We know that choosing a college major can be very hard. But have no fear! Your choice of major will not lock you into a specific career for the rest of your life. Here's what you need to know about college majors before you choose.

What is a major?

__1__ Beyond general college requirements, you'll also take a group of courses in a subject of your choosing, such as Chemistry, Literature, or Political  Science.

How important is my major?

The major you choose will neither predict nor guarantee your future. Many graduates find jobs that have nothing to do with what they studied in college. If you intend to earn a professional degree after college, you will probably need certain courses.__2__

When do I choose a major?

This varies widely across schools and programs. __3__ Others require that you decide upon a major by the time that you set foot inside your first class.

__4__

Definitely.  One of the most exciting aspects of college life is that it introduces you to new subjects and arouses new passions. However, keep this in mind: every major has necessary coursework. If you change your major late in the game, it may take more than the traditional four years to earn a degree.

What are minors and double majors?

If one field of study doesn't satisfy your intellectual appetite, consider a minor. A minor is similar to a major in that it's an area of academic concentration.    __5__ A double major provides you with an understanding of two academic fields. It allows you to become familiar with two sets of values and views while it also requires you to fulfill two sets of requirements.

A．Can I change my mind?

B．Is my major time－consuming?

C．It's your specialized area of study in college.

D．Most students find one major is more than enough.

E．Some schools may give you one year or more to decide.

F．Many future science doctors major in non－science related fields.

G．The only difference is that it doesn't require as many classes.

So far this year we ______ a fall in house prices by between 5 and 10 percent.

A. saw         B. have seen     C. had seen        D. see

   I used to feeling I was the sun in my family. But while my cousin was born, everyone

pays more attention to her. So I disliked her and couldn’t get along well with her. As time

went on, I realized what ridiculous I had been at that time. I tried to find a proper time to

apologize. When my cousin’s family came to my home a few day ago, I took my cousin to

play outside. In the way to the playground, I had bought many snakes for her. Then we

began to chat. When we talked about their childhood, suddenly, I said “sorry” gentle. She

was silent, so I thought that she hadn’t heard me clearly. But after while she said, “ Don’t

say that. In my memory, you are always friendly.”

       “The Lord of the Rings”, one of the best sellers in the new millennium（千年）, was made up of three parts——“The Fellowship of the Ring”, “Two Towers”, and “The Return of the King”．Millions upon millions of people have read it in over 25 different languages, but fewer know about the author and the history of the composition of the creative masterwork.

       John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in South Africa in 1892．His parents died when he was a child．Living in England with his aunt, Tolkien and his cousins made up his mind to play languages, a hobby that led to Tolkien’s becoming skilled in Welsh, Greek, Gothic, Old Norse and Anglo-Saxon.

       After graduating from Oxford, Tolkien served in World War I．In 1917, while recovering from trench fever, he began composing the mythology（神话） for The Rings．As a professor of Anglo-Saxon in 1930s at Oxford, Tolkien was part of an informal discussion group called the Inklings, which included several writers．The group was soon listening to chapters of Tolkien’s imaginative work “The Hobbit”.

       Hobbit was a name Tolkien created for a local people that could best be described as half-sized members of the English rural（乡村的）class．Hobbits live in hillside holes．One of them, Bilbo Baggins, looks for treasures with a group of dwarves（侏儒）．On the way, he meets the twisted, pitiful creature Gollum, from whom he sees a golden ring that makes the holder invisible.

       One of Tolkien’s students persuaded her employer, publisher Allen & Unwin, to look at a draft（草稿）．The chairman of the firm, Stanley Unwin, thought that the best judge for a children’s book would be his ten-year-old son．The boy earned a shilling for reporting back that the adventure was exciting, and “The Hobbit” was published in 1937.

       It sold so well that Unwin asked for a continuation．Over a dozen years later, in 1954, Tolkien produced “The Lord of the Rings”, a series of books so creative that they hold readers—new and old —after their publication.

46．What can we learn from the text?

       A．Tolkien was quite familiar with Old English.

       B．People know better about Tolkien himself than about his works.

       C．“The Lord of the Rings” didn’t sell well in the last millennium.

     D．Tolkien knew very well about different kinds of local languages in Africa.

47．What can we learn about “Hobbit” that Tolkien created in his works?

       A．Hobbit was a race living in English downtown areas.

       B．Hobbit was a group of people who were mostly dwarves.

       C．Hobbit was a social group of people who lived in old castles.

       D．Hobbit was a local people who were very tall and strong.

48．Which of the following helped most in making “The Hobbit” published?

       A．One of Tolkien’s students.                        B．Allen & Unwin.

       C．Stanley Unwin’s son.                                D．Bilbo Baggins.

49．What is mainly discussed in the text?

       A．a famous professor at Oxford University.

       B．A completely new masterwork in the new millennium.

       C．“The Lord of the Rings” and its writer.

       D．The power of the magic ring.

50．Which of the following shows the right order of Mr J.R.R.Tolkien’s life experience?

       a．He had his “The Hobbit” published.

       b．He became a member of the lnklings．   

 c．He served in World WarⅠ

       d．He became an undergraduate at Oxford.

       e．His work “The Lord of the Rings” came to the world.

       f．He moved to England to live with his aunt.

       A．f-d-b-c-a-e            B．d-f-c-a-b-e             C．f-c-d-b-e-a            D．f-d-c-b-a-e

Being organized is an important skill for school and life. When you’re well organized, you can stay focused, instead of spending time hunting things around and feeling confused. What does it mean to be organized? For schoolwork, it means having one notebook or place where you store all your assignments, so you know what you have to do and when. Keeping clearly labeled binders (活页夹) and keeping all your schoolwork neat and in a specific place — these are the main parts of organization.

  　For home stuff, being organized means having a place to put your things and putting them back when you finish using them. It means hanging your coat up instead of dropping it on the floor or throwing it on a chair. It means keeping your schoolbag, your shoes, and your clean underwear in the same places so you always know where to find them.

  　Planning is part of being organized, too. Planning means deciding what you will do and when you will do it. Calendars, lists, and schedules can help you plan. You can buy or draw a calendar and keep it near your workplace. Making a schedule or a “to-do” list for yourself is a good idea. Looking at your list helps you keep track of what you need to do. Add new things as you get assignments, and check off things when you’ve done them. Use your list to help you decide which thing is the most important to work on first.

  　It takes some extra efforts to organize yourself and your stuff. But once you’re organized, you feel great. The less time you spend hunting around for things or panicking about homework, the more time you have for better things, like reading a good book or playing.

41. According to the first paragraph, “being organized” probably means “_____”.

A. looking for something here and there

B. putting something in a fixed place

C. getting together every now and then     

D. telling you what you have to do every day

42.  If you are well organized at home, you will_____.

A. leave all the things as you will       　 

B. hang your coat on a chair

C. know where your clean underwear is  　　

D. ask your mom where your shoes are

43.  Which of the following things can help you plan?

    A. Schedules          B. Workplaces　　　

C. Assignments   　   D. Tracks

44.  We can infer from this passage that______.

A. everyone is well organized in the school 

B. many people don’t like being organized at home

C. it is very tiring to make a “to-do” list every day

D. being well organized can save us a lot of time

45.  What may be the best title for this passage?

A. Planning Is Part of Being Organized   

B. A Good Beginning Is Half Done

C. Being Organized—an Important Skill  

D. Where There Is a Will There Is a Way

Some people think that they will get ill if they use their brains (大脑) too much. It is not true. Through many studies, scientists show us that the more you use your brains, the better it will be, and the cleverer you will become.

Of course, if you want to keep your mind clear and active, you must take a proper rest and study properly. To the teenagers, using their brains in the morning is good for their health.

There are many ways to rest. One is a peaceful rest. Sleep is a peaceful rest. Another is an active rest. For example, take a walk outdoors, do more exercise every day. To change the way of the brains’ activities is also a good way to rest.

In everyday life, to eat some eggs, meat, fresh vegetables and fruit is also good for the brains.

Wish you a wise man and a happy life.

17.    According to the writer of the passage, our brains should be used ____.

    A. hardly                    B. seldom                  C. more often            D. at times

18.    Which of the following sentences is not true?

      A. Sleep is a kind of a good rest.                    

B. Doing morning exercises is a peaceful rest.

    C. Going out for a rest is an active rest. 

D. There are different activities for a good rest.

19.    Which is true?

    A. Illness comes from the fact the brains are used too much.

    B. Fruits are the most important for the brains.

    C. The brains will be better if they are used often.

    D. Sleep is the only way of having a rest.

20.    Which of the following can be used as the best title for the passage?

    A. How to use your brains                              B. How to rest

    C. How to become a wise man                       D. Keep your mind clear

My daughter and son have settled in happily in our new home—kids are better at     to new environments than us adults.

A. adjusting                    B. intending                    C. applying                     D. appealing