Dennis Sinar, 51, a doctor from Washington, N. C., is quick to explain why he took a yearlong break from his job. “I was pretty burned out after practicing medicine for 26 years. I needed a recharge.” So he took a “gap year”, from July 2011 to June 2012, to explore things like ancient buildings, antique restoration, and traditional Eastern medicine, in locations including Alaska, Nepal and Romania.

“Taking a break from work is an excellent way for adults to go into a new career or refresh an old one,” said Holly Bull, president of the Center for Interim（过渡时期）Programs in Princeton, N, J., which sets up gap-year programs. The group works mainly with college-age students, but it has also served older adults since it was formed 28 years ago. “In recent years, mid-career breaks have been gaining more interest,” she said. A report on adult gap years published this year by a market research company also described the potential（潜在的）American market for gap years as a “sleeping giant.”

“A gap year is a challenge for the older individual to step out of a comfort zone and take a risk. I enjoyed that side most.” said Dr. Sinar, who kept a daily blog about his experience. His time studying Eastern medicine “reaffirmed（再次肯定）the reasons I went into health care,” said Dr. Sinar, who returned to practice medicine at his old job, although he works fewer days. “I use those experiences to provide my patients with more care,” he added. “And I listen better than I did before.”

George Garritan, chairman of the Department of Leadership and Human Capital Management at New York University, certainly agrees with Dr. Sinar. He said a gap-year experience could be worthwhile for employees and companies. For employees, investing in themselves and improving skill sets is a move that will benefit throughout their career. He added that returning employees feel refreshed and have given more thought to their career. For companies, offering unpaid leaves makes good sense for attracting and keeping talented employees.

“My hope is that this takes off,” Dr. Garritan said. “We’re all thinking, ‘What’s my next act?’ ”

59. Dr. Sinar took a gap year because he _________.

A. gave up his old job

B. felt exhausted after 26 years’ work

C. wanted to travel very much

D. became interested in historical research

60. After his gap year, Dr. Sinar _________.

A. became more considerate in his job       B. regretted taking a “gap year”

C. was eager to explore ancient buildings     D. Improved his speaking ability

61. What’s George Garritan’s attitude toward the “gap year”?

A. Unhappy..        B. Positive                   C. Uninterested.          D. Negative.

62. What’s the passage mainly about?

A. Whether a gap year is popular with adults.

B. How an adult plans a mid-career gap year.

C. Why a gap year is worthwhile for adults.

D. Why a gap year is challenging for individuals.

An energy watchdog is alarmed about the threat to the environment from the increasing electricity needs of gadgets（小装置）like MP3 players, mobile phones and flat screen TVs.

In a report today, the Paris-based International Energy Agency says new electronic gadgets will be three times their energy consumption by 2030 to 1,700 terawatt hours（千瓦时）, which is equal to today's home electricity consumption of the United States and Japan combined.

The world would have to build around 200 new nuclear power plants just to power all the TVs, iPods, PCs and other home electronics expected to be plugged in by 2030,when the global electric bill to power them will rise to $200 billion a year, the agency said.

“Consumer electronics is the fastest growing area and the area with the least amount of policies in place to control energy efficiency, ” said Paul Waide, a senior policy analyst at the agency.

Electronic gadgets already account for about 15 percent of household electric consumption, a share that is rising rapidly as the number of these gadgets multiplies. Last year, the world spent  $80 billion on electricity to power all these household electronics, the energy agency said.

“ Most of the increase in consumer electronics will be in developing countries, where economic growth is the fastest and ownership rates of gadgets are the lowest , ” Waide said.

“This will jeopardize efforts to increase energy security and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.” the agency said. Existing technologies’ could cut down gadgets’ energy consumption by more than 30 percent at no cost or by more than 50 percent at a small cost, the agency estimates, meaning total greenhouse gas emissions（排放） from households’ electronic gadgets could be held stable（稳定的） at around 500 million tons of CO2 per year.

55. How many terawatt hours did the energy consumption of new electronic gadgets reach?

A. Nearly l, 700.           B. Nearly 600.                C. About 200.        D. About 60.      

56. What is the condition in the area of consumer electronics?

A. There are a lot of rules to control the market.

B. There are few policies to control energy efficiency.

C. There are few choices for the customers.

D. There are lots of regulations to protect consumers' rights.

57. The underlined word “jeopardize” in the last paragraph probably means “         ”.

   A. harm                              B. inspire                      C. strengthen                D. encourage

58. We can know from the last paragraph that existing technologies ___________.

A. are able to control gadgets’ energy consumption

   B. could do nothing about gadgets’ energy consumption

   C. could only cut down gadgets’ energy consumption by 30 percent

D. cut down gadgets’ energy consumption at great cost

More than 27,000 people from around the UK set off at dawn from London to begin the cycle route through Surrey to the Sussex coast.

The annual（一年一度的）54-mile ride raises money for the British Heart Foundation（BHF）  and is Europe’s largest charity cycling event. Cyclists began the exhausting journey at Clapham Common at 6 a. m. , hoping to reach Brighton seafront within an average of six hours.

Money from today's event will help the charity to continue its vital work through heart research and the development of its care and support services. Among those taking part was BBC Breakfast's resident（居民）Dr Rosemary Leonard and several colleagues.

BHF spokeswoman Gemma Cloke said, “It was quite cold this morning, but everyone set off without any problems.” Those taking part range in age from 14 to those in their 70s. Last year cyclists raised￡4. 1 million for the charity, and have raised more than￡50 million since the BHF became involved in the event in 1980. The first ride was held in 1976. It is hoped this year's fund raising total could reach￡4. 5 million. She added : “We have a lot of people taking part, from the more experienced cyclists to those cycling with friends and family in memory of someone and to raise money through sponsorship.”

“People are always pleased knowing the money is going to a good cause. There is so much support along the route, with local residents watching the ride. ”

“One of the highlights for participants（参加者）is coming along the seafront while people are clapping, which can really help when they've been in the saddle (自行车车座) for a long time. ”

51. What can we know about the cycling event from the text?

A. It is the world’s largest charity cycling event.

B. Cyclists may raise more money than last year.

C. The first event was held by the BHF in 1980.

D. The route of the event is 54 kilometers long.

52. What can we learn from what Gemma Cloke said?

A. Cyclists will receive encouragement from local people.

B. Some people doubt whether the money is properly used.

C. Most of the cyclists are professional.

D. Local people have little interest in cycling events.

53. The local residents’ attitude towards the ride is         .

A. doubtful               B. unconcerned       C. worried          D. supportive

54. What is the text mainly about?

A. Cyclists have raised over￡50 million for the BHF.

B. More than 27,000 people like travelling by bike in the UK.

C. Charity cycling event wins support from local people.

D. More than 27,000 people in the UK join in the charity bike ride.

A very tired traveler came to the bank of a river. There was no   31   . It was winter, and the surface of the river was covered with   32   . It was getting dark, and he   33   to reach the other side while there was enough   34   . On the other hand, he worried a lot, not sure whether the ice would   35   his weight.   

Eventually, he got down on his knees and began very   36   to crawl（爬）across the surface of the ice   37   hesitating（犹豫）for a long time. He hoped that by distributing（分散）the  38  of his body, the ice would be unlikely to    39   under the load. After he made his   40   and painful journey about halfway across the river, he suddenly heard the sound of   41    behind him. Out of the dusk, there came a 4-horse load of coal driven by a man singing happily   42   he went his happy way. Here was the traveler, fearfully crawling his way on his hands and knees. And there, as if whisked (挥动) along by the winter’s wind, went the   43  , his horses, his sled , and the heavy load of coal over the   44    river!

The story shows how many of us   45   life. Some people crawl through life for fear of thin ice. Their   46   is not strong enough to   47   them up. Still there are those who sing as they go. Their faith is   48  .

When we face the river of   49  , we don’t have to fear, nor do we crawl through life. With determination, courage and optimism, we can happily make our way to the other   50   successfully.

31. A. bridge                 B. water                C. road                         D. station

32. A. snow                  B. ice                    C. smoke                      D. air

33. A. agreed                B. helped               C. wanted                     D. managed

34. A. light                   B. time                  C. power                      D. strength

35. A. admit               B. control             C. lose                        D. support 

36. A. quickly               B. happily              C. cautiously                 D. freely

37. A. in                       B. after                  C. by                           D. at

38. A. weight                B. shape                C. height                     D. direction  

39. A. shake                 B. fall                    C. break                       D. move

40. A. brave                  B. strange              C. joyful                       D. slow

41. A. laughing              B. water                C. wind                      D. singing

42. A. before               B. as                    C. for                           D. but

43. A. manager             B. visitor               C. driver                       D. passenger

44. A. similar                B. same                 C. deep                        D. clear

45. A. go through          B. come across      C. fight against              D. talk about

46. A. dream                 B. feeling               C. talent                       D. faith

47. A. give                    B. make                 C. hold                         D. use

48. A. unshakable          B. simple               C. true                         D. unavoidable

49. A. mistakes             B. difficulties         C. questions                  D. changes

50. A. state                   B. part                C. land                       D. side

 Some modern art is so abstract that the painter only concentrates on certain qualities of the object, using color, line and shape to      them．

   A. respect             B．rescue            C．reason                   D. represent

 Fever is a _________ of many illnesses. So I suggest that you should take your son to see a  

doctor at once.

   A. symptom              B. species              C. system              D. slogan

 I’m convinced that nobody will ______ your impractical suggestion, which will cost too much money.

     A. subscribe to           B. attend to           C. lead to                     D. contribute to

 Little Jerry was interested in stories about undersea exploration, so he gave all his pocket money to his brother ________ the novel based on such a story.

     A. in favor of               B. in exchange for               C. in need of                 D. in place of

 Even if she brushed the old pot __________, she could not make it completely clean, which made her upset.

A. firmly                        B. steadily                     C. roughly                    D. thoroughly

 The number of college students who attended national examination for admissions to the civil service in 2013 reached 1,117,000, a (n) ________ of one million per year in the recent three years.

A. average                     B. number                    C. amount                     D. quantity