When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list grew: I was very thin; I wasn’t a good student; I talked too much; I was too proud and so on. I tried to bear all these things as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked, “Are the things she said true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you are really like? Well, you now have the girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said, mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half of the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it, “That’s just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just closing your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something that is said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to other people’s opinions, but hear the truth and do what you think is right.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice. The underlined sentence “Week by week her list grew” means “__________”.
| A．Week by Week, my shortcomings grew more serious |
| B．She had made a list of shortcomings and kept on adding new ones to it so that it was growing longer and longer |
| C．I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on |
| D．Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and point them out |
Why did her father listen to her quietly?
| A．Because he believed that what her daughter’s enemy said was mostly true. |
| B．Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while. |
| C．Because he didn’t believe in his daughter |
| D．Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth. |
What did the father do after he heard his daughter’s complaint?
| A．He told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” said. |
| B．He criticized her and told her to overcome her shortcomings. |
| C．He told her to write down all that her "enemy" had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true. |
| D．He refused to take the list and have a look at it. |
Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
| A．Not an Enemy, but a Best Friend |
| B．My Father |
| C．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had |
| D．My Childhood |
Three Central Texas men were honored with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Director’s Award in a Tuesday morning ceremony for their heroism in saving the victims of a serious twocar accident.
The accident occurred on March 25 when a vehicle lost control while traveling on rainsoaked State Highway 6 near Baylor Camp Road. It ran into an oncoming vehicle, leaving the occupants trapped inside as both vehicles burst into flames.
Bonge was the first on the scene and heard children screaming. He broke through a back window and pulled Mallory Smith, 10, and her sister, Megan Smith,9, from the wreckage.
The girls’ mother, Beckie Smith, was not with them at the time of the wreck, as they were traveling with their baby sitter, Lisa Bowbin.
Beckie Smith still remembers the sickening feeling she had upon receiving the call informing her of the wreck and the despair as she drove to the scene.
Bozeman and Clemmons arrived shortly after Bonge and helped rescue the other victims and attempted to put out the fires.
“I was nervous,” Bozeman said. “I don’t feel like I’m a hero. I was just doing what anyone should do in that situation. I hope someone would do the same for me.”
Everyone at the accident made it out alive, with the victims suffering from nonlifethreatening injuries. Mallory Smith broke both femurs(股骨), and Megan had neck and back injuries. Bowbin is still recovering from a broken pelvis(骨盆), ankle and foot.
The rescuers also were taken to the hospital and treated for cuts and smoke breathing, Bonge said.
In addition, Bozeman got to meet accident victim Anthony Russo in the hospital after the accident, where Russo presented him with a glass frame inscribed with “Thank you”, Bozeman said. Those involved in that fateful encounter on Highway 6 credited God blessing for bringing them together.
“Whatever the circumstances, Tuesday’s ceremony provided a time to be grateful for those who put their lives on the line for the lives of complete strangers,” Beckie Smith said, “We’re calling it The Miracle on Highway 6.” What’s the main idea of the passage?
| A．Three persons were awarded for rescuing victims in a car accident. |
| B．Three ordinary people were regarded as great heroes. |
| C．Several victims were carried to safety from the burning cars. |
| D．A car accident occurred on rainsoaked State Highway 6. |
Who saved Megan Smith from the damaged car?
| A．Clemmons. | B．Anthony Russo. |
| C．Bozeman. | D．Bonge. |
Which of the following can be used to describe Bozeman?
| A．Kind. | B．Modest. |
| C．Excited. | D．Smart. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Luckily, no one received too serious injuries in the accident. |
| B．All the victims received slight injuries in the accident. |
| C．The rescuers were taken to the hospital to visit the victims. |
| D．The injured will soon recover from their injuries. |
New findings from Queen’s University biologists show that in the plant world, bigger isn’t necessarily better.
“Until now most of the thinking has suggested that to be a good competitor in the forest, you have to be a big plant,” says Queen’s Biology professor Lonnie Aarssen. “But our research shows it’s virtually the other way around.”
Previous studies showed that larger plant species monopolize(垄断) sunlight, water and other resources, limiting the number of smaller plant species that can exist around them. But the research has proved that this is not generally the case in natural vegetation.
In the Queen’s project, PhD student Laura Keating targeted the largest “host plants” of 16 woody plant species growing in the Okanogan Valley, British Columbia. The research team calculated the number and variety of plants that neighbored each large host plant. They then randomly selected plots without host plants and calculated the plant species there as well. The research showed that the massive trees have no effect on the number of species with which they coexist.
Smaller plants have many advantages over their overbearing neighbors, Professor Aarssen notes. Larger species generate physical space niches under their shelters where smaller species grow well. Smaller plants are much more effective than large trees at using available resources. They also produce seeds at a much younger age and higher rate than their bigger counterparts, and settle down much more quickly—thuscompeting with the newly-born plants of larger species. What’s the main idea of the text?
| A．Smaller plants may have many advantages over their neighbors. |
| B．In the plant world, the bigger is better than the smaller one. |
| C．To be a good competitor in the forest, you have to be a small plant. |
| D．Queen’s University’s students made a new research. |
The underlined word “this” in Para. 3 refers to the view that _____.
| A．large and small plants can grow together in harmony |
| B．larger plant species limit their smaller neighbors’ growth |
| C．small plant species have their own advantages |
| D．large and small plant species can never coexist |
What can we learn according to the text?
| A．Larger plant species limit the number of smaller ones around them. |
| B．Smaller plants can limit the number of plant species around them. |
| C．Smaller plants produce seeds at a higher rate than their bigger counterparts. |
| D．Larger trees are more effective than small plants at using available resources. |
Which is the CORRECT order in the Queen’s project?
a. Randomly selected plots without host plants and-calculated the plant species.
b. Calculated the number and variety of plants that neighbored each large host plant.
c. Selected the largest individuals or "host plants" of 16 woody plant species.
| A．a, b, c | B．c, b, a |
| C．b, c, a | D．a, c, b |
Each new school year brings fresh reminders of what educators call the summer learning gap. Some call it the summer learning setback. Simply speaking, it means the longer kids are out of school, the more they forget. The only thing they might gain is weight.
Most American schools follow a traditional nine-month calendar with winter and spring breaks and about ten weeks of summer vacation. Some schools follow a year-round calendar. They hold classes for about eight weeks at a time, with a few weeks off in between. The National Association for Year-Round Education says there were fewer than 3,000 such schools at last count. They were spread among forty-six of the fifty states.
But many experts point out that the number of class days in a year-round school is generally the same as in a traditional school. Lead researcher Paul von Hippel said, “Year-round schools don’t really solve the problem of the summer learning setback. They simply spread it out across the year.”
Across the country, research shows that students from poor families fall farther behind over the summer than other students. Experts say this can be prevented. They note that many schools and local governments offer programs that can help.
But calling them “summer school” could be a problem. The director of the summer learning center at Johns Hopkins, Ron Fairchild, said research with groups of different parents in Chicago and Baltimore found that almost all strongly disliked the term “summer school”. In American culture, the idea of summer vacation is connected to beliefs about freedom and the joys of childhood. The parents welcomed other terms like “summer camp”, “extra time” and “hands-on learning”. According to the first paragraph, the summer learning gap _____.
| A．helps children to gain weight |
| B．leads children to work harder |
| C．improves children’s memories |
| D．affects children’s regular studies |
Compared to traditional schools, students in the year-round ones _____.
| A．perform better and have more learning gains |
| B．have much less time for relaxation every year |
| C．have generally the same number of class days |
| D．hold more classes with more free weeks off |
Which of the following statements is TRUE?
| A．Students from poor families often fall behind after the vocation. |
| B．Year-round schools can solve the problem of the learning gap. |
| C．There are schools in each state following a year-round calendar. |
| D．Nothing can help the students who fall behind after the vocation. |
Why did almost all parents dislike the term “summer school”?
| A．Because they cherish the children’s rights of freedom very much. |
| B．Because they are worried about the quality of the “summer school”. |
| C．Because they want their children to be forced to make up the gap. |
| D．Because they couldn’t afford to the further study during the vacation. |
Bus crash kills four Taiwanese, injures 15
(People’s Daily Online)
14:38, August 16, 2011
A tourist bus crashed on the highway in Jilin province leaving four Taiwanese tourists dead at the scene and 15 injured.
According to the Jilin Publicity Department, the bus overturned after colliding with a car on the Hunchun-Ulanhot expressway in Jilin province around 440 kilometers away from Changchun. Four Taiwanese tourists were killed instantly, including one man and three women, and of the 15 injured, 14 were Taiwanese tourists.
The tour leader provided a list of the dead: The three women killed were Lv Huiyu, 42; Zhao Zhuo, 62; Liao Xiuyun, 42, and the man was Wang Mingwei, 24. Moreover, the injured tourists were mostly elderly. The oldest injured tourist is around 80 years old and the youngest victim was about 50 years old. Five of them were hurt seriously, but their injuries are not life threatening.
According to the local public security bureau, the bus had a capacity(载客量) of 39 people and carried a real load of 21 people. It belongs to the Heilongjiang Juntai Transport Co., Ltd.
The departments of public security, fire control, the Taiwan Affairs Office have actively operated scene rescue, accident investigation and follow-up care for victims after the tragedy(悲剧). The Jilin provincial party committee secretary Sun Zhengcai issued instructions immediately requiring proper handling of the aftermath and genuine care in helping the victims. The vice-governor Chen Weigen visited the injured in the First Hospital of Jilin University.
The responsible person of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office is heading for Changchun. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．All the people injured on the bus were Taiwanese tourists. |
| B．The accident happened on the expressway near Changchun. |
| C．Most of the injured were elderly. |
| D．Most of the injured were seriously hurt and several of them were dying. |
Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “colliding” in the passage?
| A．碰撞；相撞 | B．拐弯 |
| C．翻转 | D．坠毁 |
What is the writer’s attitude in writing this passage?
| A．Sad. | B．Objective. |
| C．Disappointed | D．Doubtful. |
2012 TEEN TRIP TO THE LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY
For Teens Currently in 6th to 12th Grades
LELAND HIGH SNOW PLAY —Class # 8389
Saturday, November 12, 2012
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Meet at THE UNDERGROUND
(Veteran’s Building—2203 Central Avenue)
Cost per person: $50 ($60 after October 22, 2012)— Includes Lunch, Admission and Transportation With a 4,000sq. Ft. day-use lodge, the Leland High Snow Play has a huge supply of tubes to choose from, along with awesome tows(拖车) that will tow you up to the top of the hill! Our varied terrains(地形) have something for everyone, while the lodge provides a snack bar, video games, pool tables, five indoor rest rooms, a warm fire, and a sun deck with plenty of tables and chairs overlooking the play area outside.
ADDITIONAL LIABILITY FORM REQUIRED FOR THIS TRIP.
Be sure to bring warm clothing and prepare for the cold, but dress in layers in case it warms up. Wear dry boots, socks, and sunscreen. If possible, bring a mobile phone in case of emergency, as well as money for snacks and a light dinner; or bring your own food and drinks. Meet at The Underground (Veteran’s Building—2203 Central Avenue)—don’t be late!
Do not bring electronic or fragile items during the trip. The ARPD is not responsible for your personal belongings or money. REFUNDS ARE ISSUED ONLY IF THE ARPD CANCELS THIS TRIP DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Click here to download “2011 Leland High Snow Play” flyers and the registration form(PDF, 261KB)
Click here to download “Leland High Snow Play Liability Form”(PDF, 14KB)
1. You may register in person, or mail the completed form to Leland High Snow Play, Inc. Send the liability form and payment to the ARPD Office, 2226 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, 94501.
2. Faxed registration and liability forms accepted with MasterCard/VISA, (510) 747-7566.
3. Online registrations available at www.arpdeplay.com. Make sure you bring your completed liability form on the trip. The purpose of the text is to _____.
| A．explain the details of a school activity |
| B．introduce a famous tour agency |
| C．urge teenagers to climb a snowy mountain |
| D．advertise a trip to the Leland High Snow Play |
People who want to take part in the activity need to _____.
| A．pay for dinner themselves |
| B．climb the hill themselves |
| C．wear hats to protect themselves from the sun |
| D．pay for tows individually |
From the text we can infer that _____.
| A．the weather at the hill is changeable |
| B．the activity is very dangerous |
| C．12-year-old children are not allowed on the trip |
| D．the trip will involve outdoor activities only. |
Among other items, what do the participants need to take?
| A．Their filled-in liability forms. |
| B．ID cards and a small amount of cash. |
| C．Their agreements with the tour agency. |
| D．Their registration forms downloaded from the Internet. |
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