“Everybody loves a bargain.” One person's useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person's bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away. They put them outside their houses. They put on a “For Sale” sign. And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement(付费通告) in a local newspaper. It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn. Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight----like tired guests at a party----waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables and chairs. Then there are objects called “white elephants”. A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or painting of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special. They might buy an object simply because it costs so little. They enjoy negotiating(谈判) over prices, even if they really do not need the object. Later, they may hold their own yard to sell all the things they have bought.What kind of things will go to a yard sale?
| A．Cheap and ugly things. |
| B．Things people no longer use. |
| C．Things out of season. |
| D．Things of great value. |
A white elephant refers to _________.
| A．something that can cause a feeling of pain |
| B．something disliked by the owners while appreciated by others |
| C．something sold at the lowest prices |
| D．a toy shaped like a fish |
Most people go to yard sales to________.
| A．find valuable paintings |
| B．look for something special |
| C．find a bargain |
| D．kill their time |
We can infer from the last paragraph that__________.
| A．people may find something of great value on a yard sale |
| B．yard sales only attract those who have a low income |
| C．things on a yard sale can cost people a lot |
| D．most people don’t want to go to yard sales. |
PRACTITIONERS
ㅤJacqueline Felice de Almania （c.1322）highlights the suspicion that women practicing medicine faced.Born to a Jewish family in Florence，she moved to Paris where she worked as a physician and performed surgery.In 1322 she was tried for practicing unlawfully.In spite of the court hearing testimonials（证明） of her ability as a doctor，she was banned from medicine.
ㅤTan Yunxian （1461–1554）was a Chinese physician who learned her skills from her grandparents.Chinese women at the time could not serve aprenticeships（学徒期） with doctors.However，Tan passed the official exam.Tan treated women from all walks of life.In 1511，Tan wrote a book，Sayings of a Female Doctor，describing her life as a physician.
ㅤJames Barry（c.1789–1865）was born Margaret Bulkley in Ireland but，dressed as a man，she was accepted by Edinburgh University to study medicine.She qualified as a surgeon in 1813，then joined the British Army，serving overseas.Barry retired in 1859，having practiced her entire medial profession living and working as a man.
ㅤRebecca Lee Crumpler（1831–1895）worked as a nurse for eight years before studying in medical college in Boston in 1860.Four years later，she was the first African American woman to receive a medical degree.She moved to Virginia in 1865，where she provided medical care to freed slaves.
（1）What did Jacqueline and James have in common？ ＿＿＿＿＿
| A． |
Doing teaching jobs. |
| B． |
Being hired as physicians. |
| C． |
Performing surgery. |
| D． |
Being banned from medicine. |
（2）How was Tan Yunxian different from the other practitioners？ ＿＿＿＿＿
| A． |
She wrote a book. |
| B． |
She went through trials. |
| C． |
She worked as a dentist. |
| D． |
She had formal education. |
（3）Who was the first African American with a medical degree？ ＿＿＿＿＿
| A． |
Jacqueline Felice de Almania. |
| B． |
Tan Yunxian. |
| C． |
James Barry. |
| D． |
Rebecca Lee Crumpler. |
ㅤGrizzly bears，which may grow to about 2.5 m long and weigh over 400 kg，occupy a conflicted corner of the American psyche﹣we revere（敬畏） them even as they give us frightening dreams.Ask the tourists from around the world that flood into Yellowstone National Park what they most hope to see，and their answer is often the same：a grizzly bear.
ㅤ"Grizzly bears are re﹣occupying large areas of their former range，" says bear biologist Chris Servheen.As grizzly bears expand their range into places where they haven't been seen in a century or more，they're interestingly being sighted by humans.
ㅤThe western half of the U.S.was full of grizzlies when Europeans came，with a rough number of 50，000 or more living alongside Native Americans.By the early 1970s，after centuries of cruel and continuous hunting by settlers，600 to 800 grizzlies remained on a mere 2 percent of their former range in the Northern Rockies.In 1975，grizzlies were listed under the Endangered Species Act.
ㅤToday，there are about 2 ，000 or more grizzly bears in the U.S.Their recovery has been so successful that the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service has twice attempted to delist grizzlies，which would loosen legal protections and allow them to be hunted.Both efforts were overturned due to lawsuits from conservation groups.For now，grizzlies remain listed.
ㅤObviously，if precautions（ 预防） aren't taken，grizzlies can become troublesome ，sometimes killing farm animals or walking through yards in search of food.If people remove food and attractants from their yards and campsites，grizzlies will typically pass by without trouble.Putting electric fencing around chicken houses and other farm animal quarters is also highly effective at getting grizzlies away."Our hope is to have a clean，attractant﹣free place where bears can pass through without learning bad habits，" says James Jonkel，longtime biologist who manages bears in and around Missoula.
（1）How do Americans look at grizzlies？
| A． |
They cause mixed feelings in people. |
| B． |
They should be kept in national parks. |
| C． |
They are of high scientific value. |
| D． |
They are a symbol of American culture. |
（2）What has helped the increase of the grizzly population？
| A． |
The European settlers' behavior. |
| B． |
The expansion of bears' range. |
| C． |
The protection by law since 1975. |
| D． |
The support of Native Americans. |
（3）What has stopped the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service from de﹣listing grizzlies？
| A． |
The opposition of conservation groups. |
| B． |
The successful comeback of grizzlies. |
| C． |
The voice of the biologists. |
| D． |
The local farmers' advocates. |
（4）What can be inferred from the last paragraph？
| A． |
Food should be provided for grizzlies. |
| B． |
People can live in harmony with grizzlies. |
| C． |
A special path should be built for grizzlies. |
| D． |
Technology can be introduced to protect grizzlies. |
ㅤI was about 13 when an uncle gave me a copy of Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World.It was full of ideas that were new to me，so I spent the summer with my head in and out of that book.It spoke to me and brought me into a world of philosophy（哲学）.
ㅤThat love for philosophy lasted until I got to college.Nothing kills the love for philosophy faster than people who think they understand Foucault，Baudrillard，or Confucius better than you ﹣ and then try to explain them.
ㅤEric Weiner's The Socrates Express：In Search of Life Lessons from Dead Philosophers reawakened my love for philosophy.It is not an explanation，but an invitation to think and experience philosophy.
ㅤWeiner starts each chapter with a scene on a train ride between cities and then frames each philosopher's work in the context（ 背景） of one thing they can help us do better.The end result is a read in which we learn to wonder like Socrates，see like Thoreau，listen like Schopenhauer，and have no regrets like Nietzsche.This，more than a book about understanding philosophy ，is a book about learning to use philosophy to improve a life.
ㅤHe makes philosophical thought an appealing exercise that improves the quality of our experiences，and he does so with plenty of humor.Weiner enters into conversation with some of the most important philosophers in history，and he becomes part of that crowd in the process by decoding（ 解读） their messages and adding his own interpretation.
ㅤThe Socrates Express is a fun，sharp book that draws readers in with its apparent simplicity and gradually pulls them in deeper thoughts on desire，loneliness，and aging.The invitation is clear：Weiner wants you to pick up a coffee or tea and sit down with this book.I encourage you to take his offer.It's worth your time，even if time is something we don't have a lot of.
（1）Who opened the door to philosophy for the author？
| A． |
Foucault. |
| B． |
Erie Weiner. |
| C． |
Jostein Gaarder |
| D． |
A college teacher. |
（2）Why does the author list great philosophers in paragraph 4？
| A． |
To compare Weiner with them. |
| B． |
To give examples of great works. |
| C． |
To praise their writing skills. |
| D． |
To help readers understand Weiners book. |
（3）What does the author like about The Socrates Express？
| A． |
Its views on history are well﹣presented. |
| B． |
Its ideas can be applied to daily life. |
| C． |
It includes comments from readers. |
| D． |
It leaves an open ending. |
（4）What does the author think of Weiner's book？
| A． |
Objective and plain. |
| B． |
Daring and ambitious. |
| C． |
Serious and hard to follow. |
| D． |
Humorous and straightforward. |
Terri Bolton is a dab hand when it comes to DIY（do﹣it﹣yourself）.Skilled at putting up shelves and piecing together furniture ，she never pays someone else to do a job she can do herself.
She credits these skills to her late grandfather and builder Derek Lloyd.From the age of six ，Terri，now 26 ，accompanied Derek to work during her school holidays.A day's work was rewarded with£ 5 in pocket money.She says："I'm sure I wasn't much of a help to start with，painting the rooms and putting down the flooring throughout the house.It took weeks and it was backbreaking work ，but I know he was proud of my skills. "
Terri，who now rents a house with friends in Wandsworth，South West London，says DIY also saves her from losing any deposit when a tenancy（租期） comes to an end.She adds ：" I've moved house many times and I always like to personalize my room and put up pictures.So，it's been useful to know how to cover up holes and repaint a room to avoid any charges when I've moved out."
With millions of people likely to take on DIY projects over the coming weeks，new research shows that more than half of people are planning to make the most of the long，warm summer days to get jobs done.The average spend per project will be around £823.Two thirds of people aim to improve their comfort while at home.Two fifth wish to increase the value of their house.Though DIY has traditionally been seen as male hobby，the research shows it is women now leading the charge.
（1）Which is closest in meaning to" a dab hand" in paragraph 1？
| A． |
An artist. |
| B． |
A winner. |
| C． |
A specialist. |
| D． |
A pioneer. |
（2）Why did Terri's grandfather give her£ 5 a day？
| A． |
For a birthday gift. |
| B． |
As a treat for her work. |
| C． |
To support her DIY projects. |
| D． |
To encourage her to take up a hobby. |
（3）How did Terri avoid losing the deposit on the house she rented？
| A． |
By making it look like before. |
| B． |
By furnishing it herself. |
| C． |
By splitting the rent with a roommate. |
| D． |
By canceling the rental agreement. |
（4）What trend in DIY does the research show？
| A． |
It is becoming more costly. |
| B． |
It is getting more time﹣consuming. |
| C． |
It is turning into a seasonal industry. |
| D． |
It is gaining popularity among females. |
Where to Eat in Bangkok
ㅤBangkok is a highly desirable destination for food lovers.It has a seemingly bottomless well of dining options.Here are some suggestions on where to start your Bangkok eating adventure.
Nahm
ㅤOffering Thai fine dining.Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary （烹饪的） experiences.It's the only Thai restaurant that ranks among the top 10 of the word's 50 best restaurants list.Head Chef David Thompson，who received a Michelin star for his London﹣based Thai restaurant of the same name，opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in 2010.
Issaya Siamese Club
ㅤIssaya Siamese Club is internationally known Thai chef lan Kittichai's first flagship Bangkok restaurant.The menu in this beautiful colonial house includes traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.
Bo.Lan
ㅤBo.Lan has been making waves in Bangkok's culinary sence since it opened in 2009.Serving hard﹣to﹣find Thai dishes in an elegant atmosphere，the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine's roots，yet still manages to add a special twist.This place is good for a candle﹣lit dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food.For those extremely hungry，there's a large set menu.
Gaggan
ㅤEarning first place on the lates "Asia's 50 best restaurants" list，progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues（场所） to arrive in Bangkok in recent years.The best table in this two﹣story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen，where you can see chef Gaggan and his staff in action.Culinary theater at its best.
（1）What do Nahm and Issaya Siamese Club have in common？
| A． |
They adopt modern cooking methods. |
| B． |
They have branches in London. |
| C． |
They have top ﹣ class chefs. |
| D． |
They are based in hotels. |
（2）Which restaurant offers a large set menu？
| A． |
Gaggan. |
| B． |
Bo.Lan. |
| C． |
Issaya Siamese Club. |
| D． |
Nahm. |
（3）What is special about Gaggan？
| A． |
It hires staff from India. |
| B． |
It puts on a play every day. |
| C． |
It serves hard﹣to﹣find local dishes. |
| D． |
It shows the cooking process to guests. |