【推荐1】A horse fair is an interesting place. There were young horses from the country, little Welsh ponies and many beautiful horses too. But there were also a lot of poor, thin horses, tired from hard work. I was very sad to see them.

At the horse fair there was a man with a gentle voice and kind grey eyes. He offered 23 pounds for me, but they refused. Then a man with a very loud voice came. I was afraid he was going to buy me, but he walked off. Then the grey-eyed man came back again and said,

“I'll give 24 for him.”

“Done,” said the salesman. “He's a quality horse and if you want him for cab work, he's a bargain.”

Half an hour later we set off for London, along country roads, until we came to that great city. There were streets to the right, and streets to the left. We went into one of the small streets, and then into a very narrow street, with small, old houses.

My owner stopped at a house. The door opened, and a woman, a little girl and a boy, came out.

"Is he gentle, father?"

“Yes, Dolly, as gentle as a kitten; you can pat him.”

Dolly, the little girl, patted my shoulder without fear. It felt so good! They led me into a comfortable, clean stable, and after a delicious meal I lay down to sleep, thinking “I'm going to be very happy here. ”

My new owner's name was Jerry. His wife was called Polly and they had two children, Harry and Dolly. The next morning they came to see me. I loved it when they patted me and spoke in gentle voices.

"Let's call him 'Jack', after the old horse, shall we, Jerry?” said Dolly.

“Yes, let's," said Jerry.

The first week of my life as Jack, the London cab horse was very hard. The noise and the people and the traffic on the streets scared me. But Jerry was a very good driver, and that helped a lot. Jerry soon found that I was ready to work hard and do my best, and he didn't whip me.

He kept me very clean, and gave me as much food as I wanted. But the best thing was that I had Sundays off.

1. A horse fair is a place for         .

A．people to learn to ride horses	B．people to sell and buy horses
C．horses to meet new friends	D．horses to learn new skills

2. What did the salesman mean by saying “he is a bargain.”?

A．The horse is well worth the price.	B．The horse is as gentle as a kitten.
C．The buyer is gentle and kind.	D．The buyer is a good driver.

3. Living and working in London with Jerry's family, how did Jack feel?

A．Tired and afraid.	B．Sad and helpless.
C．Curious but impatient.	D．Challenged but satisfied.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The start of a London-cab-horse life.	B．The chance of having a new owner.
C．The experiences of visiting a horse fair.	D．The disadvantages of working in London.

【推荐2】Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had gotten into a million hobbies and activities, but he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good.

He begged his mother for months for a guitar so that he could play songs to Angie, a girl he liked, but after he finally got one for Christmas, he found out that guitars didn’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but the strings hurt his fingers, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed.

After reading an ad in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a metal detector (探测器), so that he could find buried treasure. By the time spring came he had saved $200 and purchased the metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, but soon found out that no one had ever left any treasure in his neighborhood. He buried the metal detector in his closest.

Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was unwilling to buy him a magician’s kit (魔术包) for his birthday. “Dad, this time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise!” Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed. But he was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit football and started boxing practice before hardly getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, he was both surprised and pleased to find the magician’s kit that he had desired so badly. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs and giant playing cards out of the kit, an ad on the TV caught his attention.

“Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space? For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend!” As the ad continued playing, Jacob walked away from the magic kit and stared at the TV screen eagerly. Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, “MOM!” He now knew what his true purpose in life was.

1. Why did Jacob stop playing the guitar?

A．It was too expensive.	B．He disliked the lessons.
C．It hurt his fingers.	D．He became interested in comic books.

2. Jacob’s father decided to buy him the magician’s kit because ________.

A．Jacob reminded his father of himself	B．Jacob’s birthday was coming
C．Jacob quit many expensive activities	D．Jacob insisted on having it

3. Which of the following is Jacob most likely to do next based on the end of the story?

A．Become a great magician.	B．Raise money to go to space camp.
C．Detect an incredible hidden treasure.	D．Learn to play guitar well.

4. What can be learned about Jacob according to the passage?

A．He was determined in pursuing his dreams.	B．He finally found his true purpose in life.
C．He has always wanted to be a magician.	D．He never stuck with anything for long.

【推荐3】The student arrived early, sat front and center, and stood out in my classroom in more ways than one. I’d say that he was about 40 years older than his classmates in my undergraduate communications class. He eagerly jumped into class discussions, with his humor and wisdom of experience. And he was always respectful of the other students’ perspectives, as if each of them were a teacher. Jerry Valencia walked in with a smile—and he left with one too.

“These students gave me the confidence that I didn’t need to feel bad about my age,” Valencia says.

One day, I spotted Valencia on campus. He said he would have to stop taking classes that semester and reapply for next year. By then, he hoped to have earned enough money and have his student-loan papers in order. He asked seriously whether he could still sit in on my communications class.

Sure, I said. But he wouldn’t get any credit.

No problem, he said.

Soon there he was again, back at his old desk, jumping into our discussions on how to find and tell stories in Los Angeles—a 63-year-old man with as much energy and curiosity as any of the youngsters in class.

A lot of Valencia’s classmates apparently knew he couldn’t afford that semester’s tuition but was still doing the homework. “Here he is, willingly taking a class for the delight of it and benefit of learning,”says Jessica Espinosa, a 25-year-old junior. Afterward, I overheard Valencia wanted to stay in school until he earned a master’s degree, but it had taken him 12 years to finish community college, so he had a long way to go.

There is something splendidly unreasonable about Valencia’s determination to get a four-year degree and then a master’s. At his current pace, he’ll be 90 when he finally hangs all that paper on the wall. But that doesn’t seem especially relevant. He’s found all the youthful energy and academic opportunity stimulating. Valencia’s grade in my class this semester will not show up on his transcripts(成绩单). But I’m giving him an A—and in the most important ways, it counts.

1. What made Valencia different from his classmates?

A．He was respectful to the teacher.

B．He activated the class atmosphere.

C．He was eager to learn despite his age.

D．He often put forward different opinions.

2. According to the author, why did Valencia continue to attend classes?

A．He treasured the chance of learning.

B．He wished to show his determination.

C．He needed the credits to further his study.

D．He desired to have an A on his transcripts.

3. Which of the following best describes Valencia?

A．Modest and independent.	B．Energetic and generous.
C．Enthusiastic and motivated.	D．Considerate and intelligent.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．No pains, no gains.	B．It is never too old to learn.
C．Strike the iron while it is hot.	D．Where there is life, there is hope.

【推荐3】Mariah, 35, was a single mother. She had four kids under the age 9, and was hardly keeping up payments on her small two-bedroom home by working extra weekend hours as a waitress. There were times when she lay in bed and cried. She didn’t know how she could pay that bill. But she knew she must find a way to change her life.

She knew how hard it was to mop(拖)the floor. “I was tired of bending down, putting my hands in dirty water and wringing (拧)out a mop,” Mariah says. “So, I got a better way.” How about a “self-wringing” mop? She designed a special tool. You could twist in two directions and still keep your hands clean and dry.

She set out to sell her mops, but the mops didn’t sell well at the market. Then Mariah met with the media. But would people buy a mop by reading an advertisement? They gave it a try, and it failed. Mariah was sure it would sell well if they let her do the on-camera show. “Get me on that stage, and I will sell this mop because it’s a great thing,” said Mariah. So QVC let her have a try. “I got on the stage and the phones went crazy. We sold every mop in minutes.”

Today Mariah is the president of Ingenious designs, a multimillion-dollar company, and one of the stars of HSN, the Home Shopping Network. Talking about hr household inventions is as natural for her it is for parents to talk about their child.

Today one of her favorite products is Huggable Hangers(衣架). The thin, space-saving tool are the most successful goods ever sold on HSN, with 100 million hanging out in closets across the country.

1. According to Paragraph 1, Mariah _______.

A．had no way to take care of her children

B．lived a hard life but she didn’t give up

C．was depressed for she couldn’t pay the bill

D．did a part-time job every day to support her family

2. What was the secret of Mariah’s success?

A．She worked hard enough

B．She sold the mops herself

C．She had a lot of friends

D．She knew the needs of the market

3. From the passage we know that HSN__________.

A．is a famous TV station

B．is run by Mariah

C．sells some home-use goods

D．makes people show goods on the stages

4. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A．Mariah loves her career very much

B．Huggable Hangers is Mariah’s best invention

C．one cannot succeed without the help of others

D．Mariah is very popular in her country

【推荐1】I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn’t invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. “Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It’s a beautiful day.”

“No! Leave me alone!” Those were the last words I said to him that morning.

My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and when I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. “Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital”.

When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father’s injuries were extensive. “Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there’s no telling what might have happened. A broken rib (肋骨) might have pierced (穿透) a lung...”

My mother may have said more, but I didn’t hear. I didn’t hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day?

It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.

“Daddy… I am so sorry…”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll be okay. ”

“No,” I said, “I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?”

My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said. “Sweetheart, I don’t remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. But I remember kissing you goodnight the night before. ”He managed a weak smile.

My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on.

1. The author was in bad mood that morning because _______.

A．he couldn’t drive to the mall with his friends

B．his father had a terrible accident

C．his father didn’t allow him to go out with his friends

D．his friends hadn’t invited him to the cinema

2. Why did the author say sorry to his father in the hospital?

A．Because he was rude to his father that morning.

B．Because he didn’t get along with his father.

C．Because he failed to come earlier after the accident.

D．Because he couldn’t look after his father in the hospital.

3. The reason why the author’s father said he forgot everything about that day is that _____.

A．he had a poor memory

B．he didn’t hear what his son said

C．he lost his memory after the accident

D．he just wanted to comfort his son

4. What lesson did Beck learn from the matter?

A．Don’t hurt others with rude words.

B．Don’t treat your parents badly.

C．Don’t move the injured in an accident.

D．Don’t be angry with friends at small things.

【推荐3】When my father was getting ready for work,our house was ruled by knocks and words.He used to come downstairs to breakfast.

The morning paper lay beside his plate.He always read the “Deaths” first,and then he knocked once on the table.One of my sisters brought his bread,already buttered for him.Usually he said nothing,but once I heard him say,“I love you very much,Edith.I would love more if you buttered my bread on both sides.”He read the paper all through breakfast.

Two knocks on the table meant “I am ready for my tea.”If a single knock followed that meant,“More bread,please.”

After breakfast he said,“Boots.”The paper was spread(展开) for him over the back of an armchair.Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet,and his boots were brought to him,freshly cleaned.He read standing at the same time putting on his boots.With one boot finished he said,“Bus.”At that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.Her job was to stop a bus when it came.It came early sometimes and it had to wait for my father. “Overcoat,hat.”One of my sisters had already brushed his overcoat.Now she held it open for him.Another girl came with his hat,nicely brushed.“Handkerchief,pipe(烟斗).”They were brought and put,with his tobacco(烟草),into his pocket.He looked out of the window and said either “Walking stick” or “Umbrella”.It was handed to him.Ready now,he was still reading the paper.He didn’t put it down until he heard the shout “Bus coming!” Then he kissed my mother and went out.The girls breathed freely.

How lucky a man was to have a wife and five daughters at home!

1. When the father made the first knock,he meant　　　.

A．he had begun to read the morning newspaper	B．he was made to feel sad by the “Deaths” news
C．he would start to read the other parts of thepaper	D．his breakfast should begin

2. What does “Edith” refer to?

A．A kind of bread.	B．One of the writer’s sisters.
C．The writer.	D．The writer’s mother.

3. All the daughters were quite busy in the morning because 　　　.

A．their father never helped them

B．their father always gave different instructions at the same time

C．each of them had to start and finish her job just on time

D．they were not clever or quick enough to do their jobs

4. What was the father’s favorite?

A．Reading newspapers.	B．Having bread buttered on both sides.
C．Giving instructions.	D．Being clean and tidy.

5. From the story we may see that 　　　.

A．the father was so lazy that he hardly did anything

B．the father was the “centre” of the family

C．every girl in the family was afraid to do wrong because they didn’t know clearly enough what to do

D．the father was hated by all his daughters

【推荐1】Book reading is certainly one of the most absorbing habits. For young adults who love to read, finding some good books to read is very essential. Writing a book review can help you to improve your language and writing skills.

The Book Thief

Listed on The New York Times Children’s Best Seller List for over 100 weeks, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is the story of a young girl in the Nazi camps set during World War Ⅱ. So, if you love history and wish to learn how the life was during Adolf Hitler’s time, read this historic book.

The Diary of Young Girl

Even Anne Frank can not have imagined that, her personal diary written during World War Ⅱ would become such a popular book. It’s a must read that describes the situation of a family in the evils of wars through the eyes of a teenager.

Animal farm

Animal Farm is one of the most popular books by George Orwell. It is just a reflection of the Stalin and World War I period that has been so creatively presented in this book. It is an interesting example of how literature can be used to present conditions common in the society.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the great American novels in the history, and is certainly a great pick for young adults. Young Huck Finn and his mischief along with the colorful description of people around the Mississippi River make this novel a great book to read.

1. Who wrote Animal farm?

A．Markus Zusak.	B．Anne Frank.
C．George Orwell.	D．Mark Twain.

2. What do the first three books have in common?

A．All of them are diaries.

B．All of them are about wars.

C．All of them are about farms.

D．All of them are about animals.

3. The author’s main purpose of writing the passage is to ________.

A．instruct youngsters how to improve skills

B．introduce several good books to youngsters

C．tell youngsters some wonderful reading habits

D．give youngsters advice on writing a book review

【推荐2】I arrived in this beautiful Spanish island at the start of September, full of enthusiasm and eager to start work as an English teacher. I sorted all the necessary paperwork out and moved into a flat of my own within the first couple of days. Great! Or so I thought. At 4 am and at several intervals after that, I was rudely awoken by the cock that lives opposite me. Fantastic! I now have five extra alarms every morning.

In the following weeks, I also started to notice a trend. Things in my flat started to break at the rate of one object per day, like the hot water, bowls, cups, shower, doors or glass shelves. Yes, I was clumsy but things just fell apart. If it wasn’t broken, it would either be dirty or missing. Using my washing basket for the first time was pretty disgusting. When I took out my clothes, they were swiftly followed by a hundred or so insects that were living in the bottom.

As for the general lack of equipment in the house, there was no oven, tin opener, sharp knives or potato peeler. It turned out making a burger wasn’t the best idea. I had a small microwave and a grill. I thought the general understanding was never to put metal in a microwave but I went with it. Smoke soon started to appear. I was not quite sure if it was the burger or the grill but as soon as I opened the door, the electricity cut out. I spent the following 10 minutes in a dark, smoky room hunting for the power switch using the light from my mobile phone, which broke the week after and left me without a connection to the outer world.

Luckily, I’m now borrowing a phone and my luck has returned. No more things have broken (probably because there is nothing left to break). I’ve also realized that even if a flat looks pretty, it doesn’t mean its contents work. I am also learning how to adapt to life with limited, broken utensils.

1. What problem did the author have in the morning?

A．She often slept late.	B．Her alarm failed to work.
C．She got some noisy neighbors.	D．Her sleep was disturbed by a rooster.

2. What can we know about the author from Paragraph 2?

A．She was a very careful woman.	B．She was quite satisfied with her flat.
C．Her flat was pretty old but comfortable.	D．Her household articles were in poor condition.

3. What happened when the author was making a burger?

A．She was seriously injured.	B．She made a terrible mistake.
C．She broke her phone accidentally.	D．She suffered a sudden power failure.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Remaining optimistic.	B．How to choose a nice flat.
C．Learning to live in a new life.	D．Why living abroad is not easy.

【推荐3】Fear may be felt in the heart as well as in the head, according to a study that has found a link between the cycles of a beating heart and the chance of someone feeling fear.
Tests on healthy volunteers found that they were more likely to feel a sense of fear at the moment when their hearts are contracting(收缩) and pumping blood around their bodies, compared with the point when the heartbeat is relaxed. Scientists say the results suggest that the heart is able to influence how the brain responds to a fearful event, depending on which point it is at in its regular cycle of contraction and relaxation.
Sarah Garfinkel at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School said: “Our Study shows for the first time that the way in which we deal with fear is different depending on when we see fearful pictures in relation to our heart.”
The study tested 20 healthy volunteers on their reactions to fear as they were shown pictures of fearful faces. Dr Garfinkel said, “The study showed that fearful faces are better noticed when the heart is pumping than when it is relaxed. Thus our hearts can also affect what we see and what we don’t see一and guide whether we see fear.”
To further understand this relationship, the scientists also used a brain scanner(扫描仪) to show how the brain influences the way the heart changes a person’s feeling of fear.
“We have found an important mechanism by which the heart and brain ‘speak’ to each other to change our feelings and reduce fear,” Dr Garfinkel said.
“We hope that by increasing our understanding about how fear is dealt with and ways that it could be reduced, we may be able to develop more successful treatments for anxiety disorders, and also for those who may be suffering from serious stress disorder.”
1. What is the finding of the study?

A．One’s heart affects how he feels fear.

B．Fear is a result of one’s relaxed heartbeat.

C．Fear has something to do with one’s health.

D．One’s fast heartbeats are likely to cause fear.

2. The study was carried out by analyzing      .

A．volunteers’ heartbeats when they saw terrible pictures

B．the time volunteers saw fearful pictures and their health conditions

C．volunteers’ reactions to horrible pictures and data from their brain scans

D．different pictures shown to volunteers and their heart—brain communication

3. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “mechanism” in Paragraph 6?

A．Order.	B．System.
C．Machine.	D．Treatment.

4. This study may contribute to       .

A．treating anxiety and stress better.

B．explaining the cycle of fear and anxiety

C．finding the key to the heart-brain communication

D．understanding different fears in our hearts and heads