【推荐1】Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words.

For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents’ home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement and have strong opinions about everything.

Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired.

But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me.

That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They’d get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air.

We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons.

We eventually arrived at my parents’ doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories.

Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey—and the best part of yourself.

1. Why did the author use to take freeways to her parents’ home?

A．It was less tiring.	B．It would be faster and safer.
C．Her kids would feel less confined.	D．She felt better with other drivers nearby.

2. The author stopped regularly on the country roads to__________.

A．relax in the fresh air	B．take a deep breath
C．take care of the lamb	D．let the kids play with Banner

3. What does the author discover from the trip according to Paragraph 6?

A．Freeways are where beauty hides.

B．Getting close to nature adds to the joy of life.

C．Enjoying the beauty of nature benefits one’s health.

D．One should follow side roads to watch wild animals.

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

A．Charm of the Detour	B．The Road to Bravery
C．Creativity out of Necessity	D．Road Trip and Country Life

【推荐2】The annual marathon (马拉松) in my town occurred as scheduled. My job was to follow behind the runners in an ambulance in case any of them needed medical attention. As the athletes began to pace themselves. the front runners started to disappear. It was then that my eyes were drawn to the woman in blue running shorts and a baggy white T-shirt.

I knew we were already watching our “last runner”. Her feet were turned in yet her left knee was turned out. Her legs were so crippled and bent that it seemed impossible for her to walk, not to mention run a marathon.

The driver and I watched in silence as she slowly moved forward. We would move forward a little bit, then stop and wait for her to gain some distance. Then we' d slowly move forward a little bit more. As l watched her struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I found myself breathing for her and urging her forward. I wanted her to stop, and at the same time, I prayed that she wouldn't.

Finally she was the only runner left in sight. I sat on the edge of my seat and watched with respect and amazement as she pushed forward with strong determination through the last miles. When the finish line came into sight, the cheering crowds had long gone home. Yet standing straight and proud waited a man. He was holding one end of a ribbon tied to a post. She slowly crossed through, leaving both ends of the ribbon fluttering (飘动) behind her.

I don't know this woman's name, but that day she became a part of my life-- a part I often depend on. For her, it wasn't about beating the other runners or winning a prize. It was about finishing what she had set out to do. When I think things are too difficult or l get those “I-just-can't-do-it," I think of the last runner. Then I realize how easy the task before me really is.

1. What words can best describe the woman?

A．Strong-willed and honorable.

B．Proud and determined.

C．Sensitive and brave.

D．hard-working and caring.

2. What does the underlined word "crippled" in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Perfect.

B．Healthy.

C．Disabled.

D．Strong.

3. What has the author learnt from the woman?

A．Don't depend on others when facing difficulties.

B．It's not winning but holding on straight to the end that really matters.

C．Nothing is too hard to accomplish if one is brave enough.

D．The disabled can also run a marathon despite their walking difficulty.

4. What could be the best title for the text?

A．A Humorous Stranger.

B．The Last Runner.

C．An Unforgettable Job.

D．The Annual Marathon.

【推荐3】In everyday life,we are often faced with important decisions — such as whether to apply for a new job or start a new course.     1     The more we can test our limits and abilities,the more we will learn about ourselves.New challenges are opportunities for us.

    2     Rather than seeing the opportunity, often, we focus on what it will be like to fail.As a result,taking on a new challenge can be frightening. In these cases,we may avoid the challenge altogether and carry on down the same path we were on.

We make some excuses to ourselves so that we can stay in our comfort zone.     3     By avoiding challenges,we don’t have the opportunities to learn about ourselves.We feel trapped.We are troubled by discomfort,anxiety,and the sense that things are not quite right.

There are times when we might want to avoid a challenge for good,realistic reasons.Perhaps,deep down ,we are frightened of what other people might say and of what we might learn about ourselves.But instead of acknowledging that,we tell ourselves that now is not a good time,or that this isn’t the right opportunity.     4    

To lead an authentic life,we need to take on new challenges that give us   more opportunities to be ourselves.It is not that authentic people don’t feel the same fear;rather,they are simply more willing to face their fear.     5     The question is not how to lead a life in which we never feel the fear of failure,but rather,how we can moved forward despite our fear.

A．In reality,it is our fear talking.

B．The fear of failure can be too much to bear

C．However,we don’t always see it that way.

D．People think we can stay in our comfort zone and keep learning.

E．Taking on such challenges is an important part of growing as a person.

F．But the truth is that staying in our comfort zone is not necessarily comfortable.

G．They are open to new experiences,cherishing the challenges of learning about themselves.

【推荐2】Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humour. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Mark Twain waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will come to visit me.”
After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr. Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.
1. Why did Mark Twain go to the town?

A．To make a speech.

B．To see one of his friends.

C．To see one of his relatives.

D．To do something for his writing.

2. Why did the waiters feel sorry?

A．Their hotel was too small.

B．The room was not very clean.

C．They did something wrong to Mark Twain.

D．There were quite a few mosquitoes in the room.

3. All the people present laughed heartily because _____.

A．Mark Twain made a joke

B．Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents

C．the mosquitoes didn’t come into the wrong room

D．the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number

4. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．Mark Twain didn’t have a good rest that night.

B．No mosquitoes troubled Mark Twain in the night.

C．There were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer.

D．The owner of the hotel looked after Mark Twain well at night.

【推荐3】Papa, as a son of a dirt-poor farmer, left school early and went to work in a factory, for education was for the rich then. So, the world became his school. With great interest, he read everything he could lay his hands on, listened to the town elders and learned about the world beyond his tiny hometown. “There's so much to learn,” he'd say. “Though we're born stupid, only the stupid remain that way.” He was determined that none of his children would be denied an education.

Thus, Papa insisted that we learn at least one new thing each day. And dinner time seemed perfect for sharing what we had learned. We would talk about the news of the day; no matter how insignificant, it was never taken lightly. Papa would listen carefully and was ready with some comment, always to the point.

Then came the moment—the time to share the day's new learning.

Papa, at the head of the table, would push back his chair and pour a glass of red wine, ready to listen.

“Felice,” he'd say, “tell me what you learned today.” “learned that the population of Nepalis...”

Silence. Papa was thinking about what was said, as if the salvation of the world would depend upon it. “The population of Nepal. Hmm. Well...”he'd say. “Get the map; let's see where Nepal is.” And the whole family went on a search for Nepal.

This same experience was repeated until each family member had a turn. Dinner ended only after we had a clear understanding of at least half a dozen such facts.

As children, we thought very little about these educational wonders. Our family, however, was growing together, sharing experiences and participating in one another’s education. And by looking at us, listening to us, respecting our input, affirming our value; giving us a sense of dignity, Papa was unquestionably our most influential teacher.

Later during my training as a future teacher studied with some of the most famous educators. They were imparting what Papa had known all along the value of continual learning. His technique has served me well all my life. Not a single day has been wasted, though I can never tell when knowing the population, of Nepal might prove useful.

1. What do we know from the first paragraph?

A．The poor could hardly afford school education.

B．Those born stupid could not change their life.

C．The town elders wanted to learn about the world.

D．The author's father was born in a worker's family.

2. It can be learned from the passage that the author ________.

A．enjoyed talking about news	B．knew very well about Nepal
C．appreciated his father's educational technique	D．felt regret about those wasted days

3. What is the greatest value of "dinner time" to the author?

A．Showing talents.	B．Family get-together.
C．Continual learning.	D．Winning Papa's approval.

4. The author's father can be best described as ________.

A．a wiseman willing to share his knowledge	B．a teacher strict about everything his students did
C．an educator expert at training future teachers	D．a parent insistent on his children's education

【推荐2】Long, long ago there were a lot of donkeys. The donkeys worked hard every day. They had no time to play or to relax, but they never felt appreciated (赏识) for the work they did.

One day two donkeys got bored. They wanted to live a comfortable life, so the donkeys went to see a wise old man. They told him their problem. The wise old man agreed that they worked too hard, and he wanted to help the donkeys. “I have an idea,” he said.

“What is your idea?” asked the donkeys.

“I will paint you and no one will know you are donkeys,” said the man.

The man went off to find some paint and he returned in just a few minutes. He had two pots of paint. One pot was filled with white paint, and the other black paint.

The old man first painted them white, and then painted black stripes (条纹) over the white paint. When he finished, the donkeys did not look like donkeys at all. “You no longer look like donkeys,” the old man said. “Everyone will be fooled. I will call you something else, Zebras (斑马).”

The zebras went to a field to eat grass. Now they did not have to work.

Soon, other donkeys saw the zebras. They asked the zebras where they came from. When the zebras told the donkeys their secret, the donkeys all rushed to see the old man.

“Please make us into zebras, too.” They pleaded (恳求). So the wise old man painted more donkeys. As he did, more and more donkeys came.

The old man could not paint fast enough. Soon the donkeys became impatient. They began to kick about, and they knocked over the paint pots.

There was no more paint. The painted donkeys ran off to become zebras. The unpainted donkeys, because of their impatience (不耐烦), had to return to work.

This is why it is important to be patient.

1. The two donkeys went to see a wise old man in order to ________

A．tell him their problems.	B．ask him for help.
C．change into zebras.	D．get some grass.

2. When the two donkeys returned, why didn’t they have to work?

A．Because they didn’t eat enough grass.

B．Because they didn’t want to work.

C．Because no one knew they were donkeys.

D．Because they were no longer donkeys.

3. Many donkeys were not painted by the old man because ________

A．no more paint was left.	B．all the paint was used up
C．they couldn’t wait any longer	D．he was too tired to paint