The winter skies are grey and it’s cold outside. The nights come early and we spend a lot more time __1__ and alone. Many people __2__ winter: so cold, so dark, so boring. But I like winter because I have more time to read.

For many students reading means school; it means __3__. Reading is something your teacher assigns and it’s something you’re __4__. Reading is something you have to do, not something you want to do. But for me and many other people, reading is the most __5__ thing we can imagine. Getting lost in a good book can __6__ a cold winter evening disappear. Dull grey skies are no __7__ for the fantastic adventures of Frodo in The Lord of the Rings《指环王》or for romantic trouble-making of Jane Austen’s Emma《爱玛》, or for the youthful problems of Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye《麦田守望者》.

      All of those books are studied in North American high schools. They are interesting and well written books that __8__ young people. __9__, even there, many high school students don’t enjoy reading the books because they are __10__ their school work: “Oh, my God! Two hundred pages! I’ll never be able to read __11__ much.” But sometimes a funny thing happens. They begin to read and they begin to follow the __12__. Suddenly, the world inside the book becomes more exciting and more wonderful than the world they __13__. At the moment the thought __14__ reading is work disappears and reading becomes __15__.

      Reading anything is __16__ but reading good books is a terrific （极好的） way to improve your English. Good writers write English very well and __17__ you with good examples to follow. And good books will tell you more about English __18__: what people think, how they talk, how they interact with each other. But don’t let me __19__ it by telling you that reading is good for you. Just think of it as a good way to __20_ on a cold winter evening.

1．A．indoors                       B．indoor               C．outdoors                  D．outside

2．A．like                             B．prefer               C．hate                         D．love

3．A．job                              B．worry               C．try                          D．work

4．A．checked                      B．tested on           C．examined                 D．based on

5．A．enjoyable                     B．reasonable          C．comfortable             D．considerable

6．A．want                           B．cause                C．make                       D．force

7．A．contest                        B．challenge           C．competition              D．match

8．A．appeal to                     B．respond to        C．react to                    D．reply to

9．A．Fortunately                  B．eventually         C．Unfortunately           D．Accidentally

10．A．free from                   B．part of              C．in place of                D．far from

11．A．not                            B．very                 C．this                         D．that

12．A．story                         B．subject              C．idea                          D．theme

13．A．leave for                    B．care about         C．flee from                 D．live in

14．A．what                         B．that                  C．this                         D．which

15．A．a comfort                  B．a failure            C．a success                 D．a pleasure

16．A．bad                           B．mean                C．great                       D．grand

17．A．provide                      B．offer                 C．give                         D．award

18．A．custom                      B．language            C．culture                     D．art

19．A．break                        B．spoil                 C．make                       D．develop

20．A．keep warm                B．stand still          C．stay calm                 D．stay cool

This sense of total discomfort that you’re both feeling is pretty normal. And I don’t say that to in any way reduce your problems. I just don’t want you to think that you’re the one person in the world who’s stuck with a neurotic (神经质的) mom. Think about it: for most of the past 14 years, you have depended on your mother for every little thing you’ve ever needed. Now suddenly you’re putting up all sorts of boundaries because you’re growing out of being that little kid who needed her for everything, and it’s hurting her feelings. What we need here is a little understanding and some new rules to take into account the changes you’re going through. You can’t just stop sharing things with your mom. It’s mean.

So why not make a point of telling her some things about what’s going on with you every day? She wants to feel that she’s still a part of your life. And after consistently doing this for about a month, why don’t you tell her where you’d like a little privacy(隐私) ― maybe there are certain things you don’t want her to always ask about? Promise her that whenever there’s an update on those topics, you will completely let her know. And follow up on it!

The bottom line is that you guys need to build a new relationship based on the young woman. The only way to do this is to work through some really uncomfortable moments and big fights and then come up with a solution, which is what you’re doing now. So don’t worry ― it’s all going to be okay. But it will take some work, honesty and communication to get there.

Having a good relationship with your mom is a really important thing. She’s the one person who will always be on your side.

49. In the writer’s opinion, the problems a guy may face are ______.

A. serious                    B. normal                     C. unlucky                   D. uncomfortable

50. The best way to reduce the problems with Mom may probably be ______.

A. to communicate with her                B. to let out your secrets to her

C. to break your bottom line                D. to work through bad times

51. The underlined part “bottom line” (in Paragraph 3) means ______.

A. the lowest ties with others               B. the most important thing

C. the least things you must do            D. the final line you treat things

52. The passage is written mainly ______.

A. to tell people how to get rid of a neurotic mom

B. to show us how to build a relationship between each other

C. to tell guys how to keep a good relationship with mothers

D. to tell guys how to reduce everyday problems with others

　　It's often said that we learn things at the wrong time. University students frequently (经常) do the minimum amount of work because they're crazy for a good social life instead. Children often scream before their piano practice because it's so boring, have to be given gold stars and medals to be persuaded to swim, or have to be bribed (给予奖励) to take exams. But when you're older? Ah, now that's a different story.

　　Over the years, I've done my share of adult learning. At 30 I went to a college and did courses in History and English. It was an amazing experience. For starters, I was paying, so there was no reason to be late---I was the one frowning (皱眉) and drumming my fingers if the teacher was delayed, not the other way round. Indeed, if I could persuade him to linger, it was a prize, not a trouble. I wasn't frightened to ask questions and homework was a pleasure not a pain. When I passed, I had passed for me and me alone, not my parents or my teachers. The satisfaction I got was entirely personal.　　 Some people fear going back to school because they worry that their brains have got show. But the joy is that, although some parts have been dull sometimes, your brain has learnt all kinds of other things since you were young. It's learnt to think independently and flexibly and is much better at relating one thing to another. What you lose in the dull department, you gain in the maturity (成熟) department.

　　In some ways, age is a positive plus. For instance, when you're older, you get more self-controlled. Experience has told you that, if you're calm and simply do something carefully again and again, at last you'll get the hang of it. The confidence you have in other areas---from being able to drive a car, perhaps---means that if you can't, say, build a chair immediately, you don't, like a child, want to destroy your first pitiful attempts (尝试). Maturity tells you that you will, with application, eventually get there.

(1) What surprised the writer when she did her first adult learning course?

[　　]

A．She got on better with her tutor.

B．She was able to learn more quickly.

C．She had a more relaxed attitude to it.

D．She found learning more enjoyable.

(2) The writer says that when you learn later in life, you will find ________.

[　　]

A．it boring to take lessons

B．it hard to remember things easily

C．it hard to give all your attention to study

D．it different to learn from when you were younger

(3) According to the writer, what's the advantage of adult learners?

[　　]

A．They are able to organize themselves better than younger people.

B．They are less worried about succeeding than younger people.

C．They pay more attention to details than younger people.

D．They have more patience than younger people.

(4) What is the writer's main purpose in the article?

[　　]

A．To emphasize the pleasures of adult learning.

B．To point out how easy adult learning can be.

C．To explain her reasons for doing adult learning.

D．To describe the teaching methods used in adult learning.

(5) What does the underlined word linger in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

[　　]

       Each year, millions of people go abroad to work, study, or travel．It's a great way to find out what life is like in another part of the world! You're probably hoping to make new friends and learn about the culture in your host country everything from attitudes and beliefs to social customs and popular foods．But constantly having to deal with new situations can be frustrating（挫折）,even stressful．

       Homesickness, stress, fear, and confusion are all symptoms of "culture shock"．At first, you may feel like getting on the plane and heading home．It' s OK to have those feelings, but the following are some tips to help you handle the challenges that you will face．

       Don't expect to be perfect．You may feel frustrated that you have culture shock, especially since you probably spent so much time preparing for your trip．No matter how much information you read, or how well you speak the host language, it is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes．If you give yourself some time, things will gradually get easier．

       Have an open mind．While it's certainly OK to feel frustration or confusion in your new surroundings, try not to form an opinion about the new culture too soon．Don't think of the host as better or worse, just different—you’ll be more willing to try new things．

       Participate．This is obvious, but everybody needs to be reminded．Just watching life go on around you isn't good enough．You really need to try things for yourself．Don't worry about making a mistake; people in your host country will generally be very understanding and willing to help if you have question．Your study abroad experience is a unique and special time in your life, one that you'll never forget．If you follow our suggestions, you'11 be able to handle it well, and have a wonderful time．Good luck!

64．What is culture shock?                                                     

       A．Something you feel surprised at．

       B．The problems you have when you go to another country．

       C．The frightening feelings you have．

       D．Something different from your own culture．

65．What should you do when you feel depressed?

       A．Go back to your own homeland．

       B．Talk to someone about your problem．

       C．Give yourself some time to get used to it．

       D．Stop thinking of it．

66．Which of the following statements is WRONG?

       A．It is natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes．

       B．Not everything is perfect．

       C．Try to form the opinion about the new culture as soon as possible．

       D．Tell others about your problems．

67．What is the main idea of this article?

       A．How to overcome culture shock．

       B．Why do people have culture shock．

       C．Who might have culture shock．

       D．When will you have culture shock．