In 2003 I wrote an article about high gas prices in North America. Here we are about to be in a particular state of 2007 and the price at the pump is vastly higher. This is not a surprising turn of events when we look at all the reasons for the high gas prices we are paying at the pump and on our heating bills.

The usually argued idea by people suffering under high prices is that the oil and gas companies themselves are fixing the pricing system. The majority will find this as reason number one. Most Canadians love to lay the blame on the taxes applied at the pump, and how the oil companies gouge（榨取）the consumers, but they and the media in Canada are ignoring the more important causes.

In Canada, most are unaware that the National Energy Policy, or NEP, has lost its effects partly in the advance of free trade. No longer can the Canadian government try to set up Canadian pricing for oil and gas that is produced and sold in Canada. We completely lost that ability when we signed onto the North American Free Trade Agreement（NAFTA）.

What this means is that Canada now has little control over supplies and pricing within our own country. During the free trade negotiations（谈判）the Mexican negotiators had enough ability to prevent writing the American suggestion into law that both Canada and Mexico must hand over a full two thirds of all of our natural gas production. This leaves Canadians paying world market money charged for something that they themselves export.

Right now Canada ships some two million barrels of oil a day south; yet we cannot do anything about setting national pricing structures, thanks to the free trade agreements.

This is not the whole story though. Even if we were to put an end to NAFTA which is our right under the agreement, we may have already given away too much of our resource. In 1997 there were 41 large Canadian oil companies in Canada. Today there are only six. Of the 35 that on longer exist, U.S. companies bought out 21. This is a disturbing trend of foreign takeovers of Canadian natural resources.

1．Most Canadians think high gas prices are caused by            .

       A．the high expenses for laying the pumps for oil transport.

       B．the complete control over gas from oil companies

       C． the high taxes collected by gas companies

       D． the less gas production in the whole world

2．According to the article, what’s the influence of NAFTA on Canada?

       A．It has reduced the number of its oil companies.

       B．Its natural resources have become less and less.

       C．Its national policy on oil has almost been destroyed.

       D．Its oil prices are fixed by foreign countries on the whole.

3．What does “that ability” in paragraph 3 refer to?

       A．To produce and sell the gas.

       B．To set up Canadian pricing for oil.

       C．To trade freely around the world.

       D．To prevent the American suggestion.

4．According to the article, whose profits is the author concerned about?

       A．Canadian.                                            B．American.           

       C．Mexican.                                            D．North American.

5．This article is probably            .

       A．a lecture in a school                             B．a speech on natural resources

       C．a notice in public                     D．a comment on latest affairs

A special policy aimed at keeping Roseville Police officers in top physical condition could start becoming usual and statewide as a result of a law which has been formally suggested before the California Assembly（议会）.

AB 2183, put forward by Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, would set aside ＄10 million for the creation of a new voluntary fitness program aimed at shaping up California’s 75,000 peace officers. Spitzer, a former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department, said the cost of the program would be balanced out by the millions of dollars saved in medical costs and disability payments for injured and out – of – shape officers.

For Roseville Police officers, physical fitness isn’t just advised, it’s a required part of an officer’s day. Each officer must spend an hour in the department gym before each working period. “We’re trying to break that typical donut（多纳圈）shop image here.” Roseville Police Chief Joel Neves said.

And most officers don’t seem to mind keeping in shape as part of their daily duties. “We have some officers here that are 50 years old running a five – minute mile,” Lt. Mike Allison said. “They’re in great shape. It is a culture that is expected now.” Neves said the required workouts also attract some high quality people who have just joined the Roseville force. “We can truly take the best of the best and bring them to Roseville,” Neves said. “It’s not just the fitness level. On the whole, it’s the belief of the employees in work.”

However, people who object to the idea insist that putting taxpayer dollars toward keeping officers fit isn’t money well spent. “This is an extraordinary rip – off（敲竹杠）of taxpayers,” Jon Coupal with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association said. “I think police officers also need a good night’s sleep, but does that mean taxpayers should be paying for their beds? I don’t think so.”

AB2183 passed its first vote in the Committee on Public Safety earlier this month and has been passed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

1．What does the special policy aim at?

       A．Affecting the behavior and attitudes of police officers.

       B．Attracting high quality people to the Roseville force.

       C．Saving millions of dollars for the police department.

       D．Helping the police officers in the state stay fit.

2．We can infer from Paragraph 4 that Roseville Police officers have           .

       A．accepted exercising as part of their culture.

       B．had a better attitude towards society

       C．been able to run a five- minute mile

       D．created a new statewide culture

3．Some people are against the policy because they           .

       A．want their taxes to be used properly

       B．resist shaping up among the police officers

       C．are aware of being cheated by the government

       D．dislike supporting the government to save money

4．What is the best title for the passage?

      A．A Great Program Is Put Forward         

       B．A Special Policy Passed Its First Vote

       C．Officers May Be Required To Work Out

       D．Police Officers Are In Favor Of AB 2183

The Best Holiday

I was unbelievably proud of my nine – year – old daughter, Emily.   1  to buy a mountain bike, she’d been saving her pocket money all year, as well as doing small jobs to earn extra money.

By Thanksgiving, she had collected only ＄49. I said, “You   2  have your pick from my bicycle   3  .” “Thanks, Daddy. But your bikes are so old.” She was right. All my girls’ bikes were 1950s models, not the kind kid today would   4  choose.

As Christmas   5   near, Emily and I went bike shopping. As we left one store, she   6  a Salvation Army volunteer standing next to a big pot .“Can we give something. Daddy?” she asked. “Sorry, Em, I’m out of change.”

Throughout December, Emily continued to   7  hard. Then one day, she made a   8  announcement. “You know all the money I’ve been saving?” she said hesitantly. “I’m going to give it to the poor people. ” So one cold morning before Christmas, Emily handed her total savings of ＄58 to a volunteer who was really very  9  .

  10  by Emily’s selflessness, I decided to contribute   11  of my old bicycles to a car dealer who was collecting used bikes for poor children.  12  I selected a shiny model from my collection, however, it seemed as if a second bike took on a glow（发光）. Should I contribute two? No, one would be enough. But I couldn’t   13  the feeling that I should give a second bike. When I later  14  the bikes, the car dealer said, “You’re making two kids very  15  , sir. Here are your tickets. For each bicycle contributed, we’re   16  away one chance to win a girls’ mountain bike.”

Why wasn’t I surprised when that second ticket proved to be the  17  ? I like to think it was God’s way of   18  a little girl for a sacrifice   19 her years – while giving her dad a lesson in the   20  .

1．A．Promised    B．Amazed    C．Determined      D．Organized

2．A．need        B．should      C．must          D．can

3．A．collection    B．contribution      C．shop       D．club

4．A．seldom      B．likely C．slightly          D．merely

5．A．drew       B．became     C．went         D．pulled

6．A．observed    B．sensed      C．watched        D．noticed

7．A．study         B．try           C．listen      D．work

8．A．disappointing      B．surprising  C．formal      D．public

9．A．agreeable    B．hopeful     C．thankful         D．pitiful

10．A．Moved          B．Shocked   C．Persuaded D．Demanded

11．A．one        B．some     C．two            D．any

12．A．While     B．As         C．Because              D．Though

13．A．express    B．describe    C．explain           D．shake

14．A．returned    B．delivered   C．chose               D．shared

15．A．sweet           B．healthy      C．happy            D．fair

16．A．putting      B．giving       C．storing           D．signing

17．A．present     B．harvest     C．winner           D．chance

18．A．greeting    B．praising     C．sheltering      D．rewarding

19．A．under           B．before       C．beyond          D．within

20．A．process    B．project      C．struggle         D．communication

—What would you do?

—I’d get a job doing something exciting,       I could meet interesting people and travel a lot.

A．where   B．which         C．when        D．that

I         him the money but he didn’t tell me he needed it.

A．should have lent              B．must have lent

C．need have lent             D．could have lent