【推荐1】The "best years of your life"? Maybe not.     1    

1. Learn to appreciate small things. Whether it's having a computer, having friends, having a family that loves you, having a decent education or simply being born in this world.     2     Be happy, and life will reward you. Remember that these are the last few years you will be able to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the responsibility of an adult, but make sure you prepare yourself for when you do become one.

2.     3     Participating in clubs, activities, and sports increases your chances of meeting new friends. While you only need 4 or 5 close friends, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to meet new people. Participating gives you something to do instead of sitting bored at home and wallowing in self-pity.

3. You can pursue interests you enjoy. Video games, for example, are good if you're the type who can get into that kind of thing. You should also find a hobby that is meaningful or practical. Use your "hobby time" to either A. Volunteer (to gain practical skills for college apps, job resumes, and scholarships) B. Learn an instrument, or get into something else in the creative field like painting or dance.     4    

4. Play a sport or work out. Having a healthy body leads to a healthy and happy mind. Being confident in your appearance makes you more confident in other areas.

5. Do well in school.     5     It will pay off in the end. Plus, doing well means no angry parents. (257)

A. This is the time to start developing and uncovering passions that might otherwise lie inactive.
B. Even though you want to enjoy your teen life as best as possible, don't be lazy in school.
C. But you can learn to make the most of your high school days.
D. Choose your friends wisely.
E. Be sociable.
F. Remember that the point of life is for you to enjoy it.
G. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your hard work pay off in the form of A's and B's.

【推荐2】There is a paradox improving education in America: The system is failing to prepare many kids for success, but we have spent so much on the system that isn’t practical. We have a big influence on teaching and learning within our existing schools: on the playground during recess.

Most elementary school headmasters will tell you that recess is the toughest time of the school day. It’s when most problems happen, and too often problems from the playground come over into the classroom, creating distractions for students.

Americans are usually pretty nostalgic about recess, but a lot has changed since we were kids. When I was growing up in Washington, D.C., I had the chance to play outside, every day after school, during weekends and all summer long. The older kids taught the younger kids a lot of rules — from how to pick teams to how to quickly end quarrels — and as the younger kids became the older kids, we passed on this culture of play to the generation behind us.

But kids don’t get to play outside and be unsupervised the way we used to. And so when kids come to school, they don’t bring those skills with them. The fights and quarrels that have replaced the recess we remember can be discouraging for kids and educators.

Schools generally put up with the problems on the playground because they don’t know how to deal with them, but it turns out that rescuing recess is pretty easy. All it takes is one grown-up who has a love for play and the skills in creating an environment where students can play happily.

1. Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

A．How can kids enjoy their recess

B．Why do kids need recess

C．A misunderstanding about improving education

D．Ways to get rid of the problems caused by students in the classroom

2. What do most elementary school headmasters think about the recess time?

A．It will make students too excited in the classroom.

B．It will make students do damage to the playground.

C．It will make teachers discover their students’ problems.

D．It will make students pay less attention to their lessons.

3. In the past, the older kids ________.

A．had no time to play outside

B．often got involved in quarrels with the younger kids

C．could manage the younger kids successfully

D．passed on this culture of play to their parents

【推荐3】At thirteen, I was diagnosed (诊断) with a kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not.

In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, ''Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it. ''

She glanced down at me through her glasses, ''You are not different from your classmates, young man. '' I tried, but I didn’t finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.

In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Lous Braile. He lived in a time when the blind couldn't get much education. But Louis didn't give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots (点), which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.

Wasn't I the ''blind'' in my class, being made to learn like the ''sighted'' students? My thoughts, spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was not different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problem, why should I ever give up?

I didn't expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day-with an ''A'' on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words, ''See what you can do when you keep trying? ''

1. Why didn't the author finish the reading in class?

A．Because he didn't like the teacher.

B．Because he was not fond of literature.

C．Because the class room was too noisy.

D．Because he got a kind of attention disorder.

2. What can we learn about Louis Braille from the passage?

A．He couldn't see and read for the whole life.

B．He got a good education at school.

C．He made an invention which helps the blind.

D．He managed to cure his blindness.

3. What's Mrs. Smith's attitude to the author in the classroom?

A．She encouraged him.	B．She looked down on him.
C．She sympathized(同情) him.	D．She was angry with him.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Keep trying, and you can do it.

B．Ways to overcome attention disorder.

C．How to be a great teacher.

D．What should you do as a blind.

【推荐2】Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well in all your schoolwork—everything from taking tests to researching a paper. But unfortunately, most schools don’t have classes that teach you how to take notes. So here are some tips.

Write down key facts. If you have a teacher who writes notes on the board, that’s good: You can copy them down. If not, write down the most important points from class. Does your history teacher mention the date of a key Civil War battle? Does your English teacher give examples of Shakespeare’s use of irony(讽刺)? Write them down!

Different teachers do things differently. For example, some teachers may mention lots of dates and facts in class but only write the key ones on the board. Other teachers may not write anything down, but they may repeat a certain date or a piece of information. After a while, you’ll get to know a teacher’s style.

Don’t overdo it. Don’t go crazy taking notes. You’ll be frantic(慌乱的) if you try to write down every word that’s said in class. And if you focus too much on getting your notes right, you might miss important points. Some people actually learn better by listening, writing down a few key points, and then going over the material after class.

Ask. Don’t be afraid to ask the teacher to repeat something you miss. If the teacher is going too fast, your classmates will also be happy to hear the information again. If you don’t want to ask in class, see your teacher afterwards. It’s much easier than wondering if you got the notes right as you study.

Compare. Keep your notes handy when you’re doing your reading homework. Compare what you wrote with what the reading says—you may even want to add to your notes as you read.

1. What’s an advantage of note-taking according to the writer?

A．It helps you to get good marks in tests.	B．It’s a basic skill in researching a paper.
C．It helps fix your mind on what the teacher says.	D．It gives you a better understanding of key facts.

2. Why is Shakespeare mentioned in the passage?

A．To introduce the topic of note-taking.	B．To compare writing styles in different times.
C．To give an example of forming good habits.	D．To explain what a key fact is in a teacher’s class.

3. What is suggested in the third paragraph?

A．Teachers encourage their students to be active in class.

B．It’s helpful for teachers to learn from each other in styles.

C．It’s not always possible to note down all information in class.

D．A teacher’s style should be taken into consideration when taking notes.

4. What’s the writer’s opinion according to the passage?

A．Students must try to take correct and detailed notes in class.

B．Students should put down only key points while listening carefully.

C．Students must not interrupt the teacher by asking questions in class.

D．Students should put down as much information as possible in class.

【推荐3】Since the nineteen nineties, education has been required for all South Africans from age seven to fifteen. Last December, the government announced that seventy percent of students passed their final examination to finish high school. In 2008 the passage rate was about sixty-three percent. There have been increases each year since then.

Professor Shireen Motala at the University of Johannesburg says access to basic education is no longer the problem in South Africa. She says most children stay in school until they are about sixteen. The problem now, she says, is that large numbers of them leave without completing high school. Students take an examination known as the matric in grade twelve, their final or "matriculation" year. Professor Motala notes that less than half the children who started school in 2000 sat for the matric last year.

Educational researchers also point to another problem. They say South African schools do not produce enough students with the skills for higher education in math and science. Many schools are not well - equipped. They do not have libraries at school. Ninety - two percent of the schools do not have libraries.

Also, education specialists say in many cases, teachers and school principals do not have the skills or training to do their jobs. In other cases, they are simply not doing their duty to provide an education. Professor Motala says a number of teachers were poorly trained during the system of apartheid(种族隔离), or racial separation in South Africa. Apartheid ended in 1994.

Secondly, she says, teachers have been confused by the many educational reform efforts in the last fifteen years. And, finally, she thinks language differences in the classroom have not gotten as much attention as they should.

South Africa's minister of basic education promises a number of improvements.

1. How was thepassage rate in 2008?

A．uncertain	B．just so-so
C．high	D．low

2. What's the Motala's attitude towards the basic education for students in South Africa?

A．Confident.	B．Hopeless.
C．Negative.	D．Worried.

3. From the passage we know the matric is ________.

A．an examination difficult for students to pass

B．an examination for students in grade twelve

C．the number of students leaving school

D．the number of students taking exams

4. Students in South Africa find it hard to get improved in math and science because ________.

A．they drop out of school without finishing high school

B．teachers don't have the abilities to teach them

C．most schools can not provide enough equipment

D．there aren't such subjects in most schools

【推荐1】In the August sun, it’s unbearably hot in my car. I’m in Vancouver, approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. It’s 5:15 pm. Traffic is already slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m stuck even before getting on the bridge.

This has become my normal work commute (上下班往返) routine. Ahead of me is a heavily jammed on-ramp (匝道). I stare at the endless rows of vehicles, depressed.

At first I think this is not how it looks. The traffic will soon start moving. Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks glittering (闪光) in the sun, I start counting — 299, 300, 301 — and I give up.

Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. But I stay alert (警觉的). When the cars do move, I move carefully, making sure not to bump into other vehicles. Finally, I make it onto the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very anxious.

Just then, I hear a weak sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an ambulance approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move.

But I’m wrong. Every single car quickly, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance flashes through.

Afterward, every car moves back. We close up the emergency lane, ready to continue our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. I forget my tiredness and hunger. My anxiety is gone. I start reflecting upon what 300 fellow drivers and I just did.

How did we do that? Despite our exhaustion, we collectively decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our sympathy and intelligence, requiring no directives.

Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m connected to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.

1. How does the author feel when seeing the on-ramp?

A．Annoyed.

B．Discouraged.

C．Calm

D．Shocked.

2. What does the author think when knowing an ambulance is approaching?

A．It will be hard for it to pass through.	B．Someone should direct the traffic.
C．All drivers will be willing to move.	D．Whoever is inside needs immediate help.

3. What does the word “awestruck” underlined in Paragraph 7 most probably mean?

A．Deeply anxious.	B．Feeling amazed.
C．Extremely exhausted.	D．Feeling depressed.

4. What does the author think made the miracle happen?

A．The drivers’ good driving skills.	B．Instructions from a stranger.
C．People’s kindness.	D．The ambulance’s rescue.

【推荐2】On May 21, 2022, Tom Turcich of New Jersey became the 10th person to walk around the world. Over seven years, he walked 48,000 kilometers across six continents and 38 countries, most of which with his dog Savannah.

Speaking to CNN, Turcich explained that after a friend died in an accident at age 17, he started to look at life differently and decided to go on a journey around the world. It took over eight years of saving and planning before Turcich finally left his home on April 2, 2015, just before his 26th birthday, on his way to Panama. He had a stroller to carry his hiking equipment: a sleeping bag, a laptop, a camera and a box of food.

About four months into the journey, Turcich adopted Savannah from an animal shelter in Texas. She joined him for the rest of the trip, becoming the first dog to walk around the world. The pair walked around 30 — 40 kilometers a day, spending most nights camping. Some parts could not be done on foot, however, such as when Turcich and Savannah took a boat from Uruguay to Antarctica. In late 2017, Turcich had to return home to recover from an illness he got while traveling through Ireland and the UK.

He and Savannah started walking again in May 2018, going through Europe, North Africa and Turkey before getting stuck in Azerbaijan for six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They were able to travel to Kyrgyzstan before taking a plane to Seattle. From there, he and Savannah walked back to New Jersey.

Turcich said the most difficult place to walk through was “deserted” Wyoming. Now that he’s back home, Turcich says he wants to stay in one place for a while, and write a book about his trip.

1. What led to Turcich’s decision to walk around the world?

A．The death of his friend at an early age.	B．His different attitude towards travelling.
C．His thoughtful plan before a birthday.	D．The adoption of Savannah from a shelter.

2. What can we know about Turcich and Savannah according to the text?

A．They spent most of the nights in hotels during the trip.

B．Their trip was once interrupted due to Turcich’s illness.

C．The most challenging place for them was Azerbaijan.

D．Their journey has been recorded in Turcich’s book.

3. What kind of person is Turcich according to the text?

A．Creative and curious.	B．Brave and determined.
C．Caring and intelligent.	D．Humorous and ambitious.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To persuade people to travel with a reliable animal.

B．To motivate young people to take a worldwide walking trip.

C．To emphasize the importance of an unforgettable travel experience.

D．To share a story about a man and a dog’s walking around the world.