1 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.
She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9yearold daughter Bailey.
He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.
Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”
After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.
1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?| A．She guided him how to write a good story. |
| B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble. |
| C．Her books helped him through times of confusion. |
| D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter. |
| A．He has found it interesting to read the series. | B．He was too old to understand the series better. |
| C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series. | D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future. |
| A．Useless. | B．Normal. | C．Valuable. | D．Boring. |
| A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health. |
| B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father. |
| C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth. |
| D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series. |
2 . In comparison to many closely-related species, the human child takes a long time to grow up and requires a high degree of parental investment(亲情投资). Human children need more time to reach maturity(成熟)than other closely-related species.
A new study finds that one reason is the large amount of energy that the brain requires as it grows.
Christopher Kuzawa, first author of the study, explained: “Our findings suggest that our bodies can’t afford to grow faster during the toddler(幼童)and childhood years because a huge quantity of resources is required to fuel developing the human brain. As humans we have so much to learn, and that learning requires a complex and energy-hungry brain.”
Data from the study shows that at the moment when children’s bodies are growing the least-on average, at four years old-their brains are using the highest percentage of glucose(葡萄糖). That means that 40% of the child’s total energy expenditure is being used by its brain.
The findings support the theory that children take so long to mature because of the energy-intensive task of growing a massively over-sized brain in comparison to the brain-to-body weight ratio of other species.
Kuzawa continued: “After a certain age it becomes difficult to guess a toddler or young child’s age by their size. Instead you have to listen to their speech and watch their behavior. Our study suggests that this is no accident.”
Body growth nearly stops at the ages when brain development is happening at a lightning pace, because the brain is using up the available resources.”
“The mid-childhood peak in brain costs has to do with the fact that there are a huge number of synapses(神经元突触), connections in the brain, at this age, when we learn so many of the things we need to know to be successful humans.”
1. Why does it take people so long to grow up?| A．They need to store energy to grow later. |
| B．They need time to adapt to their environment. |
| C．Most of the energy is used for brain development. |
| D．They need a high degree of parental investment. |
| A．At about four years old. | B．At about two years old. |
| C．At about one year old. | D．At about five years old. |
| A．Why toddlers and children need plenty of resources. |
| B．The reason why it takes human infants a long time to grow up. |
| C．The reason why human infants are similar to other animals. |
| D．Why the brains of people need a large amount of energy. |
| A．age | B．their size |
| C．listen to their speech | D．guess their age by listening and watching |
3 . Dog walkers should show consideration, not just for the dog in their home or car, but also for their environment. Doing so will help keep the local area clean and pleasant, especially for people out walking their dog or taking children to the park.
A considerate dog walker will take steps to prevent their pets from producing waste wherever they want to. Dog waste is particularly unpleasant and should be avoided at all costs. Not only is it nasty to walk in a dirty area, but it is also a serious health risk. Dog fouling ( 污垢) is a criminal offence in the UK and carries a maximum fined ￡1,000 if the case goes to court (法庭). Dog walkers should always be prepared to pick up after their dog by carrying dog waste bags or even plastic carrier bags that can be used. Do not run the risk of allowing your dog to make a public area dirty by always having a steady supply of bags with you during dog walks. Carrying a single bag during a walk is not always enough, as some dogs will need to go twice or perhaps even three times during walks.
Some dog owners are not willing to admit that their pets is a challenge or troublesome. Rather than dislike the suggestions that dogs should be kept under control, you should see it as your duty to protect other dogs, children and anyone else from harm. Do know troublesome behaviors such as aggression (攻击) towards other dogs or children and make every effort to keep your dog under control. Avoid areas where you know other dogs or children will be. They can do this by showing respect for other people’s property, picking up after their dog and by keeping challenging dogs under control.
1. The writer advises dog walkers to show consideration mainly for having_____.| A．a clean car | B．a comfortable home |
| C．a good environment | D．a very pleasant park |
| A．Highly unpleasant or annoying. | B．Very boring and tiring. |
| C．Specially disappointing | D．Surprising or astonishing. |
| A．fined more than ￡1,000 | B．ordered to pick it up at once |
| C．ordered to give one one waste bag | D．considered to break the law. |
| A．To keep their dogs under control. | B．To try to make their dogs keep clean. |
| C．To stop their dogs from being harmed. | D．To respect other people’s property. |
4 . Children need to be prepared for an earthquake as much as adults, if not more.
Infants and Toddlers (初学走路的儿童) For infants and toddlers, special emphasis should be placed on making their environment as safe as possible. The beds should be placed away from windows and tall bookcases that could slide or fall. A minimum of a 72-hour supply of extra water, bottles, food, juices, clothing and medications should be stored where it is most likely to be reached after an earthquake. Also keep an extra bag with these things in your car. Install bumper pads (防撞垫) to protect babies during the shaking. Install latches (闩锁) on all cupboards (not just those young children can reach) so that nothing can fall on your baby during a quake.
Preschool and School-age Children By age three or so, children can understand what an earthquake is and how to get ready for one. Take the time to explain what causes earthquakes in terms they understand. Include your children in family discussions and planning for earthquake safety. Conduct drills and review safety procedures every six months. Show children the safest places to be in each room when an earthquake hits. Also show them all possible exits from each room. Teach children what to do wherever they are during an earthquake (at school, in a tall building, outdoors). Make sure children’s emergency cards at school are up-to-date. It’s important that they know what gas smells like. Advise children to tell an adult if they smell gas after an earthquake.
1. What kind of people does the passage aim at?| A．Children | B．Adults | C．Students | D．Parents |
| A．Placing the bed away from windows. | B．Explaining the causes of an earthquake. |
| C．Showing children the safest places. | D．Pointing the exits of each room to them. |
| A．run away | B．tell an adult |
| C．hide in the safe place | D．look for the exits |
5 . Very far away from the city lived a poor farmer and his wife. In front of their house was a small dirt road. Very few cars drove on this road because it was so far from the city. On the dirt road, there was a big hole filled with water. The hole was very deep, but drivers on the road didn’t know just how deep. Drivers always drove into the hole, but they never drove out.
One day, a man in a new car was driving down the road. He saw the hole with the water, but he didn’t think it was very deep. He drove into the hole, but he couldn’t drive out. The man saw the farmer on his tractor working in the field, and he signaled to the farmer. The farmer drove over to the man in the new car.
“Is there a problem?” asked the farmer.
“Yes,” said the man. “My car is stuck in this hole. Can you help me?”
“Maybe,” said the farmer. “But I’m very busy.”
“If you help me, I’ll pay you,” said the man.
“OK,” said the farmer. The farmer pulled the car out of the hole with his tractor, and the man paid him a lot of money. The man looked at the farmer and said, “You must make a lot of money pulling cars out of this hole day and night.”
“Actually, no,” said the farmer.
“Why not?” asked the man.
“The hole is very deep, and a lot of people get stuck and ask for help. But I don’t make money day and night because I don’t pull cars out at night.”
“At night I’m busy filling the hole with water,” answered the farmer.
1. Why did very few cars drive on the small dirt road?| A．Because the road was dirty. | B．Because it was so far from the city. |
| C．Because very few people knew the way. | D．Because the drivers knew there was a hole. |
| A．he just learnt to drive a car | B．it was the first time that he passed there |
| C．he knew how deep the hole was | D．he knew the farmer in the field |
| A．Drivers didn’t see there was a hole on the road. |
| B．The man drove into the hole and never drove out. |
| C．The farmer was busy filling the hole with water at night. |
| D．The driver made a lot of money pulling cars out of the hole day and night. |
| A．The road | B．The city | C．The car | D．The man |
6 . In the more and more competitive service industry, it is no longer enough to promise customer satisfaction. Today, customer “delight” is what companies are trying to achieve in order to keep and increase market share.
It is accepted in the marketing industry, and confirmed by a number of researches, that customers receiving good service will promote business by telling up to 12 other people; those treated badly will tell their tales of woe to up to 20 people. Interestingly, 80 percent of people who feel their complaints are handled fairly will stay loyal.
New lineages for customer care have come when people can obtain goods and services through telephone call centers and the Internet. For example, many companies now have to invest (投资) a lot of money in information technology and staff training in order to cope with the “phone rage (愤怒)” — caused by delays in answering calls ,being cut off in mid-conversation or left waiting for long periods.
“Many people do not like talking to machines,” says Dr. Storey Senior Lecturer in Marketing at City University Business School, “Banks, for example, encourage staff at call centers to use customer data to establish instant and good relationship with them. The aim is to make the customer feel they know you and that you can trust — the sort of comfortable feelings people have during face-to-face chats with their local branch manager.”
Recommended ways of creating customer delight include: under-promising and over-delivering (saying that a repair will be come out within five hours, but getting it done within two ); replacing a faulty product immediately: throwing in a gift voucher (购物礼券) as an unexpected “thank you” to regular customers; and always returning calls, even when they are complaints.
Aiming for customer delight is all very well, but if services do not reach the high level promised, disappointment or worse will be the result. This can be eased by offering an apology and an explanation of why the service did not meet usual standards with empathy (for example, “I know how you must feel”), and possible solutions (replacement, compensation or whatever suggests best meets the case).
Airlines face some of the toughest challenges over customer care. Fierce competition has convinced them that delighting passengers is an important marketing tool, while there is great potential for customer anger over delays caused by weather, unclaimed luggage and technical problems.
For British Airways staff, a winning telephone style is considered vital in handling the large volume of calls about bookings and flight times. They are trained to answer quickly, with their name, job title and a “we are here to help” attitude. The company has invested heavily in information technology to make sure that information is available instantly on screen.
British Airways also says its customer care policies are applied within the company and staff are taught to regard each other as customers requiring the highest standards of service.
Customer care is obviously here to stay and it would be a foolish company that used slogans such as “we do as we please”. On the other hand, the more customers are promised, the greater the risk of disappointment.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 2 that .| A．well-treated customers promote business |
| B．unsatisfied customers receive better service |
| C．Satisfied customers catch more attention |
| D．complaining customers are hard to satisfy |
| A．customers often use phones to express their anger |
| B．customer care becomes more demanding |
| C．people still prefer to buy goods online |
| D．customers rely on their phones to obtain services |
| A．“I’m sorry for the delay.” |
| B．“I appreciate your understanding.” |
| C．“I know how upset you must be.” |
| D．“I know it’s our fault.” |
| A．Face-to-face service creates comfortable feelings among customers. |
| B．A company should promise less but do more in a competitive market. |
| C．Companies that promise more will naturally attract more customers. |
| D．Customer delight is more important for airlines than for banks. |
7 . Christmas is long gone and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it’s a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here are a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l8K. Anything over l8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it’s confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver-something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
1. According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.| A．being charged | B．being affected |
| C．being cheated | D．being attracted |
| A．A 14K necklace. | B．A gold-plated ring. |
| C．A gemstone necklace. | D．A vermeil earring. |
| A．in a cold place | B．in a dry place | C．in a wet place | D．in a hot place |
| A．encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry |
| B．tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver |
| C．introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver |
| D．inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry |
8 . WHEN my brother Joe was 6 months old, my mother brought him home from the hospital and told me to watch him while she fixed supper. We started playing a game I called “dogs”, rolling on the floor like pups (小狗). Then I looked up and saw my mother watching us. She was crying.
“He’s blind,” she said. “The doctor told me today.” I looked at Joe. He was laughing. “He can’t be blind,” I said. “He smiles at my face.” “He smiles at your voice,” she said. “He’ll never see your face.” That was that. Joe was blind. Mama went back to cooking. I went back to playing a dog.
From the age of 8, Joe boarded at a school for the deaf and the blind, learning to read Braille. When he was 16, the school said he’d learned enough and sent him home with a Braille typewriter. At 21, Joe moved out to live on his own, he said, “like a man,” in an apartment 30 miles (48 km) away. He learned to cook, clean, do his own laundry, and do almost anything else he needed.
Then he met the love of his life. She, too, was blind. When Joe called to tell me, he said: “Even a blind man can fall in love at first sight.” They shared 10 good years before he lost her to cancer. Painfully soon after, he also lost our mother, who was his champion, and our stepfather, who was Joe’s best friend.
What is left when you lose the loves of your life? My brother clung with an iron fist (拳头) to three gifts: Faith, hope and love.
His faith grew stronger. He always had hope. And his love for his family has never gotten weaker, despite death or disappointment. Loved ones leave, but love remains.
The years ahead may prove to be his hardest. His legs are growing weaker, threatening to take away the independence he’s fought so hard to keep. My sister and I often wonder what will happen if Joe can’t live on his own. It’s not up to us. We’ll do what we can, but it’s his life. He won’t have it any other way.
You don’t find strength to do something until it’s time to do it. Joe has found it whenever he has needed it. I believe he will again.
1. When the author’s mother brought her little brother Joe back from the hospital, the author ______.| A．was sad because he couldn’t see things clearly |
| B．immediately introduced him to the family dog |
| C．worried that he might steal her mother’s love from her |
| D．had great fun playing a game with him |
a. Joe started learning Braille at a school for the deaf and the blind.
b. Joe moved out to live independently and learned to cook and clean.
c. Joe was sent back home with his Braille typewriter.
d. Joe had a hard time when he lost three beloved family members.
e. Joe fell in love with a blind girl the first time they met.
| A．abedc | B．acbed | C．acebd | D．aecbd |
| A．People have to spend more time with their loved ones. |
| B．The disabled deserve our respect and support so that they can live an independent life. |
| C．Love, hope and determination can keep a man going despite hardship. |
| D．People should learn to get over the loss of their loved ones as love always remains. |
9 . IT was a 12-minute walk into the unknown, and it changed the history of space exploration forever. The first-ever spacewalk by former Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, 50 years ago on March 18, was also the first big test of space suit technology.
The old Soviet-style space suit was not quite ready yet, however. It was affected by the lack of atmospheric pressure in space. When Leonov had completed his space walk, he realized that his space suit “had inflated like a balloon, preventing him from getting back inside the spacecraft”, according to the BBC. The cosmonaut let half of the air out of his spacesuit and survived despite losing oxygen.
Nowadays, of course, this type of incident does not happen. But the problem of what to wear in space is still important, as space travel may soon be available to more people than ever.
In 2017, Space X and Boeing may become the first private companies to put people in space. What should the new, rich space travelers wear?
Well, their outfits won’t be like the white, boxy suits in the film Gravity. Those types of extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suits will be for professionals working outside a spacecraft. The average space traveler will instead need something to wear inside in case of an emergency when getting up and down again in a rocket or during docking.
These are called IVA (intra-vehicular activity) pressure suits, which should be effective, comfortable, and perhaps even fashionable. The best-known example is the orange “pumpkin suit” made famous by NASA, but more fashionable options may later be available.
In fact, fashion and space have been together for years. The first space suits for the Apollo moon program were built by Playtex, an underwear maker, and the company still works with NASA.
Nowadays in Brooklyn, New York there is a company called Final Frontier Design that makes the latest in space suit technology. All of their staff have backgrounds in show business, making Broadway musical and circus costumes. They are currently looking to introduce their space tech, like vibrating belts that can give directions by feel, to people on Earth.
The walk into unknown space fashion is just beginning. How would you show off in space?
1. According to the article, today’s space travelers have different experiences to that of Alexei Leonov because ______.| A．they have to perform space walks for long periods |
| B．today’s space suits are much safer and more convenient |
| C．they are provided with extra oxygen to survive in space |
| D．they can wear their own outfits on space missions |
| A．fail their space walk missions |
| B．put on the wrong space suit |
| C．have trouble with their space suits |
| D．forget the correct operating procedures |
| A．They will be intended for tough working conditions outside a spacecraft. |
| B．They will have to be orange. |
| C．They will be very heavy and expensive despite their fashionable look. |
| D．They will be created with the help of artists and designers. |
| A．Fashion comes to space. |
| B．Space travel exploration becomes more popular. |
| C．What happened to Alexei Leonov 50 years ago? |
| D．How space suits work? |
10 . Are parents rational (理性的) about their children? No. Parents aren’t rational because
My eldest daughter’s
“I sailed around the Mediterranean in a yacht (游艇) when I was seventeen,” she said. “I hiked through the Pyrenees from Spain to Paris. I’ve done rock climbing and deep-sea diving and slept in rainforests in the jungle of Indonesia. Right?”
“Right,” I said, “So
“So this,” she went on. “When I go to the corner drugstore to pick up some shampoo, why do you always tell me to be
There is no
All I could mumble (嘟囔) in
There is something else, too, that children find it hard to
But when the children are
Most
In the parent’s mind, a child ages but does not
| A．anxiety | B．fear | C．love | D．desire |
| A．accept | B．improve | C．remove | D．dislike |
| A．problem | B．question | C．warning | D．explanation |
| A．anger | B．pride | C．worry | D．surprise |
| A．when | B．how | C．what | D．why |
| A．brave | B．careful | C．quick | D．helpful |
| A．necessary | B．different | C．satisfactory | D．ordinary |
| A．apology | B．turn | C．regret | D．reply |
| A．persuade | B．promise | C．remind | D．expect |
| A．different | B．same | C．extra | D．right |
| A．age | B．distance | C．gender | D．power |
| A．decide | B．miss | C．choose | D．understand |
| A．success | B．happiness | C．luck | D．safety |
| A．argue | B．think | C．forget | D．complain |
| A．aware | B．hesitant | C．close | D．frightened |
| A．prove | B．matter | C．mean | D．mind |
| A．accidents | B．failures | C．changes | D．mistakes |
| A．follow | B．protect | C．spoil | D．treat |
| A．impression | B．effect | C．opportunity | D．response |
| A．stop | B．compete | C．leave | D．grow |
