【推荐1】In the mornings, as I walked from the train station to the office, I planned my day by making a to-do list in my head: the scientific articles I would read, the data sets I would analyze, and most urgent of all — the insights into human nature that it was my job to discover.

Each evening, I went back to the station, again going through my mental checklist but this time sizing up my performance against the expectations Td set for myself that morning. Time and again, when comparing my to-do list with my got-done list, I felt frustrated because I had fallen short.

But one day, something very strange happened. During my trip home, without any conscious intention, my thoughts began to change. Instead of feeling bad about my weaknesses, I said aloud very softly: I’m a nice person. I’m a nice person. I’m a nice person. By the time I boarded my train, I was done with my little chant-until the next day when I walked home. And again, after counting my failures, I found myself saying quietly: I’m a nice person. It turns out that there’s a technical term for this practice: values affirmation (肯定). And what it emphasizes is recognizing and strengthening the personal values you hold most dear.

When you affirm a core personal value, you raise your sense of self-worth. You broaden your outlook:Instead of focusing on your shortfalls, you switch to a wide-angle view that includes your resources and opportunities. And the people who do this are happier, healthier, and more hopeful. Over time, I made progress in my research and learned a lot about what makes most successful people special, including this: Nobody has passion and determination unless what they do lines up with their values. Try values affirmation for yourself and teach the practice to your students.

Take a moment and think of a value you hold dear, whether it’s kindness, creativity, or gratitude. Whatever it is, name it. And then say to yourself: Come what may, I know who I am. Your values are your foundation and your compass, too. Trust them, and they will lead you home.

1. How did the author feel when comparing his to-do list with his got-done list at the beginning?

A．Satisfied.

B．Pleased.

C．Disappointed

D．Unconcerned.

2. What does the underlined phrase sizing up mean in Paragraph 2?

A．Changing.

B．Forming.

C．Denying.

D．Judging.

3. The author affirmed his values by ________.

A．strengthening a core personal value to himself	B．counting his failures
C．talking aloud to himself on his way home	D．chanting with conscious intention

4. What does values affirmation mean to people?

A．It changes people’s focus to their shortcomings.	B．It improves their sense of self-worth.
C．It limits their resources and opportunities.	D．It makes them more critical of themselves.

5. What’s the author’s suggestion to readers?

A．To constantly compare oneself to others.

B．To improve one’s kindness, creativity and gratitude.

C．To highlight values affirmation and spread the practice.

D．To become successful with passion.

【推荐2】How old is “old” ?

How old is “old” ?       1    Two hundred years ago, you were old at 35. That was the average life then. At the turn of this century, as medical knowledge advanced, the average life span(长度) increased to 45. In 1950, 70-year-olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70-year-old is looking forward to many more active years.

So, how old is old? The answer is one you’ve heard many times, from all sorts of people. “You are as old (or young) as you feel!” The calendar(日历) simply tells you how many years you have lived.       2    

Once an unknown author wrote , “     3    Nobody grows old by living a number of years; people grow old by giving up their goals.”

    4    Alice Brophy, when she was with the New York City commission for the Aging, said, “It upsets me when people say, ‘Gee, you look young for your age!’ What does that mean? Is there some model that you’re supposed to look a certain way at 65 and 75 and 85? You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80.”

There are many wrong ideas about aging.       5    Here are some of the more common ones. For example, most older people are in poor health, or older people are unable to change.

A．Old is a point of view.

B．It’s extremely terrible to be grown old.

C．The answer has changed over the years.

D．Your body tells you how well you’ve lived.

E．Older people are stubborn, unable to change.

F．Youth is not a time of life but it is a state of mind.

G．These ideas stereotype (固化) people on the basis of age.

【推荐3】Living and dealing with kids can be a tough job these days, but living and dealing with parents can be even tougher.

If I have learned anything in my 18 years, it is communication that is very important, both when you disagree and when you get along. With any relationship, you need to let others know how you are feeling. If you are not able to communicate, you drift apart. When you are mad at your parents, or anyone else, not talking to them doesn’t solve anything.

Communication begins with the concerns of another. It means that you can’t just come home from school, go up to your room and ignore everyone. Even if you just say and see how their day was for five minutes, it is better than nothing.

If you looked up the word “communication” in a dictionary, it would say “the exchange of ideas, the conveyance of information，correspondence (通信)，means of communication: a letter or a message”. To maintain a good relationship, you must keep communication strong. Let people know how you feel, even if ifs just by writing a note.

When dealing with parents, you always have to make them feel good about how they are doing as a parent. If you are trying to make them see something as you see it, tell them that you’ll listen to what they have to say, but ask them politely to listen to you. Yelling or walking away only makes the situation worse.

This is an example: one night, Sophie went to a street party with her friends. She knew she had to be home by midnight after the fireworks, but she didn’t feel she could just ask to go home. That would be rude. After all, they had been nice enough to take her along with them. Needless to say, she was late getting home. Her parents were mad at first, but when Sophie explained why she was late, they weren’t as mad and let the incident go.

Communication is the key factor here. If Sophie’s parents had not been willing to listen, Sophie would have been in a lot of trouble. Communication isn’t a one-way deal: it goes both ways. Just remember: if you get into a situation like Sophie’s, tell the other person how you feel—listening is the key factor to communication.

1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

A．The disagreement between generations.

B．The importance of communication.

C．The great importance of keeping silent.

D．The necessity of making your feeling known.

2. When parents and children are in communication, the key to a happy relationship is that ________.

A．parents should listen to their children

B．children should always obey their parents

C．parents and children should not yell or ignore

D．equality plays a part in family communication

3. What does the example in this passage prove?

A．Sophie’s parents did a good job in listening to her.

B．Children should first explain themselves to their parents.

C．Communication is the solution to misunderstanding.

D．Parents would be mad at their children’s returning home late.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Walk away instead of yelling if communication fails.

B．It is better to say “Hi” to others than say nothing.

C．Talking is more important than listening in communication.

D．You should feel good about yourself when communicating.

【推荐2】I have come to southern Florida to see how licensed local snake hunters are helping the government cope with the recent explosion of invasive Burmese pythons (缅甸蟒蛇) that is destroying the region’s wildlife by eating almost everything—from squirrels to rabbits to foxes—in their path.

Thirty years ago, there were no Burmese pythons in Florida. Now most experts agree there may be as many as 100,000 to 200,000. And they’re reproducing at an alarming rate. The government has to pay to catch and kill the powerful snakes, which can grow to be 20 feet long, as thick as a telephone pole, and weigh over 200 pounds.

I’m with Tom Rahill, a python hunter, who has caught over 500 of the snakes over the last decade and become known as “the snake whisperer” for his success. As we walk along the river bank, I watch Rahill occasionally push a stick into the thick grass. As he looks for more signs, he tells me his stories and about special living habits of snakes.

Suddenly Rahill shouts, “SNAKE! There, slowly crossing the limestone road, is a Burmese python.” He rushes to the snake. It looks like a five-to-six-footer. Its thick, full belly indicates it must have killed and eaten recently.

Expertly, Rahill moves around the snake as it strikes out at him. He then grabs it with one hand firmly behind its head. I grab its tail firmly as the snake tries hard to wrestle itself away from me. Then, just as Rahill predicted, it poops (排便) all over me.

My pants are covered with smelly Burmese python poop. But I don’t care. We’ve finally bagged our python. Rahill and I high-five each other. He asks me if I want to keep hunting. I quickly tell him, “Let’s go!” As Rahill puts it, there are a lot more pythons out there.

1. Why does the government pay to catch and kill Burmese pythons?

A．Because few people dare to catch Burmese pythons.

B．Because Burmese pythons break the region’s ecological balance.

C．Because Burmese pythons are difficult to catch.

D．Because Burmese pythons are dangerous to people.

2. What do we know about Tom Rahill?

A．He is a licensed python hunter.

B．He is good at telling stories.

C．He knows how to speak to snakes.

D．He caught 500 pythons last year.

3. How does the author feel about hunting pythons with Rahill?

A．Guilty.	B．Disappointed.
C．Funny.	D．Excited.

4. What does the author mainly tell us in this text?

A．The dangerous situation of the wildlife in southern Florida.

B．The endangered Burmese python in southern Florida.

C．An experience of hunting the ecology-threatening Burmese pythons.

D．An experienced python hunter —Tom Rahill.

【推荐3】James Cook was born on October 27, 1728, in Yorkshire, England. In 1755, he joined Great Britain’s Royal Navy and soon proved his ability. Just after making officer rank, Cook was chosen to undertake a scientific journey to Tahiti to observe the planet Venus as it passed between the earth and the sun, which would help scientists calculate the distance of the earth from the sun.

On August 25, 1768, Cook departed England aboard the Endeavour with 94 crewmen and scientists with secret orders.

Cook was determined to keep his crew healthy. He insisted his men eat onions and pickled cabbage every day, and made sure that the ship kept fresh fruit and vegetables on board. He ordered his men to bathe every day, to clean their clothing and to air out their bedding. What he did worked to prevent diseases in his crew.

On April 11, 1769, the Endeavour arrived at Tahiti. After viewing the passing of Venus between the earth and the sun for several weeks, Cook opened the secret orders and knew he was to seek out the fabled southern continent and claim it for England. He left Tahiti on July 13 and headed southwest.

When Cook reached New Zealand on October 6, the native Maori people proved to be un-friendly and his crew was forced to fire on them. The Endeavour spent a few months exploring New Zealand and proved it was not part of the great southern continent. On April 9, 1770, Cook explored and documented the location of Australia. After months of exploring, Cook concluded that this continent was not the great southern continent.

The Endeavour made its way to Java in the East Indies in October of 1770. Because of malaria and dysentery, many of his men got ill and dead. He had to sign on new crew in order to go back home. The Endeavour made it back to Dover, England, on July 13, 1771.

1. Cook did the followings to prevent diseases EXCEPT that he insisted his crew __________.

A．air out their covers on beds	B．plant fruit and vegetables on board
C．bathe and clean their clothing every day	D．eat onions and pickled cabbage every day

2. What is the closest meaning to the underlined word “malaria and dysentery”?

A．Local Maori people.	B．Fruits and vegetables.
C．Very serious diseases.	D．Terrible winds and storms.

3. What is the correct order of the following events?
a. Cook and his men fired on the native Maori people.
b. Cook signed on some new crew and went back to England.
c. Cook was chosen to undertake a scientific journey to Tahiti.
d. Cook concluded that Australia was not the great southern continent.
e. Cook departed England with 94 crewmen and scientists with secret orders.
f. Cook viewed the passing of Venus between the earth and the sun for several weeks.

A．cefadb

B．ecafdb

C．ceafbd

D．ecfabd

4. What is true of James Cook according to the story?

A．James Cook left Tahiti and headed southwest on July 13, 1768.

B．James Cook joined Great Britain’s Royal Navy at the age of 29.

C．James Cook explored and recorded the location of Australia On April 9, 1770.

D．James Cook departed England and started his exploration on August 25, 1769.

5. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Great Sea Discoveries.	B．Cook’s Heroic Deeds.
C．Great Sea Explorations.	D．Cook’s Explorations At Sea.

【推荐1】Mr. Lang worked in a factory. As a driver, he was busy but he was paid much. His wife was an able woman and did all the housework. When he came back, she took good care of him and he never did anything at home. So he had enough time when he had a holiday. A few friends of his liked gambling (赌博) and he learned it soon. So he was interested in it and hardly forgot anything except gambling. He lost all his money and later he began to sell the television, watches and so on. His wife told him not to do it but he didn’t listen to her. She had to tell the police. He and his friends were punished for it. And he was hardly sent away. After he came out of lockup (拘留所), he hated her very much and the woman had to leave him.

It was New Year’s Day. Mr. Lang didn’t go to work. He felt lonely and wanted to gamble again. He called his friends and they came soon. But they were afraid the police would come. He told his five-year-old son to go to find out if there were the policemen outside. They waited for a long time and didn’t think the police would come and began to gamble. Suddenly opened the door and in came a few policemen.

“I saw there weren’t any policemen outside, daddy,” said the boy, “so I went to the crossing and asked some to come.”

1. Mr. Lang was paid much because _______.

A．he was a driver	B．he worked in a factory
C．he had a lot of work to do	D．he had worked there for a long time

2. Mrs. Lang did all housework because _______.

A．she couldn’t find any work

B．she thought her husband was tired

C．her husband spent all time in gambling

D．she wouldn’t stop her husband gambling

3. The woman had to leave Mr. Lang because _______.

A．he was hardly sent away by the factory	B．he wouldn’t stop gambling
C．he had been put into lockup	D．he didn’t love her any longer

4. Which of the following is right?

A．The boy expected his father to be put into lockup again.

B．The boy thought his father needed some policemen.

C．The boy expected his father to stop gambling soon.

D．The boy expected his mother to come back.

【推荐2】My teacher held up a piece of broken glass and asked, “Who broke this window?”

Thirty boys tried to think about not only what they had done, but also what the teacher might have found out. She seldom became angry, but she was this time.

“Oh,” I thought. I was the one who broke the window. It was caused by a naughty throw of a baseball. If I admitted guilt, I would be in a lot of trouble. How would I be able to pay for a big window like that? I didn’t even get an allowance. “My father is going to have a fit as a result of it,” I thought. I didn’t want to raise my hand, but some force much stronger than I was pulled it skyward (朝向天空). I told the truth, “I did it.” It was hard enough to say what I had done.

My teacher took down a book from one of our library shelves and I had never known my teacher to strike a student, but I feared she was going to start with me.

“I know how much you like birds,” she said as she stood looking down at my guilt-ridden face. “Here is the field guide about birds that you are constantly checking out. It is yours now. It’s time we got a new one for the school anyway. You will not be punished, but remember that I am not rewarding you for your misdeed (恶行), but I am rewarding you for your truthfulness.”

I couldn’t believe it! I wasn’t being punished and I was getting my own bird field guide — the very one that I had been saving up money to buy.

The lesson my teacher taught me stays with me every day, and it will echo forever.

1. From the story, we can learn that the boy             .

A．didn’t break the window on purpose

B．lacked the courage to admit his guilt

C．tried to think about what he had done

D．didn’t know what the teacher had found out

2. If the boy admitted guilt, he thought he would NOT           .

A．be punished by the teacher

B．make his father angry

C．pay for the broken window

D．get a bird field guide

3. Which of the following best describes the changes in the boy’s feelings?

A．Afraid—Surprised—Thankful.

B．Frightened—Amazed—Proud.

C．Regretful—Guilty—Excited.

D．Nervous—Afraid—Satisfied.

4. What is the lesson the boy’s teacher taught him?

A．Every coin has two sides.

B．Honesty is always valued.

C．Bad luck never comes alone.

D．You can’t be too careful.