One of our biggest fears nowadays is that our kids might some day get lost in a “sea of technology” rather than experiencing the natural world. TV and computer games are leading to a serious disconnect between kids and the great outdoors, which will change the wild places of the world, its creatures and human health for the worse, unless adults get working on child's play.

Each of us has a place in nature we go sometimes, even if it was torn down. We cannot be the last generation to have that place. At this rate, kids who miss the sense of wondering outdoors will not grow up to be protectors of natural landscapes. “If the decline in parks use continues across North America, who will defend parks against encroachment (蚕食)?” asks Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods.

Without having a nature experience, kids, can turn out just fine, but they are missing out a huge enrichment of their lives. That applies to everything from their physical health and mental health, to stress levels, creativity and cognitive (认知的) skills. Experts predict modern kids will have poorer health than their parents—and they say a lack of outside play is surely part of it. Research suggests that kids do better academically in schools with a nature component and that playing in nature fosters (培养) leadership by the smartest, not by the toughest. Even a tiny outdoor experience can create wonder in a child. The three-year-old turning over his first rock realizes he is not alone in the world. A clump of trees on the roadside can be the whole universe in his eyes. We really need to value that more.

Kids are not to blame. They are over­protected and frightened. It is dangerous out there from time to time, but repetitive stress from computers is replacing breaking an arm as a childhood rite of passage (仪式).

Everyone, from developers to schools and outdoorsy citizens, should help regain for our kids some of the freedom and joy of exploring, taking friendship in fields and woods that cement (增强) love, respect and need for landscape. As parents, we should devote some of our energies to taking our kids into nature. This could yet be our greatest cause.

41. The main idea of Paragraph 2 is that ________.

A. kids missing the sense of wondering outdoors      

B. parks are in danger of being gradually encroached

C. Richard Louv is the author of Last Child in the Woods

D. children are expected to develop into protectors of nature

42. According to the passage, children without experiencing nature will ________.

A. keep a high sense of wonder

B. be over­protected by their parents

C. be less healthy both physically and mentally

D. change wild places and creatures for the better

43. According to the author, children's breaking an arm is ________.

A. the fault on the part of their parents

B. the natural experience in their growing up

C. the result of their own carelessness in play

D. the effect of their repetitive stress from computers

44. What does “sea of technology” mean in the first paragraph?

A. The technology of TV and computer games.

B. The technology of food.

C. The technology of sea food.

D. The technology of catching animals in the sea.

45. In writing this passage, the author mainly intends to ________.

A. blame children for getting lost in computer games

B. encourage children to protect parks from encroachment

C. show his concern about children's lack of experience in nature

D. inspire children to keep the sense of wonder about things around

Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping. Or is it?

Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (浏览) various websites. The claim made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim of fraud (诈骗) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation.

Another problem is the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue. Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items where design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.

Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large vans pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated (使烦恼) by the fact that the delivery is late and you have wasted the leave from work you have taken to receive it!

Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.

36. The author lists several questions in Para. 1 to         .

       A. support online shopping                      B. collect answers from readers

       C. show his dislike of going shopping            D. introduce the topic of the passage

37. By what can online shoppers avoid fraud?

       A. Using only trusted websites.               B. Choosing big websites.

       C. Collecting shopping evidence.                        D. Seeking advice from the police.

38. What can we learn about online shopping from Para. 3?

       A. It’s normal for a blue dress to change into green.

       B. We shouldn't believe product descriptions easily.

       C. It’s usually wise for us to buy colorful products.

       D. Product appearances are sometimes not good.

39. The author agrees with the fact that ______.

       A. customers are never satisfied with products

       B. online shopping is a safe way to make purchases

       C. online shopping has nothing to do with global warming

       D. delivery delay often makes online shoppers unhappy

40. What is the author’s attitude towards online shopping?

       A. Very popular.   B. A wise choice.    C. Not trouble free.  D. A waste of time.

Each new school year brings fresh reminders of what educators call the summer learning gap. Some call it the summer learning setback. Simply speaking, it means the longer kids are out of school, the more they forget. The only thing they might gain is weight.

Most American schools follow a traditional nine-month calendar. Students get winter and spring breaks and about ten weeks of summer vacation. Some schools follow a year-round calendar. They hold classes for about eight weeks at a time, with a few weeks off in between. The National Association for Year-Round Education says there were fewer than three thousand such schools at last count. They were spread among forty-six of the fifty states.

But many experts point out that the number of class days in a year-round school is generally the same as in a traditional school. Lead researcher Paul von Hippel said, “Year-round schools don't really solve the problem of the summer learning setback. They simply spread it out across the year.”

Across the country, research shows that students from poor families fall farther behind over the summer than other students. Experts say this can be prevented. They note that many schools and local governments offer programs that can help.

But calling them “summer school” could be a problem. The director of the summer learning center at Johns Hopkins, Ron Fairchild, said research with groups of different parents in Chicago and Baltimore found that almost all strongly disliked the term “summer school”. In American culture, the idea of summer vacation is connected to beliefs about freedom and the joys of childhood. The parents welcomed other terms like “summer camp”, “enrichment”, “extra time” and “hands-on learning”.

31. According to the first paragraph the summer learning gap          .

       A. helps children to gain weight                  B. leads children to work harder

       C. improves children’s memories                D. affects children’s regular studies

32. Compared to traditional schools, students in the year-round ones           .

       A. perform better and have more learning gains

       B. have much less time for relaxation every year

       C. have generally the same number of class days

       D. hold more classes with more free weeks off

33. Which of the following statements is true?

       A. Students from poor families often fall behind after the vacation.

       B. Year-round schools can solve the problem of the learning gap.

       C. There are schools in each state following a year-round calendar.

       D. Nothing can help the students who fall behind after the vocation.

34. Why did almost all parents dislike the term “summer school”?

       A. They cherish the children’s rights of freedom very much.

       B. They are worried about the quality of the “summer school”.

       C. They want their children to be forced to make up the gap.

       D. They can’t afford to the further study during vacation.

35. What would be the best title of this passage?

       A. Opening Summer Camps

       B. Forbidding Summer Schools

       C. Spreading Year-Round Education

       D. Minding the Summer Learning Gap 

Linda Evans was my best friend — like the sister I never had. We did everything together: piano lessons, movies, swimming, horseback riding.

When I was 13, my family moved away. Linda and I kept in touch through letters, and we saw each other on special times — like my wedding and Linda’s. Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes, and we wrote less often. One day a card that I sent came back，stamped “Address Unknown”. I had no idea about how to find Linda.

Over the years, I missed Linda very much. I wanted to share happiness of my children and then grandchildren. And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died. There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Linda could fill.

One day, I was reading a newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked very much like Linda and whose last name was Wagman — Linda’s married name. “There must be thousands of Wagmans.” I thought, but I still wrote to her.

She called as soon as she got my letter. “Mrs. Tobin!” she said excitedly, “Linda Evans Wagman is my mother.”

Minutes later I heard a voice that I recognized at once, even after 40 years. We laughed and cried and caught up on each other’s lives. Now the empty place in my heart is filled. And there’s one thing that Linda and I know for sure: We won’t lose each other again!

26. The writer went to piano lessons with Linda Evans ________.

A. at the age of 13                 B. before she got married

C. after they moved to new homes    D. before the writer’s family moved away

27. They didn’t often write to each other because they ________.

A. got married                   B. had little time to do so

C. didn’t like writing letters        D. could see each other on special time

28. There was an empty place in the writer’s heart because she ________.

A. was in trouble

B. didn’t know Linda’s address

C. received the card that she sent

D. didn’t have a friend like Linda to share her happiness and sadness

29. The writer was happy when she ________.

A. read the newspaper

B. heard Linda’s voice on the phone

C. met a young woman who looked a lot like Linda

D. wrote to the woman whose last name was Wagman

30. They haven’t kept in touch ________.

A. for about 40 years           B. for about 27 years

C. since they got married        D. since the writer’s family moved away

       阅读下面短文，按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空，并将答案填写在答题卡标号为16—25的相应位置上。

Paul Lucas can often be seen walking around the city of San Francisco. Sometimes people are surprised to see him walking   16   any shoes or socks,   17   Lucas doesn’t mind at all.   18   likes to walk barefoot, and so do 640 other members of Dirty Sole Society, the club that Lucas   19   (start) years ago. Lucas’ idea for this is to encourage others to live   20   (free) --- free of shoes.

According to Lucas, the barefoot life has many advantages.   21   most important is simply that it feels good. He also says   22   walking barefoot allows you to experience the world directly by touching it with your feet.   23   addition, the feet do not smell as much because they stay dry, making   it hard for bacteria to grow. And, of course,   24   (walk) barefoot keeps your feet in good shape, so it’s actually   25   (healthy) than wearing shoes.

　　　 阅读下面短文，掌握其大意．然后从1—15各题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

The New York Times published an article recently that shows great regret for the “death of conversation”. It 　1 that while technology such as cell phones, e-mails, and Internet posting makes us feel more 　2 than ever, they’re also driving us away from people around us.

　　　 Users get final connectivity at the price of 　3 face-to-face conversation. Sherry Turkle, author of the article in The New York Times says people are 　4 to a different way of being “alone together”.

　　　 Actually, 　5 text messages or writing micro-blogs allows us to 　6 thoughts. But bits and pieces of online cannot 　7 a “real conversation.” Lan Guo, 19, a freshman English major from Changsha University, said that she would like to hear people’s tone of voice and see their faces in a (n) 　8 . “The give and take of ideas in a conversation sharpens our minds.” she said. She also mentions that burying ourselves in mobile technology reduces our chance of starting conversations with strangers and 　9 people.

Turkle mentioned the popular 　10 of “I share, therefore I am” among this generation. Liu Xuan, a young writer from Taiwan and psychology graduate from Harvard University, thinks it’s a mindset adopted by most 　11 people. They are so busy creating or polishing their online persona (网络人格) that they forget how to live a (n) 　12 life.

However, experts remind us that it’s 　13 to blame mobile technology. Chen Chen, a sociology expert at China Youth & Children Research Center, 　14 out that it is still owners of gadgets, who’re avoiding personal contact. “Only by strengthening conversation can we understand each other. 　15 throwing away the mobile gadgets is not a solution.” she said.

1. A. talks　　　　　　　　　　 B. suggests　　　　　　　　 C. speaks　　　　　　　　　 D. advises

2. A. received 　　　　　　 B. shared　　　　　　　　　 C. connected　　　　　　 D. respected

3. A. having　　　　　　　　　 B. risking　　　　　　　　　 C. sacrificing　　　　　　 D. sharing

4. A. related　　　　　　　　　 B. committed　　　　　　 C. devoted　　　　　　　　 D. accustomed

5. A. sending 　　　　　　　 B. getting　　　　　　　　　 C. reading　　　　　　　　　 D. taking

6. A. change 　　　　　　　 B. exchange　　　　　　　 C. explain　　　　　　　　　 D. raise

7. A. indicate　　　　　　　　 B. replace　　　　　　　　　 C. cover　　　　　　　　　　 D. involve

8. A. conversation　　　　 B. computer　　　　　　　 C. party　　　　　　　　　　 D. Internet

9. A. interviewing　　　　　 B. introducing　　　　　　 C. knowing　　　　　　　　 D. meeting

10. A. feeling　　　　　　　　 B. concept　　　　　　　　 C. fact　　　　　　　　　　　 D. truth

11. A. shy　　　　　　　　　　 B. busy　　　　　　　　　　 C. old　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. young

12. A. real　　　　　　　　　　 B. interesting　　　　　　　 C. colorful　　　　　　　　 D. meaningful

13. A. important　　　 B. necessary　　　　 C. unfair　　　　　 D. uncomfortable

14. A. reaches 　　　　　　 B. thinks 　　　　　　　　 C. points 　　　　　　　　 D. watches

15. A. Eventually　　　　　 B. Hardly　　　　　　　　　 C. Finally　　　　　　　　　 D. Simply

第二节 读写任务

A Little at a Time

   Carl Walter was my piano teacher. During one of my lessons he asked how much practice I was doing. I said three or four hours a day.

   "Do you practice in long stretches, an hour at a time?"

   "'I try to."

   "Well, do not," he exclaimed." When you grow up, time won't come in long stretches. Practice in minutes, whenever you can find them five or ten before school, after lunch, between chores. Spread the practice through the day, and piano-playing will become a part of your life."

    Years later when I was teaching at Columbia, I wanted to write, but recitations, theme-reading, and meetings filled my days and evenings. For two years I got practically nothing down on paper, and my excuse was that I had no time. Then I recalled what my piano teacher said to me.

    During the next week I conducted an experiment. Whenever I had five minutes unoccupied(空闲的), I sat down and wrote a hundred words or so. To my astonishment, at the end of the week I had written quite a lot. Later on I wrote novels by the same piecemeal(零碎的) method. Though my teaching schedule had become heavier than ever, every day there were idle (空闲的)moments which could be caught and put to use. I even took up piano-playing again, finding that the small interval of the day provided enough time for both writing and piano practice.

    有一些事情你很想做，可一直没时间。今天，你在杂志上读了上面这篇文章，你很有感触，于是打算把它写在日记里。（开头已给出，不计入词数）

【写作内容】

 1．以约30个词概括你所读的这个故事；

    2．以约120个词谈谈这个故事给你的启发；

       (1)看完这个故事的感受；

       (2)你打算如何运用你今天所领会到的去解决你的问题。

【写作要求】

    1．作文中可使用自己的亲身经历或虚构的故事，也可以参照阅读材料的内容但不得直接引用原文的句子。

    2．作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。

【评分标准】

    概括准确，语言规范，内容合适，语句连贯。

             January 12         Friday          Sunny

Today I read a very good essay. It is about________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

第一节      基础写作

       你校开展了 “敬重父母”的活动,请你根据以下表格内容为你校的英语报刊写一则报道。

【写作内容】

【写作要求】

1．  只能使用5个句子表达全部的内容。

2．  标题与结尾已给出，不计入总句数。

【评分标准】

句子结构准确，信息内容完整，篇章结构连贯。

Respecting Parents Program

__________________________________________________________________________

The program has been winning praises from parents and society. People say that is what we should have done earlier.

信息匹配

请阅读下面相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。然后在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

首先，请阅读下列新闻：

A.        Scientists ask: where are all the bees?

Dave Hackenberg, a Dade City beekeeper, is the first in the state to sound the alarm about the collapse of the national honeybee population; it has spread to 24 states in every part of the country.

B.        Spain’s burnt-out babysitter grandparents urged to strike

Union tells Spanish grandparents to down tools if they are tired of caring for their grandchildren for days on end. A call has gone out for grandparents around Spain to down tools and go on strike, because they’re sick to the teeth of all that childcare.

C.        Breast cancer partners’ mood risk

Men whose partners have breast cancer should be checked for signs that their mental health has been affected, say researchers. A Danish study found that men watching their partners fight cancer were 39% more likely to need hospital care for mood problems.

D. Flooding farms on purpose—for the birds

   In response to the Prudhoe Bay oil spill, US farmers are flooding fields to create unpolluted wetland for migrating birds.

E. India Hindu festival carries environmental cost

   As a part of the activities of this festival, men carry a Ganesh statue to the beach and put it into the sea. Paints and plaster from the thousands of statues pollute the ocean and harm sea life.

F. Google turns 12, gets virtual cake

   Google celebrated its 12^th birthday on Monday with a birthday cake figure created by Wayne Thiebaud, an American artist famous for his paintings of cakes and pastries. It’s not clear why Google chooses to celebrate its birthday on September 27 instead of other noteworthy days in its history.

请阅读下列读者的评论，然后匹配相应的新闻：

61. Happy birthday! Thanks for always having what I was searching for. I’ve probably learned more from you than school. So, thank you. What can we expect next year when it becomes a teenager?

62. Illness has a bad impact on whole families, not just the patients. Men particularly often feel they need to be the strong one and often keep quiet about how they are really feeling. Men should get support for themselves too.

63. I really think this is a terrible problem! We can all work together as a team to stop these bees from dying off. My classroom is doing a whole project on this. Don’t worry. We will save bees’ lives! Just plant more flowers in the garden.

64. People have the right to celebrate their traditional festivals. However, if it causes serious environmental problems, we should take some measures. At least environmentally-friendly statues should be made.

65. The grandparents look after their grandchildren all the week, only sending them back for the weekend. They are too tired. It’s not just Spain’s parents who depend on their relatives. Although doctors say being involved with grandchildren keeps most grandparents healthy and active, I don’t agree.

The Americans have been voted the world’s “funniest nationality” ---the one “best at making people laugh” ---in a global poll (民意调查), which also names the Germans the “least funny” nationality and the British “not as funny as they think”.

30,000 people across 15 countries were asked to name both the “funniest” and “least funny” nationality in a poll conducted by Badoo.com, the world’s largest social network for meeting new people, with 119 million users worldwide.

The Americans were voted the funniest nationality, ahead of the Spanish --- the funniest Europeans --- in second, Italians in third and British in seventh.

The voting for the “least funny” nationality confirmed（证实，证明） the view of America’s Mark Twain that “a German joke is no laughing matter”. The Germans won, ahead of the Russians and Turks. The stereotype of German humourlessness is believed to derive from their reputation（名声）for efficiency, punctuality（守时）and rationality(理性). Examples of German jokes include: “Yesterday, I met my friend Horst at the hospital. He’d swallowed a sponge. He says it doesn’t hurt but he’s always thirsty.”

“When we meet someone new, one of the first things we notice is whether they make us laugh”, says Lloyd Price, Badoo’s Marketing Director. “America is a worthy poll winner”, says Price. “It’s the world’s only comedy superpower.”

The British pride themselves on their humour but learn from the poll that they’re not as funny as they think. They placed just seventh of 15 --- behind the Brazilians, French and Mexicans.

56. According to the poll, which is the right order from the funniest nationality to the least funny one?

A. Spanish, Americans, French, Mexicans, British

B. Americans, Spanish, Italians, Brazilians, French

C. British, Mexicans, Brazilians, Spanish, Americans

D. Italians, French, British, Mexicans, Brazilians

57. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. The poll was conducted among 119 million people by Badoo. com.

B. Spanish are the funniest nationality in Europe.

C. That Germans are named the “least funny” nationality is because of Mark Twain.

D. Some people think that British are funny while others think the opposite in the poll.

58. Which can be the substitute of the word “derive” in the fourth paragraph?

A. acquire           B. suffer             C. translate                 D. accomplish

59. What is the author’s purpose of telling us a German joke?

A. The author wants to show that Germans are good at telling jokes.

B. The author wants to confirm what Mark Twain said.

C. The author wants to prove that Germans are not funny at all.

D. The author just wants to say that swallowing a sponge is no harm.

60. It seems that the best title for this passage is ______.

A. The Funniest Nationality

B. A Global Poll Conducted by Badoo.Com

C. Americans Won the Funniest Nationality

D. Americans Voted “Funniest Nation”, Germans “Least Funny”