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 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（慢节奏的生活） 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, leaving their two children with a nanny. 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 then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. 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.”
The passage tells us that .
| 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 |
The Antarctic Icecap is the largest supply of fresh water，representing nearly 2％of the world’s total of fresh and salt water. As can be seen from the table below, the amount of water in our atmosphere is over 10 times as much as the water in all the rivers taken together. The fresh water actually available for human use in lakes and rivers and the accessible ground water amount to only about one-third of 1％of the world’s total water supply.
| Surface area(sq mi) |
Volume(cu mi) |
Percentage of total |
||
| Salt water |
||||
| The oceans |
139,500,000 |
317,000,000 |
97.2％ |
|
| Inland seas and saline lakes |
270,000 |
25,000 |
0.008 |
|
| Fresh water |
||||
| Freshwater lakes |
330,000 |
30,000 |
0.009 |
|
| All rivers(average level) |
－ |
300 |
0.0001 |
|
| Antarctic Icecap |
6,000,000 |
6,300,000 |
1.9 |
|
| Arctic Icecap and glaciers |
900,000 |
680,000 |
0. 21 |
|
| Water in the atmosphere |
197,000,000 |
3,100 |
0. 001 |
|
| Ground water within half a mile from surface a mile from surface |
－ |
1,000,000 |
0. 31 |
|
| Deep-lying ground water |
－ |
1,000,000 |
0. 31 |
|
| Total (rounded) |
－ |
326,000,000 |
100.00 |
|
What’s the best title of this passage?
| A．Fresh Water in the World | B．Water Supply of the World |
| C．Salt Water of the Earth | D．Protection of the Water in the World |
It can be seen from the table______.
| A．humans will have to use sea water in the future |
| B．there is enough fresh water for man to use |
| C．Water in the atmosphere is the least |
| D．the sea water takes up 98％of the water on earth |
The fresh water that humans can use is _________.
| A．about 1,086,700 cu mi | B．about 6,300,000 cu mi |
| C．about 680,000 cu mi | D．about 2,000,000 cu mi |
Where does the majority of fresh water exists?
| A．In Arctic Icecap and glaciers. | B．In Deep ground. |
| C．In the Antarctic Icecap. | D．In the atmosphere. |
What are the two places where equal amount of fresh water is stored?
| A．Freshwater lakes and all rivers(average level) |
| B．Antarctic Icecap and water in the atmosphere |
| C．Ground water within half a mile from surface and Deep-lying ground water. |
| D．Deep-lying ground water and Arctic Icecap and glaciers |
Believing overweight among school children is the result of bake sales, the Education Department of New York declared that bake sales will be banned all through the states, as a part of their new “wellness”policy.
The ban gives a harder time to schools tying to earn money，because of budget difficulties. Bake sales have proven to be highly profitable toward schools with young people because the start-up costs are very small. Allie，a Roslyn High School freshman , agrees that bake sales are needed for school supplies.“l think it’s wrong for schools to ban bake sales because a lot of schools need the money to be raised. Our school could really use the money for new uniforms.”Allie also commented on the bake sales apparent cause of child overweight. “I feel that it is the student’s choice to eat the baked goods. lf they want it, let them have it．”Jessica，another Roslyn High School freshman, had a different opinion.“I feel that children can not always stay away from items such as cupcakes. It might be better if the amount of bake sales were limited, and only allowed students to buy one item.”
New York Education advisors are having trouble coming up with substitute product for students to sell. A plan of advertising healthier foods has come into play. However the department needs to consider if students will go for items like vegetables. Allie and Jessica don’t think so.“Students might not like the healthier foods. This way, the schools are gaining less money.”Allie shares. Another plan to think about is the idea of not selling food products altogether. Alternate programs are being conducted throughout New York schools，such as walk-a-thons, as a healthy way for students to earn money for their schools．The new “wellness”policy is declared in order to_______．
| A．help schools out of budget difficulties |
| B．reduce child overweight caused by bake food |
| C．help students save money spent on food |
| D．reduce the price of bake food sold in schools |
Which of the following statement about Allie is true?
| A．He is rich in experience about the bake sales at schoo1. |
| B．He agrees to carry out the bake sales ban at schools. |
| C．He attaches great importance to the school's income. |
| D．He attaches too much importance to students' health. |
According to Jessica, the cupcakes____________
| A．Don't belong to the bake sales | B．Should't be banned at school |
| C．Mustn't be sold at schools | D．can be fully replaced by vegetables |
Which is both healthy and profitable way for schools to earn money?
| A．The bake sales. | B．The vegetables sales |
| C．The walk-a-thons. | D．The food product sales． |
We can infer from the passage that schools in New York always______.
| A．sell baked food to students | B．free students to choose food |
| C．find ways to earn money | D．offer chances to earn money |
I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma．I remember the day when my big sister dropped the bomb: “There is no SantaClaus,” she laughed．“Even dummies know that!”
I fled to Grandma because I knew she always told me 21 ．After I told her everything, she said “No Santa Claus? Don’t believe it. Now, 22 your coat, and let’s go.”
“Go? Go where?” I asked．
“Where” 23 to be the General Store．As we walked through its doors, Grandma 24 me ten dollars．That was a lot in those days．“Take this money and buy something for 25 needs it．I’ll wait for you in the car．”
The store seemed big and 26 , full of people hurrying to finish their Christmas shopping．For a few moments I just stood there, 27 , holding that bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for．
Suddenly I thought of Bobbie who sat right behind me．I remembered he didn’t have a coat．I fingered the bill with growing 28 ．I would buy Bobbie a coat．
“Is this a Christmas present for someone?” the lady behind the 29 asked me kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down
“Yes,” I replied shyly．“It’s…for Bobbie.”
The nice lady smiled at me．I didn’t get any 30 , but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas．
That evening, Grandma helped me 31 the coat and wrote, “To Bobby, From Santa Claus” on it．Then she 32 me over to Bobbie’s house．
Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie’s house, and she and I crept 33 and hid in the 34 ．Then Grandma gave me a sign．“All right, Santa Claus, get going．”
I took a deep 35 , dashed for his front door, threw the present down, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety．Together we 36 breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open．Finally it 37 , and there stood Bobbie．
Forty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those 38 spent shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie’s bushes． 39 , I realized: Santa was alive and well, and we were 40 his team．
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A recent survey made by BUPA, an international healthcare provider, shows that 54 percent of Chinese people aged between 45 and 54 consider themselves old, while 28 percent say that the thought of getting old upsets them. 25 percent are afraid of getting old, and a third worry about life in old age.
BUPA made the survey among 12,262 people from 12 countries over 2 months, starting in June 2010. The survey shows that 72 percent of international participants(参加者) aged over 65 don’t feel old and that 67 percent still feel healthy. On the other hand, 65 percent of Chinese feel old even before reaching 60. About one third of those surveyed in China said they have enough savings(存款), and 46 percent are insured(参加保险). Around 60 percent of the Chinese participants hope they will be taken care of by family members.
According to the survey, the French hold the most positive attitude towards getting old, with 32 percent of them considering age 80 and up old. 17 percent of Brazilians look forward to old age, compared with 3 percent globally. Indians are not bothered by old age, as 70 percent said that they don’t feel that they will be affected by old age and 71 percent say they have already made preparations for this stage of life. The illnesses that most people around the world are worried about are cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.According to the survey, many Chinese people surveyed feel old before they are ______.
| A．50 year old | B．60 years old |
| C．70 years old | D．80 years old |
Most of Chinese people surveyed expect help from _________.
| A．the government | B．family members |
| C．insurance companies | D．healthcare providers |
Who are the youngest at heart according to the survey?
| A．The Indians. | B．The Brazilians |
| C．The French | D．The Chinese |
Why are the Indians not afraid of getting old?
| A．Because they have got ready for old age. |
| B．Because old people are respected in India. |
| C．Because getting old means enjoying life. |
| D．Because they will get more help from society. |
The bar-tailed godwit(斑尾鹬) has just broken its own record for the world’s longest non-stop flight, including humans in planes, according to a report made by Lund University Press. The bird can fly non-stop for eight days, while the most impressive man-made airplane can only remain in the sky for 82 hours without a stop.
The bar-tailed godwit’s journey, from Alaska to New Zealand, covers over 6,835 miles. It completes this trip twice a year, in autumn going to New Zealand, and in spring back to Alaska. The tireless bird ends the trip without stopping once for food or rest. All other birds can only finish trips that are twice as short as what the bar-tailed godwit travels.
One reason for the bar-tailed godwit’s success is that it has made the best use of its fuel, which is only 0.41 percent of its body weight over each hour of any given long flight. Hedenstrom, a professor from Lund University, says, “This figure is extremely low compared with other birds.” The bird also has a special body shape that helps it fly easily. It stores body fat and protein to manage its trips. It also travels fast, compared to other birds and animals.
Many questions remain about this bird record holder that never gets lost in the air. Researchers wonder whether it has an inside compass(指南针) that helps it to know the direction. Please watch how beautiful bar-tailed godwits look as they come in for a landing, along with other birds.For the flight from Alaska to New Zealand, the bar-tailed godwit _____.
| A．doesn’t need to stop to eat | B．is afraid of hot weather |
| C．seems very tired at last | D．should fly less than 7000 metres |
The main reason why the bar-tailed godwit can break the record is that it ______.
| A．eats little food every hour | B．has a special body shape |
| C．stores much water in its body | D．has very light body weight |
The last paragraph tells us that ________.
| A．researchers have understood the bird very well |
| B．the bird has a very good sense of direction |
| C．there are still many who doubt the bird’s ability |
| D．the bird has an inner compass |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．A bird that breaks the record for the longest non-stop flight. |
| B．Birds and airplanes that can fly over a long distance. |
| C．Reasons for the bar-tailed godwit’s long-distance flight. |
| D．An introduction to long-distance flights of birds and humans. |