Failing in something isn’t a really nice feeling, but Scotland’s Fettes College in Edinburgh wants to show its students that failure isn’t something to fear and is actually something to accept willingly!
The boarding school held “failure week” to celebrate taking risks and learning from them. Whether in sports or school, children often face lots of pressure to succeed and do well, and the school was becoming concerned.
“Young people from all walks of life live in a high-pressure environment where they are trying very hard to achieve a level of perfection,” said Sue Bruce, head of personal and social education in the school.
“This week at Fettes we have been focusing on one of the most misunderstood parts of success: failure. While we are often scared of failure, it is important to learn that it is only through failing, often many times, that we learn how to succeed. All through the week, we have looked at the experiences of some of the most successful inventors, artists and businessmen, who failed hundreds, if not thousands of times on their journey to success,” read a letter on Fettes College’s website.
To celebrate failure, students were encouraged to try something they’ve never done before, like playing an instrument or dancing in front of audiences. A number of students stepped up and tried things that they finally failed in, but they had fun and enjoyed the experience. “The concert was extremely enjoyable, proving that we should always try not to worry about failure and have a go!” read another note on the website. Students were also taught about famous people like J.K. Rowling and Richard Branson who failed many times before they finished what they set out to do.
“If they let the fear of failure stop them from doing something, they are actually stopping themselves from learning, developing, and potentially succeeding,” said Bruce.What is the purpose of the boarding school to hold “failure week”?
| A．To get the students involved in social activities. |
| B．To help the students accept and learn from failure. |
| C．To make the students study even harder. |
| D．To teach the students how to get relaxed. |
During the “failure week” the students could do the following things EXCEPT ___________.
| A．taking risks |
| B．learning from others’ experiences |
| C．trying something new |
| D．trying to entertain themselves |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．Many successful people are lucky and achieve success easily. |
| B．Because we are often scared of failure ,we never succeed. |
| C．The fear of failure can stop the students from learning and succeeding. |
| D．The students who failed in trying new things felt depressed. |
In the second half of each year, many powerful storms are born in the tropical （热带的）Atlantic and Caribbean seas. Of these, only about half a dozen becomes the strong, circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are called hurricanes, and several usually make their way to the coast. There they cause millions of dollars of damage, and bring death to large numbers of people.
The great storms that hit the coast start as soft circling wind hundreds-even thousands-of miles out to sea. As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun, they are carried west-ward by the southeast winds. When conditions are just right, warm, moist（潮湿）air flows in at the bottom of such a wind, moves up-ward through it and comes out at the top. In the process（过程），the moisture in this warm air produces rain, and with it the heat is changed to energy in the form of strong winds. As the heat increases, the young hurricane begins to move in a counter-clockwise motion（逆时针运动）.
The life of a hurricane is only about nine days, but it contains almost more power than we can imagine. The energy in the heat re-leased （释放）by a hurricane's rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the United States for more than six months. Water, not wind, is the main source of death and destruction（毁灭）in a hurricane. A typical hurricane brings 6 to 12 inch downpours, causing sudden floods. Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea-the mountains of water moving toward the hurricane center. The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves toward shore.When is an ordinary tropical storm called a hurricane?
| A．When it begins in the Atlantic and Caribbean seas. |
| B．When it hits the coastline. |
| C．When it is more than 75 miles wide. |
| D．When its winds reach 75 miles per hour. |
What is the worst thing about hurricanes?
| A．The terrible effects of water. |
| B．The heat they give off. |
| C．That they last about nine days. |
| D．Their strong winds. |
Here the word "downpour" means __________.
| A．heavy rainfall |
| B．dangerous waves |
| C．the progress of water to the hurricane center |
| D．the increasing heat |
Which statement about a hurricane is wrong?
| A．It travels more than 75 miles per hour. |
| B．It usually stays about 9 days. |
| C．It usually causes 6 to 12 inch downpours. |
| D．It sometimes brings the sea water level to the height of 15feet. |
The Pacific island nation of Nauru used to be a beautiful place. Now it is an ecological disaster area. Nauru's heartbreaking story could have one good consequence-other countries might learn from its mistakes.
For thousands of years, Polynesian people lived on the remote island of Nauru, far from western civilization. The first European to arrive was John Fearn in 1798. He was the British captain of the Hunter, a whaling ship. He called the island Pleasant Island.
However, because it was very remote, Nauru had little communication with Europeans at first. Then whaling ships and other traders began to visit, bringing guns and alcohol. These elements destroyed the social balance of the twelve family groups on the island. A ten-year civil war started, which reduced the population from 1，400 to 900.
Nauru's real troubles began in 1899 when a British mining company discovered phosphate（磷酸盐）on the island. In fact, it found that the island of Nauru was nearly all phosphate, which is a very important fertilizer for farming. The company began mining the phosphate.
A phosphate mine is not a hole in the ground; it is a strip mine. When a company strip-mines, it removes the top layer of soil. Then it takes away the material it wants. Strip-mining totally destroys the land. Gradually, the lovely island of Nauru started to look like the moon.
In 1968，Nauru became one of the richest countries in the world. Every year the government received millions and millions of dollars for its phosphate.
Unfortunately, the leaders invested the money unwisely and lost millions of dollars. In addition, they used millions more dollars for personal expenses. Soon people realized that they had a terrible problem-their phosphate was running out. Ninety percent of their island was destroyed and they had nothing. By 2000，Nauru was al-most financially ruined. Experts say that it would take approximately$433，600，000 and more than 20 years to repair the island. This will probably never happen.What might be the author's purpose in writing the text?
| A．To seek help for Nauru's problems. |
| B．To give a warning to other countries. |
| C．To show the importance of money. |
| D．To tell a heartbreaking story of a war. |
What was Nauru like before the Europeans came?
| A．Rich and powerful. |
| B．Modern and open. |
| C．Peaceful and attractive. |
| D．Greedy and aggressive. |
The ecological disaster in Nauru resulted from __________.
| A．soil pollution |
| B．phosphate overmining |
| C．farming activity |
| D．whale hunting |
Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a better student. By using your time properly, you can do your homework more quickly. Learning to study is not difficult.
The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn. It doesn't mean that you must always like the subject. It does mean, however, that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn. Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now and later to do and learn other things. Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier. Sometimes the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them.
Here's some advice for you ： have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study, so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions （中断）；have everything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary, paper, a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start; read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things; when memorizing, first find out the main parts and then recite the whole thing; check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview.
Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods. There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most useful learning method is to study hard.The main goal of the article is __________.
| A．to prove that learning is not difficult |
| B．to make the readers be interested in study |
| C．to tell the importance of self teaching |
| D．to tell the students how to study well |
The first thing to remember in studying is that __________.
| A．you must like the subject |
| B．you must follow the teacher |
| C．you must enjoy learning |
| D．you must study hard |
We learn things because __________.
| A．our parents want us to learn |
| B．every student learns at school |
| C．we may use these things in the future |
| D．we like the subjects |
There's no need to say it, but there are really more than a few benefits to educational tours. From the word itself, an educational tour is something done to gain knowledge while traveling and touring to some place. It creates opportunities for people to think out of the box and see things and places that aren't usually seen in their normal environment.
Educational trips aren't always those that cover far distances. As already said, it is done to gain knowledge and you wouldn't need to go very far to have it. Sometimes, an educational trip could be in your hometown.
Historic places and museums are always on top of the lists of the places to go in an educational tour. Educational tours like these would make you know your country better. Your country's history is rich and it is the reason why you came. But remember that the history of other states, counties and countries are as important as your own.
When you go on a trip to another country, it is likely that you learn their culture first. Different cultures have different understanding and perspective of different acts, and it could be dangerous or offending if you cannot understand a culture.
When you go on an educational tour, it is likely that you would have the opportunity to socialize with other people. Students are encouraged to talk to locals and natives and learn from them, because it is with understanding that students gain knowledge. When students talk with local people, they are gaining insights to their life and their culture. It is said that when in Rome, act and think as the Romans do, and this is a valuable skill that not all people could do.
There are millions of people who want to travel, and an educational tour is the perfect time to do so. Traveling opens new doors and opportunities; it always makes you want to learn more. Cultures are many and widely different, and it is a very valuable talent to understand the people of different cultures.
Traveling with groups of other students is safer than traveling alone, and bulk travels like those could also be helpful on the budget. Group of friends could stay at one place and get discounts on the place that you wouldn't get if you are traveling alone. Traveling is fun and more budget-friendly when with other people on an educational tour.
Travel abroad for a month, try and see if you wouldn't miss your own country. Traveling would let you see your own country in a different way. The benefits of an educational tour are all important, but this one creates patriotism in a person.
A school isn't a place where they teach you to find the answers; it is a place where one teaches you to find the questions and learn the answers for yourself. Educational tours are valuable this way. They teach you that you are not the only one seeking for questions and that there are other people who are willing to help you on your way too.What are educational tours according to the passage?
| A．Something done to gain knowledge while traveling. |
| B．Something done to know more about one's own country while traveling. |
| C．Something done to know more about a foreign country while traveling. |
| D．Something done to seek for more friends while traveling. |
What places are people most likely to go to in an educational tour?
| A．Schools and churches. | B．Government buildings. |
| C．Places of amusement. | D．Historical places and museums. |
Which statement is correct according to the passage?
| A．Educational trips always cover long distances. |
| B．When on educational trips, you seldom have the chance to talk with other people. |
| C．Educational trips are always too short to learn knowledge. |
| D．Learning the culture first is a must before you go on educational trips. |
If you want to go on a cheap and safe educational trip, you'd better __________.
| A．go with groups of other students |
| B．avoid the top spots |
| C．book one in advance |
| D．learn the culture first |
What does the word "patriotism" in the eighth paragraph mean?
| A．同情 | B．爱国心 |
| C．羞耻心 | D．虚荣心 |
I was doing some Christmas shopping in a toy store and decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely dressed little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well. As she was looking, a little boy came to the Pokemon toys. He was dressed neat-ly, but his clothes were obviously old. He was with his father as well, and kept picking up the Pokemon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his father, his father shook his head and said，"No. "
The little girl had chosen her Barbie. However, she stopped and was watching them. Rather dejectedly, the boy had to give up the Pokemon toys and choose something else. The little girl put her Barbie back on the shelf, and ran over to the Pokemon toys. She excitedly picked up one and raced towards the checkout. I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them. Then, much to the little girl's delight, the little boy and his father got in line behind me. After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little girl handed it back to the cashier （收银员）and whispered something in her ear. The cas her smiled and put the package under the counter.
I paid for my purchases and was rearranging things when the little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier checked his purchases and said，" Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today, and you win a prize ！" With that, she handed the little boy the Pokemon toys, and he could only stare in surprise. It was exactly what he had wanted ！ The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway during all of this. Then they walked out. As I walked back to my car, I heard the father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget what she said to him. "Daddy, didn't grandparents want me to buy something that would make me happy?" He said，"Of course they did, honey. " To which the little girl replied，" Well, I just did ！"
I feel very shocked to have witnessed the true spirit of Christmas in that toy store, in the form of a little girl who understands more about the meaning of this festival than most adults I know.The underlined word "dejectedly" in the second paragraph probably means __________.
| A．delightedly | B．disappointedly |
| C．excitedly | D．unexpectedly |
How did the little boy get the Pokemon toys?
| A．His father bought him the Poknemon toys. |
| B．Fortunately, he was the hundredth customer and won the Poknemon toys. |
| C．The cashier felt sympathy for the little boy and gave him the Poknemon toys. |
| D．The little girl bought the Poknemon toys for him. |
What did the little girl mean when saying " Daddy, didn't grand-parents want me to buy something that would make me happy?"
| A．Her grandparents wanted her to be happy. |
| B．Making the little boy happy made her happy. |
| C．The Poknemon toys made her happy. |
| D．Her grandparents hoped that she could help others. |
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