【推荐1】My husband and I had been married nearly twenty-two years when I got Stevens-Johnson syndrome (史蒂文斯－约翰逊综合征), my immune system produced painful blisters(水泡)responding to the virus. Although my long-term examination was good, I, who had been very independent, soon became completely helpless.

My husband, Scott, stepped up to the plate, taking care of kids and cooking dinners. He also became my personal caretaker. Sometimes I had negative emotions and felt ashamed because I totally relied on others instead of myself.

I recovered from my illness, but I couldn't seem to recover from the thought that I loved my husband less than he loved me. Then recently Scott and I went on a long bike ride. At one point with a strong headwind and sharp pain building in my tired legs, I really thought I couldn't go any further. Seeing me struggle, Scott pulled in front of me and yelled over his shoulder, "Stay close behind me." As I followed his steps, I discovered that my legs quit burning and I was able to catch my breath. My husband was pulling me along again. At this moment I woke up and I believe: during these and other tough times, love becomes stronger when one partner learns to lean(依靠)on the other.

I pray(祈祷)my husband will always be strong and healthy. But if he should ever become the struggling one, whether on a bike ride or with an illness, I trust I'll be ready to call out to him: Stay close behind me-my turn to pull you along.

1. What made the author feel helpless?

A．Her husband's caring for her too much.

B．Her losing of the previous independence.

C．Her treatment's failure.

D．Her suffering from illness and mental disorder.

2. What does the underlined phrase "stepped up to the plate" in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Began to wash the plates.	B．Walked to the kitchen.
C．Began to take the responsibility.	D．Moved into batting position.

3. What did the author's husband do when going on the long bike ride?

A．Supported her all the way.	B．Gave in to her sadness.
C．Stopped to take care of her.	D．Followed her closely.

4. Which of the following can best describe the author's husband?

A．Career-centered.	B．Independent but tired of negative emotions.
C．Not good at taking action.	D．Family-centered.

【推荐2】Preschool Girl Lifts Old Man’s Spirits

When Tara Wood brought her daughter to a grocery store to buy the four-year-old some cupcakes, she had no idea that would be a life-changing experience.

As Tara pushed her daughter Norah around the store last month, she passed an old man who was by himself. The old man looked cold, until Norah shouted to him, “Hi! It’s my birthday today!” The man stopped and his demeanor changed from distant and serious to warm and friendly. “How old are you today?” the man asked. After some time talking together, Norah asked her mom to take a picture of her with her new friend “Mr. Dan”, Dan Peterson, 82. They hugged and after ten minutes went their separate ways. That could have been the end of the story. But it is actually the beginning of a special relationship.

Tara posted the picture of her daughter and Mr. Dan on Facebook and someone who recognized him reached out to her with his contact information. It turned out that Mr. Dan’s wife died in March and he had been suffering from depression and anxiety ever since. The person on Facebook told Tara that it was the first time they had seen Mr. Dan smile since the death of his wife. Knowing that, Tara contacted Mr. Dan, and ever since Norah and the 82-year-old have developed a friendship unlike any other. “She has shown me a depth of love, a depth that I didn’t know existed,” Mr. Dan told the reporter.

Mr. Dan told Tara that before meeting Norah, he hadn’t had one night of uninterrupted sleep. Anxiety kept him up at all hours and made him restless. After meeting Norah, he said he now sleeps soundly. For Mr. Dan’s 82nd birthday on October 20, the mother and the daughter brought balloons and presents — and, of course, cupcakes. Mr. Dan will also spend a day around Thanksgiving with Norah and her family. “If you don’t take the time to notice people, you will never know how you can positively impact a life,” Tara Wood said.

1. Mr. Dan looked cold because ________.

A．he felt lonely	B．he disliked little kids
C．nobody had hugged him	D．he knew little about Norah

2. How did Tara know more about Mr. Dan?

A．From a news reporter.	B．From a stranger.
C．From a shop assistant.	D．From his neighbor.

3. What can we learn from the story?

A．Giving makes a real difference.

B．It is important to respect each other.

C．We should not judge a person at first sight.

D．Good things will happen if one keeps trying.

【推荐3】It took me a moment to realize what had happened. Three days had passed and Rita seemed to get weaker and weaker. The rain had stopped. However, the sky was still cloudy, and it was so dark that I couldn’t see the buildings even across the road. I took a pressure reading from the weather station: 947mb, which let me know exactly where I was—in the eye of the storm.

There were rains and winds still, but not oppressive (难以忍受的) anymore. There was still no power, hot water or food. Besides, I didn’t sleep well for all these days, but I felt more relaxed since the weather report said Rita was leaving. What’s more, I was luckier than those people who had lost their homes or even worse, lost their lives because of Rita.

As I travelled further to the west, going after the storm, the damage along the way became less severe. I arrived in Houston after a tricky journey with my fuel supplies almost all gone. However, I came across another storm chaser (追逐者) who had 45 gallons of petrol. He helped me and we shared our working experience these days. With a complete stroke of luck I found a run-down hotel that allowed me to have a room overnight before the midnight. Although there was no running water, no power and no air conditioning, I curled up into a corner and fell asleep quickly.

I woke up the next morning, and what a change! The sky was blue and cars were moving around. Sirens could be heard as convoys (护航队) of emergency managements started to head west towards where I had come from. “The storm had stopped and I could go home. I gave all my remaining supplies to other people at the hotel and headed towards the airport. Houston Airport was not damaged, so I took my flight and drank my first hot drink in four days.”

All in all, when I came back home, I was proud that I finally made it again to follow and record the storm and I really learned a lot these days. Although it’s dangerous, I love my job as not many people would go into the eye of an intense storm.

1. What does “Rita” in the passage refer to?

A．A pet.

B．A storm.

C．A friend.

D．A citizen in Houston.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The author was a storm chaser.

B．The storm lasted for at least a week.

C．The author didn’t like Houston at all.

D．Houston was very badly damaged by the storm.

3. How is the passage mainly developed?

A．By analyzing causes.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By following time order.	D．By listing examples.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Ways to survive in a storm.

B．The weather changes in Houston.

C．The author’s experience in the storm.

D．Damages caused by the storm in Houston.

【推荐1】Listening to new music is hard. Not hard compared to going to space or war, but hard compared to listening to music we already know.

There is a physiological explanation in our desire to seek comfort in the familiar. It can help us understand why listening to new music is so hard, and why it can make us feel uneasy, angry, or even riotous. It has to do with the plasticity of our brains.

When it comes to hearing music, a network of nerves in the auditory cortex called the corticofugal network helps classify the different patterns of music. When a specific sound maps onto a pattern, our brains release an amount of dopamine, the main chemical source of some of our most intense emotions. This is the essential reason why music triggers such powerful emotional reactions.

Take the chorus of a song by Adele or Bruce Springsteen, many of which have very recognizable melody. The majority of our brains have memorized these melodies and know exactly what to expect when each comes around. When the corticofugal network registers that Springsteen chorus, our brains release just the right amount of dopamine.

But when we hear something that hasn't already been mapped onto the brain, the corticofugal network goes a bit out of control, and our brains release too much dopamine as a response. When there is no map or pattern to attach to, music can register as unpleasant or bad.

That’s what happened one night in Paris in 1913. The piece that was shown at the Théatre des Champs- élysées for the first time that night was Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. As described in the daily newspaper Le Figaro, many members of the audience could not understand this new music. After the failure of that evening, however, the ballet continued running at the theater for many months. At the second, there was noise only during the latter part of the ballet; at the third, “thunderous applause” and little protest. At a concert performance of Rite one year later, “excitement and adoration” swept over the crowd, and admirers surrounded Stravinsky in the street afterward, in a riot of delight.

We are built to avoid the uncertainty of newness and our brains actually fight against the unfamiliarity of life. The act of listening to new music is hard, but it's necessary. Our brains change as they recognize new patterns in the world, which is what makes brains useful.

1. According to the passage, why is it hard to listen to new music?

A．Because our brains tell us it’s unpleasant.

B．Because new music tend to be unappealing.

C．Because new music can trigger emotional reactions.

D．Because our brains release dopamine when listening to new music.

2. Why do people like the chorus of Adele’s song?

A．Because it is familiar to us.	B．Because it is easy to memorize.
C．Because it has a specific sound map.	D．Because it affects the network of nerves.

3. What’s the purpose of paragraph 6?

A．To show that people are changeable.	B．To introduce an event happening in 1913.
C．To appeal to people to listen to new music.	D．To prove that people tend to dislike new music.

4. What may be talked about next?

A．Ways of listening to new music.

B．Other activities that benefit our brains.

C．Benefits we can get from listening to new music.

D．Reasons why we are built to avoid the uncertainty.

【推荐2】For the most part, American children aren’t great at math. But Chinese children tend to be excellent. It’s consistently found Chinese students at the top of the academic pile and Americans much nearer the bottom.

In Lenora Chu’s book “Little Soldiers: An American Boy, a Chinese School”, she begins to reveal the cultural differences that lead to this gap. The differences she notices in children’s focus and discipline are dramatic, but she also notices cultural differences that influence how Chinese schools are run, and the reason why its students test so well. Along with factors such as highly trained teachers and an emphasis on memorizing before pursuing deeper understanding, the difference comes down to a belief that has begun slowly making its way across the US: achievement is the result of hard work, not natural ability.

This approach comes from a firm belief that anything is possible with hard work, with chiku, or “eating bitter”. Studies show that for kids who score poorly. Chinese teachers believe a lack of effort—rather than of smarts — is to blame.

Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, author of “Mindset (心态)”, is responsible for making up the terms “growth mindset” and “fixed mindset”. Chinese students are trained to have a growth mindset: if they aren’t doing well, they’11 work harder, and they’ll be successful. American children tend to be trained to have a fixed mindset about academics: their abilities are largely predetermined and static. If they aren’t doing well, it’s because they’re not good at it.

In America students are told that learning is fun and easy. But real learning is actually very difficult and takes suffering and anxiety. If you’re not willing to go through that you’re not going to learn deeply. The downside is these students often give up when something gets hard or when it’s no longer fun.

1. According to Lenora Chu, what contributes most to the Chinese students’excellent academic performance?

A．School operation model.	B．The emphasis on memorizing.
C．High-qualified teachers.	D．Chinese culture.

2. According to Chinese teachers, students failing an exam are______.

A．lazy	B．slow
C．unfocused	D．foolish

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to Carol Dweck’s theory?

A．A majority of Chinese students are born excellent learners.

B．American students tend to believe learning ability is genetically determined.

C．Amerlcan students should choose a Chinese school to achieve success.

D．American students are lacking in a fixed mindset, compared to Chinese students.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Students should study in a fun way.

B．American students are always anxious about their study.

C．American students have no difficulty in learning deeply.

D．Diligence plays an essential part in learning.

【推荐3】Most kids won’t sit at a restaurant with their parents and say, “That’s what I want to be when I grow up,” while watching a server refill their water glasses. Waiting tables is usually thought of as a short-term job that will help you earn some extra cash as a student or pay the bills when you’re trying to start a singing career. At the very worst, it’s looked upon as an embarrassing last choice before finding a satisfactory job.

A Rutgers study found that four in ten graduates are working in fields that do not require a degree, which likely means that there are a lot of well-educated servers out there. Therefore, this doesn’t have to be the terrible situation that the media sometimes makes it out to be.

I’ve worked as waitress everywhere from a small restaurant in Venice, Calif, to a top Hollywood talent agency (代理处). At the small restaurant, I made about $200 a day serving fatty breakfasts to wild-eyed customers. It allowed me a measure of freedom, and it beat being a sales assistant who makes just $22,000 a year.

I actually left an office job at technology news site that paid $40,000 a year, plus benefits, for the work at a restaurant. I served food, so I could focus on my graduate school application and writing. I had full benefits, while earning $10 an hour, plus huge tips. I made about $70,000 that year. Plus, I got into my top pick for graduate school.

After my graduation, I worked at a fancy restaurant, where I did not feel embarrassed or “underemployed” pouring drinks for people-despite the fact that I had a master degree. I had goals, and waiting tables was a pretty great means to my end: make a living by writing even if it meant waiting tables yet again.

1. What can we know from the first paragraph?

A．No waitresses really love serving others.

B．Working at a restaurant is very embarrassing.

C．Waiting tables isn’t considered to be a perfect job.

D．Some children are interested in being a waiter or waitress.

2. How did the author most probably find her work at a restaurant?

A．Interesting.

B．Satisfying.

C．Boring.

D．Low-paying.

3. Why did the author choose to work at a restaurant?

A．She couldn’t find a better job without a degree.

B．She could talk to different people for her writing.

C．She needed a short-term job for her singing career.

D．She was allowed to prepare for her further education.

4. What does the author mainly want to show in the passage?

A．Serving at a restaurant isn’t that bad.

B．Many graduates don’t have good jobs.

C．We should never give up on our dreams.

D．Children should be taught to respect others.

【推荐1】In our everyday lives and in our personal and professional pursuits, one of the best personal growth keys you and I should pursue is a healthy amount of self-awareness. Put simply, without self-awareness, we are tricking ourselves into living out life through the imagination of reality instead of reality. On the contrary, when we’re not tricking ourselves, we are putting ourselves in a position to grow and succeed.

Fundamentally, the more you know about yourself, the better you are at adapting to change, growing healthily. So, how do you become self-aware? One of the most effective ways is to invite honest feedback into your life. I grew up in a generation in which everyone got a prize just for showing up. And while I am an enormous supporter of encouragement, false feedback only masks blind spots in a person’s character. Worse yet, a sustained “everyone gets a prize” culture supports mediocrity. Of course, on one likes hard conversations, but I’d like to advocate developing the maturity of character to get real self-awareness, and keep us sharp and effective as we meet the challenges of everyday life.

Yet amid all this, there’s one more key ingredient for self-awareness, and that’s applied self-knowledge. Imagine texting while driving. Being a slave to the ping of the latest message, you take your focus off the road in order to glance at your phone. A few seconds later, your eyes back on the road, you’re dangerously driving into the opposite way. Our self-awareness can tell us, “I mustn’t text while driving.”When we can understand the motivations behind our thoughts and actions, followed by our action plan to conduct our accompanying behavior, we’ll be better experiencing lasting growth. Self-awareness is not undervaluing ourselves; nor is it self-consciousness. Instead, self-awareness will keep us focused on what matters most and keep us away from those things that will distract us from our purpose, allowing us to be aware of our blind spots.

We can read all the self-help guides and personal growth strategies that money can buy, but if we don’t know ourselves well enough to put any of it into effective, specific practice, we’ll never arrive at the greatest place of success possible in this short life. And that is simply, yet powerfully, becoming the version of who we were meant to be.

1. What can be inferred from Paragraph 1?

A．We all tend to cheat others.

B．We all tend to live in our dreams.

C．Self-awareness helps us understand our surroundings better.

D．Self-awareness helps us become a better version of ourselves.

2. What does the author advise us to do?

A．Try our best to develop our ability.

B．Keep active, optimistic and friendly.

C．Face authentic comments in a positive manner.

D．Accept the encouraging words from others pleasantly.

3. With the example of texting while driving, the author tries to say       .

A．the danger of managing two things at once	B．the importance of making an action plan
C．the benefit that self-awareness may bring	D．the skill of using self-awareness in the real life

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．How to Take Negative Feedback?	B．How to Develop a Mature Personality?
C．Unlocking the Power of Self-awareness	D．Self-awareness Begins WithSelf-knowledge

【推荐2】In a society such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the differences among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students do not memorize all possible basic knowledge. Instead, they work individually and find answers by themselves.There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asia societies, by contrast, the people have the same language, history and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of the orient reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan and Korea often work together and help one another on assignments.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both systems of education. For example, one advantage of the system in Japan is that students there learn much more about math, physics, biology and chemistry than American students by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North America, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
1. The writer’s purpose of writing this passage is      .

A．to share his idea with others in a new way

B．to introduce two different systems of education through contrast

C．to criticize the society that values memorization

D．to prepare students for society

2. Which is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The system of education in the West is more creative than that in the East

B．Japanese students learn much more about science than American students.

C．Canadian students are more individual than Korean students.

D．Students in North America are not so friendly as those in Asia.

3. From the facts, we can infer that            .

A．Asian students are more likely to do better in teamwork than American students

B．Chinese students are more hard-working in their studies than Mexican students

C．the Western educational system is much better than the Eastern educational system.

D．the Eastern educational system is as difficult as the Western educational system.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Advantages and Disadvantages of Educational System.

B．The Value of Individualism.

C．Educational System-an Obvious Difference between the East and the West.

D．Memorization-an Important Learning Method.

【推荐3】The insect-eaten money floated in pieces to the floor. For the global music star Angelique Kidjo, that scene of her grandmother having to use a closet as a bank is driving her desire to see African women overcome the many blocks to obtain credit and respect.

The Benin-born singer, one of Africans iconic (偶像的) artists and a collaborator (合作者) with Philip Glass and others, is the voice of a new project aimed in part at rewriting laws across the continent that prevent millions of women from becoming a more powerful economic force.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Kidjo described what she had seen over decades of travel in Africa during which women in lively marketplaces wished they had the means to do more.

“Why do banks give more loans to men versus women? That’s the question I have,” she said, “Millions of businesswomen in Africa lack loans versus men. And men pay less back than women.”

Every time credit is refused to African women, who consume some 90% of what they earn in educating their children, raising families and building communities as opposed to about 40% for men. “It’s a disaster,” Kidjo said, “We’re taking up reducing the poverty rate in Africa to the smallest number ever.”

She recalled women in Ghana who often dug a hole in the ground to save their earnings because they didn’t have bank accounts. And during a visit to Benin last month, one woman told her that to obtain a loan of 5,000 CFA ($8) she had to show a property deed and hand over 100,000 CFA as collateral (抵押). Such experiences have set her thinking.

Kidjo has won a major human rights award for she has shown unusual courage in standing up to unfairness.

1. What is Kidjo’s motivation to help women in Africa?

A．The low living standard of their families.

B．The poverty rate of some African countries.

C．Their heavy burden of housework and educating children.

D．Their difficulty in getting bank accounts and loans.

2. What can we learn about African women?

A．They play a major role in supporting families and communities.

B．They have become a more powerful political force.

C．They will help government rewrite laws to gain rights.

D．They all have to keep their money in holes.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Kidjo?

A．Strict and determined.	B．Caring and courageous.
C．Demanding and ambitious.	D．Considerate and cautious.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Icon’s Efforts to Help African Women Get Credit

B．Tips to Support Families and Communities

C．Troubles in Opening Bank Accounts in Africa

D．Ways to Protect Women’s Rights