Social networking isn’t only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.
“The latest data tells us that more and more social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus,” said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.
Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren. “They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them,” said Jean Koppen, the author of the report. She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and those in the same age group. Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild. “Just under one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older say they do not use the Internet,” according to the report.
The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are aware of the latest technology. Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one.
Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s, they still mostly go to print newspapers and magazines for news. Only one percent said they followed blogs.What is the main idea of the text?
A. Social networking is becoming popular among older Americans.
B. Social networking isn’t for the under 40s in the U.S.A.
C. American old people’s way of life is quite fashionable.
D. Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are the most popular websites in the US.Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．85% of Americans 50 plus choose the Internet over print media. |
| B．About 20% of adults aged 50 plus have access to the Internet. |
| C．About 460 people in the telephone survey often use Facebook. |
| D．Three quarters of the people surveyed got to know the Internet through their family. |
From the text, it can be concluded that______.
| A．Kevin Donnellan approves of this change among older Americans |
| B．many older Americans are open-minded about new developments |
| C．Young people should introduce their elders to new technology |
| D．In a high tech age it is difficult to avoid social networking |
Where does the text probably come from?
| A．A novel. | B．A student’s research paper |
| C．A technology guide. | D．A newspaper. |
On Boy's Day，children don't have to go to school.Every family with a boy hangs up huge carpshaped flags.The flags are usually three colors：black(representing the father)，red (representing the mother)and blue(representing the son). Japanese parents believe that the flags will bring their boys good luck and give them courage and power.
May 5th is Japanese Children's Day. But since the festival is mainly celebrated by boys，it is usually called Boy's Day. The celebration of Boy's Day has a long history.It is said that the festival is derived from the Dragon Boat Festival in China.
On this day，Japanese boys eat a special kind of rice cake. It is covered with a leaf and filled with bean paste (豆酱)．Children love to eat it. And eggs on leaves are another traditional food.
Japanese children are so happy that they have three festivals each year. In addition to Boy's Day，they also have Girl's Day and the 753 Festival.
Girl's Day is the girl's festival on March 3. It is also called the Doll's Festival because on that day，families get a set of dolls at home for their daughters. It is celebrated because the parents want their daughters to be strong and healthy.
The 753 Festival is for children aged three, five and seven years old. Japanese people think that these three ages are the luckiest ones in one's life. On that day, these children get special candies wrapped in beautiful bags.The candy is a symbol of a long and healthy life for these children. The 753 Festival falls in November.What is the BEST title for the passage?
| A．Japanese 753 Festival |
| B．Japanese Boy's Day |
| C．Japanese Girl's Day |
| D．Japanese Children's Day |
On Boy's Day，you may not see________.
| A．eggs on leaves |
| B．leaves filled with bean paste |
| C．carpshaped flags |
| D．dolls |
Which of the Days is said to come from a Chinese festival?
| A．International Children's Day |
| B．Boy's Day |
| C．Girl's Day |
| D．The 753 Festival |
According to the passage，why do the girls in Japan always receive dolls on Girl's Day?
| A．Because girls themselves want dolls. |
| B．Because doll factories want to send dolls to girls to celebrate Girl's Day. |
| C．Because parents want their daughters to be healthy. |
| D．Because parents believe dolls can bring them good luck. |
The arrival of autumn starts the traditional fall festivals which aim to welcome the new season. Here's a guide to several fall festivals that are held in the Roanoke region each year.
Boones Mill Apple Festival
It is held the third Saturday in September every year.The festival is hosted by the Boones Mill Lions Club and attracts(吸引) people from all over Virginia. The most important things of the festival include art shows, fried apple pies，and a high school band. There are lots of food，crafts，music，and games for every age group. Admission (入场费) is free. For more information, call 540－334－5975.
Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
Ferrum College hosts the festival as an October celebration of the harvest every year.The festival shows some farm fresh produce and the farming practices of the last year.Children can enjoy playing many of the games.The festival begins at 10：00 a．m.Admission is $ 10 for adults and $ 5 for children and senior citizens.You can call 540－365－4412 or visit the website：http：//www，blueridgeinstitute.org.
Mountain Magic Fall Festival
The town of Buchanan on the outskirts of Roanoke is the place where the Mountain Magic Fall Festival is held.The festival is held in October and has two to four groups of crafters，antique dealers，and food vendors.Live Bluegrass music plays all day and children enjoy visiting the pet zoo. The auto show and farmers' market are also big attractions. Call 540－357－2509 for more information.
Vinton Fall Festival
A 5K walk, a truck ride, and a civil war group are just some of the exciting parts of the Vinton Fall Festival.The festival is held in October under the golden shade trees in downtown Vinton.Other attractions include hayrides，agriculture judging, health education，and children's activities.Phone: 540－343－1364.If a boy and his parents go to Blue Ridge Folklife Festival，they should pay________.
| A．$5 | B．$10 | C．$15 | D．$25 |
By visiting the website you can learn more information about________.
| A．Boones Mill Apple Festival |
| B．Blue Ridge Folklike Festival |
| C．Mountain Magic Fall Festival |
| D．Vinton Fall Festival |
If your children want to see some animals，you probably should go to ________.
| A．Boones Mill Apple Festival |
| B．Blue Ridge Folklife Festival |
| C．Mountain Magic Fall Festival |
| D．Vinton Fall Festival |
Which would be the BEST title for this passage?
| A．Autumn—the Season of Harvest in America |
| B．Traditional Fall Festivals in the Roanoke Region |
| C．Interesting History of Some Traditional Festivals |
| D．The Differences Between the Traditional Festivals |
Do you enjoy reading? Do you read newspapers or magazines? Chances are, if you do any of these activities, your preschool child is on his way to becoming a reader.
The process of learning to read is complex, and one of the most important things to know is that parents can help their children learn to read.As children have conversations with adults, they hear both new and familiar words and their vocabulary grows.
There are many opportunities for adults and children to talk together, such as when riding in the car or in a bus, doing housework like fixing dinner，or bathing and getting ready for bed. A major part of conversation is listening. When children talk, adults listen and respond.Then children listen and respond，and so the flow of conversation happens.
Have you watched your preschool child pretend to read to his younger sisters or brothers? Have you read his favorite story over and over？These experiences tell children that reading is fun.And when things are fun and they are repeated, your child will see letters. He begins to connect them to familiar words, especially the letters that make up his name.A natural next step for him to take is to write the letters.
When children see parents make a grocery list，they want to use a pencil and paper to make their own list. To encourage these beginning writing activities, have pencils, markers, crayons and scrap paper within your children's reach.
The more children get connected with talking，listening, reading and writing, the easier it is for them to become active readers. While you as a parent have a big influence on these early behaviors, it is important to remember that opportunities for literacy experiences happen when you and your child share in the basic routines(日常生活) of everyday life.The third paragraph tell us that parents can talk with their children________.
| A．during daily routines |
| B．only in quiet places |
| C．in their spare time |
| D．when they are eager to talk |
During the process of learning to read，children may ________.
| A．copy the action of the adults |
| B．prefer to talk with those of their own age |
| C．show no interest in reading at all |
| D．waste a lot of paper and other materials |
When do children want to learn to write?
| A．When their parents ask them to do so. |
| B．When they believe they can write well. |
| C．When they know what they want to know. |
| D．When they can connect letters with familiar words. |
The passage is written to________.
| A．talk about parents' influence on their children's behavior |
| B．encourage parents to set a good example to their children |
| C．advise parents to make reading a part of their children's daily life |
| D．make parents believe in the importance of early reading |
When people want to know about the weather，they usually go to their radios, TVs, newspapers, or to the Internet. However，you can also find many weather signs among wildlife, because of their highly developed senses. Drops in air pressure (压力) produce an effect on small animals in many ways. Mice and deer are good weather indicators.People who spend a lot of time outdoors have observed that, before a storm, field mice come out of their holes and run around.Deer leave high ground and come down from the mountains.
Birds are especially good weather indicators because they also show the effect of a pressure drop in many ways.For example, some birds become irritable(急躁的) and quarrelsome and will fight over a piece of bread.Other birds chirp (叽叽喳喳) and sing just before a storm.It seems that they know they won't get another chance for an hour or two.Birds also seek safe places before a storm. You will sometimes see birds settling in trees or gathering together on a wire close to a building. Prestorm low pressure makes the air so thin that birds have difficulty flying.
It is unusual to see many birds flying overhead in the summertime，rather than during the periods in the spring or autumn. Watch for other weather signs if you see this.If they fly in the wrong direction, they may be flying ahead of a storm.
By paying closer attention to some important signs in nature，we can become better prepared for any kind of weather.There will be a storm if birds________.
| A．make more noise than usual |
| B．fly in different directions |
| C．come down from tall trees |
| D．share a piece of bread |
How can birds sense the coming of a storm?
| A．By feeling a drop in air temperature. |
| B．By noticing the change of wind directions. |
| C．By feeling a drop in air pressure. |
| D．By noticing the movements of other animals. |
The BEST title for the text would be________.
| A．Signs of a Storm | B．Drops in Air Pressure |
| C．Animals' Sharp Senses | D．Nature's Weather Signs |
Watching television makes it easier for toddlers (学步的孩子) to kick and scream, according to a US study.Children under two should not watch any TV.The longer they sit in front of TV，the worse their behavior becomes.
Just having the TV on in the background, even if the child wasn't watching it，was also connected to troublemaking behavior although the relationship wasn't as strong, said the researchers.
“Parents should be smart about TV use，”researcher Jennifer Manganello from the University at Albany, New York, said.
“They should limit the time that children use TV, pay attention to the content of TV programs，and consider how TV is used throughout the home.”
The study looked at 3,128 women from 20 US cities who had a child between 2005 and 2008.
While there was some diversity(差异) of education among the women，onethird hadn't graduated from high school.
Twothirds of the mothers said their threeyearold children watched more than two hours of TV a day，and the average viewing time for children was around three hours.On average，the TV was on for about five additional hours on a common day.
After accounting for factors(因素) such as living in a violent neighborhood，scientists also found watching TV was strongly connected to behavior such as hitting others，having angry moods，being disobedient(不服从的)，and screaming a lot.
The researchers thought that children may see violence on TV，and spend less time on positive development tasks such as reading or playing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no TV at all for children at two and younger，and two hours a day or less for older kids.What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Children should choose positive programs. |
| B．Watching TV can make children violent. |
| C．Children should keep away from TV. |
| D．Parents should watch less TV. |
What can we learn from Paragraph 2?
| A．Children can watch good programs. |
| B．Children will be affected as long as the TV is on. |
| C．It's OK that the TV is on if children don't watch it. |
| D．Children's troublemaking behavior is mainly caused by watching TV. |
What can be learned about the study between 2005 and 2008 from the passage?
| A．The women studied have different jobs. |
| B．The TV was on for about three hours. |
| C．Most women allowed their children to watch TV. |
| D．Most women studied hadn't graduated from high school. |
Children who spend much time watching TV will ________.
| A．become easily angry |
| B．be influenced by others |
| C．be popular with others |
| D．know more about the neighborhood |