The motor vehicle has killed and disabled more people in its brief history than any bomb or weapon ever invented. Much of the blood on the street flows essentially from uncivil behavior of drivers who refuse to respect the legal and moral rights of others. So the massacre (大屠杀) on the road may be regarded as a social problem .
In fact, the enemies of society on wheels are rather harmless people just ordinary people acting carelessly, you might say. But it is a principle both of law and common morality that carelessness is no excuse when one’s actions could bring death or damage to others. A minority of the killers go even beyond carelessness to total negligence (疏忽).
Researchers have pointed out that as many as 80 percent of all automobile accidents can result from the psychological condition of the driver. Emotional upsets can affect drivers’ reactions, slow their judgment, and blind them to dangers that might otherwise be clear. The experts warn that it is important for every driver to make a conscious effort to keep one’s emotion under control.
Yet the irresponsibility that accounts for much of the problem is not only caused by drivers. Street walkers regularly go against traffic rules, they are to blame in most vehicle walker accidents , and many cyclists even believe that they don’t obey the basic rules of the road.
Significant legal advances have been made towards safer driving in the past few years. Safety standards for vehicle have been raised both at the point of manufacture (制造业) and through regular road-worthiness inspections (车辆上路安检). In addition, speed limits have been lowered. Due to these measures, the accident rate has decreased. But the accident experts still worry because there has been little or no improvement in the way drivers behave. The only real and lasting solution, say the experts, is to convince people that driving is a skilled task requiring constant care and concentration. Those who fail to do all these things present a threat to those with whom they share the road.The following is mentioned as being responsible for the road accidents except .
| A．careless bicycle riders | B．people walking in the street |
| C．irresponsible drivers | D．irresponsible manufacturers of automobiles |
Why does the author mention the psychological condition of the driver in Paragraph 3?
| A．To give an example of the various reasons for road accidents. |
| B．To show how important it is for drivers to be emotionally healthy. |
| C．To show some of the inaccurate statements by researchers. |
| D．To show the hidden tensions in the course of driving |
What is the author’s main purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To show that the motor vehicle is a very dangerous invention. |
| B．To promote understanding between careless drivers and street walkers. |
| C．To discuss traffic problems and suggest possible solutions. |
| D．To warn drivers of the importance of safe driving. |
Which of the following best reflects the author’s attitude toward a future without traffic accident problems?
| A．Doubtful yet still longing for. | B．Happy and rather confident. |
| C．Surprised and very pleased. | D．Disappointed and not concerned. |
Most people think that the
capital of the movie world is Hollyhood, in the United States. However, the real movie capital is Mumbai, in India. Mumbai used to be known as Bombay, and so the film industry there is called “Bollywood.” Bollywood makes twice as man
y movies each year as Hollyhood—more than 800 films a year.
The movies from Bollywood are very different from Hollywood movies. For one thing, Bollywood movies are much longer than most Hollywood movies. Most Bollywood movies are more than three hours long, and contain singing, dancing, action, adventure, mystery, and romance (but usually no kissing). Because Bollywood films contain so many different features, this style of film is sometimes called a “masala” film. (“Masala” is an Indian word for a mixture of spice
s.)
Another big difference between Bollywood and Hollywood movies is the way movies are made. It takes much longer to make a movie in Hollywood than in Bollywood. In fact, filming may begin on a Bollywood movie before the script even finished. The director and writers can make up the story while the film is being made. Sometimes they will even write the script by hand instead of taking time to type it.
Bollywood actors are very popular and some are in such high demand that they may work on several movies at the same time. They may even shoot scenes for several films on the same day using the same costumes and scenery. Since most Bollywood movies follow the same kind of story, shooting scenes for several films at the same time is not a big problem for actors or directors. This also helps keep the cost of Bollywood movies lower than the cost of Hollywood movies. The average Bollywood film, with a budget of only two million U.S. dollars, seems very cheap compared to the average budget of sixty million U.S. dollars for a Hollywood film—thirty times as much! What is the main topic of the reading?
| A．famous stars in Bollywood | B．how Hollywood movies are made |
| C．the differences between two movie industries | D．the history of movie-making in India |
What is NOT true about Mumbai?
| A．It is the movie capital of India. |
| B．The new name is Bombay. |
| C．More movies are made there than in Hollywood. |
| D．It is less expensive to make films there than in Hollywood. |
Why are Bollywood films often called “masala” films?
| A．They have spicy stories. | B．They show Indian culture. |
| C．They are much longer than Hollywood films. | D．They mix different styles of movies. |
Bollywood movies are cheap to make because ____________________ .
| A．they are shorter than Hollywood films. |
| B．the scripts are written by hand. |
| C．the movies do not use any special effects. |
| D．each movie reuses things from other movies. |
Which of these statements would the writer probably agree with?
| A．Most Bollywood movies are very similar. |
| B．It takes a lot of money to make a good movie. |
| C．Only Indian people can understand Bollywood movies. |
| D．Hollywood movies are too violent. |
DJs (disc jockeys) are the people who play and present music on the radio, or in nightclub. A VJ (video jockey) is a person who introduces music videos on television.
VJs were first seen on television in the early 1980s when MTV went on the air. As MTV caught on, and the audience for music videos expanded, a variety of other music video channels started broadcasting. In addition to rock music, there were channels for people who were into alternative kinds of music, such as country music, light rock, and R & B,
and all of these channels needed VJs. By the 1990s, international music video channels like Channel V in Asia and VIVA in Europe had started.
The VJs for the new international stations had to be chosen carefully. Although some VJs did shows focused on small audiences and showed mostly local content, other VJs presented shows for international viewers. These VJs, and the material they presented, needed to be popular in several different cultures.
One successful international VJ in Asia is Asha Gill. 
She is from Malaysia, but parents and grandparents are fro
m India, France, and England. She speaks three languages and has fans across Asia, from Japan to the United Arab Emirates.
Another VJ who has made a big hit in Asia is Lili. She is actually a computer-animated VJ on MTV Asia. An actress wearing special computer equipment makes Lili move like a puppet. Th
e actress also talks for Lili, and her shows can be seen in five languages.
When asked what makes 
a good video jockey, many successful VJs have given similar answers. To be a good VJ you need to know a lot about music, you need to be funny, and you can’t be shy.What is the reading mainly about?
| A．how to become a VJ | B．the most popular VJ today |
| C．the differences between DJs and VJs | D．some general information about VJs |
What kind of music did the first VJ probably introduce?
| A．classical | B．rhythm and blues | C．rock and pop | D．country |
What do Channel V and VIVA have in common?
| A．They are both owned by MTV. |
| B．They are music video channels in Asia. |
| C．They do not use VJs to introduce the music. |
| D．They have viewers in more than one country. |
Which is NOT true about Asha Gill?
| A．She speaks more than one language. | B．Her family were all born in Malaysia. |
| C．She’s popular in quite a lot of Asian countries. | D．She is a successful VJ. |
Which of the following does th
e passage NOT mention as being important for someone who wants to be a VJ?
| A．speak many different languages | B．listen to a lot of music |
| C．talk easily with different people | D．being able to make people laugh |
Can you understand the beginning of this essay?
“My smmr hols wr CWOTT. B4, we usd 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & 3 kds FTF.”
The Scottish teacher who received it in class had no idea what the girl who wrote it meant. The essay was written in a form of English used in cell phone text messages. Text messages (also called SMS2) through cell phones became very popular in the late 1990s. At first, mobile phone companies thought that text messaging would be a good way to send messages to customers, but customers quickly began to use the text messaging service to send messages to each other. Teenagers in particular enjoyed using text messaging, and they began to create a new language for messages called texting.
A text message is limited to 160 characters, including letters, spaces, and numbers
, so messages must be kept short. In addition, typing on the small keypad of a cell phone is difficult, so it’s common to make words shorter. In texting, a single letter or number can represent a word, like “r” for “are,”“u” for “you,” and “2” for “to.” Several letters can also represent a phrase, like “lol” for “laughing out loud.” Another characteristic of texting is the lea
ving out of letters in a word, like spelling “please” as “pls.”
Some parents and teachers worry that texting will make children bad spellers and bad writers. The student who wrote the essay at the top of this page said writing that way was more comfortable for her. (The essay said, “My summer holidays were a complete waste of time. Before, we used to go to New York to see my brother, his girlfriend, and their three kids face to face.”)
Not everyone agrees that texting is a bad thing. Some experts say languages always evolve, and this is just another way for English to change. Other people believe texting will disappear soon. New technology for voice messages may soon make text messages a thing of the past.What is the writer’s opinion of text messaging?
| A．It is fun and easy to do. |
| B．It is not bad for children. |
| C．It will make children bad writers. |
| D．The writer does not give an opinion. |
Which characteristic of texting is NOT described in the passage?
| A．Using phrases to represent essays |
| B．Using numbers to represent words |
| C．Using letters to represent phrases |
| D．Using letters to represent words |
Which of the following was most probably the title of the student’s essay?
| A．My Gr8 Tchr | B．CU in LA | C．My GF | D．My Smmr Hols |
Why do some people think that texting is bad?
| A．It costs too much. | B．It’s too difficult to type. |
| C．Children won’t learn to write correctly. | D．It’s not comfortable. |
Why aren’t some people worried about the effect of texting?
| A．Not many people use texting. |
| B．Spelling in English is too difficult. |
| C．Children quickly become bored with texting. |
| D．Texting will disappear because of new technology. |
Whether it’s a carol（圣诞颂歌）service or an evening of karaoke in the pub, many people will enjoy a good old singsong this Christmas. Singing aloud will not just lift the spirits---it’s good for your physical health as well. Filling the lungs（肺）with air, increasing the heart rate and getting blood pumping round the body faster can all help our physical health.
For the past few years Heart Research UK has been Funding a Christmas campaign aimed at getting people singing, simply for the benefit it can bring. The organizer of the campaign says singing is a safe, simple and social activity that everyone can enjoy. “Singing is linked to long life, stress reduction, and general health protection. It also brings a great amount of happiness. It is impossible to sing well with a long face because it affects your pitch（音高）.”
Professor Graham Welch, who leads the International Music Education Research Centre at the University of London, has spent more than 30 years studying the effects of singing. He says that singing is a form of exercise. It means we’re also having a strong aerobic activity（有氧运动）when we’re singing, which results in increasing the feeling of pleasure while decreasing that of stress.
“And communal（共同的）singing—like in a singing group, a church service or even a singsong in the pub—helps improve our sense of self-respect. It increases our sense of satisfaction with ourselves, a greater sense of feeling included. ”
Helen Astrid, a singing teacher, also sees the great effects that singing brings. “It lifts us up on a spiritual level, it helps our self-respect, and it’s great for all ages from small kids to grannies—you can have a good sing and let your hair down.”
But she warns people not to have too many beers or glasses of wine, though a glass may help them gather courage before taking to the stage during the holidays. Heart Research UK holds a campaign to __________.
| A．encourage people to sing for God at Christmas |
| B．study the effects of singing on people |
| C．get people to sing and improve their health |
| D．bring happiness to people during holidays |
What are the benefits of singing according to Graham Welch?
a. Singers’ living longer.
b. Singers’ general health protection.
c. Singers’ feeling happier.
d. Singers’ stress reduced.
e. Singer’s self-respect improved.
| A．a, b, c | B．b, c, d | C．c, d, e | D．a, b, e |
The underlined part “let your hair down” probably means __________.
| A．feel at ease | B．protect yourself |
| C．dress casually | D．cover your nervousness |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．Singing at Christmas is good for health. |
| B．In a low mood one is not able to sing well. |
| C．Experts have disagreement on singing. |
| D．Singing is the same as other aerobic activities. |
Which is the best title of the passage?
| A．Karaoke—Best Place for Singing! |
| B．Christmas—Best Time for Singing! |
| C．Singing—Healthy but Difficult |
| D．For Health—Let’s Sing! |
The worst earthquake in 40 years shook South Asia on Sunday, starting with horrible waves that swept entire villages into the sea. At least 20,000 people in six countries were killed in the disaster, and millions were left homeless.
The quake shook deep beneath the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was felt more than 3000 miles away in East Africa, where heavy tides kept fishermen at home and resorts（度假胜地）closed.
It was as if the sea had struck the land. Residents of Sri Lanka, a small island country off the coast of India, ran to the hills to find safety from the tsunami. Many took their radios, televisions, and other valuables with them. The disaster hit Sri Lanka hardest. Of its 20million people, 1 million lost their homes, and 10000 died.
“The water simply raised itself up and huge waves came ashore,” wrote eye-witness（目击者）Peter Thomas from India. “It was moving very fast. The force broke the glass walls of a restaurant on the beach here and damaged hundreds of boats.”
In some places, the tsunami struck with no warning. “The weather was fine with no clouds,” wrote an eye-witness in Indonesia. “Suddenly the seawater just hit the city. In some parts the water was up to chest level.”
A massive（大众的）effort to help the affected countries is already underway. Leaders from around the world have promised to help, and teams of aid workers and doctors are rushing to the sea. “The United States stands ready to offer all the help to those nations most affected.” Said White House spokesman Trent Duffy. Organizations from the Red Cross to the International Monetary Fund have started fund-raising（筹款）drives to make up the costs of rebuilding. The underlined word “tsunami” in Paragraph 5 can probably be replaced by “__________.”
| A．fierce wind | B．heavy rain | C．terrible storm | D．large waves |
Which of the following is NOT true when this disaster happened?
| A．A sudden storm started with thunder and lightning. |
| B．The seawater rose suddenly and flooded the land. |
| C．Huge waves came upon the land, damaging the buildings and boats. |
| D．The sea struck the land, causing heavy losses. |
In the last paragraph, the writer mainly states __________.
| A．lack of help | B．international efforts |
| C．the fighting against the disaster | D．the result of disasters |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Tens of Thousands of People Are in Danger |
| B．Storm Caused Disasters in South Asia |
| C．Terrible Quake Hits South Asia |
| D．International Aid for South Asia |
Where would you probably see this passage?
| A．In a textbook. | B．In a newspaper. |
| C．In a travel guide. | D．In a dictionary. |