At the end of eight grade, our class went to Washington, D.C. For a group of 14-year-olds, this was a big deal!
The first day was so tiring; we could hardly remember where we were and what we were seeing. The next morning, we were off to see monuments (纪念碑)，starting with Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. We walked along the paths through trees. Then the Wall came into view—the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
As I moved slowly closer to the Wall, I heard a bagpipe（风笛）in the distance, which seemed to show respect to the lives lost in the jungles of Vietnam .
We continued walking and felt surprised at the number of names carved in the black stone. I was determined to find a soldier with my last name, but my hunt was stopped when a man caught my eyes. He was kneeling(跪着) at the Wall, a single rose at his feet. His head was bowed and he was rubbing his fingers over one name. I thought how sad he was, and then moved on .
After a few minutes I found one with my last name, but my eyes returned to the kneeling man. He was still rubbing his fingers over the same name. He never knew I was watching him, lost in deep sorrow. It was time for me to leave the kneeling man and the Wall. On the way home, I couldn’t help thinking of the kneeling man and his sad face. I wasn’t sure of the effects of war before, but at that moment I realized how much that man suffered from losing his loved one. Maybe he was the only one of so many families who experienced the same .
I never knew the full effects of war until I saw that man. I only know about war from history classes. The kneeling man taught me more about war and the effects it has on people than any history book .Which of the following makes the author feel the suffering that war brings to human beings?
| A．The kneeling man. | B．The sound of a bagpipe. |
| C．The number of names carved in the stone. | D．The jungles of Vietnam. |
The man continued to rub his fingers over the name probably because_____.
| A．he found it covered with dust | B．he missed the loved one who died in a war |
| C．he intended to remove it completely | D．he recalled the fierce war he fought in |
What did the author learn from the trip?
| A．How fierce war is in history. | B．How people remember those who died in wars. |
| C．What bad effects war had on many families. | D．What we should do to prevent war. |
According to the last paragraph, the author probably thinks that _____.
| A．he should have studied history hard in class |
| B．history books don’t tell readers the truth |
| C．there is more in history than books tell us |
| D．the kneeling man should be a history teacher |
“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 |
You feel happiest when you create a healthy balance between giving and receiving. If you give and give without making time to fill your own needs， then it’s likely you will burn out， or feel upset. When you take and take without giving anything back， you never feel a sense of achievement，so you are always searching for ways to fill the void in your life.
The way to create a healthy balance between giving and receiving so as to achieve real happiness is to know and then live by your values. I break values up into two groups which I call “being” and “having” values. Your “being” values are the character traits(特征)of the ideal person you would like to be. An example of some “being” values are： kind， loving， generous， inspirational， peaceful， wise and even powerful. By acting on these values， you give to others through your actions and you inspire others by “being” a positive role model. Mastering “being” these character traits becomes your life purpose.
Your “having” values are the feelings you need to create in order to be happy. These could be companionship， achievement， support， “being” valued or financial security. This is what you receive. You take responsibility for filling your own needs by taking steps to create these feelings and conditions in your life.
When you make a commitment to live by your “being” values， it becomes easier to make conscious choices rather than reactionary(保守的) ones. If your usual habit is to complain about your problems， you could choose to think and act like a calm person. A calm person might go for a walk， meditate(沉思)， or set a time limit before responding. If your usual pattern is to worry， you could choose to act like a responsible or wise person. In other words， you would act like the person you choose to be—this is the key to personal power.
When you choose to act on your values， you not only feel good about yourself， but you reinforce(增强)your chosen beliefs. Over time acting in this way changes how you see the world， and in turn the way other people think of you.The underlined word “void” in Paragraph 1 probably means .
| A．a feeling of emptiness |
| B．a loss of power |
| C．a lack of energy |
| D．a state of being confused |
According to the text， by acting on your own “being” values， you will .
| A．gain a lot of power |
| B．fill your own needs |
| C．seek all human virtues |
| D．form positive personality |
Which of the following does NOT belong to your “having” values？
| A．Your success in the competition. |
| B．The support from your friends. |
| C．Your own peaceful mind. |
| D．The friendship with others. |
What can be inferred from the text？
| A．“Having” values are better than “being” values. |
| B．The way other people think of you decides who you are. |
| C．A calm person does not choose to complain easily. |
| D．A responsible person does not care about financial security. |
The main purpose of this passage is to .
| A．persuade the readers to make a commitment |
| B．inform the readers how to be truly happy |
| C．explain to the readers what personal values are |
| D．instruct the readers how to make wise choices |