An increase in students applying to study economics (经济学) at university is being attributed to （归因于）the global economic crisis (危机) awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecture at St Andrews University, said his first-year lectures which are open to students from all departments—were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done. ” He added.
University applications rose 70% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the pubic sector（部门）, which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said: “It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped (使…有能力) to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.” Professor John Beath’s lectures are .
| A．given in a traditional way |
| B．connected with the present situation |
| C．open to both students and their parents |
| D．warmly received by economics |
Careers in the public sector are more attractive because of their .
| A．greater stability | B．higher pay |
| C．fewer applications | D．better reputation |
In the opinion of most parents , .
| A．economics should be the focus of school teaching |
| B．more students should be admitted to universities |
| C．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened. |
| D．children should solve financial problems themselves |
According to Hocking , the global economic crisis might make the youngsters_____.
| A．wiser in money management |
| B．have access to better equipment |
| C．confident about their future careers |
| D．get jobs in Child Trust Funds |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Universities have received more applications. |
| B．Economics is attracting an increasing number of students |
| C．college students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty |
| D．parents are concerned with children’s subject selection. |
Have you ever heard anyone say “It’s raining cats and dogs”? It means “It’s raining hard!”
But sometimes cats and dogs do drop from the sky! Here’s how it happens.
Not so long ago, a country far away had many large rats. The people there said, “ We need cats!” So cats were sent to them by airplane. But the country had many mountains. It was hard for an airplane to land. So the cats came down by parachute(降落伞). Did the cats like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are still catching rats!
In another country far away, there is snow the year around. People sometimes got lost in it.
“We need big dogs!” the people said, “The dogs could find people lost in the snow. The dogs could help bring them home. Where can we get big dogs?”
A man across the sea had big dogs to sell. “I will send dogs to you,” he said. “ I have some very big ones. They can find people lost in the snow.”
He sent the dogs by airplane.
But the airplane did not land in the snow. The dogs came down by parachute ---- you guessed it !
Did the dogs like the ride? They didn’t say they didn’t! And today they are well and happy.
They find anyone who gets lost in the snow. Then they help him get home. Goo
d dogs!
Remember it, so you can say, “ Yes, it does rain cats and dogs sometimes. They came down by parachute!”
1.The underlined word “ it” In Paragraph 2 refers to __________.
A．the weather
B．the saying “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
C．the saying “It’s raining hard.”
D．the fact that real cats and dogs drop from the sky.
2. Cats and dogs drop from the sky because ______.
A．there are many mountains in the country.
B. it snows the year around in the country.
C. was hard for a plane to land in the two countries.
D. coming down by parachute could save money.
3．The main purpose of the passage is to _________________.
A．tell the readers cats and dogs do drop from the sky
B．tell the reader
s of a new meaning about an old saying.
C．show cats and dogs are our good friends.
D．show parachute is an important
第二部分：阅读理解（第一节 20小题; 第二节 5小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
第一节,阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
My grandfather was a teacher. He was the headmaster of a school for boys between thirteen and eighteen. I know that he was a kind and gentle man at heart, because when I was young, he gave me presents, and seated me on his knee, and told me stories. But I believe the boys at his school were afraid of him.
At school, when he walked into a room full of noisy boys, there was silence at once. When he looked at a boy with a certain look in his eyes, the boy went red in the face, and looked down at his shoes. If a boy brought him poor, careless work that was not the best the boy could do, my grandfather would pick up the boy’s book and throw it across the room, shouting, “Do it all again, and bring it back to me in the morning!” If the boy was late, or if he forgot to bring the work, he had to do it again, and again, and yet again. My grandfather never forgot.
He was a very different man at school from the man I saw day by day in his own home.
1. I knew my grandfather was kind and gentle, because _________
A．he was a teacher.
B．he let me sit on his knee and told me stories.
C．he told me stories about how kind he was
D．he was the headmaster of a school
2. When he looked at a boy in a certain way, the boy ________
A．went red and could not return my grandfather’s look
B．looked back at my grandfather’s red face
C. looked at his shoes to see if they were dirty.
D. went red in the face because his shoes were dirty.
3．When he received poor work, my grandfather _______.
A．would become very angry.
B．threw the work on the floor, and shouted across the room
C．threw the book at the boy.
D．went red in the face
4．He was a different man at home because ________.
A．he didn’t get angry at home as he did at school.
B．he was not as gentle at home
C．he didn’t throw books about at school like he did at home
D．he did not get angry at home.
Dear Sir
I’m interested in the furnished （备有家具的）house near Dedham which you made known in yesterday’s paper, for my husband and I are coming to England in June and need accommodation（住所）for three months. Would you please tell me exactly where it is and give me details （细目）of bus and train services in the area ？We need a house on a busy street. And I would also like to know about the local（当地的）shops. Do the local shops still supply? I know they did ten years ago.
I would be thankful also if you would tell me whether you supply sheets etc, and whether a laundry（洗衣房）calls at the house. The rent （房租）you ask sounds reasonable for the size of the house. How do you like it paid? Weekly, monthly or in advance （提前）？
I would be thankful for an early reply.
Yours
Pamda Smith
1．Pamda Smith got the news about the house from .
A．local shops B．a newspaper C．her friends D．a telephone
2．Most probably, Mr and Mrs Smith .
A．are coming to England from America B．want to live in a beautiful place
C．are very rich D．once lived in Dedham ten years ago
3．How do they need a house on a busy street?
A．The rent is the cheapest B．There is a laundry
C．They like the busy area very much D．They don’t want to drive
4．Which of the following is not true? Mr. and Mrs. Smith .
A．are not clear about the rent B．Want to be in England for three months
C．will be on holiday in England D．do not want to wash their clothes
5．In the passage, the word “accommodation” means .
A．cool weather B．good service C．furnished rooms D．beautiful scenes
When his wife died，the baby was two．They had six other children--three boys and three girls，ranging in age from 4 to 16． A few days later he became a widower, the man’s parents and his wife’s parents came to visit the family．“We’ve been talking，”they said，“about how to take care of all these children and work to make a living．So，we’ve arranged for each child to be placed with a different uncle and aunt．We’re making sure that al1of your children will be living right here in the neighborhood，so you can see them anytime…”
The man appreciated their thoughtfulnessbut refused their kindness. Over the next few weeks the man worked withhis children，assigning them chores(杂务)and giving them responsibilities．
But then another misfortunehappened．The man developed arthritis (关节炎)．His hands swelled，and he was unable to hold the handles of his farm tools. He would not be able to continue the work on his farm. He sold his farming equipment, moved the family to a small town and opened a smallbusiness．
The family was welcomedinto the new neighborhood．Word of his pleasant personality and excellent customer service began tospread in the town．People came from far and wide to do business with him．And the children helpedboth at home 
and at work．Their father’s pleasurein his work brought satisfaction to them，and he drew pleasure from their successes．
The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went to college and they were married. The children’s successes were a source of prideto the father．Then came grandchildren.No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became older, he invited them to his workplace and his small home. They brought each other great joy. Finally, the youngest daughter, the baby, who had been two years old at her moth
er death, got married. Finally，the man，with his life’s work completed，died．
This man’s work had been the lonely butjoyful task of raising his family．This man was my father．
I was the 1 6-year—old，the oldest of seven．
1. How old was the writer when his mother died?
A. 4 B. 2 C. 16 D. not mentioned
2. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. There were six children in the family.
B. The father wanted to give his children to his relatives.
C. The father didn’t farm any longer because of his illness.
D. The father’s life work was lonely and sadly.
3. The underlined word “widower” means ________.
A. a worker B. a farmer C. a man with many children D. a man without wife
4. The main idea of the passage is ________.
A. The father’s life work: raising his family
B. Why the father wanted to raised his family
C. How the children grew up after their mother died
D. the father’s sadness and happiness in his life
5. what is the writer’s attitude to his father?.
A. unconcerned B. criticalC. doubtful D. respectful
There are many ways to find a job. Local stores often have areas where people can put small signs telling what kind of service they need or can provide. Such services include caring for children or cleaning houses.
Or, job searchers can look in the newspaper. Local newspapers have employment announcements placed by companies seeking workers.
Another popular tool for finding jobs is the Internet. For example, people in four hundred and fifty cities around the world can use the Craigslist Web site 
to buy objects, meet people or find a job. Craigslist says that it receives two million new job listings each month.
Another useful way to find a job is through a college or university. For example, students at the University of Texas can go to the Career Exploration Center to get help in finding a job. Of course, looking for a job requires knowing what kind of work you want to do. For example, there is a book called “What Color is Your Parachute (降落伞)?” by Richard Bolles. This book has been helping people choose a career (职业) since it was first published in nineteen seventy.
Some experts also help people find jobs. Susan W. Miller owns a company called Califo
rnia Career Services in Los Angeles. She says her company helps people find jobs by first helping them understand their advantages, goals and interests. Then she provides them with methods and resources to help them find the right job.
1. What is the passage mainly about?
A. Finding a job. B. Colle
ge students’ part-time jobs.
C. Craigslist Web site. D. The relation between study and work
.
2. By logging on the Craigslist Web site, you can ______.
A. sell your old things B. do some shopping online
C. create your own announcement board D. get useful information about 450 cities3. “What Color is Your Parachute?” is a book which gives tips to those who want to _____.
A. work on the
airplane B. buy a parachute C. publish a book D. find a suitable job
4. It can be learned from the passage that ______.
A. companies often put job information in local shops
B. the Internet is the most popular tool for job hunters in the USA
C. Susan W. Miller’s company is helping people choose careers
D. California Career Services mainly serves university students
5. How many ways of finding a job are mentioned in the passage?
A. Three. B. Four. C. Five.D. Six.