When middle-aged Alex quit his job and made up his mind to become a self-employed writer， no one could tell for sure whether he would succeed or not. He found a cold storage room in a building, set up a used typewriter and settled down to work.
After a year or so, however, Alex began to doubt himself. He found it was difficult to earn his living by selling what he wrote. But Alex determined to put his dream to the test—even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the shadowland (虚幻世界) of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there.
One day Alex got a call,“We need an assistant, and we’re paying $6,000 a year.” $6,000 was real money in 1960. It would enable Alex to get a nice apartment ,a used car and more. Besides, he could write in his spare time. As the dollars were dancing in Alex’s head, something cleared his senses. He had dreamed of being a writer--full time. “Thanks, but no,” Alex said firmly and swiftly, “I’m going to stick it out and write.”
After Alex got off the phone, he pulled out everything he had: two cans of vegetables and 18 cents. Alex put the cans and cents into a paper bag, saying to himself, “There’s everything you’ve made of yourself so far. I’m not sure I ever felt so low.”
Finally his work was published in 1970.Instantly he had the kind of fame and success that few writers ever experience. The shadows had turned into focus of attention.
Then one day, Alex found a box filled with things he had owned years before. Inside was a paper bag with two cans and 18 cents. Suddenly he pictured himself working in that cold storage room. It reminds Alex, and anyone with a dream, of the courage and persistence(坚毅) it takes to stay the course(持续到底) in the shadowland.Why did Alex give up his job?
| A．Because he didn’t like the working conditions. |
| B．Because he couldn’t earn enough to make a living. |
| C．Because he wanted to be a full-time writer. |
| D．Because he felt he had no potential in his job. |
What did Alex express when he answered the call?
| A．He refused the job offer. |
| B．He was willing to give them a hand. |
| C．He expected them to pay him more money. |
| D．He would write in his spare time. |
What kind of person is Alex?
| A．determined | B．modest | C．shy | D．brave |
Which of the following can summarize the passage best?
| A．Look before you leap |
| B．Two heads are better than one. |
| C．Hold on to your dream, and it will come true. |
| D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. |
According to the American Automobile Association , since 1964 all cars sold in the United States have been equipped with seat belts (These are also called safety belts.) . Many studies of automobile accidents have shown that safety belts can save lives. One study showed that forty percent of those killed in auto accidents could have been saved if they had been wearing seat belts.
Unfortunately, belts are worn only by a small percentage of drivers and passengers — about fifteen percent in cities, and only nine percent in small towns. And safety belts cannot protect people who do not wear them.
In order to find out what kinds of people do wear seat belts, a study was made in several cities of the United States. The following facts were about those who use their safety belts:
1. They do not smoke while driving.
2. They have had more education than non-users.
3. They know someone who was injured (but not killed) in an automobile accident.
Advertisements based on these facts have been printed in newspapers and magazines in order to teach people the importance of using seat belts. But these advertisements have not helped much. Some people believe there should be a law requiring drivers and passengers to use safety belts. In Australia, where there is such a law, deaths in auto accidents have decreased twenty-four percent.The passage is mainly about ______.
| A．automobiles in the United States | B．accidents involving cars |
| C．safety belts for drivers and passengers | D．traffic jams |
The passage tells us that in Australia ______.
| A．a law requires drivers and passengers to use seat belts |
| B．about 50% of the drivers wear seat belts |
| C．the importance of seat belts is advertised in newspapers and magazines |
| D．the auto accidents have kept the same percent as in the US |
People who live in small towns _____.
| A．have fewer accidents than those who live in cities |
| B．are less likely to use seat belts than those who live in cities |
| C．welcome the passing of a law to require the use of seat belts |
| D．are against the law that requires people to use seat belts |
Many studies have shown that seat belts can save lives of those who ______.
| A．never wear seat belts |
| B．seldom wear seat belts |
| C．are wearing seat belts when the accidents happen |
| D．sit at the back of the cars |
Discover
Newsmagazine of science devoted to the wonders an stories of modern science, written for the educated general reader. Published(出版) by Disney Magazine Publishing Co., Discover tells many of the same stories professionals(专业人员) read in Scientific American. A truly delightful family science magazine, each issue(每期) brings to light new and newsworthy topics to make dinnertime and water-cooler conversations interesting.
Cover Price: $59.88Price: $19.95($1.66/issue)
You Save: $39.93(67%) Issues: 12 issues/12 months
Self
Published by conde Nast Publications Inc., Self is a handbook devoted to women’s overall physical and mental health. Every issue contains usable articles such as “Style Lab”, in which wearable clothes are mixed and matched on non-models and the “Eat-right Road Map”, with tips on how to eat properly.
Cover Price: $35.86Price: $15.00($2.5/issue)
You Save: $20.86(58%) Issues: 10 issues/12 months
Instyle
Instyle is a guide to the lives and lifestyles of the world’s famous people. The magazine covers the choices people make about their homes, their clothes and their free time activities. With photos and articles, it opens the door to these people’s homes, families, parties and weddings, offering ideas about beauty, fitness and in general, lifestyles. Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company.
Cover Price: $47.88 Price: $23.88($2.38/issue)
You Save: $24.00(50%) Issues: 10 issues/12 months
Wired
This magazine is designed for leaders in the field of information engineering including top managers and professionals in the computer, business, design and education industries. Published by Conde Nast Publications Inc., Wired often carries articles on how technology changes people’s lives.
Cover Price: $59.40Price: $10.00($1.00/issue)
You save: $49.40(83%) Issues: 10 issues/12monthsWhich two magazines are published by the same publisher?
| A．Wired and Instyle | B．Discover and Instyle |
| C．Self and Discover | D．Self and Wired |
Which magazine offers the biggest price cut?
| A．Instyle | B．Wired | C．Discover | D．Self |
The “Style Lab” in Self provides readers with articles which _____.
| A．offer advice to ordinary women on clothes |
| B．show how a woman can become famous |
| C．introduce places with the best food |
| D．discuss ways of training models |
Those who are interested in management and the use of high technology would probably choose _____.
| A．Instyle | B．Self | C．Wired | D．Discover |
The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication means. Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago; but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest is pollution. To pollute mean to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear it.
Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in a place, men moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world.
Air pollution is still the most serious. It’s bad to all living things in the world, but it is not only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us become angry more easily.
Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop the people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from blowing dirty smoke into the air.
The pollution of SO2 is now the most dangerous problem of air pollution. It is caused by heavy traffic. It is sure that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution.
The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must keep careful of the rise in pollution at the same time. Our world is becoming much smaller ___________.
| A．because the earth is being polluted day and night. |
| B．thanks to science developing. |
| C．because of the rise in pollution |
| D．because the earth is blown away by the wind every year. |
Pollution comes in many ways. We can even hear it. Here “it” means ___________.
| A．water pollution | B．air pollution | C．noise pollution | D．rubbish |
Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution because __________.
| A．it’s bad to all living things in the world. |
| B．it makes us become angry more easily. |
| C．it has made our rivers and lakes dirty. |
| D．it makes much noise. |
Which of the following is not true?
| A．The problem of pollution is not so serious because there are not so many people. |
| B．From now on, maybe people try to go to work by bus or bike instead of car or motorbike. It is helpful to fight against the pollution of SO2. |
| C．The pollution of the earth grows as fast as the world’s pollution does. |
| D．Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. |
In today’s Internet age, online games can be a change from the pressure of school and work. However, they can also cause problems and unhealthy addictions. This is most clearly seen in the example of South Korea. This country has the world’s highest percentage of high – speed Internet services. It has also a high number of game players who are addicted to online games.
In 2004, a young man died after playing online games almost nonstop for 86 hours. A 12 – year – old boy stole $ 16,000 from his father to continue online games which he could not get away from. Such problems are spreading to other parts of Asia as well. In 2005, it was reported that about 80 percent of China’s 13.8 million online game players were under 25. And many of these were said to be addicted. Such numbers point toward a growing problem among Chinese youth.
Dr. Sue – Huei Chen, a psychologist , discovered some signs of at – risk people. Such people often go online to escape from their problems. And they usually have no friendship or good social skills. They feel the need to spend more and more time online, so they may be absent from school or family. And they become upset if anyone tries to limit their online game playing.The passage is mainly about .
| A．online games | B．problems caused by online games |
| C．computer problems in Asia | D．problems caused by young people |
In the passage, the writer tells us a fact that .
| A．South Korea has a large number of Internet schools |
| B．More and more young men are stealing money for online games |
| C．China’s online game players are all under the age of 25 |
| D．Online game addiction is a very common problem in South Korea |
After reading the passage, we know that in China .
| A．many young people are playing online games for fun |
| B．many young people are getting addicted to online games |
| C．only those under 25 like to play online games for long periods |
| D．80 percent of the Chinese depend on online games to get relaxed |
According to the passage, are more likely to become addicted to online games.
| A．people under great pressure from school and work. |
| B．people well known in the field of computer games |
| C．people with unsolved problems and few friends |
| D．people who’d like to take a risk in computer games |
Losing a baby tooth can be fun for a kid. You can put it under your pillow and look forward to finding some money there in the morning. And then you can watch your new permanent(永恒的) tooth grow in its place.
But if a permanent tooth falls out, that’s a problem. There isn’t another one under the gum(齿龈)that can replace it. Unfortunately, this happens to some older people. And if permanent teeth fall out-or need to be pulled-an older person might need dentures.
Dentures, known as false teeth, are a set of replacement teeth for any teeth that are missing. There are partial dentures, which take the place of only a few teeth and prevent the others from changing position. If all the teeth are gone, the person would need complete dentures, which replace every tooth in the mouth.
Dentures can cause pains at first and take some time to get adjusted to. They also need special care. They should be brushed daily with a special denture brush and cleanser and soaked in denture solution when not in the mouth.
Dentures are important for older folks because, without teeth, it’s hard to smile, talk, and eat properly. But it can be a little weird if you see someone take out his or her dentures. It can also be strange to see someone, like a grandparent, without dentures in because he or she won’t have any teeth. Try not to make fun of the person because this could cause hurt feelings.
People usually lose their permanent teeth due to periodontal disease, or gum disease, which is caused by bacteria that attacks the gums. Diseased gums aren’t strong and healthy, so teeth can get loose and fall out. Older people often have many cavities(洞)that have been filled over the years, and these fillings can weaken over time, leading to more tooth decay(腐烂).If one of your baby teeth falls out, he or she .
| A．should have a false tooth fixed in its place |
| B．have to put it under your pillow at once |
| C．will gain a permanent tooth in future |
| D．can exchange it for some money |
A person wearing dentures .
| A．should brush them with a special denture brush every few days |
| B．will take a very long time to adjust himself or herself to them |
| C．will experience unpleasant feelings at the beginning of fixing them |
| D．should use denture solution to soak them in his or her mouth |
Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
| A．Partial dentures can prevent the remaining teeth from changing position. |
| B．Old people will find it hard to smile, talk, and eat properly without teeth. |
| C．A person’s teeth will possibly get loose if diseases strike his gums. |
| D．It is hard for a person to wear dentures if all his teeth have fallen out. |
What does the underlined word “weird” mean in the fifth paragraph?
| A．inconvenient | B．strange | C．uncomfortable | D．impolite |