1 . Johnny Cash was born in 1932 in the southern state of Arkansas. His parents were poor cotton farmers. As a school boy, he began writing songs and he performed on radio programs. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and served as a radio operator in Germany.
He returned to the United States in 1954 and formed a band with two friends and performed at local events. They began recording for Sun Records in Memphis. One of the songs Cash wrote became the first country music hit record for the company. It was “Cry, Cry, Cry.”
Johnny Cash performed all across the United States and Canada. By 1958, Johnny Cash was a successful recording artist, songwriter and singer. He was invited to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Johnny Cash won many awards, including eleven Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. He was elected to both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
He died on September 12, 2003, in Nashville at the age of seventy-one.
Fans say that Johnny Cash's music was important because it told simple stories about life and death. They say he cared about social issues and continued to express support for those who are poor and without political power. One of the last songs he recorded was one made popular by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails. It is called “Hurt.”
1. Johnny Cash returned to the United States after ________.| A．he finished high school | B．he formed a band |
| C．he served in US Air Force in Germany | D．his song Cry, Cry, Cry became famous |
| A．Johnny Cash performed his famous song Cry, Cry, Cry at the Grand Ole Opry |
| B．Johnny Cash didn't care about social problems |
| C．Johnny Cash's music was only loved by his fans |
| D．the Grand Ole Opry is a place where famous singers hold their concerts. |
| A．Beat | B．Failure | C．Strike | D．Success |
| A．he won many awards in his lifetime |
| B．he often performed in the Grand Ole Opry |
| C．his songs expressed support for the poor people with no political power |
| D．his songs were sung by the rock and roll group Nine Inch Nails |
2 . Somewhere in the warm, clear waters off the coast of Australia, a mature bottlenose dolphin is swimming with her daughter. It's dinnertime. But, instead of chasing down a fish in open waters like she usually does, mom swims over to a basket sponge (海绵)growing on the ocean floor. In a quick move, she breaks off a piece of the sponge, then fits it closely over her mouth. It's hard not to wonder what that watchful youngster might be thinking about all this. Are you going to eat that sponge? Are we playing?
With the sponge secured on her beak, the older dolphin starts sweeping her head back and forth across the ocean floor. She's looking for fish like the sand perch （沙鲈），which hide themselves on the floor of the sea under the sand. As for the sponge stuck onto her mouth, it allows her to clear away the sand without injuring herself on broken pieces of coral, or maybe even suffering the sting （刺痛）of the scorpion fish. The extra work it takes to catch a fish like the sand perch is worth it because they tend to be fattier. And for a dolphin, fattier means more nutritious.
Sure enough, after a few minutes, a sand perch comes out. The fish dashes off for a few yards and then hesitates, waiting for a moment before burying itself in the sand again. In that brief pause, the elder dolphin shakes off the sponge, surfaces for a breath, and then comes down and catches the sand perch before it can rebury itself. She then passes it to her daughter. And with that, the younger dolphin hasn't just gotten a good meal ； more importantly, she's learned a powerful hunting technique - one that years from now, she'll pass along to her own children.
1. Which word best describes the young dolphin's feeling in the first paragraph?| A．Anxious. | B．Curious. |
| C．Scared. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．To chase down fattier fish. | B．To play with her children. |
| C．To protect herself from being hurt. | D．To hide herself under the sand. |
| A．She waits for the right time. | B．She hides under the sand. |
| C．She sets a trap for it. | D．She makes use of space. |
| A．Guidance of an experienced elder. | B．Reliance of a young dolphinonher mom. |
| C．Theprocess of catching fat fish. | D．The powerful hunting technique. |
3 . Since 2007, the American Psychological Association (APA) has conducted a survey of different aspects of stress in America. This year's analysis focused on teens, and on a 10 point scale, adolescents ranked their stress at 5.8, compared with a score of 5.1 reported by adults.
“What is even more disturbing,” says Norman Anderson, CEO and executive vice president of the APA, “is the fact that most teens knew their stress levels weren't healthy—they said 3.9 was probably more desirable—but did little about it.” In fact, the survey revealed that 42% of teens aren't doing enough to manage their stress.
The researchers were concerned about it, since unaddressed stress can lead to both short-term mental-health issues such as depression, as well as lay the seeds for long-lasting conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure in adulthood.
What’s causing teens to feel so anxious? Eighty three percent cited school as a source of stress, including concerns about their future after high school and worries about college. For some, family financial issues also caused anxiety, which wasn’t surprising since previous studies found that parental stress can pass down onto children, even at very young ages.
“This branch of population is not taken seriously sometimes,” said Katherine Nordal, of the APA, “we wanted to shine light on some of the problems we know teens are having and whether they are successful at coping with them or not.”
“Clearly,” said Anderson, “we have work to do to manage stress overall. Stress levels among Americans continue to be high, but coping mechanisms(机制) remain ineffective,” Teens reported doing everything that they probably shouldn't in order to relieve stress—they aren't getting enough sleep, which can add to anxious feelings, and they're less physically active. Exercise is among the best ways to reduce stress, but the survey found that teens were beginning to rely on sitting activities, such as surfing the internet, engaging in social media or watching videos, to relieve stress.
1. From paragraph one, we can learn that___________.| A．no survey has been carried out among teens before |
| B．different aspects of stress mainly existed in adults |
| C．10 percent of the teens are involved in the survey |
| D．compared with the adults, teens are suffering more stress in different aspects |
| A．The government took some measures to reduce teens' stress. |
| B．Most teens took it for granted and did nothing about it. |
| C．42% of teens thought it natural to some stress. |
| D．Most teens were worrying about their stress levels. |
| A．sorrow | B．surprise | C．unhappiness | D．depth |
| A．America's Teens Outscore Adults on Stress |
| B．America Teens' Education in High School |
| C．American Adolescents' Mental and Physical Health Issues |
| D．Modern Psychology Teaching among America's Teens |
4 . White Temple, Thailand
Immediately upon entering White Temple, you will realize this contemporary, unconventional temple stands out, even in a country dotted with temples. The White Temple is incredibly different and unique in its architecture, art and design. In fact, it is designed in a very modern way. This temple is all white. It is very hot in summer in Thailand, so going to White Temple in other three seasons is a wise choice
Sagrada Familia, Spain
This symbolic Barcelona building is famously unfinished. It is said to be finished by 2026， but nobody believes it. However, visitors believe its incompleteness is part of its charm, which sets it apart from other temples in the world. You will have to wait in a long line if you visit Sagrada Familia in summer holiday. Visitors are not that many in spring and winter.
Kinkaku-ji, Japan
This temple is absolutely the most popular one in Japan. Whether you visit during the fall when there are red leaves against the golden wall, in winter when the gold is topped with pure white snow, in spring with cherry blossoms, or in summer allowing you to smell the earthy smell after rain--there is never a bad time to visit this beautiful temple.
1. Which temple will you choose to go if you are a fan of modern architecture?| A．Gobekli Tepe | B．White Temple. | C．Sagrada Familia. | D．Kinkaku-ji. |
| A．It is unfinished | B．It is all white | C．It is the oldest temple | D．It is untraditional |
| A．Gobekli Tepe | B．White Temple | C．Sagrada Familia. | D．Kinkaku-ji. |
5 . I left England for Sydney in September. It was a career move for my husband, and our 20-year-old daughter was feeling adventurous and decided to come, too. However, just before leaving England, my 79-year-old mother suffered a stroke(中风).Being strong and independent, she continued to live at home with the help of social services. But she couldn’t look after the garden. I thought how wonderful it would be if there was an organization offering volunteer help. Friends asked me what I planned to do in Australia, and I told them I would be looking for a volunteer position with a gardening charitable organization. Imagine my surprise when I found just the organization I had been looking for——Easy Care Gardening (ECG)!
There are several reasons why I volunteer for ECG. Firstly, as a newcomer to Australia I meet many great people who, like me, volunteer some of their time. We cover a large age range, but all love gardens and helping others.
Secondly,through working with ECG I have been lucky enough to explore Sydney’s North Shore that I might not have had the chance to visit otherwise.
Finally, there are all those wonderful people we call “clients (客户) ”,but are more like friends when we visit them often and tend their gardens. What great people I have met, and the stories they have to tell—the family histories, where they come from and the reasons for immigrating to Australia! I find it a privilege to have access to private gardens which, in many cases, have been the joy of their owners for many years. Each one is individual and reflects the character, needs and the history of each family. Indeed, the gardens reflect the multicultural and historical background of Sydney.
1. Why did the author move to Sydney?| A．Her husband would work there. | B．She planned to volunteer there. |
| C．She was very keen on adventures. | D．She had to look after her sick mother. |
| A．The popularity of ECG . | B．The tips of her friends. |
| C．Her own experience. | D．Her gardening skills. |
| A．They make friends with their clients. |
| B．They like to explore Sydney’s North Shore. |
| C．They are of similar ages and back grounds. |
| D．They are kind-hearted with the same interest. |
6 . New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate and enter the new year with a smile on your face. This year, there’re plenty of local activities for all ages and interests, so the smiles will come easily.
BLUE CONCERT
Blues band the Coyotes is playing at the Dance Barn，at 8 Barn View in Sudden Valley, The show will start at 9 p. m. and benefit the charity Bikers Fighting Cancer. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call 224-2308 for more information.
NEW YEAR’S LAUGHS
Ring in the New Year and laugh out the old one at the Upfront Theatre Comic improvisers will hit on all the highlights of the year with The Last Laugh of 2008. The 9 p. m. show will cost $15 and is open to all ages. The 11 P. m. show is to 21 and older and costs $18, which includes a champagne (香槟酒) toast. Call 733-8855 for more information.
MAZE
For a fun activity earlier in the evening，walk the labyrinth (迷宫) at the Leopold Crystal Bellroom. Wander through the maze, based on the French Chartres Cathedral, for free from 4 to 9 P. m. Call 752-0048 for more information.
COUNTRY DANCING
At the Bellingham Eagles Hall, live local music will help get the dance started at 8 p. m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 676-1554.
1. Which of the following activities may be free for Tom aged 16?| A．COUNTRY DANCING. | B．NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS. |
| C．MAZE. | D．BLUE CONCERT. |
| A．676-1554 | B．733-8855 | C．752-0048 | D．224-2308 |
| A．Wander through the maze. | B．The champagne toast. |
| C．Its live music. | D．The Last Laugh of 2008. |
| A．$10 is enough to book a ticket to Blue Concert |
| B．you can read the text on a telephone book |
| C．all these activities are international ones |
| D．New Year’s Laughs will hold shows three times |
7 . This is the story of three plastic bottles, empty and abandoned. Their journeys are about to diverge, more or less influencing the fate of our planet.
Bottle One, like hundreds of millions of tons of other plastic bottles, ends up in a landfill. This huge dump expands each day as more trash comes in and continues to take up space. As plastics sit there being pressed among layers of their junk, rainwater flows through the waste and absorbs the chemicals it contains, and some of those are highly poisonous. Together they create harmful matter called leachate (沥滤液）, which can move into groundwater, soil and streams, poisoning ecosystems and harming wildlife. It can take Bottle One 1,000 years to rot away.
Bottle Two's journey is strange. He floats on water that reaches a stream, a stream that flows into a river, and a river that reaches the ocean. After months lost at sea, he's slowly drawn where trash accumulates, a place known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Here the ocean's currents have trapped millions of pieces of plastic waste. There the water becomes a cloudy plastic soup. Some animals, like seabirds, get stuck in the mess. They, and others, mistake the brightly colored plastic things for food. Plastic makes them feel full when they're not, so they starve to death and pass the poisons from the plastic up the food chain. For example, it's eaten by fish, and the fish are eaten by us.
But Bottle Three is spared the cruel suffering of his brothers. A truck brings him to a plant where he and his companions are squeezed flat and pressed into a block. The blocks are cut and torn into tiny pieces, which are washed and melted, so they become the raw materials that can be used again. As if by magic, Bottle Three is now ready to be reborn as something completely new.
For this bit of plastic with such humble origins, suddenly the sky is the limit.
1. The underlined word “diverge” in paragraph 1 probably means| A．develop |
| B．disappear |
| C．conclude |
| D．vary |
| A．He will expand when pressed among layers of their junk. |
| B．He might poison or even endanger different forms of life. |
| C．He can be easily recognized by seabirds and taken for dangerous food source. |
| D．He will go through chemical changes and be recycled into new materials soon. |
| A．In a science magazine. |
| B．In a tour brochure. |
| C．In a product description. |
| D．In a geography textbook. |
| A．Fates of Plastic Bottles |
| B．The Significance of Recycling |
| C．The Shame of Wasting |
| D．High-Tech of Dealing with Waste |
8 . I started to work as an editor for a travel magazine. I didn’t really mind the work, but I wanted something more challenging. My sister sent me some details for a position in a startup. The job was a seemingly perfect mix of my skills and interests, so I jumped at it.
However, soon after I joined the company, its model changed to focus on education, and everything about my position changed. I was asked to take on the completely different roles of selling contents to teachers and training people. I had no experience in sales, training or education. I felt more a little outside my comfort zone.
I knew I wanted to grow as an individual and make a serious effect on the company. I told myself that everything feels overwhelming(巨大的)at first and I should at least try. In a way, I felt like I didn’t have a choice. I knew jumping out of the nest was the right thing for me, even though it felt pretty awful.
I was lucky to be surrounded by very helpful people, both at work and at home. My boss never asked if I thought I could do it; she asked if I was interested in trying.
I spent hours researching my company’s products. I asked lots of questions and spoke to so many teachers that there were soon more good experiences than difficult ones. I looked for chances to put in extra effort. The more I did, the better I felt.
Over time, I discovered that the job was something I could do and liked doing. It was unbelievably rewarding to see the company grow. I also learned it’s important to take risks and accept new opportunities, even when you’re not sure if you’ll do well. I don’t think there’s anything worse than failing to try. I’m so glad I tried, and it surely paid off.
1. Why did the author want to change her job?| A．She got bored of her old boss. |
| B．She followed her sister’s advice. |
| C．She was paid too little at her old job. |
| D．She intended to challenge something new. |
| A．Excited. | B．Stressed. |
| C．Curious. | D．Comfortable. |
| A．her boss trusted her to try |
| B．she knew she would do well |
| C．she was hardworking and made a lot of effort |
| D．people around her helped her solve the challenge |
| A．To tell readers that failure is the mother of success. |
| B．To warn about the risks and challenges when changing jobs. |
| C．To expose risks and challenges in a small and newly founded company. |
| D．To encourage readers to take on challenges and turn risks into opportunities. |
9 . As children grow, so does their desire to become independent. As parents, we need to recognize this desire, and encourage it in the right way. When our children grow up and become more independent, we will see many changes in them. Their self-confidence will increase as they are now able to do things that were once beyond their ability. Often they will become more willing to take risks and try new things. Our job is to find the right balance between children’s desire for independence and the need to keep our kids safe.
Kids need to be allowed, in fact encouraged, to take some risks. The goal for parents is to determine how much risk is appropriate (适当的). The right risk level for your child will depend on their age, developmental level, and character. It will change over time, and there are few fast rules that can be used for every child.
It is impossible for any of us to live completely risk-free. So what should parents do? We must encourage them to explore their world, while setting clear limits where safety is an issue; we should let them make their own choices, while pointing out the consequences (后果) that may arise from those choices; we cannot take their steps for them. We can only point out the path.
It’s hard to imagine when they are small. But someday they will be walking, riding a bike, and even driving! However, if we are overprotective, they are likely to grow up ill-prepared to meet the challenges they must face.
1. According to the author, what should parents do when their children want to take risks?| A．Encourage them to try bravely. | B．Give as much advice as they need. |
| C．Persuade their children to give up. | D．Judge how much risk is appropriate. |
| A．they are not satisfied with their lives |
| B．they think they can become a hero |
| C．they become more confident in themselves |
| D．they want to do something against their parents |
| A．ask children to set clear limits | B．allow children to choose their risks |
| C．accept the consequences of the risk | D．prepare children well for life challenges |
| A．make friends with their children | B．build up their children’s confidence |
| C．protect their children from any danger | D．encourage their children to be independent |
10 . The Chinese word "Shanzhai" means a small mountain village, but it becomes an accepted name for fakes (假货), after "Shanzhai Cell-phones" produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years. Now besides "Shanzhai" electronic products, there are "Shanzhai" movies, "Shanzhai" stars and even a "Shanzhai" Sprin Festival Gala, a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year's Eve.
"Shanzhai" has become a culture of its own, meaning anything that imitates something famous. In Chongqing, "Shanzhai" version "Bird's Nest（鸟巢）" and "Water Cube（水立方）" woven by farmers with bamboo attract(吸引) wide attention from tourists. Both are copies of the famous Olympic buildings in Beijing.
A literature critic said that taking the "Shanzhai" Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the "Shanzhai" version appears timely to attract people. "Although it is often connected with poor techniques and operation, 'Shanzhai' culture meets the psychological needs of common people and could be a comfort to their minds," he said.
To the mainstream（主流） culture, the rise of "Shanzhai" culture is a challenge and a motivation（推动）. People believe different kinds of cultures developing together is a perfect way and it is for the public to choose.
1. The Chinese word "Shanzhai" may have started with_______.| A．electronic products | B．fake(假的) cell-phones |
| C．Spring Festival Gala | D．Olympic buildings |
| A．anything that are copies of something famous |
| B．products with poor techniques and quality |
| C．the action that a person imitates famous people |
| D．those similar names to famous brands |
| A．is stopped by "Shanzhai" culture |
| B．is the challenge of"Shanzhai" culture |
| C．may develop faster because of the challenge of "Shanzhai" culture |
| D．will be replaced by "Shanzhai" culture |
| A．偷窃 | B．做广告 |
| C．仿造 | D．欺骗 |
