1 . The body gives off many gases. Although some smells may signal a need to bathe or that you ate a certain meal, other gases might point to serious disease. Now, researchers have come up with a system that uses earmuffs to catch the disease-signaling gases. Doctors could get the information as patients wear a set of earmuffs. Results could be ready within minutes.

“The ear is a good place to monitor,” explains Johnson, a biomedical engineer. The ear’s skin is fairly thin, he notes. So gases don’t have to travel far to get out of the blood and escape through skin pores.

To collect the gases, Johnson and his team selected earmuffs that make a tight seal with the head. These are the type people often wear to protect the ears from loud noise. His team made two holes in the muff covering one ear. A tube slowly pumped air in one hole. Another tube pulled air out of the second hole and sent it to a sensor.

In their tests, the team found that they could measure changes in the amount of alcohol coming from the skin of the ear. It could work much like a Breathalyzer that police use to test people for driving drunk. The team invited three men. Each had to avoid drinking alcohol for at least three days before taking part. Once in the lab, these men wore the earmuffs and sat for 10 minutes as the system recorded normal gas levels leaving their ears. Afterward, the men drank a big amount of alcohol. About 7 minutes later, the earmuff system tested out a rise in alcohol leaving the skin. After 50 minutes, alcohol levels reached the peak and continued falling until the test was over.

The team then measured other gases by changing out the sensor. With the right sensor, their earmuff system could test out disease. Later, they replaced the earmuffs with a one-eared version to make it a bit more comfortable.

Johnson imagines another possible benefit. The earmuff system could help doctors tell whether a child’s ear infections have been caused by bacteria or a virus. How? Each type of infection exudes different gases. That, in turn, could guide how doctors cure the disease.

1. What makes the ear a good place to monitor?

A．Its small size.	B．Its thin skin.
C．Its clean surface.	D．Its blood flow.

2. What did Johnson and his team find in their tests?

A．Sensors should be examined in time.	B．Drunk-driving tests were ineffective.
C．Serious diseases were difficult to identify.	D．Their system could be used to tell diseases.

3. What does the underlined word “exudes” in Paragraph 6 most probably mean?

A．Collects.

B．Gives off.

C．Cuts off.

D．Uses.

4. In which section of a magazine is this passage most likely to appear?

A．Politics.

B．Business.

C．Science.

D．Entertainment.

2 . A young man was about to go to the office when he received a phone call from a nurse who told him his father was injured and in hospital. So he ______ to the hospital by taxi. He had gone into the hospital when he found he ______ his cell phone in the taxi. What’s ______, he had forgotten to ask the nurse which ward his father was in. He had to run hurriedly around in the hospital ______ his father. Seeing a nurse, he asked her with ______, “My father is in hospital. He...”

The nurse ______, “Oh, my God. It’s you. Come with me!” She ______ the young man to the bed side of an elderly man. “Your son is here,” she ______ to the elderly patient several times. The old man was too weak to stay awake, only to look ______ at the young man standing beside him.

Throughout the night the young man ______ to the old man, holding the old man’s hand and offering him words of love and strength. The dying old man said nothing. The nurse ______ the young rest for a while but he ______ her advice.

Sunrise ______, the old man peacefully died. The young man placed the lifeless hand on the bed and informed the nurse. After the nurse did what was ______, she just found the young man had left, leaving a letter ______ “Thank you, lady! My father is fine. I knew right away the old man was not my father. But I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. So, I stayed.”

1.

A．jogged

B．rushed

C．jumped

D．slid

2.

A．left

B．forgot

C．remained

D．removed

3.

A．more

B．better

C．worse

D．finer

4.

A．in favor of

B．in search of

C．in fear of

D．in memory of

5.

A．despair

B．joy

C．relief

D．anxiety

6.

A．called in

B．turned in

C．took in

D．broke in

7.

A．directed

B．connected

C．appointed

D．joined

8.

A．roared

B．shouted

C．whispered

D．whistled

9.

A．faintly

B．positively

C．passively

D．generously

10.

A．turned

B．tended

C．led

D．adapted

11.

A．confirmed

B．announced

C．recommended

D．ensured

12.

A．received

B．reserved

C．revised

D．rejected

13.

A．advancing

B．approaching

C．amounting

D．assuming

14.

A．obvious

B．impressive

C．impossible

D．necessary

15.

A．reading

B．writing

C．drawing

D．demanding

3 . Joe and Della were a new couple. They were both interested in art--one in painting, the other in music. They lived in a small flat. They loved each other and they were happy.

But one day they found that they had spent all their money. One afternoon Della told Joe that she had found a _________ and was to give her three music lessons a week. For that she could get fifteen dollars a week. But Joe was not _________ because he didn’t want to stay at home, playing with his art while Della was at work. He wanted to earn some money too.

Every day they parted in the morning and _________ in the evening.

A week _________ , Della brought home fifteen dollars, but she looked a little _________. Joe took eighteen dollars out of his pocket. They were both _________ to have so much money at hand.

The next week, Joe _________ home another eighteen dollars but Della came home with her right hand in a bandage (绷带). Joe asked Della what was the _________. Della said, “It was because of an iron-- I mean a plate of soup spilled on my _________.”

“What do you do every day, Della? Do you __________ give music lessons?” Joe asked. “Tell me the __________!”

Della cried. She told Joe that she was working in a laundry (洗衣店), __________ shirts. A girl accidentally __________ an iron on her hand and she got a __________ burn. But Della asked Joe how he had guessed that she wasn’t giving music lessons.

Joe told Della that he worked in the engine-room of the same laundry where she worked. They both let out their __________ and laughed.

1.

A．pupil

B．teacher

C．painter

D．director

2.

A．worried

B．busy

C．glad

D．surprising

3.

A．studied

B．met

C．worked

D．talked

4.

A．killed

B．spent

C．wasted

D．passed

5.

A．tired

B．excited

C．fatter

D．stranger

6.

A．puzzled

B．disappointed

C．anxious

D．happy

7.

A．borrowed

B．brought

C．applied

D．stored

8.

A．result

B．job

C．matter

D．bandage

9.

A．foot

B．face

C．arm

D．hand

10.

A．really

B．often

C．seldom

D．finally

11.

A．reason

B．cause

C．truth

D．incident

12.

A．making

B．repairing

C．ironing

D．selling

13.

A．picked up

B．set down

C．poured out

D．filled with

14.

A．slight

B．bad

C．soft

D．hard

15.

A．secrets

B．lessons

C．ideas

D．opinions

4 . If there is one thing that comes to mind when the words “South Pacific” are spoken, then it must be coconut palms (椰子树). Most of us have images of all attractive coconut palms lining sandy beaches. But the coconut tree is more than a central characteristic of picture postcards bought by tourists.

To people of the South Pacific, the coconut tree is also known as the “Tree of Life”. It gets this name because of the different kinds of products which the coconut palm provides from its various parts. From the leaves down to its roots, it plays a great part in the life of many island people. The coconut tree provides food, shelter, fuel as well as income from exports.

Coconut leaves produce good-quality paper pulp (纸浆), hats, wastebaskets and bags. Flesh (果肉) and water (often called the milk) from the young, green coconut can be taken as a healthy food and drink. It is also used in salads and other tasty dishes.

Coconut husks (外壳) it are often thrown away, but they can be used to produce different kinds of useful products such as ropes, fishing nets, and floor coverings.

Coconut water can be used in the production of wine and is also used to treat a number of medical problems.

The white coconut flesh is a good source of coconut oil, coconut chips, and feed for animals.

The trunk of the coconut tree is a strong and durable wood, which can be used to build houses.

Medicines and dyes (燃料) are obtained from the roots.

The English oak, the Lebanon cedar or the Australian gum tree all have a place in history but the coconut palm is the only true “Tree of Life”.

1. Why is the coconut palm called the “Tree of Life”?

A．It has a long lifetime.	B．It is mostly exported.
C．It has a vast range of uses.	D．It is necessary for islanders.

2. Which part of a coconut tree can be used to treat some diseases?

A．Leaves.

B．Flesh.

C．Husks.

D．Water.

3. What does the underlined word “durable” mean in paragraph 7?

A．long-lived.

B．wet.

C．flexible.

D．rough.

4. What’s the major purpose of the text?

A．To introduce a useful type of plant.

B．To announce some new discoveries.

C．To tell readers about island people’s life.

D．To explain how to make full use of coconut leaves.

5 . Harvest Celebrations

People around the world pick, or harvest food that grows. Then they have a holiday. Let's read about some harvest celebrations!

Every February, the people of Mendoza, Argentina, harvest their grapes. Then they celebrate for a month! There are parades (游行), shows, and fireworks. They always choose a Harvest Queen, too.	Chanthaburi, a town in Thailand, is famous for its tasty fruit. People celebrate the fruit at harvest time in May. The Fruit Fair begins with a parade of floats (游行彩车) made from thousands of fruits and vegetables.
The Argungu Fishing Festival began in 1934 in Nigeria, a country in Africa. It's a four-day festival held at the end of February to celebrate the end of all farming activities. On the last day there's a fishing contest. People have one hour to catch the largest fish. But it's not that easy. They can only use traditional fishing tools. But many use only their hands to catch the fish.	France's famous Menton Lemon Festival starts in February. There are big parades with floats decorated with lemons and oranges. More than 200, 000 people from around the world come to Menton for this festival.

1. Which of the following is celebrated in May?

A．The Harvest Festival in Mendoza.	B．The Harvest Festival in Chanthaburi.
C．The Argungu Fishing Festival.	D．The Menton Lemon Festival.

2. The Argungu Fishing Festival started in _____________.

A．Argentina

B．Thailand

C．Nigeria

D．France

3. What can be seen in the Menton Lemon Festival?

A．The big parades.	B．The Fruit Fair.
C．A fishing contest.	D．A Harvest Queen.

4. In which section of a newspaper may readers find this passage?

A．Sport.

B．Business.

C．Science.

D．Culture.

6 . Milton Community Center

Milton Community Center provides a variety of programs and activities to improve the quality of life for young adults of different ages.

First and Goal Club	Date: March 17th—May 2nd	Ages: 12—14
	First and Goal Club is a youth development program where students will have the opportunity to build self-confidence and grow as young adults. Here they will develop good healthy behaviors and improve working cooperation.
Mid–winter Break Camp	Date: January 26th—January 29th	Ages: 13—15
	Students will enjoy a fun and positive environment at Mid-winter Break Camp. They will go on educational and exciting trips, as well as joining in fun activities here at the Center. Students must bring lunch with them every day.
iMatter	Date: April 24th—May 14th	Ages: 14—18
	iMatter is designed to prepare the youth for their future life. This program will cover personal and professional improvement to get our young people ready for future jobs. Speakers from different work fields will come and speak about their walk of life.
College Tour	Date: March 8th—June 4th	Ages: 16—18
	Young adults will have opportunities to explore several colleges. Transportation will be provided from the Milton Community Center. Drinking water will be offered, but no lunch.

For more information, please click here or visit http://miltoncommunity.com

1. First and Goal Club is designed for the age group of ________.

A．12—14

B．13—15

C．14—18

D．16—18

2. If you are free in January, you can apply for ________.

A．First and Goal Club	B．Mid–winter Break Camp
C．iMatter	D．College Tour

3. What can you do in iMatter?

A．Go on educational trips.	B．Learn speaking skills.
C．Get professional improvement.	D．Explore several colleges.

4. Where are you likely to find this passage?

A．On a website.	B．In a magazine.
C．In a brochure.	D．On a noticeboard.