Two Christmas traditions have come under attack in recent years from environmentalists: Christmas cards and Christmas trees.
Paper cards are seen as wasteful and, for some people, going card-free is another way of going green. They also argue that in a world of e-mail, Skype, Facebook and Twitter, people are in touch all the time anyway; they no longer need the yearly card that connects them with long lost friends. If you want to send Christmas greetings, there are free e-cards, which get the job done with no postage or wasted paper.
However, especially for people who didn’t grow up with e-mail, there is something missing from a Christmas e-mail. The first Christmas cards appeared in London in 1843 and were designed by the same man who had introduced the world’s first postage stamp three years earlier. His name was Sir Henry Cole.
They rose in popularity throughout the 20th century. Many people sent cards that were sold for charity. The most famous of these are the ones sold for UNICEF. In the UK this year, in the three weeks before Christmas, the post office expects to handle 100 million cards every day. Environmental awareness also means that nowadays many people recycle their cards; this helps raise money to plant more trees, as well as recreating more paper.
When we think of trees at Christmas, there is one that immediately springs(躍入)mind---the evergreen tree that people decorate with ornaments and place their presents under. The custom dates back almost a thousand years to Germany. Nowadays 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America and 50 to 60 million in Europe each year. Some trees are sold live with roots and soil so people can plant them later and reuse them next year.
Some people prefer artificial trees as they are reusable and much cheaper than their natural alternative. However, environmentalists point out that they are made from petroleum (石油) products and so have many pollution issues.
小題1:What is the main idea of the article?
A．To introduce the history of two typical Christmas traditions.
B．To explain the debate about some Christmas traditions.
C．To analyze how two Christmas traditions grew in popularity.
D．To point out the problems caused by celebrating Christmas.
小題2:What does the underlined word “They” in the fourth paragraph probably mean?
A．Many peopleB．Christmas e-mailsC．Postage stampsD．Christmas cards
小題3:Some people suggest getting rid of paper cards because     .
a. they cannot be recycled         b. they are not environmentally friendly
c. they are mostly sold for charity  d. the e-cards have many advantages over them
e. they are not as necessary as they used to be for people
A．a(chǎn), b, dB．a(chǎn), c, dC．b, d, eD．b, c, e
小題4:What can we conclude from the article?
A．The first Christmas cards were designed earlier than the world’s first stamps.
B．This year has seen a dramatic drop in Christmas card sales.
C．Environmentalists advise people to buy cards that are sold for charity.
D．Growing environmental awareness is encouraging people to recycle their cards.
小題5:Which of the following statements in TRUE according to the article?
A．There is always a wider Christmas tree market in America than in Europe.
B．The custom of decorating Christmas trees first appeared in Britain.
C．Some people prefer to buy live trees that can be reused next year.
D．Artificial trees are better than natural ones in all aspects.

小題1:B
小題2:D
小題3:C
小題4:D
小題5:C

試題分析:本文是一篇說明文，說明了圣誕節(jié)習(xí)俗：圣誕卡片和圣誕樹，對其進行討論，圣誕卡片浪費紙，圣誕樹是由石油做成的，有很多的污染
小題1:推理題，由本文的主要意思“辯論圣誕節(jié)習(xí)俗，有圣誕卡片、圣誕樹等”，可以推出答案，故選B。
小題2:推理題，由第四段第一行Many people sent cards that were sold for charity.可以推出答案，所以選D。
小題3:細節(jié)題，由第二段第一行Paper cards are seen as wasteful第三行they no longer need the yearly card that connects them with long lost friends.和最后一句which get the job done with no postage or wasted paper可以知道答案，所以選C
小題4:細節(jié)題，由倒數(shù)第三段倒數(shù)第三行Environmental awareness also means that nowadays many people recycle their cards可以知道答案，所以選D
小題5:細節(jié)題，由最后一段第一句Some people prefer artificial trees as they are reusable and much cheaper than their natural alternative.可以知道答案，所以選C
點評：本文說明了辯論圣誕節(jié)習(xí)俗，有圣誕卡片、圣誕樹等。做細節(jié)題的關(guān)鍵是找出原文的根據(jù)，認真核查題支和原文的異同，常犯錯誤有：絕對化語言，范圍擴大或縮小，以偏概全，張冠李戴等。推斷題測試考生在閱讀基礎(chǔ)上的邏輯推理能力，要求考生根據(jù)文章所述事件的邏輯關(guān)系，對未說明的趨勢或結(jié)局作出合理的推斷；或根據(jù)作者所闡述的觀點理論，對文章未涉及的現(xiàn)象、事例給以解釋�？忌紫纫屑氶喿x短文，完整了解信息，準確把握作者觀點。
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Christmas Eve means a warm get-together with friends, a candlelight dinner, or perhaps a celebration at a pub for students. But, for Cai Yingjie, the night has a different meaning: helping beggars（乞丐）and the homeless(people without homes).
Cai, who is a student in journalism at Tsinghua, could be found at Beijing’s Wudaokou Light Railway Station that special evening. When she saw an old beggar, she took the cold, rough hands of the woman with her warm, clean hands, and gave the woman some warm bread and helped her put on a pair of new gloves.
The woman was surprised for a few seconds, then burst into tears, saying “for the first time I feel respected”.
Cai said, “A beggar’s life is very hard. That’s why I want to help them.”
Cai was one of 14 Tsinghua students spending Christmas Eve among the poor. They walked in the cold wind along the streets from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, visiting 15 beggars in Beijing’s Haidian District.
They brought bread and gloves with them, and stopped to greet beggars and offer them some of the warm food. Each beggar greeted them with a look of surprise.
“I know the activity can’t help much, but it’s meant to show our respect and care for beggars and the homeless who have been neglected for so long,” said Sun, head of the group. “And Christmas is a good time for that.”
小題1:What does Christmas Eve mean to the 14 Tsinghua students?
A．Taking 15 beggars to Tsinghua.
B．Getting together with friends.
C．Showing care to the beggars and the homeless.
D．Selling bread and gloves to the beggars.
小題2:What does the beggar mean by saying “for the first time I feel respected”?
A．The beggar has been waiting for Cai for long.
B．The beggar hasn’t been shown care for so long.
C．The beggar has been respecting Cai for a long time.
D．This is the first time the beggar has seen Tsinghua students.
小題3:What did each beggar feel when they received greetings?
A．Sad.B．Amazed.
C．Frightened.D．Proud.
小題4:The word “neglected” in the last passage means _______.
A．protectedB．found
C．taken care ofD．given no enough care

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The UK has a well­respected higher education system and some of the top universities and research institutions in the world. But to those who are new to it all, sometimes it can be confusing．
October is usually the busiest month in the college calendar. Universities have something called Freshers’ Week for their newcomers. It’s a great opportunity to make new friends, join lots of clubs and settle into university life．
However, having just left the comfort of home and all your friends behind, the prospect（前景）of meeting lots of strangers in big halls can be nerve­wracking（令人頭痛的）. Where do you start? Who should you make friends with? Which clubs should you join?
Luckily, there will be thousands of others in the same boat as you worrying about starting their university social life on the right foot. So just take it all in slowly. Don’t rush into anything that you’ll regret for the next three years.
Here is some top advice from past students on how to survive Freshers’ Week：
●Learn rules. Make sure you know British social etiquette（禮節(jié)）. Have a few wine glasses and snacks handy for your housemates and friends.
●Be kind. Sometimes cups of tea or even slices of toast can give you a head start in making friends.
●Be sociable. The more active you are, the more likely you’ll be to meet new people than if you’re someone who never leaves their room.
●Bring a doorstop. Keep your door open when you’re in and that sends positive messages to your neighbors that you’re friendly.
So with a bit of clever planning and effort, Freshers’ Week can give you a great start to your university life and soon you’ll be passing on your experience to next year’s new recruits．
小題1:Which of the following statements is FALSE according to the passage？
A．October is generally the busiest month for universities．
B．It’s a good idea to have a doorstop.
C．A bit of planning can make Freshers’ Week easier.
D．The first week of your every year at university is called Freshers’ Week．
小題2:The underlined word "recruits" in the last paragraph refers to__________．
A．coursesB．freshersC．neighborsD．challenges
小題3:We can infer from the 4th paragraph that 　　　�。�
A．the newcomers usually miss the days living at home
B．most of the students in the UK spend three years in universities
C．many freshers are worried about how to fit university life
D．a(chǎn)ll the new students will make new friends and join certain clubs
小題4:Why does the author suggest having wine glasses and snacks handy？
A．To pass the busy university life．
B．To help make friends with other freshers．
C．To show yourself a drinker as others．
D．To pass the time in a happy way．

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

For high school leavers starting out in the working world, it is very important to learn particular skills and practice how to behave in an interview or how to find all internship(實習(xí)). In some countries, schools have programs to help students onto the path to work. In the Unites States, however, such programs are still few and far between.
Research shows that if high schools provide career-related courses, students are likely to get higher earnings in later years. The students are more likely to stay in school, graduate and go on to higher education.
In Germany, students as young as 13 and 14 are expected to do internships. German companies work with schools to make sure that young people get the education they need for future employment.
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However, even for teens whose schools encourage them to connect with work, the job market is daunting. In the US, unemployment rates for 16-to 19-year-olds are above 20 percent for the third summer in a row.
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小題1:According to Robert Schwartz，_________.
A．there is no need for kids to go for higher education in the US
B．students should get contact with the working world at high school
C．education reform should focus on students’performance in exams
D．teenagers in the US can’t miss out on the summer job experience
小題2:What’s the main idea of the text?
A．Arguments about recent US education reform.
B．Tips on finding jobs for high school leavers.
C．The lack of career-based courses in US high schools.
D．Advice for American high school leavers.
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Cell Phones Are the New Cigarettes
When you get in your car, you reach for it．When you’re at work, you take a break to have a moment alone with it．When you get into a lift, you play with it．
Cigarettes? Cup of coffee? No, it’s the third most addictive thing in modern life, the cell phone．And experts say it is becoming more difficult for many people to curbtheir longing to hug  it more tightly than most of their personal relationships．
With its shiny surface, its smooth and satisfying touch, its air of complexity, the cell phone  connects us to the world even as it disconnects us from people three feet away．In just the past  couple of years, the cell phone has challenged individuals, employers, phone makers and  counselors（顧問）in ways its inventors in the late 1940s never imagined．
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B．Cell phones have become as addictive as cigarettes．
C．More people use cell phones than smoke cigarettes．
D．Using cell phone is just as cool as smoking cigarettes．
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A．women use cell phones more often than men
B．talking on the phone while driving is dangerous
C．cell phones do not necessarily bring people together
D．cell phones make one-on-one personal contact easy

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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Handwriting was for the students in lower grades． Although most of them couldn’t write so well, they were all very careful about it． In the show window, there were a lot of colorful handwritten papers． They copied some articles from books or newspapers． And then they decorated them with pictures in different colors, and some even put their own photos on them． How cute and lovely they looked!
Story writing was for students in Grade 7 and Grade 8． These students are always fond of cartoons, so they got interested in this activity． Reading the stories they made up, all the visitors couldn’t help speaking highly of them．
The most important event was the English show on the last day． The students and teachers presented a lot of English songs and English operas． Each program won storms of applause．
One week is not very long, but all the students and teachers learned a lot． Just as the headmaster said, “It is a helpful week． It will certainly lead us to enjoy and learn more from our English studies．”
小題1:In this passage, the English week is described as__________．
A．surprisingB．boringC．enjoyableD．serious
小題2:Which of the following is Not true?
A．All the students took part in the handwriting contest．
B．The story writing contest was for students in Grade 7 and Grade 8．
C．The English show was the most important event．
D．Teachers also took part in the English week．
小題3:What does the underlined word “applause” probably mean?
A．NoiseB．CheerC．SoundD．Music
小題4:What does the writer probably want to tell us at the end of the passage?
A．The activities are a good way to learn English．
B．Students usually don’t like English．
C．The activities last longer．
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

The UK's education system is ranked（排列） sixth best in the developed world, according to a global league table published by education firm Pearson in October,2012.
The first and second places are taken by Finland and South Korea.The rankings combine international test results and data such as graduation rates between 2006 and 2010.
Sir Michael Barber, Pearson's chief education adviser, says successful countries give teachers a high status and have a "culture" of education.
International comparisons in education have become increasingly significant - and this latest league table is based upon a series of global test results combined with measures of education systems, such as how many people go on to university.
The two education superpowers - Finland and South Korea - are followed by three other high-performing Asian education systems - Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
The UK is then only ranked at the head of an above-average group including the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland.
These are ahead of a middle-ranking group including the United States, Germany and France. At the lowest end are Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia.
These comparisons draw upon tests that are taken every three or four years, in areas such as maths, science and literacy - and so present a picture lagging by several years.
Looking at education systems that succeed, the study concludes that spending is important, but not as much as having a culture that is supportive of learning.
It says that spending is easier to measure, but the more complex impact of a society's attitude to education can make a big difference.
The success of Asian countries in these rankings reflects the high value attached to education and the expectations of parents. This can continue to be a factor when families migrate to other countries, says the report.
Looking at the two top countries - Finland and South Korea - the report says that there are many big differences, but the common factor is a shared social belief in the importance of education and its "underlying moral purpose".
小題1:What’s the main idea of the passage?
A．The two different education superpowers
B．The result of one report about education system .
C．The UK's education system is worst.
D．Finland and South Korea’S education system
小題2:According to Sir Michael Barber, Hong Kong’s education system is ranked       in the world.
A．2ndB．3rdC．4thD．5th
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A．At the lowest end are Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia.
B．Education firm Pearson is disappointed at The UK's education system.
C．The United States’ education system is one of the best.
D．There are many big differences in Finland and South Korea.
小題4:What does the underlined phrase “comparisons” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A．比較B．結(jié)果C．研究D．考試
小題5:What’s the common factor about the education system at the two top countries?
A. The shared social belief in the importance of education and its "underlying moral purpose".
B. The developed economy.
C The high value attached to education and the expectations of parents.
D. Having a culture that is supportive of learning.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Mars Was Not Always Bitterly Cold
Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have reported evidence that Mars was warmer and wetter long ago than it is today.  The Caltech scientists say they have directly established the temperature of Mars four billion years ago. At least, they established the surface temperature on part of the planet at that time. The researchers say it is the first such evidence to be discovered and presented.
The Caltech scientists say carbonate（碳酸鹽） minerals formed on Mars at about eighteen degrees Celsius. They reached the finding after studying a meteorite（隕石） that had its beginnings near the Martian surface.
Today, the average temperature on Mars is sixty-three degrees below zero Celsius.
The finding was reported on the website of the National Academy of Sciences. Caltech Assistant Professor Woody Fischer helped to prepare the report. He says eighteen degrees Celsius is not especially cold or hot. He says this makes the finding extremely interesting. Knowing the temperature can give scientists an idea of the climate on Mars long ago. It can also help them decide whether the planet had liquid water. Spacecraft orbiting Mars have shown what appear to be rivers, lakebeds and mineral deposits. These pictures suggest that, at one time, water did flow there. Mars Rover vehicles and other spacecraft have confirmed the information.
Caltech Geology Professor John Eiler was another writer of the report. He says knowing the temperature of Mars from long ago provides valuable information. It shows that early in the planet's history, at least part of Mars could support a climate like that of Earth.
The meteorite the scientists examined is one of the oldest known rocks in the world. It is called the Allan Hills meteorite. Its name came from the place in Antarctica where it was found in 1984. The meteorite is believed to have blown loose from the Mars' surface when another space rock struck its "home."
小題1: The underlined word “establish” in Paragraph 1 probably means “___________”.
A．to set up
B．to make people accept a belief
C．to discover or prove
D．to start having a relationship with others
小題2:How did the scientists reach the finding?
A．By studying Allan Hills meteorite.
B．By using spacecraft orbiting Mars.
C．By studying minerals gathered on Mars
D．By studying a meteorite on the Martian surface.
小題3:According to the fourth paragraph, what have spacecraft orbiting Mars done?
A．Measuring the temperature of Mars.
B．Taking photos of the surface of Mars.
C．Confirming that there is water flowing on Mars.
D．Finding where human beings will probably land on Mars.
小題4:How did Allan Hills meteorite get its name?
A．From its original place on Mars.
B．From where it was found on the earth.
C．From the name of the scientist who found it.
D．From the name of the aircraft that discovered it
小題5: Where can we most probably read this passage?
A．In a biography of scientists.
B．In a geography magazine.
C．In an environment report.
D．In a science report.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Here are six steps to better studying.
Pay attention in class
Do you have trouble paying attention in class? Are you sitting next to a loud person? Tell your teacher or parents about any problem that is preventing you from paying attention.
Take good notes
Write down facts that your teacher mentions or writes on the board. Try to use good handwriting so you can read your notes later. It’s a good idea to keep your notes organized by subject.
Plan ahead for tests and projects
Waiting until Thursday night to study for Friday’s test will make it hard to do your best. One of the best ways to make sure that doesn’t happen is to plan ahead. Write down your test dates. You can then plan how much to do after school each day, and how much time to spend on each topic.
Break it up
When there’s a lot to study, it can help to break things into several parts. Let’s say you have a spelling test on 20 words. Instead of thinking about all of the words at once, try breaking them down into five-word groups and work on one or two different groups each night.
Ask for help
You can’t study effectively if you don’t understand the material. Be sure to ask your teacher for help. If you’re at home when the confusion occurs, your morn or dad might be able to help.
Sleep tight
So the test is tomorrow and you’ve followed your study plan—but suddenly you can’t remember anything! Don’t panic. Your brain needs time to digest all the information you’ve given it. Try to get a good night’s sleep and you’ll be surprised by what comes back to you in the morning.
小題1:We know from the passage that a loud person is       .
A．a(chǎn) student who always answers questions loudly in class
B．someone who likes to talk with others in a loud voice
C．a(chǎn) student who likes speaking with others in class
D．a(chǎn) person who makes a lot of noise in public places
小題2:According to the author, which of the following is an effective studying method?
A．Don’t try to review everything you have learned in one go.
B．Try to review what you’ve learned in one go.
C．To read all your notes the night before the test.
D．Try to remember everything on the first try.
小題3:If you don’t understand what you have learnt, you can       .
A．read your notes over and over again
B．turn to people around you for help
C．put aside the material for later review
D．a(chǎn)sk your teacher to explain it the next day
小題4:By saying “Sleep tight”, what does the author mean?
A．Sleep again after waking up.
B．Sleep holding your breath deep.
C．Get a good night’s sleep.
D．Go to sleep early every night.

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