It is natural that young people are often uncomfortable when they are with their parents. They say that their parents don’t understand them. They often think that their parents are out of touch with modern ways, that they are too serious and too strict with their children, and they seldom give their children a free hand.
It is true that parents often find it difficult to win their children’s trust and they tend to forget how they themselves felt when young.For example, young people like to act on the spot without much thinking. It is one of their ways to show that they have grown up and they can face any difficult situation. Older people worry more easily. Most of them plan things ahead, at least in the back of their minds, and do not like their plans to be upset by something unexpected. When you want your parents to let you do something, you will have better success if you ask before you really start doing it.
Young people often make their parents angry with their choice in clothes, in entertainment and in music．But they do not mean to cause any trouble: it is just that they feel cut off from the older people’s world, into which they have not yet been accepted．That’s why young people want to make a new culture of their own, and if their parents do not like their music or entertainment or clothes or their way of speech, this will make the young people extremely happy.
Sometimes you are so proud of yourself that you do not want your parents to say, “ Yes” to what you do. All you want is to be felt alone and do what you like. It is natural enough, after being a child for so many years, when you were completely under your parents’ control. If you plan to control your life, you’d better win your parents over and try to get them to understand you. If your parents see that you have a high sense of responsibility, they will certainly give you the right to do what you want to do.
1．According to the passage, young people prefer to ___.
A．ask for advice before they really start to do anything.
B．do things without thinking carefully ahead.
C．think in the same way as their parents do.
D．be very strict with themselves
2．Young people like to have clothes, entertainment and music in their way, because ____.
A．they want to make their parents happy.
B．they try to get their parents to believe them.
C．they want to try on something new and look different from the older.
D．they want to test whether they are cleverer than old people.
3．According to the passage, young people want to make a new culture of their own, because ___________.
A．they don’t feel they belong to the world of the older people.
B．they do not want to get into trouble.
C．they feel they are as clever as old people.
D．they want to show they have grown up.
4．If a young man intends to control his own life, it’s better for him to ___.
A．do everything according to his own wish.
B．do everything the way his parents do.
C．do everything beyond his parents’ control.
D．hold himself responsible for everything he does.
Exploit your parking space
An unused parking space or garage can make money. If you live near a city center or an airport, you could make anything up to £200 or £300 a week. Put an advertisement（广告）for free on Letpark or Atmyhousepark.
Rent a room
Spare room? Not only will a lodger（房客）earn you an income, but also, thanks to the government-backed “rent a room” program, you won’t have to pay any tax on the first £4500 you make per year. Try advertising your room on Roomspare or Roommateeasy.
Make money during special events
Don’t want a full-time lodger? Then rent on a short-term basis. If you live in the capital, renting a room out during the Olympics or other big events could bring in money. Grashpadder can advertise your space.
Live on set
Renting your home out as a “film set” could earn you hundreds of pounds a day, depending on the film production company and how long your home is needed. A quick search on the Internet will bring up dozens of online companies that allow you to register your home for free—but you will be charged if your home gets picked.
Use your roof
You need the right kind of roof, but some energy companies pay the cost of fixing solar equipment(around￡14,000), and let you use the energy produced for nothing. In return, they get paid for unused energy fed back into the National Grid. However, you have to sign a 25-year agreement with the supplier, which could prevent you from changing the roof.If you earn ￡5000 from renting a room in one year, the tax you need to pay will be based on ______.
| A．￡800 | B．￡4500 | C．￡500 | D．5000 |
If you want to use energy free, you have to_____.
| A．sign an agreement with the government |
| B．keep the roof unchanged for within 25 years |
| C．sell the roof to some energy companies |
| D．pay around ￡14,000 for the equipment |
For whom the text most probably written?
| A．Lodgers. | B．Advertisers. |
| C．Online companies | D．House owners. |
The brothers Grimm(格林兄弟), Jacob and Wihelm are synonymous with（同义的）fairytales. The stories they gathered have been read by millions of children in all countries over the last two hundred years. It’s difficult to think that any children could not be attracted by a tale like Red Riding Hood(小红帽)，which never seems to grow old.
This year, Dec20 marked the 200th anniversary of publication of the tales. The Brimms collected the stories and gave them to the world because they wanted to show what German culture was about. In their time, Germany was not yet a nation; it was a collection of little states. Like many patriotic intellectuals(爱国知识分子),they thought they could help people in German territories(领土) to understand their own traditions.
Quite a few adult were shocked by brothers Grimm’s work. They wrote about a wolf who eats a little girl’s grandmother and an awful old woman who wants to put Hansel and Gretel in a stove. In fact, the original Grimm fairy tales are often far more unpleasant, and more adult in theme(主题).There is a lot of cruelty too. In the wedding scene of Snow White ,the stepmother dances in red-hot iron shoes that kills her.
However, other people came along and made these stories more “suitable” for children. The modern children’s writer Philip Pullman recently published a book of his versions of some Grimm tales. He points out that the Grimms themselves changed the stories, but for the better. They knew how to hold the attention of readers. “A Grimm tale,” he says, “moves with a dreamlike speed from event to event, pausing only to say as much as is needed and no more.” So, when we read a story from Grimms’ collection, we’re getting something from old Germany, but our enjoyment is also thanks to the brothers’ great storytelling skills.According to Paragrah1, Red Riding Hood____.
| A．is popular with children all the time. |
| B．is too old for children to read |
| C．is a poorly organized story |
| D．is too stupid to be believed. |
What is the Brimms’ purpose in publishing the fairy tales?
| A．To improved children’s reading skills. |
| B．To develop educational system. |
| C．To introduce their country’s culture. |
| D．To make a living by selling books. |
By mentioning Philip Pullman, the author intends to____.
| A．describes the achievement of the Brothers Grimm |
| B．present a different side of Grimm fairy tales |
| C．prove the excellence of the Grimm fairy tales |
| D．compare the difference between the two versions |
In which section of a paper is the passage taken from?
| A．Fun Times | B．Comment |
| C．Life and Style | D．Culture. |
Car washes are a common sight throughout Nigeria, but Madinat Aliyu's roadside business is very special: she is the only woman car-washer in the north of the country.
“This job has caused me a lot of problems,” said the 27-year-old, checking cars waiting to be cleaned in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state.
Aliyu took up her work two years ago, hoping to use the 7,000 naira (£28) she earned every month to put her younger sisters and brothers through school following the death of their mother, the only one who made money to support the family. But her family begged her to stop doing this job, and she has received “judgment and warnings” from strangers too.
“My grandmother cried for many days. Some people thought it was a joke to bring more customers (顾客). Others said if she is doing it for money, let's just give her money to stop bringing us shame,” she said as she got water from a well by the roadside. “But I hate laziness or depending on somebody else.”
However, Aliyu has admirers. “Some customers only allow her to wash their cars,” said her colleague (同事) Shamsudeen Mohammed. “I was trained to wash cars by men, and I can honestly tell you women are better to work under,” he added.
Recently another woman came to Aliyu to ask for advice on starting her own car wash. “Unfortunately her family discouraged her. I told her, if you listen to them, you will find yourself begging or marrying a man who is older than your grandfather,” she said.
Though she is considered a pariah (贱民) by many, Aliyu has no plans to stop her work. “I see men doing something and I think I can do it too.”
Madinat Aliyu washes cars mainly to _____.
| A．make a living |
| B．learn about cars |
| C．meet her future husband |
| D．know the life of the poor |
From the fifth paragraph, we know Shamsudeen Mohammed _____.
| A．thought Aliyu did a good job |
| B．trained Aliyu to wash cars |
| C．had more customers than Aliyu |
| D．liked to work with men |
As a woman car-washer, Aliyu _____.
| A．gets her family's support |
| B．dreams of going to school |
| C．is thought highly of by strangers |
| D．sets an example for the women in Nigeria |
Which of the following can best describe Aliyu?
| A．Shy but smart. |
| B．Independent and confident. |
| C．Honest but lazy. |
| D．Humorous and imaginative. |
Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival
Where: Becket, Massachusetts
When: June 15-Aug. 24 Each summer, this influential dance center presents a number of classes and performances by more than 50 companies from around the world. Highlights (最精彩的部分) this season include the Dance Theater of Harlem's production of Alvin Ailey's “The Lark Ascending”, which opens the festival.
Many events are free. Ticketed performances start at $22. jacobspillow.org.
Moab Music Festival
Where: Moab, Utah
When: Aug. 29-Sept. 9
This area is better known for mountain biking than for music. But since 1992, it has hosted a private festival that brings classical, jazz, Latin and other types of music to the land. This year there will be 16 concerts, including three “Grotto Concerts”, where guests take a 45-minute boat ride down the Colorado River to performances.
Events start at $25. moabmusicfest.org.
Cheyenne Frontier Days
Where: Cheyenne, Wyoming
When: July 19-28
There's something for everyone at this 117-year-old festival, from an “Indian village” and Old West museum to country concerts. But the competition is still the main attraction, with cowboys (牛仔) and cowgirls competing for major money in the world's largest outdoor stage.
Competition tickets start at $18, and concert tickets at $23. cfdrodeo.com.
The Glimmerglass Festival
Where: Cooperstown, New York
When: July 6-Aug. 24
Each summer, opera lovers from around the country (and the world) travel to upstate New York to watch productions that include stars like Nathan Gunn and Ginger Costa-Jackson. This year's performances include Wagner's “The Flying Dutchman” and Verdi's “King for a Day”, in honor of the 200th birthdays of both composers (作曲家).
Tickets start at $26. glimmerglass.org.If you want to enjoy a “Grotto Concert”, which date suits you best?
| A．June 15. | B．July 19. |
| C．August 24. | D．September 4. |
If you go to Cheyenne to watch a competition and enjoy a concert, how much will you pay at least?
| A．$18. | B．$22. |
| C．$36. | D．$41. |
If you are a big fan of Wagner, you're advised to go to _____.
| A．Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival |
| B．the Glimmerglass Festival |
| C．Cheyenne Frontier Days |
| D．Moab Music Festival |
Which part of a website is the text probably chosen from?
| A．Education. | B．Art. |
| C．Business. | D．Literature. |
A farmer grew some vegetables in his garden. One day his wife was ill and he had no money. He had to sell some cabbages and carrots in the market. The next morning he took two baskets of vegetables to town. But it was raining hard that afternoon and there were few people in the street. When his vegetables were sold out, it was dark. He bought some medicine and hurried to his village.
On his way home he saw a person lying on the snow. He placed his baskets on the ground and was going to help the person to get up. At that time he found it was a dead man and there was much blood on his body. He was so afraid that he ran away quickly, without taking the baskets with him.
The next afternoon the farmer was sent to the police station. Having shown the baskets, an officer asked, “Are these yours?” “Yes, sir.” the farmer answered timidly(胆怯地). “Have you killed the man?” “No, no, sir.” the farmer said in a hurry. “When did you see the dead man?” “About seven last evening.” “Did you see who killed the man?” “No, sir.” The officer brought out a knife and asked, “Have you seen it yet?” “No, sir.” The officer became angry and told the policemen to beat him up and sent him into prison.
That evening the officer went on trying. Pointing to the knife, he asked again, “Have you seen it yet?” “Yes, sir.” The officer was happy and asked, “When and where?” “I saw it here this afternoon, sir.”The farmer decided to sell the vegetables to _______.
| A．buy some food for his family |
| B．buy some medicine for his wife |
| C．go to see a doctor |
| D．go to the cinema |
The farmer didn’t sell out his vegetables until the evening because _______.
| A．they were too bad |
| B．they were very expensive |
| C．it rained hard that morning |
| D．people wouldn’t go out on such a bad day |
As _______, the farmer decided to help the person to stand up.
| A．he was ready to help others |
| B．the person was one of his friends |
| C．he thought the person would thank him |
| D．he thought the person had drunk too much |
The farmer ran away quickly because _______.
| A．the policemen were coming towards him |
| B．his wife was waiting for him at home |
| C．he was afraid to see a dead man |
| D．it was so late that he couldn’t stay there any longer |