YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.
Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child’s birthday.
But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.
Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering (妨礙) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie — only prettier.
According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone — it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of “she got the bigger piece!”
Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self- determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite.
In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was elected president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.
Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to think about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.
小題1:According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________.
A．the family holds a party for children on their birthday
B．a(chǎn) mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday
C．a(chǎn) mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the classroom
D．parents go travelling with their children on their birthday
小題2:Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcakes on children’s birthday?
A．Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes.
B．Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious.
C．Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “She got the bigger piece”.
D．Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat.
小題3:What cannot be inferred according to Marion Nestle?
A．The cupcake is more democratic than any other desserts in the US.
B．The cupcake is too small to share with others.
C．The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone.
D．Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned.
小題4:The underlined word “trendy” in paragraph 7 probably means ________.
A．popular B．gentleC．deliciousD．different
小題5:Why did the writer mention Hillary Clinton and Ruth Reichl?
A．To arouse the readers’ attention to banning the tradition of making cupcakes.
B．To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular way to show kindness and comfort.
C．To make a comparison between them in order for readers to remember them.
D．To give readers some idea of cupcakes so as to better understand the American culture

小題1:C
小題1:D
小題1:D
小題1:A
小題1:B
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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

He lived his whole life as a poor man. His art and talent were recognized by almost no one. He suffered from a mental（精神的）illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two years later. But after his death, he achieved world fame. Today, Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh is recognized as one of
the leading artists of all time.
　　Now, 150 years after his birth on March 30, 1853, Zundert, the town of his birth, has made 2003 “The van Gogh Year”in his honor. And the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, home to the biggest collection of his masterpieces, is marking the anniversary（周年紀(jì)念）with exhibitions throughout the year. The museum draws around 1.3 million visitors every year. Some people enjoy the art and then learn about his life. Others are first interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of a pastor（牧師）. He left school when he was just 15. By the age of 27, he had already tried many jobs including an art gallery（畫廊）salesman and a French teacher. Finally in 1880, he decided to begin his studies in art.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotions into his paintings and show his feelings about a scene. His style is marked by short, broad brush strokes（筆畫）.“Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color more freely, in order to express myself more forcibly,” he wrote in a letter to his brother in 1888.
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life. He relied heavily on the support from his brother, an art dealer who lived in Paris. But now his works are sold for millions of dollars. His portrait of Dr. Gacher sold for $89.5 million in 1990. It is the highest price ever paid for a painting. “I think his paintings are powerful and the brilliant colors in them are attractive to people,” said a Van Gogh’s fan.
小題1:All through his life, Van Gogh __________.
A．depended on his brotherB．worked hard on art studies
C．was not recognized by people D．expressed himself in paintings
小題2: Van Gogh killed himself because of ___________.
A．the poor lifeB．his illness
C．his pain from left earD．the objections from the artists of his time
小題3: One of the characteristics of Van Gogh’s paintings is ______________.
A．the likeness between his paintings and the reality
B．the short time for him to complete a painting
C．the various styles mixed together
D．the special strokes he made
小題4: The selling of his paintings is considered to be the most successful because ________.
A．more and more people like his paintings
B．people can understand him through his paintings
C．1.3 million people visit his painting museum every year
D．Zundert has made 2003 “The Van Gogh Year” in his honor
小題5: We can infer from the passage that _______.
A．his powerful art came from his poor life
B．his fellow townsmen regret treating him unfairly
C．a(chǎn)ll his paintings were drawn in the last 10 years of his life
D．most of his paintings are kept in the museum of his hometown

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Why do so many Americans distrust what they read in their newspapers? The American Society of Newspaper Editors is trying to answer this painful question. The organization is deep into a long self-analysis known as the journalism credibility project.
Sad to say, this project has turned out to be mostly low-level findings about factual errors and spelling and grammar mistakes, combined with lots of head-scratching puzzlement about what in the world those readers really want.
But the sources of distrust go way deeper. Most journalists learn to see the world through a set of standard patterns into which they plug each day’s events. In other words, there is a conventional story line in the newsroom culture that provides a backbone and a ready-made narrative structure for otherwise confusing news.
There exists a social and cultural disconnect between journalists and their readers, which helps explain why the "standard patterns" of the newsroom seem alien to many readers. In a recent survey, questionnaires were sent to reporters in five middle-size cities around the country, plus one large metropolitan area. Then residents in these communities were phoned at random and asked the same questions.
Replies show that compared with other Americans, journalists are more likely to live in upscale neighborhoods, have maids, own Mercedes, and trade stocks, and they’re less likely to go to church, do volunteer work, or put down roots in a community.
Reporters tend to be part of a broadly defined social and cultural elite, so their work tends to reflect the conventional values of this elite. The surprising distrust of the news media isn’t rooted in inaccuracy or poor reportorial skills but in the daily clash of world views between reporters and their readers.
This is an explosive situation for any industry, particularly a declining one. Here is a troubled business that keeps hiring employees whose attitudes vastly annoy the customers. Then it sponsors lots of symposiums and a credibility project dedicated to wondering why customers are annoyed and fleeing in large numbers. But it never seems to get around to noticing the cultural and class biases that so many former buyers are complaining about. If it did, it would open up its diversity program, now focused narrowly on race and gender, and look for reporters who differ broadly by outlook, values, education, and class.
小題1:What is the passage mainly about?
A．needs of the readers all over the world
B．causes of the public disappointment about newspapers
C．origins of the declining newspaper industry
D．a(chǎn)ims of a journalism credibility project
小題2:The results of the journalism credibility project turned out to be______.
A．quite trustworthyB．somewhat contradictory
C．very instructiveD．rather superficial(膚淺的)
小題3:The basic problem of journalists as pointed out by the writer lies in their _________.
A．working attitudeB．conventional lifestyle
C．world outlookD．educational background

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Have you ever been to the beautiful country of Holland and its capital Amsterdam? Anyone who has traveled to Amsterdam would probably agree on one thing: Amsterdam’s story is a tale of two cities -- one during the day and a completely different one at night．
During the day, the largest city in the Netherlands sits quietly on the Amstel River．You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi．But when the sun goes down, the partying begins．In the big clubs and in coffee shops, tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke．
Several areas of the city clearly show the two worlds that rule Amsterdam．And they’re all within a short cab ride of each other．For example, Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals, open markets, concerts and other events．Several beautiful and very popular hotels can be found there．And there’s the Royal Palace and the Magna Plaza shopping mall．
But at night party-seekers come to the square．Hip hop or funk music is heard there．．So if you come, be ready to dance．The clubs don’t shut down until 4 am．
And while you’re there, check out the various inexpensive ways to tour the city．Don’t worry about getting lost．Although Dutch is the official language, most people in Amsterdam speak English and are happy to help you with directions．And you’ll notice that half the people in the streets are on bicycles they rent．
Amsterdam also has a well-planned canal system．For about 10 dollars, you can use the canal bus or a water taxi to cruise（巡游） the "Venice of the North"．
The city has a historic past．One impressive place to visit is the Anne Frank House on Nine Streets．It was there that the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary during World War II．Visitors can view Anne’s original diary and climb behind the bookcase to the room where she and her family hid from the Nazis for two years．
小題1:What means of transport is not available to visitors in Amsterdam?
A．A carriage．B．A bicycle．C．A canal bus． D．A water taxi．
小題2:When getting lost, a visitor can ask natives for directions in  ___________    ．
A．only DutchB．Dutch or English
C．only EnglishD．Spanish and English
小題3:What can you learn about by visiting the Anne Frank House?
A．The experience of a beautiful girl survivor．
B．The glorious past of Amsterdam．
C．The life of Jewish during World War Ⅱ．
D．The suffering of the Dutch in wars．
小題4:The passage is intended to  ____________        ．
A．call up people’s memories of World War Ⅱ
B．tell readers what A Tale of Two Cities is about
C．instruct visitors what to do and see in Holland
D．offer readers some information about Amsterdam

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Olivia and Jack are the most popular names in Britain for babies born in 2008, according to a survey made by the website Bounty. Jack has been top for 14 years since it took over from Thomas.
Grace — made famous by the Hollywood star Grace Kelly — slipped back into third place behind Ruby, the name of singer Charlotte Church’s daughter.
Summer climbed 28 places from 44th to 16th. Ava — the name of singer Myleene Klass’s daughter — also leapt 15 places to 19th.
The troubles of the singer Amy Winehouse perhaps had an effect on the popularity of the name. It dropped three places to 23rd. Rebecca is also on the wane(變?nèi)?, ranking 48th. So is Courtney, which ranked 88th.
Theo, obviously inspired by England’s teenage football hero Theo Walcott, is among the biggest climbers in the boy’s list, rising from 70th to 58th.
An employee of Bounty said, “Baby names have witnessed the biggest changes over the last decade as parents are increasingly influenced by celebrities. The Bounty baby name poll also shows parents are continuing to be creative and inspirational about the names they choose for their children. Some parents want a name that’s totally unique, and names such as Zebedee, Selim and Zenon are now emerging and growing in popularity. Others are simply breaking with convention and becoming bolder in their choice of names.”
“While politicians’ names may be growing in popularity in America, British politicians don’t influence our choice of names in the UK. Traditional royal names continue to be supreme(最高的) in the boys’ top 100,” The employee said.
小題1:Which of the following girl names ranks the second?
A．Grace.B．Ruby.C．Kelly.D．Charlotte.
小題2:Baby names changed a lot mainly because of the influence of ______.
A．starsB．parentsC．mediaD．politicians
小題3:What kind of names covers the most in the top 100 boys’ names?
A．Unique names.B．Creative names.
C．Famous people’s names.D．Traditional royal names.
小題4:It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A．Thomas was the first in boy names in 1994
B．Summer ranked 28th in the girls’ list in 2007
C．Rebecca might be 50th in the girls’ list in 2007
D．Courtney climbed in the boy’s list in 2008 compared with 2007

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Boxing is a fist fighting sport between two matched combatants (對手) wearing padded gloves. A boxer’s primary aim is to land as many blows as possible to the head and torso (軀干) of the opponent, using strength and speed to dominate the contest. One of the oldest sports still practiced, boxing dates back to thousands of years ago. Today the sport is popular in many parts of the world and encompasses (包括) both amateur and professional matches.
For most of the 20th century boxing attracted huge fan and media attention in the United States. Some boxing champions became legendary, larger-than-life figures, such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Criticized to varying degrees throughout its history for its violent nature and high injury rate, boxing has somehow always managed to survive——and even thrive——as a sport.
Modern boxing regulations are based upon the 12 rules set out by British boxing officials in the mid-19th century. These rules became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, who sponsored and published them. In addition to in-the-ring rules, modern boxing also has specific regulations regarding eligibility for the fighters themselves.
The modern rules for professional and amateur boxing differ, but both types of contests are divided into time periods called rounds. In professional boxing, each round lasts three minutes; in amateur boxing, two minutes. A one-minute rest period between rounds is standard. Amateur contests consist of three rounds; professional contests may consist of up to 12 rounds. A bell is usually sounded by a timekeeper to begin and end each round.
A key step in making boxing safer and more respectable was the introduction of gloves, ending brutal bare-knuckle competition. Boxing gloves are heavily padded to soften the impact of the blow and to protect the hands of the boxer. As an added protection, the hands are taped before being placed in the gloves, which are essentially huge mittens. Professional gloves usually weigh between 170 and 226g; amateur gloves average 226 to 340g.
小題1:Which of the following is true according to the information in the passage?
A．Boxing is a violent sport with high injury rate.
B．People enjoy boxing because of its brutal nature.
C．Only professional players are allowed to attend boxing matches.
D．Boxing is a popular sport with a history of only 200 years.
小題2:Boxing has always managed to survive as a sport. In the author’s opinion, __________.
A．this is because many people can participate in this popular sport
B．this is because boxing is a sport which can bring good business
C．the reason for this cannot be fully explained
D．this is because there are many legendary boxers
小題3:Which of the following facts about boxing is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A．The time set for a round.B．The weight of gloves.
C．The size of boxing rings.D．The signal to begin and end each round.
小題4:The author’s purpose in writing this passage is __________.
A．to give a general introduction to the sport of boxing
B．to advertise a band of boxing-related product
C．to discourage people from enjoying this violent sport
D．to get support for a sport with long tradition
小題5:Which of the following statements can best describe the sport of boxing as a whole?
A．It is a brutal and violent sport, with little popularity in modern times.
B．It is a traditional sport, with little room for improvement.
C．It is a controversial sport, which nevertheless enjoys great public support.
D．It is strictly professional sport with rigid and exclusive rules.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Located in Florence, Oregon is “Sea Lion Caves”, the only known western, coastal, mainland habitat of Stellar Sea Lions. It is also the world’s largest sea cave in existence today and a perfect place to get up close and personal with nature. The sea caves are said to be the home of an estimated 200 sea lions and that at any given time visitors can expect to see at least 150 sea lions going about their daily business.
The most immense(巨大的) of all sea lions, the Stellar males are known to grow up to 12 feet in length and weight an incredulous 1,500 pounds. The females, on the other hand, tend to be a bit smaller and average 9 feet in length with an average weight of 700 pounds.
They tend to breed and give birth during the spring and summer months. The breeding and birthing process takes place on the steep cliff ledges that surround the sea cave. Therefore the best time to view this ritual is during those select months from the outside viewing platform.
In addition to the sea lions, visitors can expect to catch a glimpse of the rare Pigeon Guillemont. These unusual sea birds tend to nest in seaweed along the cliff ledges in early April. And ever the graceful Gray Whales are expected to be seen. Each year, travelling in pods, these sea creatures migrate around “ Cape Blance” on their way to and from their native Alaska waters.
As of 2010 “ Sea Lion Caves” is open daily year round except for both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The ticket box office is open from 9:00 am until 5:30 pm. Visitor have a choice of two different ticket options; platform view or cave view. And admission into the cave itself is $13.00 for adults and $ 8.00 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under the age of 2 are admitted for free and there is a discount ticket price available for senior citizens . It currently costs $3.50 per person to access the topside wildlife viewing platform. While on the platform visitor can pay an additional fee to use the on-site telescope or opt (選擇) to bring their own such equipment.
小題1:The last paragraph is mainly talking about the ______ of the 2010 “Sea Lion Caves”.
A．a(chǎn)dmission and hours of operationB．wildlife and best viewing times
C．summer hot spots and activitiesD．a(chǎn)dditional information and fees
小題2: Which of the following statement about the “Sea Lion Caves” is true?
A．It is located in the center of Florence.B．It’s a good place for visitors to approach the nature.
C．Visitors may see 150 sea lions there at any time.D．It’s the world’ only habitat of Stellar Sea Lions
小題3:The passage suggests that Stellar Sea Lions usually breed and give birth________.
A．in the entrance to the sea caveB．on the smooth cliff cave walls
C．in the warmer season monthsD．out of the vision of the tourists
小題4:What does the underlined word “ migrate” in the fourth paragraph mean?
A．Chase one after anotherB．Flash from time to time
C．Grow little by littleD．Move from place to place
小題5: When you visit the Sea Lion Caves of Forence, Oregon, you are likely to see ________.
a. the Stellar males  b. the Stellar females   c. a rare sea bird   d. a Great Sharks
e. beautiful Gray Whales
A．a(chǎn), b, c, dB．a(chǎn), b, c, eC．a(chǎn), b, d, eD．a(chǎn), c ,d,

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

When I spent Christmas away from home in Europe for the first time, I was only 14 and it was absolutely horrific. I am now married and live in the US. So there is little possibility for me to go home for Christmas. Now I am able to get through Christmas with some moments of joy:
First, you are advised to search you area for stores that carry items from your home country or town. Buy food, candles and some other things that mean something to you.
Hold on to the traditions from your home that you think are important even if other people think they are stupid. But keep in mind to be open for new traditions from wherever you might be, because those traditions are as important to those people around you as yours are to you. For me that includes celebrating Christmas on the 24th.
Call, write Christmas cards, buy gifts and mail them to loved ones, just as if you were there. If you try to pretend as if the holiday doesn’t exist, you are just going to make it worse.
Introduce your traditions to your loved ones, especially your kids. It will only enrich their celebration of the holiday to have some unique traditions in their home. Little by little it will become their tradition and it’s fun for them to try something new.
Find clubs, churches or organizations that are from your home country. Chances are that they will have some celebration with some of your traditions which you can join in.
Food is one of the most important factors in any kind of tradition. Find the recipe of that cake your grandmother used and make it your tradition to bake that particular cake.
Call up your parents and get them to send you some of your favorite childhood ornaments (裝飾品) for your tree.
Embrace new traditions, talk to your family about which ones you want to make your own and stick with them.
If you are far away from home, Christmas can never be the same as you experienced it before, but it is important to remember these traditions while appreciating the new ones. Keep an open mind and find a compromise between old and new traditons.
小題1:The author spent his 14th Christmas ___________.
A．unpleasantly in the USB．joyfully in the US
C．unpleasantly in EuropeD．joyfully in Europe
小題2:Why does the author advise people to hunt in some special stores?
A．Because people can buy some discounted goods there.
B．Because people can feel less homesick there.
C．Because it’s an old Christmas tradition.
D．Because they offer goods from the hometown of the people.
小題3:Which of the following statements does the author agree with?
A．It’s great for children to have some unique traditions.
B．People should join in all kinds of clubs to celebrate Christmas.
C．People should give up traditions which are stupid in other people’s eyes.
D．It is popular to celebrate Christmas on the 24th around the world.
小題4:The author suggests giving a call to parents on Christmas mainly to __________.
A．express love to themB．follow the tradition
C．a(chǎn)sk for some ornamentsD．set an example for children

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Adult Basic Education (ABE) and GED Preparation

Task:
The Adult Ba sic Education Department serves a huge population of learners. Our task is to teach basic skills and help learners to get more knowledge to function effectively as a family member, citizen, worker, and lifelong learner in a changing world.
Description:
ABE is a non-credit program of self-improvement designed to improve basic skills for students who are of different educational level. Development of reading, writing, and math  skills are paid special attention to, as well as life skills, employability, and technology. Students without a high school diploma(文憑)also have the opportunity to prepare for the GED exams in the five subject areas writing, social studies, science, literature, and math.
Prerequisites (條件):
ABE classes are open to anyone 18 or over who desires to improve basic reading, writing, and math skills at the pre-college level. Students who are 16 or 17 must first obtain an official release( 證書) from high school before attending class.
To be accepted, students must attend an Educational Planning Session. During the Educational Planning Session students will be given an overview of the ABE programs as well as PCC policies, fees, etc. Students will also have their reading, writing, and math abilities assessed (評估) during the Educational Planning Session The results of their assessment will help the teachers develop individual programs of study for students to guide them toward their personal goals. Students needing special help must get in touch with the Office for Students with Disabilities (503-977-4341) at least two weeks before the session is held.
Courses:
小題1: The ABE Department serves an aim to___________.
A．provide learners with basic knowledge and skills to fit in with society
B．help learners successfully get a job in a changing world
C．offer diplomas to those who fail to finish secondary education
D．provide students with opportunities to prepare for the GED exams
小題2:A 17-year-old is not accepted to ABE classes only because he_________.
A．is below 18
B．can't offer a high school diploma
C．has left school without official permission
D．is assessed as poor in learning performances
小題3:What is the Educational Planning Session intended for?
A．Providing special help to disabled students.
B．Helping students be better at the four basic skills.
C．Finding out whether they can be accepted to ABE classes.
D．An assessment of students' basic skill levels.
小題4:Different courses are offered to different students according to _____.
A．their own choices
B．the assessments during the Educational Planning Session
C．their performances in school
D．how much they pay for the courses

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