Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box. According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.
| A．being charged | B．being cheated | C．being affected | D．being attracted |
Which of the following is relatively good for only wearing a short time?
| A．A 14K necklace. | B．A gold-plated ring. |
| C．A vermeil ear ring. | D．A gemstone necklace. |
We call infer from the last paragraph that silver jewelry should be kept ________
| A．in a dry place | B．in a cold place | C．in a wet place | D．in a hot place |
The author writes the passage mainly to ________.
| A．encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry |
| B．tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver |
| C．introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver |
| D．inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry |
Food sometimes gets poisoned with harmful things. A person who eats such food can get an illness called food poisoning. Food poisoning is usually not serious, but some types are deadly, The symptoms ( 症状) of food poisoning usually begin within hours of eating the poisoned food. Fever is one of the most common symptoms.
Certain microorganisms (微生物) cause most types of food poisoning. Bacteria and other microorganisms can poison eggs, meat, vegetables, and many other foods. After entering the body, these tiny living things release (释放) poisons that make people sick.
Some chemicals can also cause food poisoning. They are often added to food while it is being grown, processed, or prepared. For example, many farmers spray chemicals on crops to kill weeds and insects. Some people may have a bad reaction to those chemicals when they eat the crops.
Some plants and animals contain natural poisons that are harmful to people. These include certain kinds of seafood, grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and mushrooms.
When people handle food properly, the risk of food poisoning is very small. Microorganisms multiply rapidly in dirty places and in warm temperatures. This means that people should never touch food with ditty hands or put food on unwashed surfaces. Food should be kept in a refrigerator to stop microorganisms from growing. Meat needs to be co
oked thoroughly to kill any dangerous microorganisms. People should also wash foo
d covered with chemicals before eating it. Finally, people should not eat wild mushrooms or other foods that grow in the wild. Some of these foods may contain natural materials that are poisonous to humans. In addition, some types of fish can be poisonous.
Most people recover from food poisoning after a few days of resting and drinking extra water.
If people eat natural poisons, they must go to the hospital right away to have their stomachs emptied. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
| A．Food poisoning means death |
| B．When poisoned, food can make people sick |
| C．Food poisoning comes in varieties |
| D．Food poisoning can be serious |
We know from the passage that the symptoms of food poisoning ______.
| A．only contain fever | B．are too common to be noticed |
| C．can be noticed within hours | D．can be ignored |
Food poisoning can be caused by all the following EXCEPT __________.
| A．some chemicals | B．low temperatures |
| C．some tiny living things | D．certain natural materials |
From Paragraph 5, we can learn that ____________.
| A．mushrooms should not be eaten |
| B．vegetables are safer than meat and seafood |
| C．natural poisons are more dangerous than chemicals |
| D．different types of food should be handled differently |
It can be inferred from the passage that _____________.
| A．natural materials are safe in food processing |
| B．chemicals are needed in food processing |
| C．food poisoning can be kept under control |
| D．food poisoning is out of control |
People in the United 
States honour their
parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June.These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care.
These two days make us think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers are now working outside home. More fathers must help with the children care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day, people wear carnations. A red one symbolizes a living mother, while a black one shows the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services to honour parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit cemetery ( 墓地). On these days, families get together at home, as well as in restaurants. They often have outdoor barbecues for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is the thought that counts. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephone companies and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.Which of the following is NOT a reason for parents show love and respect for parents?
| A．Parents bring up children |
| B．Parents give love and care to children |
| C．Parents educate children to be good persons |
| D．Parents pass away before children grow up |
Which do you think is true about “carnation” mentioned in paragraph 3?
A．It has only two kind s of colours |
| B．It refers to the special clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’Day |
| C．It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes. |
| D．People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May |
| B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past |
| C．Not all the children respect their parents |
| D．Fathers are not as important as mothers |
On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, ____________.
| A．people usually have family parties | B．everyone goes to visit the cemetery |
| C．children always go to parents’ home | D．hand-made cards are not valuable |
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm afraid I have some very bad news for you. I have been very naughty and the school master is very angry with me. She is going to write to you. You must come and take me away from here. She does not want me in the school any longer. The trouble started last night when I was smoking a cigarette in bed. As I was smoking, I heard footsteps coming towards the room .I did not want a teacher to catch me smoking, so I threw the cigarette away. Unfortunately, the cigarette fell into the waste-paper basket. It caught fire.
There was a curtain near the waste-paper basket. It caught fire too. Soon the whole room was burning. The master phoned the fire brigade. The school is a long way from the town and before the fire brigade arrived, the whole school was on fire. The master said that the fire was all my fault and I must pay for the damage. She will send you a bill for about a million dollars.
I'm very sorry for this.
Much love
SarahWhy did Sarah write to his parents?
| A．He missed them very much for they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. |
| B．He told his parents what he had done in school. |
| C．He was tired of studying, and wanted to leave school. |
D．He thought he was old enough to help the m do something. |
Where did Sarah smoke?
| A．In the classroom | B．In the Dinning hall |
| C．In the street | D．In the dormitory |
Why was the school master angry with him?
| A．Because he was too naughty |
| B．Because he was too lazy |
| C．Because he caused a big fire |
| D．Because he stole something from the school |
According to the passage, what should the students not do?
| A．They should not smoke, because smoking is dangerous to them |
| B．They should not dance, because dancing would waste a lot of money |
| C．They should not make friends, because making friends would take them absent |
| D．They should not wear expensive clothes because they would waste a lot of money |
When it comes to eating out, we can't help thinking of big meals in the restaurants, which usually contain much more fat and less fibers. Whether it is a business meeting over lunch or a fast food meal with the kids, eating out is a part of our lives. We eat out to save a lot of time, like grabbing a bite at fast food restaurants, or we take dining out as a favorite way to relax and socialize with friends.
Eating out can be fun but many people still like eating at home more because it is healthier. When my dear wife does not prepare foods for me, I would rather cook some instant noodles and eat at home! However, we go out to eat once in a while for holidays or on special occasions.
More and more people want to make healthy food choices nowadays. Some are watching calories, while others want to keep their cholesterol(胆固醇)under control or eat less fat. Plan ahead and choose wisely, you will find foods that fit into your meal plan and make eating out both healthy and enjoyable.
Here are some pointers to remember that can help you make wise choices when eating out: go for balance, watch portion sizes and drink water or low-fat milk. Keep the ground rules of good nutrition in mind. Eat a variety of foods in moderate(适中的)amounts, limit the amount of fat you eat, and watch the amount of salt in food. If you develop the skills to make healthy choices now, your body will thank you later.
Eating out can be one of life's great pleasures. Make the right choices, ask for what you need, and balance your meals out with healthy meals at home. You can enjoy yourself and take good care of yourself at the same time. From the passage, we can infer that often eating out______________ .
| A．contributes to healthy bodies | B．maintains good relations with friends |
| C．is of disadvantage to health | D．saves time from cooking |
On the author's wedding anniversary, _______________________.
| A．he prefers to cook some instant noodles for his wife |
| B．he would like to have a party at home |
| C．he must make an important choice |
| D．he is likely to take his wife to eat out |
The third paragraph doesn't say but implies that________________.
| A．people's awareness of health has improved |
| B．most people are worried about their cholesterol |
| C．calories have caused people's attention |
| D．it is important to choose your food every day |
If you had been watching for your diet, _____________________ .
| A．you wouldn't have suffered any disease |
| B．you would be in good health now |
| C．you might have had much experience in life |
| D．you could have cured your illnesses |
From James Dean to Growing Pains, Hollywood has long had a love affair with the relationship between teens and their parents. As the fascination with this relationship attests, parents play a crucial role in the development of their children's personalities.
Teenagers learn by closely observing what people around them do. Parents are literally their first teachers and serve as role models. From hygiene to habits, from time management to personal manner, parents form the foundation of their children's characteristics. These tiny individual factors on our everyday behavior collectively constitute who we are.
A second influence occurs at the spiritual level. Parental treatment of children is reflected in children's relationship with others. For example, my dad was quite angry with my study habits a few years back and lost his temper.I clearly remember that I too would easily lose my cool and shout at people, often saying things I later regretted, in those difficult days.
Parents of my fellow classmates often tend to be anxious about the studies of their children, which can lead to a lack of confidence in their children. If we are boats weathering a storm as we navigate toward maturity, then parents should be our captains. It is as easy to lead us to shipwreck as is to take us ashore safely.
To be fair, the guidance and influence of our parents are not the sole factors in molding us. There are numerous examples of teens forging their own paths and becoming something of which their parents never dreamed. Even so, parents must be a fundamental force that positively influences their children. At their best, they can help to solve teenage problems with a respect for their children's thoughts. James Dean and Growing Pains in the first paragraph are described as follows EXCEPT.
| A．they are about love affairs in family life |
| B．they are mentioned at the beginning of the passage to introduce the topic |
| C．they reflect a very important role parents play in childhood development |
| D．they are typical presentations of the relationship between teens and their parents |
If parents are worried about the studies of their children, their children will.
| A．easily lose their temper | B．lack self-confidence |
| C．follow their own paths | D．tend to shout at people |
We can conclude from the passage that.
| A．teens will always be what their parents expect them to |
| B．parents' behavior influences their children both physically and mentally |
| C．the guidance and influence of parents are the only factor in molding teens |
| D．parents should be our captains when we teens are on boats in a storm |
The passage is intended mainly for.
| A．teens | B．teachers | C．students | D．parents |