American parents usually think that their child should not have more pocket money than the children with whom he regularly connects no matter they are wealthier or not than he.
Whatever the pocket money is, its entire use is not controlled by the parents, because a child learns to use money correctly only through dealing with it himself. If a seven-year-old child gets a quarter as a week pocket money and is made to put it all in his piggy bank to save it up, he gets no idea what the real use for the money is. He gets the shiny coins and they soon disappear. The idea of a bank account(在銀行開戶) is too early for so small a child, although he can be made understand and enjoy saving his coins-not all of them, only a part of what he receives-to buy something he especially wants. By the time he is eight, he is old enough to take part in the opening of his own savings account, parents may take him to the bank, open a saving account for him, and encourage him to put a certain quantity(數(shù)量) of money he receives as gifts into the bank and watch his bank saving grow as entry by entry(存入)is made. He will be saving, earning, and spending suitable quantities all along in order to learn how to manage money and to keep him in a favorable position with his friends. The boy is a sorry child who can't join his fellows in a sweet shop once in a while because he has to save every cent he gets or earns for some big unknown projects his parents have chosen for him.
小題1:What does the underlined word "piggy bank" refer to?

A．Something in the shape of a pig for saving coins.

B．A kind of bank run by the children.

C．A bank whose building looks like a pig.

D．A bank for children's saving.

小題2:Which of the following statement is NOT true?

A．Whatever the pocket money is, its entire use is not controlled by American parents.

B．If an eight-year-old child receive 10 dollars as his birthday gift, he probably have most of it saved in the bank.

C．American parents never interfere(干涉) with their children's use of their pocket money.

D．American parents don't usually give their children much pocket money.

小題3:Why does the author think the boy is a sorry one if he saves every cent he gets or earns?

A．Because he can not manage his money and it keeps him in an unfavorable position.

B．Because he can not learn the use of money through spending it himself.

C．Because he can not have any other choice but to save, earn or spend money.

D．Because he can not join the fellow in a sweet shop once in while.

Writing about poetry is very similar to writing about a story or research you have conducted .The first thing you have to do to write an essay about a poem is to read the poem Very carefully and read it more than once．
Each poem says something，so try to figure out what the poem is saying to You .What ’s the theme of the poem ?What’s the attitude of the speaker of the poem ?How does the poem use words and sounds to communicate its message ?When you answer these questions，it can help you come up with a thesis(論題)for your essay·
It，s necessary to have a thesis statement written before you start writing your essay，especially when you’re writing about a poem． Your thesis should make an argument about the poem you're dealing with．  You might want to argue that the poem is presenting a specific message，or that the words in the poem work together to create a certain tone.  You may even want to argue that the poet wrote this particular poem because of a specific moment in history or a specific event in his or her life．The possibilities are infinite . As long as you can use evidence  from the poem and from your research about the poem or poet ,your thesis is correct．
Before you even start writing，  read the poem again once you have your thesis·  At this point，you’U be able to read the poem with new eyes since you know what you’ll be writing about．Go through the poem with a fine-toothed comb and pick out everything that supports your thesis．When you find quotes you want to use，write them down In an outline of the main points of your essay．This will help keep you organized．When you write a quote down, be sure to cite(引用)it correctly．Depending on the text of your essay, you may or may not want to include the poet’s name in your quote．  Once you have everything ready to go，You are all set to write your essay．

小題1:The passage mainly talks about________

A．the function of poems	B．how to look for quotes
C．how to write about poetry	D．the benefit of writing about poetry

小題2:By asking a series of questions in Paragraph 2，the writer wants to tell us the way of________

A．writing an essay	B．understanding a poem
C．understanding key words	D．collecting enough evidence

小題3:The underlined word “infinite” in Paragraph 3， is closest in meaning to“_______”

A．unnecessary

B．unclear

C．meaningless

D．endless

小題4:According to the writer，what should you do once you have your thesis?

A．Read the poem again and try to find important quotes?

B．Write about the poem immediately without referring to it again．

C．Put aside the poem and search the Internet for supporting evidence?

D．Cite quotes from the poem including the poet’s name and page numbers?

Marie Claire Magazine is one of the top women’s health, beauty and  fashion magazines in the world It has over 14 million readers all over the world．Maire Magazine is published in 32 countries including France, the Untied States ,Australia, China, the United Kingdom, Russia ,Spain Italy and many other nations.
Marie Claire Magazine has stood by its motto"More than a Pretty Face" since Jean Prouvost created it in France in1937. It was soon released every Wednesday and was an immediate success. Unfortunately, because of World War n, it stopped printing in 1940. But it b began in  again in 1954 as a monthly publication（出版物)instead of a weekly one.
The magazine has provided women throughout the world with information on health ,struggles and life stories of women. The magazine also focuses on current affairs all women would be interested in .It also has a part that specifically answers readers' questions.
The magazine discusses all of the latest and hottest things in clothing and accessories（首飾）．It also provides its readers with shopping information to help find the best deals for the latest fashions.
The cover of Marie Claire Magazine has been graced（使增光）by many famous faces ,Although it is aimed at women, it broke new ground in 2003. The US publication featured a  man一Tom Cruise on its cover for the first time．Marie Claire Magazine has continued to be a pioneer in the magazine industry.
小題1:When was Marie Claire Magazine created?

A． In 1937.

B． In 1940.

C． In 1954.

D． In 2003.

小題2:Marie Claire Magazine includes sections on                .
①health   ②fashion     ③first aid          ④current affairs
⑤babies   ⑥shopping   ⑦women's life stories ⑧readers' questions

A．①②③④⑤⑥

B．②③④⑤⑥⑦

C．②③⑤⑥⑦⑧

D．①②④⑥⑦⑧

小題3:According to the passage，Marie Claire Magazine________.

A．pays a lot of attention to readers's responses

B．has been a monthly magazine since 1937

C．often has Tom Cruise on its cover

D．changed its boss in 1954

小題4:What do we know about Marie Claire Magazine？

A．It is a local European magazine.

B． It never refers to hot social problems.

C． It contains beautiful pictures and useful articles.

D． It has more readers than any other magazine of the same kind

Do you know when and where ice cream got its start? It's an international favorite with a long and interesting history
The earliest ices were eaten in China many years ago. The people would put orange juice on ice .Later, this idea traveled to Italy. Nero, the emperor of Rome between 37 and 68 A.D, liked to eat ices as a special treat between violin lessons. He ordered runners to run to the mountains, get snow and quickly run back to the palace; The snow was mixed with fruit juices and nuts.
Around 1660,Coffee shops serving ice cream were very popular in Paris. Most of the coffee shops were owned by Italians. The first successful one was opened by a man from Sicily named Francesco Procopio.
Ice cream was probably brought to America in the early 1700's, and quickly became the favorite of American presidents. George Washington had ice cream pots and machines in his kitchen. Dolly Madison the wife of President Madison, was the first person to actually serve it in the White House. She made her guests very  happy when she served her favorite dessert.
Before ice cream was sold in stores, it was made and frozen at home. it took a lot of work to mix cream，eggs，fruit，and salt, and then to freeze it. Nancy Johnson, an American woman who was good with machines, invented the hand-turned ice cream freezer in 1846. Five years later, Jacob Fluse opened the first ice cream business, in Baltimore, Maryland His business quickly spread to other states. Today in the United States,  ice cream is not only a food , it is away of life.
小題1:What's the passage about? (No more than 10 words)
_____________________________________________________________________________
小題2:From which country did ice cream begin to travel in the world? (No more than l word)
_____________________________________________________________________________
小題3:What does the underlined word "it" refer to in paragraph 4? (No more than 3 words)
_____________________________________________________________________________
小題4:Who was the first person to serve the ice cream in White House'? (No more than 5 words)
_____________________________________________________________________________
小題5:According to the passage ,what made ice cream so popular in the USA? Please list two reasons．

“Tom!”
There was no answer.
“Tom!”
Still no answer.
“Where’s that boy gone? Tom!”
The old lady looked all around the room. She looked under the bed, but found only the cat.
“If I catch that boy, …” she murmured to herself.
She opened the door and looked out into the garden.
“Tom!” she shouted.
Then she heard a slight noise behind her. She turned round just in time to catch the boy as he came out of a cupboard.
“And what have you been doing in there?”
“Nothing,” said the boy.
“Nothing! Look at your hands and your mouth! What is that stuff?”
“I don’t know, Aunt.”
“Well, I know. It’s a jam. I’ve told you forty times that if you touched that jam, I’d skin you.
Give me that stick.”
“Look out, Aunt! Look behind you!”
The old lady turned round and Tom was out of the door in a flash, over the garden fence and away.
“Damn that boy! Will I never learn? He’s always playing tricks on me. And he seems to know just now how far he can go, too. But I can’t take a stick to him. I really can’t. After all, he’s my dead sister’s boy. Ah well, he’ll play truant today and I’ll have to make him work tomorrow.”
At supper Aunt Polly tried to trick Tom into admitting that he hadn’t gone to school.
“It was rather hot today, wasn’t it, Tom?”
“Yes,” answered Tom.
“You didn’t have to open your shirt collar where I sewed（縫） it, then.”
Tom was confident, now. He opened his jacket. His collar was securely sewed.
“Oh Tom,” said Aunt Polly. “You’re a good boy really.”
She was sorry that she had been wrong about him.
“But Aunt,” came a voice. It was Sidney, Tom’s younger brother. “Didn’ t you sew Tom’s collar with white cotton? Look! Now it’s black.
Tom was already running out of the door.
---The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
小題1:The underlined word “skin” probably mean in the passage?

A．praise

B．cheat

C．touch

D．beat

小題2:Which of the following words can be best used to describe Tom?

A．stupid

B．clever

C．naughty

D．brave

小題3:What can be inferred from Sidney’s words in the passage?

A．Tom made his jacket dirty on purpose.

B．Tom didn’t go to school that day.

C．Tom was a dirty boy.

D．Sidney hated Tom so he wanted to punish him.

小題4:Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Tom’s mother passed away.

B．Tom’s aunt was a good sewer.

C．Tom was good at sports.

D．Aunt Polly felt sorry for his misunderstanding to Tom.

Festivals play an important role in a culture’s identity．I can’t think of a better way of appreciating a new culture than by taking part in one of its festivals. Here are some special festivals around the world．
★ Boryeong Mud Festival－Boryeong, South Korea
For two weeks in July, millions gather in Borueong to experience the grey pools and slides．What began as a way of promoting the region’s mineral-rich mud has turned into a festive party, complete with music and fireworks．While the mud is usually only available in cosmetic products, here you can cake yourself in grey as you want．
★Holi－India
Holi, the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays, During the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February throughout the country, but the cheerful spirit is common throughout Hindu communities around the world．
★Koninginnedag－The Netherlands
Although their current Queen’s birthday is really during the winter, the Queen still celebrates it on April 30^th, the country’s official “ Queen’s Day” since 1949．Orange is the national color, and the streets become a sea of feather boas（長圍巾）and body paint as crowds gather in the plazas（廣場）．Amsterdam is the center of this outdoor party, with many live music acts, but nearly every town is alive with orange on this day．
★National Elephant Day in Thailand
In Thailand, March 13 is regarded as National Elephant Day to show that the Thai elephant plays an important role in the Thai history．Thai Elephant Day has been held on an annual basis since the idea was first approved by the Thai government in 1998．Special events are held at a number of venues in northern Thailand．At the Mae Sa Elephant Camp, it has become a tradition on March13 for the dozens of elephants there to be treated to a huge feast of fruits and sugarcane．
小題1:What we can learn from the passage is that       ．

A．Boryeong Mud Festival was originally held to advertise for their mineral resources

B．people around the world celebrate Holi differently to promote their religions

C．Koninginnedag－The Netherlands was celebrated on their current Queen’s birthday

D．it is an international custom for the Thai elephant to eat all kinds of fruits and sugarcane

小題2:What is the purpose of the festival held on March 13 in Thailand?

A．To call on people to protect these endangered elephants．

B．To give the Thai elephant a chance to eat fruits and sugarcane．

C．To give the importance of the elephant in the Thai history．

D．To help people relax themselves by feeding the Thai elephant．

小題3:You can experience the Festival of Colors in      ．

A．South Korea

B．Thailand

C．the Netherlands

D．India

小題4:What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To tell people how to enjoy and relax themselves．

B．To introduce some unique festivals around the world．

C．To get people to celebrate different kinds of customs．

D．To show the importance of celebrating different festivals．

In the U.S. Mother’s Day is a holiday celebrated on second Sunday in May. It is a day when children honor their mothers with cards, gifts and flowers. First observance in Philadelphia in 1907,it is based on suggestions by Julia Ward Howe in 1872 and by Anna Jarvis in 1907.
Although it wasn’t celebrated in the U.S. until 1907,there were days honoring mothers even in the days of ancient Greece. In those days, however, it was Rhea, the Mother of the gods that was given honor. Later,in the 1600’s,in England there was an annual celebration called “Mothering Sunday.” It was celebrated during June, on the fourth Sunday ,the servants, who generally lived with their employers, were encouraged to return home and honor their mothers. It was traditional for them to bring a special cake along to celebrate the occasion.  
In the U.S., in 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day. Jarvis persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the 2ed Sunday of May. The next day Mother’s Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia, Jarvis and others began a letter-writing campaign to ministers, businessmen, and politicians asking to establish a national Mother’s Day. They were successful. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914,made the official announcement recognizing Mother’s Day as a national celebration that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
Many other countries of the world celebrate their own Mother’s Day at different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, as in the U.S.
小題1:.Mother’s Day in the U.S. was first celebrated         .

A．in 1872

B．in 1907

C．in the 1600’s

D．in 1914

小題2:The underlined word “observance” in the first paragraph probably means  “      ”.

A．celebration

B．principle

C．holiday

D．campaign

小題3:According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．All the mothers were given honor in the days of ancient Greece.

B．Only the servants’ mothers were given honor on Mothering Sunday in England.

C．President Woodrow Wilson announced Mother’s Day as a national celebration.

D．Ana Javis’s mother probably died on the 2nd Sunday of May in 1907.

小題4:What could be the best title for this passage?

A．Mother’s Day of the U.S	B．Mother’s Day of the world
C．Ana Jarvis and Mother’s Day	D．Styles of Mother’s Day

Welcome to Australia
The Great Outdoors
Australia is the world’s oldest continent and indigenous Australians have one of the world’s oldest culture.
In Australia you will see unique plants and animals and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Many parks have information centres offering advice on where to go, what to see and how to see it--for both your personal safety and to protect our sensitive, natural environment.
Banks and Money Matters
Banks are generally open between 9:30am and 4pm on Monday to Thursday and 9:30am and 5pm on Friday.
Foreign currency or traveller’s cheques can be changed at all banks and some of the larger hotels. There are currency exchange facilities at all international airports.
         
Take care! Our sunlight is very strong and you can get sunburnt.
For best sun protection, it is advisable to wear:
A broad-brimmed hat
A shirt with a collar and sleeves
Sunscreen with high protection factor.
Swimming
We have so many beautiful places to swim--beaches, lakes, rivers and creeks.
Many of our waters are safe for swimming, but if you have any doubts, ask before entering the water.
Most of our popular ocean beaches have patrols with life-saving service. Red and yellow flags mark the area that you are advised to swim within. 
If there are no flags and no life guards on the beach, talk to local people about the best areas to swim.
Staying Safe on the Roads
Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road.
For safety, everyone in the car, including children, must wear a seat belt.
Motor cyclists and bicyclists are required to wear a helmet.
Watch out for native animals crossing the roads, especially at night. Road signs are erected in places where animals are commonly seen.
小題1:What is the best title of the third part of the passage?

A．The Sun

B．Enjoy the Sun

C．Warning

D．Outdoor Activities

小題2:If you arrive in Sydney at 5:10pm on Friday, where can you probably get your money changed on that day?

A．At a bank.

B．At any hotel.

C．At a store

D． At the airport

小題3:What advice can you get at the park information centre?

A．Advice on how to wear a broad-brimmed hat.

B．Advice on how to drive safely in the park.

C．Advice on how to protect our environment

D．Advice on where to go to see a kangaroo.

小題4:How can you ensure your safety when swimming?

A．You can swim in whichever lake you like

B．You should swim with the life guard.

C．You can swim where there are red flags.

D．Always find a local person to ask about how to swim.

小題5:Which of the following word might be the closest in meaning with the underlined word “erected”?

A．set up

B．protected

C．stood

D．noticed

Expressions about water are almost as common as water itself. But many of the expressions using water have unpleasant meanings.
The expression “to be in hot water” is one of them. It is a very old expression. “Hot water” was used 500 years ago to mean being in trouble. One story says it got that meaning from the custom of throwing extremely hot water down on enemies attacking a castle．
That no longer happens. But we still get in “hot water”. When we are in “hot water”, we are in trouble. It can be any kind of trouble---serious or not so serious. A person who breaks a law can be in hot water with the police. A young boy can be in hot water with his mother if he walks in the house with dirty shoes．
Being in “deep water” is almost the same as being in hot water. When you are in deep water, you are in a difficult position. Imagine a person who cannot swim being thrown in water over his head. You are in deep water when you are facing a problem that you do not have the ability to solve. You can be in deep water, for example, if you invest in stocks without knowing anything about the stock market.
“To keep your head above water” is a colorful expression that means staying out of debt. A company seeks to keep its head above water during economic hard times. A man who loses his job tries to keep his head above water until he finds a new job．
“Water over the dam” is another expression about a past event. It is something that is finished. It cannot be changed. The expression comes from the idea that water that has flowed over a dam cannot be brought back again．
Another common expression, “to hold water”, is about the strength or weakness of an idea or opinion that you may be arguing about. It probably comes from a way of testing the condition of a container. If it can hold water, it is strong and has no holes in it. If your argument can hold water, it is strong and does not have any holes. If it does not hold water, then it is weak and not worth debating.
“Throwing cold water” also is an expression that deals with ideas or proposals. It means that one doesn’t like an idea. For example, you want to buy a new car because the old one has some problems. But your wife throws cold water on the idea because she says a new car costs too much.
This is our Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. It was written by Marilyn Christiano. I’m Rich Kleinfeldt. See you next time.
小題1:According to the passage, expressions about water __________.

A．a(chǎn)re very common	B．have unpleasant meanings
C．a(chǎn)re very interesting	D．a(chǎn)re easy to understand

小題2:The expression “hot water” _________.

A．is not used nowadays	B．has a long history
C．means arguing with others	D．only means serious trouble

小題3: Which of the following expressions have the similar meaning?

A．“Throwing cold water” and “deep water”

B．“Hot water” and “water over the dam”

C．“Deep water” and “water over the dam”

D．“Hot water” and “deep water”

小題4: If you signed an agreement with Tom yesterday and want to change it now, Tom may say “_______”.

A．You should keep your head above water

B．You can’t throw cold water

C．It is water over the dam

D．Don’t be in deep water

小題5: What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Water	B．Expressions about water
C．Several common expressions	D．Water and everyday English

Sports are by nature competitive. But recently, the over-competitive nature youth sports seem to have taken on has led to cause for ____.
Those who are strongly against competition point out that in a competition, only one wins while the rest ____. They argue that competition leads children to define themselves by the outcome, tying their self-esteem(自尊心) up with their ability to ____ others. They further argue that competition causes anxiety, affects learning and causes children to view others as____ to their success. Competition restricts participation and ___ success. A “win-at-all-costs” mentality can cause children to pay little attention to honesty and fair play.
On the opposite side of the debate are those who view competition as a ____ part of American society. They argue that placing kids in a competitive situation such as sports helps prepare them for a(n) ____ life in our society that is full of competition. ____ is a normal part of human nature and part of everyday life. Other arguments ____ competitive sports are that they provide challenges, help kids develop skills, and teach them how to get along with others.
The third side of this debate says that a little competition can’t be that ____, as long as competition does not get out of hand and take on a “win-at-all-costs” mentality. They claim that competition in itself is not bad and it can serve as a ____ of social comparison, necessary for adolescents to see how ____ they are. Their advice is to introduce competition ____ while focusing more on mastery and cooperation during childhood. The gradual shift toward competition will allow children to build skills, participate fully, and focus on ____ rather than winning.
It is important that you consider all of the possible ____ of competition before you put your child in a competitive situation.

小題1:	A．a(chǎn)larm B．concern C．optimism D．a(chǎn)ccident

小題2:	A．follow B．stop C．fail D．return

小題3:	A．beat B．change C．study D．control

小題4:	A．tickets B．barriers C．roads D．invitations

小題5:	A．refuses B．limits C．imagines D．stresses

小題6:	A．healthy B．popular C．hard D．missing

小題7:	A．political B．early C．a(chǎn)dult D．daily

小題8:	A．Disagreement B．Motivation C．Difficulty D．Competition

小題9:	A．doubting B．a(chǎn)ttacking C．supporting D．ignoring

小題10:

A．necessary B．bad C．interesting D．boring

小題11:

A．sample B．product C．subject D．means

小題12:

A．unique B．young C．normal D．skillful

小題13:

A．gradually B．eventually C．widely D．forcefully

小題14:

A．observing B．teaching C．playing D．growing

小題15:

A．benefits B．outcomes C．responsibilities D．methods