【推荐1】Living with other students can be a wonderful experience. Here are a few tips for student accommodations that can help ensure a great experience and build lifelong friendships: Screen your roommates carefully if you are given a choice. Combining the living spaces of several students into one location can be exciting and rewarding experience for the outgoing students. If you are on the shy side, or prefer a quiet group to study with, pick quieter roommates.
Divide the bills evenly. Some students are far less responsible than their roommates and tend to let their part of the finance slide. Dissatisfaction is quick to build when everyone has to pay the bill for a fellow student who can’t seem to pay his/her share of the money.
Carry your part of the load. Everyone has to clean the bathroom and the kitchen sometime. Don’t avoid your part of responsibility. Student accommodations can get messy and it involves everyone to keep them tidy and healthy.
Think about someone else before you think about yourself. Put your roommates interests above your own. Life will be far enjoyable when everyone is concerned about the feelings property and studies of each other.
Be open and honest. Hostilities (敌意) and frustrations may cause problems that can’t be fixed. Everyone brings different standards and expectations to group living and it’s in everyone’s best interest to put them into the open. Disagreements can be managed more warmly when your are willing to be both open and listen to others.
1. When it comes to the bills, every member is advised to________ .

A．foot the bill for a fellow student

B．let his/her part of the finances slide

C．pay his/her own share of money

D．take more responsibility than others

2. The role “carry your part of the load” means every room member should ________.

A．avoid making too much noise

B．take turns to keep the room tidy

C．take care of others when they are ill

D．avoid staying up and oversleeping

3. To be a good member, one should learn to ________ according to the passage.

A．choose his/her roommates at random

B．balance his/her interests with others

C．express his/her disagreement openly and honestly

D．tolerate different standards and expectations

【推荐2】Philip was a nine-year-old boy in a Sunday school class of 8-year-old girls and boys. Sometimes the third graders didn’t welcome Philip into their group and usually tricked him. This was not because he was older, but because he was “different”. You see, Philip suffered from a condition called Downs’s Syndrome. This made him “different”, with his facial characteristics, slow responses and mental problems.

One Sunday after Easter, the Sunday school teacher gathered some plastic eggs that pulled apart in the middle. The teacher gave one to each child. On that beautiful spring day, the children were to go out and discover for themselves some symbol of “new life” and place it inside the plastic eggs.

After the children returned to the classroom, the teacher opened their eggs one by one, asking each child to explain that symbol of “new life”. The first opened egg contained a flower. Everyone cheered. In another one was a butterfly...When the teacher opened the last egg, it was empty. “That’s stupid,” said someone. The teacher felt a pull at his shirt. It was Philip. Looking up, Philip said, “It’s mine. I did it. It’s empty. I have new life, because the tomb is empty.” Not a sound was heard in class at all. From that day on, Philip became a real part of the group. They welcomed him, and whatever made him different was never mentioned again.

Philip’s family knew he wouldn’t live a long life, for there were too many things wrong with him.

1. The underlined word “condition” in the first paragraph probably means ________.

A．grade

B．status

C．disease

D．health

2. The teacher gave each child one plastic egg to let them ________.

A．put some symbol of “new life” into it	B．play around on that beautiful spring day
C．try to pull it apart in the middle	D．go out and discover themselves

3. After Philip explained his new life, ________.

A．The class thought he was clever	B．He began to study in the class
C．The class fell silent	D．He felt dying

4. We learn from the passage that ________.

A．The teacher used to have classes outdoors

B．Philip’s new life wish was empty

C．Philip was healthy as a whole

D．Philip was accepted by his classmates in the end

【推荐3】Ways to have a happy school life

Your school days should be some of the best and happiest days of your life. How can you gain the most from them, and make sure that you do not waste this wonderful chance to learn?

Be positive about school! Don’t say things which are difficult or boring.     1     Join in lots of activities. Be quick to put your hand up. Go round the school with a big smile.

    2     School is not a holiday camp. If you are not working, you are not learning, you are wasting your time at school. Teachers cannot make everything enjoyable.

Keep fit. If you do not eat a good breakfast, you will be thinking about food in class.    3     Play some sports to keep your body strong.

Do today’s work today.    4     Do not say you will do things tomorrow. If you get behind the class, it is very difficult to get back in front. You cannot finish a race if you rest all the time.

Don’t be too disappointed if things sometimes go bad. Everyone fails some tests, loses some matches and has bad days. Friends are not always perfect, and they sometimes say and do unpleasant things.    5    

Follow my advice, and have a happy school life!

A．Expect to work.

B．Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

C．Don’t let small problems seem very big and important.

D．Be interested in school life and your school subjects.

E．Don’t waste life lying in bed on Saturday morning.

F．You are making your time of little use unless you are learning hard.

G．If you go to bed late and do not have enough sleep, you will be sleepy in class.

【推荐1】Since my retirement (退休) from teaching music in 2001, I have spent a good deal of time painting as an artist. I actually began drawing again in the summer of 1995 when my father died, so perhaps I was trying to recover from the loss of my father, or maybe it was just that it brought back memories of him. In any case, I drew pen and ink animals and landscapes (风景画) much influenced by Krenkel and St. John for five years.

For some strange reason, I had been waiting until my retirement to start doing watercolours again, but as soon as I walked out of the school door for the last time I picked up my brushes and rediscovered Andrew Wyeth, who quickly became my favourite artist. I had looked through all the art books I had on my shelves and found his watercolours to be the closest to how I thought good watercolours should look. So I painted landscapes around Minnesota for three years and tried out many other types of painting. However, watercolours remained my first choice, and I think I did my best work there, showing my paintings at a number of art exhibitions.

Art is now together with my piano playing and reading. There is a time for everything in my world, and it is wonderful to have some time doing what I want to do. As Confucius once said, “At seventy I can follow my heart’s desire.”

1. The author started drawing again in 1995 because ______ .

A．he hoped to draw a picture of his father

B．he couldn’t stop missing his father

C．he had more time after retirement

D．he liked animals and landscapes

2. We can infer from the text that the author ______ .

A．had been taught by Krenkel and St. John

B．painted landscapes in Minnesota for 5 years

C．believed Wyeth to be the best in watercolours

D．started his retirement life at the age of seventy

3. How does the author probably feel about his life as an artist?

A．Very enjoyable.	B．A bit regretful.
C．Rather busy.	D．Fairly dull.

【推荐2】Phineas T. Barnum is the best-known circus business owner of the nineteenth century. He excelled as a showman, and throughout his career in the entertainment business, he promoted many different forms of attractions.

Barnum’s first job was as a newspaper owner. He also worked as a writer and publisher. His lasting fame, however, is as a showman. Barnum considered this to be his main talent and he never changed this view of his character.

Barnum’s entertainment interests covered museums, traveling dance troupes, and even the mid-century US tour by Jenny Lind, the Swedish singer. He was, by nature, a risk-taker, and usually gained success from the most unlikely businesses.

Barnum was willing to adopt any manoeuvre that publicized his businesses. His American Museum in New York included hoaxes and freaks (恶作剧和怪物), both human and animal. This was not unusual by the standards of the time, but even he felt the need to prove his hoaxes fair, as advertising tricks.

Barnum’s unbounded self-confidence meant he never doubted his ability to make a success of any business. He opened America’s first aquarium (水族馆) and opened a theater in New York that was the largest and most modern in the city. He aimed to change the public knowledge of theaters, and in this, he largely succeeded. He made theater-going respectable.

Determination and hard work featured majorly in the qualities that Barnum displayed, and he frequently spoke about the necessity of both. He believed success only came to those who worked for it and knew they had the self-determination necessary. He also stated the necessity of understanding the business that a person was running. Knowledge and experience counted much in Barnum’s life, and he certainly knew the entertainment business.

Success in life, according to Barnum, could only be achieved when a person is in good health. He advised that getting healthy and maintaining a healthy body and mind would lead to happiness as well as success.

1. What does the underlined word “manoeuvre” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Policy.	B．Strategy.
C．Advice.	D．Attitude.

2. Why does the author mention Barnum’s success in opening the aquarium and theater?

A．To show Barnum’s firm belief in his own capability.

B．To tell us chances are important for any business.

C．To explain what kind of business was successful.

D．To indicate how bad people’s life was at that time.

3. What did people think of theater-going in the past?

A．It was respectable.

B．It was not highly thought of.

C．It was a common practice.

D．It was a way to acquire knowledge.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Barnum and his business?

A．Suspicious.	B．Adventurous.
C．Unsteady.	D．Outstanding.

【推荐3】As a youngster, there was nothing I liked better than Sunday afternoons at my grandfather’s farm in western Pennsylvania. Surrounded by miles of winding stone walls, the house and field provided endless hours of fun for a city kid like me. I was used to tidy living rooms that seemed to whisper, “Not to be touched!”

I can still remember one afternoon when I was eight years old. Since my first visit to the farm, I had wanted more than anything to be allowed to climb the stone walls surrounding the houses. My parents would never approve. The walls were old; some stones were missing, others loose and falling. Still, my idea to climb across those walls grew so strong that finally, one spring afternoon, I had all my courage to enter the living room, where the adults had gathered after Sunday dinner.

“I, uh—I want to climb the stone walls,” I said. Everyone looked up. “Can I climb the stone walls?” Immediately voices of disagreement went up from the women in the room. “Heavens, no! You’ll hurt yourself!” I wasn’t too disappointed; the response was just as I’d expected. But before I could leave the room, I was stopped by my grandfather’s loud voice. “Now hold on just a minute,” I heard him say. “Let the boy climb the stone walls. He has to learn to do things for himself.”

“Go,” he said to me, “and come and see me when you get back.” For the next two and a half hours I climbed those old walls—and had the time of my life. Later I met with my grandfather to tell him about my adventures. I’ll never forget what he said. “Fred,” he said, smiling, “You made this day a special day just by being yourself. Always remember, there’s only one person in this whole world like you, and I like you exactly as you are.”

Many years have passed since then, and today I host the television program Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, seen by millions of children throughout America. There have been changes over the years, but one thing remains the same: my message to children at the end of almost every visit. “There’s only one person in this whole world like you.” the kids can count on hearing me say, “and people can like you exactly as you are.”

1. When the writer was small, he lived ________.

A．in the city	B．on the farm
C．with his grandparents	D．away from his parents

2. The underlined word “approve” in paragraph two means ________.

A．prove

B．suppose

C．allow

D．mind

3. We can learn from the passage that the writer was ________.

A．adventurous

B．funny

C．smart

D．talkative

4. What did the writer learn from his grandfather and his own experience on the farm?

A．To do things for others.	B．To do whatever he liked.
C．To be proud of himself.	D．To be himself.

【推荐1】“They tell me that you’d like to make a statue (塑像) of me — is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?” The President’s deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl as he showed his doubt.

Asking for the help of the President (总统) of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have dared to ask you, but my teacher, Mr Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner.”

President Lincoln smiled. “Painters, sculptors — they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust (半身像)?”

Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice. “Of course — I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size.”

Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay (粘土) figure would not exhaust my strength — and that is what I intend to do!”

The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”

But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”

Vinnie looked around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”

The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”

The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.

1. How did President Lincoln first respond (回复) to Vinnie’s request (请求)?

A．Delighted.

B．Excited.

C．Regretful.

D．Doubtful.

2. What gave Vinnie confidence to make her request of President Lincoln?

A．Her enthusiastic personality.

B．Mr Mills’s encouraging words.

C．President Lincoln’s gentle voice.

D．Her interest in a challenging job.

3. Vinnie confirmed her ability to make a full-length statue by highlighting_______.

A．her experience from other projects

B．her innocent (天真的) childhood in the country

C．the heavy labor (劳动) she had done before

D．the skill she picked up in Wisconsin

4. Vinnie wanted to choose the corner near the windows to_______.

A．achieve effects of natural lighting

B．keep all her tools within easy reach

C．observe the President at a right angle (角度)

D．avoid disturbing (打扰) the President’s work

5. What message does the story convey?

A．A strong-willed soul can reach his goal.

B．Experience helps to promote excellence.

C．Ups and downs make one strong.

D．Devotion requires enthusiasm.