They crossed in front of me as I was driving out of the store parking lot (停车场)．I would be delayed for a whole ten seconds. However，I realized that it was an elderly couple who were briefly delaying my departure (出发)．No more anger.
The man leaned on his wife who walked in front of him. He not only used her for support but it was obvious that he was blind. She was his eyes as well. The two of them worked as one—each needing the other to function in this fastchanging world.
That little example of true strength that day changed my whole personal perception of life. Suddenly I wasn't so mad about having to work a few extra hours on Saturday. I had my strength，and I was still relatively young.
That picture of those two elderly people walking with dignity and strength stayed with me the entire week. My life wasn't so bad after all. I had my health and a good job. My wife always gave me good advice whenever I needed it. I started to think—not only was I lucky to have it all，but so was that wonderful old couple，who，despite the trials and hardships of a long life，still had the love and support of each other to carry them through this world.
There are so many people out there just like that couple. My wife and I sometimes picture ourselves in our old age，walking arminarm into the sunset. That image always gives us a warm feeling of comfort. Just remember，none of us would be here if it weren't for our elders. We should spend an extra minute to listen and learn when it comes to helping our elder friends. They need it.
What was the author's first reaction when he was stopped by the old couple?
| A．He showed great pity for the couple. |
| B．He didn't mind at all. |
| C．He got angry at being delayed. |
| D．He waited patiently. |
Before meeting the old couple，the author had a(n)________attitude towards life.
| A．energetic | B．enthusiastic |
| C．desperate | D．negative |
The main message that the author wants to get across in the last paragraph is that________．
| A．everyone should live with dignity and strength |
| B．we should be patient when dealing with old people |
| C．old people can teach us many important lessons |
| D．happiness lies in a positive attitude towards life |
What do we know about the author?
| A．He and his wife are in their old age. |
| B．He has a good but busy job. |
| C．His life is very bad actually. |
| D．He and his wife often walk arminarm. |
In 1901, H.G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers (探险者) landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They expressed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" expressed their surprise. "Why," they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don' t even use your inner space?"
H.G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings really did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about it.
Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Chunnel", a tunnel (隧道) connecting England and France, is now complete.
But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities." The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome (太阳能穹顶) would cover the whole city.
Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The surface, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens, and wilderness. H.G. Wells' "moon people" would agree. Would you?The explorers in H. G. Wells' story were surprised to find that the "moon people"
| A．knew so much about the earth |
| B．understood their language |
| C．lived in so many underground cities |
| D．were ahead of them in space technology |
What does the underlined word "it" (paragraph 2) refer to?
| A．Discovering the moon's inner space. | B．Using the earth's inner space. |
| C．Meeting the "moon people" again. | D．Traveling to outer space. |
What sort of underground systems are already here with us?
| A．Offices, shopping areas, power stations. | B．Tunnels, car parks, shopping areas. |
| C．Gardens, car parks, power stations. | D．Tunnels, gardens, offices. |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Alice Cities –- cities of the future | B．Space travel with H. G. Wells |
| C．Enjoy living underground | D．Building down, not up |
Want to save money when travelling by train? Here are some ways.
Day Returns
This ticket can save you up to 45% on the standard fare (车费). You have to travel after the rush hour period Mon.-Fri., but can travel at any time on Sat. or Sun.
Big city Saves
These are special low-priced tickets on certain trains. Yon have to book in advance----- at the latest by 16:00 the day before you travel. It’s first come, first served.
Weekend Returns
Weekend Returns are available (有售) for most journeys over 60 miles. Go on Fri. Sat. or Sun, and return the same weekend on Sat. or Sun, and save up to 35% the standard fare.
Monthly Returns
There are available for most journeys over 65 miles. Go any day and return within a month. Monthly returns save you up to 25% on the standard fare.
Family Returns
For ￡20 this railcard allows you to take a second adult (成人) and up to 4 children for only ￡3 each when you buy single or return tickets. You can travel as often as you like until the card becomes out of date. (200 words.建议阅读时间为3min.) Which is the best ticket to buy if you live in London and want to go to a small town 80miles away for four days?
| A．Big City Savers | B．Monthly Returns |
| C．Weekend Returns | D．Family Returns |
A man bought himself a ticket of ￡15 and three tickets for his family with a family railcard.How much did he pay?
| A．￡44 | B．￡29 | C．￡24 | D．￡15 |
I came to study in the United States a year ago. Yet I did not know the American society until I was injured in a car accident because after the accident I had to see a doctor and go to court（法庭）.
After the accident, my roommate called a doctor for me. I was very grateful and determined to repay him one day. But the next day, he asked me to pay him $200 for what he had done. I was astonished. He had good reason to charge me, he said. And if I wanted to collect money from the person who was responsible for my injury, I’d have to have a good lawyer. Now that he had helped me to find a good doctor, it was only fair that I should pay him.
But every time I went to see the doctor, I had to wait about 50 minutes. He would see two or three patients at the same time, and often stop treating one so as to see another. Yet he charged me $115 each time. The final examination report consisted of ten lines, and it cost me $215.
My lawyer was all smiles the first time we met. But after that he avoided seeing me at all. He knew very well the other party was responsible for the accident, yet he hardly did anything. He simply waited to collect his money. He was so irresponsible that I decided to dismiss（解雇）him. And he made me pay him $770.
Now I had to act as my own lawyer. Due to my inexperience, I told the insurance the date I was leaving America. Knowing that, they played for time, and I left without getting a cent.
My experiences taught me two things about America: firstly, in a country like America money is everything. It is more important than friendship honour or professional morality（职业道德）. Secondly, foreigners are still being unfairly treated. So when we talk about America, we should see both its good and bad sides. The author’s roommate offered to help him because_____.
| A．he felt sorry for the author |
| B．he thought it was a chance to make some money |
| C．he knew the doctor was a very good one |
| D．he wanted the author to have a good lawyer |
A good doctor is essential for the author to __________.
| A．be properly treated |
| B．talk with the person responsible for the accident |
| C．recover before he leaves America |
| D．eventually get the responsible party to pay for his injury |
The word "charge" in the passage means __________.
| A．be responsible | B．accuse |
| C．ask as a price | D．claim |
Both the doctor and the lawyer in this passage are very___.
| A．friendly | B．greedy |
| C．professional | D．busy |
What conclusion can you draw from this story?
| A．Going to court is something every common in America |
| B．One must be very careful while driving a car |
| C．There are more bad sides in America than good sides |
| D．Money is more important than other things in the US |
Two traveling angels (天使) stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied: “Things aren’t always what they seem.”
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable (好客的)farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, “How could this happen?” “Why did you not watch out for the cow? The first man had everything, yet you watched over his house,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you did not help.”
“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal (封口) the wall so he couldn’t find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”
Why did the older angel repair the hole for the rich family?
| A．Because she didn’t like the greedy owner. |
B． Because she wanted to save the gold for the poor. |
| C．Because she basement was too cold to stay in. |
| D．Because she believed that one should always be ready to offer help. |
In paragraph two, the pair refers to __________.
| A．the poor couple | B．the rich couple |
| C．the guests | D．the angels |
The younger angel was very angry because __________.
| A．the older angel killed the farmer’s cow |
| B．the older angel treated the two families unfairly |
| C．the wealthy man gave them a bad place to live |
| D．the angel of death took the cow away |
Why did the older angel let the farmer’s cow die?
| A．Because God wanted the older angel to take the cow. |
| B．Because she wanted to teach the younger angel a lesson. |
| C．Because she wanted to save the farmer’s wife. |
| D．Because she was sympathetic to the rich. |
The story tries to tell the reader that __________.
| A．angels are always ready to help the poor |
| B．sometimes things are not what they seem |
| C．angels are always ready to help the rich |
| D．the young should always learn from the old |
Sydney—Mobile phone has become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have banned（禁止）students from carrying mobile phones during school hours.
Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students want them.
Mary Bluett, an official, said mobile phone use is a distraction（分心）to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.
She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.
Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school: they were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.
Many people say that they understand why parents would want their children to have phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones. Some middle schools in Australia have banned students from carrying mobile phones ____________.
| A．because they are students | B．when they are at school |
| C．because they are young | D．when they are free |
We know from the passage that some children get mobile phones from ____________.
| A．the makers and sellers | B．some other strangers |
| C．their parents and friends | D．some mobile phone users |
Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t during school hours.
| A．get in touch with their children | B．leave their mobile phones |
| C．help the teachers with their work | D．use their mobile phones |
The underlined word “they” in the fifth paragraph refers to ____________.
| A．many teachers | B．some messages |
| C．mobile phones | D．some students |
The topic mainly talked about in the text is ____________.
| A．why the students should not use mobile phones in some Australian schools |
| B．when the students of some Australian schools can use their mobile phones |
| C．whether the Australian students can have mobile phones at school |
| D．how some parents feel when their children should not carry mobile phones |