I can still remember the first day when I met my best friend. She had just moved into the neighborhood and her grandmother brought her down to meet me. I hid behind my mother and she hid behind her grandmother, scared to look at each other.
Soon, we lost the shyness and started playing with each other, bike riding to each other’s house and having sleepovers. In 7^th grade she was going through family problems. However, every summer we would always sit at each other’s house and watch movies on TV and talk about all the boys we liked.
It was last year when I noticed the problem. She suffered from clinical depression（抑郁症）, and had to go to a hospital during the day. I was very sorry for her at first. But with the late night calls, and meeting each other halfway up the street at midnight, we still stayed in touch. I wanted to be there for her since her new best friend left her, and I knew I still cared about her like a sister.
Yesterday she came to me and said this. “I never knew what a best friend was until you were the only person that would stop me from cutting myself; the only person that ever made me feel better about myself and my problems. You didn’t know this but I was trying to kill myself that very night you called me and I was crying. I owe you so much, and you didn’t even know you were helping me. ”
We both cried. And I guess a kind of lesson from my life so far is to never give up your friends. Even if they aren’t as cool as others, or people think they are crazy, they need someone there. If you leave them, you will only be very sorry. So if friends need you, and you care for them, you should be always there for them

1. 1.

   Why did the two girls hide behind their family members when they first met?

   1. A.
      Because they were playing a game
   2. B.
      Because they didn’t like each other
   3. C.
      Because they quarreled before
   4. D.
      Because they were both shy
2. 2.

   What would have happened to her friend if the author had not cared about her?

   1. A.
      She would have lost her new best friend
   2. B.
      She would have killed herself that night
   3. C.
      She would have run away from her family
   4. D.
      She would have stayed in hospital for a long time
3. 3.

   What lesson does the author learn from the story?

   1. A.
      Always care for your friends
   2. B.
      Don’t care about others’ opinions
   3. C.
      Never owe your friends too much
   4. D.
      Try to be as cool as others

Lifeguard, sportscaster, movie star, governor, president——there wasn’t much Ronald Reagan didn’t do in life.
“The world was a vast opportunity for him,” Lou Cannon wrote in his biography（传记） of the former US president, who died on June 5，2004， aged 93.
Reagan’s final years saw him fight a losing battle against Alzheimer’s disease（老年痴呆症）. But his positive attitude toward life has given hope to many people.
Born in 1911 to a poor family in a small town in Illinois, his father was a failed salesman who drank too much. It was in these difficult times, though, that Reagan developed the powerful optimism（乐观） that would serve him so well. He always believed better times lying ahead, and this was reflected in his high school yearbook entry. “Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music,” he wrote.
As a teenager, Reagan spent summers working as a lifeguard at a local beach, saving 77 lives in seven years. He graduated from college in 1932 with a degree in economics and sociology. But America was still in the middle of the Great Depression, and jobs were hard to find. Reagan finally found work as a radio sports announcer and this road led him to Hollywood in 1937.
During the 20---year film career, he never became a leading star. As in his lifeguard days, Reagan loved to play the hero and only took the role of a bad guy once in more than 50 films.
A talented speaker who was always able to connect with his audience, Reagan became involved in politics in the 1950s. This popular touch led to him being elected the governor of California in 1967.
All the while Reagan was in California, he had his eye on the White House. In 1980, aged 69, he became the oldest man ever elected president.
He held office from 1981 to 1989, the first president to serve two complete terms after World War Ⅱ. When he left, aged 77, he held the highest popularity rate of any retiring president in US history.
He remained positive even when he discovered he had an illness that would destroy him. “I will leave with the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal（永恒的optimism(乐观) for its future,”he wrote

1. 1.

   Reagan can be best described as a man with ______.

   1. A.
      firmness
   2. B.
      humour
   3. C.
      optimism
   4. D.
      talent
2. 2.

   What didn’t Reagan do in his life time?

   1. A.
      Playing the role of a bad guy
   2. B.
      Being a leading star of the film
   3. C.
      Saving people’s lives
   4. D.
      Working as a radio sports announcer
3. 3.

   Which is the correct order of events described in the passage?
   a. Reagan fought a losing battle against Alzheimer’s disease.
   b. Reagan became an actor.
   c. Reagan worked as a lifeguard.
   d. Reagan graduated from college.
   e. Reagan was elected the governor of California

   1. A.
      a, c, d, e ,b
   2. B.
      e, c, d, b, a
   3. C.
      b, a, c, d, e
   4. D.
      c, d, b, e, a
4. 4.

   When the writer of Reagan’s biography says “The world was a vast opportunity for him,” he really means that______.

   1. A.
      Reagan achieved much in his whole life
   2. B.
      Reagan could have done much better
   3. C.
      Reagan did much for America and the world
   4. D.
      Reagan was a very lucky man

1. 1.

   Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?

   1. A.
      To build massive complexes for public amusement
   2. B.
      To prevent possible damages to the National Park
   3. C.
      To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy
   4. D.
      To sponsor publications and projects in local school
2. 2.

   One of the benefits for members of Friends is to______.

   1. A.
      have Friends’ goods free of charge
   2. B.
      visit any place not open to the public
   3. C.
      take part in work parties if they want to
   4. D.
      give talks in their fields on current issues
3. 3.

   The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to______.

   1. A.
      raise money for the Friends organization
   2. B.
      join the Friends organization and be members of it
   3. C.
      work as managers for Pembroke shire National Park
   4. D.
      enjoy the landscape of Pembroke shire National Park

International experts meeting in Australia say global carbon emissions (排放) can be reduced by more than 50 percent through simple energy saving measures. People at a conference in Australia, which increasingly relies on coal for power, say that reducing power consumption is an affordable way to both cut energy costs and reduce pollution.
While many nations turn to cheap and dirty energy sources, such as coal, to meet their increasing energy needs, analysts in Australia say the best way to meet those needs is to improve energy efficiency.
A range of simple solutions include using energy-efficient homes, household appliances and lighting, and driving electric cars. Encouraging homeowners and office workers to switch off their televisions and computers at the end of the day is also seen as an effective way to save electricity.
Grayson Heffner, from the Paris-based International Energy Agency, says reducing consumption could greatly cut global carbon emissions. He calls efficiency strategies (策略) the “soft giant” of clean energy.
“We forecast that energy efficiency will deliver something like three-quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the next 20 years. So in the short term energy efficiency is the main way that we reduce greenhouse gas emissions but oftentimes it is not so importantly stressed in the discussions,” said Heffner.
Energy experts working in China say the government is making significant cuts in power usage.
Wan Xingwang, a Beijing-based representative of the Energy Foundation, a U.S. non-government organization, says the results have been impressive.
“In the past five years China achieved about 19.1 percent of energy reduction of its GDP. That translates to something like more than 600 million tons of coal savings,” said Wan Xingwang.
While most nations have some sort of government-sponsored energy efficiency programs, energy analysts say initiatives (主动性) by individuals and companies can also help cut demand.
Steven Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, a non-profit group based in Washington, says other developing nations are recognizing the benefits of cutting power consumption and taking action

1. 1.

   To increase their energy supplies, many nations______.

   1. A.
      turn to new energy
   2. B.
      turn to cheap energy
   3. C.
      develop solar energy
   4. D.
      introduce clean energy
2. 2.

   Which of the following cannot help to reduce energy consumption effectively?

   1. A.
      Using electronic products in small size
   2. B.
      Using more electric cars
   3. C.
      Turning off computers after work
   4. D.
      Building energy-efficient houses
3. 3.

   What can we learn from what Grayson Heffner said?

   1. A.
      75% of the greenhouse gas emissions can easily be cut in the next 20 years
   2. B.
      Ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should be discussed
   3. C.
      Using clean energy is the strategy to cut global carbon emissions
   4. D.
      The key to reducing greenhouse gases in the short term is to improve energy efficiency
4. 4.

   According to the last two paragraphs, which of the following statements is true?

   1. A.
      The programs reducing energy consumption shouldn’t be sponsored by individuals and companies
   2. B.
      All nations have government-sponsored energy efficiency programs
   3. C.
      It is time that all nations should combine their efforts to save energy
   4. D.
      Some developing nations are taking action to cut power consumption

Most visitors come to the UK expecting the rain and weather for which the country is famous. However, when summer finally arrives, British people like nothing more than heading for the coast. Here are some of more famous places of interest that you could expect to visit on a trip to Britain. Black pool, in the northwest of England, is the most visited place in the UK. Each year around 6.5 to 7 million people come to enjoy the miles of sandy beaches, the 158m Black pool Tower and the 11km-long Golden Mile, where there are entertainments, pubs, ice rinks (溜冰场) and even a zoo. On the south coast of the country you can find Brighton. Until 1786, Brighton was a sleepy village. Then the future king, George IV, decided to build a house there, and now it has become a large, international centre. Apart from the beaches, Brighton is famous for its pier (码头). There are theatres, entertainments and restaurants there. Brighton is also fantastic for shopping. If you want to travel a little further, why not go to Corn-wall in the far southwest of the UK? South Cornwall offers miles of sandy beaches and beautiful scenery. The climate there is warmer than the rest of Britain, and you can even find palm trees. For a bit more excitement, go to North Cornwall. The scenery there is nicer, and the beaches are famous for their powerful waves. As a result, North Cornwall has become the home of British surfing. One word of warning though, if you are using the roads in the UK during holidays, you can expect long traffic jams on the motorways. It might be better to take the train

1. 1.

   Which is the best title for this passage?

   1. A.
      Let’s Go to the Beach!
   2. B.
      How to Enjoy Your Holidays
   3. C.
      Welcome to Britain!
   4. D.
      How to Travel in Britain
2. 2.

   We may find this passage in a ______

   1. A.
      geography book
   2. B.
      storybook
   3. C.
      travel guide
   4. D.
      news magazine
3. 3.

   If Andrew likes surfing, which is the best place for him to spend his holidays?

   1. A.
      Black pool
   2. B.
      Brighton
   3. C.
      South Cornwall
   4. D.
      North Cornwall
4. 4.

   Which is NOT the reason why Brighton is famous?

   1. A.
      In Brighton you can satisfy your appetite for shopping
   2. B.
      In 1786, George IV decided to build a house there
   3. C.
      There is an interesting pier in Brighton
   4. D.
      You can enjoy yourself on the beautiful beaches
5. 5.

   From the passage we can infer that ______

   1. A.
      there are no beaches in the east and west of Britain
   2. B.
      Black pool is the most famous place in the UK
   3. C.
      the pier is more interesting than the beaches in Brighton
   4. D.
      the climate in South Cornwall is attractive to many people

Homeboy Goes to Harvard University
On January 11, 2007, as students sat and listened, a very important guest speaker named Richard, spoke to the students in the lecture hall. He not only showed the potential（潜能）within young adults, but  encouraged them to work hard at their lessons.
Richard was a young child when his mother died and his father walked out. He was forced into many different foster homes（寄养家庭）where he felt unhappy. He did not know that his life was taking a turn for the worst.
His uncle, after getting out of prison, got him into drugs and alcohol. His uncle taught him that his place in life was either to be in prison or die trying to be “a man.” His uncle’s teaching almost started affecting him until a very important person came into his life: a teacher. This teacher taught him there is a place in the world for everyone and it isn’t related to drugs.
Richard is now a Harvard University graduate and has a great and loving family. Why? He was taught to have respect not only for others, but for himself.
After the meeting, it was hoped that the students realized within them there is a potential, and within everyone around them, is knowledge. As Richard reminded them, “Knowledge is power.”

1. 1.

   On January 11, 2007, students listened to a speech made by Richard, who graduated from ______.

   1. A.
      Harvard University
   2. B.
      a foster school
   3. C.
      his teacher’s school
   4. D.
      his uncle’s university
2. 2.

   Richard encouraged the students______.

   1. A.
      to love life
   2. B.
      to be a man
   3. C.
      to study hard
   4. D.
      to leave drugs
3. 3.

   When he was young, Richard lived a（an）______ life in foster homes

   1. A.
      rich
   2. B.
      unhappy
   3. C.
      relaxing
   4. D.
      interesting
4. 4.

   Who played an important role in Richard’s successful life?

   1. A.
      His uncle
   2. B.
      His teacher
   3. C.
      His friends
   4. D.
      His parents

"USA? Britain? Which country is better to study in?" We often hear such discussions. As China opens its doors, studying abroad has become a dream for many Chinese students. They want to learn about the world.
It's true that studying abroad can help students develop themselves. Language skills will improve and it may be easier to find jobs.
But there are problems that should be considered(考虑). Language is the first. Students must spend a lot of time learning another language and getting used to a different culture.
Students must also learn to live without parents' care and deal with all kinds of things they haven't had to do before, like looking after themselves. There are reports about Chinese students abroad sinking into an ocean of difficulties and giving up easily. When they have to take care of themselves, it is hard for students to study well.
Finally, studying abroad brings a heavy burden(负担) to the family. For most Chinese parents, the cost of studying abroad is very high. But is it worth it?
We know that there are many famous people who succeed in great things through their hard work in China. Liu Xiang is a good example. Once an American teacher invited him there but he refused. He kept training hard with his Chinese teacher. He surprised the world when he won a gold medal(金牌) at the Athens Olympics. So when you wonder which country is better to study in, consider whether studying abroad is the right choice(选择)

1. 1.

   From the passage, we learn that many Chinese students dream about studying abroad to __________

   1. A.
      taste a new life
   2. B.
      make a lot of money
   3. C.
      learn about the world
   4. D.
      learn to look after themselves
2. 2.

   The writer thinks __________ should be considered first before students study abroad

   1. A.
      places
   2. B.
      time
   3. C.
      money
   4. D.
      language
3. 3.

   The writer mentions Liu Xiang in the passage in order to tell us that __________

   1. A.
      Chinese teachers are better than American ones
   2. B.
      studying abroad is not the right choice
   3. C.
      people can also be successful in China if they work hard
   4. D.
      Liu Xiang was a gold medal winner
4. 4.

   Which of the following is NOT true?

   1. A.
      Studying abroad will cost students' families a lot of money
   2. B.
      Studying abroad will make it easy for students to learn well
   3. C.
      Studying abroad will help students to improve language skills
   4. D.
      Studying abroad will bring students a lot of difficulties in their life

When I wake up on summer mornings, I know I am going to my favorite place to volunteer and make a difference in someone's life just by being with him or her -- a summer school for autistic (患孤独症的)children.
By helping the kids read or do math, I am not only teaching important skills but also helping them feel like any other kid. There are many wrong ideas about autism. The kids I work with can think and feel. They need help only in certain areas. 
Of course, each kid is special. For example, some kids like to draw, and others like to sing.
At the school, the kids learn through about 20 activities. These activities can help them learn skills they will need later in life.
The very first day I volunteered, a boy came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said “Hello”. From then on, I knew I could make a difference.
Another boy loved to have me read books that can help him learn to read. Sometimes he could be encouraged to read a few words or sentences. Finally, one day during reading practice, he read nearly 220 words himself!
Summer school is also a time for fun, Last summer, bagpipe(风箱)players came to perform. Most of us had our hands over our ears because they were so loud. When they asked for a volunteer from the audience, one girl raised her hand as high as she could, got up on stage, and even tried the bagpipes in front of everyone.
Through these experiences, I realize that the challenges these kids face do not stop them from doing many amazing things. I'm teaching them, but they are teaching me more

1. 1.

   According to Paragraph 2, many people think autistic kids ______.

   1. A.
      can't read or do math
   2. B.
      don't have important skills
   3. C.
      don’t play with other kids
   4. D.
      can't think or feel
2. 2.

   The phrase “these experiences” in the last paragraph refers to the following EXCEPT ______.

   1. A.
      “I” read the books for kids
   2. B.
      a boy read nearly 220 words himself
   3. C.
      a girl tried the bagpipes on stage as a volunteer
   4. D.
      a boy said hello to“ me” politely
3. 3.

   What does the author mainly talk about in the passage?

   1. A.
      His teaching experience in a summer holiday
   2. B.
      How to make a difference in others' lives
   3. C.
      His experience as a volunteer in a special summer school
   4. D.
      Autistic children's hard life

Among the many differences between Western and Chinese cultures, table manners are one of the most noticeable(显著的) differences. Westerners often make mistakes at the table in China or in a Chinese home. In order not to have an embarrassing（尴尬的） experience, here are some things to consider next time you are eating with some Chinese.
Step1:
Keep in mind that food is shared. It is one of the biggest differences between Chinese and Western eating habits. In China a few dishes are placed in the center of a table and shared by all. Also, you should offer thanks when a Chinese host takes food from one of the dishes on the table and places it on your plate. Refusing it would not be polite even if you are full.
Step2:
Respect the chopsticks. The chopsticks are the single most important tool at a Chinese table. Use the chopsticks to grab food and never skewer (叉) it. Also make sure to place your chopsticks over your bowl or plate. Don’t lay them on the table or even worse, stick them into the rice bowl.
Step3:
Use communal(共用的)chopsticks. To take food from the center of the table you should use the communal chopsticks or spoons that are placed there for that purpose. If there are no communal tools, use the other ends of your chopsticks to take food, remembering not to use the other end to put food into your mouth.
Step4:
Respect the elders. Table manners in China place extra respect on elders. At the table, pass food to your elders before taking it for yourself. If someone makes a toast, make sure that when you clink glasses with someone older than you, the rim of your glass is lower than the rim of the elder person

1. 1.

   How can you use your chopsticks according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Use them to grab your own food
   2. B.
      Put them on the table
   3. C.
      Use them to skewer the food
   4. D.
      Stick them into the rice bowl
2. 2.

   According to the passage, the following are wrong EXCEPT that ________

   1. A.
      you don’t have to accept the food a Chinese host places on your plate
   2. B.
      a skewer is also a commonly used tool at a Chinese table
   3. C.
      one can offer his own chopsticks for communal use when there aren’t any
   4. D.
      when clinking glasses, the rim of the younger person should be lower than that of the older person
3. 3.

   What is the purpose of writing the passage?

   1. A.
      To let the world get a full understanding of China
   2. B.
      To introduce table manners among different cultures
   3. C.
      To introduce Chinese table manners to Westerners
   4. D.
      To introduce how Chinese table manners came into being

From New Delhi to Beijing，commuters（通勤者）spend a lot of time stuck in traffic．In the United States，Los Angeles（L．A．）and San Francisco tie for second place（并列第二）for having the worst traffic problems．Washington，D．C．is in first place with the worst traffic，according to the Texas A＆M Transportation Institute．
In L．A．．drivers spend sixty-one hours every year stuck in traffic．These drivers know all too well how bad the traffic can be．Professor Cyrus Shahabi also knows about traffic jams．He said，“It’s a prison of cars．There are too many cars，you can’t move around a lot．I live more than 65 kilometers from my office at the University of Southern California．in L．A．．I’m always late even with the help of a navigation（导航）system．I thought it would be appropriate to do something to solve it．”
Therefore，he and PhD student Ugur Demiryurek decided to develop an app for that．The ClearPath app claims to do what other navigation systems cannot．Professor Shahabi says his program uses historical data to predict traffic conditions even before the driver leaves the house．
ClearPath uses two and a half years worth of traffic data from 9，000 sensors（传感器）on the roads of L．A．．It also collects information on accidents．
Professor Shahabi says his system does more than just respond to current traffic conditions．With ClearPath，he says，a driver can enter what time he wants to leave on a specific time and date，and ClearPath will give the fastest route．It looks at the entire road network，including surface streets as well as highways，before the driver hits the road．
Ugur Demiryurek says they will launch the free ClearPath app for roads in L．A．in two months．In a year，he and Professor Shahabi hope to have ClearPath available nationwide and overseas once they can collect traffic data from other cities．
“I thought always that L．A．had the worst traffic，but now I know that Shanghai，Beijing，Seoul，Tokyo，believe it or not，Singapore，Hong Kong definitely are examples that can immediately use this．”

1. 1.

   The ClearPath app can mainly be used to __________．

   1. A.
      predict traffic conditions
   2. B.
      kill the boring time
   3. C.
      avoid the traffic accidents
   4. D.
      collect the current news
2. 2.

   What do we know from Professor Cyrus Shahabi’s words in Paragraph 2?

   1. A.
      Living too far is his main reason for being late for work．
   2. B.
      Many drivers broke the traffic rules on their way to work．
   3. C.
      His invention was inspired by his experiences on his way to work．
   4. D.
      The navigation system he used on his way to work is out of date．
3. 3.

   What does Paragraph 5 mainly tell us about ClearPath?

   1. A.
      Its working principal．
   2. B.
      Its powerful function．
   3. C.
      Its appearance．
   4. D.
      Its safety．
4. 4.

   What can we infer from the last paragraph?

   1. A.
      L．A．has the worst traffic problems in the world．
   2. B.
      Around the world ClearPath has been used widely．
   3. C.
      Many cities can provide the data to do the study．
   4. D.
      ClearPath will have a big market in the future．