When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard，I was one of the first to go out there and pet it．I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years．I spent at least 20 minutes，knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around，relaxed．What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly．It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care．
Over the next few days，there were other prisoners responding to the cat．Every yard period，a group of prisoners gathered there．They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat．These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other．Several times I saw an officer in the group，not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners．Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it．
The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape．People said that the cat came to the right place．He's getting treated like a king．This was true．but as I watched I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us．There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America．We need more programs．We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds．Some may even talk about making prisons more kind．But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness．Not receive it，but give it．After more than two decades here，I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged．It's often seen as a weakness．
Instead，the culture encourages keeping your head down，minding your own business，and never letting yourself be weak．
The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here．By simply saying，”I need some help here”，he did something important for us．He needed us．And we needed to be needed．I believe we all do．
【小题1】Which of the following statements is true?

A．The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison．

B．The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat．

C．The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and birds．

D．The author realized the importance of practising kindness．

【小题2】We can infer from the third paragraph that______

A．showing love to others can make prisoners strong

B．the American prison culture will be improved

C．the author is not content with the prison culture

D．caring for others is encouraged in American prisons

【小题3】What is the best title for the passage?

A．Caring Makes US Human．	B．Prison Culture is Important．
C．Animals Need Care．	D．Everyone Needs to be Cared for．

【小题4】In Paragraph 2，the author mentioned that "Several times I saw an officer in the Group, not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners." to______ ．

A．show us the officer and prisoners get along well with each other

B．show us the American prison culture does need improvement

C．show us the officer and prisoners all like cat

D．show us the American prison culture is great

Aside from doing schoolwork and studying, American students must also participate in various extra-curricular activities. Many students get involved in their communities by doing volunteer work at various local organizations. In fact, the school I attend even requires students to perform a certain number of hours of volunteer work per semester. It is part of our study hall(自修课) grade, as well as a graduation requirement.
There are many places to do volunteer work in the community. Some of my classmates volunteer at the local animal shelter, the community table (which provides free meals for needy families), charity(慈善) stores, and many others. Finding a suitable place to volunteer usually depends on what’s available, as well as personal interests. For example, a friend of mine who enjoys swimming volunteers at the recreation center to teach young children how to swim.
With all these options out there, I ended up doing most of my volunteer work at a school library and a non-profit bookstore called Friends of the Library. This bookstore sells donated books at cheap prices, and all the profits made are donated to the local library.
I thought it was very fitting that I do my volunteer work at a library and a bookstore, because reading has always been very important to me. I love working in the bookstore now, because every sale we make helps our public library expand, and gives it the funds needed to purchase new books.
I think everyone should have the opportunity to read, and that we each should do our part to help those who don’t have the chance. There is a charity event, called One Book for A Window of Opportunity, in which Chinese students can donate a book to the children of the poor village Fangmaping. They don’t have a lot of resources, so reading can be a challenge. To find out more about this event, please visit: http://bbs.enfamily.cn/thread-739278-1-1.html. 
【小题1】This passage is written by _____.

A．a Chinese student

B．an American student

C．a Chinese teacher

D．an American teacher

【小题2】This passage is supposed to write to ____.

A．villagers in Fangmaping	B．the writer’s parents
C．Chinese readers	D．American readers

【小题3】The writer chose to do volunteer work at _____.

A．a local animal shelter	B．a charity store
C．a recreation center	D．a library and a bookstore

【小题4】By writing the article, the writer hopes to _____.

A．meet the graduation requirement	B．look for another volunteer job
C．get more chances to read	D．encourage people to offer help

You feel happiest when you create a healthy balance between giving and receiving. If you give and give without making time to fill your own needs, then it’s likely you will burn out, or feel upset .When you take and take without giving anything back ,you never feel fulfilled, so you are always searching for ways to fill the void in your life.
The way to create a healthy balance between giving and receiving is to know and then live by your values .I break values up into two groups which I call being and having values. Your being values are the character traits of the ideal person you would like to be. I suggest to my clients that they choose three being values that they are willing to make a commitment to live by. An example of some being values are: kind, loving, generous, inspirational, peaceful, wise and even powerful. By acting on these values you give to others through your actions and you inspire others by being a positive role model. Mastering being these character traits becomes your life purpose.
Your having values are the feelings you need to create in order to be happy. These could be companionship, achievement, support, being valued or financial security. This is what you receive. You take responsibility for filling your own needs by taking steps to create these feelings and conditions in your life.
When you make a commitment to live by your being values, it becomes easier to make conscious choices rather than reactionary ones. If your usual pattern is to talk about your problems, you could choose to think and act like a calm person. A calm person might go for a walk, meditate, or set a time limit before responding. If your usual pattern is to worry, you could choose to act like a responsible or wise person. In other words, you would act like the person you choose to be—this is the key to personal power.
When you choose to act on your values, you not only feel good about yourself, you reinforce your chosen beliefs. Over time acting in this way changes how you see the world, and in turn the way other people think of you.
【小题1】The main purpose of this passage is to ___________.

A．persuade the readers to make a commitment

B．inform the readers how to be truly happy

C．explain to the readers what personal values are

D．instruct the readers how to make wise choices

【小题2】According to the text, living by your being values ,you would   ___________.

A．gain a lot of power	B．fill your own needs
C．seek all human virtues	D．form positive personality

【小题3】The underlined word “void” in Paragraph 1 means ___________.

A．a feeling of emptiness	B．an absence of one’s mind
C．a break of continuity	D．a state of confusion

【小题4】Which of the following does not belong to “your having values”?

A．your success in the competition	B．the help from your friends
C．your own peaceful mind	D．the friendship

【小题5】What can be inferred from the text?

A．Having values are better than being values.

B．The way other people think of you decides who you are.

C．A calm person does not choose to complain.

D．A responsible person does not care about financial security.

College libraries are designed primarily for research and study. To explain its use, let us choose a research topic and follow the step-by-step procedure of looking up the material for the paper．
Suppose your assignment is to write a paper on a novel called The Sun Also Rises by American writer Hemingway．The first step is to go to the main catalog．Many small drawers on the large wooden cabinets are lined up in alphabetical(字母的) order．Each of the drawers contains hundreds of alphabetical ordered cards．These cards are printed references to all material available in the library．Title cards are cataloged by the first word of the book title, leaving out the articles like “a”, “an” and “the”．And then you get the cards for the books you need．On the upper left corner of each card is the call number．This is the numerical code that shows where the book is located in the library．The library has open and closed stacks．If your book is on the open stacks, you can go to the open-stack room, and according to the call number find it out by yourself．There are only about 30,000 books on open stacks, while most of the 800,000 books in our library are kept in closed stacks, which are accessible only to teachers and graduate students.
For undergraduates like you, borrowing books from the closed stacks have to be done with the help of our librarian．In that case, you must fill out a call slip(纸条) for the book, showing the call number, author and title．You can get call slips on tables near the catalog cabinets．You show your call slip together with your library card to a librarian at the information desk．He or she will help you find the book out in the closed stacks.
【小题1】What is the main purpose of this text?

A．To present readers a brief introduction to a college library．

B．To guide readers how to find books needed in a college library.

C．To tell readers how to fill out a call slip in a college library.

D．To show readers where to find books in a college library.

【小题2】What letter you should look for on the title card for the book The Old Man and the Sea by the Hemingway?

A．The letter “t”.

B．The letter “h”.

C．The letter “o”.

D．The letter “s”.

【小题3】How are books arranged and shelved in the library?

A．By call numbers.	B．By call slips of authors’ names.
C．In alphabetical order.	D．By the first word of book title.

【小题4】Suppose you are an undergraduate and you want to borrow a book from the closed stacks, which is the correct order to do it?
a. go to the main catalog      b. show your call slip and library card
c. find out the call number    d. fill out a call slip
e. get the cards for the books

A．a-b-e-d-c

B．b-a-c-d-e

C．a-e-c-d-b

D．b-c-a-e-d

On October 12, 1987, some Chinese scientists were working at the computers to look for information they needed. Suddenly they saw a lot of very bright spots(点 )crossing the computers’ screens. At the same time the computers were working much slower. To find out what was happening they stopped their work to check some parts of the computers. To their horror(恐惧), they found out that most of their stored information was got rid of( 除掉) by computer viruses! Obviously all these computers had been infected（感染 ） by computer viruses.
It is said that the computer viruses were made by a group of young man fond of playing tricks. They all had excellent education. They created the viruses just to show their intelligence.（才智）These kinds of computer viruses are named Jerusalem( 耶路撒冷 )Viruses. These viruses can stay in computers for a long time. When the time comes they will attack the computers by lowering the function(功能), damaging their normal programs or even getting rid of all the information.
We now come to know that Jerusalem Viruses often attack computers on Fridays and that they are spreading(传播) to a list of computers. Among the countries that suffering computer viruses are Britain, Australia, Switzerland and the U.S. But till now, how to get rid of the terrible remains a problem.
【小题1】The group of young men created the viruses to __________. 

A．damage the computers

B．test their ability

C．play a trick on operators of the computers

D．tell the world that they were intelligent

【小题2】According to the passage, computer viruses seem to _______.

A．have been in nature for years

B．be difficult to get rid of at present

C．exist（存在） in any computers

D．be able to be got rid of in the near future

【小题3】The most serious damage caused by the viruses is that _______.

A．all the information stored in the computers is gone

B．the computer’s functions are lowered

C．the normal programs are damaged

D．the computers infected by the viruses can no longer be used

【小题4】According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A．Four countries found their computers were infected by viruses.

B．The viruses will come to a new computer after staying in the old one for some time

C．The Jerusalem Viruses are a great harm to human health.

D．Scientists are trying to find a way to get rid of the viruses

Doctors in Britain are warning of an obesity time bomb, when children who are already overweight grow up. So, what should we do? Exercise more? Eat less? Or both? The government feels it has to take responsibility for this expanding problem.
The cheerful Mr. Pickwick, the hero of the novel by Charles Dickens, is seen in illustrations as someone who is plump and happy. In 18th century paintings, beauty is equated （使…等同） with rounded bodies and soft curves. But nowadays being overweight is seen as indicating neither a cheerful character nor beauty but an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
So what do you do? Diet? Not according to England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson. He says that physical activity is the key for reducing the risks of obesity, cancer and heart disease. And the Health Secretary John Reid even said that being inactive is as serious a risk factor in heart disease as smoking.
So, having bought some cross trainers, how much exercise should you do? According to Sir Liam Donaldson, at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. Is going to the gym the answer? Luckily for those who think that running machines are boring, the Health Development Agency believes that physical activity that fits into people's lives may be more effective. They suggest taking the stairs rather than the lift, walking up escalators, playing active games with your children, dancing or gardening. And according to a sports psychologist, Professor Biddle, gyms "are not making the nation fit", and may even cause harm.
There's new scientific evidence that too much exercise may actually be bad for you. Scientists at the University of Ulster have found that unsuitable exercise releases dangerous free radicals that can adversely （oppositely） affect normal function in unfit people. The only people who should push their bodies to that level of exercise on a regular basis are trained athletes.
So, should we forget about gyms and follow some expert's advice to reduce sedentary （久坐不动的） activities and increase exercise in our daily life? After all, getting off the bus a stop early and walking the rest of the way can't do any harm! One final thought. How come past generations lacked gym facilities but were leaner and fitter than people today? 
【小题1】Mr.Pickwick and the paintings of the 18m century are used as examples to show that_____.

A．beauty should be overweight

B．a fat man is usually a cheerful character

C．fatness was considered something good at one time

D．fatness leads to an increased risk of disease

【小题2】According to Sir Liam Donaldson, we should_____.

A．go on a diet	B．do regular physical activity
C．give up smoking	D．go to the gym

【小题3】The underlined phrase cross trainers probably refers to _____.

A．people who help you do exercise	B．places where you can do exercise
C．a kind of shoes	D．a form of vehicles

【小题4】At present being overweight indicates _____.

A．an increased risk of diseases	B．a happier life
C．a cheerful character	D．a beauty

【小题5】What is the passage mainly about?

A．how to keep fit and avoid fatness.	B．increased risks for overweight people.
C．the dangers of exercise in the gym.	D．the benefit of a balanced diet.

No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租赁费), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this company bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent communication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to come steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites recommend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest complaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they come back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
【小题1】What is the second paragraph mainly about? 

A．How to exchange homes.

B．The biggest home exchange agency Intervac.

C．The fact that home exchanges are not new.

D．A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges.

【小题2】How do home exchangers normally begin their communication?

A．By phone.	B．Via a matchmaker.
C．By e-mail.	D．Via a face-to-face meeting.

【小题3】What is recommended in the passage to deal with the concerns about theft and damage?

A．One can file a lawsuit in court.

B．Both parties can trade online.

C．One can damage the home of the other party in return.

D．Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand.

No budget for your vacation? Try home exchanges ---- swapping houses with strangers. Agree to use each other’s cars, and you can save dollars on car rentals (租赁费), too.
Home exchanges are not new. At least one group, Intervac, has been facilitating such an arrangement since 1953. But trading online is gaining popularity these days, with several sites in operation, including Home Exchanges. Founded in 1992, with some 28,000 listings, this company bills itself as the world’s largest home exchange club, reporting that membership has increased 30% this year.
The annual fee is usually less than US$100. Members can access thousands of listings for apartments, villas, suburban homes and farms around the world. Initial contact is made via e-mail, with subsequent communication usually by phone. Before a match is made, potential swappers tend to discuss a lot.
However, the concept may sound risky to some people. What about theft? Damage? These are reasonable causes for concern, but equally unlikely. As one swapper puts it, “Nobody is going to fly across the ocean or drive 600 miles to come steal your TV. Besides, at the same time they’re staying in your home, you are staying in their home.”
Exchange sites recommend that swappers discuss such matters ahead of time. They may fill out an agreement spelling out who shoulders which responsibilities if a problem arises. It does not matter if the agreement would hold up in court, but it does give the exchangers a little satisfaction.
Generally, the biggest complaint among home exchangers has to do with different standards of cleanliness. Swappers are supposed to make sure their home is in order before they depart, but one person’s idea of “clean” may be more forgiving than another’s. Some owners say if they come back to a less-than-sparkling kitchen, it may be inconvenient but would not sour them on future exchanges.
【小题1】What is the second paragraph mainly about? 

A．How to exchange homes.

B．The biggest home exchange agency Intervac.

C．The fact that home exchanges are not new.

D．A contrast between Intervac and Home Exchanges.

【小题2】How do home exchangers normally begin their communication?

A．By phone.	B．Via a matchmaker.
C．By e-mail.	D．Via a face-to-face meeting.

【小题3】What is recommended in the passage to deal with the concerns about theft and damage?

A．One can file a lawsuit in court.

B．Both parties can trade online.

C．One can damage the home of the other party in return.

D．Both parties can sign an agreement beforehand.

Body and Food
Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment (营养).The old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamin C. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form, believing that these will make them healthy.
But a good diet is made up of nourishing food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn’t need or use extra vitamins, so why waste money on them?
In the modern western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening,
【小题1】“Your body has close relations with the food you eat.” It really means that ______.

A．all kinds of food you eat can be made into your body

B．your body is made up of the food you eat

C．what you eat has great effect on your health

D．the more you eat, the fitter you will feel

【小题2】The old saying referred to in the passage tells us that ______.

A．eating apples regularly does lots of good to our health

B．the apple is the best among all kinds of fruits

C．apples can take the place of doctors

D．an apple is a sure cure for illness

【小题3】In the modern western countries ______.

A．people don‘t want to pay more attention to their eating

B．lots of people’s illnesses are caused or made worse by bad eating habits

C．people throw everything into their stomachs without chewing

D．people are only too busy to cook meals for themselves

【小题4】From the passage we can draw a conclusion that if we want to keep healthy,we should ______.

A．only eat an apple a day

B．eat properly

C．take as many vitamin pills as possible

D．throw something into our stomachs slowly and carefully

If Confucius(孔子）were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be many candles. He’d need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.
While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It’s nothing personal. Most Americans don’t even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.
But this doesn’t mean that Americans don’t care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.
In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and philosophy（哲学）. Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantages of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks of Westerners philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States.  Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers. 
So the old thinker’s ideas are still alive and well.
Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.
As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.
【小题1】The opening paragraph is mainly intended to ________

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers’ interest in the subject

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

【小题2】 We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students______

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

【小题3】What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C．Chinese Culture for Westerners

D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

【小题4】The passage is likely to appear in ___________.

A．a biography(自传)

B．a history paper

C．a newspaper

D．a philosophy textbook