People in the United States honor their parents with two special days: Mother’s Day, on the second Sunday in May, and Father’s Day, on the third Sunday in June. These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents. They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens. They give love and care. These two days offer a chance to think about the changing roles of mothers and fathers. More mothers now work outside the home. More fathers must help with child-care.
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways. On Mother’s Day people wear carnations. A red one stands for a living mother. A white one shows that the mother is dead. Many people attend religious services(宗教仪式) to honor parents. It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit their graves. On these days, families get together at home and in restaurants. They often have outdoor BBQs for Father’s Day. These are days of fun and good feelings and memories.
Another tradition is to give cards and gifts. Children make them in school. Many people make their own presents. These are valued more than the ones bought in stores. It is not the value of the gift that is important, but it is “the thought that counts”. Greeting card stores, florists, candy makers, bakeries, telephones companies and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays.
【小题1】Which is NOT a reason for children to show love and respect for parents?

A．Parents bring children

B．Parents give love and care to children

C．Parents educate children to be good persons.

D．Parents pass away before children grow up

【小题2】What do you know from the passage?

A．Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are both in May.

B．Fewer women worked outside the home in the past

C．Not all the children respect their parents

D．Fathers are not as important as mothers at home

【小题3】Which do you think is right about “carnation”?

A．It only has two kinds of color.

B．It is a special kind of clothes people wear on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

C．It’s a kind of flower showing love and best wishes.

D．People can wear carnations only on the second Sunday in May.

【小题4】What do you think “florists” do?

A．They sell flowers

B．They made bread or pastry

C．They offer enough room for having family parties.

D．They sell special clothes for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

I fell in love with England because it was quaint (典雅)—all those little houses, looking terri­bly old-fashioned but nice, like dolls’ houses. I loved the countryside and the pubs, and I loved London. I’ve slightly changed my mind after seventeen years because I think it’s an ugly town now.
Things have changed. For everybody, England meant gentlemen, fair play, and good man­ners. The fair play is going, unfortunately, and so are the gentlemanly attitudes and good man­ners—people shut doors heavily in your face and politeness is disappearing.
I regret that there are so few comfortable meeting places. You’re forced to live indoors. In Paris I go out much more, to restaurants and nightclubs. To meet friends here it usually has to be in a pub, and it can be difficult to go there alone as a woman. The cafes are not terribly nice.
As a woman, I feel unsafe here. I spend a bomb on taxis because I will not take public trans­port after 10 p. m. I used to use it, but now I’m afraid.
The idea of family seems to be more or less non-existent in England. My family is well united and that’s typically French. In Middlesex I had a neighbour who is 82 now. His family only lived two miles away, but I took him to France for Christmas once because he was always alone.
【小题1】The writer doesn’t like London because she ______.

A．is not used to the life there now

B．has lived there for seventeen years

C．prefers to live in an old-fashioned house

D．has to be polite to everyone she meets there

【小题2】Where do people usually meet their friends in England?

A．In a cafe.

B．In a restaurant.

C．In a nightclub.

D．In a pub.

【小题3】The underlined part “it” (in Para. 4) refers to______.

A．a taxi

B．the money

C．a bomb

D．public transport

【小题4】The writer took her neighbour to France for Christmas because he ______.

A．felt lonely in England

B．had never been to France

C．was from a typical French family

D．didn't like the British idea of family

The UK has a well-­respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, sometimes it can be confusing.
October is usually the busiest month in the college calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life．
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect（前景）of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve-­wracking（令人头痛的）. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here is some top advice from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week：
●Learn rules. Make sure you know British social etiquette（礼节）. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
●Be kind. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.
●Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than those who never leave their room.
●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning and effort, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your experience to next year’s new recruits．
【小题1】Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage？

A．October is generally the busiest month for universities．

B．It’s a good idea to have a doorstop.

C．A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier.

D．The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week．

【小题2】The underlined word “recruits” in the last paragraph refers to 　　　　．

A．courses

B．freshers

C．neighbors

D．challenges

【小题3】We can infer from the 4th paragraph that 　　　　．

A．the newcomers usually miss the days living at home

B．most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities

C．many freshers are worried about how to fit university life

D．all the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs

【小题4】Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy？

A．To pass the busy university life．

B．To help make friends with other freshers．

C．To show yourself a drinker as others．

D．To pass the time in a happy way．

【小题5】The main purpose of the passage is to 　　　　．

A．tell the newcomers how to make a new start in universities

B．introduce something about higher education system of the UK

C．discuss something about the Freshers’ Week in the UK

D．advise the freshmen how to behave well in the beginning

Nicknames for Los Angeles
A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity. Nicknames can also be funny.
Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in population, after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city’s initials, L.A. It is also called the City of Angels because Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish.
Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine. New York is called The Big Apple. So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because of the fruit that grows in that city’s warm climate.
The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. No trip to Los Angeles is complete without seeing the word "Hollywood" spelled out in huge letters on a hillside.
Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called Tinseltown. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry.
Another nickname for Los Angeles is La-La Land, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality.
The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day. So are the coastal cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, where people like to ride surfboards on the Pacific Ocean waves.
A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there.
Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather, beautiful mountains and beaches, and movie stars. That includes Randy Newman, who sings about his hometown.
【小题1】A nickname of a place can have the following functions except ___________.

A．building up identity

B．entertainment

C．bringing pride to the locals

D．uniting surrounding cities

【小题2】The underlined sentence can best be replaced by __________.

A．Your trip to Los Angeles is not perfect if you miss the big letters "Hollywood" on a hillside

B．Not seeing the word "Hollywood" on a hillside means you haven’t been to Los Angeles.

C．If you visit Los Angeles you should first pay a visit to "Hollywood" s on a hillside.

D．Seeing the big letters "Hollywood" on a hillside means you’ve been really to Los Angeles.

【小题3】How many nicknames have been given to Los Angeles?

A．4

B．5

C．6

D．7

【小题4】Which of the following is conveyed in this article?

A．Los Angeles is most famous for its nicknames.

B．Hollywood alone adds fame to Los Angeles.

C．All the nicknames increase the charm of Los Angeles.

D．Los Angeles was built after the Italian city of Venice.

For thousands of years, the most important two buildings in any British village have been the church and the pub. Traditionally, the church and the pub are at the heart of any village or town, where the people gather together to socialize and exchange news.
As a result, British pubs are often old and well preserved. Many of them have become historic sites. The most famous example is the pub in the city of Nottingham called “The Old Trip to Jerusalem”, which dates back to the year 1189 AD and is probably the oldest pub in England.
However, British pubs are not just for kings and queens; they welcome people from all classes and parts of society. On a cold night, the pub’s landlord or landlady can always find a warm place for you by the fire. There is always honest and hearty food and plenty of drink available at an affordable price.
That’s how things used to be. Things are beginning to change. It is said that the credit crunch(信贷紧缩) is causing 39 British pubs a week to go out of business. People do not have enough spare money to spend on beer. Recently, the UK government banned smoking in all pubs, and that may also have affected the number of customers going to pubs.
This decline is happening despite the fact that in 2005 the UK government started to allow pubs to stay open after 1l pm. Previously, with 1l pm as closing time, customers would have to drink quite quickly, meaning they sometimes got more drunk than they would if allowed to drink slowly. The British habit of drinking a lot very quickly is known as “binge drinking”, and it causes long-term health problems for people and problems with violent crime for communities.
In order to save their businesses, pubs are trying to change with the market. British pubs now offer something for everyone. A lot of pubs used to be “Working Men's Clubs”, meaning that women could not usually enter. Today, however, women can freely enter 99% of pubs without experiencing any problems. Perhaps things are changing for the better after all.
【小题1】The passage mainly tells us something about ______.

A．the past and present of British pubs

B．the decline of British pubs

C．the long history of British pubs

D．the importance of British pubs

【小题2】Which may not be the cause of the decline of British pubs?

A．The credit crunch.

B．The present closing time.

C．The ban of smoking.

D．Having no spare money.

【小题3】We can infer from the passage that ______.      

A．British people used to like drinking slowly

B．closing the pubs early will reduce social problems

C．binge drinking means drinking less beer

D．British government aims to discourage people from binge drinking

【小题4】We can see from the last paragraph that the author _______.

A．is against the admission of too many women to the pubs

B．holds an optimistic attitude towards the British pubs

C．thinks that women in the pubs will cause less social problems

D．thinks that British pubs should offer everything you need

Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Silver City Council（议会） recognizes that citizens have certain needs.  To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities(设施） in 2004. This chart shows how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.20 new buses for the southern line were purchased（购买）in January. 50 percent of city bus-stops have been upgraded（升级）. Buses to the eastern suburbs will run every15 minutes.
Communication  Broadband cable（宽带揽线） is now available（可用的） to all parts of the city. All of the new Government buildings are ' smart'-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June. To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff（工作人员） at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education  Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2004 ! Rent for private schools has been reduced. Teachers report that the 'no hat - no play' rule has been successful.
Protection and Security  Extra police now patrol (巡逻 ) the tourist areas. 50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment / Recreation  The John Street basketball courts have been re-surfaced ! The new Central Community Building opened in May. 5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.
【小题1】The public notice is from _____________.

A．the community

B．the local government

C．The citizens

D．a travel agency

【小题2】The notice is mainly about ____________.

A．the work carried out by the people of Silver City

B．the facilities available in Silver City

C．some improvements in Silver City

D．information for interested tourists

【小题3】All the following are true EXCEPT that __

A．both residents and tourists can enjoy more security now

B．Station Street Hospital had out-dated facilities before 2004

C．primary students had to pay for their textbooks in 2003

D．Dover Hospital is still short of trained medical staff

【小题4】Which of the following changes would tourists to Silver City be most happy with?

A．Travel books are provided in the new library.

B．Traveling by train is more convenient in Silver City.

C．Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital.

D．There are more police officers on duty now.

Part-time Front Desk Position
Fuse Fitness is looking for a part-time front desk receptionist (接待员) at our new Carlsbad location.
Job duties include:
Welcoming and greeting members; Answering phone calls;
Signing up new members; Cleaning and performing other various duties.
You should have great communication skills and be dependable. More importantly, you should have a positive spirit in stressful situations. You are expected to work five days a week (including weekends).
Please, no phone calls about this job in the morning!
Tel: (760) 434-7704      E-mail: info@fusefitness.com
Apply (申请) in person at: 2502 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
The first impression you make in a job interview is very important. The first judgment an interviewer makes is based on how you look and what you are wearing. That’s why it’s always important to dress professionally for a job interview, even if the work environment is casual.
Before you even think about going to an interview, make sure you have suitable interview clothes and that everything fits correctly.
Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don’t have to spend time getting them ready on the day of the interview.
Polish (擦亮) your shoes.
Bring a breath mint (薄荷糖) and use it before you enter the building.
For more information: Visit: Jobsearch. monster. com
Or Tel: (800) 421-7250  or  (760) 603-4000  Carlsbad, California
【小题1】How should you contact Fuse Fitness about the front desk position in the morning if you can’t go in person?

A．Call (760) 603-4000	B．Call (760) 434-7704
C．Visit Jobsearch. monster. Com	D．Send an e-mail to info@fusefitness.com.

【小题2】What does Fuse Fitness think is the biggest challenge for a receptionist?

A．Working five days a week including weekends.

B．Having good communication skills.

C．Keeping cheerful even in difficult situations.

D．Welcoming guests and answering phone calls.

【小题3】What would be the best title for the second piece of information?

A．What to Bring to a Job Interview	B．How to Find a Desired Job
C．Job Interview	D．Interview Dressing Suggestions

【小题4】Which is TRUE according to the second piece of information?

A．The first judgment is made based on how you behave.

B．What to wear should be taken into consideration before an interview.

C．It is OK to dress informally for an interview if the work environment is casual.

D．You don’t need to pay attention to your shoes because nobody will notice them.

Canada is a very large country. It is bigger than China. China is the third largest country in the world. Canada is the second largest . It has an area of nearly 10 million. Canada has a very long coastline. To the west is the Pacific Ocean. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean is in the north. There are many islands off the Pacific coast and off the Arctic coast. The biggest one in the west is Vancouver Island. In the east there is New Foundland, and in the Arctic Ocean the biggest islands are Baffin Island and Victoria Island.(Greenland is not part of Canada. It is a part of Denmark, a country in northern Europe.)
Canada has a long border with the USA in the south. In the northwest Canada borders on the American “State of Alaska”. Canada is a northern country. The Arctic Circle (Latitude 16°N) passes through the northern part . in the south, half of the border with the USA follows line of latitude 49°N
【小题1】Which of the following statements is true?

A．USA is the second largest country in the world.

B．Canada has nearly 10 million sq. km. So it is the second largest country on the world.

C．China is as large as Canada and the secong largest country in the world.

D．Russia is the second largest country in the world.

【小题2】What ocean is in the north of Canada?

A．The Pacific Ocean	B．The Atlantic Ocean
C．The Indian Ocean	D．The Arctic Ocean

【小题3】There are many islands in Canada, and Vancouver Island is_______.

A．in the west

B．in the east

C．in the north

D．in the south

【小题4】Alaska is one of the states of America. It is on the___ of Cananda.

A．northeast

B．southeast

C．northwest

D．southwest

Do you like sitting on the edge of your seat? How about falling off it laughing? If so, "Rush Hour 1" is the perfect movie for you. Although it didn’t get the best reviews, it is perfect for those who like a good comedy.

Just as in the first "Rush Hour," Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) are partners. This time, they are on vacation in China and Carter is looking for a good time, but they are on the job again when a bombing at the American Embassy kills two customs agents. Lee and Carter go to look for a suspect named Ricky Tan. For Lee this is a serious case because Tan killed his father. Will Carter and Lee be able to capture Tan?
Another reason to see this movie perhaps is for the thrilling action, which includes karate fights with Jackie Chan. One of my favorite scenes shows Carter and Lee in a massage parlor (店堂) when everything goes crazy.
"Rush Hour 2" is, of course, really funny with Chris Tucker in the lead role. Chan and Tucker have many clever jokes and remarks. Some of the jokes aren’t enjoyed by the critics, but most will find them entertaining.
With no doubt, the movie was great. I was filled with anxiety about what was going to happen next. Many critics say that sequels (续集) are not as good as the original but this one is great. I especially enjoyed it because the special effects are minimal so everything looks as though it actually happened. The lighting effect is great as well as the sound.
So, if you are looking for a great action movie that leaves you at the edge of your seat and makes you laugh quite a bit, you should rush to see “Rush Hour 2.”
【小题1】According to the author, "Rush Hour 2" is a perfect movie particularly ______.

A．full of special effects

B．with the best actors

C．full of humors

D．with great lights

【小题2】In "Rush Hour 2”, the two leading roles are on duty again because ______.

A．their vocation in China is limited to a short term

B．inspector Lee doesn’t want to have a good time

C．the American Embassy in China was attacked

D．a suspect named Ricky Tan killed Lee’s father

【小题3】In Rush Hour series, the following are usually included EXCEPT _____.

A．thrilling actions	B．maximal special effects
C．karate fights	D．clever jokes and remarks

【小题4】If "Rush Hour 3" is shot, what kind of the movie will it be? ______.

A．Stage tragedy	B．Action movie
C．Soap opera	D．Situational comedy

When Chinese student Du Juan brought her American boyfriend home two years ago to use the toilet, her Japanese roommate became so upset that she shouted in English: "I hate you."
Du, then 21 and an undergraduate at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, was shocked. So was her boyfriend.
"Later I realized that she didn't literally mean what she said and that she was not aware of the full meaning of the word 'hate' in English," said Du. "It was more a problem with translation," she added.
Cultural differences can cause confusion about what words or even actions mean, an issue that has come to the forefront recently following the arrest of a Chinese doctoral degree student in New Jersey.
Zhai Tiantian, who studied at the Stevens Institute of Technology, has been accused of trying to set fire to a campus building and of making threats to a professor who gave him a low mark. No physical altercation took place but Zhai reportedly said something along the lines of "at worst, I will risk anything on the line." The professor called the campus police.
According to the indictment sheet（起诉书）, Zhai is facing the serious charge of making a terroristic threat.
For a few days, Chinese media mistranslated, or misunderstood, the charges and reported that Zhai was being charged with terrorism.
Some language experts have speculated（推测） that the disagreement between Zhai and the professor can also be chalked up to cultural and linguistic differences. "What Chinese people regard as acceptable speech may be regarded by Americans as threats," said Luo Gang, the Chinese Consulate's Overseas Chinese Affairs consul. "This is an unfortunate incident. Even though Zhai intended no harm, he has done himself a great deal of harm."
Du, now 23, said she supports Zhai's actions in fighting to save his academic career, but added he needs to learn more about communication in a foreign language.
"Chinese students in a foreign country must prepare more in terms of languages and conversation skills to avoid misunderstandings," she said.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “altercation” mean？

A．fight

B．check

C．education

D．experiment

【小题2】By saying “It was more a problem with translation”, what does Du Juan mean?

A．Translation was not the real problem, as Du Juan and her roommate can both speak English.

B．Du Juan can not understand what her roommate meant at all.

C．Her roommate didn’t know what “hate” really meant in daily conservation.

D．Her roommate spoke such poor English that she felt angry.

【小题3】Which of the following statements about Zhai Tiantian is true?

A．He set fire to a campus building.

B．He argued with a professor because he received a low mark.

C．He has received a doctor’s degree at the Stevens Institute of Technology.

D．He is facing a serious charge because he murdered the professor.

【小题4】What is the main idea of the passage?

A．Du Juan’s unpleasant experience abroad.

B．Confusion caused by translation.

C．Conservational skills in a foreign country.

D．Cultural differences between China and America.