Computer programmer David Jones earns ￥35,000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank ready to let him have a credit card (信用卡). Instead, he has been told to wait another two years, until he is 18. The 16-year-old works for a small firm in Liverpool, where the problem of most young people of his age is finding a job. David’s firm releases (推出) two new games for the fast throwing computer market each month.

But David’s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Even though he earns a lot, he cannot drive a car, take out a mortgage (抵押贷款), or get credit cards. David got his job with the Liverpool-based company four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs,” he said. David spends some of his money on records and clothes, and gives his mother 50 pounds a week. But most of his spare time is spent working.

 “Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway.” David added: “I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement (退休) is a possibility.  You never know when the market might disappear.”

1.In what way is David different from people of his age?

A. He often goes out with friends.      B. He lives with his mother.

C. He has a handsome income.        D. He graduated with six O-levels.

2.What is one of the problems that David is facing now?

A. He is too young to get a credit card.

B. He has no time to learn driving.

C. He has very little spare time.

D. He will soon lose his job.

3.Why was David able to get the job in the company?

A. He had done well in all his exams.

B. He had written some computer programs.

C. He was good at playing computer games.

D. He had learnt to use computers at school.

4.Why did David decide to leave school and start working?

A. He received lots of job offers.      B. He was eager to help his mother.

C. He lost interest in school studies.     D. He wanted to earn his own living.

The key to learning English well is to overcome your shyness and fear , said taxi driver Zhang, who is attending the English training program run by the West Lake Taxi Company. “Out teacher Mrs.Yang encourages us many times to open our mouths and speak English out loudly in her class ,” said Zhang.

 Chen Zhong, another fluent(流利的) English speaker, shared his opinion. “I didn’t think English was important to us at the beginning since many foreign passengers could speak some Chinese to me. But when I did speak some English, the foreigners were always pleased and said I was the first taxi driver they had met who could speak English.

  Chen said he found studying English extremely interesting. The 160 minutes’ study per week was simply not enough for him. He bought books , tapes and VCDs to learn English on his own.. “Though it cost me a lot of time and energy , I did find it is useful in the long term” he said.

  The reward of learning English is more than Chen has expected. Now he has made several foreign friends who book his taxi when they need. Some foreign passengers even give him tips (小费when he communicates with them in English.

  To facilitate their studies, the company developed a bilingual(双语的) tape which includes the most frequently used sentences for taxi drivers and the names of major streets and buildings in Shenzhen.

  “It has helped me out, ” said Chen. “Once I failed to express ‘Chinese Folk Culture Villages’ in English when I was asked to go there by a foreigner, I played the tape and got its meaning.”

59. What difficulty did Mr.Zhang have learning English at first?

A. He had no time to study English

B. His company didn’t allow them to study English

C. He had no courage to speak out.

D. He had no chance to speak English.

60. Which of the following is NOT the benefit Chen gets from learning English?

A. He gets some good advice on learning English from foreigners.

B. He earns more money from some regular foreign customers.

C. He has to spend both money and effort learning English.

D. He gets great fun and encouragement in learning English.

61. We can infer from the passage that _____.

A. the company is the first to encourage its drivers to learn English

B. all the drivers have made money after learning English

C. the company has developed and English tape for its drivers

D. the tape is welcomed by the drivers learning English

62. What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “facilitate” in the fifth paragraph?

A. To make easy   B. To increase     C. To encourage   D. To check

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers. Some years later, they  16  after having dinner together. They discussed the  17  they gave their elderly mother who lived far away in another city. The first said, “I had a  18  house built for Mama.” The second said, “I had my Mercedes-Benz dealer（经销商）send a  19  to her.” The third said, “I built a beautiful   20  for Mama.” The fourth said, “You know   21  Mama loved reading poems and you know she can’t read anymore because she can’t   22  very well. I met a   23  who had a parrot（鹦鹉）that can recite many poems. It took him 12 years to   24  it to speak and he earns his living by renting it out. I had to pay him $100,000 a year for twenty years,  25  it is worth it.” On hearing that, the other brothers were   26  by his good thought.
After the holidays their mother   27  her thank-you notes, which read:
“Milton, the house you built is so huge. I only live in one room, but I have to 28  the whole house. It’s a tiring job. Thanks anyway.”
“Marvin, I am too old to   29 . I stay home and have my foods delivered, so I’ll 30  use the car. The   31  was good, although not practical. Thanks.”
“Michael, you gave me an expensive building for 50 people to  32  plays or watch movies in it, but all my friends are dead. I’ve almost   33  my hearing and I’m nearly blind. I won’t use it. Thank you all the same.”
“Dearest Melvin, you were the   34  son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken tasted so   35  . I liked it very much. Thank you.”

I don’t think       little money that he earns can support such ______ big family.

A．the; the           B．a; a              C．a; the            D．the; a

I don’t think       little money that he earns can support such ______ big family.