【推荐1】Most Valuable Possessions on Earth

Marie was a single mother of two children in a rural Missouri community.     1     She also dedicated much spare time to numerous charities and community projects.

Then one day Marie received some shocking news from her doctor. She had cancer, and it was spreading rapidly.     2    

Soon , Marie witnessed what she had always known: although she was not financially wealthy, she already had the most valuable possessions on earth. Hundreds in her community and surrounding areas teamed up to help her and her family.

Many people she had touched in caring ways demonstrated appreciation for Marie’s life.     3     However, she lived long enough to feel the love of those she had cheerfully served.

The spirits of love and gratitude multiply(增加) when they are shared.     4     Giving selflessly was a value that Marie displayed all her life, and her spirit of giving lived after her in those who knew and loved her.

All her life, Marie had demonstrated（演示） the truth of this simple principle :     5     Rather, it is an attitude that comes from appreciating what we already have. We can find the happiness we seek if we will first share it with others. Then —— and only then——we will have the most valuable possessions on earth: love, happiness, and increasing gratitude.

A．Happiness is the result of sharing love and gratitude.

B．She worked full-time during the day and sold handcrafted leather gifts on weekends.

C．She lived a rather poor and hard life with the two children.

D．Marie didn’t live to see the day when her bills were fully paid.

E．Love is second to none.

F．She had barely enough resources to put a cent in the medical treatments she would need.

G．Happiness will not come from worldly possessions of fortune.

【推荐2】Shortly after the war，my brother and I were invited to spend a few days with an uncle who had just returned from abroad. He had rented a cottage in the country，although he rarely spent much time there. We understood the reason for this after our arrival: the cottage had no comfortable furniture（家具）in it；many of the windows were broken and the roof leaked（渗漏），making the whole house terrible.

On our first evening，we sat around the fire after supper listening to the stories which our uncle had to tell of his many adventures in distant countries. I was so tired after the long train journey that I would have preferred to go to bed；but I could not stand missing any of my uncle's exciting stories.

He was just in the middle of describing a rather terrifying experience he had once had when there was a loud crash from the bedroom above，the one where my brother and I were going to sleep.

"It sounds as if the roof has fallen in！"cried out my uncle，with a loud laugh.

When we got to the top of the stairs and opened the bedroom door，we could see nothing at first because of the thick clouds of dust which filled the room. When the dust began to clear，a strange sight met our eyes. A large part of the ceiling had fallen down，falling right onto the pillow（枕头）on my bed.

I was glad that I had stayed up late to listen to my uncle's stories，otherwise I should certainly have been seriously injured，perhaps killed.

That night we all slept on the floor in the sitting room downstairs，not wishing to risk our lives by sleeping under a roof which might at any moment fall down on our heads. We left for London the very next morning and my uncle gave up his cottage in the country. This was not the kind of adventure he cared for either！

1. Why did the uncle seldom spend much time in the country cottage？

A．Because the roof of the cottage had fallen.

B．Because the cottage was in bad condition.

C．Because he was used to living abroad.

D．Because the rooms were too small to live in.

2. When the author and his brother opened the bedroom door，they could see nothing at first because.

A．it was completely dark inside

B．there was too much dust in the air

C．something strange stopped them

D．it was a mess inside

3. The author felt glad that he had stayed up late because.

A．he did not miss the exciting stories

B．he spent more time with his uncle

C．he had a lucky escape

D．he saw a strange sight

4. Which of the following can best describe the writer's uncle？

A．Adventurous and good at storytelling.

B．Humorous and good at making jokes.

C．Dependable and generous with money.

D．Thoughtful and sensitive to danger.

【推荐3】第三部分 阅读理解
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A 、B、 C 和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

While traveling abroad, Mr. Jackson Frank ran short of money. So he wrote to his brother, asking for $500. “Send the money by telegram,” he wrote, “to the Fisher Bank in P...

After a week he began calling at the Fisher Bank. He showed his passport. “Nothing has come for you,” he was told. This went on for two weeks and Mr. Frank got very worried. He sent a telegram to his brother, but there was no reply. In the fourth week Mr. Frank was arrested for failing to pay his hotel bill. His passport was taken from him. He tried to explain the problem, but no one believed him. He was sent to prison for six days.

When he came out, he went immediately to the Fisher bank. The clerk he spoke to was a new man. “Have you received $500 for me?” he ask, “My name is Jackson Frank.” The clerk checked his books. “Yes, Jackson, it’s here. It came by telegram.—let me see—oh, more than two months ago. We wondered where you were.” He showed Mr. Frank the order. The order read:“Pay Mr. Frank Jackson the sum of $500...” “ But my name is Jackson Frank, not Frank Jackson.” “Oh, that’s all right, sir. It was in our books under the letter ‘J’, but it’s your money.” The clerk laughed, “A human mistake, sir! We’re all human beings, so we all make mistakes. A family name like Frank sounds strange to me.” Mr. Frank was silent. He really wanted to hit somebody. At last he said, “A human mistake—I think some humans need kicking.”

1. Jackson didn’t just go to his brother and get some money because ____.

A．he was afraid to see his brother

B．he was in prison and was not allowed to go anywhere

C．he was traveling in a foreign country and was far from his brother

D．he knew that his brother had no money

2. Jackson was arrested and sent to prison because ____.

A．his brother hadn’t sent him any money and he couldn’t pay his hotel bill

B．he had spent almost all his money and couldn’t pay his hotel bill

C．he had lost all his money and couldn’t pay his hotel bill

D．his brother hadn’t sent him as much money as he asked for and he couldn’t pay his hotel bill

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A．The money did not reach the Fisher Bank.	B．The money reached the wrong bank.
C．The money reached the bank after he was arrested.	D．The money reached the bank before he was arrested.

4. The clerks put his name under the wrong letter ____.

A．through carelessness	B．because they were human beings
C．because he had a strange name	D．by pronouncing his name incorrectly

【推荐1】On April 14th, 2010, my entire life changed in an instant. One moment I was joyfully riding through the sunshine. The next moment, metal, flesh and bone were spreading against the pavement in a thunderous crash. Another cyclist, biking carelessly, had cut me off and sent me supermanning toward oncoming traffic.

As if to symbolize the accident that had hit my life, another disaster also occurred on April 14th, 2010. It cost the airline industry $1.7 billion. Ten million travelers were stuck for days. Economies all over the world were disturbed. This was the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull, one of Iceland’s many volcanoes.

However, volcanoes are not all bad. In fact, they are necessary. They are responsible for the birth of new earth, and for the creation of rich soil. This eruption gave off 0.15 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere daily. But cancelling 48% of the world’s flight travel saved about 2.8 million tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere, temporarily decreasing our carbon footprint.

Similarly, the accident had badly affected my emotion but it also allowed me to look more closely inside myself and discover things about myself I never would have realized. I learned how not to judge myself for my new limitations.

In 1973, another Icelandic volcano, Eldfell, broke out. Icelanders decided to bomb it with cold water until it froze and chose a different path. After their plan worked, they used the geothermal (地热) energy for the next 15 years to heat their homes. A good example of life bringing lemons, and making lemonade! One must move on from misfortunes, focusing only on the present moment and being hopeful for the future.

I ran from April 14th, 2010, to every kind of escape. Eventually I ended up in university for a new-found love in Earth sciences.

1. What happened to the writer on April 14th, 2010?

A．He was involved in a car crash.

B．He was stuck in Iceland’s airport.

C．He witnessed a volcanic eruption.

D．He was badly injured on a bike ride.

2. Which was an effect of the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull?

A．Economy was cost globally by the eruption.

B．Valuable minerals were brought to the surface.

C．More carbon dioxide was sent into the air.

D．Most of the world’s planes were held up.

3. Why did the writer mention the Eldfell volcano?

A．It broke out on April 14th in Iceland as well.

B．It symbolized the accident that changed his life.

C．It encouraged him to know more about himself.

D．It taught him to make the most of given situation.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Inspiration from Disasters	B．Escape from Volcanoes
C．Love for Earth Science	D．Attitude toward Nature

【推荐2】"Yes" has magic within it. So often we are afraid of life － we fear failure, we anticipate（预期）the worst and we don't know what to expect. In doing so and often by saying no to opportunities, we reject many of life's brilliant chances. This is not about being a "yes person" or feeling pressured to do things we don't want to do.     1     Here are some reasons to say yes to opportunities in your life.

1.You block the miracle if you don't.

Opportunities sometimes knock gently and do not wait for people. The truth is － there is no perfect timing! Marie Forleo says, "Start before you are ready." We need to trust that the universe has a bigger plan for us.     2     We reject the fun it brings, what it teaches us and the further gifts that can unfold if we don't allow the yes.

2.Someone believes you can.

To have the choice of saying yes, someone believes you can achieve something. North Face is not going to ask you to climb Qomolangma.     3    

3.Stretch（使竭尽所能）yourself.

    4     By saying yes, we invite possibilities into our lives and the chances to learn what we can do and just how far we can go.

4.    5    

Life and luck like the brave ones. Sometimes when you are making a decision and considering both outcomes, the "no" outcome is connected with regret somehow. Regret is sometimes the biggest risk of all.

Life is short. Don't ask why, but why not. Ask yourself for a change and a yes might bring you magical answers.

A．We often let our fears guide us.

B．Opportunities don't always arise again.

C．When we say no, we reject more than the opportunity.

D．Before accepting an invitation, be sure to think twice about it.

E．Why are we all here if not to live the fullest version of our lives?

F．It's about having the courage to do the things we know we really want to do.

G．Take the opportunity as praise and make use of the confidence other people have in you.

【推荐1】Augustus Saint-Gaudens and his family immigrated to New York, America, from Dublin, Ireland, in 1848 when he was just six months old. As he grew up, Augustus liked racing his friends around the block, buying candies at the store, especially drawing—drawing pictures of the shoemakers at his father's shoe shop. At the age of 13, his father told him it was time to go to work. Augustus replied, "I should like it if I could do something which would help me to be an artist. " He began as an apprentice to a cameo cutter out of stone and shell, and carved cameos of people, lions, and even the head of Hercules from Greek mythology, when the Civil War had just begun.

At 19, with his earnings and his parents' support, he travelled to Paris and Rome for further training and artistic study. Before he left, he drew a portrait of his mother in pencil and sculpted a small bust(半身像) of his father out of clay. Then, 22-year-old Augustus opened an art studio in Rome and worked on his first life-sized sculpture, called Hiawatha. An art patron was impressed with this sculpture and promised to help Augustus "until your genius and labors shall have met with the reward to which I feel they are entitled".

In 1876, Augustus was chosen to design a monument to the Civil War hero Admiral David Farragut of the U. S. Navy. Completed five years later, when he was 33, his first major sculpture for the U. S. was unveiled at Madison Square in New York City, the sculptor's boyhood home. One art critic called it "the best monument of the kind the city has to show". Then the giant Standing Lincoln in Lincoln Park, Chicago in a setting by architect White, 1884-1887, was considered the finest portrait statue in the U. S.

However, in 1900, aged 52, his doctors told him he had cancer. Even though he was often ill, he continued to work at his home and studio in Cornish, New Hampshire.

In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt requested that Augustus redesign American coins—to convey the strength of the nation. Augustus made lifelike pencil sketches of his coin designs. Yet, Augustus died in August 1907, two months before his l0-dollar and 20-dollar gold coins were issued. Augustus Saint-Gaudens had fulfilled his dream-and more! He was one of the greatest American sculptors not only of his day but also of all time.

1. What did Augustus like doing as a child?

A．He enjoyed selling candies at the store.	B．He enjoyed chasing after his friends at school.
C．He liked drawing pictures of his father's workers.	D．He liked going to work as a shoemaker in his father's shop.

2. How did Augustus become a sculptor?

A．He received sponsorship from an art critic.

B．He sculpted a small bust of his parents out of clay.

C．He opened an art studio in Rome and worked on Hiawatha.

D．He learned hard as an apprentice and carved many nice works.

3. When did Roosevelt request Augustus to redesign American coins?

A．At his age of 33.

B．At his age of 57.

C．At his age of 52.

D．At his age of 59.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The history of the Civil War.	B．The remarkable sculptor's life.
C．The comments on Augustus' works.	D．The outstanding sculptor's masterpieces.

【推荐2】Our neighbors have always had a beautiful statue by the gate of their house. I’ve always loved to look at it whenever I look out of the kitchen window.

The other day I found it wasn’t there! I hoped it was just moved and not lost! There were thieves reported recently. I told Mike about my worry and he said he would ask the neighbors the next time he saw them.

That afternoon he met Mrs “Neighbor” at the door and mentioned the missing statue to her. He told her how much we loved it and hoped it was safe. She said that she had just moved it to the yard and would bring it back right away. “Oh no,” said Mike. “We’re just glad it’s safe!”

That evening we went out to sit in our garden and saw that the statue was back by the gate! Oh, sweet neighbor! You were so kind!

The next day we were out in the garden again, planting flowers, and found that we had too many. We didn’t know where to put them all! I had to leave before we decided what to do with them. On my way out, I met Mrs “Neighbor” and thanked her for moving the statue back! She said she moved it to her yard because the area on the side of her house was too barren (荒芜的). There were no flowers. Suddenly an idea came into my mind! The flowers! She could have them!

Now the statue sits in beautiful flowers. I look out of my kitchen window again and smile. The kindness shared between neighbors is such a beautiful thing!

1. What made the writer feel worried?

A．The statue was moved inside.	B．Mike didn’t like the statue at all.
C．The statue might be taken away by thieves.	D．Her neighbors didn’t like the statue any more.

2. When Mike met Mrs “Neighbor”, he _____________.

A．asked her to put the statue outside	B．asked about the safety of the statue
C．gave her some flowers as a present	D．told her that there were thieves recently

3. When did the writer decide to give the flowers to Mrs “Neighbor”?

A．After she learned the statue was safe.	B．After she saw the barren area by the gate.
C．After she had a talk with Mrs “Neighbor”.	D．After she saw the statue was back by the gate.

4. Where is the statue now?

A．In the writer’s yard.	B．Beside the writer’s kitchen.
C．In the writer’s neighbors’ yard.	D．By the gate of the writer’s neighbors’ house.

【推荐1】I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签) everything. I always, looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, "Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled (爬) under her covers, sobbing.
Obviously, that was something she should not go through phone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't noticed Kate had sat up.
She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her   hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."
Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1. What made Kate angry one evening?

A．She couldn't find her books.

B．She heard the author shouting loud.

C．She got the news that her grandma was ill.

D．She saw the author's shoes beneath her bed.

2. The author tidied up the room most probably because __________.

A．she was scared by Kate's anger

B．she hated herself for being so messy

C．she wanted to show her care

D．she was asked by Kate to do so

3. What might be the best title for the story?

A．My Friend Kate	B．Hard Work Pays Off
C．How to Be Organized	D．Learning to Be Roommates

【推荐2】Telling someone they are not hired is never an easy job, but all hiring managers will face this difficult situation many times in their careers. While everyone fears denial on some level, it is important to understand that not everyone will fit in every job. Further, there are times when the applicant quality will be so great, a decision to reject an applicant may not reflect on that applicant's abilities but the overall quality of the field.

There are a number of methods that can be used to get the message across that a person is not hired. In many cases, especially for those who were never called for an interview, a simple form letter may be sufficient. In other cases, where someone may have been called for an interview, a phone call or letter could be chosen to deliver the message that they were not hired. In cases where there may be an ongoing relationship with the person not hired, it may be best to break the news in person, though this has the obvious potential of being more uncomfortable. Above all, it is best to always be honest with those who didn't get the job. Lying is never acceptable.

Generally, it is not a good idea to tell someone specific reasons why they are not hired for a job. This can only lead to resentment（怨恨）and regret. However, there may be specific times when this could be a good idea. For example, if an applicant is promising and the hiring manager believes another position will be opening up that suits the applicant's skills, this could be a way to let that person know they may soon have another opportunity.

In all cases, even if you feel someone has cheated to obtain an interview, never behave in a way which shows you are superior to them. This is unprofessional and reflects very poorly not only on the hiring manager, but the organization as a whole.

1. Why are some applicants refused according to Paragraph 1?

A．They are interested in other fields.

B．They don't qualify for the position.

C．They are afraid of making decisions.

D．They lack the courage to face failures.

2. How may a not-interviewed applicant be informed of the rejection?

A．By receiving a formal phone call.

B．By getting a simple form letter.

C．By checking a message online.

D．By attending a personal meeting.

3. In what case will applicants be told exactly why they are not hired?

A．They regret applying for the job.

B．They demand specific explanations.

C．They may be capable of another post.

D．They have submitted false information.

4. What can be inferred about the position of hiring managers?

A．It calls for professional skills.

B．It attracts the applicants most.

C．It doesn't allow for any mistake.

D．It requires honesty and ambition.

【推荐3】The United States will have more adults aged 65 and over than children by the year 2035, the US Census Bureau says As the American population ages, the demand for services and care for older adults is growing.

SenCura is a company that provides non-medical at-home care for seniors in the northern Virginia area. Cliff Glier founded the company 12 years ago. He says its services include help with bathing, transportation, getting dressed and planning and preparing meals.

Hollie is one of SenCura’s professional caregivers. She visits 88-year-old Olga Robertson’s home every day for three hours. Robertson says she likes having Hollie’s help.

“Well, she cooks for me and she does a good job. She takes me to appointments (约会) and things like that and whatever I want to do. Sometimes, we go to walk in the mall if it’s cold out in the winter time.”

But when Hollie is not around, Robertson still has a caregiver—a robot named Rudy, who can have a conversation and also tells jokes and plays games and dances with Robertson.

In addition to keeping Robertson mentally and physically active, Rudy provides services 24 hours a day. He watches for lost things, reminds Robertson about her doctor’s appointments and tells her when it is time to take her medicine. The robot is a little more than one meter tall. It has a screen that makes checking in with family and caregivers easy.

Anthony Nunez is the founder of INF Robotics, the company that created Rudy. He says the idea for the robotic caregiver was inspired by what his own mother lived through when his grandmother got older.

SenCura’s Cliff Glier met Nunez and his team at an event more than a year ago. He became interested in introducing Rudy to his own customers. Glier says Rudy is not competition for human caregivers. He says the robot is there to help but cannot do all the things that caregivers do, like bathing and dressing seniors.

1. What does the company SenCura do?

A．It focuses on care service for seniors.	B．It supports medical research projects.
C．It develops robots helping poor seniors.	D．It provides medical services for seniors.

2. Which of the following can not the robot Rudy do?

A．Talk with seniors.	B．Dress seniors.
C．Tell jokes.	D．Play games with seniors.

3. What inspires Anthony Nunez to invent the robot Rudy?

A．The change in the population of the United States.

B．The fast development of modern science and technology.

C．The work experience from a professional caregiver called Hollie.

D．His mother’s experiences of looking after his grandmother.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．The American Population Ages Seriously

B．Professional Caregivers for Seniors Are Popular

C．INF Robotics Invented New Robots for Children

D．New Caregivers for Seniors