237 West Palmdale Boulevard Fresno, California 93706 AmToy Corporation Suite 15 TransAm Building San Francisco, California 94115 November 20, 2008 Dear Sirs, As a concerned parent, I am writing to protest your recent advertisement for Electro—Robo seen in local media is California. Specifically, I am referring to newspaper and magazine ads （attached to this letter）published the week of November 15. Children respond to your type of advertising in an immature way; that is, they are unable to understand how expensive some toys are for middle-class parents. Further, you product is violent in nature. Youth advertisement gives children the impression that it’s fine to have “two guns and laser eyes.” You also suggest that children need your toy to protect them “when you go outside.” This is not a healthy attitude for children to have. I hope you will stop advertising your product in such a way that may harm our children. Sincerely yours, （Mrs.） Alma Hernandez President, Parents for Non-violent Toys Enc.

 

It’s here! Ready for You, Now! It’s Electro-Robo! Every boy dreams of being in control of a robot, and AmToy can make your dream come true! Electro-Roho is the world’s first fully automatic robot with radio control. Standing 80 centimeters tall, Electro-Robo is like a friend at home. He can walk, talk, and even shake your hand! He has two guns and laser eyes to help you defend yourself when you go outside with him. Every boy needs Electro-Robo! Ask your Mom and Dad to buy Electro-Robo for your birthday or for Christmas, which is coming up soon. Imagine that you are in control of your friend for life, Electro-Robo! Available at all toy stores and department stores NOW!

【小题1】What is the purpose of the letter?

A．To complain about a broken toy.	B．To oppose the advertising.
C．To order a gift for Christmas.	D．To apply for a job in a toy company.

【小题2】What dose “Enc.” at the end of the letter mean?

A．Something attached to the letter.	B．A complaint to the toy company.
C．A hidden message	D．An encouraging response.

【小题3】 Electro-Robo can do all the following EXCEPT ______-.

A．sitting down

B．shaking hands

C．talking

D．walking

One of the most common complaints I hear from families is that they are not close. They may be close in proximity, but still not feel close as a 36_. They may live next door or in the same house, but not feel 37 .

Closeness is about  38 . We feel close when we feel 39 ,  when we feel loved and when we simply enjoy being together. We may live far apart and still feel close, or we may 40 a home yet feel distant.

Closeness is a family trait that  41 over time. It is planted by love, watered by honest sharing and fed by true listening. It grows slowly and sometimes 42 years to mature; but it’s roots grow deep. It can 43 most storm and sustain a family through the most 44 time.

I received a letter from a reader in Hawaii. She 45 out that the CEO of one of the island’s largest banks was  46 a run for governor. Since he was well—liked, he seemed to have a good 47 of winning.

But before filing papers, he 48 his mind, stating that he wanted to spend more time with his 49 . Not that elected officials cannot be family—oriented, but he felt he needed more time at home than the job 50 .

Ronald A Young, in the Honolulu Advertiser, said this about the candidate’s decision：”No matter what you 51 in the business world or the social world, if you fail the family, then you have not accomplished much. Failure or success does not 52 in the material wealth you provide them. It is 53 by what of yourself you give to them.”

He made a 54 to give the best of himself to his family. He 55 family closeness first, despite pressure to put more time elsewhere. It’s likely a decision he’ll never regret.

36．A. house	B. home	C. family	D. group
37．A. physically	B. emotionally	C. behaviorally	D. officially
38．A. attitude	B. points	C. ambition	D. ideas
39．A. misunderstood	B. understood	C. annoyed	D. disappointed
40．A. share	B. stay	C. live	D. keep
41．A. grows	B. changes	C. stays	D. happens
42．A. pays	B. spends	C. takes	D costs
43．A. weather	B. carry	C. keep	D. protect
44．A. happy	B. difficult	C. joyful	D. funny
45．A. pointed	B. set	C. put	D. gave
46．A. thinking	B. considering	C. expecting	D. waiting
47．A. sign	B. mark	C. score	D. chance
48．A. kept	B. changed	C. stuck	D. made
49．A. family	B. friends	C. people	D. officials
50．A. provided	B. allowed	C. had	D. gave
51．A. complete	B. finish	C. get	D. accomplish
52．A. lie	B. result	C. say	D. happen
53．A. concerned	B. tested	C. measured	D. examined
54．A. plan	B. solution	C. promise	D. decision
55．A. took	B. brought	C. chose	D. held

Brian knew he had been drinking more and more, but he was convinced that he'd return to more moderate drinking when he wasn't so pressured at work, and that "a few too many drinks now and then" wasn't a major problem.

"My wife and father were on me to stop drinking, but you know how critical and protective family can be," said Brian. "So I blew them off."

It wasn't until his friend Jack spoke up that Brian started to think differently. "That really hit home, because I wouldn’t expect a friend to confront me with something that personal unless it was very important," said Brian. "Jack said he was really concerned about me. He pointed out that my personality changed after I had a few beers--that I became belligerent(寻衅的). For a normally easy-going guy, that was a dramatic change in behavior."

Jack could see that Brian's numerous drinking binges(放纵) were causing problems. Brian was frequently calling into work sick and falling behind in his work, and his marriage was seriously on the ropes. Brian was teetering(摇摇欲坠) on the edge of disaster. "I didn't want to see a good life and a good friendship ruined," said Jack, "so I approached Brian, shared my honest observations with him, and suggested that he seek help."  

After a couple days of soul searching, though still reluctant, Brian took Jack's suggestion and was assessed by an addiction professional. The expert recommended that Brian check into a treatment center, and one day later Brian did so.

Many people fear taking the path that Jack took. Speaking up to a friend who may have a problem with alcohol or other drugs can be a tricky undertaking.

Yet it's true that a concerned friend can do a lot. Most people don't recognize they have a substance abuse problem and most don't seek help for a problem until someone close to them intervenes(干预).

1.What happened to Brian according to the passage?

A. He suffered from an illness called alcohol addiction.

B. He changed so much that he was deserted by his family.

C. He became morally corrupted drinking too much all day.

D. He drank a little more than normal to escape the pressure.

2.What does “that” in the 3rd paragraph refer to?

A. Brian’s drinking binges.                 B. Jack’s talk with Brian.

C. Wife and father’s intervention.           D. Brian’s different thoughts.

3. Brian could accept Jack’s suggestions mainly because ____________.

A. he found his friend was very critical and protective

B. Jack’s suggestions were professional and persuasive

C. Jack and Brian’s family had different opinions

D. he knew his friend wouldn’t easily intervene his personal affair

4. Brian’s alcohol abuse brought him many problems EXCEPT ____________.

A. his refusal to listen to his family    B. his bad temper and aggressiveness

C. his failure to do his work well            D. his marriage problems

5. The writer narrates Brian’s story in order to ____________.

A. tell us the bad results of alcohol addiction     

B. warn us not to fall into the habit of drinking

C. show friends have real power to intervene  

D. prove a friend in need is a friend indeed

 

237 West Palmdale Boulevard Fresno, California 93706 AmToy Corporation Suite 15 TransAm Building San Francisco, California 94115 November 20, 2008 Dear Sirs, As a concerned parent, I am writing to protest your recent advertisement for Electro—Robo seen in local media is California. Specifically, I am referring to newspaper and magazine ads（attached to this letter）published the week of November 15. Children respond to your type of advertising in an immature way; that is, they are unable to understand how expensive some toys are for middle-class parents. Further, you product is violent in nature. Youth advertisement gives children the impression that it’s fine to have “two guns and laser eyes.” You also suggest that children need your toy to protect them “when you go outside.” This is not a healthy attitude for children to have. I hope you will stop advertising your product in such a way that may harm our children. Sincerely yours, （Mrs.） Alma Hernandez President, Parents for Non-violent Toys Enc.

 

It’s here! Ready for You, Now! It’s Electro-Robo! Every boy dreams of being in control of a robot, and AmToy can make your dream come true! Electro-Roho is the world’s first fully automatic robot with radio control. Standing 80 centimeters tall, Electro-Robo is like a friend at home. He can walk, talk, and even shake your hand! He has two guns and laser eyes to help you defend yourself when you go outside with him. Every boy needs Electro-Robo! Ask your Mom and Dad to buy Electro-Robo for your birthday or for Christmas, which is coming up soon. Imagine that you are in control of your friend for life, Electro-Robo! Available at all toy stores and department stores NOW!

 
【小题1】What is the purpose of the letter?

A．To complain about a broken toy.	B．To oppose the advertising.
C．To order a gift for Chrismas.	D．To apply for a job in a toy company.

【小题2】Why does the writer of the letter that Electro-Robo is violent?

A．It is controlled by radio water.	B．It is expensive to buy.
C．It is 80 centimeter tall.	D．It bears arms.

【小题3】What dose “Enc.” at the end of the letter mean?

A．Something attached to the letter.	B．A complaint to the toy company.
C．A hidden message	D．An encouraging response.

【小题4】Electro-Robo can do all the following EXCEPT ______-.

A．sitting down

B．shaking hands

C．talking

D．walking

Dear editor,

    I am Paul , a senior English teacher in Linchuan No. 1 Middle School in Jiangxi Province , China. This letter is written to ask for your opinion.

    The other day, I met with a multiple - choice exercise. We teachers argued heatedly with each other over its answer. Unfortunately, neither side could convince the other. The sentence is to be attached at the end of the letter. There is no doubt that the reference answer C is correct. But I don’t  think it is the only answer. Personally, I do think A is also a reasonable choice in sense as well as in grammar, if the case is treated from another aspect.                                

    What puzzles me is why we should deal with so many multiple - choice exercises with not rigorous（严谨的）enough reference keys. But being a teacher, it’s very important and necessary to make it clear to students which answer is correct, which is more appropriate, and which is the best one. Regrettably, Multiple - choice test, which is a bit old - fashioned in western countries, seems to be quite popular and covers a rather high percentage in all sorts of English tests in China, especially in NMET.

    Personally speaking, I don’t think multiple - choice test form making up more than 75 percent of the total scores in college entrance examination is a very good and effective testing method. Instead, more subjective testing forms depending on one’s own thinking and his ability to use the language like key words falling, question answering, paragraph or passage summarizing, English - Chinese or Chinese - English inter - translation, etc. should be applied to English proficiency tests. Through the test forms mentioned above, students’ ability to use the language will be better developed. Consequently, more advanced and outstanding English learners could be picked out. In fact, a test paper focusing on multiple - choice test influences, in a sense, students to form their own language thinking, which hinders（阻碍）the development of their language ability as well. Do you think so?

    I am looking forward to your authoritative opinion. Thanks.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Liao

1..

. What can be learnt from the letter is that the writer ________.

    A. writes to argue with the editor over China’s present test system

    B. thinks the reference answer to the sentence is completely wrong

    C. thinks subjective test forms constitute a rather high percentage in NMET

    D. doesn’t think highly of China’s present English proficiency test forms

2..

. In order to better develop students’ ability to use English, the writer suggests ________.

    A. dealing with more multiple - choice exercises

    B. laying stress on the practice of subjective exercises

    C. arguing hotly with teachers over reference answers

    D. considering a problem from different aspects

3..

 Which of the following does NOT belong to subjective exercises in English learning?

    A. Keeping a diary.                    B. Summarizing a paragraph.

    C. Copying a test.                     D. Translating a passage.

4..

 The writer seems to feel ________ as to the future development of students’ language ability.

    A. concerned      B. curious          C. confused          D. satisfied