1 . While English is getting more important in our schools, Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. But Chinese can be more difficult to learn. At least 16-year-old Piao Chenglong thinks so. “English is easier for me. Chinese characters (汉字) have too many strokes (笔画),” said Piao. “But I want to learn it. I want to study at Beijing University when I grow up.” Piao is from Korea. He came to China in 2008.
In Korea, there are more than 300, 000 Chinese learners like Piao. Some Korean students begin to learn to write the language on their first day at school. To help students learn Chinese, Korea holds speaking competitions for high school students every year.
Chinese isn’t just popular in Korea. People from all the world want to learn it. The Ministry of Education of China says that nearly 130 million people from 85 countries are learning Chinese. This number will be increasing to 800 million in the coming years.
In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. Some American middle schools have Chinese classes. Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots (中国结). Some even try to write and draw in the Chinese way!
People want to learn Chinese because China is becoming such an important country. Foreign countries want to understand China better to help them with business. The Chinese government is also helping the world learn Chinese. It has sent more than 200 Chinese teachers to more than 60 countries in the world. Many more Confucius Institutes (孔子学院) will be set up in the world. These institutes will teach Chinese to foreign students.
1. Which of the following is the topic sentence for the text?| A．Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. |
| B．Chinese can be more difficult to learn. |
| C．In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. |
| D．Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots. |
| A．China. | B．America. | C．Korea. | D．Spain. |
| A．making jiaozi |
| B．writing and drawing in the Chinese way |
| C．tying Chinese knots |
| D．singing Chinese songs |
| A．Because Chinese is getting more important in their schools. |
| B．Because Chinese characters have too many strokes. |
| C．Because the number of people learning Chinese will be 800 million. |
| D．Because China is becoming more and more important in the world. |
2 . When I was about 5 years old, I experienced my very first random act of kindness. I was sitting at the roadside one evening, crying alone for some reason when suddenly, a boy came up to me and gave me a plastic rose, I remember the moment when I took the rose from his hand; I was smiling from ear to ear, whispering “I want to be like him” to myself as I watched him walking away.
From then on, I made it as my life mission to do random acts of kindness whenever I can. I was very determined to make other people smile. That was the only reason why I joined my school’s Red Crescent Society and became a volunteer. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks in the same way as I did. Whenever I do something nice to others, people around me will start to judge my actions. Often I will just keep quiet and ignore what they say, but every once in a while, they do drive me up the wall.
These people like to complain about how humans nowadays are lacking of humanities and compassion. However, when they actually see somebody doing a good deed in front of them, they start to question and criticize that person’s honesty. Perhaps it is the increasing crime rate and the never-ending rat race that caused them to be so suspicious to nice strangers. In other words, people nowadays have lost sight of the real meaning of kindness and just let it go unnoticed. That is why I think random acts of kindness are really important. These selfless acts are not only capable of bringing joy to the receivers but also to the givers. Because of this, I want to help spread the idea of these random acts to the whole world. I want to show the people how the little things they give could make a big difference in someone else’s life.
1. What was the influence of the boy’s rose on the author?| A．It made the author feel ashamed. | B．The author decided to follow suit. |
| C．The author said a lot to the boy. | D．It gave the author strength and hope. |
| A．To be a volunteer. | B．To live a happy life. |
| C．To make others smile. | D．To have a good time. |
| A．Make me very angry. | B．Bring difficulty to me. |
| C．Force me to climb the wall. | D．Force me to the dead corner. |
| A．Rats are always running on the streets. | B．Those who do good deeds are respected. |
| C．The author feels sad about other people. | D．Trust between people is decreasing. |
3 . It can be truly terrifying to fall through ice on a frozen lake, but if you remain calm, it can save your life. Most people don t realize that you have more time than you think. This is due to the concept of body temperature and how your body deals with the shocking cold that immediately covers the body.
As you first hit the freezing water, you will almost immediately breathe quickly. It is important that you remember to get control of your breathing and not to move around. It can help to remember the “1-10-1 principle.” This means that it takes about one minute to gain control of your breathing, and then you have 10 minutes to move before you get too cold. The final one is to remind you that it will take one hour before you become unconscious.
Take that first minute and fully focus on your breathing. Slow it down, and then look around to see if you can locate the thickest area of ice. When you locate the ice, stretch your arms over the surface, and then begin to flutter-kick（上下打水）until your body becomes horizontal with the surface. Kick hard and use your arms and hands to climb out of the water.
It is possible that you can live for several hours after passing out if you can get out of the freezing water. This, however, does require some planning. You only have about 10 minutes after falling in before your muscles and nerves become too cold to work. If you feel too weak to get out, place your arms over the surface of the ice and remain still. The point is to encourage your coat to freeze to the ice so that if you lose consciousness, you will keep your head out of ice. Additionally, you will remain visible for rescue, even if you pass out.
1. What does the underlined word "it" in Paragraph I refer to?| A．Keeping calm | B．Pushing through ice |
| C．Having enough time | D．Dealing with the cold |
| A．How to use the first minute. | B．How to locate the thickest ice. |
| C．How to control the floating ice. | D．How to pull yourself onto the ice. |
| A．Take off your coat. | B．Do some workouts. |
| C．Keep your head above water. | D．Relax your muscles and nerves. |
4 . Advertising plays a major role in the competitive business world. Many industries take advantage of the power of advertising to attract or to win customers away from their business competitors. The influence of advertising is so huge that it causes many people to buy things that they do not want at the start.
Advertising encourages people to buy things they don’t want through misleading ideas. Advertising is proven to be a successful tool to stress the features of their product to the public even though it is regarded undesirable (不受欢迎的) such as cigarettes, drugs, alcohol and so on. For example, Dunhill, a cigarette company which sponsors (赞助) many football teams, seems to be promoting cigarettes to the public. Without the sponsorship, the company will be less known to the public, resulting in fewer sales of cigarettes.
Besides that, advertising has a large influence on the decisions made by the people in their everyday life. Many businesses use advertising as a form of promotion to create awareness (意识，认知) about their product in the market. For instance, in a fast food industry, the introduction of a new flavor o f burger needs advertising to reach the public while the other burgers require advertising to increase sales. Children, especially, are easily influenced by the advertisement and will have the desire to dine at fast food restaurants after that. Although fast food is bad for health, it has successfully become attractive to the public through advertising
However, advertising plays a part in helping customers to compare a product in terms of price, quality, reliability (可靠性) and so on. Without advertising, it will be very difficult for customers to judge the worthiness( 价值) of a product. For example, advertisements published by various companies have given the customers the opportunity to choose wisely when buying an item. Without the power of advertising, customers will choose a brand (品牌) which may not offer the best choice.
1. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Advertising. | B．The product. | C．Feature. | D．The public. |
| A．food industry is having a hard time |
| B．the information passed on in advertisements is unreal |
| C．children are easily influenced by the advertisement |
| D．advertisements influence people to make decisions |
| A．plays a role in fast food industry |
| B．helps industries attract customers |
| C．encourages people to make the right choices |
| D．makes people buy some unnecessary things |
| A．objective | B．supportive |
| C．uncared | D．doubtful |
5 . Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.
A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half(53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half(46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.
“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know?” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.
Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”
That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.
1. What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?| A．Food variety. | B．Eating habits. |
| C．Table manners. | D．Restaurant service. |
| A．He makes videos for the bar. | B．He’s fond of the food at the bar. |
| C．He interviews customers at the bar. | D．He’s familiar with the barkeeper. |
| A．The trend of having meals alone. | B．The importance of self-reflection. |
| C．The stress from working overtime. | D．The advantage of wireless technology. |
6 . The Internet plays a big part in human life. We use it for work and pleasure. We use it to learn a new language. We find advice on it. We use it to connect with family and friends. We use it to stay in touch with events we care about. The list goes on and on.
Well, that train has left the station. This expression means there is no going back to an Internet-free life. But can using the Internet too much be bad for our health? It might be, researchers say. A new study finds that heavy Internet use may be connected to high blood pressure in an unlikely group: teenagers.
High blood pressure makes your heart and blood vessels work too hard. Over time, this extra pressure increases your risk of a heart attack. High blood pressure can also cause heart and kidney disease. It is also closely linked to a brain disease.
The Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan did the study. 335 young people, from 14 to 17 years old , took part in it. 134 of the teens were described as “heavy Internet users.” And researchers found that out of these 134 teens,26 had high blood pressure. The researchers say the study is the first to connect heavy web use with high blood pressure. Other research has connected heavy Internet use with anxiety, depression and obesity.
The lead researcher is Andrea Cassidy Bushrow. She said, “Using the Internet is part of our daily life, but it shouldn’t ruin us.” Ms. Cassidy Bushrow adds that it is important for teens to take regular breaks from their computers or smartphones and do some kind of physical activity. She also suggests that parents limit their children’s use of the Internet to two hours a day, five days a week.
1. The expression “that train has left the station” in Para. 2 is used to show________.| A．the Internet develops rapidly | B．no one can escape from the Internet |
| C．the Internet can provide whatever we want | D．there is no going back to an Internet free life |
| A．Causes of high blood pressure. | B．The harm of high blood pressure. |
| C．The disadvantages of Internet use. | D．Ways to prevent high blood pressure. |
| A．teenagers shouldn’t use the Internet |
| B．the Internet will ruin human life in the future |
| C．smartphones are more harmful than computers |
| D．regular breaks are necessary when using the Internet |
| A．Heavy Internet users are mostly teenagers | B．How to prevent teenagers from the Internet |
| C．Too much Internet use may be bad for teenagers | D．Every coin has two sides—so does the Internet |
7 . What should I eat for breakfast? Who should I go out with on weekends? What should I do if I miss the bus to school? What colleges should I apply for? Again and again Chinese kids ask these questions to their teachers and parents. They can't make their own choices.
Kids in America would be very surprised to hear how much Chinese children depend on adults.When they are ten years old, kids decide what clothes they want to wear and buy.By twelve they know what classes to take for middle school.Thirteen years old is the beginning of being what Americans call a “teenager”.Now the child makes almost all his/her decisions — what to do after school;who are his/her friends, sometimes even when to come home at night. Finally at sixteen the kid usually gets a car from his/her parents. Now he or she can come and go when he/she likes.The only rule is when they come home at night.
Why should kids be independent? Think about it. After high school most of us will be by ourselves. Will our parents be able to tell us what to eat for breakfast in college? Can our teachers decide what we should do at work?
Making our own choices can be quite hard and scary. But we can start with making small choices,and then slowly make bigger and more important choices. Before we know it we will become independent, confident and able to make our own decisions! And we will have a lot more fun!
1. The first paragraph tries to tell the readers ________.| A．Chinese kids don't know what to do |
| B．Chinese kids always have many questions |
| C．Chinese kids believe in their teachers and parents |
| D．Chinese kids depend on adults very much |
| A．Ten. | B．Eleven. |
| C．Twelve. | D．Thirteen. |
| A．Generally, American kids are more independent than their Chinese fellows. |
| B．Chinese kids will more easily adapt (适应) themselves to society. |
| C．American parents don't care for their children. |
| D．A seventeen American young can do what he likes. |
| A．dependence on adults is shameful in China |
| B．independence from adults is worth encouraging |
| C．kids have no ability to make a real choice |
| D．making decisions is rather easy |
8 . This year’s holiday photos will have an undoubtedly pandemic feel:
“
Bass Pro Shops began offering free photos with Santa during the 2008 recession, when the country was in need of a collective pick-me-up.
The SoNo collection, a mall in Norwalk, Conn., is offering virtual visits this year for $25. But for those who would like to see Santa in the flesh, he’ll be greeting shoppers from inside an acrylic snow globe on the third floor.
“
Her acrylic barriers, which she sells for as much as $4,000, are being used by nearly 50 malls, schools and hospitals this holiday season.
| A．A visit to Santa Claus is always a big pleasure for children. |
| B．It turned out to be an overnight success |
| C．Santa has survived so many things |
| D．We find it difficult to deal with the situation |
| E．But we had to come up with a creative plan to protect him |
| F．No more sitting on Santa Claus’s lap or whispering in his ear |
| G．Santa can’t give out hugs or candy canes this year, but people still want to see him |
9 . Wang Ling, a middle school girl, felt angry with her parents after getting a boy’s phone call. “A classmate called me to discuss homework. We talked for just a few minutes before my parents got mad,” said the girl. “They asked whether I liked the boy. I’m sad I didn’t, but they wouldn’t believe me.”
Wang’s trouble is not strange at all because puppy love becomes a big headache for both parents and schools. They worry that puppy love will be bad for their study. Her school makes it a rule not to allow any talk or any physical contact between one boy and one girl alone.
Many students say they understand why parents and teachers are so nervous about puppy love. But some think they are going too far. “We have our own thoughts and we know what to do with it.” said Wang Ling.
Another girl, Jiang Ting, liked making friends with boys. “Boys and girls can learn from each other,” she said. “My mother asks me to study hard. However, she never stops me from making friends with boys.” Once Jiang Ting told her mother she might fall in love with a boy. Her mother let Jiang make her own decision. Soon Jiang found that she didn’t like him any more because the boy was not as good as what she had thought before. And she did worse and worse in her subjects because she spent much on it. At last she understood the worry from school and most parents about puppy love.
1. What’s the right meaning of the underlined word “physical contact” in the second paragraph?| A．物理联系 | B．相互接触 | C．身体接触 | D．独自相处 |
| A．Wang Ling told her mother she might fall in love with a boy. |
| B．Jiang’s mother doesn’t care about her at all. |
| C．Puppy love will be bad for student’s study. |
| D．Puppy love becomes a problem for all students. |
| A．Jiang doesn’t like making friends with students. |
| B．Jiang can’t make a decision for herself |
| C．Jiang worked hard and she did not bad in her subjects. |
| D．Jiang understood her parents’worry at last |
10 . Everybody says that youth is the best time for our lives. Being young means romance, love and new discoveries, but it is also the most difficult time, because you have to make some very important decisions, which will influence your future life.
Things are not easy nowadays even for adults, but for teenagers, Who have to find their own place in society, it’s even difficult. It is necessary not only to adapt to society, but also to be confident of your position in five, ten or even twenty year’s time.
For the future it is important to have a good job. In order to get a really good job, you have to be well educated.
Emotional problems for young people can be very important, too. The first teenager problem is that “nobody understands me”. Some parents often continue to treat their children as little children when they are starting to consider themselves to be adults.
There are also some global problems. Young people in all countries are facing these problems. Let’s start with smoking. According to studies, at the age of 16, almost 72% of all boys and 37% of all girls in Russia have already tried smoking. Smoking is not a natural need.It’s just that teens try it when they want to appear to be more like adults.
Drugs are also a serious problem. Students know the names of drugs well enough. 32% say they have tried drugs at least once, mainly because they were having fun, their friends influenced them to, they wanted to relax or they wanted to seem “cool”. That’s too bad.
So, you see, problems do happen and they can’ t be ignored. We should pay much attention to them.
1. The author doesn’t think that youth is ________.| A．the best time of our lives | B．the most difficult time of our lives |
| C．the time to make some important decisions | D．the time to get a job |
| A．they are seldom understood by others |
| B．they become confident of their position |
| C．they still seem little in some parents’ eyes |
| D．They still consider themselves to be children |
| A．理解 | B．理睬 | C．忽视 | D．发现 |
| A．They consider it to be a natural need. |
| B．Their friends advise them to do so. |
| C．They wish to be “cool”. |
| D．They want to relax themselves. |
