When you see homework covering the kitchen table and toys are piling up around the sofa, you probably wish there was a bit more space. You are not alone. Nearly a third of parents say they feel squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move to a bigger property, a report reveals today.
Twenty-nine perc
ent say “their property is too small to fit the size of their family—rising to 40 percent for those 34 and under”. One in four children is ‘forced to share’ a bedroom, according to the Finda-Property. Com website. Property analyst Samantha Baden said: “Afford-ability remains a key issue for families, with the average cost of a three-bedroom home around ￡193,000.”Very few can afford to buy or to rent a property of the size they want and in the area they desire to live in, according to Miss Baden.
A recent report, from investment firm LV, also found that many ‘space-starved parents’are pushed into a two-bedroom home which was perfect when they were a young couple, but has no space for three or so children. Grown-up children who cannot afford to leave homo are also adding to the problem facing families in Britain’s ‘big squeeze’.
For a home to be the correct size, which means it is not overcrowded, parents must have their own bedroom. Children under ten can share, as well as same-sex children between ten and 20.Anyone over 21 also needs their own room.
The report comes as official figures, published yesterday by the Land Registry, revealing house prices are falling sharply in every region except London. The worst – hit area is the North East where average house prices have fallen to below ￡100, 000 for the first time in seven years. However, they remain unaffordable for millions. 1.According to Paragraph 1, the report reveals .
A. children like to do homework in the kitchen
B. some families can’t afford a bigger property
C. only a few families have housing problem
D. people are satisfied with their living condition
2.What Miss Baden said in Paragraph 2 means .
A. most families don’t have enough money yet
B. no family could afford a three - bedroom home
C. it is common to live in a three - bedroom home
D. the price of a bigger property is still acceptable
3.The report from the investment firm LV shows .
A. young couples should live in a two - bedroom home
B. families with three or so children couldn’t afford a home
C. parents should buy houses for their grown - up children
D. some grown - up children couldn’t afford a separate home
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. House prices are falling down everywhere.
B. People are able to buy a home of correct size.
C. The house prices in London has not fallen down.
D. The North East is now an area suitable to live in.
Now let’s look ourselves as a species in relation to ecosystem balance.Modern scientists believe that humankind, like other animals, evolved(进化) through millions of years of changes and adaptations to the environment and that our most direct evolutionary ancestor was probably an earlier species of the primate(monkey, ape) group. Despite this similarity with other creatures, however, the evolution of humankind differs from that of other species in one important and unique way.
In other species, evolution has led to specialization, both in the species abilities and in its place within the environmental structure. For example, the giraffe is much adapted to feeding on treetops, but it is also specialized and thus limited to feeding on trees and shrubs. Only with great difficulty can it bend down to graze on the ground. Similarly, the anteater is extremely well adapted to eating ants but is unable to catch or eat other animals. The same is true for countless other species.
For humankind it is opposite. Our evolution had led to a very generalized ability. Our highly developed intelligence and ability to make and handle tools mean that we can do almost anything. Humans evolved in such a way that we are able to move into every environment on Earth and even into space. No natural competitor offers great resistance, and other natural enemies such as disease have been controlled.
Said another way, we see in humankind a great imbalance between biological potential and environmental resistance. The result is the rapidly increasing world population, frequently referred to as the population explosion. Further, to support our growing population, natural ecosystems are being increasingly displaced by human habitations, agriculture, and other human supporting activities.
1.From the passage we can infer that in the course of evolution _______.
A. humankind is very important to earlier species, such as the primate group
B. human beings are limited by the environment while animals are not
C. human beings become more and more different from each other
D. humankind has experienced a generalization rather than specialization in ability
2.According to the passage, primate includes such animals as _______.
A. monkeys and anteaters B. tigers and apes
C. apes and monkeys D. monkeys and giraffes
3.According to the passage, evolution has made it possible for humans to _______.
A. increase the population
B. resist natural offers
C. go to the moon
D. cure all diseases
4.According to the author, imbalance between biological potential and environ mental resistance has resulted in _______.
A. the population explosion
B. the destruction of human habitations
C. the growth of natural ecosystem
D. the specialization of humans
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(You may read the questions first.)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Theatrical Release Date: July 1, 2011
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Director: Michael Bay
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱ Sci-Fi︱ 3D
The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Decepticons. The Autobots and Decepticons become involved in a dangerous space race. The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Decepticons to find its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers’ final battle. Shockwave, a longtime “Transformers” character, rules Cybertron while the Autobots and Decepticons battle it out on Earth.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Director: David Yates
Genre: Action︱Adventure︱Sequel︱Fantasy︱3D
In part II, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world evolves into an all-out war. This final adventure continues Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s attempt to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Harry Potter is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring an end to his nemesis.
Winnie the Pooh
Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Don Hall, Stephen J. Anderson
Genre: Sequel︱Family Animation
Winnie the Pooh is a 2011 American traditionally animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Based upon the characters of the children’s books Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne and Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus, the film features two previously unadapted stories from the original books.
In the movie, Owl sends the whole gang to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary bad character, and it turns out to be a very busy day for Winnie the Pooh who simply set out to find some honey.
1.Which of the following is not the genre of Transformers: Dark of the Moon?
A. Action. B. Sequel. C. 3D. D. Fantasy.
2.According to the Movie Express above, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is mainly about _______.
A. a journey of Harry, Ron, and Hermione
B. high risks of the final adventure
C. an all-out war between good and evil forces
D. a fear of Lord Voldemort
3.Who might be most interested in the Movie Express of Winnie the Pooh?
A. Would-be parents. B. Families with children.
C. Writers of children’s books. D. Honey lovers.
I stood outside New York’s Madison Square Garden and just stared, almost speechless. I was a farm boy from County Kilkenny, a child who some thought would never walk, let alone go as far as I had in the world.
From the day I was born, there was a problem. The doctors at the Dublin hospital told my parents I had phocomelia, a deformity that affected both legs below the knee, which were outward and shorter than normal and each foot had just three toes.
Life was tough. I couldn’t stand, much less walk. I rarely, left the farmhouse---and then only in someone’s arms. Mam bundled me up whenever she took me to town, no matter the season.
“The world will see him when he can walk,” she told Dad. “And he will walk.”
Mam devoted herself to helping me. She tried everything to get me on my feet. When I was three, she and Dad took me to a clinic in Dublin.
A few weeks later we returned to Dublin with my artificial limbs (肢). Back home I practiced walking with my new limbs.
“There’s nothing anyone can do but you can’t,” Mam said. “You and I are going to walk through town.”
The next day Mam dressed me in my finest clothes. She wore a summer dress and fixed her hair and makeup. Dad drove us to the church. We stepped out of the car. Mam took my hand. “Hold your head up high, now, Ronan,” she said.
We walked 300 meters to the post office. It was the farthest I’d walked, and I was sweating from the effort. Then we left the post office and continued down the street, Mam’s eyes shining with a mother’s pride.
That night, back on our farm, I lay exhausted on my bed. It meant nothing, though, compared to what I’d done on my walk.
Then I began to pursue my dream of singing. And at every step Mam’s words came back to me—Ronan, you can do anything anyone else can do—and the faith she had in God, who would help me do it.
I’ve sung from the grandest stages in Europe, to music played by the world’s finest musicians. That night, I stood at the Madison Square Garden, with Mam’s words chiming in my ears. Then I began singing. I couldn’t feel the pulse of the music in my feet, but I felt it deep in my heart, the same place where Mam’s promise lived.
1.What was the problem with the author as a baby?
A. He was expected unable to walk.
B. He was born outward in character.
C. He had a problem with listening.
D. He was shorter than a normal baby.
2.The underlined word “deformity” in the second paragraph most probably means _______.
A. shortcoming B. disadvantage C. disability D. delay
3.Why did Mam dress him and herself in finest clothes?
A. To hide their depressed feeling.
B. To indicate it an unusual day.
C. To show off their clothes.
D. To celebrate his successful operation.
4.From the story we may conclude that his mother was _______.
A. determined B. stubborn C. generous D. distinguished
5.According to the writer, what mattered most in his success?
A. His consistent effort. B. His talent for music.
C. His countless failures. D. His mother’s promise.
If women are mercilessly exploited(剥削) year after year, they have only themselves to blame. Because they tremble at the thought of being seen in public in clothes that are out of fashion, they are always taken advantage of by the designers and the big stores. Clothes which have been worn only a few times have to be put aside because of the change of fashion.
Changing fashions are nothing more than the intentional creation of waste. Many women spend large sums of money each year to replace clothes that have hardly been worn. Women who cannot afford to throw away clothing in this way, waste hours of their time changing their old-fashioned dresses. Skirts are lengthened or shortened; neck-lines are lowered or raised, and so on.
No one can claim that the fashion industry contributes anything really important to society. Fashion designers are rarely concerned with necessary things like warmth, comfort and durability (耐用). They are only interested in outward appearance and they take advantage of the fact that women will put up with any amount of discomfort, as long as they look right. There can hardly be a man who hasn’t at some time in his life smiled at the sight of a woman shaking in a thin dress on a winter day, or picking her way through deep snow in high heeled shoes.
When comparing men and women in the matter of fashion, the conclusions to be drawn are obvious. Do the constantly changing fashions of women’s clothes, one wonders, reflect basic qualities of inconstancy and instability? Men are too clever to let themselves be cheated by fashion designers. Do their unchanging styles of dress reflect basic qualities of stability and reliability(稳定耐用)? That is for you to decide.
1.Designers and big stores always make money _______.
A. by mercilessly exploiting women workers in the clothing industry
B. because they are capable of predicting new fashions
C. by constantly changing the fashions in women’s clothing
D. because they attach great importance to quality in women’s clothing
2.To the writer, the fact that women change their old-fashioned dresses is seen as _______.
A. a waste of money B. a waste of time
C. an expression of taste D. an expression of creativity
3.New fashions in clothing are created for _______.
A. the commercial exploitation of women
B. the women’s strength of character
C. basic qualities of inconstancy and instability
D. an important contribution to society
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Dash of Hope
“Dash” is a symbol which represents every day we’ve spent alive on earth. Therefore, how you spend your “dash” is important.
Recently I 36 about a little girl named Hope. After learning more about her life, I couldn’t help but feel it was not by 37 , nor happenstance（意外事件）, that she had been named “Hope”. The strong feeling of sympathy and generosity 38 in her young heart made a lasting impression on me and countless others. 39 I never had the opportunity to meet her, I wish I had. It seems as though she was wise beyond her tender years and very, very special.
Hope was a twelve-year-old girl who was 40 a “wish” in early December 2010 by the “Make-A-Wish” Foundation after being 41 that she had a rare type of bone cancer. However, when she found out that more than 150 42 in her area were waiting for their wishes to be achieved , she unselfishly used her wish to 43 that those children have their wishes granted. She also asked that it be done 44 January 16, 2011. Unfortunately, however, the organization informed her that her 45 request could not be granted as the funds were simply 46 . They calculated that they would need to raise more than one 47 dollars in thirty days in order to grant her wish. 48 , but not discouraged, she turned her disappointment into an enthusiasm that inspired caring 49 to take up helping grant the wishes of the other children, and eventually 50 as well. Newspaper columnists and reporters for radio and TV stations 51 the story of this caring young girl who had 52 the hearts of so many and as word spread, the community was challenged. Committees were fanned and schools, corporations and various organizations assisted in 53 money to help make Hope’s dream come true.
Her efforts were not in vain as they continue to help others, not only 54 , but spiritually and emotionally as well. At the gathering to celebrate her life, “A Celebration of Hope” on January 16, 2011 , the 55 was made that they had indeed received donations totaling more than one million dollars. Her wish had been granted!
1.A. heard B. thought C. cared D. talked
2.A. coincidence B. independence C. convenience D. intelligence
3.A. lost B. carried C. expected D. housed
4.A. Until B. Unless C. Though D. If
5.A. expressed B. offered C. made D. sent
6.A. recognized B. informed C. reminded D. understood
7.A. children B. citizens C. villagers D. relatives
8.A. suggest B. ask C. arrange D. order
9.A. for B. to C. on D. by
10.A. final B. formal C. simple D. noble
11.A. unbearable B. unbelievable C. unavailable D. uncomfortable
12.A. thousand B. hundred C. million D. billion
13.A. Disappointed B. Surprised C. Worried D. Embarrassed
14.A. committees B. individuals C. corporations D. organizations
15.A. theirs B. ours C. hers D. yours
16.A. wrote B. read C. broadcast D. shared
17.A. touched B. examined C. won D. opened
18.A. finding B. spending C. raising D. borrowing
19.A. perfectly B. physically C. healthily D. thankfully
20.A. proposal B. decision C. conclusion D. announcement
