I have had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen, simply because I happen to be that unfairly treated member of society --- a customer. The more I go into shops and hotels, banks and post offices, railway stations, airports and the like, the more I am convinced the things are being run solely to suit the firm, the system, or the union. There seems to be a deceptive (欺骗的) new motto for so-called “service” organizations --- Staff Before Service.
　　 How often, for example, have you queued for what seems like hours at the Post Office or the supermarket because there were not enough staff on duty to man all the service grilles or checkout counters? Surely in these days of high unemployment it must be possible to hire cashiers and counter staff. Yet supermarkets, hinting darkly at higher prices, claim that uncovering all their cash registers at any one time would increase operating costs. And the Post Office says we cannot expect all their service grilles to be occupied “at times when demand is low”.
　　  It is the same with hotels. Because waiters and kitchen staff must finish when it suits them, dining rooms close earlier or menu choice is cut short. As for us guests, we just have to put up with it. There is also the nonsense of so many friendly hotel night porters having been thrown out of their jobs in the interests of “efficiency” and replaced by coin-eating machines which offer everything from lager to laxatives (从贮藏啤酒到通便剂). Not to mention the tea-making kit in your room: a kettle with a mixed collection of tea bags, plastic milk boxes and lump sugar. Who wants to wake up to a raw teabag? I do not, especially when I am paying for “service”.
　　Can it be stopped, this worsening of service, this growing attitude that the customer is always a bore? I angrily hope so because it is happening, sadly, in all walks of life.
　　Our only hope is to hammer home our anger whenever and wherever we can and, if all else fails, bring back into practice that other, older slogan --- Take Our Deal Elsewhere.
【小题1】The writer feels that nowadays customers __________.

任务型阅读（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）

阅读下面文章，根据语篇内容，用恰当的词完成题后表格中所缺单词。(每格限填一词)

Hey! It's going to be Mother's day again. Have you planned something good for your Mama? If not, try even one of these tips.

Make Your Mama Proud

　　What special talents do you have? Maybe this is the right time to show it to her. She would be very proud and surprised if she'd realized that you have something that she doesn't expect.

　　What's Her Favorite?

　　Most teens don't know what their mama's favorite. You do? Then, what are you waiting for ? Buy her some of her favorite stuff and put a little twist on it. Make it more special.

　　The best time to give her that is while she is sleeping at night. Put it on the drawer next to her so that when she wakes up she'll be surprised to see it. And, maybe, a little tear may fall down from her cheeks.

　　The Memories

　　Our mothers have special memories in mind. Those are the times that they gave birth to their healthy baby. How about you? What's your best moment with her? Maybe you can tell her about the time she got mad at you because you did something that you thought is right but since that day forward you realized your mistakes. Or, you can tell her how happy you are when she was there during your painful days in your life.

　　Be Her

　　What does she look like if she is so exhausted and angry and tired? What does she do for your family? This is the right time to show her the things that she usually does at home. Try to imitate her voice when she is angry. Make your face as if you are her when she is mad.

　　Treat a Queen

　　Your house is a palace with a king and queen (it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor). Our mother is the real queen in our life and in our family though her duties make her look like she is not. Give the lady a day off by being a servant to her.

　　Make-Over Beauty

　　Because of stress and the problems that she is facing right now, especially in the family, she doesn't look great any more. Admit it! Most mothers are not into trends anymore because their focusing on us.

　　Perhaps you could take some of your savings to treat her in a salon or the department store. Then, choose nice clothes that would make her look GLAMOROUS!

　　Have Some of Your Time

　　It's the cheapest but a meaningful way. Most of us are busy from our work, friends, boy/girl friends, school. We stay home late and after several hours, we go out again.

　　Have you ever had a meaningful time with your mother where you don't think or talk about problems and arguments? Have you ever told her how much you thank her from the life she gave to you, the time she took care of you, and for every suffering she'd felt for you? Have you ever told her that you love her?

Life is short. We don't know what will happen tomorrow nor today. Those three words can make her heart jump for joy, you know? Just tell her “I love you!” and it would make her smile so sweetly. Just try! We don't want to miss a thing, right?

完形填空：阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项中选出一个最佳答案。（共20小题，每小题1.5分）
In the past, man did not have to think about the protection of his environment. There were few people on the earth, and natural resources seemed to be　46　.                    Today things are　 47　 , the world has become too　 48　 . We are using up our natural resources too quickly, and at the same time we are　 49　 our environment with dangerous chemicals. If we continue to do this, human life on the earth　 50　 survive.
　　Everyone　51　 today that if too many fish are taken from the sea, there will soon be none left. Yet, with modern fishing　 52 , more and more fish are caught. We know that if too many trees are cut down, 　53　 will disappear and nothing will grow on the land. Yet, we　 54　 to use bigger and more powerful machines to　55　 more and more trees.
　　We realize that if rivers are polluted with waste products from factories, we will die.　 56　 , in most countries wastes are　 57　put into rivers or into the sea, and there are　 58　 laws to stop this. We know, too, that if the　 59　of the world continues to rise at the present rate, in a few years there will not be enough 60　. What can we do to solve these problems ?
　  If  we eat more vegetables and less　 61　 , there will be more food available for everyone. Land that is used to grow crops　 62　 five times more people than land where animals are kept. Our natural resources will　 63　 longer if we learn to recycle them. The world population will not rise so quickly if people use modern methods of birth 64　 .
　　Finally, if we educate people to think about the problems, we shall have a better and clearer 65　in the future.

EAT YOUR VEGETABLES.　Wash your hands.　Always say "please"　and　"thank you　".We are full of advice for our children,　but when it comes to money,　we often have little to say.　As a result,　our children may grow up with clean hands and good manners,　but without any idea how to　manage their money.Here are some basics that will help guide them their entire lives：
Show them the future.　If your 13-year-old girl were to save $1.000,invest(投资)it at 8% and add $100 every month,　by the time she's 65,she would have $980,983!zxxk
Be careful of credit(信用).Credit cards can help you buy necessary things and build a credit history,　but they must be used responsibly,　which means paying off your debt in time.　Explain to your children that when you buy something using a credit card,　you can easily end up paying two or three times what you would have paid if you used cash.
Teach patience.　Suppose your child wants a new bicycle that costs $150.Rather than paying the cash,　give him some regular pocket money and explain that by putting aside,say,$15 each week,　he will be able to buy it for himself in only ten weeks.
Provide incentive.　Tell your children the importance of saving.　"For every dollar he or she agrees to save and invest rather than spend,　you agree to add another dollar to the pot,　"says Cathy Pareto,　expert in money planning.
Explain your values.　Values and money are deeply intertwined(缠结在一起),　says 　Eilleen 　Gallo,　co-author of The Financially Intelligent Parent.　When your child demands that you buy something,　explain why you really don't want to buy it.　"You might say, 'I'd rather save that money for your education,'"　advises Gallo.　Every time you spend or don't spend money,　you have a chance to share your values.
【小题1】The writer gives some basics to help ____ in a proper way.

B
　　Name：Off the Beaten Path
　　Cover price：$ 30.00
　　Our price：$19.80
　　The best-selling Reader’s Digest travel book has 40％ new content including over 200 new sites，over 200 new full-color photographs，and all-new，up-to-date maps. It spotlights over 1,000 of the United States’ most overlooked must-see destinations.
　　Name：Container Gardens by Number
　　Cover price：$15.95
　　Our price：$9.49
　　A unique book contains 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display，with an instruction of the finished planter and in—depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden.
　　Name：Best Weekend Projects
　　Cover price：$17.95
　　Our price：$13.96
　　Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical，as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style that addresses readers in an accessible, user-friendly tone.
　　Name：1801 Home Remedies
　　Cover price：$40.00
　　Our price：$29.96
　　Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Dozens of conditions are covered，from headaches，sunburn，bad breath，and blisters（水泡）to allergies（过敏症），and hiccups（打嗝）.
55．You can most probably read the passage in a _________.
A．newspaper 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B．travel guide
C．reference book 　　　　　　　　　　D．textbook
56．How much money could you save if you want to buy a travel book？
A．$6.46. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B．$10.20.
C．$13.96. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D．$19.8.
57．Which of the following could help you to deal with common diseases without a doctor？
A．Off the Beaten Path.
B．Container Gardens by Number.
C．1801 Home Remedies.
D．Best Weekend Projects.
58．What’s the purpose of the passage？
A．To share his opinion about the books with readers.
B．To advise readers to read more in spare time.
C．To share the pleasure of reading with readers.
D．To advise readers to buy their books.