Boys need friends, suffer when they don't believe they have any, and worry over the ups and downs
of relationships. Many adults believe that somehow boys need friends less than girls do, in truth, though,
no boy is an island; boys value their friends throughout childhood and adolescence and are happier and
healthier when they have solid relationships with peers(同齡人).
     Despite the common belief that girls are better at relationships, most boys consider their friends a very
important part of their lives, and boys may actually be better at keeping friendships than girls are. A recent study of 10 to 15yearold boys and girls found that girls' friendships are actually more fragile. Girls tend to
say and do hurtful things to each other more frequently than boys, and girls are more hurt by the end of a
friendship.
     Boys are the living definition of the phrase "peer group"； they love games with rules, competition,
and doing things together. Boys seem to enjoy, even need the opportunity to test themselves against
others, and many lasting friendships begin in karate(空手道) class or on the basketball court. Competence and skill are widely respected; being picked last for a team or left out altogether is an experience that can
haunt(縈繞心頭) a boy for years.
     As boys mature, the friendship becomes even more important, and it frequently widens to include girls. During the teen years, friends can become the most important part of a boy's life-and a part in which his
parents are not included. The confusion of being a teenager leads boys to form close bonds with friends.
There is the sense for many boys that a friend is someone who is "always there for me",  someone he can
trust. They may be partners in crime or partners in study, but the friendship of adolescent boys can run
surprisingly deep.

1. The common belief of adults is that boys________.

A. don't care about others as much as girls
B. don't value friendship as much as girls
C. have the same friendship as girls
D. have healthier friendship than girls

2. According to the text, boys' friendship________.

A. is usually built around active play
B. tends to be in small groups
C. can bear mutual hurt between friends
D. doesn't suffer from failure

3. The author mentions the study in the second paragraph to prove ________.

A. many people believe girls are better at relationships
B. most boys consider their friends very important
C. boys may be better at keeping friendships than girls
D. boys may be more active in a friendship

4. As a boy gets older, he tends to________.

A. widen his circle of friends to include different kinds of people
B. shift his focus from his friends to himself
C. leave his parents out of his friendship
D. be confused about what a friendship is

5. What's the best title for the text?

A. Friendships between Boys and Girls
B. Boys and Their Friendship
C. Childhood and Adolescent Friendship
D. Tips on Making Friends with Boys

     People around the world watched Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton get married.
     The royal wedding broke records for live streaming on the Internet. It also produced more than
two million tweets on Twitter.
     The ceremony took place on Friday at Westminster Abbey in London.
     Kate wore a flowing white gown designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander
McQueen. William wore a red army uniform.
     It was Britain's biggest wedding since William and Harry's parents, Prince Charles and Princess
Diana, were married in nineteen eightyone.
    Nearly two thousand guests filled the church on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people went
to the streets and parks of London to watch the wedding on video screens.
    Among the wedding guests were English football star David Beckham and his wife Victoria,
British Prime Minister David Cameron, the king of Norway and singer Elton John.
    Bahrain's crown prince(皇儲)was invited but decided not to attend because of unrest in his country.
Britain took back an invitation to the ambassador from Syria over violence against protesters there.
    After the ceremony, the royal couple traveled to Buckingham Palace. Crowds cheered when the
newlyweds appeared on a balcony, greeting to them.
    Later, William drove his wife out of Buckingham Palace in an opentop Aston Martin car. William
and the newest member of the royal family will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
     Kate is twentynine years old. William will be twentynine in June. His grandmother is Queen
Elizabeth. His father, Prince Charles, is first in line to become king. William, as the older son, is second
in line. Kate would not become queen, however, since she is not in the royal blood line. There was a
big celebration at the  University of St. Andrews in Scotland. That was where William and Kate first
met as art history students in two thousand one.

1. Which of the following is NOT true about Prince William?

A. He has been in love with Kate for over ten years.
B. He wore a red army uniform in the ceremony.
C. As a prince, he is first in line to become king.
D. He once majored in art history.

2. Which of the following was absent from the wedding?

A. The Beckhams.
B. Elton John.
C. The king of Norway.
D. The crown prince of Bahrain.

3. What can be the best title of the passage?

A. The Britain's biggest wedding takes place.
B. The most luxurious wedding in the world.
C. David Beckham attends the wedding.
D. Royal wedding draws a worldwide crowd.

     When you are curious(好奇的)about something,  and want to know more about it,  you can use the
way of asking questions. Asking questions is the first step to make discoveries and find interesting answers. The steps below can guide you during the research(研究).
     Step 1
     On a note card or piece of paper,  write down the subject that you are interested in. Just get the main
idea down. For example,  you might write: Discover more about dinosaurs.
     Step 2
     Next,  stop and think for a moment about what you already know about your subject. List what you
already know like the sentences below:
     (1)Dinosaurs lived long before human beings appeared.
     (2)Dinosaurs lived on the earth for more than 150 million years.
     (3)Some dinosaurs fed on plants,  some on meat.
     Step 3
     What can you do with what you want to learn? By asking questions. On your paper,  start writing
down questions about the dinosaurs as you think of them:
     (1)What's the best weather for dinosaurs to live in?
     (2)How many kinds of dinosaurs are there?
     (3)Have dinosaurs really disappeared?
     Step 4
     Armed with your list of questions,  you can now go to the nearest library or computer to begin your
research. As you learn more about your subject,  you'll probably discover some new questions.For
example,  you might discover that dinosaurs disappeared about 65 million years ago. Why? What
happened? Asking new questions can help you research your subject more widely.
     The next time you find something interesting to research,  take time to organize(組織)your thinking by
asking good questions. And remember - learning more always bring more questions.

1. When you do some research, you should take the following steps: _____.
①list what you want to know      ②choose a research subject
③list what you already know      ④discover new problems

A. ①④③②
B. ②③①④
C. ③②④①
D. ④③①②

2. What does the underlined sentence "Armed with your list of questions" mean?

A.Putting your list of questions under your arm.
B.Discussing your questions with your classmates.
C.Writing down your list of questions.
D.Taking your list of questions with you.

3. According to the passage,  which of the following is true?

A.You can find all the answers online.
B. Learn more, and you'll have no questions.
C. During the research, you may keep finding new questions.
D. Asking questions is the only way for research.

4. The best title for this passage is _____.

A. Discovering Dinosaurs  
B. Asking Good Questions
C. Finding Subjects        
D. Having Interesting Answers

     A terrible mudslide (泥石流) swept through Zhouqu County in northwest China's Gansu
Province on August 7, 2010. Lots of people were killed and injured in the disaster (災(zāi)難),
and some are still missing. Now the new school semester began. How about the students there?
     Up till now, most people including teachers and students are still living in the tents. The
students should have started their new semester on August 15. However, the terrible mudslide
disrupted the plan since two schools were damaged and three others were used as resettlement
areas (安置區(qū)). The new semester had to be put off for ten days. Also, since many teachers
were killed, parents were worrying that their children might not be able to go to school. Luckily,
54 teachers from neighboring areas were sent to Zhouqu County, and 12 volunteer teachers
arrived there, too. Moreover, all the students got their textbooks and school things for free.
     On the first day of school, a girl said, "The disaster is weighing heavily on my mind (沉重
地壓在我的心上). But today school begins. I'm with my classmates again. I feel so happy."
     Zhouqu County has two primary schools, two junior high schools and one senior high school.
The students of the only senior high school had to start the new semester in a school in the
neighboring area. Although the new school is far from their homes, they are happy to return to school.

1. The underlined word "disrupted" means "______" in Chinese.

A. 實(shí)施    
B. 打亂      
C. 制定  
D. 完善

2. The new school semester began on ______ in Zhouqu County.

A. August 7    
B. August 15   
C. August 25    
D. September 1

3. What were the parents in Zhouqu County worrying?     

A. There were no textbooks for their children.
B. Their children had problems with their studies.
C. The textbooks were too expensive for them to afford.
D. There were not enough teachers to teach their children.

4. From the underlined words the girl said, we can learn she is very _____.    

A. sad   
B. afraid
C. smart    
D. optimistic (樂觀)

5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? 

A. There are five schools in Zhouqu County.
B. Many people had to live in the tents after the mudslide.
C. The teachers now in Zhouqu County are much more than before.
D. The terrible mudslide killed many people and affected people's lives the

     Traveling without a map in different countries, I find out about different "styles"(方式) of directions
(方向)every time I ask "How can I get to the post office?"
     Foreign tourists are often confused (迷惑的) in Japan because most streets there don't have name
signs; in Japan, people use landmarks(地標(biāo)) in their directions instead of street names. For example,
the Japanese will say to travelers, "Go straight down to the corner. Turn left at the big hotel and go past
a fruit market. The post office is across from the bus stop."
     People in Los Angeles(洛杉磯), the US, have no idea of distance on the map: they measure (衡量)
distance (距離)by time, not miles. "How far away is the post office?" you ask. "Oh," they answer, "it's
about five minutes from here." You don't understand completely, "Yes, but how many miles away is it,
please?" To this question you won't get an answer, because most probably they don't know it themselves.
     People in Greece(希臘) sometimes do not even try to give directions because tourists seldom
understand the Greek language. Instead, a Greek will often say, "Follow me." Then he'll lead you through
the streets of the city to the post office.
     Sometimes a person doesn't know the answer to your question. What happens in the situation? A
New Yorker might say, "Sorry, I have no idea." But in Yucatan, Mexico, no one answers "I don't
know." People there believe that "I don't" is impolite. They usually give an answer, but often a wrong
one. So a tourist can get lost very easily in Yucatan!
     However, one thing will help you everywhere in the world. It's body language.

1. Which one of the following is probably an example of Japanese directions?

A. "Go south two miles. Turn west and then go another mile."
B. "Turn right at the hospital and go past a school. The library is right in front of you."
C. "The post office is about five minutes from here."
D. "The post office is at Street Kamira."

2. People in Los Angeles don't give directions in miles because ______.

A. they use landmarks in their directions instead of distance
B. they prefer to lead you the way
C. they often have no idea of distance measured by miles
D. they prefer to use body language

3. Greeks give directions by ______.

A. using street names
B. using landmarks
C. leading people the way
D. giving people a wrong direction

4. Where is Yucatan?

A. In the USA.
B. In Japan.
C. In Greece.  
D. In Mexico.

5. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. People in Yucatan always give right directions.
B. There are different ways to give directions in different parts of the world.
C. People in some places give directions in miles, but people in other places give directions in time.
D. A person's body language can help you understand directions.

     When something goes wrong, it can be very satisfying to say, "Well, it's so-and-so's fault. "or "I
know I'm late, but it's not my fault; the car broke down. " It is probably not your fault, but once you
form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation, you are a loser. You have
no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However, you can have great power
over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to remedy
the situation. This is the winner's key to success.
     Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke
down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along
with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if
your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing
with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different
person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative
ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well.
     This is what being a winner is all about - creatively using your skills and talents so that you are
successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as
many difficult situation to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as
challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "whose fault it is. " Once
you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stones for success.

1. According to the passage, winners     .

A. deal with problems rather than blame others  
B. meet with fewer difficulties in their lives
C. have responsible and able colleagues  
D. blame others rather than themselves

2. The underlined word remedy in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to         .

A. avoid  
B. accept  
C. improve  
D. consider

3. When your colleague brings about a problem, you should      .

A. find a better way to handle the problem    
B. blame him for his lack of responsibility
C. tell him to find the cause of the problem    
D. ask another person for help

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A. Winner's Secret.                  
B. A Winner's Problem.
C. A Winner's Opportunity.            
D. A Winner's Achievement.

     You know Australia is a big country, but you may not know how easy it is to get around. The
untouched beaches that go for miles and deserts that touch the horizon are just there, waiting to be
reached and explored. Following are the different ways you can explore our vast country.
     Getting around Australia
     Air
     Flying is the best way to cover large distances in a short time. You can spend more time on the
Australia's can't-miss landscapes and relaxing lifestyle. Moreover, competition among airlines makes
great flying fees available for you.
     Drive
    Australia has a vast network of well - maintained roads and some of the most beautiful touring routes
in the world. You have no difficulty finding car rental companies at major airports, central city locations,
suburbs and attractions.
     Bus
     Bus travel in Australia is comfortable, easy and economical. Buses generally have air conditioning,
reading lights, adjustable seats and videos. Services are frequent, affordable and efficient.
Rail
     Train travel is the cheapest and gives you an insight into Australia's size and variety, all from the
comfort of your carriage. Scheduled services are a great way to get quickly between our cities and
regional centers.
     Ferry(輪渡)
    The Spirit of Tasmania runs a passenger and vehicle ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania
nightly. Extra services are running during summer rush hours. Sea - link ferries connect South Australia
and Kangaroo Island several times a day. Ferries connect suburbs in our capital cities
    Walk
    With easy - on - the - feel pedestrian streets, walking is a great way to get around our cities.
    Besides all of above, you can also experience some of the longest tracks and trails in the world in
central Australia - impressive journeys of a thousand kilometers or more that can take several weeks
to complete.

1. The underlined word "untouched" (in the 1st paragraph) means______.

A. ordinary        
B. dangerous        
C. natural        
D. boring

2. Which of the following is TRUE about traveling in Australia? ______.

A. More travelers make the flying fees among airlines higher than before
B. You can easily rent a car to explore its most beautiful touring routes
C. Taking a bus tour is the cheapest way
D. Train travel is uncomfortable

3. Ferry service between Melbourne and Tasmania usually runs ______.

A. only at night hours                    
B. only during rush hours
C. several times a day                    
D. between different cities

4. From the passage, we know that ______.

A. pedestrian walking is a great way to travel between cities
B. it takes much time to travel in Central Australia
C. you can also experience the impressive journeys of a thousand meters in central Australia
D. you have to walk over a thousand kilometers in Australia.

     Would you like to be a king or queen? To have people waiting on you hand and foot? Many
Americans experience this royal treatment every day. How? By being customers. The American
idea of customer service is to make each customer the center of attention. Need proof? Just listen
to the commercials. Most of them sound like the McDonald's ad: "We do it all for you." Actually,
not all stores in America roll out the red carpet for their customers. But wherever you go, good
customer service means making customers feel special.
      People going shopping in America can expect to be treated with respect from the very beginning.
Most places don't have a "furniture street" or a "computer road" which allow you to compare prices
easily. Instead, people often "let their fingers do the walking" through the store hot lines. From the
first "hello", customers receive a satisfying response to their questions. This initial contact can help
them decide where to shop.
     When customers get to the store, they are treated as honored guests. Customers don't usually find
store clerks sitting around watching TV or playing cards. Instead, the clerks greet them warmly and
offer to help them find what they want. In most stores, the clear signs that label each department make
shopping a breeze. Customers usually don't have to ask how much items cost, since prices are clearly
marked. And unless they're at a flea market or a yard sale, they don't bother trying to bargain.
     When customers are ready to check out, they find the nearest and shortest checkout lane. But as
Murphy's Law would have it, whichever lane they get in, all the other lanes will move faster. Good
stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes get too long. Some even offer express lanes for
customers with 10 items or less. After they pay for their purchases, customers receive a smile and a
warm "thank you" from the clerk. Many stores even allow customers to take their shopping carts out
to the parking lot. That way, they don't have to carry heavy bags out to the car.

1. By quoting (引用) the McDonald's ad: "We do it all for you", the author intends to_______.

A. suggest that customers believe what commercials say deeply
B. show readers the American idea on good customer service
C. express all the stores pay much attention to the customers
D. persuade readers to choose the stores with ads correctly

2. In the USA, what may you do at first if you want to do some shopping?

A. To visit a professional street with lots of similar stores.
B. To compare prices in many shops in the same street.
C. To make phone calls and get better shopping choices.
D. To receive other customers' answers to the questions.

3. Which of the followings shows American stores offer convenience to customers in this passage?

A. The store clerks don't usually sit around watching TV or playing cards.
B. Some stores offer price bargain to the customers like a yard sale.
C. The clerks give customers a smile and a warm "thank you" after paying.
D. Some stores open new checkout lanes when the lanes are crowded.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of this passage?

A. Customer Service in America
B. Excellent Stores in America
C. Shopping Rules in America
D. Being King or Queen in America