【推荐2】My son was a second-grader. He went to school by bus every day. He was the first student on in the morning, as we were farthest from school, and the last student off in the evening. I was a teacher myself and it was a comfort to realize the school staff (职员) were all working as hard as I was to provide a safe learning environment.

One day I came home from work and waited for my son to get home for a long time. Then I called the school. “Perhaps he’s just a bit late,” said the secretary. “I will call the driver to see if those children are home.” A few minutes later, I answered the phone to hear that the other students were home. Then I called his friends’ parents, to see if perhaps he had gotten off at their stop to play. The answers were all “No.”

By that time, it was dark and I was scared. My home was in the mountain areas, and it was said that a wolf had come up somewhere. My husband wasn’t at home, so I forced myself to calm down and decided to go out to look for him. I was about to go out when the telephone rang; it was from the driver. “He’s okay,” I heard. “He was asleep on the seats in the back, under a couple of jackets. Since it’s dark, can he spend the night with my family?”

I was relieved and agreed. Since my son had a great adventure, the school started giving a copy of the list to the driver, so he could check off the children’s names when they got off the bus. I think highly of the school for taking the cautionary (警戒的) step ahead; it is a sign of their concern for students, parents, and staff.

1. From Paragraph 1 we learn that ________.

A．the author’s son went home by bus every after-noon

B．the author’s son came to school earlier than other students

C．the author’s home was farther than that of any other student

D．the author was a teacher in her son’s primary school

2. At first the secretary thought ________.

A．the author’s son was still at school

B．the author’s son was at his friend’s home

C．the school bus would arrive in a while

D．there might be something wrong with the school bus

3. The author’s son probably spent the night _________.

A．in the bus	B．at his own home
C．at the driver’s home	D．in the secretary’s office

4. The author wrote the text to ________.

A．praise the school for its thoughtful action

B．thank the bus driver for his kindness

C．complain about the secretary of the school

D．show her concern for kids safety

【推荐3】Mr. and Mrs. White had two sons and three daughters. One Sunday, Mrs. White said to her husband, “The children don’t have any lessons today, and you’re free too. There is a new funfair (游乐场) in the park.Let us all go there to play.

Her husband said, “I want to finish some work today. “Oh, forget it. Go there and make our children happy.That is the most important work” Mrs. White said.

So Mr. and Mrs. White took their children to the funfair.Mr. White was forty-five years old,but he enjoyed the funfair more than his children. He hurried from one thing to another,and ate lots of sweets. One of the children said to her mother,“Dad is just like a small child,isn’t he, Mom?” Mrs. White didn’t want to follow her husband any more at that time and answered, “ He is even worse than a small child, Mary, because he might spend more money than a small child”.

1. There were ________ children in the White family·

A．two

B．three

C．four

D．five

2. One Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. White wanted to go to _______ with their children.

A．school

B．work

C．a funfair

D．a shop

3. Mr. White liked the place so much that he_______.

A．bought lots of sweets

B．followed his wife all the time

C．hurried from one thing to another

D．asked a lot of questions

4. Of all he family members, _________ enjoyed playing there most that Sunday.

A．Mr. White

B．Mrs. White

C．Mary

D．the boys

【推荐1】Sam, an unemployed piano tuner, said it was only the second thing he had ever won in his life. The first thing was an Afghan blanket at a church raffle（抽奖）when he was 25 years old. But this was much bigger: it was $120,000! He had won the Big Cube, a state lottery(彩票) game．To win, a contestant must first guess which number a spinning cube will stop on. The cube has six numbers on it: 1X, 10X, 50X, 100X, 500X, and 1000X.If he is correct, the contestant must then guess which of two selected variables（变量）is going to be greater. So, just guessing which number appears on the cube does not guarantee that you will win any money.
Sam correctly guessed 1000X, but he still had to choose between two variables. One variable was the number of cars that would run the stop sign at Hill Street and Lake Avenue in six hours. The other variable was the number of times that a teenage boy would change TV channels in a three-hour period. This was a tough decision.
Finally, Sam flipped a coin. It came up heads, so Sam picked the teenager. He picked right. The stop sign was run only 76 times, but the teen clicked 120 times. Sixty-year-old Sam jumped for joy, for he had just won 1000 times 120, or $120,000.Sam dreamily left the lottery studio. Talking excitedly on his cell phone while crossing the street, he got hit by a little sports car.
Sam is slowly getting better. He was in the hospital for a month. His hospital bill was $110,000.And the insurance company for the little sports car’s owner sued（起诉）Sam for $9,000 worth of repairs．Also, Sam still has to pay federal taxes on his winnings．Sam doesn’t play the state lottery any more. He says it’s better to be unlucky.
1. What can be inferred about Sam from the passage?

A．He always has bad luck.	B．He seldom goes to a raffle.
C．He is a very careful person in life.	D．He used to be crazy about lottery tickets.

2. Which of the following played a vital role in Sam’s winning the big prize?

A．The cube.	B．The coin.
C．The blanket.	D．The stop sign.

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The lottery game was a complete lie.

B．Sam was quite familiar with the boy.

C．The owner of the car is now in hospital.

D．Sam will have none of the prize money left.

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Curiosity killed the cat	B．Joy puts heart into a man
C．Extreme joy ends in sorrow	D．A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

【推荐2】It was the festive season. Mom had baked some delicious cookies. Jam tarts were always my favorite and I had enjoyed myself to excess. Moreover, the refrigerator was well-stocked with chocolates and ice-cream so I helped myself to all the goodies. That night I woke up with an unbearable toothache. No amount of aspirin could stop the paint.

When morning arrived, I had to do the unavoidable—making an appointment with the dentist. I arrived at the dental clinic an hour before the appointment.

After registering, I walked unenthusiastically towards a chair. I did not even bother to look at the other patients. Picking up a few magazines, I tried to read to get rid of my fear and pain, but I could not concentrate. All I was aware of was a terrible pain. The sight of patients coming out from the treatment room, with large pieces of gauze (纱布) sticking out from their mouths, only seemed to worsen my pain.

One of my New Year resolutions was made while I was shifting restlessly in my seat. I vowed never to taste another jam tart or take a chunky (大块的) bite of chocolate in the future.

When my name was finally called, I staggered into the treatment room. When the dentist asked me to take my seat and then open my mouth, I felt my heart pounding very fast. I was sure that I was going to get a heart attack..

The dentist informed me that it was best to extract the tooth. I nodded and opened my mouth and tried to think of other things. The next minute or so was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. I grabbed the dentist’s hands more than once. At first, he was quite taken aback and eyed me suspiciously. Then he warned me that he would have my hands tied if I were to repeat my antics. I did not think that he was joking!

After paying for the extraction, I walked out of the clinic confidently and headed for the nearest bus stop. I swore that this would be the first and the last time I stepped into a dental clinic.

1. What might be the reason for my not feeling well that night?

A．Overuse of aspirin.	B．An upset stomach.
C．Unrestrained eating of goodies.	D．Too much fun during the day.

2. What did I do to distract me from the toothache before I met the dentist?

A．Making an appointment with the dentist.	B．Observing other patients.
C．Trying to read some magazines.	D．Making my New Year wishes.

3. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word in the sixth paragraph?

A．Rude behavior.	B．Dangerous behavior.
C．Natural behavior.	D．Interesting behavior.

4. What lesson might the author have learned from this experience?

A．After a storm comes a calm.	B．Diet cures more than doctors.
C．Fear is often greater than the danger.	D．A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.

【推荐3】There was a famous American painter named Winslow Homer. Since Art History class in college, I had always admired his works and I was lucky to see a large exhibition of his works when I was in my early 30’s. It was at this event that I bought a print of his painting, Snap the Whip. Until I retired from teaching it always hung in my classroom.

I thought it truly captured(捕捉)the freedom and fun of childhood. In the painting,a group of young boys are playing a game arm in arm on grass ground in front of a farm house. They are jumping and laughing wildly with great joy. One of the boys is falling down to the ground. They are not even wearing shoes!

During my last year of teaching, there was a young woman in her first year of teaching right next door to me and we got to be good friends. She had been an art student before switching to education. Her eyes were drawn immediately to this print when she entered my room. So on my last day of teaching, after the students had left, I took the painting off the wall and walked next door and gave it to her.

She was really surprised, but very pleased to have it. I was pleased that she liked it and all the students she would have would treasure it as much as I had. We found the perfect place for it on one of her walls and hung it together. Thank you for bringing back this wonderful memory for me.

1. How did the author treat his painting bought at the exhibition?

A．He sold it immediately.

B．He put it on his table.

C．He regarded it as a useless thing.

D．He put it up in his classroom first.

2. What is the topic of the painting?

A．The nature of children.	B．Homeless children.
C．Hard-working farmers.	D．The pleasure of working.

3. Why did the author give away his favorite picture to the woman?

A．She was his student.	B．She was very fond of it.
C．She needed it in her teaching.	D．She would pass it to his students.

4. How did the author feel after his painting hung in the woman’s room?

A．Grateful.	B．Painful.
C．Doubtful.	D．Tired.

【推荐1】

405 Seymour River Place

North Vancouver

Phone: 604-929-5610

General information:

Officially open to the public in 1975, and now home to over 200 domestic animals and birds, Maplewood Farm tries to provide a unique experience, combining enjoyment and education.

Highlights:

This farm offers children and adults an opportunity to meet and interact with all the animals you would come across on any rural farm from the large residents to the smallest baby chick. Walk around the farm at your own pace — you could easily see it all in 30 minutes, or take your time and spend a little longer with the animals you and your children like best.

Self-guided tours:

The farm offers a booklet full of information about the animals as well as rules for visiting the farm. When you make your school group reservation, one “Guide to Maplewood Farm” can be mailed to you free of charge to help you plan your visit.

Tips:

·Do not chase animals or birds.

·Use caution when petting any animals.

·Please wash your hands thoroughly after touching any animal and before eating. A sink is available for washing hands.

·We all know it seldom rains in North Vancouver. When it does Maplewood is still open and fun. They even have umbrellas to lend you!

·Be aware of the warning signs that all animals can bite. And despite how friendly the animals may seem, this is true. So keep little hands away from the animals’ mouths.

·Bring a stroller (婴儿车) for younger kids. The farm is easy to navigate with gravel paths throughout.

·Stick around for the cow milking. It is very informative.

1. On Maplewood Farm, visitors can ______.

A．receive free mails before making group reservations

B．enrich their experiences of interacting with animals

C．learn from employees how to train and raise animals

D．find it a challenge to see the farm around in 30 minutes

2. What action may present potential risks to the visitors?

A．Forget to bring an umbrella.	B．Borrow strollers in the farm.
C．Watch a cow milking nearby.	D．Use hands to feed the animals.

【推荐2】When was the last time your family sat down together to have a dinner?

The speed at which we live today no longer allows for slow eating habits. Most people work long hours. There is lots of fast food and eating out is now on the increase. Often, food is eaten in front of the television in silence, or a child eats alone in front of the computer.

When I was a child, every evening around the same time, one of the children would be asked to set the table, and then we'd go and wash our hands: before the meal. This was the time of day when we would talk about our day at school. But now things have changed a lot.

A family environment plays an important role for children in learning to communicate with others and understanding table manners, such as waiting for others to finish before leaving the table and not speaking with a mouth full of food. Parents’ likes and dislikes of a certain food will also influence a child's own likes and dislikes. Studies have shown that children who often eat with their families have better results at school than children who eat with their families less than twice a week.

Regular meal times give children the chance to discuss their problems with family members. They can also learn to respect others around the table. Talking to your children over dinner is the best way of having their-trust. Children learn good eating habits from their parents at a very young age. Family meals are important. Prepare them for your children.

1. Children who often eat with their families _________.

A．prefer to share food with others.

B．turn out to do better in their studies.

C．show concerns about families.

D．are interested in cooking.

2. Some families eat less together because __________.

A．table manners change a lot

B．most children live in a school

C．food in the restaurant is better

D．people are busy with their work

3. Which word can best describe the writer's attitude towards eating together with families?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Worried.

D．Grateful.

【推荐3】Many French teachers and parents complain that their kids are less bright than they were. They say young people visit museums less often and spend too much time on the Internet. They only read comics（连环图画） and listen to music，and like American culture more than their own. But is this true？A recent survey shows that many French kids spend their time as other kids always have.

Most French teens love music，with 86% putting it as their top hobby，above the cinema，sport and television.

French kids read a lot and like different things，from Japanese cartoons to American novels.

Many French people worry that their children watch too many American films and listen to too much American music.

But the results of this survey show that French young people like their own culture.

As Silvia Berlin，a student from Paris，says，"I love watching American TV，but I watch more French programmes. I love being French!"

1. Many French teachers and parents___.

A．think their kids are as clever as they were

B．don't think their kids are as clever as they were

C．think their kids are more clever than they were

D．don't think their kids are clever at all

2. Most French teens' top hobby is____.

A．going to the movies	B．doing sport
C．watching TV	D．listening to music

3. The French kids like all of the following except___.

A．Japanese history	B．Japanese cartoons
C．American films	D．American music

4. This passage is mainly about a survey of____.

A．French parents' complaint	B．French kid' study
C．French kids' interests	D．French teachers' complaint.

【推荐1】About ten men in every hundred suffer from color blindness in some way. Women are luckier; only about one in two hundred is affected in this matter. Perhaps, after all, it’s safer to be driven by a woman!

There are different forms of color blindness. In some cases, a man may not be able to see deep red. He may think that red ,orange and yellow are all shades of green. Sometimes a person cannot tell the differences between green and blue. In rare cases an unlucky man may see everything in shade of green—a strange world indeed.

Color blindness in human beings is a strange thing to explain. In a single eye there are millions of very small things called “cones”. These help us to see in a bright light and to tell difference between colors. There are also millions of “rods”, but these are used for seeing when it is near dark. They show us shape but no color.

Some insects have favorite colors. Mosquitoes prefer blue to yellow. A red light will not attract insects, but a blue lamp will. In a similar way human beings also have favorite colors. Yet we are lucky. With the aid of cones in our eyes, we can see many beautiful colors by day, and with the aid of rods we can see shapes at night. One day we may even learn more about the invisible colors around us.

1. The passage is mainly about_________

A．color and its surprising effects

B．women being luckier than men

C．danger caused by color blindness

D．color blindness and how our eyes tell different colors and shapes

2. According to the passage, with the help of the “cones”, we can ＿＿

A．tell different shapes	B．see in a weak light
C．tell different colors	D．kill mosquitoes

3. Why do some people say it’s safer to be driven by women?

A．Women are more careful.

B．There are fewer color-blind women.

C．Women are fonder of driving than men.

D．Women are weaker but quicker in thinking.

4. Which of the statements about the color-blind is true?

A．Not all of them have the same problem in recognizing color.

B．None of them can see deep red.

C．None of them can tell the difference between blue and green.

D．All of them see everything in shades of green.

【推荐2】If you are a recent social science graduate who has had to listen to jokes about unemployment from your computer major classmates, you may have had the last laugh. There are many advantages for the social science major because this high-tech “Information Age” demands people who are flexible and who have good communication skills.

There are many social science majors in large companies who fill important positions. For example, a number of research studies found that social science majors had achieved greater managerial success than those who had technical training or pre-professional courses. Studies show that social science majors are most suited for change, which is the leading feature (特点) of the kind of high speed, high-pressure, high-tech world we now live in.

Social science majors are not only experiencing success in their long-term company jobs, but they are also finding jobs more easily. A study showed that many companies had filled a large percentage of their entry-level positions with social science graduates. The study also showed that the most sought-after quality in a person who was looking for a job was communication skills, noted as “very important” by 92 percent of the companies. Social science majors have these skills, often without knowing how important they are. It is probably due to these skills that they have been offered a wide variety of positions.

Finally, although some social science majors may still find it more difficult than their technically trained classmates to land the first job, recent graduates report that they don’t regret their choice of study.

1. By saying that “you may have had the last laugh” in the first paragraph, the author means that you may have _______.

A．earned as much as computer majors	B．stopped joking about computer majors
C．shared the jokes with computer majors	D．found jobs more easily than computer majors

2. Compared with graduates of other subjects, social science graduates ______.

A．are likely to give others pressure	B．are equally good at computer skills
C．are better able to deal with difficulties	D．are ready to change when situations change

3. Which of the following is true about the communication skill?

A．Social science majors do not know they have had these skills.

B．Many companies prefer to employ those with good communication skills.

C．These skills have been considered very important by social science majors.

D．Computer majors have been offered a wide variety of positions because of these skills.

4. According to the text, what has made it easy for social science graduates to find jobs?

A．Part-time work experience.	B．Skills in expressing themselves.
C．Willingness to take low-paid jobs.	D．Readiness to gain high-tech knowledge.

5. The underlined word “land” in the last paragraph probably means _______.

A．successfully get

B．lose regretfully

C．immediately start

D．keep for some time

【推荐3】There is an English saying:“ laughter is the best medicine.” Until recently, few people took the saying seriously. Now, however, doctors have begun to look into laughter and the effects it has on the human body. They have found that laughter really can improve people’s health.

Tests were carried out to study the effects of laughter on the body. People watched funny films while doctors checked their hearts, blood pressure, breathing and muscles. It was found that laughter had similar effects to physical exercise. It increases blood pressure, the heart beating and breathing; it also works several groups of muscles in the face, the stomach, and even the feet. If laughter exercises the body, it must be beneficial .

Other tests have shown that laughter appears to be able to reduce the effect of pain on the body. In one experiment doctors produced pain in groups of students who listened to different radio programs. The group that tolerated(忍耐)the pain for the longest time was the groups which listened to a funny program. The reason why laughter can reduce pain seems to be that it helps to produce a kind of chemicals in the brain which diminish both stress and pain.

As a result of these discoveries, some doctors in the United States now hold laughter clinics, in which they help to improve their patients’ condition by encouraging them to laugh. They have found that even if their patients do not really feel like laughing, making them smile is enough to produce beneficial effects similar to those caused by laughter.

1. Doctors have proved the following EXCEPT that _______.

A．smiling does good to health

B．laughter can be tolerated

C．there is a way to reduce pain

D．laughter can work the muscles in the feet

2. The main idea of the passage is_______.

A．laughter and physical exercise have similar effects on the human body

B．smile can produce the same effects as laughter

C．pain can be reduced by laughter

D．laughter is the best medicine

3. The students who_______ tolerated the pain for the longest time.

A．listened to different radio programs

B．slept in the room

C．don’t have stress of pain

D．listened to a funny program

4. The underlined word “diminish” is similar to_______.

A．test

B．stop

C．reduce

D．find

5. Doctors hold laughter clinics _________.

A．to give better condition to their patients

B．in order to improve patients’ health

C．to make patients smile

D．to prove smile and laughter have the same effect