As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.
Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money to buy more things is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them.
Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year. One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs (郊区), leaving their two children with a nanny (保姆). Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock, and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life
was passing them by.
Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm here,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it has been worthy of. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.”
Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”What do the first two paragraphs tell us?
| A．People seldom work long hours to make money. |
| B．People hardly buy more things than necessary. |
| C．People are sure everything they own is in the right place. |
| D．People realize there is more to life than just making money. |
When Daniel was a reporter he _____.
| A．lived in central London | B．disliked his job |
| C．missed his children | D．was well paid |
Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm _____.
A．was easy to organize |
B．has improved family life |
| C．was extremely expensive | D．has been a total success |
What does the underlined “it” in the last paragraph refer to?
| A．Child-caring. | B．Liz’s advice. | C．Downshifting. | D．Liz’s job. |
Ⅱ阅读(共两节，满分50分)
第一节：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In Europe, people hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right throughout the meal, a system that is generally agreed to be more efficient than the American zigzag（曲折的）method. Americans hold both the fork and the knife in their right hands throughout the meal, so they continually change their forks to the left hand when they have to cut their meat. It seems to be funny for the Europeans to see Americans busy changing their dinner sets, making a lot of noises.
A few explanations for this American style are as follows:
(1) Americans are practical and efficient. Since most of us are right-handed, it is reasonable to keep our working tools at all times in the right hand that can use them most efficiently.
(2) Americans, the master of the New World are rebels（叛逆者）.They use the zigzag method to break the rules in the Old World and in this way they are thumbing their nose at Mother England. Americans are a restless kind. They do not like to sit in one spot for very long when dining.
(3) Forced to do so, they respond by “playing” with the silver.
Whatever the reason for the practice, it is now certainly as American as apple pie. Europeans recognize this and are quick to attack it as evidence of American innocence（无知）of form. Arguments against the zigzag method rest not only on grounds of efficiency but also on those of tradition. In Old World dining, the knife is held in the right hand continually because it can serve as an instant defense against the uninvited intruders（入侵者）.However, such alertness（警觉） is out of place in the New World, as every American believes that this is the home of the brave. Americans juggle their silverware, perhaps, to show that they are not afraid and that one of them holding a fork is worth any number of them holding blades（刀）.
26 Americans use _______ to hold their fork to pick up the salad.
A. the right hand B. the left hand
C. both hands D. either of the two hands
27. As the masters of the New World, Americans use a different cutting method from that in the Old World to _________________.
A. show their independence of Mother England
B. show their disrespect to Mother England
C. add a new tradition to those in Mother England
D. show off their creativeness to Mother England
28. In the sentence, the word “juggle” probably means ____________.
A. hold B. play with C. pick up D. lay down
29. Also in the last sentence, the two “them” refer to ____________.
A. Americans B. Europeans
C. Americans and Europeans separately
D. Europeans and Americans separately
30. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. European people hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right hand.
B. The zigzag eating method is related to American characteristics.
C. The zigzag eating method has become an American feature.
D. European people will use the American method because of its efficiency.
In jokes, the chicken only crosses the road. In Australia, cane toads (蔗蟾) use roads to travel.
A new study finds that Cane toads are using roads to spread across the continent. They take shelter overnight close to the open corridors (走廊), and then hit the road each evening in their damaging way.
Cane toads were brought into Australia from Hawaii in 1935 to control the spread of beetles (甲虫) that were destroying Australia's sugar cane crop. They are now moving into new places at the speed of 30 miles a year.
Toads can grow as large as dinner plates and can weigh up to 4.5 pounds. Their heads and backsides are covered with rows of warts (疣). They are known to kill snakes, lizards and other animals, including pet dogs. They have no natural enemy in Australia.
According to a research, toads make slower progress through thick plants than along open spaces and they hop (跳) alongside roads and fences whenever possible. Toads use long corridors that are well-suited for them to travel long distances.
Another study recently found that toads have evolved (进化形成) longer legs in recent years and that this is also helping them in their spread.
Efforts to kill toads have been largely unsuccessful, although scientists tried their best.
Another new finding suggests ways to slow down its population. For example, roadside borders can be changed to make them less attractive to toads, or allowing thick plants to grow along the sides of highways, thus forcing toads onto the road of themselves. Which would be the best title for the passage?
| A．Ways to kill cane toads in Australia. |
| B．Cane toads have evolved a lot in Australia. |
| C．Australian cane toads hit the road. |
| D．Worse environment forces toads to travel. |
At first, cane toads were brought to Australia to_______.
| A．kill snakes, lizards and other animals |
| B．stop pet dogs from spreading |
| C．protect the sugar cane crop |
| D．hate a scientific research |
According to the passage, the ways to slow down the population of toads are based on the fact that cane toads_________.
| A．move slower through thick plants |
| B．have no natural enemy in Australia |
| C．mainly live near the roadside |
| D．like traveling at night |
The underlined word "They" in Paragraph 3 refers to “________”.
| A．Beetles | B．Cane toads |
| C．Australia's sugar cane crop | D．New places |
Two Chinese living in South Africa were killed in a robbery (抢劫) on February 5, bringing the total number of Chinese killed in the country to four in less than a month.
Chen Jianqing, 35, from Southeast China's Fujian Province, who ran a shop with her husband in a small town 45 kilometers away from South African capital Johannesburg, was shot dead.
"One of her business, partners died later in the hospital," the Chinese consulate (领事馆) officials in Johannesburg said yesterday. "Local police are trying to find more information about the case. And we have told the victims' (遇难者的) relatives and are helping them come to Johannesburg,". consul Wu Gang told China Daily. Chen's husband was injured during the robbery but did not suffer seriously, said Wu.
The robbery happened at about 5:45 pm local time and the armed robbers ran away after taking more than 50,000 South African rand (US $8,200). and some jewellery, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The killing happened just three days after Chen Jingmin, a 23-year-old man from Qingdao, Shandong Province, was shot dead north outside Johannesburg by armed robbers. On January 10, a Hong Kong businessman was attacked and robbed at his home in Johannesburg and died the next day in the hospital. All these happened just in less than a month.
According to records, there were more than 40 robberies attacking Chinese in South Africa last year, in which eight were killed. More than 100,000 Chinese are doing various kinds of businesses in South Africa, according to a Chinese official in the country. An increasing number of them are becoming targets( 目标) of robbers after buying big houses or luxury cars, the official said.The passage is probably ______.
| A．a business story | B．a scientific article |
| C．a newspaper report | D．an official document |
Who were killed on February 5 in a small town near Johannesburg?
| A．Chen Jianqing and her husband. |
| B．Chen Jianqing and one of her partners. |
| C．Chen Jingmin and a Hong Kong businessman. |
| D．Chen Jingmin and one of his relatives. |
How many Chinese were killed in South Africa since January ?
| A．2 | B．4. | C．5. | D．8. |
______________ are more likely to be robbed in South Africa.
| A．Those Chinese who depend too much on local police |
| B．Those Chinese who live near the capital of South Africa |
| C．Those Chinese who open shops selling Chinese goods |
| D．Those Chinese who leave others the impression of being rich |
The ad most probably comes from the “_______”part of the newspaper.
| A．Education | B．Farming | C．Travel | D．History |
Which of the following ways can offer you enough information about the celebration in Plano?
| A．Calling 214-599-7733. |
| B．Visiting5445 Independence Pkwy. |
| C．Visiting 5445 Beltline Rd. |
| D．Calling 214-599-7783. |
The purpose of the ad is to _____
| A．tell readers what Walt Disney is |
| B．encourage readers to attend a Disney celebration |
| C．look for helpers for the celebration |
| D．announce a plan of a Disney celebration |
According to the ad, AAA Travel is_____________.
| A．the name of an agent |
| B．a way of traveling |
| C．a way of celebration |
| D．a kind of activity held by Disney |
The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" was created by Dr. Spencer. Johnson to help him deal with a difficult change in his life. It showed him how to take his changing situation seriously but not take himself so seriously.
When his friends noticed how much better life had become for him, and asked why, Dr. Johnson shared his "Cheese" story. Many later said how greatly the story had helped them to keep their sense of humor, to change, and to gain something better, too.
Twenty years after the story was created, "Who Moved My Cheese?" was finally published. It soon became a No.1 international best seller, with one million hardcover copies in print within the first sixteen months and over ten million copies within the next two years.
Some critics (批评家) do not understand why so many people find the book so valuable. They say the story is simple enough for a child to understand, and it insults (侮辱) their intelligence. Some even fear it suggests that people should mindlessly accept unnecessary changes forced upon them by others, although that is not in the story.
The author said that both the fans and the critics are "right" in their own way. It is not what is in the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" but how you understand it and apply it to your own situation that gives it value.
Hopefully the way you understand the story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" and the way you put it into action in your life will help you find and enjoy the "New Cheese" you deserve (应得).
60. Why did the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" become a best seller as soon as it was published?
A. Because it is simple and easy to read.
B. Because readers can learn a lot from it.
C. Because the writer is quite famous.
D. Because it has many interesting stories~ Some people don't like the book because they think that__________.
| A．it is too simple for adults to read |
| B．the author aims to insult them |
| C．there are many wrong ideas in it |
| D．the author's intelligence is too high |
Which of the following is NOT true about the book?
| A．The author's friends were interested to know why life became better, for Spencer. |
| B．The author agreed with both the fans and the critics of his book. |
| C．Some people worry the book may have a bad effect on readers. |
| D．The "New Cheese" in the last paragraph refers to a kind of freshly-made milk food. |
The writer's purpose in writing the passage is to_______.
| A．help Dr. Johnson sell more of his book |
| B．introduce the meaning of the book |
| C．help readers understand the book and get something from it |
| D．introduce people's different opinions on the book |