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Though the Web is becoming increasingly popular, the TV never fails to attract people．Do you know which television network is the largest in America? It is not ABC, CBS, or Fox．Nor is it one of the cable net-works such as CNN, which carries only news and news stories．It is not ESPN, the all-sports cable net-work, or even MTV, which is famous for its music videos．Rather it is PBS, Public Broadcasting System, a non-profit public broadcasting TV service．PBS has 349 member television stations in the U．S．and some member stations by cable in Canada．
PBS only attracts a minority of all TV viewers, about 2 percent．The industry leader, NBC, however, attracts 11 percent of viewers．But the growth of public television in the past two decades has been dramatic．This is especially noteworthy （值科关注） when one considers that public television stations must often survive on very limited budgets, on viewers' donations, and on private foundations and some governmental funding．
The level of quality of PBS programs, whether in national and international news, entertainment, or education, is excellent．Almost a whole generation of children throughout the world is familiar with Sesame Street and the characters of The Muppet Show．PBS is especially well known for the quality of its many educational TV programs．Over 95 percent of all public television stations have tale-courses．These courses are accepted and supported by more than 1,800 colleges and universities throughout the US．Each year, over a quarter of a million students take courses this way．
According to this article, PBS received part of its funding from___．
| A．the audience |
| B．public schools |
| C．advertising agencies |
| D．other television stations |
What is PBS most famous for?
| A．Cable services． |
| B．Generous donations． |
| C．Tele-courses． |
| D．Live news broadcasts． |
Which of the following is TRUE about public television stations ?
| A．The majority of their viewers are minority people． |
| B．Ninety-five percent of their programs are tele-courses． |
| C．They are shrinking in number because they make no profits． |
| D．Their courses are accepted by many universities in America． |
Which of the following has the highest percentage of viewers?
| A．ABC | B．PBS |
| C．NBC | D．Fox |
Let us begin by saying what does not cause our dreams. Our dreams do not come from “another world ”. They are not messages from outside source. They are not a look into the future , either ．
All our dreams have something to do with our feelings, fears, longings, wishes, needs and memories. If a person is hungry , or tired or cold , his dreams may include a feeling of this kind ．If the covers on your body , such as a quilt or a blanket have slipped off your bed , you may dream that you are sleeping on the ice and snow. The material for the dream you will have tonight is likely to come from the experience you have today.
So the subject of your dream usually comes from something that has effect on you while you are sleeping （feeling of cold, a noise, a discomfort, etc．） and it may also use your past experiences and the wishes and the interests you have now．This is why children are likely to dream of fairies, older children of school examinations, hungry people of food, home-sick soldiers of their families and prisoners of freedom．
To show you how this is happening while you are asleep and how your needs and wishes can all be joined together in a dream , here is the story of the experiment．A man was asleep and the back of his hand was rubbed with a piece of absorbed cotton．He would dream he was in hospital and his charming girlfriend was visiting him , sitting on the bed and feeling gently his hands!
There are some scientists who have made a special study of why we dream, what we dream and what those dreams mean．Their explanations of dreams , though a bit reasonable, is not accepted by everyone but it offers an interesting approach to the problem．They believe that dreams are mostly expressions of wishes that do not come true．In other words, dreams are a way of having your wishes carried out． From the passage we know that our dreams ___________.
| A．are imagination of our daily life |
| B．are man’s curious look into the future |
| C．have nothing to do with our feelings |
| D．are to some degree connected with our feelings |
Older children often dream of examinations probably because ___________.
| A．they are interested in exams |
| B．they are often worried about their studies |
| C．they hope for a better life |
| D．they show much interest in their studies |
According to the writer , the explanation of dreams that some scientists made ___________.
| A．is considered interesting , but unreasonable |
| B．gives a good answer to the question why we dream |
| C．has some value , though not fully convincing |
| D．has been proved by the findings of their studies |
What is the best title for this passage ?
| A．Why People Dream ? | B．New Findings about Dreams |
| C．Dream Makes Hopes | D．What Dreams Mean ? |
“In only six days I lost seven pounds of weight.”
“Two full inches in the first three days!”
These are the kinds of statements used in magazine，newspaper，radio and television ads，promising new shapes and new looks to those who buy the medicine or the device. The promoters of products say they can shape the legs，slim the face，smooth wrinkles，or in some other way to add to beauty or desirability.
Often such products are nothing more than moneymaking things for their promoters. The results they produce are questionable，and some are dangerous to health.
To understand how these products can be legally promoted to the public，it is necessary to understand something of the laws covering their regulation. If the product is a drug，FDA(Food and Drug Administration)can require proof under the Food，Drug，and Cosmetic Act that is safe and effective before it is put on the market. But if the product is a device，FDA has no authority to require the proof of safety or effectiveness. If a product already on the market is a danger to health，FDA can request the producer or distributor to remove it from the market voluntarily，or it can take legal action，including seizure (查封) of the product.
One notable case a few years ago involved an electrical device called the Relaxacisor，which had been sold for reducing the waistline. The Relaxacisor produced electrical shocks to the body through contact pads. FDA took legal action against the distributor to stop the sale of the device on the grounds that it was dangerous to health and life.
Obviously，most of the devices on the market have never been the subject of court proceedings (法律诉讼)，and new devices appear continually. Before buying，it is up to the consumer to judge the safety or effectiveness of such items.It can be inferred that the ads mentioned in the text are________.
| A．objective | B．costly | C．unreliable | D．illegal |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A．The court is in charge of removing dangerous products.
B．New products are more likely to be questionable.
C．The production of a device must be approved by FDA.
D．The promoters usually just care about profits.FDA can ask for the proof of safety and effectiveness of a product________.
| A．if it is a drug |
| B．if it is a device |
| C．if its consumers make complaints |
| D．if its distributors challenge FDA's authority |
The Relaxacisor is mentioned as________.
| A．a product which was designed to produce electricity |
| B．a product whose distributor was involved in a legal case |
| C．a successful advertisement of a beauty product |
| D．an example of a quality beauty product |
■United States Capitol
It serves as the seat of government for the US Congress. It is located in Washington, D. C., on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Officially, both the east and west sides of the Capitol are referred to as “fronts”. Historically, however, the east front was initially the side of the building intended for the arrival of visitors and famous guests.
Phone: (202) 225-6827
Official website: www.aoc.gov
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
■International Spy Museum
It is a privately owned museum dedicated to the field of espionage located in Washington. D. C., The museum was built by The Malrite Company at a cost of US $ 40 million. Despite being one of the few museums in Washington that charges admission fees, it has been popular since its opening in July 2002.
Phone: (202) 393-7798
Official website: www.spymuseum.org
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
■National Museum of Natural History
It is a natural history museum administered by the Smithsonian Institution, located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Admission is free and the museum is open 364 days a year. The museum’s collections total over 125 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites（陨石），and human cultural artifacts, making it the largest such museum anywhere. It is the second most popular of all of the Smithsonian museums and is also home to about 185 professional natural history scientists—the largest group of scientists dedicated to the study of the natural and cultural history in the world.
Phone: (202) 633-1000
Official website: www.mnh.si.edu
■Jefferson Memorial
It is a presidential memorial in Washington, D. C., dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, an American Founding Father and the third president of the United States. The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope. It was built by Philadelphia contractor John Mc. Shain. Construction began in 1939, the building was completed in 1942, and the bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947. When completed, the memorial occupied one of the last significant sites left in the city.
Phone: (202) 426-6821
Official website: www.mps.gov/thjeWhich admission is free?
| A．United States Capitol |
| B．Jefferson Memorial |
| C．International Spy Museum |
| D．National Museum of Natural History |
Visitors can learn more about ________ in the Jefferson Memorial.
| A．the third American president | B．the US government |
| C．rock collections | D．natural history |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A science textbook | B．A tourist guide |
| C．A museum guide | D．A history report |
I was riding my special motorbike this past weekend and stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”
He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.
As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.How did the father feel at first when the author invited his daughter for a ride?
| A．He felt surprised because he didn’t know the author. |
| B．He was happy because his daughter could gain excitement. |
| C．He was moved because the author was willing to help his daughter. |
| D．He felt nervous because he was worried about his daughter’s safety. |
What can we know about the author?
| A．He was a disabled man. |
| B．He usually drove too fast. |
| C．He worked in a convenience store. |
| D．He often helped people who were in trouble. |
According to the passage, the girl _______.
| A．used to be a completely healthy person |
| B．was not allowed to do some fierce sports |
| C．usually felt sad about life due to her disability |
| D．was unwilling to communicate with a stranger |
What did the author’s gift refer to according to the girl’s father?
| A．The motorbike. | B．The wheelchair. | C．The blessing. | D．The ride. |
Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure(奇遇)？Riding the train can be a real adventure.That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak.I often take a four--hour trip to visit my children.Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen.
Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride，there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation－in another language.It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train.I think it was annoying.
Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two--day trip by train.She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home，although she had no trouble driving.The train ride was the only choice for her.She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.
She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents.That is a very good question.Both of us are old and have children.She asked that same question from time to time.
There are always many people on the train from all walks of life，different countries，and many languages.Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures.If you get hungry，you can buy food in the food car at any time.If you need to use the restroom there is always one available.
It sure beats driving the car，which has to stop for food and restrooms.And it is better than taking the bus.According to the passage，the purpose of the author’s train ride was .
| A．to do business | B．to see her children |
| C．to visit places of interest | D．to see her old friends |
Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “distraught” in Paragraph 3?
| A．Disappointed. | B．Satisfied. | C．Worried. | D．Pleased. |
Which of the following is TRUE about the old lady sitting next to the author?
| A．She is too old to drive now. |
| B．She does not like to take trains. |
| C．Although she is old，she has a good memory. |
| D．Her daughters live far away from her home. |
What is the best title for this passage?
| A．Train ride－a cultural experience | B．A painful experience on the train |
| C．The history of Amtrak | D．A wonderful lady |