The number of buses, taxis and other vehicles on Kenya’s roads is growing every day. Now, the country’s first electric-powered motorbikes are coming onto the market. The bike is designed to cut down on pollution and aimed at low-income communities. Most motorbikes used in Kenya depend on gasoline, but not this new motorbike.

Three university students developed the new ecotran bike. It catches the sun’s energy, stores it in batteries and uses it to charge the electric motor. Robert Achoge is one of the student inventors. “Our hope is that by the fifth year, we will be able to cover the whole of Kenya with the electric motorcycle so as to protect the environment and provide affordable transport.”

The students have set up a charging station for the motorbikes in Nairobi. The small battery can run for 70 kilometers when fully charged. Once the power is used up, the motorbike has to return to the station while another charged battery is connected to the bike. The U.S. African Development Foundation(ADF) is helping set up two solar-powered charging stations in the port of Kisumu.

Each ecotran bike costs about $700. One taxi operator says the new motorbike costs less to operate than that running on traditional gasoline. “When it comes to buying gasoline, there’s no need. It’s basically good for various things. As long as you won’t take quite a heavy load, you can go with it anywhere. Otherwise, it may break down halfway. But now people still have a preference to the gas-powered bikes”

A Nairobi businessman Kennedy Kusimba is selling the ecotran bikes. He hopes they will become popular. “We also know they are more reliable compared to the gas-powered bikes. They are more efficient and they will last longer.”

1. What has happened to the vehicles in Kenya?

A. Motorbikes are not allowed on the road.   

B. A new kind of motorbike is hitting the road.

C. There are fewer buses and taxis in the street.

D. Traditional motorbikes don’t need gasoline any more.

2. What do we know about the ecotran bike?

A. It was developed by the ADF.          

B. It can charge itself while running.

C. Its energy comes from the sunlight.     

D. It does more harm to the environment.

3. What do people think of the ecotran bike?

A. It’s better not to use it to carry too much. 

B. It is a good choice for the long-distance journey.

C. It will take the place of gas-powered bikes soon.

D. It is much more expensive than a traditional motorbike.

4. Where does the text probably come from?

A. A research plan.             B. An advertisement.   

C. A business report.           D. A science magazine.

A group of homeless children in the Indian capital of New Delhi publish a newspaper telling about their own lives. It is called Balaknama, which means “children’s voice”.

The newspaper is written and edited by children up to 19 years old. About 10,000 people read it. The children write about poverty, child labor, underage marriages and drugs. When reports arrive, they sit down to select the story, and fights usually break out. They argue: this story will have more effect than that story. So there’re a lot of debates before the final selection goes to print.

The newspaper has 70 reporters in several states and 14 in the capital. All of the reporters, editors and managers are homeless children. Many of their parents are jobless and cannot read or write. The children now earn money, and many of them attend classes online.

The newpaper is published every month. It has eight pages. In 2002, when it began operations, the newspaper was published four times a year. It has changed the lives of many of the children who publish it, and hopes to improve the lives of thousands of others.

Non-governmental organizations and charity groups support the newspaper. Sanjay Gupta leads a group that helps the children and gives money to the newspaper. “They feel very encouraged when people appreciate them. When they talk to the officials and before the media, they gradually build up their self-confidence. I think Balaknama is a powerful tool for them. The newspaper costs about three cents. That is lower than the price of a small cup of tea in India. But the low cost gives the children hope that they will someday have a home and a job.”

5. What can we learn about reports in Balaknama?

A. They often cause disagreement.         

B. They all come from the capital.

C. They are chosen by managers directly.   

D. They are about the lives of children in India.

6. Which of the following about Balaknama is TRUE?

A. It is published every three months.      

B. It is designed for readers under 19.

C. It is operated by homeless children.     

D. It aims to help more children receive an education.

7. What can we learn from Sanjay Gupta’s words?

A. Balaknama helps children become confident.          

B. People usually read Balaknama while drinking tea.

C. The government should help Balaknama financially.  

D. The price of Balaknama is too low to support the children.

It may not come as a surprise but the world as a whole is getting richer. Recent data has shown that the number of people living in extreme poverty has halved in recent decades. So should we celebrate the fact that more of us now have a better standard of living?

Maybe not. While the gap between rich and poor in some countries is narrowing, there is still a lot of inequality in other places---some people have a lot of money and opportunities and others don't. A recent report by Oxfam and Credit Suisse revealed how divided many of us are when it comes to wealth. A lot of the money in the world is in the hands of very few people. In fact, 48% of global wealth is owned by the richest 1% of the population.

But some countries are attempting to reduce this inequality and make the poor, less poor. According to David Bryer from Oxfam, Brazil has been taking “some really sensible measures - measures around having more progressive(稳定的) tax, around investing in a higher minimum wage and investing in central public services.” Having a higher minimum wage can help people eat better and seek a better education. And more people with more money buy more things---and factories can produce more. In turn, a factory which produces more will need more workers. So, more jobs are created.

Other wealthy individuals are doing their bit to help reduce inequality. Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, earned a lot of money from his company but when he retired, he and his wife Melinda, created a foundation to help the poor. He thinks that rich people should all be philanthropic and take out some wealth to help the poorest both at home and abroad.

Bill Gates feels that giving money to help poor people is "fulfilling". But if other super-rich people don't want to experience this fulfillment then, according to Oxfam, very soon the wealthiest 1% will soon own more money than the rest of the world's population.

8. According to a recent report by Oxford and Credit Suisse, ________.

A. the gap between the rich and the poor is widening gradually

B. increased wealth helps people to reduce the inequality

C. people should be happy about the world’s getting richer

D. a small number of people possess the major world wealth

9. What is the meaning of the underlined word “philanthropic”?

A. Broadminded.    B. Responsible.     C. Realistic.      D. Charitable.

10. The author develops the article mainly by _________.

A. comparing opinions from different fields

B. listing detailed numbers and analyzing them

C. presenting a trend and analyzing its cause and effect

D. presenting research findings and giving some examples

 Trust is like money. It is so difficult to earn, easy to waste and no matter how much you have, it is just never enough.

For you, as a teenager, trust may seem to be a complicated word. ____11____ This can cause a lot of tension between you, and also can make you feel disappointed and angry.

It is impossible for you to be the perfect teenager and child. ___12____ But when it comes to trust, you need to understand something. The degree to which your parents give you their trust needs to match the degree to which you prove yourself trustworthy. ___13___ If you want their trust, you have to behave honestly and responsibly.

When you behave irresponsibly, your parents will certainly be disappointed in you. ___14___ The saying “Actions speak louder than words” is true. It is not what you say to your parents that makes them believe in you, but what you do.

___15___ Work towards regaining your parents’ trust. For this, you should listen to your parents, study hard and get good results at school. Say sorry when you have made a mistake, be financially responsible and don’t abuse what is given to you or ask for more than you need. In a word, if you try to perform well, your parents will surely trust you again.

A. It is important to choose your path wisely.

B. Your parents aren’t always willing to trust you.

C. And if your parents give you chores, finish them.

D. So what should you do when your parents don’t trust you?

E. You are going to make mistakes, whether you want to or not.

F. You will lose their trust because of the way you have behaved.

G. So you need to ask yourself if your pattern of behavior is worthy of their trust.

41. I think he is not ______ (self). He has been concerned with people around him.

42.Millions of fans admire his athletic ability, _________ (motivate) and confidence.

43.___________ we will go camping tomorrow or not depends on the weather.

44.The traditional view is ________ we sleep because our brain is “programmed” to make us do so.

45.How I wish every family ______ (have) a large house with a beautiful garden.