When we worry about who might be spying on our private lives, we usually think about the Federal agents. But the private sector outdoes the government every time. It’s Linda Tripp, not the FBI, who is facing charges under Maryland’s laws against secret telephone taping. It’s our banks, not the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that pass our private financial data to telemarketing firms.
Consumer activists are pressing Congress for better privacy laws without much result so far. The legislators lean toward letting business people track our financial habits virtually at will.
As an example of what’s going on, consider U.S. Bancorp, which was recently sued for deceptive practices by the state of Minnesota. According to the lawsuit, the bank supplied a telemarketer called Member Works with sensitive customer data such as names, phone numbers, bank-account and credit-card numbers, social security numbers, account balances and credit limits.
With these customer lists in hand, Member Works started dialing for dollars-selling dental plans, videogames, computer software and other products and services. Customers who accepted a “free trial offer” had 30 days to cancel. If the deadline passed, they were charged automatically through their bank or credit-card accounts. U.S. Bancorp collected a share of the revenues.
Customers were doubly deceived, the lawsuit claims. They didn’t know that the bank was giving account numbers to Member Works. And if customers asked, they were led to think the answer was no.
The state sued Member Works separately for deceptive selling. The company denies that it did anything wrong. For its part, U.S. Bancorp settled without admitting any mistakes. But it agreed to stop exposing its customers to nonfinancial products sold by outside firms. A few top banks decided to do the same. Many other banks will still do business with Member Works and similar firms.
And banks will still be mining data from your account in order to sell you financial products, including things of little value, such as credit insurance and credit-card protection plans.
You have almost no protection from businesses that use your personal accounts for profit. For example, no federal law shields “transaction and experience” information-mainly the details of your bank and credit-card accounts. Social Security numbers are for sale by private firms. They’ve generally agreed not to sell to the public. But to businesses, the numbers are an open book. Self-regulation doesn’t work. A firm might publish a privacy-protection policy, but who enforces it?
Take U.S. Bancorp again. Customers were told, in writing, that “all personal information you supply to us will be considered confidential.” Then it sold your data to Member Works. The bank even claims that it doesn’t “sell” your data at all. It merely “shares” it and reaps a profit. Now you know.Contrary to popular belief, the author finds that spying on people’s privacy ________.
| A．is practiced exclusively by the FBI |
| B．is more common in business circles |
| C．has been intensified with the help of the IRS |
| D．is mainly carried out by means of secret taping |
We know from the passage that ________.
| A．the state of Minnesota is considering drawing up laws to protect private information |
| B．most states are turning a blind eye to the deceptive practices of private businesses |
| C．legislators are acting to pass a law to provide better privacy protection |
| D．lawmakers tend to give a free hand to businesses to inquire into customers’ buying habits |
When the “free trial” deadline is over, you’ll be charged without notice for a product or service if ________.
| A．you happen to reveal your credit card number |
| B．you fail to cancel it within the specified period |
| C．you fail to apply for extension of the deadline |
| D．you find the product or service unsatisfactory |
Businesses do not regard information concerning personal bank accounts as private because ________.
| A．it is considered “transaction and experience” information is not protected by law |
| B．it has always been considered an open secret by the general public |
| C．its sale can be brought under control through self-regulation |
| D．its revelation will do no harm to consumers under the current protection policy |
The Ant Bully
Actor: Julia Roberts－Hova (voice) Nicolas Cage －Zoc (voice)
Language: English
Run Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Price: Mon .－Fri.－＄30 (VIP:18) ＄15 (Children under 7)
Sat.－Sun.－＄40 (VIP:28) ＄20 (Children under 7)
Lucas Nickel is often bullied (欺负) by the big boy in his neighborhood. Because he cannot fight back, he takes out his anger on an anthill(蚁丘) in his front yard. He stamps(踩) it, squirts(喷射) it with his water gun, and floods it. One wizard ant, Zoc, makes Lucas as little as an ant and Lucas has to work and live in the ants’ country. During his staying with the ants, Lucas learns the value of friendship and teamwork, and finally gains the things he wants most: friendship and the courage to stand up for himself.
I really enjoyed this movie. It’s a fun movie for the whole family. I had really good laughs and enjoyed being there. —James
I went to see this film today with my 8-year-old daughter, really without knowing too much about it. My daughter and I were pleasantly surprised at how funny it was. We just couldn’t help laughing. I would recommend(推荐) this film for the whole family. —Mary
I’ve seen several movies of this kind, like Antz or Bugs Life, but this one blows them both away as having greater movie qualities. The film is so well made－some of the scenes are unbelievably beautiful. —John
I would recommend this movie to everyone. Whether you go with family or friends, I honestly think this movie has something you will really enjoy. —SamWhere can we most probably find this text?
| A．In a science magazine. | B．In a biology report. |
| C．In a student’s textbook. | D．In a movie poster. |
If a man (VIP) and his 6-year-old son go to watch the movie this weekend, they will pay .
| A．＄33 | B．＄45 | C．＄48 | D．＄60 |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．Mary thinks both adults and children will enjoy this movie. |
| B．At the end of the movie, Lucas becomes the enemy of the ants. |
| C．Julia Roberts and Nicolas Cage played the roles of Hova and Zoc. |
| D．James thoughts the movie was pretty good but Sam didn’t think so. |
No one was left in the museum now, and John was walking round to see if everything was all right. Suddenly he saw a beautiful painting lying on the floor. John picked it up and gave it to the director of the museum.
The director called several museums to check and see if it was a stolen painting, but no one claimed(认领) it. So the director decided to hang it in the museum. All the experts came to look at the painting. Each one said it was beautiful and had very deep meaning. The director was proud to have such a painting in his museum and congratulated John on his discovery.
Some weeks later a woman and her little son came to the museum. While they were looking at the new painting, the little boy began to cry. The director went over and asked him.
“Why are you crying?”
The child pointed to the painting and said, “That’s my painting on the wall and I want it back.”
“Yes,” said his mother. “He left it on the floor a few weeks ago. If you look carefully, you can see his name on the painting.” John was perhaps .
| A．a painter |
| B．an expert on painting |
| C．a visitor to the museum |
| D．a man working in the museum |
John found the painting .
| A．before the museum opened |
| B．during his visit to the museum |
| C．after the museum was closed |
| D．while he was enjoying his walk |
After the director heard what the woman and the boy said, he must be very .
| A．angry | B．surprised | C．afraid | D．proud |
All the experts thought the painting good because .
| A．it was a stolen famous painting |
| B．none of them looked carefully enough |
| C．it was drawn by a famous painter though he was a child |
| D．they found it really beautiful and it had very deep meaning |
A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized（强调） the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was showed in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman, on the road, and soon we began to talk． As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head ,shrugging his shoulders, saying, “You don’t say! You don’t say!” I was puzzled, I thought, perhaps this is not a proper topic．Well, I had better change the topic． So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everybody back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent（壮丽的，不凡的）.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide. “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it. ” Soon I was interrupted（打断） again by his order “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” He answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say you don’t say?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “You don’t say actually means really? It is an expression of surprise Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms” Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions.A year ago, I did not pay attention to English idioms because_______.
| A．English idioms were too difficult to master |
| B．I care little about the teacher’s instruction |
| C．My teacher didn’t emphasize the importance |
| D．I had no interest in English learning |
When I first heard “ You don’t say!” I thought _______.
| A．the Englishman was not interested in my English studies |
| B．the Englishman was only interested in the Great Wall |
| C．I had talked too much |
| D．I had to stop talking at once |
The underlined word “ amusing ” means _______.
| A． interesting | B．important |
| C．terrible | D．lucky |
Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parents don’t like?When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to _________.
| A．go to their friends |
| B．talk with their parents |
| C．have a discussion with their family |
| D．talk with their friends on the phone |
Which of the following is DIFFERENT in meaning from the sentence “Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends.”?
| A．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
| B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
| C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
| D．Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends. |
Which of the following sentences is TRUE?
| A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
| B．In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
| C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
| D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help. |
The main idea of this passage is that ___________.
| A．Teenagers need friends |
| B．Friends can give good advice |
| C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them |
| D．Good friends can communicate with each other |
Many facts suggest that children are overweight and the situation is getting worse, according to the doctors. I feel there are a number of reasons for this.
Some people blame the fact that we are surrounded by shops selling unhealthy, fatty foods, such as fried chicken and ice cream, at low prices. This has turned out a whole generation of grown-ups who seldom cook a meal for themselves. If there were fewer of these restaurants, then probably children would buy less take-away food.
There is another argument that blames parents for allowing their children to become overweight. I agree with this, because good eating habits begin early in life, long before children start to visit fast food shops. If children are given fried chicken and chocolate rather than healthy food, or are always allowed to choose what they eat, they will go for sweet and salty foods every time, and this will carry on throughout their lives.
There is a third reason for this situation. Children these days take very little exercise. They do not walk to school. When they get home, they sit in front of the television or their computers and play computer games. Not only is this an unhealthy pastime, it also gives them time to eat more unhealthy food. What they need is to go outside and play active games or sports.
The above are the main reasons for this problem, and therefore we have to encourage young people to be more active, as well as steer them away from fast food shops and bad eating habits.According to the text, what kind of children may eat more unhealthy food?
| A．Those who often take exercise. |
| B．Those who often watch television. |
| C．Those who often have meals at home. |
| D．Those who often walk to school. |
The author thinks that children are becoming overweight because
| A．their parents often cook meals for them |
| B．they are too busy to go out and play |
| C．they can' t choose what to eat |
| D．there are too many fast food shops around |
The word "steer" underlined in the last sentence most probably means _______.
| A．force | B．guide | C．expect | D．observe |
The main purpose of the text is to _________.
| A．tell a story | B．provide facts |
| C．give advice | D．compare opinions |