People who are hit by lightning and survive often have long-term effects. These may include memory loss, sleep disorders, muscle pain and depression.
Experts tell people to seek the safety of a building or a hard-top vehicle any time they hear thunder, even if it is not raining. They say lightning can strike as far as sixteen kilometers from any rainfall. Lightning can travel sideways. And at least ten percent of lightning happens without any clouds overhead that you can see.
People who are outdoors should make sure they are not the tallest thing around. Bend low to the ground, but do not lie down. And do not stand near tall object. Get away from water and anything made of metal. A car is safe, but don’t touch any metal inside.
Safety experts say people in buildings should stay away from anything with wires or pipes that lead to the outside. The National Weather Service says if you plan to disconnect any electronic equipment, do so before the storm arrives. Do not  use a wired telephone. Do not use water. All these can carry electricity.
Some people think a person struck by lightning carries an electrical charge afterward. Experts say this is not true. It is safe to begin emergency treatment
Each year about four hundred people in the United States are struck by lightning. Last year forty four people died. The average is close to seventy. The National Weather Service says that is more than the number of people killed by severe storms.
小题1:According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?

A．Lightning can happen even if there is no cloud.

B．Lightning can’t strike very far.

C．Lightning can’t travel sideways.

D．Don’t stay in a car when lightning happen.

小题2:We can learn from the passage that________.

A．it’s better to turn off any electronic equipment before the storm arrives.

B．a wired telephone is not safe to use in rainy days.

C．a person struck by lightning is said to carry an electrical charge afterward.

D．severe storms kill more people than lightning does.

小题3:The underlined word ”depression” probably means”_______”.

A．excitement	B．a state of being forgettable
C．silence	D．a feeling of being sad

小题4:The passage is mainly about______.

A．where people should stay in case of lightning

B．some common knowledge about lightning safety

C．how lightning travels

D．a report written by the National Weather Service

Why do parents have such a difficult time to communicate openly and honestly with their teens? For this, there are many reasons but most of them stem from not being able to properly understand their teens. It is a dangerous gap because parents will have to communicate with their teens about a wide variety of issues during the most important years of their lives. Thus, parents must know how to communicate openly and honestly with their teens.
Here are a few tips to make communication easier between parents and teenagers.
1. Try not to talk down to your teens. Make them feel as if their views really matter, which not only helps your discussions with your teen but bring you closer to him.
2. Imagine what it would be like to be a teen. Try to remember some of the negative feelings you experienced as a teenager and apply it to your teen's situation.
3. Never make negative remarks to your teen about what she has said or done.
4. Remember how much courage it would have taken for your teen to come and talk to you about his personal issues. So listen respectfully.
5. Don't ignore your teen's feelings because it is usually a cry for help. For instance, if your teen is unusually angry, it may be time to spend a bit of quality time with your teen to determine what is wrong and where he is coming from.
It is, therefore, necessary for parents to strive to keep lines of communication open at all times with their teens. Try to remember what it was like to be a teenager and how vulnerable（脆弱的）you felt. Then you will be well on your way to help your teen communicate more openly and honestly.
小题1:Why don't teens want to talk about their personal issues with their parents?

A．Because they can't respect their parents.

B．Because they can't understand their parents.

C．Because their parents won't understand them well.

D．Because their parents are not honest.

小题2:When your son comes to you for help, you should NOT _____.

A．listen respectively	B．treat him seriously
C．care about his feeling	D．make negative remarks

小题3:Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined phrase  “talk down to”?

A．put down

B．look down upon

C．chat with

D．quarrel with

小题4:The best title for this passage is _____.

A．Causes of generation gap

B．Relations between teens and parents

C．Suggestions for parents-children effective communication

D．Problems with communication between teens and parents

Ben and his wife Susan were on their way to have dinner with their friends. It was a dark，windy night, and they did not know the way very well. They drove through a town until they found what they thought was the road to Dorling，where their friends lived. But it soon became clear that they were not on the road to Dorling at all. The road that they were on was getting narrower，and there were no other cars on it. The wind was blowing harder with every minute that passed.
They came to a small village .They drove past a church and then two houses without lights on. There was nobody about to tell them where they were，or where the road went. Just then，Ben saw a telephone box，twenty meters or so further on. While he walked back along the road to see if there was a name outside the church，Susan telephoned their friends and told them that they were still on their way.
Their friends were just saying that the dinner was already getting rather cold，when Ben came back to the telephone box，his head down against the wind. He said that there was a tree lying across the road，and that the telephone lines were down. Susan heard nothing more from their friends about the dinner.
小题1:Some time later Ben and Susan found they took a wrong road because ________.

A．their friends lived nearer than they drove

B．the road was getting narrower and their car alone was on it

C．the hard wind made them get lost

D．the road was not the same as before

小题2:Ben went to the church to see if there was a name outside because ________.

A．he was sure to find some people who knew Dorling

B．he hoped to get help from there

C．he wanted to telephone his friends where they were

D．he wanted to stay there for the night

小题3:Susan could hear nothing more from their friends because ________.

A．the telephone lines were broken by a tree

B．the strong wind made too much noise

C．they got angry

D．they had all left

小题4:From the passage we know ________.

A．Ben and his wife often went out for dinners

B．Ben and his wife lived in the country

C．both Ben and his wife were short­sighted(近视的)

D．Ben and his wife seldom(很少) went to Dorling

Becoming a fireman is a challenging and competitive job today. A fireman’s main duty is being scheduled according to the fighting and extinguishment(熄灭) of fire which definitely requires being a strong man, both mentally and physically.
The duty of a fireman involves protection of life and property of the public. They are the servicemen who are decisively selected by an organization to deal with situations like fire. The duty of a fireman intentionally consists of helping innocent people in their time of need. Such type of jobs is one of those few jobs where service is provided for people when they need help immediately. This may include rescuing people from a building at fire, providing them with medical facilities, extinguishing fire in a house or in a large commercial building. Serving people is the main intention of these professionals. The satisfaction which a fireman gets from this type of job cannot be compared to any other profession in the world.
Such profession demands top-level commitment and professionalism from .those who have chosen it as a career. Fireman should possess the highest level of courage and patience to put their lives in danger for the sake of others. They undergo lessons of maintaining patience for long hours and go through complete preparation to become successful and well-organized professional firemen. There are certain tests that are recommended before becoming a fireman.
It’s not that easy to become a fireman nowadays. A fireman is supposed to deal with unexpected situations, and they should be skilled at communicating with others and be self-disciplined at the same time.
In order to be a good fireman, one must undergo（经历、接受） strict local fire department’s training program after passing all the tests. All the fire departments conclude a two-to-four-month course, including classroom training and practical training that cover firefighting techniques, fire avoidance, dangerous materials and urgent situation medical actions. Completing this training, trainees go through the department’s trial period of service that can last from three to six months, depending on the methods of selection.
Firemen usually work both indoors and outdoors. They have to be on duty at all times and mostly work in shifts of at least 8 hours. They are also provided with several benefits which include medical aid plan, pension fund, annual leave and many more.
Title: Fireman

Definition	The servicemen decisively selected by an organization to 小题1:_______ situations like fire.
小题2:	● Helping innocent people 小题3:        they need help. ● Rescuing people from a building at-fire and providing them with medical facilities. ●小题4:       out fire in a house or in a large commercial building.
Requirements	● Having top-level commitment and professionalism. ● Being courageous and 小题5:        . ● Being strong both in body and 小题6: _________. ● Having good 小题7:       skills. ● Being self-disciplined.
小题8:	● Firefighting techniques, fire avoidance, dangerous materials and urgent situation medical actions. ● The department’s trial period of service which possibly 小题9:_________ 3～6 months.
小题10:	Medical aid plans, pension fund, annual leave and many more.

 

When I was growing up, I seldom heard the words “I love you” from my father. If your father never   1  them to you when you are a   2 , it gets more and more   3 for him to say those words as you get older. To tell you the truth, I could hardly   4  when I heard those words from my father. Neither could I remind when I had last said those words to 5  . I decided to   6 my shyness aside and make the first move. 7  hesitating for some time, in our next  8 conversation, I spoke out the words suddenly, “Dad ... I love you!”
There was a  9 at the other end. It wasn’t after a while did he awkwardly(笨拙地) reply, “Well,  10 to you!” I laughed and said, “Dad, I  11  you love me, and when you are ready, I know you will say what you want to say.”Fifteen minutes later my mother called and  12  asked, “Paul, is everything okay?”
A few weeks later, Dad  13 our phone conversation with the words, “Paul, I love you.” I was at work during this conversation and the 14  was (were) rolling down my cheeks as I finally “  15  ” the love. As we both sat there in tears, we  16  that this special moment had taken our father and son  17 to a new level.
A short while after this special moment, my father  18 escaped death from the following heart surgery. Many times since his return to the usual state of health, I have  19  , if I did not take the first step and Dad did not  20 the surgery, I would have never heard him say those words.

小题1:	A．speaks B．says C．offers D．provides

小题2:	A．man B．mother C．child D．father

小题3:	A．easy B．possible C．delighted D．difficult

小题4:	A．forget B．remember C．mind D．decide

小题5:	A．him B．her C．me D．them

小题6:	A．drop B．let C．set D．lose

小题7:	A．Before B．After C．When D．Since

小题8:	A．phone B．email C．letter D．record

小题9:	A．smile B．voice C．cry D．silence

小题10:

A．same B．difficult C．true D．similar

小题11:

A．hope B．know C．wonder D．doubt

小题12:

A．crazily B．delightedly C．nervously D．terribly

小题13:

A．concluded B．disturbed C．broke D．carried

小题14:

A．hairs B．water C．sweat D．tears

小题15:

A．understood B．expressed C．heard D．saw

小题16:

A．discussed B．considered C．believed D．realized

小题17:

A．decision B．development C．relationship D．situation

小题18:

A．narrowly B．easily C．unlikely D．generally

小题19:

A．said B．thought C．dreamed D．apologized

小题20:

A．think B．fight C．fail D．Survive

With your workload growing, you may be telling yourself a vacation is one luxury you can’t afford.  小题1: A vacation allows you the opportunity to recharge your physical and motional batteries, disconnect from everyday concerns, and return to work rested and refreshed. Some facts have proved employees are more productive after a vacation than before one. Here are some tips for you to plan your vacation to make sure that your time away from the office is worry free.
Time is right. A Robert Half survey shows that July and August are the most favorable months for employees to take a break because these months offer ideal beach weather and many businesses slow down during this time.  小题2: For instance, if a big task is planned for the summer, you may consider postponing your trip until the fall.
Ask others for assistance.  小题3: Your supervisor can help you determine who is the most qualified for a particular task.
Let your contacts know. Give colleagues and customers you frequently work with a few weeks’ notice before you start off.  小题4:
Conduct a technical review. Before you leave, make sure there is plenty of room in your e-mail inbox so you don’t exceed (超越) your storage limit while you’re out of the office, which might prevent you from sending messages when you return.  小题5:
In short, taking vacation is necessary and beneficial for your job. But you must plan your vacation properly in order to work free and worry free on holiday.

A．Ask trusted colleagues to handle your projects while you’re away.

B．A summertime beach vacation includes so much more than what you desire these days.

C．But the truth is that you can’t afford not to take one.

D．This will give them enough time to plan for your absence.

E. Also make sure passwords won’t expire(期满) while you are away.
F. What’s more, find your pet a temporary home when you are on vacation.
G. When planning your vacation, remember to take into account any activity that your department will be focused on during that time.

More and more people think it necessary to study in an English-speaking country and it didn’t take long at all for me to decide to come and study in UK.
Having been in the school for 2 months, I’m getting used to school life, and I am starting to make the most of my time in here. School starts at 9 o’clock every morning, and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we have long days, in which we have 9 lessons and school finishes at 4 o’clock. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays we have short days, in which we have only 6 lessons and finish at 1 o’clock. After lessons, we have two hours of activity time, when you can choose from a wide range of activities, including all the major sports, such as rugby and football, and also the minor sports such as basketball and tennis.
As a boarder( 寄宿者)，the quality of food is something I consider very important, and Merchiston has not let me down. The school kitchens are run by a professional food company, and the quality of food is very excellent and also they take the healthy diet very seriously: I remember once I was once asked to take more salad for my meal by a member of the kitchen staff(员工) for I didn’t have enough vegetables. This brings another point of being a boarder: you need to learn how to look after yourself and be responsible(负责) for yourself. One of the huge advantages of being a boarder is that we can have breakfast in the school, which means we don’t have to pull ourselves out of bed as early as the day pupils!
小题1:The passage mainly tells us about _______.

A．the author’s school life in the UK as a boarder.

B．the author’s opinion of the school life in the UK.

C．the differences in school life between China and UK.

D．the boarder life in a Britain middle school.

小题2:According to the second paragraph, we can learn that the author _________ .

A．has not enough time to study	B．likes to play tennis and basketball
C．went to the school two months ago	D．finishes school at 4 o’clock

小题3:How many lessons do the students have every week in this school?

A．15

B．45

C．27

D．18

小题4:The underlined words “let me down” in the last paragraph means _______.

A．made me disappointed

B．made me pleased

C．encouraged me

D．amazed me

小题5:As a boarder in the school, the author ___________ .

A．is not used to the food there	B．has learned to have healthy diets
C．is specially taken good care of	D．sleep as much as the day pupils

At the age of sixteen, I joined a volunteer group with my dad. I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that “our family” was living in a trailer(拖车) that was in poor condition. A crew had been working on it for two weeks, but every time they finished one problem, another surfaced.
We decided the only reasonable solution was to build a new house – something unusual but necessary under these circumstances. The family was overjoyed with their new house that was twenty by thirty feet with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen.
On Tuesday of that week, while we ate lunch together, I asked the family’s three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, "What do you want for your new room?" Expecting toys and other gadgets that children usually ask for, we were surprised when Josh responded, "I just want a bed."
The boys had never slept in a bed! They were accustomed to plastic mats. That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.
When we saw the delivery truck coming, we told the family about the surprise. We could hardly contain ourselves. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning.
That afternoon, as we fitted the frames of the beds together, Eric ran into the house to watch us. Too dirty to enter his room, he observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm from the doorway.
As my father slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, "What is that?"
"A pillow," she replied.
"What do you do with it?" Eric continued to ask.
"When you go to sleep, you put your head on it,” I answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.
"Oh . . . that's soft," he said, hugging it tightly.
Now, when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems urgent, my Dad gently asks, "Do you have a pillow?"
We know exactly what he means.
小题1:The writer’s first volunteer project was         .

A．working on a poor trailer

B．helping a poor family

C．donating beds and bedding

D．dealing with a housing problem

小题2:On hearing Josh’s answer, the writer was shocked because         .

A．the family lived in a trailer

B．he expected to get some toys

C．he didn’t know what a bed was

D．the boys had no bed to sleep in

小题3:From the passage, we can learn that Eric had never seen       before.

A．a trailer

B．a truck

C．a pillow

D．a house

小题4:By saying “Do you have a pillow?”, the writer’s father means that        .

A．what they want to get may be unnecessary

B．they should not waste money on small things

C．they should do more volunteer work for the poor

D．what he will buy is not what they want but a pillow

A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents.
Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. “If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions,” he said.
To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St. Louis.
One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups’ respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits.
After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks.
“He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him,” said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago.
Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights..
“AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him,” said the study’s author, Dr. William Banks, “He’s an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot.”
小题1:Before the new study, it was known that ____.

A．robots were effective at reducing people’s loneliness

B．robots could build close connection with humans

C．dogs could help get rid of old people’s loneliness

D．dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness

小题2:Those who had contact with the robotic dog found that ___.

A．they didn’t feel comfortable with it

B．it was hard for them to interact with it

C．they weren’t comfortable with it at first

D．the robot’s vocalizing and blinking confused them

小题3:The findings of the researchers tell us that___.

A．robots are better at caring for old people than nurses

B．robots can to some degree replace dogs as companions for old people

C．it’s easy for people to become close with robots

D．every home will have a robot assistant one day

小题4:What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Robots Serve People Better Than Thought

B．No More Lonely Old Age with Emotional Robots

C．Advanced Technology Used to cheer up the Elderly

D．Robots and Dogs Can Equally Cheer up the Elderly

There are many stories about people who did not let age stop them in the pursuit of their goals. I’m sure you have heard of recent 70-year-old college graduates, or teenagers who are 1 of many useful things or owners of companies. Actually, it can be done; it just 2 your attitude.
Michael had wanted to run his own business from an early age, but he was 3 a big risk taker. After many years of working for others, he put a business plan together and was about to make the 4 , but his friends told him that at 45 he was too 5 to start his own construction business. They thought it was a young man’s business while Michael needed a steady income to support his family. Michael was discouraged. 6 many of his friends worked in the very field that he was considering starting his business in, he 7 that they knew what was best, so he decided to give up his 8 . But his wife told him that he was foolish to do so. They discussed it and Michael 9 that he’d been using his age as a(n) 10 instead of as an advantage.
Have you put off a goal 11 age or another limiting factor? Does the limiting 12really have as much influence as you think? Age is just a number and each challenge is an opportunity. Your attitude 13 . You’re not too old to try something 14 and never too old to give up on your dreams. They may 15 a bit of adjustment, but if you want something enough, believe in yourself and your desires will have no bounds.

小题1:	A．owners B．discoverers C．inventors D．users

小题2:	A．depends on B．turns down C．makes up D．leads to

小题3:	A．never B．hardly C．nearly D．surely

小题4:	A．decision B．leap C．conclusion D．contribution

小题5:	A．early B．old C．hard D．wise

小题6:	A．If B．Before C．Even D．Since

小题7:	A．hoped B．learnt C．thought D．heard

小题8:	A．plan B．job C．belief D．method

小题9:	A．stressed B．decided C．realized D．Dreamed

小题10:

A．response B．reply C．answer D．excuse

小题11:

A．instead of B．regardless of C．because of D．in spite of

小题12:

A．result B．factor C．pressure D．strength

小题13:

A．changes B．helps C．begins D．matters

小题14:

A．opposite B．impossible C．strange D．valuable

小题15:

A．make B．suggest C．require D．follow