London congestion charging
The charge was introduced on Monday 17 February 2003 to encourage people to leave their cars behind and use public transport when travelling in central London. It was introduced due to the high pollution levels and traffic congestion（拥挤）.
The Inner Ring Road forms the congestion zone boundary and includes roads such as Marylebone Road, Euston Road, Park Lane and Edgware Road. Drivers can travel along these roads without paying the charge. Maps of this zone are published in the national press and are available from a range of outlets as well as online.
People who travel regularly between work and home have to pay £5 for each day they wish to travel through or within the charge zone between the hours of 7.00 am and 6.30 pm, Monday to Friday. They have a choice about how they pay the £5. They can pay online, via the Internet, phoning, texting on their mobile phones and over the counter at petrol stations and convenience stores. They also have a choice about how often they pay. They can pay daily, weekly, monthly or annually.
Not everyone has to pay the £5. Among these are residents, emergency services, registered-disabled drivers, taxis and those using alternative energy vehicles. These people/organizations have to apply for exemption (免交), which can be done online.
The London Congestion Charge works by using around 900 cameras at the boundary and within the zone. The cameras read the registration plates and send the information to a computer, which checks whether the owner has paid the charge and, if not, whether the owner has claimed exemption. If drivers have not paid the charge by 10 pm that day (and are not exempt) a penalty notice is sent to his/her home address. The longer that the penalty is not paid, the larger the fine. Persistent offenders have their vehicles removed.
For more information, call 0845 900 1234 or visit Transport for London’s congestion charge website at http://www.cclondon.com/.
1. This text is aimed at _______.
A. businesses            B. students               C. London residents      D. everyone
2. This text offers readers information about _______.
A. the weather forecasts of London
B. the days and times for people to pay the charge
C. the number of drivers who fail to pay the charge each day
D. the names of shops where you can get Congestion Charge maps
3. What can we learn from the text?
A. All people in London have to pay the charge.
B. London residents can pay the charge in different ways.
C. Registered-disabled drivers have to go to an agency to apply for exemption.
D. 900 cameras are used to judge whether the driver has gone through the red light.

       Diane Ray was completely self-centered and very spoilt. Her parents gave her   36  she wanted, knowing that she would throw a temper tantrum(耍小孩脾气)if they did not. She would scream and kick and  37  on the floor drumming her heels. Her parents always   38  .

       That was why she was alone on the  39  , wearing an expensive swimsuit. It has taken a massive tantrum to  40  her parents to buy it. They were back at the beach-house,  41  from the tantrum she had thrown when they told her that it was too dangerous to go diving  42  . “Dangerous ?” she had said. “You just don’t want me to have  43  . I’m going and if you try to stop me, I’ll scream.”

       “What are you doing ?” a voice asked. Diane jumped. She did not know that the man was there  44  he spoke .

       “I’m going diving, ” she answered.

       “You shouldn’t swim that day, ” the man  45  . “There is a storm coming up.”

       “You should mind your own   46  !” Diane replied and walked into the gentle waves.

       “If you go out there you’ll be  47  ,” the man called after her. She did not bother to reply.

       Diane slipped into the water and dived   48   until white caps began rolling in and it became harder to  49  against the current (水流). Saltwater hit against her face, making it  50  to breathe. Oh, why had she not listened to advice.

       Panicking, she began to  51  . Then, just as it seemed as if she would slip beneath the surface, she heard a  52  voice. “Hold on ! I’m coming.” With  53  , she say the old man rowing an ancient-looking boat towards her. “I hope you’ve learned a lesson. You put us both in  54  , ” he shouted angrily, as he dragged her over the side of the  55  . Gratefully, Diane thanked him and ran towards the beach-house.

36.  A. either                     B. neither                   C. nothing           D. everything

37.  A. jump               B. lie                   C. spin                D. sleep

38.  A. set out                   B. set in                     C. gave in           D. gave out

39.  A. beach                    B. bed                 C. floor                D. ship

40.  A. allow               B. warn               C. get                  D. prefer

41.  A. changing        B. recovering            C. appearing            D. traveling

42.  A. alone                     B. away                     C. again                    D. aside

43.  A. time                B. money                   C. food               D. fun

44.  A. when                     B. until                 C. after               D. once

45.  A. decided         B. intended        C. advised         D. repeated

46.  A. business        B. swimsuit        C. friends          D. parents

47.  A. angry                     B. sorry               C. confused              D. excited

48.  A. nervously              B. sadly                     C. shyly               D. happily

49.  A. rise                 B. swim                     C. stop                D. row

50.  A. difficult           B. easy               C. comfortable          D. suitable

51.  A. speak                    B. sing                C. sniff                D. scream

52.  A. calm               B. frightening            C. beautiful         D. disgusting

53.  A. regret                    B. relief               C. interest          D. ease

54.  A. power                    B. safety                    C.. danger          D. thought

55.  A. house                    B. wave                     C. beach                   D. boat

“Hey, Jenna, do you think we’ll still be friends when we’re eighty-two?” I asked my friend. It was clear that she was wondering where I had come up with such a question. Losing Jenna would be like losing a very close sister. We hung out together. We gave each other advice.
“Of course, we’ll still be friends when we’re eighty-two.” Jenna announced loudly.
The next year, in the fourth grade, we met Jamie. The three of us soon became close friends. We played together almost every day. I thought even time couldn’t pull us apart, but I was sadly mistaken.
The three of us started fighting a lot. Before Christmas, we had a really big fight, and Jamie and Jenna were against me, both saying I was bossy. I felt helpless and lonely. I thought Christmas would be horrible!
I was surprised when Jenna came to my house and gave me an awesome Christmas card she had made for me. I was so sure that she was still disappointed with me.
“Wow, ” I said, breaking the silence as we stood on either side of my front door. “Thanks.”
“Okay…well…I have to go,” she said softly.
“Okay. See you later then…” and I closed the door.
“Who was that at the door?” my mum asked.
The card started off with “Merry Christmas”, but then it said, “I am so glad we’re friends. I am sorry about what I said when we were fighting. A fight won’t stop us from being friends. Besides, we said we were going to be friends even when we’re eight-two.”
I stopped reading and started laughing. I couldn’t believe I had forgotten what she said that day in her back yard. I couldn’t believe I had been so selfish in trying to get even and making my friends feel sorry for me that I had forgotten about real friendship.
【小题1】How would the author and Jenna get along with each other after Christmas?

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【小题1】According to the passage, the purpose of the vocabulary game is to ______.