The greatest recent social changes have been in the lives of women. During the twentieth century there
has been a remarkable shortening of the proportion of a woman's life spent in caring for children. A woman
marrying at the end of the nineteenth century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would
be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time
the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further
twenty years, during which custom, opportunity and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today
women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman's youngest child will be fifteen when she
is forty-five and can be expected to live another thirty-five years and is likely to take paid work until retirement
at sixty. Even while she has the care of children, her work is lightened by household appliances and
convenience food.
     This important change in women's life-pattern has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's
economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity, and most of them took
a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the
school- leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age, and though women tend to marry
younger, more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Very many
more afterwards return to full-time or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage,
with the husband accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfactions of family life, and with both husband
and wife sharing more equally in providing the money, and running the home, according to their abilities and
interests of each of them.

1. For women during the twentieth century, the amount of time spent taking care of children _____.

A. accounted for a great part of their lives
B. was considered to be surprisingly long
C. was longer than in previous centuries
D. was shorter than in previous centuries

2. According to the passage, around the year 1900 most women married _____.

A. in their early fifties
B. at about twenty-five
C. at any age from fifteen to forty-five
D. soon after they were fifteen

3. When she was over fifty, the late nineteen-century mother _____.

A. was unlikely to find a job even if she wanted one
B. would expect to work until she died
C. was usually expected to die fairly soon
D. would be healthy enough to take up paid employment

4. One reason why the mother of today may take a job is that she _____.

A. can retire from family responsibilities when she reaches sixty
B. need not worry about food for her children
C. is younger when her children are old enough to look after themselves
D. does not like children herself

     Today almost everyone knows computers and the Internet. If I ask you "What is the most important in
your life?", maybe you will say "Computers and the Internet."
     The first computer was made in 1946. It was very big but it worked slowly. Today computers are getting
smaller and smaller. But they work faster and faster. What can computers do? A writer has said, "People can't
live without computers today."
     The Internet came a little later than computers. It is about twenty-five years later than computers. But now
it can be found almost everywhere. We can use it to read books, write letters, do shopping, play games or
make friends.
     Many students like the Internet very much. They often go into the Internet as soon as they are free. They
make friends on the Internet and maybe they have never seen these friends. They don't know their real names,
ages, and even sex (性別). They are so interested in making the "unreal friends" that they can't put their heart
into study. Many of them can't catch up with others on many subjects because of that.
     We can use computers and the Internet to learn more about the world. But at the same time, we should
remember that not all the things can be done by computers and the Internet.

1. The Internet cannot be used for _____.

A. studying
B. shopping
C. thinking
D. playing

2. When the computer was invented, it was _____.

A. large and worked quickly
B. small and worked slowly
C. large but worked slowly
D. small but worked quickly

3. The Internet was born in about _____.

A. 1960
B. 1970
C. 1980
D. 1985

4. Which of the following is true?

A. Few students like going into the Internet.
B. Students use the Internet to make "unreal friends".
C. These "unreal friends" often meet each other.
D. Students know the friends on the Internet very well.

5. What does the writer think of the Internet?

A. It is wonderful.
B. It can make students study harder.
C. It is not good for students.
D. It is helpful, but we can't do everything on it.

     In a traditional Chinese family, women are expected to do the housekeeping and leave the "other business"
to men. However, the appearance of the full-time "househusband" is changing traditional family.
     A survey in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen shows that 22 percent, 73 percent, 34 percent and
32 percent of white-collar male workers, aged between 28 and 33, would be prepared to do the housekeeping
if the conditions were right.
     Yang Wenhui, 32 years old, worked at the office of a company prefer to quit (離開) the job. "My job was
dull and steady. I was not promoted (提拔). My wife, in contrast, really likes her job. So, after our baby was
born, I chose to stay at home and take care of the family while my wife works full-time outside the home,"
said Yang.
     Sociologists have found the full-time househusband emerges in three main situations.
     Firstly, if the wife is ambitious (有雄心的), well-paid and has good job prospects, while her husband is paid
poorly and has no job prospects, it makes economic sense for the woman to become the main income earner
for the household. Secondly, if the wife is tired of household chores and eager to work outside the home, her
husband may forfeit his job. Thirdly, if the husband can do his work at home, he may take this choice as it
allows him more time to take care of the family.
     Influenced by traditional ideas, some families with full-time househusbands prefer others not to know about
their arrangement, concerned people would laugh at a husband with "no prospects" or wife who is "too strong". 
     Zhou Wei said he has become usual to being a full-time househusband although his relatives doubted this
when they gathered during the holidays. "A happy life is the most important thing, not other peoples' opinions,"
added Zhou.

1. The reason for Yang Wenhui quitting his job is that _____.

A. it is too difficult for him to do it
B. it is too boring for him to do it
C. he is too old to go on doing it
D. his wife wanted him to quit it

2. In which situation is a man unlikely to become a full-time househusband?

A. He can earn enough money to keep family and has a good job prospects.
B. He can earn much less than his wife and will never get promoted.
C. His wife hates housework and is busy with her work outside.
D. His job can be done at home and he would like stay at home.

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. A full-time househusband is a man without prospects in life.
B. A full-time househusband is much weaker than his wife.
C. A full-time househusband is willing to share his experience with his relatives.
D. A full-time househusband can also enjoy happiness from housework.

4. The underlined word "forfeit" probably means _____.

A. appreciate
B. quit
C. continue
D. escape

     (1) The word addiction usually makes you think of alcohol or drugs, but in modern-day society we are
seeing some new kinds of addictions. Some people are compulsive (難以自制的) shoppers. Others find it
impossible to pull themselves away from their work. Still others spend countless hours watching TV or
playing computer games.
     (2) Over the years, shopping has become a very common activity. Many people enjoy going to stores
more and more every day, but it's more than a common hobby for some of them. They have turned into
shopaholics. They are people who simply enjoy shopping and walking around spending money without
being able to stop doing. They are booked on shopping and usually buy things that they don't need. Even
though they don't have enough money, they buy everything they want.
     (3) The question is, why do they have this addiction? There isn't a specific answer. Some people go
shopping when they are sad, worried, upset or lonely and they want to feel better. They use this activity
as a way to forget their problems. Shopaholics say they feel more important and better after they buy
something. They also tend to have this addition when they feel guilty.
     (4) Shopaholism seems to be harmless addiction, but it can _____. Some of them can be psychological.
If this is the case, people addicted to shopping should go to a support group to help them break this habit.
However, the process, like for most addictions, is long, and they suffer a lot. It can also cause financial
problems. They just think about satisfying their feelings, so they spend money they don't have. They get
deep in debt, and they can even go bankrupt and get sent to prison.

1. List three activities that might develop into addictions based on the test. (Please answer within 8 words)
     ①___________②___________③____________
2. What is the main ides of the Paragraph 3? (Please answer within 8 words) 
     _________________________________________________________________________.
3. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 4 with proper words. (Please answer within 6words)
     _________________________________________________________________________.
4. Which sentence in the text is the closest in meaning to the following one?
     Accordingly, these shopaholics should turn to a certain organization for help so that they can stop
     compulsive shopping.
    _________________________________________________________________________.
5. Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 into Chinese.
    _________________________________________________________________________.

     Visitors were still paying 20 yuan to hug Lele and had their photos taken yesterday despite a ban that forbids
any such contact with a wild animal. The ban was introduced more than a week ago.
     "The city zoo broke the law and should be prohibited," said an official at the State Forestry Administration. 
     The administration notice last Monday clearly bans contact with wild or captive animals, the abuse of wild
or captive animals for performance purposes and any improper business related to wild animal products.
     "Close contact with the chimp is the only bit that breaks the ban and we will end that soon," said Beijing Zoo
spokeswoman Ye Minxia yesterday.
     "The chimpanzee performance can't stopped overnight as we have a contract with a company scheduled to
terminate at the end of this year," she said.
     "The zoo is negotiating with the company in the hope of terminating it sooner," Ye said. She refused to
answer directly whether the chimp photo sessions were still ongoing yesterday, instead saying, "It's very likely
that we will cancel it tomorrow."
     Zoo staff confirmed photos were taken yesterday, one employee saying 2-year-old Lele "works" from lo am
t0 3 pm daily, according to "the Legal Mirror".
     Such activities not only damage the mental and physical health of the animals, but also risk the safety of
visitors, according to the official website of the State Forestry Administration where the notice was released.
     "A pet male chimpanzee bit and attacked 55-year-old Chala Nash, causing serious injuries to her face, neck
and hands at her friend's home in Stamford, Connecticut on February 16th last year," CNN reported. "The
friend, Sandra Herold, called "the police, who shot 14-year-old Travis many times after he also attacked an
officer."
     "Putting a blue T-shirt on a wild animal and training it to bare its teeth and parade for visitors might not
enhance that already- troubled image of Chinese animal protection," the State Forestry official warned. "Some
zoos even hit animals and promote themselves with commercials involving animal abuse," he said.
     "Too much focus on the profits too often results in improper treatment of animals, contributing to their early
and unnatural deaths," the notice stated.

1. Where can people most probably find the article?

A. In research reports.
B. In newspapers.
C. In science fictions.
D. In book reviews.

2. What do we learn about Lele?

A. It's used to make money.
B. It is hit by the people.
C. It attacked its owners.
D. It died unnaturally.

3. What would be the best title of the article?

A. Zoos Disobey the National Ban
B. Profit-making Zoos
C. Animals in Danger
D. Animal Abuse

     Mobile phones are everywhere in big cities. It seems that no one can live without one. Mobile phones are
a great way to stay connected with friends and family. However, it is important to remember that there are
certain times when you should not be using your phone, especially in class or at a meeting.
     If you are in class or at a meeting, you should not be sending your friends text messages or taking phone
calls. Your classmates and teacher or the people around you will not like it and will think of it as a rude
behavior.
     In the United States, people would never be allowed to use their mobile phones during class or a meeting.
If you were to send or receive a text message, you would probably be kicked out. It is very disturbing to hear
a lot of tones and ringing when people are listening to a speech or studying. There are many more rules for the
use of mobile phones in America which are to show respect for those around you.
     It's easy to understand why it is so tempting (誘惑人的) to have your phone on during class or a meeting.
It seems so easy just to send a short text message; it's not hurting anyone, is it? But you may actually be
hurting yourself when you do this because the people you are with in class or at the meeting will think badly
of you and will have a bad impression on you. Sending a text message also takes your attention away from
what's going on. Even worse, you may miss something important.

1. The short passage is mainly talking about _____.

A. the importance of mobile phones
B. sending messages
C. the proper use of mobile phones
D. making phone calls

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. If an American student used his or her mobile phone in class, he or she would be probably to make to
     leave school.
B. It doesn't matter whether you send a text message or take phone calls in class.
C. Using a mobile phone in class has a lot to do with your respect for others around you.
D. Using a mobile phone in class will have a bad effect on your impression and understanding about the
     important points.

3. From the passage above, we know that _____.

A. people can't live without mobile phones
B. people will hurt themselves if not using mobile phones properly
C. mobile phones are always good to people
D. American people don't like to use mobile phones

     Although women lead healthier, longer lives, the cruel perception that they reach their sell-by date
and become "old" sooner than men is widespread in the workplace, research shows.
     A survey of more than 2,600 managers and personnel professionals showed that age discrimination
is not only common in the workplace, but is full of inconsistencies (矛盾). Six in ten managers thought
that they had suffered from age discrimination--usually because they were turned down for a job for
being too old or too young. Yet more than a fifth admitted that they used age as a condition when they
employ new workers.
     Although the survey found widespread agreement that older workers were better than younger
colleagues when it came to reliability, commitment, loyalty and customer service, these qualities were not
necessarily considered to be worthy of advancement. More than half of respondents believed that workers
between 30 and 39 were the most likely to be advanced in their company, with only 2 per cent citing
(引證)50-year-olds or above.
     Dianah Worman of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said that there was anecdotal
evidence that people were considered old at different ages in different sectors. "We heard of one man
working in IT who said he was considered too old by the age of 28,"she said. "There was no evidence to
suggest that older workers were less valuable to companies than younger workers, in fact the opposite was
often true because older workers often brought experience." she added.
     The findings also suggested that the Government's ideas on age in the workforce may also be out of step
with reality.

1. The text is mainly about ______.

A. the government's idea on age in workforce
B. age discrimination in the workforce
C. the people who find work
D. the discussion about who is worth promoting

2. Which of the following statements is true according to the text?

A. Women get older than men though they are healthier.
B. Sixty percent of the managers were refused because they were too older.
C. Young workers are more valuable to companies than the older ones.
D. The people in their thirties are easier to be promoted than those in their fifties.

3. The underlined word "sell-by date" in paragraph 1 probably refers to______.

A. the age when they retire
B. the age when they should be promoted
C. the date on which they're sold
D. the date when they sell goods

     Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21-year-old twin sons:
a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband
lost his job, and the plan fell apart.
     "I have two kids in college, and I want to say 'come home,' but at the same time I want to provide them
with a good education," says Jacobs.
     The Jacobs family did work out a solution: They asked and received more aid from the schools, and
each son increased his borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan (貸款) program. They
will each graduate with $20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school.
     With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear more families like the Jacobs. More
students are applying for aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are
concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around.
     At the same time, tuition (學費) continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and
Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family
income rose just 147%. Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade.
     "If we go on this way for another 25years, we won't have an affordable system of higher education," says
Patrick M. Callan, president of the center. "The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They
will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt."
     Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are
not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account
for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted.

1. According to Paragraph 1, why did the plan of Jacobs family fail?

A. The twins wasted too much money.
B. The father was out of work.
C. Their saving ran out.
D. The family fell apart.

2. How did the Jacobs manage to solve their problem?

A. They asked their kids to come home.
B. They borrowed $20,000 from the school.
C. They encouraged their twin sons to do part-time jobs.
D. They got help from the school and the federal government.

3. Financial aid administrators believe that _____.

A. more families will face the same problem as the Jacobs
B. the government will receive more letters of complaint
C. college tuition fees will double soon
D. America's unemployment will fall

4. Financial aid administrators believe that _____.

A. more families will face the same problem as the Jacobs
B. the government will receive more letters of complaint
C. college tuition fees will double soon
D. America's unemployment will fall

5. Financial aid administrators believe that _____.

A. more families will face the same problem as the Jacobs
B. the government will receive more letters of complaint
C. college tuition fees will double soon
D. America's unemployment will fall

     Increasingly, Americans are becoming their own doctors, by going online to diagnose their symptoms,
order home health tests or medical devices, or even self-treat their illnesses with drugs from Internet
pharmacies (藥店). Some avoid doctors because of the high cost of medical care, especially if they lack
health insurance. Or they may stay because they find it embarrassing to discuss their weight, alcohol
consumption or couch potato habits. Patients may also fear what they might learn about their health, or
they distrust physicians because of negative experiences in the past. But playing doctor can also be a deadly
game.
     Every day, more than six million Americans turn to the Internet for medical answers-most of them
aren't nearly skeptical enough of what they find. A 2002 survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project
found that 72 percent of those surveyed believe all or most of what they read on health websites. They
shouldn't. Look up "headache", and the chances of finding reliable and complete information, free from a
motivation for commercial gain, are only one in ten, reports an April 2005 Brown Medical School study. Of
the 169 websites the researchers rated, only 16 scored as "high quality". Recent studies found faulty facts
about all sorts of other disorders, causing one research team to warn that a large amount of incomplete,
inaccurate and even dangerous information exists on the Internet.
     The problem is most people don't know the safe way to surf the Web. "They use a search engine like
Google, get 18 trillion choices and start clicking. But that's risky, because almost anybody can put up a site
that looks authoritative (權威的), so it'd hard to know if what you're reading is reasonable or not," says Dr.
Sarah Bass from the National Cancer Institute.

1. According to the text, an increasing number of American _____.

A. are suffering from mental disorders
B. turn to Internet pharmacies for help
C. like to play deadly games with doctors
D. are skeptical about surfing medical websites

2. Some Americans stay away from doctors because they _____.

A. find medical devices easy to operate
B. prefer to be diagnosed online by doctors
C. are afraid to face the truth of their health
D. are afraid to misuse their health insurance

3. According to the study of Brown Medical School, ______.

A. more than 6 million Americans distrust doctors
B. only 1/10 of medical websites aim to make a profit
C. about 1/10 of the websites surveyed are of high quality
D. 72% of health websites offer incomplete and faulty facts

4. Which of the following is the author's main argument?

A. It's cheap to self-treat your own illness.
B. It's embarrassing to discuss your bad habits.
C. It's reasonable to put up a medical website.
D. It's dangerous to be your own doctor.