Recently a professor of philosophy(哲学)in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our day to day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he has asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value(重视)in life．

   The professor says our relation with others often becomes clearly defined(明确)when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money．If he does，it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Otherwise it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn’t．

   Since money is so important to us, we consider those who are rich to be very important. The professor interviews some rich people in his research for his book．

Question:  What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich?

Answer :  The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect(尊重). I am nothing．I don’t know much．All I am is rich．

   People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much money do I need for any given purpose in my life? In his book，the professor uncovered an important need in modern society：to bring back the idea that money is a tool rather than the end．Money plays an important role in the material world，but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life.

1..

The students are asked to keep a record of every penny they spend to______.

A. learn how to spend money              B. learn how to make more money

C. know what to write in a record            D. know what is important in life

2..

 In the second paragraph, the professor mainly tells us ________.

A. never to borrow money from a friend  

B. friendship disappears when it comes to money

C. money can influence friendship       

D. money can weaken friendship

3..

．Through his book，the professor seems to tell us        ．

A. money is very important in the material world

B. the purpose of our life is to make money

C. money does not surely mean happiness     

D. we should value money in our life

4..

We consider rich people important because         ．

A. they have a meaningful life                  B. they are successful people

C. we sometimes borrow money from them      D. we think money is important in life

5..

 Which of the following might the author disagree?

　 A. Money is important in modern society.

　 B. The meaning of life does not completely lie in money.

　 C. Wealth will surely bring the owner happiness.

　 D. Happiness is not necessarily the result of wealth.

 

Students and Technology in the Classroom
　　I love my blackberry—it’s my little connection to the larger world that can go anywhere with me. I also love my laptop computer，as it holds all of my writing and thoughts. Despite this love of technology, I know that there are times when I need to move away from these devices(设备) and truly communicate with others.
　　On occasion, I teach a course called History Matters for a group of higher education managers. My goals for the class include a full discussion of historical themes and ideas. Because I want students to thoroughly study the material and exchange their ideas with each other in the classroom, I have a rule —no laptop, iPads, phones, etc. When students were told my rule in advance of the class, some of them were not happy.
　　Most students assume that my reasons for this rule include unpleasant experiences in the past with students misusing technology. There’s a bit of truth to that. Some students assume that I am anti-technology. There’s no truth in that at all. I love technology and try to keep up with it so I can relate to my students.
　　The real reason why I ask students to leave technology at the door is that I think there are very few places in which we can have deep conversions and truly engage complex ideas. Interruptions by technology often break concentration and allow for too much dependence on outside information for ideas. I want students to dig deep within themselves for inspiration and ideas. I want them to push each other to think differently and make connections between the course material and the class discussion.
　　I’ve been teaching my history class in this way for many years and the evaluations reflect student satisfaction with the environment that I create. Students realize that with deep conversation and challenge, they learn at a level that helps them keep the course material beyond the classroom.
　　I’m not saying that I won’t ever change my mind about technology use in my history class, but until I hear a really good reason for the change, I’m sticking to my plan. A few hours of technology-free dialogue is just too sweet to give up.
【小题1】Some of the students in the history class were unhappy with____

A．the course material	B．the author’s class regulations
C．discussion topics	D．others’ misuse of technology

【小题2】The underlined word “engage ”in para.4 probably means ____

A．explore

B．accept

C．change

D．reject

【小题3】According to the author, the use of technology in the classroom may ____

A．keep students from doing independent thinking

B．encourage students to have in-depth conversations

C．help students to better understand complex themes

D．affect students’ concentration on course evaluation

【小题4】It can be inferred from the last paragraph that the author ____

A．is quite stubborn

B．will give up teaching history

C．values technology-free dialogues in his class

D．will change his teaching plan soon

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

   A week ago, I had the great pleasure of reading an e-book, When Money Talks, Listen! By Rich Ezzo. It took only about an hour to read.

   When I first received a copy, I thought it was a Get Rich Quick type of publication. Nothing is wrong with Get Rich Quick, but my mind just doesn’t chase after dreams of wealth. I think that if God ever wants me to be rich, he knows where to find my purse.

   When I began reading When Money Talks, Listen!, I was overjoyed to find that Rich Ezzo isn’t money hungry either. He, too, is hungry far more important than money.

Since I love this e-book so much, why wait a week to write the review? Simple. I wanted to see if the effect it had on me was a keeper. After reading the last word of the e-book, I totally agreed with the subtitle which promised to forever change the way we thought about money. I had so many thoughts running around my mind that I had to install(安装) a stoplight to stop some while others made their way into the picture, then I yielded(让路) them as a few ones arrived in town. I had a mental traffic jam, which only goes to show how slow the traffic usually is. 

   It has been a week and the effect is the same. I truly do look at money differently and have even done a few things differently this week. This is an e-book you’ll want to read, I promise. I often recommend books to my daughter, and this is one that I didn’t just “suggest”---I left it open at the bottom of the computer and told each one, “Read it, you’ll love it.”

   I would never point someone in a direction I wouldn’t go myself. I urge you to visit the author’s website, Myster Money, and to download the e-book. You won’t regret it.

The author wrote this passage to _________　

A. strongly recommend an e-book.

　B. show the author's attitude to money.

　C. introduce the general idea of an e-book.

　D. point out Rich Ezzo isn't money hungry.

According to the passage, a Get Rich Quick type of publication ______.

A. is what the author really cares for

B. deals with how to make money

C. is also an e-book written by Rich Ezzo

D. is more popular than e-books

The author didn't write the review as soon as he finished reading the book because________.

　A. he was too excited to write anything

　B. he was not sure whether he did well

　C. he had to wait for Rich Ezzo's permission

　D. he wondered if the book would have long influence on him

By saying the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4, the author probably __________.

　A. shows that the book brought him many new thoughts

　B. shows how bad the traffic is in town

　C. describes the difficulty in understanding the book

　D. explains it's hard to change one's attitude to money

Which of the following is supported by the passage?

  A. The author had known Rich Ezzo before.

　B. The author hasn't dreamed of getting rich immediately.

　C. The author always prefers e-books to paper books.

　D. The author likes Get Rich Quick-type of publications.

One of the most common complaints I hear from families is that they are not close. They may be close in proximity, but still not feel close as a 36_. They may live next door or in the same house, but not feel 37 .

Closeness is about  38 . We feel close when we feel 39 ,  when we feel loved and when we simply enjoy being together. We may live far apart and still feel close, or we may 40 a home yet feel distant.

Closeness is a family trait that  41 over time. It is planted by love, watered by honest sharing and fed by true listening. It grows slowly and sometimes 42 years to mature; but it’s roots grow deep. It can 43 most storm and sustain a family through the most 44 time.

I received a letter from a reader in Hawaii. She 45 out that the CEO of one of the island’s largest banks was  46 a run for governor. Since he was well—liked, he seemed to have a good 47 of winning.

But before filing papers, he 48 his mind, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his 49 . Not that elected officials cannot be family—oriented, but he felt he needed more time at home than the job 50 .

Ronald A Young, in the Honolulu Advertiser, said this about the candidate’s decision：”No matter what you 51 in the business world or the social world, if you fail the family, then you have not accomplished much. Failure or success does not 52 in the material wealth you provide them. It is 53 by what of yourself you give to them.”

He made a 54 to give the best of himself to his family. He 55 family closeness first, despite pressure to put more time elsewhere. It’s likely a decision he’ll never regret.

36．A. house	B. home	C. family	D. group
37．A. physically	B. emotionally	C. behaviorally	D. officially
38．A. attitude	B. points	C. ambition	D. ideas
39．A. misunderstood	B. understood	C. annoyed	D. disappointed
40．A. share	B. stay	C. live	D. keep
41．A. grows	B. changes	C. stays	D. happens
42．A. pays	B. spends	C. takes	D costs
43．A. weather	B. carry	C. keep	D. protect
44．A. happy	B. difficult	C. joyful	D. funny
45．A. pointed	B. set	C. put	D. gave
46．A. thinking	B. considering	C. expecting	D. waiting
47．A. sign	B. mark	C. score	D. chance
48．A. kept	B. changed	C. stuck	D. made
49．A. family	B. friends	C. people	D. officials
50．A. provided	B. allowed	C. had	D. gave
51．A. complete	B. finish	C. get	D. accomplish
52．A. lie	B. result	C. say	D. happen
53．A. concerned	B. tested	C. measured	D. examined
54．A. plan	B. solution	C. promise	D. decision
55．A. took	B. brought	C. chose	D. held