There is no doubt that much of the profit of a business—sometimes the whole of its success—depends upon the use of the odds and ends．The odds and ends are various small things，which are left over when the main things are produced．But they possess a real value of their own．
If a business，big or small，looked down upon these odds and ends，it would mean a big difference in the amount of the benefit of the business．Take a meat factory for instance， there are countless odds and ends—bones and hair，which can be made into glue and rope to increase its profit greatly．
Then，if we are college students，what about our odds and ends—the odd moments？ Take time for example．Every one of us has the exact same amount of it．Everyone’s success or failure depends on the use of their time．But everyone uses the time more or less in the same way．However，why many great men in science or art have made huge successes for themselves in the world？Because they have made best use of their odd moments．Take Thomas A．Edison， he never allowed his odd moments to slip by．He thought，planned，and tried his inventions．He always worked twenty hours out of each twenty-four．His inventions made him famous all over the world，and provided valuable wealth for the human beings．
So, remember this axiom：very busy people always find time for everything．However，people with great spare time find time for nothing．Is it very strange？Not at all！The question is how to gather up fragments of time and make full use of them．As many big businesses have found，that the real profit is in using the odds and ends．We also must do in this way to make best use of our odd moments and manage to be successful in something that we do．
小題1: What are odds and ends？

A．They are nothing useful．

B．They are various small，but valuable things．

C．They are the main things that factories produce．

D．They are odd moments students deny to gather up．

小題2: Why should the odds and ends be made full use of ？Because  ____   ．

A．lots of factors in success or in failure depend on the best use of odds and ends

B．they control to possess a value of their own

C．they are various small things people don’t want

D．they are useless things left over when the main things are produced

小題3:What does the word “Axiom” in the fourth paragraph mean?

A．clear and evident without proof

B．statement accepted as true without proof of argument

C．statement that can be argued

D．regulation accepted in scientific usage

小題4: “Fragments of time” equals  “____   ”in the above passage．

A．the odds and ends	B．immense leisure
C．the main things	D．the odd moments

Is early childhood education really necessary? Early childhood education primarily focuses on learning through playing to develop the child’s physical, sensory, communicational and social development． Early childhood education has become a concern of the government, who pushes poor children to be formally trained before they are old enough for Kindergarten．
There are good reasons for the government to push early childhood education．Studies have shown that orphaned children who did not receive good care and education become developmentally delayed causing failure in school, and even in life．Further studies show that poor children who take part in Head Start programs are more prepared for school, less likely to end up in Special Education classes, and are less likely to receive public help or go to jail．
There are also negative parts to putting a child in formal education programs too early．Time Magazine online explains that “the younger the child the less his chances of catching up with first-grade work．” I have personally witnessed many children of my generation who went to Head Start programs become frustrated and bored with school before they finished high school．Yet parents have been sure that the earlier the child starts school, the better off he or she is, so they push to start children earlier．
Actually while early formal education of poor children does show great gains in the early elementary years, studies also show that this head start is really a “false start”, as the gains are lost in middle and high school years．It seems that environment is a bigger factor on life’s success than early education．Head Start programs have not achieved its original goal in closing the achievement gap in poor and middle school children．Perhaps it is time to find other ways to close that gap．
小題1:The purpose of the government valuing the early childhood education is ________．
A．to develop the children’s communication
A．to give orphaned children good care and education
C．to get the children prepared for the kindergarten
D．to train the children formally and regularly
小題2:According to the studies, which of the following is True?

A．Children with good early education may have a rich life．

B．The orphaned children are usually unhappy in their life．

C．Children without early education can do well at school．

D．Head Start programs are helpful to the poor children．

小題3:The author’s attitude toward the early childhood education is _________．

A．puzzling

B．objective

C．indifferent

D．a(chǎn)pproving

小題4:The main idea of the last passage is that __________．

A．the early childhood education is very necessary

B．Head Start programs have helped the children a lot

C．environment is the most important to life’s success

D．better ways should be found to help the poor children

“There is an out – of – date idea that children grow up and leave home when they’re 18,and the truth is far from that,” says Mr．Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin．Today unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents．“There is a great change in the middle class,” declares Allan Schnaiberg of Northwestern University, whose son, 19, moved back in after an absence of eight months．
Scientists show a number of reasons for this return to the nest．The marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its pleasantness particularly attractive to young people．A high divorce （離婚） rate and a low remarriage rate make some differences．For some, the expense of an away - from - home college education has become so great that many students now attend local schools．Even after graduation, young people find their wings tied by terrible housing costs．
Living at home, says Knighton, a school teacher, continues to give security （安全保衛(wèi)） and moral（道義的） support．Her mother agreed．“Its strange for the kids to pay all that money for rent．It makes sense for kids to stay at home．” But sharing the family home requires changes for all．There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones and privacy．Some families, however, manage the careful balancing act．But for others, it proves too difficult．Michelle Del Turco, 24, has been home three times and left three times．“What I considered a social drink, my dad considered an alcohol （酒精） problem,” she explains．“He never liked anyone I dated, so I either had to hide away or meet them at friends' houses．”
Just how long should adult children live with their parents before moving on? Most scientists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake．Children, can end up with a sense of defeat and failure．And aging parents, who should be enjoying some freedom, find themselves stuck with too many things．Many agree that brief visits, however, can work well．
小題1:According to the author, there was once a trend in the U．S．________．

A．for young adults to leave their parents and live separately

B．for middle class young adults to stay with their parents

C．for married young adults to move back home after a lengthy absence

D．for young adults to get jobs nearby in order to live with their parents

小題2:Which of the following does not lead to young adults returning to the nest?

A．Young adults find housing costs too high．

B．Young adults are not old enough．

C．Young adults look for parental comfort and support．

D．Quite a number of young adults attend local schools．

小題3:The underlined word “hassles” in the passage probably means _________．

A．a(chǎn)greements	B．worries
C．disadvantages	D．quarrels

小題4:According to the passage what is the best for both parents and children?

A．They should share the family expenses．

B．Children should leave their parents when they are grown up．

C．Adult children should live away from their parents and visit their parents from time to time．

D．Parents should support their adult children when they are in trouble．

小題5:．One of the disadvantages of young adults returning to slay with their parents is that ______．

A．there will certainly be inconveniences in even-day life

B．most parents find it difficult to keep a bigger family going

C．the young adults try to be overprotected by their parents

D．public opinion is against young adults staying with their parents

Scientists are closely concerned with the structure of buildings and with the quality of building materials． The World health Organization （WHO) observes that the introduction of air conditioning and energy conservation （保護) measures have been accompanied by growing problems of indoor air quality． Some pollutants arise from insulation （隔音) products, some from moving cars, and others from modern housing materials． As many Europeans spend up to 90% of their lives in buildings, the health effects of the indoor climate are very important．
　　Some construction materials, including fiberboard, insulation foams and certain glues for man-made wood floor boards, for example, give out organic products such as formaldehyde （甲醛)． Heat and humidity increase the release of formaldehyde and the gas seriously harms the eyes． Paint, lacquer, etc． can also release dangerous gas into indoor air．
　　Construction materials can cause serious damage, especially when they contain asbestos（石棉）． Asbestos is naturally present in rock formations worldwide． It belongs to a family of mineral substances made up of solid, non-combustible（非易燃品） fiber． These properties make asbestos a highly sought-after construction material． As early as 1931, however, public health officers in the United Kingdom revealed the connection between breathing in asbestos dust and such diseases as lung cancer．
　　The land on which a building is sited may also contribute to pollution． Some kinds of granite or similar rocks contain traces of radium． As it breaks down, this naturally radioactive element produces some kind of radioactive gas that goes through tiny cracks in walls, floors and building materials, and makes its way into the building and the rooms． The better the homes are insulated, the more is the dangerous gas in indoor air． The main effect of this dangerous gas on health is to increase the risk of lung cancer．
小題1:What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Some building materials pollute indoor air．

B．Some factors cause indoor air pollution．

C．Asbestos can cause lung cancer．

D．The land on which houses are built contributes to indoor pollution．

小題2:Why are Europeans particularly concerned with building materials?

A．Lots of building materials there are radioactive．

B．They stay home up to 90% of their lives．

C．They have a high rate of lung cancer．

D．They spend most of their time indoors．

小題3:Why is asbestos a sought-after building material?

A．It is a kind of insulation foam．

B．Asbestos will not give out dangerous gas．

C．This material is not easy to catch fire．

D．It is rarely present in rock formations．

小題4:Why should we be careful about the land on which a building is to be sited?

A．To determine whether the land is firm enough for a building to be sited on．

B．To make sure that the land contains no radioactive material．

C．To make certain that the land releases no formaldehyde or other gases．

D．To check whether it contains any combustible materials．

The most exciting kind of education is also the most personal． Nothing can exceed （超越) the joy of discovering for yourself something that is important to you! It may be an idea or a bit of information you come across accidentally—or a sudden insight, fitting together pieces of information or working through a problem． Such personal encounters are the “payoff” in education． A teacher may direct you to learning and even encourage you in it—but no teacher can make the excitement or the joy happen． That's up to you．

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A research paper, assigned in a course and perhaps checked at various stages by an instructor, leads you beyond classrooms, beyond the texts for classes and into a process where the joy of discovery and learning can come to you many times． Preparing the research paper is an active and individual process, and ideal learning process． It provides a structure within which you can make exciting discoveries, of knowledge and of self, that are basic to education． But the research paper also gives you a chance to individualize a school assignment, to suit a piece of work to your own interests and abilities, to show others what you can do． Writing a research paper is more than just a classroom exercise． It is an experience in searching out, understanding and synthesizing（綜合）, which forms the basis of many skills applicable（可利用的） to both academic and nonacademic tasks． It is, in the fullest sense, a discovering of an education． So, to produce a good research paper is both a useful and a thoroughly satisfying experience!

To some, the thought of having to write an assigned number of pages, often more than ever produced before, is upsetting． To others, the very idea of having to work independently is threatening． But there is no need to approach paper assignment with anxiety, and nobody should view the research paper as an obstacle to overcome． Instead, consider it a goal to accomplish, a goal within reach if you use the help this book can give you．
小題1:According to the writer, personal discoveries          ．

A．will give one encouragement and direction

B．a(chǎn)re helpful in finding the right information

C．a(chǎn)re the most valuable part of one's personal education

D．will help one to successfully complete school assignments

小題2:It can be inferred from the passage that writing a research paper gives one chances        ．

A．to fully develop one's personal abilities

B．to use the skills learnt in the classroom

C．to prove that one is a productive writer

D．to demonstrate how well one can accomplish school assignment

小題3:The writer argues in the passage that       ．

A．one should explore new areas in research

B．one should trust one's own ability to meet course requirements

C．one should consider research paper writing a pleasure, not a burden

D．one should use all one's knowledge and skills when doing research

小題4:What will probably follow this passage?

A．How to write a research paper．

B．The importance of research in education．

C．How to make new discoveries for oneself．

D．The skill of putting pieces of information together．

Before astronauts can go into space, they have to have the right suit. That’s why NASA（美國國家航天和航空局）scientists are developing a new kind of space suit——lighter and more flexible than before. These new space suits will have lots of mobility(靈活性) for the astronauts, but will not need much maintenance. NASA wants the suits to include new technology that can help astronauts be safe in outer space.
Right now, the American space suit weighs about 275 pounds and is big and massive. But the suit is also easy to work in for long periods of time. The Russian space suit is less complicated, but is used only a few times and then gets thrown away.
“Finding the right balance is always going to be a challenge,” said a long-time astronaut Jeff Williams. Williams has worn both types of suits. Space suits protect astronauts from both extreme heat and freezing temperatures. They carry life-packs with oxygen for the astronauts. They also shield astronauts from radiation, or particles that send out harmful rays.
Scientists are using computers to design the new suits. This allows them to change the design again and again, and to even test the design out before actually making anything. “There’s a lot more capable tools and technology to get the job done——a lot more knowledge, as well,” said Joe Kosmo. Kosmo helped design, develop, and test suits during the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and shuttle periods.
These new space suits will be much lighter and use a new kind of complex material. They also will have a smaller life support backpack, thanks to tiny electronics. NASA hopes to have the first prototypes(原型) in development by 2010 and certify(證明) the suit by 2012. This will be in time for the launch of the Orion spaceship in 2014.
小題1: What characteristic does the new space suit have?

A．The new space suit will need much maintenance.

B．The new space suit will be heavier than before.

C．The new space suit will have less mobility than before.

D．The new suit will use new technology to help astronauts be safe in outer space.

小題2:What’s the disadvantage of the Russian space suit?

A．The Russian space suit is big and massive.

B．The Russian space suit is much complicated.

C．The Russian space suit is merely used a few times.

D．The Russian space suit is easy to work in for long periods of time.

小題3:The underlined word “shield” in the third paragraph might mean_______.

A．harm

B．protect

C．help

D．warn

小題4:Why can scientists test the design out before actually making the new space suits?

A．Because designing the new space suit is not a complex task.

B．Because computers are being used to help scientists design the new space suits.

C．Because it needs little knowledge to design the new space suits.

D．Because the scientists only change the old space suits a little and make them into the new ones.

小題5:How long will it take scientists to put the new space suits from prototypes into the first practical use?

A．Two years.

B．Three years.

C．Four years.

D．Six years.

Recently,university students around the world were asked to volunteer in a global experiment called Unplugged.It was designed to see how young people would react if they were asked to observe a total media ban by unplugging all forms of media devices for 24 hours.
Unplugged is being run by Dr Roman Gerodimos，a lecturer in Communication and Journalism at Bournemouth University.During the experiment，Dr Gerodimos said there were already  signs of how much the exercise affected volunteers.He said：“They’re reporting withdrawal symptoms，overeating，feeling nervous，isolated and disconnected.”
During their 24-hour test，three of the experiment’s participants were followed around by a BBC reporter plus cameraman.They were asked to write down 100 lines about their day offline，but of course，they all waited until the next day when they had access to their laptops.
Elliot Day wrote：“Today,my whole morning routine was thrown up into the air.Despite being  aware of the social importance of the media,I was surprised by how empty my life felt without the radio or newspapers.”
From Caroline Scott，we read：“I didn’t expect it，but being deprived of the media for 24 hours resulted in my day-to-day activities becoming so much harder to carry out than usual…I didn’t break out in a cold sweat like our lecturer expected us all to，but It’s not something l would like to do again！”
And Charlotte Gay wrote：“I have to say the most difficult item for me to be without has been  my  mobile；not  only is it a social device，it’s  my main access point of communication.”
Earlier in the year,a UK government study found that in the UK we spend about half our waking hours using the media,often plugged into several things at once.So,with technology continuing to develop at an alarming rate,how much time will you set aside for sleep in the future?
小題1:What can we learn about the volunteers?

A．Volunteers didn’t write down about their day offline.

B．Volunteers weren’t allowed to use any media for 24 hours.

C．Volunteers were followed around by Dr Roman Gerodimos.

D．Only volunteers in the UK took part in Unplugged experiment.

小題2:Which of the following is NOT mentioned about the participants’feelings？

A．Anxious.

B．Lonely

C．Bored.

D．Despaired.

小題3:Which of the following is true of Caroline Scott？

A．The media ban affected his temperature.

B．His work went on smoothly without the media.

C．His work was carried on hard without the media.

D．His life was empty without the radio or newspapers.

小題4:What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．People should use the media devices reasonably.

B．People can easily survive the media devices addict.

C．People can spend more time sleeping in the future.

D．People spend about half the time using the media devices.

小題5:The text is most probably a         .

A．newspaper ad	B．book review
C．news report	D．science fiction story

Scientists have learned a lot about the kinds of food people need. They say that there are several kinds of food that people should eat every day. They are: (1) green and yellow vegetables of all kinds;  (2)citrus （柑橘）fruits and tomatoes; (3) potatoes and other fruits and vegetables ; (4) meat of all kinds, fish and eggs; (5) milk and foods made from milk; (6) bread or cereal (谷物), rice is also in this kind of foods; (7) Butter or something like butter. 
People in different countries and different places of the world eat different kinds of things. Foods are cooked and eaten in many different kinds of ways.  People in different countries eat at different times of the day. In some places people eat once or twice a day; in other countries people eat three or four times a day. Scientists say that none of the differences is really important. It doesn’t matter whether foods are eaten raw or cooked, canned or frozen. It doesn’t matter if a person eats dinner at 4 o’clock in the afternoon or at eleven o’clock at night. The important thing is what you eat every day.
There are two problems, then, in feeding the large number of people on earth. The first thin g is to find some ways to feed the world’s population so that no one is hungry. The second is to make sure that people everywhere have the right kind of food to make them grow to be strong and healthy.
小題1: According to the scientists, which of the following groups of food is the healthiest for your lunch?

A．chicken, apples, cereal, cabbages.	B．potatoes, carrots, rice, bread.
C．oranges, bananas, fish, tomatoes.	D．beef, pork, fish, milk

小題2: It is important for people to eat __________.

A．three times a day	B．dinner at twelve o’clock
C．cooked food all the day
D．something from each of the seven kinds of food every day.

小題3:People in different countries and different places of the world________________.

A．have the right kinds of food to eat	B．cook their food in the same way
C．have their meals at the same time	D．eat food in different ways.

小題4: Which of the following is NOT true?

A．People in some places don’t have enough to eat.

B．There are too many people in the world.

C．One of the problems is that no one is hungry.

D．The scientists are trying to make people e grow to be strong and healthy.

小題5:If there is paragraph 4, what do you think is going to be talked about?

A．When people eat their lunch.	B．What to do with the two problems.
C．How to cook food in different ways.	D．Why people eat different kinds of food.

Studies show that walking several times a week can lower, or reduce, the danger of many diseases. Walking also can help you lose weight.
Fast walking is good for the heart. It lowers the blood pressure. Researchers say walking can reduce the danger of suffering a heart attack by as much as fifty percent.
Studies have shown that walking for thirty minutes a day can delay and possibly prevent the development of Type Two Diabetes. It can prevent diabetes among people who are overweight and at danger for the disease.
Studies show that women who walk and take calcium reduce their danger of thinning of the bones. Walking also helps lower the pain of arthritis in areas where bones are joined by strengthening the muscles around the bones.
Walking several times a week is a good way to control your weight and even lose body fat. Studies show it also helps lower feelings of sadness.
Experts say walking is one of the safest ways to exercise. There is a low danger of injuries. So it is good for people who are starting an exercise program for the first time and for older people.
A walking program is easy to start. You should wear loose clothes and good shoes. Shoes designed for walking are best.
How fast should you walk?  You should be breathing hard while you are walking. Yet, you should be able to
talk.
Let your arms move back and forward at your sides while you walk.
小題1:The title of the passage probably is ______.

A．Walking

B．Feelings of Sadness

C．Weight

D．Diseases

小題2:“Walking is one of the safest ways to exercise” means ______.

A．walking is easy to start	B．there’s a low danger of injuries
C．walking is good for heart	D．walking can prevent the development of diseases

小題3:Walking helps reduce the following EXCEPT_________.

A．the danger of many diseases

B．weight

C．sad feelings

D．money for shoes

小題4:According to the passage, walking ________.

A．is the safest way to all of the people	B．is a good way to reduce the danger of many diseases
C．can cure the disease of heart attack	D．can help put on weight

Many schools have established successful home visit programs. Home visits by teachers let parents and children know how much teachers care. Also, it is a way for teachers to learn more about their students , get the parents to pay more attention to their children’s education and bridge cultural gaps that might exist between students and teachers. Most teachers report that their home visits have a lasting effect on the child, the parents and on parent—teacher communication.
The Head Start program has used home visits for many years. Head Start teachers are required to make at least two home visits for each student, regardless of their ability, during each school year in addition to regular parent-teacher conferences at school. Many U.S. kindergartens also require home visits by teachers before school starts.
The visit approach varies from school to school and usually depends on the funding the source. In some schools, teachers prefer to visit in pairs. They feel more comfortable that way and sometimes need a translator in order to communicate with a child’s parents. Other teachers visit one-on-one with parents. Some interact with both the child and the parent. Many teachers may bring along learning activities for the child that also involve the parents participation. Normally, visits can last from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the teacher and the activities.
When teachers get to know their students and their students’ families, the parents become more active in their children’s education. Home visits, not unnecessary as some people think, can give teachers the ideas they need to help all students succeed.
小題1: Home visits by teachers can         

A．bridge cultural gaps existing between parents and teachers.

B．get students know that their teachers care about their parents.

C．get parents involved in their children’s education.

D．help establish good relationships between parents and children.

小題2:From the second paragraph we know that home visits       

A．a(chǎn)re not a new idea

B．a(chǎn)re traditionally done by teachers before school starts

C．a(chǎn)re meant for students with low marks

D．have replaced parent-teacher meeting

小題3:What is the third paragraph about?

A．Reasons for home visists

B．Forms of home visits

C．Advantages of home visits

D．Tips for home visits

小題4: What is the effect of home visits?

A．Parents have more opportunities to play with children

B．Students can succeed more easily through their own efforts.

C．Parents play a decisive role in children’s education.

D．Teachers can learn more about how to help students.