Do you consider your bed a safe haven of rest and calm? Do you sink into a mattress after a hard day's work and feel tension and stress drain away as you rest your weary head on a soft pillow? Well, you might not feel so relaxed if you knew that microscopic pests were lurking there! It seems that beds may not be such a good place for our well-being – they could actually be making us ill!

Recent studies have shown that bacteria, fungi and dust mites, some smaller than the diameter of a hair, live in our bedding. When we move around in our sleep, we disturb them and they are propelled into the air – which we then breathe in as we sleep. According to the American Lung Association, four out of five households in the United States now have high levels of dust mites, although it's not the mites themselves that cause the problems, but their droppings. These are "highly allergenic" according to Dr William Berger, a fellow with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Even if you aren't allergic… they can still irritate you, the way pepper would if it blew into your nose and eyes."

Brendan Boor, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, who carries out bed research, also found that bed dust in the air triggers allergies – causing watery eyes, sneezing, coughs and asthma. He has recommended ways to limit our exposure to these unsavory allergens:

Firstly, he suggests vacuuming your mattress regularly – weekly, or even daily. He also recommends doing away with carpets and washing floors. Using allergen-proof bed covers, he says, can reduce the risk of getting allergies. In addition, washing bedding and pillows frequently can help, as can a portable air cleaner placed near the bed.

If you do as Brendan Boor suggests, you will breathe in cleaner air as you sleep… or will you? Is it really safe for you to go back in your bed?

21. According to the article, which thought is false?

A. beds are not the secure places we thought they were.

B. There are microscopic pests in beds and these are making us ill.

C. according to Brendan Boor, you vacuum your mattress every day or twice a week.

D. Dust mite droppings causing a lot of allergies in US households.

22. Some symptoms that might indicate you are allergic to something not including______.

A. watery eyes      B. sneezing              C. has fever    D. asthma

23. What phrase means 'to get rid of something'?
A.do away with      B. drive away from       C. call for       D. look around

MUMBAI, India —The children in their party clothes on the stage were very excited when they received the award. And the two of them said, "It’s unbelievable!"

     Nine-year-old, Rubina Ali, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, were living a very different life and obviously loving every minute of it. The two, some of the child stars of the Oscar-winning Slum dog Millionaire(《贫民窟的百万富翁》)movie, know the Indian slums very well. That was where they grew up, and it is where they will return at the end of their Hollywood dream trip.

     But before going back home, there was an interview with the host, Ryan Seacrest. During the interview they smiled and repeated their disbelief in what was happening to them. To their surprise, their movie won first place in the Oscars. When the two received the award, it was late morning in the children’s home city of Mumbai, where family, friends and many fellow residents of the slums watched the result from Hollywood.

     "I don’t really know what the Oscars are," Rubina’s mother said. "I’m just glad my daughter looks happy, though she told me she missed Indian food."

     "Our children lead a dog’s life," Rubina’s mother said, pointing out the rubbish everywhere, the open drains (下水道) and the lack of education opportunities.

     In a few days they will be back in Mumbai and back in the slums which are their home. Fortunately, according to media reports, the movie’s director, Danny Boyle, has promised to help the children he chose from the slum and make sure they will go to a proper school.

     The two don’t need to worry about their daily lives because of the Oscar success of Slum dog Millionaire. But the poverty and lack of opportunity —the central theme of the movie—is always all around.

25. Which of the following is NOT true about the two children?

A. They were both excited about receiving the award.

B. They had been having a difficult life in India.

C. They were interviewed before they went back home.

D. They were the only two child stars in the movie, Slum dog Millionaire.

26. When the children attended the Oscar ceremony in Hollywood, their family and friends were _________.

A. doing what they did as usual             B. watching TV in Mumbai

C. seeing the movie Slum dog Millionaire     D. having a family party

27. What can we infer from the text?

A. The two children have played in other movies before.

B. Rinoms’s mother also went to the Hollywood.

C. Rubina may not get used to the American food.

D. They will travel to other countries before returning home.

28. What will happen to the two children after they return to India?

A. They will go back to the miserable life.

B. They will play in movies as famous actors.

C. They will leave school to learn acting.

D. They will have a better education.

    Air is all around us. It is around us as we walk and play. From the time we were born, air is around us on every side. When we sit down, it is around us. We live in air.

    All living things need air. Living things cannot live without air. We can go without food or water for a few days, but we cannot live for more than a few minutes without air. We take in air. When we are working or running, we need more air. When we are asleep, we need less air.

    We live in air, but we cannot see it. We can only feel it. We can feel it when it is moving. Moving air is called wind. How can you make air move? Here is one way. Hold an open book in your hands in front of your face. Close it quickly. What can you feel? What you feel is the air.

(  ) 36. When one is born,       will be around him.

    A. mother                 B. air                   C. water                     D. food

(  ) 37. When we are asleep, we also need       air.

    A. few                       B. much                     C. a little    D. more

(  ) 38. If there is no air, we can only live       .

    A. for a few minutes         B. for half an hour   C. for ten minutes  D. for a day

(  ) 39.. when air moves,  it is called     .

    A. rain                       B. ice           C. bird                D. wind

(  ) 40. We can        air when it moves.

    A. smell                    B. see              C. feel                 D. hold

     "I wish that in one instant I could tell you of my safe arrival, but we are 3,000 miles apart and must wait four long weeks to hear from each other." Samuel Morse was 20 when he wrote this sentence in a letter to his mother in 1811. He was in London studying art. She was at the home in Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA, where he had been born. Perhaps it was at the moment of writing the letter that young Morse first had the wish to bridge space with flying words. This wish was later to give the world the electric telegraph (电报).

        He returned in 1815 to work on history painting much admired in Europe. Morse completed an oil painting The House of Representatives, expecting that this would bring him fame(名声). But there was hardly any demand in the United States for history painting, and he unwillingly started to support himself by painting portraits(肖像画). He was often close to poverty during his career as an artist.

        During a voyage from Europe to America in 1832, Morse met Thomas Jackson, a scientist who had recently attended lectures on electricity in Paris. Conversations with Jackson made the artist believe that an electrical current could be used for communication. During the rest of the voyage he worked excitedly on drawings for his plan. After his arrival home, he abandoned his artistic career to give his full attention to the project.

        Morse had an inventive mind but little knowledge of electricity. He did years of work and study to perfect his invention. In 1837 he applied for a patent on the American Electromagnetic Telegraph. He went to England, France, and Russia asking for aid for his invention but met with failure there as at home. People admired his courage in the face of poverty and disappointment. Finally in 1843 the United States Congress provided Morse with $30,000 to build a line from Washington to Baltimore.

        In May 1844 the first message was flashed over this wire. Newspapers, railroads, and businesses quickly found use for the telegraph, which for the first time created a global community.

21. According to Paragraph 1, Morse probably thought                 .

   A. communication by letter was not convenient

   B. it was amazing to communicate by telegraph

   C. life in London was not as happy as he expected

   D. he should return to America to care for his mother

22. After returning from Europe in 1815, Morse                 .

   A. became famous thanks to his The House of Representatives

   B. found Americans had little interest in history painting

   C. got very curious about painting portraits for others

   D. led an easy and peaceful life on the whole

23. The third paragraph is about how Morse                 .

   A. painted the first telegraph

   B. got the idea for his invention

   C. became an expert on electricity

   D. learned from a scientist from Paris

24. What is the best title of the text?

   A. Samuel Morse: From Home to World

   B. Samuel Morse: From Poverty to Fame

   C. Samuel Morse: From Artist to Inventor

   D. Samuel Morse: From Europe to America

   What would it take to persuade you to exercise? A desire to lose weight or improve your figure? To keep you away from diseases? To live to a healthy old age? You'd think any of those reasons would be enough to get Americans exercising. Yet a vast majority of Americans have thus far failed to swallow the "exercise pill".

Now a research by psychologists strongly suggests it's time to think of current well-being（幸福）and happiness as motivators for exercise instead of future health, weight loss and body image.

Dr. Segar, one of the researchers, believes that immediate rewards are more motivating than distant ones. "People who say they exercise for the quality of life exercise more over the course of a year than those who say they value exercise for its health benefits." He said. '

Other studies have shown that what keeps people moving depends on age, sex and life circumstances. For those of college age, physical attractiveness typically heads the list of reasons to begin exercising, although what keeps them going seems to be the stress relief that a regular exercise program provides. The elderly, on the other hand, may get started because of health concerns. But often what keeps them exercising are the friendships and sense of community that may otherwise be missing from their lives. Improving daily well-being is the most influential factor for the women. Men indicate they are motivated by more distant health benefits, but this may be because men feel less comfortable discussing their mental health needs.

"Exercise should be encouraged but the emphasis on weight loss, disease prevention and healthy aging should be reduced." Dr. Segar concluded. "Exercise can make people feel more energetic, less stressed and, yes, happier."

24. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?

A. Be free from diseases. B. Take some diet pills.

C. Improve their figure. D. Keep physically active.

25.  According to the passage, which of the following persons may exercise more in a year?

A. Jane, who decides to lose weight.

B. David, who exercises for future health.

C. Mary, who enjoys exercising with her son..

D. Mark, who is suffering from a serious illness.

26. According to Paragraph 4, which group of people tends to exercise for friendship?

A. Men. B. Women. C. The elderly. D. College students.

27. What is the author mainly arguing in the passage?

A. Immediate rewards of exercise should be emphasized.

B. Distant benefits should be the motivators for exercise.

C. Feeling relaxed is more important than future health.

D. Men and women take exercise for different purposes.

Countless people appear in your life---familiar or strange, close or distant. Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there to serve some sort of   36  , to teach you a lesson, or to help you   37   who you are or who you want to become. You never think about who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, co-worker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will   38   your life in some way.

And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful and unfair at first, but with more   39   you find that without overcoming those difficulties you would have   40   realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens   41   or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and complete stupidity all occur to   42   the limits of your soul.   43   these small tests whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved（铺设）, straight, flat road to   44  . It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and   45  . The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become.

Even the   46   experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant(伤心的) and important ones. If someone hurts you,   47   you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back   48  , not only because they love you, but because   49  , they are teaching you to love and how to open your   50   and eyes to things.

Make every day count.   51   every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to   52  , and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have   53   right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no  54  .

Most importantly, if you LOVE someone, tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in   55  . And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

That’s the story of life.

36. A. people               B. intention                   C. purpose                    D. advantage

37. A. figure out          B. let out                      C. give out                   D. hold out

38. A. create               B. affect                       C. challenge                  D. rescue

39. A. consideration     B. explanation               C. expectation               D. instruction

40.   A. ever                 B. never                      C. already                   D. almost

41. A. on purpose        B. by itself                    C. on principle                     D. by accident

42. A. set                    B. reach                       C. test                          D. exceed

43. A. Despite             B. Without                    C. For                         D. With

44. A. anywhere          B. somewhere               C. nowhere                   D. everywhere

45. A. pointless            B. bored                       C. undeserved               D. meaningful

46. A. good                 B. different                   C. pleasant                    D. bad    

47. A. watches            B. loves                        C. understands                     D. betrays   

48. A. temporarily       B. eventually                 C. unconditionally          D. cautiously

49. A. in a way            B. on the way               C. under way                D. by the way

50. A. mouth               B. heart                        C. mind                        D. emotion

51. A. Expand             B. Adjust                      C. Expect                            D. Appreciate 

52. A. obviously        B. entirely                     C. previously               D. casually

53. A. every           B. each                         C. proper                      D. exact

54. A. ambition            B. hatred                      C. beliefs                      D. regrets

55. A. future               B. store                        C. existence                  D. time

The co­founder of Apple died on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011 ____61_____ the age of fifty­six.He had fought for years against cancer.People _____62_______(gather)outside his house in Palo Alto, California, and Apple stores around the world.

Steve Jobs ____63____( adopt) by an accountant and her husband.They supported __64__ early interest in electronics.Steve Jobs and his friend Steve Wozniak started Apple Computer — now just called Apple — in 1976.They stayed at the company until 1985 __65__ Steve Wozniak returned to college and Steve Jobs left because of _____66____(quantity）of disagreements with  the CEO.

Mr Jobs rejoined Apple in 1997 after it bought the Next Computer company that he formed.He helped remake Apple from a business that was in bad shape then to one of the most ____67_____(value) companies in the world today.

President Obama said in a statement, “By making computers personal and _____68_____（put） the Internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but fun.” David Carroll, a professor in New York City, says, “He probably will be regarded as __69__ industrial giant (巨人) on a level of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.” Steve Wozniak considered his longtime friend a “great visionary (梦想家) and leader” and a “marketing genius”, __70__ (speak) on CNN．

My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd ___21___ I can read the newspaper in peace. Today the train was unusually ___22___. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man with his head ___23___, lost in his thought.

    Soon I found myself ___24___ why he didn’t even see me sit next to him? I tried to ___25___ it and started to read my paper; however, a ___26___ kept forcing me to talk to this man.

    I eventually ___27___ an excuse to ask him a question. He looked really ___28___ as he still had some tears rolling down his face though he attempted to ___29___ them away. I couldn’t describe how I feel seeing someone in so much ___30___.

    We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be ___31___, and thanked me for being an angel to take the time to ___32___. I was glad I listened to the voice that day.

Several weeks had passed when I noticed a(n) ___33___ on my desk. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word “Angel” written on it. Inside there was a letter from the man I met on the train ___34___ me again for talking to him and ___35___ his life that day.

Apparently he had some very ___36___ personal problems that he was planning to end his ___37___ that day. In his letter he went on to explain that I was an angel to ___38___ him from taking his life.

I don’t know what the voice was that made me take a chance and talk to a ___39___. But I do know that it made a ___40___ in someone’s life that day.

21. A. though                            B. so                           C. if                                    D. unless

22. A. full                            B. slow                    C. modern                        D. early

23. A .up                         B. back                       C. down                             D. around

24. A. asking                         B. discovering              C. accepting                      D. wondering

25. A. explain                     B. make                 C. repeat                            D. forget

26. A. goal                        B. voice                  C. task                            D. person

27. A. came up with          B. paid attention to            C. gave up                            D. left out

28. A. moved                    B. confused                   C. upset                                   D. anxious

29. A. put                               B. throw                 C. send                           D. wipe

30. A. pain                        B. thought                     C. joy                             D. surprise

31. A. lower                     B. stronger                   C. better                       D. sadder

32. A. wait                          B. talk                         C. follow                             D. travel

33. A. note                       B. newspaper               C. book                        D. envelop

34. A. showing                        B. thanking                    C. praising                             D. rewarding

35. A. costing                   B. improving             C. taking                               D. saving

36. A. hurtful                           B. powerful               C. useful                       D. wonderful

37. A. trip                       B. life                    C. dream                             D. hope

38. A. prevent                   B. teach                  C. separate                             D. escape

39. A. seller                    B. driver              C. stranger                     D. colleague

40. A. mistakes                 B. decision            C. difference                 D. promise

 “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and joy to life and to everything,” the ancient Greek philosopher Plato said.

This is one of Don Spencer’s favorite mottos that he firmly believes. “We know that music brings joy and comfort, and makes us feel happy,” Spencer says, “But research has also discovered music plays a powerful role in the mental development of children. Music inspires creativity, imagination and self-expression. It also builds self-respect and is good for memory skills.”

The power of music

Much research supports both Spencer and Plato. A Stanford University study found that musical training improves the way the brain processes the spoken word.

Research from Canada found that children aged four to six years old who had music lessons had better memories, as well as higher ability to read and write and math’s levels.

Not in the curriculum

Research from Australia shows it’s not that smart kids play music; it’s that music makes kids smarter. It supports Spencer’s call for music to be a standard part of the school curriculum, like English and Math.

“Music is everywhere, but not at 75 percent of public schools around Australia who don't have a devoted music teacher,” Spencer says. “It's sad that many children don’t have access to formal musical education, particularly when it has such an effect on a child’s development.”

Ideally, Spencer would like every child to learn an instrument. “Kids can access cheap instruments like a ukulele, recorder or harmonica,” Spencer says. He says the Internet has a lot of free videos which teach you how to play instruments.

“I can't stress enough how important music is,” he says. “It builds relationships, unites people and, most importantly, it is fun.”

21. Plato’s words are mentioned at the beginning of the text to show that______.

A. music has magic power       B. everything is based on music

C. Spencer admires Plato        D. music was important in ancient time

22. From the research from Australia mentioned in the passage, we can learn ______.

A. music can make children smarter

B. children aged four to six have better memories

C. there are no professional music teachers in Australia

D. music is a standard part of the school curriculum in most schools

23.What might be the best title for the passage?

A. When Music is Taught             B. Why Music Matters

C. Why We Learn Instruments     D. How Children Learn Music

Towards evening, Jennifer was walking on the beach with a gentle breeze blowing through her hair. Looking up at the golden red sun ball, she was surprised by its color, deep red in the middle, softly fading into yellow. She could hear nothing but the waves and the seagulls flying up above in the sky.  The atmosphere relaxed her. This was what she needed. “It’s getting late,” she thought, “I must  go home. My parents will be wondering where I am.” She wondered how her parents would react when she got home after the three days she was missing. She kept on walking, directing herself to bungalow 163, where she spent every summer holiday. The road was deserted. She walked slowly and silently. Just in a few hundred meters, she would have been safe in her house.

It was really getting dark now. She wished she had her favorite coat on. It might keep her really warm. She imagined having it with her. This thought dissipated(消散) when she finally saw her front door. It seemed different. Nobody had taken care of the outside garden for a few days. She was shocked: her father was usually so strict about keeping everything clean and tidy, but now…

She entered the house. First, she went into the kitchen and saw a note written by her father, “Dear Ellen, there’s some coffee ready; I went looking.” But where was Ellen? On the right side of the hallway was her parents’ room. She went in and saw her. Her mother, lying on the bed, was sleeping. Her face looked so tired, as if she hadn’t slept for days. She was really pale. Jennifer would have wanted to wake her up, but she looked too tired. So Jennifer just fell asleep beside her. When Jennifer woke up something was different. She wasn’t in her mother’s room and she wasn’t wearing the old clothes she ran away in. She was in her cozy bed in her pajamas(睡衣).

It felt so good being back home. Suddenly she heard a voice. “Are you feeling better now, dear? You know you got us very, very scared.”

33. Jennifer decided to go home because __________.

A. it was getting cold

B. she realized her parents were worried

C. she began to miss her parents

D. she knew nobody would take care of the garden

34. What can we infer from the passage?

A. Jennifer went home to fetch her favorite coat.

B. Jennifer’s father was so worried that he couldn’t take care of the outside garden.

C. Jennifer understood why the outside garden was left uncared for.

D. Jennifer’s father used to be too strict with her.

35. Which of the following shows the change of Jennifer’s feeling?

A. Relaxed→Lonely→Tired→Upset.

B. Angry→Relaxed→Fearful→Comfortable.

C. Fearful→Relaxed→Cheerful→Lonely.

D. Relaxed→Anxious→Shocked→Comfortable. 

 My car _____ on the way; what was worse, I couldn’t find anywhere to repair it.

A. slowed down      B. got down            C. broke down     D. put down

If the factory          the river,there will be no fish in it soon.

  A.left polluting  B.leaving polluting   C.is left polluting   D.leaves to pollute

  Ancient Rome was one of the world’s most powerful empires more than 2,000 years ago. The Romans’ideas about roads, laws, government and buildings still influence us today.

  Italy is shaped like a boot. The Colosseum in Rome was built during the time of the Roman Empire, in the first century A.D.  16  It is a popular tourist attraction today. Italy is well-known for its designers,who create cars, handbags, clothes, shoes and other items that are in demand for their style and fine workmanship.

  Today, the economy of Italy is stronger than in the past. 17 Today, manufacturing and tourism are the main sources of income. There are some big companies, but Italy has many smaller companies,too.

  18 The southern part does not offer as many manufacturing jods, so it is not as prosperous.

  Italy is a member of the European Union, a group of countries that join together for better trade. The currency, or money, they use is called the “euro”.

  Food and eating good meals are important to Italians. 19  Popular foods include pasta, risotto, minestrone and pizza.McDonald’s is also popular there.

  Many families still eat their main meal in the middle of the day.

20   Families spend a lot of time together.

A.     The family is very important to the Italian way of life.

B.     The country used to depend on agriculture.

C.     Mountains cover about three-fourths of the country.

D.     It could seat about 50,000 people, who went to see fights between animals and prople.

E.     While there are some supermarkets, many people shop at small, neighborhood markets.

F.     Italy has several islands off the coast.

G.     The northern part of the country is the main manufacturing center.

The ____ for speeding is so heavy that few drivers would take chances.

A. prize       B. fare      C. fine       D. fee

It is _______ that there will be a heavy snow and storm on the way tomorrow．（　　）

A．reformed      B．predicted     C．advised       D．pointed

    假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有l0处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

      2．只允许修改10处，多者(从笫11处起)不计分。

My parents and I had made a tour to Xi’an last summer holiday. Instead of having a travel agency arranging our transportation and accommodation, we booked the train tickets and hotel rooms on the Internet by us. During our tour in Xi’an, we went to many places of interests and took lots of photos, learned about the history of Xi’an. No tourists would miss the local food in Xi’an, so would we. We enjoyed the typical local food, it tasted more delicious than we had expected. Hardly had I returned than I shared the photos and experiences for my classmates. The trip to Xi’an has been such happy memory to me that I will never forget it.

Most painters discover a style of painting that is fit for them and stick to that, especially if people admire their pictures. But Picasso, the great Spanish painter, was like a man who had not yet found his own particular style of painting. He kept on struggling to find the perfect expression till his death in 1973.

Some of Picasso's paintings are rich, soft colored and beautiful. Others are ugly and cruel and strange. But such paintings allow us to imagine things for ourselves. They force us to say to ourselves, “What does he see that makes him paint like that?” And we begin to look under the surface of the things we see.

Picasso painted thousands of pictures in different styles. Sometimes he painted the natural look of things. Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces. He showed us what the mind knows as well as what the eyes see. At the age of 90,he remained as curious about the world as he had been when he was young. That is why people have called him “the youngest painter in the world.”

39. The ugly cruel and strange paintings by Picasso _______.

A. make us try to notice something hidden in the things

B. allow us to ask questions about them  

C. force us to question anything we see

D. cause us to think what Picasso saw was different from what we see

40. The underlined sentence “Sometimes he seemed to break them apart and throw the pieces in our faces” means _____.

A. sometimes he tore his pictures into pieces

B. he broke something he was painting and threw them away

C. sometimes he showed some broken pictures to others

D. things in some of his pictures seem to be in disorder

41. Why have people called Picasso “the youngest painter in the world?”

A. Because he observed things with the eye and the mind.

B. Because he looked young when he was old.

C. Because he never stopped painting he was old.

D. Because he never gave up looking for something new.

Sometimes it is difficult to talk to taxi drivers. They must give all their attention to the road as they work out the shortest way to the place where you are going. However, passengers from Wangfujing were in surprise when they took a taxi. The driver just would not stop talking ―in English.

Organized by the Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy, “Dare to Speak” examines if Chinese people will speak English in “real-life” situations. Matthew Knowles, an acting student from South Carolina at Beijing Film Academy, acted the part as the “driver”. He collected six passengers on Saturday morning, most of whom were female white-collar workers.

“Of course they were surprised at first, wondering why I’m driving a taxi, and wondering whether this is a real taxi, but then most of them were pretty willing to speak,” he said. Knowles said he was also surprised by his “passengers”. “Apart from my first ‘passenger’, who could speak very little English, all the rest spoke English very well, and it was fun to communicate with them,” he said, adding that some “passengers” were quite talkative.

The “foreign taxi driver” project was just one of the “Dare to Speak” activities, which have been going on since the end of October. Other projects included a foreign store owner near a high school in Beijing, a cook in a Shanghai university canteen. They were testing the willingness of Chinese people, especially students and white-collar workers, to speak to foreigners in English. Rong Xin, senior manager of IELTS (雅思) with the British Embassy, said they hoped to let IELTS takers in China know that communication is the most important goal of IELTS.

“We hope that more and more IELTS takers in China can realize the importance of communicating in English in real life, instead of just getting high test scores,” she said.

13. Why did Matthew Knowles drive a taxi?

A. He enjoyed chatting with people in English.

B. He played the role of a taxi driver in a film.

C. He took part in the project “Dare to speak”

D. He wanted to improve his Chinese while driving.

14. The Chinese may meet and talk to _______ in “Dare to speak” projects.

 A. a white-collar worker          B. a high school student

 C. a restaurant manager          D. a foreign store owner

15 The purpose of the project “Dare to Speak” is to _______ .

A. draw Chinese people’s attention to IELTS

B. remind language learners of the goal of learning

C. attract more foreigners to start business in China

D. give more chances for English learners in China

For a teacher, the first and most basic duty is to see the beauty that exists within every student. Every child is precious.   36   It is an outgrowth of students feeling loved and respected.

Love your students.

Your students know how you feel about them. If you don’t like them or if you see them as a problem, they know it.   37   And then your students will be angry with you, for you fail to see the beauty that exists within them. Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Tell your students who you are and why you are there.

  38   To build that trust, tell your students who you are and why you chose to be a teacher. Tell them about your background, what you did when you were their age and why you want to be their teacher. The more your students know about you and your intentions, the more they will trust you to lead them.

Have a plan.

  39   You need to begin each day with clarity about what students should know and be able to learn at the end of the class period. And every second of your day should be purposely moving you toward that end.

  40 

Establishing the proper environment for cooperative learning is very important. It will be ideal for you to encourage the students to construct their own classroom management contract. They will feel more responsible for their actions and have a positive attitude towards their classmates and teachers.

A. Encourage cooperative learning.

B. Your lesson plans need to be clear.

C. Even if you don’t say it, they will know it.

D. Students will learn important life skills by working together.

E. When you start from this point, classroom management comes more easily.

F. If you just focus on major misbehavior, students will get the sense that minor misbehavior is OK.

G. A classroom where each student deeply trusts the teacher has the potential to be a great environment for learning.

     Winter is coming. It's time for the arctic ground squirrel（地松鼠) to get her underground

home ready. She chooses a quiet spot, hidden from wolves and foxes. She gathers grass and

fur to keep her home warm.

     Winter is long and cold in northern Canada.  Many days, the air is colder than the air in

your freezer. Plants can't grow, so there are no leaves or grass for animals to eat. They must

find other ways to live. The arctic ground squirrel "sleeps" the winter away.

     For months the ground squirrel has been eating lots of seeds, mushrooms, and berries.

Now she is fat. The extra fat will keep her alive through the winter.

      At last she crawls through a tunnel into the nest she has made.  She curls up, wraps her

tail around herself, and goes to "sleep". Only she won't really be sleeping. She will be

hibernating(冬眠).

     The ground squirrel's body is usually as warm as yours. When she hibernates, her body

becomes just colder than ice, but she doesn't freeze.  In the warm season, when the ground

squirrel is active, she uses most of the food she eats to make heat to stay warm.  When she

hibernates, she doesn't need much food.

    Her heart beats just one or two times each minute.  She will take only about three breaths

each minute. She won't move, even if someone touches her or shines a light into her eyes.

These changes in the ground squirrel's body let her live through the winter.

    The ground squirrel will not stay in hibernation all winter.  Her body warms up and

becomes active for a few hours once every few weeks. Over the winter, these active times use

up more than half of the energy that she worked so hard to store. Why does she do this?

Scientists aren't sure. Some think arctic ground squirrels must warm up in case their bodies

need to fight off any germs(病菌) that would make them sick.

    In April or May the arctic ground squirrel will stop hibernating. She will be skinny

because she did not eat anything during the winter. Now she will have just a few months to

have babies and fatten up before winter comes again.

28. The Arctic ground squirrel must hibernate in winter because she       

    A. needs to have a comfortable rest        B. can keep warm while hibernating

    C. must hide from wolves and foxes        D. doesn't have enough food in winter

29. While hibernating, the Arctic ground squirrel's body _  .

    A. freezes up completely                  B. is as warm as usual

    C. drops just below 0℃                     D. makes heat to stay warm

30. In winter, the Arctic ground squirrel          .

    A. doesn't breathe at all                   B. becomes active sometimes

     C.  stays in hibernation all the time         D. won't move unless touched

31. The Arctic ground squirrel is very thin usually when _          .

    A. winter comes to an end                 B. she starts to hibernate

     C. autumn is approaching                    D. she has young babies