20．What do you think the underlined word “available” in the first suggestion offered by the writer mean?

A．Busy on line　 B．Free C．Be able to　　　 D．Be found by others.

19．Why did the family choose to spend some time in a 1940’s house? Because 　　　　　.

　　　 A．they liked to live simple lives

　　　 B．they were curious about how people lived without modern inventions

　　　 C．they were troubled by modern inventions

　　　 D．living in a different time would be a lot of fun for them

18．The writer quoted(引用) what a citizen in ancient Rome said at the beginning of the story in order to 　　　　　.

　　　 A．share a truth about life　　　　　 B．tell us what life was like long time ago

　　　 C．make us wonder what causes such a thing to happen

　　　 D．point out that you experience some big problems and they may be the same

17．The passage is mainly about 　　　　　.

　　　 A．problem with technology　　 B．improvements of our life with technology

　　　 C．the important roles technology plays in our everyday life

　　　 D．major changes which will be likely to happen to technology

16．According to the passage, it can be imagined that 　　　　　.

　　　 A．all high school students say yes to the Pledge of Allegiance.

　　　 B．all high school students say no to the Pledge of Allegiance.

　　　 C．all kids don’t agree to the requirement of saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

　　　 D．all high schools will require their students to pledge allegiance to the flag.

E

“Life is speeding up. Everyone is getting unwell.”

This may sound like something someone would say today. But in fact, an unknown citizen who lived in Rome in AD 52 wrote it.

We all love new inventions. They are exciting, amazing and can even change our lives.

But have all these developments really improve the quality of our lives?

Picture this: You’re rushing to finish your homework on the computer. Your mobile phone rings, a QQ message from your friend appears on the screen, the noise from the television is getting louder and louder. Suddenly the computer goes blank and you lose all your work. Now you have to stay up all night to get it done. How calm and happy do you feel?

Inventions have speeded up our lives so much that they often leave us feeling stressed and tired. Why do you think people who live far away from noisy cities, who have not telephones, no cars, not even any electricity often seem to be happier? Perhaps because they lead simpler lives.

One family in the UK went “back in time” to see what life was like without all the inventions we have today. The grandparents, with their daughter, and grandsons Benjamin, 10, and Tomas, 7, spent nine weeks in a 1940s house. They had no washing machine, microwave, computer or mobile phones.

The grandmother, Lyn, said, “It was hard physically, but not mentally.” She believed life was less materialistic. “The more things you have, the more difficult life becomes,” She said. The boys said they fought less to fight over, such as their computer. Benjamin also noticed that his grandmother had changed from being a “trendy(时髦的), beer-drinking granny, to one who cooked things.”

Here are some simple ways to beat the stress often caused by our inventions!

Don’t be available all the time. Turn off your mobile phone at cartain times of the day. Don’t check your e-mail every day.

Don’t reply to somebody as soon as they leave a text message just because you can. It may be fun at first, but it soon gets annoying.

15．Which of the following is TRUE?

　　　 A．Harry Chin thought the government required them to join the army.

　　　 B．Lea Mouallem thought the Pledge of Allegiance of no meaning.

　　　 C．Danny Maryanor felt the terrorist attacks happened partly because of America’s own problem.　　　　　　　　　 D．The Pledge of Allegiance is of another country.

14．Who were for the Pledge of Allegiance?

　　　 A．Lea Mouallem; David Tran　　　　　　　　 B．Harry Chin; Danny Maryanor

　　　 C．Lea Mouallem; Danny Maryanor　　　　 D．Harry Chin; David Tran

13．Saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag first appeared in American schools 　　　　　.

　　　 A．after Sept. 11, 2000　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．before Sept. 11, 2001

　　　 C．on Sept. 11, 2001　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．after Sept, 11, 2001

12．The author’s purpose in writing the passage is 　　　　　.

　　　 A．to persuade young children not to worry about criticism

　　　 B．to emphasize the importance of positive reinforcement to children

　　　 C．to discuss the skill of combing criticism with encouragement

　　　 D．to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout

D

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, some high schools in America wanted the students to pledge allegiance(宣誓效忠) to the flag. Is it necessary or not? Let’s see how the kids think of this requirement.

Lea Mouallem, Marymount High School

I believe that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a way of reminding our country that no matter what happens, we are united. I don’t think our president wants us to go and join the army now, but he wants to tell us that we will be able to overcome the disaster as a whole nation that is working together.

Harry Chin, 15, Culver City High School

I am not for the Pledge of Allegiance and I am not against the Pledge of Allegiance because I just say it so many times that it loses meaning. I say it every day at school in the second period. It doesn’t mean anything any more.

David Tran, 15, Warren High School.

The Pledge of Allegiance is another sign of country. We should have some respect to it. It many schools, we don’t say the Pledge every morning-we just stand up and let the National anthem ring through the silence. We said the Pledge of Allegiance on Sept. 12.

Danny Maryanor, 16, Santa Monica High School

I wonder why we were suddenly asked to recite the Pledge when many of us stopped after elementary school; and the Pledge was recited before the play of “Ode to Joy” (欢乐颂)with recorders. This was not to express patriotism(爱国主义), or even to remember those who lost their lives on Sept. 11.

I feel I cannot support a nation that in this time of crisis looks outward for revenge(报复)instead of inward for peace. Perhaps we should think more about our problems.

11．According to the passage parents and coaches should 　　　　　.

　　　 A．help children to win every game

　　　 B．pay more attention to letting children enjoy sports

　　　 C．enable children to understand the positive aspect of sports

　　　 D．train children to deal with stress