The novels written by the author sell best, but five years ago no one could have imagined how great a role he _____in the literary (文學(xué)的) world.

   A. was playing          B. was to play         C. had played          D. played

If you boss asks you to work in Moscow this year, he’d better offer you more money to do so — or even double that depending on where you live now. That’s because Moscow has just been found to be the world’s most expensive city for the second year in a row by Mercer Human Resources Consulting.

       Using the cost of living in New York as a base, Mercer determined Moscow is 34.4 percent more expensive including the cost of housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment(娛樂).

       A two-bedroom flat in Moscow now costs $4,000 a month; a CD $24.83, and an international newspaper $6.30, according to Mercer. By comparison, a fast food meal with a hamburger(漢堡包) is a steal at $4.80.

       London takes the No.2 place, up from No.5 a year ago, thanks to higher cost of housing and a stronger British pound relative to the dollar. Mercer estimates(估算) London is 26 percent more expensive than New York these days. Following London closely are Seoul and Tokyo, both of which are 22 percent more expensive than New York, while No.5 Hong Kong is 19 percent more costly.

       Among North American cities, New York and Los Angeles are the most expensive and are the only two listed in the top 50 of the world’s most expensive cities. But both have fallen since last year’s study — New York came in 15^th, down from 10^th place, while Los Angeles fell to 42^nd from 29^th place a year ago. San Francisco came in a distant third at No. 54, down 20 places from a year earlier.

       Toronto, meanwhile, is Canada’s most expensive city but fell 35 places to take 82^nd place worldwide. In Australia, Sydney is the priciest place to live in and No. 21 worldwide.

What do the underlined words “a steal” in Paragraph 3 mean?

   A. an act of stealing                      B. something delicious

   C. something very cheap                D. an act of buying

London has become the second most expensive city because of ______.

   A. the high cost of clothing            B. the stronger pound against the dollar

   C. its expensive transportation        D. the high prices of fast food meals

Which city is the third most expensive on the list?

   A. Tokyo.         B. Hong Kong.             C. Moscow.                  D. Sydney.

Which city has dropped most on the list in North America?

   A. New York.   B. Los Angeles.             C. San Francisco.   D. Toronto.

Telecommuting(遠程辦公) will have major effects on the worlds of work and family life. However, its biggest effect will be in the area of individual freedom, responsibility and time management.

Work and workplaces will change greatly. Offices may become smaller, as fewer desks are needed. There will be greater need for high-speed Internet connections to link the office and the home, and even homes to other homes, as other employees also begin working at home. Hours spent in traffic jams, and fights for parking should diminish, as workers travel less.

Family life will also change. Both husbands and wives will be able to arrange their work around family commitments such as taking children to school, cooking, spare time activities, and so on. However, households(家人) will also have to set aside areas for work-particularly if more than one person is telecommuting.

However, although the ideas of more time at home and less time traveling are attractive, there are some drawbacks to telecommuting. People may feel that they cannot escape from work, work longer hours, or become less social. The quality of work may suffer because of fewer face-to-face interactions with other employees, and there may be delays if other workers are not immediately available. Telecommuters may also feel isolated. A major change will be in the way people think about work as a place or an institution. Instead, they will focus on the task or the product. Workers may feel less loyal to a company.

In conclusion, the effects are difficult to predict because they depend on the extent to which telecommuting becomes popular. At the same time, however, telecommuting could be the start of a major societal shift, possibly as big as the Industrial Revolution which created our present ideas of work.

64. This passage was mainly written to tell us _____.

        A. about the advantages of telecommuting               

B. how telecommuting will change the world

        C. that telecommuting will affect family life            D. how to telecommute in the future

65. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

        A. The disadvantages of telecommuting.                  B. Setting aside areas for work.

        C. The future of telecommuting.                             D. The employees’ focus on work.

66. With telecommuting in the future, which of the following will be reduced?

        A. Working hours and family time.                         B. Face-to-face communication.

        C. Spare time and individual freedom.                            D. Spending time with friends.

67. What can we infer from the passage?

        A. Telecommuting will change the world completely.

        B. There will be no traffic jams because of telecommuting.

        C. Work efficiency will increase through telecommuting.

        D. Telecommuting workers will likely change their jobs.

    The small number of newborn babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear a word invented in Japan. which means Double Income Kids(小孩).

    In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a ****** is extremely high. A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $3000,000 (though prices have fallen). For a flat with one bedrooms, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay about $900 a month. What’s more, if they want to have a child, the child’s education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5.000 a year. In such a situation, it’s difficult to afford children.

    The number of married women who want to continue working because they enjoy their jobs. However, if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to contimue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs.

     In a word, Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible.

What is the main problem being discussed in the passage?

   A. The small number of newborn babies.

   B. The changing social situation of women.

   C. The high prices of houses and education.

   D. The necessary steps of Asian government.

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

   A. It is easy for a couple to afford a child in Asia.

   B. The prices of in Asia are quite low now.

   C. Fewer and fewer married women wan to have a job.

   D. The word “DINKS” appeared in an Asian country.

To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten, how much will a couple pay each year?

   A. 85,000      B. 85,900      C. $10.800      D. $15.800

The seems to believe that Asian governments should ________.

   A. let women stay at home and have a baby

   B. allow one of the parents to go out to work

   C. care for the growing needs of women for job.

   D. the companies that permit women to leave.

The mobile phone has been a part of our lives since the 1980s. It enables us to stay in contact with our family and friends at all times and in most areas. However, because of the quick acceptance and extensive usage of mobiles in our lives, we have missed out on an important step, namely, the appropriate (恰當(dāng)?shù)?use.

Driving a car  

Do not use your phone while you are driving ! You could concentrate on your conversation and forget to look where you are going, or you could take your eyes off the road to look at the phone’s display or to press in a number. Either way, you could cause a terrible accident.

In a restaurant

There is probably nothing more annoying than a diner receiving or making a call near you when you are in a restaurant. The icy glares you receive should be warning enough that it is not appreciated. Turn you phone off and enough that it is not appreciated. Turn you phone off and use your message service to return calls after you leave.

At the cinema

Do not give way to the desire to call a friend if the film is boring, or if you want to find out what happens. You could become the target of all the angry cinema customers.

At the theatre

There is no more icy glare than that of a theatre goer who has paid a lot of money to see a show and hears your phone playing a tone. It goes without saying that you will be seen as a socially unacceptable person in this situation.

In hospitals

This is probably the most important place to make sure your phone is switched off. Your phone can disturb life-saving electronic equipment in hospitals, so it is necessary that your phone is switched off before you enter.

On planes

Your phone might disturb navigational equipment and cause a horrible accident so you should switch it off before boarding a plane.

According to the passage, the most annoying thing in a restaurant is that __________.

A. you receive icy glares

B. a nearby diner is answering a phone call

C. you have to use the message service

D. you can not return calls until after you leave

Which of the following statements is NOT true ?

A. Theatre goers will not give you icy glares when they hear your phone.

B. When switched on in hospitals, mobile phones could endanger patients’ lives.

C. Passengers should switch off the phones before getting on a plane.

D. Pressing in phone numbers when driving could lead to traffic accidents.

The passage mainly describes __________.

A. different functions of mobile phones

B. the overuse of mobile phones on some occasions

C. some areas where message service is forbidden

D. the proper use of mobile phones in some public places

What does the underlined word “concentrate on” mean in the article? It means ______.

A.. make something stronger         B. carry on

C. pay particular attention         D. think something clearly

“Creativity is the key to a brighter future,” says education and business experts. Here is how schools and parents can encourage this important skill in children.

If Dick Drew had listened to his boss in 1925, we might not have a product that we now think of as of great importance: a new type of tape. Drew worked for the Minnesota Mining Company. At work he developed a kind of material strong enough to hold things together. But his boss told him not to think more about the idea. Finally, using his own time, Drew improved the tape, which now is used everywhere by many people. And his former company learned from its mistake. Now it encourages people to spend 15 percent of their work time just thinking about and developing new ideas.   

Creativity is not something one is just born with, nor is it necessarily a character of high intelligence. The fact that a person is highly intelligent does not mean that he uses it creatively. Creativity is the matter of using the resources one has to produce new ideas that are good for something.

Unfortunately, schools have not tried to encourage creativity. With strong attention to test results and the development of reading, writing and mathematical skills, many educators give up creativity for correct answers. The result is that children can give back information but can’t recognize ways to use it in new situations. They may know the rules correctly but they are unable to use them to work out practical problems.

It is important to give children choices. From the earliest age, children should be allowed to make decisions and understand their results. Even if it’s choosing between two food items for lunch, decision-making helps thinking skills. As children grow older, parents should let their children decide how to use their time or spend their money. This is because the most important character of creative people is a very strong desire to find a way out of trouble.

What did the company where Drew once worked learn from its mistake?

   A. They should encourage people to work a longer time.

   B. People should be discouraged to think freely.

C. People will do better if they spend most of their work time developing new ideas.

D. It is necessary for people to spend some of their work time considering and improving new ideas.  

According to the passage, creativity is ________.

A. something that most people are born with

B. something that depends mainly on intelligence

C. a way of using what one has learned to work out new problems

D. something that is not important to the character of a person at all

Why do schools tend to fail to encourage creativity?

A. They give children too many choices.

B. They are not strict enough with children.

C. They care too much about examination marks.

D. They don’t understand the importance of education.

Which of the following skills is the most important in developing creativity?

   A. Reading.     B. Writing.     C. Mathematical skill.      D. Decision-making.

The standard Outward Bound course lasts for three or four weeks. During that time the students live in the wilderness and go through many physical activities of ever increasing difficulty.

The first few days are given to physical conditioning and to the teaching of basic skills such as first aid, map and compass reading, rope climbing, and other similar activities.

During the second part of the course students learn how to climb rocks and cliffs, how to use canoes and rafts in swift water, and in some schools how to sail, ski, climb mountains, and make long-distance hikes.

The first two parts of the course are done in groups. Members work together and help each other to overcome the increasing number of challenges. In the third part of the course, students are sent out alone for three days to survive in the wilderness with only a few necessities.

Who are the students of Outward Bound? They are both young people and adults, men and women. The minimum age is 16.5 years. There is no maximum age. About one-third of the 6,000 persons completing the course each year are women. Businessmen, housewives, university students, professors, doctors, and lawyers are among those taking part in the course.

In recent years special courses for the busy business managers have gained in popularity. These courses last from five to ten days rather than the usual three to four weeks of the normal course.

Not all students complete the Outward Bound course. In some cases the individual cannot meet the physical challenges. In its own words Outward Bound literature says: "Make no mistake, Outward Bound is not for everybody. The courses aren't easy and are not meant to be."

Most students who finish the course share a common experience. They are surprised at themselves that they finish the course and they feel great pride in doing the impossible! The Outward Bound experience makes them feel that they are better than they know!

Where are Outward Bound courses given?

A. In the classroom.

B. On the playground.

C. In the wilderness.

D. In canoes and rafts.

All of the following are true EXCEPT __________.

A. Special courses for business executives last five to ten days longer

B. All of the students have to live outdoors

C. The students of Outward Bound are composed of both sexes over 16.5 years

D. More and more businessmen like the Outward Bound course

Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Around 6,000 people attend the course each year.

B. About 2,000 women attend the course each year.

C. About 2,000 women overcome the challenges each year.

D. Approximately 2,000 people overcome the challenges each year.

When students are sent out alone for the last three days in the course, they      .

A. take anything they think necessary with them

B. take the equipment they found useful

C. are provided with everything to make them comfortable

D. are provided with only a few articles which are absolutely necessary

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had stumbled over something and dropped all of the books he was carrying along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were going the same way, he helped to carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, and  that he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.  

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if Ihad killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

The underlined word “stumbled” in Paragraph One probably means    .

A. stopped himself                  B. came to life

C. trapped himself                   D. lost one’s balance

It can be inferred that________ according to the passage.

A. The boy took so many books with him because he was about to take an exam soon.

B. From the beginning, in fact, Mark knew Bill was to kill himself.

C. Bill valued the days when they spent talking and laughing together

D. Bill was dismissed for his breaking the school rules

What was it that saved Bill’s life in fact?

A. Friendliness and kindness.          B. Understanding and Honesty.

C. Bill’s confidence and strong will     D. Bill’s mother’s encouragement

From the passage we can learn that    _____.

A. Bill would have remove to another school if Mark hadn't met him that day

B. Bill had planned to go to kill himself for the loss of his girlfriend.

C. From the first meeting, they often talked and play together.

D. Mark found out Bill’s secret and saved his life.

Which of the following should be the best title for this passage?

A. A little but meaning thing

B. Just a Little Smile

C. Unforgettable School Life

D. Friendship and Life

語法填空 (共10小題，每小題1.5分，滿分15分)

    閱讀下面短文，按照句子結(jié)構(gòu)的語法性和上下文連貫的要求，在空格處填入一個適當(dāng)?shù)脑~或使用括號中詞語的正確形式填空，并將答案填寫在答題卡標(biāo)號為31～40的相應(yīng)位置上。

    Chinese proverbs are rich and they are still widely used in Chinese people’s daily life.   31   these proverbs there are often interesting stories. For example, the proverb, “plucking up a crop   32  (help) it grow”, is based on the following story.

    It is said that a short—tempered man in the Song Dynasty (960—1279) was very anxious to help   33  rice crop grow up quickly. He was thinking about   34   day and night. But the crop was growing much slower than he expected.

    One day, he came up with an idea   35   he would pluck up all of his crop a few inches. He did so the next day.

    He was very tired   36   doing this for a whole day,   37   he felt very happy since the crop did “grow”  38  (high).

    His son heard about this and went to see the crop. Unfortunately the leaves of the crop began to wither.

This proverb is saying we have to let things go in their   39  (nature) course. Being too anxious to help an event develop often   40  (result) in the contrary to our intention.

Are you a big fan of pirate（海盜） stories? Do you know how to talk like a pirate? You can have fun on September 19th. This special holiday is called International Talk Like A Pirate Day. It was invented in 1995 by two young Americans, John Baur and Mark Summers.

These two good friends came up with this idea when they were playing racquetball, and began to talk like pirates. At that moment, they thought, “Young people are interested in pirate. But there is no such a chance for people to get together to share it. Why not have a day when everybody talks like a pirate?” They decided to make September 19th the date. Since then, Baur and Summers have tried hard to promote Talk Like A Pirate Day. As Baur said, “We've talked like pirates, and encouraged several of our friends to do so every September 19th.”

At first, this day was only known by a few people. In 2002, Baur and Summers sent a letter about their invented holiday to Dave Barry. This columnist（專欄作家）really liked their idea. He promoted the holiday and made it known to more and more people. Now, it has really become an international holiday. On Talk Like A Pirate Day, you need to dress like a pirate. You should wear a big hat or maybe cover one of your eyes. You can pretend to be any kind of pirate that you can find in any story or movie.

Having fun and being relaxed are not the only best things about the holiday. Young people share the same interest and childhood dreams that day. That's why it is welcomed by so many people, especially young people.

Unlike traditional holidays, International Talk Like A Pirate Day is a brand new holiday which is invented by the youth themselves and celebrated by themselves too. Because of Baur and Summers' imagination and creativity, thousands of young people's pirate dream come true. Next time, when you have a good idea, why not share it with your fiends and insist on your belief? Maybe you can create another wonderful holiday for the youth in the future.

How did John Baur and Mark Summers invent the special holiday?

A. Many young people asked them to do it

B. They did it just for pleasure

C. They thought out the idea by chance and imagination

D. They did it in order to honor pirates

Why are the holiday become more and more popular？.

A. You can have fun and relax yourself freely.

B. young people can exchange ideas and dreams on the day

C. young people can have fun and be relaxed.

D. you can play the role of the pirate in the movie on the day

Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?

A. It was Dave Barry who made more people know the holiday.

B. Talk Like A Pirate Day is a young, active and lively holiday

C. Thanks to John Baur and Mark Summers’ imagination and creativity, a lot of people realize their pirate dream.  

D. The holiday has been popular since the birth of it.

According to the passage, which of the following can show that the holiday is special?

A. It has a long history.  

B. It is a wonderful and instructive holiday.

C. It is a brand new holiday invented and celebrated by the youth themselves. 

D. People can make their dream come true on this day.

Which of the following can serve as the best title of the passage？

A. Can you talk like a pirate?

B. Young people’s pirate dream

C. John Baur and Mark Summers

D. September 19th ,—a day in honor of pirates