In this age of cell phones, text messages and computer keyboards, one Scottish school has returned to basics. It’ s teaching I children the ignored art of writing with a fountain pen. There is no   clicking of keyboards in most classrooms at the Mary Erskine and Stewart ’s Melville Junior School，although there is a full range of facilities(设施）for computer lessons and technology isn ' t being ignored. The school' s headmaster believes the old -fashioned pens have helped strengthen the academic performance and self-respect of his 1，200 pupils.

"The pens improve the quality of work because they force the children to take care, and better work improves self-respect" , headmaster Bryan Lewis said. “ Proper handwriting is as relevant today as it ever has been. “ Students as young as 7 have been instructed to give up their ballpoint pens and begin to deal with its more artful predecessor. By the time they reach grade five, at age 9，they are expected to write mainly with fountain pens. Lewis said the school’s 7-and 8 -year-olds use fountain pens for 80-90 percent of their work, returning to pencils for such subjects as math. “I don’ t see fountain pens as old -fashioned or out of date. Modern fountain

pens are beautiful to use. It’ s not like in the old days of broken metal points and dirtying writing paper，” Lewis said. ‘We have a particular writing style and we have developed it very carefully and found a way that allows left-and right-handed people to write without dirtying paper. ”

Some people argue that handwriting is becoming less important because of the growing use of cell phone text messaging and typing on computers, but the school disagrees. ‘We talk of the paperless office and the paperless world, but this is not true, ” Lewis said. “You still need to have proper handwriting skills. ”

. The Scottish school in the passage   _____.

A.  does not think highly of modern technology

B.  values fountain pens more than anything else

C.  pays special attention to the use of fountain pens

D.  takes an action which is considered stupid by many people

The underlined word “predecessor” in Paragraph 2 refers to_____.

A. the pencil   B. the keyboard

C. the ballpoint pen    D. the fountain pen

The headmaster Bryan Lewis holds the view that_____.

A.  children should be required to use fountain pens when they are five

B.  handwriting skills are more important than typing skills nowadays

C.  using fountain pens may slow down students ’ speed of writing

D.  fountain pens have helped to build up students' self-respect

Which is the best title for this passage?

A.  Handwriting Not Useless Now

B.  Old-fashioned Pen Coming Back

C.  Stay Away from Tech and Teach Fountain Pen

D.  Fountain Pen Strengthens Academic Performance

In 1879, a group of explorers made an incredible find. They discovered paintings of remarkable beauty on the walls of a cave in Spain. Some scientists believed that these paintings were created by early humans from the Stone Age, between ten and thirty thousand years ago. Other scientists and the public did not believe the claim, but over the years, it was proven correct. Our ancestors had incredible artistic talents.

Most of the cave art that has been discovered has been found in Spain and France. A smaller number of such caves are located in Italy, Portugal, Russia, and other countries. Scientists believe that many more caves will be discovered in the coming years, and are concentrating their efforts on Africa and the area between Europe and Asia. These two regions of the world were, populated first by humans.

Cave art was carved or painted on the walls and roofs of caves, usually near the entrance. The entrance area was probably chosen to take advantage of daylight and to allow many people to view the paintings. In some cases, the art appears much deeper in caves and requires artificial light. Evidence suggests that the artists used torches or shallow bowls in which animal fat was burned.

9.What was the response of general public to the discovery of cave art made by Stone Age people?

A. They believed it at first.

B. They did not believe it.

C. They thought it was beautiful.

D. They ignored it.

10.According to the passage, what can we conclude about animal fat?

A. It does not burn.

B. Stone Age artists used it to preserve their paintings.

C. It can be burned to produce light.

D. Stone Age artists mixed it with their food.

11.. Where do scientists expect to find more cave paintings?

A. In Central and South America.

B. In Spain and France.

C. In the places where there are caves with large openings.

D. In the regions of the world first populated by humans.

12.Where would this passage be most likely to appear?

A. In a textbook about early human history.

B. In a textbook about modern art.

C. In a dictionary.

D. In an encyclopedia entry about caves.

       In so many ways, cyberspace（网络空间） mirrors the real world．People ask for information, play games, and share hobby tips．Others buy and sell products．Still others look for friendship, or even love．

       Some Internet users want more than just someone to chat with．They’re looking for serious love relationships．Is cyberspace a good place to find love? That answer depends on whom you ask．Some of these relationships actually succeed．Others end in tears．

       Unlike the real world, however, your knowledge about a person is limited to words on a computer screen．Identity and appearance mean very little in cyberspace．Rather, a person’s thoughts or at least the thoughts they type are what really counts．So even the shyest person can become a chat-room star．

       Usually, this “faceless” communication doesn’t create problems．Identity doesn’t really matter when you’re in a chat-room discussing politics or hobbies．In fact, this emphasis on the ideas themselves makes the Internet a great place for exciting conversation．Where else can so many people come together to chat?

       Supporters of online relationships claim that the Internet allows couples to know how intelligent they are first．Personal appearance doesn’t get in the way．

       But critics（批评者）of online relationships argue that no one can truly know another person in cyberspace．Why? Because the Internet gives users a lot of control over how others view them．Internet users can carefully choose their words to fit whatever image they want to give．And they don’t have to worry about what their “non-verbal ” communication is doing for their image．In a sense, they’re not really themselves．All of this may be fine if the relationship stays in cyberspace．But not knowing a person is a big problem in a love relationship．With so many unknowns, it’s easy to let one’s imagination “fill in the blanks”．This surely leads to disappointment when couples meet in person．How someone imagines an online friend is often quite different from the real person．

       So, before looking for love in cyberspace, remember the advice of Internet pioneer Clifford Stoll, “Life in the real world is far richer than anything you’ll find on a computer screen．”

Which would the critics of online relationships most probably disagree to?

       A．Nobody can truly know another person in cyberspace．

       B．Internet users can choose words to create any image they like．

       C．The Internet allows couples know how intelligent they are．

       D．In a sense, Internet users are not really themselves．

Even the shyest person can become a chat-room star because what really counts is a person’s ______．

       A．non-verbal communication    B．thoughts typed on the screen

       C．knowledge and appearance    D．identity shown in the chat

The underlined word “This” （Paragraph 6） refers to ______．

       A．having exciting conversations online

       B．forming personal relationship in cyberspace

       C．imagining online friends with so many unknowns

       D．knowing a person in a love relationship

What’s the writer’s attitude towards finding love in cyberspace?

       A．Positive         B．Negative        C．Interested      D．Disinterested

In the UK, students’ residence halls are run as profit-making business, but this can occasionally be to students’ disadvantage.

As many universities choose to contract out their hall’s management to private companies, room rents are rising and student rights are suffering.

In 2006, 55 percent of student rooms were managed by private companies --- only 27 percent by universities and colleges, the National Union of Students (NUS) has reported.

These private companies are improving the hall’s facilities in return for higher room rents. The most noticeable example of this trend is the growth in luxury halls. These are halls for students willing to pay more for larger rooms with better services.

Chancellors Court, at Edinburgh University in Scotland, is one such luxury hall. Rooms are divided between standard and large, with larger rooms costing 173 pounds each week, 40 pounds more than smaller rooms. They come with a scenic view, color TV, fast Internet connection and a modern bathroom.

Other luxury halls have private gyms for their residents. Private companies capitalize (用…以牟利) on their investment by renting out the students rooms to travelers over the summer vacation period.

But the NUS is concerned that luxury halls are affecting room rents at standard un-privatized halls. Most students in the UK pay on average 126 pounds a week for a private room in catered (提供餐饮的) halls of residence, the International Students Advice and Welfare organization has reported. According to the NUS, rent in UK halls of residence has risen by almost a quarter from 2005 to 2007.

Veronica King, NUS vice-president of welfare, wants the privatization of university accommodation to stop.

“For the students for whom luxury is not affordable, there is a significant risk that accommodation costs, coupled with the burden of complete fees, may reduce the choice of where to go to university,” she said.

Legal quarrels with privatized (私有化了的) halls may also account for some of the 10 percent per year rise in student complaints to the office of the Independent Adjudicator(裁定者) for Higher Education (OIA). The OIA is an independent student complaints scheme that has authority over all higher education institutions in England and Wales.

Rob Behrens, chief executive of the OIA, said he was unsurprised by the rise in complaints. “The bottom line is that students today are more self-confident in thinking about what their rights are and what are the things they can get form the commitments they make.”

Why are room rents rising in British universities?

A. Because the world is facing a financial crisis.

B. Because most universities are getting bored about students’ complaints.

C. Because many universities let private companies run students’ halls.

D. Because not all universities can meet the demands of the students.

Which of the following is not mentioned about a luxury hall?

A. Students have to pay more for a luxury hall.

B. Students can have a good view in a luxury hall.

C. Students can enjoy their own gym in a luxury hall.

D. Students can have an Internet connection free of charge.

Why do some students want to pay more for a luxury hall?

A. Because they just want to show that they are rich. 

B. Because they are better served in a luxury hall.

C. Because there are too much complaints about small rooms.

D. Because there are no other choices.

What may happen to those who can’t afford the accommodation fee?

A. They may borrow more money from the bank.

B. They may go to work in OIA.

C. They may not go to college.

D. They may go abroad for further study.

In the hit film The bucket List, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman meet in hospital in California after they have been diagnosed with cancer. Between them they cook up a “bucket list” – a to-do list of all they want to do before they kick the bucket. The movie makes you wonder what would be on your bucket list. So let’s pack up some and see what it would cost to go out and have a little fun.

THE PYRAMIDS, GIZA, EGYPT

On to the pyramids, surely on anyone’s bucket list. Exotik Tours can take you there on a variety of trips, including their popular Egypt Express which includes three nights in Cairo and a three-night Nile Cruise(乘船游览). From $1,384, including four-and five-star accommodation, 12 meals and a ton of sightseeing.

www.exotiktours.com   416-646-3347

TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA

One of the world’s most fascinating images, India’s Taj Mahal makes even Nicholson and Freeman look calm. Toronto’s Goway Travel has many suggestions for India, including a three-day independent visit to Agra. Stay at the attractive Oberoi AmarVilas overlooking the Taj. Include two breakfasts, touring and airport transfer from $1,420.

www.gowaytravel.com    416-322-1034

THE GREAT WALL, CHINA

If the Great Wall of China is on your bucket list, check into Tour East Holiday’s four-day Amazing Beijing Tour for $580 per person, four-star accommodation, sightseeing including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, breakfasts and two lunches, transportation and guide.

www.toureastholidays.com    416-929-0888

THE HIMALAYAS, NEPAL

And on to the Himalayas. Talk about “something truly majestic(壮丽的). See the top of the world on GAP Adventures’ Everest Adventure tour, a 15-day exploration including Everest Base Camp, teahouse lodge stays, and walking through Sherpa villages. Incredibly affordable at just $665 plus local payment of $250. GAP Adventures warns that this is a physically demanding trip.

www.gapadventures.com     416-260-0999

The underlined phrase “kick the bucket” in Paragraph 1 means ______.

   A. come to life        B. play a game              C. pass away          D. list interesting places

If you take on the Everest Adventure tour, you should be aware that ____.

the sights may not be so good.

It is a tiring trip

you may not be used to the food there

it is an expensive trip

According to the passage, where can you enjoy a view of the whole Taj Mahal?

   A. In Sherpa village.                            B. Near the Forbidden City

   C. Through Egypt Express.            D. At Oberoi AmarVilas

Which of the following websites may offer you more information about Agra?

   A. www.gowaytravel.com               B. www.exotiktours.com

   C. www.gapadventures.com            D. www.toureastholidays.com