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.
【小题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

【小题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.

【小题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

【小题4】 It is natural for a stepfamily to be 　　　　.

A．unrealistic

B．complicated

C．ambivalent

D．guilty

【小题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

Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy. Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.

　Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称) as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your house is your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away. If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

1.Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually ________.

A.an expression of happiness      B. a way of warning

B.an expression of anger          D. a way of greeting

2.What is a bird’s “territory”?

A．A place where families of other species are not accepted.

B．A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.

C．An area for which birds fight against each other.

D．An area which a bird considers to be its own.

3.Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A．Because they want to invite more friends.

B．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

C．Because they want to find outsiders around.

D．Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

4.How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A．By comparing birds with human beings.       B．By reporting experiment results.

C．By describing birds’ daily life.             D．By telling a bird’s story.

5.What does the underline word “screaming” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．哭喊声           B．令人惊愕的        C．尖叫声           D．尖叫的

 

完形填空：阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。（共20小题，每小题1.5分）
In the past, man did not have to think about the protection of his environment. There were few people on the earth, and natural resources seemed to be　46　.                    Today things are　 47　 , the world has become too　 48　 . We are using up our natural resources too quickly, and at the same time we are　 49　 our environment with dangerous chemicals. If we continue to do this, human life on the earth　 50　 survive.
　　Everyone　51　 today that if too many fish are taken from the sea, there will soon be none left. Yet, with modern fishing　 52 , more and more fish are caught. We know that if too many trees are cut down, 　53　 will disappear and nothing will grow on the land. Yet, we　 54　 to use bigger and more powerful machines to　55　 more and more trees.
　　We realize that if rivers are polluted with waste products from factories, we will die.　 56　 , in most countries wastes are　 57　put into rivers or into the sea, and there are　 58　 laws to stop this. We know, too, that if the　 59　of the world continues to rise at the present rate, in a few years there will not be enough 60　. What can we do to solve these problems ?
　  If  we eat more vegetables and less　 61　 , there will be more food available for everyone. Land that is used to grow crops　 62　 five times more people than land where animals are kept. Our natural resources will　 63　 longer if we learn to recycle them. The world population will not rise so quickly if people use modern methods of birth 64　 .
　　Finally, if we educate people to think about the problems, we shall have a better and clearer 65　in the future.

【小题1】

A．beautiful B．unlimited C．rare D．valuable

【小题2】

A．common B．the same C．changeable D．different

【小题3】

A．crowded B．small C．dirty D．busy

【小题4】

A．protecting B．saving C．polluting D．fighting

【小题5】

A．may not B．will not C．shall not D．could not

【小题6】

A．wonders B．realizes C．consider D．discovers

【小题7】

A．poles B．boats C．methods D．ideas

【小题8】A  mountains     B. the sea                 C. trees                 D. forests

【小题9】

A．continue B．have C．ought D．go on

【小题10】

A．grow B．plant C．save D．cut down

【小题11】

A．Thus B．However C．Generally speaking D．Therefore

【小题12】

A．still B．even C．also D．certainly

【小题13】

A．too many B．a few C．some D．few

【小题14】

A．production B．pollution C．population D．revolution

【小题15】

A．houses B．vegetables C．food D．lives

【小题16】

A．fruit B．meat C．fish D．grain

【小题17】

A．feeds B．increases C．supplies D．helps

【小题18】

A．use B．stay C．keep D．last

【小题19】

A．control B．born C．plan D．reward

【小题20】

A．nature B．sea C．planet D．forest

Some of the best-known names in the entertainment industry have taken part in an unprecedented telethon to help victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The benefit(义演), called “America: a Tribute to Heroes,” was sponsored by all four major U.S television networks, ABC, CBS, FOIX and NBC. It was broadcast by three-dozen television, cable and radio networks across the country and aired live to more than a hundred countries around the world.
Hollywood stars joined music entertainers in asking listeners and viewers to pledge cash donations to charities helping the victims of the September 11^th attacks.
Actors, including Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Clint Eastwood, told stories of heroic acts by people who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon. Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali made a rare public appearance in show of support.
The appeals alternated with performances by such popular entertainers as Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Steve Wonder, Paul Simon and the rock band U—2.
They appeared on stages in New York, Los Angeles and London, decorated with hundreds of burning candles.
Singer Billy Joel sang “ New York State of Mind” with a New York City firefighter’s hat on his piano. Sting dedicated his song “ Gragile” to a friend who died in the World Trade Center. Stevie Wonder condemned(指责) hatred in the name of religion before singing his song “ Love’s in Need of Love today”. Pledge phones were manned by dozens of other celebrities, including Jack Nicholson, Meg Ryan, Whoopic Goldberg, Cindy Crawford, Al Pacino and Sylvester Stallone.
Organizers say the two-hour telethon raised millions of dollars. All participants, from stars to stagehands, worked without pay.
【小题1】 Those who appeared on stages were ______.
　     

A．some best-known names in the USA

B．some famous singer, film stars and other music entertainers

C．People who tried to save others from the burning World trade Center and the Pentagon.

D．Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Hollywood stars

【小题2】The underlined word “ telethon” most probably means ______.
　     

A．a performance to raise money

B．a concert held by some television networks

C．a television program which lasts a long time

D．a television program for entertainment

【小题3】Which of the following statements is True?

A．Four major U.S. television networks broadcast the benefit

B．The former heavy weight champion Muhammad Ali sang a song to show his support

C．Billy Joel, wearing a firefighter’s hat, played the piano for the listeners and viewers

D．The organizers, stars and people who worked for the benefit didn’t get any money for themselves.

【小题4】 The best title for the news report is ______.

A．U.S Telethon Raises Money for Attack Victims

B．Best-known names Pledge Donations

C．Seeking More Support

D．A Tribute to Heroes

Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy．They feel heavy pressures from their parents to do well in school．Most students are always being told by their parents to study harder so that they can have a wonderful life．Though this may be good ideas for those very bright students，it can have very bad results for many students who are not quick enough at learning．
Unfortunately，a number of students killed themselves．Others are after comfort in using drugs．Some do bad things with trouble-makers and turn to crime．Many of them have tried very hard at school but have failed in the exams and have disappointed their parents．Such students feel that they are less important and leave school before they have finished their study．
It is surprising that though most Japanese parents are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way．Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers' work to help their children．To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to special school called juku-cram schools．These schools are open during the evening and on weekends, and their only purpose is to prepare students to pass exams, they do not try to educate students in any real sense of the real world. It thus comes as a shock to realize that almost three quarters of the junior or high school population attend these cram schools．　 　　　
Ordinary Japanese schools usually have rules about everything from the students' hair to their clothes and things in their school bag．Child psychologists now think that such strict rules often lead to a feeling of being unsafe and being unable to fit into society．They regard the rules as being harmful to the development of each student．They believe that no sense of moral values is developed and that students are given neither guidance nor training in becoming good citizens．
【小题1】A lot of Japanese students are unhappy at school because              　　

A．they work very hard	B．they find they can't do well at school
C．they feel unimportant	D．they are under too much pressure

【小题2】Because of their failure at school, some students take drugs to          

A．kill themselves	B．seek comfort
C．disappoint their parents	D．make trouble

【小题3】What should be the best title of the passage?

A．Students' Pressure

B．Students' Problems

C．The Negative Impact(影响) of Japanese Education

D．The Trouble in Japanese Schools

【小题4】In juku-cram schools students              ．

A．are taken good care of by the teachers	B．feel no pressure
C．are trained to pass exams	D．can learn a lot of useful things

【小题5】In ordinary Japanese schools，       ．

A．there are strict rules	B．students feel safe
C．students can do anything	D．learning is not important