Sports are the base of my life, next to my mother who raised me when my dad left us．I have been into sports since I was six years old．I have known many coaches and heard hundreds of their tips, but they usually focused on drills to develop my skills and reach the next level of play.
When I was in Senior Two, I met the new school basketball coach, Brian Pawloski．I thought I was certain to be selected for the school team since I had been in it the year before．I showed up to the tryouts and put out about 90% effort since I thought I’d make it with no problem．That was a big mistake.
Brian Pawloski is the hardest working coach I have ever met．He didn’t expect 100% effort, he expected 200% effort．One example: he once made us do 40 suicide drills for the 40 lay ups (投篮) we missed in a game．Some think this is crazy, but it isn’t．After this conditioning practice, as we were getting a cup of cold water to drink, I said, “coach, that was the best practice I ever had.” I was completely sincere．This man was and is the person who influenced me most at my high school．He expects us to be excellent not just on the court but in the classroom．If I am not working on basketball, I am reading a book that he thinks will help us better understand life’s challenges, including Wooden, Coach, and The Screwtape Letters．
In the first two years I slacked off, not putting forth my full potential．Now, unlike the coaches of my youth, this man was interested in how he did off the court．He always made sure I kept up with my studies and was able to be trusted．I can honestly say that no other coach has given me so much advice on how to succeed in basketball, but more importantly, in life．My school is lucky to have such a great person to teach, coach and influence their students．I will always remember my high school basketball days as one of the hardest times I have ever worked in my life not only in basketball but in my growth as an individual．
Different from other coaches, Coach Brian ________．
| A．concentrated on skill training |
| B．trained the team to the edge of death |
| C．expected the team to do well in their studies |
| D．asked the team to do more reading than training |
The underlined phrase “slacked off” in the last paragraph probably means ________.
| A．paid no attention |
| B．showed no interest |
| C．had less passion |
| D．made less effort |
In the author’s eye, Coach Brian is ________.
| A．strict and helpful |
| B．hardworking and honest |
| C．skilled and cruel |
| D．professional and serious |
Parents often believe that they have a good relationship with their teenagers (青少年). But last summer , Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son : suddenly he seemed to be talking far more to his friends than to his parents . “ The door to his room is always shut .” Joanna noticed .
Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter . “She used to cuddle up (蜷伏)with me on the sofa and talk ,” said Mark . “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something . Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady . The problem is figuring out which time is which .”
Before age 11, children like to tell their parents what’s on their minds . “In fact , parents are first on the list .” said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers . “This completely changes during the teen years .” Riera explained . “They talk to their friends first , then maybe their teachers , and their parents last .”
Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them . To break down the wall of silence , parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say , and try to find ways to talk and write to them . And they must give their children a mental break , for children also need freedom , though young . Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend , not a manager , with their children is a better way to know them . “The door to his room is always shut” suggests that the son __ .
| A．is always busy with his studies | B．doesn’t want to be disturbed |
| C．keeps himself away from his parents | D．begins to dislike his parents |
What troubles Tina and Mark most is that __ .
| A．their daughter isn’t as lovely as before |
| B．they can’t read their daughter’s mind exactly |
| C．they don’t know what to say to their daughter |
| D．their daughter talks with them only when she needs help |
Which of the following best explains “ the wall of silence” in the last paragraph ?
| A．Teenagers talk a lot with their friends . |
| B．Teenagers do not want to understand their parents . |
| C．Teenagers do not talk much with their parents . |
| D．Teenagers talk little about their own lives . |
What can be learned from the passage ?
| A．Parents are unhappy with their growing children . |
| B．Parents have suitable ways to talk with their teenagers . |
| C．Parents should be patients with their silent teenagers . |
| D．Parents should try to understand their teenagers . |
A few years ago, an Englishman called Roy Jones went on holiday to a small seaside town in the west of England. He was swimming in the sea one day when, as he opened his mouth, his false teeth fell out and floated away. The following year, Mr. Jones returned to the same town. As he was having dinner in a local café one evening, he mentioned the story of his lost teeth to the manager. The manager looked surprised. He explained that he had found a set of false teeth on the beach last month. Then he asked Roy Jones if he wanted to try them on. “OK”, said Mr. Jones. “I suppose it won’t do any harm.” When the manager brought him the teeth, Mr. Jones put them into his mouth, and laughed and laughed. They were his.
In 1987, an American couple called Jane and Robert Bentley went for a picnic on a beach in California. When they returned home, Mrs. Bentley realized that she had lost her wedding ring. It wasn’t a lot of money but it was valuable to Jane Bentley. The Bentleys drove straight back to the beach, and searched for the ring for three hours, but could not find it. A few months later, Mr. Bentley went fishing off the same beach. As he pulled a large crab out of the sea, he noticed that there was something attached to one of its claws. It was his wife’s wedding ring!
At the end of the 19th century, a young woman called Rose Harcourt was on her honeymoon in Barmouth, North Wales, when she lost a gold bracelet her husband had given her as a wedding gift. Feeling very upset, she went straight to the police stations and asked if anyone had found her bracelet. Unfortunately, no one had. Twenty-five years later, the Harcourts returned to Barmouth to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They were sitting on the beach one day when Mrs. Harcourt noticed something gold in the sand by the edge of the sea. She walked down to see what it was, and discovered her gold bracelet that had been missing for 25 years. Roy Jones lost his false teeth __________ .
| A．when he opened his mouth to have some food |
| B．when he opened his mouth as he was swimming |
| C．The moment he got into the sea to start swimming |
| D．when he was having his holiday at the sea side |
Jane Bentley’s wedding ring was missing for __________ before it was found.
| A．three hours | B．almost a year | C．several months | D．25 years |
From the story of the Harcourts we may understand the underlined “to celebrate their wedding anniversary” may be close in meaning to __________ .
| A．having a wedding again | B．experiencing their honeymoon feelings again |
| C．having a honeymoon again | D．joining in the local celebrations |
In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called Bike for a Better City. They declare that if more people rode bicycles to work, there would be fewer automobiles in the downtown part of the city and so less dirty air from car engines.
For several years this group has been trying to get the city government to help bicycle riders. For example. They want the city to draw special lanes for bicycles only on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there are accidents. Bike for a Better City feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes.
But no bicycle lanes have been drawn. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea-they say it will slow the traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don’t like the idea-they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business.
The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park-the largest place of open ground in New York-is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But Bike for a Better City says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown.In New York, a group of bike riders ________.
| A．are keeping practicing for health |
| B．have no cars of their own |
| C．are complaining there are not enough buses |
| D．are trying to settle the problem of air pollution |
The advantage of the special lanes is that ________.
| A．they will make cars and buses run slowly |
| B．they will make it easier for bike riders to go to parks |
| C．they will make the city more beautiful |
| D．the lanes will prevent accidents |
The government has not decided whether special lanes should be drawn _______.
| A．so that everyone is disappointed |
| B．because there are different opinions |
| C．because most people travel by train |
| D．because Bike for a Better City is not strong enough |
Cars are not permitted to enter Central Park on weekends _________.
| A．so that Bike for a Better City is pleased |
| B．so that everyone is happy |
| C．and bicycle lanes are drawn |
| D．but Bike for a Better City is still not satisfied |
Recently, one of my best friends, whom I've shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago，we've both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.
Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other selfdestructive（自我毁灭的） behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even stealing out to see this guy because they didn't want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn't believe me. Her selfrespect seemed to have disappeared.
I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang out with a group of losers, especially her boyfriend.
By the time she left，I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience. It had been so frustrating，I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship, but I didn't. I put the power of friendship to the final test. We'd been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.
A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend. I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend.In the writer's opinion，her friend ________.
| A．was a girl with no selfrespect |
| B．could find a better boyfriend |
| C．was brave enough to stick to her own choice |
| D．didn't value the writer's suggestion |
What did the writer worry about?
| A．She would lose the friendship with her. |
| B．Her friend's parents would be worried about their daughter. |
| C．Her friend would get into great trouble with the boy. |
| D．Her friend's boyfriend would be in great trouble. |
We may learn from Paragraph 3 that the writer________.
| A．didn't want to go anywhere else |
| B．understood her friend's hanging with her boyfriend |
| C．couldn't believe that her friend's choice was acceptable |
| D．doubted that she could in any way help her friend |
What can be concluded from the passage?
| A．Friendship starting from childhood is not reliable. |
| B．Friendship is a cure for any injury in life. |
| C．Friendship should be everlasting once begun. |
| D．Friendship can have magical power in life. |
If you want fully enjoy your vacation, then you’d better check the Durban City Tours! This is actually one of the best choices in South Africa today.
There is nothing more relaxing than to think about that there is a place to go and relax, right? City life is strained, but you can escape this situation and be in the place where there is nothing but relaxation. Here in Durban you will get to see all the amazing tourist attractions. If you love animals and want to see some elephants wandering around the streets, then Durban is the place to go. You can even get to ride one if you want!
Here you will also get to taste all the delicious South African food. You can choose from Italian cooking to its native dishes. Durban is a great place to tour with your friends and family. You will learn a lot about its history through the landmarks you will see down the streets. Tourists and even the local villagers just can’t get enough of these treats!
However, it is important that you make the necessary arrangements. There are actually lots of tour guides that will help you as you make your journey along the streets of Durban. But if you prefer the best tour guides here in Durban, then you’d better choose the Street Scene Tours. Their staff are all well-trained and professional. They will certainly make your stay here an unforgettable one. No wonder tourists prefer the Street Scene Tours when it comes to Durban City Tours.The underlined word“strained”in Para. 2 means ______.
| A．easy | B．stressful | C．relaxing | D．wonderful |
What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?
| A．Durban is relaxing city. |
| B．People don’t like city life. |
| C．It is good to have a place to relax. |
| D．One can have fun riding elephants. |
If you walk in the streets of Durban, what will impress you most?
| A．Tourists from all over the world. |
| B．The buildings and many kinds of animals. |
| C．The streets and some wandering elephants. |
| D．The friendly local people and the scenery. |
What does the last sentence in Paragraph 3 show?
| A．The food can’t satisfy them. |
| B．They are bored with the streets. |
| C．They are treated very well here. |
| D．never get tired of the sights. |
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