【推荐2】In modern society there is a great deal of argument about competition. Some value it highly , believing that it is responsible for social progress and prosperity . Others say that competition is bad ; that it sets one person against another ; that it leads to unfriendly relationship between people .
I have taught many children who held the belief that their self-worth relied (依赖)on how well they performed at tennis and other skills . For them, playing well and winning are often life-and-death affairs. In their single-minded pursuit ( 追求)of success , the development of many other human qualities is sadly forgotten .
However ，while some seem to be lost in the desire to succeed , others take an opposite attitude .In a culture which values only the winner and pays no attention to the ordinary players , they strongly blame competition . Among the most vocal are youngsters who have suffered under competitive pressures from their parents or society. Teaching these young people . I often observe in them a desire to fail . They seem to seek failure by not trying to win or achieve success . By not trying , they always have an excuse : “I may have lost . but it doesn’t matter because I really didn’t try . “What is not usually admitted by themselves is the belief that if they had really tried and lost, that would mean a lot . Such a loss would be a measure of their worth . Clearly, this belief is the same as that of the true competitors who try to prove themselves . Both are based on the mistaken belief that one’s self-respect relies on how well one performs in comparison with others . Both are afraid of not being valued . Only as this basic and often troublesome fear begins to dissolve (缓解) can we discover a new meaning in competition .
1. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．Competition helps to set up self-respect.

B．Opinions about competition are different among people

C．Competition is harmful to personal quality development.

D．Failures are necessary experiences in competition

2. Why do some people favor competition according to the passage?

A．It pushes society forward.	B．It builds up a sense of duty.
C．It improves personal abilities.	D．It encourages individual efforts

3. The underlined phrase “the most vocal” in Paragraph 3 means        .

A．those who try their best to win

B．those who value competition most highly

C．those who are against competition most strongly

D．those who rely on others most for success

4. Which point of view may the author agree to?

A．Every effort should be paid back.

B．Competition should be encouraged.

C．Winning should be a life-and-death matter.

D．Fear of failure should be removed in competition.

【推荐3】Hotels were full, local specialties were nearly sold out, tourists came in droves from all parts of China… Rongjiang, a small county of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture in Guizhou Province, has recently gone viral for its “Village Super League”.

Every week, more than 40,000 audiences flooded to the stadium for the “Village Super League”. As of the end of June, 2023, the championship has had more than 20 billion views on the Internet.

“This is a soccer carnival deeply rooted in the soil! I’ve covered varieties of sports events, including the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. But it is really the first time that I have experienced such a down-to-earth and lively scene as this,” said Han Qiaosheng, a Chinese sports TV commentator.

During a match in May, Wu Chuguo, a decoration worker from Liubaitang village, Rongjiang County, scored a classic 40-meter goal that ignited the crowd. Wu said he was influenced by elders in his village and fell in love with the sport. In the county, rural soccer matches have taken place regularly since the 1990s. When there was a lack of facilities, soccer players used barren land as a field and wooden stakes (桩) for the posts. The boundaries were marked out with lime powder. When they can’t gather enough players, they play futsal, a soccer-based game played on a smaller hard court.

In recent years, the county has focused on gymnastics, soccer, rock climbing and other sports, which has developed outstanding national and provincial-level sporting talent. What sets the Village Super League apart from other sports events are the vibrant displays of ethnic (民族的) cultures and traditions at the championship.

“I hope that more and more tourists will come to Rongjiang to watch the matches, enjoy the folk customs and local cuisine, and have fun,” said Xiong Zhuqing, a melon grower who is also a cheerleader. She says she has sold over 10,000 kilograms of watermelons since the start of the championship. As of June 27, a total of 654 new businesses were established, including 91 in the catering sector, 188 in retail, and 195 in agriculture and food processing, the local government said.

By combining tourism with sports, Rongjiang has found a creative and meaningful way to promote rural revival and rural economic growth.

1. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Rural soccer matches are demanding on facilities.

B．Wu Chuguo started the sports event at Liubaitang village.

C．Rongjiang County has a deep tradition of soccer matches.

D．The small court greatly limits soccer players’ performances.

2. What is special about the “Village Super League”?

A．It covers players from all walks of life.

B．It combines ethnic elements with sports.

C．It aims to select athletes for national-level games.

D．It has a cheering team consisting of football fans.

3. What do the statistics in the last but one paragraph tell us?

A．The matches can help promote economic growth.

B．Rongjiang’s tourism has fueled the sports industry.

C．Selling agricultural products is key to rural vitalization.

D．Local companies have offered significant financial support to the matches.

4. Where can we find this passage?

A．Science magazine.

B．Tourism brochure.

C．Newspaper.

D．Textbook.

【推荐2】
“A very disruptive(扰乱型的) six-year old child kicked my legs and clawed at my hand，”said one teacher. “I broke up a fight and was kicked between my legs，” said another. Many people have heard stories like this. But the situation is more worrying still and it involves parents.
Every child, regardless of the circumstances into which they are born，has the right to achieve their potential，regardless of their parents’ wealth and class. And we recognize that, as a nation，it is a long way to achieve this goal. But rights come with responsibilities and what worries people is that we are in danger of neglecting the latter.
Far too many children are behaving badly at school，even to the point of being violent to staff. This is terrible enough，but it is hard to be surprised since many children are just mirroring the behavior of their parents. Too many are starting school unable to hold a knife and fork, unused to eating at a table，and unable to use the lavatory properly.
We are in danger of becoming a nation of families living separate lives under one roof. The bedroom, once a place to sleep，has become the living space for the young. Spending hours in front of computer screens, on social networking sites or being immersed in computer games, children and young people spend little time with their parents. Parents are unable to monitor just what their children are watching.
Schools cannot right the wrongs of society and teachers cannot become substitute parents. Both parties need to work together. Parents must be helped and given confidence to take back control. They are responsible for setting boundaries for their children’s behavior and sticking to those boundaries when the going gets tough. They are responsible for setting a good example to their children and for devoting that most precious of resources—time—so that children come to school ready and are willing to learn.
1. In the opinion of the writer, what problem do people ignore?

A．The school violence.

B．The pressure of students’ learning.

C．The right to achieve students potential.

D．The responsibilities of the students.

2. The writer’s attitude to the behaviors of parents may be that of ________.

A．dissatisfied

B．unconcern

C．understanding

D．tolerance

3. The underlined part in Para. 4 may means__________.

A．parents and children live in their separate rooms

B．parents care little about children’s life at home

C．children don’t live with their parents in the same room

D．at home children live a different life from that of parents

4. What might be most suitable title for the passage?

A．Children’s behavior at school is worrying people

B．Parents expect schools to correct their children’s bad habits

C．There is no point in parents’ teaching children at home

D．Don’t blame teachers when it’s parents who are failing

【推荐3】Do you remember what happened on Sponge Bob Square Pants yesterday? The day before? If so, you may be in need of a TV timeout!

Kids today are watching more TV than they watched before, researchers say. Kids ages 6 to 11 in the United States watch more than three hours of TV each day. Ten years ago, children watched only about two hours and 40 minutes of TV each day.

Why the increase? Experts say more TV shows today are focused, or aimed, at kids.

Some people want to limit kids' TV time. Researchers say that children who watch TV shows for more than three hours a day do not do as well in school. However, some programs can help kids learn. One example is BrainSurge. Some people say the show teaches kids facts.

How do you know whether a TV show can make you smart? Think about what you learn from watching, says Aletha Huston. She is a TV expert. But, she warns, don't spend too much time watching. “Limit the amount you watch. Get off the couch and do something else.”

TV Guide

This pie chart shows how long kids ages 6－11 use different types of TV technology each week.

1. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Kids today watch more TV than they did before.

B．BrainSurge helps kids learn facts.

C．Kids do not watch proper TV shows.

D．More TV shows today are created for kids ages 6－11.

2. The underlined word “focused” can be replaced by ________.

A．unusual

B．aimed

C．suitable

D．pleasant

3. How many kinds of TV technology are mentioned in the chart?

A．Three.

B．Five.

C．Four.

D．Six.

4. According to the pie chart, kids spend the least time using________.

A．Video games

B．DVD

C．VCR

D．TV

【推荐1】I’d like to share a little with you about something that happened when I was four. I remember it clearly. Our loving family dog was nearing the end of his life. My father picked him up and put him in a little bed we had made for him. Our dog, my companion, whom we had cared for, bit my father when he attempted to help him. How could he? Why? I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t like him anymore.

I hadn’t thought that story for a long time but something that happened last brought it back to me. I went to speak with a friend. When I knocked on the door, I met in an instant an angry look and a few harsh (尖刻的) words. When the door was slammed (砰地关上) in my face, I stood there shocked, and in rush, I was reminded of my dog bit my father 20 years ago or so. What brought that story back was that same feeling of betrayal.

Both stories taught me something the next day. You see, when I got up in the morning and was told my dog had died, it became clear to me that he must have been in great pain. For him to have bitten a family member, he could not have been himself. Much the same for the other story when I learned that my friend’s wife had just left him.

We are all begins of our environments, our opinions and feelings. And all of those things can cause you to say and do things that can’t be understood by those who are not in the same situation with you.

If you meet someone either behaving out of character or acting in a way that doesn’t seem to fit the situation, put our your hand and be patient when you think it is least possible for him to do so. You may turn around a story that has a sad ending simply by your actions.

1. What is the influence of the incident mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．It hurt his father’s feeling deeply.	B．It has puzzled the author ever since.
C．It left a deep impression on the author.	D．It made the author dislike dogs.

2. Why did the author’s friend say harsh words to the author?

A．He was ill-tempered.

B．He was suffering the pain of losing his wife.

C．He was bothered by an unexpected visit.

D．They once quarreled and he couldn’t forgive the author.

3. What’s the author’s advice to us?

A．Help those in need.	B．Look before you leap.
C．Respect of others is a kind of virtue.	D．Learn to put yourself in others’ shoes.

【推荐2】Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.

Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.

“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.

“How do you mean?” I asked.

“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”

Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving (解决).”

On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”

He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Sydney’s striking architecture.	B．The cultural diversity of Sydney.
C．The key to Sydney’s development.	D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s.

2. What can we learn about Andrew Reynolds?

A．He goes to work by boat.	B．He looks forward to a new life.
C．He pilots catamarans well.	D．He is attached to the old ferries.

3. What does Shirley Fitzgerald think of Sydney?

A．It is losing its traditions.	B．It should speed up its progress.
C．It should expand its population.	D．It is becoming more international.

4. Which statement will the author probably agree with?

A．A city can be young and old at the same time.

B．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic.

C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance.

D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign.

【推荐3】Once a circle missed a wedge (楔子). The circle wanted to be whole, so it went around looking for its missing piece. But because it was incomplete and therefore could roll only very slowly, it admired the flowers along the way. It chatted with worms. It enjoyed the sunshine. Finally it found a piece that fit perfectly. It was so happy. Now that it was a perfect circle, it could roll very fast, too fast to notice flowers or talk to the worms. When it realized how different the world seemed when it rolled so quickly, it stopped, left its found piece by the side of the road and rolled slowly away.

In some strange sense we are more whole when we are missing something. The man who has everything is in some ways a poor man. He will never know what it feels like to yearn, to hope, to nourish(滋润) his soul with the dream of something better. He will never know the experience of having someone who loves him give him something he has always wanted or never had.

There is wholeness about the person who has come to terms with his limitations, who has been brave enough to let go of his unrealistic dreams and does not feel like a failure for doing so. There is wholeness about the man or woman who has learned that he or she is strong enough to go through a tragedy(悲剧) and survive — he or she can lose someone and still feel like a complete person.

Life is more like a baseball season, when even the best team loses one third of its games and even the worst team has its days of brilliance. Our goal is to win more games than we lose. When we accept that imperfection is part of being human, and when we can continue rolling through life and appreciate it, we will have achieved wholeness that others can only long for.

1. Which may be an example of being whole?

A．A person has everything.

B．A person accepts his or her limitations.

C．A person loves someone and is loved.

D．A person feels blue for dropping unrealistic goals.

2. How is a baseball season similar to life?

A．Easy come, easy go.

B．Failure is the mother of success.

C．Energy and persistence conquer all things.

D．Some battles you win and some battles you lose.

3. How does the author clarify his idea?

A．Mainly by comparing.

B．Mainly by reasoning.

C．Mainly by informing.

D．Mainly by arguing.

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

A．Pursue perfection in life

B．Be whole in life

C．Life without mistakes is whole

D．No pains, no gains