It was Saturday, so Mr. Smith did not have to go to work. It had snowed heavily the night before, and Mr. Smith’s son Bobby had a new sledge (雪橇), which he had been very eager to try out for a long while. There was a good slope (斜坡) in a park not far away from the Smiths’ house — a slope which children often used for their sledges, so Mr. Smith agreed to take Bobby there in the car. They put the sledge in and went off.

When they reached the park, they found that there were already a lot of boys there, each boy with a sledge of his own. They were sliding down the slope at great speed, and then pulling their sledges up again for another go.

Mr. Smith stood by, watching them with a smile. It was obvious that each and every one of them had much fun. After a few moments, Mr. Smith suddenly saw among the boys a kid who was small and poorly-dressed, and did not have a sledge. This boy had flattened out one old cardboard box, and was sliding down the slope on that. Mr. Smith felt very sorry for this poor boy, and determined to tell his son Bobby to share his new sledge with the boy.

But before he could catch Bobby to speak to him, he was somewhat surprised — and much more delighted — to notice that several of the older boys in the park were already offering the poor boy their nice sledges. Mr. Smith watched them with greater interest — and suddenly realized that the bigger boys were not doing this because they felt sorry for the poor boy, but because they enjoyed riding on his cardboard box more than on their own sledges. They were actually waiting eagerly and impatiently for a turn on the flattened cardboard box!

21. What did Bobby desire to do for a long time?

   A. To test and play with his new sledge.

   B. To make a new icy slope by himself.

C. To skate with his father in the nearby park.

D. To ride in his father’s car on a snowy night.

22. What did Mr. Smith notice shortly after arriving at the park?

   A. Some boys were waiting for their turns to slide patiently.

B. A poor boy didn’t have a sledge but a flattened cardboard box.

C. A big boy was sliding down the slope on a sledge at great speed.

D. Many boys offered to share their own sledges with each other.

23. Mr. Smith was very pleased before speaking to his son because ____________.

   A. the bigger boys enjoyed riding on their sledges more than on the box

B. the small and poor boy had already got a new sledge from his parents

C. all the boys were sharing the flattened cardboard box in turns politely

D. some of the bigger boys had already offered their sledges to the poor boy

24. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A. Children should be taught the value of sharing at an early age.

B. The cardboard box is always a perfect gift for the bigger boys.

C. Simple and unusual things are sometimes popular among the kids.

D. Actually the bigger boys wanted to help the poor boy in some way.

During the tsunami (海啸) disaster of 2004, over 300,000 people died. No one has counted the number of animals killed, but we know that it wasn’t many. All over the region, before the disaster struck, animals were behaving strangely.

Shortly before the tsunami, in Khaolak, Thailand, twelve elephants that were giving tourists rides became agitated. They suddenly left their usual habitat, carrying four surprised Japanese tourists to safety. On the eastern coast of India, flamingos (火烈鸟), which should be breeding at this time of year, suddenly flew to higher ground. Of the two thousand wild pigs that live in an Indian nature reserve, only one was found dead after the tsunami.

The idea that the animals are able to predict disasters is nothing new. In fact, it has been well-recorded over the years. Twelve hours before Hurricane Charlie hit Florida in 2004, fourteen sharks left their natural habitat and stayed in deep waters for two weeks. The sharks, which were being observed by US scientists, had never done this before. They escaped the hurricane. In the winter of 1975 in Haicheng, China, snakes which would normally have been hibernating (冬眠) were seen on the ground. Days later there was a big earthquake striking.

Unlike human beings, wild animals’ senses are sharper and they can feel even the smallest changes in the environment. In other words, they see natural warnings that are invisible to the human eye. Ancient people probably had the similar “senses”, which they needed to survive, but these have been lost to us as modern technology leads us further away from the danger that nature creates.

The real question is, can we use the reactions of animals to save ourselves from natural disasters? Animal behaviour expert, Rupesh Kaneira, believes we have no choice. “The technology which we rely on isn’t always perfect, and in poorer countries it isn’t even available. Animals know the environment better than any of us. When they run for their lives, we must follow.”

25. The underlined word “agitated” in Paragraph 2 probably means ___________.

   A. worried and nervous                         B. tired and uneasy

   C. disappointed and sad                         D. excited and happy

26. How is the third paragraph developed?

   A. By giving explanations.                           B. By listing examples.

C. By presenting the reasons.                        D. By comparing the differences.

27. The wild animals can predict the natural disasters because they ___________.

   A. can run for their lives when natural disasters happen

B. don’t even have the modern technology to help them

C. are being observed and tracked for scientific experiments

D. are quick to notice the slightest changes in the environment

28. The best title of the passage might be ___________.

   A. Few Animals Died in Tsunami               B. Animals React to the Disasters

C. Animals can Survive the Disasters              D. Watching Animals will Save Us

Attractions in York

York Minster

Deangate, York YO1 7HH

Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the largest Medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, a place for worship for over 1,000 years and a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass. Open daily subject to services. Please check in advance to avoid disappointment.
Tel: 01904 557216    

www.yorkminster.org   E-mail: visitors@yorkminster.org

National Railway Museum

Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ

Enjoy a fantastic free day out for the whole family at the National Railway Museum in York.

Explore our three huge halls full of trains and railway legends including Mallard the world’s fastest train and the Japanese Bullet Train.

Open daily between 10am. - 6pm.   Tel: 08448 153139 

www.nrm.org.uk   E-mail: nrm@nrm.org.uk   

York Castle Museum

Eye of York, York YO1 9RY

Get ready to take a trip to the world-famous recreated Victorian street, Kirkgate. The first street of its kind, visited by 30 million people, is alive with the sights, sounds and colourful characters of York more than 100 years ago. Step inside the shops and meet the interesting folk who work there.

Opening hours: Mon - Sun 09:30 to 17:00     Tel: 01904 687687  

www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk    E-mail: castle.museum@ymt.org.uk

Clifford’s Tower

Tower Street, York YO1 9SA

Built by William the Conqueror, it was twice burned to the ground, before being rebuilt by Henry III in the 13th century. With sweeping views of York and the surrounding countryside, it isn’t hard to see why Clifford’s Tower played such a key role in the control of northern England.

Opening hours: Mon - Sun 10:00 to 16:00       Tel: 01904 646940  

www.english-heritage.org.uk/cliffordstower   

E-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk  

29. Which of the following attractions is on Leeman Road?

   A. York Minster                     B. National Railway Museum

C. York Castle Museum               D. Clifford's Tower

30. Where can visitors step into the well-known Victorian Street?

A. York Minster                     B. National Railway Museum

C. York Castle Museum               D. Clifford's Tower

31. While visiting York Minster, the visitors can ____________.

A. enjoy a treasure house of 800 years of stained glass

   B. go inside the shops and meet the folk working there

C. have sweeping views of York and countryside

D. see the world’s fastest train and the Japanese Bullet Train

32. If you want to know more information about Clifford’s Tower, you can _____________.

A. phone 01904 557216                     

B. email to castle.museum@ymt.org.uk

C. visit the website www.nrm.org.uk  

   D. write a letter to Tower Street, York YO1 9SA

Women make better drivers than men for many reasons. Why is that, do you suppose? Wouldn’t you think that competing at who has better driving abilities is pointless? If you ask me, I’d like to say, men know that women are better drivers but do not have the courage to admit the truth — women are queens of the road.

Unlike men, women stop for directions when they have no idea as to where they are going. We don’t drive around for hours pointlessly wasting a tank of gas only to find ourselves heading in the wrong direction. Have you ever in a car with a man who is lost? He tells you to shut up when you begin to open your mouth. And every five minutes or so he takes a turn going forty-five miles per hour only to find out he’s made another wrong turn.

Speeding is what men do best on the road. Traffic is not a race. There is a reason why men get more speeding tickets than women. Not because we trick to get out of tickets but only because we don’t get pulled over as frequently. We don’t speed. We have more intelligence than senselessly to put our own lives as well as the lives of others in danger.

My largest issue with male drivers is how a majority of them drive with one hand on the wheel and the other hand doing only God knows what. The seat is backed as far as possible, and they’re totally lost into loud music beyond a necessary level. You don’t ever see women driving like that.

I feel that the above evidence more than proves my points that women are not only better drivers but also safer drivers than men. We women rule the road. Oh, and men, if you want to continue criticizing women for being bad drivers, bring it on. We know you lack confidence, or else you wouldn’t be wasting your valuable time making jokes about the ones you may choose to spend the rest of your days with.

33. If a woman driver feels lost, she will ___________.

A. tell the man next to her to shut up

B. stop the car and ask people for help

C. take the wrong turns at a high speed

D. drive aimlessly for hours without stopping

34. In Paragraph 3, the writer tries to tell us that ___________.

A. women often play tricks on the police in charge

B. women always have more responsibility for lives

C. men are more confident and more skillful in driving

D. men usually have to be pulled over to the roadsides

35. Which of the following about men drivers worries the writer most?

   A. Not paying full attention.                B. Making jokes about women.

   C. Not stopping for directions.                 D. Getting more speeding tickets.

How to Calm Your Teen's Nerves before an Exam

Stress is a feeling of physical, mental and emotional strain of tension which disturbsor interferes with normal physiological balance. Stress can be overwhelming(压倒一切的) for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for a teen that has not yet developed effective coping skills. A major source of teen stress is school exams, and test anxiety is not uncommon. So, how can parents help their teen stay calm before an exam?

Recognize when your teen is under stress.

Teens can feel an immense pressure to do well on exams. For some teens, just the idea of taking the test can bring them into a panic(恐慌). _36___ Emotional symptoms include: excessive(过多的) of uncontrollable drying, aggression or mood swings, and panic attacks.

What should parents do?

--Be involved

Parents need to be involved in their teen's work. What they look for is your presence--to talk, to dry, or simply to sit with them quietly. Communicate openly with your teen.   37   

--Help them get organized

Help your teen think about what she has to study and plan accordingly.   __38____  

--Give them a nutritious diet

It's important for your teen to eat a healthy, balanced diet during exam times to focus and do her best.   __39__ If this happens, encourage your teen to eat light meals or sandwiches. A healthy diet, rather than junk food, is best for reducing stress.

--Show a positive attitude

  40   If you panic, blame, or apply to much pressure, your teen will have an undue increase in their stress levels. Make your teen feel accepted and valued for her efforts. Most important, reassure your teens that things will be all right, no matter what the results are.

A. Together, you and your teen can work out a time-table in which she can study for what she knows will be on the test.

B. A parent's attitude will dictate their teen's emotions.

C. Physical symptoms of stress and anxiety include: lack of sleep, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite of irregular eating.

D. Encourage your teen to relax.

E. Encourage your teen to express his worries and fears, but don't let them focus on those fears.

F. Your teen may also make negative comments about themselves.

G. Exam stress can make some teens lose their appetite.