Imagination and fantasy can play an important role in achieving the things we fear. Children know this very well. Fred Epstein, in his book I Make It to Five, tells a story he heard from one of his friends about Tom, a four-year-old boy with a cancer in his back bone. He came through several operations and a lot of pain by mastering his imagination.
Tom loved to pretend, and he particularly loved to play superheroes. Dr. Epstein explained that it was actually a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led.
The day before his third trip to the operating room, Tom was terribly afraid. “Maybe I could go as Superman,” he whispered to his mom. Hearing this, the mother hesitated for a while. She has avoided buying the expensive costume(戏装), but finally she agreed.
The next day Tom appeared as the powerful Superman, showing off through the hospital halls and coolly waving his hand to the people greeting him along the way. And Tom, with the strength of his fantasy, successfully made it through the operation.
The power of imagination need not be reserved for children only. We all have the power to use our fantasies to attempt things we never thought possible, to go through those things that seem impossible, and to achieve what we never believed we could. Just as Dr. Epstein puts it, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
It doesn’t mean that you should dress as a superhero for your next job interview. But, next time you are tested in a way that seems impossible, imagine what it would take to overcome it. Become the person you need to become to win over your challenge and do it in your mind first. So, let your imagination run wild, and dare to dream.What do we know about Tom?
| A．He was seriously ill. |
| B．He was a dishonest boy. |
| C．He was crazy about magic. |
| D．He was Dr. Epstein’s patient. |
What can be inferred about Tom’s mother?
| A．She was a rich lady. |
| B．She refused Tom’s request. |
| C．She wanted Tom to be a superhero. |
| D．She wanted to get Tom through the pain. |
When Tom went for the third operation, he_________.
| A．pretended to be painful | B．acted like a superhero |
| C．appeared in poor spirits | D．argued with his mother |
In the last paragraph, you are advised________.
| A．to go through some difficult tests |
| B．to wake up from your wild dreams |
| C．to become a powerful person in your mind |
| D．to wear expensive clothes for job interviews |
Washington, April 4----- The United States has more than 90 million families for the first time, but each contains fewer people on average than ever, the Census Bureau(统计局) reported today.
The 90,031,000 families in the United States averaged 2.64 members each as of last July 1.“The reason is, in effect, changes in the age structure,” explained Campbell Gibson, a population researcher for the bureau. Most Americans born in the great explosion of births are now in their 20’s and 30’s when they most likely to set up families, he said.
The fact that many are doing so increased the number of families from 80.4 million in 1980 t0 88.8 million in 1986 and past the 90 million mark last summer.
At the same time, the average number of people per family dropped from 2.75 in 1985 to 2.65 in 1986 and then to 2.64, Mr Gibson said.
By comparison, the 1970 Census found the average family contained 3.14 people. Families averaged more than four people in 1939 and more than five in 1880.
The growing number of ever---- smaller families is still going on, but Mr Gibson pointed out that family growth was not the same as population increase in the 1970’s.
The same age factors that are increasing the number of families also happened then, but in the 1970’s the proportion(比例) of families in each age group was also growing.
That hasn’t continued in the 1980’s for a number of possible reasons, Mr Gibson said. For example, in the 1980’s more young people have chosen to remain home with their parents instead of setting up housekeeping on their own, as many did in the 1970’s.
This could be caused by the increasing cost of housing, he said. Delays in marriage while young people go to work and school, have also been widely reported as a factor, but it was not the only factor for the family changes.The smaller figure of families reported here is _________.
| A．1980 | B．80,400,000 | C．2.64 | D．90 million |
What’s the reporter’s attitude towards the present situation?
A. People should get married at later age.
- The average number of family members should be 2.64.
- It’s not clear in the report.
- Young people should set up housekeeping on their own, as many did in the 1970’s.
A. delay in marriage will not help the number of the families
- delay in marriage is the major factor of the family changes
- the writer felt sorry that many young people now delay their marriages
- there must be some other factors which have led to the slower growth in the 1980’s
| A．reason | B．something that proves be true |
| C．advantage | D．something that helps to bring about a result |
Commonwealth Games gold winner Liam Killeen is one of England’s most successful Mountain Biking stars. Liam recently came third in the opening round of the World Cup Series.
Do you come from a sporty family?
NO, but my family have encouraged me and supported me from the beginning of my career.
Were there any sports you didn’t like playing at school?
I didn’t do much swimming or cricket. My school focused more on rugby and athletics including cross-country running which I really enjoyed.
How does it feel to represent England?
Good, and it’s a responsibility as well as an honor, whether representing England, as in the Commonwealth Games, or Great Britain as I did in the Athens Olympics (2004). I am proud to represent a nation that is generally well regarded by others.
Which other sports stars do you like?
Everyone who has made it to world class competition level has earned respect. I particularly admire Paula Radcliffe and Lance Armstrong.
What are your hopes for the future?
To have this season continue as successfully as it has started and make the podium in the World Cup in Fort William in May, and at the Mountain Bike World Championship on 27th August this year in New Zealand. In the longer term, to win a medal at the Olympics in Britain and to see more people racing and enjoying mountain biking.The passage is taken from .
| A．an interview between a reporter and Liam Killeen |
| B．a daily talk between Liam Killeen and his father |
| C．a book written by Liam Killeen |
| D．a speech made by Liam Killeen |
Liam Killeen won a gold medal in the .
| A．World Championships | B．World Cup |
| C．Commonwealth Games | D．Olympic Games |
.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Liam’s family enjoy sports very much. |
| B．Liam loves swimming and mountain biking |
| C．Liam took part in the Olympic Games in 2004 |
| D．Liam’s father also enjoys mountain biking very much |
From the passage we can infer that .
| A．Liam Killeen will win a gold medal in the Olympics in 2012 |
| B．Lance Armstrong is a world-class sports player |
| C．Liam Killeen has earned a lot of money |
| D．Liam has won many gold medals in world competitions |
What do you usually expect from a pop star’s concert? Dazzling stage design, mysterious guest singers or sensational costumes? The answer is yes for most singers. But no when it comes to David Tao’s concerts. “ I won’t invite guests to perform. I won’t dance, take off my clothes or dress up like a peacock to attract attention,” Tao said.Tao insisted a concert should offer nothing more than music.
Tao has been on the music scene since 1997. Quality is the word that can best describe his works. With six albums in 10 years, the 38-year-old singer is not prolific(多产的 ), but he has achieved much more than other Chinese singers who have produced 10 or more albums in a short time.
Tao is called the “ Godfather of R&B” in China and has been a trendsetter(创新者) in China’s music industry. His albums have won various awards in Asia for his socially conscious lyrics, simple rhythms and creative mix of traditional sounds, like Peking Opera and traditional Chinese musical instruments.
Tao’s parents were famous entertainers in Taiwan. Tao spent some of his childhood in Hong Kong. His father was an actor, singer and composer, while his mother was a Peking Opera artist. His parents once moved to the United States and his father worked for Walt Disney. Later his parents returned to Taiwan where his father began his singing career, leaving David to finish his education in the United States. Tao met Taiwanese producer, Wang Zhi Ping, who offered him a job. So Tao went back to Taiwan to write and produce songs for many singers. In 1997 with the help of Wang and another Taiwanese producer, Jim Lee, Tao released his first album which set a record in Taiwan as the first album from a new singer. Tao won two awards, Best Newcomer and Best Producer, becoming the first new comer/singer to also win a Best Producer award during the 9th GMA (金曲奖). Later, Tao released his second album. In this album Tao tried many musical styles including his favorite rock music; in fact each song is different in their style and music arrangement.
“I grew up listening to the most fashionably mixed types of music with my father playing Elvis Presley’s songs in one room and my mother singing Peking Opera in another,” Tao said jokingly.
Tao said he will release a new album after the tour and then he will switch roles to become a film director. Preparation for the movie has already begun and it will be released in 2011. “ After the concert, I will switch my focus to that. I hope I can make it one thing after another.”To pop star Tao, what is the most important thing to a concert?
| A．Costumes. | B．Stage design. |
| C．Guest singers. | D．Music and interaction. |
According to the passage, the reasons for Tao’s albums to win awards are as follows EXCEPT____.
| A．socially conscious lyrics | B．simple rhythms |
| C．mix of traditional sounds | D．quantities of albums |
. Tao is successful and called the “ Godfather of R&B” because_______.
| A．his parents influenced him a lot |
| B．he himself is prolific |
| C．he is creative in music |
| D．Both A and C |
We can infer from the passage that after the concert,_______.
| A．Tao will spend less time in his music |
| B．Tao will spend all his time producing music |
| C．Tao will become an actor |
| D．Tao will make two films |
Some people bring out the best in you in a way that you might never have fully realized on your own．My mom was one of those people．
My father died when I was nine months old，making my mom a single mother at the age of eighteen．While I was growing up，we lived a very hard life．We had little money，but my mom gave me a lot of love．Each night，she sat me on her lap and spoke the words that would change my life，“Kemmons，you are certain to be a great man and you can do anything in life if you work hard enough to get it．”
At fourteen，I was hit by a car and the doctors said I would never walk again. Every day，my mother spoke to me in her gentle，loving voice，telling me that no matter what those doctors said. I could walk again if I wanted it badly enough．She drove that message so deep into my heart that I finally believed her．A year later，I returned to school--walking on my own．
When the Great Depression(大萧条)hit，my mom lost her job．Then I left school to support the both of us．At that moment，I was determined never to be poor again．
Over the years, I experienced various levels of business Success．But the real turning point occurred on a vocation I took with my wife and five kids in 1951．I was dissatisfied with the second-class hotels available for families and was angry that they charged an extra$2 for each child．That was too expensive for the average American family．I told my wife that I was going to open a motel(汽车旅馆)for families that would never charge extra for children．There were plenty of doubters at that time．
Not surprisingly，mom was one of my strongest supporters．She worked behind the desk and even designed the room style．As in any business，we experienced a lot of challenges．But with my mother’s words deeply rooted in my soul，I never doubted we could succeed．Fifteen years later，we had the largest hotel system in the world—Holiday Inn. In 1979，my company had 1759 inns in more than fifty countries with an income of $ 1 billion a year．
You may not have started out life in the best situations．But if you can find a task in life worth working for and believe in yourself，nothing can stop you．What Kemmons' mom often told him during his childhood was ．
| A．caring | B．moving | C．encouraging | D．interesting |
What caused Kemmons to start a motel by himself?
| A．His terrible experience in the hotel． |
| B．His previous business success of various levels． |
| C．His mom’s support． |
| D．His wife’s suggestion． |
．Which of the following best describes Kemmoms’ mother? 、
| A．Modest，helpful，and hard-working． |
| B．Loving，supportive，and strong-willed． |
| C．Careful，helpful，and beautiful． |
| D．Strict，sensitive and supportive． |
Which of the following led to Kemmons’ success according to the passage?
| A．Self-confidence，hard work，clear goals and a poor family． |
| B．Mom's encouragement，clear goals，self-confidence，and hard work． |
| C．Clear goals，mom’s encouragement，a poor family，and higher education． |
| D．Mom's encouragement，a poor family，higher education and opportunities． |
In Germany, English expressions are used in conversations and increasingly in written form. Advertisements are often expressed completely in English. When I go to the gym, there are “aerobic-classes (增氧健身法课程)”. We “warm up”. We go “jogging.” In business, we attend a “meeting” and we have “good connections.”
Other nations, like France, have taken action to protect their language from the influence of “Americanization”. In Germany, however, there is concern that those rules could be connected with Hitler’s Third Reich (帝国), when the language had to be pure. If the government curbed the use of English words now, this could be considered by some as a return to that terrible past.
Some German citizens are now trying to stop the use of English vocabulary in German. However, I think generally it is not a big deal to use some common English expressions as they often describe things more directly. But we should know that it is important to use English correctly. All too often, bad English is spoken or even written instead of good German. The proper use of the German language would be the better choice. However, there are some fields that require the use of English words, for example, in the high-tech communication and the Internet fields, there is no alternative to English. Also, I think sometimes I have to speak English when I introduce some scenic places to tourists.
I think you have to find a balance and decide when it is better to use good German in place of bad English or when the use of correct English words is more suitable. Languages have always changed naturally, and I disagree with a restriction by law. Some nice expressions borrowed from other languages can make a conversation more vivid.By giving many examples in the first paragraph, the writer shows that __________.
| A．most Germans have no difficulty in understanding English |
| B．English is more and more widely used in Germany |
| C．it is more convenient to use English in some situations |
| D．English has completely replaced German in Germany |
From the passage, we can learn that when Hitler was in power, __________ in Germany.
| A．all languages except English could be used |
| B．only some foreign languages could be used |
| C．only the upper class could speak English |
| D．only the German language could be used |
What job does the writer probably do?
| A．A travel guide. | B．A lawyer. | C．A computer engineer. | D．A teacher. |
What is the writer’s attitude towards the use of English in Germany?
| A．There should be a law to protect the dominance of German. |
| B．It is foolish for Germans to worry about their native language. |
| C．Germans should be encouraged to speak more English. |
| D．Proper use of English can make conversations more colorful. |
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