Stepfamilies are commonplace in the United States and their number continues to grow. While stepfamilies differ widely in their make-up， they all consist of a parenting couple and children， one or more of whom is of a previous union. Such combinations of his kids， her kids， and then， possibly， kids of the new union make for complicated and often trying difficulties， more challenging than those of traditional families.

Since stepfamilies involve more people and， consequently， more potential problems from the start than do childless new marriage， it is wise for the couple to do some careful planning prior to (＝before) marriage. Not only do the prospective(预期的) marital partners need agreement about their own carriers， life goals， finance and special interests， they must also prepare for new relationship with their children and attempt to accommodate their individual needs and feelings. Furthermore， there are often the rights of other relatives to consider.

As for any family， the basic ingredient(成分) of a successful stepfamily are affection， kindness and mutual(相互的) respect. However， love alone is not enough. Certainly love is the cornerstone upon which the foundation of any family is built， but there are also many other important ingredients involved in building a successful stepfamily.

Surveys reveal that successful families regard the ability to communicate openly as the most important factor in their success. Communication is what keeps families on track and functioning as a unit. Although healthy communication is easier for some people than for others， this skill can be learned and improved. Healthy communication involves speaking clearly and listening carefully.

By their very nature， stepfamilies often are complicated by past events that give rise to ambivalent(矛盾的) loyalties， lingering(持久的) hurts， fears， feelings of guilt and unrealistic dreams. The difficulties that arise within the stepfamilies are human and understandable. However， there are ways to confront(面临) and resolve them. For example， support groups and professional counselors(法律顾问) are available in most communities to provide help and guidance when communications stopped and problems seem overwhelming(压倒性的).

Planning and building a stepfamily is not a responsibility to take lightly. It can be a very trying and， at times， seemingly impossible effort. Many potential troubles can arise and threaten to destroy the stepfamily. Nevertheless， meeting and mastering these special challenges can bring unexpected satisfactions and rewarding depths of family closeness and affection.

1.According to the passage， there are 　　　　 in the United States.

A.no stepfamilies

B.more stepfamilies than ever before

C.fewer stepfamilies than ever before

D.fewer stepfamilies than traditional ones

2.Which of the following can help avoid the potential problems arising in a stepfamily？

A.The pursuit of the same careers.

B.Professional interventions(干涉).

C.The development of special interests.

D.Careful planning before the marriage.

3. Many people believe that 　　　　 contributes most to the building of a successful stepfamily.

A.everlasting loyalties

B.open communication

C.kindness and mutual respect

D.persistent(持久稳固的) affection

4. It is natural for a stepfamily to be 　　　　.

A.unrealistic

B.complicated

C.ambivalent

D.guilty

5.According to the author， planning and building a stepfamily is 　　　　.

A.impossible            

B.satisfying and rewarding

C.discouraging and frustrating

D.a difficult and trying experience

Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months. The system， called Driver Alert， aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20%—40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue(疲劳).

Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband(表带). The device， worn by drivers or pilots， gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel(方向盘). A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound and the driver’s response. Tiredness is directly related to a driver’s response time. Usually， a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond， but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds， it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.

In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds， showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver’s response continues to slow down， the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.

The device has been delivered to the department’s laboratories for testing. If these tests， scheduled for six months’ time， are successful， the markets will bring the product to market within about a year.

1.Driver Alert

Ⅰ. 2.                  ：

To reduce 3.                     accidents.

Ⅱ. Working principle：

● (the device) based on 4.                          

● (the device) giving out a sound 5.                   

● (the driver) 6.                         by squeezing the steering wheel

● (the device) giving out more regular and louder sounds when response time is 7.       

● (the driver) stopping 8.                  if a nonstop alarm rings

Ⅲ. Present situation：

● (the device) still 9.           

● (the device) to be brought to market within about 10.           if the tests are

Read the following passage. Answer the questions according to the information given in the passage.

Indian’s snake charmers are to be retrained as wildlife teachers under a plan to prevent their unique skills and knowledge from being lost. The charmers， who make snakes dance to the sound of flutes， used to be a traditional feature of Indian life， performing in towns and villages， until they were banned in 1972 to control the trade in snake skins.

The government is now considering a plan to train the saperas， as they are known， to visit schools and zoos to tell children about forests and wildlife. There is also a proposal to set up a “dial a snake charmer” service to help householders to deal with unwelcome intruders.

“For generations they have been a feature of Indian life but now they can’t earn a living for fear of arrest，” said Behar Dutt， a conservationist behind the plans， “if a policeman doesn’t catch them， animal rights activists report them.”

Many snake charmers have continued to work clandestinely(暗中地) since the ban， despite the threat of up to three years in jail. But their trademark cloth-covered baskets， hung from a bamboo pole carried across their shoulders， make them an easy target for police.

The fate of Shisha Nath， 56， from Badarpur， a village just outside of New Delhi， is typical of practitioners(从业者) of the dying art. “I used to earn enough to support my family and send my children to school，” he said. “Now it’s hard to earn even $1 a day. My children want to be snake charmers. It’s our identity. We love the work. But it’s become impossible.”

Next month Dutt’s project to train 30 snake charmers will begin at a snake park in Pune， western India， where experts will enrich their home-grown skills with some formal knowledge.

More than the law， though， it is the dishonest attitude of their fellow countrymen that anger many snake charmers.

“We’re disturbed all the time but when people want a snake removed from the house， they rush to us，” said Prakash Nath， who was ordered recently to the home of Sonia Gandhi， the Congress party leader.

1. What do snake charmers usually do in India？ (no more than 8 words) (2 marks)

2. How long will a saperas be in prison if he is caught during the ban？ (no more than 3 words) (2 marks)

3.For what purpose will snake charmers in India be retrained as wildlife teachers？(no more than 10 words) (3 marks)

4.According to the passage， what will make snake charmers angry？ (no more than 11 words) (3 marks)

Write an English composition according to the instructions given below in Chinese.

根据以下图画，写一篇英语短文，描述今昔通讯方式的变化，以及这些变化给人们生活带来的影响。

注意：1. 不少于120词。

2. 文章开头已给出， 不计入总词数。

　　Great changes have taken place 　

Shawn returned to Iowa after the 2008 Games， 　　　　， as is known to us， she had been brought up and trained to be a gold medalist of gymnastics.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

A. when                     B. that         C .there        D. where

—Have you heard from Nelly recently？

—Yes. I　　　　his letters and cards many times while I was in Italy.

A. have received   B. received   C. had received   D. would receive

 Now the Internet is a popular channel　　　　the  public voice their opinions and show their strength.

A. by that         B .by which  C. through that            D. through which

　　　　after a whole day’s work that he could hardly stand it.

A .So was tired and hungry he  B. Was so tired and hungry he

C. So tired and hungry was he  D. So tired and hungry he was

Though 　　　　to go to bed many times， the little boy just turned a deaf ear and fixed

When and where to go for the on-salary holiday　　　　yet.

A. hasn’t been decided            B. is not being decided

C. are not decided                D. haven’t been decided