Last year，my oldest son Matthew went off to college. Things at home were not as“busy”as they used to be. We still had our 15-year-old son Gabriel with us，but we missed having Matthew around.
My wife soon had a crazy idea. “Let’s get a dog. ”she suggested. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea，but I agreed. I mean，what better way to replace a kid that has gone off to college than to get a dog.
When we got to the animal shelter，it seemed like every dog was a pit bull(比特犬). I'd had many bad experiences with pit bulls as a child，so I didn’t want to take one of them home with me.
While I walked along the rows and rows of cold metal cages，a dog caught my eye. He was scared，and looked like he’d given up on life. There was only one problem：he was a pit bull.
As he looked at me with his big，beautiful eyes，I could see into his soul. I could see how scared he was and that he just wanted a happy life. I couldn’t just walk away—I had to at least go over and look at him. I approached his cage，and he just sat there，looking at me. I stuck my finger through the hole in the cage and petted him on the head. I expected him to get mad，but he didn’t.
I knew that this dog had never felt love before，and that he was enjoying every bit of the love I could give him in that moment. Tears began to stream down my face because I felt everything that this poor creature was feeling right then. He just wanted to be loved；he just wanted a home and a family.
It’s been a year since we took the dog home，and our lives have been changed forever.
Now，his favorite thing to do is give us kisses with his giant tongue every morning. He is always there to greet us when we come home with a huge smile. He’s shown us more love than any other living creature on Earth ever had before. And every time I look into his eyes I see love，compassion(同情)and gratitude—things I never thought that a pit bull was capable of feeling.
1. Why did the author’s wife want to get a dog?| A．Because she likes pit pull. |
| B．Because she thought it was a crazy idea. |
| C．Because she wanted the dog to replace her kid. |
| D．Because their kid went to college. |
| A．Accepted. | B．Excited. |
| C．Frightened. | D．Delighted. |
| A．They missed having Matthew around even more. |
| B．They found it hard to get along with him. |
| C．They lived a life full of love. |
| D．They regretted adopting him. |
| A．To share a warm story about adopting a pet. |
| B．To stress the benefits of keeping a pet. |
| C．To suggest people keep a pet of their own. |
| D．To give advice on how to keep a pet. |
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【推荐1】As I walked into the primary school, I looked down at my new black shoes. I stood at Mrs. Blackstone’s door. Before I tried the great escape, the door opened. “We’ve been waiting for you!” Mrs. Blackstone, my new fifth grade teacher, said loudly. With a smile my mom walked away and I was left taking center stage in front of a group of students.
Over the next few days, Mrs. Blackstone made it her job to find me a new best friend. During history lessons, when I didn’t want to speak in front of the class, she’d not only call on me but have me stand up to address my classmates.
One spring afternoon, Mrs. Blackstone asked me to stay after class. “I’d like to speak with you, Amanda.” My mind raced. Had I got a bad grade? Had I hurt anyone’s feelings? “Are you enjoying your new school?” She sat comfortably behind her desk. “I want to tell you something, between you and me, not to be shared with anyone else.” She continued, “I see something special in you. The way you communicate with others , and the kindness you show－I think you have great potential (潜力) to be something important.” I listened carefully to every word. “I have been a teacher for over twenty-five years; I can see it. But you must believe in yourself. That’s very important. Remember that and you’ll go far,” she said.
Her voice was music to my ears that day. I walked out of her office, not staring at my shoes, but looking straight ahead with my head high. My teacher saw something special in me! Years later, her words still remain inside of me.
1. The author went to school unwillingly most probably because she______.| A．didn’t like the school at all |
| B．often got low grades at school |
| C．was treated badly by her classmates |
| D．wasn’t used to the new environment |
| A．annoyed | B．embarrassed | C．tired | D．nervous |
| A．energetic | B．happy | C．confident | D．thankful |
| A．The author came from a poor family. |
| B．The teacher sang a song to the author. |
| C．The author never forgets what the teacher said. |
| D．The author no longer cared for anybody but herself. |
【推荐2】Jeremy Fox, a retired businessman in a small city in England, recently bought an old farmhouse with a yard and a small field, some five miles out of the town. There he planned to lead a simple life with his wife, Amelia.
It was while clearing out the old barn on the far side of the yard that he made an interesting discovery. In a corner, under some old sacks, he found some large fragments (碎片) of an antique (古董) bowl. Out of curiosity, he took them into the kitchen and, much to the anger of his wife, washed the mud off them. That evening he spread newspapers over the kitchen table and carefully stuck the fragments together. However, two pieces were found missing.
Two days later, having pulled down the barn, Mr. Fox was digging over the ground in preparation for the installation (安装) of a greenhouse, when he discovered the two missing pieces. When he had stuck them in position, the bowl looked so fine that Amelia agreed to its being placed on a table in the living room, in front of the window.
“We might have something a bit special here,” he said to his wife. A few days later, Jeremy took several photographs of the bowl, which he sent off to Sotheby’s in London.
Unexpectedly, Sotheby’s was extremely interested in the bowl and sent an expert to inspect it. It turned out that it was a Chinese Ming fish bowl, dating back to around 1500, and might be expected to get a five-figure sum at an auction(拍卖).
A week later still more unexpectedly, two police officers called and told the Foxes the bowl was stolen property(财产).
So the bowl never reached the auction room, and Mr. Fox never received the five-figure sum that had been mentioned. However, he framed one of the photographs he had taken and hung it on the wall.
1. At first Mrs. Fox seemed to be ________.| A．very much interested in the discovery |
| B．greatly annoyed at Mr. Fox’s enthusiasm |
| C．uncertain of Mr. Fox’s enthusiasm |
| D．curious about Mr. Fox’s findings |
| A．in the kitchen | B．in a greenhouse |
| C．out of the old barn | D．under the ground |
| A．five thousand pounds |
| B．less than ten thousand pounds |
| C．one thousand, five hundred and ninety pounds |
| D．at least ten thousand pounds |
| A．Most probably Sotheby’s purchased the bowl in the end. |
| B．It turned out that Mr. Fox got neither the money nor the bowl. |
| C．Mr. Fox preferred country life to city life after his retirement. |
| D．Mr. Fox was fond of gardening. |
【推荐3】A British woman, Dr. Mantri, growing up in India started to notice his son, Dhruv, was struggling with simple math problem when he was in fifth-grade. After noticing this, she started employing an abacus (算盘) to help her son visually comprehend mathematics.
“I would ask him something like 35 minus 13 and he couldn’t do it.” said Dhruv’s mom Dr. Mantri. “I decided to change the way he looked at numbers,” she said. “An abacus is a tried and tested method, and the Egyptians used them for building the pyramid.” In just six days he started to show progress with the abacus and would go on to become a whizz kid with numbers, with even his classmates’ parents reaching out for help.
She never thought she would teach her son using an abacus, which she used as a child in India and it was always helpful. Within six days she started to notice a difference and see results. So dramatic was the turnaround, that school staff asked him to perform with the abacus at a meeting, where some parents even came to ask for advice on using it for their kids.
IT specialist Dr. Mantri said the humble abacus can be used for calculations into the trillions and kids enjoy learning on it because it’s like a game. “It becomes a playing tool for younger children, for it feels like a game. I think the success comes because children can touch and feel an abacus and visualize them.” She added.
By the age of 12, Dhruv was giving online cyber security class and is now pursuing a career in data science and analytics. Dhruv has now landed an apprenticeship (实习) at an international firm. During the four-year apprenticeship, he will spend one day a week studying Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Glasgow Caledonian University. “He is so confident now and I am so proud,” she said, with Dhruv adding “I don’t think my teachers would have guessed that I would be following a career in data science at that time.”
1. Why did Dhruv have difficulty in learning mathematics?| A．He was faced with language barrier. | B．He didn’t find a proper way. |
| C．He suffered from eyesight problems. | D．He lacked academic support from the family. |
| A．Careful. | B．hardworking. | C．Outstanding. | D．Struggling. |
| A．They find it attractive. | B．They can calculate faster. |
| C．They enjoy playing games. | D．They are eager for success. |
| A．Dhruv was addicted to the internet at 12. |
| B．Dhruv is teaching data science and analytics now. |
| C．Dhruv is a full-time student at Glasgow Caledonian University. |
| D．Dhruv’s career choice was beyond his teachers’ expectation. |
【推荐1】The United States is one of the greatest fruit-growing countries in the world. Fine red apples come from Washington and New York. Golden oranges come from Southern California and Florida. Fruit grows in all parts of America. The kind of fruit that is grown depends on the weather in each place.
Orange trees cannot be grown where temperatures drop below freezing. Southern California and Florida are far from each other, but their weather is much the same. They do not often have freezing temperatures.
In Washington, apple trees are planted near the Atlantic Ocean. In New York, they grow near the Great Lakes. Apple trees are often planted near water. Water temperature changes more slowly than land temperature. Near water, temperature does not drop so fast. There is less chance of frost（霜冻）in late spring or early autumn. Frost can kill apples.
America has many kinds of weather. It has many kinds of soil. Because of this, they grow and eat more fruit than any other country in the world.
1. Near water, the temperature ___________.| A．changes faster | B．changes slower |
| C．doesn’t change at all | D．never changes |
| A．most fruits grow anywhere in the United States |
| B．freezing temperature are good for fruit |
| C．the same fruit can be grown in different places |
| D．fruits can only be grown near water |
| A．in the place where the temperature doesn’t drop too fast |
| B．everywhere in the USA |
| C．in Southern California and Florida |
| D．in the place where the temperature is below freezing. |
| A．orange trees usually grow where it is cold |
| B．different fruits grow in different weather |
| C．the cold cannot kill oranges and apples |
| D．apple trees cannot live through cold winter |
| A．The fruit we eat comes from many places in the country. |
| B．Orange trees are often planted near water. |
| C．The soil is about the same in all the states of the country. |
| D．The Americans like eating oranges and apples better than any other fruit. |
【推荐2】On Inaccessible Island, you hear the sound of the Inaccessible Island rails (秧鸡) everywhere. The small flightless birds move around, feeding on worms and berries. During a trip in 2011, it took days for Stervander, then a doctoral student, to spot one. “Even then, you see something little and dark, running for a second, and that’s about it,” he says. Catching one, though, proved easy. When scientists played a recording of the bird’s call, a male and female ran into the net a few minutes later.
Inaccessible Island rails live only on Inaccessible Island. “No one knew the history,” says Stervander, now a research fellow at the University of Oregon. He aimed to answer the question about these birds: How did they get to Inaccessible Island to begin with?
The first scientist to describe the rail was Percy Lowe. He thought the bird was from Africa and had always been flightless. In his view, it had arrived at the island by walking over land bridges. But now the science of plate tectonics (板块构造论) suggests that’s not the case. In a recent paper, Stervander and his colleagues give evidence for a different version.
After studying the genome (基因组) of the rails, scientists found the Inaccessible Island rail’s closest relative — the crake in Uruguay. Both birds are related to the black rail in America. The finding suggests the ancestors of these birds could fly. That means Inaccessible Island rails flew to their present home, and like many birds living on islands with no predators (捕食者), they gradually lost the ability to fly. Flying takes energy, so if there’s no reason to fly, it’s more practical not to.
On this island, there’s a growing population of rails, but they’re fragile. Should a predator reach the island, it could make quick work of the birds. People on nearby islands are careful to avoid introducing any predators to Inaccessible Island, and the risk is low, given how hard it is to get there. For now, the rails live peacefully in a place where few humans are eager to go.
1. What can we learn about the Inaccessible Island rails?| A．They are hard to trap. | B．They can be seen everywhere. |
| C．They move around quickly. | D．They are not afraid of humans. |
| A．Their lack of energy. | B．Their living environment. |
| C．Their way to search for food. | D．Their connection with their ancestors. |
| A．Safe. | B．Tough. | C．Unexpected. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．The Development of Rails on Inaccessible Island |
| B．The Need to Protect Flightless Inaccessible Island Rails |
| C．How Did the Flightless Bird Get to Inaccessible Island? |
| D．Why are Inaccessible Island Rails Limited on the Island? |
【推荐3】Zebras are close relatives of horses and they are popular because of their unique black and white stripes (条纹). In fact, the most fascinating feature is their stripes and each zebra has a unique stripe pattern. It is this physical feature that makes them attractive and recognizable.
The body structure of zebras is similar to that of horses. Normally, the average height of an adult zebra ranges from four to five feet and the body length can be between seven and nine feet. An adult zebra weighs between 660 and 900 pounds. They have strong, rounded, muscular bodies with long legs and odd number of toes on each foot. Their faces are large and the ears are long and straight. The eyes are set high on their forehead, providing them with a wide range of vision(视野,视力). They have strong teeth, which help them to chew grass. The back-bone is straight and the tail is long.
The visual sense of zebras is very excellent, as they have both day and night vision. They have very acute senses of hearing and smell. They can hear distant sounds and are highly sensitive to smoke. Zebras’ diet mainly consists of grass. Occasionally their diet includes buds, roots, fruits, leaves and bark of trees. They need a lot of food to meet their daily nutritional requirement. Therefore, most of the daytime, they are busy chewing their food.
Zebras live in a wide range habitats like mountains, hills, woodlands and grasslands. Plains zebras prefer grasslands with trees and are usually seen near some water source. They are found in south and east Africa. Mountain zebras, as the name suggests, live up in the mountains in southwest Africa, where the atmosphere is cool. They are experts in climbing and like to take dust baths.
1. What is the most fascinating feature of zebras?| A．They each have unique stripes. |
| B．They are best at climbing mountains. |
| C．They have four or six toes on each foot. |
| D．Their ears are short and straight. |
| A．To store enough food for winter. |
| B．To keep them awake at daytime. |
| C．To meet their body requirement. |
| D．To compete with other animals for food. |
| A．hear distant sounds |
| B．have a wide range of vision |
| C．have both day and night vision |
| D．have acute senses of hearing and smell |
| A．How zebras keep themselves surviving. |
| B．Where zebras can be found most. |
| C．Why zebras are close relatives of horses. |
| D．What the features and habitual nature of zebras are. |
【推荐1】It feels like every time my mother and I start to have a conversation, it turns into an argument. We talk about something as simple as dinner plans and suddenly, my mother will push the conversation into World War 3. She’ll talk about my lack of bright future because I don’t plan to be a doctor. And much to her disappointment, I don’t want to do any job related to science, either. In fact, when I was pushed to say that I planned to major (主修) in English and communications, she nearly had a heart attack.
“Why can’t you be like my co-worker’s son?” she bemoans all the time. Her coworker’s son received a four-year scholarship and is now earning 70,000 dollars a year as an engineer. I don’t know what to answer except that I simply can’t be like Mr. Perfect as I’ve called the unnamed co-worker’s son. I can’t be like him. I am the type of the person who loved to help out in the community, write until the sun goes down, and most of all, wants to achieve a career because I love it, not because of a fame or salary.
I understand why my mother is anxious about my future major. I’ve seen my mother struggle to raise me on her small salary and work long hours. She leaves the house around 6:30 am and usually comes home around 5 pm or even 6 pm. However, I want her to know that by becoming a doctor, it doesn’t mean I’ll be successful. I’d rather follow my dreams and create my own future.
1. Which of the following topics do the writer and his mother often talk about?| A．the writer’s future job |
| B．wars around the world |
| C．dinner plans |
| D．the writer’s studies |
| A．doesn’t think the writer should be a doctor |
| B．doesn’t want the writer to major in English |
| C．gets along very well with the writer |
| D．doesn’t think working in the scientific field is a good idea |
| A．disagrees | B．cries |
| C．smiles | D．complains |
| A．He wants to be like his mother’s co-worker’s son. |
| B．He wants to find a job in his community in the future. |
| C．He wants to do something he really likes in the future. |
| D．He doesn’t think his mother’s co-worker’s son is perfect. |
【推荐2】Mr White came out of the airport. He asked every taxi-driver’s name. Then he took the third taxi. It cost $5 from the airport to the hotel,“ How much does it cost for the whole day? ”he asked.
“$100,” said the taxi-driver. This was very expensive but Mr White agreed.
The taxi-driver took Mr White everywhere. He showed the driver $100 and said, “what about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow? It’s another $100 tomorrow.”
“Ok,” said Mr White, “If that’s the price, see you tomorrow!” The driver was very pleased.
The next day they traveled to several places. And in the second evening they went to the hotel again. Mr. White and above all, $100 a day is good money. So he asked Mr White, “Where do you come from?”
“I come from New York.” Mr White answered.
“New York!” said the driver, “I have a sister in New York. Her name is Susannan. Do you know her?”
“Of course I know her. She gave me $200 for you.”
1. Mr White got to another place _______.| A．by train | B．by air | C．in plane | D．by ship |
| A．expensive | B．cheap | C．nice | D．fair |
| A．his sister brought so much money to him | B．his sister knew Mr White |
| C．he got $100 a day | D．he became a guide of Mr White |
| A．Mr White didn’t know the taxi-driver’s sister | B．the driver knew Mr White was his sister’s friend |
| C．Mr White was given back $ 200 | D．Mr White knew the taxi-driver’s sister |
【推荐3】Have you heard a story about Oliver Wendell Holmes and got what he meant? He once attended a meeting in which he was the shortest man present. "Doctor Holmes," joked a friend. "I should think you would feel rather small among us big fellows." "I do," smiled Holmes. "I feel like a dime（一角硬币）among a lot of pennies."
I ever believed only such a person like Holmes could think that way. But I was proven wrong.
Yesterday I watched a huge flight of geese winging their way south through one of those beautiful sunsets that colored the entire sky for a few moments. I saw them as I rested against the lion statue in front of the Chicago Art Institute, where I was watching the Christmas shoppers hurry along Michigan Avenue.
When I looked sideways, I noticed that a bag lady, standing a few feet away, had also been watching the geese with great attention. Sensing someone was looking at her, she cast a sideways look. Our eyes met and we smiled silently acknowledging the fact that we had shared an amazing sight, a symbol of the secret of the struggle to survive. I overheard the lady talking to herself as she walked away. Her words, "Life treats me kindly", nearly made my jaw drop.
Was the lady, this homeless street beggar, being kidding or even mindless? No. I believed the sight of the geese had reminded her of, however briefly, the difficult and unpleasant reality of her own struggle. I realized later that moments such as this one provided her with great comfort and encouragement; it was the way she survived the hardness of the street. Her smile was real.
The sight of the geese was her Christmas present. It was proof that hard work mattered. It was all she needed. I envy her.
1. From the story in paragraph 1, we can know that Holmes was .| A．patient | B．rude | C．wise | D．awkward |
| A．The bag lady's remarks on her life. |
| B．The secret of the survival of the geese. |
| C．People's enthusiasm for Christmas gifts. |
| D．The beautiful sunset and the colorful sky. |
| A．Her unusual experiences as a street beggar. |
| B．Her great pride in what she worked hard at. |
| C．Her friendly ways of getting on with strangers. |
| D．Her positive attitude towards her own struggle. |
【推荐1】Coolest Bookstores in the World
Where did you buy your last book? Chances are that you bought it on the Internet. But if you did, you missed the remarkable experience of browsing in a real bookstore. These days bookstores offer lots of great books and plenty more.
Eslite Dunnan Store
Time magazine once named Eslite Dunnan Store in Taiwan province, China "Asia's best bookstore". One visit to the store tells you why. The store, spread across five floors, offers a combination of restaurants, music and over 200,000 books. With its comfortable reading spots, visitors sometimes say it's like a library. Others have called it the "7-Eleven of bookstores" because it's open 24 hours a day.
Book Garden
The world's biggest bookstore is Tehran, Iran's Book Garden with 700,000 square feet of space. In addition to restaurants and a theater, the Book Garden features a park on the roof. Visitors can pick up one of 1,000 free books to read while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine from the Book Garden's rooftop park.
Saraiva Bookstore
Rio de Janeiro's Saraiva Bookstore might be the world's most colorful bookstore. The visible upper level is lined with books arranged by their colors. This rainbow effect provides a color welcoming for shoppers as they arrive. A rainbow path also leads young readers into the children's section.
Liberia Acqua Alta
Venice, Italy, is a city surrounded with water. Its books are displayed in all things related to water such as boats, bathtubs to protect them when the shop floods during high tide. It overlooks one of Venice's many canals, and the smell of old books fills the air.
1. Which bookstore provides a special reading place on the roof?| A．Eslite Dunnan Store. | B．Book Garden. |
| C．Saraiva Bookstore. | D．Liberia Acqua Alta. |
| A．It is open twenty-four hours a day. |
| B．Shoppers can paint books with color. |
| C．It greets people with colorful books. |
| D．Shoppers can find a rainbow there . |
| A．Because the store is known for floods. |
| B．Because they match canals in Venice. |
| C．Because the store is surrounded with water. |
| D．Because they can be preserved from water. |
【推荐2】If you are one of those who think exercise is a waste of time and of no benefit at all to the body, you might have to have a rethink.
Regular physical activity can help protect from some health problems. For instance, exercise controls weight. For the obese （肥胖的），exercise is very important as it helps reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the body's ability to use calories. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity is, the more calories you burn. When exercise is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases. Besides workouts at the gym, your body can benefit from other forms of exercise such as jogging, fast walking, running, playing games.
Regular physical activity can improve your mood and the way you feel about yourself. Need an emotional lift or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a quick 30-minute walk can help. Exercise stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem. Exercise gives you a chance to enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy.
Regular physical activity is a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven't exercised for a long time, have chronic health problems, or you have any concerns.
1. How does exercise help the overweight people?| A．It reduces their appetite. |
| B．It works muscles and burns calories. |
| C．It contributes to absorbing proper nutrition. |
| D．It contains a wide range of forms functioning differently. |
| A．Exercise is likely to reduce depression. |
| B．Outdoor activities benefit people's appearance. |
| C．A 30-minute walk every day can help lose weight. |
| D．Exercise can create some relaxing brain chemicals. |
| A．Getting the doctor's opinions. | B．Setting some fitness goals. |
| C．Clearing up the concerns. | D．Having a medical checkup. |
| A．Exercise can consume too much time. |
| B．Nutrition and exercise are equally important. |
| C．You can benefit more from outdoor activities. |
| D．Regular exercise can improve one's overall quality of life. |
【推荐3】Some people think that they will get ill if they use their brains (大脑) too much. It is not true. Through many studies, scientists show us that the more you use your brains, the better it will be, and the cleverer you will become.
Of course, if you want to keep your mind clear and active, you must take a proper rest and study properly. To the teenagers, using their brains in the morning is good for their health.
There are many ways to rest. One is a peaceful rest. Sleep is a peaceful rest. Another is an active rest. For example, take a walk outdoors, do more exercise every day. To change the way of the brains’ activities is also a good way to rest.
In everyday life, to eat some eggs, meat, fresh vegetables and fruit is also good for the brains.
Wish you a wise man and a happy life.
1. According to the writer of the passage, our brains should be used ________.| A．hardly | B．more often | C．seldom | D．at times |
| A．Sleep is a kind of a good rest. |
| B．There are different activities for a good rest. |
| C．Going out for a rest is an active rest. |
| D．Doing morning exercises is a peaceful rest. |
| A．How to rest |
| B．How to use your brains |
| C．How to become a clever man |
| D．Keep your mind clear. |
