1 . Meeting people from another culture can be difficult.From the beginning,people may send the wrong signal(信号).Or they may pay no attention to signals from another person who is trying to develop a relationship.
Different cultures emphasize(强调)the importance of relationship building to a greater or lesser degree.For example,business in some countries is not possible until there is a relationship of trust.Even with people at work,it is necessary to spend a lot of time in “small talk”,usually over a glass of tea,before they do any job.In many European countries—like the UK or France—people find it easier to build up a lasting working relationship at restaurants or cafés rather than at the office.
Talk and silence may also be different in some cultures.I once made a speech in Thailand.I had expected my speech to be a success and start a lively discussion;instead there was an uncomfortable silence.The people present just stared at me and smiled.After getting to know their ways better,I realized that they thought I was talking too much.In my own culture,we express meaning mainly through words,but people there sometimes feel too many words are unnecessary.
Even within Northern Europe,cultural differences can cause serious problems. Certainly, English and German cultures share similar values;however,Germans prefer to get down to business more quickly.We think that they are rude.In fact,this is just because one culture starts discussions and makes decisions more quickly.
People from different parts of the world have different values,and sometimes these values are quite against each other.However,if we can understand them better,a multicultural environment(多元文化环境)will offer a wonderful chance for us to learn from each other.
1. In some countries,eating together at restaurants may make it easier for people to .

A．develop closer relations	B．share the same culture
C．get to know each other	D．keep each other company

2. The author mentions his experience in Thailand to show that .

A．the English prefer to make long speeches

B．too many words are of no use

C．people from Thailand are quiet and shy by nature

D．even talk and silence can be culturally different

3. According to the text,how can people from different cultures understand each other better?

A．By sharing different ways of life.

B．By accepting different habits.

C．By recognizing different values.

D．By speaking each other’s languages.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Multicultural Environment

B．Cross-Cultural Differences

C．How to Understand Each Other

D．How to Build Up a Relationship

2 . Help Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are nature’s recyclers. They eat waste and help keep oceans and shores clean. Unlike other crabs, the hermit crab has a thin outer shell over its soft tail. This makes the hermit crab easy prey for hungry predators. Hermit crabs stay safe by living in old seashells. A hermit crab is picky; it tries on many shells until it finds one that fits just right. In recent years, however, many hermit crabs have had trouble finding their perfect homes. What is the problems There are not enough shells to go around!

One reason for the seashell shortage is that ocean water is not as clean as it once was. This has caused chemical changes to sea water. Some sea animals, like snails, are affected by these changes. Now there are fewer snails making shells. People visiting the beach often take shells home as souvenirs. This is another problem. Other people even take shells for their own pet hermit crabs! They do not realize that hermit crabs in the wild need those shells too.

Now people are working to solve this hermit crab housing shortage. They are teaching beach-Boers to leave seashells where they belong — at the seashore! Some people even make fake seashells that they hope the hermit crabs will like. For example, a group called Project Shelter invited people who visited their website to create different designs for hermit crab shells.

These designers had a lot to consider. What kind of material should be used to build a seashells. The material must be light enough for the hermit crab to carry, but strong enough to protect the crab from predators. The man-made shells could not contain glue or any other substance that might harm a hermit crab. Another challenge with building a hermit crab home was the opening to the shell. Too big would mean the crab would not feel safe. Too small would be uncomfortable, and the crab would not want to move in.

The Project Shelter shells are placed in the wild for hermit crabs to find. Lucky hermit crabs can move into these new dream homes.

1. Where can hermit crabs stay safe?

A．In different old seashells.	B．Behind the waste they’ll eat.
C．In their own thin outer shells.	D．Under the stones at the seashore.

2. According to the passage, what should be put in the webs?

A．The methods to recycle the wastes.	B．The ways to help the hermit crabs.
C．The materials of seashells.	D．The designs of websites.

3. What does the underlined word “fake” in Para. 3 mean?

A．man-made

B．perfect

C．hard

D．comfortable

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The Project Shelter Group.	B．The shortage of the seashell.
C．New homes for hermit crabs.	D．The recyclers of the nature.

3 . When I was a little girl, I remember that when my dad was repairing something, every time he asked me to _______the hammer, just so we would have a time for a _______with each other. I _____saw my dad drinking or taking a night out, all he did after work was taking care of his family.

I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning, no matter what. And when several______later I bought a house, my dad was ______it by himself for three days in the 38°C summer heat. All he asked was to hold his paint brush and _______to him. But I was too ________in those days, I did not find any time for a conversation with my dad.

One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk as usual, I noticed that my dad had totally _______some things that we discussed ______. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was a bit ______. Few hours later that day came a call. My father was in a hospital with an aneurysm (动脉瘤).   ________I bought a ticket for a flight and on my way I was thinking about all _______occasions (场合) to have a talk with my dad.

By the time I _______at the hospital, my father had passed away. Now it was he who did not have______for a conversation with me. After his death I ______much more about him, and even more about myself. All he ever asked me was my time. And now he has all my attention every single day.

1.

A．find

B．hold

C．pack

D．select

2.

A．conversation

B．opinion

C．debate

D．bargain

3.

A．ever

B．just

C．even

D．never

4.

A．weeks

B．years

C．hours

D．days

5.

A．building

B．making

C．fixing

D．painting

6.

A．face

B．walk

C．talk

D．smile

7.

A．busy

B．lazy

C．selfless

D．lonely

8.

A．recognized

B．buried

C．explored

D．forgotten

9.

A．soon

B．lately

C．personally

D．briefly

10.

A．short

B．boring

C．unbelievable

D．sad

11.

A．Exactly

B．Gradually

C．Immediately

D．Finally

12.

A．missed

B．impressed

C．suffering

D．painful

13.

A．pointed

B．stared

C．arrived

D．called

14.

A．words

B．time

C．permission

D．benefit

15.

A．worried

B．concerned

C．cared

D．learned

4 . When I was 8 years old, I decided to run away from home after a quarrel with my mother. With my suitcase(行李箱) packed and some sandwiches in a bag, I started for the front door.

My mom asked where I was going. “I’m leaving home,” I said.

“What’s that you’re carrying?” she asked.

“Some clothes and food,” I replied.

“If you want to run away, that’s all right,” she said. “But you came into this home without anything and you can leave the same way.”

I threw my suitcase and sandwiches on the floor and started for the door again.

“Wait a minute,” Mom said. “You didn’t have any clothes on when you arrived, and I want them back.”

This infuriated me. I tore my clothes off — shoes, socks, underwear and all — and shouted, “Can I go now?”

“Yes,” my mom answered, “but once you close that door, don’t expect to come back.”

I was so angry that I shut the door forcefully and stepped out of my home. Then I noticed down the street two neighbor girls walking toward our house. I was so shy that I saw the big spruce (云杉) tree in our yard and jumped under the low-hanging branches (树枝). A pile of dried-up brown needles (针状物) were beneath the tree, and you can’t imagine the pain those sharp needles caused to my body.

After I was sure the girls had passed by, I ran to the front door and knocked at it loudly.

“It’s Billy! Let me in!”

The voice behind the door answered, “Billy doesn’t live here anymore. He ran away from home.”

Looking behind me to see if anyone else was coming down the street, I said, “Mom! I’m sorry. I’m still your son. Let me in!”

The door opened and Mom’s smiling face appeared. “Did you change your mind about running away?” she asked.

“What’s for supper?” I smiled back.

1. When the author was leaving home, his mother ordered him to _____.

A．stay at home	B．take some sandwiches
C．leave everything behind	D．check his suitcase carefully

2. Which of the following can best describe the author’s mom?

A．Selfish and proud.	B．Strict but loving.
C．Kind and helpful.	D．Wise but impatient.

3. Why did the author jump under the low-hanging branches?

A．To avoid being seen.	B．To find some needles.
C．To play a joke on the two girls.	D．To attract the two girls’ attention.

4. The last sentence “What’s for supper?” mainly shows that the author _____.

A．felt very hungry at that time	B．changed his plan not to leave home any longer
C．wished to eat something before leaving	D．wanted to know what his mother prepared for supper

5 . Last night Mr. and Mrs. Rojas stayed home. It was cold and rainy and they didn’t want to go out in the bad weather. Mrs. Rojas made some popcorn and ice tea. At 8:00, Mr. and Mrs. Rojas went into the living room, sat on the sofa and began the movie and ate and drank. At 8:15, Mr. and Mrs. Rojas realized they already watched the movie last year and they didn’t want to watch it again.

“Now what?” asked Mr. Rojas. “Let’s play cards!” answered Mrs. Rojas. At 8:30 Mr. and Mrs. Rojas started to play cards. They were playing for about 10 minutes when Mr. Rojas looked out the window. The rain changed to snow and the trees were covered in beautiful white snow. “I’m happy we stayed home tonight. It looks beautiful outside but this weather is very dangerous to drive in.” said Mr. Rojas. “You’re right,” said Mrs. Rojas, “but I’m bored. Let’s play some music and dance.”

Mr. Rojas was surprised. “Dance? But I really don’t ….”

“Oh come on!” Mrs. Rojas insisted. She put on a romantic CD and they both started to dance. They were dancing for about 1 minute when suddenly the music stopped and the lights went out.   Mrs. Rojas laughed. “We’re just not very lucky tonight, are we?” she said. Mr. Rojas said, “Of course we’re lucky! We are together!” He kissed her and continued to dance with her, in the dark and without music.

1. Why did Mr. and Mrs. Rojas stay at home last night?

A．They wanted to stay together.	B．The weather was so terrible.
C．They had a dinner at home.	D．They planned to watch a movie.

2. When it started to snow, Mr. and Mrs. Rojas were _________.

A．making popcorn	B．watching a movie
C．playing cards	D．dancing to the music

3. We can infer from the passage that .

A．It was a rainy day in summer	B．Mrs. Rojas cooked very well
C．Mr. Rojas loved to dance at first	D．Mr. Rojas was in love with his wife

6 . When John was growing up, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him weeding the garden, carrying out the garbage and delivering newspapers. But when John reached adulthood，he was better off than his childhood playmates. He had more job satisfaction, a better marriage and was healthier. Most of all, he was happier. Far happier.

These are the findings of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 teenage boys from Boston. The study showed that those who had worked as boys enjoyed happier and more productive lives than those who had not. “Boys who worked in the home or community gained competence（能力）and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society, ” said George Vaillant, the psychologist（心理学家）who made the discovery. “And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them.”

Vaillant’s study followed these males in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31 and 47. Under Vaillant, the researchers compared the men’s mental-health scores with their boyhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.

The link between what the men had done as boys and how they turned out as adults was surprisingly sharp. Those who had done the most boyhood activities were twice as likely to have warm relations with a wide variety of people, five times as likely to be well paid and 16 times less likely to have been unemployed. The researchers also found that IQ and family social and economic class made no real difference in how the boys turned out.

Working—at any age—is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence—the underpinnings（基础）of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this. Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, “One can live                                        magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work.”

1. What do we know about John？

A．He received little love from his family.

B．He had few childhood playmates.

C．He enjoyed his career and marriage.

D．He was envied by others in his childhood.

2. Vaillant’s words in Paragraph 2 serve as _______.

A．a description of personal values and social values

B．an analysis of how work was related to competence

C．an example for parents' expectations of their children

D．an explanation why some boys grew into happy men

3. Vaillant's team got their findings by _______.

A．recording the boys' effort in school

B．comparing different sets of scores

C．evaluating the men's mental health

D．measuring the men's problem solving ability

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Competent adults know more about love than work.

B．Emotional health is essential to a wonderful adult life.

C．Love brings more joy to people than work does.

D．Independence is the key to one's success.

7 . Anti-Sleep Alarm

Price: US $5

EXTRA 5% OFF WHEN YOU BUY 2 OR MORE

Anti-Sleep Alarm is a new lifesaving anti-tiredness alarm. You just wear it behind the right ear. It works on the theory of electronic balance.

Working Theory

It is worn over the ear and has an electronic position sensor. When your head nods forward, it sounds a loud alarm to immediately wake you and warn your passengers.

Features

The Anti-Sleep Alarm features a driver safety alarm to help prevent accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel. It is especially suitable for long-distance driving and night driving. The Anti-Sleep Alarm is also perfect for anyone who needs to stay awake on duty—guards, machine operators, and even students. It’s easy to use and can be comfortably worn for a long time.

● Alarm mode: sound di, di..
● Dimensions:80×22×15mm
● Battery: button cell battery (included)
● Life time: 30,000 nods
Payment

We accept PayPal only, with all major credit cards accepted through PayPal. Payment must be received within 7 business days after ordering.

Shipping

We ship to your eBay or PayPal address. Please make sure your eBay and PayPal address is correct before you pay. Goods will be shipped within 1-3 business days when we receive payment. Delivery（递送）time depends on destination. International buyers please note: Import duties（进口税）and taxes are not included in the price or shipping costs. Please check with your country’s customs office to determine what these extra costs will be before buying.

1. How much should be paid for 2 Anti-Sleep Alarms?

A．US $10.	B．US $9.5.
C．US $10.5.	D．US $9.

2. Anti-Sleep Alarms work on the theory of ________.

A．electronic balance	B．human body movement
C．anti-tiredness alarm	D．electronic position sensors

3. What is a feature of the Anti-Sleep Alarm?

A．It is comfortable to wear.

B．It is big and easy to use.

C．It can work for 30,000 minutes.

D．It can be powered by any kind of battery.

4. What can we learn about shipping?

A．The company will pay the extra costs.

B．Import duties and taxes are included in the price.

C．You will receive the goods within 1-3 business days.

D．The goods will be shipped to your eBay or PayPal address.

8 . Dear Seth,

You are only three years old, and at this point in your life you are not able to understand this letter. But some day when you _______ , I hope you will find something _______ in what I am going to share with you.

Life can be _______.There will be people in your life who won’t be very nice. They’ll _______ you because you are different, _______ for no good reason. You will also face heartbreak and might be _______ by those you love. I hope you don’t have to face these too much. But such things _______ .

Be open to life anyway. You’ll find cruelty(残忍) and _______ in your journey through life, but don’t let that _______ you from finding new things. Don’t retreat(退却) from life, and don’t ________ or wall yourself off. Be open to new things, new experiences and new people. You will ________ many times, but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will ________ many chances. Do remember failure is a stepping stone to ________ .

You will meet many people who will try to do ________ than you, in school, in college, and at work. They’ll try to have nicer cars, bigger houses, nicer clothes, and so on… To ________ , life is a competition. However, I believe life is a ________ . If you always try your best to ________ others, you are wasting your life. Learn to enjoy your life ________ and you will make it a journey of ________ of learning and of love.

Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are ________ a really wonderful journey, and I will always be there for you.

Love,

Dad

1.

A．cheer up

B．show up

C．bring up

D．grow up

2.

A．valuable

B．familiar

C．normal

D．novel

3.

A．peaceful

B．gentle

C．equal

D．unkind

4.

A．run after

B．look at

C．look after

D．laugh at

5.

A．or

B．so

C．if

D．but

6.

A．impressed

B．hurt

C．found

D．accepted

7.

A．happen

B．work

C．matter

D．disappear

8.

A．pain

B．difference

C．hope

D．luck

9.

A．prevent

B．encourage

C．protect

D．choose

10.

A．forgive

B．compete

C．struggle

D．hide

11.

A．escape

B．prepare

C．seek

D．fail

12.

A．take

B．enjoy

C．miss

D．meet

13.

A．sorrow

B．action

C．success

D．curiosity

14.

A．faster

B．earlier

C．less

D．better

15.

A．him

B．me

C．you

D．them

16.

A．dream

B．bet

C．journey

D．challenge

17.

A．change

B．pardon

C．beat

D．follow

18.

A．somewhere

B．instead

C．though

D．afterwards

19.

A．patience

B．cruelty

C．happiness

D．quietness

20.

A．spotting

B．starting

C．permitting

D．destroying

9 . Languages have been coming and going for thousands of years, but in recent times there has been less coming and a lot more going. When the world was still populated by hunter-gatherers, small, tightly knit(联系) groups developed their own patterns of speech independent of each other. Some language experts believe that 10,000 years ago, when the world had just five to ten million people, they spoke perhaps 12,000 languages between them.

Soon afterwards, many of those people started settling down to become farmers, and their languages too became more settled and fewer in number. In recent centuries, trade, industrialization, the development of the nation-state and the spread of universal compulsory education, especially globalisation and better communications in the past few decades, all have caused many languages to disappear, and dominant languages such as English, Spanish and Chinese are increasingly taking over.

At present, the world has about 6,800 languages. The distribution of these languages is hugely uneven. The general rule is that mild zones have relatively few languages. Often spoken by many people while hot, wet zones have lots, often spoken by small numbers. Europe has only around 200 Languages: the Americas about 1,000, Africa 2,400; and Asia and the Pacific perhaps 3,200, of which Papua New Guinea alone accounts for well over 800. The median number(中位数) of speakers is a mere 6，000, which means that half the worlds languages are spoken by fewer people than that.

Already well over 400 of the total of 6,800 languages are close to extinction(消亡), with only a few elderly speakers left. Pick, at random, Busuu in Cameroon (eight remaining speakers), Chiapaneco in Mexico(150). Lipan Apache in the United States(two or three) or Wadjigu in Australia (one, with a question-mark): none of these seems to have much chance of survival.

1. What can we infer about languages in hunter-gatherer times?

A．They developed very fast.	B．They were large in number.
C．They had similar patters.	D．They were closely connected

2. Which of the following best explains "dominant" underlined in paragraph 2？

A．Complex.	B．Advanced.
C．Powerful.	D．Modern.

3. How many languages are spoken by less than 6, 000 people at present?

A．About 6,800 .	B．About 3,400
C．About 2,400	D．About 1,200.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．New languages will be created.

B．Peoples lifestyles are reflected in languages.

C．Human development results in fewer languages.

D．Geography determines language evolution.

10 . Around the World by Wheelchair

Rick Hansen was always an active kid and loved to fish. When returning in a truck one day from a fishing trip, he had an accident and suffered injuries to his spine (脊柱). This 15-year-old young man awoke to find that he had lost the use of his legs. However, he didn’t give up. Many months later he began to compete in wheelchair sports. At the age of 27, he decided to wheel around the world to raise awareness and money for spinal cord research. His tour took him through 34 countries around the world between 1985 and 1987. In this Man of Motion World Tour, he wheeled 24, 901. 55 miles, which is equal to the distance around the earth.

Bad weather and difficult, rocky roads often provided challenges for Rick, but he continued to push himself   to complete the trip. He was determined to succeed. Even mountains did not stop Rick Hansen. He wheeled himself up the Rocky Mountains and several other major mountains in the world. He even wheeled himself along the Great Wall of China!

＂Never Give Up On Your Dreams＂ was his motto and he hasn’t given up yet. He completed his world tour raising $ 24 million. He continues to work to increase knowledge of spinal cord injury. He is a true Canadian hero who shows what determination can achieve.

1. What happened to Rick after the accident?

A．He lost the ability of living.

B．He had to spend his life in hospital.

C．He couldn’t walk any more.

D．He couldn’t do sports any more.

2. When did Rick begin his tour around the world?

A．At the age of 15.	B．Soon after the accident.
C．A year after the accident.	D．At the age of 27.

3. Why did Rick take his tour around the world in his wheelchair?

A．To gather money for the spinal cord research.

B．To learn about the people of other countries.

C．To travel to different countries for fun.

D．To take photos of beautiful mountains.

4. From the passage we can see Rick is a(n) ___________ person.

A．unhappy	B．determined
C．careful	D．quiet