I needed to buy a camera, one that was simply good at taking good snaps (快照). So I went on the net, spent 15 minutes reading product reviews on good websites, wrote down the names of three top recommendations (推荐) and headed for my nearest big camera store. There in the cupboard was one of the cameras on my list. And it was on special offer. Oh joy. I pointed at it and asked a salesgirl, “Can I have one of those?” “Do you want to try it first?" she said. It didn’t quite sound like a question. “Do I need to?” I replied. “There’s nothing wrong with it?” “No, no. But you should try it,” she said encouragingly. “Compare it with the others.”
I looked across at the others: shelves of similar cameras placed along the wall, offering different prices. With so many models to choose from, it seemed that I would have to spend hours weighing X against Y, always trying to consider Z and possibly H at the same time. But when I had finished, I would still have only the same two certainties that I had entered the store with: first, soon after I carried my new camera out of the shop, it would be worth half what I paid for it; and second, my wonderful camera would very quickly be replaced by a new model.
But something in the human soul whispers that you can beat these traps (陷阱) by making the right choice. In the end, I agreed to try the model I had chosen. The salesgirl seemed a kind girl. So I let her take out my chosen camera from the cupboard, show how it took excellent pictures of my fellow shoppers... and when she started to introduce the special features, I cut in to ask whether I needed to buy a carry-case and a memory card as well.
Why do we think that new choices still offer us anything new? Perhaps it is because they offer a chance to avoid facing the fact that our real choices in this culture are far more limited than we would like to imagine.The salesgirl insisted that the writer should ______.
| A．try the camera to see if there was anything wrong with it |
| B．compare the camera he had chosen with the others |
| C．get more information about different companies |
| D．trust her and stop asking questions |
What does the writer mean by “it would be worth half what I paid for it”?
| A．The camera was not good. |
| B．He should get a lower price. |
| C．The camera would soon fall in value. |
| D．The price of the camera was too high. |
The writer decided to try the model he had chosen because he ______.
| A．knew very little about it |
| B．didn’t trust the salesgirl any more |
| C．wanted to make sure he chose the best one |
| D．wanted to take pictures of his fellow shoppers |
It can be inferred from the passage that in the writer’s opinion, ______.
| A．salespersons are not always very kind |
| B．people waste too much money on cameras |
| C．cameras have become an important part of our daily life |
| D．we don’t actually need so many choices when buying a product |
Mr. Grey was the manager of a small office in London. He lived in the country, and went to work by train. He liked walking from the station to his office if it wasn’t raining, because it gave him some exercise.
One morning he was walking along the street when a stranger stopped him and said to him, “You may not remember me, sir, but seven years ago I came to London without any money in my pockets. I stopped you in this street and asked you to lend me some money and you lent me￡5, because you said you were always ready to take a chance (机会) to give a man a start on the way to success.”
Mr. Grey thought for a few minutes and then said, “Yes, I remember you. Go on with your story!”
“Well,” answered the stranger, “would you like to take another chance?”Mr. Grey liked walking to his office because __________.
| A．he couldn’t pay for the buses |
| B．he wanted to save money |
| C．he wanted to lose weight |
| D．he could do some exercise on the way |
Mr. Grey was always ready to lend money to a stranger to __________.
| A．help him on the way to success |
| B．give himself a start in life |
| C．make him rich |
| D．get more money |
By saying “Would you like to take another chance？”, the stranger __________.
| A．wanted to return Mr. Grey the money |
| B．asked Mr. Grey for money again |
| C．told Mr. Grey that he had success at last |
| D．would like to make friends with him |
Museum of Transport at Boylet St , Cheetham, Manchester
Enjoy a trip to the Museum of Transport, a working museum showing the development (发展) of road public transport in Manchester. There are over 80 buses from 1890 to 1980. Over 100 shows, from hours-bus to modern train. The museum has small shows describing the history of bus, coach and train. If you are interested in it, welcome to click here and you can see some pictures of them on the screen and get more information about them.
Opening hours and ticket prices
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
9:00 a.m. ~ 4:00 p.m. (Nov. ~ Feb. )
10:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m. (Mar. ~ Oct.)
Adults $3. 00, Students $1.75, Children under 5 free.
Family ticket ( up to two adults and three children) $ 9.00
E-mail : www. gmts. co. ukYou may read this advertisement in __________.
| A．a radio program | B．a newspaper | C．a TV program | D．a website |
If you would like to visit the Museum of Transport , when will it be possible?
| A．At 9:30 a.m. on October 26th | B．At 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays |
| C．At 4:30 p.m. on May Day | D．At 4:10 p.m. on New Year’s Day |
If you and your elder brother are both middle school students, your parents take both of you to visit the museum, you should pay at least __________ in all.
| A．$6 | B．$9 | C．$9.5 | D．$12 |
SEOUL, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A passenger ship with 471 people on it, mostly high school students, was sinking(沉没) in waters off South Korea's southwest coast(海岸). The 6,825-ton passenger ship named "SEWOL" was sinking in waters off the Jindo Island, just off South Korea's southwest corner, sending out a danger signal at around 8:55 a.m. local（当地的) time on Wednesday. The ship careened(倾斜) around 60°to the port.
Among the 471 people on the ship, there were together 190 people saved by 10:20 a.m. local time.
After the report, the South Korean sent seven ships and a helicopter(直升机) to the sea for help. The ship left South Korea's eastern port city of Incheon for the country's southern Jeju Island.What is the name of the ship?
A. SEOUL. B. SEWOL. C. Incheon.How many people were on that ship?
A. 281. B. 190. C. 471.Where did that ship sink?
A. In waters off South Korea's southeast coast
B. In waters off the Jindo Island,
C. In waters off the Jeju Island,What time did the ship send out a danger signal?
A. At around 8:55 a.m. Beijing time.
B. At around 10:20 a.m. local time
C. At around 8:55 a.m. local time. Which is TRUE according to the report?
A. 281 people were saved.
B. The South Korean only sent a helicopter for help.
C. Most of the people on the ship are students in high school.
Smog(雾霾) is a kind of air pollution. It makes the sky look grey and dirty, and its air pollutants(污染物) come from many kinds of natural and manmade sources.
Smog is a big problem for our daily life. In smog weather, many people choose to wear masks (口罩) when they go out. And just because of smog weather, many traffic accidents have happened，many flights are stopped, a lot of people have to stay at home because they think the air is dangerous, and more people with different diseases have to go to see the doctor.
People now see the great danger of the smog and the importance of caring the environment. People all over the country are taking actions. First of all, the laws (法律) must be carried out(执行) strictly. Secondly, it will be better for people to go to work or school with public traffic, such as the bus and subway, instead of the car. What’s more, we should plant more trees.What is smog?
A. A kind of water pollution. B. A kind of noise pollution. C. A kind of air pollution.In smog weather, what do many people choose to wear?
A. Masks. B. Sweaters. C. Jackets.In smog weather, what may happen?
A. There are more people exercising in the park.
B. There are more traffic accidents on the road.
C. Nobody goes to the hospital.What can we do to do with smog?
A. Try not to use public traffic.
B. Carry out the laws strictly.
C. Plant fewer trees.According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Smog makes the sky look terrible.
B. It tells us two ways to protect environment.
C. Taking public traffic is good for the environment.
These days，more and more young people wish to be more beautiful，So they turn to plastic surgery(整形手术)for help．They spend thousands of yuan on these painful surgeries to fix(修整)their nose，to change their eyelids(眼皮)or to take off weight from their stomachs．
In fact，most people are not pleased with the way they look．Even the most beautiful actresses
often wish they could change something about their looks．Should we live our whole lives believing we are ugly? Why can’t we raise our head high and believe that we are as beautiful as others? A smile is beautiful on any face，whether fat，oily or hairy．And a kind heart is much more beautiful than a pretty look．
So，let’s feel grateful(感激的)that we all have beautiful and healthy bodies that do not need surgeries! Today，I call on you to make an easy change：hold your head high! smile and be kind to others．If you do these，you will be full of confidence(自信)，beauty, and warmth everywhere you go．How can we feel great about ourselves according to the writer?
| A．Hold your head up. | B．Smile. |
| C．Be kind. | D．A, B and C |
The writer suggests we should believe we are asas others
| A．confident | B．good | C．beautiful | D．clever |
Which is Not true according to the passage?
| A．Actresses never worry about their looks. |
| B．It costs a lot of money to have plastic surgeries. |
| C．We only need to make a small change to feel beautiful enough. |
| D．A good look is less important than a kind heart. |