Why are so many people afraid to fail? Quite simply because we forget that failure is part of the human life and that every person has the right to fail. Every person is able to fight failure and finally succeed.
Most parents work hard at preventing failure or protecting their children from the knowledge that they have failed. One way is to lower standards(标准). When a child finishes making a table, the mother describes it as “perfect” even though it doesn’t stand still. Another way is to blame others. If John fails in science, his teacher is unfair or stupid.
There’s a problem with the two ways. It makes a child unprepared for life in the real world. Young children need to learn that no one can be best at everything, no one can win all the time, and that it’s possible to enjoy a game even when you don’t win. A child often feels terrible, of course, when he is not invited to a birthday party, or is not chosen into a football team. But parents should not say “It doesn’t matter.” quickly. The young should be allowed to experience failure and be helped to come out of it.
Failure never gives people pleasure. It hurts both adults and children. But it can be really good to your life when you learn to use it. You must learn to ask “Why did I fail?” Don’t blame anyone else. Ask yourself what you did wrong and how you can improve. If someone else can help, don’t be shy about asking them. Success just repeats what has been done. It is not as good a teacher as failure. You can learn how to give a good party from an unsuccessful one.How do most parents prevent their children from failure?
| A． They give them some presents. |
| B． They don’t tell them that they have failed. |
| C． They don’t blame others. |
| D． They help them to come out of failure. |
Which of the following does a person need to learn when he fails?
| A． It’s impossible to enjoy a game if he misses it. |
| B． He is the worst of all. |
| C． It’s natural not to win a game and no one can win all the time. |
| D． His teammates are not good enough. |
Which would be the best title for the passage?
| A． Learning from Failure |
| B． Ways of Preventing Failure |
| C． Reasons of Failure |
| D． Getting Pleasure from Failure |
Why play games? Because they are fun, and a lot more besides. Following the rules... planning your next move... acting as a team member... these are all "game" ideas that you will come across throughout your life.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Some games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dreams that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating（合作）.
Many children's games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination（协调） needed in hunting.
Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a gold medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports are also an event that unites people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it--some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can ____.
| A．describe life in an exciting way |
| B．turn real-life experiences into a play |
| C．make learning life skills more interesting |
| D．change people's views of sporting events |
According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?
| A．It inspires people's deep love for the country. |
| B．It proves the exceptional skills of the winners. |
| C．It helps the country out of natural disasters. |
| D．It earns the winners fame and fortunes. |
Iribarne's goal of forming the foundation is to ____.
| A．bring fun to poor kids |
| B．provide soccer balls for children |
| C．give poor kids a chance for a better life |
| D．attract soccer players to help poor kids |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Games benefit people all their lives. |
| B．Sports can get all athletes together. |
| C．People are advised to play games for fun. |
| D．Sports increase a country's competitiveness. |
Children at a school in Italy have today begun an experiment to replace all their books with personal computers. The pupils involved will each be given a special laptop that contains their entire courses.
Until today, the Don Milani di Rivoli elementary school in central Turin was like any other. Children turned up, got out their books and pens and began the process of learning. But now, in what's being described as a unique experiment, 60 fifth-grade pupils and a number of third-graders, will start using computers only.
The mini-laptops, which run Windows software, all have a full curriculum programmed into them. The pupils will use the computers to do all their reading and writing. Security systems within the laptops mean the children's access to the Internet is strictly controlled. The machines weigh less than a kilogram, can be dropped from a height of 1.5 metres and are waterproof.
Instead of spending 700 dollars a year on books, the laptops, built by the Italian company Olidata, cost less than 400 dollars. One of the teachers involved in the scheme says that, for the first time, schools will be able to verify in a scientific way how a computer alone can improve the learning process. The experiment, which has the backing of parents, is due to last a year.
In other countries, such a programme is also being carried out. Venezuela is ordering one million low cost laptops for its school children. The machines will be based on the Intel Classmate laptop that has been designed for school children. Many see the deal as a blow for the One Laptop Per Child organization that has also been introducing its child- friendly machine to developing nations. Which of the following is TRUE about the mini-laptop?
| A．It is heavy for pupils to carry. | B．It can't be damaged by water. |
| C．It is one and a half meters high. | D．It is easily broken or damaged. |
The pupils use the laptop to ____ in class.
| A．learn their lessons as an aid |
| B．have a course named computer studies |
| C．surf the Internet mainly to find information |
| D．do what they used to do with books and pens |
How much money can a pupil save by using the mini-laptop to replace all the books in a year?
| A．Less than 400 dollars. | B．More than 400 dollars. |
| C．More than 300 dollars. | D．Less than 300 dollars. |
Which of the following about the experiment is TRUE?
| A．It has been carried out for over one year. |
| B．It has already turned out to be a success. |
| C．The pupils' parents are against it in fact. |
| D．The pupils' parents are supportive to it. |
Edinburgh Mela
Time: 25th – 31st August 2008
Tel / Fax: 0131 557 1400
E-mail: info@edinburgh-mela.co.uk
Website: www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
Each year Edinburgh Mela is Scotland's biggest multicultural(多文化的) arts festival that celebrates in Scotland. Although Edinburgh Mela's roots are in South Asian cultures, this is a festival for everybody. Music, color, dance, art, fashion, food, children's activities, the Mela bazaar（集市）and much more!
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Time: 9th – 25th August 2008
Tel: 0131 718 5666
Fax: 0131 226 5335
E-mail: admin@edbookfest.co.uk
Website: www.edbookfest.co.uk
Edinburgh International Book Festival is the world's biggest book festival. We present different programs for both adults and children including discussions, lectures, debates and workshops, all in one of Edinburgh's most beautiful spaces, Charlotte Square Gardens.
Edinburgh International Festival
Time: 8th – 31st August 2008
Tel: + 44 (0) 131 473 2000
Fax: +44 (0) 131 473 2002
E-mail: eif@eif.co.uk
Website: www.eif@eif.co.uk
Each year the Edinburgh International Festival stages one of the greatest celebrations of the arts, attracting audiences from around the world to the city's exciting atmosphere. The festivities offer a special opportunity to experience the excitement of live performance by internationally well-known artists as well as the joy of discovering new and unfamiliar works.
Edinburgh International Science Festival
Time: 25th March-5th April 2008
Tel: 0131 558 7666
Fax: 0131 557 9177
E-mail: esf@scifest.demon.co.uk
Website: www.sciencefestival.co.uk
The UK's largest Science Festival is back with one of the most exciting line-ups in the Festival's 16-year history. The Science Festival is an unbelievable place for everyone, with events at all levels, all ages and all purses. On offer are 10 days of non-stop shows, workshops, presentations, hands-on activities, exhibitions and tours designed to amuse and entertain. Call our ticket hotline on 0131 557 5588.According to the passage, the four festivals .
| A．are all about arts | B．all happen in 2008 only |
| C．are all celebrated in Edinburgh | D．are all mainly for children |
What do we know about Edinburgh Mela?
| A．It is deeply rooted in Edinburgh. |
| B．It is a place to buy and sell things. |
| C．It shows kinds of cultures in Scotland. |
| D．It offers a chance for you to buy books. |
How many ways are available for you to get the information about each festival?
| A．Only one. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
My mother loves flowers. As soon as warm weather comes around, you will find her planting, watering, and weeding over everything. For a number of years we lived next door to each other, and she spent as much time in my garden as she did her own. After the flowers became plentiful each summer, she would cut colorful bouquets(花束) to enjoy inside the house -- both hers and mine. I would often come home from work and find a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers on my coffee table.
Shortly before Christmas one year, a local flower shop offered a bouquet-a-month special. It seemed to be a made-to-order gift for Mom, a great way to thank her for all of the flowers she had given me through the years.
After the holidays, in early January, I drove her to the flower shop to pick up her first month's bouquet. The small fresh colorful bouquet would hardly fill a small vase.
I was so embarrassed. However, after we returned home, she began to arrange the flowers she had received. "Mom, I'm sorry," I told her. "I can't believe how skimpy that bouquet is." She looked at me and smiled. "It's okay," she said. "It allows me to better enjoy the beauty of each one."
Mom's words helped me to realize something bigger and more important --when we have too many good things, we often fail to enjoy the beauty of each one.
Thanks, Mom, for helping me understand that less is sometimes more.
The author bought her mother flowers to ____.
| A．celebrate the coming Christmas |
| B．express thanks for all her mother has done |
| C．bring more flowers to her mother's garden |
| D．arrange her mother's new house |
What can you infer from the passage?
| A．The author couldn't afford a big bouquet. |
| B．The mother was not happy when receiving the bouquet. |
| C．The author would pick up another bouquet the next month. |
| D．The mother would send back the bouquet to the flower shop. |
The underlined word "skimpy" in Para. 4 means ____.
| A．beautiful | B．colorful | C．cheap | D．small |
What did the author learn from her mother?
| A．How to grow flowers. | B．How to arrange flowers. |
| C．Enjoying life if possible. | D．Considering things in other ways. |
|
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
The publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince pleases booksellers across China．The British and American editions were No.1 and No.3 separately on the sales chart of the Beijing Xidan Book Building last week. The book’s poster is highlighted and news about the book can often be heard on the radio．
Why is the book so attractive to children? With curiosity， I got a copy of “Harry Potter”．At first，I wanted to glance over it and made some criticisms(批评)．But，out of expectation，I have been deeply attracted by the magic world. On the other hand，one can’t help asking：Where is our own “Harry Potter”?
The Chinese nation has a history of 5，000 years．With a vast market of youngsters, China did publish many books popular among children. However, why are the present works not as good as those imported(进口的)?
There come two major reasons：Firstly，quite a number of children’s books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment. Children often have a feeling of being “educated”．No wonder they don’t like them．Secondly, children’s reading materials involving “idiom stories” and “Chinese talents’ stories”，though always in different covers，are usually much the same．Some books are plagiarized．The authors take words，ideas from someone else’s work．One knows the ending as early as in the beginning．In final analysis，the authors of the books seldom take children’s requirements into consideration．
As a matter of fact，each child has his own wonderful imagination．They hope to understand the world and nature．Similarly they have their own choices．They dislike similar stories．even if the stories are excellent．First-class reading for children should be very interesting，which contains knowledge and the essence(精髓)of national culture，which are presented in children’s language．
Market is a touchstone for products．The theory also holds true for cultural products．It is hoped that the authors of children’s books can learn something from the good market of “Harry Potter” and write out more and better books loved by children．Our books have the following disadvantages EXCEPT that_______．
| A．they have little sense of interest and entertainment |
| B．many of our books are of the same |
| C．our authors know what our children need |
| D．the authors didn’t pay much attention to the children’s tastes |
What does the underlined word “plagiarized” mean in Chinese?
| A．改编 | B．杜撰 | C．印刷 | D．剽窃 |
The reason why Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is so popular is that____.
| A．it opens a magic world for children |
| B．it has little sense of teaching |
| C．it is only written in children’s language |
| D．it is advertised more on TV or poster |
What does the writer mean by writing “Where is our own Harry Potter”?
| A．We Chinese produce more books than other countries． |
| B．We are short of books for children and adults． |
| C．Our authors are expected to make the market of children’s books take off． |
| D．Authors should write books named “Harry Potter”． |
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