I have had just about enough of being treated like a second-class citizen, simply because I happen to be that unfairly treated member of society --- a customer. The more I go into shops and hotels, banks and post offices, railway stations, airports and the like, the more I am convinced the things are being run solely to suit the firm, the system, or the union. There seems to be a deceptive (欺騙的) new motto for so-called “service” organizations --- Staff Before Service.
　　 How often, for example, have you queued for what seems like hours at the Post Office or the supermarket because there were not enough staff on duty to man all the service grilles or checkout counters? Surely in these days of high unemployment it must be possible to hire cashiers and counter staff. Yet supermarkets, hinting darkly at higher prices, claim that uncovering all their cash registers at any one time would increase operating costs. And the Post Office says we cannot expect all their service grilles to be occupied “at times when demand is low”.
　　  It is the same with hotels. Because waiters and kitchen staff must finish when it suits them, dining rooms close earlier or menu choice is cut short. As for us guests, we just have to put up with it. There is also the nonsense of so many friendly hotel night porters having been thrown out of their jobs in the interests of “efficiency” and replaced by coin-eating machines which offer everything from lager to laxatives (從貯藏啤酒到通便劑). Not to mention the tea-making kit in your room: a kettle with a mixed collection of tea bags, plastic milk boxes and lump sugar. Who wants to wake up to a raw teabag? I do not, especially when I am paying for “service”.
　　Can it be stopped, this worsening of service, this growing attitude that the customer is always a bore? I angrily hope so because it is happening, sadly, in all walks of life.
　　Our only hope is to hammer home our anger whenever and wherever we can and, if all else fails, bring back into practice that other, older slogan --- Take Our Deal Elsewhere.
小題1:The writer feels that nowadays customers __________.
A．deserve the lowest status in society
B．a(chǎn)re unworthy of proper consideration
C．have received high quality service
D．have become victims of modern organizations
小題2:The writer argues that the quality of service is changing because __________.
A．customers’ demands have greatly changed
B．the staff receive more consideration than customers
C．customers’ needs have become more complex
D．staff members are less considerate than their employers
小題3: According to the writer, long queues at counters are caused by __________.
A．not having enough male staff on duty
B．difficulties in hiring more efficient staff
C．lack of cooperation between staff members
D．not providing enough staff on purpose to reduce budget
小題4:The writer suggests that a customer __________.
A．be patient when queuing before checkout counters
B．put up with the rude manners of the staff
C．try to control his temper when ill-treated
D．go to other places where good service is available

小題1:D
小題2:B
小題3:D
小題4:D
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“Everybody loves a bargain.” Is a well-known saying. One person’s useless, ugly, or broken object can be another person’s bargain. That is why so many Americans do not throw things away.  They put them outside their house.  They put on a "For Sale" sign.  And, as simple as that, they have a yard sale.
The sellers put a paid announcement in a local newspaper.  It tells when and where the yard sale will take place. These sales are very popular during weekends in spring, summer, and autumn.
Early in the morning, all the things to be sold are carried out of the house. Then they sit all day in the sunlight -- like tired guests at a party -- waiting for someone to take them home.
Just about anything can be sold at a yard sale. Sometimes, there are more clothes than anything else. Cooking equipment is also popular. So are old toys, tools, books, tables, and chairs. Then there are objects called "white elephants."  A white elephant is something you think is extremely ugly or useless. It may be an electric light shaped like a fish. You feel a sharp pain whenever you look at it. To someone else, however, it might be a thing of beauty and joy.
Some people go to yard sales to find a special thing that they collect. It may be old toy trains, for example, or paintings of dogs. Experts say more Americans are collecting old things now than ever before. Most people who go to yard sales, however, are not looking for anything special.  They might buy an object simply because it costs so little.  They enjoy negotiating over prices, even if they really do not need the object.  Later, they may hold their own yard sale to sell all the things they have bought.
小題1:What kind of things will go to a yard sale?
A．Cheap and ugly things．B．Things people no longer use．
C．Things out of season．D．Things of great value．
小題2:A white elephant refers to ______ ．
A．something that can cause n feeling of pain
B．something disliked by the owners while appreciated by others
C．something sold at the lowest price
D．a(chǎn) toy shaped like a fish
小題3:Most people go to yard sales to ______ ．
A．find Valuable paintingsB．look for something special
C．find a bargainD．kill their time
小題4:Which of the following is NOT true about a yard sale?
A．It may not be held when the weather is very cold．
B．It can last for a whole day．
C．It is usually held with a party．
D．It is held outdoors．
小題5:We can infer from the last paragraph that ______ ．
A．people may find something of great value on a yard sale
B．yard sales only attract those who have a low income
C．things on a yard sale can cost people a lot
D．most people who go to yard sales want to make money

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

There were red faces at one of Britain’s biggest banks recently. They had accepted a telephone order to buy ￡100,000 worth of shares from a 15-year-old schoolboy (they thought he was 21). The shares fell in value and the schoolboy was unable to pay up. The bank lost ￡20,000 on the deal which it cannot get back, because, for one thing, the young boy does not have the money, for another, being under 18, he is not legally liable for his debts. If the shares had risen in value by the same amount that they fell, he would have pocketed ￡20,000 profit. It certainly is better than delivering the morning newspaper. In another case, a boy of 14 found, in his grandmother’s house, a suitcase full of foreign banknotes. But they were now not used in their country of origin or anywhere else. This young boy headed straight to the nearest bank with his pockets filled with notes. The cashiers did not realize the country in question had reduced the value of its currency by 90%. They exchanged the notes at their face value at the current exchange rate. In three days, before he was found out, he took ￡200,000 from nine different banks. Amazingly, he had already spent more than half of this before the police caught up with him. Because he is also under 18 the banks have kissed goodbye to a lot of money, and several cashiers have lost their jobs.
Should we admire these youngsters for being enterprising and showing initiative or condemn them for their dishonesty? Maybe they had managed for years with tiny amounts of pocket money that they got from tight-fisted parents. Maybe they had done Saturday jobs for peanuts. It is hardly surprising, given the expensive things that young people want to buy, such as fashionable running shoes and computer games, if they sometimes think up more imaginative ways of making money than delivering newspapers. These youngsters saw the chance to make a lot of money and took it.
Another recent story which should give us food for thought is the case of the man who paid his six-year-old daughter￡300 a week pocket money. He then charged her for the food she ate a few coins for her piggy bank（存錢灌）“She will soon learn the value of money, ” he said. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Everything has to be paid for and the sooner she learns that the better.” At the other extreme there are fond parents who provide free bed and board for their grown-up children, While even the most hard-hearted parents might hesitate to throw their children out on the streets, we all know of people in their twenties who still shamelessly live off their parents. Surely there comes a time when everyone has to leave the parental nest, look after themselves and pay their own way in life. But when is it?
小題1:.
Recently one of Britain’s biggest banks _____.
A．bought a lot of shares for a customer and brought him a great loss
B．lost money as its young customer had no money to pay his debts
C．lost much money because the shares they bought fell in value
D．received a telephone order to buy shares for a 21-year-old boy
小題2:.
. The author’s attitude to the example of the two boys who cheated the banks is _____.
A．objectiveB．subjectiveC．questioningD．negative
小題3:.
The man paid his daughter ￡300 a week pocket money and then required her to pay for her living expenses because _____.
A．he wanted her to know making money was not easy
B．he wanted to save money for her future education
C．he thought it useful for family members to bear life hardships together
D．he wanted her to learn the value of money
小題4:.
It can be concluded from the passage that the author believes that _____.
A．children should leave the parental nest as soon as possible
B．grown-up children should live on their own
C．children should be taught not to cheat others
D．parents should give more pocket money to their children

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy．They feel heavy pressures from their parents to do well in school．Most students are always being told by their parents to study harder so that they can have a wonderful life．Though this may be good ideas for those very bright students，it can have very bad results for many students who are not quick enough at learning．
Unfortunately，a number of students killed themselves．Others are after comfort in using drugs．Some do bad things with trouble-makers and turn to crime．Many of them have tried very hard at school but have failed in the exams and have disappointed their parents．Such students feel that they are less important and leave school before they have finished their study．
It is surprising that though most Japanese parents are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way．Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers' work to help their children．To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to special school called juku-cram schools．These schools are open during the evening and on weekends, and their only purpose is to prepare students to pass exams, they do not try to educate students in any real sense of the real world. It thus comes as a shock to realize that almost three quarters of the junior or high school population attend these cram schools．　 　　　
Ordinary Japanese schools usually have rules about everything from the students' hair to their clothes and things in their school bag．Child psychologists now think that such strict rules often lead to a feeling of being unsafe and being unable to fit into society．They regard the rules as being harmful to the development of each student．They believe that no sense of moral values is developed and that students are given neither guidance nor training in becoming good citizens．
小題1:A lot of Japanese students are unhappy at school because              　　
A．they work very hardB．they find they can't do well at school
C．they feel unimportantD．they are under too much pressure
小題2:Because of their failure at school, some students take drugs to          
A．kill themselvesB．seek comfort
C．disappoint their parentsD．make trouble
小題3:What should be the best title of the passage?
A．Students' Pressure
B．Students' Problems　 　　　
C．The Negative Impact(影響) of Japanese Education　 　　　
D．The Trouble in Japanese Schools
小題4:In juku-cram schools students              ．
A．a(chǎn)re taken good care of by the teachersB．feel no pressure
C．a(chǎn)re trained to pass examsD．can learn a lot of useful things
小題5:In ordinary Japanese schools，       ．
A．there are strict rulesB．students feel safe　 　　　
C．students can do anythingD．learning is not important

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Why play games? Because they are fun, and a lot more besides. Following the rules, planning your next move and acting as a team member are all “game” ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作) .   
Many children’s games have a practical side Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（協(xié)調(diào)）needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it—some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.
小題1: Through playing hide-and-seek, children are expected to learn to ________.
A．be a team leaderB．obey the basic rules
C．a(chǎn)ct as a grown-upD．predict possible danger
小題2:The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can________.
A．describe life in an exciting way
B．turn real-life experiences into a play
C．make learning life skills more interesting
D．change people’s views of sporting events
小題3:According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?
A．It inspires people’s deep love for the country.
B．It proves the exceptional skills of the winners.
C．It helps the country out of natural disasters.
D．It earns the winners fame and fortune.
小題4:Iribarne’s goal of forming the foundation is to _______.
A．bring fun to poor kids
B．provide soccer balls for children
C．give poor kids a chance for a better life
D．a(chǎn)ppeal to soccer players to help poor kids

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Employees are being flooded with too much information that has little to do with their work, according to a new survey.
On average, white-collar workers spend 51 percent of their work time receiving and processing information. Only one third of it was relevant to their work, the survey found. Information overload for white collar workers has become a global issue. The huge amount of information has already affected their efficiency in management as well as their performance at work.
Buried with e-mails
Every morning, a secretary at the human resources department of an auto parts company opens her e-mail box, only to find it crammed with at least 50 unread mails. For her, even scanning through these e-mails every day takes at least half an hour. Some of her colleagues are not so lucky — they have to read at least 100.
Bothered with calls
Telephone calls are also causing a problem. More than 40 percent white-collar workers chose mobile phones as the preferred way to communicate important and urgent business matters.
Talking saves time and energy over the clicking, reading and replying to e-mails, but phone calls are also more distracting(分心的). While answering a call, a clerk is likely to put away a much more important task at hand and start the business being talked about on the phone.
Solution? Not yet.
Many companies start with providing staff with better computers, better Internet access and more advanced gadgets(裝置). For example, staff members above a certain level in one company will be provided with a blackberry phone for easier access to their e-mails. The company has also organized many lectures on efficient ways of e-mail management. Yet most white-collar workers think their companies can do more.
小題1:What does the new survey find about white-collar workers?
A．They spend 51% of their work time on meetings.
B．Only half of the information they receive is useful.
C．Over 60% of them prefer to use the telephone.
D．Some of them have to read at least 100 e-mails every day.
小題2:Telephone calls cause a problem because ________.
A．they take up the time to receive and send e-mails
B．they are often not answered
C．they are mostly not about business
D．they may lead to the changing of work schedule
小題3:How do some companies try to solve the problem of information overload?
A．They start to give staff a pay rise.
B．They plan to employ more people.
C．They provide employees with more advanced equipment.
D．They organize lectures on how to reduce stress.
小題4:What is the major issue discussed in this text?
A．Poor management leads to inefficiency at work.
B．Junk mail is causing big trouble.
C．White-collar workers suffer from information overload.
D．Better computers are in need in workplaces.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet. Basically, Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first.
The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile(簡介) which can include your hobbies, hopes for the future, and so on. A photograph is optional, but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile.  Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services.
Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You can even narrow the search down to your area by zip code. Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person. Thousands of people have met, fallen in love, and married through Internet dating. It is an excellent way for shy people to meet. It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others, and an easy way to meet people who share your interests.
Just as in conventional dating and love, there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating. The person you have been talking to on the net may not be who they say they are. Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details, such as marital status, income, and so on, for their own reasons. It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time. Nevertheless, taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun.
小題1:Which of the following is a must to make an Internet dating possible?
A．A photo.B．A profile.
C．Registration fee.D．Business experience.
小題2:One advantage of Internet dating is that _______.
A．you can avoid a face-to-face meeting in the beginning
B．you're sure to find a partner with the same interests
C．you'll find absolutely reliable information of others
D．you'll gain fame and money overnight
小題3:The underlined word "pitfalls" in Paragraph 4 most probably means________.
A．rulesB．trendsC．problemsD．skills
小題4:What is probably talked about following the last paragraph?
A．Conventional dating.B．Hidden advantages.
C．Safety measures.D．Romantic love.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Ideal for anyone who wants a good time, the Gold Coast is packed with enough fun for everyone in Australia．It's impossible to be bored on the Gold Coast．Below are the attractions;
Dream World
This is a fun place for everyone, whether you are a family with young kids, older kids, or out with your mates．This theme park is actually a series of parks, made up of such places as preschooler heaven Wiggles World and such attractions as Big Brother for inner reality TV fans．Dream World also owns the theme park White Water World．It is possible to buy tickets from Dream World that covers several different parks．
Sea World
Get up close and personal with dolphins, sharks and polar bears．This theme park also offers the right mixture of shows, exhibits, animal fights and thrill rides such as roller coaster．This is a must-see for your Gold Coast adventure．
Warner Bros Movie World
This theme park has the best combination of fast-paced entertainment．Visitors can have fun living as though they're in the movies．Kids will see all their cartoon favourites on parade and in shows．Bigger kids and grown-ups can pretend they're on real movie sets with their favourite action heroes, and then put themselves into some serious action．
How to get there梇ou can easily travel to the Gold Coast by plane．Fly straight into Gold Coast International Airport, or to Brisbane and then catch the '"airtrain" service to the Gold Coast．All of the major airlines have daily flights, some with several per day depending on your departure city．If you want to save money, you can get there by train．
Accommodation—Want something truly unusual? Consider staying in the world's largest residential tower （塔式住宅） and enjoy beautiful views．The accommodation choices on the Gold Coast are just as varied and interesting as the activities, so whether you are a single, couple, family, friends, a large or small group, you will find options perfect for you at TakeABreak．corn．a(chǎn)n．
小題1:From the passage, we know _____．
A．visitors can go t．o the Gold Goast only by air
B．the Gold Coast is famous for its golden beach
C．it is difficult for a family to find a right place to stay
D．the theme park "Sea World" will attract animal lovers
小題2:Which is NOT included in the theme parks?
A．Children can see their favorite cartoons．
B．Visitors have opportunities to take roller coasters．
C．Some famous movie actors often act with visitors．
D．Visitors can share the joy from animals．
小題3:This passage is mainly ______．
A．to describe the theme parks in Australia
B．to draw more visitors to go to the Gold Goast
C．to tell some exciting shows, adventures, etc．
D．to introduce how to get to the Gold Coast

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

A latest national survey has found that over half of China's netizens are suffering from various mental problems although some 62 percent of them claim at the same time that they are happy on the whole anyway.
This is the result of China's first White Paper on Netizens' Health Conditions issued on Wednesday by 39.net, China's largest authoritative website on health sciences. It is the first most comprehensive health survey on netizens' health situation ever conducted in China in ten years' time. The white paper came out after two months of online and offline research that involved over 150 thousand netizens, covering topics and questions on health knowledge, mental situation, sense of health, and living habits.
According to the white paper, more than 70 percent of China's netizens say they are suffering from mental problems such as bad memory, anxiety, depression, and a lack of confidence. And a similar 72 percent of them also say they are often suffering from diseases like insomnia, dizziness, joint degeneration and achings. Meanwhile, another 53 percent of netizens believe that white collar employees who have bigger work pressures are more likely to catch mental problems.
The white paper adds, doing almost no sports and spending long time surfing online lead to the above mentioned health problems among netizens. Only 9 percent of netizens take up sports on weekends while over 40 percent stay home, surfing. And only 16 percent netizens can assure more than eight hours' sleeping daily.
At present, China has a netizen population of 162 million, with a monthly consumption of 186 yuan, or about 25 dollars, on Internet surfing.
小題1:The national survey on netizens' health situation ________.
A．was conducted by sohu.comB．is conducted every year
C．was carried out online and offlineD．covered about half a million netizens
小題2:Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined part "white collar"?
A．White clothes.B．White offices. C．Office workers.D．White people.
小題3:All the following factors have been mentioned to cause the health problems among netizens EXCEPT ________.
A．doing no sportsB．spending long time online
C．heavy work pressuresD．shopping online
小題4:

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