D. Their owners like to give them everything they want, just like spoiled children. 4. The author's tone in this letter can best be described as _______.

A. objective B. explanatory C. sympathetic D. annoyed 5. The underlined word “litter box “ probably means _____. A. a little box B. a box in garden C. a box collecting pet?s dirt D. a box for pets

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Books which give instructions on how to do things are very popular in the United States today. Thousands of books like this begin with titles that start with the words \a career and how to succeed in it. If you fail, however, you can buy a book called How to Turn Failure into Success. If you would like to become very rich, you can buy the book How to Make a Million. If you never make any money at all, you need a book called How to Live on Nothing.

One of the most popular types of books is one that helps you with personal problems. If you are unhappy with your life, you can read How to love Every Minute of Your Life. If you are tired of books on happiness, you may prefer a book called How to Make Yourself Sad. Many of these books help people use their free time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They like books which give step-by-step instructions on how to repair things like electrical wiring, or how to redecorate or enlarge a house.

Why have \to\books become so popular? Probably because life has become so popular or probably because life has become so complex. Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve. \

1. When one wants to change his job from one type to another, he probably needs to read_______.

A. How to Succeed at a Job

B. How to Turn Failure into Success C. How to Choose a Career

D. How to Be a Successful Worker

2. When one is unhappy with his life, he probably needs to read ______. A. How to Succeed at a Job

B. How to Turn Failure into Success C. How to Choose a Career

D. How to Love Every Minute of Your Life

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in this passage? A. How to Drive a Car

B. How to Repair Electrical Wiring C. How to Make Your House Larger

D. How to Make Your Room Look More Beautiful

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4. Why have \ A. Probably because life has become so difficult.

B. Probably because people haven't much free time to use. C. Probably because people have more money on books.

D. Probably because people want to deal with all sorts of problems well. 5. This passage makes you think that ______. A. many \B. it's a waste of time to read \

C. there's no need to publish so many \D. people seem to be tired of reading \

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The water level of oceans rises and falls alternately twice a day. This movement of water is called tide. Tides are caused by the pull of the sun and the moon on the earth's surface; since the moon is closer, it affects the tides more than the sun. When the moon is directly overhead, it actually pulls on the water that is below it. This causes the water level to rise because the water is pulled away from the earth. As the moon disappears over the horizon, the pull lessens and the water level settles back towards the ocean bottom.

When the water reaches its highest level, we have high tide. And when the water comes to its lowest level, we have low tide. From its lowest point, the water rises gradually for about six hours until it reaches high tide. Then it begins to fall continuously for about six hours until it reaches low tide. Then the cycle begins again.

1. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?

A. The Moon and Oceans B. The Moon and the Tide

C. Water Levels D. The Pull of the Moon and the Sun

2. The pull of the moon on the earth's surface is stronger than that of the sun because ______.

A. the moon is directly over the earth

B. the moon pulls the water away from the earth C. the moon is closer to the earth D. the moon moves around the earth

3. Water level reaches its low point when _______.

A. the moon is hidden by clouds B. the moon's effect is indirect C. the moon moves far away D. the sun is overhead 4. High tide occurs _______.

A. every 12 hours B. every 6 hours C. every 24 hours D. every 18 hours 5. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A. Weather sometimes affects tides.

B. The force directly affecting the earth's surface comes from the moon only. C. The effect of the sun on the ocean water can be neglected. D. Tides are the result of the pull of the moon and the sun.

11

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February 14th is Valentine?s Day. Valentine?s Day is a day for romance and love. Valentine?s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

You see a lot of romantic symbols on Valentine?s Day. For example, many couples give each other roses. To give someone flowers at any time of year is romantic, and as roses are a symbol of romance, roses on Valentine?s Day are especially popular.

Another symbol of romance that is seen frequently on Valentine?s Day is Cupid（丘比特）. In Roman mythology, Cupid was the son of Venus, the goddess of love. Cupid was often shown as a smaller, more playful version of his mother. His golden arrows were magical and even slight contact with one of the arrow tips could make a person fall madly in love.

One understanding of romantic love --- called courtly love --- dates back to medieval times, and sending cards on Valentine?s Day dates back equally far. In 1415, a prisoner in the Tower of London sent a poem to his wife. This is considered to be one of the earliest recorded valentines. For over four hundred years, people made their own valentines by writing poems like this.

In the Victorian era, in the mid-1800s, companies started producing valentines for people to buy. Now many people buy, rather than make, their valentines. Almost one billion valentines are sent every year. According to the Greeting Card Association, 85% of the valentines are bought by women.

Of course, people don?t just buy cards. People buy candles and balloons and many other things, often in the shape of a heart. You can find boxes of candy that are shaped like hearts, or candy that is itself in the shape of a heart!

The presents might be something small and sweet or something big and dramatic. Some people get engaged (promise to marry each other) on Valentine?s Day. Although Valentine?s Day is generally romantic, many people like to use the day to celebrate any kind of love --- including love of friends and family.

Some schools have valentine parties. The students give each other valentines. They eat heart-shaped candy. Some schools have other valentine celebrations, such as dances.

1. Valentine?s Day is a _______ day.

A. lonely and miserable B. romantic and playful C. Roman and Greek D. happy and grateful 2. Why is Cupid associated with Valentine?s Day? A. He is the son of the goddess of love. B. He has arrows, which are romantic.

C. Valentine?s Day was originally a Roman holiday. D. Babies are cute and playful.

3. Some symbols of Valentine?s Day are _______.

A. eggs, bacon, and roses B. candy, roses, and liver C. Cupid, roses, and hearts D. bacon, eggs, and fruits 4. What do many people do on Valentine?s Day?

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A. They have heart problems. B. They eat their chocolates.

C. They look for eggs. D. They give presents and cards. 5. According to the article, where do we get the idea of courtly love? A. It dates back to the Victorian Era. B. It dates back to the Middle Ages. C. This idea has always existed.

D. We get it from the Greeting Card Association.

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Everybody may have seen the film \that the writer of the story, Agatha Christie, saved a baby in a most unusual way.

In June, 1997, a baby girl became seriously ill in Deleville. Doctors there were unable to find out the cause of her illness, so she was sent to a famous hospital in London, where there were many excellent doctors. The baby was so seriously ill that a team of doctors hurried to examine her without any delay. The doctors, too, were puzzled by the baby's illness, and they also became discouraged. Just then a nurse was asked to speak to them.

\ago, I read a story ' A Pale Horse' written by Agatha Christie. Someone uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are written in the book. They are exactly the same as the baby's.”

\very good at observing things,\said a doctor, \you may be right. We'll carry out some tests and find out whether the cause is thallium poisoning or not.\

The tests proved that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium. Once they knew the cause, the doctors were able to give her correct treatment. The baby soon got well and was sent back to Deleville. A week later it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide used in Deleville.

1. The baby was sent to a hospital in London because ______. A. her parents were living in London then

B. the hospitals in Deleville were full at that time

C. she was the daughter of a famous doctor in London

D. doctors in Deleville were not sure about the cause of her illness

2. The one who first suggested the correct cause of the baby's illness was ______. A. a doctor in Deleville B. a famous doctor C. an ordinary nurse D. Agatha Christie

3. From this passage it seems that the baby's illness had something to do with______.

A. some poisonous food

B. a harmful substance to kill pests C. a dangerous murderer D. the water in Deleville

4. As far as we can tell from the story, Agatha Christie ______.

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