“Indeed，” George Washington wrote in his diary in 1985, “some kind of fly, or bug, had begun to eat the leaves before I left home.” But the father of America was not the father of bug. When Washington wrote that, Englishmen had been referring to insects as bugs for more than a century, and Americans had already created lighining-bug(螢火蟲)。But the English were soon to stop using the bugs in their language, leaving it to the Americans to call a bug a bug in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
The American bug could also be a person, referring to someone who was crazy about a particular activity. Althoug fan became the usual term. sports fans used to be called racing bugs, baseballbugs, and the like.
Or the bug could be a small machine or object, for example, a bug-shaped car. The bug could also be a burglar alarm, from which comes the expression to bug, that is, “to install (安裝) an alarm”. Now it means a small piece of equipment that people use for listening secretly to others’ conversation. Since the 1840s, to bug has long meant “to cheat”, and since the 1940s it has been annoying.
We also know the bug as a flaw in a computer program or other design. That meaning dates back to the time of Thomas Edison. In 1878 he explained bugs as “l(fā)ittle problems and difficulties” that required months of study and labor to overcome in developing a successful product. In 1889 it was recorded that Edison “had been up the two previous nights discovering ‘a(chǎn) bug’ in his invented record player.”
小題1:We learn from Paragraph 1 that ___________.

A．Americans had difficulty in learning to use the word bug

B．George Washington was the first person to call an insect a bug

C．the word bug was still popularly used in English in the nineteenth century

D．both Englishmen and Americans used the word bug in the eighteenth century

小題2:What does the word “flaw” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Explanation.

B．Finding.

C．Origin.

D．Fault.

小題3:The passage is mainly concerned with__________.

A．the misunderstanding of the word bug

B．the development of the word bug

C．the public views of the word bug

D．the special characteristics of the word bug

At the top of a three-storey brick house Sue and Johnsy had their studio. In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia(肺炎), touched one here and there with its icy fingers. Johnsy was struck down, and she lay, hardly moving, on her bed looking through the window at the blank side of the next brick house.
One morning the busy doctor invited Sue into the hallway(走廊).
“She has one chance in ten,” he said, “And that chance is for her to want to live. She has made up her mind that she’s not going to get well. I will do all that I can. But whenever my patient begins to count the carriages in her funeral procession(隊(duì)列), I subtract 50 percent from her chance to live.”
After the doctor had gone, Sue went into the workroom and cried. Then she came into Johnsy’s room with her drawing board, whistling.
Johnsy lay hardly moving with her face toward the window. Sue stopped whistling, thinking she was asleep.
She arranged her board and began a drawing. As Sue was sketching, she heard a low sound. She went quickly to the bedside.
Johnsy’s eyes were open wide. She was looking out the window and counting backward.
“Twelve,” she said, and a little later “eleven”; and then “ten”, and “nine”; and then “eight” and “seven”, almost together.
Sue looked out the window. What was there to count? There was only the blank side of the brick house twenty feet away. An old ivy vine(常春藤) climbed halfway up the brick wall. Its branches clung(緊緊纏著), almost bare, to the bricks.
“What is it, dear?” asked Sue.
“Six,” said Johnsy, in almost a whisper. “They’re falling faster now. Three days ago there were almost a hundred. There goes another one. There are only five left now”.
“Five what, dear? Tell me.”
“Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls, I must go, too. Didn’t the doctor tell you?”
“Oh, I never heard of such nonsense,” said Sue. “What have old ivy vine leaves to do with your getting well? Why, the doctor told me this morning that your chances for getting well real soon were ten to one! Try to take some soup now.”
“There goes another. No, I don’t want any soup. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark. Then I’ll go , too.”
“Johnsy, dear,” said Sue, bending over her, “will you promise me to keep your eyes closed, and not look out the window until I’m done working? I need the light or I would draw the shade down.”
“Tell me as soon as you have finished,” said Johnsy, closing her eyes, “because I want to see the last one fall. I’m tired of waiting. I want to turn loose my hold on everything and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves.”
小題1:By saying “Pneumonia touched one here and there” (in the first paragraph), the author means that _________.

A．some people were affected by the illnesses of others

B．pneumonia caused damage to the ivy vine

C．two people became ill

D．many people came down with the illness

小題2: How did Johnsy feel about the situation during the passage?

A．confident

B．hopeless

C．tired

D．curious

小題3:We can learn from the passage that _____________.

A．Sue came into the room whistling perhaps because she thought Johnsy might like the music.

B．Johnsy’s life was compared to the carriages in a funeral procession

C．Sue told a lie to Johnsy about the doctor’s words

D．Johnsy wanted to know about the falling ivy leaves to meet her own curiosity

小題4:The underlined word “subtract” in the third paragraph probably means “________”.

A．reduce

B．hope

C．a(chǎn)dd

D．doubt

小題5:The passage is probably taken out of ______________.

A．a(chǎn) newspaper	B．a(chǎn) novel
C．a(chǎn) medical report	D．a(chǎn) girl’s diary

President Coolidge’s statement, “The business of America is business,” still points to an important truth today—that business institutions have more prestige（威望）in American society than any other kind of organization, including the government. Why do business institutions possess this great prestige?
One reason is that Americans view business as being more firmly based on the ideal of competition than other institutions in society. Since competition is seen as the major source of progress and prosperity by most Americans, competitive business institutions are respected. Competition is not only good in itself, it is the means by which other basic American values such as individual freedom, equality of opportunity, and hard work are protected.
Competition protects the freedom of the individual by ensuring that there is no monopoly（壟斷）of power. In contrast to one all-powerful government, many businesses compete against each other for profits. Theoretically, if one business tries to take unfair advantage of its customers, it will lose to competing business which treats its customers more fairly. Where many businesses compete for the customers’ dollars, they cannot afford to treat them like inferiors or slaves.
A contrast is often made between business, which is competitive, and government, which is a monopoly. Because business is competitive, many Americans believe that it is more supportive of freedom than government, even though government leaders are elected by the people and business leaders are not. Many Americans believe, then, that competition is as important, or even more important, than democracy（民主）in preserving freedom.
Competition in business is also believed to strengthen the ideal of equality of opportunity. Competition is seen as an open and fair race where success goes to the swiftest person regardless of his or her social class background. Competitive success is commonly seen as the American alternative to social rank based on family background. Business is therefore viewed as an expression of the idea of equality of opportunity rather than the aristocratic（貴族的）idea of inherited privilege.
小題1:The statement “The business of America is business” probably means ________.

A．America is a great power in world business

B．Business is of primary concern to Americans

C．The business institutions in America are concerned with commerce

D．Business problems are of great importance to the American government

小題2:Americans believe that they can realize their personal values only _______.

A．by protecting their individual freedom

B．when given equality of opportunity

C．by way of competition

D．through doing business

小題3:Who can benefit from business competition?

A．People with ideals of equality and freedom.

B．Both business institutions and government.

C．Honest businessmen.

D．Both businessmen and their customers.

小題4:Government is believed to differ strikingly from business in that government is characterized by ________.

A．its role in protecting basic American values

B．its absolute control of power

C．its democratic way of exercising leadership

D．its function in preserving personal freedom

小題5:It can be inferred from the passage that the author believes ___________.

A．in many countries success often depends on one’s social status

B．businesses in other countries are not as competitive as those in America

C．American businesses are more democratic than those in other countries

D．Americans are more ambitious than people in other countries

America’s  No.1 health problem? A report published by the American Institute of Stress claims the biggest threat to health today is neither cancer nor AIDS. The report says: “It has been estimated that75-90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems”
It is no exaggeration to say that people today are being attacked by stress. According to the National Consumers League, “ Work is the top source of stress for adults who have problems and stress in their lives (39%),followed by family (30%).Other sources include health (10%), concern about the economy (9%)and concern about international conflict and terrorism (4%).”
However , stress is hardly unique to the United States .A British survey in 2013 estimated that “over half a million individuals in Britain believed in 2012 that they were experiencing work –related stress at a level that was making them ill .” As a result of “work –related stress, depression or anxiety ,”there are “an estimated thirteen and a half million reported lost working days per year in Britain .”\
The picture is no less bleak (荒涼的) in mainland Europe .According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work , “work-related stress has been shown to affect millions of European Workers across all types of employment sectors .” One survey revealed that there are “about 41 million workers affected by work-related stress each year.”
What about Asia ? A report issued by a conference held in Tokyo concluded: “ Job stress is a  common concern among many countries in the world , both developing and industrialized countries .” The report observed that “several countries in East Asia , including China and Korea, have rapidly industrialized and economically grown .These countries now have a lot of concerns on job stress and its harmful effects on workers’ health.”
小題1:What did the author indicate by quoting “America’s No.1 Health Problem.” (Para. 1)?

A．He wanted to talk about health problems in America.

B．He meant to introduce the topic of stress

C．He hoped to emphasize the stress in America

D．He wanted to tell readers something about American Institute of Stress

小題2:Which of the followings is NOT true?

A．The threat of work-related stress is bigger than cancer and AIDS.

B．Stress is always from working and living pressure.

C．Some Americans care about international conflict and terrorism.

D．A lot of English people become ill as a result of stress.

小題3:We can infer from the last paragraph that ______.

A．Asian people are more willing to develop their countries

B．the rapid economic development is the main reason for stress

C．some people in Asian countries have health problems from employment stress

D．Asian countries have a better situation of stress than Europe

小題4:It is likely that you’ll read this information in ______.

A．Popular Science	B．New York Medical News
C．Daily Health Report	D．Medicine and Healthcare Journal

小題5:What’s the best title for this passage ?

A．America’s No.1 Health Problem	B．How to Deal with Stress
C．Attacked by Stress	D．Working Stress around the World

As you climb into the hill country, the roads get dustier and rougher, and fewer cars can be seen. Phonxay is one of the poorest districts of Laos, and many of its villages are only accessible by footpath. Our destination this hot morning is a concrete water tank that can be found just off the road. A UK organization helped to build it six years ago, and in the nearby village of Thapho, where clean drinking water is scarce, it has made a big difference. The tank feeds six taps which in turn give water to over 800 people---it has improved things for almost every family, from schoolchildren to grannies.
But lately, we were told, the clean water supply has come under pressure from new arrivals, people who have come down from the hill areas, and there are concerns that there will not be enough clean water to go round.
There are also serious worries about resources in Laos. The Chinese are building a 400km railway link, which could transform the landlocked country. About 150,000 Chinese workers will be involved. What will this do to local clean water supplies? How will the workers be fed?
The vast majority of Laotians live on farms. But with foreign investors wanting to buy up land, local people will have to be moved to make room for them. Heavily dependent on both foreign aid and foreign investment, Laos still falls well behind its neighbours, although its economy has grown at about 6% a year in the last decade. Its biggest economic problem is the lack of locally trained skilled workforce.
But there are reasons to be hopeful for the future. Laos is beautiful, and foreign tourism continues to grow: fortunately so far the fast-food chains and coffee bars common elsewhere are nowhere to be seen. Although all local media are government-run, the Internet is not controlled and the BBC and CNN are available to those with satellite dishes.
The government has also achieved impressive results in rural development, with communities benefiting not just from cleaner water but the construction of new schools and regular visits from medical teams. Poverty will not be history in Laos within the next decade, but with small steps forward and a bit of outside help, the country could find itself out of the UN’s least-developed category by 2020.
小題1:What is putting pressure on the local supply of clean water?

A．Dust from the road is making the water dirtier.

B．There are too many taps accessing the water.

C．The population of the area is growing fast.

D．The coming summer will dry up rivers and lakes.

小題2:According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a reason for Laos to be hopeful?

A．There are no fast-food restaurants in the country.

B．Laos has a variety of tourist attractions.

C．Information on the Internet is freely accessible.

D．The government owns all local media.

小題3:What is the most serious limitation on Laos’ economic growth?

A．The lack of local skilled workers.

B．A poor transportation system.

C．Too much foreign aid.

D．Too many foreign workers.

小題4:What is the best title for the passage?

A．Laos: slow-developing nations

B．Laos: small steps forward

C．Laos: least-developed land

D．Laos: landlocked country

Since we are social beings, the quality of our lives depends in large measure on our interpersonal(人與人之間的) relationships. One strength of the human condition is our possibility to give and receive support from one another under stressful conditions. Social support makes up of the exchange of resources among people based on their interpersonal ties. Those of us with strong support systems appear better able to deal with major life changes and daily problems. People with strong social ties live longer and have better health than those without such ties. Studies over types of illnesses, from depression to heart disease, show that the presence of social support helps people defend themselves against illness, and the absence of such support makes poor health more likely.
　　Social support cushions(緩和) stress in a number of ways. First, friends, relatives and co-workers may let us know that they value us. Our self-respect is strengthened when we feel accepted by others in spite of our faults and difficulties. Second, other people often provide us with informational support. They help us to define and understand our problems and find solutions to them. Third, we typically find social companionship supportive. Taking part in free-time activities with others helps us to meet our social needs while at the same time distracting (轉(zhuǎn)移注意力) us from our worries and troubles. Finally, other people may give us instrumental support money aid, material resources, and needed services - that reduces stress by helping us resolve and deal with our problems.
小題1:Interpersonal relationships are important because they can ________

A．make people live more easily	B．smooth away daily problems
C．deal with life changes	D．cure types of illnesses

小題2:The researches show that people's physical and mental health _______

A．lies in the social medical care systems which support them

B．has much to do with the amount of support they get from others

C．depends on their ability to deal with daily worries and troubles

D．is related to their courage for dealing with major life changes

小題3:Helping a sick neighbor with some repair work in spare time is an example of ________

A．instrumental support	B．informational support
C．social companionship	D．the strengthening of self-respect

小題4:What is the subject discussed in the text?

A．Effects of stressful condition.	B．Kinds of social support.
C．Ways to deal with stress.	D．Interpersonal relationships.

One school night this month I walked quietly up to Alexander, my 15-year-old son, and touched his cheek gently in a manner I hoped would seem casual．A year ago he would have ignored this disturbance but now he reacted impatiently and leaned back to his computer screen．
I made a mistake: breaking into my teenager's personal space. “The average teenager has pretty strong feelings about his privacy," Lara Fox and her friend Hilary Frankel told me. Mr．Frankel and Mr．Fox, both 17, are the authors of Breaking the Code, a new book that seeks to bridge the generational divide between parents and adolescents．It is being promoted by its publisher as the first self-help guide by teenagers for their parents, a kind of "Kids Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus" that explains the language and actions of teenagers．The girls dealt with issues including hanging out late, money, school pressures, smoking etc．
Personally, I welcome their opinions．The most common missteps in interacting with teenagers arise from the war between parents exercising their rights to know what goes on under their roof and teenagers firmly guarding their privacy．Teenagers can be quick to interpret their parents' remarks and respond with anger that masks their vulnerability （脆弱）. Ms Fox said, "What we want above all is your approval．Don't forget, no matter how much we act as if we don't care what you say, we believe the things you say about us．"
Nancy, a New York child-raising expert said she didn't agree with everything the authors suggested but found their arguments reasonable．"When your kids are saying, ' You don't get it, and you never will, ' there are lots of ways to respond so that they will listen and that is what the writers point out．"
" My parents helped me see that, " Mr．Fox told me, " even though they used to stay out late and ride their bicycles to school, times have changed and the way parents educate children is different．These days there is a major fear factor in bringing up kids．Parents worry about their child crossing the street．" The writers said they hoped simply to throw light on teenage thinking．
小題1:According to the two girls, teenagers nowadays are ____．

A．independent	B．intelligent
C．inconsiderate	D．sensitive

小題2:The underlined sentence "You don't get it, and you never will" in the 4th paragraph implies that ____．

A．the teenagers don't want/to admit their weakness

B．the teenagers think that their parents will never understand them

C．the parents do not necessarily force into the world of their children

D．the generation gap cannot be shortened despite their parents' efforts

小題3:It can be inferred from the last two paragraphs that ____．

A．teenagers should guard their privacy

B．Nancy totally agrees with the two girls' opinions

C．parents are more concerned about children's safety

D．the two girls have obtained numerous support from the public

小題4:Why does the author mention the book "Kids Are From Mars, Parents Are From Venus ?

A．It is one of the best-sellers

B．It is also written by the two girls

C．The two books have the similar theme

D．The two books have different opinions

Springtime in Paris
Departures: May 5, 12, 19 and June 9
4 days for $129 per person
Paris in the Springtime was, is and always will be, something rather special. Why not experience it for yourself with this excellent break for four days? This attractive city has something to offer everyone and with prices at just $129. It's great value too.
Your break begins with executive coach transfer (中轉(zhuǎn)) from regional (各地的) pick­up points and travel to Paris is via cross­channel ferry (渡船), arriving at your hotel in the evening. The Ibis is an excellent quality hotel with private facilities in all rooms: satellite TV, radio, telephone and alarm clock. It has a bar and a restaurant and is situated about two miles south of Notre Dame enabling you to explore Paris with ease.
The following day, after continental breakfast (included), the coach takes you on a comprehensive sightseeing tour of the city, during which you will see the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, L'Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, in fact almost every famous landmark you will ever have heard of. You then leave Paris and take a short drive to the magnificent Palace of Versailles, the home of Louis XIV. The tour ends mid­afternoon back in Paris where you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure. In the evening there is a ‘Paris By Night’ tour showing you the beautiful buildings with bright lights.
Day three takes you to Montmartre, perhaps the most picturesque quarter of Paris and home of the Sacre Coeur and the Moulin Rouge. In the afternoon you are free to explore this beautiful city as you wish, perhaps a pleasure voyage on the River Seine, wander around the picturesque gardens or look through among the antique shops (古玩店). In the evening you will have the opportunity to visit the best night­club in the city, the splendid Patin. On the final day it's back to the UK via channel ferry.
Included in the price of $129 per person：
* Return executive coach travel to Paris;
* Return ferry crossings；
* Three nights accommodation in a twin bedded room in a Central Paris hotel with private facilities；
* Continental breakfast during your stay；
* Guided sightseeing tour of “Paris By Day” and “Paris By Night”；
* Visit to Chateau of Versailles (admission not included)；
* Tour on Montmartre；
* Services of an experienced bilingual tour guide at all times.
小題1:This advertisement is mainly________.

A．to tell tourists the route to Paris

B．to show the price of traveling to Paris

C．to introduce the city of Paris

D．to attract tourists to Paris

小題2:During the stay in Paris, the tourists will________.

A．have a free time of half day

B．have a “Paris By Night” on the first evening

C．have a pleasure voyage on the River Seine together

D．live in a hotel two miles away from Paris

小題3:After paying $129，the tourists will have to pay ________ in Paris.

A．the continental breakfasts

B．tour on Montmartre

C．a(chǎn)dmission ticket to Chateau of Versailles

D．services of a bilingual tour guide

小題4:We learn from the text that________.

A．the tourists can telephone in Ibis without paying

B．the tourists will see the Eiffel Tower on the third day

C．Palace of Versailles is not in the center of Paris

D．it will take you a long time to get to Montmartre from Paris

Must-Read about Notting Hill Carnival(狂歡節(jié))
Route
The carnival procession itself begins at 9am on both Sunday and Monday. It starts on Great Western Road, winding its way along Chepstow Road, then on to Westbourne Grove, and then down Ladbroke Grove. See our Notting Hill Carnival map for the full route.
Bus 
While extra services will be in operation, no buses will enter the Carnival area from first thing Sunday morning until the first service on Tuesday morning. On both days bus services begin from Notting Hill Gate in the south and from Harrow Rd (close to Elgin Avenue) in the north.
Bike
Last year the nearest bike-parking stations – Chepstow Villas and Pembridge Road – were removed for Carnival, so don’t rely on being able to park your bike nearby this year.
Safety
Avoid carrying expensive items, such as jewellery and digital cameras. Take a bag with a secure zip to keep your more valuable possessions in and avoid putting your valuables in your back pocket. 
Do tell police if you see an incident. Officers will be stationed throughout the Carnival area. Don’t try to walk against the flow of the crowd, as you won’t get far. Drink plenty of water on the day too, especially if the sun makes an appearance.
Children
Children’s Day on Sunday is recommended for families as the smaller crowds and kid-friendly floats(游行花車) create a fun atmosphere. Arrange meeting points in case you become separated. The smaller the buggy(嬰兒車), the better. Ear defenders may be necessary for very young children.
小題1:Visitors are warned not to bike to the Carnival because _________.

A．there are an increasing number of bike thefts there

B．there are no bike-parking stations nearby

C．roads to the Carnival area are closed to bikes

D．they will be charged with extra parking fees

小題2:Visitors had better_________.

A．wear trousers without back pockets

B．bring plenty of beer with them

C．leave their valuables in the hotel

D．walk along the flow of the crowd

小題3:People who go to the carnival with children are advised_________.

A．to be there on Sunday

B．to let their children go wherever they like

C．to arrange a meeting time

D．to bring ear defenders for each child.

Just outside the northern Italian town of Bra, there rises a church tower with a clock that is a half hour slow. Though not far from the industrial city of Turin, Bra smells of roses, and leisure(悠閑) is the law. It is both the home of an international movement that promotes slow food and one of Italian cities that have joined the slow cities. In Bra, population 27,866, the town fathers have declared that all small food shops be closed every Thursday and Sunday. They forbid cars in the town square. All fruits and vegetables served in local schools must be organic(有機(jī)的). And as the movement goes well, the slow concept gradually spreads across Europe.
The argument for a Slow Europe is not only that it is good, but also that it can work. The Slow City Movement, which started in 1999, has improved local economies(經(jīng)濟(jì)) by promoting local goods and tourism. Young Italians are moving from larger cities to Bra, where unemployment is only 5 percent, about half the nationwide rate. Slow food and wine festivals draw thousands of tourists every year. Shops are doing well, many with sales rising at a rate of 15% per year. “This is our answer to the world.” says Paolo Samrnini, the founder of Slow Cities.
France is in favor of slow economics. Most outsiders have long been doubtful of the French model: short hours and long vacations. Yet the French are more productive than those in the United States and Britain, and have been for years.
The mystery of French productivity has risen an Europewide debate about the advantages of working more slowly.
小題1:The church clock that is a half hour slow severs as a symbol of ________.

A．industrial development	B．slow movement
C．global economy	D．city growth

小題2:The low unemployment in Bra proves that ________.

A．the population is not large

B．tourism brings great job chance

C．the Slow City Movement is successful

D．the slow concept works well only in its birth place

小題3:It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．British workers work longer hours than the French

B．French workers work longer hours than the Italians

C．Italian workers are less productive than the Americans

D．American workers are more productive than the British

小題4:The increased French productivity tends to ________.

A．favor a fast life style

B．throw doubt on slow economics

C．encourage a slow economic growth

D．confirm advantages of slow economics