In the computer age, most of us take a broadband Internet connection for granted. Whether cable or mobile broadband, today’s connections are many times faster than those in the early days. Videos play smoothly, complex websites load quickly, and files download much faster than ten years ago. And the files are much bigger too.
There’s a catch, of course. You have to live near enough to a major city to get broadband Internet. If you don’t, it’s slow dial-up access for you. And for those living really far out, there may be no Internet access at all.
Technology experts often talk about the “l(fā)ast mile” problem, which refers to the difficulty of bringing Internet access to remote locations. In cities and suburbs, it’s relatively easy to provide access for everyone. It is much more difficult to deliver access to those living far from cities, especially in developing countries. Internet service providers, for their part, have been reluctant to provide access to sparsely(稀疏地) populated areas. The handful of Internet users they would reach wouldn’t cover the expense.
But every year, technological advancements allow of more and more Internet users. Most broadband connections today run over existing cable TV and telephone lines although these technologies aren’t available everywhere. Some companies have delivered the Internet over standard power lines. Advancements in cheaper, more efficient fiber optics cables(光纖電纜) promise to bring extremely fast Internet connections to more users.
Still, the “l(fā)ast mile” problem remains hard to deal with. There will always be somewhere that doesn’t have an affordable broadband connection. But someday that might not matter. If the rapid progress in cell phone technology is any indication(跡象), it may not be too long before an Internet connection simply follows you wherever you go.
小題1:The underlined part “ a catch” (in Paragraph 2) probably means “________”.
A．a(chǎn) rare challengeB．a(chǎn) desirable plan
C．a(chǎn)n efficient deviceD．a(chǎn) hidden problem
小題2:What can we know from the third paragraph?
A．Internet connection has not been popular in most cities.
B．Internet service providers care about rural customers.
C．Computer is popular in developing countries.
D．It is hard to bring Internet access to users in remote areas.
小題3: Paragraph 4 mainly tells us that technological advancements ________.
A．make TV and telephone available everywhere
B．bring great change to people’s everyday life
C．make it possible for more people to use the Internet
D．bring faster Internet connections to users
小題4:What may eventually settle the “l(fā)ast mile” problem?
A．The broadband connection’s getting faster.
B．More and more Internet users.
C．More and more Internet connections.
D．The rapid progress in cell phone technology.

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

LEEDS, England ─ A Leeds University psychology (心理學) professor is teaching a course to help dozens of Britons forgive their enemies.
"The hatred we hold within us is a cancer," Professor Ken Hart said, adding that holding in anger can lead to problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
More than 70 people have become members in Hart’s first 20-week workshop in London ─ a course he says is the first of its kind in the world.
These are people who are sick and tired of living with a memory. They realize their bitterness is a poison they think they can pour out, but they end up drinking it themselves, said Canadian-born Hart.
The students meet in groups of eight to ten for a two-hour workshop with an adviser every fortnight.
The course, ending in July, is expected to get rid of the cancer of hate in these people. "People have lots of negative attitudes towards forgiveness," he said. "People confuse forgiveness with forgetting. Forgiveness means changing from a negative attitude to a positive one."
Hart and his team have created instructions to provide the training needed.
"The main idea is to give you guidelines on how to look at various kinds of angers and how they affect you, and how to change your attitudes towards the person you are angry with," said Norman Claringbull, a senior expert on the forgiveness project.
Hart said he believes forgiveness is a skill that can be taught, as these people "want to get free of the past".
小題1:From this passage we know that ______.
A．high blood pressure and heart disease are caused by hatred
B．high blood pressure can only be cured by psychology professors
C．without hatred, people will have less trouble connected with blood and heart
D．people who suffer from blood pressure and heart disease must have many enemies
小題2:If you are angry with somebody, you should ______.
A．try your best to defeat him or her
B．never meet him or her again
C．persuade him or her to have a talk with you
D．try to build up a positive attitude towards the person
小題3: In Hart’s first 20-week workshop, people there can ___.
A．meet their enemies
B．change their minds
C．enjoy the professor’s speech
D．learn how to quarrel with others
小題4: If you are a member in Hart’ s workshop, you’ll ______.
A．pay much money to Hart
B．go to the workshop every night
C．a(chǎn)ttend a gathering twice a month
D．pour out everything stored in your mind
小題5: The author wrote this passage in order to ________.
A．persuade us to go to Hart’s workshop
B．tell us the news about Hart’s workshop
C．tell us how to run a workshop like Hart’s
D．help us to look at various kinds of angers

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：完形填空

School was over and I felt quite tired. I sat at the very  41 of the crowded bus because of my anxiety to get home. Sitting there makes me  42  out like a shiny coin in a pile of dull pennies.
Janie, the  43  , tries to break the uncomfortable atmosphere by striking the match of  44  .
I tried to mind my manners and  45  listen, but usually I am too busy thinking about my day. On this day,   46  , her conversation was worth listening to.
“My father’s sick,” she said to no one in particular (專門) , I could see the  47  and fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong with him?” I asked. With her eyes wet and her voice tight from  48  the tears, she answered, “Heart trouble.” Her eyes   49  as she continued. “I have already lost my mum, so I don’t think I can stand losing him.”
I was  50  . My heart ached for her. And this reminded me of the great  51  that my own mother was thrown into when her father died. I saw how hard it was, and   52  is, for her. I wouldn’t like anyone to  53  that.
Suddenly I realized Janie wasn’t only a bus driver. That was  54  her job. She had a whole world of   55  and concerns, too. I suddenly felt very  56  . I realized I had only thought of people as far as what their purposes were in my life. I paid no attention to Janie  57  she was a bus driver. I had  58  her by her job and brushed her off as unimportant.
For all I know, I’m just another person in  59  else’s world, and may not be  60 . I should not have been so selfish and self-centered. Everyone has places to go, people to see and appointment to keep. Understanding people is an art.
小題1:
A．frontB．endC．sideD．middle
小題2:
A．findB．takeC．thinkD．stand
小題3:
A．doctorB．driverC．teacherD．a(chǎn)ssistant
小題4:
A．fireB．topicC．conversationD．discussion
小題5:
A．politelyB．slightlyC．carelesslyD．partly
小題6:
A．howeverB．thereforeC．insteadD．otherwise
小題7:
A．surpriseB．worryC．curiosityD．a(chǎn)nger
小題8:
A．fightingB．turningC．clearingD．protecting
小題9:
A．openedB．shoneC．closedD．lowered
小題10:
A．recognizedB．worriedC．shockedD．excited
小題11:
A．victoryB．painC．respectD．disappointment
小題12:
A．a(chǎn)wayB．seldomC．stillD．never
小題13:
A．pick upB．work outC．go throughD．get down
小題14:
A．a(chǎn)lmostB．nearlyC．everD．just
小題15:
A．familyB．busC．schoolD．friend
小題16:
A．selfishB．desperateC．pessimisticD．ridiculous
小題17:
A．whileB．becauseC．thoughD．until
小題18:
A．blamedB．receivedC．consideredD．judged
小題19:
A．everyoneB．a(chǎn)nyoneC．someoneD．nobody
小題20:
A．happyB．wiseC．usefulD．important

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

If your mother wants to tell you something, she uses words. Birds can not talk as we do. But some birds can make sounds to warn their young of danger. They have their own ways to make the young birds do certain thing.
The jackdaw is a kind of blackbirds that lives in Europe. Jackdaws live together in flocks. ( 群) Yong jackdaws do not know their enemies. When an older jackdaw sees a dog , it makes a loud tattling (格格響的)sound.The young birds know this sound means an enemy is nearby.  The sounds warns them to know their enemy.
If a young jackdaw is in a dangerous place, a jackdaw parent flies over him from behind.The parent bird flies low over the young bird’s back, the parents’ tail feathers move quickly from side to side, It is trying to say, “ Follow me.”
At the same time , the parent calls out, “ Key-aw ,Key-aw.” The parent means, “ Fly home with me.” The young bird then follows the older one home.
Young jackdaws do not have to learn what certain sounds mean.They know the meaning of these sounds from the time they hatch.
小題1:The jackdaw lives in _____ .
A．EuropeB．AustraliaC．AmericaD．Africa
小題2:When an old jackdaw sees a dog , it _____ .
A．calls out “Follow me .”B．makes a loud sound
C．flies awayD．fights the dog .
小題3: Parent jackdaw can use their tail feathers to ______ .
A．a(chǎn)sk their young to follow themB．play a game with the young
C．tell the meal timeD．give a warning of a fire
小題4:The story tells much about _____ .
A．the danger of jackdaws.
B．in which mother can talk to their children.
C．the way jackdaws warn their young of danger.
D．how the jackdaws are living.
小題5: Which of the following does this story lead you to believe ?
A．All animal parents can talk to their young.
B．Dogs are the most dangerous enemies for jackdaws.
C．Young jackdaws know the meaning of their parents’ sound when they grow older .
D．Some birds can give certain information to one another.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

Pupils work harder in lessons if they are taught by a man, a study has claimed. Male teachers are more likely to improve pupils' self-esteem and are judged by pupils to be more fair, according to a study published by the Department for Education.                                                             
But there is a significant shortage of male teachers, especially in primary schools, with reports last month indicating that almost one in three primaries has an all-female teaching staff. The latest figures heightened fears that schools are becoming dominated (主宰) by women and children are being denied access to male role models in the classroom.                        
Researchers at the London School of Economics and Westminster University conducted an experiment in which each of 1,200 pupils in 29 schools was given £2. They could use the money to "buy" up to 10 questions at a cost of 20p each, which they then had to answer. If they were right they were given an extra 20p, but if they were wrong they lost 20p. Boys and girls who had a male teacher chose on average almost half a question more than those taught by women, indicating that they had a more positive outlook on the rewards of effort, the the study said.                                            
Researchers wrote: "One of the most significant results featured in this experiment is the positive effect of male teachers on effort. The experiment suggests that higher ability pupils either believed that the teacher would reward them more favorably or had a preference for working hard to please the teacher."                                                     
According to the Good Teacher Training Guide, 86 per cent of new teachers entering primary schools are female, along with 62 per cent of those entering secondary schools.                                             
Professor Alan Smithers, of Buckingham University, said: "This is an interesting and somewhat surprising finding, but it does underline the importance of having a good mix of male and female teachers in classes."
小題1:Which of the following is true of the passage?  
A．Male teachers are more fair than female teachers.
B．Now most primary schools are in need of teachers.
C．Most people are afraid that their children can't get access to male teachers.
D．The author thinks that male teachers are better than female teachers.
小題2:What is the author's attitude to the finding that pupils work harder in lessons if they are taught by a man?   
A．He is for the finding.
B．He is against the finding.
C．He doesn't show his opinion about it.
D．He thinks it’s interesting and somewhat surprising.
小題3:What does the author mainly tell us in the 3rd paragraph?   
A．Researchers at the London School of Economics and Westminster University conducted an experiment.
B．Students could use the money to "buy" up to 10 questions and then had to answer them.
C．Boys and girls who had a male teacher chose on average almost half a question more than those taught by women.
D．The experiment shows that students taught by male teachers had a more positive outlook on the rewards of effort.
小題4:It can be inferred that         .  
A．one third of primaries has an all female staff
B．if a student is taught by a man teacher, he will think that if he works harder he will make greater progress
C．86 per cent of new teachers entering primary schools are female
D．this finding is interesting and surprising
小題5:Where can we find the passage?   
A．It is from a PE section on the Internet.
B．It is from an educational magazine.
C．It comes from the social section of a newspaper.
D．It comes from an English teaching book.

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

In a natural disaster—a hurricane, flood, volcanic eruption, or other catastrophes—minutes and even seconds of warning can make the difference between life and death．Because of this, scientists are working to use the latest technological advances to predict when and where disasters will happen．They are also studying how best to analyze and communicate this information once it is obtained．
On September 29, 1998, Hurricane Georges made landfall in Biloxi, Mississippi, after damaging Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and several islands of the Caribbean badly with torrential rains and winds up to 160 km per hour．Few people lost their lives along the Gulf Coast of the United States, although hundreds died in the Caribbean．
This was a very different outcome from 1900, when a powerful Gulf Coast hurricane made an unexpected direct hit on Galveston, Texas, killing at least 6,000 people．
Vastly improved hurricane warnings explain the different circumstances at either end of the 20th century——residents of Galveston had no advance warning that a storm was approaching, while residents of Biloxi had been warned days in advance, allowing for extensive safety precautions（預(yù)防）．
At the same time that people in Biloxi were thankful for the advance warning, some residents of New Orleans, Louisiana were less satisfied．A day before Georges made landfall, forecasters were predicting that the hurricane had a good chance of striking New Orleans．Because much of New Orleans lies below sea level, the city is at risk for flooding．Emergency management officials must begin evacuations（疏散）well before a storm strikes．But evacuation costs money: businesses close, tourists leave, and citizens take precautionary measures．The mayor of New Orleans estimated that his city' s preparations for Georges cost more than 50 million．After Georges missed New Orleans, some residents questioned the value of the hurricane forecasts in the face of such high costs．
The different views on the early warnings for Hurricane Georges show some of the complexities related to predicting disasters．Disaster prediction is a process of providing scientific information to the government officials and other decision makers who must respond to those predictions．
小題1:What is the purpose of disaster prediction according to the passage?
A．To identify the cause of disasters．
B．To save people' s lives and property．
C．To prevent natural disasters from happening,
D．To apply advanced technology to disaster prediction．
小題2:Which of the following areas suffered the most severe damage?
A．Puerto Rico．B．New Orleans．
C．Biloxi, Mississippi．D．Galveston, Texas．
小題3:The city residents of New Orleans were unsatisfied because __  _ .
A．the forecast hurricane did not hit the city
B．the hurricane warning arrived rather late
C．their preparations were made in vain
D．they suffered from a heavy hurricane attack
小題4:What does the passage mainly talk about?
A．The different ways of disaster prediction．
B．Technological advances in disaster prediction．
C．The importance and uncertainty of disaster prediction．
D．The benefits and preparations of disaster prediction．

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

To learn an instrument such as the violin or accordion（手風琴）takes years. The job opportunities for musicians are scarce and competition is fierce. Then why are more people than ever before paying a lot of good cash to get their children the best music teaching they can afford?
The secret lies in the influence of music on the whole person. It has been found that learning a musical instrument actually increases a person’s IQ over time. Different instruments and different trypes of music have varying effect, with classical music and the string family coming out on top, potentially increasing you IQ by up to 12 points!
When is a good time to start learning music? Experts have found that even the fetus（胎兒）can benefit from listening to classical music. Surround yourself and your family with good music from the first. The Suzuki Piano Method teaches children from the age of 3 years piano, with two lessons per week. From preschool, children can learn to read music and play from sheet music. Progress in learning your instrument is directly proportional（成比例的）to the amount of practicing.
Is there such a thing as an unmusical child? Shinichi Suzuki proposes that music is the native home language of all human beings and therefore nobody can be “unmusical”. Of course there are exceptional talents, compared to which others may seem to be slower learners.
Is there any benefit for adults in starting an instrument? Apart from the purely relaxing aspect, yes. Learning an instrument can earn even adults additional IQ points, and as an added benefit in improves your health by reducing your stress levels. Your social life may benefit too, if you are prepared to come out of your box and join occasions such as Ceilidhs (musical get-togethers) or arrange house concerts. It has been established that people who play instruments tend to be more emotionally balanced and more patient with themselves, others and life in general.
So go ahead, sign up for that amateur orchestra, dust off your old trombone（長號）or take your first real six-string down from the attic（閣樓）; get out there and play!
小題1:Playing which of the following musical instruments can help increase a person’s IQ most?
A．The pianoB．The violinC．The tromboneD．The accordion
小題2:According to Shinichi Suzuki,             .
A．The progress in learning an instrument depends on natural gifts
B．It is too late for an adult to start an instrument
C．Every child has a natural talent for music.
D．All people can understand and read music.
小題3:What can be inferred from the text?
A．Music can balance our life.
B．Music can improve our living conditions.
C．Playing instruments can make adults keep their IQ points.
D．Playing instruments can help us get along well with others.
小題4:By writing the text, the author mainly wants to        .
A．persuade us to send our children to music schools
B．express his great interest in musical instruments
C．tell us the importance of Music in Development
D．invite us to attend Ceilidhs

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“It hurts me more than you,” and “This is for your own good.” There are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin, clean my room, stay home and do homework.
That was before we entered the permissive(自由的) period in education in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school．The schools and the educators made it easy on us．They taught that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy．We stopped making our children do homework．We gave them calculators, turned on the television, left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation．
Now teachers, faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years, are realizing we’ve made a terrible mistake．One such teacher is Sharon Clomps who says of her students—“so passive”—and wonders what has happened．Nothing is demanded of them, she believes．Television, says Clomps, contributes to children’s passivity．“We’re talking about a generation of kids who’ vet never been hurt or hungry．They have learned somebody will always do it for them, instead of saying ‘go and look it up’, you tell them the answer．It takes greater energy to say no to a kid．
Yes, it does．It takes energy and it takes work．It’s time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work．It’ s time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it’ s for their own good．It’s time to start telling them no again．
小題1:We learn from the passage that the author’s mother used to lay emphasis on（強調(diào)：重視）_______．
A．natural developmentB．education at school
C．disciplineD．learning Latin
小題2:Children are becoming more inactive in study because _______．
A．they watch TV too muchB．they have to fulfill too many duties
C．they have done too much homeworkD．teachers are too strict with them
小題3:By “permissive period in education” the author means a time _______．
A．when everything can be taught at school
B．when children are permitted to receive education
C．when children are allowed to do what they wish to
D．when every child can be educated
小題4:The main idea of the passage is that _______．
A．It’s time to be more strict with our kids
B．parents should always set a good example to their kids
C．parents should leave their children alone
D．kids should have more activities at school

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科目：高中英語 來源：不詳 題型：閱讀理解

“People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help deal with climate change,” the world’s leading authority on global warming has told The Observer.
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.
Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel’s chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions (排放) and other environmental problems associated with raising cattle and other animals. “It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to changing means of transport,” he said.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production accounts for nearly a fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are produced during the production. For example, ruminants (反芻動物), particularly cows, give off a gas called methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global warming agent than CO2.
Pachauri can expect some opposite responses from the food industry to his advice, though last night he was given unexpected support by Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode. “I have a little bit and enjoy it,” said Torode. “Too much for any person is bad. But there’s a bigger issue here: where the meat comes from. If we all bought British and stopped buying imported food, we’d save a huge amount of carbon emissions.”
Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, said government could help educate people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it should not regulate. “Eating less meat would help, there’s no question about that,” Watson said.
However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had been unfairly targeted and was working hard to find out which activities had the biggest environmental impact and reduce them. “Some ideas were contradictory,” he said. “For example, one solution to emissions from cattle and other animals was to keep them indoors, but this would damage animal welfare. Climate change is a very young science and our view is there are a lot of simple solutions being proposed.”
小題1:What is directly related to global warming?
A．Consumption of meat. B．Growth of cattle.
C．Methane from ruminants. D．Processing of meat.
小題2:Who holds a view opposite to the others’ in the passage?
A．Rajendra Pachauri.B．John Torode. C．Robert Watson. D．Chris Lamb.
小題3:It is implied in the passage that _____.
A．we should try to keep away from cattleB．ruminants should not be left outdoors
C．the meat industry will soon close downD．we must do our duty to save the earth
小題4: Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?
A．Less meat, slower global warming
B．More animals, more greenhouse gas
C．Less imported food, better our environment
D．Greater diet change, smaller climate change

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