In many countries of the world people do what is called house sitting. It means that if owners of the house are going away, they want someone to come into their home and look after the house and maybe pets while they are away.
In Australia, many people travel. After people retire, they might buy a van and travel all over the country.
So if someone wants to travel or go away for some reason, they might want someone in their home to care for it and keep the gardens tidy. House sitters might have to care for pets. Also, quite a few people have swimming pools in their back yard and they need cleaning.
There are some requirements to be a house sitter. You must be a trusted person, so that the home owner knows you will not steal anything. You must be able to go when the house owner wants you to go, so you need lots of free time.
Some house sitting jobs are just for a few days or a couple of weeks while the house owners have a short holiday. Sometimes it is for much longer. We have had one house sit for six months, while the home owner travelled to Europe.
| A．I have done house sitting many times. |
| B．Thousands of people do this all the time. |
| C．It is also possible to do house sitting in other countries. |
| D．Generally you have many opportunities to get a house sitting job. |
| E．You must take a little care over what your description says about you. |
| F．This is an international house sitting service for all city and country areas. |
| G．You must have a good car, so you can travel to different parts of the country. |
Prices change from day to day, even minute to minute. Looking through multiple websites for the best deal can be a big challenge. Even when you do book, there’s no guarantee that you are going to get the best price.
“You just don’t know when to pull the trigger It’s not like buying anything else I can think of,” said George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com.
Harriet Levy paid $179 for a recent round-trip flight on American Airlines between New York and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sitting just one row behind her, Shirley Harrison paid $215. A few rows back, Ellis and Dianne Traub paid $317 each. There were at least 12 fares on the flight, ranging from $169 to $360.
There’s no reason for it, Harrison said.
Fares can vary significantly in just a few hours. One Delta flight from New York to Los Angeles jumped from $755 to $1,143 from a Friday to Saturday in late April, then fell to $718 on Sunday.
The flight was one of a dozen the Associated Press (美国联合通讯社)followed over three months for a vacation between July 16 and 22. The number one finding: avoid booking tickets on weekends. It’s the most expensive time to buy.
There’s no way to guarantee the best fare. But before booking, travelers should pay attention to this additional advice:
● Book on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. That’s when airlines most often offer sales.
● Buy in advance, but not too early. The best time is four to six weeks before traveling. In general, prices for any given flight are highest eight to ten weeks and two to three weeks in advance.
● Make use of social media. Airlines are giving more benefits like exclusive (独家) sales to travelers who interact (互动) with them on Twitter and Facebook. Those specials are often gone within hours.
● The so-called discount airlines – JetBlue, Air-Tran, Southwest and Frontier – adjust their fares less frequently than other airlines, so you can feel more confident that the price will stay the same. But their prices aren’t always the lowest. Researching multiple airlines’ fares is the only way to get a good deal.
1. What can we infer from the first sentence of the text?
| A．Passengers are unable to search for airfares. |
| B．Airlines often play games with passengers. |
| C．Airfares are set in different situations. |
| D．It’s difficult for passengers to get the best price. |
| A．start searching | B．get the highest price |
| C．make a purchase | D．get on board the plane |
| A．show there is standard price for every single airline |
| B．discover the rules behind airfares |
| C．guarantee passengers a low price |
| D．prove airfares can vary widely |
| A．in the middle of the week |
| B．on special websites |
| C．several months before traveling |
| D．with airlines which are famous for offering discount prices |
Is achieving ZPG good or bad? What happens when a country’s population begins to drop? Many people，after all，believe that population decline is a good thing．But is it good for everyone? Does everyone agree?
An aging population can create many problems．Senior citizens require more health care and medical attention．Rather than paying into retirement programs，they begin to draw from their pensions．In the US，the Social Security program，according to many experts，will be used up by 2018．It will pay out more money than it takes in．Additionally, a great number of jobs go begging in search of people willing or entry。level positions that pay low wages．With an able to do them．Many of these jobs are aging population，who will fill them? At the other extreme，some positions require a large number of training and highly specialized skills．Who will fill these positions as retirees leave the workforce?
The answer to the problem of declining and aging population is simple：increased migration．Today many people，particularly those from less developed countries，are migrating in search of employment．Many are willing to take jobs that cannot(or will not) be filled by the domestic population．Others are well educated and highly skilled．Both groups contribute to a country’s economy progress in many ways．Further, they add to the richness of a country’s culture．Of greatest importance，perhaps，is the fact that they have become absolutely necessary to the economy of many lands．As you can see，for many countries and for most immigrants，migration is a win—win situation．
1. In the writer’s view，which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Not everyone agrees that achieving ZPG is absolutely good． |
| B．Achieving ZPG is every country’s aim in spite of its side effects． |
| C．Achieving ZPG is bad for senior citizens． |
| D．Achieving ZPG is good for employment． |
| A．to improve the health care system | B．to increase RNI |
| C．to increase employment | D．to increase migration |
| A．people within the country | B．people from developing countries |
| C．people without a college education | D．people living abroad |
| A．the advantages of increased migration |
| B．the problem of declining and aging population |
| C．how to increase migration |
| D．some ways to enrich a country’s culture |
4 . Can dogs and cats live in perfect harmony in the same home? People who are thinking about adopting a dog as a friend for their cats are worried that they will fight. A recent research has found a new recipe of success. According to the study, if the cat is adopted before the dog, and if they are introduced when still young (less than 6 months for cats, a year for dogs), it is highly probable that the two pets will get along well. Two-thirds of the homes interviewed reported a positive relationship between their cat and dog.
However, it wasn’t all sweetness and light. There was a reported coldness between the cat and dog in 25% of the homes, while aggression and fighting were observed in 10% of the homes. One reason for this is probably that some of their body signals were just opposite. For example, when a cat turns its head away it signals aggression, while a dog doing the same signals means giving up.
In homes with cats and dogs living peacefully, researchers observed a surprising behaviour. They are learning how to talk each other’s language. It is a surprise that cats can learn how to talk “dog”, and dogs can learn how to talk “cat”.
What’s interesting is that both cats and dogs have appeared to develop their intelligence. They can learn to read each other’s body signals, suggesting that the two may have more in common than was preciously suspected. Once familiar with each other’s presence and body language, cats and dogs can play together, greet each other nose to nose, and enjoy sleeping together in the sofa. They can easily share the same water bowl and in some cases groom(梳理) each other.
The significance of this research on cats and dogs maygo beyond pets----to people who don’t get along, including neighbors, colleagues at work, and even world superpowers. If cats and dogs can learn to get along, surely people have a good chance.
1. Some cats and dogs may fight when_________.| A．they are cold to each other |
| B．they look away from each other |
| C．they misunderstand each other’s signals |
| D．they are introduced at an early age |
| A．They eat and sleep together |
| B．They observe each other’s behaviors |
| C．They learn to speak each other’s language |
| D．They know something from each other’s voice |
| A．have common interests |
| B．are less different than was thought |
| C．have a common body language |
| D．are less intelligent than was expected |
| A．We should learn to live in harmony |
| B．We should knows more about animals |
| C．We should live in peace with animals |
| D．We should learn more body languages |
5 . An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son.
Suddenly a crow (乌鸦) perched on the tree near their window.
The father asked his son, "What is this?"
The son replied, "It is a crow."
After a few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, "What is this?"
The son said, "Father, I have just now told you it's a crow."
After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, "What is this?"
"It's a crow, a crow, a crow. "said the son loudly.
A little after, the father again asked his son the 4th time, "What is this?"
This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again. ‘IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"
A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old diary, which he had kept since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:
"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23times what it was, and I replied to him all 23times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23times. I did not at all feel annoyed. I rather felt affection for my innocent child."
1. In what tone did the son say to his Father "It's a crow, a crow,a crow."?| A．Impatient | B．Excited |
| C．Hurried | D．Surprised |
| A．Because he wanted to make his son angry. |
| B．Because he was too old to remember anything. |
| C．Because he couldn't understand what his son said. |
| D．Because he wanted to see how patient his son would be. |
| A．35years old. | B．38years old. |
| C．45years old. | D．80years old. |
| A．A crow | B．Father's love |
| C．An old dairy | D．An old man |
6 . One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?
Listen — Listen when they are talking. Don’t say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it’s not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them — If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don’t do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra (额外的) pencil or pen with you to classes in case (以防) they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them — Try to make something for your friend to help make them feel better in hard times. Making cards and encouraging them are among the nicest things you can do for a friend. Marilyn Monroe, a famous U.S. actor, once said, “I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control. But if you can’t stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve (值得) to be with me at my best.” Always remember this! If you don’t want to stay with your friends when they’re in hard times, then you don’t deserve to be with them when they’re having a good time!
______ — Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you’ll remember these things when you’re all old!
1. While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings, you should _____.| A．give him or her some advice | B．just listen unless asked |
| C．calm him or her down | D．share your feelings as well |
| A．try to do everything for them | B．put them before ourselves |
| C．change their bad habits first | D．ignore their faults |
| A．Life without a friend is death. | B．A friend is easier lost than found. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．A man is known by his friends. |
| A．How to find a good friend. | B．How to help friends in trouble. |
| C．How to be a good friend. | D．How to make more friends. |
7 . Making friends is a skill like many other skills. It improves with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends，you must be willing to take some actions. You must first go where there are people. You won’t make friends staying home alone. Join a club or a group. Talking with those who like the same things as you do is much easier. Or join someone in some activities. Many people are nervous when talking to new people. After all meeting strangers means facing the unknown. And it’s human nature to feel a bit uncomfortable about the unknown. Most of our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts about ourselves. We imagine other people are judging us or finding us too tall or too short，too this or too that. But don’t forget that they must be feeling the same way. Try to accept yourself as you are and try to put the other person at ease. You’ll both feel more comfortable.
Try to act selfconfidently even if you don’t feel that way. When you enter a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom，walk tall and straight, look directly at other people and smile.
If you see someone you’d like to speak to, say something. Don’t wait for the other person to start a conversation.
Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will make friends with that
person—friendship is based on mutual liking and “give and take”. It takes time and effort to
develop.
1. The best title of the text may be________.
| A．Friendship | B．How to Make Friends |
| C．Meeting New People | D．Facing the Unknown |
| A．take some actions | B．go to where there are people |
| C．avoid meeting people | D．won’t start a conversation |
| A．selfconfidence |
| B．meeting more unknown people |
| C．more talking and smiling to people |
| D．taking from and giving to people |
| A．Making friends needs practising. |
| B．Making friends needs to be more active in starting a conversation. |
| C．When meeting someone, make him feel nice and starting a conversation. |
| D．Before making friends with someone, judge if he’s too this or too that. |
8 . Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic (经济的) reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?
In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own home town of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not dominate (影响) its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.
It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt (破坏) the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative(保守的)and do not like change.
Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward . If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different , even though that might be the more risky choice.
1. What does the author say about historical buildings in the first paragraph?| A．Some of them are not attractive. |
| B．Most of them ate too expensive to preserve. |
| C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings. |
| D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area. |
| A．We should reproduce the same old buildings. |
| B．Buildings should not dominate their surroundings. |
| C．Some old buildings have spoilt the area they are in. |
| D．No one understands why people speak against new buildings. |
| A．destroy old buildings |
| B．put things in a different place |
| C．respect people’s feelings for historical buildings |
| D．choose new architectural styles |
| A．To explain why people dislike change. |
| B．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas. |
| C．To warn that we could end up living in caves. |
| D．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings. |
During my second and third years of undergraduate schooling, I decided to work about five hours per week in the campus admissions office answering phones. This provided a little spending money and kept me from drawing my savings out .The overall situation looked hopeful as I approached my senior year as long as I could make as much money as I had the previous summer. I wanted to go to Israel to study for 3 weeks, but I hesitated in making this decision because it would cost me $1,600 more to get the credits in Israel. About two weeks later my mom called to tell me that I had $1,600 in the bank that I had forgotten about! One of my concerns about this trip was not only the cost, but the loss of time to make money; however, I made as much that summer in the ten weeks when I was at home as I had made during the fourteen weeks when I was at home the summer before. The way everything worked together to make this trip possible was one of the most exciting things that have ever happened to me.
This experience has shaped me in many important ways. The first thing that I learned was the importance of a strong work ethic. Working long hours did a lot to develop my character and helped me learn the value of a dollar. It also made me learn how to search for creative ways to settle difficult situations.
1. Where did the writer probably work parttime before attending the university?
| A．In a restaurant. |
| B．In the tennis camps. |
| C．In a company. |
| D．In the campus admissions office. |
| A．she wanted to save money |
| B．life there was relatively easy |
| C．summer time was tiring |
| D．it was required by the university |
| A．her mother would not give her approval |
| B．she would fail to get credits in Israel |
| C．a wellpaid summer job would be lost |
| D．$1,600 couldn’t be drawn out in time |
| A．made money on the college campus |
| B．managed to make full use of her vacation |
| C．was forced to support herself by her mother |
| D．was shaped by working part-time through college |
He asked among his friends to see if anyone was particularly
Dave told him, and Sam answered, “Well, what about advertising it in the paper? You may
For two days after the advertisement first appeared, there was no
The next morning, at a quarter to ten, Dave parked the car in the square outside his front door,
| A．directly | B．safely | C．properly | D．easily |
| A．so | B．such | C．very | D．too |
| A．keep | B．repair | C．sell | D．throw |
| A．anxious | B．lucky | C．ashamed | D．generous |
| A．some | B．neither | C．none | D．most |
| A．delighted | B．upset | C．calm | D．astonished |
| A．on | B．up | C．it | D．that |
| A．learn | B．miss | C．get | D．find |
| A．message | B．advice | C．request | D．description |
| A．uses | B．loses | C．has | D．spends |
| A．doubt | B．help | C．trouble | D．answer |
| A．tell | B．see | C．agree | D．call |
| A．exact | B．suitable | C．early | D．late |
| A．follow | B．meet | C．bring | D．introduce |
| A．recognize | B．gain | C．admire | D．test |
| A．happening | B．meaning | C．turning | D．failing |
| A．read | B．inserted | C．answered | D．placed |
| A．forget | B．show | C．disagree | D．admit |
| A．as | B．that | C．so | D．such |
| A．bargain | B．sale | C．accident | D．result |
