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 |
| D．introducing the convenience that will be brought by the Internet after we retire |
Eco City Farms(生态城市农场) are becoming more popular in cities and towns around the Unites States.
Eco City Farms in Edmonton, Maryland, is located near shopping centers, car repair shops and homes. The neighborhood is a working-class community(社区). People do not have very much money. And they have limited access to fresh food in markets.
Over the past two years, the farm has attracted volunteers from the community like Marcy Clark. She schools her four children at home. On a recent day she brought them to Eco City Farms for a lesson. Her son Alston Clark thinks his experience is very valuable.“I like coming out here,”he says,“You know, you connect with the earth, where your food comes from. You appreciate the food a little bit more.”
Margaret Morgan started Eco City Farms. She thinks of it as a place where people can learn to live healthier lives. “Growing food in a community brings people together,”she continues,“Every piece of what we do here is a demonstration(示范) to show people everything about how to have an eco-friendly community.”she says. From the Eco City Farms people come to know that they are not only growing food and raising chickens and bees, but improving the soil with compost(肥料)made from food waste.
Eco City Farms is an experimental operation. The farm gets its power not from the local electricity networks, but from the sun with solar panels. In winter, the green house use a geothermal(地热)system.
Vegetables can be grown all year. So once a week, all winter long, neighbors like Chris Moss and her three children bike to the farm to pick up a share of the harvest.
“I like eating the vegetables ”say five-year-old Owen Moss.What is mainly talked about in the passage?
| A．Eco City Farms save a lot of energy. |
| B．Eco City Farms are gaining popularity. |
| C．Eco City Farms are influencing community life. |
| D．Eco City Farms helps the working-class live better. |
According to the passage, Eco City Farms are close to the following places EXCEPT______.
| A．shopping centers | B．car repair shops |
| C．fast-food restaurants | D．working-class community |
What is the author’s attitude toward Eco City Farms?
| A．Enthusiastic(热心的). | B．Disappointed. |
| C．Surprised. | D．Doubtful. |
In which column(专栏) of a newspaper can you most probably read this article?
| A．People. | B．Travel. | C．Environment. | D．Education. |
In the winter months the temperature in most of Canada usually stays below 0℃. However, in some parts of Canada, such as southern British Columbia, the temperature rarely goes below 0℃. In most areas where people live, snow will be on the ground from mid-December to the middle of March. Though Canada’s winter may be much colder and longer than you are used to, it can be very enjoyable. For many Canadians, being active in winter is an important part of enjoying life. There are many outdoor winter activities, including skiing, ice fishing, walking, and skating. Joining in one of these activities may help you appreciate winter and enjoy your time outside in the snow.
Dressing for winter.
During winter in Canada, you will need warm clothing. If possible, arrive with these items or be prepared to buy them soon after your arrival. You will need:
＊A warm waterproof(防水) boots.
＊A scarf(围巾) for your neck.
＊A hat that covers your ears.
＊Gloves for your hands.
＊Thick winter coats, pants(裤子) and sweaters.
Layers(层) keep you warm.
It’s a good idea to layer your clothing by, for example, wearing a T-shirt and a sweater underneath a jacket. If you become too hot, it is always easier to remove a piece of clothing than to add another. On the West Coast, prepare to dress for cool rainy or snowy weather. You will need:
＊A warm waterproof coat.
＊Waterproof hats.
＊An umbrella.
＊Rain boots or snow boots.
Learn more about weather and seasons across Canada. You can also contact(联系) Related Links.com, for example, an immigrant-serving(移民服务) organization in the community where you live for more information about dressing for winter. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?
| A．To tell about the details about Canada. |
| B．To show many outdoor winter activities. |
| C．To introduce the daily life of Canada. |
| D．To encourage you to enjoy winter in Canada. |
What is the important part for many Canadians in winter?
| A．Ice fishing. | B．Joining a group |
| C．Leading an active life. | D．Staying in the snow |
If you spend a winter in Canada, you will prepare all EXCEPT_______.
| A．an umbrella and sunglasses |
| B．thick winter coats and a scarf |
| C．waterproof hats and a scarf |
| D．snow boots and gloves |
The author suggest layering your clothing probably because_______
| A．it is cool to dress like that. |
| B．it is a rule to dress like that. |
| C．the weather there is changeable. |
| D．the weather is usually very hot. |
We are all called upon to make a speech at some point in life, but most of us don’t do a very good job. This article gives some suggestions on how to give an effective speech.
You have to give a speech, and you’re terrified. You get nervous, you forget what you want to say, you stumble(结巴) over words, you talk too long, and you bore your audience. Later you think, “Thank goodness, it’s over. I’m just no good at public speaking. I hope I never have to do that again.”
Cheer up! It doesn’t have to be that bad. Here are some simple steps to take the pain out of speech making. Ask yourself the purpose of your speech. What is the occasion(场合)? Why are you speaking? Then, gather as many facts as you can on your subject. Spend plenty of time doing your research. Then spend plenty of time organizing your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible, and use pictures, charts, and graphs if they will help you make your points more clearly. Never forget your audience. Don’t talk over their heads, and don’t talk down to them. Treat your audience with respect. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Just remember: be prepared. Know your subject, your audience, and the occasion. Be brief. Say what you have to say and then stop. And be yourself. Let your personality come through so that you make person-to-person contact with your audience.
If you follow these simple steps, you’ll see that you don’t have to be afraid of public speaking. In fact, you may find the experience so enjoyable that you volunteer to make more speeches! You’re not convinced yet? Give it a try and see what happens.The main idea of this article is that .
| A．you can improve your speaking ability |
| B．a poor speaker can never change |
| C．you should always make a short speech |
| D．it is hard to make a speech |
Paragraph 2 implies that .
| A．many people are afraid of giving a speech |
| B．many people are happy to give a speech |
| C．many people do not prepare for a speech |
| D．many people talk to long |
The phrase “talk over their heads” means .
| A．speaking too loudly |
| B．looking at the ceiling |
| C．looking down upon them |
| D．using words and ideas that are too difficult |
The title for this passage may be “”.
| A．Do Not Make a Long Speech |
| B．How to Give a Good Speech |
| C．How to Prepare for a Speech |
| D．Try to Enjoy a Speech |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
| Fun Day To celebrate the Year of the snake Organised by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High School Date: 2 February 2013 Time: 10 am—5 pm Place: Kwun Tong Playground Fee: $20 (buy three get one free) Programmes: drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun Day! All are welcome! Free Soft Drinks Note: ● Tickets are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Center ● For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity. |
What you have just read is a ________.
| A．note | B．report | C．schedule | D．poster |
What is going to take place on 2 February 2013?i
| A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. |
| B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. |
| C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun. |
| D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students. |
How much do you have to pay in total if four of you go together?
| A．$20. | B．$40. | C．$60. | D．$80. |
Remember, from the moment they are born, our children have the ability to know when they are hungry – and they cry to let us know too! Of course, they also cry to let us know they are wet, hurt, or bored, but we soon learn to tell the difference and try to meet each need somehow. When we begin to feed them solid foods, they let us know when they have had enough by turning away from the spoon – or refusing the food back at us!
Why is it that once children are old enough to sit at the table their parents are often heard bargaining with them or threatening them to finish all their dinner? When we make our children eat up the plate that we filled, we don’t pay attention to their born ability to know how much, and what, their bodies need. Instead, we should allow them to use their own hunger feelings to determine how much they need, while we provide a balance of nutritious and “fun” foods. When we teach them about moderation and set a great example by living an active, healthy lifestyle, they will be less likely to develop weight problems later in life. Think of your slim friend who eats whatever she wants –but will refuse ice cream if she has had enough to eat!
“Eat all your dinner if you want dessert” translates to “you must overeat so I will reward you by letting you overeat some more!” By using sweets as a reward for good behavior, kids begin to believe sweets are really special and they may want them even more. Instead, by making dessert just another (small) part of an enjoyable meal, kids learn to “save room for dessert” instead of becoming a member of the “clean plate club.” Children are born to know _______.
| A．how to stay away from poison |
| B．how much they should take when hungry |
| C．meat is worse than vegetables |
| D．sugar is better than fat |
The best way for parents to have their baby eat properly is to _____.
| A．persuade them to eat as much as possible |
| B．act more funny when they are having a meal |
| C．set a great example by living an active and healthy lifestyle |
| D．cheat them into more delicious food |
If you are one who eat enough but still stay slim, you may ______.
| A．refuse to take more ice-cream after a good meal |
| B．Eat far less food than anyone else |
| C．go out for a run and take some more after going home |
| D．drink more water even though you are hungry |
“Eat all your dinner if you want dessert” just mean _______.
| A．your children’s healthy eating |
| B．a wrong signal of too much food |
| C．another better meal for a baby |
| D．a slimmer girl when growing up |
The next passage may tell us _____.
| A．how to have your baby eat more for its future height |
| B．how to guide your children to finish all the plates |
| C．why you should award your children more sweets |
| D．how to have your son be a real “good eater” |