In America，Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort：brilliant beaches，a lively boardwalk，plenty of restaurants and nightspots，and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids．Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season，when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild．
Meanwhile，some safety tips should be followed，enjoying the happiness and excitement the beach offers．
The number l safety tip concerns ocean safety：pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands．Lifeguards post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous．Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves．However，a calm ocean can become risky without warning．Make sure you swim near a lifeguard．Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards．
Never swim alone．Many drownings involve single swimmers．When you swim with someone else，if one of you has a problem，the other may be able to get help，including signaling for assistance from others．
Don't fight the current．The facts show that some 80％ of rescues by lifeguards at ocean beaches are caused by currents．These currents are formed by surf and gravity，because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach，gravity pulls it back．This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore．If you are caught in a rip current，don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore．Instead，swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax，then swim to shore．Most rip currents are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety．When coming to Virginia Beach，children can enjoy the happiness of the following except .
| A．walking on the road made of wood | B．joining the nightspots |
| C．having interesting rides | D．skiing in the sea |
Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be .
| A．after autumn school term beginning | B．in the slimmer vacation |
| C．during the Christmas holiday | D．in the cold winter |
Swimming in the sea you'd better not swim .
| A．with a friend | B．within the sight of the lifeguard |
| C．with the current | D．as far as you like |
From the passage，we can know .
| A．one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned |
| B．if one with lifeguard were drowning，five persons without lifeguard would be |
| C．some 80％people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards |
| D．some 20％drowning by the currents are rescued by life guards |
The passage mainly tells us .
| A．some safety tips when swimming in the sea |
| B．the happiness and excitement the beach offers |
| C．Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort |
| D．the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea |
Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”
More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States. The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday(but only on Friday). This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday.” “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,” said business consultant Maisly Jones.
Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale(士气). Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict” because.
| A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt |
| B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance |
| C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time |
| D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes |
David Smith wears casual clothes now, because.
| A．they make him feel at ease when working |
| B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes |
| C．he looks handsome in casual clothes |
| D．he no longer works for any company |
According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?
| A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code. |
| B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive. |
| C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees. |
| D．All the employers in the US are for casual office wear. |
In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned EXCEPT.
| A．saving employees’ money |
| B．making employees more attractive |
| C．improving employees’ motivation |
| D．making employees happier |
Do you know what really troubles me? For some reason, words with silent letters have always bothered me. For example, consider these words: know, design, island, school, wrist, naughty, and salmon. All of these words have at least one letter that is not typically pronounced, and these words are just a very small part of words with silent letters in them.
Some words are even worse, consider this word: colonel. Not only are some letters not pronounced, but letters that are not even there are pronounced.
Even foreign languages, especially French, are guilty of this needless complexity and confusion. I know there must be some main historical reasons why the words are spelled and pronounced the way they are, but that does not mean bad traditions must continue to survive. Especially if they are no longer logical.
Unfortunately, there is very little that anyone can do for it, because there’s no group of people who can change or have the right to change the English language for everyone. However, the only thing we can do is make changes in the way we talk and write in hopes that it catches on. For example, I pronounce the letter “l” in salmon on purpose to make people annoyed and to sound more different or complicated. I even pronounce colonel the correct or French way.
I can only hope these two minor changes to the English language make sense to you, and you will help to keep up these minor changes forever in your everyday life.We can learn from the passage ________.
| A．colonel is pronounced |
| B．salmon is pronounced |
| C．all the words with silent letters come from French |
| D．linguists will solve the problem of dumb letters |
Which of the following is the main reason for silent letters?
| A．French language. | B．Historical reasons. |
| C．Some linguists | D．Bad traditions. |
The underlined phrase “catches on” probably means “________”.
| A．becomes popular | B．gets across |
| C．follows the fashion | D．doesn’t fall behind |
Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
| A．Troubles in everyday life | B．Traps in English words |
| C．Words with silent letters | D．Necessary changes of languages |
Jack lay, quiet and unmoving, for thirty minutes while a stranger repeatedly stabbed(刺) him with sharp needles, causing blood to pour steadily out of his leg. Jack was getting a tattoo. His friend Tony had recently gotten a tattoo, and Jack was so impressed by it that he decided to get one too. Peer pressure, media influence, and personal expression are some of the common reasons for wearing tattoos today.
The desire to be accepted by one’s friends or peers can have a great influence on what a person does. Sometimes, wearing a tattoo can be a sign that you belong to a certain group. Gangs often use special clothes and tattoos to identify their particular group. Some of these groups wear only brand-name clothes. Others wear tattoos. When a person’s friends are all doing something, that person is more likely to do the same thing.
The media is another big influence behind the popularity of tattoos in North America. A wide variety of media images show tattoos—people appearing in commercials selling expensive cars, famous sports heroes with tattoos in magazines, fashion models wearing designer clothes that show their bodies tattooed with detailed and colorful patterns. These media images link tattoos to ideas of wealth, success, and status. As a result, many people decide to get a tattoo for its fashion and status value.
Many people decide to wear tattoos in order to express their artistic nature, their beliefs, or their feelings－in other words, to show their individuality(个性). A musician in a rock band may get a tattoo of a guitar on the arm. Some environmentalists may tattoo pictures of endangered animals on their shoulders. A tattoo can be a public sign to show what is important in a person’s life.
As you can see, there are many reasons why young North Americans get tattoos. A tattoo can be part of a group’s uniform, a sign of fashion, or an expression of individuality. The decision to get a tattoo is most often a result of the influence of friends or media or the desire to express oneself. For Jack, it was a mixture of all three.Jack has got tattoos in order to ________.
| A．show his great bravery | B．gain a special experience |
| C．make himself more healthy | D．be different from others |
According to the passage, media images are linked to ________.
| A．traditional lifestyle | B．social position |
| C．cultural background | D．public interest |
We can infer from the passage that ________.
| A．some people get tattoos out of pressure |
| B．tattoo is related to religious belief |
| C．getting tattoos costs a lot of money |
| D．most people with tattoos are artists |
1. The Video Camera Pen
Item 78431; $129.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing videos or still images with a click of its button. Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video and up to 20,000 images. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge.
2. The Wristwatch Camcorder
Item 78098; $149.95
Available for 3-day shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the men’s watch with an unnoticeable camcorder, so you’ll always have a camera ready to capture a chance famous person or a pet’s ridiculous actions. The camera is located at the two-o’clock position,
yet the watch’s hands never make it covered. The camera’s rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge.
3. The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater
Item 77918; $249.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the only personal media viewer that provides a
private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away. It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player. Includes two AA batteries that provide up to six hours of continuous operation and iPod cable.
4. The Digital Phone Album Watch
Item 77281; $99.95
Available for Immediate Shipment
Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484
This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs. You can download digital photographs to the watch. The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode(time and photo view) or digital mode (time and date view). A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use.What’s the purpose of this passage?
| A．To compare some creative inventions |
| B．To advertise some unique goods. |
| C．To teach how to operate the items |
| D．To show how fashionable the items are. |
What do Item 78431 and Item 78098 have in common according to this passage?
| A．They both sell well. |
| B．They are both cheap. |
| C．They both have unusual appearances. |
| D．They both can take photos. |
If you’re a movie fan, you probably show strong interest in ________.
| A．The Video Camera Pen |
| B．The Wristwatch Camcorder |
| C．The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater |
| D．The Digital Phone Album Watch |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．In fact, Item 78098 cannot tell time. |
| B．Item 77918 works as a DVD player. |
| C．In a way, Item 77281 is user-friendly. |
| D．All the items include rechargeable batteries. |
“Hey, Jenna, do you think we’ll still be friends when we’re eighty-two?” I asked my friend. It was clear that she was wondering where I had come up with such a question. Losing Jenna would be like losing a very close sister. We hung out together. We gave each other advice.
“Of course, we’ll still be friends when we’re eighty-two.” Jenna announced loudly.
The next year, in the fourth grade, we met Jamie. The three of us soon became close friends. We played together almost every day. I thought even time couldn’t pull us apart, but I was sadly mistaken.
The three of us started fighting a lot. Before Christmas, we had a really big fight, and Jamie and Jenna were against me, both saying I was bossy. I felt helpless and lonely. I thought Christmas would be horrible!
I was surprised when Jenna came to my house and gave me an awesome Christmas card she had made for me. I was so sure that she was still disappointed with me.
“Wow, ” I said, breaking the silence as we stood on either side of my front door. “Thanks.”
“Okay…well…I have to go,” she said softly.
“Okay. See you later then…” and I closed the door.
“Who was that at the door?” my mum asked.
The card started off with “Merry Christmas”, but then it said, “I am so glad we’re friends. I am sorry about what I said when we were fighting. A fight won’t stop us from being friends. Besides, we said we were going to be friends even when we’re eight-two.”
I stopped reading and started laughing. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten what she said that day in her back yard. I couldn’t believe I had been so selfish in trying to get even and making my friends feel sorry for me that I had forgotten about real friendship.How would the author and Jenna get along with each other after Christmas?
| A．They would be close friends again. |
| B．They would not speak to each other. |
| C．They would lose touch with each other. |
| D．They would go on fighting with each other. |
The underlined sentence “I was bossy” in the fourth paragraph means “_________”.
| A．I looked like a boss | B．I acted as a boss |
| C．I was fond of giving orders | D．I was fond of fighting |
Which of the following is the right time order according to the passage?
a. Jamie became our friend.
b. I felt lonely and unhappy.
c. Jenna, Jamie and I fought a lot.
d. Jenna brought me a Christmas card.
e. I was sorry for what I did to her.
f. Jenna and I promised to be lifelong friends.
| A．f a b c e d | B．a c f b d e | C．a b c f e d | D．f a c b d e |
The author was delighted when she read the card from Jenna because _________.
| A．what Jenna wrote was funny |
| B．Jenna would be her friend again |
| C．she was happy about the coming Christmas |
| D．she was happy to receive a Christmas card |