Many of the world’s countries have reached or are approaching zero population growth (ZPG) ．Nearly all such lands are economically well developed．They include much of Europe(including Russia)，the United States，Canada，Japan．and Australia．As the rate of natural increase(RNI)declines，two things happen．First，the population begins to decline if the loss is not balanced by immigration．Second，a country’s population ages because there are fewer births．
Is achieving ZPG good or bad? What happens when a country’s population begins to drop? Many people，after all，believe that population decline is a good thing．But is it good for everyone? Does everyone agree?
An aging population can create many problems．Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention．Rather than paying into retirement programs，they begin to draw from their pensions．In the US，the Social Security program，according to many experts，will be used up by 2018．It will pay out more money than it takes in．Additionally, a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or entry。level positions that pay low wages．With an able to do them．Many of these jobs are aging population，who will fill them? At the other extreme，some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills．Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?
The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple：increased migration．Today many people，particularly those from less developed countries，are migrating in search of employment．Many are willing to take jobs that cannot(or will not) be filled by the domestic population．Others are well educated and highly skilled．Both groups contribute to a country’s economy progress in many ways．Further, they add to the richness of a country’s culture．Of greatest importance，perhaps，is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands．As you can see，for many countries and for most immigrants，migration is a win—win situation．In the writer’s view，which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good． |
| B．Achieving ZPG is every country’s aim in spite of its side effects． |
| C．Achieving ZPG is bad for senior citizens． |
| D．Achieving ZPG is good for employment． |
According to the passage，the best way to solve the problem of declining and aging population is ．
| A．to improve the health care system | B．to increase RNI |
| C．to increase employment | D．to increase migration |
The underlined words “the domestic population’’ can be replaced by ．
| A．people within the country | B．people from developing countries |
| C．people without a college education | D．people living abroad |
The main idea of the last paragraph is
| A．the advantages of increased migration |
| B．the problem of declining and aging population |
| C．how to increase migration |
| D．some ways to enrich a country’s culture |
She is only 12 years old but lives only with her younger sister. Her parents are far away from home, and she has to take care of her younger sister. She is He Can, a student at Anqing Jianzhen Middle School in Anhui, one of the “stay-at home children” in her town. To make money, these kids’ parents go to big cities to find a job. Their children have to stay at home because they have to go to school.
He Can’s parents left home when she was only four. They only come back for the Spring Festival every year. Because she had to live with different relatives at different times, He Can went to eight different primary schools.
“I used to complain,” she said. “But later I understood my parents. They have to go away to make a better life for us.” He Can said her frequently changing life also has a good side.
“When I went to a new school, I had to try to make friends,” said He Can, “I became outgoing. Now I’m not afraid of talking to people.”
He Can said her relatives were kind to her. They taught her how to cook and wash clothes.
When she would start junior high school , her parents agreed to rent a house to let her live out with her sister.
Every day, He Can gets up at 6:00 am and cooks breakfast. Then He Can does chores (琐事) and helps her sister take a shower. She usually goes to bed at 9:30 pm.
Though busy, He Can is still a top student in her class. She said the secret is never to put things off until tomorrow.
“ I think my life is OK,” she said. “But if possible, I would like my parents to settle down and live with us.” Why does He Can live only with her younger sister?
| A．Because their parents don’t like them. |
| B．Because their parents have to work in a big city. |
| C．Because they enjoy living by themselves. |
| D．Because their schools are too far away from their home. |
Where did He Can live before she started junior high school?
| A．In her relatives’ houses. | B．In her own house |
| C．In a house she rented. | D．In her school. |
What does He Can think of changing schools so often?
| A．She hates it and complains a lot about it. |
| B．She thinks it good for her growth. |
| C．She enjoys it because she can make more friends. |
| D．She thinks it bad for her studies. |
What is He Can’s secret of being top at studies though busy?
| A．She often asks her relatives for help. | B． She exercises a lot to make herself stronger. |
| C．She gives her sister some work to do. | D．She tries to finish everything before going to bed. |
If you ask Americans whether or not they think their former president George W. Bush is smart, most of them will probably tell you they don’t think so. However, Bush’s IQ score is estimated to be above 120, which puts him in the top ten percent of the population.
It doesn’t seem to make sense. How come someone with such an IQ score is not considered smart? Researchers say: IQ does not tell the whole story. Some people have high IQ scores, but still they can be poor thinkers and decision-makers.
Keith Stanovich, a Canadian professor of human development and applied psychology, has been looking into the “clever fools” phenomenon for 15 years. He says IQ tests are very good at measuring certain mental faculties(能力), including logic, learning ability, working-memory capacity (how much information you can hold in mind), etc. Those faculties play a part in one’s academic success, but rational thinking is more important for us to make good judgments in real-life situations.
IQ tests fail to work when it comes to rational thinking. That’s because they are unable to assess things such as a person’s ability to weigh up information, or whether an individual can set aside the cognitive biases(认知偏差)that may be misleading.
“A high IQ is like height in a basketball player,” says David Perkins, who studies thinking and reasoning skills at Harvard University. “It is very important, all other things being equal. But all other things aren’t equal. It takes a lot more to be a good basketball player than being tall, and it takes a lot more to be a good thinker than having a high IQ.”According to the text your academic success depends on your __________.
| A．logic | B．mental faculties | C．learning ability | D．working-memory capacity |
If you need to decide where to invest your money, you must use your ______________
| A．IQ scores | B．IQ test | C．rational thinking | D．cognitive biases |
We know from the text that ____________
| A．the former president George W. Bush has a high IQ score |
| B．many Americans think their former president George W. Bush is smart |
| C．David Perkins believe that a person’s IQ doesn’t need to be developed |
| D．Keith Stanovich looked into the “clever fools” phenomenon 5 years ago |
What is the text mainly about?
| A．Those who have high IQ do better than those who don’t in everything. |
| B．People with high IQ scores must be good decision-makers |
| C．People with high IQ scores are always smart in every way. |
| D．Why a high IQ doesn’t mean you’re smart |
When six of the very best students from different cities in Guangdong Province all together chose universities in Hong Kong; when the very best students of Beijing picked up HK University while giving up the nearby Peking or Tsinghua University; when the highest enrollment (录取) rate of Hong Kong Science and Industry University reached 48:1, it’s the high time to ask where the real education heaven for students in China is.
Years ago, the answer certainly would be “Peking or Tsinghua University”. But now no one could give the exact reaction without hesitation. The only sure thing is that HK universities have gradually showed an unusual attraction to a great many mainland students.
It’s no doubt to call this HK craze(狂热), which is even out of the expectation of those HK universities themselves. How can HK universities shake the steady foundations of Peking and Tsinghua and attract so many mainland students?
First, Hong Kong universities offer large-amount scholarships, especially for the top students who can receive the sum scholarship as much as 400,000 HK dollars. Since higher education has become a kind of heavy burden of many families, it’s easy to understand why the reaction to the generous offering of HK universities is great.
Second, most HK universities receive professors and students from all over the world and carry out bilingual(双语的) education. This kind of excellent language atmosphere is another attraction for mainland students.
Furthermore, university students in Hong Kong have a better chance to study abroad as exchange students.
Can mainland top universities like Peking or Tsinghua University calm as before when facing the unexpected competition from HK？Will they take relevant measures to win back the top students who once help them set the worldwide reputation? Time will explain it.
The fierce competition brought by HK universities can be a good thing for an entire improvement of education in China. After the awakening and action taking of mainland universities, they can perform better together with HK universities.
At least, it reminded the mainland universities the tuition fees are among students’ top concern when they are choosing universities. It’s time to move.What is the passage mainly talking about?
| A．Some thought brought by the enrollment of Hong Kong universities |
| B．Higher education in Hong Kong |
| C．The competition between Hong Kong University and Peking University |
| D．The fall of mainland universities. |
Top students from mainland apply for HK universities because_______________.
| A．many students now would love to study abroad to get a better experience. |
| B．HK universities offer higher scholarships, better environment and more opportunities for their further study |
| C．they concern only about the tuition fees when choosing universities. |
| D．Peking University has lost its worldwide reputation |
From the passage we can see HK universities_____________.
| A．didn’t mean to enroll top students from mainland |
| B．are proud of their teaching staff and facilities |
| C．didn’t expect their enrollment of mainland students would be so popular |
| D．have strict enrollment rules and only 1 out of 48 students can get the chance to study there |
What does the author mean by saying “It’s time to move.” in the last paragraph?
| A．Mainland universities should take measures as soon as possible to attract students. |
| B．The opportunities come for top students to study abroad |
| C．HK universities should make full preparations to challenge mainland universities. |
| D．Top students should be offered further education free of charge |
BINGHAM REGIONAL COLLEGE
International Students’ Orientation Programme
What is it?
It is a course which will introduce you to the College and to Bingham. It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th-28th September, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22nd or 23rd September.
Why do we think it is important?
We want you to have the best possible start to your studies and you need to find out about all the opportunities that college life offers. It will enable you to get to know the college, its facilities and services. You will also have a chance to meet staff and students.
How much will it cost?
* International students (non-European Union students)
For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the progamme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend. Because of this, the cost of the programme, without accommodation, is built into your tuition fees.
* EU students
EU students are welcome to take part in this programme without accommodation for ￡195.
Accommodation costs (international and EU students)
The cost of accommodation for one week is ￡165
If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the college, you do not have to pay extra for accommodation. You can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you one week only in a hotel with other International students.
What is included during the programme?
Meals: lunch and an evening meal are provided as part of the programme. Please note that breakfast is not available.
Information: including such topics as accommodation, health, religious matters, study skills, and other necessary information.
Social activities: including a welcome party and a half day trip round Bingham.Who is encouraged to attend the course according to the ad?
| A．Those who are less prepared for their examination |
| B．Those who want to improve their social lives |
| C．Those who are not familiar with their future college. |
| D．Those who want to make up their missed lessons. |
It is better for Non-European Union students to take part in the programme because _______
| A．they don’t have to pay for the course |
| B．it offers them opportunities to know more about European culture |
| C．they can save the cost of accommodation while they are studying |
| D．it is difficult for them to be accepted by the natives in Binghama |
If a student plans to take the course, he has to arrive in Bingham at least ___________ days in advance before term starts.
| A．2 | B．4 | C．5 | D．6 |
Which of the following might NOT be included in the programme?
| A．Learning how to study in the college | B．Looking for a part-time job in neighborhood. |
| C．Understanding some taboos(禁忌)in European society． | D．Travelling around Bingham. |
（Reuters）--- A Michigan man credited his dog with saving his life by chewing off his diseased big toe as he lay passed out in a drunken stupor(昏迷)
Jerry Douthett, 48, who woke up on a Saturday night in late July in his Rockford, Michigan home to find his Jack Russell Terrier, Kiko, had gnawed off his right big toe.
“The dog always lies with me on the bed”, said Douthett. “That night, I woke up and looked down at my foot, and it was wet. When I looked, it was blood and there was the dog looking at me with a blood moustache.”
Douthett’s wife, Rosee, rushed him to a hospital where doctors found he was suffering from Type 2 diabetes. His toe was badly infected and surgeons amputated(截)the remainder of the toe.
Douthett’s wife, a registered nurse, had been urging him for weeks to have his infected toe examined by a doctor.
On the night Kiko ate his toe, Douthett said he had been out with his wife and drank about six or seven beers and a pair of giant margaritas—big enough to put goldfish in.
“I was self-medicating at this point,” he said. “The moral of the story is that the dog saved my life, because otherwise I would never have gone to see a doctor.”
The couple said they were amazed that Kiko appeared to know Douthett had an infection that needed treatment.
“He kind of chewed off the infected part and stopped at the good bone,” said Rosee. “We joked that we shouldn’t have had to pay the co-pay because he did half the job by chewing off half of the toe.”What does the underlined phrase “gnawed off” probably mean?
| A．bit away | B．cared for | C．sucked on | D．smelt out |
It can be learned from the text that________________.
| A．Douthett’s wife was a doctor | B．Douthett’s wife felt something about his disease |
| C．Douthett never got that drunk | D．Douthett had seen a doctor for his disease |
From the text we know that Kiko ______________.
| A．is in top physical condition | B．was trained at an early age |
| C．nearly cost Douthett his life | D．saved his master’s life |
Which is NOT true according to the text?
| A．It is hard for the couple to explain the dog’s behaviour |
| B．Jerry Douthett went to see a doctor because of Kiko’s chewing his big toe.. |
| C．The couple shouldn’t have to pay the co-pay because Kiko did half the job. |
| D．Kiko didn’t hurt the good bone of its master. |