What do those countries have in common? People are killing each other or drive others out of their homes. Why is this happening? Very simple, in each of these, one group of people believes another group is different from them and dangerous to them. It has been thus through history. How different are humans from each other?

  We come in different colors: red, black, white, yellow and brown; we have a variety of political systems, social systems, religious views or none at all; We are different in mind, have different educational systems, different economic classes. We speak different languages, and have different customs and dresses.

  If we were to break each of these further, we would have quite a long list of qualities and characteristics that make humans appears to be different from each other. I say they appear to be different, because most of what have been listed stand for what we see or hear, not what is true of human. Man is man everywhere. It is only where he lives, when he lives there, with whom he lives there, and al the others that have effect on how he lives, that is, what he believes, what he wears, his customs, his language and so on. These are man-made facts that each group develops over tome, living together, facing the same problems, needing and desiring the same things. They are his culture. The truth is that we are much more same than different. If you wear one type of clothing and I wear another, we both wear some kind of clothing. Our culture demands it. If you speak one language and I another, we both speak so that others will understand us; we must communicate with each other. Nothing is gained by giving too many differences, but much is lost. If we understood our differences as the ones of culture, then we could make our world more peaceful.

  Differences does not mean better or worse, right or wrong. It means only that differences have been made by society. Differences produce variety of thoughts, work out human problems peacefully.

Which of the following is the best tile for this passage?

 A. Differences.  B. Humans   C. Cultures.   D. Customs.

People in those countries fight each other because______

 A. They have different colors.

 B. They have different customs and dresses.

 C. They have different education systems.

 D. They think that others are different and harmful.

If you pay much attention to differences, ________.

 A. we will get something.

 B. we will produce problem.

 C. we will develop further.

 D. Nothing will be lost.

From this passage it can be inferred that ________.

 A. Our world would be more peaceful if we understand and communicate with each other.

 B. People don’t know how differences are caused.

 C. It is only differences that can solve man’s problems.

 D. Man is man everywhere but not woman.

Now let’s talk about doing well by doing good—many people who have ever been volunteers for the community find their place in relative jobs or even make their way to be corporate(团体的)leaders.

Consider the case of Kimberly Mulcahy. Throughout her career, Mulcahy has actively volunteered in her community, profession and industry. Though she put in long hours as Vice President at a Fortune 500 company, she also found time to professional and community organizations.

Then last year, the unexpected thing happened. The company where she’d worked for more than 20 years was bought out and she was laid off.

On hearing the news, those who she served were quick not only to offer her support—but actual jobs! In the end, Mulcahy was hired by a PR agency—she used to work as a director of her industry association. And she brought with her several accounts based on relationships she had formed through volunteering.

Volunteering was a godsend(天赐之物)to Todd, who has been a mid-level manager at the same company for many years. After he was out of work, he felt old and disappointed. But Todd knew he needed a change. Todd became involved in community service. He joined his town’s volunteer fire department and was soon appointed to the finance committee.

Sometimes volunteering helps you bring passion to your work, other times it can turn your life’s passion into your work. Cape Cod Baseball League President Judy Scarafile is a registered pharmacist(药剂师)whose love of the game led her to volunteered as league publicist(宣传员), secretary and deputy commissioner woman to hold the top post.

Whether you are to enter the workforce, build your resume, or follow your passion, volunteering is good for the soul and the career.

By saying “doing well by doing good” in Paragraph 1, the author wants to_____.

  A．encourage us just to do it, and it will be better

  B．encourage us to try as hard as possible

  C．tell us not to give up

  D．tell us that people who have volunteered their way into

Which of the following is NOT true about Mulcahy according to the passage?

  A．Mulcahy put in long hours as Vice President at a Fortune 500 company.

  B．Mulcahy becomes a famous football player.

  C．Mulcahy brought with her several accounts based on relationships she had formed through volunteering.

  D．Mulcahy was hired by a PR agency.

Which of the following words can best describe Todd?

  A．Learned         B．Lucky        C．Rude          D．Realistic

Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

  A．Volunteer Work Can Boost Your Career.

  B．Mulcahy’s Voluntary Work Experience.

  C．It’s a Good Chance to Be a Volunteer.

  D．Volunteer Work.

Dangerous Sports

Around the world more and more people are taking part in danger ous sports and activities．Of course, there have always been people who have looked for adventure—those who have climbed unknown parts of the world or sailed in small boats across the greatest oceans．Now, however, there are people who seek an immediate thrill, a risky activity, which may only last a few minutes or even seconds．

I would consider bungee jumping to be a good example of such an activity．You jump from a high place（perhaps a bridge or a hot-air balloon） 200 meters above the ground with an elastic（有弹性的） rope tied to your feet．You fall at up to 150 kilometers an hour until the rope stops you from hitting the ground．It is said that about 2 million people around the world have now tried bungee jumping. Other activities which most people would say are as risky as bungee jumping include jumping from tall buildings and diving into the sea from the top of high cliffs.

　　Why do people take part in such activities as these? Some psychologists suggest that it is because life in modern societies has become safe and boring．Not very long ago, people’s lives were constantly in danger. They had to go out and hunt for food, diseases could not easily be cured, and there was a continuous battle for survival．

Nowadays, according to many people, life offers little excitement．They live and work in comparatively safe environments; they buy food in shops; there are doctors and hospitals to look after them if they become ill．The answer for some of these people is to look for danger in activities such as bungee jumping．

The best title for the text is          .

       A．Dangerous Sports: What and Why

       B．The Boredom of Modern Life

       C．Bungee Jumping: Is It Really Dangerous.

       D．The Need for Excitement

More and more people today           .

       A．are tying activities such as bungee jumping

       B．are climbing the highest mountains

       C．are coming close to death in sports

       D．are looking for adventures such as traveling into unknown places

The writer of the text has a        attitude towards dangerous sports.

       A．positive    B．negative    C．neutral（中立的）  D．nervous

China news, Beijing, Feb. 9 – Housing price in China has always aroused heated discussions among property developers and ordinary Chinese. To many property developers and local government officials, housing price in China is still low compared with many developed countries. However, the average housing price in the United States is only 8,000 yuan per square meter, while in China, it is even higher than in the United States. This shows that there are some bubbles(泡沫) in Chinese real estate market, the International Finance News reported.

   Although the average price of residential houses in the United States, after converted to Renminbi, is about 8,000 yuan per square meter, the houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property developers do when they sell their houses. If US property developers sell their houses according to the building area, then the housing price will be even lower than 8,000 yuan per square meter. In most big Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, houses are sold at a price even higher than those in the US.

The high housing sales price in large cities in China proves that Chinese real estate market does have some bubbles. Moreover, Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality, environment and supporting facilities. Furthermore, it should be noted that American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people. How can the Chinese afford to buy a house which is even more expensive than that sold in US?

   At the beginning of 2007, Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public. Now in order to reduce the high housing prices, the government can regulate(控制) the real estate market by raising tax on property industry and controlling the release of loans and lands to property developers. At the same time, the government should allow people to build more houses through various fund-raising channels, such as funds collected from buyers or raised by working units. By applying these multiple means, it is expected that the high housing prices can be lowered.

What is the average housing price per square meter in China?

A. 8,000 yuan    B. 10,000 yuan     C. 7,000 yuan    D. It’s not mentioned here

Which of the following does NOT support the idea that the average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States?

A. Chinese houses can not be compared with houses in US in terms of building quality,

environment and supporting facilities.

B. American people’s average income is several dozen times higher than that of Chinese people.

C. The houses in US are not sold in terms of building area, as most Chinese property

developers do when they sell their houses.

D. There are more people who need houses in China.

What is the main idea of this passage?

A. The housing price in China is so high that the government should do something useful to prevent it.

B. There are some bubbles in Chinese real estate market

C. The average housing price in China is even higher than in the United States

D. Chinese government issued a set of policies that aimed to benefit the public.

How many measures are mentioned in the last paragraph in order to reduce the high

housing prices?

A. Four    B. Three    C. Five    D. Two

Romance does not have to fizzle out（失败） in long-term relationships and progress into a companionship/friendship-type love, a new study has found. Romantic love can last a lifetime and lead to happier, healthier   1  .

"Many believe that   2  love is the same as passionate（多情的）love," said lead researcher Bianca P. Acevedo, PhD, then at Stony Brook University (currently at University of California, Santa Barbara). "It isn't. Romantic love has the intensity, engagement and sexual chemistry that passionate love has, minus the obsessive component（过度成分）. Passionate or obsessive love includes   3  of uncertainty and anxiety. This kind of love   4  drive the shorter relationships but not the longer ones."

These findings   5  in the March issue of Review of General Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association.

Acevedo and co-researcher Arthur Aron, PhD, reviewed 25 studies with 6,070 individuals in short- and long-term relationships to    6  whether romantic love is associated with more satisfaction. To determine this, they   7  the relationships in each of the studies as romantic, passionate (romantic with obsession) or friendship-like love and categorized them as long- or short-term.

The researchers looked at 17 short-term relationship studies, which included 18- to 23-year-old college students who were   8  , dating or married, with the average relationship lasting less than four years. They also   9  at 10 long-term relationship studies including middle-aged couples who were typically married 10 years or more. Two of the   10  ncluded both long- and short-term relationships in which it was possible to distinguish the two samples.

The review found that those who reported greater romantic love were more   11  in both the short- and long-term relationships. Companion-like love was only moderately   12  with satisfaction in both short- and long-term relationships. And those who reported greater passionate love in their relationships were more satisfied in the short term   13  to the long term.

Couples who reported more satisfaction in their relationships also   14  being happier and having higher self-esteem.

Feeling that a partner is "there for you"   15  or a good relationship, Acevedo said, and facilitates（促进） feelings of romantic love. On the other hand, "feelings of insecurity are generally associated with   16  satisfaction, and in some   17  may spark conflict in the relationship. This can manifest（表白） into obsessive love," she said.

This discovery may change people's   18  of what they want in long-term relationships. According to the authors, companionship love, which is what many couples see as the natural   19  of a successful relationship, may be an unnecessary compromise(妥协). "Couples should strive for love with all the trimmings（修剪）," Acevedo said. "And couples who've been together a long time and wish to get back their romantic edge should know it is an attainable（可达到的） goal that, like most good things in life,   20  energy and devotion."

(   ) 1. A. scholarships        B. friendships        C. relationships     D. companionships

(   ) 2. A. obsessive            B. romantic           C. passionate        D. companion

(   ) 3. A. feelings              B. factors              C. consequences    D. barriers

(   ) 4. A. contributes        B. helps               C. prevents           D. speeds

(   ) 5. A. occur                 B. take                 C. write               D. appear

(   ) 6. A. find out             B. work out          C. take out            D. bring out

(   ) 7. A. separated            B. classified          C. divided             D. cut

(   ) 8. A. alone                 B. lonely              C. single               D. unique

(   ) 9. A. glanced              B. glared              C. stared               D. looked

(   ) 10. A. findings           B. examinations     C. experiments      D. studies

(   ) 11. A. unpleased        B. disappointed     C. satisfied            D. desperate

(   ) 12. A. referred            B. associated        C. contended        D. conflicted

(   ) 13. A. compared        B. comparing               C. added               D. led

(   ) 14. A. reported           B. said                  C. believed           D. hoped

(   ) 15. A. takes               B. makes              C. means              D. depends

(   ) 16. A. higher              B. lower                      C. no                    D. much

(   ) 17. A. environments    B. states               C. air                   D. cases

(   ) 18. A. views                      B. expectations      C. remarks            D. statements

(   ) 19. A. progression       B. change             C. results              D. choice

(   ) 20. A. produces          B. satisfies            C. requires            D. consumes