Celebrity (名人) has become one of the most important representatives of popular culture. Fans used to be crazy about a specific film, but now the public tends to base its consumption (消费) on the interest of celebrity attached to any given product. Besides, fashion magazines have almost abandoned  the practice of putting models on the cover because they don’t sell nearly as well as famous faces. As a result, celebrities have realized their unbelievably powerful market potential, moving from advertising for others’ products to developing their own.

Celebrity clothing lines aren’t a completely new phenomenon, but in the past they were typically aimed at the ordinary consumers, and limited to a few TV actresses. Today they’re started by first-class stars whose products enjoy equal fame with some world top brands. The most successful start-ups have been those by celebrities with specific personal style. As celebrities become more and more experienced at the market, they expand their production scale rapidly, covering almost all the products of daily life.

However, for every success story, there’s a related warning tale of a celebrity who overvalued his consumer appeal. No matter how famous the product’s origin is, if it fails to impress consumers with its own qualities it begins to resemble an exercise in self-promotional marketing. And once the initial (最初的) attention dies down, consumer interest might fade, loyalty returning to tried-and-true labels.

    Today, celebrities face even more severe embarrassment. The pop-cultural circle might be bigger than ever, but its rate of turnover has speeded up as well. Each misstep threatens to reduce a celebrity’s shelf life, and the same newspaper or magazine that once brought him fame has no problem picking him to pieces when the opportunity appears. Still, the ego’s（自我的）potential for expansion is limitless. Having already achieved great wealth and public recognition, many celebrities see fashion as the next frontier to be conquered. As the saying goes, success and failure always go hand in hand. Their success as designers might last only a short time, but fashion—like celebrity—has always been temporary.

72. Fashion magazines today        .

   A. no longer put models on the cover

   B. seldom put models on the cover

   C. need not worry about celebrities’ market potential

   D. judge the market potential of every celebrity correctly

73. A change in the consumer market can be found today that        .

A. price rather than brand name is more concerned

   B. producers prefer models to celebrities for advertisements

   C. quality rather than the outside of products is more concerned

D. producers prefer TV actresses to film stars for advertisements

74. The underlined sentence in paragraph 4 indicates that any wrong step will possibly        .

A. influence the price of a celebrity’s products  

B. damage the image of a celebrity in the eyes of the general public

   C. cut short the artistic career of a celebrity in show business

   D. decrease the popularity of a celebrity and the sales of his products

75. The passage is mainly about         .

   A. celebrity and markets potential              B. celebrity and personal style

   C. celebrity and fashion design                 D. celebrity and clothing industry

What if it isn’t a dog-eat-dog world? What if caring for a dog or for a mom with Alzheimer’s (老年痴呆症) makes you stronger and allows you to live longer?

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley are challenging our long-held belief that humans are born to be selfish.

Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection was misunderstood by his male followers, the researchers say. Rather than “every man for himself”, Darwin believed that humans are successful as a species precisely because of our educational, selfless and sympathetic characteristics.

Why has it taken so long for Darwin’s central revelation(揭示) to be properly understood? “We’ve had too many men in social science,” Berkeley psychology professor Dacher Keltner told me in an interview. “Female scientists acknowledge that caring for people is part of human nature according to the research, which shows the human ability to care exists in our brains and nerve systems.”

In my book Passages in Caregiving , I urge women who take the whole responsibility for taking care of an elderly parent or a sick relative to build a “Circle of Care”. Reach out to your brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors and community volunteers to help you care, because no one can perform this overwhelming role alone. You will be as shocked as I to learn how the most selfless caregivers are rewarded with longer life.

Sympathy is not a woman’s word. In fact it makes all of us stronger under stress and more highly respected by our peers. For so long we have repeated the false saying “Nice guys finish last”. But the 40 richest Americans committed to doing good by donating half their fortunes are no spring chickens. So here is my new explanation：Nice guys die last.

68. The first paragraph serves to       .

   A. give the background of the topic    B. bring out the topic of the passage

   C. urge people to care for a dog       D. blame the world for selfishness

69. In Passages in Caregiving, women are advised to      .

   A. learn how to live a longer life                 B. take good care of themselves

   C. share the responsibility of caring with others     D. help as many people as possible

70. Why does the author mention the 40 richest Americans’ commitment in this passage?

   A. To use it as an example to support his opinion. 

B. To argue against offering sympathy. 

C. To show their generosity to society.

D. To call on people to learn from them.

71. Which of the following might be the BEST title of the passage?

   A. Males and females have different opinions about selflessnes

B. Darwin’s theory of evolution is out of date now

   C. Measures must be taken to improve the world

   D. Selflessness could be the secret to longer life

MANCHESTER, England — Here’s some good news that vegetarians (素食者) can really sink their teeth into: Researchers in UMA Group have developed genetically engineered fruit trees that produce real meat!

Fruit from the new Meat Trees, developed by British scientists using the gene technology, is closely like ordinary grape-fruit. But when you cut the fruit open, inside is fresh beef!

“Our trees may sound like something out of a science fiction movie, but it’s really true,” declares Dr. Vincent, director of the UMA Group, which created the amazing trees. “Vegetarians have been complaining for years that in spite of their firm belief against eating meat, they still desire the taste of meat once in a while. Now they can have their cake and eat it too.”

Although it’s taken 12 years to develop the trees, the idea is simple. “We take the genes from cattle and put them into the cells of grape-fruit trees,” Dr. Vincent says. “When the seeds grow into trees, they produce meat instead of ordinary fruit. You get the taste — even the smell.”

Those who’ve tried the meat agree it tastes like the real thing. “I was a bit unwilling to believe at first when I sank my teeth into a hamburger after they told me it grew on a tree,” says Londoner Mark, who took part in a taste-test. “But it was juicy and delicious ─ nothing leafy about it at all.”

Meat Tree products could be on the market in Great Britain by the end of next year. Some vegetarians insist they should never eat meat — even if it grew on a tree. Others love the idea. “My mouth is watering already,” says a devoted vegetarian of 20 years.

64. According to what Dr. Vincent said, we know that ______.

   A. vegetarians like to make a cake and enjoy it later

   B. the idea of Meat Trees came from a science fiction movie

   C. vegetarians can eat meat from the new trees

   D. vegetarians can taste and even smell fruit from Meat Trees

65. The passage tells us that ______.

   A. Meat Tree products are sure to be popular with vegetarians

   B. most vegetarians like the taste of fruit from Meat Trees

   C. you can buy fruit from Meat Trees in the supermarket in Great Britain now

   D. it's hard to tell fruit on Meat Trees from ordinary fruit without cutting in

66. In paragraph 5, the author took Mark for example to ______.

   A. show he is one of the devoted vegetarians

   B. prove the real taste of fruit from Meat Trees

   C. tell how a vegetarian eats the new fruit

   D. to explain how the taste-test is given

67. By writing this passage, the author wants to ______.

   A. show readers a new achievement in gene technology

   B. encourage people to eat fruit from Meat Trees

   C. explain how meat is produced on trees

   D. tell vegetarians good news about Meat Trees

When I was an official of a school in Palo Alto, California, Polly Tyner, the president of our board, wrote a letter that was printed in the Palo Alto Times. Polly’s son, Jim, had great difficulty in school. He was classified as the educationally handicapped and required a great deal of patience on the part of his parents and teachers. But Jim was a happy kid with a great smile that lit up the room. His parents knew his difficulties, but they always tried to help him see his strengths so that he could walk with pride. Shortly after Jim finished high school, he was killed in a motorcycle accident. After his death, his mother submitted this letter to the newspaper.

     “Today we buried our 20-year-old son. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on Friday night. How I wish I had known that the last time I had talked to him would be the last time. If I had only known that, I would have said to him, ‘Jim, I love you and I’m always so proud of you.’ I would have taken the time to count the many blessings he had brought to the lives of the people who loved him. I would have taken the time to appreciate his beautiful smile, his laughter, and his genuine love to other people.

     “When I put all the good things on the scale and try to balance them with all the irritating (恼人的) things such as the radio that was always too loud, the haircut that wasn’t to our liking, the dirty socks under the bed, etc., I find that the irritations really don’t amount to much.

     “I won’t get another chance to tell my son all that I would have wanted him to hear, but, other parents, do have a chance. Tell your young people what you would want them to hear as if it may be your last conversation. The last time I talked to Jim was the morning of the day when he died. He called me to say, ‘Hi, Mom! I just called to say I love you. You have to go to work now. Bye.’ That day, he gave me something to treasure forever. ”

If there is any purpose at all for Jim’s death, maybe it is to make others appreciate life more and to tell people, especially family members, that they should take the time to let each other know just how much they care. You may never have another chance. Do it today!

60. Who was Jim?

A. The writer’s relative.                               B. The child of the Tyners’. 

C. The president of a school board.                D. An official of a school.

61. What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase “the educationally handicapped”?

A. The communication difficulty.                       B. The physical problems.

C. The psychological problems.                      D. The learning difficulty.   

62. According to the writer, which of the following about Jim is TRUE？

A. His study needed more attention from his parents and teachers.

B. His parents always scolded him about his bad school marks.

C. He was always sad about his school marks.

D. He was killed in a car accident.

63. The purpose of Polly’s letter is to                .

A. teach children how to be good boys

B. memorize her son

C. teach parents to appreciate their children

D. give some advice on how to deal with children’s problems

Paula and Rory Ward have five kids, three dogs, and a rabbit. When the house is very noisy, Megan, one of the children, is quietly inventing. A year ago, the 10­year­olds had to design an anti­smoking poster for a school project. Rather than a poster, she came up with the idea of creating something that shows the average amount of tar(尼古丁) a smoker collects from just four packs of cigarettes.

“I like people to play with things more than read and write, ” she says. So she researched her idea on the Internet, found a company in China that could make it, saved up her pocket money and got her idea made.

Paula says her daughter “thinks differently”: Ideas jump into her mind. After she got sunburnt on holiday, Megan invented a small plastic bracelet that changes color in the sun, telling you when to put on sunscreen. Several sunscreen companies have expressed an interest in the idea. She also came up with an idea to make a ball filled with water to stop the dog from feeling thirsty. “But we didn’t do anything with it,” says Paula.

Then she pulls out a picture of a special fishing rod she has designed. “ There is a camera on the hook, ” she explains, “and the screen is on the handle，and it shows you if you’ve caught a fish or not. ”

Megan doesn’t want to go to university. She keeps her pink­and­cream bedroom tidy. Paula is amazed and a bit confused by her daughter. “Everything has to be in a certain order,” Paula says. “Her brothers and sisters go with the flow, but with Megan, it’s ‘What time will that be happening?’ or ‘Where am I being picked up from today?’ ”

56. From Paragraph 2, we can infer that Megan ________.

A. is not willing to go to school

B. prefers making something by herself

C. likes to play with her brothers and sisters

D. is good at reading and writing

57. What did Megan invent after she got sunburnt on vacation?

A. The anti­smoking poster.

B. The ball providing water for thirsty dogs.

C. The bracelet telling when to put on sunscreen.

D. The fishing rod telling whether you’ve caught a fish.

58. The underlined phrase “go with the flow” probably means “_______”.

A. do what most people usually do  B. set an example to others

C. follow the fashion closely       D. do something differently from others

59. According to the passage, which of the following about Megan is TRUE?

A. Her parents always help her invent something special.

B. She is quite the same as her other four brothers and sisters.

C. Her mother Paula doesn’t want her to go to university.

D. She would like to keep everything in order.

The moment happened 20 years ago but it was still fresh in my memory. I was a college freshman and had 36 up most of the night before laughing and talking with friends. Now just before my first 37 of the day my eyelids were feeling heavier and heavier and my head was drifting down to my desk to make my textbook a 38 . A few minutes’ nap（小睡）time before class couldn’t 39 , I thought.

BOOM! I lifted my head suddenly and my eyes opened wider than saucers. I looked around with my 40 beating wildly trying to find the cause of the 41 . My young professor was looking at me with a boyish smile on his face. He had 42 dropped the textbooks he was carrying onto his desk. “Good morning!”, he said still 43 . “I am glad to see everyone is 44 . Now let’s get started. ”

For the next hour I wasn’t sleepy at all. It wasn’t from the 45 of my professor’s textbook alarm clock either. It was instead from the 46 discussion he led. With knowledge and good　 47 he made the material come 48 . His insight was full of both wisdom and loving-kindness. And the enthusiasm and joy that he 49 with were contagious（有感染力的）. I 50 the classroom not only wide awake, but a little 51 and a little better as well.

I learned something far more important than not 52 in class that day too. I learned that if you are going to do something in this life，do it well，do it with 53 . What a wonderful place this would be if all of us did our work joyously and well. Don’t sleepwalk your way through 54 then. Wake up! Let your love fill your work. Life is too 55 not to live it well.

36．A. took　　　　　　　　 　　　 B. stayed　　　　　　　　　　 C. spent 　　　　　　　　　 D. put

37．A. task　　　　　　　　 　 B. test　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. class　　　　　　　　　　　 D. lecture

38．A. pillow　　　　　　　 　 B. shadow　　　　　　　　　 C. basis　　　　　　　　　　　 D. comfort

39．A. inspect　　　　　　 　 B. disturb　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. hurt　　　　　　 D. bend

40．A. head　　　　　　　　　　　 B. mind　　　　　　　　　　　 C. thought　　　　　　　　　 D. heart

41．A. noise　　　　　　　　 　 B. trouble　　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. voice　　　　　　　　　　　 D. incident

42．A. angrily　　　　　　　　　　 B. deliberately　　　　　　　 C. carelessly　　　　　　　　 D. accidentally

43．A. shouting　　　　　 　 B. sighing　　　　　　　　　　 C. complaining　　　　　　 D. smiling　　　

44．A. active　　　　　　　　　　　 B. curious　　　　　 C. awake　　　　　 D. present　　　

45．A. shock　　　　　　　　　　 B. sound　　　　　　　 　 C. interruption　　　　　　　 D. blow

46．A. convincing　　　　　　　 B. fascinating　　　　 　 C. puzzling　　　　　　　　　 D. encouraging

47．A. gesture　　　　　　　　　　 B. sense　　　　　　　　　　　 C. design　　　　　 D. humor

48．A. strange　　　　　　　　　　 B. natural　　　　　　　　　　 C. alive　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. handy

49．A. spread　　　　　　　　　　 B. taught　　　　　　　 　 C. combined　　　　　　　　 D. started

50．A. left　　　　　　　　　 　 B. seated　　　　　　　　　　 C. decorated　　　　　　　　 D. entered

51．A. clearer　　　　　　　　　　 　 B. quieter　　　　　　　　　　 C. smarter　　　　　　　　　 D. stronger

52．A. discussing　　　　　　　 B. speaking　　　　　　　　　 C. sleeping　　　　　　　　　 D. cheating

53．A. determination　　　　　 B. religion　　　　　　 　 C. strength　　　　　　　　　 D. joy

54．A. life　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. work　　　　　　　　 　 C. journey　　　　　　　　　 D. college

55．A. hard　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. short　　　　 　　　 C. complex　　　　　　　　　 D. simple

 —Everyone was really worried about you. You should have told us before leaving.

   —______.

    A. Never mind        B. I’m terribly sorry     C. All right          D. That’s all right

 Mother told Jim to watch the milk until it boiled and then _____ off the gas.

A. turn                    B. turns                   C. turned              D. turning

 _______ the bridge, the Chinese workers will have to stay there for another two weeks.

A. Not building        B. Not built           C. Having not built D. Not having built

 —Where did you get this mobile phone?

—I picked it up from a second-hand bookshop if you ______ know.

A. must                     B. will                           C. can                         D. may