in order to prove that ______.
| A．Heo Youn-Ho also loved playing Lego bricks |
| B．the Lego bricks made him a mountain climber |
| C．the Lego bricks not only interest children but also adults |
| D．the Lego bricks are a must when on goes on an adventure |
It can be inferred from the text that ______.
| A．there are 915 different links with just 6 bricks |
| B．the Lego Bricks Company has made a lot of money from the people worldwide |
| C．the Lego Bricks can’t compare with computer games |
| D．the bricks made today don’t change much compared with those made in 1958 |
The underlined word “hit” in the seventh paragraph means _____.
| A．defeated in a fight or a competition |
| B．have a crash in an accident or a fight |
| C．get known through a song |
| D．attack somebodyin a fight |
The main idea of the story is that _____.
| A．Lego bricks: brilliant past and struggling future |
| B．Lego bricks: an attraction of both children and adults |
| C．Lego bricks: making creativity and imagination |
| D．Lego bricks: making billions of money every year |
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around, when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady with a warm smile. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old.”
"Why are you in college at such a young age?" I asked. She replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of kids and then retire(退休) and travel..."
I knew she was joking. I was curious what might have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
We became friends. Every day we would talk nonstop after class. I was always interested in listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. And Rose easily made friends wherever she went.
At the end of the term we invited Rose to make a little speech. She cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. I’ve learned a few secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.”
“There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.
“Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do……"When the writer and Rose first met, they began their talk in a_______ way.
| A．serious | B．polite | C．formal | D．humorous |
Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “motivated” in the fourth paragraph?
| A．encouraged | B．persuaded | C．taught | D．forced |
Rose went to college in order to _______.
| A．meet a rich husband | B．make new friends |
| C．get a college education | D．get a better job |
The writer considered Roses as a “time machine” because__________.
| A．she always came to class on time. |
| B．she make friends easily at college. |
| C．she knew the difference between growing older and growing up |
| D．she enjoyed a long life and had lots of wisdom and experience. |
From this passage we know Rose believed_________.
| A．“The early bird catches the worm” |
| B．“It is never too late to learn” |
| C．“A bird in the hand is worth two in the bushes” |
| D．“One false step will make a great difference.” |
It doesn’t matter when and how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That’s what all doctors thought, until they heard about Herpin. Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.
Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw him sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.
The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure. Herpin died at the age of 94.The main idea of this passage is that_____.
| A．large numbers of people do not need sleep |
| B．a person was found who actually didn’t need any sleep |
| C．everyone needs some sleep to stay alive |
| D．people can live longer by trying not to sleep |
The doctors came to visit Herpin, expecting_____.
| A．to cure him of his sleeplessness |
| B．to find that his sleeplessness was not really true |
| C．to find out why some old people did not need any sleep |
| D．to find a way to free people from the need of sleeping |
After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Herpin_____.
| A．needed some kind of sleep |
| B．was too old to need any sleep |
| C．needed no sleep at all |
| D．often sleep in a chair |
One reason that might explain Herpin’s sleeplessness was _____.
| A．his mother’s injury before he was born |
| B．that he had gradually got rid of the sleeping habit |
| C．his magnificent physical condition |
| D．that he hadn’t got a bed |
Herpin’s condition could be regarded as ______.
| A．a common one | B．one that could be cured | C．very healthy | D．a rare one |
Dear Mr. Barton,
I am writing for the residents’ association (业主协会) to inform you of our feelings about your act. We’ve really had enough of you. Although we have tried to speak to you politely on several occasions, you have always answered with a stream of verbal abuse(辱骂).
Ever since you moved in three months ago, you have shown very little consideration for the other residents of this building, though many residents expressed their unhappiness with you. For the past six weekends, you have held very noisy parties, which have not finished until early the next morning. As you know, most of the people here are elderly or have very young children, and the noise keeps them awake all night. You don’t have to be so noisy, do you? Last weekend the situation deteriorated when two of your friends fought with each other on the first floor. The fighting was so bad that the police had to be called. What’s more, your friends left the stairs in a terrible state --- they even broke two windows on their way out! We feel that we can’t bear this type of act.
We strongly demand that you pay for this damage to the window soon. If you don’t and you carry on being a nuisance(令人讨厌的人或物). We will kick you out! Legal steps will be taken if necessary.
Yours sincerely What does the writer feel?
| A．Excited | B．Surprised | C．Angry | D．Happy |
What does the word “deteriorated” mean?
| A．Changed | B．Improved | C．Moved | D．Worsened |
What is the main purpose of the letter?
| A．To ask Mr. Barton to leave the building for the peace. |
| B．To inform Mr. Barton of the noise he made. |
| C．To talk about what Mr. Barton did. |
| D．To give a warning to Mr. Barton. |
Why were the police called?
| A．Because Mr. Barton broke two windows. |
| B．Because Mr. Barton made too much noise. |
| C．Because Mr. Barton’s friends fought. |
| D．Because Mr. Barton beat a child and an old man. |
Which is true according to the letter?
| A．Mr. Barton paid no attention to the others’ unhappiness. |
| B．Mr. Barton replied to the others’ unhappiness |
| C．Mr. Barton always said sorry to those unhappy with him. |
| D．Mr. Barton never apologized to the other residents. |
Every year, I tell my sons what I'd like for Mother's Day: a letter. Something written from the heart and offered freely rather than bought from a store and wrapped neatly. I don't always get my wish, nor do I always take the time to write to my own mother.
This year, my boys will be in two different states on Mother's Day. My mom and dad will be away together, and I'11 be driving home from a writer's workshop in Massachusetts. Thinking of the fact that many friends have already lost their mothers and that a few have lost children, I am deeply grateful that what separates us, for now at least, is merely distance. It won't always be so, and there is no way to prepare for that fact other than to appreciate the moment that is. My sons know that they can please me on Sunday with a phone call or an e-mail, and that is enough as I love their words. The very best gift they can possibly give me is their own happiness, the very fact of their busy. full and well-lived lives.
Still, knowing that my years of staying with my sons are over, I do Feel doleful. The truth is, I miss being the center of the universe to two little boys. And this holiday can be a bit painful.
I wonder if my own mother ever felt nostalgic ('VTIH WJ) for the passing of my childhood. I wonder if she realizes that she is still at the center of my universe and always has been. I don't often pause to think about it. but of course she is the one who has been right there, at my side from the moment I drew my very first breath. How to ever fully appreciate the woman whose presence and 1ove and example have shaped me into the adult I am? How to describe even a small part of the sharing. sacrificing. and support she has given me over the years?The author mainly wants to tell us through the first paragraph that _____.
| A．she hopes to get her son's letters very much |
| B．her sons don't often write to her on Mother's Day |
| C．Mother's Day is the very date that she longs for most |
| D．she is very sorry not to write to her mother often |
The author is deeply grateful for the present life because ____.
| A．her sons don't live far away from her home |
| B．her parents and children are still alive |
| C．her parents are coming to her house to spend Mother's Day |
| D．her sons can please her on Sunday with a phone call |
According to the author ______
| A．young people nowadays tend to ignore their parents |
| B．parents should not give their children too much freedom |
| C．children's happiness and success are the biggest comfort to parents |
| D．parents are not the center of their children's universe when children grow up |
What does the underlined word "doleful" in paragraph 3 mean?
| A．sad | B．excited | C．guilty | D．proud |
What will the author probably tell about after the last paragraph?
| A．She'll tell the reader about her mother's present situation. |
| B．She'll recall how her mother educated and cared for her. |
| C．She'll describe the reunion of her family on Mother's Day. |
| D．She'll tell the reader about her mother's achievements in her career. |
A new report says African governments are ill prepared to handle the growing number of people over age 65. The population in Africa as in other parts of the world, is getting older. Currently, there are 36 million people on the continent 65 years and above. which is 3.6 percent of the population. up from 3.3 percent 10 years ago. That could rise to 4.5 percent by 2030 and 10 percent by 2050. The African development Bank is raising concerns over the shortage of health insurance and pensions (养老金).
The African Development Bank says. "Aging is highly linked with long-term physical and mental disability and a number of long-term chronic (慢性的) conditions."
"Africa is not well prepared to care for its aging population right now. And it needs to prepare for this fact." said Professor Mthuli Ncube. the African Development Bank's chief economist. African nations spend far less on healthcare than developed nations do___ about $26per person per year. Not so many countries have well developed medical aid plans for the elderly, whether they are privately provided plans or indeed government plans. If you look at the pension plans, you will find the pension industries are not well developed in some of the countries.
Professor Mthuli Ncube said African governments failed to take action on health insurance
and pensions because they were busy with economic reforms.
Another challenge for Africa is the worsening of informal systems of social protection. That is cash and support from both the extended family and community sources.
. The African Development Bank recommends governments help carry out health insurance and pension plans. Ncube said African governments didn't have to handle the health insurance burden alone. "It is not only a must but also an opportunity for private companies to add their bit in this regard", he said. The report also recommends that African governments consider providing ways of free health services. medications and long-term health care facilities for the elderly. From the first paragraph we know the facts except that ____
| A．the speed of people aging is becoming quicker |
| B．Africa has the largest aging population |
| C．African governments are not well prepared to deal with the aging population |
| D．the shortage of health insurance and pensions adds to African governments' difficulty in dealing With the aging population |
Which is not highly linked with the aging according to the passage?
| A．Long-term physical disability. | B．Long-term mental disability. |
| C．Long-term chronic illnesses. | D．Long-term shortage of care and love. |
What got in the way of developing health insurance and pensions in Africa?
| A．The economic reforms. | B．Too many old people. |
| C．The shortage of land. | D．The development of the economy. |
How can the aging problem be solved in Africa according to Ncube?
| A．African governments should spend as much money on healthcare as developed countries |
| B．African people should save enough money to insure their health. |
| C．African governments should combine with private companies to finish health insurance and pension pains. |
| D．Private sources should take the main responsibility to help the elderly. |
The article is most likely to be seen____
| A．in a story book | B．in a newspaper | C．on a TV program | D．in a textbook |