Mike Maietta was eating lunch when he got a text message from his mom.
“Notre Dame,” it said. “Big envelope!”
Mike, a senior at a Californian high school, shouted with joy. The big envelope meant that the excellent university in Indiana had offered him a place in its Class of 2013. But the $51,300 annual fee is a big obstacle. So Mike and his parents are considering offers from several other colleges and are calculating the costs of tuition, housing and holiday trips home.
This year, money is the driving factor for a growing number of high school seniors, who have to decide what colleges to attend this fall. Less jobs and plunging house prices have changed family spending.
“We’re excited that Mike got into eight great schools,” said Mike’s father, an engineer at Microsoft. “But if you consider going to school out of state, you’ve got to think about all of the other costs: moving, flying back and forth for the holidays. You’re looking at about $3,000 a year, just for travel.”
As families weigh their choices, some are going back to financial aid offices hoping help packages can be increased.
Rachel Brown was happy to get a thick envelope from New York University (NYU). Although she has always wanted to live in Manhattan, she is seriously considering the University of California San Diego (UCSD), because of the high cost in New York.
“The tuition for NYU is twice as much as UCSD,” said Rachel, 17. “My mom doesn’t want me to have a big debt when I graduate, and I don’t want that either. I’d have to take out a loan of $15,000. I’ll check and see if there’s any way that NYU can offer me any financial aid.”
More than 7.6 million American students have filled out the Free Application for Students Aid, a 19.9 percent increase over last year.
This month the Federal Department of Education urged college financial aid officers to give more help to certain families. A record 30,428 students applied for 2,300 places at Stanford, partly because the university increased financial aid for families earning below $10,000.
68. Mike may give up Notre Dame because of ______.
A. travel fees                                                           B. financial concerns
C. poor exam results                                             D. worries about living far away from home
69. The phrase “Big envelope” in paragraph 2 probably refers to “______”.
A. A text message                                                  B. A large gift package
C. An admission letter                                          D. A scholarship letter
70. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The number of American senior students applying for financial aid is increasing.
B. Rachel Brown has given up NYU because of its high tuition and big debts.
C. It is inevitably hard for college students to borrow money to cover costs.
D. An interest-free loan for students helps more students apply for Stanford.              
71. The passage mainly focuses on ______.
A. the calculation of different costs including tuition
B. the extremely hard financial situation in America
C. the excitement of students’ being able to enter ideal colleges
D. the financial crisis of families over college entrance
68. B69. C70. A 71. D               
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

完形填空（共20小題；每小題1.5分，滿分30分）
James sat outside the office waiting for the interview. He felt so__21__ that he didn’t know what to do with__22__. The person who had gone in _23__ him had been in there for nearly an hour. And she looked so confident when she went in. __24_ James. He felt _25__ that she had already got the _26_. The problem was that he wanted this job__27__. It meant __28__to him. He had__29__it such a lot before the day of the interview. He had imagined himself__30__ brilliantly at the interview and _31__ the job immediately. But now here he was feeling__32__. He couldn’t __33__ all those things he had__34__ to say. At that moment, he almost decided to get up and __35__. But no---- he had to do this. He had spent so much time considering it that he couldn’t__36__like that. His hands were hot and sticky and his mouth felt dry. At last the door of the office opened. The woman who had gone in an hour earlier came out looking very__37__ with herself. She smiled sympathetically(同情地) at James. At that moment James__38__ her. The managing director then appeared at the office door. “Would you like to come in now, Mr. Davis? I’m sorry to have kept waiting.” James suddenly__39__that he had gone home after all. He got up, legs__40__ and forehead sweating and wondered whether he looked as terrible as he felt.
21. A. healthy                     B. nervous                 C. careless                 D. confident
22. A. the managing director    B. the woman     C. himself           D. the others
23. A. by                              B. with                        C. before                    D. after
24. A. Not like                    B. So did                     C. Do as                      D. Do like
25. A. doubtful                   B. sure                        C. angry                      D. astonishing
26. A. reward                     B. first                         C. prize                       D. job
27. A. hopelessly               B. naturally                C. easily                      D. so much
28. A. everything               B. happiness             C. difficulty                D. nothing
29. A. looked for                B. learned of             C. thought about     D. talked about
30. A. explaining                B. performing           C. answering             D. writing
31. A. offered                     B. asked for               C. being asked for    D. being offered
32. A. crazy                         B. excited                   C. probable                D. terrible
33. A. depend on               B. afford                     C. believe in               D. remember
34. A. kept                          B. being taught        C. planned                 D. been supplied
35. A. leave                         B. go in                       C. prepare                 D. practice
36. A. take back                 B. put off                    C. give up                   D. put down
37. A. ugly                           B. pleased                  C. sad                          D. pretty
38. A. noticed                     B. loved                      C. missed                            D. hated
39. A. thought                    B. hoped                     C. wished                   D. regretted
40. A. shaking                    B. bending                 C. walking                  D. stopping

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


D
Sometimes you may have a strong desire to do something strange or terrible. However, chances are that you don’t act on your impulse (沖動), but let it pass instead. You know that to take the action is wrong in some way and that other people will not accept your behavior.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the phenomenon of taboo behavior is how it can change over the years, how certain behavior and attitudes once considered taboo can become perfectly acceptable and natural at another point in time. Topics such as death, for example, were once considered so upsetting that it was a taboo to even talk about them. Now with the publication of important books such as On Death and Dying and Learning to Say Goodbye, people have become more aware of the importance of expressing feelings about death and, as a result, are more willing to talk about this taboo subject.
One of the newest taboos is the topic of fat. Unlike many other taboos, fat is a topic that people talk about constantly. It’s not taboo to talk about fat; it’s taboo to be fat. The “in” look is thin, not fat. In the work world, most companies prefer youthful-looking, slim manager to sell their image as well as their products to the public. The thin look is associated with youth, vigor, and success. The fat person, on the other hand, is thought of as lazy and lacking in energy, self-discipline and self-respect. After all, how can people permit themselves to become fat? In an image-conscious society, thin is “in”, fat is “out”.
It’s not surprising that millions of people have become obsessed (著迷) with staying slim and “in shape”. The pursuit of a youthful physical appearance is not, however, the only reason for people’s obsession with diet and exercise. Recent research has shown the importance of diet and exercise for personal health. As in most technologically developed nations, the life-style of people has changed since last century. Modern machines do all the physical labor. Cars and buses transport us quickly from point to point. As a result of inactivity and disuse, people’s bodies can easily become weak. In an effort to avoid such a fate (命運(yùn)), millions of people are spending more of their time exercising. Parks are filled with joggers and bicyclists, and many companies are providing special exercise equipment for their employees to use during the work day.
67. What does the word “taboo” refer to in the passage?
A. A crime committed on impulse.
B. An unfavorable impression left on other people.
C. A strong desire to do something strange or terrible.
D. Behavior considered unacceptable to the society.
68. What does the underlined phrase “in”look probably mean?
A. The fashionable look.                       B. The hidden look.
C. The usual look.                                D. The inside look. 
69. According to the passage, the common belief is that ______.
A. fat people are full of energy
B. thin people are more successful
C. fat people prefer to have fat bosses
D. thin people are less image-conscious
70. People pay more attention to diet and exercise because of ______.
A. their need to kill time                       B. their love for sports
C. their concern for health                   D. their belief in hard work

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


More than 20,000 drivers and front seat passengers are killed or seriously injured each year. At a speed of only 30 miles per hour it is the same as falling from a third floor window. Wearing a seat belt saves lives; it reduces your chance of death or serious injury by more than half.
Therefore drivers or front seat passengers over 14 most vehicles must wear a seat belt. If you do not, you could be fined up to $50. It will not be up to the drivers to make sure you wear your belt. But it will be the driver’s responsibility to make sure that children under 14 do not ride in the front unless they are wearing a seat belt of some kind.
However, you do not have to wear a seat belt if you are reversing(倒退) your vehicle; or you are making a local delivery or collection using a special vehicle; or if you have a valid（正當(dāng)?shù)模?medical certificate（證書）which excuses you from wearing it. Make sure these cases supply to you before you decide not to wear your seat belt. Remember you may be taken to court for not doing so, and you may be fined if you cannot prove to the court you have been excused from wearing.
60. This passage is probably taken from ______.
A. medical magazine    B. a legal document
C. a textbook    D. a government information booklet
61. Wearing a seat belt in a vehicle ______.
A. reduces road accidents by more than half
B. reduces the death rate in traffic accidents
C. saves lives while driving at a speed up to 30 miles per hour  
D. saves more than 16,000 lives each year
62. It is the driver’s responsibility to ______.
A. make the front seat passenger wear a seat belt
B. make the front seat children under 14 wear a seat belt
C. stop children from riding in the front seat
D. wear a seat belt each time he drives
63. For some people, it may be better to ______.
A. pay a fine rather than wear a seat belt   
B. wear a seat belt for health reasons
C. (not to) wear seat belt for health reasons  
D. get a valid medical certificate before wearing a seat belt

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


第三部分閱讀理解（共兩節(jié)，滿分40分）
第一節(jié)（共15小題；每小題2分，滿分30分）
　　閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的四個選項(xiàng)（A、B、C和D）中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)，并在答題卡上將該項(xiàng)涂黑。
A
　　Soon it may be harder to stop and smell the roses.
　　Growing levels of air pollution from power plants and automobiles have reduced flower fragrances (芬芳) by up to 90 percent in the US.That is compared with pre-industrial levels,a new study has found.
　　The trend is unpleasant for human noses,but may be life - threatening for bees and butterflies.
　　"Many insects find flowers by folowing the scent(香味) produced by those flowers," said the studies lead author Jose D.Fuentes,an environmental scientist at the University of Virginia.
　　"The increasing pollution makes it difficult for them to locate the flowers and feed on their nectar(花蜜)."
　　Scientists have alrady known that flowers produce scent molecules(分子) that bond with pollutants.The process breaks down the plants' sweet smell.
　　With more pollution in the air,the scent molecules don't remain effective as long and travel shorter distances on the wind.
　　The new study suggests that in the mid - 19th century,when pollution levels were first recorded,scent molecules would have been able to travel some 1,000 to 1,200 meters.
　　Today,in the polluted air found downwind of large cities,scentst may only make it some 200 to 300 meters.
　　The report was recently published in the journal,Atmospheric Environment.
　　Bee farmers have reported that bee populations are dropping dramatically in many parts of the world in recent years. Could these missing scents be a factor?
　　Scientists trying to hind the cause of bee population declines have blamed bacteria,pesticides,and even cellphone radiation.
　　Jay Evans,an entomologist(昆蟲學(xué)者) at the US Department of Agriculture's bee research laboratory,was interested in the new study.But he says he hasn't seen bee behavior that suggests trouble with scents.
　　"Over the last couple of summers I don't think the bees in this area were bringing in much less food,"he said.
　　"It might be that they had to work harder,but it seems like as long as there were bees to collect food they were finding flowers somewhere."
　　But Fuentes fears that the fading smell of flowers may stress insects that are already faced with other threats.
　　"The effects shown in these studies will simply exacerbate whatever the bees are going through right now,"he said.
　　"It's something that is really worthwhile paying attention to."
　　56.What's the passage mainly about?
　　　A.How greatly air plooution affects our lives.
　　　B.Effects of air pollution on bee populations.
　　　C.Measures to fight air pollution.
　　　D.The rapid decline of bee populations in the world.
　　57.According to the passage,Jay Evans probably agrees that ______ .
　　　A.bees are the insect that suffers most from air pollution
　　　B.bees are at risk of dying out owing to air pollution
　　　C.the fading smell of flowers doesn't affect bees so greatly as was thought
　　　D.as is often the case,bees fail to locate the flowers because of the missing scents
　　58.The word"exacerbate" in the last paragraph but one probably means ______.
　　　A.worsen B.improve C.get rid of D.decrease
　　59.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
　　　A.The more air pollution there is in a region,the greater the destruction of the flower scents.
　　　B.Bacteria,pesticides,and cellphone radiation are blamed for causing the decline of bees.
　　　C.The scent molecules produced by flowers in a less polluted environment oculd travel longer and farther.
　　　D.Air pollution does more harm to insects such as bees and butterflies than human beings.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


C
It is a lot of trouble to learn a new language. When we go to all that trouble, we certainly want to be understood. But understanding is based on more than speech. Sometimes misunderstanding comes not from the wrong words, but from the wrong style. In our own country, we learn the style for politeness. But this polite style may be misunderstood in another country. This can cause unexpected difficulties. Since you have spent so much effort learning this new language, it is sensible and practical to learn the politeness rules also. Even if you think some of the customs are foolish, learning them can help you to be clearly understood.
In your country, is it considered polite to listen quietly to other people without any change of expression on the face? If this is the style you have learned, perhaps you should watch two Americans talking. Notice how the person who is listening will have frequent changes of expression. The listener may also make little remarks while the other person is talking. These little remarks may be one word, like “Really?” or they may just be a little sound, like “Uhhuh” or “Mmm.” This is the way American listeners show that they are listening in a friendly way. This is why Americans get uneasy when the listener is silent and shows no change of expression. In the American style of speaking, an unmoving face often means that the listener is unfriendly, or perhaps even angry.
Sometimes people from two countries are uncomfortable with each other for very small reasons. Here is an example: Americans think that perspiration odor is not polite. In fact, they worry so much about this subject that they spend a great deal of money on deodorants (除臭劑) and dry cleaning and washing their clothes. If a foreign student does not follow the same rule, Americans may be disturbed and think the foreigner is not nice. The problem can be especially troublesome because Americans are so embarrassed about this subject that they do not even like to talk about it, so they are not likely to tell that person why they are uneasy.
63. If you want to be clearly understood in another country, besides the language, you should also learn _________.
A. its common knowledge     B. its style            C. its wrong words      D. how to make a speech
64. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. American listeners have frequent changes of expression.
B. A foreign student may not get along well with Americans if he smells.
C. An unmoving face and silence of listeners will make Americans feel unhappy.
D. Making little remarks like “Really”, “Uhhuh” or “Mum” is impolite while listening to an American.
65. The underlined phrase in the last paragraph probably means _________.
A. an unpleasant smell                                     B. a good style of talking
C. an unfriendly way                                   D. a polite expression
66. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Learning a new language                  B. Different people, Different languages
C. Body Language                                     D. Different Countries, Different Cultures

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


D
Having too much confidence is not good. And now, a new study has proved this by finding that overconfident teenage students can stunt crucial（決定性的）reading skills.
The study shows a clear connection between overconfident students and low reading comprehension.
“While some self-confidence is helpful, overconfident 15-year-olds are often below-average (平均水平) readers in all 34 countries we studied, ” says Ming Ming Chiu, the lead author of the study.
“In contrast, under-confident 15-year-olds are more likely to be above-average readers in all 34 countries, ”the expert added.
The difference lies in a student’s ability to exactly assess (估計(jì)) and evaluate his or her own reading level, according to Chiu. Those who can accurately assess their strengths and weaknesses are usually in a better position to identify realistic goals and achieve them.
“If an overconfident student chooses a book that is too hard—such as The Lord of the Rings rather than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—he or she might stop reading after a few pages and let it sit on a bookshelf,”says Chiu.
“In contrast, a more self-aware student is more likely to finish an easier book and continue reading more books, ”the expert added.
67．The underlined word “stunt” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by          .
A. improve                   B. help                         C. prevent                    D. find
68．Which of the following is true?
A. Under-confident 15-year-olds are less likely to be above-average readers.
B. Overconfident 15-year-olds are often below-average readers.  
C. Under-confident 15-year-olds are more likely to be below average readers.
D. Overconfident 15-year-olds are often above-average readers.
69．People who can exactly assess their strengths and weaknesses can          .
A. choose a better book                                     B. gain more money
C. have realistic goals and achieve them              D. have a great improvement in their marks
70．A more self-aware student is more likely to          .
A. stop reading after a few pages                       B. put the book on a bookshelf
C. finish an easier book                                     D. write books

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

No one could have failed to be moved had he watched the live televised volleyball game between the Chinese and Cuban women’s teams. As we sat before the television set, with our eyes fixed on the screen, we experienced every kind of feeling. When the two teams played neck and neck, we were on pins and needles, anxious as to what would come next, and when our team fell behind our hearts were in our mouths. Watching the game between those two teams is not only a matter of great joy. For more than that it provides food for thought. Just see how the Chinese women won the game ──by their co ──operation (合作), by their excellent skill, their effort and strong will. A Chinese saying goes, “When two competent opponents (比賽的雙方) meet, the strong ──minded one will win. “This is the spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team. If every Chinese showed some of the spirit, never losing heart in times of difficulty and remaining clear ──minded in times of advantage (優(yōu)勢), then our nation would stand in the vanguard (前列) of the world family of nations, just as the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team has done, is doing and will do.
44. While watching the game, we _____.
A. had feelings of different kind
B. enjoyed a friendly and wonderful game
C. clapped and cheered only for the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
D. were eager to know what would happen later on
45. The wonderful game _____.
A. brought us great joy
B. provided us with food for our thoughts
C. gave us not only great joy but also food for thoughts
D. give us a valuable amusement
46. The author believed that _____.
A. the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team was the strongest
B. China was sure to become stronger and stronger if only we have that spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
C. The Chinese must remain clear-minded in time of advantage
D. The Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team never lost heart in times of difficulty
47. The best title of the passage might be _____.
A. Watching a Close Volleyball Game
B. The Spirit of the Chinese Women’s Volleyball Team
C. Learn from the Members of the Volleyball Team
D. The Strong
──Minded Are the Winners

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

You may have never heard of Ladislao Biro, but you have certainly heard of the pen he invented—the ballpoint pen, or biro. Before Biro invented his pen, people wrote with fountain pens. The ink smudged(弄臟) and blotted and the pens sometimes leaked. In the 1930s Biro was a magazine editor in Budapest in Hungary. He noticed that the inks which the magazine’s printers used dried very quickly. Biro wondered if quick-drying inks could be used in pens. He came up with the idea of a tube of ink with a free-moving ball on the end. As a person wrote, the ball collected ink from the tube and rolled it on to the paper. The pen would be cheap and could be thrown away when the ink ran out.
Biro began to work on his invention, but before he could patent it the Second World War broke out. Biro left war-torn Europe and fled to Buenos Aires in Argentina. There, he and his brother Georg, who was a chemist, began to improve the pen. In the early 1940s Biro began to manufacture his new pen, the biro. In 1944, he sold his invention to another company, who began to mass-produce the pen for the British and American armed forces.
Biro was pleased that his pen was popular, but he did not gain much from his invention. The biro was later sold to the French firm, Bic, who now sell twelve million pens a day. Biro sank into obscurity in South America. His name, however, has become a household word.
48. The reasons for the popularity of ballpoint pens are these EXCEPT that_______.
A. the inks dried very quickly                      B. they were cheap
C. they were easy to carry around           D. they were mass-produced
49. Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Biro?
a. applied for patent for first ballpoint pen
b. began to manufacture pens
c. fled from Hungary to escape Nazis
d. sold his invention
A. a c d b                    B. c d a b           C. a c b d           D. c a b d
50. The underlined part “sank into obscurity”(last paragraph) is closest in meaning to“_______”.
A. became unknown to many people       B. became popular with people
C. lost interest in business                         D. lost a lot of money
51. What does the passage mainly tell us about Biro?
A. He is successful in business.                 B. He is an important inventor.
C. He is a famous magazine editor.         D. He is a popular writer.

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