Normally when I pop in to see my parents, my mum bursts out of the house with a big smile. Not today. "Your brother," she says, "he's showered twice this afternoon. Does he know how much it costs to run this house?" Are we limiting water now? I didn't think the recession(萧条) had got that bad. My poor brother is a boomerang kid. Like 60 percent of guys immediately after university, he's back at home. Graduating ￡15,000 in debt and faced with unpaid internships(实习期) or low wages thanks to the flooding of the market with graduates, a lot of twenty some things simply don't have the necessary income or parental support to live independently.
Three years after getting their degree, most graduates are still not earning above the average salary. They have a near 50 percent tax burden, thanks to student loan repayments and council tax on top of income tax and national insurance. Unless you have parents who can afford to finance what is effectively a second home for them, returning to the parental nest is often the only affordable option.
The boomerang effect is becoming even more pronounced thanks to the recession. One in four of those losing their job during the downturn is under 25. Only 13 percent of final-year students have jobs. Home is the only place many are going: 111,000 16-29 year olds moved back home in 2008, five times the average of previous years.
Boomeranging is bad news. It poses serious problems for parents' finances. They've already supported their children through university, topping up loans with handouts, averaging ￡12,300 in total, to keep twenty somethings afloat. Now their retirement savings are being eaten away by continuously dependent children.
It’s bad for the returning kids too. Ambitious young people will be left frustrated, seeing their university peers from more wealthy backgrounds excel only because parents' money was there to support them through the initial period of poverty wages. Those living in rural areas are further disadvantaged by lack of access to cities where most new jobs are located. Half of all young people now feel they will not achieve their goals. Research by the Prince's Trust reveals that one-quarter of all 16-25 year olds are regularly down or depressed. And depression does not help self-motivation, the very trait needed to seek out job opportunities.

1. 1.

   In paragraph 1, the mother’s criticizing her son for showering too often shows _________.

   1. A.
      the price of water has increased
   2. B.
      she thinks her son is selfish
   3. C.
      her son is an economic burden
   4. D.
      she wants to have a shower herself
2. 2.

   What is the boomerang mentioned in the passage?

   1. A.
      A person earning low income.
   2. B.
      A person who has heavy tax burden.
   3. C.
      A youth who cannot get parental support.
   4. D.
      A youth returning to parents after graduation.
3. 3.

   According to the passage, which of the following does NOT contribute to the tax bill of most young graduates?

   1. A.
      National insurance.
   2. B.
      Income tax.
   3. C.
      Council income.
   4. D.
      Student loans.
4. 4.

   Who is comparatively most affected by the recession according to the passage?

   1. A.
      Those who haven’t completed their university studies.
   2. B.
      Those who are supported through by their parents.
   3. C.
      Those who can have access to the urban facilities.
   4. D.
      Those who were born into the well-off families.
5. 5.

   Which is the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      Global Recession
   2. B.
      Boomerang Kids
   3. C.
      Unemployment Rate
   4. D.
      Falling Incomes

Here are some of the best movies you like. I believe they can accompany you to spend your dull weekend.

The Matrix

In this story a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force . In the 22nd century it turns out that the world is controlled by a magic computer system called the Matrix and people live in an unreal world. The computer hacker and his comrades overcome much difficulty and at last find the way to take over the Matrix and save the world.

Men in Black

      This comedy is about J and K, agents in a top secret agency , and they fight bravely with the alien to save the galaxy from a bad-tempered alien “bug” and save the Earth from being destroyed .

Harry Potter

    Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he’s a powerful wizard——with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he uncovers the truth about his parents’ deaths and about the bad man who’s to blame .

Andromeda Strain

      When a satellite crashes in New Mexico, the Air Force sends two men to reach it. To their horror, they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that’s already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed. Now, scientists must stop the virus from spreading .

12 Monkeys

      In the year 2035, James Cole is forced to be sent back to 1996 by scientists to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth’s population. When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, he’s arrested and locked up in a mental hospital, where he meets the son of a famous virus expert.

In which film secret agents fight with the bad creature from outer space?

A. The Matrix    B. Men in Black    C. Andromeda Strain  D. 12 Monkeys

Harry Potter _________.

A. does’t know he’s a powerful wizard until he is 11 years old

B. has a happy and pleasant childhood with his aunt and uncle

C. hates to stay at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

D. Knows how his parents died before he goes to the Hogwarts school

Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Men in black is a comedy.

B. The Matrix is a mysterious force which is later taken over by a group of computer hackers.

C. The alien virus killed all the residents of the town where it landed.

D. James Cole is sent back to 1990 mistakenly and is kept in a mental hospital.

   The author writes the passage in order to ________.

A. let readers know more about the latest movies

B. increase the income of the cinemas of the city

C. tell readers some interesting summaries of movies

D. help readers to choose the best movie they like

Here are some of the best movies you like. I believe they can accompany you to spend your dull weekend.
The Matrix
In this story a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force . In the 22nd century it turns out that the world is controlled by a magic computer system called the Matrix and people live in an unreal world. The computer hacker and his comrades overcome much difficulty and at last find the way to take over the Matrix and save the world.
Men in Black
This comedy is about J and K, agents in a top secret agency , and they fight bravely with the alien to save the galaxy from a bad-tempered alien “bug” and save the Earth from being destroyed .
Harry Potter
Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he’s a powerful wizard——with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he uncovers the truth about his parents’ deaths and about the bad man who’s to blame .
Andromeda Strain
When a satellite crashes in New Mexico, the Air Force sends two men to reach it. To their horror, they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that’s already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed. Now, scientists must stop the virus from spreading .
12 Monkeys
In the year 2035, James Cole is forced to be sent back to 1996 by scientists to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth’s population. When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, he’s arrested and locked up in a mental hospital, where he meets the son of a famous virus expert.
【小题1】 In which film secret agents fight with the bad creature from outer space?

Here are some of the best movies you like. I believe they can accompany you to spend your dull weekend.

The Matrix

In this story a computer hacker searches for the truth behind the mysterious force . In the 22nd century it turns out that the world is controlled by a magic computer system called the Matrix and people live in an unreal world. The computer hacker and his comrades overcome much difficulty and at last find the way to take over the Matrix and save the world.

Men in Black

      This comedy is about J and K, agents in a top secret agency , and they fight bravely with the alien to save the galaxy from a bad-tempered alien “bug” and save the Earth from being destroyed .

Harry Potter

    Harry has lived under the stairs at his aunt and uncle’s house. But on his 11th birthday, he learns he’s a powerful wizard——with a place waiting for him at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he uncovers the truth about his parents’ deaths and about the bad man who’s to blame .

Andromeda Strain

      When a satellite crashes in New Mexico, the Air Force sends two men to reach it. To their horror, they discover that the probe carries an alien virus that’s already killed all but two of the residents of the town where it landed. Now, scientists must stop the virus from spreading .

12 Monkeys

      In the year 2035, James Cole is forced to be sent back to 1996 by scientists to discover the origin of a virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth’s population. When Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, he’s arrested and locked up in a mental hospital, where he meets the son of a famous virus expert.

1. In which film secret agents fight with the bad creature from outer space?

A. The Matrix    B. Men in Black    C. Andromeda Strain  D. 12 Monkeys

2.Harry Potter _________.

A. does’t know he’s a powerful wizard until he is 11 years old

B. has a happy and pleasant childhood with his aunt and uncle

C. hates to stay at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

D. Knows how his parents died before he goes to the Hogwarts school

3. Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Men in black is a comedy.

B. The Matrix is a mysterious force which is later taken over by a group of computer hackers.

C. The alien virus killed all the residents of the town where it landed.

D. James Cole is sent back to 1990 mistakenly and is kept in a mental hospital.

4.    The author writes the passage in order to ________.

A. let readers know more about the latest movies

B. increase the income of the cinemas of the city

C. tell readers some interesting summaries of movies

D. help readers to choose the best movie they like