What are you reading? (A3)
How do your reading habits compare to those of students of a similar age? We ran a poll（抽样检查） to discover what, when, where and why teens read.
Literary（文学） greats（A4-7）
People have been telling stories for centuries. We profile（扼要描写） eight authors, whose work has made a great contribution both to literature and the world as a whole. Have you read any of their books?
Teen reading（A8-10）
Not all books are written by adults for adults. The market for books aimed at young adults is very strong and many new titles are published each year. Some of them are even written by teenagers.
Science fiction (A11)
Have you ever thought what it would be like to travel in space or meet aliens? Jules Verne and Douglas Adams did. It’s time to explore the world of science fiction, where anything and everything can happen.
Horror（A12）
You’ll want to sleep with the light on after reading a story by Edgar Allan Poe or Stephen King. They are two of the finest fiction writers. Get ready for unpleasant deaths and frightening ghosts（鬼）.
_____（A13）
Don’t have time to read a whole book? Then why not spend a few minutes with a book of poetry? We have selected some poems that celebrate the winter season—white snow, cold weather and Christmas.
Past and present（A14）
Over the centuries, stories have been written on all kinds of things. Find out about the development of paper and printing——and what books will look like in the future.
Join in the fun（A15—16）
Reading is enjoyed by almost everyone. Here are some activities you can do to make it even more fun. You can also try our special literature quiz.The text is most probably taken from _____.
| A．a book | B．a literature works |
| C．a newspaper | D．a fiction |
What does the underlined word “aliens” mean?
| A．Persons from another place. |
| B．Astronauts from another country. |
| C．Visitors into space. |
| D．Science fiction writers. |
Which of the following can be put into the blank before（A13）?
| A．Winter poems |
| B．Christmas is coming |
| C．A book of poetry |
| D．The winter season |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Articles about Shakespeare or Charles Dickens can be found in A12. |
| B．An introduction of the book Journey to the Center of the Earth may possibly appear in A11. |
| C．A section named “BESTSELLERS” can be found in A16. |
| D．An article about Harry Potter may possibly appear in A14. |
Can you imagine learning by playing games. To be sure, only children experienced some things differently from those with sisters and brothers. Many feel more pressure to succeed. They also tend to look only to their parents as role models in the absence of brothers and sisters.
In India, 10-year-old Saviraj Sankpal founded a support group for the tiny minority of only children. Among other things, the group does volunteer work to counter (or be against) the myth that they are not responsible. "People think we're treated too kindly and ruined," says Sankpal, a computer engineering student. "But I'd like to remind them how lonely it can get."
Most only children, however, say they wish for sisters or brothers only when it comes to caring for aging, unhealthy parents. Britain's David Emerson, coauthor of the book The Only Child, says that such a person bears terrible burden in having to make all the decisions alone. Emerson knows from experience: After his father died, he chose to move his elderly mother from their family home, where she was vulnerable to (or easy to be attacked by) house breakers, to a new one with more security." The move was quite hard on her, and she might feel that I pushed her into it," he says,". After all, I am left with that responsibility."
In the future, more and more only children will likely face similar choices. With working mothers increasing, many families are finding they simply don't have the time, money or energy to have more than one child. As only children become common, perhaps the world will realize that the Charge made against them is unjust.It can be inferred from the passage that the author's attitude towards only children is _______.
| A．ironic | B．objective | C．unfriendly | D．unjust |
It can be inferred from the passage that only children's parents should ___________.
| A．found a support group for their only children |
| B．do volunteer work to help their only children |
| C．let their only children make all the decisions alone |
| D．set good examples for their only children |
Emerson decided to move his elderly mother to a new house because he ___________.
| A．is the only one who cares about her |
| B．doesn't want to leave her alone |
| C．wants to share the responsibility with her |
| D．is worried about her safety |
It is quite usual now for a working mother to ____________.
| A．spend all her time and money on her only child |
| B．be responsible for bringing up her only child |
| C．have and bring up only one child |
| D．devote all her energy to her job |
The main idea of the passage is that ________.
| A．only children are ruined and irresponsible |
| B．only children have to face many challenges |
| C．most only children want to have brothers and sisters |
| D．most only children share their responsibility with their parents |
Do you read newspapers in modern times while we have TV and other media? The first newspaper was written by hand and put up on walls in public places. The earliest daily newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC. In the 700s the world’s first printed newspaper was published. Europe didn’t have a regularly published newspaper until 1609, when one was started in Germany.
The first regularly published newspaper in English was printed in Amsterdam in 1620. In 1621, an English newspaper was started in London and was published once a week. The first daily English newspaper was Daily Current, which came out in March 1702.
In 1690, Benjamin Harris printed the first American newspaper in Boston. But not long after it was first published, the government stopped the paper. In 1704, John Campbell started Boston Newspaper, the first newspaper published daily in the American Colonies. By 1760, the colonies had had more than thirty daily newspapers. There are now about 1,800 daily papers in the United States.
Today, as a group, English language newspapers have the largest circulation in the world. But the largest circulation for a newspaper is that of the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. It sells more than eleven million copies every year. The first regularly printed European newspaper was started ______.
| A．in Rome in 59 BC | B．in Germany in 1609 |
| C．in Amsterdam in 1620 | D．in England in 1621 |
The first daily English newspaper was started in _______.
| A．1702 | B．1760 | C．1620 | D．1621 |
What can we learn from the passage_______?
A. The earliest daily printed newspaper was started in Rome in 59 BC.
B. The first regularly published English newspaper was printed in Boston.
C. The first daily English newspaper was printed in the American Colonies.
D. The first American newspaper was stopped before 1704.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage_______?
A. Newspapers have the longest history in the United States.
B. One English language newspaper has the largest circulation in the world.
C. The first English newspaper was printed in Rome in 59 BC.
D. There are all kinds of newspapers all over the world today.What is the best title of the passage_______?
| A．History of newspapers. |
| B．History of daily newspapers. |
| C．The beginning of daily newspapers. |
| D．The beginning of newspapers. |
Researchers in the psychology department at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) have discovered a major difference in the way men and women respond to stress. This difference may explain why men are more likely to suffer from stress-related disorders.
Until now, psychological research has maintained that both men and women have the same "fight-or-flight" reaction to stress. In other words, individuals either react with aggressive behavior, such as verbal or physical conflict ("fight"), or they react by withdrawing from the stressful situation ("flight"). However, the UCLA research team found that men and women have quite different biological and behavioral responses to stress. While men often react to stress in the fight-or-flight response, women often have another kind of reaction which could be called "tend and befriend." That is, they often react to stressful conditions by protecting and nurturing their young ("tend"), and by looking for social contact and support from others - especially other females ('befriend").
Scientists have long known that in the fight-or- flight reaction to stress, an important role is played by certain hormones(激素) released by the body. The UCLA research team suggests that the female tend-or-befriend response is also based on a hormone. This hormone, called oxytocin, has been studied in the context of childbirth, but now it is being studied for its role in the response of both men and women to stress. The principal investigator, Dr. Shelley E. Taylor, explained that "animals and people with high levels of oxytocin are calmer, more relaxed, more social, and less anxious." While men also secrete(分泌）oxytocin, its effects are reduced by male hormones.
In terms of everyday behavior, the UCLA study found that women are far more likely than men to seek social contact when they are feeling stressed. They may phone relatives or friends, or ask directions if they are lost.
The study also showed how fathers and mothers responded differently when they came home to their family after a stressful day at work. The typical father wanted to be left alone to enjoy some peace and quiet. For a typical mother, coping with a bad day at work meant focusing her attention on her children and their needs.
The differences in responding to stress may explain the fact that women have lower frequency of stress-related disorders such as high blood pressure or aggressive behavior. The tend-and-befriend regulatory(调节的) system may protect women against stress, and this may explain why women on average live longer than men.The UCLA study shows that in response to stress, men are more likely than women to _____ .
| A．turn to friends for help | B．solve a conflict calmly |
| C．find an escape from reality | D．seek comfort from children |
Which of the following is true about oxytocin according to the passage?
| A．Men have the same level of oxytocin as women do. |
| B．Oxytocin used to be studied in both men and women. |
| C．Both animals and people have high levels of oxytocin. |
| D．Oxytocin has more of an effect on women than on men. |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Male hormones help build up the body's resistance to stress. |
| B．In a family a mother cares more about children than a father does. |
| C．Biological differences lead to different behavioral responses to stress. |
| D．The UCLA study was designed to confirm previous research findings. |
Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
| A．How men and women get over stress |
| B．How men and women suffer from stress |
| C．How researchers overcome stress problems |
| D．How researchers handle stress-related disorders |
The value-packed, all-inclusive sight-seeing package that combines the best of Sydney's harbour, city, bay and beach highlights.
A SydneyPass gives you unlimited and flexible travel on the Explorer Buses: the 'red' Sydney Explorer shows you around our exciting city sights while the 'blue' Bondi Explorer visits Sydney Harbour bays and famous beaches. Take to the water on one of three magnificent daily harbour cruises(游船). You can also travel free on regular Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries or CityRail services (limited area), so you can go to every corner of this beautiful city.
Imagine browsing at Darling Harbour, sampling the famous seafood at Watsons Bay or enjoying the city lights on an evening ferry cruise. The possibilities and plans are endless with a SydneyPass. Wherever you decide to go, remember that bookings are not required on any of our services so tickets are treated on a first in, first seated basis.
SydneyPasses are available for 3, 5 0r 7 days for use over a 7 calendar day period. With a 3 or 5 day pass you choose on which days out of the 7 you want to use it. All SydneyPasses include a free Airport Express inward trip before starting your 3, 5 or 7 days, and the return trip is valid (有效的) for 2 months from the first day your ticket was used.
SydneyPass Fares
| Adult |
Child* |
Family** |
|
| 3day ticket |
$90 |
$45 |
$22.5 |
| 5day ticket |
$120 |
$60 |
$300 |
| 7day ticket |
$140 |
$70 |
$350 |
*A child is defined as anyone from the ages of 4 years to under 16 years. Children under 4 years travel free.
**A family is defined as 2 adults and any number of children from 4 to under 16 years of age from the same family.A SydneyPass doesn’t offer unlimited rides on ______.
| A．the Explorer Buses | B．the harbour cruises |
| C．regular Sydney Buses | D．CityRail services |
With a SydneyPass, a traveller can________.
| A．save fares from and to the airport |
| B．take the Sydney Explorer to beaches |
| C．enjoy the famous seafood for free |
| D．reserve seats easily in a restaurant |
If 5-day tickets were to be recommended to a mother who travelled with her colleague and her children, aged 3, 6 and 10, what would the lowest cost be?
| A．$225. | B．$300. | C．$360. | D．$420. |
Phil White has just returned from an 18,000-mile, around-the-world bicycle trip. White had two reasons for making this epic journey. First of all, he wanted to use the trip to raise money for charity, which he did. He raised £70,000 for the British charity, Oxfam. White's second reason for making the trip was to break the world record and become the fastest person to cycle around the world. He is still waiting to find out if he has broken the record or not.
White set off from Trafalgar Square, in London, on 19th June 2004 and was back 299 days later. He spent more than l,300 hours in the saddle（车座）and destroyed four sets of tyres and three bike chains. He had the adventure of his life crossing Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Amazingly, he did all of this with absolutely no support team. No jeep carrying food, water and medicine. No doctor. Nothing! Just a bike and a very, very long road.
The journey was lonely and desperate at times. He also had to fight his way across deserts, through jungles and over mountains. He cycled through heavy rains and temperatures of up to 45 degrees, all to help people in need. There were other dangers along the road. In Iran, he was chased by armed robbers and was lucky to escape with his life and the little money he had. The worst thing that happened to him was having to cycle into a headwind on a road that crosses the south of Australia. For 1,000 kilometres he battled against the wind that was constantly pushing him. This part of the trip was slow, hard work and depressing, but he made it in the end. Now Mr. White is back and intends to write a book about his adventures.When Phil White returned from his trip, he________.
| A．broke the world record | B．collected money for Oxfam |
| C．destroyed several bikes | D．travelled about 1,300 hours |
What does the word "epic" in Paragraph l most probably mean _____.
| A．Very slow but exciting. | B．Very long and difficult. |
| C．Very smooth but tiring. | D．Very lonely and depressing. |
During his journey around the world, Phil White _______.
| A．fought heroically against robbers in Iran |
| B．experienced the extremes of heat and cold |
| C．managed to ride against the wind in Australia |
| D．had a team of people who travelled with him |
Which of the following words can best describe Phil White?
| A．Imaginative. | B．Patriotic. | C．Modest. | D．Determined. |