In the American family the husband and wife usually    1    important decision making. When the children are old enough, they take part    2    . Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness(宽容)of American parents. The old rule that" children should be seen and not heard” is rarely    3    , and children are often    4    to do what they wish without strict parental    5    . The father seldom expects his children to obey him    6    question, and children are encouraged to be independent    7    an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom    8    far. Others think that a strong father image(形象)would not    9    the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to    10    their parental families by the time they have 　　11    their late teens or early twenties.    12   , not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of 　　13    .

This pattern of independence often results in serious    14    for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live    15    the age of 70. The job retirement age is    16    65. The children have left home, married, and    17    their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.

   18   the major problem of many elderly couples is not   19    . They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation(职业)    20    a close family group.

1. A. share　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    B. have

C. exchange　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. hold

2. A. either　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. though

C. as well　　   　　　　　　　　   　　   　　D. also

3. A. discussed　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. followed

C. seen　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. heard

4. A. asked　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. made

C. said　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. allowed

5. A. control　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. support

C. agreement　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. criticism

6. A. for　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. on

C. without 　　  　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. in

7. A. in　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　   　　　　B. at

C. on　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. for

8. A. too　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. almost

C. nearly　　  　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. quite

9. A. fit　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　B. meet

C. suit　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   　　D. satisfy

10. A. break up　　　　　　　　　　    B. break into.

C. break through　　　　　　　　   D. break away from

11. A. reached　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. got

C. arrived　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. developed

12. A. In truth　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. In name

C. Indeed　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. In a word

13. A. heavy　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. light

C. strong　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　D. weak

14. A. questions　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. problem

C. matters　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. affairs

15. A. to　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. till

C. from　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. beyond

16. A. only　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  B. usually

C. sometimes　　   　　　　　　　　   　　D. seldom

17. A. set forth　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. set aside

C. set up　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　  　　D. set down

18. A. But　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. Therefore

C. In contrast　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. On the other hand

19. A. local　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   B. national

C. political　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. economic

20. A. or　　   　　　　　　　　 &nb
s
p;　　　　　　　　    B. nor

C. and　　   　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    D. but

 

Depression(抑郁症)is a serious problem today．Depression causes workers to be unproductive，causing companies and countries to lose billion of dollars．One expert says that depression is like cancer because it is “widespread, costly and deadly”．Depression hits one person in five around the world．

   Although people have believed depression to be a problem among the rich and educated，studies show that depression is a problem among everyone．Over any six-month period, between five to seven percent of the world’s population will be suffering from a serious depression．

   Suicide(自杀)rates among people suffering from the disease in its extreme, or clinical form were 80 percent higher than in the population at large, and sufferers were four times more likely to have heart attacks．People who suffer from depression often have problems sleeping，getting up on time，and doing work productively.

   Depression, which researchers agree has its origin in the genes(基因)，brings loss of confidence and ability to concentrate, making it possible for employees and managers to work efficiently．

   Depression is made more serious in China by Chinese’s inability to face it．Many people believe that depressed people are either weak or lazy．Besides，there is no good treatment，with few specialists available．

   “Most patients in China just don’t get help,” a Chinese doctor says．“In my hospital，I have

to see 30 or 40 patients in a morning，and just have time to say ‘Hello，how do you feel ?…’”

   In Western countries，people are not afraid to admit that they have depression，but most do not tell it to their boss，because they fear that their boss would fire them．

   “In my experience，aging bosses are the most willing to admit they have it, because they feel

the most secure about themselves, ” an American doctor says．

   Hopefully，in the near future，people around the world will be able to admit that they have depression so that they can get the right treatment.

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

    A. It is widely believed that everyone may suffer from depression．

    B. Depression brings great problems to its sufferers in their life and work．

    C. Depression is a commonly-existing problem only in rich countries．

    D. The poorer and the less educated a person is，the less he will suffer from depression．

Compared to normal people，depressed people are likely to be________．   

    A. very unconfident and often absent-minded  B. easy to avoid being hit by heart attacks

    C. working efficiently and productively       D. either weak or lazy

Depression becomes more serious in China because of_________．

    A. the understanding of the problem            B. the lack of treatment and doctors

    C. their unwillingness to tell it to their boss       D. the doctors’ careless work

What can we infer from the passage?

    A. People are suffering from depression because of the shortage of specialists．

    B. The aging bosses around the world dare to say they are depressed．

C. More and mote patients will turn to specialists for help

D. Western people are braver than Chinese people

Alzheimer’s disease is a major national health problem. Nearly 2 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. It is a leading cause of death among the elderly. But Alzheimer’s disease is not confined(限于)to the aged. There may be a million or more people under the age of 65 suffering from the disease.?

At one time, people suffering from the disease were said to be“getting old”.The disease was though to be a natural part of growing old, but it is now known that Alzheimer’s disease strikes young and old alike. It is an organic(器官的)disease that destroys brain cells.?

Alzheimer’s disease affects the patient’s memory, speech, and movement. In the beginning stages of the disease, the patient may seem slightly confused. He may have trouble speaking. Then the patient’s memory begins to fail. He may forget dates, telephone numbers, names and plans.?

As the disease progresses, the patient may not recognize family and friends. These symptoms(症状)often cause terrible anxiety in the patient. He may feel lost and frightened. Sometimes the patient reacts with wild and bad behavior.?

In the last stages of the disease, the patient may not be able to take care of himself. He may have lost the ability to speak and walk.?

Scientists don’t know exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease. It may be caused by a virus(病毒).It may be caused by a poisonous substance(物质)in the environment. At present, there is no cure for the disease. But there are ways to slow its progress. Exercise and physical treatment can help the patients of this disease.?

The main idea of the passage is that Alzheimer’s disease________.?

A .is a terrible part of the aging process?

B .is an organic disease that affects young and old?

C .can be cured by physical treatment?

D. causes forgetfulness

All of the following are symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease EXCEPT_________.?

A. forgetfulness                       B. difficulty in speaking?

 .loss of sight                        D. loss of the ability to walk

According to the passage, which of the following may be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease??

A. Poisons produced by the brain.         B. Getting old.?

C.A virus.                            D. Lack of exercise.

he progress of Alzheimer’s disease can be slowed by________.?

A. operation                          B. a change in environment?

C .medicines                         D. physical treatment and exercise

TOKYO, Japan (AP) – Japan is very serious about robotics (机器人技术). If the androids are going to fit in, they probably need to learn the Japanese custom of serving tea. Fortunately, researchers at the University of Tokyo are exploring just that. In a show this week, an android（有人特点的）with camera eyes made by Kawada Industries Inc. poured tea from a bottle into a cup. Then another robot on wheels delivered the cup of tea in an experimental room that has sensors(感应器)embedded in the floor and sofa as well as cameras on the ceiling, to simulate（模仿）life with robot technology.
“A human being may be faster, but you’d have to say ‘Thank you,’” said University of Tokyo professor Tomomasa Sato. “That’s the best part about a robot. You don’t have to feel bad about asking it to do things.”
Sato believes Japan, a rapidly aging society where more than a fifth of the population is 65 or older, will lead the world in designing robots to care for the elderly, sick and bedridden（卧床不起的）. Already, monitoring technologies, such as sensors that automatically turn on lights when people enter a room, are becoming widespread in Japan.
The walking, child–size Asimo from Honda Motor Co. greets people at showrooms. NEC Corp. has developed a smaller companion robot on wheels called Papero. A robot available since 2004 can entertain the elderly and others in need of companionship.
Sato says his experimental room is raising awareness about privacy questions that may arise when electronic devices（设备）monitor a person’s movements down to the smallest detail.
On the bright side, the tea – pouring humanoid has been programmed to do the dishes.
【小题1】What is the best title of this passage?

A．“Thank You” Will Never Be Needed in Japan

B．Monitoring Technologies Are Widespread in Japan

C．Robot Is Designed to Care for the Elderly.

D．Robot technologies are widespread in Japanese daily life.

【小题2】The underlined word “embedded” in the first paragraph probably means      .

A．fixed

B．established

C．settled

D．rooted

【小题3】According to Professor Sato,       .

A．the robot serves tea much faster than a human being

B．the robot does anything like human beings

C．tea – serving robot helps to form laziness of the aging society

D．tea – serving robot doesn’t need any reward for the service

【小题4】Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．A robot can imitate people to complete complicated tasks.

B．A robot has been programmed to clean the dishes.

C．All the problems in the aging society can be solved by robots.

D．The number of aging people is increasing rapidly in Japan.

【小题5】We can infer from the passage that        .

A．people are afraid of being monitored by robots.

B．the technology of robots has been highlighted（强调） in Japan.

C．robots can completely take the place of human beings.

D．people’s privacy should be strictly protected

对话填空（共10题，共10分）

P：Peter       J：Jimmy

Peter is talking with Jimmy about the just finished match between L.A Lakers and Miami Heats on Christmas Eve, in 2010

P: Hey, Jimmy, watched the game between Lakers and Heats?

J: Certainly. It was really an a_____ fantastic game. My Heats beat L.A.

P: Your Heats? I remembered you were a fan of the Cavaliers.

J: To be exact, a fan of Lebron James. Since James joined the Heats, I also changed my range, which is undoubtedly logical. By the way, which team do you p_____ will win the title of c_____ this season?

P: I think the Lakers will do

J：I don’t a_____ of you. I strongly believe the title must go to the Heats. As you can see, the present Heats possesses the super “BIG THREE”, James is good at scoring. Wade is an expert in penetration(带球突破) and Chris Bosh can d______ backboard(篮板)

P：Maybe you are right. But I am afraid you l_____ out the e______ element（因素） in winning a basketball game---- team work. After all, basketball is not an i_____ game.

J：Apart from the “BIG Three”, there are quantities of excellent bench players available such as Dampier, Arios Arroyo, Eddie House and so on. I see no reason why the Heats can’t p_____ the NBA

P: I still have a preference for the Lakes. Compared to the Heats, the Lakers has a more mature(成熟的) play. And as long as there is Kobe, there is victory. On the other hand, we should not forget that other teams are making rapid progress like the Thunder led by Kelvin Durant，the Celtics and the Magics. They all have the p____ to challenge our teams.