From the health point of view we are living in an amazing age．We are free from many of the most dangerous diseases．A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modem medicine．It is almost certain that one day medicines will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases, The expectation of life has increased greatly．But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable killing of men, women and children on the roads．Man vs the motor-cart,It is a never-ending battle which man is losing．Thousands of people over the world are killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen．

It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel （方向盘）, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become crazy when they are behind a steering-wheel .They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish．All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to die surface by the act of driving．

The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience.Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable(不宜居住的） because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten．

It is high time that a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life．With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax（不严格）and even the strictest are not strict enough．A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate．Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done．The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year．Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability．Present drinking and driving laws should be revised much stricter．Speed limits should be required on all roads．Governments should lay down safety directions for car factories, as has been done in the USA．All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned．These measures may not sound good enough．But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths．After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars．

1.What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists．

B．Thousands of people are killed each year．

C．The laws of some countries about driving are too lax．

D．Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents．

2.What does the author think of society towards motorists?

A．Society laughs at the motorists．

B．Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns．

C．Victims of accidents are nothing．

D．Society easily forgives their rude driving．

3.What does the author mean by saying " his car becomes the extension of his personality" in paragraph 2?

A．Driving can show his hidden qualities．

B．Driving can show the other part of his personality．

C．Driving can bring out his character．

D．Driving can represent his manners．

4.Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?

A．Build more highways．

B．Stricter driving tests．

C．Test drivers every three years．

D．Raise age limit and make safety specifications．

5.The author's attitude towards the traffic situation is ______．

A．positive           B．unsatisfied         C．promising         D．unclear

 

You'd be forgiven for thinking that running after children each day would leave parents in the best shape of their lives.But a study has found that the mothers and fathers of young children are more unhealthy than their childless peers(同龄人）.

Mothers with young children are heavier and eat more calories and fatty foods,and consume more sugary dinks than chidless women,scientists said.And both sexes are less active than those in their age group without children.

Parents often choose quick,easily preparesd foods that are high in fat and calories,and by choosing these foods they may in turn serve them to their children,forming a cycle of unhealthy diet.

Dr.Berge,one of the study authors,said:“This isn't a study about blame,this is about spotting a very high-risk time period for parents that doctors should be aware of ,so they can offer solutions(解决办法）.”

According to the study ,mothers ate more fatty foods and drank about seven sugary drinks weekly,equal to about four chidless women.They also had an average of 2,360 calories daily,368 calories more than women without children,With that many calorise,women that age would need to be active to avoid to avoid gaining weight.

Fathers ate about the same amount of daily calories childless men and both had an average boby-mass index(指数）,but fathersgot less physical activity—about five hours weekly ,compared to almost seven hours among chidless men.

The study has several limitations－there's no data on how many women reccently had babies.Ther's also no information on the number of single parents,who likely face diet and exercise challenges.Sarah Kriger,an American dietician who works with new mothers said some of the mothers may have had postpartum(产后）depression,which might affect their eating and exercise habits.

1.What does the author mainly aim to tell us in the passage?

A．Childless couples live a much happier life than those with children.

B．Mothers will be unhealthy because of the postpartum deprdession

C．Couples of young children eat more fatty foods and lead unhealthier lives.

D．Fathers tend to eat high calorie foods because they should run after thrie children.

2.The underlined part“in the best shape”in the first paragraph means that a person  .

A．is busy and tires	B．has a most harmonious family
C．enjoys the most happiness	D．is in the most healthy condition

3.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about mothers with children?

A．They are less active

B．They eat unhealthy foods

C．They may feel unhappy aftre having babies

D．They may lose their jobs aftre having babies

4.What Dr.Berge says in Paragraph 4 suggests that    .

A．Parents should pay more attention to their chidren

B．doctors should do something with parents'high-risk time period

C．the study has drawn attention of doctors and young parents

D．parents should not be blamde for having an unhealthy lifestyle

5.We can learn from the last paragraph that      .

A．the result of the study result in aan unscientific way

B．the study was carried out in an unscientific way

C．single mothers are surely facing quyite different situation

D．postpartum depression will help mothers to lead a healthier lirf

 

Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours (绕行路) in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.
For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement (限制) and have strong opinions about everything.
Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.
But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.
That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.
We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons (见识).
We eventually arrived at my parents’ doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.
I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence.
Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey—and the best part of yourself.
【小题1】Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents’ home?

A．It was less tiring.

B．It would be faster and safer.

C．Her kids would feel less confined.

D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.

【小题2】The author stopped regularly on the country roads to _____.
A. relax in the fresh air
B. take a deep breath
C. take care of the lamb
C. let the kids play with Banner.
【小题3】What does the author discover from the trio according to Paragraph 6?

A．Freeways are where beauty hides.

B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.

C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one’s health.

D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.

【小题4】Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home?

A．To give herself some time to read.

B．To order some food for them.

C．To play a game with them.

D．To let them cool down.

【小题5】What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Charm of the Detour

B．The Road to Bravery

C．Creativity out of Necessity

D．Road Trip and Country Life

 

  I am a mother of three children and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was social study. The last project of the term was called “Smile”. The last class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

  Soon after we were given the project, my husband, my youngest son, and I went out to McDonald’s one cold March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

   We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back way. I turned around and found there standing behind me were two poor homeless men with a horrible “dirty body” smell. The short gentleman, close to me, was “smiling”. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of light as he searched for acceptance. The second man played with his hands uneasily as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation (救赎). The short man just asked for a coffee because that was all they could afford.

  I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the men’s table. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said “Thank you”.

  I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, “That’s why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope.”

On the last evening of class, I turned in “my project” and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, “Can I share this?” I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and we all knew that we need to heal people and to be healed.

  I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. “LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS---NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.”

1. Why did the people around the author back away?

A. Because both men were poorly dressed and mentally ill.

B. Because the short gentleman was smiling to everyone around.

C. Because two homeless men were also waiting in line, with a bad smell.

D. Because the second man stood playing with his hands.

2.After the author handed the meals to the homeless men, she _________.

A. talked with them for a while.        B. went back to her husband and son

C. turned in her project               D. regretted and cried

3. What kind of woman do you think the author is?

A. Over-curious       B. Caring           C. Mature        D. Lovely

4. What does the author try to tell us with the last sentence?

A. Giving is a gesture of love, which people will understand and appreciate.

B. If you need help from others, you’d better present them with gifts.

C. If you want to get something from somebody, you should please him with gifts.

D. Don’t be greedy with money or ask people to do things for you.

5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?

A. The author’s husband was very proud of her.

B. What the author did to the men touched many people.

C. Poor as the homeless men were, they had their dignity.

D. The author felt we should know how to heal people.

 

Ray Travers sat back at the large desk, and looked around his plush（豪华的）office．He was tired．

Ray's eyes stopped at a painting on the wall．It was a gift given by an old friend, Bull, as a farewell gift when he left his hometown．He recalled the life spent in that small town; pleasant times．The many hours he spent talking lo his good friend, and the tales he was told about hunting in the Africa of old．

Memories flowed back more than ten years; he remembered how he enjoyed hearing about the wonderful hunting, and how he wished he could have shared those times．

Ray opened his desk drawer and brought out a wooden box．He opened the lid and exposed a work of art, a hand-made hunting knife．This was a gift from Bull, given to Ray more than 20 years ago．It was one of the first knives Bull had made, and Ray had called it "Zambezi”, the river where Bull had been so many times．

He closed the box and sat upright at his desk; he was driving himself hard, and deserved a break．Things were going well with the business, everything running smoothly．He could afford a week off!

He went back home．A week in the hometown would be like going back in history．"Man, it's going to be good," Ray said aloud, as he turned onto the highway and watched the city lights fast disappearing, as he looked in the rearview mirror．

It was well into the night when Ray pulled into an all-night gas station He walked around the gas station and the memories started …  He was finally back on the road, the powerful car going its way through the night, headlights piercing （穿透） the darkness．Memories danced through the man' s mind．Memories of good times , when he knew what it was to relax , to talk, and to really visit．

Slowly entering town he looked around．Ray sat in his car, looking at the old building, smiling． Inside it was almost as though it was the same people as 15 years ago．

1.We learn from the passage that Bull is                    ．

A．Ray's colleague	B．a man in Ray' s hometown
C．Ray's relative in Africa	D．an African woodcarving artist

2.What does the author mainly want to tell us in Paragraphs 2 －5?

A．Bull loved Africa and knew much about it．

B．Bull was good at making works of art．

C．Ray missed his hometown and relatives．

D．Ray missed the time he spent with Bull in his hometown．

3.What do we know from the passage?

A．Ray visited Africa together with Bull many times．

B．Ray and Bull often went hunting together．

C．Zambezi is the name of a river in Hay a hometown．

D．Ray planned to stay in his hometown for about a week．

4.What does the under lined part in Paragraph 7 mean?

A．Ray knew how to relax after keeping busy for along time．

B．Ray didn't want to leave his hometown because of so many memories．

C．Ray's hometown changed a lot and was worth a visit．

D．The visit to his hometown reminded Ray of the days together with Bull．

5.What may the author talk about in the paragraph that follows the passage?

A．The hard time Ray experienced in his career．

B．Why Ray left his hometown alone．

C．The situation in Ray's hometown．

D．How Ray became a successful businessman．