I was working as an intern(实习生) at my University’s Museum of Natural history when I was an undergraduate in college. One day while working at the cash register in the gift shop, I saw an elderly couple come in with a little girl in a wheelchair.
As I looked closer at this girl, I saw that she was kind of perched(位于高处) on her chair. I then realized that she had no arms or legs, just a head, neck and upper body. She was wearing a little white dress with red dots.
As the couple wheeled her up to me I was looking down at the register. I turned my head toward the girl and gave her a wink(眨眼), As I took the money from her grandparents, I looked back at the girl, who was giving me a nicest, largest smile I had ever seen. All of a sudden her handicap was gone and all I saw was this beautiful girl, whose smile just melted me and almost instantly gave me a completely new sense of what life is all about. She took me away from a poor, unhappy college student and brought me into her world; a world of smiles, love and warmth.
That was 10 years ago. I’m a successful business person now and whenever I get down and think about the troubles of the world, I think about that little girl and the unforgettable lesson about life that she taught me.In the writer’s opinion, the little girl_________.
| A．had no influence on his life |
| B．sponsored him to do his business |
| C．had a cheerful spirit |
| D．told everyone how to live a good life |
What do we know about the writer?
| A．He ran a gift shop in the university |
| B．He looked down upon the girl because she had no arms and legs |
| C．He just graduated from university |
| D．He is successful in his business |
The underlined word “handicap” in Paragraph 3 probably means_________.
| A．disappointment | B．appearance |
| C．disability | D．impression |
Why do people drink too much, eat too much, smoke cigarettes or take drugs? What’s to blame for all the bad behavior? Most people would say that, while these self-destructive (自我毁灭的) acts can have many root causes, they all have one obvious thing in common: they are all examples of failures of self-control, lacking the will power to resist them.
According to a recent study, however, if you really think about it, something about that simple answer doesn’t quite make sense. In fact, it turns out that sometimes it’s having will power that really gets you into trouble.
Think back to the time you took your very first sip (啜饮) of beer. Disgusting, wasn’t it? When my father gave me my first taste of beer as a teenager, I wondered why anyone would voluntarily drink it. And smoking? No one enjoys their first cigarette — it tastes awful. So even though smoking, and drinking alcohol or coffee, can become temptation (诱惑) you need will power to resist, they never, ever start out that way.
Just getting past those first horrible experiences actually requires a lot of self-control. Ironically (讽刺的是), only those who can control themselves well, rather than give in to them, can ever come to someday develop a “taste” for Budweiser beer, Marlboro cigarettes, or dark-roasted Starbucks coffee. We do it for social acceptance. We force ourselves to consume alcohol, cigarettes, coffee and even illegal drugs, in order to seem experienced, grown-up, and cool.
These bad habits aren’t self-control failures — far from it. They are voluntary choices, and they are in fact self-control successes. Self-control is simply a tool to be put to some use, helpful or harmful. To live happy and productive lives, we need to develop not only our self-control, but also the wisdom to make good decisions about when and where to apply it.What do most people think causes bad behavior?
| A．Being forced by others. |
| B．Not having enough will power. |
| C．Enjoying their first experiences. |
| D．Following the examples of their friends. |
The author mentions his experience in the third paragraph to prove ____.
| A．will power helps develop bad habits sometimes |
| B．drinking beer is harmful to the health of teenagers |
| C．self-control should be developed when one is young |
| D．everyone can be challenged by different temptations |
In the last paragraph, the author stresses that ____.
| A．without self-control, no one can succeed |
| B．bad habits don’t always lead to bad results |
| C．applying self-control correctly is important |
| D．people can develop wisdom from bad behavior |
What would be the best title for the passage?
| A．My First Sip of Beer |
| B．Do You Have Will Power ? |
| C．Will Power Benefits Us |
| D．Dark Side of Self-control |
To Whom It May Concern:
On March 5, 2012 , I bought a Perfect Muffin Kit(松饼粉 ) from your store at Midfield Shopping Center. The cashier who assisted me was George. George was very friendly and told me that the Perfect Muffin Kit would live up to the guarantee on the box: “Perfect Muffins Every Time!”.
Unfortunately, this product did not live up to what it promised . The muffins I made were far from perfect . I followed the directions in the package very carefully . First , I removed the bag of mix from the box. Then , I poured it into a bowl. Next, I added the correct amount of water to the mix and stirred it. According to the directions, after stirring the mixture , I added half a cup of dried prapes, nuts , berries, or another favorite ingredient(配料 ) . My favorite ingredient happens to be hot sauce (沙司 ). I find that a bit of hot sauce makes pizza and soup taste very delicious. So, continuing to follow the directions, I added half a cup of hot sauce to the mix and stirred it. Finally, I poured the mix into muffin tins and baked it in the baker at 350 degrees for exactly 20 minutes.
When the muffins finished baking, I was very excited to eat the “Perfect Muffins” as promised on the box. You can imagine my disappointment when, upon tasting the muffins, I discovered that they were not perfect. These muffins were , in fact , absolutely terrible. Not even my dog was interested in eating these supposedly “perfect” muffins.
I would appreciate a full refund(退款 ) of $3.99 for this product as soon as possible. Enclosed are the receipt, the empty box, and one of the un-perfect muffins so that you can experience it for yourself . Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely ,
Michelle BauerThis letter is most likely addressed to _______.
| A．a local storeowner |
| B．the owner of the muffin mix company |
| C．the clerk at a local muffin bakery |
| D．George, the cashier who sold the muffin mix |
The tone(语气 ) of the author can best be described as ________.
| A．embarrassed | B．hopeless |
| C．disappointed | D．disgusted |
the author was unhappy with the product because________.
| A．the directions of the product contained a mistake |
| B．it was not up to the promise made on the box |
| C．it was too difficult to follow the directions |
| D．it was worth less money than she paid for it |
The author’s main purpose in writing this letter is to ________.
| A．prevent others from making the same mistake |
| B．persuade the company to change the wording on their box |
| C．get back all the money paid from the shop |
| D．complain about how bad the muffins tasted |
London is one of the most popular sites in the world for tourists to visit. If you are planning a trip to London in the future, you’re lucky. There are a variety of attractions for you to enjoy.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in London is the Tower of London. Founded more than 900 years ago, the Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous towers and has changer a lot. Here, you can also find the seven raven（乌鸦）which live in the Tower. There is a story that says：If there are no ravens in the Tower, the Tower and the kingdom will fall. There are also lots of tours, exhibits and special events that you can enjoy throughout the year.
Another popular place to visit is Westminster Abbey. It was set up in 1065 by Edward the Confessor. Visitors to Westminster Abbey can enjoy its beautiful special Gothic architecture（哥特式建筑）. There are also lots of memorials of Kings and Queens to enjoy. Excellent transportation is available here by bus or tube from many locations in London.
Buckingham Palace is another place with a rich history to discover. It’s the official London residence（住处） of Queen Elizabeth II. During August and September, you can visit the State Rooms and see the Changing of the Guards. The Queen’s Gallery is opened to the public daily. Checking the official timetable before you make sure to visit the Palace is a must, because it is not open year round.
If you’re expecting to enjoy one of London’s most beautiful landscapes, Hyde Park is the place for you. There are many activities available here to enjoy, including guided walking tours, swimming, tennis, and horse riding. In addition, many concerts are performed in Hyde Park. There’s also a playground available for the kids.
Tourist attractions in London
| The Tower of London |
*Built （71） __________900 years ago, the Tower of London is world-famous. * There are many ravens living in the Tower. （72） __________to an old story, if there are no ravens in the Tower of London, the Tower and the kingdom will fall. * During the （73） __________year, you can enjoy lots of tours, exhibits and special events. |
| Westminster Abbey |
（74） __________in 1065, Westminster Abbey is famous for its beautiful special Gothic architecture and memorials of Kings and Queens. |
| Buckingham Palace |
* With a rich （75） __________to discover, Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Queen Elizabeth II. *（76） __________August to September, you can visit the State Rooms and see the Changing of the Guards. The public can get （77） __________to the Queen’s Gallery every day. * It’s （78） __________to check the official timetable before you visit the Palace. |
| Hyde Park |
As one of London’s most beautiful landscapes, Hyde Park is the palace for you to walk, play tennis, （79） __________and ride horses. In addition, you can go to a （80） __________that is performed in Hyde Park. |
Robert Frost was one of America’s best known and most honored serious writers. But his fame came late in his life.
He was born in San Francisco, California in 1874. He lived in California during his early childhood. He was named after the chief Southern general in America’s Civil War. The general’s name was Robert Edward Lee. The poet was named Robert Lee Frost, because his father wanted to honor the general.
Someone once asked another American writer, Ernest Hemingway, how to become a writer. The best thing, he said, was to have an unhappy childhood. If this is true, Robert Frost’s childhood was unhappy enough to make him a very good writer. Robert Frost’s father was a reporter who wanted to be a politician. He often drank too much wine and became angry. Robert was the victim of his anger.
Robert Frost finished high school in 1891. After high school, Robert’s grandfather offered to pay his costs at Dartmouth College. But Robert left the school after a few months. He did not like it. He spent the next few years working at different jobs. At one time, he worked in a factory. Later, he repaired shoes. He was a teacher. He was a reporter. Always, he wrote poetry.
Robert Frost attended Harvard University for two years. After that, he returned to the many jobs he held before. For a while, Frost tried to take care of a farm in the state of New Hampshire. He was not a successful farmer. And he continued to write poetry. He said that until 1930, he earned only about ten dollars a year from writing.
In 1912, he decided to try to make a new start. He took his family to Britain. The cost of living was low. In Britain, Frost found a publisher for his first book of poems. The book was called A Boy’s Will. When it appeared in 1913, Frost received high praise from British readers. Praise was something he had not received in his own country.
Ezra Pound, another American poet living in Britain, read the poems and liked them very much. He wrote a magazine article about Frost. He also helped get Frost’s second book of poems published in America. That book was called North of Boston. The followings are writers EXCEPT __________.
| A．Robert Edward Lee | B．Robert Lee Frost |
| C．Ernest Hemingway | D．Ezra Pound |
The passage wrote about Hemingway in order to show that __________.
| A．he had great influence on Frost’s poetry and life |
| B．Frost’s poetry style was the same as Hemingway’s |
| C．Frost was unhappy because he was the victim of his father |
| D．Frost spent his childhood unhappily |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Once Frost’s first book was published he gained great praise in his country. |
| B．After leaving Harvard University, he began to learn to write poetry. |
| C．Frost was found lo have a gift in poetry while he studied in high school. |
| D．Robert Frost’s father was angry and drank a lot because he didn’t realize his dream. |
What’s the passage mainly about?
| A．Robert Frost’s unhappy childhood. |
| B．Robert Frost’ s first and second book. |
| C．Robert Frost’s family and jobs. |
| D．Robert Frost’s life and poetry. |
New York has taken the title of the world’s top fashion capital from Milan. The annual survey suggest that the top five fashion cities are facing competition from Asia and Australia. New York had been the top fashion city for five years, but Milan took the title in 2009. The survey was made by the Global Language Monitor, a US based organization. It tracks the frequency（频率） of words and phrases in the media, on the Internet and throughout the blog. With the US economy recovering, New York once again took the top title. Hong Kong took second place. It was followed by London, Paris and Los Angeles. The other top 10 cities were Milan, Sydney, Miami, Barcelona and Madrid.
“Because of the new economic situation, the global fashion centers have also changed a lot, ”said Bekka Payack. the Manhattan-based fashion reporter for the Global Language Monitor. “The new list shows that global fashion centers will change now and then. Compared with the traditional fashion cities, some new ones are performing better and better. ”She said that perhaps this is new trend, and it is the first sign that the traditional top five fashion cities——New York, Paris, London, Milan, and Rome——do not control global fashion any more.
The biggest changes in the list are Hong Kong, Madrid and Melbourne. The Group said that the top newcomers to the list include Amsterdam at number 17, Cape Town at 23, Johannesburg at 25 and Vienna at 27.
The following are the 10 top fashion cities of 2010 and the changes from 2009.
1. New York（up 1） 2. Hong Kong（up 5）
3. London（up 2） 4. Paris（down 1）
5. Los Angeles（up 1） 6. Milan（down 5）
7. Sydney（up 2） 8. Miami（up 5）
9. Barcelona（up 5） 10. Madrid（up 11）New York has regained the title of the world’s top fashion capital mainly because __________.
| A．the US economy has been recovering |
| B．Milan faced competition from other cities |
| C．few big cities took part in the competition |
| D．the survey was made by an American organization |
Compared with the 2009 list, which of the following has the greatest change?
| A．Hong Kong | B．Milan | C．Madrid | D．Barcelona |
We can infer from the text that __________.
| A．New York has lost the top title several times |
| B．all the traditional fashion cities are in the 2010 list |
| C．economic situations influence global fashion centers |
| D．new fashion cities have performed better than traditional ones |
The text is probably taken from a __________.
| A．science report | B．fashion magazine |
| C．geography textbook | D．history book |
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