A serious problem for today’s society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question of the system we want for our society. I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem.
First, employers should take the responsibility for their retired employees. To make this possible, a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose. But when a company must take life-long responsibility for its employees, it may suffer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs. Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual. This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement. This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years. This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor.
In addition, the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly. This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions. Furthermore, some institutions should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly, particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young.
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some working places especially for the elderly where they are independent.
To sum up, all these options have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations.
1.What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this article?
A. To discuss some possible solutions to an important social problem.
B. To make general readers aware of the problems of retired people.
C. To point out the need for government support for old people.
D. To instruct retired people on how they can have a happier life.
2.What does the underlined word “viable” in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?
A. Impossible. B. Practical.
C. Useful. D. Successful.
3.According to the passage, how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people?
A. Set aside some profits to help people with problems after they retire.
B. Increase savings levels of people during their working years.
C. Increase the discounts for food and transport for the old.
D. Make available pensions for those who have retired.
4.What can be concluded from the passage?
A. Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money.
B. Employers should allow their workers to retire at a later age.
C. There is no single solution to the problems of the old.
D. Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people.
Are you interested in hi-tech products? Here are some that you might find at the market pretty soon.
CX-1
Tired of dragging your bag through busy airports? Then you might want to consider CX-1. The smart suitcase uses facial recognizing software to follow its owner as he / she is checking in or heading to the gate. Though CX-1 can only move at a speed of up to seven miles per hour, a tiny tool enables owners to keep track of the suitcase’s location. It is expected to be sold on the market by late 2018.
Aibo
Sony’s latest version of the Aibo robotic dog is almost as fun as the real thing—but much less work. The pet dog can recognize its owner, obey several commands, and even recall the behavior that pleases its master the most. Aibo can also learn new tricks, take photographs, and over time, develop its own unique personality.
Forpheus
Forpheus, an “athletic” robot developed by Japanese technology company Omron. It teaches users how to play ping-pong. The 10-feet-tall machine uses a camera and artificial intelligence to track the ball’s speed and can predict the ball’s direction correctly. The smart Forpheus can also quickly test its player’s abilities and adjust the playing level, making the game fun.
Black Box VR
Though many people determine to go to the gym once a week, few reach their goal. Black Box VR wants to change that by turning hard exercise into fun video games. Using it, gym users will find themselves fighting enemies, including big creatures—all while getting exercise.
1.What is the feature of CX-1?
A. It can be opened by facial expressions.
B. It can recognize and follow its owner.
C. It can move very fast in busy places.
D. It can sense the suitcase’s location.
2.Who would most probably want an Aibo?
A. People who want to walk a dog.
B. People who often play tricks on others.
C. People who want to take high-quality photographs.
D. People who want a dog but can’t look after a real one.
3.Which product can help people work out regularly in a gym?
A. CX-1. B. Aibo.
C. Forpheus. D. Black Box VR.
假定你是李华，你的美国笔友Mike来信说，他和几个同学正在学中国古诗，请你推荐一本有助于学习古诗的书籍。请给他写封邮件，内容包括：
1.书名及作者：Read Poetry&Learn History by Wang Chunyong;
2.推荐理由；
3.表达祝愿。
注意：1.词数：100左右。
2.可以适当增减细节，但不能逐字逐句翻译。
3.开头语已为你写好。
Dear Mike,
I’m glad to know you are learning classical Chinese poetry.________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
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。
We all know that the Friday after Thanksgiving means a mad dash to the shopping centre for ridiculous sales. But how did this bargain shopping get 1.(it) start?
In fact, the first Black Friday had nothing 2. (do) with Thanksgiving or shopping. The origin of Black Friday as we know it today started in Philadelphia during the 1950s and 1960s. Crowds of people would come to town the day after Thanksgiving for the annual ArmyNavy football game to be held the 3. (follow) Saturday. Streets and 4. (store) were always crowded, which was great for business but made easypickings for shoplifters (行窃者). Local police called this “Black Friday”. Not only did they have to deal with extra traffic 5. shoplifting, but they had to work extra hours and couldn’t request the day off.
The term didn’t go national 6. the late 1980s, but the 7. (explain) changed. While shopkeepers 8. (general) suffered financial losses most of the year, the increase of holiday shoppers marked the first day of real profit. In traditional accounting (会计) practices a few years ago, losses 9. (record) in red ink, and profits in black ink. So the day after Thanksgiving, 10. companies go “into the black” and make a profit, became Black Friday.
An old woman was sitting outside an ice-cream shop with dirty clothes and rough hair. She got ____ and walked, but it seemed quite ____, her legs shivering(颤抖)and her eyes showing deep sorrow of being left alone and homeless.
I did not ____ an ice cream, so I was outside the shop, ____ her, while my family went in. Her legs were weak and trembling. I saw her difficulties and came up to her with 10 dollars in my ____ and handed it over to her. She was so ____ and started blessing me instantly.
I wanted to talk with her as that seemed very important ____. I asked about her ____. She said there was no one, and that all died one by one, with tears in her eyes.
“Where does she live?” I ____. The response was quite ____. I noticed her “luggage”, two plastic bags, containing her ____. At this point, I gave her my ____, smooth stole(披肩). It was bright yellow and looked new.
But she was not ready to accept ____. She was worried about my feeling cold for a few minutes before I got home. She finally ____ the stole and covered herself, when I insisted. She was ____ me even more. I checked my bag and kept giving anything that I thought she could use. How grateful she was! At this moment, I saw change in her ____ state of mind. By this time, she seemed calm and ____. And so did I.
The look of ____ and hopelessness was transformed. She looked at the people who passed by us with more ____ in that moment.
I realized it was my small kind act ____ had counted a lot to the old woman.
1.A. out B. over C. up D. off
2.A. funny B. interesting C. attractive D. difficult
3.A. taste B. touch C. serve D. want
4.A. watching B. leading C. ignoring D. reporting
5.A. pocket B. bag C. hand D. luggage
6.A. angry B. thankful C. strange D. cautious
7.A. as well B. in all C. so well D. at all
8.A. friend B. habit C. career D. family
9.A. replied B. claimed C. wondered D. stated
10.A. different B. obvious C. serious D. weak
11.A. belongings B. goods C. clothes D. books
12.A. worn B. rough C. special D. warm
13.A. one B. it C. those D. them
14.A. brought B. got C. took D. carried
15.A. calming B. supporting C. blessing D. helping
16.A. common B. emotional C. conventional D. unique
17.A. content B. convenient C. appropriate D. available
18.A. desperation B. expression C. confusion D. devotion
19.A. doubt B. confidence C. regret D. carefulness
20.A. since B. that C. when D. which
The goal of homework is to help students remember and understand what they learned in school that day. It can also help teach them independence and time-management and planning skills, which are keys to success in the real world.1. Here are some successful habits of how to do a good job of homework.
Set the stage.
Your children need a quiet spot to do their homework.This should be the same place every day, whether it is at the kitchen table or at their desk in their room. 2.You can take the time to work on a quiet task of your own, whether it's paying bills, reading the newspaper, or planning the next day.
Time it right.
Homework for young children should be done when your children get home from school, because the information is still fresh in their minds and they have enough energy. Have your kids eat some snacks and talk about their day with you. Then have them start their homework. 3.
It's not your homework: it's theirs.
You need to be involved in homework to see what your children are learning and how well they know what they need to know.4.But guide them if they are struggling. You want them to get the feeling of pride and accomplishment on their own.
5.
Let your children know how grown up it is for them to have homework and how proud you are of them. Try to instill (灌输）into them that it is “fun” to be able to do the assigned tasks. Let them show you their work, praise them for finishing their homework, and always do it with a smile.
A. Be hopeful and confident.
B. Get excited and be positive.
C. Be nearby while they do their homework.
D. Be sure not to do the homework for your children.
E. That means the television is shut off, even for you.
F. A small amount of homework also has a great influence on students.
G. Arrange other activities for later in the day so kids can get their homework done first.
