.
STEVE Wayne, 16, who worked this summer as a lifeguard and swim teacher in Idaho Falls, was thrilled to see an extra $20 in his paycheck when the federal minimum wage increased in July.
“When you’re getting paid minimum wage, anything helps, ” Wayne said.Wayne is one of several hundred thousand American teenagers who earn the minimum wage. The last of three recent increases that took the minimum from $5.15 an hour in 2007 to $7.25.U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis says the minimum-wage increase will pump an extra $5.5 billion into the economy over the next year, which is helpful at a time when the economy is hurting.
"You're giving people who spend money a raise," says Kai Filion of the Economic Policy Institute. "Those people will go out and spend that money, and it will circulate through the economy."
But other economists say raising the minimum wage actually hurts the very people it's designed to help. A higher hourly minimum, they say, could force businesses to cut workers' hours, or even lay people off.
"What matters for people earning minimum wage is how much money they take home, in total, in their paycheck," explains Rajeev of Georgia State University's Economic Forecasting Center. "Their hourly rate may go up, but their number of hours may come down, so it's not an overall increase."
Business owners also say that raising the minimum wage exerts（施加）upward pressure on other wages. "If the minimum wage is $7 and I have to pay $8 or $9 to hire a dishwasher, then the cooks are going to say they want more," sayd Cleveland restaurant owner Rick. "How much can I charge for that hamburger?"
Another argument is that it makes it more expensive for businesses to hire new workers. For many businesses already struggling to make ends meet in these tough times, it will be simply too expensive to keep or to hire new people.
55．Steve Wayne was excited that_____________ .
A．his hard work had paid off
B．he had received a big wage increase
C．he has more money due to an increase in minimum wage
D．the wages of American teenage workers have been increased
56．According to the text, the US federal government has increased minimum wage with the aim of__________
A．decreasing unemployment
B．promoting economic recovery
C．increasing American teenagers’ wage
D．narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor
57．What matters most to people in need of help is_____________.
A．a higher hourly minimum B．more working hours
C．a minimum-wage increase D．an increase in total income
58．Some are against the increase in minimum wage because they say_____________.
A．only very few workers will be helped
B．they have to cut down working hours
C．many business owners can’t afford to employ new workers
D．minimum wage workers will expect more pay rises in the future
You're in a department store and you see a couple of attractive young women looking at a sweater. You listen to their conversation:
"I can't believe it-----a Lorenzo Bertolla! They are almost impossible to find. Isn't it beautiful? And it's a lot cheaper than the one Sara bought in Rome."
They leave and you go over to see this incredible sweater. It's nice and the price is right. You've never heard of Lorenzo Bertolla, but those girls looked really stylish. They must know. So, you buy it. You never realize that those young women are employees of an advertising agency. They are actually paid to go from store to store, talking loudly about Lorenzo Bertolla clothes.
Every day we notice what people are wearing, driving and eating. If the person looks cool, the product seems cool, too. This is the secret of undercover marketing. Companies from Ford to Nike are starting to use it.
Undercover marketing is important because it reaches people that don't pay attention to traditional advertising. This is particularly true of the MTV generation ---- consumers between the age of 18 and 34. It is a golden group. They have a lot of money to spend, but they don't trust ads.
So advertising agencies hire young actors to "perform" in bars and other places where young adults go. Some people might call this practice deceptive (骗人的), but marketing executive Jonathan Ressler calls it creative. "Look at traditional advertising. Its effectiveness is decreasing." However, one might ask what exactly is "real" of young women pretending to be enthusiastic about a sweater? Advertising executives would say it's no less real than an ad. The difference is that you know an ad is trying to persuade you to buy something. You don' t know when a conversation you overhear is just a performance.The two attractive young women were talking so that they could _____.
| A．get the sweater at a lower price |
| B．decide on buying the sweater |
| C．be admired by other shoppers |
| D．be heard by people around |
Lorenzo Bertolla is _____.
| A．a very popular male singer |
| B．an advertising agency |
| C．the brand name of a sweater |
| D．a clothing company in Rome |
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Traditional advertising will soon disappear in the market. |
| B．The MTV generation tend to be more easily influenced by ads. |
| C．Undercover marketing will surely be banned soon by the government. |
| D．Traditional advertising is becoming less effective because it's too direct. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．Two Attractive Shoppers |
| B．Lorenzo Bertolla Sweaters |
| C．Undercover Marketing |
| D．Ways of Advertising |
“Get your hands off me, I have been stolen,” the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft: a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken.
The program allows users to display alerts (警报)on the missing computer’s screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners to give the thief a piece of their mind.
Owners must report their laptop missing by logging on to a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow “lost or stolen” banner pops up on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version(版本) of the software, users can also send a spoken message.
The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes it. “One customer sent a message saying, ‘You are being tracked. I am right at your door’,” said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever.
In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. The default （系统设定）through the computer’s speakers is: “Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, please report me now.”
The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 (￡21) but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password immediately if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access details.
If a thief accesses the internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location.
Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply.
Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer. The expression “to give the thief a piece of their mind” can be understood as “_______”.
| A．to give the thief an alert mind |
| B．to express the owners’ anger to the thief |
| C．to remind the thief of his conscience(良心) |
| D．to make the thief give up his mind |
Different from other security software, Retriever can ______.
| A．record the stealing process |
| B．help recognize the lost laptop |
| C．lock down the computer remotely |
| D．send a spoken message |
One function of the program is that it allows the owner to ______ at a distance.
| A．change some access details for switching on the laptop |
| B．turn on the laptop by using the original password |
| C．operate the laptop by means of an alternative password |
| D．erase the information kept in the stolen laptop |
Which of the following can best summarize the main idea of the passage?
| A．With no Retriever, thousands of laptops are stolen every year. |
| B．A new software provides a means to reduce laptop theft. |
| C．Retriever has helped to find thieves and lost computers. |
| D．A new program offers a communication platform with the thief. |
Some futurologists have assumed that the vast upsurge(剧增) of women in the workforce may mean a rejection of marriage. Many women, according to this hypothesis, would rather work than marry. The converse(反面) of this concern is that becoming a multi-paycheck household could encourage marriage. In the past, only the earnings and financial prospects of the man counted in the marriage decision. Now, however, the earning ability of a woman can make her more attractive as a marriage partner. Data show that economic downturns tend to put off marriage because the parties cannot afford to establish a family or are concerned about rainy days ahead. As the economy comes to life, the number of marriages also rises.
The increase in divorce rates follows to the increase in women working outside the home. Yet, it may be wrong to jump to any simple cause-and-effect conclusions. The impact of a wife’s work on divorce is no less cloudy than its impact on marriage decisions. The realization that she can be a good provider may increase the chances that a working wife will choose divorce over an unsatisfactory marriage. But the reverse is equally plausible(似是而非的). Tensions grounded in financial problems often play a key role in ending a marriage. By raising a family’s standard of living, a working wife may strengthen her family’s financial and emotional stability.
Psychological factors also should be considered. For example, a wife blocked from a career outside the home may feel caged in the house. She may view her only choice as seeking a divorce. On the other hand, if she can find fulfillment through work outside the home, work and marriage can go together to create a stronger and more stable union.
Also, a major part of women’s inequality in marriage has been due to the fact that, in most cases, men have remained the main breadwinners. A working wife may rob a husband of being the master of the house. Depending upon how the couple reacts to these new conditions, it could create a stronger equal partnership or it could create new insecurities.It is said in the passage that when the economy falls_____
| A．men would choose working women as their marriage partners |
| B．more women would get married to seek financial security |
| C．even working women would worry about their marriages |
| D．more people would prefer to remain single for the time being |
If women find fulfillment through work outside the home,_____.
| A．they are more likely to dominate their marriage partners |
| B．their husbands are expected to do more housework |
| C．their marriage ties can be strengthened |
| D．they tend to put their career before marriage |
One reason why women with no career may seek a divorce is that_____.
| A．they feel that they have been robbed of their freedom |
| B．they are afraid of being bossed around by their husbands |
| C．they feel that their partners fail to live up to their expectations |
| D．they tend to suspect their husbands loyalty to their marriage |
Which of the following statements can best summarize the authors view in the passage?
| A．The stability of marriage and the divorce rate may reflect the economic situation of the country |
| B．Even when economically independent, most women have to struggle for real equality in marriage |
| C．In order to secure their marriage women should work outside the home and remain independent |
| D．The impact of the growing female workforce on marriage varies from case to case. |
Zheng Pengyu: Interest is the best teacher. Classrooms that weren’t fixed could give students the chance to explore their interests. At the same time, they would be able to learn on their own because they would have to make their own decisions. All in all, the new system would be a good chance to inspire students’ passion for studying.
Sun Yao: Despite its benefits, I’m worried about whether the new system would work. Going to different classrooms would take up a big part of our break time and we would have less time to relax after class. Also, not all schools could offer so many diversified classes.
Shi Zhenghan: I support students learning in different classes. It would solve the problem of some students thinking the classes are too easy while some think they are too difficult. Teachers could also teach more effectively. What’s more, friendships built while in different classes might be a pleasant surprise.
Zhou Qingqing: In my opinion, studying in different classrooms might affect students’ psychological (心理的) development. They might find it difficult to develop deep and strong friendships with other students if they had to change classrooms constantly. They would also lose their sense of belonging to a certain class.
Hu Qile: I applaud the idea. It would help teachers set up special teaching plans for different classes. For students, making choices by themselves could encourage them to be responsible. Changing classrooms could also help relive the boredom of doing the same dull routine (惯例) every day.
Wang Xiaoqian: The new system might help with students’ individual development, but I still prefer the current system. Studying in one fixed classroom, students with different academic levels can help each other. Spending your senior middle school years with the same classmates is an unforgettable experience.According to Sun Yao, which of the following sentences is TRUE?
| A．The new system will work if great measures are taken. |
| B．All the schools can’t afford so many diversified classes. |
| C．Students will have more time to relax. |
| D．He supports the system because of its benefits. |
Sun Yao holds a(n) _____ attitude towards the new system.
| A．optimistic | B．doubtful | C．negative | D．neutral |
What is the passage about?
| A．Schools should offer diversified classes to students. |
| B．Students find it difficult to develop friendship. |
| C．Different opinions about changing classroom. |
| D．Changing classroom can help with students’ individual development. |
Which of the following can best replace the word “applaud” in paragraph 5?
| A．hate | B．oppose | C．favor | D．Benefit |
Founded in 1764 by French traders, St. Louis today is the fifteenth largest urban area in the United States. There are many attractive destinations for tourists.
American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog
Dog lovers who visit St. Louis won’t want to miss this 14,000-square-foot museum. Inside are over 500 paintings, prints, watercolors, and a variety of other dog art objects.
The Museum is open year round, Tuesday through Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 1 PM to 5 PM. Admission is ＄1 for children up to 13, ＄2.50 for senior citizens, and ＄5 for others.
Anheuser Busch Brewery
The Anheuser Buxch Brewery tour is not just for beer lovers. The tour includes the historic Brew House. Then the tour continues to the modern Bevo Packaging Plant. The best will be the Budweiser Clydesdale stables. The tours are always free.
Gateway Arch
Designed by Eero Sarinen and Hannskari Bandel, it took over two years and 900 tons of stainless steel to build. It is the tallest of the country’s National Monuments. The Arch is part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. About one milion people per year come to the top of the Arch, where there is an observation platform providing a great view of the city.
St. Louis Zoo
First version of the St. Louis Zoo opened in 1904 at the St. Louis World’s Fair, but in the century since it has grown into one of the foremost zoos in the world. The Zooline Raiload passenger train takes visitors around the Zoo, which contains over 9,000 animals of over 800 species.
The Zoo is open every day but Christmas and New Year, with summer hours of 8 AM to 7 PM, and hours the rest of the year of 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission to the Zoo is free.If a senior high school student plans to visit American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog with his parents and his five-year-old brother, he has to pay ______.
| A．＄8.5 | B．＄12 | C．＄13.5 | D．＄16 |
Which of the following statements about Gateway Arch is TRUE?
| A．It was built in three years. |
| B．You can see the city clearly on the top of the Arch. |
| C．It is the largest of the country’s National Monuments. |
| D．President Jefferson was buried there. |
If you plan to visit St. Louis Zoo, you can go there ______.
| A．at 8:30 am in summer | B．at 5:30 pm in autumn |
| C．on Christmas | D．on New Year |