Directions：Read the following passage．Fill in the numbered blanks by using the information from the passage．Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer．

New Year traditions all around the world

    “Happy New Year!” Everyone will greet each other with these words as they meet each other over the next couple of weeks. But it wasn’t always January 1 that marked the New Year.

    At least 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians marked the changing of the year. In Egypt, the year started when the Nile River flooded, enriching farmers’ fields. This happened at the end of September.

    The Babylonians held a festival in the spring, on March 23, to kick off the next farming cycle. The Babylonian celebration lasted for 11 days.

    The date January 1 was picked by the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar as the change of the year when he established his own calendar in 46 BC. The month of January originates from the Roman god, Janus. He is pictured with two heads. One head looks forward and the other back. They represent a break between the old and new. The new calendar was in time with the sun and it has been used until the present day.

    In Vietnam, the New Year holiday happens in February. They buy fresh flowers and a peach blossom to put in their house, following the Vietnamese custom.

    Thailand has its specific New Year’s date; it’s different from the normal calendar. The Thai New Year is celebrated on April 13. On this day, Thai people play with water, throwing it on each other. It is intended to bring good luck during the New Year ahead.

    In China, the more favorable New Year is usually celebrated in February according to lunar calendar (陰歷). On New Year’s Eve, all family members sit together at table, enjoying lots of auspicious foods such as dumplings, chicken to bring good luck.

New Year traditions all around the world

According to the message board,Orinon Books_______.

A.opposes the reading of original classics

B.is embarrassed for cutting down classics

C.thinks cut-down classics have a bright future

D.is cautious in its decision to cut down classics

In Mr.Edwards’ opinion,Orion Group is shortening classics to_______.

A.make them easier to read

B.meet a large demand in the market

C.increase the sales of literary books

D.compete with their original versions

By describing the shortened classics as “a breath of fresh air”,Ms.Weir_______.

A.speaks highly of the cut-down classics

B.shows gailty of the original classics

C.feels guilty of not reading the classics

D.disapproves of shortening the classics

Mr.Crockatt seems to imply that_______.

A.reading the classic works is a confusing attempt

B.shortening the classics does harm to the original

C.publishing the cub-down classics is a difficult job

D.editing the classic works satisfies children’s needs

We live in a digital world now, and a student’s technology needs have changed. For the early years, when you are in primary school, you can get by with no technology at all. Even if you have a computer, it’s a good idea to get children familiar with libraries. At this age, trips to the library are like family outings.
As you get closer to middle school, a computer with Internet access becomes more of a necessity. Teachers will often give assignments that require a student to use the Internet for research. After a computer, technology choices for students become more difficult to make – especially when it comes to cell-phones. Kids will beg their parents for a cell-phone, especially in middle school. For many parents, it’s a safety issue: They want to know that their kids can reach them quickly if necessary. For teachers, cell phones can be used to record lessons when students are absent. But many teachers dislike cell-phones. Some kids send messages or have talks in the class. Sending messages also raises the problem of cheating on exams. More and more schools are now forbidding the use of cell-phones.
Many kids see iPods as necessary things to have. IPods are great for music, but do they do anything good for your children’s education? Maybe they do. That’s the opinion of Doug Johnson, an educator for 30 years. Johnson says that educators should accept all new forms of technology in the classroom, including iPods. “Some do more with their cell- phones than we can do with our laptops,” he jokes. “I don’t think we should be afraid. The truth is that it’s easier to change the way we teach than to change the technology habits of an entire generation.”
【小題1】According to author, primary school children should___.

.
Our spiritual intelligence quotient，or SQ，helps us understand ourselves，and live fuller，
happier lives．
While we’re all born with SQ，most of us don’t even realize that we have it．Fortunately，you don't have to sign up for classes to learn how to improve your SQ．Here are some simple steps that can lead you to this new level of understanding．
Sit Quietly．The process of developing spiritual intelligence begins with solitude（獨(dú)處）and
silence．To tune in to your spirit，you have to turn down the volume in your busy，noisy，complicated life and force yourself to do nothing at all．Start small by creating islands for silence in
your day．In the car，instead of reading or doing something else，use the time to think．At work，
shut the door to our office between meetings，take a few breaths and let them out very，very slowly．Enjoy the stillness in your home after the kids are finally in bed．
Step Outside．For many people，nature sets their spirit free．Go outside to watch a beautiful
sunset．If you are walking with your dog，take the time to admire flowers in bloom；follow the flight of birds；watch clouds float overhead．
Ask Questions of Yourself．Ask open-ended questions，such as “What am I feeling？” “What are my choices？”or “Where am I heading？” But don’t expect an answer to arrive through some
supernatural form or e-mail．“Rarely do I get an immediate answer to my question，”says Reverend  Joan Carter，a Presbyterian（長(zhǎng)老會(huì)的）minister in Sausalito，California．“But later that day I suddenly find myself thinking about a problem in a perspective（視角）I never considered before．”
Trust Your Spirit．While most of us rely on gut feeling（本能的反應(yīng)）to realize danger，spiritual intelligence pushes us，not away from，but towards some action that will lead to a greater good．
68．The passage is mainly about_________．
A．what your SQ is and in what way it can benefit your life
B．what your SQ is and in what way it can be improved
C．the relationship between your SQ and your life
D．a(chǎn)dvantages and disadvantages of SQ
69．The underlined phrase “tune in to your spirit” in the third paragraph probably means______．
A．get your spirit relaxed    B．keep up your spirit
C．keep seated quietly D．change your spirit
70．The author mentions the example of Reverend Joan Carter to show that_________．
A．there are no immediate answers to your questions
B．e-mails can’t keep working out a problem
C．the more questions you ask，the better answers you’ll get
D．changing your way of thinking might help you solve a problem
71．From the passage，we can know that the most important thing to improve your SQ is________．
A．a(chǎn) peaceful mind             B．deep thought
C．spare time and hobbies   D．good spirits

Christmas is long gone. and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it's a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here fife a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l 8K. Anything over l 8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(寶石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it's confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there fife a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “l(fā)ook for less”, consider gold. plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(標(biāo)準(zhǔn)純銀)?
Sterling silver has been。an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver--something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
【小題1】According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.