One day an old woman was traveling alone in the mountains. Suddenly she saw something shining in the stream. When she came close, she found it was a precious stone. She put the stone into her bag and went on with her trip.
The next day the old woman met a young man, who was also a traveler in the mountains. The young man looked very hungry, so the old woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked carefully, “The stone is beautiful. Would you like to give it to me?”
“Sure. Why not?” the woman said, and handed the stone to him.
The young man left happily with the stone. He knew it was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman.
“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back and hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within your bag.”
The woman opened her bag. It was almost empty. She looked at the young man and smiled, “I have nothing special in my bag, but I do have something precious — the joy of giving!” The young man felt ashamed and left silently. How did the young man find the precious stone?
| A．He found it in his food. |
| B．He dug it out in a valley. |
| C．He saw it in the woman’s bag. |
| D．He noticed it shining in the stream. |
What does the underlined word “security” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
| A．Money. | B．Worry. | C．Health. | D．Trouble. |
The man returned the stone to the woman because ______.
| A．he found the stone was not precious |
| B．he understood the real meaning of joy |
| C．he felt embarrassed at taking away the stone |
| D．he wanted to get something even more precious |
Which of the following would be the best title of the passage?
| A．A special stone |
| B．The joy of giving |
| C．A woman and a young man |
| D．An experience in the mountains |
Having a husband means an extra seven hours of housework each week for women, according to a new study. For men, getting married saves an hour of housework a week. "It's a well-known pat-tern，"said lead researcher Frank Stafford at University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. " Men usually work more outside the home, while women take on more of the housework. "
He points out that differences among households （家庭）exist. But in general, marriage means more housework for women and less for men. " And the situation gets worse for women when they have children，" Stafford said.
Overall, times are changing in the American home. In 1976，women busied themselves with 26 weekly hours of sweeping and dusting work, compared with 17 hours in 2005. Men are taking on more housework, more than doubling their housework hours from 6in 1976 to 13 in 2005.
Single women in their 20s and 30s did the least housework, about 12 weekly hours, while married women in their 60s and 70s did the most-about 21 hours a week.
Men showed a somewhat different pattern, with older men picking up the broom more often than younger men. Single men worked the hardest around the house, more than that of all other age groups of married men. Having children increases housework even further. With more than three children, for example, wives took on more of the extra work, clocking about 28 hours a week compared with husbands' 10 hours. According to the "well-known pattern" in Paragraph 1，a married man __________.
| A．takes on heavier work |
| B．does more housework |
| C．is the main breadwinner |
| D．is the master of the house |
How many hours of housework did men do every week in the 1970s?
| A．About 28. |
| B．About 26. |
| C．About 13. |
| D．About 6. |
What kind of man is doing most housework according to the text?
| A．An unmarried man. |
| B．An older married man. |
| C．A younger married man. |
| D．A married man with children. |
What can we conclude from Stafford's research?
| A．Marriage gives men more freedom. |
| B．Marriage has effects on job choices. |
| C．Housework sharing changes over time. |
| D．Having children means doubled housework. |
Tens of thousands of theatre tickets will be given away to young people next year as part of a government campaign to inspire a life-long love for theatre.
The plan to offer free seats to people aged between 18 to 26-funded with £2. 5 million of taxpayers' money-was announced yesterday by Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary. It received a cautious welcome from some in the arts world, who expressed concern that the tickets may not reach the most underprivileged.
The plan comes as West End theatres are enjoying record audiences, thanks largely to musicals teaming up with television talent shows. Attendances reached 13. 6 million in 2007，up 10 percent on2006，itself a record year. Total sales were up 18 percent on 2006 to almost £470 million.
One theatre source criticized the Government's priorities （优先考虑的事）in funding free tickets when pensioners were struggling to buy food and fuel, saying ： " I don't know why the Government's wasting money on this. The Young Vic, as The Times reported today, offers excellent performances at cheap prices. "
There was praise for the Government's plan from Dominic Cooke of the Royal Court Theatre, who said ：" I support any move to get young people into theatre, and especially one that aims to do it all over England, not just in London. "
Ninety-five publicly funded theatres could apply for funding under the two-year plan. In return, they will offer free tickets on at least one day each week to 18 to 26-year-olds, first-come, first-served. It is likely to be on Mondays, traditionally a quiet night for the theatre.
Mr. Burnham said ： " A young person attending the theatre can find it an exciting experience, and be inspired to explore a new world. But sometimes people miss out on it because they fear it's ‘not for them'. It's time to change this perception. "
Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said ： "The real is-sue is not getting enthusiastic children into the theatre, but improving arts education so that more young people want to go in the first place. For too many children theatres are a no-go area. " Critics of the plan argued that __________.
| A．the theatres would be overcrowded |
| B．it would be a waste of money |
| C．pensioners wouldn't get free tickets |
| D．the government wouldn't be able to afford it |
According to the supporters, the plan should __________.
| A．benefit the television industry |
| B．focus on producing better plays |
| C．help increase the sales of tickets |
| D．involve all the young people in England |
Which of the following is TRUE about the plan?
| A．Ninety-five theatres have received funding. |
| B．Everyone will get at least one free ticket. |
| C．It may not benefit all the young people. |
| D．Free tickets are offered once every day. |
We can infer from the passage that in England __________.
| A．many plays are not for young people |
| B．many young people don't like theatre |
| C．people know little about the plan |
| D．children used to receive good arts education |
According to the passage, the issue to offer free tickets to young people seems __________.
| A．controversial |
| B．inspiring |
| C．exciting |
| D．unreasonable |
A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe. Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.
Grimsvotn is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvotn different is that it lies under a huge glacier（冰川）of ice up to 12 meters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer（层）of water between the glacier and the volcano. This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava （岩浆）from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.
Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe's biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane's engines, causing damage to the plane.
The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash-covered grass or the sharp objects. What makes Grimsvotn different from other volcanoes?
| A．It is below ice. |
| B．It lies under the sea. |
| C．It is the largest volcano. |
| D．Its lava affects the airlines. |
What keeps Grimsvotn still?
| A．The slow flow of water. |
| B．The low water temperature. |
| C．The thick glacier. |
| D．The water pressure. |
Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?
| A．People stop traveling in Europe. |
| B．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes. |
| C．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside. |
| D．Farmers have lost many of their animals. |
This text is most probably taken from __________.
| A．a research paper |
| B．a newspaper report |
| C．a class presentation |
| D．a geography textbook |
The poor are very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition-and I told the sisters ： You take care of the other three. I take care of this one who looked worse. So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand as she said just the words "Thank you" and she died.
I could not help but examine my conscience before her and I asked what I would say if I was in her place. And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said I am hungry, I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain, or something, but she gave me much more-she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face. So did that man whom we picked up from the drain, half eaten with worms, and we brought him to the home. "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die like an angel, loved and cared for，" he said at the end. And it was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that, who could die like that without blaming anybody, without cursing anybody, without comparing anything. Like an angel-this is the greatness of our people. And that is why we believe what Jesus has said ： I was hungry, I was naked, I was homeless, I was unwanted, unloved, uncared for, and you did it to me.
And with this prize that I received as a Prize of Peace, I am going to try to make the home for many people who have no home. Because I believe that love begins at home and if we can create a home for the poor I think that more and more love will spread. And we will be able through this understanding love to bring peace, the good news to the poor, the poor in our own family first, in our country and in the world. When pick up a person from the street, hungry and I give him a plate of rice or a piece of bread, I am satisfied. I have removed that hunger. But to a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, who has been thrown out from society, that poverty is so full of hurt and so unbearable...And so let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love, and once we begin to love each other naturally we want to do something. What can be learned from the second paragraph?
| A．The woman should have paid more attention to herself. |
| B．The man couldn't blame anyone. |
| C．The author is religious. |
| D．The man died in the street. |
The purpose of this passage is __________.
| A．to appeal for more donation for the poor |
| B．to call on the public to love each other |
| C．to tell the readers the poor are wonderful |
| D．to express how moved the author is to receive the prize |
Which of the following can NOT be inferred from the passage?
| A．The author has few supporters. |
| B．The author was somewhat surprised at what the man said. |
| C．The author is delighted to help others in trouble. |
| D．The author may agree to solve social problems in soft ways. |
What's the best title of this passage?
| A．Have Sympathy for the Poor |
| B．The Poor Are Wonderful |
| C．Smile and Love |
| D．Relieve Poverty |
Ted Turner achieved high goals and great success by the time he was 43. Best known for his CNN, Ted Turner launched a second nationwide all-news network, Headline News, purchased the Atlanta Braves baseball team, and became the world's best yachtsman at the America's Cup in 1977. In 1982 Ted Turner was named by Forbes one of the 400 richest people in the U. S. He was named Time magazine's "Man of the Year" in 1992. How did Ted Turner accomplish all of this at such a young age?
Ted Turner's father, Ed, was a self-made millionaire who demanded that his only son try to achieve similar success. He instilled in the boy a strong belief that hard work was good. Besides reading a new book every two days, Ted Turner was also charged rent at home during summer vacations from boarding school. Ed Turner was a strong influence in his son's life.
As a child, Ted Turner lived a very lonely life, often separated from his family. During World War Ⅱ，his father served in the navy. Ed Turner took his wife and daughter with him so they could live nearby but left his 6-year-old son behind in a boarding school in Cincinnati, Ohio. When Ted Turner was in the fifth grade, his father enrolled him in a military academy. Even though Turner had friends at school, it didn't make up for the absence of his parents and sister. Eventually Ted Turner enrolled at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. He attended college off and on, became involved in sailboat racing, and became a member of the U. S. Coast Guard for a while. In his early twenties, he became general manager of one of his father's branch offices-the Turner Advertising Company in Macon, Georgia.
Two years later after his father's suicide, Ted Turner took over the company. He soon discovered that he was more skilled than his father in managing the business. During the next twenty years, Ted Turner worked hard to accumulate enough power and money to fulfill his father's dream.
Reflecting on his father's death, however, Ted Turner realized that it was dangerous to put too much emphasis on material possessions. He decided to use his hard-earned influence to serve the public.
Concerned about the environment, Ted Turner established the Better World Society in 1985. The purpose of this organization was to produce documentaries to educate people about pollution, hunger, and the danger of building weapons of mass destruction. In1986 Turner began sponsoring the Goodwill Games to promote world peace. The Turner Tomorrow Awards were created to encourage writers and thinkers to focus their attention on solving world problems. The Turner Family Foundation was established in 1992. What is CNN according to the passage?
| A．It's a broadcast news company. |
| B．It's a basketball team agency. |
| C．It's a charity organization. |
| D．It's a publishing house. |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 1?
| A．The creation of CNN encouraged broadcasters to be more successful. |
| B．Towering goals and hard work led to fame and prosperity. |
| C．Ted Turner was expert at sailboat racing and playing basketball. |
| D．Ted Turner became very successful at an early age. |
As a student in a military academy, Turner __________.
| A．wasn't as lonely as he looked because of his many friends at school |
| B．missed his family very much despite having friends at school |
| C．served as a member of the U. S. Coast Guard for a while |
| D．showed little interest in studying |
The author seems to believe that Ted Turner is __________.
| A．bossy |
| B．incapable |
| C．ambitious |
| D．modest |