Although English is not as 0old as Chinese it is spoken by many people around the world every day. English speakers are always creating（創(chuàng)造）new words, and we should be able to know where most words come from.
Sometimes, however, no one may really know where a word comes from. Did you ever think about why hamburgers are called hamburgers, especially when they are not made with ham（火腿）? About a hundred years ago, some men went to America from Europe. They came from a big city in Germany called Hamburg. They did not speak good English. But they ate good food. When some Americans saw them eating round pieces of beef（牛肉）,they asked the Germans what it was. The Germans did not understand the question and answered, “We came from Hamburg.” One of these Americans owned a restaurant, and had an idea. He cooked some round pieces of beef like what the men from Hamburger ate. Then he put them between two pieces of bread and started selling them. Today “hamburgers” are sold in many countries around the world.
Whether this story is true or not, it certainly is interesting. Knowing why any word has a certain meaning is interesting, too. The reason may be found in any large English dictionary.
小題1: According to the writer, English ___   _.

A．is as old as Chinese	B．is older than German
C．is not so old as Chinese	D．is very difficult to learn

小題2:Hamburger is___   _.

A．a(chǎn) kind of food	B．a(chǎn) round piece of beef
C．the name of a village	D．a(chǎn) city in Germany

小題3:According to the story, ___   __.

A．few Americans like hamburgers

B．hamburgers are made with beef

C．hamburgers are made with ham

D．Hamburgers were sold all over the world about a century ago.

小題4:According to the writer, which of the following can be found in any large English dictionary?

A．Where all the new words come from.

B．Where those Germans came from.

C．The reason why any word has a certain meaning.

D．The reason why English is spoken around the world.

小題5:According to the story, the word “hamburgers” comes from_____  __.

A．China because it has a long history.

B．England because Germans don’t speak good English.

C．The round pieces of beef those people from Hamburg brought to America.

D．English speakers because they always create new words.

The tough economy is bringing new shoppers to the secondhand market. Plato’s Closet in Charlotte, NC is a private company which mainly buys and sells used clothes. While Charlotte has outstanding secondhand stores offering high-end and sophisticated (高雅時尚的) brands for women, most of their stock applies to adults. Plato's Closet targets teens and those in their 20s.Plato's Closet, with stores in Matthews and the university area, sells clothes and accessories (裝飾品) that are currently popular at up to 70 percent off retail prices (零售價).
The two hottest brands, for buying and selling, are Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch. Even though the offerings tend to be suitable for young people, there are a variety of shoppers at Plato's Closet of varying ages. Women in their 30s; 40s and older could easily find a purse, jacket or piece of jewelry they like.
Customer Beth Gibbs, 52, who has three teenage daughters, said she used to shop at name-brand stores, but “this year I'm shopping more in secondhand stores”, because of the economy.
If you're selling
Unlike higher-end resale stores which usually work on consignment (寄售), Plato's Closet buys on the spot.
Items can be gently used, but must be in very good condition.
Clothes should be less than two years old and styles should be the same as those still being sold at the shopping center.
There is no negotiation; prices are set company-wide. If what you sell amounts to $30 or less, they'll give you cash. More than that, you'll get a Visa cash card.
Secondhand success
Don't get discouraged if you can't find something on your first trip. Resale shops are always getting new lists of goods and change their styles with each season.
Be sure to check each piece carefully before buying.
Price comparison
Jackets: New York & Company black blazer, $12; retail: $37.
Pants: Express Editor-style pants, $12; retail: $69.90.
Shoes: Nine West black peep-toe pumps, $12; retail: $89.
Jewelry: Necklaces, $3-$5; retail: $18-$30. (365)
小題1:What is the difference between Plato's Closet and other resale shops?

A．They offer service for people of different ages.

B．The offerings in Plato's Closet are more expensive.

C．Plato's Closet only offers high-end brands for women.

D．Plato's Closet also sells books to the customers.

小題2:Which of the following about Plato's Closet is NOT true?

A．Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch are the two hottest brands in Plato's Closet.

B．Only young people can buy proper clothes and accessories in Plato's Closet.

C．Goods in Plato's Closet are sold at up to 70 percent off retail prices.

D．Plato's Closet targets teens and those in their 20s.

小題3:In Plato s Closet, which of the following is not accepted?

A．Items you sell must be. in very good condition.

B．You can bargain with buyers about the prices of goods.

C．The clothes you sell should be less than two years old.

D．You can sell your goods on the spot instead of on consignment.

小題4: If you buy a pair of Express Editor-style pants in Plato's Closet, you can save_______.

A．57.9 dollars

B．44 dollars

C．77 dollars

D．25 dollars

Britain Today
Food
British people like good food, and more than half of them go to a restaurant every month. Fast food is also very popular— 30% of all adults have a hamburger every three months, but 46% have fish and chips!
Sports
British people don’t do a lot of sports. Only 17% of people go swimming every week, about 9% go cycling and 8% play golf—and only 6% of people play football (but 32% go to watch it).
Cinema and TV
Films are very popular in Britain, and about 60% of people between 15 and 24 go to the cinema every month. At home, men watch TV for about three hours every day — two quarters more than women.
Holidays
British people love going on holiday, and have 56 million holidays every year. Most of these holidays aren't in the UK—27% are in Spain, 10% are in the USA, and 9% are in France. Maybe this is because the weather in Britain isn't very good!
小題1:Which food could be more popular among British adults, a hamburger or fish and chips?

A．A hamburger.

B．Fish and chips.

C．Both.

D．Neither.

小題2: Those who are interested in movies are ____.

A．men

B．women

C．old people

D．young people

小題3: How long do British women spend watching TV every day?

A．Three hours.	B．Three hours and a half
C．Two hours	D．Two hours and a half

小題4:British people's favorite country for a holiday is ____.

A．Spain

B．France

C．America

D．Australia

Many cities have subways and underground public transportation to take locals and tourists alike rapidly around the city．However, there’s something different about riding a London subway．It may not look different, but the historical value of one of England’s most popular forms of transportation is enough to make riding the subway a must when visiting London．With a little under 300 different stations, the subway can take you almost anywhere you need to go．
Riding a London subway, a person from other countries will notice one major difference: in London, people do not look at each other．In fact, eye contact is avoided at all times．That’s not rudeness―people are just too busy to bother looking．
Busy doing what, you ask? Well, they’re certainly not using the time for a moment of quiet thinking．Nor are they reading a book．New technology has replaced quiet habits．Today the only acceptable form of book on the London underground is an e-book．
Apple must earn a fortune from London commuters（使用月票上下班者）．Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, over 40,000―yes, that’s 40,000 “apps” have been designed．
Commuters love them because they are the perfect time-fillers．One “app”, called iShoot, is a game that features tanks．Another one, Tube Exits, tells passengers where to sit on the train to be closest to the exit of their destination．iSteam clouds the iPhone screen when you breathe into the microphone．You can then write in the “steam” on your phone screen．
For those without an iPhone, another Apple product, the iPod, may be the distraction（消遣）of choice．It’s not just teenagers who “plug in” to their music－iPods are a popular way to pass the time for all ages．
And if games, e-books and music aren’t enough to keep you occupied, then perhaps you would prefer a film? The development of palm DVD technology means many commuters watch their favorite TV shows or films on the way to work．With all these distractions, it’s amazing that people still remember to get off the train．
小題1:Those who want to save time to reach where they go can download ______ to their iPhones．

A．iShoot

B．iPod

C．iSteam

D．Tube Exits

小題2:People in London do not make eye contact on the subway because ______．

A．they are going to work and have no time to communicate with each other

B．they are busy playing games, reading e-books, listening to music or watching film

C．they feel sleepy because of getting up early

D．they love reading books and do not want to be disturbed

小題3:The underlined word “apps” in the fourth paragraph means ______．

A．computers

B．fortune from London commuters

C．computer companies

D．programs downloaded for the iPhone

小題4:Which word best describes the writer’s attitude towards commuters’ behaviors ?

A．for

B．neutral

C．a(chǎn)gainst

D．hateful

小題5:The main idea of the passage is that ______．

A．London commuters are unfriendly to strangers

B．technology is changing how London commuters spend their traveling time

C．Apple has earned a lot of money from selling 40,000 apps

D．riding a London subway is a must when visiting London

Here is your best chance to travel around the UK in 2012: More than 200 B&Bs (bed & breakfast) across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are selected to offer you amazing services for your stay at their lowest prices! Don’t miss it. Just collect the vouchers（活動券） in our B&B Daily printed from 01/ 04/ 2012 to 07/ 04/ 2012 and book the stays for your travel following the terms and conditions below:
● The offer includes a room for the night and a breakfast the next morning.
● The offer is of two kinds: £20 per room, per night, valid（有效的） during stay period of 2/ 04/ 2012--- 31/ 05/ 2012 and then again 01/ 08/ 2012--- 31/ 10/ 2012; £35 per room, per night, valid during stay period of 01/ 06/ 2012 --- 31/ 08/ 2012.
● The offer is valid for a basic twin or double room only.
● The stay must be booked directly with the chosen B&Bs before 28/ 04/ 2012.
● If voucher holders book either the £20 or £35 per room per night, any additional services such as
lunch, evening meal or activities may require an extra charge. But these are not required in order to take up the offer. Please check directly with your chosen B&Bs to see what extra services are available.
● Vouchers must be presented on arrival. If no vouchers are presented, the B&Bs may reserve（保留） the right to charge at full price for every night of stay.
● Vouchers may not be used together with any other offer.
● The voucher holders must pay for the stay in full at the time of booking. Additional £10 may be paid to confirm（確認） the booking and will be returned on arrival.
● The B&Bs reserve the right to refuse voucher holders’ bookings for people under the age of 18.
小題1:The voucher can be used for a stay at the chosen B&B on           .

A．09/ 01/ 2012

B．04/ 02/ 2012

C．01/ 03/ 2012

D．28/ 04/ 2012

小題2:How much should be paid for a two-night stay in October 2012 at a chosen B&B?

A．£ 70.

B．£40.

C．£35.

D．£30.

小題3:By taking up the offer, the voucher holders can choose to           .

A．book either a basic twin or double room at the chosen B&Bs

B．have lunch or evening meal without paying extra money

C．use the B&B offer together with other offers

D．book the stays through B&B Daily

It was the summer of 1965. DeLuca, then 17, visited Peter Buck, a family friend. Buck asked Deluca about his plans for the future. “I’m going to college, but I need a way to pay for it,” Deluca recalls saying. “Buck said, ‘you should open a sandwich shop.’ ”
That afternoon, they agreed to be partners. And they set a goal: to open 32 stores in ten years. After doing some research, Buck wrote a check for $ 1,000. DeLuca rented a storefront (店面) in Connecticut, and when they couldn’t cover their start-up costs, Buck kicked in another $1,000.
But business didn’t go smoothly as they expected. DeLuca says, “After six months, we were doing poorly, but we didn’t know how badly, because we didn’t have any financial controls.” All he and Buck knew was that their sales were lower than their costs.
DeLuca was managing the store and going to the University of Bridgeport at the same time. Buck was working at his day job as a nuclear physicist in New York. They’d meet Monday evenings and brainstorm ideas for keeping the business running. “We convinced ourselves to open a second store. We figured we could tell the public, ‘ We are so successful, we are opening a second store.’” And they did — in the spring of 1966. Still, it was a lot of learning by trial and error.
But the partners’ learn-as-you-go approach turned out to be their greatest strength. Every Friday, DeLuca would drive around and hand-deliver the checks to pay their suppliers. “It probably took me two and a half hours and it wasn’t necessary but as a result, the suppliers got to know me very well, and the personal relationships established really helped out,” DeLuca says.
And having a goal was also important. “There are so many problems that can get you down. You just have to keep working toward your goal,” DeLuca adds.
DeLuca ended up founding Subway Sandwich, the multi-million-dollar restaurant chain.
小題1:Deluca opened the first sandwich shop in order to _________________________.

A．support his family	B．pay for his college education
C．help his partner expand business	D．do some research

小題2:Which of the following is true of Buck?

A．He put money into the sandwich business.

B．He was a professor of business administration (管理).

C．He was studying at the University of Bridgeport.

D．He rented a storefront for DeLuca.

小題3:What can we learn about their first shop?

A．It stood at an unfavorable place.

B．It lowered the prices to promote sales.

C．It made no profits due to poor management.

D．It lacked control over the quality of sandwiches.

小題4:They decided to open a second store because they ______________________.

A．had enough money to do it

B．had succeeded in their business

C．wished to meet the increasing demand of customers

D．wanted to make believe that they were successful

小題5:What contributes most to their success according to the author?

A．Learning by trial and error.	B．Making friends with suppliers.
C．Finding a good partner.	D．Opening chain stores.

If there is one thing I’m quite sure about, it is that in a hundred years from now we still be reading newspapers. Not those newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of the news from the television or have the radio switched on in the background or in the car. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation.
The basic British character won’t change, and one of the characteristics of the British is that we don’t much like talking to each other when we get up. So what better way is there to keep yourself thinking in the morning than to wrap yourself in a newspaper?
Over the past couple of centuries, human beings have developed a close relationship with the newspaper. It has become as natural as breathing or enjoying the sun. And it is not just the British who love newspapers. On suburban trains in Calcutta, for instance, just one person in the whole car will buy a newspaper and read aloud the best bits to his fellow passengers, much to everybody’s enjoyment.
The nature of what is news may change. What essentially (本質(zhì)上) makes news is what affects our lives and the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though. It’s already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do, whether it’s love or depression. We develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are.
It’s quite possible that in the next century newspaper will be transmitted electronically from the national equivalents of Fleet Street (倫敦的艦隊街，以報館集中而著稱) and printed out in our own homes. In fact, I’m pretty sure that that is how it will happen in future. You’ll be probably selecting from a menu, making up your own bespoke newspaper by picking out the things you want to read and say. You might even have an intelligent screening device (裝置) to do the job for you.
I think people have got it wrong when they talk about the competition between the different media. They actually have a relationship, feeding off each other. It was once predicted that television would kill off newspapers, which hasn’t happened. What is read on the printed page is more enduring (持久的) than pictures on a flickering screen or sound lost in the sky. And as for the Internet, it’s never really satisfying to read something just on a screen.
小題1:The author of the passage is most probably from _______________.

A．Russia

B．India

C．Britain

D．America

小題2:According to the passage, the future of newspapers ____________.

A．will be mainly connected with scientific research

B．will report more important political activities

C．will directly cover more on scientific research

D．will build a bridge between different people

小題3:The underlined part “bespoke newspaper” of the passage probably refers to _____________.

A．a(chǎn) newspaper which dares to report the truth

B．a(chǎn) newspaper edited to one’s own interest

C．a(chǎn) newspaper edited and published for the public

D．a(chǎn) newspaper which only covers the life of family members

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

A．It was centuries ago that newspapers came into being .

B．Televisions have taken the place of newspapers .

C．The Internet will gradually take the place of newspapers.

D．The nature of news may remain the same over generations.

It may not be news to parents of teenage girls, but researchers have confirmed that no one can stop their 16-year-old daughter from deciding how the family spends its money.
The willpower and determination of teenage girls give them a big say in how a family’s money is spent on everything from food and meals to mobile phones, and, of course, clothes. Teenage boys did not show up at all in the analysis, which was designed to find out the influence of young people on household spending.
The findings on the spending power of teenage girls were calculated from Office for National Statistics records of family spending during the 1980s and 1990s. Researchers examined how much money went on services and leisure goods in different kinds of homes. They checked spending on food, restaurant meals, alcohol, tobacco, services, heating, transport, clothes and sports in 2,745 British families.
They found that teenage girls in the UK typically played an active role in family decisions about the allocation（分配）of household resources. But older children— those over the age of 21 who are still living with their parents—appear to have no say in household decisions.
They also tried to calculate to what extent the bargaining power of a teenager affected family budgets. “Every parent knows that children, even at a very early age, have their own preferences with regard to consumption, researchers said. “But children are only interested in a limited range of goods—mainly sweets and toys—and parents are able to use punishment to reduce their children’s bargaining power or remove it.”  When they become teenagers, however, girls are much more independent and they are capable of earning their own money, which improves their bargaining power in family decisions.
The researchers could not explain why girls have more influence over spending while the evidence for boys is much less conclusive. However, this study could be of great significance to market research and how marketers target children.
小題1: From the passage we can learn that            .

A．teenage girls have more influence over family budgets than teenage boys

B．teenage boys don't want to decide on household spending

C．teenage boys have some influence over household

D．teenage girls have weaker willpower and determination than teenage boys

小題2:What does the underlined part “give them a big say” in the second paragraph mean?

A．Make them dare to say something.

B．Make them want to know.

C．Make them say something meaningful.

D．Make their influence stronger.

小題3:It appears that household decisions are NOT affected by        .

A．girls living with parents

B．girls over 21

C．girls over 12

D．girls living alone

小題4:How can parents reduce children’s bargaining power?

A．By persuading them

B．By offering them sweets or toys.

C．By threatening to punish them.

D．By allocating household resources.

Neighbours play an important role in our lives. Their lifestyles, friends, and social habits can have a strong influence on our lives. It is a good idea to get to know the people next door or across the street to develop a community (社區(qū)) of support and safety. You never know when a neighbour will find a stranger walking around your house, or you may want to leave an extra key at their house in case someone in your family gets locked out.
How do you get along with your neighbours? Here are some tips for building a better relationship with your neighbours.
Point ①…Proper greetings can make your neighbours remember your name and pave (鋪) the way for more meaningful future meetings. Don’t stay too long, though, or you’ll wear out your welcome!
Point②…If your neighbour is building a pool, offer a few hours of help. Besides, you never know when the favor might be returned.
Point③…If you hear that someone who live close to you has had an accident, take over a hot meal or some fruit. Your action will add a special touch during a difficult time.
Point④…Invite your neighbours over for a cup of coffee in December or an Easter egg hunt in spring. A backyard barbecue (燒烤) can be a great way to share food and fun.
Your neighbours may annoy you at times, but they are like family in many ways. Appreciate their strengths and overlook their weaknesses, and everyone will get along just fine.
小題1:What is Paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The possibility of a good community.

B．How to get to know your neighbours.

C．How to influence your neighbours.

D．The importance of neighbours.

小題2:According to the passage, which of the following may NOT be something nice to do?

A．Offering to help your neighbours if they need help.

B．Having a very long conversation with a new neighbour.

C．Inviting your neighbours over for a backyard barbecue.

D．Preparing a hot meal for a neighbour who is going through a difficult time.

小題3:Match the following titles with each point.
a. Invite your neighbours over.          b. Lend a helping hand.
c. Go over and introduce yourself.       d. Offer support.

A．①-c②-b③-d④-a	B．①-c②-b③-a④-d
C．①-b②-c③-d④-a	D．①-b②-c③-a④-d

小題4:We infer(推斷出) that the writer wrote this passage to        .

A．explain why it is good to get along well with others

B．give us some tips on how to support our neighbours

C．tell us how to get along with our neighours

D．a(chǎn)dvise us to be nice to our neighbours

The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held 46 days before Easter, especially famous for the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to regret and prepare for Christ’s death and coming back to life.
Modern Brazilian Carnival dates back to Rio de Janeiro in 1641. It originally copied the European form of the festival, later taking in elements of Native American and African cultures.
In the late 19th century, the strings (弦樂器) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant (游行) groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as blocks, consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos. Blocks are generally connected with particular neighborhoods; they include both a music group and a lot of revelers.
Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio’s Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocks can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a clear title. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach.
Carnival time in Rio is very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings (住宿) can be up to four times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town.
小題1:What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．The Carnival of Brazil is often held after Easter.

B．The Carnival of Brazil comes from Easter and Saturnalia.

C．The Carnival of Brazil is a festival to regret and begin a new life.

D．The Carnival of Brazil is mainly to celebrate the birth of Christ.

小題2:How long is the history of the people’s celebrating modern Brazilian Carnival?

A．About 100 years.	B．Less than two centuries.
C．About 370 years.	D．Over five centuries.

小題3:Which of the following statements is TRUE about the blocks in Rio de Janeiro?

A．They are always wearing costumes or special T-shirts with themes or logos.

B．They always parade through countryside villages singing and dancing.

C．There are no more than 50 blocks today.

D．They don’t parade before the show.

小題4:What is the passage mainly about?

A．The famous carnivals in the world.

B．How the carnival was introduced in Brazil.

C．The carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

D．The happy life of the people in Rio de Janeiro.