Credit cards let people buy things now and pay for them over months or even years.But some people get deep into debt：Some banks have terms and charges that can make it harder for people to pay off that debt.In the United States，there are calls for stronger government supervision of the credit card industry.They_offer_economic_power_at_a_price.In 2004，Americans had about $800 billion in credit card debt.Now they own about $968 billion.

Critics say banks made it too easy to get credit cards.But that may be changing.The crisis in the housing and credit they call markets is beginning to affect the credit card industry.More payments are late.Charges for late payments are a growing source of profit for banks.But late payments can also signal bad debts.

The central bank，the Federal Reserve，says two?thirds of American banks have recently reported tighter lending requirements.Many people report having their credit limits reduced without warning.

Some lawmakers are concerned that cardholders do not have enough protections from what abusive policies.These include actions like raising interest rates because of an unrelated event.Also，banks may raise the chances of a late payment by changing monthly payment dates for credit cards.

According to a survey,82% of Americans think credit cards provide a valuable service.But a majority,58%，say they do not trust credit card companies.And three out of four think the government should regulate the industry more closely.Three out of four people feel there is always some condition that makes a card less appealing than the company made in scared.And a little more than half say they have had a card that was not as good as they expected.But close to 80% say no one really reads the terms and conditions when they sign up for a credit card.

1. What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably mean?

A．We can enjoy more convenience using credit cards.

B．Credit cards can improve our buying power.

C．We can buy things at lower prices using credit cards.

D．Credit cards bring more card debt as well as convenience.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．Banks are making it harder for people to get credit cards.

B．Some people’s credit limits have been reduced.

C．It is more difficult to borrow money from some banks.

D．Banks are receiving more charges from late payments.

3. What can we know from the text?

A．Banks actually prefer to see more late payment.

B．People should be more careful when applying for a credit card.

C．The US government provides better protection for cardholders.

D．The majority of Americans don’t think much of credit cards.

4.What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Credit cards are still very well received in America.

B．Credit cards don’t live up to some people’s expectations.

C．Many people don’t believe in credit card companies.

D．The results of a survey about credit cards in Americans.

Before Alaska became part of the U.S., it had been owned by Russia. Trading posts and small settlements were scattered along the coast. The rest of land was left unexplored. The Russians were mainly interested in the wealth of furs from the vast herds of seals they found there.
By the mid-1800’s, most of the seal herds had been wiped out, and Russia no longer wanted to keep Alaska. William Seward, Secretary of State for President Johnson, believed the United States should buy Alaska from Russia. President Johnson wasn’t so sure it was a wise way to spend U.S. money, but he agreed to let Seward discuss it with the Russians. Acting quickly, Seward made a deal. On March 30, 1867, he signed an agreement for the U.S. to pay seven million dollars for the land.
Many people thought it was a foolish waste of America’s money. They called the deal “Seward’s folly”. Then gold was discovered in Alaska and public opinion changed quickly.
Seward did not live to see the true value of Alaska. He died in 1872, five years after making the purchase (购买). Each year, Alaska’s natural resources(资源) have brought in many times the $7,000,000 paid for it. Natural gas, coal, oil, lumber, seafood and other minerals, besides the gold first found, have made it a valuable addition to the United States. In 1959, Alaska be-came the 49th state of the United States.
【小题1】The Russians wanted to sell Alaska because ______.

警方近期正在缉拿一系列案件的嫌疑人员。阅读下面有关警方通报查找人员的信息（A、B、C、D、E和F），根据案件及人物的描述，选出嫌疑人员，并在答题纸上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余的。

1.A valuable dog was taken while being walked by its owner in City Park yesterday afternoon. Police wish to talk to a man seen nearby at the time, described by witnesses as short and fat with short light hair and clear glasses.

2.Yesterday morning at 9.30a.m. a man armed with a gun entered the National Bank and demanded money from the staff, before fleeing when confronted by bank security staff. Security cameras show the man as being short and thin with shoulder length blonde hair.

3.A tall, strong built man with blonde hair, a thick black moustache and wearing dark glasses knocked a woman to the ground and stole her purse on Main Street last Saturday afternoon. If you see this man, do not approach as he is considered extremely dangerous.

4.At the football match between Manchester United and Liverpool, several people had their wallets stolen while waiting in line to buy food. The victims did not see or notice the thief but bystanders describe him as very tall and thin, clean shaven with short light hair.

5.A car was stolen from the supermarket car park on Friday, June 23 this year by a man described as very young, 1.7 metres tall with thin dark hair and carrying a blue backpack. A reward of $500 is offered for the car’s recovery.

A.

Name: Ziggy Nizott

Height: 1.82 m

Weight: 90kg

Age: 35

Details: Long history of violent crime including robbery, assault and car theft. B.

Name:Dennis Tsokas

Height: 1.95 m

Weight: 70 kg

Age: 28

Details: Well known to local police having been arrested several times for pick-pocketing.

C.

Name:Michael Clarke

Height: 1.7 m

Weight: 65 kg

Age: 20

Details: Arrested as a youth for car theft and the selling of stolen goods. D.

Name:Mark Hughes

Height: 1.6 m

Weight: 60kg

Age: 29

Details: Is wanted by police for several armed robbery of              grocery stores, banks and post offices.

E.

Name: Herb Elliot

Height: 1.6 m

Weight: 90kg

Age: 22

Details: Recently released from prison                  where he served 2 years or selling stolen goods. F.

Name: William Daniels

Height: 1.6 m

Weight: 90kg

Age: 32

Details: Arrested 4 times for the selling of  drugs and car theft.

It doesn’t matter if you have one friend or 20, because there are only a few people in this world that can make you truly happy. For me, my family and my three best girlfriends mean everything to me.

Some days I didn’t want to go to school because I felt so disappointed in myself but I don’t regret a thing. It makes you stronger as a person, and if you are able to mend your friendships as I have done, then you can do anything.

My mother always told me, “Stephanie, remember that a friend is a gift that you give yourself. A friend will make you laugh and be there for the good or bad. A true friend will never make fun of you. If a friend is a piece of work, then he or she has never been a friend at all. A friend is the biggest gift to yourself.”

Everyone is going to make mistakes but please don’t push them away, especially if it’s someone you really care about. I know when I make a mistake I beat myself up about it. I just wish someone would reach out a hand to help me back  on my feet as my best friends did. If someone is new or doesn’t have a friend, please reach out and behind him/her because that small action could mean the world to him/her. Now that I’m older, I understand what my mom has been trying to tell me, and now I know that the friends that I choose will also be the kinds of friends that I would want to be surrounded by forever.

1.According to the passage, a true friend should be a person that _________.

A．often gives you gifts

B．makes you happy

C．does both good or bad things to you

D．seldom makes fun of you

2.It can be inferred from the passage that the writer _________.

A．understands what a friend means to her

B．doesn’t think that friends will make her truly happy

C．doesn’t have many friends

D．has nothing except her family and three friends

3.If you hope to have a friend, you should do the following EXCEPT_________.

A．giving advice and offering help if he or she makes mistakes

B．regarding him or her as a piece of work

C．considering him or her a valuable gift

D．trying to treat a newcomer as a friend

4.The last sentence probably means_________.

A．people around me are all my friends

B．I only choose the people around me to be my friends

C．the friends I choose will surround me every day

D．my true friends would always be by my side for my joys and sorrows

It is easy to understand the way a culture approaches disagreements by looking at the communication styles in that culture. In societies where open discussion is encouraged, conflict is much more common and accepted. On the other hand, cultures that strive to reduce conflicts and maintain harmony do not see such interaction appropriate, particularly in the workplace.

In Australia, Great Britain, and the United States, for example, disagreements are considered a natural part of communication. People in these countries typically have open and honest discussions, even if people’s differences of opinion lead to confrontation(对抗，对立). In business setting, this may mean debating with a colleague or a supervisor over the approach to a task. Or, co-workers might have a discussion about whether an agenda(议程)item during a meeting is suitable or not. Conflict is not necessarily negative ，though. And many people feel that debating an issue is as rewarding as resolving it. Successful conflict resolution(冲突解决) is also seen as a valuable skill, most people at the management level are expected to be very good at handling conflicts that arise in the workplace.

The Asian style of communication is quite different. In almost parts of eastern Asia, individuals present their ideas and then wait for others to do the same. They prefer to seek agreement from a group without rejecting another’s opinions out loud. In business meetings, subordinates (下级) will hardly disagree openly with their supervisor. This shows respect for supervisor, and it reflects the cultural importance placed on politeness and building harmony and trust.

1. The best title for this passage is ______.

A. Approaching Disagreements                    B. Differences of Opinion

C. Culture and Communication                    D. Conflict Resolution

2. In Australia, people would consider disagreement______.

A. a negative part of communication             B. necessary in their communication

C. normal and beneficial                            D. Unimportant in communication

3. Which of the following is true according to the author?

A. Subordinates in the USA don’t try to show their respect in the supervisors.

B. Asian people at management level are not good at handling conflicts.

C. People in Asia always try to avoid conflicts.

D. People in some western countries like to have conflicts.

4. What does the underlined word “harmony” probably mean?

A. Difference           B. Agreement     C. Respects        D. Communication