I grew up in a traditional peanut butter and jelly（果冻） household.Sandwiches were made on bread and cut neatly（整齐地）into pieces.
When I was around ten or eleven, I was at my best friend’s house during lunch time.We dug through the kitchen searching for the best offerings.I really want a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I said.She set out the peanut butter and the jelly and opened the bread box only to find it empty.I think we have hot dog buns（面包）, she suggested.I felt frightened.Hot dog buns? Those were for hot dogs.“Jill”, she said, “they are bread.The same bread that you would usually have, they are just in a different shape.I’m not suggesting you eat an actual hot dog with your peanut butter and jelly.” But, I wasn’t sure.This was the girl who mixed her playschool people with her Barbie dolls and put her Lego’s in my doll house.Something was wrong with that way of thinking.I turned down the sandwich, so she made one for herself, saying just how delicious it was while I sat, hungry, counting down until dinner time.
Thirty years later, we were out of bread for Ben’s daily peanut butter and jelly sandwich one day.I suddenly remembered that day and offered him with a peanut butter and jelly on a hot dog roll.He ate the entire thing quickly.
From that day on, I’ve made almost all his sandwiches on hot dog buns.It’s neater with no messy jelly drips from the sides and it’s easier.Besides, it’s just more fun than a regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich.The purpose of the first paragraph is to ______ .
| A．teach how to keep peanut butter well |
| B．tell the author was brought up in a careful way |
| C．introduce the correct way of making sandwiches |
| D．show she was used to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches |
The author refused her friend’s hot dog buns because ______ .
| A．they were for dogs |
| B．she wasn’t hungry at all |
| C．she couldn’t accept the idea |
| D．her friend wasn’t a good cook |
Compared with（和……比较）peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sandwiches on hot dog buns ______ .
| A．need less jelly | B．save much trouble |
| C．taste more delicious | D．seem less fun to make |
How does Jill feel about refusing her friend’s sandwich?
| A．Proud. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Regretful. | D．Angry. |
Every week in China, millions of people will sit in front of their TVs watching teenagers compete for the title Character Hero, which is a Chinese-style spelling bee(拼写大赛). In this challenge, young competitors must write Chinese characters by hand. To prepare for the competition, the competitors usually spend months studying dictionaries.
Perhaps the show’s popularity should not be a surprise. Along with gunpowder and paper, many Chinese people consider the creation of Chinese calligraphy(书法)to be one of their primary contributions to civilization. Unfortunately, all over the country, Chinese people are forgetting how to write their own language without computerized help. Software on smart phones and computers allows users to type in the basic sound of the word using the Latin alphabet. The correct character is chosen from a list. The result? It’s possible to recognize characters without remembering how to write them.
But there’s still hope for the paint brush. China’s Education Ministry wants children to spend more time learning how to write.
In one Beijing primary school we visited, students practice calligraphy every day inside a specially decorated classroom with traditional Chinese paintings hanging on the walls. Soft music plays as a group of six-year-olds dip brush pens into black ink. They look up at the blackboard often to study their teacher’s examples before carefully attempting to reproduce those characters on thin rice paper. “If adults can survive without using handwriting, why bother to teach it now?” we ask the calligraphy teacher, Shen Bin. “The ability to write characters is part of Chinese tradition and culture,” she reasons. “Students must learn now so they don’t forget when they grow up.” says the teacher.What can we learn about the Character Hero?
| A．It’s open to people of all ages and all walks. |
| B．It’s the most-viewed TV programs in China. |
| C．It aims to spread Chinese culture to the world. |
| D．It draws great public attention across the country. |
Why are Chinese people forgetting how to write the characters?
| A．Chinese people don’t refer to dictionaries very often. |
| B．Chinese people no longer use brush pens or practice calligraphy. |
| C．Chinese people are using the Latin alphabet instead of the characters. |
| D．Chinese people needn’t write by hand as often with the help of technology. |
According to Shen Bin, being able to write characters by hand is_________.
| A．necessary for adults to survive in China |
| B．a requirement made by the Education Ministry |
| C．helpful to keep Chinese tradition and culture alive |
| D．an ability to be developed only when you are students |
Where does this text probably come from?
| A．A news report. | B．A science report. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．Children’s literature. |
Restaurants in the USA
Steve’s Pizza
So many pizza chains compete for the attention of tourists in South Beach, but ask a Miami Beach local where to get the best pizza and they’ll tell you about Steve’s. This is New York–style pizza, handmade with care and good ingredients(成份). New branches of Steve’s are opening elsewhere in Miami, all in non-tourist areas.
Opening hours: 11am-3am
Cattleman’s Steakhouse
This place is 20 miles east of the city, but local folks would probably drive 200 miles to eat here. The food is good, and the scenery is even better. Come early and wander around the grounds of Indian Cliffs Ranch, where you’ll see everything from rabbits to buffalo (水牛), then catch the sunset either before or after your meal.
Opening hours: 5pm-10pm
Absolute Baking & Cafe
The screen door is always swinging open at this town hot spot with giant breakfasts. Try the green chili on eggs – it’s made from scratch, as are the organic(有机的) breads. Lunch includes salads, big sandwiches and local grass-fed beef burgers. Don’t miss a square of soft, fresh carrot cake.
Opening hours: 7am-2pm
Walt’s Wharf
Everybody’s favorite for fresh fish (some drive in from LA), Walt’s packs them in on weekends. You can’t make reservations for dinner (though they’re accepted for lunch), but it’s worth the wait for the tree fire–grilled seafood and steaks in the many-windowed ground floor or upstairs in captain’s chairs.
Opening hours: 11am-3:30pmThe new branches of Steve’s Pizza are mainly intended for_________.
| A．New Yorkers | B．tourists |
| C．the locals | D．foreigners |
Cattleman’s Steakhouse offers the wonderful _________as well as good food.
| A．wine | B．view | C．discount | D．service |
Which restaurant serves both breakfast and lunch?
| A．Steve’s Pizza. |
| B．Walt’s Wharf. |
| C．Absolute Baking & Café. |
| D．Cattleman’s Steakhouse. |
The word proactivity is fairly common in management literature, but you won't find it in the dictionary. It means that as a human being you take responsibility for your own life．
Look at the word responsibility: ability to choose your response, response-ability. Effective people are proactive because they take responsibility. Their behavior is a product of their own decisions, based on values, rather than being a product of their own conditions, based on feelings．For instance, you are planning a picnic with your family．You're excited．You have all the preparations．You've decided where to go, and then it becomes stormy, killing your plan．Proactive people carry weather within them. They realize what their purpose really was, and they creatively have a picnic elsewhere even if it's in their own basement with some special games, and make the best of that situation．The opposite of being proactive is to be reactive．Reactive people would say, "What's the use?" "We can't do anything．" "Oh this is so upsetting after all of our preparations and arrangements." They try to persuade the people around them and usually the picnic will be cancelled．
Being proactive is really just being true to your human nature. Your basic nature is to act, and not to be acted upon．That's true, despite widely accepted theories of determinism used to explain human nature. Determinism says that you don't really choose anything and that what you call choices are nothing more than automatic responses to outside conditions．
The language of reactive people is like: " I can't．" " Don't have time．" " I have to．" " I must．" The whole spirit of that language is the transfer of responsibility．They think things are determined by their environment, or by their conditions, or by their conditioning or their genetic makeup．Psychologically, people who believe they are determined will produce the evidence to support the belief, and they increasingly feel victimized and out of control．They're not in charge of their life at all．
On the contrary, a proactive person exercises free will, the freedom to choose the response that best applies to his values．In that way, he gains control over the circumstances, rather than being controlled by them．According to the passage, a proactive person's behavior can result from ______．
| A．the environment | B．an inner belief |
| C．the genetic makeup | D．a temporary feeling |
When a picnic plan is threatened by a sudden storm, reactive people will probably ____．
| A．have the picnic as planned |
| B．make the best of the picnic |
| C．complain and give up the picnic |
| D．find somewhere else for the picnic |
What does "carry weather within them" in the second paragraph probably mean?
| A．Manage to improve the weather． |
| B．Give in to the weather passively． |
| C．Stress the influence of the weather． |
| D．Find a solution to the weather problems． |
It can be concluded from the passage that determinists (宿命论者) ______．
| A．accept things passively |
| B．are in charge of themselves |
| C．are similar to proactive people |
| D．respond to outside conditions actively |
In summer, some people avoid outdoor activities because they don't want to get hot and sticky or sun burnt．Luckily, there are some outdoor activities which don't involve breaking sweat．
River rafting
Hot summer weather and cool water-what a perfect match! River rafting can be both scenic and exciting．When the raft follows a gentle stream, the views of the countryside or valley is like a traditional Chinese painting．And when you enter white water where the riverbed creates a natural roller coaster, you feel a rush of adrenaline （肾上腺素）．Paddle your raft to the riverbank to have a picnic or barbecue which will taste best when you are starving．
Where to find: River rafting trips are usually on offer in mountainous or valley regions such as the Three Gorges．
Tips: Wear a helmet and life jacket at all times; bring enough sunscreen; and bring lots of water．
Caving
People say that the only naturally air-conditioned place in summer is a big cave．It is true．Cave tours featuring light shows are old hat．Now it's time to wear a lamp on your helmet like a mineworker to explore caves in darkness．Exploring unknown caverns and navigating underground rivers is what makes caving so thrilling．Plus, caving can be a very healthy sport, for the oxygen level is usually higher so basically you are having an oxygen spa as the bonus．
Where to find: caving can be very risky, so consult local travel agents and go in groups with professional cavers．
Tips: Follow your guides; drink enough water to avoid dehydration（脱水） ; and wear strong and not easily damaged hiking boots．
Coastal walking/cycling and beach activities
For those who live far away from mountains, coastal regions and beaches are good places to spend time in the summer．With sea breezes in your hair, it is nice to take a hike or cycle ride while enjoying the coastline．If you want to be sportier, try beach games, such as soccer and volleyball．It's a totally different experience from playing on hard courts or grass．
Where to find: Just go to the beach or find an urban artificial beach such as the one in Chatoyant Park in Beijing or the man-made lake beach in Wuhan．
Tips: Loads of sunscreen needed; water and snacks are necessary; be aware of jellyfish and garbage floating in the water．What does the underlined words "old hat" in paragraph 5 mean?
| A．Out of fashion． | B．Out of the way． |
| C．A particular fashion． | D．A unique style． |
If you love river rafting trips, you can _____．
| A．go to the beach | B．explore caves |
| C．do some outdoor activities | D．drift the boat downstream |
What is specially needed to explore caves?
| A．An oxygen spa． | B．A professional caver． |
| C．A lamp． | D．A helmet． |
Helen lives in a big city, where is the best place for her to spend weekends?
| A．A riverbank． | B．Underground rivers． |
| C．An urban artificial beach． | D．Mountainous areas． |
Beer and fried chicken — Thanks to a South Korean drama currently on air, Man From the Stars, this new mix-and-match junk food trend has become popular among young audiences, despite its unhealthy nature. Indeed, South Korean TV dramas, or K-drama for short, have been a major force in the South Korean pop-culture wave that has captured the hearts of young Chinese audiences. According to iQiyi, a video website that features Man From the Stars, by Feb 15, the number of views for the TV drama hit 370 million in China.
“It is interesting to explore what elements of those dramas appeal to audiences. It’s obviously more than just pretty faces,” says Yan Feng, a professor of Chinese literature at Fudan University. Reflected by audiences, culture critics and insiders of the industry, youth fantasy, creative storylines, cultural proximity in East Asia, and well-organized production all add up to K-drama’s success, along with, of course, those handsome and cute faces dressed in the latest fashion trends.
“Everyone fancies a perfect partner, handsome or beautiful,” says Zhou Ying, a professor at Chongqing Technology and Business University. “The South Korean TV industry is feeding this need.” After Lee Min-ho appeared on CCTV’s annual Spring Festival gala, he became the most famous South Korean in China. Only weeks later, Kim Soo-hyun, lead actor in Man From the Stars, swept the country. Apart from pretty faces, fashion is another highlight of the series. Each time actors from the series wear a new set of outfits, similar clothes experience a sales boom online, according to Xiao Yi, a Taobao store owner.
As is known, with love triangles, incurable diseases, and Cinderella tales, storylines in South Korean dramas may seem a bit commonplace. While The Man From the Stars challenges this by putting aliens and time travel into these existing stories, Peng Sanyuan, a screenwriter, says a focus on detail is a key factor in the success of these dramas. “In order to accurately target audiences and find emotional reflections with them, more and more female writers are working in the industry,” says Peng about her experience of exchanging ideas with South Korean colleagues. According to the experts, South Korean writers somehow make sense of these plots, no matter how unlikely it seems. Why has beer and fried chicken become so popular among Chinese young people at present?
| A．Because the food tastes very great. |
| B．Because they want to change the trend. |
| C．Because the food is good for their health. |
| D．Because they are deeply affected by the Korean TV drama. |
What’s the meaning of the underlined word “proximity” in paragraph 2?
| A．similarity | B．difference |
| C．conflict | D．curiosity |
According to the whole passage, how many elements can lead to the appeal of Korean dramas?
| A．Two | B．Four | C．Six | D．Seven |
What makes Man From the Stars different from other K-dramas according to the last paragraph?
| A．Female writers | B．Creative stories |
| C．Pretty faces | D．Fashionable clothes |
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