---Would you please tell us something about the Group of Eight （G8）?

---Well, G8 is an international organization _____ the richest countries in the world, five of which are quite small and two of which are island states.

A．is consisted of        B．consisting of        C．consists of         D．consisted of

Because all the other classmates had known each other quite well, he found himself, the new comer of the class, ______ whenever there were some class activities.

A．stood out        B．left out        C．picked out        D．given out

A fire _____ in his car, which made it ____ on the way.

A．was broken out; break away                  B．broke out; break down

C．was broken away; break down               D．broke down; break out

—David has made great progress recently.

---_________, and __________.

A．So he has; so you have            B．So he has; so have you

C．So has he; so have you            D．So has he; so you have

A strange thing happened to me last Sunday. It was  1  a beautiful day that I drove to go for a look in the country.

       On the way back home, my car  2  .It was out of gas on a lonely road far from a town. I decided to walk  3  I found someone who could  4  some gas.

       I had walked almost a mile  5  I finally found a house near the road. I was glad to see it  6  it was getting dark.

       I knocked at the door and a little old lady   7  long white hair answered. She said,“I’ve been  8  for you for a long time. Come in.  9  is almost ready.”

       “But I only come  10  some gas,”I answered. I couldn’t imagine 11  she was talking about.

       “Oh, Alfred! Gas？You used to like tea.”

       I quickly explained that my car was out of gas,  12  she didn’t seem to hear me. She just  13   calling me Alfred and talking about how long  14  since she had seen me. She was acting very strangely and I was anxious to 15  .As soon as she went to get tea, I went out of the house as fast as I could.

        16  ,there was another house down the road and I was able to buy the gas I needed. When I told the man about my  17  ,he said：“Oh that’s Miss Emily. She lives  18  herself in that big house, She’s out of her mind, but she wouldn’t hurt  19  .She is still waiting for the man she was supposed to marry thirty years ago. The day before their wedding he left home and   20  came back because of the war.”

1．A．so                        B．such                  C．that               D．very

2．A．jumped                 B．stopped             C．moved           D．slid

3．A．until                      B．when                 C．so that      D．because

4．A．fetch                    B．sell                    C．buy               D．send

5．A．before                   B．so                     C．then               D．since

6．A．if                          B．and                   C．because     D．however

7．A．with                     B．of                     C．had                D．wore

8．A．cooking                B．looking              C．calling      D．waiting

9．A．Gas                      B．Coffee               C．Tea         D．Lunch

10．A．for                      B．with                  C．without          D．buy

11．A．when                B．what                   C．why                D．that

12．A．but                         B．though             C．and                 D．so

13．A．suggested               B．kept                 C．stopped        D．enjoyed

14．A．had it been              B．it had been       C．has it been              D．it has been

15．A．stay                        B．leave                C．speak         D．answer

16．A．Finally                    B．Fortunately       C．Exactly       D．Unexpectedly

17．A．incident                  B．surprise           C．experience           D．adventure

18．A．on                          B．for                  C．by                   D．with

19．A．anyone                   B．someone          C．everyone          D．none

20．A．soon                       B．often               C．never         D．seldom

Head above Water

       TUVALU, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean ,has asked for help as it will be swallowed up by the sea.

       Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu’s nine little islands is more than five meters above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country’s drinking water supply, as well as damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetable .Without urgent help ,the country’s days are numbered .

       But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea .Venice ,a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24cm over the past 100 years .Experts say that it will have sunk another 20-50cm by 2050. A century ago ,St .Mark’s Square, the lowest point city ,flooded about nine times a year .Nowadays ,it happens more than 100 times .While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands ,global warming causes Tuvalu’s rising sea level.

       The average global temperature has increased by almost 0.5 centigrade degrees over the past century; scientists expect it rise by extra 1—3 degrees over the next 100 years.

       Warmer weather makes glaciers melt ,adding more water to the ocean .The warmer temperatures also make water expand ,so it takes up more space ,causing the sea level to rise .The sea level has risen about 10—25 cm in the last 100 years .

       The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal , oil and gas ,people have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ,such as CO₂. This adds to the power of the greenhouse effect ,making the planet even warmer.

       Many scientists believe that ,if the warming is not stopped ,there will be huge climate changes .The sea level could rise by one meter this century.

       Should this come true ,the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with “climate refugees” looking for somewhere to love ?

1．We can infer from the second paragraph that         .

       A．Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea.

       B．all Tuvalu’s islands are about five meters above the sea level.

       C．drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed.

       D．Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves.

2．The author uses Tuvalu and Venice as examples in order to explain       .

       A．they are the first place sinking into the sea

       B．they are both sinking into the mud where they stand

       C．they will disappear in the future

       D．their trouble is caused by global warming

3．Put the following events in the right order.

       a．Glaciers began to melt .

       b．People burn coal ,oil and gas.

       c．The greenhouse effect is growing.

       d．The earth is getting warmer and warmer.

       e. The sea level is rising.

       f. More CO₂ is produced

       g. Many places are sinking into the sea

       A．d,f,b,c,a,e,g                     B．b,f,c,d,e,a,g

C．f,c,b,d,a,e,g                     D．b,f,c,d,a,e,g

4．What does “climate refugees” mean?

       A．People who are forced away from their homeland by climate.

       B．Climate changes.

       C．Rare animals

       D．Climate effect

5．Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

       A．Tuvalu’s nine little islands are less than five meters above the sea level.

       B．The average global temperature has risen by 1—3 centigrade degrees over the past 100 years.

       C．The warmer temperature causes the sea level to rise.

       D．There will be huge climate changes unless the warming is stopped

When Charles Strattion was five, he stopped growing. His mother took him to see the famous showman, P.T. Barnum thought a small person would be the perfect addition to his show. He hired Charles’ parents along with him, and they traveled around the world together.

       He gave the two-foot-tall Charles a new name, general Tom Thumb. He taught Tom how to sing, dance, act, and tell jokes. When he felt Tom was ready to perform on stage, he made up ads. To stir up great interest, he said that Tom was eleven years old and had come from England.

       During the show, Tom fought battles pretendedly with tall people. He also danced upon a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall.

       Tom’s act was very popular and brought in a lot of money. By the time Tom was an adult, he had grown very rich. He had become a billionaire at the age of twenty-five.

       Fortunately for Tom, Mr. Barnum added more little people to his show, and Tom became lucky in love as well. One of the little people was Lavinia Warren, a school teacher. Tom was able to win her love, and they married.

       The ceremony and reception were the talk of the town. They were attended by many rich and famous people and by about two thousand guests. Crowds filled the streets of New York to have a look at their tiny wedding carriage. The couple even met with President Abraham Lincoln on their honeymoon, just before going to live in Tom’s house in Connecticut.

       Their wedding, which took place during the Civil War, provided a welcome escape from the sad problems of war. Not willing to let this bit of sunshine fade, communities throughout the country sponsored（主持）“Tom Thumb”weddings. In these weddings, small boys and girls, all dressed up, went through marriage ceremony for fun.

1．“Talk of the town” means       .

       A．it was in the newspaper

       B．people spread mean rumors（谣言）about it.

       C．it was the most popular thing happening

       D．it was discussed in a city meeting

2．What does the author think about Tom Thumb’s wedding?

       A．People gave it too much of their attention.

       B．It helped people cheer up in a dark time.

       C．It was funny and ridiculous.

       D．Tom and Lavinia were stupid.

3．Which of the following is the best clue（线索）to the fact that Tom was smart?

       A．He became a billionaire at twenty-five.

       B．He learned how to sing, dance, and act at a very young age.

       C．He met with President Lincoln during his honeymoon.

       D．He married a school teacher.

4．It was very funny when Tom danced on a wooden plate held by a person who was eight feet tall because          .

       A．the wooden plate would make it sound as if Tom were tap dancing.

       B．it made Tom feel taller.

       C．the eight-foot-tall man was the only tall person Tom trusted

       D．the difference between them would make Tom look even smaller

5．What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

       A．Weddings always make people feel full of sunshine.

       B．People are always disappointed during wartime.

       C．Entertainment can serve an important purpose.

       D．People should be married when they are small children.

MySpace, the social networking website, is different from other websites which only provide stories about other people. MySpace is a place that allows you to broadcast your own stories and personal information to as many people as you like. Started two years ago, it is a big source of information for and about American kids.

   Teenagers and their parents feel very differently about it. Teens are rushing to join the site, not sharing their parents’ worries. It signals yet another generation gap in the digital era.

   For teenagers, it is a reliable network to keep in touch with their friends. They will often list their surnames, birthdays, after-school jobs, school clubs, hobbies and other personal information.

   “MySpace is an easy way to reach just about everyone. I don't have all the phone numbers of my acquaintances. But if I want to get in touch with one of them, I could just leave them a message on MySpace,” said Abby Van Wassen. She is a 16-year-old student at Woodland Hills High of Pittsburg, PennsylvaniA．

   Parents on the other hand are seriously concerned about the security problems of MySpace.

   “Every time we hold a parents meeting，the first question is always about MySpace.” said Kent Cates, who travels the country doing Internet safety seminars（研讨会）. The National Centre for missing and Exploited Children has received at least 288 MySpace-related complaints, according to Mary Beth Buchanan, a lawyer in Pittsburg, “Your profile on MySpace shows all your personal information to anyone on the Web. And MySpace even lists this information by birthplace and age. It's like a free checklist for trouble-makers and it endangers children.” Buchanan said.

1．From the passage，we can learn that MySpace __________.

   A．brings about the generation gap 

B．is very careful about people's privacy

   C．encourages you to list your personal information  

D．1ists the telephone numbers of your friends

2．Why are some parents against MySpace?

   A．Because they think MySpace has a bad influence on their children.

   B．Because they don't want to pay so much money for MySpace.

   C．Because it takes up too much of their children's spare time.

   D．Because trouble-makers can easily approach their children through the site.

3．What can we infer from “Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace”?

   A．MySpace has become a top issue troubling parents.

   B．MySpace often holds parents meetings.

   C．MySpace is quite popular with parents.

   D．Parents have 1ots of questions about the website.

4．The writer’s attitude towards MySpace is __________.

   A．negative       B．positive      C．optimistic       D．objective

5．What do you think the writer was trying to talk about?

   A．Internet Safety  B．MySpace    C．Generation Gap  D．The Digital Era

Break Your Bad Mood

Having one of those days or weeks – when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster – often within a day or two.

Walk it off

Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who’s in a bad mood is in his low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercise can do wonders towards changing that bad mood.

Tune it out

Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts associations with past positive experiences we’ve had

Give yourself a pep talk

Stop and listen to what’s on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper the pessimistic messages you’ve been giving yourself and then give optimistic answers. （“I still don’t have a job.” Vs “I have two interviews next week.”）

Reduce your stress

Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing（想像）, all of which sound complicated but aren’t. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to be against distress（痛苦）is to make a to-do list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options. By taking control over certain areas, you realize you’re not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life.

Avoid things that won’t improve your mood.

TV may not help much: You need to increase your energy level and stimulate your mind – something that TV show “Neighbors” won’t do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. A better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta（意大利面食）,produce a calming effect on people who have a desire for them.

1．We learn from the text that it might help rid us of a bad mood          .

       A．to do nothing about it                B．to take a long walk on the beach

       C．to do some exercise with light music       D．to talk about it to neighbors

2．Why is it suggested that you close your eyes and picture the beach?

       A．It is not complicated to do so. 

B．It is an area which can be easily controlled.

       C．It helps beat a bad mood.

D．It brings us a new technique.

3．TV may not improve your mood because         .

       A．it sometimes shows what happens around you 

B．it keeps you sitting without moving

       C．it reminds you of eating and drinking

D．it produces a calming effect.

4．This text most probably appears in         .

       A．a book on physical exercises                 B．a doctor’s handbook

       C．a notice                                              D．a magazine

5．In the second paragraph, “buster” means “         ”.

       A．breaker        B．helper     C．maker          D．partner

根据下列各句句意及所给单词的首字母或汉语提示，写出所缺单词的正确形式。

1．He s___________an orange to get the juice out.

2．I made an a_____________ to see the doctor at seven o’clock this afternoon.

3．Grace gave the room a t_________ cleaning before her new roommate came.

4．It is said that this kind of new medicine can c________ people of heart disease.

5．He seemed totally a__________ in that book. When I came in he didn’t notice me at all.

6．With the a_______ of my English teacher I have made rapid progress in English.

7．From its exports the small country can earn foreign c__________ and begin to pay off its huge debts.

8．Is there a good Chinese restaurant in the ­­_______________ （附近）。

9．He did it _____________（故意地） to make me embarrassed

10．He has had no __________（以前的） experience of this kind of job

11．Though too old to work much, the retired worker is very _______________ （热心的）  about his friends’ affairs.

12．They ____________ （指控） him of taking bribes.

13．The results are entirely ______________（一致的）with earlier research.

14．Punishment seemed to make no ____________（印象）on the child

15．He came up with such a（n） ____________（令人钦佩的） idea that everyone present at the meeting changed their attitude towards him.

16．The ___________（有天赋的） young scientist was much in the public eye.

17．He killed several people by ____________（下毒）their tea

18．The new edition textbook is __________（批准）by the Department for Education.

19．Not wanting to make my _____________（争议的） views known yet, I preferred to follow the crowd for a while.

20．Einstein’s Theory of Relativity （相对论）was so ____________（抽象） that few people could understand it at that time.