Today, people all over the world are moving out of small villages in the country to go and live in big noisy cities . They are moving from the peaceful hills, mountains, fields, rivers and streams of the countryside to the busy world of streets, buildings, traffic and crowds. This movement from rural areas to urban areas has been going on for over two hundred years.

In many countries, the main reason people come to live in towns and cities is work. After one or two large factories have been built in or near a town, people come to find a work, and soon an industrial area begins to grow. There is usually a residential area nearby, where the factory workers can live. The families of these workers need schools, hospitals and shops, so more people come to live in the area to provide these services—and a city grows.

　　In every major city in the world, there is a business district where the big companies have their main offices. In the United States, this area is usually in the city center downtown. It is here that you can see the huge skyscraper office blocks. The people who work here often travel a long way to work each day.

　　Many of them live in the suburbs of the city, far away from the industrial area and the city center. Some suburbs are very pleasant, with nice houses and big gardens. There are usually parks for children to play in and large department stores where you can buy all you need.

　　But what is the future of the big cities? Will they continue to get bigger and bigger? Perhaps not. Some major cities have actually become smaller in the last ten years, and it is quite possible that one day we will see people moving out of the major cities and back into smaller towns and villages.

We can easily know that the underlined phrase “urban areas” means._____

　A. areas of the countryside  

B. areas of a town or city

C. areas near the countryside 　

D. areas near a town or a city

Why do people move to live in cities or towns?

A. Because they can live more comfortable there

B. Because they prefer noisy life to peaceful life

C. They do so mainly to find work

D. They don’t like small villages

We can infer that this movement from rural areas to urban areas_______.　

A. has been going on for more than 2,000 years

B. will continue in the future

C. may not continue in the future           　

D. is sure to stop

It was the night of the full moon, a time which always drives Java's young people mad with excitement.

Fireworks were lit long before the moon __1__. The big noise brought people out __2__ the warm night to enjoy the interesting scene. Everywhere, there were the paper remains of __3__ fireworks lying on the ground.Little boys __4__  more and covered their ears as they waited __5__ for the explosions.

The moon appeared above the horizon(地平线)：huge, __6__ ball high above the city, and the __7__ filled with people, as Java began to enjoy one of the year's greatest __8__： the Night of the Full Moon, a festival(节日) that is especially popular __9__ young people.

More and more young Javanese __10__  together and walked slowly through the __11__ joking and chatting, they moved towards the mountain __12__ the city. They continued to climb __13__ they reached the old temple(寺庙) at the  __14__ of the mountain.

After they were __15__ the temple, they drank their water and ate their moon－cakes delicious home－made ones, __16__ of dried fruit and nuts. Outside, on the mountain, young people __17__ cross－legged in circles, chatting and telling each other jokes. And __18__， in their hundreds, more young people continued to make their way up the mountain to __19__ the brightly shining moon.

By midnight, the fireworks had stopped shooting up from the __20__city in the valley below them. But during the night, the sound continued to be heard from the distance.

1. A. let out　　　　　　　　　B. gave out

C. came out               D. set out

2. A. into　　　B. at　　　C. of　　　 D. from

3. A．burning  B. used   C. exploding  D. broken

4. A．lit       B. bought  C. piled    D. removed

5. A. patiently  B. calmly  C. worriedly  D. excitedly

6. A. silver     B. new    C. colourful  D. gold

7. A. mountains  B. valleys  C. streets  D. shops

8. A. games     B. meetings  C. sports  D. events

9. A. for       B. to        C. with   D. in

10. A. danced  B. gathered  C. drank  D. shouted

11. A. village  B. scene  C. night  D. ground

12. A. on the edge of       B. on the way to

C. in the center of      D. in the direction of

13. A. while  B. until  C. unless  D. though

14. A. tip  B. back  C. top  D. bottom

15. A. inside  B. near  C. off  D. across

16. A. fond  B. little  C. full  D. free

17. A. jumped  B. sat  C. stood  D. bent

18. A. so     B. even  C. yet  D. still

19. A. follow  B. show  C. notice  D. admire

20. A. clean  B. gray  C. peaceful  D. empty

As you move around your home, take a good look at the things you have. It is likely that your living room will have a television set and a video, and your kitchen a washing machine and a microwave oven. Your bedroom drawers will be filled with almost three times as many clothes as you need. You almost certainly own a car and possibly a home computer, holiday abroad at least once a year and eat out at least once a week.

         Now, perhaps, more than ever before, people are wondering what life is all about, and what it is for. Seeking material success is beginning to trouble large numbers of people around the world. They feel that the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives, leaving them very little time or energy for family or pastimes. Many are turning to other ways of living and downshifting is one of them. Six percent of workers in Britain took the decision to downshift last year.

         One couple who downshifted is Daniel and Liz. They used to work in central London. He was a newspaper reporter and she used to work for an international bank. They would go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs, leaving their two children with a nanny. Most evenings Daniel wouldn’t get home until eight or nine o’clock and nearly twice a month he would have to fly to New York for meetings. They both earned a large amount of money but began to feel that life was passing them by.

　　Nowadays, they run a farm in the mountains of Wales. “I always wanted to have a farm then,” says Daniel, “and we took almost a year to make the decision to downshift. It’s taken some getting used to, but it’s been worth it. We have to think twice now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any holidays. However, I think it’s made us stronger as a family, and the children are a lot happier.

　　Liz, however, is not quite sure. “I used to enjoy my job, even though it was hard work and long hours. I’m not really a country girl, but I suppose I’m gradually getting used to looking after the animals. One thing I do like, though, is being able to see more of my children. My advice for other people wanting to do the same is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

1.The passage tells us that            .

A．people seldom work long hours to make money

B．people hardly buy more things than necessary

C．people are sure everything they own is in the right place

D．people realize there is more to life than just making money

2.When Daniel was a reporter he ___.

A．lived in central London       B．disliked his job

C．missed his children     D．was well paid

3.Daniel and Liz both agree that the move to the farm ____.

A．was easy to organize B．has improved family life

C．was extremely expensive   D．has been a total success

4.What does the author mean by saying"the long hours work culture to make more money is eating up their lives" in the second paragraph ?

A．People work long hours to earn their living.

B．To make more money through hard work is the aim of people's life.

C．Long hours of hard work occupy too much of people's life.

D．People spent too much time and money eating meals.

5.The underlined word "downshifting" in the second paragraph refers to _________.

A．repairing your car by yourself

B．spending money carefully

C．moving out to the countryside to live a simpler and better life

D．living in a big house in the suburbs and dining out once a week

Now，perhaps，more than ever before，people are wondering what life is all about，and what it is for.Seeking material success is beginning to　26　large numbers of people around the world.They feel that the long-hour work culture to make more money to buy more things is　27　up their lives，leaving them very little   28   or energy for family or hobbies.Many are turning to   29 　ways of living and downshifting is one of them.

Six percent of the workers in Britain took the decision to　30　last year.One couple who downshifted are Daniel and Liz.They　31　to work in central London.He was a newspaper reporter and she worked for an international bank.They　32　go to work by train every day from their large house in the suburbs，　33　their two children with a nanny.Nearly twice a month Daniel had to　34　New York for meetings.They both earned a large amount of  money　35　began to feel that life was passing them by.

Nowadays，they run　36　in the mountains of Wales.“I always wanted to have one here，”says Daniel，“and we took almost a year to　37　to downshift.It’s taken some time getting used to，but it’s been　38　it.We have to think　39　now about spending money on car repairs and we no longer have any　40　.However，I think it’s made us stronger as a family，and the children are a lot　41　.”

Liz，however，is not quite sure.“I used to enjoy my job，　 42　it was hard work and long hours.I’m not really a country girl，but I suppose I’m　43　getting used to looking after the animals.One thing I do　44　，though，is being able to see more of my children.My advice for other people wanting to do the　45　is not to think about it too much or you might not do it at all.”

26.A.trouble                 B.attract                       C.encourage                  D.frighten

27.A.putting                 B.looking                            C.building                    D.eating

28.A.money                  B.material                    C.spirit                         D.time

29.A.other                    B.simple                       C.free                          D.many

30.A.retire                    B.downshift                  C.rest                           D.travel

31.A.wanted                 B.liked                         C.used                          D.planned

32.A.should                  B.would                       C.might                        D.could

33.A.keeping                B.sending                     C.letting                       D.leaving

34.A.fly                       B.walk                         C.move                        D.run

35.A.and                      B.so                             C.but                           D.however

36.A.company                     B.farm                         C.house                        D.school

37.A.discuss                 B.study                        C.have                         D.make

38.A.worthy                 B.worth                        C.worthless                   D.worthwhile

39.A.once                     B.twice                        C.hardly                       D.worriedly

40.A.money                  B.holidays                    C.friends                      D.difficulties

41.A.more bored          B.more worried             C.happier                            D.cleverer

42.A.even though          B.when                        C.as if                          D.unless

43.A.directly                B.particularly                C.especially                  D.gradually

44.A.doubt                   B.admire                      C.like                           D.admit

45.A.job                       B.research                    C.experiment                D.same

Mr. Duff had several farms in the village. He 　36　 some workers and made them work more than twelve hours a 　37　. He didn’t supply them enough food and paid them less. So he became 　38  man there. Nobody liked him except his little son Eldon. The young man 　39  to be at school. He was often late for class and 　40  his classmates inside the school. He was weak at his 　41  and often made some excuses to stay at home.

　　One day the young man stole 　42　 in a shop. But at the gate he was caught. He brought out a 　43　 and hurt the gatekeeper while he was being sent to the 　44　. His father gave him a lot of 　45　 and helped him to leave for a city. About ten years later the young man 　46  a bandit chieftain (匪首). He often told his bandits to steal in the 　47　 and markets or rob（抢劫）in the villages. He got a lot of money and asked his father to 　48　 it for him.

　　Once the police station 　49　 that Eldon and his bandits were robbing in a small town. Plenty of policemen and soldiers 　50　 there. He shot a few policemen and soldiers and 　51　. He was hurt in the fight and found it was 　52　 for him to stay in the city and he had to hide in the 　53　 which were not far from his village. Several policemen went to Mr. Duff’s house and told him not to hide his son.

　　One of his workers knew about it and asked, “I hear your son has become a successful man. Is that right?”

　　“I think it’s 　54　,” answered Mr. Duff, “The police will award（悬赏）two hundred thousand dollars to the person who 　55　 him!”