Not sure what gift to buy for your loved one? Think technology!

Consider these fun and useful tech gift ideas. Note that all of websites mentioned below offer international shipping. There may be additional shipping costs.

Mini Laptop Riser

If your loved one uses a laptop, you can make their computer time more enjoyable with a Mini Laptop Riser. You can bend the riser to the shape and height that works best for you. The riser is lightweight, so you can bring it with you when you are away from your work station. The Mini Laptop Riser is available from Etsy for $ 10. 95. The device comes in a number of colors.

Mini Quadcopter

Would your loved one like to have a flying toy, but lack space to fly one? Consider a Mini Quadcopter that is small enough to fit inside your hand. This Mini Quadcopter can be controlled to fly in any direction with its remote control. You can set the controls for your skill level. The Mini Quadcopter is available from Hammacher Schlemmer for $ 39.95.

Indoor Snowfall Light

Get into the spirit of the holiday season in your home with the Indoor Snowfall Light. The light shows snowflake shapes in your room to give you the feeling of a winter snowfall. You can control the speed of the snowfall, unlike the real weather. The Indoor Snowfall Light is available from Sharper Image for $ 59.99.

21. The Mini Laptop Riser is helpful for       .

A. People who like carrying small bags                      B. People who are in fashion

C. Computer-using people                                        D. Coffee-drinking people

22. What can we know about these technology products?

A. The Indoor Snowfall Light can be got from Sharper Image.

B. Mini Laptop Riser is available for the prices beginning at $ 39.95.

C. Mini Laptop Riser can be controlled with its remote control.

D. Mini Quadcopter can be used to see the latest weather conditions.

23. What is the main purpose of the author in writing the text?

A. To introduce present technology.

B. To show different functions of high-tech gifts.

C. To attract readers to the websites to look through.

D. To recommend presents to readers to buy for loved one.

This summer I attended my first music festival with my friend. Unlike the majority of festival-goers we did not buy tickets. Instead, we volunteered as festival servers for Oxfam. We each worked in exchange for a free ticket to the festival.

Leeds Festival is a large music festival which takes place at Branham Park. It takes place towards the end of August, and thousands of people attend each year. There were several different stages, each suitable for a different music taste. As well as the great music on offer, there were also funfair rides, food outlets and a silent disco, amongst other things. I love silent discos: everyone has a set of headphones with two channels and music is played through the headphones. As a result, people can be dancing and singing along to completely different songs!

When we were not working, we were free to enjoy the festival. We saw a wide variety of artists across the weekend. My favorite day was the Sunday----in my opinion this had, by far, the best lineup. I really enjoyed seeing Imagine Dragons, Vampire Weekend and, of course, Arctic Monkeys.

Although it was August, I could not believe how cold it was at night! We camped for five nights---- a bit longer than the general public----and it was freezing every night! However, we had a really nice campsite. People who work at festivals stay in a different campsite to the general public. Our campsite was smaller, quieter and a lot cleaner! I had a great time and will definitely be returning next year!

24. How did the author attend the music festival?

A. By buying a ticket.                                       B. By accompanying her sister.

C. By acting as a waiter.                                    D. By slipping there secretly.

25. Why did the author love the Sunday most?

A. Because she was free.                                         B. Because she got more tips.

C. Because there were many bands.                   D. Because there were fewer customers.

26. What does the author think of her campsite?

A. Remote.                   B. Good.                      C. Bad.                         D. Cold.

27. What can be the best title for the passage?

A. A Music Festival.                                          B. Volunteers in a Music Festival.

C. I Love Attending Music Festivals.                  D. Music Festivals Are Popular.

The spread of Western eating habits around the wood is bad for human health and the environment．These findings come from a new report in the journal Nature．There are ways to solve this diet-health-environment problem. But they will require a change in eating habits. And what we eat can be a product of culture, personal taste, price and ease.

David Tillman, a professor of ecology at the University of Minnesota, America, examined information from 100 countries to identify what people ate and how diet affected health．He noted a movement beginning in the 1960s．He found that as nations industrialized, population increased and earnings rose, more people began to adopt what has been called the Western diet．

The Western diet is high in sugar, fat, oil and meat．By eating these foods, people began to get fatter and sicker．David Tillman says overweight people are at greater risk for non-infectious diseases like diabetes and heart disease．

Unfortunately when people become industrialized, if they adopt this Western diet, they are going to have these health problems, especially in developing countries in Asia．China is an example where the number of diabetes cases has been jumping from less than one percent t0 10 percent of the population as they began to industrialize over a 20-year period．And that is happening all across the world, in Mexico, in Nigeria and so on．

And, a diet bad for human beings, it seems, is also bad for the environment．As the world's population grows, more forests and tropical areas will become farmland for crops or grasslands for grazing cattle．These areas will be needed to meet the increasing demand for food. More greenhouse gas are likely to be released in the future from agriculture because of this dietary shift than all the greenhouse gas that right now comes out of all the cars, and all of the planes, boats and ships, all forms of transportation．So the change in diet is likely to be worse for the world for climate warming than all the transportation sources.

Mr. Tillman calls the link between diet, the environment and human health, "a trilemma." This a play on the word "a dilemma": a problem offering a difficult choice．He says one possible solution is leaving the Western diet behind．

28. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A. The westerns should change their living habit.               B. The western diet is not worth recommending.

C. People should try their best to exercise regularly.           D. The spread of Western diet may affect price.

29. The forms of transportation mentioned in the passage intend to       .

A. Tell us that many diseases are caused by all the transportation sources

B. Show more greenhouse gas is released for the change of the diet

C. Stress that more measures should be taken to control the use of them

D. Require that people should try their best to change their life style

30. According to the last paragraph, “trilemma”is       .

A. a play related to diet and health                             B. a program to teach words

C. a word transferred from dilemma                          D. a method to deal with problems

31. What is the writing style of the passage?

A. Compare and evaluate                                          B. Examine and assess

C. Argue and discuss                                               D. Inform and explain

Most kinds of rose plants come from Asia. But roses are also native to other areas including northwest Africa, Europe and the United States. In 1986, Congress chose the rose as America’s national flower. Technically, Congress and President Ronald Reagan declared it the “national floral emblem.” Whatever the name, the decision did not smell sweet to lovers of other flowers.

Some people say roses are difficult to grow. But you have a good chance of success if you start with a few suggestions from experts.

You can buy roses form a garden center or by mail order. You can buy potted roses, also known as container roses, or bare-root plants. Each kind has its fans. Some gardeners say potted roses are easier to plant. They say the roots develop better. But bare-root roses come without soil, making them weigh less to transport.

Another expert advises getting bare-foot roses as close to planting time as you can. You should plant your roses where they can get sunshine or about six hours on bright days. If they arrive before you are ready to plant them, make sure the packing material is moist. Keep the plants in a cool, dark place. The resting plants have no leaves but still need water. When growing roses, the soil should feel moist deep down. Watering should be done in the morning.

In normal conditions, placing mulch around rose plants is a good idea. Mulch suppresses weeds and holds moisture in the soil. You can use mulch made from grasses or leaves. If your soil is very dry, you can add soil and compost，which returns nutrients to the soil. If aphids or other insects invade your bushes, you may be able to force them off with just a strong spray of water.

32. What information can we get from Paragraph one?

A. All roses originated from Asia.                       B. Roses are difficult to grow in Europe.

C. Many countries also grow roses.                   D. Other flowers did not smell sweet.

33. When you plant roses, you should       .

A. Plant them in the wet soil

B. Plant them in a bright day

C. Find a cool and dark place to plant them

D. Avoid watering them at dusk

34. The underlined word “suppresses” in the last paragraph probably means       .

A. promotes                  B. controls                    C. ignores                     D. organizes

35. What is the text mainly about?

A. How to choose roses.                                          B. Where to grow roses.

C. How to grow roses.                                     D. When to plant roses.

How to Overcome Shyness and Make Friends

When you are shy, making friends can be difficult.    36    Try taking these four steps if you want to overcome shyness and make friends.

Practice silence and deep breathing exercises. You do not need to get into a personal conversation with every person you meet.     37    If you are asked a question, do not be afraid to answer.

   38    Network sites like Facebook and Myspace are good options, or you can try local forums and chats on topics you are interested in. Because these are low-pressure environments, you can practice starting conversations without feeling too pressured or self-conscious.  

Get a dog. According to Belief Net, dogs are people magnets(磁铁). Adopt a dog from a shelter and then take him for walks around busy areas. Head to the dog run if you have one near your home. Conversation is natural while you are sitting with other watching your dogs run and play.    39  

Return to the same place and activity regularly. If you do not feel comfortable talking to strangers, chances are that you will not share much the first you meet. Go back for a second or third visit and look for the same people you have seen there before.    40    So you will need to work at connecting with others.

These steps can help you overcome the shyness that is holding you back.

A. Act as if you are not shy.

B. Make friends over the Internet.

C. Friendships are built over time.

D. Shyness can be an obstacle to making new friends.

E. Simply smile and nod when you cross eyes with somebody.

F. Or you can start your own chat by asking others for advice on anything dog-related.

G. Remember, the real goal is to find someone who will like you for who you are.