Passage 5：
Leaving a tip in a restaurant has become a custom in most countries. The word “tip” came from the Latin word “Gratis”， meaning free. Tips are defined as small gifts of money for service in addition to the payment due.
Believe it or not， the practice of tipping has a little interesting history. The custom can be traced back to the Roman era. The Romans were the first civilization to use coins. It is possible that the word “tip” came from the word stipend. Strips in Latin means gift. A more common belief is tips were first given in the 18th century England. A popular coffee house equipped each table with a coin box. The label of each box read： “To insure promptness.” Dropping a coin into the box would result in quick service. Also， the first letter of each word is T.I.P. – tip.
In America and Europe it is customary to tip anywhere from 10% to 20%. Taxi drivers， waiters in restaurants， waitresses in lounges， hotel boys， doormen， and disco coat check girls， all expect a little something. People working at these jobs usually receive a low basic salary. Tips are quite necessary to supplement their income. Today most people decide the size of tip according to the quality of the service. If the service is good ，most people are quite happy to leave a tip.
The world is full of big spenders and people who act like big spenders. Surprisingly， rich people are not “big tippers” unless entertaining guests. It is no use showing off if nobody is there to watch， right? Many throw money around like water to impress a group of friends out for an evening “on the town”。 People who usually cannot afford it are the biggest tippers in front of their friends. It is all part of the show to prove a certain level of social success. Nobody wants to look cheap， stingy， or poor in front of their friends. Over-tipping also gives some satisfaction just to see the waiter‘s reaction.
For whatever reason， tipping will continue to be practiced in most countries. Tipping does have its place in our modern society. It will also remain a somewhat personal expression of gratitude.
21. What is the meaning of the word “gratis” according to the passage?
A) free of obligation B) free of charge C) plenty in time D) free from tax
答案：A
解析：B是免于起诉C是充足的时间D是免于征税，A是责任义务的免除。根据文章对消费的介绍选择A相比较妥帖。
22. When were tips first given in England
A) in the 17th century B) in the 18th century
C) in the 19th century D) in the 20th century
答案： B
解析： 细节题，第2段的第四句中A more common belief is tips were first given in the 18th century England其它的选项是错误的
23. Which of the following statements is true?
A) Most people think that tips originated in England.
B) Most people think that tips originated in Rome
C) Today most people decide the size of tips according to their mood.
D) According to the author， the practice of tipping does not have an interesting history
答案： A
解析： 推论题。第2段的。2句是说这个习惯追溯到罗马但是大家普遍认为的是在英国，理由同上。
24. How to understand the sentence “The world is full of big spenders and people who act like big spenders.”?
A) All people in the world have a lot of money.
B) No one in the world has a lot of money.
C) Many people spend a large sum of money every day.
D) The number of people who either have a lot of money or who pretend to be rich is great.
答案： D
解析： A、B明显是错误的!C和文章没有联系，主要是说一些有钱的和貌似有钱的人在消费上面的表现。C不能体现出该要表达的含义。
25. Why are people who cannot afford tipping the biggest tippers in front of their friends?
A) Because they have a lot of money.
B) Because they sympathize with taxi drivers， waiters in restaurants， waitresses in lounges and disco coat check girls， etc.
C) Because of their vanity.
D) None of the above.
答案： C
解析： vanity是虚荣奢华的含义，最后2段主要说。 It is all part of the show to prove a certain level of social success. Nobody wants to look cheap， stingy， or poor in front of their friends是说没有钱人的虚荣!C应该是最合适的答案。
Passage 6：
The current generation of parents must， in many cases， balance care of children with care for their own aging parents. It is estimated that women can now expect their mothers to live 55 years after their own birth and 30 to 40 years after the birth of their first child， many analysts suggest that this added pressure disproportionately touches the women， who already carry major responsibility for their own children.
Perhaps the most important issue that emerges from the social trends just described is the impact of family instability and single parenting on children. Some argue that single-parent families are a deficient form of family functioning. Others see them as a courageous， desirable alternative to unhappy two-parent families.
On average， kids fare better in two-parent families. But a sizable percentage of children in single parent families thrive， and many in two-parent families do not， what matters most – regardless of family structure – is what happens within the family.
Particularly important is the family‘s ability to support and nurture， minimize conflict， practice democratic decision making， provide consistent and positive forms of discipline and mode， and encourage values of caring and responsibility. Families should also provide access to structured activities (e.g.church participations， clubs， organizations， lessons) and a stimulating environment for learning (including parental involvement in schooling)。 While it is somewhat easier to deliver these in two-parent families， some single-parent families do succeed by drawing on informal and formal support systems from neighborhoods， schools， and churches.
26. The current generation of parents shoulder a heavy pressure ___.
A. since they carry major responsibility for their own children.
B. because in many cades they must balance care of children with care for their own aging parents.
C. they must burren lots of work in family.
D. because they hardly obtain any help from others
答案： B
解析： 细节题。文章的第一段第一句就是该题的答案，主要说作为母亲在家庭里面在孩子和对他们的老父母之间的权衡利弊。
27. Perhaps the most important issue that emerges from the social trends is ___.
A. the deficiency of single-parent families.
B. whether single-parent families can be regarded as a courageous， desirable alternative to unhappy two-parent families.
C. the impact of family instability and single parenting on children.
D. the poverty of the single-parent families.
答案： C
解析： 细节题。第2段的第一句就是这题的答案，要大家对细节仔细的把握，该句的意思是说：当今社会出现的家庭的不稳定性的单身家庭的出现对孩子这代的严重冲击。
28. On average， kids fare better in two-parent families， while ___.
A. many of them are not so obedient.
B. a sizable percentage of children in single-parent families thrive.
C. what happens within the family really matters.
D. children in single-parent families are not well fed.
答案： B
解析： 细节题。第2段的最后两句，意思是说在也有一定比例的单身家庭里面的孩子，生活学习也有进步。
29. All the following statements are mentioned as the important family abilities EXCEPT ___.
A. try to avoid the conflict.
B. decisions are always made democratically.
C. encourage the qualities of caring and responsibility.
D. make sure to monitor the fulfillment of each one‘s duty.
答案： D
解析： D的意思是说务必监视每个人的责任的履行。最后一段的第一句分别提到了A，B，C项的内容。只有第4项的内容没有涉及。
30. In what way can the single-parent families succeed in participating in the structured activities?
A. By providing access to church participation， clubs， etc.
B. By drawing on support systems from various kinds of organizations.
C. By taking part in parental involvement in schooling.
D. By following the two-parent families
答案： B
解析： 细节题。在文章的最后一句，是说利用那些来自邻居教堂和社会正式和非正式的援助 informal and formal support systems from neighborhoods， schools， and churches.
