Newspapers in the United States earn most of their money from selling space for advertising. The
rates they charge are tied to the number of readers. But the number of people who buy newspapers has
been falling for years. And this traditional business model had not worked very well on the Internet,
especially in a bad economy.
     Many newspaper companies have large debts from buying other papers. Some papers have recently
closed or declared bankruptcy or reduced their operations.
     Newspapers are looking for new ways to reinvent themselves and new ways to earn money. That
includes giving new consideration to an old idea-charging for at least some of the material that most
papers now publish online for free.
     Internet access to newspapers means that more people may read the news, which is good for society. But good reporting costs money. The question is how much people are willing to pay for news that they
have got used to receiving for free.
     The look of American newspapers changed after USA Today arrived in 1982. Most of the stories
were short. There was heavy use of color and images. People who compared it to television did not
necessarily mean that as praise. But the new design succeeded and influenced many other papers.
     Now newspapers are looking to redesign themselves for an increasingly online world. Millions of
people would rather read papers like USA Today and The New York Times for free on the Web than
pay for a printed version. Publishers who chose that business plan might regret it now, but they might
not have had much choice. Survival means changing as conditions change. Like any other business,
newspapers have to balance their needs with the need of their customers.

1. American newspapers earn most money from_______.

A. advertising products  
B. selling newspapers      
C. publishing stories    
D. reporting news

2. Which of the following statements about USA Today is NOT true?

A. It had short stories.                    
B. There were many images.
C. There was heavy use of color.            
D. It was published before 1982.

3. The main cause of the problems of American newspapers is that _______.

A. too many people read printed newspapers for free
B. the Internet and television have taken the place of newspapers
C. some newspapers have become non-profit organizations
D. more and more people read news on the Web

4. The underlined words "that business plan" in the last paragraph refer to _______.

A. declaring bankruptcy                  
B. changing the look of newspapers
C. publishing news on the Internet          
D. Providing readers with printed versions for free

5. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Advertising industry in America is going through some changes.
B. Great changes have taken place in the American media.
C. American newspapers will have a bright future.
D. American newspapers are facing great difficulties.

     Few in the west seemed to notice when the International Olympic Committee(IOC) decided to award
the 2014 Winter Games to the Russian town of Sochi. Yet this choice if full of geopolitical meaning.
     President Vladimir Putin flew to Guatemala to address IOC delegates before they voted, and surprised them by speaking in French and - for the first time ever in public - English. Later he declared that Sochi's
victory was "not only a recognition of Russia's achievements in sports but also an assessment of our
country".
     Sochi, located between the Caucasus and the Black Sea, has poor roads, one old resort and
out-of-date facilities. In the next five years it will be transformed by a burst of constructions
unprecedented (前所未有的) in the history of Russia. Winning the Olympic bid has given Russian
politicians a focus, a $ 12 billion project they can use to showcase their power and that of their country.
Several have already announced bid investments in Sochi.
     Olympic planners will have to assure that the Sochi project dose not collapse under the weight of
corruption(腐敗), which Russian officials are famous for. With many eyes watching, they will also have
to green landscape around Sochi, where some of Europe's last wild bears roar in primitive mountain
forests, with more care for the environment than Russia has traditionally shown.
     Sochi also sits on the edge of a region that has been boiling with ethnic (民族的) and political tensions
since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In past centuries it was ruled by both Georgia and Abkhazia, which is now a breakaway region of Georgia. Russia backs the rebel regime in Abkhazia, but as the Olympics
approach, it may feel it needs to be careful.
     The president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, might have bitterly protested (反對) the Olympic
Committee's decision to award the Winter Games to a country that actively supports rebels within
Georgia. Instead he was wise enough to realize that this event could push Russia toward compromise
(妥協(xié)) solutions in   Abkhazia and perhaps even in Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh and Chechnya.

1. We can infer from the second paragraph that president Vladimir Putin often speaks in public in _____.

A. Russian            
B. French          
C. English          
D. Spanish

2. Although Sochi has poor transportation and unsatisfying facilities, holding the 1014 Winter
    Olympic Games there obviously gives it a chance _______.

A. to ask the IOC for more money            
B. to break away from Georgia
C. to challenge the world                    
D. to develop

3. From the fourth paragraph we can infer that the writer is concerned about _______.

A. how to protect the environment from damage while large scale construction is going on
B. the capability of Russian government to hold the Olympic Games
C. the corruption of some Russian government officials
D. how to do away with the mountain forests around Sochi

4. From the last paragraph we know that _______.

A. the president of Georgia strongly protested the IOC`s decision
B. the Olympic Games might be a chance to ease regional tensions
C. the IOC backs the rebels in Georgia
D. Georgia wants to break away from Russia

     "London is ready to welcome the world," commission chairman Denis Oswald said. "We can feel that
London is feeling the fever of the games."
     On April18, the British capital marked the 100-day countdown to the opening ceremony of the
Games, which will be held from July 27 to August12, with a series of events. A giant set of Olympic
rings, made up of 20,000 flowers, were unveiled at Kew Gardens in west London. And the motto for
the London Olympics has been announced as "Inspire a generation."
     London 2012 chairman Seb Coe announced the motto. He said: "It is everything that we have been
saying since we started this extraordinary journey." Coe added that the motto is also a call for athletes to
come to the U.K. to perform at their very best and inspire the world.
     The preparations for the Games are proceeding according to plan-being both on time and within
budget, according to London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton. Deighton said that millions of people
around the U.K. are getting ready to celebrate the biggest event in sport. "Eight million of the 11 million
tickets have been sold to people in Britain and we are sure that Brits will get hold of a chunk of the other
three million too."
     Many of the test events have already been held at the Olympic venues. And a bigger one will come on
the first weekend of May in the Olympic Park.
    Coe has been mentioned by the British media and British bookmakers as among the contenders to light
the flame, although his position as organizing committee leader always made that seem unlikely. Five-time
rowing gold medalist Steve Redgrave remains the betting favorite.

1. Who is most likely to be chosen to light the flame at the opening ceremony?

A.Steve Redgrave  
B. Deighton  
C. Seb Coe    
D. Denis Oswald

2. Which statement is TRUE according to the passage?.

A. The preparations for the London Games are quite smooth.
B. Eight million of the 11 million tickets have been sold to people in the world.
C. Many test events was for the first time held on the first weekend of May.
D. Olympic Games are held from July 27 to August12 every four years.

3. What's the best title of the passage?

A. New motto, new Olympics.          
B. London ready for Olympics.
C. Tickets on sale for London Olympics.  
D. Olympics 100 days away.

                                     Pineapple Awards Celebrate Fruits of Science
     We live in a world of wonder but not in a world of magic. And understanding that world does not
mean learning a few tricks at Hogwarts. Instead, it means understanding how important science is in our
daily lives.
     Just take a moment and look around your home. The electric lamp on your desk, the silicon microchip
in your mobile phone, your mother's laundry detergent; they are all the results of science.
     To get people more aware of these wonders that surround us, guokr.com, a science website, and
Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Museum have established the "Pineapple Science Awards."
The awards are to be given annually and recognize recent achievements in chemistry, physics, medicine
and biology, mathematics and psychology. There are also two special awards for discoveries that are
imaginative, fun and thought-provoking.
     Zhou Xinyue's research certainly met those criteria. The Sun Yat-Sen University professor was among
the first group of Pineapple winners. She conducted an experiment that showed that counting money can
ease pain. Professor Zhou had people count money and then dipped their hands into hot water. It turns
out that after flipping through a brick of RMB, people can keep their hands in hot water for a longer time.
I suppose this proves that although money can't buy you happiness, it can certainly make your life less
painful.
     If that sounds a bit frivolous, it's all in keeping with the spirit of the awards. They are intended to be
light-hearted. That is why the pineapple was chosen as the awards' symbol. Ji Shisan, the founder of
guokr.com, said, "This nutritive fruit has a bright color and pleasing taste while shaped in a strange way,
which indicates the awards are pleasing, interesting, nourishing, and a bit strange."
     Pineapple winner Zhou Xinyue added, "Some research topics seem to be weird but actually have
deep meaning, which inspires us in a different way. The topics might be funny, but the research method
should be serious and scientific."
     Are you interested in science? Then reach for the sky. You might end up with a pineapple in your
hands.

1. The awards recognize achievements in following fields EXCEPT________.

A. chemistry      
B. biology      
C. psychology    
D. art

2. The examples in Para. 2 are to ______.

A. show how important science is in our daily lives
B. prove learning a few tricks at Hogwarts is necessary in our daily lives
C. get people more aware of these wonders that surround us
D. indicate that some research topics seem to be weird and have little meaning

3. From Para. 5 we can know ______.

A. whether the pineapple was chosen as the awards' symbol
B. how the pineapple was chosen as the awards' symbol
C. why the pineapple was chosen as the awards' symbol
D. why the pineapple looks so strange

4. According to Zhou Xinyue, _______.

A. if you reach for the sky you might end up with a pineapple in your hands
B. the topics sounding funny doesn't mean the research method isn't serious or scientific
C. although the pineapple looks strange, it has a bright color and pleasing taste
D. counting money can ease pain and money can buy you happiness

     More Chinese are seeking out the surgeon's knife to improve their looks. Yet the tragic death of the
former Super Girl Wang Bei has made people aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, which is becoming
increasingly popular.  Wang Bei,24,is said to have gone under the knife in Wuhan, to jump-start her
stage-show career. It seems that the ambitious singer has finally achieved the fame and influence after her
death.
    For years Miss Lu expected a plastic surgery to make her jaw fashionable narrow and her face smaller. She finally decided against it after hearing of the death of Wang Bei. "Wang Bei's death rang the warning
bell for me,"Miss Lu said in her blog." It was frightening and I gave up the plan. "
    A common thread of online discussion is why someone considered beautiful was so dissatisfied with
her looks. Some netizens said Wang was a victim of society's impractical standard of beauty:double
eyelids,and the pointed chin typical of Western actresses. Others said her death indicated the limits to
which people would go to achieve fame and fortune. ks5u
    Last year 15 billion yuan was spent on cosmetic surgery and the figure is expected to rise  20％
annually. The International Society of Plastic Surgery ranks China first in Asia in terms of the number of
cosmetic surgeries in 2009. Worldwide, China is third, after Brazil, while the United States is first.
    Nowadays,people are living longer and better. But the effect of aging off their appearance affects their
mood and confidence. Many older women want to look young and beautiful. Young people, on the other
hand, see cosmetic surgery as the key to wealth and love. "They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities at work and in marriage," says a famous plastic surgeon. "We're living in a highly
competitive society. People regard appearance as a weapon in life battle. Those who are young and
naturally good-looking tell me,'I don't care how much I spend. Just make me look more beautiful.' "
    Advice from a surgeon and psychologist:
    1.Choose regular, qualified hospitals with a good reputation.
    2.Try to find an expert surgeon who will not suggest several operations over time.
    3.Don't expect too much from changing your appearance. Safety should be the first.
    4.Have a realistic understanding of the risks of the surgery (death,injury and failure)and make a balanced decision.

1. What's the influence of Wang Bei's death on the public?

A. People will feel alarmed at cosmetic surgery.
B. Young people will have no interest in beauty.
C. Doctors will be afraid to perform operations.
D. No one will dream of becoming a Super Girl.

2. It is mentioned in the passage that________. 

A. Miss Lu's face is narrow and small
B. Wang Bei is a victim of the Internet
C. all Westerners have the pointed chin
D. the US ranks first in cosmetic surgery

3. What's the main idea of the 5th paragraph?

A. People are living 1onger and better nowadays.
B. People are living in a highly competitive society.
C. Social competition leads females to seek beauty.
D. Cosmetic surgery is the key to wealth and love.

4. According to a surgeon and psychologist,it is better to________.

A. change your appearance sooner
B. make a reasonable decision
C. do several operations over time
D. try some different hospitals

     The Importance of Setting Speech Goals
     A speech is a wonderful opportunity to inform, persuade or entertain. The best speeches often take
on a combination of all three of these components. However, before you can go about the writing of a
great speech, it is important to set goals. Goals keep you, your speech and your audience focused.
     What a goal is
     In the context of a speech, a goal is the purpose of the speech, and what it hopes to accomplish. For
example, the goal of a eulogy (頌歌) might be to celebrate the life of a loved one. The goal of a speech
at a political gathering would be to inform the crowd about the political position of a candidate and
persuade them to vote and campaign for the candidate in question.
     Why a goal is important
     Without a goal, a speech is without direction. The goal informs the structure and content of the speech. For example, if a speech's goal is to convince people that smoking is bad for them, the speech will be
structured with persuasive arguments to back up the goal. A speech with a goal of informing the audience will keep the information fair and factual.
     A goal is incredibly important to the speech's ability to connect with an audience. If the speaker is
unaware of the goal of the speech, the audience will likely be unaware as well. This severely reduces the
effectiveness of the message.
     Aside from informing the audience of the content and structure, a speech's goal drives the speaker to
greater heights. If a speaker is asked to speak on a specific subject, but never establishes the goal, they
won't know where to start in the research, organizing and writing of the speech.
___________________________________
     If you have been charged with (被委以) delivering a speech, establishing a goal can seem difficult at
first. There are several things to take into consideration. First, think about who you will be speaking to.
The demographic (人口統(tǒng)計(jì)) of your audience will likely determine whether you will be able to persuade them, or whether they will be able to sit through. Second, think about the topic itself. If the topic is
something controversial(有爭議的), it may be worth your while to consider an informative approach to
present both sides of the issue. Finally, consider your resources. A speech with an informative or
persuasive goal usually requires a great deal of research, and sometimes takes more time to write.

1. According to the passage, what three components does the best speech combine?

A. Informing, delivering and entertaining.  
B. Informing, persuading and entertaining.
C. Informing, writing and delivering.        
D. Informing, writing and persuading.

2. The goal of a speech at a political gathering might be _______.  

A. to persuade the audience to vote for a candidate
B. to celebrate the life of a person you admire
C. to entertain the audience with humor and magic
D. to persuade the audience to buy new products

3. All the following indicate the importance of a speech goal EXCEPT that _______.

A. a speech will lose its direction without a goal
B. a speech goal can help keep the audience aware of the speech
C. a speech goal can help the speaker know about the research, organizing and writing
D. a speech goal makes it possible for the speaker to achieve whatever he wants in life

4. Which of the following can be filled into the blank as the subtitle for the last paragraph?

A. How to achieve a speech goal                  
B. How to deliver a difficult speech
C. What to consider to establish a goal        
D. What to consider to deliver a speech

     No one wants to be tested. We would all like to get a driver's license without answering questions
about rights of way or showing that we can parallel park a car. Many future lawyers and doctors
probably wish they could join their profession without taking an exam.
     But tests and standards are a necessary fact of life. They protect us from unskilled drivers, harmful
products and dishonest professionals. In schools too exams play a constructive role. They tell public
officials whether new school programs are making a difference and where new investments are likely to
pay off. They tell teachers what their students have learned--and have not. They tell parents how their
children are doing compared with others of their age. They encourage students to make more effort.
     It is important to recall that for most of century, educators used intelligence tests to decide which
children should get a high-quality education. The point of IQ testing was to find out how much children
were capable of learning rather than to test what they had actually learned. Based on IQ scores, millions
of children were assigned to dumbed-down (學(xué)術(shù)挑戰(zhàn)較小的) programs instead of solid courses in
science, math, history, literature and foreign language.
     This history reminds us that tests should be used to improve education. Every child should have access
to a high - quality education. Students should have full opportunity to learn what will be tested; otherwise
their scores will merely reflect whether they come from an educated family.
     In the past few years, we have seen the enormous benefits that flow to disadvantaged students
because of the information provided by state tests. Those who fall behind are now getting extra instruction
in after - school classes and summer programs. In their efforts to improve student performance, states are
increasing teachers' salaries, testing new teachers and insisting on better teacher education.
     Performance in education means the mastery of both knowledge and skills. This is why it is reasonable
to test teachers to make sure they know their subject matter, as well as how to teach it to young children. And this is why it is reasonable to assess whether students are ready to advance to the next grade or
graduate from high school.

1. According to the passage, school exams enable ______.

A. governments to make right policies
B. students to meet their teachers' requirements
C. teachers to understand if their students have made efforts
D.parents to compare their kids' achievements across schools

2.Which of the following does the author probably agree with?

A. Disadvantaged students can benefit from state tests.
B. Tests should focus on what students have actually learned.
C. Intelligent tests decide if children should get a high - quality education.
D. Intelligent tests are helpful in separating excellent students from poor ones.

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To re - assess the value of IQ testing.
B. To defend the role of testing in education.
C. To explain what high - quality education means.
D. To call for thorough and complete reform in education.

      It is said that there are about 40,000 different kinds of jobs in the world.   1  
     "Finding a job" is not the same as "choosing a job". Many young people end up in a job which they
are not suitable for.   2   . Here are a few steps to help you think about jobs which you might enjoy doing
after school or university.
     First, it is important to realize what kind of person you are, which special qualities make you different
from everyone else and what you are interested in.    3   . If you like art and enjoy looking at pictures, that
is an interest. But if you can draw a horse that looks like a horse instead of a big dog, that is a skill.
     Then ask yourself this question: in the following three areas  ? skills with people, skills with information
and skills with things  ? which are your best skills?
     After examining your skills, the next step is research. To find out as many different kinds of jobs as
possible, go to the library and read books, magazines and newspapers.    4  
     Finally, trust your own ideas and your own thinking!   5  
A. It is your own life, so find something that you enjoy doing.
B. Choosing the right one itself is a difficult job.
C. We must know what our ideal jobs are.
D. There is a difference between an interest and a skill.
E. Ask your friends about the work they do.
F. "Chance" may play a more important part than "decision".
G. Your parents may also give you a job offer.