When I was a child, I often dreamed of the time when I could leave home and escape to the city. We lived on a farm and, in the winter especially, we were quite cut off from the outside world. As soon as I left school, I packed my bags and moved to the capital. However, I soon discovered that city life has its problems too.
One big disadvantage is money---it costs so much to go out, not to mention basics like food and housing. Another disadvantage is pollution. I suffer from asthma(哮喘), and at times the air is so bad that I am afraid to go outside. Then there is the problem of travelling round. Although I have a car, I seldom use it because of the traffic jams. One choice is to go by bicycle, but that can be quite dangerous.
Of course there are advantages. First, there is so much to do in the city, whatever your tastes in culture or entertainment. Besides, there are wonderful jobs and greater chances of moving to a more important job or position. Finally, if you like shopping, the variety of goods is very surprising---and, what is more, shops are often only a short walk away.
Is life better then, in the city? Perhaps it is, when you are in your teens(十几岁) or twenties. However, as you get older, and especially if you have small children, the peace of the countryside may seem preferable. I certainly hope to move back there soon.What was the writer always thinking about when he was a child?
| A．Staying on the farm | B．Moving to the countryside |
| C．Leaving home for the city | D．Running away from the school |
Which of the following is true about the writer?
| A．He is very old now. | B．He is in good health. |
| C．He prefers driving a car. | D．He lives in the city now. |
In the passage, the writer tries to _______.
| A．express his opinions about way of life |
| B．describe his life in the countryside |
| C．show an interest in the outside world |
| D．persuade the reader to live in the city |
How is the passage mainly developed?
| A．By inferring | B．By comparing |
| C．By listing examples | D．By giving explanations |
Driving home from work one evening in the heavy rain, I found a very wet, injured cat on the side of the road. He looked up at me, meowing pitifully. A car must have hit it so it wasn’t able to move. I stopped my car and carried the cat in and went on driving.
At the nearest vet clinic, the vet gently examined it. "He's about eight months old and has two broken legs, but I would need X-rays to know how serious the damage is," he told me. "As he's not your cat, I don't know if you want to go ahead with this. It could be rather expensive."
I knew it would cost me hundreds of dollars, but I agreed with his advice. The following morning the vet rang to say the X-rays confirmed two bad breaks in his legs. "I'll operate on his legs and put metal pins in them to keep them fixed." he told me.
That afternoon I went to pick up my little friend. There I could hardly recognize him. His previously dirty fur was now a beautiful silver grey. His front legs were in two casts and he lay there looking at me, purring(发咕噜声) happily.
I thanked the doctor and went out to pay the bill. "I think you've given me the wrong account," I said to the clerk. "This is only $85. He's had X-rays and an operation on his legs." "No, that's right," she replied. "The vet has only charged you for the medication. There's a message on the bottom."
Written under the total were the words "SPECIAL RATE FOR ADOPTIONS." I was speechless at his kind and generous gesture. I paid the account and under his message I wrote "WITH GRATEFUL THANKS, CAT AND MUM."Why didn’t the vet give the cat X-rays immediately?
| A．The damage was not serious at all. |
| B．The cat was too young to be X-rayed. |
| C．The doctor wasn’t sure whether the author would like to cover the expenses. |
| D．The examination was too expensive for the author to afford. |
What do we know about the author?
| A．The author was a caring and generous lady. |
| B．The author often adopted animals. |
| C．The author’s workplace was far from home. |
| D．The author only worked at night. |
Which of the following is true of the cat?
| A．He was deserted by his owner and nearly starved to death. |
| B．He was saved on a dark and stormy night. |
| C．He was a lively creature with beautiful brown fur. |
| D．His back legs were broken and had to have an operation. |
Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
| A．The adventure of a cat |
| B．An impressive vet |
| C．An unforgettable night |
| D．Love in relays |
| Voluntary work Are you 16 or over? Do you like meeting people? Do you like making a difference? Have you got 3 – 4 hours a week to spare? Then why not volunteer to help elderly people by doing their shopping, decorating, gardening, dog walking. This is very rewarding work that meets an important social need. For more details see Mrs. Capstick, Eagle House. |
| Senior choir Do you like singing with other people? Are you aged between 14-18? Want to take it to a higher level? We need your vocal cords! Lots of fun, friendly people and the chance to perform in public! Come to a meeting with Mr. Davies this Thursday at 3:30 pm in the Music Annexe. |
| Want a kitten？ My cat, Comfrey, has had kittens. Lovely cute fluffy bundles, black, black & white or tortoiseshell. No charge, but they must go to good, caring homes where they will be well-looked after!!! See Jan Swirsky in 4E. Only 3 left! |
| Creative Writing Competition Stationers & booksheller W.H. Smiths are sponsoring a creative writing competition open to secondary school students 12-18 throughout the UK. The theme of the competition is: Breaking down barriers. Entries, which can be in prose or poetry, must be no longer than 2000 words, and they mustn’t have been published before. Send your entry to: breaking Down Barriers, PO Box 23 Great Boolean, WV1 4RY. |
| Calling for future Beckhams and Owens! The Kings Park Junior 11 needs new talent. If you fancy your form, are free on Saturday Mornings and Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30 for soccer training, ring Barry Mole on 367060. |
You have to contact someone by phone to enter for .
| A．Voluntary work |
| B．Senior choir |
| C．Creative writing competition |
| D．Kings Part Junior Tryout |
Which of the following activities has no age limit?
| A．Voluntary work. | B．Senior choir. |
| C．Kitten adoption. | D．Writing competition. |
Which of the following is true about Creative Writing Competition?
| A．It is funded by companies. |
| B．There are topics to choose from. |
| C．Poetry is not accepted. |
| D．Entries will be put in print. |
Where are you most likely to find the information above?
| A．In a newspaper entertainment section. |
| B．On a school notice board. |
| C．In a handbook for students. |
| D．In a monthly student magazine. |
Money Matters
Parents should help their children understand money. So you may start talking about money when your child shows an interest in buying things, candy or toys, for example.
1.The basic function of money
Begin explaining the basic function of money by showing how people trade money for goods or services. It is important to show your child how money is traded for the things he wants to have. If he wants to have a toy, give him the money and let him hand the money to the cashier(收银员). When your child grows a bit older and understands the basic function of money, you can start explaining more complex ways of using money.
2. Money lessons
Approach money lessons with openness and honesty. If you must say no to a child’s request to spend money, explain, “You have enough toy trucks for now.” Or, if the request is for many different things, say, “You have to make a choice between this toy and that toy.”
3.
Begin at the grocery store. Pick out two similar brands of a product—a name-brand butter and a generic(无商标产品),for example. You can show your child how to make choices between different brands of a product so that you can save money. If he chooses the cheaper brand, allow him to make another purchase with the money saved. Later, you may explain how the more expensive choice leaves less money for other purchases.
| A. Wise decisions. B. The value of money. C. Permit the child to choose between them. D. Tell your child why he can—or cannot—have certain things. E. Ask yourself what things that cost money are most important to you. F. Talk about how the money bought the thing after you leave the toy store. G. The best time to teach a child anything about money is when he shows an interest. |
We know that many animals do not stay in one place. Bird, fish and other animals move from one place to another at a certain time. They move for different reasons: most of them move to find food more easily, but others move to get away from places that are too crowded.
When cold weather comes, many birds move to warmer places to find food. Some fishes give birth in warm water and move to cold water to feed. The most famous migration （迁移） is probably the migration of the fish, which is called “salmon”. This fish is born in fresh water but it travels many miles to salt water. There it spends its life. When it is old, it returns to its birthplace in fresh water. Then it gives birth and dies there. In northern Europe, there is a kind of mouse. They leave their mountain homes when they become too crowded. They move down to the low land. Sometimes they move all the way to the seaside, and many of them are killed when they fall into the sea.
Recently, scientists have studied the migration of a kind of lobster（龙虾）. Every year, when the season of bad weather arrives, the lobsters get into a long line and start to walk across the floor of the ocean. Nobody knows why they do this, and nobody knows where they go.
So, sometimes we know why humans and animals move from one place to another, but at other times we don’t. Maybe living things just like to travel.Most animals move from one place to another at a certain time to _________.
| A．give birth | B．enjoy warmer weather |
| C．find food more easily | D．find beautiful places |
The fish called “salmon” spends a long life in _________.
| A．salt water | B．rivers | C．fresh water | D．its birthplace |
What is the main idea of the passage?
| A．Animals move in order to find food more easily. |
| B．The migration of the fish called “salmon” is the most famous migration. |
| C．Living things move from one place to another because they like to travel. |
| D．sometimes we know why and how living things move from one place to another, but sometimes we don’t. |
Minh Pham was born in Vietnam. He left there when he was 21 years old. Minh has been in America for almost two years. There is still much he does not understand about America.
Once, Minh was in a supermarket. He saw an old man and an old woman. They wanted a box of cereal（麦片）.The box was on a high shelf. The man and the woman couldn’t reach it. Minh saw a stepladder. He got on the ladder and got the box. He handed it to the elderly couple. They thanked him.
“Where are your children?” asked Minh. “Why don’t they help you buy food?” “Our children have their own lives,” said the man and the woman. “We like to be independent.” Minh doesn’t think this is right. In his country, children help their parents. Minh gave the elderly couple his phone number. He told them to call him if they needed help. One night they asked Minh to dinner, but they never asked him for help.
One day, Minh was walking with a Vietnamese friend. The two men were going to a movie. Minh wanted to go to a restaurant first. Minh took his friend’s hand. He pulled him towards the restaurant. People on the street stared at Minh. In Vietnam, friends often hold hands. Minh found that the people in America are not used to men holding hands.
Minh Pham is going through a process（过程） known as resocialization. Socialization（社会化） is the process in which a person learns to live in a society. Everyone goes through this process. Minh went through it when he lived in Vietnam. But the Vietnamese way of life is rather different from the American way of life. When Minh came to America, he had to learn a new way of life. He had to learn how to live in a new society. Minh has learned a lot about American life in two years. He still has a lot to learn. The process of resocialization can take many years.The main idea of the passage is that socialization is the way in which a person ______.
| A．learns to live in a society |
| B．travels from one country to another |
| C．learns to act independently |
| D．learns about their country |
The passage states that Minh didn’t understand why the elderly man and woman were not ______.
| A．helped by their children | B．shopping for their children |
| C．holding hands | D．using a stepladder |
According to the passage, socialization happens to ______.
| A．only the Vietnamese in America | B．only Americans |
| C．only older people | D．everyone |
The underlined word “resocialization” means ______.
| A．keeping one’s own way of life |
| B．keeping up with others |
| C．a process of learning how to live in a new society |
| D．understanding a new culture |