As is known to all, colors appear in every language to express people’s feeling and thoughts．Then, what is the situation in American English?
Red is a hot color．Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair．They are red hot when they are very angry about something．The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery taste．Fast loud music is popular with many people．They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland Jazz．
Pink is a lighter kind of red．People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health．The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century．It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health．
The color black is often used in expressions．People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day．People or things on a blacklist are connected with things illegal now．But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations．
The color green is natural for trees and grass．But it is an unnatural color for humans．A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green．A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green．
Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has．That person may say he is green with envy．Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks．Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the back side of the paper money．Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT _______．
| A．something unfair | B．small hot-tasting peppers |
| C．the person who is very angry | D．popular music like Dixieland Jazz |
People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because _______．
| A．the expression has a very long history |
| B．the color pink makes people feel happy |
| C．people think the color pink is gentler than red |
| D．healthy babies are born with nice pink skin |
When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she _______．
| A．enjoys himself in boating | B．is hit by a high wave |
| C．has a stomachache | D．likes trees and grass |
In the writer’s eyes, what is related to a black day?
| A．Being sent a beautiful gift． |
| B．Failing in an important interview． |
| C．Passing a very difficult test． |
| D．Being invited to an exciting party． |
There are some new drivers going back to school. Teens who have recently gotten their driver's licenses may be taking the wheel to school this fall. However, parents fear when their teen starts driving. And it turns out that such parental fears are justified, so it's worth reviewing how to keep your teen safe while he or she is behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among US teens. Drivers 16 to 19 years old are at the greatest risk of crashes. In fact, their risk is 4 times greater than that of older drivers. The teens at the greatest risk are those who are male, those carrying other teenage passengers in the car, and those still in their first year of driving. Nearly 50 percent of teen deaths related to automobile crashes happen on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays between the hours of 3 pm and midnight.
Why are teens at higher risk of motor vehicle crashes?
Development. Teens haven't completely matured mentally and have greater risktaking behaviors, possibly because they tend to underestimate the risk associated with a particular behavior. Teens also have a greater tendency to speed and to drive too close to the cars in front of them.
No seatbelts. Teens have the lowest rate of seatbelt use among all driving groups.
Alcohol. A least 25 percent of motor vehicle deaths in teens are related to drinking alcohol.
Technological distractions(分散注意力的事)．Cellphones，texting，MP3 players，and the like can all distract drivers greatly—and who more than teenagers?
Be aware of your teen's driving practices and discuss safe driving habits when opportunities present themselves. Check out the applications and devices now available for restricting your teen's use of technology while driving. Some applications alert you to the danger when your teen is texting while the vehicle is moving. Another device blocks incoming and outgoing texts when the car is running—incoming messages get an automatic reply (eg. “I'm driving right now”), and phone calls go directly to voicemail. You can also get notifications if your teen tries to shut off the program. There are also GPS programs that let you know your new driver's whereabouts at all times. All in all, you can't be too cautious when teaching your teen how to be safe on the road.What factor is least related to the teen drivers' high risks of crashes?
| A．Drivers' age. | B．Passengers' sex. |
| C．Driving experience. | D．Driving time. |
Teens probably turn away their attention from driving when they are ________.
| A．using no seatbelts | B．drinking water |
| C．carrying passengers | D．answering cellphones |
According to the passage, which should be prevented during teens' driving?
| A．Texting. | B．GPS programs. |
| C．Automated replies. | D．Voicemail. |
The author writes the last paragraph in order to ________.
| A．offer parents practical suggestions |
| B．summarize teens' driving practices |
| C．advocate different driving habits |
| D．set an example for the teens |
Threequarters of a million tourists flock to the white beaches every year, but this booming industry has come at a price. Poisonous smoke rising from open fires, rubbish made up of plastic bottles, packets...it's_a_far_cry_from the white sands, clear waters and palm trees that we associate with the Maldives(马尔代夫), the paradise island holiday destination set in the Indian Ocean.
Of its 200 inhabited islands, which are spread across an area of 35,000 square miles, 99 are good resorts(度假胜地). So many tourists come every year, more than double the local population. Of these tourists, over 100,000 travel from the UK. The capital, Malé， is four times more densely populated than London. Given these facts, it's hardly surprising that the Maldives has a waste disposal problem.
Years ago, when the tourists left, the government had to deal with a stream of rubbish. Their solution was to turn one of the islands into a dumping ground. Four miles west of Malé is the country's dumping ground, Thilafushi. What you are seeing here is a view of the Maldives on which no honeymooners will ever clap eyes. Each visitor produces 3.5 kg of waste per day. The country dumps more than 330 tons of rubbish on the island every day.
Now, since many waste boats, fed up with waiting seven hours or more, directly offload their goods into the sea, the government of the Maldives has banned the dumping of waste on the island. So, the waste boats ship the rubbish to India instead.What is the main cause of the waste disposal problem?
| A．The big local population. |
| B．Too many waste boats. |
| C．The large number of tourists. |
| D．Open fires on the islands. |
The underlined part can probably be replaced by “________”．
| A．it's quite similar to | B．it's a long distance from |
| C．it's a loud shout from | D．it's totally different from |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．It is much more crowded in Malé than in London. |
| B．Another island will be used as a dumping ground. |
| C．No honeymooners are willing to visit the Maldives. |
| D．Waste on islands will be offloaded directly into the sea. |
What's the author's purpose in writing the text?
| A．To attract more tourists to the Maldives. |
| B．To state the waste disposal problem in the Maldives. |
| C．To call on us to protect the environment. |
| D．To explain the causes of pollution in the Maldives. |
There is no question that teenagers need rules, which is often not a difficult thing for parents to give.What can be more challenging is giving teenagers their freedom.It can be difficult to draw the line between the two.However, some issues cannot be changed by discussion and require firm rules.For instance, rules should be established concerning driving the family car.
I will admit that I have no problem coming up with rules.To me they make life easier and they leave no room for questioning.What can be more difficult, however, is giving my teens their freedom.I guess there are really two primary reasons for this.One is that sometimes I am afraid to give them freedom.The second is that I'm not always so sure what the freedom should be.
It helps that I have a husband with whom I can discuss these problems.We talk about them,_give our thoughts and then we come up with an agreement.Sometimes one of us might be more unwilling but we know that there comes a time when we really do have to learn how to let go of the reins(缰绳) a bit.
If we try to make life have nothing but rules, we are more likely to see our teen's rebelling(反抗)．They need to know that while we do have certain expectations, we also trust them to begin making their own choices and decisions.How else can they do that unless they are given the space and room to do it?
It's really all about balance and I will be the first to admit that it can be a challenge to carry out.However, it is a necessary part of growing up.Yes, teens definitely need rules but they also need freedom.According to the first paragraph, it is difficult to decide ________.
| A．whether the children need rules |
| B．whether the children should be given freedom |
| C．how much freedom should be given to children |
| D．what issues require nonnegotiable rules |
According to the writer, only rules without freedom will make the children ________.
| A．strongwilled | B．rebellious |
| C．weak | D．independent |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
| A．Rules are difficult to make for parents. |
| B．Rules and freedom are similarly important. |
| C．We should give children freedom as much as possible. |
| D．Rules are more important than freedom. |
What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 3 probably refer to?
| A．Problems. | B．Children. | C．Rules. | D．Reasons. |
It's slimbudget time in Las Vegas
Las Vegas? It's where halfprice flights are wide open and where reservations are easily booked on a moment's notice. Tourism is down, so rooms are plentiful, as well as inexpensive.
Getting there: The best way to get there from McCarran Airport is to exit the baggage claim through Door 11 and check in at any number of shuttle booths. Shuttle vans that run between the airport and the Las Vegas Strip cost $6 for a oneway trip.
Leaving Las Vegas：Many Vegas vacationers are eager to get there and slow to leave. So take the “redeye” back home. Most redeye flights leave around midnight, leaving you with an extra night of gaming, and fun without added expense of a higher hotel charge. You can sleep the whole way home.
Romantic getaway: Las Vegas is no longer all about gaming. The artwork at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is certainly comparable to that at the Louvre. Speaking of Paris, take a trip up the Eiffel Tower at ParisLas Vegas. The Eiffel Tower Experience costs just $10($7 for kids) and is unquestionably worth the price of admission. For an intimate evening, don't hesitate to book reservations at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Get an impressive nighttime view of the Fountains at Bellagio by asking for seating alongside the floortoceiling windows. This is truly a oneofakind finedining experience. Details：www.parislasvegas.com.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes：Casinos(娱乐场) can appear very close together, but actually may not be. Know the tram systems that run up and down the Strip. Most tram lines are free.
Shows：Purchase show tickets at one of the many “Half Priced Show” booths on the Strip. You can experience a unique show each night of your stay. Need a look at what's playing when you'll be there? Visit www.booklasvegasshows.com.
Buffets：In Vegas you can take anything to the next level—including eating. Seven casinos on the Strip have teamed up to bring you an amazing deal：seven buffets—breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner—all for just $44.99 within a 24hour period. Details：www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets.What is the author's purpose of writing the passage?
| A．To introduce the present situation of Las Vegas. |
| B．To attract readers to travel to Las Vegas. |
| C．To tell readers how to go to Las Vegas. |
| D．To show his own travel experience. |
If you want to know more about food in Las Vegas, you should ________.
| A．visit www.parislasvegas.com |
| B．visit www.booklasvegasshows.com |
| C．visit www.harrahs.com/total/lasvegas/buffetofbuffets |
| D．visit www.newyorknewyork.com/attractions/ |
therollercoaster.aspxIf a couple and a 5yearold child want to take the Eiffel Tower Experience, they have to pay ________.
| A．$10 | B．$20 |
| C．$27 | D．$34 |
From the passage, we can conclude that ________.
| A．Las Vegas is famous as a gaming city |
| B．eating in Las Vegas is very expensive |
| C．all the redeye flights leave around midnight |
| D．a round trip in Las Vegas costs $6 |
People think what I do is so wonderful because I interview stars.And I have to admit that when I first started working at Sassy in 1987 I was excited about that part of my job for the first couple of months，anyway.Then I noticed how stars would fool me around for months.I could never get enough time with a star to find out anything interesting，and some acted just simply rudely.I started hating the way I was treated，and I was really disappointed to see that these people I had worshipped (崇拜) before were pretty ordinary.So I decided I would just tell the truth instead of keeping up their myths (神秘)．If the star was a bad guy，I would say so.If I thought anyone was stupid，I did not hold back that information.
I thought readers would appreciate that kind of honesty.Surprisingly，many of them hated me for it.I have gotten so many attacks on my character.In their eyes，being famous is everything，even more desirable that being truly creative and talented.
Why do we need stars？In fact，the media created stars to satisfy our basic need for gossip (闲聊)．Over time，talking about people we have never met and we are never likely to meet has become what we are crazy about.Thus，some people are more interested in the personal lives of the stars than in the lives of their own family and their own friends.That is why it is so ridiculous when a star wants to discuss only his or her work in an interview—as we care.We want the dirt on their personal lives.
There is another reason we worship stars.As a whole，our society is not as religious as it once was.It seems that people need something to fulfill them the way religion once did.Star worship exists as an unfulfilling desire for true heroes.
We make them stars，but then their reputation makes us feel unimportant，and we truly feel better about ourselves when they die.I am part of this whole process.No wonder I feel soiled at the end of workday.What are the stars like according to the author?
| A．They always treat others rudely. |
| B．They always talk about something dull. |
| C．They are actually ordinary people. |
| D．They are usually honest and polite. |
We worship stars because ________.
| A．we need true mental heroes to support us |
| B．we can learn something useful from famous stars |
| C．we concern about the stars，family and friends |
| D．we like talking about the star's dressing styles |
When the author is writing this article，his tone sounds ________.
| A．excited | B．angry |
| C．worried | D．calm |
What is the main purpose of the author writing the passage?
| A．To show the disadvantages of working with stars. |
| B．To remind us not to worship famous stars blindly. |
| C．To laugh at the failures of stars he has interviewed. |
| D．To talk about the reasons why we worship stars. |