Competition. It’s a simple word, yet a very complex word that covers many angles when it comes to how gasoline prices are determined. It seems so easy to explain, but don’t let that trick you—it’s incredibly difficult to explain and adequately understand.
Say you’re on a Sunday afternoon drive, and notice a gas station near you charging $3.50. Down the road a few miles, that price could easily be 10 or more cents higher or lower. The question is “how” or “why” is that? Think of it this way. Are you more likely to get a better deal on a car if there are two similar car dealers next to each other? Perhaps, because the dealers are too close. Say there is a third similar car dealer miles away. Is he going to be at the same level of competition and sell his cars for the same price as the two dealers next to each other? Likely not. He may charge more or less. Maybe people don't know there are two other dealers down the road. Maybe the dealer is almost outside of the city and the land value isn't as high, so his taxes aren't as high.
These situations do take place at gas stations. And more factors can impact what a station will charge. Timing can greatly impact what price a station charges as well! Many motorists fail to realize that the price a station pays for gasoline changes daily. If one station gets lucky and buys gas on Monday and the cost goes up Tuesday, the station that bought on Monday doesn’t necessarily have to raise prices like the station that bought on Tuesday. Maybe the station that got caught buying for a higher price on Tuesday will pass that higher cost on by raising its gas price.
Perhaps the difference is what brand the station is---branded stations usually pay a slightly higher cost for their gasoline. In return for paying a higher cost, those stations are guaranteed first supply in case of emergency situations. Independent stations don’t pay as much, but aren’t guaranteed supply.
While competition sounds easy to understand, there are always a large number of factors that could influence what one station charges. Keep in mind how many variables there are next time you fill up.
小題1:What could be the best title for the passage?
A．How Competition Impacts Gas Prices
B．Gas Prices Go Up or Down
C．Competition---a Very Complex Word
D．We Can’t Stress Enough the Need for Competition
小題2:The example of car dealers is used to show _________.
A．car prices are determined by car dealers
B．location is an important factor in pricing
C．the quality of service matters most
D．dealing strategy should be flexible
小題3:The gas prices of a station always change partly because _________.
A．a(chǎn) gas station always wants to charge more
B．the gasoline is in great demand
C．the cost of the gas the station buys varies daily
D．gas is in greater need on Monday
小題4:According to the passage, branded stations _________.
A．spend less money on their gasoline
B．have more staff than independent stations
C．charge less for high quality oil
D．offer a steady oil supply

小題1:A
小題2:B
小題3:C
小題4:D

試題分析:本文是一篇說明文，說明了競爭看似簡單的詞，但事實上，它是個復雜的詞，作者通過加油站收費進行證明競爭,由于競爭，從而引起價格的不同
小題1:推理題，由本文的主要意思“競爭看似簡單的詞，但事實上，它是個復雜的詞，作者通過加油站收費進行證明競爭,由于競爭，從而引起價格的不同”,可以推出答案，所以選A。
小題2:細節(jié)題，由第二段第五行Perhaps, because the dealers are too close.可以知道答案，所以選B。
小題3:細節(jié)題，由第三段第三行Many motorists fail to realize that the price a station pays for gasoline changes daily.可以知道答案，所以選C
小題4:推理題，由倒數(shù)第二段branded stations usually pay a slightly higher cost for their gasoline. In return for paying a higher cost,可以推出答案，所以選D
點評：做細節(jié)題的關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系，對未說明的趨勢或結局作出合理的推斷；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

Lisa is ten years old. She is disabled because she has brain damage. She could not do even the simplest thing until a year ago. She could not comb her hair or feed herself. Her parents loved her. And they treated her like a baby.
Mr. Ching has a daughter and a son. They are both grown. They live far from their father. Mr. Cling felt lonely. He decided to become a foster grandfather to a handicapped child. And that was how he met Lisa.
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Mr. Cling became a foster grandparent to Lisa when she was nine years old. At first, Lisa was shy. She was afraid because Mr. Cling was a stranger. But he came to see her every day, gradually she began to trust him. At last, Lisa let Mr. Cling do things for her.
Cling speaks for most foster grandparents when he say, “We all benefit. The handicapped children benefit because we help them live more useful lives. And we benefit because we know the children need us and love us. For any person, there is no greater happiness than that.”
小題1:Why did Lisa need help?
A．She was a baby
B．She did not want to do anything.
C．She had brain damage.
D．She was a blind girl.
小題2:What does the underlined word “foster” in paragraph 2 mean?
A．ElderlyB．Related by birth
C．Not related by birthD．King-hearted
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a  help with their treatment   b dress them    c live in their homes
d feed them          e charge them money    f read to them
g tell them stories    h make fun of them
A．a(chǎn),b,d,e,fB．a(chǎn),c,e,f,hC．b,c,d,f,gD．a(chǎn),b,d,f,g
小題4:Why did Mr. Cling foster Lisa?
A．Lisa needs looking after.
B．The passage doesn’t mention of.
C．Lisa need caring for and Mr. Cling also gets enjoyment from it.
D．Mr. Cling is too lonely.
小題5:The best title for this passage is ________.
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B．Why Did He Do That?
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D．The Greatest Happiness!

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Fun is, in fact, a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past, when "duty'' and "responsibility" were often the words used.
Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children.
For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It's great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We're definitely closer."
A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before."
On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of.
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Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow.  Time-short parents encourage children's independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They'll say, 'We trust you to make the right decisions' (whether they're ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham.
The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics (原動力). Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child's self-esteem.
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A．Parents are chasing after fashion and ignoring the feelings of their children.
B．More parents and children are sharing the same enthusiasm for a certain sport.
C．Parents are taking more responsibility and setting more limits for their children.
D．The generation gap is narrowing and parents are respecting their children's thoughts more.
小題2:Which of the following has NOT contributed to the change in the parent-child relationship?
A．Younger parents.B．Parent effectiveness training.
C．More working mothers.D．The self-esteem movement.
小題3:What's Billingham's attitude towards parents who make children more responsible for themselves?
A．He supports them.B．He admires them.
C．He disagrees with them.D．He thinks they're unreasonable.
小題4:What will probably be discussed following the last paragraph?
A．The effect of more working mothers on children' s education.
B．The benefits of the new relationship between parents and children.
C．The importance of self-esteem and ways to develop children's self-esteem.
D．The risks of setting no rules and some suggestions on how to have a balanced attitude.
小題5:What's the best title for the text?
A．Parents and Children as Friends.B．Parents and Professors as Debaters.
C．Growing Mutual Understanding.D．Disappearing Responsibility.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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小題2:According to the passage, Take our Daughters to work Day is ______.
A．on every Thursday in April
B．a(chǎn) holiday for girls of all ages
C．a(chǎn) day for girls to know about jobs
D．a(chǎn) day for girls to get a job easily
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A．she learned to use scales
B．she worked as an actress
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小題4:What is probably the best title for the passage?
A．Cara Lang, a Fortunate Girl
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

During the week days,they are luckily busy office people; but on weekends,they are just a brood of(一窩)stay home animals.A recent survey shows that office workers in China prefer quiet and easy ways to spend their weekends.
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A．1968. B．1158. C．1200. D．1674.
小題2:Why will less than ten percent of office workers kill the time with their colleagues at weekends?
A．Because they can’t spare time to play with them.
B．Because they tend to avoid too many personal contacts with them when they don’t have to.
C．Because they have many things to deal with at weekends.
D．Because some experts suggest they should not keep in touch with their colleagues.
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A．There is the same percentage about people preferring a weekend all by themselves and people spending no more than 500 yuan during weekends.
B．Most office workers can’t afford things in supermarkets,so they prefer to attend other stores,especially when discounts are offered.
C．More than one fifth of office workers like to hang out with friends.
D．All the office workers prefer to relax themselves and no one is willing to learn more skills.
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

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It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel （方向盤）, his car becomes the extension of his personality. There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man's very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become crazy when they are behind a steering-wheel .They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and completely selfish．All their hidden angers and disappointments seem to be brought to die surface by the act of driving．
The surprising thing is that society smiles so gently on the motorist and seems to forgive his behaviour. Everything is done for his convenience.Cities are allowed to become almost uninhabitable(不宜居住的） because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the deaths become nothing more than a number every year, to be easily forgotten．
It is high time that a world rule was created to reduce this senseless waste of human life．With regard to driving, the laws of some countries are unbelievably lax（不嚴格）and even the strictest are not strict enough．A rule which was universally accepted could only have an obviously beneficial effect on the accident rate．Here are a few examples of some of the things that might be done．The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict tests for safety each year．Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can damage a person's driving ability．Present drinking and driving laws should be revised much stricter．Speed limits should be required on all roads．Governments should lay down safety directions for car factories, as has been done in the USA．All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned．These measures may not sound good enough．But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the number of deaths．After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars．
小題1:What is the main idea of this passage?
A．Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists．
B．Thousands of people are killed each year．
C．The laws of some countries about driving are too lax．
D．Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents．
小題2:What does the author think of society towards motorists?
A．Society laughs at the motorists．
B．Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns．
C．Victims of accidents are nothing．
D．Society easily forgives their rude driving．
小題3:What does the author mean by saying " his car becomes the extension of his personality" in paragraph 2?
A．Driving can show his hidden qualities．
B．Driving can show the other part of his personality．
C．Driving can bring out his character．
D．Driving can represent his manners．
小題4:Which of the followings is NOT mentioned as a way against traffic accidents?
A．Build more highways．
B．Stricter driving tests．
C．Test drivers every three years．
D．Raise age limit and make safety specifications．
小題5:The author's attitude towards the traffic situation is ______．
A．positiveB．unsatisfiedC．promisingD．unclear

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Tired of all the pushing in supermarkets? Fed up with waiting in endless lines to pay for what you have bought? Angry at wasting time in traffic jams only to find no parking spaces when you eventually arrive at the store? If this is you, then online shopping is the answer to your dreams of trouble-free shopping.
Online shopping brings its own challenges. Here are a few things to bear in mind when browsing (瀏覽) various websites. The claim (聲稱) made by online sites is that shopping online is a safe and secure way to make purchases. The evidence challenges this. In any case, you only have to be the victim(受害者) of fraud (欺騙) once to experience all the problems that come with this form of stealing. Use only sites that have a trusted history and an excellent reputation(名聲).
Another problem is that the appearance of items in reality is often quite different from what you see on your computer screen. This might not be a problem if you are buying washing up powder but could be a major disappointment when that beautiful blue dress you ordered turns up in green. Also, product descriptions are sometimes simply untrue! Perhaps the wisest plan is to purchase items whose design and color are not essential to customer satisfaction.
Some even argue that online shopping indirectly contributes to global warming. Yes, your car can stay parked but how are online goods delivered? Often by some large van pouring out carbon monoxide and adding to our already desperate traffic problems. You are also by now becoming increasingly irritated(使煩惱) by the fact that the delivery is late !
Without question, online shopping is here to stay and it has its benefits. However, perhaps it is not as wonderful as some of its supporters claim it to be.
小題1:How can online shoppers avoid fraud?
A．By choosing big websites.
B．By collecting shopping evidence.
C．By seeking advice from the police.
D．By using only trusted websites.
小題2:What does the author tell us about online shopping in Paragraph 3?
A．Don’t believe product descriptions easily.
B．Product appearances are always not good.
C．It is usually wise to buy colorful products.
D．It is normal for a blue dress to change into green.
小題3:The author agrees with the fact that        .
A．online shopping is a safe way to make purchases
B．customers are never satisfied with products
C．online shopping has nothing to do with global warming
D．delivery delay often makes online shoppers unhappy
小題4:What is the author’s attitude towards online shopping?
A．It is very popular.
B．It is a wise choice.
C．It is a double-edged sword(雙刃劍).
D．It is a waste of time.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解


Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergency alert（警報）system using text messages delivered to cell phones.
Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years，particularly among young people.The wireless industry’s trade association, CTIA，estimates（估計）more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month.
The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act，a 2006 federal law that requires improvement to the nation's emergency alert system.The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies.
“The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings.and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public.has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during,disasters and other emergencies. ”FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan.
Participation in the alert system by carriers—telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry.
The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts.
There would be three different types of messages，according to the rules.  
The first would be a national alert from the president，likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster.The second would involve “approaching threats，”which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction（綁架）emergencies,or so-called Amber Alerts.
The service could be in place by 2010.
小題1: What is the purpose of the approved plan?
A．To warn people of emergencies via messages.
B．To popularize the use of cell phones.
C．To estimate the monthly number of messages.
D．To promote the wireless industry.
小題2: The improvement to the present system is in the charge of ________.
A．CTIAB．the Warning Alert and Response Network
C．FCC D．federal regulators
小題3: The carriers' participation in the system is determined by ________.
A．the US federal governmentB．mobile phone users
C．the carriers themselves D．the law of the United States
小題4:. Which of the following is true of cell phone users?
A．They must accept the alert service.
B．They may enjoy the alert service for free.
C．They must send the alerts to others
D．They may choose the types of messages
小題5:. Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A，Cell Phone Alerts Protecting Students
B.   Cell Phone Alerts by Wireless Industry
C. Cell Phone Alefts of National Disasters
D. Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

We all remember seeing hitchhikers（搭便車的人）, standing by the side of the road, thumb sticking out, waiting for a lift. But it is getting rare nowadays. What killed hitchhiking? Safety is often mentioned as a reason. Movies about murderous hitchhikers and real-life crime have put many drivers off picking up hitchhikers. That no single women picked me up on my journey to Manchester no doubt reflects the safety fear: a large, strangely dressed man is seen as dangerous.
But the reason may be more complex: hitchhiking happens where people don’t have cars and transport services are poor. Plenty of people still hitchhike in Poland and Romania. Perhaps the rising level of car ownership in the UK means the few people lift hitchhiking are usually considered strange. Why can’t they afford cars? Why can’t they take the coach or the train?
Three-quarters of the UK population have access to a car; many of the remainder will be quite old. The potential hitchhiking population is therefore small. Yet my trip proves it’s still possible to hitchhike. The people who picked me up were very interesting-lawyer, retired surgeon, tank commander, carpenter, man who live in an isolated farmhouse and a couple living up in the mountains. My conclusion is that only really interesting people are mad enough to pick up fat blokes in red,
spotted scarves. Most just wanted to do someone a good turn; a few said they were so surprised to see a hitchhiker that they couldn’t help stopping.
The future of hitchhiking most likely lies with car-sharing organized over the Internet, via sites such as hitchhikers. org. But for now, you can still stick your thumb out(actually, I didn’t do much of that, preferring just to hold up my destination sign) and people-wonderful, caring, sharing, unafraid people-will stop.
In the UK, with its cheap coaches and reasonable rail service, I don’t think I’ll make a habit of it. But having enjoyed it so much, I’m ready now to do a big trip across Europe and beyond. In the 1970s a female friend of my wife’s hitchhiked to India. How wonderful it would be to have another go, though Afghanistan might be a challenge. I wish I’d got that tank commander’s mobile number.
小題1:The author tried to hitchhike but was rejected by single women drivers because_____________ .
A．they were not heading towards Manchester
B．they thought most hitchhikers were dangerous
C．hitchhiking had been forbidden and they didn’t want to break the law
D．he was a strong man in strange clothes who seemed dangerous
小題2:Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A．That some people refuse hitchhikers may reflect the safety fear.
B．Car ownership levels are lower in Romania than in the UK.
C．40% of UK people don’t have access to cars.
D．Increased car ownership has reduced the need for hitchhiking.
小題3:The “fat blokes in red, spotted scarves” in Paragraph 3 most likely means         .
A．murderous hitchhikers
B．friendly and talkative hitchhikers
C．typical hitchhikers
D．strange hitchhikers like the author
小題4:According to the author, future hitchhikers are more likely to                 .
A．visit websites and find people to share cars with
B．stand by roads with their thumbs sticking out
C．stick out signs with their destinations written on
D．wait for some kind people to pick them up
小題5:From the last paragraph, we know that the author                    .
A．frequently hitchhikes in Britain
B．plans to hitchhike across Europe
C．thinks public transport is safer for travel
D．is going to contact the tank commander

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