1 . Few laws are so effective that you can see results just days after they take effect. But in the nine days since the federal cigarette tax more than doubled-to $1.01 per pack-smokers have jammed telephone "quit lines" across the country seeking to kick the habit.

This is not a surprise to public health advocates. They've studied the effect of state tax increases for years, finding that smokers, especially teens, are price sensitive. Nor is it a shock to the industry, which fiercely fights every tax increase.

The only wonder is that so many states insist on closing their ears to the message. Tobacco taxes improve public health, they raise money and most particularly, they deter people from taking up the habit as teens, which is when nearly all smokers are addicted. Yet the rate of taxation varies widely.

In Manhattan, for instance, which has the highest tax in the nation, a pack of Marlboro Light Kings cost $10.06 at one drugstore Wednesday. In Charleston, S.C., where the 7-cent-a-pack tax is the lowest in the nation, the price was $4.78.

The influence is obvious.

In New York, high school smoking hit a new low in the latest surveys-13.8%, far below the national average. By comparison, 26% of high school students smoke in Kentucky. Other low-tax states have similarly depressing teen-smoking records.

Hal Rogers, Representative from Kentucky, like those who are against high tobacco taxes, argues that the burden of the tax falls on low-income Americans "who choose to smoke".

That's true. But there is more reason in keeping future generations of low-income workers from getting hooked in the first place. As for today's adults, if the new tax drives them to quit, they will have more to spend on their families, cut their risk of cancer and heart disease and feel better.

1. The text is mainly about      .

A．the price of cigarettes

B．the rate of teen smoking

C．the effect of tobacco tax increase

D．the differences in tobacco tax rate

2. What does the author think is a surprise?

A．Teen smokers are price sensitive

B．Some states still keep the tobacco tax low

C．Tobacco taxes improve public health

D．Tobacco industry fiercely fights the tax rise

3. Rogers' attitude towards the low-income smokers might be that of      .

A．tolerance	B．unconcern
C．doubt	D．sympathy

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．The new tax will be beneficial in the long run

B．Low-income Americans are more likely to fall ill

C．Future generations will be hooked on smoking

D．Adults will depend more on their families

2 . Jody was ten years old when he decided he needed a job. He thought it might be_______to raise worms. He could sell them to farmers and people who fished. So in_______, he bought many worms. But that winter the cold weather killed all the worms because he had not_______them in a warm place.

The next spring Jody_______again. He bought more worms, which he took good care of. When winter came, he took them inside_______they would stay warm. Many people bought his worms.

One day when Jody was twelve, he got a letter. It was from state of New York. The letter said, “Everyone who_______things has to pay taxes!” Jody made only one dollar selling worms. But he still_______to pay part of that money to the state. He told many people in his town what had _______. Soon some people from a television station_______with Jody. Many people saw it and they began to write letters to the state. The letters now said that the law was________. Finally the law was changed. Children like Jody can now sell things without paying money to the state.

1.

A．boring

B．lucky

C．fun

D．impossible

2.

A．autumn

B．spring

C．winter

D．summer

3.

A．caught

B．found

C．hidden

D．put

4.

A．tried

B．waited

C．failed

D．practised

5.

A．before

B．until

C．though

D．so

6.

A．buys

B．sells

C．keeps

D．presents

7.

A．hoped

B．wanted

C．had

D．remembered

8.

A．followed

B．appeared

C．happened

D．continued

9.

A．talked

B．visited

C．quarreled

D．worked

10.

A．common

B．unfair

C．different

D．useless

3 . Good afternoon，and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today，I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws.
The first one is about drinking. Now，you may not buy alcohol in this country. If you are under 18 years of age，nor may your friends buy it for you.
Secondly，noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means，but please don’t make unnecessary noise，particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet.
Thirdly，crossing the road. Be careful！The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings and do not take any chances when crossing the road.
My next point is about litter (throwing away waste material in a public place)．It is an offence (违法行为) to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away，please put it in your pocket and take it home，or put it in a litter bin.
Finally，as regards something，it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age.
I’d like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance，you should contact your local police，who will be pleased to help you.
Now，are there any questions?
1. The main purpose of this speech would be to________.

A．prepare people for international travel

B．declare the laws of different kinds

C．give advice to travelers to the country

D．inform people of the punishment for breaking laws

2. The underlined word “contact” in the 7th paragraph means________.

A．keep in touch with	B．join
C．report	D．get in touch with

3. From the speech we learn that________.

A．In this country，if you are under 18 years of age，you may not buy alcohol，but your friend can buy it for you

B．you may not buy cigarettes or tobacco unless you are above 16 years of age

C．because the traffic moves on the left side of the road，you must use pedestrian crossings when crossing the road

D．you can’t make noise except at night