When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to grandma’s generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday best.
But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶) and stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times.
Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs－one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4,000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.
Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company “has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend” toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television.
Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it’s better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a “real” dinner party. Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time?
Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (“Chew with your mouth closed.” “Keep your elbows off the table.”) must be picked up elsewhere. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be able professionally but inexperienced socially.
67．Why do people tend to follow the trend to casual dining?
A. Family members need more time to relax.
B. Busy schedules leave people no time for formality.
C. People prefer to live a comfortable life.
D. Young people won’t follow the etiquette of the older generation
68．It can be learned from the passage that Royal Doulton is ________.
A. a seller of stainless steel tableware B. a dealer in stoneware
C. a pottery chain store D. a producer of fine china
69．The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is ________.
A. the increased value of the pound
B. the worsening economy in Asia
C. the change in people’s way of life
D. the fierce competition at home and abroad
70．Formal table manners, though less popular than before in current social life, ________.
A. are still a must on certain occasions
B. are certain to return sooner or later
C. are still being taught by parents at home
D. can help improve personal relationships
After we meet people, it is up to us to make them our friends．Let us stop a moment and consider what really makes a friend. The major qualities like faithfulness, devotion, friendliness，flash through our minds. But it is the large number of very small particular qualities that make up one’s whole character, such as cheerfulness, friendliness and punctuality. After all, “to make a friend, be a friend” is not such a big and difficult order. Ther
e are particular favorable qualities, which attract others to us, and some fundamental psychological do’s and don’ts．
If you are in the presence of a shy person, talking and asking casual questions may bring him out of his shell. Think of what would be most acceptable to the other person for you to talk, or to listen. Either way, the goal is to make yourself pleasant．
Always remember to listen, but listen intelligently. To have anyone “hang on our words” is the most unnoticeably clever way in the world to please somebody．For a few extremely happy seconds we are the center of attraction，but when it is our turn to be audience，let us remember how we felt as the actor，and let’s be genuinely interested in what the other fellow is saying．
Other people will l
ike us, if we like them. If you want friends, keep your mind and heart open to friendship. Be alive to the other person’s world．This passage is mainly about________.
| A．the way of talking to a shy person |
| B．some favorable qualities to be a psychologist |
| C．how to make yourself attractive to listeners |
| D．how to make a friend and be a friend |
The underlined part “bring him out of his shell” in the second paragraph most probably means________.
| A．make him become active | B．make him feel more nervous |
| C．help him understand the question better | D．help him listen intelligently |
According to the passage，an important way in making friends is to________.
| A．attract them | B．be attracted | C．listen attentively | D．talk widely |
Of the qualities in a friend，which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Faithfulness. | B．Devotion． | C．Punctuality. | D．Unselfishness. |
How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger foreasier walking across sandy surfaces, they are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks（象牙）, and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3 –4 days, and can s
tore water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders – they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung（粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine（尿液）to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “”.
| A．remains in the African countries | B．drinks 120 liters of water a day |
| C．manages to live in desert areas | D．eats 150 kilograms of food daily |
Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they _________.
| A．rarely ruin trees | B．drink only every 3-4 days |
| C．search for food in large groups | D．protect food sources for their young |
The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with __________.
| A．stories and explanation | B．facts and descriptions |
| C．examples and conclusion | D．ev idence and argument |
What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?
| A．Overheating the earth can be stopped. |
| B．Not all animal species are so adaptable. |
| C．The planet will become hotter and hotter. |
| D．Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants. |
Dad came in the midnight. We heard every sound, but we pretended to be asleep.
Next morning he looked weak and thin, sitting in a chair by the kitchen fire. The light of the fire shone through his long empty sleeve. Everything went as usual. Grandma found something to do in the bedroom. Grandpa went out for some water. Mother, with her back to us, was getting the cakes ready for breakfast.
But nothing was right. When grandma came out of the bedroom, she walked on tiptoe. When grandpa came back, he said nothing about the weather. At breakfast Mother passed us the fruit and said something, but her voice was too high.
At last my sister, Lou, pushed back her chair. “It’s your turn to wash the dishes.” But I had washed the dishes the night before. I said nothing because it was not right to quarrel in front of Dad just home with the empty sleeve.
“It is your turn,” Lou said again. I looked at her in surprise.
“It is not,” I said because I suddenly remembered Mother had told us to go on as usual.
“Children, children,” Mother said in a quiet, glad kind of voice.
And Dad was smiling because he felt at home at last.What do you know happened to Dad in the story?
| A．He was badly ill. | B．He had a long journey. |
C．He drank too much. |
D．He lost one of his arms. |
The familywhen they saw Dad’s empty sleeve.
| A．was too surprised to do anything | B．felt sad and cried a lot |
| C．tried not to show their feelings | D．showed no worry at all |
From the story, we know.
| A．the two sisters often quarreled about who should wash the dishes |
| B．the family liked seeing the two sisters quarrelling after breakfast |
C．Dad loved the two sisters very much though they oft  en quarreled |
| D．Mother told the two sisters to quarrel with each other the night before |
Which of the following can be the best title of the story?
| A．The Quarrelling Sisters | B．Dad Was Back |
| C．After the Accident | D．An Empty Sleeve |
Children, especially boys, tend to idealize their fathers when they are young．Every little boy wants to grow up to be just like his father, and every little girl thinks her father is the smartest man on the earth．It’s not very easy to be a good father, but it’s not that difficult either．Children will truly enjoy spending time with their fathers, not just when they are kids, but even when they are adults．
Not all children communicate well with their fathers．Communication is often left to mothers, while fathers dispense advice as and when necessary．Don’t expect all conversations to centre around the dinner table．Go to your children’s bedrooms and talk to them about school, their teachers or their friends．Remember that the conversation cannot be one-sided．When your children open up to you, you also need to open up to them．
If your children come home from school feeling upset, go up to them and ask them what is the matter．And if it is something which seems to you to be a silly reason to be upset, don’t voice your opinion．It may be silly to you, but to your children it is important enough．S
o don’t wave the topic away by telling them not to bother about such stupid things．Simply discussing their problems with them will help them feel better．
Don’t shy away from having discussions about your teenage children’s love lives．Generally speaking, your children are definitely not going to discuss intimate details with you．Try to let them know that you are relaxed about topics on love．Tell your children how you met your wife．It is perfectly normal for children to go through feelings for the opposite sex as they grow up, and by keeping the topic closed for discussion, you are only shutting them off from discussing their feelings with you．All they will do is turn to their friends．To children their fathers are usually very _____．
| A．kind | B．great | C．serious | D．strong |
From the second paragraph we can know that _____．
| A．some children don’t like their fathers at all |
| B．talking with children around the dinner table is unnecessary |
| C．it is better for fathers to communicate more with their children |
| D．mothers should communicate less with their children． |
Suppose your children are worried about something you should _____．
A．have a talk with themＢ．express your opinion
C．keep silentD．let them aloneWhich of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word “intimate” in Paragraph 4?
| A．Public | B．Personal | C．Strange | D．Serious |
Beijing ?（13, July） China sent up a new data relays atellite （数据中继卫星）, Tianlian I -02, on Monday at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in South-western Sichuan province．The new satellite will promote the country's satellite communication network for space docking （对接）．
The satellite was launched on a Long-March-SC carrier rocket at 11:41 p．m．, sources at the centre told Xinhua News Agency．The satellite separated from the rocket 26 minutes after its launch and was then successfully delivered into a geostationary transfer orbit （地球同步转移轨道）.
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the satellite is the country's second data relay satellite．The first, Tianlian I -01, was launched on April 25．2008．
The two satellites will form a network to improve communications between China's spacecraft and bases on Earth, according to the centre．They will also be used to help the nation's first space docking, scheduled for the second half of this year．
As planned, China will launch space module Tiangong-I （天宫1号）, which was designed as a platform that will dock with an unmanned spaceship, Shenzhou, for the county's first space-docking mission this year．
Two more Shenzhou spaceships will dock with Tiangong-I next year, and one will be manned by two or three astronauts, according to China Manned Space Engineering Office, which was the main user of the Tianlian I series data relay satellites．
"The new satellite can cover a greater area to track and command the country's space vehicles m low-Earth orbits, such as manned spacecraft and remote sensing satellites, from a higher position m outer space．Only three satellites of this kind are needed to form a global communication network, and China has two now．" Pang Zhihao, a researcher and deputy editor-in-chief of Space International, said．
The satellite could also equip astronauts with real-time communications, which will benefit the county s future manned space flights, he said．What is the main purpose to send up Tianlian I -02 ?
| A．To test the function of a Long-March-SC carrier rocket． |
| B．To carry some astronauts into space to do some research． |
| C．To send more information and clearer pictures to mobile phones on the earth． |
| D．To promote the country's satellite communication network for space docking' |
From the passage we know.
| A．one more such satellite is needed to form a global communication network |
| B．the satellite was developed by China Manned Space Engineering Office |
| C．it was less than three years since China launched its first date relay satellite of this kind |
| D．the satellite could help track and command space vehicles in orbits because it's lower in position |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the news report?
| A．Shenzhou Ⅷ is a manned spaceship． |
| B．Tiangong- I will dock with three Shenzhou spaceships next year． |
| C．the satellite is of great importance to China's space exploration． |
| D．china’s first ^a06 docking will be done in the second half of next year. |
The best title of the passage could be _____．
| A．China Launched a New Space Shuttle |
| B．China's Plan for Space Exploration |
| C．China’s Progress m China's Space Exploration |
| D．New Satellite Helps China's Space Exploration |