Sixteen-year-old Karlos Dearmans's future is looking much brighter than be might have imagined.
"I've always been into bikes, but never thought I'd end up working with them," he says. "This scheme
has changed my life." 
     Karlos is learning to refurbish (翻新) old bicycles in the workshop of ReCycle Bikes, a local community
(社區(qū)) charity in Sheffied, which has a contract with the city council to provide training opportunities for
young people aged 14 to 16, particularly those dropping out of school.
     "It's about engaging youngsters with education and you thtraining by teaching them work and life skills,"
explains Des Pearce, workshop training manager. "These young people have so much potential, but often
don't realize it."
     Established in 2001, ReCycle Bikes repairs bicycles donated by the public, which, once restored, are
sold for ￡20. Abandoned bikes supplied by the council ensure a steady flow of bikes, but a recently
formed partnership with Sheffield University should improve further the prospects of the young mechanics. 　　
     "The student population presents a large and ready market," says Pearce. "So we approached the
university last year and offered to host bike sales on the campus. They thought it was a great idea, and
agreed to supplement our council funding. This means we can train youngsters to repair extra 500 bikes
over three years." 　　
     Having set up ReCycle Bikes on his own, Pearce now has the staff and resources to track the career
development of those who have passed through his workshop. "However, in the past we depended on
the evidence of personal accounts from the schools because of lack of human and material resources,"
he says. 　　
     That most of the teenagers enjoy the work is, according to Pearce, easily explained. "Most kids have
ridden a bike and know how to oil a chain or mend a puncture. As low-cost transport, cycling gives the
young and old a sense of freedom and independence, and the impact on their well-being is immense. Add
to that a growing concern for the environment, and it's no surprise that bike sales are on the increase."

1. What do we know about ReCycle Bikes?

A. It is a popular brand of bikes which are sold in Sheffield.
B. It is a local community charity that provides training opportunities for reenagers.
C. It is a contract signed between a local community charity and the city council.
D. It is a training program offered by the city council to those excluded from school.

2. How did ReCycle Bikes run at the beginning?

A. By repairing bicycles donated by the public and selling them.
B. By donations from the public and Sheffield University.
C. By selling bicycles supplied by the city council.
D. By tuition fees from kids aged between 14 and 16.

3. ReCycle Bikes has formed a partnership with Sheffield University because ____.

A. students at Sheffield University assure a large and ready market
B. Sheffield University offers many mechanical teachers to ReCycle Bikes
C. heffield University donates a lot of money to ReCycle Bikes
D. teenagers at ReCycle Bikes can study at Sheffield University

4. ReCycle Bikes depended on information from the schools in the past because ____.

A. the schools could give accurate information  to improve its service
B. students disliked telling the truth when asked about  their personal ideas
C. ReCycle Bikes didn't have the ability to track students'  career development
D. most of the training organizations did it this way at that moment

     Kids who receive special education are, without doubt, the hardest working children in any school.
When they are having difficulty learning basic literacy and number concepts, when they break rules,
when they need more services, support and adult attention than their peers, then they are struggling the
hardest. In psychology, we are trained to think that if we are feeling angry or confused when sitting with
a patient, then we are probably feeling just what our patient is feeling.The same is true for students with
disabilities. Whatever we feel when we work with them, they are probably feeling as they work with us.
     If you have a disability that affects your education, then you have a brain disorder.Because education,
even in mathematics, is largely verbal (用言辭), most brain disorders responsible for educational disabilities
affect language, and how you process words and ideas in written and oral form. To imagine how much
effort a child with a language disability spends each school day, imagine yourself attending a school today
taught in a language you had a basic understanding of. Imagine though, that while you seem fluent to others,
you have trouble when people talk too fast, use idioms or expressions.
     When adults and classmates blame, or criticize kids who receive special education, they are struggling
with their own confusion.It is difficult to imagine the world as it is lived by someone with an educational
disability. It is difficult to understand how someone who can be so "normal" can have so many problems.
It is so easy to imagine that if they just tried harder...without understanding that just to do the ordinary, kids
with disabilities are making an extraordinary effort.

1. What is the purpose of the author by writing the passage?

A. to introduce how hard to be a special education teacher.
B. to think highly of the children with disabilities.
C. to show the disabled have much trouble in understanding.
D. to call on the society to care for the disabled.

2. If a disabled kid learns number concepts, he ______.

A. won't work as hard as a normal.
B. will work double as hard as a normal.
C. will be as patient as the normal.
D. will think of his disability first.

3. If a kid has a disability affecting his education, he will ______.

A. have a hard time using the language.
B. be too foolish to learn maths.
C. not understand what others are saying.
D. have a lot of trouble in remembering words.

4. Before you intend to blame a kid receiving special education, _______.

A. you should try to understand what he is saying.
B. you should imagine the world he lives in.
C. you should imagine yourself in his shoes.
D. you should think of the education he has received.

     Once in a television interview, I was chatting with the host about stay-at-home athers. I made the point
that one reason why we're seeing more stay-at-homw dads may be hat it's no longer definite that a man
makes more money than his wife. Many families now ake earning power into account when deciding which
parent will stay home.
     At that point, one of the male crew members pointed out, almost to himself but loud nough for my benefit,
"It should be the better parent who stays home." A lot of guys say hings like that. Usually it's a code for"My
wife, or any woman is the better parent."
     I was a stay-at-home father for 8 years, so his words made me excited. It implied that our family's choice
could only have been correct if I was a "better" parent than my wife.
     I suppose an argument could have been made that when I began staying home my wife was the "better"
parent if she spent more time with Jack. She would be able to read him wetter and calm him more quickly.
But as the more employable one, my wife went out to work and I looked after our son.
      Because of the increased time I spent with Jack. I soon knew him well, understood that he needed and
could look after him more or less as well as my wife could. Actually, he experience helped me unlock one of
the world's great secrets; Women are good at booking after children because they do it. It is not because of
any innate (先天的) female talent. It is because they put in the time and attention required to become good at
the job.
     Woman obviously get a biological head starting from giving birth and nursing, but ever the long term
experience is more important. When I got the experience myself. I was people are able to look after them as
well besides their moms.

1. The first paragraph implies _____.

A. more and more men like staying at home
B. the author works at a TV station as a host
C. more women are earning money than before
D. dad is the better parent in a family

2. The author stayed at home to look after their son for 8 years because _____.

A. he thought he was the better parent
B. he was afraid of working outside now
C. their son liked him better than his Mom
D. he was less likely to find a job than his wife

3. Women are good at taking care of children because _____.

A. they devote their time and attention to children
B. they would rather stay at home than work outside
C. they are born with the ability to look after children
D. they've learn to take care of children from their parents

4. What does the author conclude?

A. A man can take better care of children than his wife.
B. A man with experience can take good care of children.
C. A child prefers to stay with his or her mother.
D. A child prefers to stay with his or her father.

     "If you run for more than five minutes at any time, you might need a pair of running shoes." Advises
Stephen Pribut, a US sports expert. Running shoes are highly technical footwear. The provide stability
(牢固) while bearing up to three times the wearer's body weight. But it's not easy to find the right
pair. Finding the right running shoes is something of an art, or a science and a feel.
     The science part begins with the shape of the arch (弓) of your foot, which anyone can find out at
home with this quick experiment: Put your foot in water and place it on a piece of brown paper. If you
see a"C" shape on the paper when you remove your foot, you have a rare high arch. If the shape looks more
like a rectangle, that means you have flat feet. See something in between? That's a normal arch.
     Conveniently for shoppers, shoe companies nowadays divide their shoes in three categories: neutral
( for high arches), stability ( for normal or low arches) and motion control (for flat arches). So you'll
know which type suits you.
     At this point, most people would just grab an appealing shoe and try it on, But professionals would
do a few quality-control tests. First, you bend the shoe toe to heel to see where it bends. If it's not
at the forefoot---where the foot actually be bends, be afraid. Then you grip both ends and twist in
opposite directions. If you can twist it like a tower, it means there's zero support. Finally, you
squeeze (擠) he heel in both directions. A stable heel won't cave in.
     Now you need to check the mold (模子) that shapes the inside of the shoe: whether its wide or narrow
in the mid-foot, how it sits on the heel and how roomy the toe box is. 
     It's wise to make the shoe purchase in the late afternoon, to allow for any swelling (腫脹) that your
feet do throughout the day. Toes also decide sizing choices. The rule is that you need a finger's width
from your longest toe (whether that's your big one or not) to the end of the shoe.

1. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Advantages of wearing running shoes fitting you.
B. Ways to get to know about the shape of the arch of your foot.
C. Advice on how to choose the right pair of running shoes.
D. Best time to buy a pair of running shoes.

2. If the arch of your foot look like a "C" shape, you have ______.

A. a normal arch
B. a high arch
C. a flat arch
D. a low arch

3. The underlined phrase "cave in" most probably means ______.

A. bend
B. stretch
C. shake
D. crash

4. Why is the late afternoon the ideal time to go shopping for shoes?

A. We are likely to be more patient in the afternoon.
B. Feet usually become larger late in the day.
C. The toes become longer late in the day.
D. The arch of our feet will be in best shape in the afternoon.

     Someday a stranger will read your e-mail without your permission or scan the website you've visited.
Or perhaps someone will casually glance through your credit card purchases or cell phones bills to find
out your shopping or calling habits.
     In fact, it's likely some of theses things have already happened to you. Who would watch you without
your permission? It might be a spouse (配偶), a girlfriend, a marketing company, a boss, a policeman or a
criminal. Whoever it is, they will see you in a way you never intended to be seen--- the 21st century
equivalent (同等物) of being caught without wearing anything.
     Psychologists tell us boundaries are healthy, that it's important to reveal (透露) yourself to friends, family
and lovers in stages, at proper times. But few boundaries remain. The digital breed crumbs (面包屑) you
leave everywhere make it easy for strangers to reconstruct (重現(xiàn)) who you are, where you are and what you
like. In some cases, a simple Google search can reveal what you think. Like it or nor, increasingly we live in
a world where you simply cannot keep a secret.
     The key question is: Does that matter?
      For many Americans, the answer obviously is "no."
     When opinion surveys ask Americans about privacy, most say they are concerned about losing it. A
survey found an overwhelming pessimism (悲觀) about privacy, with 60 percent of respondents saying
that they feel their privacy is " slipping away, and that bothers me."
     But people say one thing and do another. Only a tiny part of Americans change any behaviours in an
effort to protect their privacy. Few people turn down a discount (折扣) at tollbooths to avoid using the
EZ-Pass system that can track automobile movements. And few turn down supermarkets loyalty cards.
Privacy economist Alessandro Acquisti has run a series of tests that reveal people will give personal
information like Social Security numbers just to get their hands on a pitiful 50-cents-off coupon (優(yōu)惠卷).
      But privacy does matter--- at least sometimes. It is like health. When you have it, you don't notice it. Only
when it's gone do you wish you'd done more to protect it.

1. What would psychologists advise on the relationships between friends?

A. Friends should open their hearts to each other.'
B. There should be a distance even between friends.
C. Friends should always be faithful to each other.
D. There should be fewer arguments between friends.

2. Why does the author say " We live in a world where you simply cannot keep a secret?"

A. Modern society has finally developed in to an open society.
B. People leave traces (蹤跡) around when using modern technology.
C. There are always people who are curious about others' affairs.
D. Many search engines profit by revealing people's identities (身份).

3. What do most Americans do to protect privacy?

A. They change behaviours that might reveal their identity.
B. The use various loyalty cards for business transaction(處理).
C. They rely more and more on electronic devices.
D. The talk a lot but hardly do anything about it.

4. According to the passage, privacy is like health in that _______.

A. people will make every efforts to keep it.
B. its importance is hardly understood.
C. it is something that can easily be lost.
D. people don't value it until they lose it.

     According to the American Automobile Association, since 1964 all cars sold in the United States have
been equipped with seat belts. (These are also called safety belts.) Mary studies of automobile accidents
have shown that safety belts can save lives. One study showed that forty percent of those killed in auto
accidents could have been saved if they had been wearing seat belts.
     Unfortunately belts are worn only by a small percentage of drivers and passengers-about fifteen percent
in cities, and only nine percent in small towns. And safety belts cannot protect people who do not wear them.
     In order to find out what kinds of people do wear seat belts a study was made in several cities of the
United States. The following facts were learned about those who use their safety belts:
     1. They do not smoke while driving.
     2. They have had more education than non-users.
     3. They know someone who was injured(but not killed)in an automobile accident.
     Advertisements based on these facts have been printed in newspapers and magazines in order to teach
people the importance of using seat belts. But these advertisements have not helped much. Some people
believe there should be a law requiring drivers and passengers to use safety belts. In Australia, where there
is such a law, deaths in auto accidents have decreased twenty-four percent.

1. This selection is mainly about _____.

A. automobiles in the United States
B. accidents involving cars
C. safety belts for drivers and passengers
D. parking problems

2. The selection says that in Australia _____.

A. about 50% of the drivers wear seat belts
B. the importance of seat belts is advertised in newspapers
C. few people use seat belts and magazines
D. a law requires drivers and passengers to use seat belts

3. People who live in small towns _____.

A. have fewer accidents than those who live in cities
B. are less likely to wear seat belts than those who live in cities
C. ten to favor the passing of a law to require the use of seat belts
D. often wear seat belts

4. In Australia, where there is such a law, deaths in auto accidents have decreased _____.

A. fifty percent
B. ten percent
C. fifteen percent
D. twenty-four percent

     There's nothing wrong with tuming your hobby into a business. We're supposed to enjoy our work, right?
Just turn something we already enjoy into our career. Whether you're into painting or building furniture, you
know you feel proud of the result of your efforts.
     However, you should first explore the concept and do your market research and other planning. Don't
forget to consider what your day-to-day work life would look like.
     There is one very positive aspect of doing a business plan _____. You may be highly motivated to do some
planning and research, since this relates to an activity you know well and enjoy, and you therefore may be more
likely to do the necessary planning. This is a big plus! And once you see how to do this research, you may be
more likely to do it for other ideas you will come up with.
     Something I've learned over the years is that creating a business out of the first few ideas you come up with
isn't a good goal. If you are brainstorming ideas for your new career path, I suggest you list lots of ideas and
choose one or two that have the most potential to explore, as well as those that really draw you in.
     The evolution of your ideas is the best reason to explore those first ideas. The best careers come from
exploring the first ideas and finding out what will, and what won't, work for you. Make sure the business plan
you are creating based on your hobby should be one that you will enjoy and that will add to your quality of life.
Then start with your hobby, and enjoy the adventure of finding out where you will end up!

1. What's the writer's purpose of writing this passage? (Please answer within 10 words.)
     _______________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which sentence in the passage is closest in meaning to the following one? Make sure you have taken the
    future of your daily work life into consideration.
     _______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Fill in the blank in the third paragraph with proper words or phrases to complete the sentence. (Please answer
    within 10 words.)
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
4. What kind of business do you intend to start in the future? Why? (Please answer within 40 words.)
    _______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Translate the underlined sentence in the lasl paragraph into Chinese.
    _______________________________________________________________________________________

(     )1. Dear Helen, 
                 I'm a boy in a middle school. My problem is that I want to make friends, but I don't know how.
            My classmates seem to be OK, but I just know I'll do something wrong. Please help me.
                                                                                                                                                  xx
(     )2. Dear Helen,
                 My best friend is a nice young girl, but she has a serious shortcoming. She is always late. When 
            we're planning to do something together, she always keeps me waiting for her. Once she was 30
            minutes late for our meeting. What can I do?
                                                                                                                                                   xx
(     )3. Dear Helen,
                I'm feeling very upset these days because the result of my last English exam was very bad. Even
           though my teacher told me that I could do better the next time, I'm still feeling very bad. I need your
           help. 
                                                                                                                                                   xx
(     )4. Dear Helen, 
                I'm a girl student in a middle school. One day a boy in my class gave me a love letter and he
           wanted me to be his girl friend. I know we are just students and it's not a proper time for me to fall
           in love with somebody. I also do not want to hurt that boy. What can I do?  
                                                                                                                                                    xx

A. Dear xx,
         I understand how you feel about your problem and it's very important for you to find more chances to
     communicate with your classmates. You can ask your classmates about their likes and dislikes. Also, you
     can join them in discussions and show your interest in their ideas. You can change the situation!
                                                                                                                                                  Helen
B. Dear xx,
        You could try talking to her about the importance of being on time, and you can also tell her that you are 
    very unhappy with her about this. If she really cares about your friendship, she will not always keep you 
    waiting for long.
                                                                                                                                                  Helen
C. Dear xx,
         Scores are important for a student, but you don't have to care too much about the result of one test.
     You are learning. Maybe it is more important o find out why you failed to achieve your goal. Try to do
      better next time.
                                                                                                                                                   Helen
D. Dear xx, 
         "Be yourself" is the best solution. If I were you, I'd tell him to leave me alone. At least tell him, "That 
     was hurtful. Please don't say things like that to me. I'm a football fan and like watching football games.
      I can make my own decision."
                                                                                                                                                   Helen
E. Dear xx, 
        You're right. As a student, it's not a proper time for you to fall in love with a boy. If I were you, I would 
     make it clear to the boy that you could not accept his love. If possible, you can tell the boy you two can be
     friends if he can forget it. I hope it can help you. 
                                                                                                                                                   Helen