Hikosaburo Yasuda of Nakano, Japan, plans to buy an iPad to keep up with junior members in his computer club．"It's important to always try new things, otherwise you get left behind," he says．  

Yasuda is 95 years old．He and his colleagues, looking for easier ways to search the Web and send e-mail, represent a potential market for Apple （AAPL）'s iPad．The company has sold 3．27 million iPads since its launch in April, but doesn't break down sales figures by customer age, making it impossible to know with certainty how many seniors are buying them．However, anecdotal evidence suggests it's a hit with the elderly．
The iPad's intuitive interface （直观界面） makes it appealing to senior citizens around the world, says Takahiro Miura, a researcher at the University of Tokyo: "The iPad is a good tool for the elderly because it's very forgiving of mistakes．" Miura's team uses computers to help train senior citizens to rejoin the workforce．"Unlike the PC, it doesn't require previous knowledge," he says．
James Cordwell, a technology analyst at Atlantic-Equities in London, says the iPad's popularity with the elderly is helping Apple reach beyond its traditional base of younger customer. “The world’s population, especially in developed markets, is getting older, and it’s probably a market where Apple has least entered,” Cordwell says. Elderly users are “a key source of growth for them in the future.”
The elderly in Japan, who make up an estimated 22 percent of the population, may prove particularly receptive to the iPad. They spend more than any other group in the country except for those under 30, according to a report by Japan's Cabinet Office. Motoo Kitamura, 78, a former gas salesman, bought an iPad to help him communicate with his 2-year-old grandson and stave off dementia. "Trying new things like that is a good mental exercise," he says.
【小题1】The underlined part “a hit” in Paragraph 2 may probably mean “     ”.

A．a hard strike

B．a heavy burden

C．quite popular

D．very familiar

【小题2】Which of the following is NOT an advantage of the iPad over the PC?

A．It has intuitive interface.	B．It is easier to operate.
C．It is more accessible to beginners.	D．It is a good mental exercise.

【小题3】What can we learn from the passage?

A．The people under thirty are the largest consumers in Japan except for the elderly.

B．The traditional customers of AAPL’s products are usually the yong.

C．The elderly will soon grow into the largest customer group in place of the young.

D．The elderly in Japan have great enthusiasm for latest hi – tech products.

【小题4】What could be the best title for the passage?

A．The iPad leads Apple to the elderly

B．Ipad hits Japan’s store shelves

C．Ipad’s arrival in Tokyo causes Uapanese to reflect

D．AAPL attempts to balance the old and the yong

When a dog bites a man, it usually doesn’t make news. However, this saying change when Beijing and several other Chinese cities announced the “Civilized Dog Raising” campaign in November.
The government will require Beijingers to get licenses for their dogs, and will enforce the one-dog, one-family policy. Police say the "one-dog policy" is aimed at reducing the number of dog bites and lowering the risk of rabies. According to the Ministry of Health, rabies has become the top infectious disease in China. Dangerous dogs and dogs taller than 35 centimeters, such as Great Danes, have been banned from urban areas.
Pet owners are also required to clean up their dog's droppings and make sure dogs are leashed (拴着), especially in public areas. Some public areas, such as banks, are closed to dogs entirely.
Dogs are regarded as man's best friend and the history of raising dogs can be traced back to the stone age. It therefore seems sad that dogs are unwelcome in Beijing. But it is not the case that Beijingers dislike dogs. Actually, there are many dog lovers in Beijing. The city now has more than 550,000 registered dogs, up 20 percent from the previous year.
The problem is, actually, about living space. Different from many Westerners, most Beijingers live in urban apartment buildings, not houses in the suburbs. There is very limited open space for walking dogs. The barking, the waste, and unleashed dogs in buildings, elevators and places people gather can cause fear, fights and frustration.
Beijing is not the only city to have a dog problem. Paris, London, New York and Vienna all face similar challenges and have common rules for dogs and their owners.
【小题1】Which of the following may be a suitable title for the story?

A．Man's Best Friend	B．Civilized Dog Raising
C．No Room For Dogs	D．When A Dog Bites A Man

【小题2】What can be inferred from the above passage?

A．If a dog bites a man, it will become an important news item.

B．Rabies is the most serious infectious disease in Beijing.

C．Soon there will be no dangerous dogs or dogs taller than 35 centimetres in Beijing.

D．Beijing has trouble accommodating so many dogs.

【小题3】According to the passage, what should you NOT do if you are a dog owner in Beijing?

A．Walk your dog in public places.

B．Have more than one dog.

C．Raise your dog in urban apartment buildings.

D．Let your dog bark in places where people gather.

【小题4】In the writer's opinion, the main cause of the dog problem in Beijing is _____________.

A．the limited living space in urban areas

B．its lack of rules for dogs and their owners

C．Beijingers and westerners having different lifestyles

D．the increasing number of dangerous dogs

The Writers' Strike：Making the Best of the Worst
By now you are probably feeling the effects of the TV writers’ strike---the decision of television writers to stop working. With few new TV shows, I present to you a list of shows available on DVD worth your viewing time to keep you going during this painful period.
Arrested Development is one of the funniest and most clever shows ever to have appeared on network TV. With a most perfect cast(全体演员), the show sets out to cover the daily happenings of the Bluth family, a group of selfish staff who manage to still put family first.
For more comedy goodness, I recommend one of the sharpest comedies to have ever broadcast, 30 Rock. Starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin, two stars with impressive comic timing, the show gives you a glimpse into the making of a sketch show (幽默短剧),similar to Saturday Nigth Live, from the funny writers to the self-centered cast all the way up to the boss.
If you are looking for something more serious, or perhaps Friday Night lights might be more to your liking. If you are a fan of football, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of great drama, both soapy and serious, this show is probably for you, If you are a fan of good-looking people, this show is definitely for you .
If those shows were not enough for you, might I recommend a show with a more heart-pounding excitement? The Amazing Race, after twelve seasons, still remains one of the most exciting shows on TV. Teams of two travel the globe with little to no money and experience far-out adventures in an attempt to remain the last team standing.
【小题1】If you are fond of soapy TV shows, you will probably choose to watch      .

A．Friday Night Lights	B．30 Rock
C．the Amazing Race	D．Saturday Night Live

【小题2】From the DVD shows listed above, we can learn that　　　.

A．two teams won the amazing race

B．football fans enjoy the Amazing Race

C．the Bluths care about their family though selfish

D．30 Rock and Saturday Night Live have nothing in common

【小题3】The author writes the passage to tell us that       .

A．the effects of the TV writers’ strike are great

B．the strike puts TV shows in the worst situation

C．watching DVD is a good choice during the strike

D．we should choose DVD shows according to our tastes

【小题4】The passage is most probably taken from      .

A．a book review

B．a newspaper

C．a film poster

D．a DVD menu

Discouraged by reading bad news daily and with his marriage failing, Canadian Neil Pasricha  decided to try to focus on the positive and come up with 1,000 simple, free, awesome things, posting one each day on a blog.
Pasricha said his blog aimed to highlight life's simple pleasures, which were often taken for granted, such as finding forgotten money in a pocket, or fixing a TV set with a heavy blow.
Little did he realize his blog would strike a nerve and attract 40,000 people a day to join his discussions on how to enjoy the last triangle of a potato crisp, or the pleasure of laughing so hard that you cry.
Pasricha, aged 30, was amazed to win two Webby awards, known as "the Oscars of the Internet," something positive at a time when his marriage broke up and one of his closest friends committed suicide.
"I turned the worst year of my life into my best year by focusing on the positive. " Pasricha told Reuters in a telephone interview. "Every day I try to find something that is happy, free and universal to share, like the smell of a bakery or when a cashier opens up a new line at a store. "
Pasricha said when he began his blog in June 2008 he thought he might have trouble coming up with 1,000 simple, happy moments in life but now he is more than halfway through and ideas keep flooding in, from himself and from followers of his blog.
"These moments can start a huge conversation. Most of our life is really about hitting green lights on the way home from, or waking up before your alarm goes off and realizing you have more time in bed. But it is those small moments we forget about."
Despite the success of his blog, Pasricha does not want to change his daily life. “I travel regularly for an hour a day to work in the suburb. I like work because I like the people in my office. I’m not a writer and I don’t know how to use punctuations correctly. I just like observing the world and putting it down,” he said.
【小题1】Neil Pasricha determined to post positive feelings or things on his blog because         .

A．daily bad news and broken marriage saddened him

B．1,000 simple, free, happy things excited him

C．he wanted to forget his marriage life

D．he wanted to make his blog successful

【小题2】Which of the following will Pasricha probably NOT post onto his blog?

A．Coming across an old schoolmate.

B．Finding his lost dog come back home.

C．Falling off his bike and getting injured.

D．Buying his favourite book at a special price.

【小题3】According to the passage, Pasricha        .

A．gets ideas for 1,000 simple, free, happy things with trouble

B．gets ideas for 1,000 simple, free, happy things on his own

C．is on his way to collecting 1,000 simple, free, happy things

D．has finished collecting 1,000 simple, free, happy things

【小题4】Which of the following might be the best title for the poassage?

A．Hard life for a Canadian blogger	B．Busy life for a Canadian blogger
C．Great awards for a Canadian blogger	D．Great success for a Canadian blogger

“Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him，and let him know that you trust him.” These words are from the black American educator，Booker Washington. He was saying that，“If you want people to grow up，you have to stop treating them like children.”
In America，families are close but children are encouraged to be independent，to make their own decisions，even at a very early age. It’s not unusual for a child of seven to be given an allowance(津贴)every week. The child is encouraged to save some of the money but he or she can spend it on whatever they choose，for example，buying clothes，school supplies or CDs. Some teenagers even have their own credit cards! That’s a big responsibility since even adults are tempted to overspend when they have credit cards.
From an early age，American children are asked for their opinions and they are included in family decision making. At the dinner table，teenagers will be listened to on any topic，from politics to buying a new family car or where the family will go on vacation. In this way, teenagers are getting practice in becoming individuals：they are learning how to stand on their own two feet.
Many Chinese young people are becoming almost as interested as American teens in searching for independence. They want to express those qualities that make them unique human beings. You can see this in the way they dress, the music they listen to and the friends they choose. “Super Girl” Li Yuchun caught the imagination of Chinese teenagers on the “Super Girl” television contest. She was not the traditional “nice，young Chinese girl”. With her short，spiky hair and boy-like clothes, she was telling everyone that she was different. She had the courage to be her own person and to stand on her own two feet...and she won!
There is an old saying，“Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him and then choose that way with all his strength.” If you do this, step by step, over a period of time, you may find that you have become the person you always wanted to be.
【小题1】The passage is intended to encourage the youth to________.

A．save money for useful things	B．become independent
C．express their great ambitions	D．make important decisions

【小题2】A child of seven is given an allowance so that he can______.

A．be accepted as a popular guy	B．learn to decide how to use money
C．overspend money without care	D．have school supplies of his own

【小题3】The author implies that many Chinese children________.

A．are more independent than Americans	B．should become interested in America
C．are happy with their present situation	D．are not satisfied to be nice, quiet ones

【小题4】The main idea of the last paragraph is________.

A．that we should do things step by step	B．why we should understand our desires
C．what we should plan for our own life	D．how we can manage to realize our dreams

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced a new plan to renew and expand the nation's roads, railways and runways, in a bid (努力) to restart the sluggish economy and to help create jobs.
Obama announced the billion-dollar infrastructure(基础设施) spending program at an event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the Labor Day holiday in the United States.
The proposal calls for investments over six years, including rebuilding and modernizing 150,000 miles (241,350 kilometers) of roads, 4,000 miles (6,430 kilometers) of railways and 150 miles ( 241 kilometers) of runways.
"It sets up an Infrastructure Bank to leverage(杠杆；利用) federal dollars and focus on the smartest investment. All of this will not only create jobs now, but will make our economy run better over the long haul," Obama said.
"This is a plan that will be fully paid for and will not add to the deficit over time," said Obama.
The U.S. unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in August, reflecting business reluctance to hire among uncertain economic prospects, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Friday.
The president admitted that new jobs "have not been coming fast enough" in the United States.
"These years would be some of the most difficult in our history. The problems facing working families are nothing new, but they are more serious than ever. And that makes our cause more urgent than ever," he added.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “sluggish” probably mean?

A．繁荣的

B．崩溃的

C．疲软的

D．行动迅速的

【小题2】What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．The US president launched a new program aiming at improving the nation’s infrastructure.

B．The US unemployment rate rose according to the Labor Department.

C．These years will be the most difficult in the American history.

D．More roads, railways and runways will be rebuilt and modernized.

【小题3】Which of the following will be changed most in length?

A．Roads.

B．Railways.

C．Runways.

D．Highways.

(CNN News)－In his work for a humanitarian(人道主义)agency in Afghanistan, Lex Kassenberg asks an important question when he visits schoolchildren: What will you do when you grow up?“I want to be president,”is an answer Kassenberg often hears from girls.
But for all the admiration Kassenberg has for a youngster's ambition, the 53-year-old CARE aid worker knows that in Afghanistan, the idea of a female national leader remains unlikely to be realized in the immediate future. Only recently, women had suffered a lot under the rule of the militant(激进的)Taliban.
The importance of education, especially for girls, is not ignored by the Afghan people or humanitarian agencies trying to improve their living conditions. That's why the World Bank partnered with CARE to investigate how education can succeed when there are increasing violent attacks on Afghan schools.
“Knowledge on Fire”, CARE's education report made known to the public Monday, found that community-based schools are the most sound and workable in Afghanistan.“Education-related violence is an alarming trend in Afghanistan,”said Helene Gayle, president of CARE. “But this study suggests that an approach of building support for education at the local level can reduce the risks of attacks.”
Because government school are often associated with a Kabul administration viewed by the Taliban as a pupper(傀儡政府)of the United States, they are likely to be attacked, Kassenberg said. And schools built with reconstruction dollars are associated with the military. Between January 2006 and December 2008, 1,053 education-related attacks or threats were reported in Afghanistan, according to CARE. The number of incidents was almost three times as much as that in 2005.
【小题1】The World Bank cooperated with CARE in order to      .

A．know how to educate Afghan boys and girls successfully during the war.

B．know how to give money to Afghan boys and girls.

C．know the condition of education in Afghan schools.

D．know if the education of Afghan boys and girls is successful

【小题2】 The passage implied that        .

A．Afghan people suffered a lot	B．Afghan boys suffered little
C．Afghan girls didn't suffer at all	D．Afghan girls suffered more than boys

【小题3】Why have attacks on schools been on the rise since 2005?

A．The Taliban thought schools are connected with the military.

B．The Taliban thought the Kabul administration would cooperate with it.

C．The Taliban thought schools were built by the American government.

D．The Taliban thought schools were built with reconstruction dollars.

【小题4】 According to the last paragraph, attacks on Afghan schools in 2005 amounted to     .

A．670

B．1, 053

C．over 1,700

D．about 350

       Could you imagine your parents choosing your husband or wife for you? And can you imagine not setting eyes on him or her until your wedding day? This situation is common in India, the Middle East and many parts of Africa．Marriage customs around the world often differ from our own．We don’t realize that people in other places often get married in very different ways and with different motives．
In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．A marriage provides a safe and stable home for the husband and wife．It also joins two families, which benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．Marriage also brings children, making sure the couple will be taken care of in old age．Because a marriage is important for the whole family, some cultures don’t let young people choose whom to marry．
Just as there are many different reasons for marriage, there are also many different wedding rituals．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the happy couple．In a typical Western wedding, the bride seeks good luck by wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”．Something old represents the past．Something new represents success in the future．Something borrowed reminds the bride she can get help from her friends and family．And something blue reminds her to be true to her husband．
In Poland, one wedding tradition is not only lucky, but also very practical．The wedding guests pin money to the bride’s dress while she is dancing．The money is meant to bring luck and to help the young couple build their new life．In Bermuda, the young couple plants a tree in the yard of their new home．Once they move in, they take good care of the tree and make it grow．The planting of the tree is a good metaphor（比喻） for marriage．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．
【小题1】Which of the following statements does NOT support the idea that marriage is a practical matter?

A．The couple may have a safe home through their marriage．

B．The parents had better help their children choose whom to marry．

C．A marriage benefits the couple’s parents and makes them happy．

D．A marriage brings children who will take care of the couple when they are old．

【小题2】The underlined word “rituals” （Para．3） means　　　．

A．forms

B．customs

C．traditions

D．ceremonies

【小题3】Although cultures differ in different countries, one thing in common when a young couple gets married is that　　　．

A．people wish them to take care of each other

B．people wish them to get practical benefits from the marriage

C．people wish them to have good luck in their new life

D．people wish them to make money at the wedding ceremony

【小题4】Which of the following statements best summarizes（总结） the subject of this passage?

A．People across the world get married in different ways and for different reasons．

B．Every culture has its own ways of bringing good luck to the young couple．

C．A truly good marriage is something that grows with care．

D．In many countries, marriage is a practical matter．

Paris is the capital of France, a country in the west of Europe. It is also one of the most beautiful and most famous cities in the world.
Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion center. What modern women are wearing in Paris will soon be worn by many women in other parts of the world. Paris is also a famous world center of education. For instance, the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, is in Paris.
The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty-two bridges cross this scenic river. The oldest and perhaps most well-known is the Pont Neuf, which was built in the sixteenth century. The Sorbonne, a famous university, is located on the Left Bank (south side) of the river. The beautiful white church Sacre Coeur lies on top of the hill called Montmartre on the Right Bank (north bank) of the Seine.
There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum the Louvre as well as the cathedral of Notre Dame. However, the most famous landmark in this city must be the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is named after a group of people called the Parisii. They built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island, called the le de la Cite, is where Notre Dame is located. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area.
【小题1】 The best title for the text would be ______.

A．The City of Paris	B．The French Language
C．Education and Culture in France	D．The Eiffel Tower, the Symbol of Paris

【小题2】The underlined word “headquarters” (paragraph 2) means _______.

A．buildings

B．research center

C．market

D．head office

【小题3】We can infer from the text that Notre Dame is located ______.

A．on the Right Bank

B．on the Left Bank

C．on neither bank

D．on both banks

It’s a goal for millions and millions of families every year——keep the Christmas spending within a certain amount, but can still afford the gifts that your loved ones will enjoy. Never has this concern been greater in recent years than right now. Even so, there are several things that you can do to help.
Hit the sales.
No one wants to get up at four o’clock in the morning and fight to get the best deal on Black Friday, and it’s surely very tough to pick up the courage and get out there in the cold for a good deal, but sometimes——it can be well worth. Many retailers(零售商) offer specials all through the day——and some even offer online Black Friday specials, so you may still be able to get a great deal on Black Friday.
Pay close attention to advertisements.
Once the Christmas shopping season is coming, retailers hungry for business will do just about whatever to get you in the store. Pay very close attention to weekly advertisements of sales among the major retailers and you may be lucky enough to find different prices for the same thing in different shops.
Shop online.
Some of us don’t like running from store to store in order to get the best price on the perfect gift, and some of us don’t like to go out in the cold at all——thankfully for us, we can do online shopping.
The world of online shopping lets people visit all the major retailers as well as some specialty stores that could only be found on the Internet. Customers can find exactly what they are looking for, at the best possible price without ever having to leave the house. With traditional Christmas shopping consumers are sometimes limited to what’s left in stock if they wait too long to get to a particular store.
【小题1】The first paragraph implies that ______.

A．nowadays not many people can afford expensive gifts

B．recently many people don’t want to spend money on gifts

C．Christmas is a time to make our loved ones enjoy their gifts

D．Christmas is a time to make us feel free to buy our loved ones gifts

【小题2】In the writer’s opinion, it is rewarding on Black Friday _____.

A．if the weather is not very cold	B．if we don’t have to fight for the best deals
C．if we don’t have to get up early	D．If we get what we want at a good price

【小题3】The underlined word “specials” means_______.

A．some experts in shopping	B．certain things for especially low price
C．some kind of help for a certain customer	D．things that can only be found on Friday

【小题4】We can have more choices _____.

A．on Black Friday	B．in a particular store
C．on the Internet	D．from retailers

【小题5】In this passage the writer means ______.

A．to tell us the best way to do shopping

B．to attract more readers to do wise shopping

C．to show us how hard it is to do Christmas shopping

D．to give us advice on how to get a good deal at Christmas time