Thomas Alva Edison (愛(ài)迪生)was awarded more patents（專(zhuān)利） on inventions than any other American. When he died in 1931, Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him. One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout(關(guān)閉，中斷). All electric power(電源) would be shut off in homes, streets, and factories. Perhaps his suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions mean to them. Electric power was too important to the country. Shutting it off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion（混亂）. A blackout was out of the question.
On the day of Edison’s funeral (葬禮),many people silently dimmed(使暗淡) their lights. In this way they honoured the man who had done more than anyone else to the great force of electrity
小題1: This says that Thomas Edison __________.

A．was the only important American inventor

B．received the first American patent

C．received more patents than any other American

D．was the first American inventor

小題2: People decided to honor Edison when ________.

A．he made the first electric light	B．electric power was 100 years
C．the country realized electricity’s importance	D．he died in 1931

小題3: The suggested plan was to _________.

A．turn off the lights in factories	B．observe a few minutes of total silence
C．dim all electric lights	D．shut off all electricity for a short time

小題4: The plan was never carried out because________.

A．not everyone wanted to honor Edison

B．it was too difficult

C．electric power was too important to the country

D．it honored only one of Edison’s inventions

The fourth-graders at Chicago’s McCormick Primary School are unaware of the difficulty in learning Chinese. For most, who speak Spanish at home, it’s becoming their third language. They’ve been learning and using Chinese words since kindergarten, and it’s now second nature to give a hearty “ni hao” when strangers enter the classroom.
The classroom scene at McCormick is unusual, but it may soon be a common fixture(固定物) in American schools, where Chinese is rapidly becoming the hot new language. Government officials have long wanted more focus on security—useful languages like Chinese, and pressure from them—as well as from business leaders, politicians, and parents—has driven a quick growth in the number of programs.
Chicago itself is home to the largest effort to include Chinese in US public schools. The program here has grown to include 3,000 students in 20 schools, with more schools on a waiting list. Programs have also spread to places like Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and North Carolina. It’s true that the number of students learning Chinese is tiny compared with how many study Spanish or French.
Advocates see knowledge of the Chinese language and culture as a help in a global economy where China is growing in importance. “This is an interesting way to begin to engage with the world’s next superpower,” says Michael Levine, director of education at the Asia Society, which has started five new public high schools that offer Chinese. “Globalization has already changed the arrangements in terms of how children today are going to need to think about their careers… The question is, when not whether, the schools are going to adjust.”
In Chicago, the trend extends beyond schools with high numbers of Asian students. “The fact that my students are 98% low income and 99% Latino(拉丁美洲人) and they are succeeding in this, tells me everyone should have a try at learning languages,” says Virginia Rivera, principal at McCormick. “We want to give our young people opportunities to advance… and Chinese is a great opportunity to survive in today’s economy,” says Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago.
小題1:The underlined word “Advocates” in the text probably means”              .

A．Supporters

B．Objectors

C．Teachers

D．Learners

小題2: How many languages are mentioned in this passage?

A．Six.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

小題3:In the last paragraph, the underlined word “this ”probably refers to _____.

A．the competition between Latino and Asian students

B．the global economy

C．the interesting way to engage with China

D．the Chinese learning

小題4: What CANNOT be learned from this passage?

A．Most students at McCormick can speak three languages.

B．Chinese is gaining its popularity in all schools in Chicago.

C．French has far more speakers than Chinese does in Chicago.

D．Globalization in a way makes it necessary to learn Chinese.

小題5:Which of the following is mainly about in this passage?

A．The Chinese learning in Chicago.

B．The ways to learn Chinese.

C．McCormick Primary School.

D．Globalization and Chinese learning.

When people think of the unique characteristics of Beijing the hutong style always comes to mind.It is no exaggeration(夸張) to say within hutong lives the city's history.
The word hutong was borrowed from the Mongolian word to mean “water well” about 700 years ago.Later it referred to a place where people live.Hutong we see today are made up of small lanes formed by walls of siheyuan.They were built during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.
When the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, there were more than 3,000 hutong.Most of the city's population lived in this traditional housing.But with the modernization of the city in the 1980s and early 1990s, many hutong were pulled down to build roads, skyscrapers and modern houses.
The government has recognized the importance of hutong to Chinese cultural heritage(文化遺產(chǎn))．In 2002, Beijing listed 40 protected historical zones and increased its efforts to restore some key relics and older streets in the city.Nearly 500 hutong have survived.
Hutong that still exist are like oases(綠洲) of calm surrounded by the noisy city.Walking through them, it's common to see groups of elderly citizens sitting together playing cards, mahjong or Chinese chess.In the early mornings and evenings, they gather to practice traditional forms of exercise such as taijiquan as well as dancing and singing folk songs or Peking Opera.Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.
小題1:What is the original meaning of the word hutong?

A．Small lanes.	B．Water well.
C．Siheyuan.	D．A traditional house.

小題2:What does the phrase “pull down” mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Replace.	B．Destroy.
C．Restore.	D．Establish.

小題3:According to the author, what is the importance of hutong to Chinese cultural heritage?

A．It is a traditional housing style of Beijing.

B．Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.

C．It is a good place for the elderly citizens to play cards, mahjong or Chinese chess.

D．Hutong are like oases of calm of Beijing.

小題4:According to the passage, which of the following is FALSE?

A．Hutong style is one of the unique characteristics of Beijing.

B．In 2002, Beijing listed 40 protected historical zones.

C．Beijing decreased its efforts to restore some key relics and older streets in the city.

D．Hutong have become a museum of Beijing's folk customs and history.

One of the biggest new bands in the UK is Arctic Monkeys.Their first two singles(單曲唱片)went straight to Number One in the charts(排行榜)and their first album “Whatever People Say I Am，That's what I'm No” has become a record?breaking album.It's the fastest selling debut album(首張專(zhuān)輯)in UK chart history.
Arctic Monkeys are famous because of their great success.They achieved their success thanks to the Internet.Usually a new band signs to a record company and then it is through marketing that people buy their singles.The single sales then get the band into the charts and they become popular that way.
However，Arctic Monkeys became well?known in a slightly different way.Back in 2003 when the band first started，they handed out CDs at their performing concert.Certain fans liked the music so much that they put the music up on the Web.The general public had access to this music because it was on the Internet and，because people liked the music，the band's popularity increased.The band's popularity was starting to get noticed by major radio stations in the UK.
Arctic Monkeys released(發(fā)行)their first single in October 2005.Before that，their music had only been available to download on the Internet.When they did finally release a single and an album，they both rose to the top of the charts.
Music fans welcome the use of the Internet this way—Arctic Monkeys became popular simply because people liked their music when they heard it.There were no ads.As music downloads continue to increase in popularity，we can expect to see more and more bands make it big in this way.
小題1:Arctic Monkeys gained popularity through __________.

A．giving away their CDs

B．the Internet

C．singing to a record company

D．marketing and advertisement

小題2:．Before 2005，how can you get Arctic Monkeys' music?

A．Going to their live music party.

B．Download their music from the Internet.

C．Buying their singles and albums in a shop.

D．Listen to it on the radio in the UK.

小題3:Why did Arctic Monkeys become popular?

A．People could hear their music often.

B．They didn't advertise their music.

C．People liked their music.

D．The marketing company did well.

The music of your teenage years probably will stay with you for the rest of your life.I think music is deeply connected with memory because of the emotions it awakens.Music also helps to mark time because of the way the fashions and stars of pop culture come and go.I often connect some summers with particular records (唱片 ) that came out while I was on holiday.But what's really the best way to record your youth? Is it your favorite song, or a picture of the singer?
In my teenage years, one of the special things about Britain was the huge amount of information about music.There were 3 weekly newspapers about music：Sounds, Melody Maker and the New Musical Express.Buying records was expensive and it also meant making a choice.So it was wise to read about music instead, and in some ways, it was actually better as well.It was possible for a group to get onto the front cover of one of the music papers without even having made any records—but they needed things to say for the reporters to write about.In fact, the best pop stars of the 1980s were people whose main talent was exactly that.They weren' t great musicians or singers and they weren't especially good?looking, but they had some unusual acts or habits and a nice way with clever phrases.They were ideal for filling music papers.
When The Face magazine first came out in May, 1980, it was meant to be a rock magazine.I have given away or sold all the records I bought as a teenager, but I think my old copies of The Face will stay with me for ever.Although it started out as a source of information about music, the writers quickly realized that it wasn't really the music that was important—it was the way people spoke and acted, and, above all, the way they looked.
小題1:According to the author，music can NOT ________.

A．improve memory	B．a(chǎn)waken emotions
C．mark time	D．stay in the mind

小題2:We can infer that during the author's teenage years，________.

A．there were few records for customers to buy

B．some songs he heard while on holiday impressed him

C．he spent most of his holiday time on music

D．he loved one pop song the most

小題3:According to Paragraph 2，during the author's teenage years，________.

A．people had few chances to buy records

B．it was hard to judge whether records were good or not

C．it was not an easy thing for teenagers to get records

D．the choice of buying records only depended on newspapers

小題4:The underlined word “that” in Paragraph 2 means that ________.

A．people could get onto the music papers without having made any records

B．people's talent was not what reporters needed to write about

C．reporters wrote about the talents of pop stars

D．people read about music

Below is adapted from an English dictionary. Use the dictionary to answer the following questions.
figure / fīg? / noun, verb
● noun
1. a number representing a particular amount, especially one given in official information: the trade / sales figures
2. a symbol rather than a word representing one of the numbers between 0 and 9: a six-figure salary
3. (informal) the area of mathematics that deals with adding, multiplying, etc. numbers
4. a person of the type mentioned: Gandhi was both a political and a religious figure in Indian history.
5. the shape of a person seen from a distance or not clearly
6. a person or an animal as shown in art or a story: a wall with five carved figures in it
7. the human shape, considered from the point of view of being attractively thin: doing exercise to improve one’s figure
8. a pattern or series of movements performed on ice: figure-skating
* be / become a figure of fun: be / become sb. that others laugh at
* cut a…figure: sb with a particular appearance: He cut a striking figure in his dinner jacket.
* put a figure on sth:  to say the exact price or number of sth.
* a fine figure of man / woman: a tall, strong-looking and well-shaped person
* figure of speech: a word or phrase used in a different way from its usual meanings in order to create a particular mental image or effect
* figurehead: someone who is the head or chief in name only (with no real power or authority)
● verb
1. to think or decide that sth. will happen or  is true: I figured that if I took the night train, I could be in Scotland by morning.
2. to be part of a process, situation, etc. especially an important part: My opinion of the matter didn’t seem to figure at all.
3. to calculate an amount or the cost of sth: We figured that attendance at 150,000.
* figure in: to include (in a sum): Have you figured in the cost of hotel?
* figure on: to plan on; to expect sth. to happen: I haven’t figured on his getting home so late.
* figure out: to work out; understand by thinking: Have you figured out how much the trip will cost?
* It / That figures!:  That seems reasonable.
小題1:According to the information above, which of the following sentence is not right?

A．This year’s sales figures were quite excellent.

B．I couldn’t figure out what the teacher was talking about.

C．She was the leading figure in British politics in the 1980s.

D．He was about to speak but she put a figure on his lips to stop him.

小題2: — She was coming late again for the work.
— ______! That’s typical of her. You just can’t do anything to stop her doing that.

A．It figures her out	B．She is a figure of fun
C．It cuts a poor figure	D．It figures

小題3:The phrase “watch my figure” in the sentence “Don’t tempt me with chocolate; I am watching my figure.” means “______”.

A．a(chǎn)dd the numbers	B．have sports
C．try not to get fat	D．watch games

小題4:Which sentence is used as figure of speech?

A．John is fond of animals and raises a rabbit as a pet.

B．In some countries, bamboo can be used to build houses.

C．We all regard Mr. Smith as an important figure in our company.

D．I didn’t really mean my partner was a snake.

English is an important global language, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. Many experts have tried to make English easier for students to learn―but they weren’t always successful.
In 1930, Professor CK Ogden of Cambridge University invented Basic English. It had only 850 words (and just eighteen verbs) and Ogden said most people could learn it in just thirty hours. The problem was that people who learned Basic English could write and say simple messages, but they couldn’t understand the answers in “real” English! It was also impossible to explain a word if it wasn’t in the Basic English word list. For example, if you wanted a watermelon, you asked for “a large green fruit with the form of an egg, which has a sweet red inside and a good taste”!
RE Zachrisson, a university professor in Sweden, decided that the biggest problem for learners of English was spelling, so he invented a language called Anglic. Anglic was similar to English, but with much simpler spelling. “Father” became “faadher”, “new” became “nue’ and “years” became “yeerz”. Unfortunately for some students of English, Anglic never became popular.
Even easier is the language which ships’ captains use: it’s called “Seaspeak”. Seaspeak uses a few simple phrases for every possible situation. In Seaspeak, for example, you don’t say, “I’m sorry what did you say?” or “I didn’t understand, can you repeat that?” It’s just “Say again.” No more grammar!
In the age of international communication through the Internet who knows? ... a new form of English might appear. A large number of the world’s e-mails are in English and include examples of “NetLingo” like OIC (Oh, I see) and TTYL (Talk to you later). In another fifty years, English might not exist ... we will probably all speak fluent Internetish!
小題1:The best title for the passage would be ______.

A．Seaspeak	B．Basic English
C．Internetish	D．Easy English

小題2:It will take a person about ______ weeks to learn Basic English if he spends two hours
learning it every day.

A．six

B．four

C．two

D．three

小題3:According to Professor Zachrisson, what was the biggest problem for learners of English?

A．Grammar.	B．Vocabulary.
C．Speaking.	D．Spelling.

小題4:Which of the following is likely to be Anglic?

A．IOU	B．A graet batl.
C．Long time no see.	D．Two five, no lights.

小題5:What might happen to English in another fifty years?

A．It might be replaced by Internetish.

B．It might become a global language.

C．It might take the place of all other languages.

D．It might become more and more difficult.

Organic food, once considered something that only health fanatics desired, is now a regular feature at most supermarkets. And that has created a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand, you have a conventionally grown apple. On the other, you have one that’s organic. Both apples are firm, shiny and red. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Conventionally grown food generally costs less, but is organic food a better choice? The advantages claimed for such foods over conventionally grown and sold food products are now being debated on a large scale. Supporters of organic foods ― a term whose meaning varies greatly ―are frequently telling the world that such products are safer and more nutritious than others.
The growing interest of consumers in the safety and nutritional quality of daily foods is a welcome development. However, much of this interest has been aroused by sweeping claims that the conventional food supply is unsafe or inadequate in meeting nutritional needs.
Almost daily, the public is surrounded by claims for “no-aging” diets, new vitamins and other wonder foods. There are numerous unsubstantiated(沒(méi)證實(shí)的) reports that natural vitamins are superior to man-made ones, that fertilized eggs are nutritionally superior to unfertilized eggs, that untreated grains are better than those treated with insect spray and the like.
Although most of these claims are not supported by scientific evidence, large amounts of written material about the benefits of organic foods makes it difficult for people to separate fact from fiction. As a result, claims that eating a diet consisting of organically grown foods prevents or cures disease or provides other benefits to health have become widely advertised and form the basis for people’s opinion.
One thing that most organically grown food products seem to have in common is that they cost more than conventionally grown foods. But in many cases consumers are misled if they believe organic foods can maintain health and provide better nutritional quality than conventionally grown foods. So there is real cause for concern if consumers, particularly those with limited incomes, distrust the conventional food supply and buy only expensive organic foods instead.
小題1:According to Paragraph 2, which of the following statements about organic food is true?

A．It hasn’t been used until recent years.

B．It has no agreed definition.

C．It is popular among producers.

D．It is accepted by most nutritionists.

小題2:In Paragraph 4, treated grains are examples of ________.

A．healthier food	B．organic food
C．conventionally grown food	D．expensive food

小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．most doctors believe organic foods prevent disease or provide other benefits to health

B．organic foods are actually less nutritious than conventionally grown foods

C．people cannot separate fact from fiction because of the TV advertisements

D．organic foods cost more but are not necessarily better than conventionally grown foods

小題4:According to the passage, many consumers are attracted by organic foods because they _____.

A．want to try something new

B．have carefully researched the products

C．value food safety and nutrition

D．expect to save some money

小題5:What is the author’s attitude towards the claims of organic foods?

A．Doubtful.	B．Enthusiastic.
C．Supportive.	D．Uninterested.

Many patients who don’t want to tell their doctor how much they really drink are often more honest with a computer. The computer __31__ (use) for this purpose is programmed to be friendly. For example, if a patient called Ann says that __32__ her parents are dead, the computer will say: “I’m sorry to hear that, Ann.” Apart from expressing sympathy, the computer __33___ also question and remind. If a patient says he __34__ drinks alcohol, the computer can ask him, “Never? Not even at parties or at Christmas?” Does this direct contact __35__the patient and the computer mean that we do not need doctors any more?
It depends. Computers are useful __36__ they do not look shocked if you say you drink two bottles of whisky __37__day. And they do not stop to talk on the phone as doctors often do.
But ___38___ a doctor said, “We smile and we give a patient a handkerchief or put arm around her shoulder if she __39__ (cry). That is ___40___ people will always want us.”

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people around the world. American researchers say the disease will affect more than one hundred million people worldwide by the year twenty fifty. That would be four times the current number. Researchers and doctors have been studying Alzheimer's patients for a century. Yet the cause and cure for the mental sickness are still unknown. However, some researchers have made important steps towards understanding it.
Several early signs of the disease involve memory and thought processes. At first, patients have trouble remembering little things. Later, they have trouble remembering more important things, such as the names of their children.
There are also some physical tests that might show who is at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The tests look for proteins in brain and spinal cord fluid. The proteins appear to be found only in people with the disease. The protein tests correctly identify the presence of the disease in about ninety percent of patients.
Now, a much simpler physical test to predict Alzheimer's risk has been developed. Researchers found that trouble with the sense of smell can be one of the first signs of Alzheimer's. Using this information, they developed a test in which people were asked to identify twelve familiar smells. These smells included cinnamon, black pepper, chocolate, paint thinner, and smoke.
The study continued for five years. During this period, the same people were asked to take several tests measuring their memory and thought abilities. Fifty percent of those who could not identify at least four of the smells in the first test had trouble with their memory and thinking in the next five years.
Another study has shown a possible way to reduce a person's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease in old age. Researchers in Chicago found that people who use their brains more often are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. Those who read a newspaper, or play chess or word games are about three times less likely to develop the condition.
Researchers say they still do not know what causes Alzheimer's disease. But they say these findings might help prevent the disease in the future.
41. What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Some early signs of the Alzheimer's disease.
B. Some physical tests about Alzheimer's disease.
C. The research about Alzheimer's disease.
D. The patients of Alzheimer's disease.
42. What’s the current number of Alzheimer’s patients?
A. 100 million   B. 25 million   C. 400 million   D. 2050 million
43. What is not the early signs of the Alzheimer's disease according to the passage?
A. Poor memory                     B. Proteins exist in the brain.
C. Trouble with the sense of smell.      D. Less use of the brain.
44. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 1 refer to?
A. Alzheimer's disease.   B. Alzheimer's patients.  C. The cause and cure.  D. The research.
45. According to the passage, we can learn that _______.
A. there are no proteins in the brains of the people with no Alzheimer's disease
B. the people who often use their brains will not get Alzheimer's disease
C. researchers and doctors have found ways to cure Alzheimer's disease
D. the people who have the trouble with the sense of smell will certainly suffer from Alzheimer's disease