【推荐1】Influenced by many negative reports, some people usually regard teenagers as lacking a sense of responsibility, concern for others, and awareness of life. To break the stereotype (刻板印象), I'm going to talk about the story of Jordan Rice.

Probably you've got no idea about who Jordan Rice is. Actually Jordan Rice was a 13-year-old boy who lived with his mom,dad.and little brother Blake in Toowoomba.Australia. He went to buy school uniform this Monday with his mom and brother. It was around 2 p.m., when they were in the car on the way back from the shops. Not an unusual day.

Unexpectedly, a huge flood poured into the area. The water rose high enough to shut off the engine.Unfortunately,they were trapped in floodwaters. Mom got into a panic, and Jordan was frightened because he couldn't swim. No one came to help them out until an old man grabbed a rope,tied it to his body , and jumped into the water. Hopes were growing for the survival of Jordan the old man was swimming toward him. Instead of seizing the chance, Jordan pushed Blake for ward, saying "Save my brother first."

There was no time for arguing. The old man tied the rope around Blake and carried him a- shore.Then he swam back to save the other two. But the strain of the flood and the weight of two people were too much for the rope. It broke and so did Jordan and his mother's hope. They were carried away by the brown water. Though they managed to hold on to a tree for a little while, they finally loosened their grip and accepted their fate. Being the only survivor of the trip, Blake was re-united with his father to become a family of two.

Jordan Rice was a 13-year-old boy from Toowoomba, Australia. During the destructive floods of Oueensland, Jordan Rice sacrificed (奉献) his life for his little brother. He is a hero and deserves to be remembered.

1. What does the author think of some people's opinion about teenagers?

A．It's a reasonable belief.	B．It's a fair evaluation (评价).
C．It's an out-of-date view.	D．It's a prejudiced (有偏见的) idea.

2. What is the correct order of the following events?
①The rope broke.
② An old man saved Blake
③A flood hit Toowoomba.
④ Jordan and his mom were swept away.
⑤Jordan and his mom and brother went to buy school uniform

A．③⑤①④②

B．③⑤②①④

C．⑤③②①④

D．⑤③①④②

3. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Your Voice.

B．Star Stories.

C．News Express.

D．Magic World.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Save my brother	B．Meet the challenge
C．Be brave, boy	D．Accept your fate, teenagers

【推荐2】In the past most Americans spent time with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves.

That’s because we group people by age. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-olds in school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes. Why?

We live away from the old for many reasons: young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It is much harder to watch someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it’s so hard that we stay away from the people who need us most.

Fortunately, some of us have found our way to the old. And we havediscovered that they often save the young.

A reporter moved her family onto a block filled with old people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter baked banana bread for the neighbours and had her children deliver it and visit. Soon the children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories and projects. “My children have never been less lonely,” the reporter said.

The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a rest home when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded. People who hadn’t gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure.

Grandparents are a special case. They give grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, “my grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end.”

Grandchildren speak of attention they don’t get from worried parents. “My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and my grandparents told me to slow down,” one friend said. A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter, calmer, more trusting.

1. Now in an American family, people can find that ____.

A．children never live with their parents

B．not all working people live with their parents

C．aged people are supported by their grandchildren

D．grandchildren are supported by their grandparents

2. The reason why old people are left alone may be that ____.

A．the old don’t like to live in a big family

B．the young can’t get enough money to support the old

C．different generations have different lifestyles

D．the old are too weak to live with the young

3. The fact that the reporter told us shows that ___.

A．old people in America lead a hard life

B．old people in America enjoy banana bread

C．she had no time to take care of her children

D．old people are easy to get along with

4. Why do children not get attention from their parents?

A．Because they often make trouble and make their parents disappointed.

B．Because their parents are too busy to take care of them.

C．Because their parents have to take care of their grandparents.

D．Because their parents have been out of work for a long time.

【推荐3】The eyeliner makes the dark circles less pronounced. The lipstick hides the trembling. The ponytail (马尾辫) masks missing patches of hair. I might look a bit thinner, but everyone will ask about my new diet. One hour of preparation and I look like myself. One hour out of 24. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it—wasting a twenty-fourth of my day on a lie.

Checking my makeup one last time, I slip on a cute pair of flats—heels are too dangerous with shaky legs—and grab my Hollister bag. Walking downstairs, I breathe in the sweet smell of waffles and juice.

“Morning, Mom,” I call.

“Morning, baby,” she sings. “Did you sleep well?”

“Better than I have been.”

She sighs, and her eyes look a hundred years old for a minute. “Any improvement is good,” she says half-heartedly.

“Of course.”

“I made waffles.”

“Thanks. Mom. Smells delicious.”

I sit at the table and she hands me a plate. The thought of all that food turns my stomach, but I force a smile and thank my mother again. She busies herself at the sink and fills the silence with chatter. When she turns around, she takes in the waffles still on my plate, only missing a few bites. I smile apologetically.

“I’m not very hungry this morning.”

“You’ll need your strength for this afternoon. Morrison will wait for you.” She bites her lip.

“I packed your lunch.”

I’m 18, Mom. I can pack my own lunch. You have more important things to do.”

She reaches for the paper bag. “But now I know you’ll have something to eat. And you need to eat, okay? You have to keep your strength up.”

Sighing, I take the bag. I know this peanut butter and jelly sandwich won’t be eaten, not any more than the one yesterday or the day before. And even if I do eat it, I’ll just throw it up later.

“Honey, have you thought about what I said the other day?” she asks.

I remain silent.

“Sweetheart, you can’t hide the secret forever. Eventually you’re going to miss school and people will start asking questions.”

“Mom, I have two months left of high school. I can make it till then. I’m class president. I was voted ‘Most popular’, ‘Best smile’ and ‘Most likely to succeed’. I’m the girl who’s got it all together. People don’t want to know that the girl who’s got it all together doesn’t have it all together. People don’t want to know that girl is to be parted!”

“Honey, don’t say that. You’re not……”

“Yes, I am. You heard Dr. Morrison. I have maybe a year left. But that means I can graduate and then never see those people again. I’ll depart and they’ll feel sorry for me, but at least I won’t have to tolerate their pity.”

“But...” she tries to interrupt.

“Mom, listen to me. I don’t want to be the girl everyone looks at and whispers, ‘Look at her. Poor thing. She has cancer.’ I can’t handle that. I want to be normal. Just for these last two months.”

“Okay,” she whispers. “Okay. Just remember, it’s okay if you don’t have it all together. Sometimes things just fall apart and there’s nothing we can do.”

“Thanks, Mom.” I grab my bag and lunch and kiss her on the cheek. “Take care, Mom.”

“You too, my angel.” she replies. This exchange, once taken for granted, is now a vital part of every morning, every afternoon, and every night. Three little words, followed by four more, have come to mean more than an entire conversation. They bridge all gaps and disagreements, because we both know there is now a restricted number left.

Keys in hand, I open the door and blink(眨眼) in the early morning sun. Perfect.

1. The underlined word “half-heartedly” implies      .

A．the mom is worried about her daughter’s mood

B．the mom believes her daughter slept well last night

C．the mom is too busy doing her housework at that time

D．the mom knows there isn’t any improvement in her daughter’s health

2. Why doesn’t the girl want to eat the food Mom packs for her lunch?

A．Because she doesn’t like the smell of the food.

B．Because she is on a diet to lose some weight.

C．Because she’s tired of the same food every day.

D．Because eating the food makes her sick.

3. What is the main reason the girl keeps her secret?

A．She doesn’t want to die so soon.

B．She doesn’t want her mom to be sad.

C．She doesn’t want people to have pity on her.

D．She doesn’t want to lose her popularity at school.

4. Which of the following words can best describe the girl?

A．Considerate and positive.	B．Optimistic but mean.
C．Considerate but stubborn.	D．Optimistic and dependent

【推荐1】    1    

You have the ability to decide if you are happy or not. Happiness is a choice.

    2    That is a lesson I learned in my marriage I realized I couldn’t rely on my husband as my source of happiness. I learned that you have to choose to be happy.

You can choose your emotions. True happiness comes from inside; it can’t be forced by outside forces.    3    You choose it because that’s what you want to experience in your life.

You want to buy a pair of shoes, so you choose a pair that you like and feel good. You wouldn't buy a pair that you don’t like or don’t fit well, right?

Choosing to be happy after you realize your anger has shown up (or even choose to be calm) can be beneficial.    4    No one can do it for you. If you let others get to influence our emotions, we are giving power over us.

Remember that we can always choose happiness. At first it will be difficult to just switch your thoughts and feelings from anger, self-doubt, or fear to joy and happiness. Don’t be lost in what happens to you unnecessarily but realize what is causing you to feel that way. Realize that thoughts, feelings and emotions can change.    5    

A．Choosing to be happy

B．Choose Your Emotion

C．We choose our feelings

D．Then move on and choose to be happy.

E．It is the same way you choose to smile.

F．You can’t depend on someone else to make you happy.

G．One can’t rely on someone else to make himself or herself happy.

【推荐2】Mildred Webinga Freeman was an English teacher at the new middle school I attended in the ninth grade. She wasn’t my teacher, she was the adviser to the safety patrol (巡逻队) on which I served. I loved being around her and enjoyed her sense of humor and kind personality. She was also a good listener.

At the end of the year, she announced that she was moving to Florida, and I was very shocked and sad. We exchanged addresses and became pen pals. I could tell her anything, and she treated me with respect even though I was a teenager.

In Florida, Mrs. Freeman became a businesswoman, but she managed to find time to write letters and amusing stories and always took my concerns seriously. She had given me an open invitation to visit, and I missed her so much. When I wrote to take her up on the offer, she answered, “Get your shoes on and your bags packed! You are welcome anytime!”

I spent three weeks with her in Miami, thrilled to do anything from washing dishes to touring houses with her. Her love of poetry, music, and creative writing encouraged me. One day while hanging sheets on the clothesline, she looked up and said, “You know, the sky is fuel for the soul.” I have never looked at the clouds since without hearing those words. Two years later when I visited her house I had hoped to talk to her about school, but instead she was in a hospital bed in the guest room. She had cancer on the liver, and her family members were caring for her. I was in shock.

To this day, more than 50 years later, I still see her smile and think about the advice she gave me. Now and then I reread her letters, and I remember the importance of her smile and her friendship.

1. Which of the following can best describe Mrs. Freeman.

A．Humorous and kind-hearted.

B．Respectful and amusing.

C．Serious but patient.

D．Creative but fun.

2. Mrs. Freeman was the author’s ________.

A．English teacher.

B．class adviser.

C．safety guard.

D．pen pal.

3. How long did the author spend with Mrs. Freeman in Miami?

A．One day.

B．Three weeks.

C．One year.

D．Nine years.

4. Why did the author feel shocked when she visited Mrs. Freeman two years later?

A．She had a liver cancer.

B．She was doing housework.

C．She showed little interest in school.

D．She was not looked after by her family members.

5. What can we know about the author?

A．She wrote stories for Mrs. Freeman.

B．She often visited Mrs. Freeman in Florida.

C．She once went mountain-climbing with Mrs. Freeman.

D．She kept Mrs. Freeman’s letters for more than 50 years.

【推荐3】My father was a foreman of a sugar-cane plantation in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. My first job was to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields. I would walk behind an ox, guiding him with a broomstick. For $1 a day, I worked eight hours straight, with no food breaks.
It was very tedious work, but it prepared me for life and taught me many lasting lessons. Because the plantation owners were always watching us, I had to be on time every day and work as hard as I could. I’ve never been late for any job since. I also learned about being respectful and faithful to the people you work for. More importantly, I earned my pay, it never entered my mind to say I was sick just because I didn’t want to work.
I was only six years old, but I was doing a man’s job. Our family needed every dollar we could make because my father never earned more than $18 a week. Our home was a three-room wood shack with a dirty floor and no toilet. Nothing made me prouder than bringing home money to help my mother, father, two brothers and three sisters. This gave me self-esteem(自尊心), one of the most important things a person could have.
When I was seven, I got work at a golf course near our house. My job was to stand down the fairway and spot the balls as they landed, so the golfers could find them. Losing a ball meant you were fired, so I never missed one. Some nights I would lie in bed and dream of making thousands of dollars by playing golf and being able to buy a bicycle.
The more I dreamed, the more I thought. Why not? I made my first golf club out of guava limb (番石榴树枝) and a piece of pipe. Then I hammered an empty tin can into the shape of a ball. And finally I dug two small holes in the ground and hit the ball back and forth. I practiced with the same devotion and intensity. I learned working in the field--- except now I was driving golf balls with club, not oxen with a broomstick.
1. The writer’s first job was ___________.

A．to stand down the fairway at the golf course

B．to watch over the sugar-cane plantation

C．to drive the oxen that ploughed the cane fields

D．to spot the balls as they landed so the golfers could find them

2. The underlined word “tedious” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ___________.

A．difficult

B．boring

C．interesting

D．unusual

3. The writer learned that ________ from his first job.

A．he should work for those who he liked most

B．he should work longer than what he was expected

C．he should never fail to say hello to his owner

D．he should show respect and faith to the people he worked for

4. ________ gave the writer self-esteem.

A．Having a family of eight people

B．Owning his own golf course

C．Bringing money back home to help the family

D．Helping his father with the work on the plantation

5. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．He wanted to be a successful golfer.

B．He wanted to run a golf course near his house.

C．He was satisfied with the job he got on a plantation.

D．He wanted to make money by guiding oxen with a broomstick.

【推荐1】Dear Betty,

My roommate’s family wants me to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with them in their home. I accepted the invitation, and I’m excited about going, but I’m a little nervous about it, too. The social customs in my country are different from those here, so I’m a little worried about making mistakes.

Should I bring a gift, such as candy or flowers? Should I arrive on time or a little late? At the dinner table, how can I know which fork or knife to use? How can I let the family know that I’m thankful for their kindness?

Yours,

Knowing Nothing

Dear Knowing Nothing,

It’s a good idea to bring a gift when you go to a dinner party. Flowers are always welcome, or you can bring a bottle of wine if you know the family drink it.

You should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late. Don’t get there early. If you are going to be more than fifteen minutes late, you should call and tell them.

Try to relax at the dinner table. If you don’t know how to use the right fork, knife or spoon, just watch the other guests, and follow them. If you still have no idea of what to do, don’t be shy about asking the person next to you; it’s better to ask them than to be silently uncomfortable and nervous.

If you like the food, say so. Of course, you’ll thank the host and hostess for the meal and for their kindness. It’s also a good idea to send a card to thank them the day after.

Yours,

Betty

1. When Knowing Nothing accepted the invitation of her classmate, what’s her feeling?

A．very sad

B．disappointed

C．a little nervous

D．a little upset

2. Knowing Nothing wrote a letter to Betty to _____.

A．tell Betty some good news	B．ask for some advice
C．answer some questions	D．invite her to dinner

3. According to Betty, Knowing Nothing ______ when going to a dinner party.

A．can only bring some flowers

B．can’t bring wine

C．should arrive on time or five to ten minutes late

D．should arrive twenty minutes late

4. Which following statement is True?

A．It is not polite to ask the person next to you.

B．You must bring a bottle of wine when you go to a dinner party.

C．It is common to be more than fifteen minutes late.

D．It’s good to send a card to thank them the day after.

【推荐3】Chicago Children’s Museum

This museum offers plenty of fun activities for kids. However, this is one of the few Chicago museums not “fun for the whole family” as adults and older kids will be bored to tears.

Address: 700 East Grand Ave. (Navy Pier), Chicago

Phone: 312-527-1000

Public transportation:

CTA bus lines #29 (State Street), #65 (Grand Avenue), and the # 66 (Chicago Avenue) all serve Navy Pier.

Parking rates:

* Monday through Thursday: $20

* Friday through Sunday: $24

* Holidays: $24

Hours:

* Monday through Friday: 10 a. m. —5 p. m.

* Saturday and Sunday: 10 a. m. —8 p. m.

Entrance fees:

* Adults: $12

* Children: $12

* Seniors (65+); $11

* Children (under 5): free

Activities:

Located on one of Chicago’s top tourist attractions, Navy Pier, the museum offers three floors of activities for kids, including:

* Play It Safe—all about home safety

* Inventing Lab—provides parts and instructions for creating things

* Kids Town—a playroom recreating a Chicago neighborhood where kids can pretend to do things like shopping for groceries and driving a CTA bus

* Climbing Schooner—a three-floor climbing building

* My Museum—kids get to create various art projects that are “all about me”

* Skyline—learn about skyscrapers (摩天大楼) and design your own

* Treehouse Trails-a play area designed like a forest

* Waterways—water activities showing how pumps and dams work

1. Who is the museum mainly designed for?

A．Adults.

B．Old kids.

C．Young kids.

D．The whole family.

2. How much will parents with a kid (6) and a grandfather (69) pay if they drive to the museum on Saturday?

A．$36.

B．$ 47.

C．$59.

D．$ 71.

3. Which activity is suitable for a kid who is fond of artworks?

A．Waterways.

B．My Museum.

C．Play it safe.

D．Inventing Lab.

【推荐1】The style of entertainment known as vaudeville began in the years following the Civil War and increased in popularity after 1900. Almost any kind of act could be found on stage -singers, musicians, acrobats, jugglers, comics, magicians, and trained animals. Vaudeville acts travelled from town to town, and entrepreneurs across the country built magnificent new theaters to attract the best talent.

Vaudeville was a money-making business that made many of the acts and theater owners rich. By 1928 about two million people a day attended performances somewhere in the United States. The reason vaudeville was so popular was that it was affordable, accessible, and appropriate for all ages. One did not have to be rich to buy a ticket nor intellectual to enjoy the show. This form of entertainment, moreover, was apposite for the whole family. More “adult” acts were limited to another form of theater, called burlesque.

Vaudeville, like so many American businesses, fell on hard times after the crash of the stock market in 1929. By the end of the 1930s, vaudeville acts had been replaced by new forms of entertainment, including radio and motion pictures. A number of artists who entered show business through vaudeville went on to have long careers in film, radio, and television.

1. Which of the following CANNOT be included as a characteristic of vaudeville?

A．Being mixed.

B．Being profitable.

C．Being popular.

D．Being cultivated.

2. Which of the following words has the closest meaning to the word “apposite ”underlined in Paragraph 2?

A．Natural.

B．Suitable.

C．Effective.

D．Improper.

3. Which of the following statements is probably NOT true about vaudeville?

A．Vaudeville would have continued as a popular form of entertainment had it not been for the stock market crash of 1929.

B．Vaudeville was popular because it was affordable, accessible, and appropriate for all ages.

C．Almost every imaginable talent could be brought to vaudeville at its peak time.

D．Vaudeville, a form of theatrical entertainment, reached its height of popularity in the 1920s.

【推荐2】Why Go To Yellowstone

With dramatic peaks and unspoiled lakes,Yellowstone National Park it an outdoor enthusiast s paradise. Multicolored pools swirl around hot springs;green forests weave past wide expansive meadows;and volatile geysers launch streams of steaming water toward the sky.While you traverse its 3,000-plus square miles of mountains, canyons,geysers and waterfalls,be prepared to share the trails with permanent residents like buffalo,elk and sometimes even grizzlies

Yellowstone Travel Tips

Best Months to Visit

The best times to visit Yellowstone National Park are from April to May and between September and October.These shoulder months offer mild weather and fewer crowds.July and August are the most popular months to visit:The kids are out of school,and the weather is warm enough to sleep outside.However,this park is no stranger to the cold in winter.There’s nothing quite like seeing plumes of steam rise from beneath a thick blanket of snow and ice.

How to Save Money in Yellowstone

Bring your own bed.A space in a campground is much cheaper than a room at one of the park’s lodges.plus, many campgrounds come equipped with showers,toilets and even laundry facilities.

Skip the summer. Because the summer witnesses the largest influx of tourists,hotel and campground rates tend to rise.

Do your owe cooking Yellowstone does feature several sit-down restaurants,but they can end up

Putting quite a dent in your savings.Consider bringing your own food.

Safety

When sightseeing in the park.stay a sate distance from animals at all times.Most of the park’s established campsites generally are not at risk for animal attacks,but campers should keep all food and garbage out of reach from bears and creatures.

Getting Around Yellowstone

The best way to get around Yellowstone National Park is by car,as there is no public transportation system. You can a car at any of the nearby airports.However,that doesn’t mean that you should spend your entire vacation behind the wheel . Each of Yellowstone’s eight regions has an area to park, allowing you to leave the car behind and explore by bike or on foot Guided tours and limited airport shuttle services are also available.

1. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Accommodations in the campsite hotel are highly recommended

B．People camping in Yellowstone are supposed to share the trails with the animals there.

C．In summer.Yellowstone welcome large numbers of tourists because it’s the best season.

D．In winter, the scenery of Yellowstone is quite unique.

2. Travelers enjoy various services and facilities in Yellowstone EXCEPT____

A．guided tours

B．parking lots

C．car rental

D．restaurant food

【推荐3】With its wonderful coastline and many historic sites, Croatia is the ideal destination for the family wishing to combine beach with a bit of culture.

BEST TIME TO GO

High season for Croatia is from July to August but the Croatian coast is wonderful from spring on. Swimming is generally possible from May to September when the sea is still around 23°C. But if you arrive in April, you may enjoy Carnival in Rijeka.

COST

Croatia is still reasonably inexpensive as a Mediterranean destination, but prices go up in July and August. Privately-run rooms are also often a better bet than hotels, which tend to be unfriendly. If you haven’t made a reservation, the local tourist offices or travel agencies will be able to help. There is usually a 30% discount for stays longer than three nights. The agencies offer a very reasonable deal on a flight plus car hire.

GETTING AROUND

Croatia is a small country; it only takes a few hours at most to travel from one region to another. It might be worth staying in one place for the whole holiday and doing day trips. The buses, rather than the trains, reach the places of great distance.

1. When is Croatia most visited?

A．In May.

B．In September.

C．In July.

D．In April.

2. Which is true about local travel agencies?

A．They tend to be unfriendly.

B．They offer a 30% discount.

C．They charge a little more in winter.

D．They arrange flight plus car hire at good price.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A book review.	B．A science report.
C．A travel magazine.	D．A diary.