According to a study by SallieMae, 84 percent of undergraduate students have credit cards, and by the time they are seniors, they have accumulated US $ 4,100 in debt, on top of whatever student loans they may have taken out．
Credit cards are the most convenient form of payment, and they are aggressively marketed to college students．Reportedly, a typical college student carries 4．6 credit cards and US $ 3,173 in credit card debt．
Credit cards seem to be a fact of life, not just student life． In the long term, using a credit card properly and paying off the balance can help establish a card history and increase your credit score, which will come in handy when you need an important loan, for a house or car, for example．Your credit score can affect even unrelated things like insurance rates．Credit cards also offer more protection for users than debit cards（借记卡）．Under federal law, the credit card holder is only responsible for the first US $ 50in fraudulent（欺诈的） purchases in cases of theft or loss．However, debit card users are responsible for the first US $ 500．
SallieMae found some good news in the fact that two thirds of students had discussed credit issues with their parents, but 84 percent said they needed more information．Those who didn't get any guidance were more likely to be surprised when they found out how much they owed．
While credit cards offer the easiest access to money, they make it easy to live outside your means．Less than a fifth of students surveyed paid off their balance every month, and carrying a balance brings finance charges, sometimes at a very high interest rates．
SallieMae found that almost 40 percent of students chose their first credit card based on direct mail, which is probably why students get credit card offers in the mail． But when the credit card offers flow in, be sure that you read the fine print．Offers of low or no interest rates can disappear, leaving you a debt that climbs beyond your ability to pay it off．What does the first paragraph imply?
| A．Most of the senior students are shocked to see how much they owed． |
| B．Students can only take out loans from credit cards． |
| C．Most of students' loans come from credit cards． |
| D．Credit cards have a bad effect on college students． |
The underlined part "come in handy" in the third paragraph probably means “ ”
| A．bring trouble | B．make mistakes |
| C．be important | D．be useful |
According to SallieMae, what is the possible reason why students get so many credit card offers in the mail?
| A．Many students' first credit card is based on direct mail． |
| B．it costs the banks little to mail out credit cards． |
| C．Students don't like to go to the bank to open a credit card account． |
| D．Banks have no other way to let students use their credit cards． |
What is the theme of the third paragraph?
| A．The advantages of using debit cards． |
| B．The similarities between credit cards and debit cards． |
| C．The advantages of using credit cards． |
| D．Credit cards are the most convenient form of payment． |
According to SallieMae, how many students had not discussed credit issues with their parents?
| A．l/3 | B．2/3 | C．l/4 | D．3/4 |
The Los Angeles Zoo has many public programs that aim to teach the public about animals and natural protection.
Safari shuttle(旅游电车)
While you’re here, take the Safari shuttle for a quick trip from one end of the Zoo to the other. All day long, seven days a week (from 10 am to 5 pm), the Safari Shuttle picks up passengers, circles the Zoo, and returns to the main flamingo (火烈鸟) exhibit near the front entrance. You can get on and off the shuttle as often as you like.
Food
Safari Café (at the Zoo entrance) offers Starbucks coffee, fresh-baked cookies, and ice cream. Gorilla Grill is the spot for grilled (烤的) food, kids’ meals, refreshments (点心), and ice cream. La Casita serves a variety of Mexican food and refreshments. Silverback’s Cafe offers sandwiches, salads, bread bowls, cold beer, and refreshments.
Hour
The Zoo is open from 10 am to 5 pm every day of the year except Christmas Day. Special summer long hours are until 6 pm from July 1 to September 7. Please remember, the Zoo starts putting animals in for the night at 4 pm during regular hour, and at 5 pm during summer hours.
Admission Prices(票价)
Adults (aged 13 and above):$9
Seniors(aged 62 and above):$6
Children(aged 2 to 12):$4
Children(under 2):free
Items Not Allowed on Zoo Grounds
Alcohol, Glass bottles, Pets, Bicycles, Skateboards, and In--line skate.
If you are planning a picnic while visiting the Zoo, please do not bring any glass items or other things that are easy to break. Also for the safety of the animals, no plastic bags are allowed within the Zoo.Which of the following provides kids’ meals?
| A．Safari Cafe. | B．Gorilla Grill. | C．La Casita. | D．Silverback’s Café |
People can see all the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo at ___.
| A．11 am on Christmas Day | B．4:30 pm on May 5 |
| C．3 pm on March 5 | D．6 pm on September 7 |
How much does it cost if a couple with their one-year-old twins visit the Los Angeles Zoo?
| A．$18 | B．$26 | C．$22 | D．$17 |
When visiting the Los Angeles Zoo, people can___.
| A．ride a bike through the Zoo | B．have a picnic on the Zoo grounds |
| C．take food with plastic bags | D．take their pets along |
One Canada, Two Languages
Canada is one of the few nations in the world to have two official languages: English and French. There are 10 provinces in the country but only one of these—Quebec is known as “French Canada”. This is because it was founded by French explorers while British adventurers discovered the rest.
Canada left the British empire(帝国) in 1867 to become an independent country and English and French have been recognized as the official languages ever since.
Most people speak English as their first language and the two national television networks broadcast in English throughout the country. Apart from in Quebec and a few places on the east coast, French television is very rare.
The same goes for traffic signs and menus, for example, outside of Quebec, there are only a few places where you’ll see traffic signs in French. In restaurants, it’s almost impossible to find French on the menu unless you are in the heartland (中心地带) of French Canada. However, all products sold in Canada must, by law, have labels (标签) and instructions in both languages.
In Canada’s English speaking provinces, official bilingualism (双语) means that students can choose to complete a special French language course. Under this program, they are taught most of their subjects in French.
If a student begins the course in kindergarten (幼儿园) or Grade One, it is likely that all their lessons will be in French. However, if they start at junior high school, 25 percent of the teaching will continue to be in English.How many provinces are there in Canada?
| A．Ten. | B．Nine. | C．Eleven. | D．Two. |
Which country controlled Canada before its independence?
| A．France. | B．Britain. | C．America. | D．Germany |
Where can you watch French television programs?
| A．Only in Quebec. |
| B．In Quebec and a few other places. |
| C．From the two national television networks. |
| D．All over Canada |
What do we know about the education in Canada?
| A．In English speaking provinces only English courses are offered. |
| B．If you choose a special French language course, most of the subjects are taught in French. |
| C．The courses in primary school are all taught in English. |
| D．Most of the courses in junior high schools are taught in English. |
Shane Thomas is a 10-year-old pianist from England. He’s being called the next Mozart because of his amazing abilities.
He has only been having piano lessons for four months, and practices four hours a week, but he has already played difficult classical pieces. He was just seven when he sat down at the piano, and could play at once. He also says he never gets nervous.
When Shane was three years old, he said that he could play the piano, but nobody took him seriously. At school, he could listen to the teacher and do his work while composing (作曲) in his head. Shame remembers all the melodies（旋律）,and when he gets home he plays them on the piano, while his father records them. Shane loves playing the piano, and when he grows up he wants to be a composer.
His tutor, Richard Goffin-Lecar, says he is like Amadeus Mozart, who lived during the 18th century in Salzburg, Austria, and was one of the most famous composers ever. Mr. Goffin-lecar says, “I don’t teach Shane very much. I just give him directions, then sit back and watch.”
His father, a single parent with two other children, says that although he has little money, he wants to send Shane to a good music school. “I’m a single father, but I have this gifted child. I don’t have much money, but I want to give him the best teachers, and also take him into a studio to record.”When did Shane tell others that he could play the piano?
| A．At age three. | B．At age ten. | C．At age seven. | D．At age four. |
Which of the following is TRUE about Shane?
| A．He feels nervous while playing the piano |
| B．He can compose in his head while doing his work. |
| C．He wants to be a piano tutor when he grows up. |
D．He doesn’t like to listen to the teacher at  school. |
What do we learn about Shane’s father?
| A．He also plays the piano well. |
| B．He’s a single father with two children. |
| C．He believes in Shane’s talent for music and will support him. |
| D．Not having enough money, he will ask the teachers for help |
Mexico City is truly one of the most amazing cities in the world with a mixture of both the old and new world. From the moment your plane starts to descend into this vast city, you know that your trip will be quite an adventure.
Once in your taxi and the moment you leave the airport, you are amazed at the large amount of slow traffic. The volume of the traffic can be stressful to some.
The "Paseo de la Reforma(改革大道)", running southwest across the city, is one of the major tourist and business areas in Mexico City with many high quality hotels only walking distance from great restaurants and other tourist attractions. The only problem you will have is trying to see all of these sites during your vacation time.
One of the most popular attractions in this area is the National Museum of Anthropology along the northwest part of the street. There are thousands of artifacts on display showing the history of the area and numerous items found from the many Aztec sites in the area. Walking southwest from the museum, you will soon reach the Mexico City Zoo, which is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Across the street from the museum is the Chapultepec Castle, once an important site in the Mexican-American war. It's also a good idea to take the train up the hill to where the castle is located as the hill is steep. It's important to keep in mind that Mexico City is over 7,000 feet above sea level and some feel it difficult to breathe when walking.
You can take a taxi to the Coyoacan market during the evening on a weekend. It's a great place to get some cheap souvenirs to bring back home and to enjoy some traditional Mexican cuisine. However, you must be careful where you eat and that the meat is well cooked.The tourists in Mexico City may not be satisfied with______.
| A．the high speed of the traffic | B．the heavy traffic of the city |
| C．the polluted air in the city | D．their safety in the city |
From the third paragraph, we can learn that______.
| A．the number of the city attractions can't meet the needs of the tourists |
| B．it is convenient for tourists to visit the city from where they stay |
| C．tourists have problems when visiting the sites in Mexico City |
| D．tourists often have their three meals in the high quality hotels |
Which of the following shows the correct positions of the following places?
P =" Paseo" de la Reforma M =" the" National Museum of Anthropology
C =" the" Chapultepec Castle Z =" the" Mexico City Zoo
Which of the following attractions may interest those who want to study the military (of thearmy) history of Mexico City?
| A．The National Museum of Anthropology. | B．The Coyoacan market. |
| C．The Chapultepec Castle. | D．The Aztec sites. |
Beginning in October, more than 13,000 McDonald’s (麦当劳)restaurants in America will use a new variety of cooking oil. McDonald’ s aims to make its French fries (油炸食品) and other fried foods healthier.
The change will not affect the taste or the number of calories in the food. But by changing the cooking oil, McDonald’s says, it hopes to cut by nearly half the amount of trans fatty acids (转换脂肪酸) in French fries and reduce the amount of saturated fats(饱和脂肪) by 16 percent. Scientists believe that trans fatty acids and saturated fats raise cholesterol(胆固醇) levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
McDonald’s new step is important because McDonald’s is an industry leader and other fast-food chains and food processors may follow the lead.
For McDonald’s ,the action comes at a time when Americans are becoming more and more concerned about; obesity (肥胖) and are increasing pressure on food companies to offer healthy and nutritious (有营养的) food to consumers.
After three years of study, McDonald’s officials say they are switching oil that is lower in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. McDonald’s says the change will not cause higher price for consumers.
Though there is some change, scientists say that the amount of trans fat in foods at McDonald’s and at other fast-food companies is still important.More than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants in America will use a new kind of cooking oil to ______________.
| A．lower the costs of the products |
| B．maker its food taste hatter than ever before |
| C．cure (治愈) the heart disease |
| D．do good to the health of consumers |
The underlined ward "switching" here has the same meaning as " _______".
| A．turning on | B．turning off | C．changing | D．studying |
The main idea of the passage is __________.
| A．McDonald’s is a pioneer in food products |
| B．McDonald’s is enlarging its restaurants in the world |
| C．fried foods can’t keep up with the development of modem society |
| D．McDonald’s is to use new cooking oil |
When a new kind of cooking oil is used in McDonald’s, ________
| A．the prices of McDonald’s foods will be a tot higher |
| B．consumers will find the taste of McDonald’s foods different |
| C．many other food companies will do what McDonald’s does |
| D．obesity will disappear in American society sooner or later |