My name is Pablo. I think I’m a lucky guy. I have a good family, and we live in a nice neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. People travel here from many countries for their vacations. We have beautiful beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping and sports.
However, in my beautiful hometown, there are also very poor neighborhoods. These areas are crowded and have a lot of crime. Life is terrible for many of the children in these areas. Some don’t really have a childhood because they’re homeless and live on the streets. They don’t have education. They don’t have enough food. Many use drugs or have diseases or mental problems.
Last year, I came back to Puerto Vallarta from my university in Mexico City. I spent one year as a volunteer with an organization called Outreach International. They have several programs. I volunteered for one program to help street children.
I worked in a home for street children (all boys, at this one). At this home, the boys have a place to sleep and three meals daily. The home keeps the boys off the streets. It shows them another way of life. As a volunteer, I helped to prepare meals. I taught games---such as basketball, football and art. I helped the kids with their homework. These kids can be fun. They have a lot of energy, but they’re also really tough. Their hardships on the streets make them strong and not always “sweet little children.”
At this boys’ home, I met two other volunteers---Brian from Canada and Greg from Australia. In many ways, we were very similar. We were the same age, came from good homes and had a good education. They were both college students, like me. We became very good friends. Now, we email each other.
It was the best---and most difficult---year of my life. I learned a lot that year.What do we learn about the author?
| A．He loves travelling. |
| B．He enjoys his work as a volunteer. |
| C．He is now working for Outreach International. |
| D．He has made friends with the homeless children. |
What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
| A．Street Crime. |
| B．The author’s childhood experience. |
| C．The author’s hometown. |
| D．The terrible life of the homeless children. |
According to the author, what makes the street children really tough?
| A．Drugs. | B．Too much energy. |
| C．Hard life. | D．Pressure from school. |
What is the best title for the passage?
| A．My Special Year | B．A Sweet Home |
| C．Outreach International | D．Street Children |
An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to (归因于)the global economic crisis (危机) awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works.
Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up.
Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecturer at St Andrews University, said his first-year lectures-which are open to students from all departments-were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250.
“There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn’t traditionally done.” He said.
University applications rose 7% last year, but there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people’s renewed interest in careers in the public sector(部门), which are seen as more secure in economic crisis.
A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain.
Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said: “It’s possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that’s financially wiser and better equipped to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty.”Professor John Beath’s lectures are_______ .
| A．given in a traditional way |
| B．connected with the present situation |
| C．open to both students and their parents |
| D．warmly received by economics |
Careers in the public sector are more attractive because of their_________ .
| A．greater stability | B．higher pay |
| C．fewer applications | D．better reputation |
In the opinion of most parents, __________ .
| A．economics should be the focus of school teaching |
| B．more students should be admitted to universities |
| C．the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened. |
| D．children should solve financial problems themselves |
According to Hocking, the global economic crisis might make the youngsters_____________ .
| A．wiser in money management |
| B．have access to better equipment |
| C．confident about their future careers |
| D．get jobs in Child Trust Funds |
What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Universities have received more applications. |
| B．Economics is attracting an increasing numbers students |
| C．College students benefit a lot from economic uncertainty |
| D．Parents are concerned with children’s subject selection. |
Some people bring out the best in you in a way that you might never have fully realized on your own. My mom was one of those people.
My father died when I was nine months old, making my mom a single mother at the age of eighteen. While I was growing up, we lived a very hard life. We had little money, but my mom gave me a lot of love. Each night, she sat me on her lap and spoke the words that would change my life, “Kemmons, you are certain to be a great man and you can do anything in life if you work hard enough to get it.”
At fourteen, I was hit by a car and the doctors said I would never walk again. Every day, my mother spoke to me in her gentle, loving voice, telling me that no matter what those doctors said, I could walk again if I wanted to badly enough. She drove that message so deep into my heart that I finally believed her. A year later, I returned to school — walking on my own!
When the Great Depression (大萧条) hit, my mom lost her job. Then I left school to support the both of us. At that moment, I was determined never to be poor again.
Over the years, I experienced various levels of business success. But the real turning point occurred on a vacation I took with my wife and five kids in 1951. I was dissatisfied with the second-class hotels available for families and was angry that they charged an extra $2 for each child. That was too expensive for the average American family. I told my wife that I was going to open a motel (汽车旅馆) for families that would never charge extra for children. There were plenty of doubters at that time.
Not surprisingly, mom was one of my strongest supporters. She worked behind the desk and even designed the room style. As in any business, we experienced a lot of challenges. But with my mother’s words deeply rooted in my soul, I never doubted we would succeed. Fifteen years later, we had the largest hotel system in the world — Holiday Inn. In 1979 my company had 1, 759 inns in more than fifty countries with an income of $ 1 billion a year.
You may not have started out life in the best situation. But if you can find a task in life worth working for and believe in yourself, nothing can stop you. What Kemmons’ mom often told him during his childhood was ______.
| A．caring | B．moving |
| C．encouraging | D．interesting |
According to the author, who played the most important role in making him walk back to school again?
| A．Doctors. | B．Nurses. | C．Friends. | D．Mom. |
What caused Kemmons to start a motel by himself?
| A．His terrible experience in the hotel. |
| B．His previous business success of various levels. |
| C．His mom’s support. |
| D．His wife’s suggestion. |
Which of the following best describes Kemmons’ mother?
| A．Modest, helpful, and hard-working. |
| B．Loving, supportive and strong-willed. |
| C．Careful, helpful and beautiful. |
| D．Strict, sensitive and supportive. |
Which of the following led to Kemmons’ success according to the passage?
| A．Self-confidence, hard work, higher education and a poor family. |
| B．Mom’s encouragement, clear goals, self-confidence and hard work. |
| C．Clear goals, mom’s encouragement, a poor family and higher education. |
| D．Mom’s encouragement, a poor family, higher education and opportunities. |
Riding School：
You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a. m.and 8:30 p.m.(3:30 p.m.on Saturdays). There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country. You will need a riding hat.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.—8:30 p.m.
Phone: (412) 396---6754 Fax: (412)396---6752
Sailing Club:
Our Young Sailor’s Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification. You’ll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid. Have fun with other course member, afterwards in the clubroom. There are 10 weekly two-hour lessons (Tuesday 6:00 p.m—8:00p.m)
Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00p.m—8:00 p.m.
Phone: (412)396—6644 Fax: (412)396—6644
Diving Center:
Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners. There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely. You only need a swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples.
Opening Hours: Monday and Friday:6:30p.m-8:30p.m.
Phone: (412)396-6312 Fax: (412)396-6706
Medical Center:
The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems. Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores.
Opening Hours: 24 hours from Monday to Sunday
Phone：(412)396—6649 Fax：(412) 396—6648
Watersports Club:
We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing and water-skiing.A beginners’ course consists of ten 20－minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a. m to 4 p.m, with lessons all through the day.
Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Phone: (412)39606899 Fax: (412) 396-6890 If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous, you should join _____.
| A．Diving Center | B．Watersports Club |
| C．Riding School | D．Sailing Club |
If you want to experience a new activity in the countryside in the mornings, you may fax ______.
| A．(412) 396-6706 | B．(412) 396-6648 |
| C．(412) 396-6876 | D．(412) 396-6752 |
If you are planning to explore the ocean depths, you should attend your lessons at___.
| A．Monday through Friday:7:00a.m.——10:00 p.m. |
| B．24 hours from Monday to Sunday |
| C．Monday and Friday:6:30p.m.—8:30p.m. |
| D．Tuesdays:6:00p.m.—8：00p.m. |
You want to do an activity one evening a week and get a certificate in the end, you can go to _________.
| A．Diving Center | B． Watersports Club |
| C．Riding School | D．Sailing Club |
Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
| A．Well trained staff members. |
| B．Good equipment. |
| C．Nursery for newly-born babies. |
| D．Various less expensive medicines. |
Ask most people anywhere in the world what they want out of life and the reply will probably be: “to be happy.” Ed Deiner, an American psychology professor, has spent his whole professional life studying what makes people happy, comparing levels of happiness between cultures and trying to find out exactly why we enjoy ourselves.
Many people would say that this question does not need an answer. But Professor Deiner has one anyway. “If you’re a cheerful, happy person, your marriage is more likely to last, and you’re more likely to make money and be successful at your job. On average, happy people have stronger immune systems, and there is some evidence that they live longer.”
So who are the world’s happiest people? It depends on how the word is defined. There is individual happiness, the sense of joy we get when we do something we like. But there is also the feeling of satisfaction we get when we know that others respect us and approve of how we behave. According to Professor Deiner, the Western world pursues individual happiness while Asia prefers mutual satisfaction.
“In the West, the individualistic culture means that your mood matters much more than it does in the East. People ask themselves if they are doing what is fun or interesting. They become unhappy when they can’t do any of these things. If you ask people from Japan or China if they are happy, they tend to look at what has gone wrong in their lives. If not much has gone wrong, then they are satisfied.”
People from Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries had the happiest culture, Professor Deiner found. “The biggest cultural difference is to do with pride and shame. Hispanic (西班牙语言的) cultures report much more pride and much less shame than others.”
Income also made a big difference to people’s happiness, but only at the lowest levels. Average income earners in the US were much happier than people in poverty. But millionaires were only a little bit happier than people on average incomes. It seems that money makes us happy when we have enough to feel secure.According to the passage, happy people enjoy the following benefits EXCEPT ______.
| A．a long marriage |
| B．better health |
| C．profession success |
| D．respect from others |
In Professor Deiner’s opinion, ______.
| A．Asians focus more on others’ respect and approval than westerners |
| B．Westerners care more about mutual satisfaction than Asians |
| C．Asians have a culture to enjoy individual happiness |
| D．Westerners value individual happiness as much as mutual satisfaction |
What can be inferred from the fifth paragraph?
| A．Hispanic cultures lay stress on pride and shame. |
| B．Spanish people take too much pride in themselves. |
| C．Attitude towards pride and shame results in Spanish happiness. |
| D．If you are from Spain, you are the happiest. |
In the last paragraph, the author seems to tell us ______.
| A．poor people enjoy the same happiness as millionaires. |
| B．the higher income one gets, the happier life he lives |
| C．enough money can make us feel safe and happy |
| D．average income earners live the happiest life |
The passage mainly discusses______.
| A．Hispanic cultures |
| B．reasons for happiness |
| C．the happiest culture |
| D．benefits of happiness |
One windy spring day, I observed young people having fun using the wind to fly their kites. Multicolored creations of varying shapes and sizes filled the skies like beautiful birds dashing and dancing in the exciting atmosphere above the earth. As the strong winds gusted against the kites, a string kept them in check.
Instead of blowing away with the wind, they arose against it to achieve great heights. They shook and pulled, but the controlling string and the clumsy tail kept them in tow(牵引), facing upward and against the wind. As the kites struggled and trembled against the string, they seemed to say, “Let me go! Let me go! I want to be free!” They flew beautifully even as they fought the forced restriction of the string. Finally, one of the kites succeeded in breaking loose. “Free at last,” it seemed to say. “Free to fly with the wind.”
Yet freedom from control simply put it at the mercy of an unsympathetic gentle wind. It flew ungracefully to the ground and landed in a twisted mass of weeds and string against a dead bush. “Free at last”. Free to lie powerless in the dirt, to be blown helplessly along the ground, and to settle down lifeless against the first roadblock.
How much like kites we sometimes are. There always exist misfortunes and restrictions, rules to follow from which we can grow and gain strength. Prohibition is a necessary counterpart to the winds of opposition. Some of us pulled at the rules so hard that we never fly fast to reach the heights we might have obtained. If we keep all the commandment(戒律), we will never rise high enough to get our tails off the ground.
Let us each rise to the great heights, recognizing that some of the prohibitions are actually the steady force that helps us climb and achieve.In the passage the writer watched _____.
| A．many young people enjoying the sunny day |
| B．many birds dashing and dancing in the sky |
| C．many young people flying multicolored kites |
| D．the strong winds blowing against the sky |
What enables a kite fly gracefully in the sky according to the story?
| A．The kite itself and strange shapes. |
| B．A long string and blowing wind. |
| C．A windy spring day and blue sky. |
| D．The size of the kite and a long string. |
What didn’t happen to the freed kite?
| A．It kept flying freely in the air. |
| B．It lay powerless in the dirt. |
| C．It was trapped in a dead bush. |
| D．It was blown helplessly around. |
What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?
| A．To give up tips on how to fly kites effectively. |
| B．To warn us that freedom is actually powerless. |
| C．To explain that restrictions are really unnecessary. |
| D．To teach us a lesson that rules are important in life. |
Which of the following is the best title of the passage?
| A．Fly with Restrictions |
| B．Where to Fly |
| C．Why to Fly Kites |
| D．Fly to Freedom |