Before she appeared on the reality show(真人秀) Britain’s Got Talent, Susan Boyle was just an ordinary middle-aged British woman. Now all this is going to change.
She lives in a house with her cat Pebbles in a tiny Scottish town. Because of learning difficulties, she doesn’t have much education. But what she does have is a very good voice. As a kid, she sang in church and choirs and school plays. For a living, she sang at local pubs.
When she took the stage on April 10th her hair was untidy and her clothes seemed just one step up from rags. The audience laughed at her.
But then she opened her mouth. A few bars into the song and the laughing audience went silent. A beautiful voice was singing I Dreamed a Dream from the musical Les Miserables. Everyone was amazed. At the end of her song, the audience jumped to their feet and applauded wildly.
Almost overnight, Susan became a household name. She won fans and millions of admirers. Her online videos have drawn over 85.2 million hits.
Susan’s story proved the truth of an old saying: “Never judge the book by its cover.” Susan may look ordinary, and doesn’t have much dress sense, but she can certainly sing.
Susan’s fans admire her courage, as much as they do her voice. She has experienced mockery and many disappointments, but her love for music has kept her going, which is worth anyone’s respect.According to the passage, Susan Boyle _______.
| A．is a famous young actress |
| B．became famous after a show |
| C．used to be a good student |
| D．is good at dancing and has millions of admirers |
The underlined phrase “just one step up from” in the third paragraph probably means______.
| A．far from | B．close to |
| C．different from | D．the same as |
The audience jumped and applauded wildly because__________.
| A．her hair was untidy and her clothes seemed just one step up from rags |
| B．she looked very funny |
| C．she sang so well that everyone was amazed |
| D．she made a foolish mistake in the end |
Susan Boyle has many fans now because of _______.
| A．her beautiful face |
| B．her knowing how to dress |
| C．her good education |
| D．her beautiful voice and courage |
The passage is mainly about___________.
| A．how to win fans |
| B．how to sing well |
| C．a woman’s sudden success |
| D．a woman’s simple life |
When humans and nature go head to head, nature often ends up losing. Rivers get polluted. Trees are knocked down. Natural resources are exhausted. That’s what makes the Galapagos Islands so special—it’s one of he few places on the Earth that nature can truly call its own.
For people used to having wild animals run at the scent of humans, a visit to the Galapagos is a real eye-opening experience. Over 1,600 km west of Ecuador, the islands are home to a unique variety of animals that have absolutely no fear of people. Visitors can play on the beach with sea lions and giant sea turtles, swim with dolphins and whales, and get close enough to the penguins to count the eggs in their nests.
The islands were declared a national park over 40 years ago, and the number of human visitors is tightly limited to avoid damaging he environment or putting stress on the animal. Tourists have to pay a $100 daily visitors fee, and can’t step off the boat unless accompanied(陪同) by an official guide. Once on the islands, you have to stay on the trail(小径), but that seldom presents a problem: the animals are so curious about people that they’ll usually come up to say hello.
“It’s a little like being in a zoo,” said one traveler. “But instead of us looking at the animals, the animals, the animals are looking at us.”
Aside from the wildlife, one of the island’ more unusual features is its post office. You can send postcards for free, but the problem is that there’s no postman to collect them. Instead, travelers pick up mail addressed to people who live near them back home, and then hand-deliver the postcards when their trip is finished.The Galapagos Islands are .
| A．terribly polluted | B．near Ecuador |
| C．in the Atlantic Ocean | D．independent of Ecuador |
Which animal is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．Whales. | B．Sea lions. |
| C．Goats. | D．Dolphins. |
On the Galapagos Islands the mail is delivered by .
| A．the government | B．the post office |
| C．the tourists | D．the guides |
What would be the bet title for the passage?
| A．Special “Zoo” | B．Humans and Nature |
| C．Go Head to Head | D．Ecuador—An Island Country |
What is one of the islands’ more unusual features?
| A．There’re some postmen to collect letters. |
| B．There are only the wild life. |
| C．You can send letters. |
| D．Travellers deliver the letters by themselves. |
In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability(可靠).
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults(过错) in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me.
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favour, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We would enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humour(幽默), too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I’ve found a friend!According to the author, the most important quality in choosing a friend is .
| A．understanding | B．honesty |
| C．reliability | D．a sense of humour |
If you have fair weather friends, .
| A．they will give you all that they have when you need help |
| B．you will be refused when you get into trouble |
| C．you will become rich |
| D．you can be sure that you get real friends |
Good friends need to .
| A．always point out each other’s mistakes |
| B．be helped with money |
| C．understand each other’s feelings |
| D．have money or luck |
This passage mainly discusses .
| A．the qualities of a friend |
| B．where to choose friends |
| C．how to get along with friends |
| D．the importance of having a friend |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．How to choose a friend? | B．My best friend |
| C．A good friend in my mind | D．Four qualities of a good friend |
During the 19th century, women’s education was not considered important in the United States. Supporters of advanced education for women faced many problems. States did require each town to provide a school for children, but teachers were often poorly prepared. Most young women were not able to continue on with their education in private schools. If they did, they often were not taught much except the French language, how to sew (缝制) clothing, and music.
Mary Lyon felt that women’s education was extremely important. Through her lifelong work for education she became the most famous woman in the 19th century America. She believed that women were teachers both at home and in the classroom. And she believed that efforts to better educate young women also served God. If women were better educated, she felt, they could teach in local schools throughout the United States and in foreign countries.
In 1837, Mary Lyon opened Mount Holyoke Seminary for Women. Only four teachers and the first class of eighty young women lived and studied in the building when the school opened. But Mary knew the importance of what had been established (建立) — the first independent school for the higher education of women. The school continued to grow. In 1893, under a state law, Mount Holyoke Female Seminary became a college. Mount Holyoke College was the first college to offer women the same education as was offered to men.
People who have studied Mary Lyon say she was not fighting a battle (战争) of equality between men and women, yet she knew she wanted more for women. Her efforts led to the spread of higher education for women in the United States. Historians say she was the strongest influence on the education of American young people during the middle of the 19th century.What did Mary Lyon think would be a result of better education for women?
| A．They could be teachers in local schools in the USA and in foreign countries. |
| B．They could help their children with the homework. |
| C．They could help their husbands with the work. |
| D．They could help their parents with the housework. |
Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?
| A．Teachers were poorly prepared in the 19th century. |
| B．Mount Holyoke Seminary for Women was the first independent school for the higher education of women in the United States. |
| C．Mount Holyoke College only taught women French. |
| D．Young women studied French, sewing and music in private schools in the 19th century. |
What contributions did Mary make to education?
A. She taught a great number of young women.
B. She made the law protect men’s right to education.
C. She was responsible for the spread of higher education for women in the USA.
D. She succeeded in developing her own education system.
The first summer job is often a signal that you are on your way to adulthood, and it is also a method for earning money to pay for what you dream of. It is never too early to start considering the future. Now, here are some good choices for you!
Retail(零售) Sales
Retail offers plenty of opportunity for teens who are looking for a job. This type of work can pay from $10 to $15 an hour depending on the duty you are expected to take on. It can also be great for teens who are friendly and enjoy talking to other people. For more information, call us at 111-222-3333.
Food Service
A job in the food service industry is a natural fit for sociable teens who enjoy communicating with public. It allows employees to work as part of a team while learning about following instructions. It also comes with the opportunity to earn between $8 and $10 per hour. Just call 111-222-3533 for more information.
Babysitter
This job requires someone who is highly responsible. Though it pays generally between $6 and $8 hourly, it also requires a lot of patience. This is a great choice for teens who wish to make a career in teaching, child care, social work or any other field that makes use of social skills or requires interaction with kids. Got a question? Just call 111-222-3336.
Housekeeping
This type of work can bring in about $5 an hour and it will allow teens to learn responsibility and develop their organizational skills. The summer sees an upswing in the tourism industry, so hotels are often looking for more housekeeping staff, and parks often need more people to assist with keeping public areas clean and organized as well. Telephone: 111-222-3330.How much can you earn at least in two hours as a retailer?
| A．$10 | B．$12 | C．$16 | D．$20 |
Which of the following jobs may attract teens who want to be a teacher?
| A．Retail Sales | B．Food Service |
| C．Babysitter | D．Housekeeping |
The underlined part “an upswing” in the last paragraph can best be replaced by________
| A．an increase | B．a limit |
| C．a sign | D．a trick |
The text is mainly written for teens who__________.
| A．are faced with communication problems |
| B．want a part-time job in the summer |
| C．dream of becoming a housekeeper |
| D．plan to start their own business |
O. Henry was a pen name used by an American writer of short stories. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He was born in North Carolina in 1862. As a young boy he lived an exciting life. He did not go to school for very long, but he managed to teach himself everything he needed to know. When he was about 20 years old, O. Henry went to Texas, where he tried different jobs. He first worked on a newspaper, and then had a job in a bank. When some money went missing from the bank, O. Henry was believed to have stolen it. Because of that, he was sent to prison. During the three years in prison, he learned to write short stories. After he got out of prison, he went to New York and continued writing. He wrote mostly about New York and the life of the poor there. People liked his stories, because simple though the tales were, they would finish with a sudden change at the end, to the readers' surprise.People enjoyed reading O. Henry's stories because_____
| A．they had surprise endings. |
| B．they were easy to understand. |
| C．they showed his love for the poor. |
| D．they were about New York City. |
O. Henry went to prison because_____
| A．people thought he had stolen money from the newspaper. |
| B．he broke the law by not using his own name. |
| C．he wanted to write stories about prisoners. |
| D．people thought he had taken money that was not his. |
What do we know about O. Henry before he began writing?
| A．He was well-educated. |
| B．He was not serious about his work. |
| C．He was devoted to the poor. |
| D．He was very good at learning. |
Where did O. Henry get most materials(素材) for his short stories?
| A．His life inside the prison. |
| B．The newspaper articles he wrote. |
| C．The city and people of New York. |
| D．His exciting early life as a boy. |
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