There are many traditions around the holidays. “Holiday traditions” are things that people do every year during a holiday such as Christmas or Thanksgiving. At Christmas, for example, many people put up a Christmas tree or Christmas lights. These are Christmas traditions that have been going on for many years. But there is a “new” Christmas tradition that has become very popular: the TV firelog, a TV channel that shows nothing but a large log fire, blazing in a fireplace.
People put it on their TV and it makes them feel like they are watching and listening to a crackling fire. It makes them feel calm and comfortable. The origin(起源) dates back to 1986 in Canada. At that time, not very many people knew about it or watched the channel. Today, more than three million people watch the firelog channel during the winter holiday season. That year, the firelog channel was created(创造) to give the workers in the company that is now called Shaw Cable, a break at Christmas. By running the firelog during the holidays, everyone could go home for a few days and enjoy a bit of time off.
At that time, it was only broadcast to people in Edmonton but today it reaches people across Canada and beyond. This year, the Shaw firelog was updated. It is pretty high tech. Although it’s still really just a fire log that has been filmed, it has its own Twitter account (@ShawFireLog), its own Facebook page and it even has a computer App so you can see the burning log on a smartphone or a tablet. The Shaw firelog will burn until Jan. 5 on Shaw Cable, channel 222.What does this passage mainly talk about?
| A．The origin and popularity of the TV firelog. |
| B．Famous holiday traditions. |
| C．What makes the TV firelog so popular. |
| D．The TV firelog today. |
What does the underlined words “the TV firelog” mean in Paragraph 1?
| A．It is an old Christmas tradition beginning a long time ago. |
| B．It is a TV channel that shows nothing but a fireplace. |
| C．It is a TV channel with all kinds of Christmas traditional programs. |
| D．It is a TV channel where people can watch a large log fire. |
For what purpose was the TV firelog created?
| A．To attract more people to watch their programs. |
| B．To make people feel calm and comfortable by watching a crackling fire. |
| C．To give the people working at the company a few days off at Christmas. |
| D．To create more new traditions for people to celebrate Christmas. |
What can we learn about the TV firelog from the passage?
| A．More than three million people watched the channel in 1986. |
| B．It was broadcast to people in Edmonton and across Canada when it first started. |
| C．It has its own Twitter account but no Facebook page now. |
| D．The burning of the firelog will last until Jan. 5 on Shaw Cable. |
President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket．
“I just miss -- I miss being anonymous,” he said. “I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk.”
His dream, he said, was to “go through Central Park and watch folks passing by…spend the day watching people -- I miss that”.
Faced with angry criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting away from it all. “It's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours.” he told Hearst magazines．
Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disappointed with some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed in his pledge (誓言) to change, such as the "kabuki dance" among political parties before serious policy discussions begin． His comments may be seen as vindication (证实) by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached (漠然), and being slow to engage in vital issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week．
Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up 60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W Bush did in his eight years．In terms of ability, Golf Digest magazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century．What do the second paragraph and the third paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．Obama likes living a busy life． |
| B．Obama used to spend most of his time with his family． |
| C．Obama wishes to enjoy simple pleasures． |
| D．He used to wash his car himself． |
According to Obama, he plays golf to.
| A．release his pressure |
| B．keep fit |
| C．balance his work |
| D．show his ability |
We can infer from the passage that Obama is kabuki dance．
| A．curious about | B．interested in |
| C．content with | D．tired of |
Which of the following statements is from the critics?
| A．The president lost lots of privacy, but he loves the life in the White House. |
| B．There are always unnecessary procedures among political parties． |
| C．The president seems to be indifferent towards some really important issues． |
| D．The president is really a great golf player． |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Obama's favorite pastime． |
| B．Obama’s complaints about lack of privacy as president． |
| C．The public's criticism of Obama． |
| D．Obama's regrets for being the US president． |
Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the country-side. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”What does the underlined part in the first paragraph imply?
| A．French cooking is better than British cooking. |
| B．The British defeated the French in many battles. |
| C．British cooking is thought to be the worst. |
| D．British cooking is now better than it was. |
According to the passage, nowadays British people_______ .
| A．cook less at home than the French every day |
| B．no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables |
| C．are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods |
| D．buy more cookbooks than French people do |
What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?
| A．French women cook less often now. |
| B．The French prefer ready-made dishes. |
| C．French women seldom cook on the weekend. |
| D．Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris. |
What is Bernard’s attitude towards British food?
| A．He would love to try it. |
| B．He shows no interest in it. |
| C．He considers it worse than before. |
| D．He considers it better than before. |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．The history of British food. |
| B．The history of French food. |
| C．The change in British food. |
| D．The change in French food. |
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 US. 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 6yearold 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. In 1986 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 his many friends at school. |
| B．missed his family very much despite having friends at school. |
| C．served as a member of the US Coast Guard for a while. |
| D．showed little interest tudying but other affairs. |
The author seems to believe that Ted Turner is ______.
| A．bossy | B．incapable |
| C．ambitious | D．modest |
Which of the following best describes an important change in Ted Turner’s life?
| A．He became more determined and was feared by this workmates. |
| B．He developed respect and admiration for his employees. |
| C．H e revised his view of the world and his responsibility in it. |
| D．He demanded the same level of success as he father. |
No one doubts that students should study languages, maths and science in high school, but some may object to the idea that they should study art and music as well. To them, these subjects are useless for students’ future and are not worth the time and effort. In my opinion, however, it is necessary for middle school students to study art and music.
Art and music are a precious culture legacy（遗产）, which bring us pleasure and enjoyment. Have you ever been deeply moved by Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony? Have you ever been fascinated by the colorful starry night produced by Vincent van Gogh in his paint? Have you ever longed for the moving love between the Butterfly Lovers when you hear this well-known Chinese melody（曲调）? Art and music are not only images and sounds, but something beyond them. They are the products of passion and human wisdom.
Art and music help make students more creative. Artists and musicians are considered the most creative people in the world. It is because art and music sharpen their senses and provide a different perspective (视角) for them to see the world. Many great scientists benefited from art and music. Einstein, the greatest physicist in the 20th century, as well as an excellent violin player, is a good example.
Enjoying art and music is also a good way to relax. Middle school students, who typically carry heavy burdens of study, will definitely benefit from it.
To sum up, art and music should absolutely be included in the middle school courses, for they can bring students pleasure and relaxation.According to the author, people who think art and music are useless for middle school students __________.
| A．don’t understand the value of art and music |
| B．don’t know the history of art and music at all |
| C．never benefit from artists and musicians |
| D．know little about the trend of future education |
In paragraph 2, the author tries to argue that __________.
| A．Beethoven is one of the greatest musicians |
| B．art and music help express people’s emotions |
| C． art and music are precious pictures and sounds |
| D． art and music bring people joy and quality life |
The example of Einstein is used to __________.
| A．show the importance of creativity |
| B．prove that scientists are creative |
| C．encourage students to study art and music |
| D．provide students with a new way to see the world |
Which of the following is an effective way for middle school students to study?
| A．Relaxing themselves regularly while studying. |
| B．Attending concerts during holidays or after school. |
| C．Avoiding too much homework by studying art and music. |
| D．Listening to music while studying language, maths or other subjects. |
Which of the following is used to support the writer’s opinion?
| A．Art and music help people become scientists. |
| B．Art and music provide people with more opportunities. |
| C．Art and music are beneficial to students in other subjects. |
| D．Art and music are helpful to make students creative learners. |
Ever since the global economic recession( 萧条) began in 2008,many Americans have changed their lifestyles by downsizing what they buy and what they possess.
Tammy Strobel and her husband used to own a two-bedroom apartment,two cars and had good incomes. But Tammy wasn’t happy.Inspired by a web site,they began donating some of their belongings to charity, and eventually got rid of their cars.Some thought they were crazy,but now they feel much happier.Without debt and working fewer hours,now they have more time to be outdoors and to volunteer.
“The idea that you need to go bigger to be happy is false,”Ms. Strobel says. “I really believe that the acquisition of material goods doesn’t bring about happiness.”
Despite the fact that the economy is not as booming as it was,studies have shown that many are feeling happier as they save more and spend less.This mainly happens when they spend money on experiences instead of material objects and when they relish（喜爱）what they plan to buy long before they buy it.
It is true that extra cash always makes life a little easier because it lets people meet basic needs.But scholars have found that types of purchases,their size and frequency,and even the timing of the spending all affect long-term happiness.One major finding is that spending money for an experience---concert tickets,French lessons, sushi-rolling classes---produces longer-lasting satisfaction.
At the height of the recession in 2008,consumers were doing something different---vacationing in their yards, eating more dinners at home,organizing family game nights .As a result, these leisure activities appeared to make them less lonely and increased their interactions with others.
“I think people are realizing they don’t need what they had.They’re more interested in creating memories,”says a scholar.
To stop purchasing things using credit cards at any time brings happiness,too;in other words,waiting for something and working hard to get it makes it feel more valuable and more stimulating. In fact,scholar have found that anticipation increases happiness. Considering buying an i-Pad?You might want to think about it as long as possible before taking one home.
Ms.Strobel is now an advocate（拥护者） of simple living.”My lifestyle now would not be possible if I still had a huge two-bedroom apartment filled to the gills(完全满了）with stuff,two cars,and 30 grand（一千美元） in debt,”she says. “Give away some of your stuff,” she advises. “See how it feels.”What did Ms Strobel and her husband do to change their life?
a. Donated their things to charity.
b. Changed their jobs.
c .Got rid of their cars.
d. Spent more time outdoors.
| A．a, b, c | B．b, c, d |
| C．a, b, d | D．a, c, d |
Which of the following is not a purchase of experience?
| A．Enroll in a French course. |
| B．Learn how to make Japanese sushi. |
| C．Get a new Mac. |
| D．Go to a concert. |
It is true that money_____________________
| A．always makes people happier |
| B．enables people to work fewer hours |
| C．makes one a better volunteer |
| D．helps people to meet their basic needs |
Purchase of experience can make people feel happier because_____________
| A．They increase the interaction between people |
| B．They are more economical than material goods |
| C．They are unique and can’t be obtained again |
| D．They make the participant smarter |
Why does stopping using a credit card to buy anything at any time bring happiness?
| A．Because one has to pay for interest by using a credit card. |
| B．Because the process of saving money and waiting for the thing you want makes it feel more valuable. |
| C．Because it helps stop buying things one actually doesn’t need |
| D．Because as one waits, he/she often finds something better to buy |