1 . I worked in a small company with about thirty-five employees (雇员). We had a good-sized kitchen with a fridge that several employees used. But people would often go to the fridge to surprisingly find either their whole lunch missing, or in my case, my can of Cherry Coke gone. I usually kept it in my lunch bag. At times when I bought takeaway food, I would get two—one for lunch and one for dinner—so I didn’t have my lunch bag. Even so, I often couldn’t find the food. It was a shock to everyone.

We doubted who was stealing, but could never prove (证明) it. One day, a good idea came to my mind, and I couldn’t wait to try it.

It was break time at noon. I headed down to the kitchen about five minutes early and gave my Coke such a hard shake that I feared it may actually go off in my hands. I placed it back in the fridge. Then, I hid into a cupboard in the kitchen, waiting for the right moment.

BINGO! A lady came in and took the Coke. I put my hand over my mouth for her to open it, but she took it with her and left. I thought she would open it in the hall. No!

As I left the kitchen, I heard her yell (叫喊). I passed her office, and Coke was everywhere: the walls, the floor, all over her desk, computer, her work, and all over her—everywhere!

Well, food has never gone missing again since then because the lady got fired.

1. Why did the employees feel surprised?

A．Their lunch was often lost.

B．The fridge was full of free food.

C．The kitchen was never clean.

D．The company was small-sized.

2. Why did the author hide in the kitchen?

A．To play a joke on the lady.

B．To carry out some repairs inside.

C．To find out who was stealing.

D．To prove who was the best worker.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The kitchen.

B．The drink

C．The hand.

D．The fridge.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A small company.	B．An honest lady.
C．A special lunch.	D．An office story.

3 . I was born in Venice, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, and studied designing at university here. Though I have also spent time away, I have always come back because it’s my home.

In Venice, there are no roads, only canals, so you have to get around on foot or by boat. I live on a canal in the Rialto area in a house that was built in 1588 for the Muti family, who were businessmen in the silk trade. In the mid-eighteenth century, it was home to the Vezzi family, who made things like plates and bowls in fine china and became rich by sending these around the world. These businessmen’s houses in Venice are like palaces. Their owners had to have space to show off their goods, but the building also had to be an office, a factory, a store and a home. My house came into our family in 1919, when it was bought by my grandfather. He died before I was born but he was the director of a museum where I often do research on old documents. On some of these, I’ve seen notes in his handwriting, so, in a way, I met him through these documents.

Sadly, the population of Venice has dropped from 120,000 in the 1950s to about 60,000 now. This doesn’t include the thousands of tourists who come to visit. I welcome the tourists but unless something is done to stop everyday shops like bakeries from disappearing, the city will die. I want people who love the city to come here to live and work and give Venice back a life that is not just about tourism.

1. What can we learn about the family who first owned the author’s home?

A．They were china dealers.	B．They made plates and bowls.
C．They used to buy and sell silk.	D．They helped to build the canals.

2. What does the author say about his grandfather?

A．He met his grandfather in an unusual way.

B．His grandfather taught him how to write.

C．His grandfather turned his home into a museum.

D．He found his grandfather’s handwriting hard to read.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph about Venice?

A．It faces a difficult situation.	B．It can’t feed its population.
C．It needs more modern shops.	D．It has fewer tourists than before.

4 . Within your family, are you the “boss”, the “peacemaker”, the “baby” or the “king”?     1    

Firstborn — The “Boss”

First-time parents often have very high expectations for their eldest children.     2     Firstborns tend to be natural leaders who respect and trust authority. Many astronauts and engineers are firstborn children.

Middle child — The “Peacemaker”

Typically, parents don’t give middle children as much attention as the firstborn or the youngest.     3     As a result, they are usually determined to achieve success in their own way. They don’t like conflict and will try to avoid it. They are often realistic, independent, patient peacemakers and good communicators.

Youngest child — The “Baby”

By the time the youngest family member is born, most parents have loosened their rules.     4     They often enjoy amusing others and being the center of attention. They are typically fun-loving, creative people who aren’t afraid to question authority or take risks.

Only child — The “King of the Castle”

Life in the family of an only child often revolves around him or her.    5    An only child enjoys learning from adults and is usually very clever for his or her age. Only children are creative and intelligent and can easily communicate with adults. They are typically confident, independent and very successful. What about you? Does the birth order description match your personality?

A．Thus, they tend to have more freedom.

B．That often causes them to feel they are ignored.

C．Early-born children experience a better social environment.

D．These kids don’t have to share their toys or their parents’ time.

E．Many researchers believe your position in the family influences your personality.

F．As a result, these kids are often responsible, organized, bossy, successful achievers.

G．The relationships between birth order, personality, and behavior confuse many researchers.

6 . In my early childhood, I was often surprised when I saw my father making a small number of money with difficulty. Being a child, I was unable to understand him. When I was older, my father started doing a part-time job at home. He used to bring some work back and work till late night.

I can’t forget he played with me when I was 3-4 years old. He taught me how to read when I was at the age of 5. He took care of me all night when I was sick. Whenever I felt down, he would cheer me up. He also cared about my lessons and often helped me get ready for examinations. Later he sent me to New Delhi for the best education. Whenever I needed money, he never refused. He always managed money for my studies.

Two years ago, I got a job at a hospital in New Delhi. When I helped my first patient, I got a strong feeling of satisfaction. When I got my first salary which was about ten times more than my pocket money, I spent it all on myself.

When I returned home one fine morning, I heard my father communicating with one neighbor. He was telling him my success in the job very proudly. He also told him that I had a higher salary than him at the end of his work. A dream, his son should become better than himself came true.

I was unable to move on my feet. Past 23 years flashed into my mind in a moment. I knew my father loved me very much. I could understand the meaning of my father’s aspirations（愿望）. I could understand the decisions my father made in the past. The financial difficulty he was facing was decided by his goal — making his child more successful than himself.

If today I am successful, this is because of my father.

1. When the writer was young, his father ________.

A．managed money for his studies	B．cheered him up all night
C．hardly bought anything for him	D．only cared about his examinations

2. The right order of the story is ________.
a. My father sent me to get the best education.
b. My father thought his dream came true.
c. Being a child I was unable to understand my father.
d. I could understand the meaning of my father’s aspirations.
e. I got a higher salary than my father.

A．b-d-c-e-a

B．d-a-c-e-b

C．c-a-e-b-d

D．c-a-d-b-e

3. The best title for this passage may be ________.

A．A successful child	B．An unforgettable moment
C．A difficult time	D．A father’s love

7 . Once there was a small boy called Shankar who belonged to a poor family.

One day, he was walking through the forest, carrying some wood. He saw an old man who was very hungry. Shankar wanted to give him some food, but he did not have any food with him. So he continued on his way. On the way, he saw a fox who was very thirsty. He wanted to give him some water, but he did not have any water for himself. So he went on his way ahead.

Then he saw a young man with a dog who wanted to make a fire but did not have wood. Shankar learned about his problem and gave some wood to him. In return, the man gave him some food and water. Now he went back to the old man and gave him some food. Then he found the fox and gave some water to him. The old man and the fox were very thankful for Shankar’s help. Then Shankar went on his way happily.

Unluckily, one day Shankar fell down the hill. He was in pain but he couldn’t move and no one was there to help him. But the old man who he had helped before saw him, and quickly came and pulled him up the hill. Shankar had many wounds on his legs. The fox whom Shankar had given water to saw his wounds and quickly went to the forest and brought some herbs. The old man helped to put the herbs on Shankar’s wounds. After some time, Shankar got well. All were very happy that they were able to help each other. If you help others, then they will also help you.

1. What did Shankar carry when he walked through the forest?

A．Wood.	B．Food.
C．Water.	D．Herbs.

2. Who gave Shankar food and water?

A．The old man	B．The young man.
C．The fox.	D．The dog.

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “herbs” in Chinese?

A．鲜花	B．野果
C．药草	D．毒虫

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Help each other	B．A fox may help you
C．Don’t believe the stranger	D．Food and water are important

8 . Back in the 1960s, a Harvard graduate student made a great discovery about human anger. At age 34, Jean Briggs was allowed to live in an Inuit community where many Inuit families lived a traditional life.

Briggs quickly realized something unusual was going on in these families.“They never got angry with me, and even showing a bit of anger was considered weak and childlike,” Briggs said. For example, once when someone knocked a hot pot of tea across the igloo (冰屋), damaging the ice floor, no one changed their look. “Too bad,” the person just said calmly and went to refill the teapot.

Briggs wrote up her observations (观察记录) in her book, Never in Anger. But she was left with questions: How do Inuit parents teach their children this ability? How do the Inuit turn irritable (易怒的) babies into cool-headed adults?

After reading Briggs' book, in early December I came to the Arctic town of Iqaluit, Canada, which is an Inuit town, in search of parenting wisdom, especially when it comes to teaching children to control their feelings. Right off the plane, I started collecting data (数据).

I sat with the elders in their 80s and 90s. I talked with moms. And I attended a local parenting class. All the moms mentioned one golden rule: Don't shout or yell at small children, for it is a tradition among the Inuit to see yelling at a small child as shameful.

The elders I spoke with said colonization (殖民) over the past century is harming the tradition, so the community is working hard to keep their parenting methods. Goota Jaw, who teaches the parenting class at Nunavut Arctic College, is in the front line of this effort. “Shouting is not how we teach our children,” Jaw said. “It is just teaching them to run away.”

“When we shout at a child, we' re training the child to shout,” said author Laura Markham. “Parents who control their own anger are helping their children learn to do the same.”

1. What did Briggs find about the Inuit?

A．They often behaved like children.

B．They began to lead a modern lifestyle.

C．They developed a habit of drinking tea.

D．They were quite able to control their anger.

2. Why did the author go to Iqaluit?

A．To study how Briggs wrote Never in Anger.

B．To attend a class about the history of the Inuit.

C．To find out how the Inuit raise cool-headed kids.

D．To collect data on education in Inuit communities.

3. What are old Inuit people worrying about?

A．Their parenting style is being harmed.

B．Colonization will make the Inuit disappear.

C．Inuit parents become too kind to their kids.

D．Parenting classes are attracting fewer parents.

4. Which would Markham most probably agree with?

A．Kids follow the example of parents.

B．Teaching kids to be angry is necessary.

C．Parents often learn parenting from their kids.

D．It is sometimes OK to speak to kids seriously.