For many people shopping is considered to be one of the favorite activities. For most of them it is just buying some new clothes or presents for close people. But there is another way for whom shopping is much more than just enjoyable activity, it is a real addiction that in many cases leads to a financial disaster, as well as it brings troubles to person’s life and family.
So why can shopping be so addictive? What are the possible signs to be aware of? And how is it possible to stop the need of spending?
“Some of the new evidence suggests that some people, maybe 10%-15%, may have a genetic preference to an addictive behavior, coupled with an environment in which the particular behavior is caused, but no one really knows why.” However, it is much better understood as to why “shopaholics” continue with their unhealthy and destructive behaviors. Individuals get pleasure from their addiction the same way as if they were under drugs.
And when is it really possible to determine whether simple shopping has crossed the border and has already turned into addiction?
Shopaholics go out and buy things much more often than other people do. They often buy things they do not need. Many shopping addicts go on shopping binges(放纵) all year long and may be forced to buy certain items, such as shoes, clothing or kitchen items. Some just will buy anything. Many times they will spend over their budget limits and get into deep financial trouble, spending well above their income. While someone else will think many times if they can afford this or that thing, shop addicts will not recognize the boundaries of a budget.We can learn from the 3rd paragraph that .
| A．shopping addiction is mainly caused by genetic factors |
| B．shopping addicts are also addicted to drugs |
| C．the real cause of shopping addiction is known already |
| D．shopaholics can’t control their unhealthy and destructive behaviors |
The last paragraph is mainly about .
| A．the destructive behaviors of shopaholics |
| B．the early signs of shopping addiction |
| C．the problems of shopaholics |
| D．the binge of shopaholics |
What could be most probably discussed in the paragraph to follow the passage?
| A．How to treat shopping addiction. |
| B．What really causes shopping addiction. |
| C．When shopping addiction takes place. |
| D．What kind of people can become shopping addicts. |
It can be inferred from the passage that .
| A．shopping addiction can’t cause serious problems |
| B．shopping addicts only want enjoyable activities through buying |
| C．it’s not a good idea to let a shopping addict pay by credit cards |
| D．shopping addiction can spread among different people |
A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: “AAAhhhhhhhhhh!!!” To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountains: “AAAhhhhhhhhhh!!!”
Curious, he shouts: : “Who are you?” He receives the answer:” “Who are you?” And then he screams to the mountain: “I admire you!” The voice answers: “I admire you!”
Angered at the response, he screams: “Coward (one without courage)!” He receives the answer: “Coward!”
He looks to his father and asks: “What's going on?” The father smiles and says: “My son, pay attention.”
Again the man screams at the top of his voice: “You are a champion!” The voice answers: “You are a champion!”
The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: “People call this ECHO (回音) , but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart. If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.”
This relationship applies to (适用于) everything, in all aspects of life; life will give you back everything you have given to it.”The boy is surprised because __________.
| A．he falls over his own feet. | B．his father can shout as loud as he does. |
| C．he hears his screams repeated. | D．someone calls him a coward. |
What’s the father’s attitude towards life?
| A．hopeful | B．disappointed | C．upset | D．hopeless |
Which of the following sayings is in keeping with the father’s teachings?
| A．Faith will move mountains. | B．A great talker is a great liar (说谎者). |
| C．Love me, love my dog. | D．Do well and have well. |
One day，four lawyers were riding their horses along a country road. There had been a rain. Water was dripping (滴) from the trees，and the grass was wet. They rode slowly，talking and laughing. Suddenly they heard some noises from the tree above them. “What is the matter?” asked the first lawyer. “Oh, it's only some old birds!” said the second lawyer. “The storm made one of the babies fall out of the nest. It is too young to fly, and the mother bird is very worried.” “What a pity! It’ll die down there in the grass,” said the third lawyer. “It doesn't matter. It's only a bird,” said the second lawyer. Then they rode on, talking and laughing as before. But the fourth lawyer, whose name was Abraham Lincoln, stopped. He got down from his horse and took the little one in his big warm hands.
“Never mind, my little fellow ,” said Mr. Lincoln. “I will put you back in your little nest.” He climbed up the tree and put the bird softly into their warm little home. A few minutes later, Mr. Lincoln joined them again. His shoes were covered with mud and he was wet. Then the other three laughed at him. They thought it was foolish for a strong man to do so much just for a young bird. “Gentlemen,” said Mr. Lincoln, “I could not sleep tonight if I had left the helpless bird in the grass.” Later Abraham Lincoln became very famous as a lawyer. He also became the president of America. He was one of the greatest American presidents.The reason why the mother bird was worried was that __________.
| A．there was a rain |
| B．the lawyers were under its tree |
| C．one of its babies fell out of the nest |
| D．it could not fly |
The underlined phrase “little fellow” in paragraph 2 means __________.
| A．the mother bird |
| B．Lincoln's little friends |
| C．the other three lawyers |
| D．the baby bird |
The other three lawyers laughed at Lincoln because __________.
| A．he climbed the tree |
| B．he was wet |
| C．his shoes were covered with mud |
| D．they thought it foolish for him to do so |
From the passage we know Lincoln __________.
| A．liked riding horses |
| B．was very kind and loved birds and animals |
| C．liked being laughed at |
| D．wanted to be the president of America then |
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If you want to buy an automobile business, you should call __________.
| A．3421577 | B．6560232 | C．9497221 | D．3328725 |
Whom should Dora call?
| A．Mr Kent | B．Stein | C．Walter | D．Mrs Meikle |
How many selling ads are there in the chart?
| A．Four | B．Six | C．Eight | D．Ten |
One of the most important meals of the day is breakfast. In order for children to build strong bodies and for adults to keep well, they should always eat a good breakfast. Eating the right food is necessary for good health. You should eat different kinds of food in order to keep a good health.
It is understood that a good breakfast may contain eggs, bread, milk, and so on. By eating breakfast every morning, you can feel alive and active in the morning’s work. After a good breakfast you can step out into the morning air and feel wonderful. Anybody can feel better by eating a good breakfast.
Many fathers and mothers are unable to get their children to eat breakfast. There are many reasons for children not to eat breakfast. One reason could be that they do not have a good example. It could be that the father and mother do not eat breakfast. What ever the reasons are for children not to eat breakfast, it can be bad for their health.
Without breakfast children may not grow as fast as they should and may not study and play as well in school in the morning as they could. They can have more illnesses, and, when they are ill, it may take them longer to be in good health again than it takes children with good health habits.
Good eating habits mean eating breakfast. Unless you eat breakfast, you do not eat a full meal from dinner the night before until lunch the next day. This is quite a long time for the body to go without food.
Food is the source of power for the body. Unless the body gets food, it cannot keep operating at top speed. Without food the body will slow down. Nobody will live without food. It is necessary to start the day full of power. So you must eat breakfast so that you can keep in good health and do your best each morning. What should adults do in order to keep good health?
| A．Eat less and take more exercise. | B．Have less for lunch. |
| C．Have more for supper. | D．Have a good breakfast. |
Many fathers and mothers are unable to get their children to eat breakfast because they __________.
| A．always eat a big breakfast | B．eat a little for breakfast |
| C．eat more for breakfast | D．don’t have breakfast at all |
What will happen to the children without breakfast?
| A．They may not grow as fast as children with breakfast. |
| B．They may grow faster and better than children with breakfast. |
| C．They may grow as fast and well as children with breakfast. |
| D．They may study as well as or ever better than children with breakfast. |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Breakfast can provide us the power we need. |
| B．Adults needn’t have breakfast. |
| C．Many fathers and mothers are unable to afford their children breakfast. |
| D．Only breakfast is important to us. |
It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty seven third graders eagerly anticipated the great day of gift giving.
Each day the children made some new wonder – strings of popcorn, hand-made decorations, and German bells made from wallpaper samples, which we hung from the ceiling. Through it all she stayed indifferent(漠不关心的), watching from afar, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly unsociable. I hoped the festivities would light her up. But nothing did.
The day of gift giving finally came. We oohed and aahed over our handwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching. I had made a special package for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened it so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away.
After school the children left in little groups, but she hesitated, watching them go out of the door. I sat down to catch my breath, hardly know what was happening when she came to me reaching out her hands, holding a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands. “For me?” I asked with a weak smile. She said not a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and carefully opened it. There inside, lay a golden chain. In a flash I knew – she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows, a mother who had taken her own life just three weeks before.
I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and put it on at the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well. I looked down at the golden chain, then back at the giver, “Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it.” Neither of us could stop the tears. She threw herself into my arms and we were in tears together. And for that moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest gift of all: herself.The underlined “anticipated” (Paragraph 1) is closest in meaning to _________.
| A．prepared | B．expected | C．talked | D．kept |
We can learn from the story that_________.
| A．the beautiful chain was put inside a beautiful box |
| B．Maria made a golden chain of popcorn for her mother |
| C．the teacher made a special package for Maria so as to see her smile |
| D．Maria oohed and aahed over the handwork as the presents were exchanged |
Maria became quiet and unsociable because_________.
| A．she was a shy girl |
| B．her teacher didn’t give her any gift |
| C．her mother passed away three weeks ago |
| D．she didn’t have any friends in the class |
The underlined sentence (Paragraph 5) mostly means_________.
| A．Maria found her biological mother |
| B．Maria asked her teacher to be her mother |
| C．the teacher promised to be Maria’s mother after receiving her greatest gift |
| D．Maria believed in her considerate teacher and opened her heart to the teacher |
The BEST title for the passage is _________.
| A．The kid’s gift | B．A quiet girl |
| C．The greatest teacher | D．The great day of gift giving |