I was desperately nervous about becoming car-free. But eight months ago our car was hit by a passing vehicle and it was destroyed. No problem, I thought: we’ll buy another. But the insurance payout didn’t even begin to cover the costs of buying a new car－I worked out that, with the loan, we’d need plus petrol, insurance, parking permits and tax, we would make a payment as much as £600 a month.

And that’s when I had my fancy idea. Why not just give up having a car at all? I live in London. We have a railway station behind our house, a tube station 10 minutes’ walk away, and a bus stop at the end of the street. A new car club had just opened in our area, and one of its shiny little red Peugeots was parked nearby. If any family in Britain could live without a car, I reasoned, then surely we were that family.

But my new car-free idea, sadly, wasn’t shared by my family. My teenage daughters were horrified. What would their friends think about our family being “too poor to afford a car”? (I wasn’t that bothered what they thought, and I suggested the girls should take the same approach.)

My friends, too, were astonished at our plan. What would happen if someone got seriously ill overnight and needed to go to hospital? (an ambulance) How would the children get to and from their many events? (buses and trains) People smiled as though this was another of my mad ideas, before saying they were sure I’d soon realize that a car was a necessity.

Eight months on, I wonder whether we’ll ever own a car again. The idea that you “have to” own a car, especially if you live in a city, is all in the mind. I live—and many other citizens do too—in a place that has never been better served by public transport, and yet car ownership has never been higher. We worry about rising car costs, but we’d be better off asking something much more basic: do I really need a car? Certainly the answer is no, and I’m a lot richer because I dared to ask the question.

1.The author decided to live a car-free life partly because ______.

A. most families chose to go car-free

B. he was hurt in a terrible car accident

C. the cost of a new car was too much

D. the traffic jam was unbearable for him

2.What is the attitude of the author’s family toward his plan?

A. Supportive. B. Disapproving.

C. Optimistic. D. Unconcerned.

3.What did the author suggest his daughters do about their friends’ opinion?

A. Argue against it.

B. Take their advice.

C. Think it over.

D. Leave it alone.

4.What conclusion did the author draw after the eight-month car-free life?

A. Life cannot go without a car.

B. Life without a car is a little bit hard.

C. His life gets improved without a car.

D. A car-free life does not suit everyone.

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7.A. headB. heartC. faceD. ear

8.A. on B. fromC. through D. into

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12.A. informs B. remindsC. proves D. indicates

13.A. hurtB. praiseC. damage D. comfort

14.A. lastingB. important C. different D. instant

15.A. concerned about B. careful ofC. devoted toD. responsible for

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17.A. thought B. repliedC. saidD. acted

18.A. As though B. Even though C. In case D. Now that

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5.A. front B. middle C. back D. last

6.A. word B. note C. paper D. letter

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8.A. you B. me C. him D. them

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10.A. Now B. Although C. Since D. If

11.A. work B. idea C. grade D. advice

12.A. thought B. wrote C. spoke D. read

13.A. new B. same C. different D. second

14.A. never B. again C. even D. still

15.A. first B. biggest C. best D. most

16.A. brought B. took C. carried D. found

17.A. arriving B. leaving C. moving D. reaching

18.A. stealer B. maker C. lover D. leader

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用所給詞組的正確形式填空

come up, go through, believe it or not, be based on , get along with,

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If Kate McWilliams got a penny every time someone asked how old she was she would be on to a good thing.

Easyjet says the 26-year-old is its youngest ever commercial female airline captain.

She flies to around 100 destinations across the world and says most people “are pleasantly surprised and impressed” when she tells them her age.

But Kate isn't the youngest ever female captain.Ronan Milne got in touch with Newsbeat to say his colleague Dawn Hunter was made a captain aged 24 at Loganair.Sarah Hendry is also 24 and a captain with the same company.

Kate began flying in the air cadets(見習(xí)生) when she was 13 years old, but admitted to the Press Association that she never thought she could become a commercial pilot.However, following aviation training in Southampton, she joined easyJet as a co-pilot in May 2011.This August she took up the rank of captain after passing the airline’s command course.

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Around 5% of commercial pilots are women.Last year easyJet announced a plan to increase its number of female entrants to 12%.Julie Westhorp, chairwoman of the British Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA), hopes Kate will inspire more women to think about working in aviation.She says: “Both the BWPA and easyJet are aware of the importance of visible role models for girls and young women when making career choices and continue to work together to encourage young women to consider a pilot career.”

1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A.More women will take up a pilot career,inspired by Kate.

B.Kate has flown to around 100 destinations across the Europe.

C.Most people like the female pilot at such a young age.

D.There are more training and couses for the female pilot.

2. Which of the following is the correct order, according to the passage?

a.Kate became a co-pilot of EasyJet.

b.A plan to increase its number of female employees was made by EasyJet.

c.Kate began her flying work.

d.Kate became the captain in EasyJet.

A.cbad B.acbd C.cabd D.abcd

3.What can be inferred from the passage?

A.Kate has dreamt of being a pilot since she was a little girl.

B. Kate made a move so that she could be closer to the airport.

C. Kate likes experiencing something different.

D. Kate has been the youngest ever female captain.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Kate Mc Williams-An amazing female pilot

B. Meet Easy Jet's youngest female airline captain

C. Ages don’t matter

D. An experienced captain

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