In today's fast paced，high stress world people are working longer hours than ever，and often exhaust themselves at day's end in front of the television to relax enough to begin again in the morning. However，television watching，for most people，does not really lower stress. Studies show that TV viewing more than an hour or so actually creates stress and，especially in women，may lead to the blues. Most individuals are unaware that doing some exercise after work makes them more energetic since it increases energy levels.

Wise use of free time does not mean getting an advanced degree，although the mental encouragement gained through education is unbeatable in keeping your mind active. Learning new things nearly always adds a spark to your daily life，especially if it is a favorite topic，such as sport，fashion，or art. Also，look through your bookstore or library to find books on your interests. Try to replace a half hour TV watching with reading.

It is reported that in the United States recently，many individuals have as few as two good friends. Long work hours and car commute act to separate people from each other. This separation is deadly. Find ways to meet people at the end of the day and on weekends. Often this can be best done by combining activities，such as by joining a walking group to get both exercise and companionship. Taking a class will lift your spirits and allow you to meet others with similar interests. Hobbies are great for reducing stress and provide another opportunity for social interaction.

Using your free time to aid your health may include these elements and many more，such as going to concerts and spending time with family. Overall，the key is to spend less free time being passive. The best ways to use free time are to be mentally and physically active，spend some time outdoors，and interact with other people on a regular basis.

1.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Watching television may cause women to feel depressed.

B. Finding interests and hobbies in common means taking a class.

C. Going to concerts is the best way to make you mentally active.

D. Getting an advanced degree in education always lights up your life.

2.What does the underlined word “commute” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A. The arrangement to work every day.

B. The journey to work every day.

C. The communication between people.

D. The separation between people.

3.Which would be the best title for the passage?

A. Live a Happy and Healthy Life

B. Relax Yourself in Various Ways

C. Spend Your Free Time Wisely

D. Interact With Others Outdoors

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余选项。

Different cultures

The cultures of the East and the West really distinguish each other a lot. 1._____

The origin of the Eastern cultures is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are developed by rivers—the Yellow River in China and the Indus River in India. 2.________

When the two mother rivers gave birth to the Eastern culture, another famous culture was brought up on the Mesopotamian Plain—the Mesopotamian Civilization. This civilization later on developed into the cultures of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. 3._______ Like the Chinese culture, the European culture also crossed waters. When the British settled down in America, their culture went with them over the Atlantic Ocean. So the American culture doesn't distinguish from the European culture a lot.

4.________ Take the language system for example. In the East, most languages belong to the pictographic language while the Western languages are mostly based on the Latin system. Other causes like human race difference counts as well. But what's more, due to the far distance and the steep, areas between the East and West, the two cultures seldom communicate until recent centuries. So they grew up totally in their own ways with almost no interference(干扰) from the other.

These differences are everywhere. 5.________ But different cultures make the world of 21st century more colourful. The cultural gap should not be the obstacle (障碍) to the civilization of human being. It ought to be the motivation of our going farther.

A．Let us work together to keep a variety of culture.

B．One important thing is to learn about other cultures.

C．And these two are well known as the base of the European culture.

D．At the same time, some other differences add to the cultural differences.

E．This is because the culture systems are two separate systems on the whole.

F．They helped the two cultures develop for centuries and form their own styles.

G．They are obvious and affect people's ways of thinking and their views of the world.

The palace caught fire three times in the last century, and little of the original building _____ now.

A. is remaining B. remains

C. has been remained D. is remained

People Who Moved China, hosted by CCTV, honors the people _______ the valuable contributions should be remembered by every Chinese.

A.whose B.of whom C. that D. of which

So many floods have cut down on the production of peanuts; _______, the price has gone up a great deal.

A. in other words B. in brief

C. even so D. as a result

Everyone has good days and bad days.

Sometimes, you feel as if you’re on top of the world. But occasionally you feel horrible, and you lose things and you cannot focus on your schoolwork.

For more than 20 years, scientists have suggested that high self-esteem (自尊) is the key to success. Now, new research shows that focusing just on building self-esteem may not be helpful. In some cases, having high self-esteem can bring bad results if it makes you less likeable or more upset when you fail at something.

“Forget about self-esteem,” says Jennifer Crocker, a psychologist (心理学家) at the University of Michigan, US. “It’s not the important thing.”

Feeling good

Crocker’s advice may sound a bit strange because it is good to feel good about yourself.

Studies show that people with high self-esteem are less likely to be depressed, anxious, shy, or lonely than those with low self-esteem.

But, after reviewing about 18,000 studies on self-esteem, Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University, has found that building up your self-esteem will not necessarily make you a better person.

He believes that violent and wicked (邪恶的) people often have the highest self-esteem of all. He also said: “There’s no evidence that kids with high self-esteem do better in school.”

Problems

All types of people have problems. People with high self-esteem can have big egos (自我) that can make them less likeable to their peers(同龄人), said Kathleen Vohs, a psychology professor at Columbia University.

People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves, Vohs says. People with low self-esteem are more likely to rely on their friends when they need help.

What to do

Researchers say it is best to listen to and support other people. Find positive ways to contribute to society. If you fail at something, try to learn from the experience. “The best therapy (药方) is to recognize your faults,” Vohs says. “It’s OK to say, ‘I’m not so good at that,’ and then move on.”

1.The new research comes to the conclusion that high self-esteem ________.

A. is not important at all

B. may not be the key to success

C. has taken on a different meaning

D. does not help you do better at school

2.One of the conclusions of the new research is that ________.

A. people with high esteem tend to be proud

B. people with high esteem usually do not seek other’s help

C. feeling good about oneself doesn’t mean you lead a happier life

D. people with low esteem are often more popular

3.The underlined part “a better person” in the passage probably means a person who is ______.

A. helpful and supportive B. gentle and modest

C. likable and successful D. friendly and kind

4.From the text, we can infer the best therapy mentioned in the last paragraph is mainly for people ________.

A. of all kinds

B. with low self-esteem

C. with high self-estee

D. who are focusing on building self-esteem

阅读下列材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的适当形式。

Restaurants in Europe, the United States and Japan are testing technology to let diners order their food 1._________ (direct) from a screen at their table instead of depending 2. _________ a waiter to note their choice.

The “e-menu” can attract younger customers and make diners want to order 3._______ .

In Israel, a company has already used 4._________ e-menu technology in its sushi bars(寿司店), pubs and family restaurants. The system is based on touch screens already used in self-service canteens(自助餐厅)or for5._________ (sell)tickets in airports and cinemas.

“It’s about impulse-buying(冲动消费),” saidAdi, the company’s chief manager. “6._________ a person starts looking at pictures of chocolate cake, the chances are he’ll order 7._________.”

The company has also supplied its systems to restaurants in France, South Africa and Belgium.

Frame, a fashionable sushi restaurant8._________ has used the system, said sales on table with the e-menu 9.________ (increase) by about 11 percent. “Customers often call ahead to reserve places 10.________ (equip) with the screens.” manager Edry told reporters.

“It’s more visual(视觉的),” said a customer. “We can still choose, and we can still argue－but it’s much easier when you can all see it.”

完形填空

阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

Late one night, a thief crept(爬) into a wealthy merchant ’s house. He was a young thief, without experience. In fact, this was his first professional（职业的专业的） . So he had ________ everything carefully.

All went quite well at first. He found, as he ________ , an unlocked window and got into the room easily. But, stepping his way through the ________ room, he stubbed (碰到) his ________ against a table leg. Choking (抑制) back a cry of pain, afraid of waking the merchant, he hit ________ on the forehead and called himself a fool. He had________ to bring a light.

In the darkness, ________ , he was able to see an oil lamp on the table, and lit it, then he gave a ________ of relief. As he ________ the lamp, a small spider came out from under its ________ .

“Thank you for saving my life,” said the spider. “Before he went to bed, the merchant set this lamp down on top of me so I couldn’t escape. If you hadn’t come along, I wouldn’t have ________ the night; ________ , I’ve had such an uncomfortable situation for a long time.”

“You have saved a life and shown compassion (同情),” the spider went on,

________ the impatient thief said he had not ________ to do so. “ ________ yet, you have done so without the ________ thought or hope of reward. You have gained more merits (优点) than you could possibly imagine.”

“But you’re only a spider,” said the thief.

“And you’re only a man.” said the spider. “My dear thief, when you understand that ________ is life, whether on eight legs or ________ , you will have understood much. Your deed, ________ , has got rid of the bad things from your heart. Go from here with a fresh spirit. And good luck to you.”

The thief did so and never thought to steal again.

1.A. job B. finding C. mistake D. appearance

2.A. planned B. imagined C. managed D. explained

3.A. remembered B. expected C. reminded D. meant

4.A. dull B. dark C. sitting D. terrible

5.A. head B. shoulder C. toe D. hand

6.A.it B. him C. himself D. itself

7.A. remembered B. forgo tten C. avoid D. happened

8.A. however B. but C. so D. therefore

9.A. cry B. applause C. sigh D. laugh

10.A. set down B. turned over C. woke up D. picked up

11.A. base B. cap C. cover D. foot

12.A. wasted B. lasted C. hated D. worried

13.A. however B. anyhow C. indeed D. entirely

14.A. although B. so C. as if D. so that

15.A. said B. led C. cared D. meant

16.A. Better B. Worse C. Natural D. Lucky

17.A. hopeful B. least C. most D. ordinary

18.A. man B. spider C. chance D. life

19.A. two B. three C. a dozen D. a hundred

20.A. in return B. at last C. in any case D. at once

A recent report found 46% of parents agreed that their child knew more about the Internet than they did. And now new research shows parents are turning to their children for lessons in technology.

The new study of around 1,000 parents showed that 67% of parents have asked their teenager children for technology-related advice. 44% have asked their teenager for help using the Internet, and 41% have received teen advice about how to use the TV or home entertainment system.

Ahad Surooprajally, a father of five children, says his children help him with technology in the home. “They’ve grown up surrounded by technology,” he explains. “We have four computers and four iPads in our house. If I want to know something technical they're the ones I go to.”

He says his nine-year-old son Habeeb is the only person in the house who really understands the TV. So he tells Habeeb which film he wants to watch and Habeeb connects his mobile phone to the TV. “You teach your kids everyday life lessons, but the tables are turned when it comes to technology,” says Ahad.

As well as learning how to use technology properly, there is another advantage of parents asking their children to help them understand the digital world. They may be able to get a better understanding of what their kids are doing online.

Will Gardner of the charity Childnet International says, “We have to continuously encourage parents to find out more about what their children are doing online. If the kids are using a social networking site, get them to show you around it if you are not using it already.”

1.What do we know about the new study?

A. Few parents trust their children to give them advice.

B. About half of the parents have no idea how to use a computer.

C. Most teenagers know more about the Internet than their parents.

D. Over two-thirds of parents turned to their teenagers on tech matters.

2.What does the underlined part “the tables are turned” probably mean?

A. The duty is carried out.

B. The situation is changed.

C. The pleasure will increase.

D. The difficulty becomes less.

3.Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A. Internet: Open to our kids too early

B. Children: Parents' technology advisors

C. Parents: Confused by new technology

D. Technology: Challenge for everyone

阅读下列各小题，根据汉语提示,在空格上填入恰当的词，使句子完整。

1.不管发生什么事，不要泄气。

No matter what happens, please don’t ________ _______.

2.众所周知，橄榄枝象征和平。

As we all know, an olive wreath _______ __________ peace.

3.一听到这个滑稽的故事，他们都放声大笑。

On hearing the funny story, they all _______ _______ __________.

4.《谁动了我的奶酪》这本书非常值得读。

The book, Who Moved My Cheese, is _______ _______ __________.

5.领导们对汤姆为公司所做的贡献进行了高度评价。

The leaders _______ _______ __________ what Tom had done for the company.

6.在邻居的帮助下，我们很快适应了这儿的生活。

_______ _______ __________ ________ our neighb our, we have quickly got used

to the life here.

7.如果我们什么都不做，将会有更多的物种处于灭绝的危险。

If we don’t do anything, there will be more species which are _______ _______ __________ ________ _______

8.我考试又没及格，只有在那时我才意识到我浪费了多少时间。

I failed again in the exam and only then _______ _______ __________ how much time had been wasted.

9.只有达到他们各自项目统一标准的运动员才会被接受成为参赛者。

Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event __________ _______ __________as competitors.

10.随着时间的推移，我的记忆力发展得如此之快，就像一头大象一样，我从来不会忘记我被告知的那些事情。

Over time my memory has developed so much that, like an elephant, I never

forget anything_______ _______ __________ ________.