D
As I was reading a recent story in Slate on 20-somethings complaining about how the economy was ruining their life plans, I couldn’t help but think the 20-somethings sounded like a bunch of spoiled children who grew up expecting everything to be easy for them. As a 20-something myself, I certainly share their disappointment: my husband and I probably won’t be able to buy a house until we’re in our 40s, and we too are burdened by student loans(贷款). But why should it be any different? Being young persons in America, shouldn’t they take up all of the challenges and opportunities that this country offers?
Consider some of these views shared in the Slate story: Jennifer, 29, owner of a two-bedroom apartment with her husband, worries that she won’t be able to have children for at least a decade because they can’t afford to buy a house yet.
I read that, and I thought, what planet is she living on where you need to own a house in order to have kids? Has she ever visited a developing country, or even downtown areas in this one? Home ownership is a luxury(奢华), not a fertility requirement.
A 26-year-old in the story despairs(绝望) that he can’t afford to get a Ph.D. in literature. Well, that sounds a bit like expressing disappointment that no one will pay you to write poetry on the beach in Thailand for five years.
Yes, it’s sad that these young people feel so lost. But I think the problem is their extremely high expectations, not economic reality. Beth Kobliner, author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties, says that she thinks people’s expectations are slowly adjusting, but today’s 20-somethings grew up at a time when 
everyone’s wealth appeared to be expanding. Their parents probably saw their home values rise along with their investments. “So you have people who have grown up in an environment where people had great expectations of what living well means,” says Kobliner.
This recession(衰退) will certainly play a role in forcing those expectations into more realistic group. In the meantime, it seems a lot better for our mental health to focus on being grateful－for our one-bedroom apartments, for living in modern cities, or perhaps just for being able to eat three meals a day－than on longing for some kind of luxury life.
67．What makes the author think the 20-somethings sound like a bunch of spoiled children?
A．They expect everything to be easy for them.
B．They complain that the econo
my is spoiling their life plans.
C．They are reluctant to face all of the challenges.
D．They are burdened by student loans.
68．The underlined word “fertility” in Paragraph 3 probably means .
A．baby production B．pleasant
C．baby comfort D．essential
69．Which of the following is not one of the complaints of the 20-somethings?
A．They can’t have children for at least a decade to buy a house.
B．They have only one-bedroom apartment to live in.
C．They can’t buy a house until 40 because of student loans.
D．They despair at not being able to afford a Ph.D. in literature.
70．What is the author’s purpose of writing this passage?
A．To tell us what the author’s attitude towards the 20 – somethings.
B．To explain why young people can’t afford to buy a house.
C．To suggest what we should do when young people’s high hopes create despair.
D．To explain what the 20 – something’s high expectations are.
There are new and exciting ways to use the Internet to learn English while you are on - line. The Internet uses a lot of multimedia elements (多媒体原理），like words, sounds, pictures, animations and video. This is perfect for studying a language because you've got to see, hear, and repeat things as much as you like. Learning over the Internet is also funny because you can be a part of conversations happening all around the globe ！ Special Internet sites are designed for people learning English， just like yourself. These sites use multimedia to help you learn and are a great way to meet other people around the world. This is Cyber English.
On the Internet, English is the major language. As a result, it is now more important than ever to be able to understand English when you serve the web. It is not always easy，though. The English can be difficult or have a lot of cultural information that you have never seen ！
One site for students studying English and their teachers is Englishtown. At http://www. english- town. com, you will find a community ( group) of people interested in learning English. There are several buildings in the virtual (虚拟的）town where you can play games, chat with friends, ask and get answers about cultural questions, and find an international penfriend who shares your interests. There are extra resources to help you learn，such as multimedia CD - ROM and books for language learning and translation. You can also have daily and monthly English lessons delivered to your own e - mail address. There is even an on - line school where you can take English classes over Lhe Internet. Englishtown is the perfect place to prefect for a trip to England or the United States ！ Would you like to become part of a virtual community(虚拟社区）of English sfH-aktrs ： Surfing the web is not only funny but can also help improve your English ！ Try out >ome of tlv, web sites listed below and see how students all over the world are learning English on line.Cyber English probably means" ".
| A．learning English on Internet |
| B．teaching yourself English |
| C．the history of English |
| D．English broadcast on TV or over the radio |
English on - line interests a lot of people because .
| A．only in this way one can learn the language well |
| B．people don’ t have to pay |
| C．the learners can have a face to face study of courses with the teachers |
| D．it makes learning easier and more interesting |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．English is the only useful language on the Internet. |
| B．The Internet can provide people with the cultural information they need. |
| C．At http://www. Englishtown. com, people can study and play. |
| D．One can find a pen-friend on http://www.Englishtown. com. |
The underlined word “ surfing" probably means .
| A．setting up | B．going over | C．researching | D．inventing |
The omitted (省略）part of the passage might .
| A．show us some of the web sites on which sell books |
| B．tell us how to use the Internet |
| C．tell us where to get the CD - ROMS we need |
| D．show us some of the web sites on which English is taught |
Who are these people rushing by you on the street? More than 250 million people now call America" home" , but most of them can trace their families back to other parts of the world. If you, look at the names on shop windows, you will see that Americans come from many different lands. The idea that these people, who once were strangers to the United States，have lost the customs and cultures of their original countries and have become "Americans"is really not true. In fact, what exists in America is - more often a kind of “ side - by - side" living in which groups of people from other countries often have kept many of their own customs and habits. They join the general American society only in certain areas of their lives such as in schools，business，and sports一but they keep many of their own native customs and manners socially and at home. This “ side - by - side" living has both advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it may cause disagreements to develop between groups whose ways of life are very different from one another. However, there are also great advantages that come from the variety of cultures brought by settlers from other lands. There is great freedom of choice among ideas ’ dress, food, and social customs in America. Everyone can find some part of his or her own familiar world in the United States, in churches, music, food, national groups, or newspaper.More than 250 million people call America ”home" because .
| A．they have their houses there |
| B．they settle there now |
| C．they want to make their home there |
| D．they like that land very much |
Side - by - side living style means
| A．to make friends with native people |
| B．to keep their own customs while sharing American ones in certain areas |
| C．that the groups of people live nearby |
| D．that they get closer to American society |
According to the passage, people in the USA
| A．share American customs and cultures |
| B．live in a kind of side - by - side society |
| C．keep their own customs and habits firmly |
| D．make no choice to accept American customs |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．They always stick to their own customs and habits. |
| B．Side - by - side living style is not suitable. |
| C．They face the society they are not familiar with. |
| D．The advantages coming from the variety of cultures make life in America colorful. |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．Advantages and Disadvantages |
| B．Different Customs and Habits |
| C．Home for the People |
| D．Side - by - Side Living Style in America |
The bar-tailed godwit （斑尾鷸）has just broken its own record for the world’s longest non-stop flight, including humans in planes, according to a report made by Lund University Press. The bird can fly non-stop for eight days, while the most impressive man-made airplane can only remain in the sky for 82 hours without a stop.
The bar-tailed godwit’s journey, from Alaska to New Zealand, covers over 6,835 miles. It completes this trip twice a year, in autumn going to New Zealand, and in spring back to Alaska. The tireless bird ends the trip without stopping once for food or rest. All other birds can only finish trips that are twice as short as what the bar-tailed godwit travels.
One reason for the bar-tailed godwit’s success is that it has made the best use of its fuel, which is only 0.41 percent of its body weight over each hour of any given long flight. Hedenstrom, a professor from Lund University, says, “This figure is extremely low compared with other birds.” The bird also has a special body shape that helps it fly easily. It stores body fat and protein to manage its trips. It also travels fast, compared to other birds and animals.
Many questions remain about this bird record holder that never gets lost in the air. Researchers wonder whether it has an inside compass (指南针) that helps it to know the direction. Please watch how beautiful bar-tailed godwits look as they come in for a landing, along with other birds.For the flight from Alaska to New Zealand, the bar-tailed godwit__________
| A．doesn’t need to stop to eat |
| B．is afraid of hot weather |
| C．seems very tired at last |
| D．should fly less than 7,000 meters |
The main reason why the bar-tailed godwit can break the record is that it ______.
| A．eats little food every hour |
| B．has a special body shape |
| C．stores much water in its body |
| D．has very light body weight |
The last paragraph tells us that _________.
| A．researchers have understood the bird very well |
| B．the bird has a very good sense of direction |
| C．there are still many who doubt the bird’s ability |
| D．the bird has an inner compass |
Are you afraid of moving up to senior high school? It is a completely new experience, but you shouldn’t worry. We’ve put together a guide to help you.
You are not alone
Remember that everybody else in your grade is in the same boat. You may not notice it, but they are just as nervous as you are.
Moving up to senior high school is a chance, not a problem. Things are different, and all you need to do is be polite and learn the new rules.
The teachers will help
If you don’t know what to do or are worried about something, then ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to because they have experience in helping new students.
Everything changes
There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized.
Other points
If you’ve got an elder brother or sister at senior high school, then ask them for advice.
Be yourself! It sounds simple, but people will respond much better to you if you act naturally.
Going to bed early makes a difference. You’ll also find it easier to get up in the morning!The author says that you’re not alone because other students______
| A．are polite and nervous |
| B．will help you |
| C．feel the same as you do |
| D．will learn the new rules with you |
When you don’t know what to do, you can______
| A．write your problem down |
| B．watch your brothers |
| C．go to bed early |
| D．turn to your teachers |
The main purpose of the passage is to ___________?
| A．Tell students about a new experience |
| B．help students that are going to senior high school |
| C．tell students that teachers are the best helpers |
| D．teach students how to organize themselves |
Are you fond of tomatoes? Bunol, a town in Spain, held its yearly tomato festival on the last Wednesday of August. Thousands and thousands of people made their way from all corners of the world to fight in it, the world’s biggest food fight. Tons of fully-grown tomatoes were thrown in the streets.
No one knows exactly how this event started. Maybe it came from a local food fight between friends, or a joke that was played on a bad musician.
On Wednesday, at 11am, the fight began. A cannon(大炮) shot was fired to start the fight. At first, people fought one another, but slowly they began to fight in groups. After exactly one hour, the fight ended when the cannon shot was fired once more. At this point, no more tomatoes could be thrown.
Those who attend this event are encouraged to wear protective glasses. And they must press the tomatoes before throwing so that they won’t hurt others. Another rule is that no one is allowed to take anything — such as a glass bottle — into the fight. Although it is forbidden to tear(扯破) another person’s clothing, the crowd seems to tear the shirt of any clothed person, whether they are men or women.
Fire trucks are used to clean the streets after the fight with water provided from a Roman channel (海峡). The government seems more concerned with cleaning up the town than the visitors, and people go to the Bunol River for a wash.What do we know about the tomato fight?
| A．Nobody knows how it really started. |
| B．Only people from Spain can take part in it. |
| C．It is held on the first Wednesday of August. |
| D．Green tomatoes can be used in the fight. |
When the cannon shot is fired the second time, ____.
| A．people start to throw tomatoes |
| B．people start to fight in groups |
| C．the whole tomato fight is over |
| D．the fight has lasted for two hours |
Which is NOT one of the rules of the tomato fight?
| A．People can’t use glass bottles. |
| B．People must wear protective glasses. |
| C．It isn’t allowed to tear other people’s clothes. |
| D．Tomatoes should be pressed before they are thrown. |
After the tomato fight, the town government ____.
| A．provides water to the people |
| B．cleans up the streets with fire trucks |
| C．takes people to the Bunol River |
| D．holds other activities about tomatoes |