Marjorie Baer used to joke about her retirement plans．She wasn't married and had no kids, but she didn't intend to be alone—she and all her single friends would move into a fictional home she called Casa de Biddies．Instead, Baer developed terminal brain cancer when she was 52．But just as she'd hoped, her friends and family provided her with love and care to the end．
Ballance was only the first of Baer's friends who became her unofficial caregivers．With her brother Phil Baer from Los Angeles, they worked out a system to watch over their friend and allow her to keep some of the privacy and independence she cherished.
Baer's good friend Ruth Henrich took Baer to doctors' appointments and helped her deal with all the aspects of life —answering machines, TV controls, and even phone numbers．After Henrich sent out an e-mail request, a group of volunteers signed up to ferry Baer back and forth to radiation therapy（放疗）．Others in Baer's circle offered up particular talents: A nurse friend helped Baer figure out how to get what she was due from Social Security and her disability insurance; a lawyer pal helped Baer with her will; a partner who was an accountant took over her bills when she could no longer manage them．"There was this odd sense that the right person always showed up," says Ballance．Their arrangement worked remarkably well．
Unmarried women are one of the fastest-growing groups in America; experts are concerned about how care-giving will be managed for them as they age．If the experience of Baer's friends is a guide, the Internet will play a role．It's already making it possible to create communities of caregivers who may have only one thing in common: the person who needs their help．On personal "care pages" set up through services such as Lotsa Helping Hands, friends and family members can post a list of tasks that need to be done, volunteer to do them, and keep updated on the person's condition．As Baer's cancer progressed, for example, her friends set up a page on Yahoo! where people could sign up to deliver meals or do errands（差事）.
Catherine Fox, one of the friends who were present when Baer died, was deeply affected．"It was so comforting to know that if you're willing to ask for help, the generosity of family and friends can be phenomenal（显著的）．It makes me feel secure and hopeful to know that help is there when you need it．"The most appropriate title of this passage should be ______．
| A．On her own, but not alone |
| B．A friend in need is a friend indeed |
| C．A new practice of American government |
| D．A phenomenal advantage of the Internet |
Who helped Marjorie Baer get her disability insurance?
| A．Ruth Henrich. | B．Her brother. |
| C．A nurse friend. | D．Ballance. |
The underlined part in paragraph four suggests that the Internet will ______.
| A．play a role in American future pension system |
| B．provide online medical care for aged unmarried women |
| C．help manage care-giving for unmarried women as they age |
| D．help those aged unmarried women to kill their spare time |
The writer tells us the story of Marjorie Baer for the purpose of ______．
A．reminding us to be kind and make as many friends as we can
B．informing that there will be a new trend of care-giving for the single elderly
C．persuading us that we can enjoy our retirement even if we don’t have a child
When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, “Well, it’s so-and-so’s fault.” or “I know I’m late, but it’s not my fault; the car broke down.” It is probably not your fault, but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy the situation. This is the winner’s key to success.
Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don’t rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
Being a winner is all about creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don’t have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on “whose fault it is.” Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.According to the passage, winners .
| A．deal with problems rather than blame others |
| B．meet with fewer difficulties in their lives |
| C．have responsible and able colleagues |
| D．blame themselves rather than others |
The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .
| A．avoid | B．accept |
| C．improve | D．consider |
When your colleague brings about a problem, you should .
| A．blame him for his lack of responsibility |
| B．find a better way to handle the problem |
| C．tell him to find the cause of the problem |
| D．ask a more able colleague for help |
When problems occur, winners take them as .
| A．excuses for their failures |
| B．barriers to greater power |
| C．challenges to their colleagues |
| D．chances for self-development |
Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
| A．A Winner’s Secret |
| B．A Winner’s Problem |
| C．A Winner’s Opportunity |
| D．A Winner’s Achievement |
Planning your holiday? Whether you’re going to Yunnan or UK, it’s important to make sure you’re well-prepared. Here’s a handy checklist to help you.
Location
The first thing you have to decide is where you want to go. Of course a lot will depend on your time and budget. Do you want to relax on a beach, visit some famous landmarks, or hike through some beautiful scenery? All these things are available in China, but if your budget stretches, why not look at somewhere else in Asia, or even farther.
Packing
There can be such a thing as being over prepared when traveling, but you don’t want to forget something important. It can be a good idea to wear pants with zipped pockets. In certain countries local thieves will target unsuspecting tourists for their money. It can also be worth packing some basic medical supplies. If you are going to be moving around a lot, buy a good backpack. Finally, remember to pack clothes that are going to be suitable for the weather.
Accommodation
There are several things to consider when picking where you want to stay. Location is often the most important. When staying in hotels, it is often a good idea to book your first night in a new city. After all, you will not be familiar with the surroundings and will want somewhere to leave your luggage. However, don’t spend more than a couple of days at the same hotel. When you get to a new place, you might soon discover there’s somewhere better to stay.
Don’t forget
The key to a good holiday is detail. When you’re traveling, especially in a foreign country, don’t forget to change some money before you leave. If you’re traveling somewhere tropical, you might need some injections or pills to avoid disease. And it’s always worth taking out travel insurance, just in case you find yourself in a spot of bother during the trip. Don’t forget to check the exchange rates. The strong yuan has made traveling abroad cheaper recently. It can also be a good idea to write down the phone number of the closest Chinese embassy, in case you need help while abroad.You have to take all the following into consideration EXCEPT _______ when deciding where to spend your holiday.
| A．culture | B．purpose | C．money | D．time |
Pants with zipped pockets are recommended mainly because _______.
| A．it’s a good measure in case of emergencies |
| B．you’ll be expected to buy a lot of souvenirs |
| C．you’ll carry many small things with you |
| D．it will help you guard against local theft |
As for accommodation, the writer’s tip is _______.
| A．to stay away from the downtown areas to get cheap places |
| B．to book one or two nights in the same hotel in case you don’t like it |
| C．to choose your location after you arrive at your destination |
| D．better not to leave your luggage in unfamiliar hotels |
It can be inferred from the last part that we should _______.
| A．choose the most suitable kind of travel insurance |
| B．use RMB in all foreign countries since the yuan is strong |
| C．check the exchange rates so as to decide what currency (货币) to buy |
| D．get in touch with Chinese embassy if we need help when abroad |
What’s the purpose of the passage?
| A．To attract the tourists to travel abroad. |
| B．To tell some travel information to tourists. |
| C．To help the tourists make good preparations for their holidays. |
| D．To remind tourists of the safety during their journey. |
Runners in a relay race pass a stick in one direction. However, merchants（商人） passed silk, gold, fruit, and glass along the Silk Road in more than one direction. They earned their living by traveling the famous Silk Road.
The Silk Road was not a simple trading network. It passed through thousands of cities and towns. It started from eastern China, across Central Asia and the Middle East, and ended in the Mediterranean Sea. It was used from about 200 B.C. to about 1300 A.D., when sea travel offered new routes. It was sometimes called the world’s longest highway. However, the Silk Road was made up of many routes, not one smooth path. They passed through what are now 18 countries. The routes crossed mountains and deserts and had many dangers of hot sun, deep snow and even battles. Only experienced traders could return safe.
The Silk Road got its name from its most prized product. Silk could be used like money to pay taxes or buy goods. But the traders carried more than just silk. Gold, silver, and glass from Europe were much found in the Middle East and Asia. Horses traded from other areas changed farming practices in China. Indian merchants traded salt and other valuable goods. Chinese merchants traded paper, which produced an immediate effect on the West. Apples traveled from central Asia to Rome. The Chinese had learned to graft(嫁接) different trees together to make new kinds of fruit. They passed this science on to others, including the Romans. The Romans used grafting to grow the apple. Trading along the Silk Road led to world-wide business 2,000 years before the World Wide Web.The people along the Silk Road did not share just goods. They also shared their beliefs. The Silk Road provided pathways for learning, diplomacy(外交), and religion (宗教). It’s probable that traders along the Silk Road needed ____________.
| A．to remember the entire trade route |
| B．to deal with a lot of difficulties |
| C．to receive certain special training |
| D．to know the making of products |
The Silk Road became less important because ____________.
| A．it was made up of different routes |
| B．silk trading became less popular |
| C．people needed fewer foreign goods |
| D．sea travel provided easier routes |
What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?
| A．Silk was the most prized product. |
| B．The Silk Road led to world-wide business. |
| C．People traded many goods along the route. |
| D．The Silk Road used to be the world’s longest highway. |
New technologies could travel along the Silk Road because people ___________.
| A．traded goods along the route |
| B．shared each other’s beliefs |
| C．learned from one another |
| D．earned their living by traveling |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．The Silk Road: East Meets West |
| B．The Silk Road: Past and Present |
| C．The Silk Road: Routes Full of Dangers |
| D．The Silk Road: Pathways for Learning |
The mobile phone rule is just common polite behavior. Most people today have a mobile phone. In fact, many people can’t imagine how they ever get along without them. However, many people also complain(抱怨) about mobile phone users. People complain about other people loudly discussing personal matters in public places. They complain when mobile phones ring in movie theaters and concert halls. They complain about people driving too slow, and paying no attention to where they are going because they are talking on a mobile phone. And they complain about people walking around talking to people who aren’t there.
Whenever a new communication technology becomes popular, it changes the way in which society is organized. Society has to invent rules for the polite way to use the new devices（装置）. Our rules of politeness for mobile phones are still evolving（发展；使逐渐形成）.
The mobile phone rule applies to most public places. Always try to have your phone ring as low as possible or put your mobile phone on the vibration（振动） mode, so it does not distract the people around you. The basic mobile phone rule includes:
1. Switch it off: Turn it off when you have meetings, worship, and so on.
2. Be brief: When you get a call and you’re with friends, keep the call short.
3. Permission: Often, it is correct and polite behavior to inform others at the beginning of the meeting that you are expecting an important call and get their permission.
4. Be polite: Don’t scream — speak in a lower-than-normal voice.
5. Don’t distract: Avoid talking where you may be distracting to others.
6. Driving: It is not only very dangerous, but also unlawful in most countries to drive and talk on your mobile phone.What is the best title for this passage?
| A．How to use a mobile phone. |
| B．Mobile phone rule. |
| C．The disadvantages of mobile phones. |
| D．Mobile phones — making them work for us. |
According to this passage, we can know that the rules for mobile phones are______.
| A．far from our satisfaction |
| B．getting worse |
| C．making people disappointed |
| D．developing gradually |
Which of the tips on using mobile phones properly is mentioned in this passage?
| A．Concentrate on what others say. |
| B．Speak at the top of your voice in order to make yourself heard. |
| C．Always turn off your mobile phones. |
| D．Had better not distract others. |
What is the main purpose of writing the first paragraph?
| A．To attract readers to the topic of the passage. |
| B．To give examples about people’s improper behaviors with mobile phones. |
| C．To criticize people’s improper behaviors. |
| D．To show mobile phones have brought people a lot of trouble. |
What does the word underlined“it” refer to in Paragraph 3?
| A．A mobile phone. |
| B．The ring of the phone. |
| C．The mobile phone rule. |
| D．The conversation on the phone. |
Restaurants in the USA
Steve’s Pizza
So many pizza chains compete for the attention of tourists in South Beach, but ask a Miami Beach local where to get the best pizza and they’ll tell you about Steve’s. This is New York–style pizza, handmade with care and good ingredients(成份). New branches of Steve’s are opening elsewhere in Miami, all in non-tourist areas.
Opening hours: 11am-3am
Cattleman’s Steakhouse
This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, where you’ll see everything from rabbits to buffalo (水牛), then catch the sunset either before or after your meal.
Opening hours: 5pm-10pm
Absolute Baking & Cafe
The screen door is always swinging open at this town hot spot with giant breakfasts. Try the green chili on eggs – it’s made from scratch, as are the organic(有机的) breads. Lunch includes salads, big sandwiches and local grass-fed beef burgers. Don’t miss a square of soft, fresh carrot cake.
Opening hours: 7am-2pm
Walt’s Wharf
Everybody’s favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt’s packs them in on weekends. You can’t make reservations for dinner (though they’re accepted for lunch), but it’s worth the wait for the tree fire–grilled seafood and steaks in the many-windowed ground floor or upstairs in captain’s chairs.
Opening hours: 11am-3:30pmThe new branches of Steve’s Pizza are mainly intended for .
| A．New Yorkers | B．the locals |
| C．tourists | D．foreigners |
Cattleman’s Steakhouse offers the wonderful as well as good food.
| A．view | B．wine |
| C．discount | D．service |
Which restaurant serves both breakfast and lunch?
| A．Steve’s Pizza. |
| B．Walt’s Wharf. |
| C．Cattleman’s Steakhouse. |
| D．Absolute Baking & Café. |