“There are only four kinds of people in this world,” former first lady Rosalynn Carter once wrote. “Those who have been caregivers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, those who will need caregivers.” Her comment is true now more than ever before. This is a nation of caregivers. You can see it in the numbers: Approximately 50 million Americans provide the majority of the help needed by relatives or friends who are elderly, ill, or disabled. And those figures are only going to grow—the number of people 65 and over is expected to double in the next 40 years, and the number of those over 85 will more than three times.

But the reality of caregiving is best understood not with figures but through the following stories of spouses(配偶), children, siblings (兄弟姐妹), and friends who have stepped forward when a loved one needed them. Their experiences explain what’s new about caregiving these days, and what never changes.

What’s new: an economic climate that makes the cost of caregiving harder than ever to bear; an increasingly mobile society in which families may be separated by a continent when a crisis unfolds; and the effects of divorce and the increasing numbers of people who are choosing to stay single, which mean that many people are reaching their middle years and beyond without a spouse or child at hand.

What never changes: the fact that neither fame nor fortune nor physical gifts protects against sickness and old age. And the fact that no difficulty will keep family and friends from doing what they can to help. We will meet some of the caregivers who have risen to the challenge here. For all of them, the experience has been stressful. But it has also brought their lives new meaning and strengthened their power to love.

68. The main idea of the first paragraph is that__________.

A. Former first lady Rosalynn was a wise woman

B. People in the world can be divided into four types

C. America is a fast aging nation with 50 million in need of caregiving

D. A large number of Americans are caregivers in a way

69. We can see from the third paragraph that__________.

　 A. more and more middle aged American people do not want to get married

　 B. more and more American people work harder due to the climate change

　 C. more and more American people use mobile phones　

　 D. more and more American families tend to live in different places in the world

70. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph means__________.

　 A. everyone will fight against sickness and old age

B. everyone needs to be taken care of

　 C. everyone should protect the sick and the old

　 D. everyone can be rich or famous

71. What is the writer most likely to write about after the last paragraph?

　 A. The changes of American society.

　 B. The stories of some caregivers.

　 C. The reason why something has changed about caregiving.

　 D. The reason why something has not changed about caregiving.

Most of us seem to reach our peak of alertness (警覺) around noon. Soon after that, alertness declines, and sleepiness may set in by mid-afternoon.
   Your short-term memory is best during the morning—in fact, about 15 percent more efficient than at any other time of day. So, students, take notice: when you are faced with a morning exam, it really does pay to review your notes right before the test is given.
   However, long-term memory is different. Afternoon is the best time for learning materials that you want to recall days, weeks or months later. Politicians, business executives or others who must learn speeches would be smart to do their memorizing during that time of day. You should try to do most of your studying in the afternoon, rather than late at night. Many students believe they memorize better while burning the midnight oil because their short-term recall is better during the early hours of the morning than in the afternoon. But short-term memory won’t help them much several days later, when they face the exam.
   By contrast, we tend to do best on tasks related to the process of knowing, understanding, and learning numbers during the morning hours. 
   What about sports? During afternoon and early evening, you’re able to react the quickest to an outside stimulus（刺激）—like a baseball speeding toward you. Studies have also shown that late in the day, when your body temperature is peaking（達到頂峰）, you will consider PE easier and less tiring—whether it actually is or not. That means you are more likely to work harder during a late afternoon or early evening workout, and therefore benefit more from it. 

In fact, all of your senses—taste, sight, hearing, touch and smell—may be at their keenest during late afternoon and early evening. That could be why dinner usually tastes better to us than breakfast.
   While all of us follow the same general pattern of ups and downs, the exact timing varies from person to person. It all depends on how your “biological” day is structured. Each of us can increase our knowledge about our individual rhythms. Learn how to listen to the inner beats of your body; let them set the pace of your day. You will live a healthier and happier life.

64. What does the underlined “it really does pay” mean?

A. It will cost a lot.                              B. It is worthwhile.

C. It is very painful.                             D. It requires price. 

65. If there is an English exam two weeks later, you should go over English ____________ for days before that.

A. right before the exam                              B. in the late evening

C. in the early morning                             D. in the afternoon

66. From the passage, it can be inferred that ______________.

A. we eat more food at noon

B. we feel most tired if we exercise in the evening

C. it is a good choice to study math in the morning

D. we feel most sleepy before noon

67. Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. How to Keep Your Best State of Learning  

B. How to Live a Healthier and Happier Life

C. How to Study Efficiently

D. What’s Your Best Time of the Day for Different Tasks

Maurice Sendak’s children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963, has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year.

The book’s main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper. Before long, Max’s room magically becomes a forest, and he sails away to a land where monsters (怪物) live. Max isn’t scared, though, and becomes king of the wild things, but after a while, he begins feeling homesick. Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom.　　

Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis, an education professor, said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. “This allows children to shape the story themselves,” she said.

The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children, but experts say those words help improve children’s reading skills and challenge them.

Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. “The book talks about what all children go through, like ‘I was naughty but my mommy still loves me’,” Davis said.

The book also encourages children to face their fears. “I think it’s really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters,” Davis said. “Kids can find out monsters aren’t always the thing under the bed that’s going to scare them. I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience.”

Since the book has been successful throughout the years, a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it. Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children. “You don’t want bad dreams over a book that’s extremely wonderful,” Davis said.

59. Teachers and professors like the book Where the Wild Things Are because it helps children _____.

A. learn to draw their own pictures　　 B. understand their own fear

C. become more imaginative　　　　 D. develop more quickly

60. What is the intention of using the larger words in the book?

A. To add to the difficulty while children are reading.

B. To help children get involved in the story.

C. To cause the children some confusion.

D. To help challenge the children’s reading skills.

61. Which of the following is TRUE about the book?

A. Max was sent to the forest as punishment.

B. The character Max is brave enough in the story.

C. It is suitable for people of all ages.

D. It is the most popular children’s book ever published.

62. What does Davis think of the movie?

A. She thinks children of all ages will love it.

B. She encourages children to see it to fight against their fear.

C. She believes it will be a better choice for children than the book.

D. She worries that it might be too frightening for some children.

63. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A. To comment on a famous children’s book.

B. To suggest ways to improve children’s reading.

C. To encourage children to read scary stories.

D. To introduce a movie based on a children’s book.

Dubai, the Gulf desert city state, which is well-known for its huge projects before it was hit by the global financial crisis, on Saturday announced a new development to open the world’s biggest mall and a park larger than London’s Hyde Park.
The ruler of the Gulf desert city state, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, announced the plan for a “new city within Dubai”, according to an official statement, naming it after himself. No cost was stated for “Mohammed bin Rashid City,” to be carried out by his private companies, which developed many of Dubai’s well-known projects, including Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower. The “Mall of the World” will attract 80 million visitors a year to become the “l(fā)argest in the world,” said the statement, while its park will be “30 percent bigger than Hyde Park of London.”

The mall will be connected to a family entertainment center to be developed in cooperation with Universal Studios International that will be the largest in the area, aiming to attract six million visitors a year.

Dubai already has countless malls and hotels, including the Dubai Mall, the world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination, with 62 million visitors this year. “The malls and hotels available at present in Dubai need to be enlarged in line with the future ambitions for the city,” Sheikh Mohammed said in the statement.

Dubai’s tourism is growing by 13 percent a year, according to the statement, with hotel occupancy(入住率) hitting 82 percent in 2011 while hotel profits grew 22 percent last year, more than$4.4 billion.

The city state rocked global financial markets in autumn 2009 over its debt crisis, but its economy has returned to growth.

56. The “new city within Dubai” will __________.

　　　 A. attract 62 million visitors a year　　　　　　　 B. become the world’s tallest tower

C. be the world’s largest family entertainment center　 D. be named after the ruler of the state

57. All the followings are mentioned in the official statement EXCEPT __________?

　　　 A. the cost of building the new city 　B. the developer of the new city

　　　 C. the name of the new city　　 　　 D the number of the visitors the new city expects to attract
58. Which would be the best title of the news?

　　　 A. Tourism and Hotel Profits Growing in Dubai 　　　 B. Global Financial Crisis Hit Dubai

　　　 C. Biggest Mall to be Developed In Dubai　　　 　　 D. Plan to Rebuild Dubai Announced

       閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的四個選項（A、B、C和D）中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項，并在答題卡上將該項涂黑。

    Harold had worked in an electrical company for over 40 years. He was ready to  36  soon. His wife Martha,  37  , was less enthusiastic. As she explained to a friend, “Harold has never done anything that  38  physical effort. He never played golf, mowed the lawn (修整草坪) or even washed the windows.  39  he retires, he will sit in his easy chair and  40  me to bring him his food.”

   But to Martha’s  41 , soon after he retired Harold joined a health club. And one night, when he arrived home from exercise class, he announced, “I  42  for the wrestling tournament (聯(lián)賽). I am going to  43  on Friday night.”

   Martha was shocked. “Please don’t do it. Harold,” she begged. “ You’re not in  44 . You will be so beaten up that they will have to  45  you home!” However, he couldn’t be  46  and she told him that if he went through with his “l(fā)ame idea”, she was not going to  47 .

   She stayed away that Friday evening as Harold wrestled. Then about 10:00 p.m., just as she predicted, two men  48  carried Harold home. He lay down on the couch, aches and pains. Before she could speak, he  49 , “Don’t say a word, Martha! This is not the worst of it. I  50  tonight. I have to wrestle again tomorrow night!”

   Harold worked hard for his  51 , but he may not have been ready to succeed! He proved, however, that when you combine  52  with the belief that you can do a certain thing, very great results will often follow.

   In fact, I believe Harold may have even  53  himself. As Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “People become really quite  54  when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first  55  of success.”

36.    A. travel                B. rest                           C. work                      D. retire

37.    A. moreover           B. besides                      C. however                 D. still

38.    A. required             B. deserved                   C. wasted                    D. reduced

39.    A. Since                 B. Until                         C. When                     D. Before

40.    A. demand              B. expect                       C. need                       D. allow

41.    A. joy                    B. surprise                     C. sorrow                   D. regret

42.    A. pick out             B. took on                     C. signed up               D. put off

43.    A. wrestle              B. box                           C. swim                      D. shoot

44.    A. large                  B. shape                        C. line                         D. sight

45.    A. drive                  B. force                        C. pick                        D. carry

46.    A. allowed              B. bothered                    C. persuaded               D. advised

47.    A. watch                B. help                          C. cheer                      D. treat

48.    A. angrily               B. kindly                       C. heavily                    D. readily

49.    A. ordered              B. shouted                     C. screamed                D. said

50.    A. paid                   B. failed                        C. won                       D. tried

51.    A. fame                  B. wealth                       C. position                   D. success

52.    A. sweat                B. tear                           C. energy                    D. patience

53.    A. conducted          B. surprised                   C. scared                    D. enjoyed

54.    A. selfless              B. generous                   C. unusual                   D. smart

55.    A. enjoyment          B. way                          C. secret                     D. story

—Hey, Mary. Happy New Year! ______?

—OK. I guess. My grandma kept cooking and cooking, so I just kept eating.

  A. How is your grandma                               B. Where did you go for holiday        

  C. What did you do in your holiday                 D. How was your break

When questioned, he was too shocked to give a(n)       of what had happened when the attack took place．

       A. assessment              B. account            C. survey                  D. summary

 Modern China is experiencing a completely new period _____ respect for science and creativity has become the guiding principle of society.

A. of which               B. where           C. in which               D. that

The committee has expected the problems that ____ in the road construction project.

    A. arise                 B. will arise        C. arose                D. have arisen

 I’ve always _____ Bill for his courage and determination.

       A. looked up to             B. lived up to          C. faced up to                D. added up to