When I was quite young, I discovered that somewhere inside the telephone lived an amazing  person - "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know.　
One day while my mother was out, I hit my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there was no one home to give me any sympathy. I walked around the house, finally arriving at the telephone! Quickly, I called “Information Please" and told her what happened.  She told me to open the icebox and hold a little piece of ice to my finger.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. When my pet bird died, I told
"Information Please" the sad story. She tried to comfort me, she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in." Somehow I felt better. Another day I was on the telephone, “How do you spell ‘grateful’? ". All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was 9, we moved to Boston.
A few years later, on my way to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about half an
hour or so between planes. Without thinking, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information, please."    　　
Surprisingly, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well, "Information." I hadn't planned on
this but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell ‘grateful’?"  
There was a long pause. Then came the soft-spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have
healed by now."   I laughed. "So it's really still you," I said, "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time."  I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and asked if I could call her again. "Please do," she said, "Just ask for Sally."　　
Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered me. I was told that Sally
passed away five weeks before.   　　
Before I could hang up she told me that Sally left a message for me—“Tell him I still say
there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean.”  I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched
today?　
【小题1】
What does “Information, Please” refer to in the passage?

A．An amazing girl.

B．A special kind of telephone.

C．A communication system.

D．A service that helps telephone users.

【小题2】
What happened to the little boy one day when he was at home alone? 

A．He was amused by the telephone.

B．He hurt his finger with a hammer.

C．He found an amazing telephone.

D．He got a piece of ice from an icebox.

【小题3】
What did “Information, Please” give the little boy whenever he was in trouble? 

A．Information and conversation.

B．Good memories and happiness.

C．Sympathy and information.

D．Friendship and cheers.

【小题4】
When did the author get in touch with “Information, Please” again after he moved to
Boston?  

A．When he was in trouble on his way to college.

B．When his plane stopped in Seattle for half an hour.

C．When he went back to Seattle to visit his sister.

D．Three months later after he moved to Boston.

Ticket price increases at HK Disney
Source：Xinhua | 02—05—2009 11：39
Hong Kong Disneyland announced on Tuesday it will raise weekday admission prices for mainland and overseas tourists by about 19 percent．But Hong Kong residents and tourists who purchase tickets through travel agents can still enjoy the old prices until June 30．　 　　　
A one-day admission will cost HK $350($45)for adults and HK $250 for children aged up to 11 from Monday, the previous charges for weekends．Adults were previously admitted for HK $295 and children HK $210．
A Hong Kong Disneyland spokesman said the park does not expect the new pricing structure to have an immediate impact on attendances, as research shows guests choose when to visit the attraction based on time available rather than ticket prices．But the hikes(the rise of prices)drew immediate criticism from the industry．The greater tourism industry fears it may harm mainlanders willingness to visit Hong Kong．　 　　　
Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong, said the decision was unwise in the current financial climate．He also urged the company to rethink its decision, during an interview with Southern Metropolis Daily．　 　　　
【小题1】On September 10 of 2009(weekday), 　Hong Kong　 residents and tourists will have to spend        buying three children tickets．

A．HK $360

B．$　360

C．HK $750

D．HK $885

【小题2】There is a family with five people, John，his father，mother，grandfather and grandmother．They are from America, John is eleven years old．If they visit the place on June 30 2009(weekday)，they will spend about        in total．

A．$212

B．$　1650

C．HK $1400

D．$1390

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

A．Joseph Tung Yao-chung disagreed about the ticket price increase at HK Disney．

B．Hong Kong Disneyland will make a lot of money by raising weekday admission prices for mainland tourists．

C．The Hong Kong Disneyland spokesman didn't like the new pricing structure．

D．Only tourists from mainland visit Hong Kong Disneyland．

    Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu(流感), and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That’s because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come.
The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for.
Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms.
The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms.
Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome(综合症) ，a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system.
There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one.
　
【小题1】 According to the author, knowing the cause of the misery will help ________.

A．shorten the duration of the illness

B．the patient buy medicine over the counter

C．the patient obtain cheaper prescription drugs

D．prevent people from catching colds and the flu

【小题2】 We learn from the passage that ___________.

A．one doesn’t need to take any medicine if he has a cold or the flu

B．aspirin should not be included in over-the-counter medicines for the flu

C．delayed treatment of the flu will harm the liver and central nervous system

D．over-the-counter drugs can be taken to ease the misery caused by a cold or the flu

【小题3】 According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, ___________.

A．one should identify the virus which causes it

B．one should consult a doctor as soon as possible

C．one should take medicine upon catching the disease

D．one should remain alert when the disease is spreading

【小题4】Which of the following symptoms will distinguish the flu from a cold?

A．A stuffy nose.	B．A high temperature.
C．A sore throat.	D．A dry cough.

【小题5】 If children have flu-like symptoms, their parents _______________.

A．are advised not to give them aspirin

B．should watch out for signs of Reye syndrome

C．are encouraged to take them to hospital for vaccination

D．should prevent them from mixing with people running a fever

When you visit America, you will see the word Motel on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (how-ever, you don’t need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided, but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Americans eat a lot of salads and sandwiches. Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Each tries to offer more than next. Some provide television in every bedroom; others have swimming pools; and so on. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in the big National Parks.
In these great National Parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a little story. In the middle of a moonless night she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: it wasn’t a human thief — it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins with its paw, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!
There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”,  where they receive lodgers (房客). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning — looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon!　
【小题1】Which of the following is TRUE about motels?

A．You can only find motels in the big National Parks.

B．They are free for people who arrive by car.

C．If you want to stay at a motel, you must have a car.

D．The word “motel” is formed by two words.

【小题2】Which of the following is NOT provided by motels?

A．Baths.	B．Swimming pools.
C．TV.	D．Meals.

【小题3】The underlined word “crept” in the second paragraph probably means “______”.

A．moved slowly	B．rushed out
C．threw away	D．ran fast

【小题4】The second paragraph mainly tells us ______.

A．an interesting story

B．the experience of the author’s friend

C．we may meet animals in the National Parks

D．bears usually look for food at night

【小题5】From the last paragraph, we can learn that in New York during the tourist season ______.

A．tourists can find gold there

B．tourists can have a sweet dream there

C．it is difficult to find a room there

D．there is warning for tourists to New York