Are you tired of looking for love in all the usual places? Nowadays, millions of lonely singles are now going online instead. The World Wide Web is quickly becoming the world’s most popular matchmaker. With so many singles online, dozens of dating sites like Yahoo Personals and Match. com are helping singles find that special someone. Around the world, from America to China, love is now very much online.

Singles are flocking to the Internet mainly because their busy lifestyles leave them little time to look for a significant other. Using dating sites is quick and convenient. They can “meet” a lot more people online than they could by hanging out at a club. Besides, many singles say the regular dating scene has just led them from one bad experience to another and are ready to try something else. They also appreciate the first distance of online dating, which allows them to hide themselves until they are ready to meet someone face to face. Dating sites also make it easy to avoid someone you are not interested in. In the real world, however, ignoring some one you don’t like can be embarrassing.

Despite all the advantages, online dating also presents its own set of problems. People aren’t always who they claim to be in their online profiles. For instance, someone who tells you he is “ handsome, successful and single” might turn out to be homely, unemployed and married. Safety is another concern. You are just as likely to find a criminal online as you are Mr. or Miss Right.

Even so, supporters of online dating see things in a positive way. In their opinion, singles can safely play the online dating game with a little common sense. Online dating experts recommend following a few safety tips:

Guard you personal information. Never give out your personal information online. This includes your last name, phone number , home address and place of work.

Watch for red flags. Do any of the people your are chatting with make disrespectful comment? Do they try to control you? Do they give false information about themselves? If so, forget them!

Meet in a safe place. When meeting someone in person, choose a public location with other people around. Following these tips and you might be able to find the person of your dreams.

Title: Online dating

六. 完形填空（20分）
Chen Guanming has been carrying his home with him for the past seven years. He has done everything a man would to make it cozy.
The 53-year-old farmer has spent the hottest summers and severest winters cooking, eating and   1    in his mobile home: a shaky tricycle. Chen began his journey on the three-wheel rickshaw from his    2   Jiangsu province in 2001 after hearing the news that Beijing had won the bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games. Of course, he did not forget to take his ID card, important    3   and some clothes before setting off on his mission (使命). Mission? What mission? “To promote awareness on health and the environment, just like what the Games has been doing,” he says. It may    4   funny, but make no mistake that Chen is dead    5   about it. “I'm a poor farmer I can't do much. But I have a healthy body. I want to use it to show the    ___6   of the Chinese people and the spirit of the Olympics.” He would have _ 7   all of China except Taiwan when he reaches Beijing tonight. He speaks lively about his experiences in all the places on the mainland, ___8  _   about an incident in Chongqing in August 2003. “I was riding up a slope and my brakes failed my rickshaw and began sliding down and overturned,” he says. He had his legs broken but did not go to a hospital. Instead, he used herbs to stop the bleeding. And he   9   quietly for some days for his legs to rejoin. Looking at the man, you wouldn't want to believe he has crossed so many mountains and    10   in his tricycle. But you look at the piles of evidence and become a silent admirer of this determined soul.
1. A. working        B. playing           C. sleeping          D. living
2. A. native          B. familiar          C. famous           D. noble
3. A. equipment      B. supplies          C. furniture          D. documents
4. A. seem           B. sound           C. look             D. listen
5. A. serious         B. careful           C. practical          D. optimistic
6. A. power          B. energy           C. strength         D. authority
7. A. covered         B. drove           C. run             D. walked
8. A. extremely       B. especially        C. actually         D. exactly
9. A. slept           B. sat              C. rested           D. lay
10. A. lakes          B. rivers            C. valleys         D. road

World top-ranked badminton player Lin Dan said last Friday that he was a better player than Taufik Hidayat in the year of 2006 despite losing the Asian Games single title to the Indonesian Olympic champion.

“I have ranked No.1 in the world for two straight years and I think people can easily come to a conclusion on who is a better player for the whole year,” said Lin Dan, also known as Super Dan in the badminton world because of his marvelous performance in the sport.

Hidayat beat Lin 21-15, 22-20 to give Indonesia its second gold medal in Doha on December 9, retaining his Asian Games singles title and avenging(报仇) two losses to the badminton world champion.

Lin, 23, led China to the men’s team title after defeating Hidayat twice in three days, in the preliminary round and in the semifinals of the Asian Games.

In their third meeting, Lin came up against a better-prepared Hidayat than he had encountered previously.

Hidayat was cheered on by the noisy support from dancing and flag-waving Indonesian fans, who had converted the badminton arena into a national celebration even before the two players stepped onto the court.

There’s been a lot of acrimony(言语的刻毒) between Hidayat and Lin, who this year won the single title in the world championships after former champion Hidayat crashed out in the quarterfinals.

In Doha, Hidayat was quoted as calling Lin “arrogant” before the event began, but the two stars played down the rift (a situation where two people dislike each other).

“It’s no problem, we’re close friends,” said Hidayat. “The media fabricated it.”

Lin said last Friday in Beijing that he and Hidayat remain friends despite all the rumors（谣言）.

“There is no problem between Taufik and me although we don’t talk to each other very much,” said Lin. “Media tends to make up things in order to make their stories juicy.”

1.What does the underlined word “fabricated” mean?

A．made up          B．reported          C．discovered        D．found out

2.What is the relationship between the two players like?

A．They are only opponents.

B．Lin looks down upon Hidayat.

C．They both think they are friends.

D．The media has worsened the relationship between them.

3.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Lin beat Hidayat in all the games of 2006.

B．Lin won the single title in the world championships in 2006.

C．Indonesian fans held a national celebration after the two players stepped onto the court.

D．Hidayat beat Lin 21-15, 22-20 to give Indonesia its first gold medal in Doha on the ninth of December

4.This passage implies that ________.

A．Hidayat was in a better prepared condition than Lin in the Asian Games

B．Lin helped to win the men’s team title in the Asian Games of 2006

C．Both of them are the best badminton players in the world

D．Media tends to make up rumors

5.What is the best title for this passage?

A．Opponents Become Good Friends

B．True Friendship

C．World Top-ranked Badminton Players

D．Who Is a Better Player?

“Image is everything.” An entire industry has been built upon the assumption that image is everything, but when it comes down to it, an appealing image is not enough. If there is no substance（事实）behind the image, the product, service or person will fail eventually.

First of all, one should consider how important image is in the selling of products and services. Advertising agencies have raised the art of creating an image to a state of near perfection. Public concept of that product or service is certainly managed by the images created by the advertising agencies．But if the product or service does not live up to the image that was created, the customer will be very dissatisfied and possibly ask for their money back. For example, the Arthur Andersen accounting firm had spent decades building up an image of trustworthiness. But the recent scandal (丑闻) showed that behind that image, it cheated in business practices. Despite the previous positive image, the firm is being accused of criminal actions and it will probably not survive as a business unit. Although the image had been nearly perfect, the reality behind the image has led to the downfall of the world famous accounting firm.

Similarly, personal advisers can build up a public image for politicians and movie stars. Putting out positive news releases, making sure that only the best photographs are published, and ensuring that the person is seen in all the right places can build up a very positive image in the view of the general commons. But once again, history is filled with examples of both politicians and movie stars that fell from grace like the story of the Hollywood actor giving in to the pressures of fame and fortune. With people, just as with products and services, image is certainly important, but without positive substance behind the image, failure is close.

To summarize, it is clear that an appealing image is extremely important to success, whether that image is related to selling a product or service or to the “selling” of a person. But image is only half of the equation. What lies behind that image is every bit as important as the image itself —— the person or product must deliver on that image or there is little chance for long-term success.

1.The downfall of the Arthour Andersen accounting firm is due to ___________.

A. its dishonesty in business      B. its previous images

C. its bad management                  D. its poor service

2.Why did some famous people fall from grace?

A. Their images were not well built up.

B. They failed to live up to their images.

C. They felt much pressure from the public.

D. They paid little attention to fame and fortune.

3.The structure of the passage is ___________.

A: Argument     P: Point     C: Conclusion

4.The author tries to argue that ___________.

A. image creates everything

B. image is the key to success.

C. truth is unlikely ever to be equaled

D. truth and image are equally important

OUR KIDS ARE AMAZING — especially compared with everybody else's (who seem to cry all the time). How do you show your love for your kids this holiday season? With toys that are smooth and colorful, interactive and exciting. And with ones that have educational value — because you are the boss.

1．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

Here is a toy that doesn't need power — and the kids have to put it together themselves. This 50 - piece puzzle set is made of soft - edged hardwood and makes a complete hospital, with an X - ray room. It also includes eight patients, a car and a driver.  135; flaxart. com.

2．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

Sure, it's cool, but this colorful baby toy also develops problem solving and motor skills. It has a head and legs, a magnetic (磁性的) hand and a tail. Suitable for little ones from 6 to 36 months.  19. 95; tinylove. com.

3．ROBOSAPIEN

This small, remote - control robot is really powerful. It performs 67 preprogrammed functions, including throwing, kicking, picking up and dancing. You can even program your own function, which, sadly, does not include doing windows.  99; robosapienonline. com.

4．MINI PEDAL CAR

Want a Mini Cooper but can't fit the family inside? Get one for the kids. They can jump into this Mini car, which comes in hot orange with a single adjustable seat, and ride away. But it could spoil them for that used car they'll be driving when they turn 16. For ages 3 to 5.  189; mininss. com (click on “gear up, ” then “Mini motoring gear”) .

1.Which toy is said to have the special design for children's safety?

A．ROBOSAPIEN

B．MINI PEDAL CAR

C．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

D．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

2.Which toys are fit for three - year - old kids?

A．1 and 3.           B．2 and 4.           C．1 and 2.           D．3 and 4.

3.Educational value is mentioned in all the toys EXCEPT ________.

A．FLAX ART HOSPITAL PUZZLE AND PLAY SET

B．TINY LOVE ACTIVITY BALL

C．ROBOSAPIEN

D．MINI PEDAL CAR

4.This passage is written for ________.

A．parents           B．children           C．the writer         D．the boss