“Oh，you must have been a spoiled (宠坏的) kid.You must be really bossy.I wonder what you’re going to be like to deal with？” That’s often the response Angela Hult gets when people find out she’s an only child，she told ABC News.Despite such negative (消极的) remarks，Hult has decided to have only one child herself.And she’s not alone.
According to the US’ Office for National Statistics，women approaching the end of their childbearing years had an average of 1.9 children in 2004，compared with 3.1 for their counterparts in 1976.The percentage of onechild families in Britain had risen from 18 percent in 1972 to 26 percent in 2007.
But even though only children are becoming increasingly common，the traditional view that they’re selfish，spoiled and lack social skills holds strong.Even parents of only children，like Hult，are made to feel guilty about having only one child.Worried that they’re being selfish and endangering their child’s future，they flock to online discussion forums seeking advice.Soon，however，they ask themselves：is this social prejudice really reasonable?
“There have been hundreds and hundreds of research studies that show that only children are no different from their peers (同龄人)，” Susan Newman，a social psychologist at Rutgers University in the US，told ABC News.
This raises another question：why are only children still viewed with such suspicion?
“There is a belief that’s been around probably since humans first existed that to have just one child is somehow dangerous，both for you and for the continuation of your race，” Toni Falbo，a professor of educational psychology，told the Guardian.“In the past a lot of children died.You’d have had to be crazy to only have one.”
Times，of course，have changed and infant mortality (婴儿死亡率) has largely reduced.So what do only children themselves say?
Kayley Kravitz，a blogger for The Huffington Post，grew up as an only child and highly recommends the experience.“Being an only child taught me the most valuable skill of all：the ability to be alone，” she said. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?
| A．Are only children lonely? |
| B．Are only children common? |
| C．Are only children dangerous? |
| D．Are only children different? |
What does Susan Newman mean?
| A．Only children are as good as their peers. |
| B．Only children are more selfish and spoiled. |
| C．Parents feel guilty about having only one child. |
| D．Parents will endanger their only child’s future. |
What is the common belief since human existed?
| A．The infant death rate always stays high. |
| B．People are crazy to have only one child. |
| C．It’s easy for only children to earn their living. |
| D．It’s hard to continue the family line with only one child. |
An only child like Kayley________.
| A．must be difficult to persuade |
| B．can possibly learn to be alone |
| C．should value special skills |
| D．need ignore bad experience |
What’s the author’s attitude towards having only one child?
| A．Neutral. | B．Negative. |
| C．Positive. | D．Doubtful. |
A shopping center is a place where many different shops and stores are collected under one roof. You can buy everything there and there are also banks, restaurants and, sometimes, a post office.
There are other places in the United States which are called five-and –ten-cent stores because they used to sell things for 5 to 10 cents. Today they sell almost anything and some of the things cost several dollars. Supermarkets are found in all the cities. They sell food and many other goods. You walk around the supermarket, choose the things you want, put them into a special basket prepared by the store and pay for them all together at the door. Supermarkets often stay open later than other stores.
Stores are usually open every day of the week except on Sunday. Some close on Saturdays in July and August.The shops and stores in a shopping center are .
| A．in the same building | B．on the top of a big roof |
| C．close to your house | D．near banks and restaurants |
A five-and-ten-cent store usually sells .
| A．expensive things | B．small and cheap things |
| C．things worth many dollars | D．everything you need in the house |
________have baskets ready for people to carry the things they are going to buy.
| A．Shopping centers | B．Fine stores in America |
| C．Five-and-ten-cent stores | D．Supermarkets |
Which of the following can be the topic of the article?
| A．What a shopping Center is? | B．Why people like supermarkets? |
| C．Three types of places for shopping. | D．Old and new stores. |
When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's so-and-so's fault，"or "I know I'm late, but it's not my fault; the car broke down. " It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner's key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague(同事) fails to do his job well.
This is what being a winner is all about-creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "whose fault it is." Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.According to the passage, winners_______________.
| A．deal with problems rather than blame others |
| B．meet with fewer difficulties in their eyes |
| C．have responsible and able colleagues |
| D．blame themselves rather than others |
The underlined word “remedy” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to.
| A．avoid | B．accept |
| C．improve | D．consider |
When your colleague brings about a problem, you should __.
| A．find a better way to deal with the problem |
| B．blame him for his lack of responsibility |
| C．tell him to find the cause of the problem |
| D．ask a more able colleague for help |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．A Winner's Achievement. | B．A Winner's Problem. |
| C．A Winner's Opportunity. | D．A Winner's Secret. |
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today. The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸盐）minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（陨石）that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have proved the information.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.
| A．to set up |
| B．to make people accept a belief |
| C．to discover or prove |
| D．to start having a relationship with others |
How did the scientists reach the finding?
| A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite. |
| B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars. |
| C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars. |
| D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface. |
According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?
| A．Measuring the temperature of Mars. |
| B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars. |
| C．Finding that there is water flowing on Mars. |
| D．Proving where human beings will probably land on Mars. |
Where can we most probably read this passage?
| A．In a biography of scientists. | B．In a geography magazine. |
| C．In an environment report. | D．In a science report. |
Want to find a job? Now read the following advertisements.
| FAIRMONT HOTEL Five Waiters and Ten Waitresses — Aged under 22 — At least high school graduate — Good-looking; men at least 1.72 meters tall and women at least 1.65 — Those knowing foreign languages favoured — Paid 1,600—2,200 dollars per month One Secretary — Aged under 30 — Female favoured — Good at writing and skilled at computer If interested, call 465-4768 or write to: Mr. Jack Hundris Room 0825, Fairmont Hotel 567 Wood Street, San Markers, 78003 Fax: 6954828 WILSON BOOKSTORE Accountant (会计) — Aged between 25 and 40 — With an experience of at least two years — With a degree and an accountant certificate (证书) — Paid 3,000—4,000 dollars monthly — With a practical knowledge of computer Salesclerk — Basic education of 12 years or more — Good at computer — Paid 1,800—2,200 dollars monthly Tel: 447-4398 Fax: 3485269 |
If you don’t know how to use a computer, you can just get the position as _____.
| A．a secretary | B．a waiter or waitress |
| C．an accountant | D．a salesclerk |
If you want to get the position of accountant in Wilson Bookstore, you have to satisfy the following conditions EXCEPT _______.
| A．being a woman | B．knowing well how to use a computer |
| C．having been an accountant | D．having an accountant certificate |
If you want to try for a job in Fairmont Hotel, you _______.
| A．should be younger than 30 years old |
| B．should be a university graduate |
| C．have to be taller than 1.72 meters |
| D．have to be a woman and know foreign languages |
From the ads we can conclude that _______.
| A．you’ll be better paid in Wilson Bookstore than in Fairmont Hotel |
| B．all the jobs offered require experience |
| C．the better education you’ve received, the more money you’ll make |
| D．if you want to be an accountant, you may call 465-4768 |
During my elementary school years, I used to compare my mom with my best friend Tiffany’s mom.
Tiffany’s mom always gave her lots of money to buy the most fashionable clothes and favorite food. Her mom allowed her to do anything she liked. I really admired Tiffany. My mom didn’t give me much pocket money and she always told me that I should behave myself. I was annoyed with her.
Whenever I didn’t get what I wanted, I would complain to my mom, Tiffany’s mom would give her that! I wish she were my mom. Every time, my mom would calmly say “Poor Tiffany”. I couldn’t understand her. “She shouldn’t be feeling sorry for Tiffany!” I thought. “She should be feeling sorry for me.”
One day, I couldn’t help saying to Mom, “Poor Tiffany? Lucky Tiffany! She gets everything she wants! Why do you feel sorry for her?” I burst out crying.
My mom sat down next to me and said softly. “Yes, I do feel sorry for her. I have been teaching you a lesson that she will never be taught.”
I looked up at her. “What are you talking about?”
Mom said with care, “One day she will really want something. Maybe she’ll find out that she can’t have it. Her mother won’t always be around to give her money, and what’s more, money can’t buy everything.”
It took some time, but I eventually understood my mom’s words. Now I am a happy and successful woman.During the author’s elementary school years, she __________.
| A．wished that her mom were as good as Tiffany’s |
| B．went to school with Tiffany every day |
| C．usually compared her lesson with Tiffany’s |
| D．sometimes gave lots of money to Tiffany |
Why did the author’s mom always say “Poor Tiffany”?
| A．She felt sorry for Tiffany because Tiffany was poor. |
| B．She wanted to tell a lie to comfort the author. |
| C．She thought that Tiffany was spoiled by her mother. |
| D．She told the author this and wanted her to help Tiffany. |
What do we learn about the author’s mother?
| A．She was strict and taught the author to be independent. |
| B．She cared for other people’s children more than her own. |
| C．She thought that life lessons were as important as money. |
| D．She was so poor that she couldn’t give the author much money. |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．The author was quite annoyed with her mother in the past. |
| B．The author’s mother felt sorry for Tiffany. |
| C．Tiffany’s mother took the author’s mother’s advice. |
| D．The author is thankful to her mother now. |