Once when I was facing a decision that involved high risk, I went to a friend. He looked at me for a moment, and then wrote a sentence containing the best advice I’ve ever had: Be bold and brave — and mighty (强大的) forces will come to your aid.
Those words made me see clearly that when I had fallen short in the past, it was seldom because I had tried and failed. It was usually because I had let fear of failure stop me from trying at all. On the other hand, whenever I had plunged into deep water, forced by courage or circumstance, I had always been able to swim until I got my feet on the ground again.
Boldness means a decision to bite off more than you are sure you can eat. And there is nothing mysterious about the mighty forces. They are potential powers we possess: energy, skill, sound judgment, creative ideas — even physical strength greater than most of us realize.
Admittedly, those mighty forces are spiritual ones. But they are more important than physical ones. A college classmate of mine, Tim, was an excellent football player, even though he weighed much less than the average player. “In one game I suddenly found myself confronting a huge player, who had nothing but me between him and our goal line,” said Tim. “I was so frightened that I closed my eyes and desperately threw myself at that guy like a bullet (子弹) — and stopped him cold.”
Boldness — a willingness to extend yourself to the extreme—is not one that can be acquired overnight. But it can be taught to children and developed in adults. Confidence builds up. Surely, there will be setbacks (挫折) and disappointments in life; boldness in itself is no guarantee of success. But the person who tries to do something and fails is a lot better off than the person who tries to do nothing and succeeds.
So, always try to live a little bit beyond your abilities — and you’ll find your abilities are greater than you ever dreamed.Why was the author sometimes unable to reach his goal in the past?
| A．He faced huge risks. |
| B．He lacked mighty forces. |
| C．Fear prevented him from trying. |
| D．Failure blocked his way to success. |
What is the implied meaning of the underlined part?
| A．Swallow more than you can digest. |
| B．Act slightly above your abilities. |
| C．Develop more mysterious powers. |
| D．Learn to make creative decisions. |
What was especially important for Tim’s successful defense in the football game?
| A．His physical strength. |
| B．His basic skill. |
| C．His real fear. |
| D．His spiritual force. |
What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
| A．To encourage people to be courageous. |
| B．To advise people to build up physical power. |
| C．To tell people the ways to guarantee success. |
| D．To recommend people to develop more abilities. |
This is the most exciting kayaking expedition（皮划艇探险）possible for beginner kayakers. You can expect to experience a whole range of different conditions and scenery. This expedition is a total of 8.27 km in distance and it actually enters the streams in the North of Ubin and exits in the South.
Three and a half kilometers of pure mangroves（红树林）, makes this the longest pure mangrove kayaking expedition in Singapore. The distance spent inside the mangrove gives you the maximum opportunity to witness wildlife within the mangrove eco-system. Come experience the challenge of operating your kayak through the labyrinth( 迷宫) of waterways and be amazed at the calm and quiet beauty of the wetlands. This last corner of natural wilderness in Singapore is so inaccessible, that very, very few have ever experience it—which makes this a truly special program.
Most Recent Traveler Reviews
Traveler A: Traveled from bottom to top of Singapore in rush hour traffic in order to get to Ubin for a 9:30 start—only to find no guide there. Although, once he arrived, the guide was lovely—offering a very knowledgeable tour and lots of enthusiasm around a beautiful part of the world—our 6-hour kayaking trip was actually over before 2:30 pm , despite only hitting the water at 12 noon.
Traveler B: The guides were nice, however the biggest disappointment was the timing. We thought we were going for a 4-hour kayak but were back in 2 hours and that included the prekayak safety talk. The mangroves are lovely but we were told that a storm was near. We felt that there had never been any intention of going out for longer. 
What is special about the kayaking trip for travelers is that they______.
| A．have a good relaxation by kayaking |
| B．feel the challenge of kayaking |
| C．enjoy the beauty of the wetlands |
| D．experience the wonder of mangroves |
Which of the following information is TRUE about the kayaking expedition?
| A．The time, distance and cost are referred to. |
| B．The kayaking trip starts at 9:30 am and ends at noon. |
| C．The distance spent inside the mangrove is 3.5 kilometres. |
| D．The mangrove wetlands of Ubin lie in the south of Singapore. |
Which is the common point referred to by the two travelers?
| A．The unpleasant weather. |
| B．The shortened distance. |
| C．The lovely wildlife. |
| D．The guide’s service. |
What can we learn from the passage?
| A．The safety of the kayaking travelers is not well guaranteed. |
| B．The eco-system of Ubin nature reserve is well protected. |
| C．The timing of the kayaking trip is satisfactory on the whole. |
| D．Travelers’ complaints may not be considered by the traveling company. |
Getting into university is hard enough at the best of times—but when your chosen institution is a work of fiction you’re really up against. And that’s why this young joker’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) application to Hogwarts University was unsuccessful.
But the admissions services’ response to the young man is still funny.
The unnamed A-Level student wrote a handwritten note to UCAS asking for a place studying ‘Wandology’ at the Harry Potter school.
In the application, he was proud of his skills in “wearing a pointy hat” and “Watching Paul Daniels TV Specials”.
UCAS replied, “We regret to inform you that your application to the stated university cannot be processed at this time for the fact that it does not exist.
“After consultation with our mystic (神秘学的) advisors we have also determined that even if it did exist, the course ‘Wandology’ would be highly in demand and thus require at least two As and a B in any of the following subjects:
Advanced Spellcrafting
Mystimatics
Defence Against the Dark Arts
History of the Mysticism
Shaft Design
“Your handwritten grade sheet claiming top marks in ‘Waving a stick about’, ‘Wearing a pointy hat’ and ‘Watching Paul Daniels TV Specials’ sadly is not suitable for admission, however, by applying through clearing you may be suitable for a selection of Liberal Arts courses.”
“Or, you may wish to resubmit next year by tying your letter to an owl (猫头鹰) and hoping for the best.
“On behalf of UCAS I wish you every success.”What do we know about the underlined word “Wandology” according to the passage?
| A．It is a course that is highly in demand in universities. |
| B．It is a course that does not exist now in real life. |
| C．It is a course that can be applied by anyone. |
| D．It is a course that is forbidden by UCAS. |
What can be inferred in the UCAS’s reply?
| A．Applying for a university is the hardest thing even in the best times. |
| B．The young student will probably start to raise an owl for the next year. |
| C．UCAS may approve the young student’s application for Liberal Arts courses. |
| D．In the end the young student succeeded in applying for Hogwarts University. |
Where may this passage be found?
| A．In a magic magazine. | B．In a history book. |
| C．In a science fiction. | D．In a newspaper. |
Cool temperatures, golden colors of autumn and dramatic events are just three reasons to visit Oregon’s Washington County this fall. The season brings a large number of places to see and things to do. We’ve collected some of the best reasons why you should plan a trip here in the coming months.
It’s a Harvest Season
Autumn marks the height of the agricultural season, which not only means a variety of autumn fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ markets, but also means that the season is heating up with fun, family farm events. Three apple festivals this fall will celebrate the diversity and deliciousness of Oregon-grown apples.
The Colors Are Changing
On a cool, autumn day, the rural, agricultural and forested scenery of Oregon’s Washington County comes alive with bright red, orange and yellow leaves --- a stark contrast to the deep, dark green of the trees that share these landscapes.
Bird Migration Season Is in High Season
September and October are busy months for bird watchers. Migratory and native birds call Washington County “home”, whether it’s for the winter or they’re just visiting on their southern voyage.
Wine Harvest Season Brings Signature Tasting Events
Celebrate the splendor of Oregon wine at two of the region’s biggest wine events, which happen annually in the fall. The North Willamette Harvest Trail and Grand Tasting is a full-day guided bus tour to three wineries featuring hands-on experiences, vineyard exploration, a wine country lunch, and wine tastings.
Experience Tree-to-Tree Adventures at Sunset
Enjoy the crisp temperatures and rich colors of the season at Tree to Tree Adventure Park, an aerial ropes course with six challenging courses and zip-line park, all rolled into one. These are the final months to enjoy this fun and exciting attraction until it closes for the season in November.
Plan your own Oregon’s Washington County autumn getaway. Read this great digital visitor guide for ideas and inspiration.When you go to the farmers’ markets ______.
| A．you can get kinds of apples for free |
| B．you can make friends with farmers |
| C．you can join in the celebrations |
| D．you can feel satisfied with fun |
The bird watchers go to Washington County ______.
| A．because they are attracted by colorful leaves |
| B．because the native birds leave their home |
| C．because they can see different kinds of birds |
| D．because the birds start their southern voyage |
It can be inferred from the fifth paragraph that ______.
| A．the wine event is to be held in the coming winter |
| B．farmers are good at growing grape in Oregon |
| C．the three wineries are most famous in America |
| D．few tourists like tasting the wine in wineries |
If you love the aerial ropes course ______.
| A．you must face six competitions in Oregon |
| B．you should have experience in rolling |
| C．you must take ropes course in advance |
| D．you can visit Oregon in the fall season |
Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．Reasons to Visit Oregon’s Washington County |
| B．Washington County Welcomes its Best Season |
| C．Charm of the Colorful Season |
| D．Take Adventures in the Coming Autumn |
Soup on my nose, a nearly spilled glass of wine and chocolate down my white blouse, as blind dates suggest, this was a really messy one. I have never made so much noise with plates and glasses, nor had I dined with a never-before-met companion. This blind date was quite different: we could see nothing. "Put your left hand on my shoulder, and then we'll take small steps forward," said Michael, the visually impaired(视力障碍的) server, in an East London accent. We three felt our way carefully bumping past heavy curtains before being arranged at the dining table, where we would eat and drink three completely secret and unseen courses.
Welcome to Alchemy in the Dark, Hong Kong's first full-time restaurant in total darkness. Upon arrival, diners briefly tell the chef on their allergies(过敏性反应), lock away their mobile phones and enter the windowless restaurant, which can seat 25. When the meal is over, the contents of the delicious menu are shown --- often to the diners' surprise. "This is definitely duck," my friend said, while eating chicken. "This soup," I declared, "is carrot and coriander." Even the too-close smell did not reveal the real tomato and cumin flavors. Dining in the dark changes everything: the sense of smell is heightened, manners go out of the window ----using your hands to feel around the plate becomes normal--- and there is a strange thrill in being able to ignore your facial expressions. Best of all? You don't have to spend hours beforehand(事先) wondering what to wear.
Alchemy in the Dark is at 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, (tel: 6821 2801) and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm. Reservations are required. A three-course meal with wine pairing costs HK$700 per person. Five per cent of all profits go to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind.
How did the author and her companion arrive at their dining table?
| A．By using a map |
| B．By being led |
| C．By feeling their way. |
| D．By finding it by themselves |
According to passage, which of the following is true?
| A．The diners might eat what they are allergic to. |
| B．The author enjoyed a special lunch at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| C．The restaurant donated some money to the H. K Society for the Blind. |
| D．The diners aren’t allowed to take phones to the restaurant at any time. |
From the passage we can learn that the author ___________.
| A．had the table booked |
| B．shared the meal with a friend. |
| C．practiced how to eat in total darkness. |
| D．chose her clothes in advance for the meal. |
The last paragraph is intended to ____________.
| A．present some facts about eating in the dark. |
| B．inform what to do at Alchemy in the Dark |
| C．conclude the experience of eating at Alchemy in the Dark. |
| D．provide some information about Alchemy in the Dark. |
The practice of students endlessly copying letters and sentences from a blackboard is a thing of the past. With the coming of new technologies like computers and smart phone, writing by hand has become something of nostalgic(怀旧的) skill. However, while today’s educators are using more and more technologies in their teaching, many believe basic handwriting skills are still necessary for students to be successful ---both in school and in life. Virginia Berninger, professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, says it’s important to continue teaching handwriting and help children acquire the skill of writing by hand.
Berninger and her colleagues conducted a study that looked at the ability of students to complete various writing tasks---both on a computer and by hand. The study, published in 2009, found that when writing with a pen and paper, participants wrote longer essays and more complete senten3ces and had a faster word production rate.
In a more recent study, Berninger looked at what role spelling plays in a student’s writing skills and found that how well children spell is tied to how well they can write. “Spelling makes some of the thinking parts of the brain active, which helps us access our vocabulary, word meanings and concepts. It is allowing our written language to connect with ideas. Berninger said.
Spelling helps students translate ideas into words in their mind first and then to transcribe (转换) “those words in the mind written symbols on paper or keyboard and screen,” the study said. Seeing the words in the “mind’s eye” helps children not only to turn their ideas into words, says Berninger, but also to spot spelling mistakes when they write the words down and to correct them over time.
“In our computer age, some people believe that we don’t have to teach spelling because we have spell checks,” she said. “But until a child has a functional spelling ability of about a fifth grade level, they won’t have the knowledge to choose the correct spelling among the options given by the computer.”What makes writing by hand a thing of the past?
| A．The absence of blackboard in classroom. |
| B．The use of new technologies in teaching. |
| C．The lack of practice in handwriting. |
| D．The popular use of smart phones. |
Which of the following best shows the role of spelling?
| A．Spelling improves ones memory of words. |
| B．Spelling ability is closely related to writing ability. |
| C．Spelling benefits the translation from words into ideas. |
| D．Spelling slows down finding exact words to express ideas. |
What does minds eye in paragraph 4 mean?
| A．Window | B．Soul | C．Picture | D．Imagination |
What conclusion could be drawn from the passage?
| A．Computers can help people with their choice of words. |
| B．Spell checks can take the place of spelling teaching. |
| C．Handwriting still has a place in todays classrooms. |
| D．Functional spelling ability develops fast in the fifth grade. |
I have two sons．They are as different as night and day．My youngest is sweet, loveable, easy-going, and finds joy in everything．My oldest we’ve nicknamed the “Evil Genius” is ambitious, self-confident, and suffers no fools．
Whenever we mentioned Santa my husband and I were rewarded with major eye rolling and deep sighs from my oldest．At first we both tried to ignore it．
We both knew that our eldest had figured out the big secret．But I’d be damned(指责) if he was going to ruin it for his six-year-old brother who had plenty of Santa-loving years ahead of him．I looked at my husband in the eye and said, “I’ll handle this．” to which he responded “Okay just be careful because I’m not sure he knows - he might just be acting like it．” But I knew．And I had it in my mind that he was about to break his younger brothers spirit and break the news to him．I was afraid he was going to take the Christmas spirit away from my sweet innocent youngest and stamp all over it．I had to protect him．I needed to control this now before it got out of control．I rushed into the play room where my oldest was playing alone．I looked him dead in the eyes and said: “Well you know Santa isn’t real, right?” And as I stared at my eight-year-old son for what seemed like a long time of silence, his eyes started to fill with tears． And a tear dropped down his cheek when he screamed out, “He’s not?”
“Um well it’s not that he’s not real (shut up you idiot- stop saying he’s not real), but he doesn’t really make and deliver all the toys．Dad and I get some of them for you．So he’s real．He’s just got a little help from us．”
The Evil Genius wasn’t buying it．He just sat there looking at me with an expression of doubt．
You know when you make a terrible mistake but you can’t stop yourself from making it worse? That was me because I just had to know．I had to know why he had seemed to be over Santa． So I asked him why he rolled his eyes and sighed every time his father and I mentioned Santa, to which he replied that kids at school had been saying Santa wasn't real but that he still thought he was．What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Two different sons |
| B．Santa secret given away |
| C．Protecting one, ruining the other |
| D．Making a mistake worse |
What did the writer conclude when “Evil Genius” rolled his eyes and sighed?
| A．“Evil Genius” had discovered Santa was not real． |
| B．“Evil Genius” had broken the secret to his younger brother． |
| C．“Evil Genius” had passed his Santa-loving years． |
| D．“Evil Genius” had been influenced by his classmates． |
What does the underlined sentence mean in the passage?
| A．“Evil Genius” refused to buy toys． |
| B．“Evil Genius” didn’t believe his mother’s words． |
| C．“Evil Genius” wanted to keep silent． |
| D．“Evil Genius” would not give away the secret． |
What lesson can we learn from the story?
| A．Lies can never change facts． |
| B．Honesty is the best policy． |
| C．No one is perfect． |
| D．We should think twice before we act． |
The child of today owes much of its pleasant school life to the work of Maria Montessori and others who felt as she did．
Maria Montessori was born in 1870 in northern Italy． Both her parents were well educated．
While Maria was a student, she took great interest in the study of the particular nature of the child's mind． It came to her that small children should have freedom to learn．
Maria became a doctor and a professor at Rome University．In 1907, after working with backward students, she was given a chance to try out her ideas on children．There were sixty children, aged three to six, in the Children's House．The rooms were bright and colorful．Maria let the children make their own choice of what they wanted to do and work with their own speed． They became busy, peaceful and happy．
Maria Montessori was one of the world's great teachers．She traveled in Europe, America and Far East．She thought that true education, providing(提供) for the real needs of the child, would produce wise and happy grown-ups and therefore a peaceful world． Her original way of education has changed our whole idea of what childhood is．
Maria Montessori died in Holland at the age of eighty-two．
The short passage is mainly about_________．
| A．the education of backward students |
| B．a new idea of education |
| C．the importance of proper education |
| D．the life of Maria Montessori |
Maria traveled a lot in the world to ________．．
| A．teach the backward students |
| B．enjoy her life in real nature |
| C．spread her ideas of teaching |
| D．study the situation of education |
In what way did Maria teach the children in the Children's House?
| A．She taught them the best way of learning well． |
| B．She let them learn in a very pleasant way． |
| C．She taught them by showing them how to do things． |
| D．She just let them choose the most interesting subjects． |
We learn from the passage that ________．
| A．Maria left her homeland in order to study abroad |
| B．Maria didn't get married |
| C．Maria's own parents were her teachers |
| D．Maria fully understood the child's mind |
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
Camp All-Star
One of a Kind Summer Camps for Kids
Welcome to Camp All-Star, your No．1 summer sports camp for kids! Located on the famous Kents Hill School campus by the beautiful lake, Camp All-Star hosts kids from around the world． When thinking about your next overnight summer camp, consider the best—Camp All-Star!
Great Sports Summer Camps for Kids
Camp All-Star stands out among the successful camps in the U.S．We have the best sports fields and courts to make your child’s sports camp experience a successful one．Your child can enjoy playing for hours in any of our more than 30 sports and activities each day．Our camper to staff rate is three to one, which makes it possible for children to receive more careful instruction．
We have a wide variety of activities and sports to choose from: fishing, dance, basketball, soccer, baseball, and tennis．Boys and girls, aged 8-16, can customize their own schedules in our 2, 3, 4 or 6 week summer camp session for kids.
The aim of Camp All-Star is to develop athletic skills, encourage abilities in leadership, fair play and team work, and provide a fun, rewarding and memorable summer sports camp experience．Our staff have the experience and qualified training necessary to ensure that your child has a successful, memorable and enjoyable time at our summer camp.
Call Today About Our Overnight Summer Camps for Kids
Don’t let your kids waste another summer playing video games and sitting around． Let them enjoy their time and get some exercise at our exciting and friendly summer sports camp．Information for our upcoming camps can be found on our website．For additional information or questions, contact us today．We hope your kids can join us at Camp All-Star!Camp All-Star stands out among the others because it ______.
| A．is surrounded by a beautiful lake |
| B．provides various activities and sports |
| C．offers timely information on its websit |
| D．allows children to play outside all day long |
One of the goals of Camp All-star is to ______.
| A．fire kids’ imagination |
| B．build up kids’ confidence |
| C．develop kids’ leadership skills |
| D．promote kids’ self-control |
This advertisement is intended for ______.
| A．parents |
| B．coaches |
| C．staff |
| D．campers |
If you're tired of the Mediterranean and don't want to head to Disney again，perhaps it's time for a summer holiday in space．Russia has declared plans for its first floating hotel，217 miles above earth，and it is something of an offering with good service．
Hosting just seven guests in a four cabins，the accommodation will boast huge windows with views back to earth and tasty microwave meals will be served instead of the ones often used by astronauts．
Just getting there will be an adventure in itself—it will take two days aboard a Soyuz rocket—and it won't exactly be a budget holiday: A five-day stay will cost you￡100，000 to￡500，000 for your journey．The hotel is due to open by 2016 and，according to those behind it，will be far more comfortable than the International Space Station (ISS) used by astronauts and cosmonauts．
In the weightlessness of space，visitors can choose to have beds that are either vertical or horizontal．Tourists，who will be accompanied by experienced crew，will dine on food prepared on Earth and sent up on the rocket，to be reheated in microwave ovens．Many kinds of delicacies will be available．
Iced tea，mineral water and fruit juices will be available，but alcohol will be strictly prohibited．Toilets will use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system．Waste water will be recycled．
Sergei Kostenko，chief executive of Orbital Technologies which will construct the hotel，said: “Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station．A hotel should be comfortable inside，and it will be possible to look at the Earth．The hotel will be aimed at wealthy individuals and people working for private companies who want to do research in space．” The hotel can also be used as an emergency bolthole (避难处) for astronauts aboard the International Space Station if there is a crisis．
Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Russia declares the design for its first space hotel |
| B．The first space hotel is under construction now |
| C．The astronauts will have a second home in space |
| D．Russia has the advanced technology in exploring space |
What does the underlined word “budget” in the 3rd paragraph mean?
| A．expensive |
| B．worthwhile |
| C．economic |
| D．uncomfortable |
What kind of accommodation will the guests have in the space hotel?
| A．They will have the same food as the astronauts have． |
| B．Many kinds of drinks are available including alcohol． |
| C．Guests can have beds that are either vertical or horizontal． |
| D．Tourists are accompanied by the astronauts from the ISS． |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The space hotel is built to remind you of the International Space Station． |
| B．The hotel is constructed with big windows so that tourists can see the earth． |
| C．The company，Orbital Technologies，has already begun to build the space hotel． |
| D．In the near future，a space trip for most of the people can be realized． |
Kids Wall Art
Large wall posters for kids. Your kids will love these cool posters by artist Carla Daly. Your kids will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with these posters and their friends will think they are the coolest!
| Name: ABC Wall Art Size: 44×72cm (17.5″×28″) Time: 9:00 am every day Prices: $ 6.8/piece Colorful ABC art for your kids’ bedroom and playroom. A fun, educational art piece that all kids will enjoy. Kids and babies will love learning their animals and the ABC at the same time! |
| Name: Kids World Map Size: 45×75cm (17.5″×29.5″) Time: 2:00 pm on Wednesday Prices: $ 7.2/piece A colorful, large print by artist Carla Daly. Your kids will love this world map showing the lands, oceans and the fun animals that live in them. An educational map that will keep your kids happy for hours! |
| Name: Skateboard Park Size: 44×60cm (17.5″×23.5″) Time: 9:00 am on weekends Prices: $ 8.8/piece Fun zebra children’s wall art! Children and kids will love these fun animals enjoying this popular kids’ sport. Boys and girls will enjoy decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
| Name: City Slickers(城市佬) Size: 44×55cm(17.5″×23.5″) Time: 2:00 pm every day except Friday Prices: $ 6.5/piece Cute kids wall art of two cool giraffes taking a drive through the city, unusual, fun style for kids’ walls! Your kids will love this fun giraffe wall art. Boys and girls will have fun decorating their bedroom walls with this colorful bedroom wall art. |
Jane, who would like to buy a poster with the size of 45×75cm, will probably buy ________.
| A．ABC Wall Art | B．Kids World Map |
| C．Skateboard Park | D．City Slickers |
David plans to buy two posters. He should at least take ________ with him.
| A．$ 15.3. | B．$ 14. | C．$ 12. | D．$ 13.3. |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．Kids can find two cool giraffes on Skateboard Park. |
| B．Kids can just learn some English letters on ABC Wall Art. |
| C．Kids can enjoy fun zebra children’s wall art on City Slickers. |
| D．Kids can get some geography knowledge on Kids World Map. |
The evidence for harmony may not be obvious in some families. But it seems that four out of five young people now get on well with their parents, which is the opposite of the popularly held image of unhappy teenagers locked in their room after endless family quarrels.
An important new study into teenage attitudes surprisingly shows that their family life is happier than it has ever been in the past. “We were surprised by just how positive today’s young people seem to be about their families,” said one member of the research team. “They’re expected to be rebellious（叛逆的）and selfish but actually they have other things on their minds; they want a car and material goods, and they worry about whether school is serving them well. There’s discussion between parents and children, and children expect to take part in the family decision-making process. They don’t want to rock the boat.”
So it seems that these parents are much more likely than parents of 30 years ago to treat their children as friends. “My parents are happy to discuss things with me and willing to listen to me,” says 17-year-old Daniel LaSalle. “I always tell them when I'm going out clubbing. When they know what I'm doing, they’re fine with it.” Susan Cromer, who is now 21, agrees. “Looking back on the last 10 years, there was a lot of what you could call talk or discussion. For example, when I’d done all my homework, I could go out on a Saturday night. But I think my grandparents were a lot stricter with my parents than that.”
Maybe this positive view of family life should not be unexpected. It is possible that the idea of teenage rebellion is not based on real facts. A researcher explains, “Teenagers were thought to be different from others in a part of time in our social history. But to our surprise, they say they are getting on well with their parents. But that idea of rebelling and breaking away from their parents really only happened during that one time in the 1960s when everyone rebelled.”The study shows that teenagers don't want to ______________________.
| A．share family duties |
| B．cause trouble in their families |
| C．go boating with their family |
| D．make family decisions |
Compared with parents of 30 years ago, today’s parents ___________________.
| A．go to clubs more often with their children |
| B．are much stricter with their children |
| C．care less about their children’s life |
| D．give their children more freedom |
According to the writer, teenage rebellion ____________________.
| A．may be a wrong opinion |
| B．is common at present |
| C．always happened in the 1960s |
| D．was caused by changes in families |
Which title best gives the main idea of the passage?
| A．Discussion in family |
| B．Teenage education in family |
| C．Teenage trouble in family |
| D．Harmony in family |
Children have their own rules in playing games．They seldom need a referee (裁判) and rarely take trouble to keep scores．They don’t care much about who wins or loses，and it doesn’t seem to worry them if the game is not finished．Yet，they like games that depend a lot on luck，so that their personal abilities cannot be directly compared．They also enjoy games that move in stages，in which each stage，the choosing of leaders，the picking-up of sides，or the determining of which side shall start，is almost a game in itself．
Grown-ups can hardly find children’s game exciting，and they often feel puzzled at why their kids play such simple game again and again．However，it is found that a child plays games for very important reasons．He can be a good player without having to think whether he is a popular person，and he can find himself being a useful partner to someone of whom he is ordinary afraid．He becomes a leader when it comes to his turn．He can be confident，too，in particular games，that it is his place to give orders，to pretend to be dead，to throw a ball actually at someone，or to kiss someone he has caught．
It appears to us that when children play a game they imagine a situation under their control．Everyone knows the rules，and more importantly，everyone plays according to the rules．Those rules may be childish，but they make sure that every child has a chance to win．
What is true about children when they play games?
| A．They can stop playing any time they like． |
| B．They can test their personal abilities． |
| C．They want to pick a better team． |
| D．They don’t need rules． |
To become a leader in a game，the child has to _________．
| A．be a useful partner |
| B．wait for his turn |
| C．be confident in himself |
| D．be popular among his playmates |
Why does a child like playing games?
| A．Because he can be someone other than himself． |
| B．Because he can become popular among friends． |
| C．Because he finds he is always lucky in games． |
| D．Because he likes the place where he plays a game． |
Which is the best title for this passage?
| A．Rules in Children’s Games |
| B．Advantages of Playing Games for Children |
| C．Reasons for Children’s Games |
| D．How to Be a Popular Game Player |
My family moved around a lot when I was growing up．In 2nd grade，I lived here in Washington D．C，where I made an amazing group of friends．I was upset when my parents told me we were moving again and I would have to leave all my best friends behind．
In 7th grade．we moved back to Washington D．C．And I could not have been more excited and I felt like I was finally home again．But things had changed．There were two new girls，who decided that they didn’t like me，which meant no one else could，not even all my former best friends．
And then one day during school，I opened my locker，only to find a note lying on the floor．The note said：Die．Nobody likes you．
My heart started beating faster and I felt the blood rushing to my face．I had no idea what to do．The note wasn’t signed and I had no idea who had written it，but I figured the new girls were behind it．I had to sit in class all day with my head down，wondering who else knew about this shame．I felt horrible and sure that nothing would ever be good again．
I decided that the perfect way to end all of this was with another note，left on the bathroom mirror at school．
It’s sad for someone to bully(欺负)other classmates to make themselves feel better or look cool．Bullying others is a way to impress others．It’s common，but that doesn’t mean it's okay．Looking cool is not worth making others feel bad．Obviously I’m very happy now，but it doesn’t mean I’11 ever forget about that note or how it made me feel．And to those of you that are current victims(目前的受害者) of bullying—know that you are NOT alone．It will get better．I promise．
Why was the author unhappy when she left Washington D．C．?
A．She couldn’t adapt herself
B．She had to leave best friends．
C．She was growing up there．
D．She hated traveling a lot．
When the author opened the locker，she felt .
| A．satisfied | B．cheerful | C．amused | D．ashamed |
In the end，the author turned things around ．
| A．under her teacher’s guide |
| B．by compromising to others |
| C．with her best friends’ help |
| D．through her own efforts |
What suggestion does the author give to the teenagers?
| A．Meet friends whenever possible． |
| B．Make efforts to fight back hard． |
| C．Be optimistic and let a thing slide． |
| D．Go on well with others． |
“Don't worry if you have problems!” It is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one．The only people who don't have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods．Most communities have at least one．We call them cemeteries．If you're breathing, you have difficulties．It's the way of life．And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you! Let me explain．
Maybe you have heard the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia．Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef．
On one tour, a traveler asked the guide an interesting question．"I notice that the lagoon （泻湖） side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful," the traveler observed．Why is this?
The guide gave an interesting answer, "The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival．It dies early．The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves and storms．It has to fight for its survival every day．As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts．It grows healthy．It grows strong．And it reproduces．"
Then he added, “That's the way it is with every living organism．”
That's how it is with people．Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow．Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger．Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency．Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness．So, you have problems? No problem! Just tell yourself, "There I grow again!"
Remember: A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner．Who has no problems according to the passage?
| A．The persons who are very famous． |
| B．The persons who have much money． |
| C．The persons who have been born． |
| D．The persons who are living in the cemeteries． |
In the writer's opinion, ________．
| A．problems bring us much trouble |
| B．problems have two sides, good or bad |
| C．we should try to stay away from any trouble |
| D．the fewer things we do, the less trouble we'll meet |
The reason why lagoon side of the reef has no life is _______．
| A．it hasn't got any sunlight |
| B．it has less energy than others |
| C．it never faces any challenge and tests |
| D．it has no work to do every day |
After reading this passage, we should ________．
| A．regard any problem as challenge |
| B．learn from the lagoon side |
| C．worry your problem |
| D．enter into cemeteries |
粤公网安备 44130202000953号