When families gather for Christmas dinner, some will stick to formal traditions dating back to grandma's generation. Their tables will be set with the good dishes and silver, and the dress code will be Sunday best.

    But in many other homes, this china-and-silver elegance has given way to a stoneware (粗陶) and stainless informality, with dresses assuming an equally casual-Friday look. For hosts and guests, the change means greater simplicity and comfort. For makers of fine china in Britain, it spells economic hard times. Last week Royal Doulton, the largest employer in Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it is eliminating 1,000 jobs -- one-fifth of its total workforce. That brings to more than 4, 000 the number of positions lost in 18 months in the pottery (陶瓷) region. Wedgwood and other pottery factories made cuts earlier.

    Although a strong pound and weak markets in Asia play a role in the downsizing, the layoffs in Stoke have their roots in earthshaking social shifts. A spokesman for Royal Doulton admitted that the company "has been somewhat slow in catching up with the trend" toward casual dining. Families eat together less often, he explained, and more people eat alone, either because they are single or they eat in front of television. Even dinner parties, if they happen at all, have gone casual. In a time of long work hours and demanding family schedules, busy hosts insist, rightly, that it's better to share a takeout pizza on paper plates in the family room than to wait for the perfect moment or a "real" dinner party.

Too often, the perfect moment never comes. Iron a fine-patterned tablecloth? Forget it. Polish the silver? Who has time? Yet the loss of formality has its down side. The fine points of etiquette (礼节) that children might once have learned at the table by observation or instruction from parents and grandparents (" Chew with your mouth closed." "Keep your elbows off the table. ") must be picked up else-where. Some companies now offer etiquette seminars for employees who may be able professionally but inexperienced socially.

28. Why do people tend to follow the trend to casual dining?

A. Busy schedules leave people no time for formality

B. Family members need more time to relax.  

    C. People prefer to live a comfortable life.

    D. Young people won't follow the etiquette of the older generation.

29. It can be learned from the passage that 'Royal Doulton is              .

    A. a seller of stainless steel tableware         B. a dealer in stoneware

    C. a pottery chain store                     D. a producer of fine china

30. The main cause of the layoffs in the pottery industry is              .

    A. the increased value of the pound      B. the worsening economy in Asia

    C. the change in people's way of life      D. the fierce competition at home and abroad

31. Formal table manners, though less popular than before in current Social life,___________.

    A. are still a must on certain occasions       B. are certain to return sooner or later

    C. are still being taught by parents at home   D. can help improve personal relationships

       The government has decided to build a modern cinema _______ many migrant workers live.

       A. where                      B. in which                   C. that                          D. when

     It's normal wake briefly during the night.__36__But if you’re waking up during the night and having trouble falling back asleep. the following tips may help.

     Stay out of your head. The key to getting back to sleep is continuing to prepare your body for sleep,so remain in bed in a relaxed  position. Hard as it may be, try not to strop over the fact that you’re awake, because that very stress and anxiety encourage your body to stay awake.__37__.

      __38__if you are finding it hard to fall back asleep, try a relaxation technique such as visualization. deep breathing. or meditation. which can be done without even getting out of bed. Remind yourself that although they’re not a replacement for sleep. rest and relaxation still help refresh your body.

       Do a quiet, non-stimulating activity. If you’re been awake for more than 15 minutes. try getting out of bed and doing a quiet, non-stimulating activity. such as reading a book. Keep the lights dim so as not to think that it’s time to wake up.__39__A light snack might help relax you. but be careful not to eat so much that your body begins to expect a meal at that time of the day.

      __40__if you wake during the night feeling anxious about something, make a brief note of it on paper and postpone worrying about it until the next day when you are fresh and it will be easier to resolve.

A. Make relaxation your goal, not sleep

B. Put off worries and troubles

C. Use a flashlight to go to the bathroom at night

D. In fact, a good sleeper won’t even remember it

E. Also avoid screens of any kind--computers. TVs, cell phones. iPads.

F. You’ll be much more productive and creative after a good night’s rest

G. A good way to stay out of your head is to focus on the feeling in your body

One of the greatest gifts one generation can give to other generations is the wisdom it has gained from experience.

This idea has inspired the award-winning photographer Zuckerman. He interviewed and took photos of fifty over-sixty-five-year-olds all over the world. His project explores various aspects of their lives. The photos and interviews are now available on our website. Click on the introductions to read the complete interviews.

Let us now have a culture of peace.

—Federico Mayor Zaragoza, Spain

Federico Mayor Zaragoza obtained a doctorate in pharmacy（药学）from the Complutense. University of Madrid in 1958. After many years spent in politics, he became Director-General of UNESCO in 1987.in 1999, he created the Foundation for a Culture of Peace, of which he is now the president. In addition to many scientific publications, he has published four collections of poems and several books of essays.

Writing is a discovery.

—Nadine Gordimer, South Africa

Due to a weak heart, Nadine Gordimer attended school and university briefly. She read widely and began writing at an early age. She published her first short story at the age of fifteen, and has completed a large number of works, which have been translated into forty languages. In 1991 Cordimer won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Jazz is about the only form of an today.

—Dave Brubeck, USA

Dave Brubeck studied music at the University of the Pacific and graduated in 1942. After World War Two he was encouraged to play jazz. In 1951, he recorded his first album. Brubeck’s 1959 album has become a jazz standard. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

For more figures CLICK HERE.

21. Why did Andrew Zuckerman choose the fifty elders for his project?

 A. Because their accomplishments inspired him.

B. Because they are physically impressive.

C. Because their wisdom deserves to be passed on.

D. Because they have similar experiences.

 22. According to the web page. Federico Mayor Zaragoza _______.

    A. has won many awards for his work in politics 

B. has served as the president of a university

    C. has devoted all his life to the field of science 

D. has made achievements in different areas

23. Who most probably said “My education has been the library and books”in the interview when reflecting on his/her experience?

    A. Andrew Zuckerman.      B. Federico Mayor Zaragoza.

    C. Nadine Gordimer.         D. Dave Brubeck.

24. What is the main purpose of this web page?

    A. To publicize Zuckerman’s project.

B. To show Zuckerman’s awards. 

   C. To spread the wisdom of the three people. 

    D. To celebrate the achievements of the three people.

   The human body is designed to move.But modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely give us the chance to move around.As we know，we're while we're eating; we sit in the car and we sit while we watch TV.And many of us sit for many hours at work.

   New research shows that sitting less than three hours a day might extend your life by two years.Peter Katzmarzyk, a scientist at the University of Louisiana in the southern United States, says that sitting is ubiquitous in our lives, meaning it is something we do all the time, everywhere.

   However, Mr.Katzmarzyk says that does not mean you can sit for the rest of your waking hours.He also says you may exercise often, “We can't throw away physical activity.It's extremely important.We have 60 years of research showing us that.”

   Mr.Katzmarzyk and his colleagues are part of a new generation of researchers studying how sitting all day affects length of life.“Studies that have assessed the relationship between sitting and mortality(死亡率)or television viewing and mortality are very rare.There's only been a few of them, actually five or six now, in the last four or five years.” They found that cutting television time to less than two hours a day could add one－point four years to life.

    Luckily, change is already coming to some offices, especially in the design of desks.A “standing desk” lets people stand while they work.Another new design is called the “treadmill desk.”  A treadmill is an exercise machine that lets you walk in one place.Even some U．S.schools are beginning to experiment with desks that are part bicycle to keep children moving.That's one of the strategies that many companies are using now.

    Mr.Katzmarzyk also says studying this problem has inspired his team to make a few changes in their own lives.

28．The underlined word “ubiquitous” is closest in meaning to________．

   A．dangerous                                      B．awkward

   C．comfortable                                    D．common

29. Which view agrees with the opinion of Mr.Katzmarzyk?

   A. Sitting too long may help increase one's life.

   B．Exercise is important and don't sit too long.

   C．Watching TV is bad, but can broaden one's horizons.

   D．Stopping watching TV is a necessary but hard task.

30. What does Mr.Katzmarzyk think of his study in Paragraph 4?

   A．It's a relatively new area of study.

   B．It's a hot subject studied by experts.

   C．It's a study that begins too late.

   D．It's not ignored by many experts.

31. Why are the desks of all kinds designed for those who sit more?

   A．To give them more comfort.

   B．To improve their work efficiency.

   C．To offer them the chance to exercise.

   D．To seek pleasure while working.

 The boss called his secretary in Miami yesterday,          her of the number and arrival time of his flight．

A. informing          B. informed         C. to inform               D. having informed

During the past Spring Festival, many children may have received red packets from their families. But Xing Pu, a 40-year-old economist, is asking the government to give red packets to every Chinese citizen.

Xing suggested the government give out 1,000 Yuan to each Chinese since the government income has increased rapidly in recent years. He said his suggestion would allow everyone to directly enjoy the fruits of the country's economic success, help the lower-income groups deal with rising prices and increase consumption（消费）around the country.

Recent years have seen the government carry out a series of pro-poor (扶贫) and pro-rural（惠农）policies, including increasing spending on public healthcare and calling off the agricultural tax. But the lower-income group still needs more help while being hit hard by an 11-year high in prices and recent snowstorms.

Xing said while making the draft, he has borrowed many ideas from practices in countries like the United States and Singapore. Earlier this year, the governments of the two nations offered cash handouts（救济）to their citizens as the result of a surplus in government income. As for in China, "We can even encourage the rich to donate their 1,000 Yuan red packet to the poor," said Xing.

Although Xing's suggestion has gained wide support among ordinary Chinese on the Internet, many other economists criticized it as unpractical. Even Xing himself admitted he made the suggestion without any careful calculation. But they agreed with Xing's point that the growing economic pie should be shared among the people.

"To better use the increase of money, handing out money is not a solution that holds good for all time. It could be better to improve the public service or cut the price of energy use in daily life," said Qiao Xinsheng, an economic professor.

21. Xing Pu suggested that the government give out 1,000 Yuan to each Chinese because ____.

A. the poor should get help from the rich

B. the government should help the rich

C. the growing economic pie should be shared among the people

D. the government doesn’t know how to use the money

22. What has the government done to help the lower-income group?

A. Spending less on public health care.

B. Increasing the agricultural tax.

C. Handing out money to every Chinese.

D. Carrying out pro-poor policies.

23. According to some experts, what is better than giving out money?

A. Supplying food to everyone every day.

B. Cutting the price of energy use in daily life.

C. Controlling the rising of prices.

D. Increasing the government income.

24. Xing Pu's ideas of giving red packets to every Chinese citizen mainly came from ______.

A. children receiving red packets from their families

B. the US and Singapore governments offering cash handouts to their citizens

C. the government's increasing spending on public health care

D. the rising prices in the country

--- I wonder if I could pay the bill by check.

--- ______. The card machine has just broken down.

A. No problem                  B. Take your time          C. Never mind              D. I’m sorry 

You ________ pay too much attention to your reading skill, as it is so important.

A．can't  B．should  C．must  D．needn't

I'll spend my holiday in Shanghai, ________ lives my uncle。

A．who  B．which  C．where  D．that

Christmas was just a week away and I had five people left to shop for but only three dollars.

 “Let’s set a price limit on our gifts this year,” I suggested to my best friend Joanie.

 “That’s a good idea,” Joanie agreed. “How about nothing over five dollars?”

  “How about sixty cents?” I felt like the biggest cheapskate in the world.

  “I guess this is where I'm supposed to say it’s not the gift but the thought that counts,” Joanie smiled.

  It is almost impossible to buy anything under sixty cents, so it was really going to have to be very small gifts with very big thoughts.

  Finally, Christmas Day arrived. I gave my mother a candle with a note that said, “You are the brightest light in my life.” She almost cried when she read the note.

  I gave my brother a wooden ruler. On the back of it I had painted, “No brother in the world could measure up to you.” He gave me a bag of sugar and wrote on it, “You’re my sweet sister.”

  For Joanie, I painted a pair of shoes with a note that said, “No one could ever fill your shoes.” She thanked me and said I always delighted her and made her laugh.

  To my other two friends, I gave Annie a paper fan and a note on it, “I’m your biggest fan.” I gave Helen a calculator that cost one dollar and I painted a message on the back, “You can always count on me.”

  My mother knows she is the most important person in my life. My brother thinks I’m sweet. Joanie thinks I’m funny and make her laugh, which is important because her dad moved away last year and she misses him and is sad sometimes....

24. When Christmas neared, the author worried that she________.

A. had few friends to give her gifts

B. had little money to buy gifts for others

C. didn’t know what gifts her friends would like

D. didn’t have enough time to shop

25. The underlined word “cheapskate” in Paragraph 4 may mean a person who________.

A. is the richest in the world                     B. buys the cheapest skateboards

C. spends as little money as possible              D. buys the cheapest things in the world

26. The girl gave her mother a candle because it stands for________.

A. the girl’s own life                           B. her mother’s life

  C. the girl’s role in her mother’s life                  D.  the mother’s role in the girl’s life

27. What lesson can we learn from the passage?

A. It is an art to choose gifts.                   B. It is the thought not the gift that matters.

C. How to choose cheap gifts.                  D. Giving gifts improves friendships.

Jack took up a part-time job in his spare time, which ______ about 80 dollars a month.

    A．brought in        B．brought about          C．brought back           D．brought up

         Many sports players have not only accomplished incredible acts of athleticism(运动能力), but also unbelievable acts of sportsmanship(体育精神). There were some  41  examples in 2014, and I have  42  two that inspired me.

One example of sportsmanship took place in the Sochi Olympics. Russian Anton Gafarov was hobbling(蹒跚而行) along the track, far  43  the rest of the skiers. One of his skis was broken. He had tried to  44  with the damaged equipment. Canadian ski coach Justin Wadsworth was the only one who had a(n)  45 . Wadsworth didn’t want Gafarov to finish slowly, hobbling across the line. He wanted him to finish with  46 . The Canadian skiers were already out of the race, giving Wadsworth two  47 : Leave Gafarov to hobble across the line on one ski, or give him the spare one. Wadsworth gave him the extra ski,  48  Gafarov to get second place in the quarter-finals.  49 , he came in sixth in the semi-finals. It was Wadsworth who helped Gafarov  50  his Olympic dream.

The other example took place in the 2014 World Cup quarter-final match between Brazil and Colombia. The game had just ended. Brazil had won, 2-1. Brazil was  51  on the sidelines, cheering and having a good time. Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez had just had his World Cup dream  52  despite scoring a record-breaking six goals in the competition. Brazil defender David Luiz walked over to him, pointed at him, and  53  the crowd to acknowledge him. He then declared his  54  for a game well played and  55  him for his wonderful World Cup performance. It made both the crowd and Rodriquez  56 .

As an athlete, I know it’s easy to get caught up in the  57  of a game. But I also know that   58  is just as important as losing and winning.

Always remember to  59  your opposing team. Play hard, but play fair. And always be nice. It’s the right thing to do and it always  60 .

41. A. amusing             B. amazing             C. interesting                D. embarrassing

42. A. collected             B. picked               C. made                       D. created

43. A. behind                B. off                    C. from                        D. back

44. A. walk                   B. go                     C. work                       D. continue

45. A. broken                B. extra                 C. new                        D. temporary

46. A. determination       B. kindness            C. love                         D. pride

47. A. questions            B. chances             C. choices                    D. problems

48. A. allowing              B. advising             C. instructing                D. wanting

49. A. Finally                B. Specifically        C. Particularly               D. Gradually

50. A. share                  B. enjoy                 C. have                        D. complete

51. A. imagining            B. reviewing          C. celebrating                D. training

52. A. achieved             B. followed            C. torn apart                 D. broken in

53. A. urged                  B. forced               C. expected                  D. warned

54. A. surprise                     B. doubt                C. curiosity                   D. appreciation

55. A. prepared             B. recognized         C. challenged                D. interviewed

56. A. shy                     B. happy                C. crazy                       D. tired

57. A. fun                     B. advantage          C. meaning                   D. competitiveness

58. A. sportsmanship     B. championship   C. leadership                D. friendship

59. A. respond to          B. fight against       C. shake hands with      D. keep up with    

60. A. pays out              B. pays back          C. pays off                   D. pays for

Seeing the big crowd coming towards him, he started to run down the hill, but ______ and went down on his hands and knees in the melting snow.

A. slipped                 B. skied                   C. signalled              D. sank

Two years ago, when I was an oversea student, I worked early mornings and late nights to pay for my school fees.

  One day, I was    61     (serious) ill with    62   very high fever. I had stayed at home for a few days, and I    63   (run) out of food by then. Because I had been in this town just for a short time, I also had no friends nearby   64   (turn) to for help. So I went out to get some food. I would   65   (go) to the supermarket, but  66   this occasion, I went into a small store because it was closer. I picked up a few items. When   67   (hand) them to the shopkeeper, I heard she said, “You are unwell.” “Yes,” I nodded. She pointed at the salami and bread I was buying and offered, “ I can make you a sandwich, so you don’t have to do it   68   (you)”. So , she made the sandwich and asked me to wait a moment. She went in the back room and returned with a bowl of hot soup. “It will warm you up,” she said with a genuine smile.

  What really warmed me up was not the soup,   69    her kindness. It made me want to be as kind as the shopkeeper   70   had been kind to me.  

Everyone wants to know the secrets of a long and healthy life. Here are some discoveries from health experts.

Many studies looking into the lives of centenarians(百岁老人) look at what they eat. Many people who live into their hundreds live in the Mediterranean  (地中海), so their diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats like olive oil, gets a lot of attention. The diet has been linked to a healthier older age, lower risk for heart disease, and even protection against memory loss.

Education is related to a longer life. A 2012 report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found that people with a bachelor’s degree or higher live about nine years longer than people who don’t graduate high school. James Smith, a health economist at the RAND Corporation, is also a supporter of the argument for staying in school for better life expectancy. His findings show education should be an even bigger factor than race and income. Educated people are more likely to land better jobs, plan for their future, and make healthier lifestyle choices.

Being a hard worker doesn’t necessarily mean job-stress will harm you. The Longevity   长寿Study found that plenty of hard workers lived long lives. “Skeptics(怀疑者) may wonder if hard workers really are enjoying life.” the authors write, “We found that productive, hardworking people (even in old age) are not stressed or miserable, but tend to be happier, healthier, and more socially connected than their less productive peers.”

Having a strong social group is associated with a longer life. We often turn to friends and family for support, and taking care of the people that matter to us may help us take better care of ourselves, some evidence shows. Some research even suggests that immune(免疫) function is improved when we are around our friends, and that they help with stress management.

Research shows that sitting for long period of time put people at risk for shorter lifespans and other health risks. A 2011 study found that each hour people spent sitting down and watching TV after age 25 was linked to 22 minutes from their overall life expectancy.

8. According to James Smith, which makes the greatest difference to a long life?

A. Race           B. Income             C. Education         D. Books

9. From the fourth paragraph, we know_____.

A. Hard workers suffer from greater stress

B. Less productive workers tend to be happier and healthier

C. Nobody doubts that hard workers really are enjoying life

D. Hard workers are likely to enjoy a longer life

10. According to the passage, in order to live a long life, we should_________.

A. sit still frequently and have a good rest      

B. find a job after middle school and work hard

C. be social and make more friends

D. settle down in the Mediterranean           

11. The passage is mainly about ________.

A. diet and health                    

B. some discoveries on health

C. the value of good education           

D. the secret of a happy life

  When TV programs report wars or disasters, the editors rarely use the most horrifying pictures of dead or wounded victims because they don’t want to upset their viewers. Even so, viewers are usually warned in advance that they “may find some of these disturbing” so they can look away if they choose. But the men and women whose jobs are to record those scenes — the TV cameramen — have no such choice. It is their duty to witness the horrors of the war and record them, no matter how gruesome and unpleasant they may be. Consequently, it is one of the most dangerous, exposed and emotionally taxing job that the world offers.

Today, the demand for their work is rising. The explosion of satellite broadcasting and 24 hour news in recent years has created an almost insatiable demand for TV information. But major broadcasters and the TV news agencies — such as Reuters and WTN — have never had enough staff to meet the world wide demand for up to date pictures, so increasingly they turn to “freelance” TV cameramen.

These freelance cameramen are independent operators tied to no particular organization. They will work for any company which hires them for just a few hours or for several weeks in a war zone. But if freelance cameraman is injured in the course of the job, the TV company is not responsible for him. The freelancer must survive on his own.

“TV will always need hard, vivid moving pictures which are fresh, but these companies feel uncomfortable with large numbers of employees on their books,” explains Nik Growing, once foreign editor for Britain’s Channel 4 News and now a BBC news presenter.

“By hiring freelancers, they can buy in the skills they need only when they need them. It also enables them to contract out the risk,” he says.

63. The word “taxing” in Para 1 most probably means ______.

A. demanding                    B. saddening                     C. satisfying         D. encouraging

64. TV news agencies turn to freelance cameramen in order to ______.

A. save expenses and avoid risk

B. get first hand information and pictures

C. look for pictures that are of fine qualities

D. buy the horrifying pictures they need

65. The freelance cameramen _______.

A. need to work on their own

B. have to take great risks in the course of work

C. have better skills than other cameramen

D. are tied to many TV news agencies

66. From the passage we can know that ______.

A. TV cameramen should be given better choice of work

B. TV cameramen are being challenged by the freelancers

C. TV cameramen have to witness disasters and killing whether they like them or not

D.TV cameramen have to contract out the risks for their companies

The Great Gatsby

The typical novel of the Jazz Age ,F. Scott Fitzgeralds’ third book The Great Gatsby(1925), stands as the best achievement of his career. T.S.Eliot saw it as the “first step” American fiction had taken since Henry James. H.L.Mencken praised” the charm and beauty of the writing”, and Thomas Wolfe hailed it as Fitzgeralds’“best work” thus far.

Death on the Nile

In Death on the Nile, Poirot, on vacation in Africa, meets the rich, beautiful Linnet Doyle and her new husband, Simon. As usual, all is not as it seems between the new couple, and when Linnet is found murdered ,Poirot must sort through many suspects to find the killer before he (or) she strikes again.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad

Robert Kiyosaki shows how he has developed his unique economic view from his two fathers: his real father, who was highly educated but poor; and the father of his best friend who dropped out of school and eventually became a self-made millionaire. This book shows how to teach your children about money for their future financial success.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen Covey, an internationally-respected leadership authority, realizes that true success comes from a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a guidance on how to perform better in both areas. His stories are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges.

Forrest Gump

Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable guy. After accidentally becoming the star of University of Alabama’s football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a world-class Ping-Pong player and a business giant as he wonders with childlike wisdom at the crazy things all around him. Forrest manages to discover the truth about Richard Nixon and survives the ups and downs of life. Forrest has a lot of stories to tell.

21．If you are interested in detective stories, you can choose________________.

A. The Great Gatsby                       B. Rich Dad, Poor Dad

C. Death on the Nile                       D. Forrest Gump

22．If you want to keep a balance between family and career, you can buy ___________.

A. Forrest Gump                          B. The Great Gatsby

C. Rich Dad, Poor Dad                     D. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

23．What do we know about Forrest Gump ?

A. He has never done business.               B. He was good at telling stories.

C. He was once a successful singer            D. He was a man of wide experience.