Most shoplifters (商店扒手) agree that the January sales offer wonderful opportunities for the hard-working thieves. With the shops so crowded and the staff so busy, it does not require any extraordinary talent to help you to take one or two little things and escape unnoticed. It is known, in the business, as "hoisting".
     But now the hoisting game is not what it used to be. Even at the height of the sales, shoplifters today never know if they are being watched by one of those evil little balls that hang from the ceilings of so many department stores above the most desirable goods.
     As if that was not trouble enough for them, they can now be filmed at work and obliged to attend a showing of their performance in court.
     Selfridges was the first big London store to install (安裝) closed-circuit videotape equipment to watch its sales floors. In October, last year, the store won its first court case for shoplifting using an evidence - a videotape clearly showing a couple stealing dresses. It was an important test case which encouraged other stores to install similar equipment.
     When the balls, called sputniks, first make an appearance in shops, it was widely believed that their only function was to frighten shoplifters. Their somewhat ridiculous (古怪的) appearances, the curious holes and red lights going on and off, certainly make the theory believable.
It did not take long, however, for serious shoplifters to start showing suitable respect. Soon after the equipment was in operation at Selfridges, store detective Brian Chadwick was sitting in the control room watching a woman secretly putting bottles of perfume into her bag.
"As she turned to go," Chadwick recalled, "she suddenly looked up at the sputnik and stopped. She could not possibly have seen that the camera was trained on (對(duì)準(zhǔn)) her because it is completely hidden, but she must have had a feeling that someone was looking at her."
     "For a moment she paused, but then she returned to counter and started putting everything back. When she had finished, she opened her bag towards the camera to show it was empty and hurried out of the store."

1. January is a good month for shoplifters because ______.

A. thieves have much previous experience then
B. they don't need to wait for staff to serve them
C. there are always so many people in the stores
D. January sales offer them wonderful chances

2. The sputniks hanging from the ceiling are intended ______.

A. to watch the most desirable goods  
B. to make films that can be used as evidence
C. to frighten shoplifters by their appearance  
D. to be used as evidence against shoplifters

3. The case last October was important because ______.

A. the evidence supplied was accepted by court
B. the equipment could frighten shoplifters
C. the other shops began to copy the method
D. the store got all the stolen dresses back  

4. The woman stealing perfume ______.

A. was frightened by the shape of the sputnik  
B. guessed the sputnik was aiming at her
C. saw the detective sitting in the control room  
D. found the camera was busy filming her    

5. The woman's action before leaving the store shows that she ______.

A. decided she didn't want anything stolen
B. was sorry for what she had done  
C. would never do any stealing in this store
D. was afraid she would be arrested

     Authorities will continue to take a hard line on Internet-based rumors and punish those creating fake
information, a senior official said on Thursday.
     Authorities have removed more than 210,000 online posts and shut down 42 websites since
mid-March in their latest crackdown on online rumors, said Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State
Internet Information Office.
     Fake information or rumors spread through the Internet, especially on micro blogs, have harmed
social order and residents' daily lives, he said at a news briefing in Beijing.
     Before the crackdown, six people who allegedly fabricated (偽造) rumors about "military vehicles
entering Beijing" had been detained and 16 websites closed for disseminating fake online information,
according to police authorities.
     "What we've done and will do is to make sure residents can know what they want to know, say what
they think and supervise our management in a reliable and useful network environment," Liu said.
     Liu disagreed that the Internet can police itself against rumors, and told China Daily that some netizens
can't distinguish truth from fiction, "requiring government departments and website companies to take
measures".
     On Monday, the Internet Society of China posted a proposal calling on Internet companies and
websites to strengthen self-discipline and prevent the spread of online rumors.
     In response, three main Internet companies in the country - Sina, Baidu and Tencent - said they will
target fake information with advanced technology and invest in manpower to supervise online information.
     Zhao Zhiguo, deputy director of the Telecommunications Administration under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said stricter self-management of websites will help banish online rumors.
     "Internet companies should take legal responsibility when operating their websites. They should not
become a hotbed for rumors and provide opportunities for fake information," Zhao said, adding they will
launch similar crackdowns to close illegal website companies and punish those responsible.
     Currently, people who make or spread rumors related to terrorism and securities trading, or
information affecting State security and companies' commercial reputations, will face criminal punishment.
     Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said he welcomed the government's action
to curb online rumors.
     "Residents used online banks to shop or book flights, which needs a safe platform without fake
information," he said.
     Yu Guofu, another lawyer from Sheng Feng Law Firm, said the key to reducing rumors is netizens
themselves.
     "If micro-bloggers think twice before forwarding information, rumors will decrease."

1. How many websites were shut down before mid-March in the latest crackdown on online rumors?

A. 42
B. 58    
C. 16    
D. 18

2. What does the underlined word mean in fourth paragraph? 

A. creating    
B. spreading    
C. providing    
D. operating

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

A. Not all netizens can distinguish truth from fiction on the Internet.      
B. People who have harmed social order will face criminal punishment.
C. The Internet Society of China called on micro-bloggers to prevent the spread of online rumors.
D. Three main Internet companies in the country promised to launch more crackdowns to close
      illegal websites.

4. Who plays an important role in reducing Internet-based rumors? 

A. Authorities    
B. Internet companies  
C. Micro-bloggers    
D. Police

Dear Teresa Silva,
     The official of the university has reported to us that you are an English major who meets the high
standards for membership in Sigma Tau Delta. As is known, Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 at
Dakota Wesleyan University. It is an international collegiate honor society for students of English. It
presently has over 850 chapters in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Caribbean .
Over 9,000 new members are admitted into the organization annually.
     Sigma Tau Delta's purpose is to promote literature and writing and to advance the study of the
written word. Members gather annually in the spring at the international meeting to present papers and
share experiences and ideas within the English subject. The Society offers tens of thousands of dollars
in scholarships, awards, as well as publication chances in its journals The Rectangle and The Sigma
Tau Delta Review.
     It is our pleasure if you can complete the application for Sigma Tau Delta membership. If you would
like to be included in this spring's induction (入會(huì)) ceremony, please complete the application form, and
include amount to cover both local and international fees. Your completed form must be received by date
to be considered for the upcoming induction ceremony.
     We congratulate you on your outstanding academic record and hope you will join us as a Sigma Tau
Delta member. If you want to get more information, please visit our website www.sigmataudelta.org, or
give us a call. The phone number is 583-2864.
                                                                                                  Sincerely,
                                                                                                  Emily Lister

1. According to the passage, Sigma Tau Delta ______.

A. deals with language learning      
B. opens its door to all the students of English
C. changes its members every year    
D. mainly takes charge of scientific publications

2. At the annual meeting, members of Sigma Tau Delta have the chance to ______.

A. meet all the chapter leaders            
B. receive tens of thousands of dollars
C. share experiences and views              
D. choose a particular subject as a major

3. This passage is basically a letter of _____.

A. introduction      
B. congratulation      
C. thanks          
D. invitation

     Mark Twain was my hero when I was nine because that was when I discovered Tom Sawyer. But
even at the height of my admiration, I couldn't agree with him that Anne, the main character in Anne of
Green Gables, was "the dearest and most loveable child in fiction since the best-known Alice". I had
read Anne of Green Gables as well as Tom Sawyer, and she had made me as sick as a dog.
     Another Mark Twain's quote will explain my problem. He said, "When I was a boy of 14, my father
was so ignorant (無(wú)知的) that I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21,
I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." I gradually understood his words
as growing up. When I picked up the book again a few years later, I too was astonished at how much it
had improved-and shortly afterwards shocked by the fact that not only could I be a fool in all sporting,
artistic and practical matters, I could also be so when it came to reading too.
     On rereading, then, I learned that Anne is indeed a dear and most lovable child. I couldn't help
adoring the girl who insists that her name be spelled with the "e" instead of Ann as she believes that is "so
much more distinguished." She is a brave and determined survivor of a severe upbringing who has refused
to let her circumstances crush her spirit. She arrives at Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert's farm with
everything unfavorable-orphaned, unwanted and her biggest trouble of red-hair and freckled (有雀斑的)
face. However, she gets along well, through her strange way of seeing things, through her honest love of
beauty and lovable attempts to master her unreasonable desires. She finally wins over the Cuthberts, their
neighbors and millions of readers who have met her over the 101 years since the book was first published.
     When I settle down with it these days, I've come to see the truth in Mark Twain's praise for the book,
and this reminds me of the great truth that you are never too young to start rereading.

1. According to Paragraph 1, we can know the writer ______.

A. believed Anne to be loveable
B. admired Mark Twain because of Anne
C. regarded Tom Sawyer as the dearest child
D. disagreed with Mark Twain's opinion on Anne

2. By referring to Mark Twain's remark on his father, the writer wants to prove that ______.

A. people's attitude may change
B. learning can change a person
C. the relationships between people can improve
D. young people never make correct judgments

3. The reason why the writer admires Anne now is that _______.

A. she is an ambitious girl
B. she is welcome by the readers
C. she adapts to her environment well
D. she changes her name to make it easy to remember

4. The writer's purpose of writing the passage is to ______. 

A. recommend Anne of Green Gables
B. express admiration towards Mark Twain
C. prove that people's first impression can not be right
D. encourage us to reread the books that we may not like at first

                                                           Do It Yourself
     "Do it yourself (DIY)" is a term used to describe building or repairing of something without the aid of
experts. It came into common usage in the 1950s in reference to home improvement projects which
people might choose to complete independently.    1   It promotes the ability of the ordinary person to
learn to do more than what he thinks is possible.
     From the late 20th century, we have given in to the convenience of being told the "right way" to do
things because it is convenient.    2   We have organized shopping, organized entertainment, and even
organized marriage. With the development of industrial revolution, we have had our clothes and furniture
made with the help of the machine. Our food supply has left our backyards and ventured (冒險(xiǎn)) into the
factory. Things get cheaper and easier to find, but we buy as one and eat as one.
     DIY culture holds a powerful belief:    3   That statement may seem like the DIY movement is quite
self-centered, but there is great evidence that the opposite is true. By creating with our own minds and
hands, by relying on what has come before and projecting what will be, we have become open to many
possibilities.    4  
     People can both create to serve their own needs and find the value in what others create. In other
words, we can both learn how to make what we desire ourselves and consume goods made by others.
    5  But the joy of DIY culture is how we begin to find our interconnectedness, for example, our talents
of swimming and skating with the talents of others in our community.

A. Almost everything in our life has been arranged in a system.
B. DIY provides us with some particular requirements and tools.
C. People can have what they want if they can learn to make it themselves.
D. We question the lifestyle based on our values and fashioned with our hands.
E. Of course the danger of DIY culture is that we try to become entirely self-confident.
F. In recent years, DIY has taken on a broader meaning that covers a wide range of skill sets.
G. We can sew our own clothes, grow vegetables, and do other activities that put us in touch with

     If you haven't heard or seen anything about Road Rage in the last few months, you've probably been
avoiding the media. There have been countless stories about this new and scary phenomenon, considered
a type of aggressive driving. You have most likely encountered aggressive driving or Road Rage recently
if you drive at all.
     While drunk driving remains a critical problem, the facts about aggressive driving are surely as
disturbing. For instance, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Association, 41,907
people died on the highway last year. Of those deaths, the agency estimates that about two-thirds were
caused at least in part by aggressive driving behavior.
     Why is this phenomenon occurring more than ever now, and why is it something that seemed almost
nonexistent a few short years ago? Experts have several theories, and all are probably partially correct.
One suggestion is sheer overcrowding. In the last decade, the number of cars on the roads has increased
by more than 11 percent, and the number of miles driven has increased by 35 percent. However, the
number of new road miles has only increased by 1 percent. That means more cars in the same amount of
space; and the problem is magnified in urban areas. Also, people have less time and more things to do.
With people working and trying to fit extra chores and activities into the day, stress levels have never
been higher. Stress creates anxiety, which leads to short tempers. These factors, when combined in
certain situations, can spell Road Rage.
     You may think you are the last person who would drive aggressively, but you might be surprised. For
instance, have you ever yelled out loud at a slower driver, sounded the horn long and hard an another car, or sped up to keep another driver from passing? If you recognize yourself in any of these situations,
watch out!
     Whether you are getting angry at other drivers, or another driver is visibly upset with you, there are
things you can do to avoid any major conflict. If you are easily influenced by Road Rage, the key is to
discharge your emotion in a healthy way. If you are the target of another driver's rage, do everything
possible to get away from the other driver safely, including avoiding eye contact and getting out of their
way.

1. The first sentence in Para. 1 implies that ______.  

A. one may be angered by media reports and wants to avoid them
B. the media coined the term "Road Rage" only a few months ago
C. Road Rage has received much media coverage in the last few months
D. people not interested in the media know little about recent happenings

2. The underlined word "spell" in Para. 3 means ________.    

A. relieve               
B. cause            
C. spread              
D. prevent

3. Which of the following characterizes aggressive driving?

A. Talking while driving.              
B. Driving at high speed. 
C. Sounding the horn when passing.      
D. Shouting at another driver.

4. The last paragraph is intended to _________.   

A. tell people how to deal with Road Rage 
B. inform people how aggressive drivers could be 
C. show people how to control themselves when angry 
D. warn people against eye contact with another driver

     I'm Rich Kleinfeldt with some financial expressions used in business and the stock market.
     Our first expression is "in the red."  It is another way of saying that a business is losing money. In the
past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink to show a loss.
     A business magazine recently published a report about a television company. The report said the
company was still in the red, but was able to cut its loss from the year before.
     A profit by a business is written in black numbers. So a company that is "in the black" is making
money.  
     Another financial expression is "run on the bank." That is what happens when many people try to
withdraw all their money from a bank. A "run on the bank" usually happens when people believe there
is danger a bank may fail or close.
     Newspaper reports about a banking crisis in Russia used that expression.They said the government
acted because of fears that the crisis would cause a run on the banks.  
     "Day trading" is a system that lets investors trade directly on an electronic market system. It was the
first completely computerized stock market. It sells stocks of companies not listed on any stock exchange. Many high technology companies are listed on it.
     Day trading companies provide a desk and a computer system to an investor who wants to trade.
Individuals must provide fifty thousand dollars or more to the trading company to pay for the stocks they
buy. Thousands of other investors do day trading from computers in their homes.
     A day trader watches stock prices carefully. When he sees a stock rise in price, he uses the computer
to buy shares of the stock. If the stock continues to rise in price in the next few minutes, the day trader
sells the shares quickly to make a small profit. Then he looks for another stock to buy. If a stock goes
down instead of up, he sells it and accepts the loss.
    The idea is to make a small profit many times during the day. Day traders may buy and sell stocks
hundreds of times each day.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE? 

A. If a business is losing money, we can say it is "in the red." 
B. In the past, numbers in the financial records of a company were written in red ink.
C. A business magazine only publishes reports about companies in the black.
D. The television company has been in the black since the year before.

2. A "run on the bank" happens when people         .

A. try to withdraw their money from a bank
B. are afraid that the bank might close down
C. know that there might be a crisis in the government
D. think that they can't earn money enough to support their families

3. Which of the following is NOT true about Day trading? 

A. Day traders can make small profits without any loss.
B. "Day trading" was the first completely computerized stock market. 
C. You must give some money to the trading company to pay for the stocks you buy.
D. You can do day trading from computers in your homes.

4. How many financial expressions are explained in the passage?

A. 3.        
B. 4.      
C. 5.      
D. 6.

5.Rich Kleinfeldt might be a         .  

A. newspaper reporter
B. boss from a company
C. emcee(主持人) in a radio program
D. investors of a Day trading

     Have you ever intended to be fully absorbed in your work but found yourself distracted (走神) by
e-mail, the Internet and other things throughout the day? According to the survey made by a famous
university in the USA, most people have the experience.
     "People often lose their concentration when they are bored, of course, but also when they are engaged
in challenging tasks," says Peter Bregman, the head of the survey. "They sometimes have a feeling to
escape from what's difficult or boring, so they jump out," he says. The part of the brain devoted to
attention is connected to the brain's emotional center. Any strong emotion -quarrels with colleagues,
roblems at home -can interrupt our attention. Studies over the last decade have shown that too much
work to do at a time can easily lead to distraction.
     Refocusing is hard for many people. Robert Epstein suggests the following, "Stop and listen to some
soft music for a few minutes. Find a good friend or a teacher and say out your matter on your mind. Go
for a short walk or take a deep breath, where you breathe in deeply, count to five slowly, hold it and
breathe out very slowly." This can "blow out all the tension and the unwanted in your mind to restore your
focus."
     Take more control by structuring your time and becoming more aware of your behaviors. "Setting the
phone alarm to go off every hour is my way of creating awareness," Mr. Bregman says. "You have to
inform yourself that you've lost focus in order to do something about it." Starting the day with a to-do list
is also important, such as when to eat, when to go to the gym or take a walk. But if it's overly ambitious,
you will put yourself in a state of anxiety, which makes it hard for the brain to concentrate. "Choosing
three or four things as your priority (優(yōu)先) for the day allows your brain to settle down and focus," he
says.

1. According to the passage, which is NOT the reason why some people can be distracted from
    their work?  

A. They don't want to be devoted to their work.
B. They are disturbed by the Internet and other things.
C. They can't find interest in their work.
D. They feel their work is too hard for them.

2. Which incident might not interrupt your attention?  

A. You were scolded by your teacher.
B. You had words with your good friend.
C. You went to school at six as usual.
D. Your mother and father had a quarrel.

3. According to Robert Epstein, how can we refocus on what we should do? 

A. Listen to rock music for some time.
B. Turn to your good friends or teachers for help.
C. Run around the playground for some time.
D. Take a breath from time to time.

4. What's the meaning of the underlined word "restore" in the passage?

A. recover    
B. reform  
C. release  
D. react

5. Why does the writer set the phone alarm to go off every hour?  

A. To blow out all the tension.
B. To become more aware of his behaviors.
C. To make a to-do list.
D. To remind him when to eat, when to go to the gym or take a walk.

Dear Abby,
     I am a very conservative woman. I don't drink, dance, wear makeups or pants. I enjoy the company
of friends despite (盡管) our differences and thought they enjoyed mine.
      On our most recent outing, however, they laughed at my religious jewelry, commented on my "lack of
fashion," and made me feel guilty for not wanting to stay out late.
     Despite this, they are great friends and would help me at the drop of a hat. I don't bring up their being
overweight, or that I think some of the clothes they wear are ugly. I don't criticize them for sleeping around. I wish they would accept me for who I am.
     I am considering not going out with them the next time they ask, but I don't really want it to come to
that. Any suggestions?
Just an Old-Fashioned Girl
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear Old-Fashioned Girl,
     Just this: It's time for you to start cultivating relationships with people whose values are more like your own. The friends you have described may be lovely, but their comments were out of line and folks are known by the company they keep. If you spend a lot of time with the women you have described, people will begin to make assumptions (臆斷) about you.
                                                                                                         Abby

1. The underlined word "conservative" is closest in meaning to ________.

A. old-fashioned
B. beautiful
C. overweight
D. ordinary-looking

2. When did Old-fashioned Girl feel guilty?

A. When her friends stayed out late.
B. When she stayed out late with her friends.  
C. When her friends refused her to stay out late with them.
D. When she refused her friends' request to stay out late.

3. Which of the following could Old-fashioned Girl most possibly agree to?

A. It is easier to forgive an enemy than to forgive a friend.
B. The friend is the one who knows all about you, and still likes you.
C. Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
D. True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.

4. According to Abby, it's a good idea for Old-fashioned Girl to ________.

A. talk with her friends
B. understand her friends
C. break up with her friends
D. forgive her friends

     United States Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks knew that he had a pool of good but young
hockey players as he watched them play during the tryouts for the 1980 national team. He decided to
choose the players who were the most aggressive and played the hardest.
     Brooks was pleased with his final choices. However, he knew his team would be the underdog if
they faced the powerful team of professionals from the Soviet Union(USSR). During the week before
the Olympics began, the U.S. team played the Soviets in an exhibition game and last badly, 10-3. In
spite of the defeat, Brooks thought that if his team played up to their potential, they might be able to
win a medal.
     After the 1980 Winter Olympic Games began in Lake Placid, New York, the United States was
behind Sweden 2-1 in their first game. With a last-second shot, Bill Baker tied (與……打成平局)
the game for the U.S. team.
     In the second round, the United States defeated Czechoslovakia 7-3. They defeated Norway 5-1
in their next game and then defeated Romania 7-2. A 4-2 win over West Germany followed. With a
record of four wins and one tie, the Americans advanced to the medal round. Their opponent was the
powerful team from the USSR. The Soviet team had a record of five wins and no losses or ties.
     The Soviets took a 2-1 lead. Then, in the last second of the first period, the Americans tied the
score. With 10 minutes left in the game, the Americans took the lead and held on for a slim 4-3 victory.
Many sports fans consider this victory to be one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports. The U.S.
team went on to defeat Finland for the gold medal by a score of 4-2.

1. What did Brooks think of his players before the 1980 Winter Olympic Games?

A. They were too young to be the most aggressive.
B. They were powerful enough to be the champion.
C. They lacked potential yet they played the hardest.
D. They were likely to win a medal if they did their best.

2. The word underdog in paragraph 2 probably means __________. 

A. leader  
B. loser      
C. dog-tamer  
D. spectator

3. What was the U.S. hockey team's record in the 1980 Winter Olympics?

A. Four wins, one tie.              
B. Five wins, one tie.
C. Six wins, one tie.              
D. Six wins, no losses.

4. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Bill Baker scored two goals in the game with the Sweden team.
B. The Soviet team had the same record as the U.S. in the first round.
C. The Soviet team lost the game with the U.S. just at the last minute.
D. The U.S. team's winning over the Soviets was out of expectation.