It's June， 2047．
Black and Rose Smith wake up in their comfortable house in the morning and switch on the
bedroom computer to get the latest news． As they watch the screen， Rose orders one of the household robots to make coffee and another robot to make breakfast for them．
After breakfast， Black disappears into the study to join a video conference with his partners around the world． He is a computer engineer， working for several companies． This is his third job：
he used to be in marketing and then television． Rose also has a job and she is doing medical research． Before she picks up the video phone to talk to her assistant， Rose has a quick look at the
shopping channels - the usual selection of electrical cars， household robots and cheap travel offers． Both Rose and Black used to have an office desk in London， but ten years ago they moved to the seaside and they have worked at home from then on．
Black and Rose have one daughter， Mary， who also has her own workstation at home． She goes to school only one day a week， mainly to play with other students． Classrooms disappeared in 2030because there was no longer any need for them， communication systems have made it much easier to learn at home．
Mary， now thirteen， is studying Chinese at present， which has become a world language as
important as English． Mary has many Chinese friends． They communicate by computer．
According to the family doctor， Mary will live to at least 130． Her wish is to work for a few decades （十年）and then spend her time on music and painting．
（1） Why do Black and Rose switch on the bedroom computer in the morning？
| A． |
Because they want to get the latest news． |
| B． |
Because they want to talk with their daughter． |
| C． |
Because they want to order something for breakfast． |
（2） Who makes coffee for Rose and Black？
| A． |
Black's parents． |
| B． |
Their servants． |
| C． |
The household robot． |
（3） According to the passage， which sentence is NOT true？
| A． |
Mary goes to school only one day a week． |
| B． |
Black used to have an office desk in London． |
| C． |
Rose can't do some medical research at home． |
（4） are the two world languages from the passage．
| A． |
English and French |
| B． |
English and Chinese |
| C． |
Japanese and Chinese |
（5） Which is the best title for the passage？
| A． |
Jobs in 2047． |
| B． |
Life in 2047． |
| C． |
Schools in 2047． |
【2013北京】Assertiveness is the ability to confidently express your opinions, feelings,attitudes, and rights, in a way that doesn't infringe（侵犯） the rights of others.
Many of us are taught that it is not nice to consider our own needs above those of others. If someone says or does something that we don't like, we should just be quiet and try to stay away from that person in the future.
Why is Assertiveness important?
If you don't know how to be assertive, you might experience:
•Depression - Anger, a sense of being helpless, hopeless, or of having no control over your life.
•Resentment - Anger at others for taking advantage of you.
•Frustration - Why did I allow that to happen?
Most people find it easier to be assertive in some situations than in others. This makes perfect sense. It's a lot easier to hold your ground with a stranger than with someone you love. But the more important the relationship is to you, the more ｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔ it is to be assertive. Assertive behavior leads to increased respect from others！
But before you decide to act assertively, you have to decide if you can live
with the results. Although assertive behavior usually will result in a positive
response (积极的回应)，some people might react differently.
How to be effectively（有效地） assertive:
•Use "I" statements. Keep the focus on the problem you're having. "I'd like to be able to tell my stories without interruption." instead of "You're always interrupting my stories ! "
•Use facts, not opinions. "Did you know that shirt has a hole?" instead of "You're not going out looking like THAT, are you?"
•Express ownership of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. "I get angry when he breaks his promises. " instead of "He makes me angry. "
• Make clear and direct requirements. Don't invite the person to say no. "Will you please?" instead of 'Would you mind．．．?" or "Why don't you．．．?"
•Keep repeating your point. Use a low level and pleasant voice. Don't try to explain yourself.The writer probably agrees that____________.
| A．you should consider others' response before you act assertively |
| B．you should be assertive if you want to get good marks |
| C．assertiveness is the ability to infringe others' rights. |
| D．assertive behavior will bring you bad feelings |
The expression "hold yourｇround" probably means “_________________”
| A．reach an agreement |
| B．insist on your point |
| C．keep your word |
| D．keep on fighting |
Which of the following helps you to be effectively assertive?
| A．Explaining yourself in a soft and sweet voice. |
| B．Expressing ownership of others' thoughts. |
| C．Making requirements directly and clearly. |
| D．Using your opinions instead of facts. |
【2013年重庆】San Francisco has many museums. You can visit one and learn something new. We have art, science, history and other special museums. Some museums are open every day. Some are only open on certain days. Many museums are expensive, and others are free. But some of the expensive ones have free days . Many museums have websites. The websites usually have information about the things you can see in the museums.
On a museum’s website you can get information about ticket prices and free days. You can also know where the museum is and when it is open. Sometimes the information is on the first page, and it’s very easy for you to find. But sometimes you have to click（点击） on the words like Visit Information, or About to find the information. That will be hard work for you.San Francisco has many museums for you visit and________.
| A．learn something new | B．play computer games |
| C．watch the movies | D．click on Information |
Some museums in San Francisco are open every day, but some are only open ________.
| A．on weekdays | B．on weekends |
| C．on certain days | D．on holidays |
Many museums have________ with information about the things you can see in them.
| A．ticket prices | B．their websites |
| C．open hours | D．free days |
【2013年河南】
Jessie felt her life so boring one summer day. She was tired of watching TV, she read all her books, and her friends were on vacation. She wanted something different to do. Suddenly, she saw the lawn mower(割草机) sitting in the yard.
“Mom,” she shouted, “I think I will mow the lawn.” Her mom ran into the yard and said, “Oh no, you don’t. You’re too young to mow the law.”
“I’m fourteen years old and know how to do it,” Jessie said. “Besides, it would help Dad out, and he won’t have to worry about it over the weekend.”
Mom thought for a while and then decided to let Jessie give it a try. After all, she was home and wouldkeep an eye onher. Jessie already knew how to start the lawn mower from watching her dad. Jessie checked the gas(汽油) to make sure it was full, and put on her gardening gloves to protect her hands. Mom watched from the kitchen window. Jessie really does know how to mow the lawn. She was very careful around the flowers and trees. When she finished, she felt so good, but she was so hot. Mom brought her some ice tea and said, “You sure did a great job. Dad will be very surprised.”
Later that day, Dad came home and said to Jessie’s mom, “You didn’t have to mow the lawn. I was going to do it on Saturday. It looks great. Thanks.”
“I didn’t mow it. Jessie did.”
“Wow, our little girl is growing up!” Dad told Jessie what a great job she had done.
“It was fun, and I will do it again next week,” said Jessie.
The neighbor next door came by and asked Jessie if she wanted to mow his lawn and make some money. “Sure!” said Jessie. Jessie began mowing his lawn. Two other neighbors asked so, then another three. Jessie was now mowing lawns for them all and making some money. She was no longer bored! “I won’t have time to spend my money,” she laughed to herself.
根据材料内容选择最佳答案，并将其标号填入题前括号内。In order to do something different, Jessie decide to _______.
| A．read books | B．travel |
| C．mow the lawn | D．watch TV |
What does “keep an eye on” mean?
| A．保护 | B．注视 | C．培养 | D．瞄准 |
Before Jessie mowed the lawn, she ______.
| A．washed her hands |
| B．bought some gas |
| C．read some instructions |
| D．put on her gloves |
How did Jessie’s father feel when he knew Jessie had mowed the lawn?
| A．Proud. | B．Angry. |
| C．Relaxed. | D．Worried. |
What does the text mainly tell us?
| A．Neighbors should learn to help each other. |
| B．Mowing the lawn is a good way to make money. |
| C．Doing something helpful can make people happy. |
| D．Children should help their parents at an early age. |
【2013年河南】Cause and effect is one way to explain things that happen around us. Many things happen because something caused or influenced them to happen. Sometimes it is hard to look at a cause and find out what caused or influenced them to happen. Sometimes it is hard to look at a cause and find out what causes the effect. It may help you to start with the effect and use your reasoning(推理的) skills. Think about all the things you know that could be reasons for the effect you can see.
For example, you may see someone putting on a heavy jacket. This is the effect. To look for a cause, think to yourself, “What would take someone put on a heavy jacket?” Maybe the person is going outside into very cold weather. Maybe the person works in the penguin pen(企鹅圈养地) at Sea World. Maybe the person is going to visit an ice skating rink where the air is kept very cold. All of these things could be a cause for putting on a heavy jacket.
Now, think about a second example. The effect is a boy named Abi has to go to the head teacher’s office. What are the possible causes? Maybe he bullied(欺负) another student. Maybe he is just being picked up early. Maybe he is being given a prize!
Here is another example for you to think about its cause and effect. Cait, 13, was trying to fall asleep when her 8-year-old brother, Doug, came into her room. He looked around a bit, but seemed really out of it. Then Doug went back into the hallway and stood there looking straight up at the hall light for quite a while. Little brothers can be very strange, but this was really much too strange. Cait’s father appeared and explained that Doug was sleepwalking. What’s the cause end effect, could you tell?
根据材料内容选择最佳答案，并将其标号填入题前括号内。According to the second paragraph, which of the following is an effect?
| A．Someone puts on a heavy jacket. |
| B．Someone works in the penguin pen. |
| C．Someone will go outside into cold weather. |
| D．Someone will go to visit an ice skating rink. |
Abi has to go to the head teacher’s office. Which of the following isn’t the possible cause?
| A．He bullied another student. |
| B．He is going shopping. |
| C．His is being picking up early. |
| D．He is being given a prize. |
What was Doug doing when his sister Cait tried to fall asleep?
| A．He was going outside. |
| B．He was reading a story. |
| C．He was sleepwalking. |
| D．He was looking for his dad. |
Which of the following is cause and effect?
| A．Tony got up and had a glass of water. |
| B．We came home and found him sleeping. |
| C．The ball was lost and a window was broken. |
| D．Tim was late again and his teacher got angry. |
What is the best title for the next?
| A．Truth and lies | B．Work and sleep |
| C．Cause and effect | D．Life and dreams |
【2014年苏省徐州市中考】
阅读下面短文，从各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
Hello，this is your gardening adviser.
Now，just as our garden are at their most colourful, and most productive time, what do we do？We’ll go off on holiday. What I suggest you do is this: invite a friend or neighbour to help you. You can ask him to water the plants in the greenhouse until you return, but first make sure that he knows how to do it. What he should not do is throw water over the leaves of the plants themselves, because if he does that, it will invite diseases. Also for the same reason, ask him if he can possibly water in the morning, rather than in the evening.
If you haven’t got a greenhouse, there is one safe and easy way to keep the plants well when you are away, and this is how you do it. Place six-inch-deep newspapers in the bottom of the bath. Yes, the bath! Turn the tap on and keep the water running until the papers are all wet. Now put the flower pots（花盆）to stand on the wet paper, go off on holiday, and they should be alive and well when you return in two weeks’ time.
Thank you for calling. Goodbye and good gardening! What is the passage about?
| A．holiday. | B．health. |
| C．bathing. | D．gardening. |
Which advice does the speaker give?
| A．Pouring water to prevent diseases |
| B．Watering the plant in the morning |
| C．Watering the plants in the evening |
| D．Throwing water over the leaves of the plants. |
What is not the reason the speaker repeats“the bath”？
| A．To attract the listeners’ attention |
| B．To advise the listeners’ to buy beautiful baths. |
| C．To make sure the listeners understand him clearly |
| D．To remove the listeners’ surprise when they hear this. |
What is the speaker like'?
| A．Helpful and patient. |
| B．Stubborn and impatient. |
| C．Modest and imaginative |
| D．Careless and easy-going |