Unit 1
Monica walked out of the campus gates and stopped dead in her
tracks. Just across the road was Anita. She was getting on the back of a
motorcycle. It was hard to tell from a distance, but it looked like the
motorcycle rider was Paul. He ha told Monica he was busy this evening, so he
couldn’t pick her up after school. Now she knew what he meant. He was going out with
her best friend, and on the day before her birthday!
As things turned
out, Monica was right to think that the rider was Paul. However, she was completely mistaken about his reasons for giving Anita a ride. In fact, they were on their way to buy a birthday present for Monica and make the arrangements for a surprise party. The
next day, Monica ruined her own
birthday by angrily shouting at Paul. She accused him of cheating on her with Anita.
She also damaged two of her most
important relationships.
Most of us, no matter how open-minded we think we are, jump
to conclusions sometimes. We
make judgments about people who pass by on the street, according to how they look or the way they are dressed. There is no real harm in that, since we never have any contact with most of the people we see.
In our personal relationships, however, jumping to conclusions
can lead us into
deep trouble, as it did with Monica.
( ) 1. Monica
made a mistake by thinking __________.
(A)
her best friend was waiting for her
(B)
the motorcycle belonged to Anita
(C)
her boyfriend was cheating on her
(D)
the boy on the motorcycle was Paul
( ) 2. Why was
Paul with Anita after school?
(A)
They were going on a date together.
(B)
They were planning Anita’s birthday.
(C)
They were going shopping together.
(D)
Paul was giving Anita a ride home.
( ) 3. The
writer of this passage thinks that jumping to conclusions __________.
(A)
can sometimes have very bad results.
(B)
never does any real harm to anyone.
(C)
is no problem if the reason is jealousy.
(D)
is a good way to understand people.
Unit 2
Maybe you already have a credit card. If
you don’t, you will have many opportunit(y)ies to get one when you get to college.
Credit card companies often set up stalls on college campuses to encourage students to sign up. They give
away little gifts such as T-shirts,
coffee mugs, and water bottles to those who are willing to fill
out an application form. However, if you are
thinking about getting a credit card, you should ask yourself if it really is a
good idea.
Why do credit card companies target students? Students often do not
have jobs, and many also have student loans,
so it may seem unlikely that banks would take
a chance on them. On the other hand, research shows that student borrowers
are valuable long-term customers
because they usually stay with their first card and continue to make purchases for many years to come.
As a student, you will have to decide for
yourself if you can handle the responsibility of a credit card. They
are easy to get but not so easy to manage. If you are not careful, you may end up with a high, unpaid balance on which the interest grows but the payments are hard
to make. When making your decision about a credit card, ask yourself the following: Do I need a credit card? Can I
afford a credit card? Will I be able to pay off my balance each month? If you decide
to apply for a credit card, be a smart
customer and shop around. Instead of signing up for the first card you
see, look for one that offers the features you want. Finally, always
remember that credit card can be helpful in emergenc(y)ies, but they
can also get you into trouble.
( ) 1. The
passage was written for __________.
(A) students
who already have credit cards
(B) students
going to college for the first time
(C) recent
graduates who are looking for jobs
(D) people
working for credit card companies
( ) 2. Which
of the following is NOT true?
(A) Many
credit card companies think students are poor customers.
(B) You
can get a free gift if you apply for a credit card on campus.
(C) It
is quite easy for a college student to receive a credit card.
(D) You
do not always need to have a job in order to get a credit card.
( ) 3. The third
paragraph contains suggestions on __________.
(A) how
to get a credit card that gives the best value for your money
(B) good
ways to manage your money when you have a credit card
(C) which
credit cards are if you plan to be a long-term customer
(D) what
to think about before you decide to apply for a credit card
( ) 4. What
does “shop around” mean in the third paragraph?
(A) Pay
off your bill as soon as possible. (B)
Pay in cash instead of by credit card
(C) Use
your card in different stores. (D)
Check out different card companies.
Unit 3
The world will have over
1.3 billion cell phone users by the year 2005. That means around a fifth of the world’s population
will be enjoying the convenience
of mobile phones. It also means more
people will be affected by the dangers that come with cell phone use.
We’ve all heard about the possible health effects. Cell phones have been reported
to cause headaches, tiredness, and memory loss. Some researchers
say there is a danger that the radiation given out by cell phones
may cause cancer of the brain. Cell phone makers, however, deny any such risk.
It may seem obvious that talking on a cell phone while driving a car is dangerous.
However, in one survey, 90 percent of drivers admitted they had done it, even
though they knew they were putting
themselves and other people at risk. Many
countries are making strict laws
against cell phones use in cars, but it is hard to catch violators.
One danger that is not often discussed is the threat from old phones. Cell phones have constantly shrunk in
size, and people like to buy new ones. The problem is that cell phones contain poisonous chemicals such as lead,
zinc, and other substances that have been linked to health problems. By 2005,
there will be 500 million old cell phones in garbage dumps. Without a
proper recycling plan to deal with
them, they may do significant harm to the environment and public health.
( ) 1. According
to the passage, the world’s population in 2005 will be __________.
(A) 1.3 billion (B)
about 4 billion (C) less than 6 billion (D) about 6.5 billion
( ) 2. Which
of the following is NOT discussed in the passage?
(A) The
danger from cell phone radiation.
(B) The
risk of using a phone while driving.
(C) The
danger of cell phone use on planes.
(D) The
environmental effects of cell phones.
( ) 3. Companies
that make cell phones say it is not possible to __________.
(A) get
brain cancer from using one (B) make one
that is completely safe
(C) use
one without getting tired (D) use
two phones at the same time
( ) 4. The passage says that many people use
cell phones when they are driving __________
(A) in
order to save time (B) although they are tired
(C) in
spite of the danger (D) because it is good fun
( ) 5. Why are
old cell phones dangerous?
(A) They
get smaller and people do not want to use them.
(B) They still give off radiation even
when not being used.
(C) People
are not allowed to throw them into garbage dumps.
(D) They
contain chemicals that may harm the environment.
Unit 4
No one is lucky enough to get her own way all the time. It is impossible to completely avoid frustration
in life. On the other hand, those who learn to deal successfully with frustration and its causes
will develop creativity, independence,
and confidence in their own ability. Setbacks and failure are
parts of life. You should not let them hold you back or make you feel depressed.
You must do your best to learn from
failure.
A good way to handle frustration is to change your environment. A common reaction to failure is to retreat into a shell.
Instead, you should remove yourself from the frustrating situation. A new challenge
will give you new, positive energy. Of course, it isn’t always
possible to do this, but you can at least take a break when you are stressed and tired. Don’t approach problems or serious discussions at times or in places that are likely to lead to frustrating arguments or misunderstandings.
Don’t turn
a problem into a crisis. Most events are
not as serious as many people think they are. Even
if an event is very serious, you will only make it worse if you get upset. Learn to tell the difference
between an irritation and a disaster. When something doesn’t work out as you planned, it is not the end of
the world. Life will go on. It may be inconvenient and disappointing, but you do not have to get angry. Getting angry makes it very difficult to find a solution
and may even lead you to do something stupid or dangerous. Above all, avoid self-pity.
When you pity yourself, you depress yourself. Instead, believe in yourself. Be patient and work hard towards achiev(e)ing
your goal.
( ) 1. The
passage mostly gives advice about __________.
(A) ways
to deal with frustration (B) methods
of becoming successful
(C) how
to handle other people’s anger (D) what to do when you are stressed
( ) 2. What
should we all learn to accept, according to the passage?
(A) That
other people can do things better.
(B) That
we need to feel sorry for ourselves.
(C) That
things will go wrong sometimes.
(D) That
failure will keep us from our goal.
( ) 3. The
passage says the best way to handle a frustrating situation is to __________.
(A) laugh
at it (B)
study it
(C) get angry (D)
remove yourself from it
( ) 4. Which
of these is most important, according to the passage?
(A) Turning
a problem into a crisis. (B) Taking a break when you are tired.
(C) Not
feeling sorry for yourself. (D) Not getting angry with people.
Unit 5
The Internet offers a great deal to young
people. There are opportunit(y)ies to improve your life and education,
have some fun,
or even engage in business. Teenagers are
often enthusiastic Internet users,
especially of services like e-mail, chat, and instant messaging. However,
like many exciting activit(y)ies, there are risks to deal with and dangers
to avoid.
A big problem is finding information you are interested in
without coming across unpleasant material.
The best way to find a page or site
is to know its exact Web address so
you can reach it directly. If you
don’t know this, but there is a topic
you want to find, then you should use one of the online search tools.
Young people make
friends easily and sometimes give out personal details like their address and phone number to people they meet online. Remind yourself to be cautious, though. Don’t reveal
personal information too easily. Be aware of
“stranger danger,” and if you arrange
a real-life meeting with a Net friend, take along someone you trust, and meet in a public place.
Downloading software
from websites should be done with caution,
as the software may contain a
computer virus. It is best to take
software only from the sites of well-known companies. Use anti-virus software for better protection.
Finally, don’t always believe what you read. Much of
what is said on websites is incorrect, biased, or out of date. Consider where
the information comes from, and
then judge whether it can be trusted.
( ) 1. Which
of the following benefits of the
Internet is NOT directly mentioned?
(A) You
can use it to chat with friends. (B) You
can use it for entertainment.
(C) It
can help you find a boyfriend. (D) It can help you with your studies.
( ) 2. When
you are looking for information on the Internet, it is best to __________.
(A) use
a search engine (B)
know its exact location
(C) search
for it by topic (D) use instant messaging
( ) 3. According
to the passage, too many young people __________.
(A) do
not give others their e-mail addresses
(B) give
out personal information too easily
(C) are
very cautious when they are online
(D) are
afraid to meet Net friends in real life
( ) 4. Which two
dangers of using the Internet are described
in the fourth paragraph?
(A) Search
engines and chat rooms. (B) Bad
people and wrong information.
(C) Viruses
and dishonest people. (D) Incorrect information and viruses.
Unit 6
Some people say that card shop and flower
shop owners invented Mother’s Day in order to make
money. Actually, the occasion
can be traced back to ancient Greece, where a spring festival
was dedicated to the mother goddesses. People in England have also celebrated Mother’s Day for a long time. In the 1600s, poor working women there
were given the day off and encouraged to spend it with their
mothers.
In the United States, Mother’s Day was
started in 1908 by a woman named Anna M. Jarvis, who wanted to honor her dead mother. Her
mother had said there were too many special
days thanking men, but none for women or mothers. On the first
Mother’s Day, Anna handed out her
mother’s favorite flowers, the carnation,
to people who came to celebrate the day. Now, the carnation is the
Mother’s Day flower in the United States. Pink symbolizes a living mother, and white symbolizes a mother who has
died.
Mother’s Day is a good day to make your
mother feel special, but you don’t have to wait until that day arrives. Every day is a chance to do
something nice for her. You could even give her a card on your own birthday to
thank her for another year of life that she has given you.
Also, don’t forget to thank all the women in your life --- for example, your grandmother, aunts, and great-aunts --- on Mother’s
Day.
( ) 1. Which
of the following is true?
(A) Mother’s
Day was invented by shop owners.
(B) The roots of Mother’s Day are in ancient Greece.
(C) Children
try to make money on Mother’s Day.
(D) Mother’s
Day is a religious event nowadays.
( ) 2. Anna M.
Jarvis was __________.
(A) an
English woman (B)
born in 1908
(C) thankful
for her mother (D) dead
when she became famous
( ) 3. What
was the opinion of Anna’s mother?
(A) That
there were too many men in the world.
(B) That
women should never have to work.
(C) That
her daughter never thanked her for anything.
(D) That
women should have a special day.
( ) 4. If people are holding white carnations
on Mother’s Day, it is probably because __________.
(A) they
do not want to celebrate (B) their
children are honoring them
(C) they
are visiting their mother (D) their
mothers are dead
( ) 5. Which
sentence best shows the main idea of the last paragraph?
(A) You
should show your love to your mother all the time, not just once a year.
(B) Mother’s
Day should be the most important day of the year for all children.
(C) When
people celebrate Mother’s Day, it is like celebrating a second birthday. (D) There
is no need for a special day for aunts, grandmothers, or other women.
