A
I left university with a good degree in English Literature, but no sense of what I wanted to do. Over the next six years, I was treading water, just trying to earn an income. I tried journalism, but I didn’t think I was any good, then finance, which I hated. Finally, I got a job as a rights assistant at a famous publisher. I loved working with books, although the job that I did was dull.
I had enough savings to take a year off work, and I decided to try to satisfy a deep-down wish to write a novel. Attending a Novel Writing MA course gave me the structure I needed to write my first 55,000 words.
It takes confidence to make a new start — there’s a dark period in-between where you’re neither one thing nor the other. You’re out for dinner and people ask what you do, and you’re too ashamed to say, “Well, I’m writing a novel, but I’m not quite sure if I’m going to get there.” My confidence dived. Believing my novel could not be published ,
I put it aside.
Then I met an agent（代理商）who said I should send my novel out to agents. So, I did and, to my surprise, got some wonderful feedback. I felt a little hope that I might actually become a published writer and, after signing with an agent, I finished the second half of the novel.
The next problem was finding a publisher. After two-and-a-half years of no income, just waiting and wondering, a publisher offered me a book deal — that publisher turned out to be the one I once worked for.
It feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck — of fate, really. When you set out to do something different, there’s no end in sight, so to find myself in a position where I now have my own name on a contract of the publisher — to be a published writer — is unbelievably rewarding.What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 mean?
| A．I was waiting for good fortune. |
| B．I was trying to find an admirable job. |
| C．I was being aimless about a suitable job. |
| D．I was doing several jobs for more pay at a time. |
The author decided to write a novel ______ .
| A．to finish the writing course |
| B．to realize her own dream |
| C．to satisfy readers’wish |
| D．to earn more money |
How did the writer feel halfway with the novel?
| A．Disturbed. | B．Ashamed. | C．Confident. | D．Uncertain. |
What does the author mainly want to tell readers in the last paragraph?
| A．It pays to stick to one’s goal. |
| B．Hard work can lead to success. |
| C．She feels like being unexpectedly lucky. |
| D．There is no end in sight when starting to do something. |
A few months ago I was at a bus stop in town in the evening. The bus came on time and I took the window seat. The bus was travelling by the seashore and I was enjoying the soft wind while watching the sea waves (海浪). After a few minutes the bus made its next stop. A young boy and a girl got on. They were standing on my left when the bus pulled off. I looked at them in surprise and realized that all the window seats were taken up. They could sit but not together. Suddenly a different wave passed through my body and my inner mind gave me the advice to get up. I got up and offered them my seat. The young lady smiled kindly and said thanks. I took another seat and we parted our ways. I don’t remember whether I got off the bus before them or not.
Months passed by. Suddenly one day while I was standing at the same bus stop waiting some time for the bus to arrive I heard a voice.
“Excuse me, Uncle.” I looked in the direction of the voice. It was a beautiful young lady.
Puzzled, I said, “I do not recognize you.”
She said, “Do you remember you gave us your window seat?”
Puzzled, I said, “Maybe, but what is so great in that?”
She said, “If you had not given your seat that day, perhaps I would have not sat with my
friend. By sitting together it helped us bridge a misunderstanding that had been between us forever. Do you know we are getting married next month?”
“Good! God bless both of you,” I replied.
The young lady again said thank you and went on her journey. I realized the importance of giving that day.Why were the young boy and the girl standing on the bus?
| A．Because they couldn’t sit together. |
| B．Because they wanted to enjoy the sea weaves. |
| C．Because there were no empty seats. |
| D．Because they preferred to stand. |
The underlined sentence in the first paragraph probably means that the author had a feeling that ______.
| A．the sea wave made him upset |
| B．he wanted to do something special |
| C．a wave from the sea passed by him |
| D．he wanted to make a sea wave in his heart |
The author’s act of kindness helped the young boy and the girl ______.
| A．begin to talk to each other again after a time of silence |
| B．sit together and become friends very soon |
| C．know each other and get married |
| D．clear up a misunderstanding between them |
From the story, we can know that ______.
| A．small things can create great happenings in life |
| B．giving is more important than receiving |
| C．offering one’s seat to others will lead to a marriage |
| D．we sometimes forget what happened in the past |
Diana Jacobs thought her family had a workable plan to pay for college for her 21-year-old twin sons: a combination of savings, income, scholarships, and a modest amount of borrowing. Then her husband lost his job, and the plan fell apart.
"I have two kids in college, and I want to say come home. ' but at the same time I want to provide them with a good education," says Jacobs.
The Jacobs family, did work out a solution: They asked and received more aid from the schools, and each son increased his' borrowing to the maximum amount through the federal loan (贷款) program. They will each graduate with $ 20,000 of debt, but at least they will be able to finish school.
With unemployment rising, financial aid administrators expect to hear from more families like the Jacobses. More students are applying for aid, and more families expect to need student loans. College administrators are concerned that they will not have enough aid money to go around.
At the same time, tuition (学费) continues to rise. A report from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education found that college tuition and fees increased 439% from 1982 to 2007, while average family income rose just 147% . Student borrowing has more than doubled in the last decade.
"If we go on this way for another 25 years, we won't have an affordable system of higher education," says Patrick M. Calan, president of the center. "The middle class families have been financing it through debt. They will send kids to college whatever it takes, even if that means a huge amount of debt."
Financial aid administrators have been having a hard time as many companies decide that student loans are not profitable enough and have stopped making them. The good news, however, is that federal loans account for about three quarters of student borrowing, and the government says that money will flow uninterrupted.According to Paragraph 1. why did the plan of the Jacobs family fail?
| A．The twins wasted too much money. | B．The father was out of work. |
| C．Their saving ran out. | D．The family fell apart. |
How did the Jacobses manage to solve their problem?
| A．They asked their kids to come home. |
| B．They borrowed $20, 000 from the schools. |
| C．They encouraged their twin sons to do part-time jobs. |
| D．They got help from the schools and the federal government. |
Financial aid administrators believe that________.
| A．more families will face the same problem as the Jacobses |
| B．the government will receive more letters of complaint |
| C．college tuition fees will double soon |
| D．America's unemployment will fall |
What can we learn about the middle class families from they text?
| A．They blamed the government for the tuition increase. |
| B．Their income increased steady in the last decade. |
| C．They will try their best to send kids to college. |
| D．Their debts will be paid off within 25 years. |
According to the last paragraph the government will________.
| A．provide most students with scholarships |
| B．dismiss some financial aid administrators |
| C．stop the companies from making student loans |
| D．go on providing financial support for college students |
Fun is, in fact, a word heard far more frequently in families today than in the past, when "duty’’ and "responsibility" were often the words used.
Parents today are more youthful in appearance and attitudes. Their clothes and hair-styles are more casual, helping to bridge the divide. Those who are athletically inclined also enjoy Rollerblading, snowboarding, and rock-climbing with their children.
For the past three years, Kathy and Phil Dalby have spent at least one evening a week at a climbing gym with their three children. "It’s great to be able to work together," Mrs Dalby says. "We discuss various climbs and where the hard parts are. Sometimes that leads to other Conversations. We’re definitely closer."
A popular movement of parent effectiveness training in the 1970s has helped to reshape generational roles. The philosophy encourages children to describe their feelings about various situations. As a result, says Robert Billingham, a family-studies professor at Indiana University, "Parents and children began talking to each other in ways they had not before."
On the plus side, he adds, these conversations made parents realize that children may have important thoughts or feelings that adults need to be aware of.
But Professor Billingham also sees a downside: Many parents started making decisions based on what their child wanted. "The power shifted to children. Parents said, ’I have to focus on making my child happy’, as opposed to ’I have to act as a parent most appropriately’."
Other changes are occurring as the ranks of working mothers grow. Time-short parents encourage children’s independence, making them more responsible for themselves. "They’ll say, ’We trust you to make the right decisions’ (whether they’re ready to assume the responsibility or not) ,"says Billingham.
The self-esteem movement of the past quarter-century has also affected the family dynamics (原动力). Some parents worry that if they tell their child no, it will hurt the child’s self-esteem.What’s the trend in parent-child relationship mentioned in the passage?
| A．Parents are chasing after fashion and ignoring the feelings of their children. |
| B．More parents and children are sharing the same enthusiasm for a certain sport. |
| C．Parents are taking more responsibility and setting more limits for their children. |
| D．The generation gap is narrowing and parents are respecting their children’s thoughts more. |
Which of the following has NOT contributed to the change in the parent-child relationship?
| A．Younger parents. | B．Parent effectiveness training. |
| C．More working mothers. | D．The self-esteem movement. |
What’s Billingham’s attitude towards parents who make children more responsible for themselves?
| A．He supports them. | B．He admires them. |
| C．He disagrees with them. | D．He thinks they’re unreasonable. |
What will probably be discussed following the last paragraph?
| A．The effect of more working mothers on children’ s education. |
| B．The benefits of the new relationship between parents and children. |
| C．The importance of self-esteem and ways to develop children’s self-esteem. |
| D．The risks of setting no rules and some suggestions on how to have a balanced attitude. |
What’s the best title for the text?
| A．Parents and Children as Friends. | B．Parents and Professors as Debaters. |
| C．Growing Mutual Understanding. | D．Disappearing Responsibility. |
Impossible cases are not forever. While it is impossible for one person, it is possible for another. In a word, everything is possible.
Someone says, "Success belongs to those who can look at the complex challenges offered by the world as inspiration." So your challenges are golden opportunities for success. How can there be miracles if there are no obstacles? How will you chase the storm if there is no storm? You need challenges to reveal your ability. Success doesn’t come out’ of nothing; success comes from the problems you face. Those who refuse to give in
come out smiling.
Robert X. Perez says, "The seeds of success spring from failure’s ashes. "Failure is not defeat; it is the pointer to do better than what you just did. You have to know that you are in a constant study of life. What you face is for your training. Samuel Aidoo says, "Each failure is simply another chapter in the story of our lives. To fail is to understand what not to do. Remember it and don’t give up until your goal is achieved."
What do you do when you face difficulty? Yeah, life is difficult, but you do not give up.
Have a positive and calm outlook on your circumstances (状况) and make the best of them. You may learn something new. You can develop mental toughness. Mental toughness means to be able to see the long-term gains rather than be put off by short-term pains. Once you have this toughness, you have the winning edge(优势).
The only things in life you ever really regret are the chances you didn’t take. You will regret when you see the consequences of not seizing the opportunities when they arose. Take chances every day! The main point of the passage is that_________.
| A．success comes out of nothing |
| B．never give up and you may achieve success |
| C．everything is easy to deal with |
| D．impossible things do not exist |
According to the author, success often comes to people who_________.
| A．have good opportunities | B．face failure |
| C．don’t fear difficulties | D．have a lot of luck |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．We can perform miracles by overcoming difficulty. |
| B．We will become greater after overcoming difficulty. |
| C．Most of us can’t show our ability because of difficulty. |
| D．Everyone will fail far numerous times because of difficulty. |
From Paragraph 3 we can learn that_________.
| A．all people can achieve success if they keep learning |
| B．failure means great success to everyone in the future |
| C．most people end up with failure because it often happens |
| D．failure can help people to achieve success if they don’t give up |
By saying "How will you chase the storm if there’s no storm?" the writer means_______.
| A．it’s not necessary to reveal your ability if you are successful |
| B．we should try our best to find challenges in order to be successful |
| C．we should not be afraid of challenges because they are opportunities for success |
| D．we shouldn’t expect miracles because they are always accompanied by obstacles |
Having put down your pens at the end of the college entrance exam, you have ended 12 years of hard study. Forget your studies for a while. It’s time to enjoy yourselves!
There are many ways to celebrate this special month of graduation. You can have photos taken with your classmates and teachers, or dine out together and exchange gifts.
High school students in Western countries such as the United States and Canada usually have a prom to mark their graduation. It’s to mark the time kids turn into young men and women. After the prom, teenagers either go to college or find a job. It means they are no longer as dependent on their parents as they were before.
At the prom, boys usually dress in dinner jackets and bow ties, though many different types of formal clothes are worn. Traditionally, girls give boys matching boutonnieres ( 佩带在扣眼上的花). Girls traditionally wear formal dresses, or dress to shock or be noticed, in shiny or brightly colored materials.
Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning (加冠) of a prom king and queen, and just talking to friends. In some cases, high school students collect funds for their class prom through the four years of their high school.
High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, in a pleasure cruise boat.
But often costs are cut by simply using the school gym. Students make a lot of effort to decorate the gym to make the event special. The music played at the prom will be the most popular kinds, like rock and hip-hop.
The students elect the Prom Queen. She is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. These are great honors that the pair take very seriously. The two dance with each other to celebrate their election.The word "prom" is probably closest in meaning with________.
| A．a party to celebrate graduation | B．a dancing competition |
| C．a fashion show | D．an election ceremony |
Which of the following is an economical way to hold the prom?
| A．Renting a ballroom. | B．Taking a cruise boat. |
| C．Holding it in the school gym. | D．Wearing informal dresses. |
What clearly indicates that prom is very important to students?
| A．Music is played at the prom. |
| B．They take pictures at the prom. |
| C．The King and Queen dance with each other. |
| D．They wear formal clothes or special clothes. |
For what do the students just talk to friends at a prom?
| A．They don’t want to get help from their parents. |
| B．They will part with their friends in a short time. |
| C．They don’t like to be accompanied by their parents. |
| D．They want to be elected by their friends as the Prom King or Queen. |
How is the prom significant to the students?
| A．They can be relieved from the study pressure. |
| B．They are going to say goodbye to their friends. |
| C．They have chances to be elected as the Prom King or Queen. |
| D．The prom marks the graduation and after it they will be independent. |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号