In Mrs. Totten’s eighth-grade math class at Central Avenue School in Anderson, Indiana, we were learning to add and subtract decimals (小数).
Our teacher typically assigned daily homework, which would be recited in class the following day. On most days, our grades were based on our oral answer to homework questions.
Mrs. Totten usually walked up and down the rows of desks requesting answers from student after student in the order the questions had appeared on our homework sheets. She would start either at the front or the back of the classroom and work toward the other end.
Since I was seated near the middle of about 35 students, it was easy to figure out which questions I might have to answer. This particular time, I had completed my usual two or three problems according to my calculations.
What I failed to expect was that several students were absent, which threw off my estimate. As Mrs. Totten made her way from the beginning of the class,I desperately tried to determine which math problem I would get. I tried to work it out before she got to me, but I had brain freeze and couldn’t function.
When Mrs. Totten reached my desk,she asked what answer I’d got for problem No. 14. “I…I didn’t get anything,” I answered,and my face felt warm.
“Correct,” she said.
It turned out that the correct answer was zero.
What did I learn that day? First, always do all your homework. Second, in real life it isn’t always what you say but how you say it that matters. Third,I would never make it as a mathematician.
If I could choose one school day that taught me the most, it would be that one.
1. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 1 indicate?
A.It is wise to value one’s time. |
B.It is important to make an effort |
C.It is right to stick to one’s belief. |
D.It is enough to do the necessary. |
A.recite their homework together |
B.grade their homework themselves |
C.answer their homework questions orally |
D.check the answers to their homework questions |
A.asked questions in a regular way |
B.walked up and down when asking questions |
C.chose two or three questions for the students |
D.requested her students to finish their usual questions |
A.the class didn’t begin as usual |
B.several students didn’t come to school |
C.he didn’t try hard to make his estimate |
D.Mrs. Totten didn’t start from the back of the class |
A.An Unforgettable Teacher |
B.A Future Mathematician |
C.An Effective Approach |
D.A Valuable Lesson |
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【推荐1】A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: “Puppies For Sale.” Signs like this always have a way of attracting young children, and to no surprise, a boy saw the sign and approached the owner.
“How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” he asked.
The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.”
The little boy pulled out some change from his pocket. “I have $2.37,” he said. “Can I please look at them?”
The shop owner smiled and whistled. A lady ran down the aisle of his shop followed by five tiny balls of fur.
One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?”
The shop owner explained the puppy was disabled by nature and it would always be lame. The little boy became excited. “I’ll buy it.” The shop owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.” The little boy looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.”
The shop owner countered, “You really don’t want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and play with you like the other puppies.”
To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”
1. From the passage we can infer ______.A.The owner persuaded the boy out of buying the lame dog. |
B.The dog was badly treated because it was different from other dogs. |
C.The boy decided to pay the owner at least $30 for the lame dog. |
D.The boy decided to pay off the rest of the money in a month. |
A.Because the boy was disabled as well. |
B.Because the puppy recovered one day. |
C.Because the lady sold the disabled puppy. |
D.Because the boy refused his offer. |
A.said | B.argued | C.yelled | D.persuaded |
A.love | B.kindness | C.generosity | D.understanding |
【推荐2】People are often surprised by my fear of blood and needles. Working in a public health unit, I probably have more daily interaction with syringes (注射器) than the average person. But the truth is, having my blood drawn scares me.
When I was 9, I had an extremely high temperature. A nurse rudely stuck the needle into my arm, causing a sharp pain. I avoided having blood taken from my body for the next years. A few months before I turned 30, my doctor ordered a blood test as part of my physical exam. I panicked. Sensing my fear, she gently suggested I see a psychiatrist (精神科医生). “Dr. M helped my other patients with the same fear,” she said.
When Dr. M called to set up an appointment, I hesitated. Talking about personal problems to a medically licensed stranger was uncommon in my family. “A psychiatrist?” Mother asked. “He’ll just put you on drugs. Can’t you get over this yourself?” I almost listened. But I went to Dr. M’s clinic finally. “Phobias (恐惧症) are pretty easy to treat,” he said. I wasn’t convinced of his words. But despite my doubts, I was running out of options.
We started with basic exposure treatment. I watched videos of blood being drawn every day. As I started to feel more at ease with needles, Dr. M suggested drawing blood. As he gently pressed the needle into my flesh, I felt dizzy and breathed deeply. After a few minutes, I looked at the needle. It wasn’t so bad. I didn’t pass out. “You’re doing well,” Dr. M said.
I still find it unpleasant getting blood drawn, but thanks to several months of treatment, I’m less scared. I hate to admit it, but Dr. M is right — phobias can be treated. Sometimes, we have to leave our comfort zone and face our fears. And this can lead to freedom in the end.
1. What caused the author’s phobia?A.Her sensitivity to pains. |
B.Her awful performance in study. |
C.Her bad medical experience. |
D.Her regular contact with syringes. |
A.Conservative. | B.Disapproving. |
C.Supportive. | D.Optimistic. |
A.It cost the author a great deal of money. |
B.It eased the author’s pain totally. |
C.It centered on watching videos. |
D.It was smoother than expected. |
A.Bravery brings us a happier life |
B.Walk toward what scares us |
C.Ups and downs make one strong |
D.Nurse our physical health carefully |
People tell me all too frequently…I need more time! Oh ,really?…Mother Teresa,Michelangelo,and Helen Keller all had 24 hours a day.Look what they did with their time!
Is it that we need to manage our time better…or our priorities(重点)?You’ve heard the expression“first things first.”The first step in understanding the power of time is to understand that it is limited.Why is it then that some people get a lot more done? We know the answer.They use their time smartly.
One day an expert on time management was speaking to a group of students and announced a quiz.He pulled out a wide-mouthed jar.Next,he placed about a dozen fist-sized rocks,one at a time , into the jat, until no more would fit.“Is it full?” he asked.”Yes,”responds the class.”Oh really?” he asked.So he took out a bucket of gravel(砂砾), which he managed to work down into the spaces between the larger rocks.“Is it full now?” he asked.
Wising up,one answered,‘'Probably not.”Sure enough, he took out a bucket of sand,which he poured into the empty spaces.”Is it full now?” he asked.”No,” reply the students confidently.So he took a glass of water and filled it in.Then he asked,“What is my point?’’
One said,‘'No matter how full your schedule is,if you try really hard,you can always fit some more things into it!”
“No,”the speaker replied,“It tells us if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.’’
What are the big rocks? The things you should put in to your jar first.
The rich don’t get 25 hours and the poor don’t get 23…we all get the same.Let’s use them wisely! Invest your time wisely!
1. What does the point of the quiz lie in_______.
A.How to put more things into ajar. | B.How well the students learn the lesson. |
C.How to get more done in limited time. | D.The skill and order is very important. |
A.difficult points. | B.advantages. | C.minor things. | D.focuses. |
A.By inferring. | B.By comparing. |
C.By listing examples. | D.By giving facts. |
A.to explain the origin of the expression “first things first”. |
B.to call on us to use our time in a smart manner. |
C.to introduce a meaningful class given by an expert. |
D.to tell us about the relativity and the power of time. |
【推荐1】It was an afternoon in August. I was just short of turning eighteen. I stood in front of a six story high, red brick building. It was to be my new home for the next several years. I was a bit scared, unsettled and thrilled at the same time. I had two suitcases and a bag with me. In them were packed all of my clothes, towels, sheets, alarm clock and everything else I thought I would need. I carried them upstairs and then threw them on my bed. I looked around the room wondering what life had in store for me.
It was another afternoon in August. I was just short of turning forty two. My daughter was eighteen and we were standing in front of the same building. I smiled as I helped her carry her things up to her room but I also noticed that my wife and I were making more than one trip. All of the students not just my daughter seemed to have so much more stuff than I did all those years ago. Yet, it didn’t seem to make things any better for them. In fact, they looked more stressed than I remembered being on my first day there. At that moment, I wondered what life had in store for my daughter.
Last night I had a dream that I have had many times before. I was back in that same room with my belongings piled on my bed searching for my course book and wondering what classes I would take. I often wondered what this dream meant but when I woke up this morning it became crystal clear to me. We are sometimes teachers in the life, but we are always students in it. We are here taking the most important class ever. We are here to learn to love ourselves. We are here to learn to love everyone as ourselves. And it takes a lifetime. The stuff we carry with us through this life doesn’t matter at all either. It is the stuff we carry inside of us when we leave this life that really counts.
1. What do the author and her daughter had in common?A.They were admitted into the same college. |
B.They brought equally heavy stuff to the dormitory. |
C.They had a shared accommodation with their friends. |
D.They both wondered what life would be like in the future. |
A.Because their parents loved them. |
B.Because their parents could carry it for them. |
C.Because they wanted to be stressed. |
D.Because they wanted to make things better. |
A.Generous. | B.Diligent. |
C.Caring. | D.Demanding. |
A.By making comparisons | B.By analyzing causes. |
C.By describing processes. | D.By presenting an argument. |
【推荐2】Christmas is perhaps the most important holiday in American culture. On Christmas Eve, children sit out with parents in the living room hanging stockings, setting up a Christmas tree, eating candy canes, and setting up milk and cookies for Santa Claus. Perhaps the most beloved figure in American history, Santa Claus has become an important icon for Christmas.
I remember believing in Santa when I was a very young girl. However, as I grew older, I learned many facts that “proved” his existence as false. Always inquisitive by nature and very keen on the scientific method of experimentation, I was determined to use tests and observations to determine whether Santa Claus was real.
The first year of tests happened when I was 5. I decided that if I stayed up all night on Christmas Eve, I could see if Santa really did come down the chimney. However, that was a futile attempt, I fell asleep that year. The next year, I was able to test if location was an issue with Santa’s deliveries. That year, my family spent Christmas with the family of one of my mother’s friends. At the time, I decided that if Santa was all-knowing he would know I wasn’t home. Sure enough, there was a pretty pink package waiting for me the next morning. At age 7, I came up with my ultimate test to see if Santa was real. That year, I didn’t send out my Christmas letter to Santa. On Christmas Eve, my mother dragged me to our local Wal-Mart and led me around the toy section. I refused to say a word, but did let my eye linger on a ballet set. I figured that “Santa” wouldn’t know what to get me because he shouldn’t be able to read my mind. However, mother would know everything that caught my eye in the store. If I got the ballet set the next morning, I would have my evidence. Christmas morning, there was the ballet set, sitting under the tree. As I didn’t use it much, mother ended up returning it a few days later. She claimed Santa was generous enough to leave a receipt. That was the end to my mission to discover the existence of Santa.
Now, I can look back on all of these with fond nostalgia(怀旧). The magic and mystery of it all made Christmas a fun time. Santa was a big part of my childhood.
1. Children do all the things on Christmas Eve except______A.set up a Christmas tree |
B.hang stockings and eat candy canes |
C.prepare milk and cookies for Santa Claus |
D.wait for Santa Claus with their parents |
A.unreal | B.unusual |
C.unsuccessful | D.unreasonable |
A.He stayed up all night on Christmas Eve and saw Santa come down the chimney. |
B.He found that Santa was all-knowing and could make the deliveries accurate. |
C.He didn’t send out his Christmas letter but still got his Christmas present. |
D.He used the receipt left by Santa to return his present. |
A.he proved the existence of Santa Claus as false |
B.Christmas and Santa is a part of his life as well as his child |
C.Christmas plays an important role in American culture |
D.Santa Claus is the most popular figure in American history |
【推荐3】I must have looked deep in thought, or as deep in thought as an 11-year-old man could, when my grandmother glanced up from her weeding to ask, "You have something on your mind, don’t you?”
“Yes, I was thinking that someday I want to be an Olympic speed skating champion like my hero, Eric Heiden, I want to be a doctor like my parents and I want to help children in Africa.”
I immediately knew I had confided (吐露) in the right person when a knowing smile broke across her face. “Johann, of course! You can do anything you want to do!” she said simply. And with my grandmother’s support, I set out to pursue my passions.
14 years later, I was well ready to take hold of my first dream: becoming an Olympic champion. The Olympics in 1994 was in my home country, Norway. As I entered the Olympic stadium, I wasn’t the best athlete, and many had doubts about my ability to perform well. But I had something special working for me. I had a woman in the first row who believed in me following my passions just as much as I did. For the first time ever, my grandmother was going to see me skate.
It happened. Breaking a world record, I won the gold.
As I stood on the podium (领奖台) that I had dreamed about my entire life, a curious question popped into my head. Why me? Why did I win, given all the other incredible competitors out there? The reason had to be more than a grandmother who shared a belief in her grandson’s dream. The question led me to only one answer: because I wanted to make a difference in the world, and with all the media attention on my success, I could. I immediately knew what that difference had to be: hope in the lives of the children in Africa.
Six months earlier, I’d been invited to Eritrea as an ambassador(使者) for Olympic Aid.
1. When the author spoke out what was on his mind,his grandmother_________.A.laughed at him | B.had little confidence in him |
C.felt quite surprised | D.supported him |
A.20 | B.22 | C.25 | D.28 |
A.His successes at other Olympic games. | B.His efforts in helping the African children. |
C.His grandmother’s attitude towards him. | D.His hard training in preparing for the next Olympics. |
A.Many dreams of a young boy. | B.A sportsman who pursued his passions. |
C.The encouragement from a grandmother. | D.An Olympic hero who made a difference in the world. |
【推荐1】Jeremy Savage, aged 17, and Ian Marshall, aged 16, went to the Rocky Mountains with their parents for the weekend. On Saturday morning, the two boys decided to climb Cathedral Mountain by themselves while their parents relaxed at the campsite. After three hours, they reached the top with no problems.
However, trouble began when they started the climb down the mountain. On one very dangerous part of the path, Ian fell three metres off the side of the path. Jeremy was able to climb down to where Ian was. Ian was badly injured and could not move. Jeremy had to decide what to do. He needed help, but he did not want to leave his friend. He used water from his own bottle to clean the dirt and blood from Ian’s face and hands. He tried to help Ian stand up, but Ian’s right leg was hurting too much. They had to wait and hope that someone would come and help them.
When the boys did not return to the campsite that evening, their parents became very worried. They got in touch with park workers and began searching for the boys. Soon more than 20 people were looking for the boys.
As night fell, the boys were still missing. While they waited for help to arrive, Jeremy gave Ian his food and water and he let Ian lie on his jacket so he would be more comfortable. As the evening grew darker, Ian told Jeremy to leave him and go back to their parents, but he still did not leave. Jeremy thought it was too dangerous for Ian to be alone. The night was cold and windy, and Jeremy used his jacket and an extra shirt to keep Ian warm.
At sunrise, Jeremy decided that the only way to help his friend was to carry him. So, they started the long climb back to their parents. Sometimes Jeremy carried Ian on his hack. Sometimes he carried him in his arms. Finally, after four hours, they arrived at the campsite where their parents were waiting. “I will always remember what Jeremy did for me,” said Ian. “He saved my life. That is the greatest thing that a person can do for his friend.”
1. What happened to Ian on his way down the mountain?A.Ian fell three miles off the side of the path. |
B.Ian climbed down to where Jeremy was. |
C.Ian was badly injured and could not move. |
D.Ian decided what to do because Jeremy was injured. |
A.Because they knew the boys got injured. |
B.Because they are worried about their own safety. |
C.Because the boys returned to the campsite with wounds. |
D.Because the boys did not return to the campsite that evening. |
A.Jeremy had Ian’s food and water. |
B.Jeremy left Ian alone to find help from their parents. |
C.Jeremy let Ian lie on his jacket to make him comfortable. |
D.Jeremy gave Ian his jacket and only shirt to keep Ian warm. |
A.Four hours. | B.Almost one night. |
C.Three hours. | D.About 24 hours. |
【推荐2】It’s hard to talk to Dad sometimes. His silence about his feelings and thoughts made him mysterious and hard to see through. You could never break his hard shell and get to know him. And he seemed to want to stay that way too.
But a year ago when my relationship with my wife and career took a hit, I needed my dad to pull back the curtain so that I could see him as real and accessible. I was facing serious problems and I wanted to know whether he had faced them before and how he had found his way, because I felt like I had lost mine. In desperation, it occurred to me that sending an email might be the key, so I wrote him one , telling him about my regrets and fears, and I asked him to answer, if he felt like it.
Two weeks later, it showed up in my inbox: a much-thought, three page litter. Dad, a 68 -year old retired technologist and grandfather of four, had carefully considered my message, and crafted a response. He mentioned his lost love, the foolish mistake he made in career and the stupid pride he had between him and his parents. He comforted me that “life will still find its right track despite many of its twists and turns”.
I closed the email and started to cry, because I wished I had opened up earlier but was grateful it wasn’t too late. I cried because at 33, in the midst of my own struggles, his letter instantly put me at ease. And I cried because in the end, it was so simple: I just had to hit “Send”.
We’ve since had many email exchanges. This increasing communication opened a door into his world. My problems haven’t been magically solved, but getting to know my dad better has made the tough thing more manageable and life sweeter. It’s hard to tall to Dad sometimes, but I’m glad I found a way to talk to mine.
1. Which of the following best describes the author’s father?A.Quiet and caring. | B.Optimistic but careless. |
C.Selfish and lonely. | D.Simple but proud. |
A.To make an apology. | B.To express thanks. |
C.To turn to him. | D.To blame him. |
A.The author regretted not writing to Dad earlier. | B.Dad’s letter of reply is simple. |
C.Dad helped settle the author’s problems. | D.The author can talk to Dad easily. |
A.My Mysterious Dad. | B.Emails from My Dad. |
C.A Retired Technologist. | D.Means of Communication. |
【推荐3】Since I was born, I have been listening to music all the time. Not just any music, but the right kind of music.
It may seem strange to say that, but hearing good music played well by a big music group is something that a lot of people no longer experience. Most people are musically illiterate (了解不多的) simply because they have never had any chance to listen to good music. Many people are unfamiliar with the sound of a symphony orchestra (交响乐团). They only hear orchestra music while watching ads and films. But to me a symphony orchestra is the biggest instrument in the world. To hear a full symphony orchestra on stage and to feel the power of the sound—it is like a big wave. It is an amazing experience and it is one that I was lucky enough to grow up with.
My mother was a well-known singer. She had been a member of the Vienna State Opera and the Budapest State Opera and as a baby I was taken along to concerts and stages. I was not necessarily listening to classical music but always good music played well.
My mother was the sixteenth child in her family. She was the youngest and by the time she was born, her oldest sister also had a child with whom she shared a bed. With so many loving families around her, my mother grew up happily to be a cheerful woman.
Because I lost my father when I was very young, I do not remember much about him. What I do know is largely what I have been told by my mother. I am like him in many ways. He was obviously a very serious man, always appearing sad. I seem to have inherited (继承) something of that from him. Fortunately, I inherited far more of my mother's happiness—a real show business personality (名人).
1. Why does the author think that most people are musically illiterate?A.They are not interested in music. |
B.They don't listen to music very often. |
C.They can't tell good music from bad music. |
D.They have no chance to listen to well-played music. |
A.It inspires him to get on stage one day. |
B.It makes him feel like getting stuck in a big wave. |
C.It's very different from hearing orchestra music in films. |
D.It can create the same feeling as watching powerful ads. |
A.He helped his mother a lot. |
B.He learned music from his mother. |
C.He went to his mother's workplace. |
D.He listened to classical music every day. |
A.To be a teacher. | B.To be a stage player. |
C.To be an ad designer. | D.To be a businessman. |