Being on the road at 3:15 am to drive 450 kms wasn’t in my plans for the weekend. I had been looking forward to a couple of   21  days to prepare myself for the following busy   22  .

My son, Simon, and his good friends were heading for the   23  . Due to the last-minute issue with transportation, I  24  my car to ensure that everyone could get to the   25  point so that they could get together and enjoy their week’s   26  by snowboarding and skiing.

On my return trip, I  33  a strange sense of loneliness in some heavy morning   34 . Within an hour it   35  . I spent the next four hours listening to some CDs and enjoying the scenery. Surprisingly, after my long trip home I was  36  refreshed and energized even though I was physically exhausted. And I knew that I would have a(n)  37   sleep that evening.

A change  38  your environment, no matter how small, can provide you with the opportunity to  39   something from different angles, as well as to be refreshed and energized.

Now I’m looking forward to my next   40  event and many more opportunities to spend quality time with those who are important to me and make my life more rewarding.

21. A. exciting                          B. surprising              C. relaxing          D. moving

22. A. day                         B. hour                      C. year                       D. week

23. A. beach                     B. snowfield              C. school            D. hotel

24. A. parked                    B. borrowed                     C. lent                       D. offered

25. A. drop-off                 B. kick-off                 C. take-off          D. turn-off

26. A. excitement            B. freedom                       C. break              D. adventure

27. A. devoted                 B. appealed                      C. occurred               D. appeared

28. A. started                   B. rested                   C. left                 D. arrived

29 A. forward                   B. back                      C. away              D. out

30. A. just                        B. even                      C. mostly            D. particularly

31. A. talked                     B. quarreled                     C. argued            D. complained

32. A. usually                    B. constantly             C. rarely              D. frequently

33. A. showed                  B. developed             C. kept                      D. lost

34. A. dust                              B. smoke                   C. snow              D. fog

35. A. cleared                   B. turned                   C. shone             D. froze

36. A. completely             B. greatly                   C. mentally                D. immediately

37. A. uneasy                   B. uncomfortable             C. light               D. sound

38. A. from                              B. about                    C. for                  D. in

39. A. look at                    B. give up                  C. carry on          D. find out

40. A. discussed                      B. planned                 C. prepared               D. unexpected

One morning when I was 11, I explored the town’s abandoned round grain barn(谷仓). I found a chained sliding door that was wide enough for me to pass through.

Inside, there was a heavy smell of dead mice in the dark. After my eyes adjusted, I noticed a shaft (升降机井) that rose all the way to the top of the barn. On one side was a one-man elevator with a long rope and roller.

I stepped onto the platform and gave the rope a drag and the elevator began sliding up the shaft, but stopped halfway. After a brief panic attack, I noticed holes in the wall at regular intervals, forming a ladder. For reasons known only to an 11-year-old, I decided it would be better to go up than down. So, with shaking hands, I began climbing the wall.

After what seemed like forever, I reached the top of the shaft. I stood up, dusted myself off and found…absolutely nothing of interest. It was just an empty room with a ladder leading up to the roof. I climbed all the way up here for this? Then I noticed a fire extinguisher(灭火器), which I’d always wanted to shoot off. So this was the chance of a lifetime. I tried it, and, much to my surprise, the thing worked! It shot out a thick cloud of powder that instantly filled the room. I couldn’t breathe. I was going to choke to death, and they’d probably never even find my body.

Luckily, I remembered the ladder to the roof. I climbed up, popped the straw roof and saw a bright blue sky.

41. When the author got inside the barn, he _______.

A. noticed a man on the elevator

B. opened the chained sliding door

C. saw many dead mice in the dark

D. found a shaft leading to the top

42. Which of the following is the right order of the author’s adventure?

a. The elevator stopped halfway.

b. He entered the round grain barn.

c. He climbed to the top of the shaft.

d. He found a fire extinguisher and shot it off.

A. b-a-c-d         B. a-c-b-d         C. c-a-d-b         D. b-c-a-d

43. After getting out of the chained door, the author might feel _______.

A. inspired         B. relieved        C. surprised        D. disappointed

When public bikes rolled onto the streets of New York, it was treated as a national event and even international media took notice. Like the situations in other cities carrying out the program, bike-sharing in New York allows a subscriber to “borrow” a bike from one of hundreds of locations in the city, use it, and return it to another location at the end of the journey.

The next major development was in Copenhagen, which introduced a coin-operated system in 1995 called “City Bike.” For 17 years, these bikes zipped through the streets of Denmark’s capital until the program was shut down late last year—it’s getting an upgrade to the third generation technology.

Sponsored by media giant Clear Channel, the French city of Rennes brought the next generation of bike share technology to the world in 1998 by replacing coin operation with card access and electronic records. From there the technology has progressed, picking up GPS(Global Position System)and real-time tracking along the way, and has spread throughout Western Europe—and the world.

At present, there are 553 bike share programs in operation worldwide and another 193 in planning or under construction. And they’re not just in Europe and North America. The worldwide leader in bike-sharing, as measured by the number of bikes, is China. According to data collected by the Earth Policy Institute, 20 of the 25 largest bike share programs are Chinese. Its largest one, in the city of Wuhan, has twice the number of bikes as all of France’s shares combined.

The benefits of bike-sharing programs in any city are plentiful. They relieve traffic jams, relax parking shortages, reduce air pollution and promote fitness. So if you are in any city where public bikes are provided, get out of your car during rush hour and try bike-sharing!

44. In which city did bike-sharing start?

A. Alexandria.       B. Amsterdam.    C. Copenhagen.   D. Rennes.

45. Why was the coin-operated system closed in Copenhagen?

A. Because bikes made the streets over-crowded.

B. Because it would be replaced by a new system.

C. Because its time limit was reached after 17 years.

D. Because no sponsors provided money to support it.

46. We can learn from the passage that bike shares are __________.

A. free of charge                   

B. costly program

C. time-consuming                    

D. environmental-friendly

47. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. Bike shares have gained worldwide popularity.

B. Most bikes used in the program are of European-style.

C. Bike share program in China first started in the city of Wuhan.

D. A national celebration for the program was held in New York.

To Friend Or Not To Friend

We all love our parents and turn to them when we’re in need, but would you like them to hear the conversations you have with your friends on the school playground or lunch queue? Social networking sites have become extensions of the school hallways, so would you add your parents as “friends” and allow them to view your online activities and conversations with friends?

These days many people are attracted to social networking sites because they can choose who they have around them; there’s also a certain amount of control over privacy that we don’t get in real life. Sometimes we feel that privacy is violated when we must accept a “friend” request from a parent or family member.

It’s a difficult choice whether or not to allow a parent to become a part of our online lives. On the one hand we don’t want to “reject” their request because that might hurt their feelings or make them feel you have something to hide. On the other hand if you do accept, then you could have a sense of being watched and no longer feel free to comment or communicate the way you did before.

A recent survey suggested that parents shouldn’t take it personally if their child ignores their request: “When a teen ignores a parent’s friend request, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are hiding something, but it could mean that this is one part of their life where they want to be independent.”

Perhaps talking with parents and giving explanations would help soften the blow if you do choose not to add them to your friends list.

48. From Paragraph 2, we learn that ______.

A. parents feel secure about their privacy online

B. social networks successfully fill the generation gap

C. parents have realized the importance of social networks

D. social networks offer a platform for parents to communicate

49. Teenagers may refuse a parent’s friend request because ______.

A. they hide something from their parents

B. they are unwilling to be watched by parents

C. their parents tend to fall behind in technology

D. their parents make negative comments on them

50. The passage is mainly about ______.

A. privacy online                                    

B. social networks

C. the generation gap                            

D. parents’ friend requests

51. The passage is written mainly for ______.

A. parents             B. teenagers             C. teachers              D. researchers

The Valley Art Center energizes and encourages art appreciation in people of all ages and backgrounds through education, inspiration, and opportunities to experience the visual arts. We support art students and artists through quality curriculum and programming along with exhibition space. We promote the growth of each individual’s potential and the advancement of the arts in the community.

Concept Based Oil Painting

This course, with a four-hour format, is for serious artists of all levels from beginning through advanced. Guidance will be offered on issues such as composition, color, tools and techniques, but the emphasis of the course will be on thinking creatively. Individual attention will be available whenever needed. The course will conclude with a group discussion of the students’ works. IMPORTANT: Students will be responsible for bringing all necessary materials, including any desired photographic reference, beginning with the first class. Supply list available online. And don’t forget your lunch. $192/$173.

Digital Photography for the Fraidy Cat!

Learn the basic of digital photography. We will start with understanding what those symbols on your camera mean. We will explore how to set your own film speed, aperture and shutter speed. We will also learn when to use a flash. We will explore taking action shorts, landscape and portraits. In this class you will practice and apply what you have learned using your camera! $96/$86

Enamel On Metal

In this art form, drawing skills are not required for this colorful and expressive craft. Beginning students learn several basic classical techniques and those with experience are guided in limoge, cloisonne, champlevee or other techniques of choice. For those who are making jewelry, this is another form to add to your artist’s toolbox!

All equipment and supplies are included in first project fee of $8, payable to instructor at first class. $96/$86 

52. The course Concept Based Oil Painting stresses________.

A. the skills of composition                         B. the discussions of art works

C. the guidance of basic painting                  D. the creative thinking of students

53. The center will prepare necessary materials if you attend ________.

A. Drawing for the Fraidy Cat             B. Digital Photography for the Fraidy Cat

C. Enamel on Metal                                 D. Concept Based Oil Painting

54. If you go to Digital Photography for the Fraidy Cat, you will _______.

A. explore how to develop the film        B. visit some landscape and portraits

C. learn to make a flash with your camera    D. get to know the symbols on your camera

55. We can learn from the passage that Enamel on Metal ________.

A. involves drawing skills for craft                 B. charges the first project fee of $ 96

C. supplies different techniques of choice   D. adds another tool box to make jewelry