Many English learners have difficulty deciding what kind of English accent they want to have． A US accent, perhaps modeled on the way a Hollywood star speaks? Or maybe you want to imitate（模仿） the British accent of a BBC news reader?
Young British people find the US accent attractive while young US people like a British accent． Especially when the person speaking is of the opposite sex(异性)! Let’s listen to what they have to say．
Stephen Yang, 17, from London, UK
A US accent is cute, especially when a girl speaks it． Whether it’s Jessia Alba speaking or the girl- next-door, the way US girls speak has a sweet tingle that is really sassy(时髦)． A girl from Texas recently moved into our neighborhood． Her Texan twang（鼻音） had all the boys here on their knees within seconds of meeting her．
To me, accents reflect the attitudes, characteristics and lifestyles of the people．
Jennifer Sun, 16, from New Jersey, US
From watching English actors like Daniel Radcliffe, my friends and I have developed a soft spot for British men．Some are attracted to the qualities of English males, while others admire their sense of style．
Everyone, however, agrees that the most appealing aspect of an English man is his accent． For example, many American girls watch Harry Potter movies over and over again just to listen to the actors speak．
The English accent seems almost like art．
【小题1】In Stephen Yang’s opinion, accents just show__________．

A．the beauty of the language

B．how the language is spoken

C．the cultural differences of the speakers

D．the meeting of the day

【小题2】The underlined sentence in paragraph means that __________．

A．All the boys broke their knees

B．All the boys fell to the ground

C．All the boys liked her accent very much

D．All the boys imitated（模仿）her accent

【小题3】Many American girls watch Harry Porter again and again in order to __________．

A．learn the acting skills of the these stars

B．learn the magic performed by Harry Potter

C．imitate the actors’ accents

D．know more about British English

【小题4】What is probably the best title for this passage?

A．British English and American English

B．British Accent or American Accent

C．American English Accent is Most Accepted

D．The difference between British Accent and American Accent．

Shopping is not as simple as you may think! There are all sorts of tricks at play each time we reach out for that particular brand(品牌) of product on the shelf.
Colouring, for example, varies according to what the producers are trying to sell. Health foods are packaged(包装) in greens, yellows or browns because we think of these as healthy colours. Ice cream packets are often blue and expensive goods, like chocolates, are gold or silver.
When some kind of pain killer was brought out recently, researchers found that the colours turned the customers off because they made the product look weak and ineffective. Eventually, it came on the market in a dark blue and white package—blue because we think of it as safe, and white as calm.
The size of a product can attract a shopper. But quite often a bottle doesn’t contain as much as it appears to.
It is believed that the better-known companies spend, on average, 70 percent of the total cost of the product itself on packaging!
The most successful producers know that it’s not enough to have a good product. The founder of Pears soap, who for 25 years has used pretty little girls to promote (推销) their goods, came to the conclusion: “Any fool can make soap, but it takes a genius(天才) to sell it.”
【小题1】Which of the following may trick a shopper into buying a product according to the text?

A．The cost of its package.	B．The price of the product.
C．The colour of its package.	D．The brand name of the product.

【小题2】The underlined part “the colours turned the customers off” (in Para.3) means that the colours _________.

A．attracted the customers strongly

B．caused the customers to lose interest

C．tricked the customers into shopping

D．had weak effects on the customers

【小题3】Which of the following is the key to the success in product sales?

A．The way to promote goods.

B．The discovery of a genius.

C．The team to produce a good product.

D．The brand name used by successful producers.

【小题4】According to the passage, we know that _________.

A．making soap is so easy that any fool in the world can make it.

B．greens, yellows or silver are considered to be healthy colours.

C．25 years ago, the founder of Pears soap was a pretty girl herself.

D．the size of a product can have an effect on the shoppers.

【小题5】Which of the following would be the best title for this text?

A．Choice of Good Products

B．Disadvantages of Products

C．Effect of Packaging on Shopping

D．Brand Names and Shopping Tricks

Cold weather has a great effect on how our minds and our bodies work. Maybe that is why there are so many expressions that use the word “cold”. For centuries, the body’s blood has been linked closely with the emotions. People who show no human emotions or feelings, for example, are said to be cold-blooded. Cold-blooded people act in merciless ways. They may do brutal things to others, and not by accident. For example, a newspaper says the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer. The killer murdered someone, not in self-defense. He seemed to kill for no reason, and with no emotion, as if taking someone’s life meant nothing.
Cold can affect other parts of the body, the feet, for example. Heavy socks can you’re your feet, if your feet are really cold. But there is an expression—to get cold feet—that has nothing to do with cold or your feet.
The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do. For example, you agree to be president of an organization. But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned. All the work of the organization will be your responsibility. You are likely to get cold feet about being the president when you understand the situation.
Cold can also affect your shoulder. You give someone the cold shoulder when you refuse to speak to them. You treat them in a distant and cold way. The expression probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face-to-face. You may give a cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you, or to someone who has lied about you to others.
A cold fish is not a fish. It is a person. But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth. A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone.
Out in the cold is an expression often heard. It means not getting something that everybody else got. A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise, and that he was left out in the cold. And it is not a pleasant place to be.
【小题1】The passage is intended to tell us that ______ .

A．cold weather has a great effect on human bodies

B．many English expressions contain the word “cold”

C．cold is a word closely linked with human emotions

D．the word “cold” has many different meanings in English

【小题2】The underlined word “brutal” in Paragraph 1 most probably means “______”.

A．impolite

B．illegal

C．cruel

D．extreme

【小题3】Which of the following expressions can best describe a person who is unwilling to offer anything to others?

A．Cold-blooded.

B．To get cold feet.

C．A cold shoulder.

D．A cold fish.

【小题4】You can say Tom ______ if the teacher gives all the boys except him a pen as a prize.

A．is given the cold shoulder

B．is left out in the cold

C．has got cold feet

D．is murdered by a cold-blooded killer

【小题5】We can draw a conclusion from the passage that ______ .

A．all the expressions containing the word “cold” have a negative meaning

B．all the expressions containing the word “cold” have something to do with cold

C．people who show no human emotions or feelings have cold blood

D．many parts of the human body can be badly affected by cold

Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time. Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive (存活) if the rain is spread throughout the year. If it falls within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form.
Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down. Sand dunes (沙丘) are formed as winds move the sand across the desert. Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape. Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high.     
There is, however, much more to a desert than sand. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, cliffs (悬崖) and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay beneath a sea more than millions of years ago. Over the centuries, the water dried up. Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks.  The faces of the desert mountains are always changing--very, very slowly--as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock.
Most deserts have a surprising variety of life. There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted to life in the desert. During the heat of the day, a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life. As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely.
【小题1】Many plants may survive in deserts when_______.

A．the rain falls only in a few weeks

B．the rain is spread out in a year

C．there is little rain in a year

D．it is dry all the year round .

【小题2】Sand dunes are formed when_______.

A．there is plenty of rain in a year

B．sand piles up gradually

C．the sea has dried up over the years

D．pieces of rock get smaller

【小题3】The underlined sentence in the third paragraph probably  means that in a desert there is_______.

A．too much sand	B．more sand than before
C．nothing except sand	D．something else besides sand

【小题4】It can be learned from the text that in a desert_______.

A．there is no rainfall throughout the year

B．life exists in rough conditions

C．all sand dunes are a few feet high

D．rocks are worn away only by wind and heat

【小题5】What’ the best title of this passage?

A．Deserts.	B．The plants in the deserts.
C．The rainfall in the deserts.	D．Sand dunes.

It is under the CPC’s leadership that China has overcome many challenges in its economic, political and social systems and achieved remarkable progress the world has ever seen. Under the CPC’s leadership, China has become the world’s largest second largest economy. People’s lives have greatly improved, and hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty, an objective fact no one can deny. At the same time, China is quickly becoming a major player on the world stage.
As a responsible nation, China has been playing a growing role and shouldered greater responsibilities in world affairs. Such achievements, especially for a nation with a size equaling to a continent and a population of nearly 1.4 billion, are not easy to make. What roles do you think CPC has played in China? Do you think it’s the CPC leadership that has made China’s economic miracle possible? Is there any room for improvements for the future role of CPC? What challenges will lie ahead for the future leadership of CPC? Please share your opinion with us.
【小题1】The purpose of writing the article is to ______.
A. describe the greatest changes in China.
B. describe the importance of China.
C. tell us some challenges facing the CPC. 
D. gain more information about the roles the CPC plays in China.
【小题2】According to the passage, CPC refers to              .

A．Communist（共产主义） Party of China

B．Cost Per Click（每次点击付费广告）

C．card-programming control （卡片程序控制）

D．Computer Process Control（计算机过程控制）

【小题3】How does the author feel about the roles the CPC has played in China?

A．Dissatisfied

B．Amazed

C．Annoyed

D．Proud

【小题4】The underlined word " miracle " in Paragraph 2 probably means _____.

A．problem

B．disaster

C．wonder

D．event

【小题5】What’s the best title for this passage?

A．What roles do you think CPC plays in China?

B．Why has CPC played an important role in China?

C．China has become the world’s second largest economy.

D．China has overcome many challenges and achieved remarkable progress.

Kataria is the founder of the worldwide laughter movement. The celebration of World Laughter Day is a positive activity for world peace and is intended to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. The first “World Laughter Day” gathering took place in Mumbai, India, on 11th January, 1998. 12,000 members from India and international Laughter Clubs attended it. Now there are over 5,000 Laughter Clubs worldwide on all 5 continents.
“HAPPY—DEMIC” was the first World Laughter Day gathering outside India. It took place on 9th January, two years after the Mumbai gathering. In Copenhagen, Denmark, more than 10,000 people gathered at Town Hall Square. The event went into Guinness Book of World Records. “World Laughter Day” is now organized on the first Sunday of May every year. Hundreds of people gather worldwide on that day to laugh together.
Today, many people fear widespread international terrorism. The world has never faced so much unrest before. People are at war within themselves. Laughter is a universal language, which has the ability to unite humanity without religion. Laughter can build a common connection between various religions and create a new world order. The idea may sound over -ambitious(野心太大的), and maybe it is. But maybe it is not. It is our deep belief that laughter and only laughter can unite the world, building up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship.
Studies also say that laughter helps your body do the following: lower blood pressure; lighten depression; reduce stress; work out the heart, especially for those who are unable to perform physical exercise. So in life, when you can laugh, you should laugh loudly and with your entire body-because it’s good for you.
【小题1】The purpose of celebrating World Laughter Day is ________.

A．to build up a global sense of brotherhood and friendship through laughter

B．to build a common connection between various religions

C．to reduce stress and lighten depression

D．to lower blood pressure

【小题2】The first World Laughter Day gathering outside India took place________.

A．on 11th January, 1998	B．on the first Sunday of May
C．on 9th January, 1996	D．on 9th January, 2000

【小题3】The author’s attitude towards laughter movement is ________.

A．positive

B．negative

C．uninterested

D．objective

【小题4】The passage is mainly about ________.

A．World Laughter Day and its significance

B．the worldwide laughter movement

C．a universal language

D．laughter.

Started in 1636, Harvard University is the oldest of all the many colleges and universities in the United States. Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Dartmouth were opened soon after Harvard.
In the early years, these schools were much alike. Only young men went to college. All the students studied the same subjects, and everyone learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Little was known about science then, and one kind of school could teach everything that was known about the world. When the students graduated, most of them became ministers or teachers.
In 1782, Harvard started a medical school for young men who wanted to become doctors. Later, lawyers could receive their training in Harvard's law school. In 1825, besides Latin and Greek, Harvard began teaching modern languages, such as French and German. Soon it began teaching American history.
As knowledge increased, Harvard and other colleges began to teach many new subjects. Students were allowed to choose the subjects that interested them.
Today, there are many different kinds of colleges and universities. Most of them are made up of smaller schools that deal with（涉及）special fields of learning. There's so much to learn that one kind of school can't offer it all.
【小题1】The oldest university in the US is _________.

A．Yale

B．Harvard

C．Princeton

D．Columbia

【小题2】From the second paragraph, we can see that in the early years,______.

A．those colleges and universities were the same

B．people, young or old, might study in the colleges

C．students studied only some languages and science

D．when the students finished their school, they became lawyers or teachers

【小题3】Modern languages the Harvard taught in 1825 were ________.

A．Latin and Greek	B．Latin, Green, French and German
C．American history and German	D．French and German

【小题4】As knowledge increased, colleges began to teach_______.

A．everything that was known

B．law and something about medicine

C．many new subjects

D．the subjects that interested students

【小题5】On the whole, the passage is about___________.

A．how to start a university

B．the world-famous colleges in America

C．how colleges have changed

D．what kind of lesson each college teaches

Societies all over the world name places in similar ways. Quite often there is no official naming ceremony but places tend to be called names as points of reference by people. Then an organized body steps in and gives the place a name. Often it happens that a place has two names: One is named by the people and the other by the government. As in many areas, old habits died hard, and the place continues to be called by its unofficial name long after the meaning is lost.
Many roads and places in Singaporeare named in order that the pioneers will be remembered by future generations. Thus we have names such as Stamford Road and Raffles Place. This is in keeping with traditions in many countries ---- in both the West and the East.
Another way of naming places is naming them after other places. Perhaps they were named to promote friendships between the two places or it could be that the people who used to live there were originally from the places that the roads were named after. The mystery is clearer when we see some of the roads named in former British bases. If you step into Selector Airbase you will see Piccadilly Circus ---- obviously named by some homesick Royal Air Force personnel.
Some places were named after the activities that used to go on at those places. Bras Basah Road is an interesting example, “Base Basah” means “wet rice” in Malay. Now why would anyone want to name a road “Wet Rice Road”? The reason is simple. During the pioneering days, wet rice was laid out to dry along this road.
A few roads in Singapore are named by their shapes. There is “Circular Road” for one. Other roads may have part of their names to describe their shapes, like “Paya Lebar Crescent”. This road is called a crescent（月牙） because it begins on the main road, makes a crescent and comes back to join the main road again.
【小题1】 We learn from Paragraph 1 that _____.

A．the government is usually the first to name a place

B．a ceremony will be held when a place is named

C．many places tend to have more than one name

D．people prefer the place names given by the government

【小题2】 Which of the following places is named after a person?

A．Raffles Place.	B．Selector Airbase.
C．Piccadilly Circus.	D．Paya Lebar Crescent.

【小题3】 What does the underlined phrase “die hard” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Change suddenly.	B．Change greatly.
C．Disappear quickly.	D．Disappear very slowly.

【小题4】 Bras Basah Road is named _______.

A．after an activity	B．after a place
C．after a person	D．by its shape

【小题5】 What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The way Singaporeans name their places is unique.

B．Some places in Singapore are named for military purposes.

C．Some place names in Singapore are the same as in Britain.

D．Young Singaporeans have forgotten the pioneers.

Time Zones（时区）
Strange things happen to time when you travel. Because the earth is divided into twenty-four zones one hour apart（相差）.You can have days with more or fewer than twenty-four hours, and weeks more or fewer than seven days.
If you make a five-day trip across the Atlantic Ocean(大西洋)，your ship enters a different time zone every day. As you enter each zone, the time changes one hour. Travelling west ,you set your clock back; traveling east , you set it ahead. Each day of your trip has either twenty-five or twenty-three hours.
If you travel by ship across the Pacific（太平洋）, you cross the international date line. By agreement, this is the point where a new day begins, when you cross the line, you change your calendar one full time day, backward or forward. Travelling east, today becomes yesterday; traveling west, it is tomorrow.
【小题1】Strange things happen to time when you travel because______.

A．no day really has 24 hours	B．the earth is divided into time zones
C．time zones are not all the same size	D．no one knows where time zones are

【小题2】From this passage it seems true that the Atlantic Ocean___.

A．is divided into five time zones	B．is divided into 24 time zones
C．is in one time zone	D．cannot be crossed in five days

【小题3】If you cross the ocean going west, you set your clock_____.

A．ahead by 25 hours in a new time zone	B．one hour ahead for the whole trip
C．back one full day for each time zone	D．one hour back in each new time zone

【小题4】The international date line is the name for______.

A．the beginning of any new time zone	B．the point where a new day ends
C．the point where a new day begins	D．any time zone in the Pacific Ocean

A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms, though my teacher emphasized the importance again and again. But soon, the importance of English idioms was shown in an amusing experience.
One day, I happened to meet an Englishman on the road, and soon we began to talk. As I was talking about how I was studying English, the foreigner seemed to be astonished, gently shaking his head, shrugging his shoulders, he said,“You don’t say!” I was puzzled. I thought, perhaps this is not an appropriate topic. “Well, I’d better change the topic.” So I said to him, “Well, shall we talk about the Great Wall? By the way, have you ever been there?” “Certainly, everyone back home will laugh at me if I leave China without seeing it. It was magnificent.” He was deep in thought when I began to talk like a tourist guide.” “The Great Wall is one of the wonders in the world. We are very proud of it.” Soon I was interrupted again by his words. “You don’t say!” I couldn’t help asking, “Why do you ask me not to talk about it?” “Well, I didn’t request you to do so,” he answered, greatly surprised. I said, “Didn’t you say ‘You don’t say’?” Hearing this, the Englishman laughed to tears. He began to explain, “‘You don’t say’ actually means ‘really’. It is an expression of surprise. Perhaps you don’t pay attention to English idioms.”
Only then did I know I had made a fool of myself. Since then I have been more careful with idiomatic expressions. Remember: what the English teachers said is always right to us students.
【小题1】A year ago, I paid no attention to English idioms because_________.

A．English idioms were not important

B．I had no interest in English learning

C．my teacher didn’t emphasize the importance of them

D．I cared little about the teacher’s instruction

【小题2】At first, on hearing “You don’t say”, I thought the foreigner meant_________.

A．I had talked too much

B．he was only interested in the Great Wall

C．he was not interested in the topic

D．I had to stop talking

【小题3】The underlined word “amusing” in paragraph 1 means_________.

A．funny

B．important

C．lucky

D．terrible

【小题4】After the Englishman explained the idiom, _________.

A．I thought the Englishman had made me a fool

B．the Englishman became a real fool

C．I felt very silly

D．I became more careful in everything

【小题5】Which of the following is true according to the passage？

A．The Englishman left china without seeing the Great Wall.

B．The Englishman wanted to see the Great Wall after I talked about it.

C．The Englishman wanted me to act as his guide.

D．The Englishman visited the Great Wall and thought it worth visiting.