In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord (房东) can charge for an apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartment. Their rent cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits. Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of apartments in the city.
Some experts argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally look for unskilled, low-paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers. They will replace workers with machinery. Therefore, other things being equal, the number of workers that employers want decreases. Thus, critics hold the opinion that an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept jobs at unfair wages.
Economic theory predicts the results of economic decision, such as decisions about farm production, rent control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be corrected only if “other things are equal”. Economists do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there are no simple answers to economic questions.
1.There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may ________.
A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes.
C. increase the profits of landlords.
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartments.
2.We can safely say that rent control ________.
A. will always benefit those who rent apartments.
B. is unnecessary.
C. will probably bring inactive effects in the long run.
D. is necessary under all conditions
3.There will be the problem of unemployment if ________.
A. the minimum wage is set too high..
B. the minimum wage is set too early.
C. the workers are unskilled.
D. the maximum wage is set for poor workers.
4.The passage tells us about ________.
A. the relationship between supply and demand.
B. the possible results of government controls.
C. the necessity of government control.
D. the urgency of getting rid of government control.
Internet use appears to cause a decline in psychological well-being（安康）, according to research at Carnegie Mellon University.
Even people who spent just a few hours a week on the Internet experienced more depression and loneliness than those who logged on less frequently, the two-year study showed. And it wasn’t that people who were already feeling bad spent more time on the Internet, but that using the Net actually appeared to cause the bad feeling.
Researchers are puzzling over the results, which were completely contrary to their expectations. They expected that the net would prove socially healthier than television, since the Net allows users to choose their information and to communicate with others.
The fact that Internet use reduces time available for family and friends may account for the drop in well-being, researchers suggested. Faceless, bodiless “virtual”（虚拟的）communication may be less psychologically satisfying than actual conversation, and the relationship formed through it may be shallower. Another possibility is that exposure to the wider world via the Net makes users less satisfied with their lives.
“But it’s important to remember this is not about the technology per se; it’s about how it is used,” says psychologist Christine Riley of Intel, one of the study’s sponsors. “It really points to the need for considering social effects in terms of how you design applications and services for technology.”
1.The best title for this passage would be ________.
A. Internet may Cause Depression
B. The Dark Side of Internet
C. How to Use Technology Properly
D. The Importance of Psychological Well-being
2.Internet use may cause a decline in psychological well-being because ________.
A. people who were already feeling bad spend more time on the Internet
B. Internet users thought the world was wider than it really was
C. people were too eager to turn the “virtual” communication into reality
D. people have less time for actual communication with their family and friends
3.What does the underlined Latin word “per se” (in Para. 5) mean?
A. probably | B. absolutely |
C. oneself | D. itself |
4.What’s the tone of the passage?
A. Optimistic. | B. Critical. |
C. Objective. | D. Pessimistic. |
What is “Dads Make a Difference”?
A service-learning opportunity for teens that deals with fatherhood, parenting, and so on.
Older teens, grades 10—12, teach younger teens, grades 6—9, about the importance of fathers in children’s lives, the legal and financial responsibilities of parenting.
Teen teacher training goals & objectives
The goal of the teen teacher training is to better understand the complex problems surrounding legal fatherhood in our society. By discussing what makes healthy families, explaining the meaning of paternity（父亲的身份）, and examining the risks people take in their lives, teens will develop the skills needed to make informed decisions in their own relationships and, finally, teach this information to others.
What’s in it for me?
An opportunity to:
Learn life skills like communication, decision making, and problem solving.
Get the chance to use knowledge in meaningful and effective ways.
Develop leadership, planning, teamwork, time management, and organizational skills to help you in every aspect of your life.
Forming lasting relationships with adult mentors（导师）.
Comments from teen teachers
“ ‘Dads Make a Difference’ made me realize how permanent and expensive parenthood is.”
“Speaking in form of groups and directing people in activities, I feel, is a valuable skill to have that I will use throughout my life.”
“I wish I would have gone through this program when I was in Junior High. I know it would have helped me to really think about the future and to make good decisions.”
“ ‘Dads Make a Difference’ has helped me to know the effects of my actions before I take them and I know what risks not to take to protect my future.”
1.“Dads Make a Difference” is a(n)_____.
A. name of a school | B. training center |
C. social organization | D. education program |
2. “Dads Make a Difference” can _____.
A. provide teens a chance to be a teacher in Junior High
B. help teens learn more about parents
C. help teens develop their life skills
D. advise teens how to avoid risks in life
3.According to the passage, who will benefit most from “Dads Make a Difference”?
A. fathers and sons | B. mothers and daughters |
C. teen teachers and adult mentors | D. teens and societies |
书面表达
一家英语报社向中学生征文，主题是“十年后的我”。请根据下列要点和你的畅想完成短文。
要点：1.家庭 2.工作 3.业余生活
注意：1.词数100左右； 2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；3.开头语已为你写好。
I often imagine what my life will be like in the future. ____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
短文改错
文中共有 10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用(＼)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线（___），并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词； 2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Nowadays millions of people of all age take pleasure in a hobby which is both interested and fun. Every year more and more people started a stamp collection of your own. In addition, they discover an interest which can even last a lifetime. Stamps are everywhere, as result, starting a collection of stamps are easy. Holiday and birthday postcards from relatives but letters from friends can all provide people for stamps from all over the world. But once a person has started collecting serious, he will probably want to join in the Stamp Collectors’ Club which exists to add more stamps to his collection.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Keeping a diary in English is one of the effective ways to improve our English writing ability.
1. (compare) with other forms of writing, it is shorter and takes 2. (little) time. It can help us to develop the habit of thinking in English. If we persist in(坚持) this practice, gradually we’ll learn how to express 3. (we) in English. In keeping a diary in English, we certainly run up against many 4. (difficult). In the first place, it often happens that we have trouble in 5. (find) appropriate words and phrases to give expression to our mind. Secondly, there 6. (be) many idiomatic ways of saying things in Chinese. And it is 7. (extreme) hard for us to put them into English properly.
As far as I am concerned, my suggestion is 8. we should always have a notebook and a Chinese-English dictionary within easy reach. Whenever something beats us, we can first put it down in our notebook and then consult our dictionary. We can also ask our English teacher 9. help, if necessary. In short, I believe that it is of great use to keep a diary in English for 10. development of our writing skills.
