At first, Michael Surrell didn’t see the black smoke or flames shooting from the windows of his neighbors’ home. Then they got a call from one of his daughters: “The house next door is on fire!” He went over and saw three women crying madly on their porch(门廊).
“The baby’s in the second floor!” one of the women cried. Though the fire department had been called, Surrell, then 64, bravely ran inside. “The baby” was Tiara Roberts, the woman’s granddaughter and a playmate of Surrell’s three youngest kids.
Entering the burning house was like “running into a bucket of black paint,” Surrell says. The thick smoke caused him to stumble blindly around, burned his eyes, and made it impossible to breathe. The conditions would have been dangerous for anyone, but for Surrell, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (慢性阻塞性肺病), they were life-threatening.
Taking a deep breath, he moved around in the overwhelming darkness. Because the house had a similar layout to his, he found the stairs and made it to the second floor. Then he heard a soft but clear moan. Still unable to see, Surrell fell to his knees on the hot wood floor. He crawled toward the sound, feeling around for any sign of the girl. Finally, he touched something. A shoe, then an ankle. He pulled Tiara toward him, scooped her into his arms and stood. Turning, he fought through the smoke and ran blindly into the blackness…
Surrell woke up in the hospital a couple of days later and spent over a week in the hospital. Tiara was released from the hospital after a few days. The fire worsened Surrell’s pulmonary condition, and he feels the effects even two years later. As a result, he takes extra medication that helps open his airways. “It’s a small price to pay,” he says. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I wouldn’t give it a second thought.”
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the story?| A．Tiara Roberts was the Surrell’s youngest granddaughter. |
| B．Surrell was familiar with the structure of the burning house. |
| C．Surell ran into the fire before the fire department was called. |
| D．The fire was life-threatening for Surrell, mostly considering his age. |
| A．Normal. | B．Unexpected. |
| C．Mild. | D．Extreme. |
| A．Humorous and patient. |
| B．Outgoing and intelligent. |
| C．Determined and ambitious. |
| D．Warm-hearted and selfless. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Recently, as I watched my son Nathan play basketball for his school team, I was feeling sorry for myself and for him. His team was facing adversity (困境) on the court and he was playing in a hostile environment — it was the opponent’s home gym filled with their supporters, and Nathan’s team was trailing (落后) for three quarters of the game. As for me, I had just been dismissed (解雇) from my job earlier in that day.
During the drive home, I kept telling myself that I would find work again in a short time — I was always confident in my experience and abilities, but self-doubt was still sticking its foot in the door.
The basketball game entered the fourth quarter with Nathan’s team still trailing. I saw the determination on his face as well as his teammates’ as they fought back to not only tie the game, but then go ahead by three points. Then, a player from the other team made an unbelievable shot to make the game tied again. With the tied scores and seconds on the clock, Nathan found himself with the ball and with skill and confidence, he made the basket with a defender hanging all over him. The other player was called for a foul (犯规).
As Nathan stood preparing for a shot that would put his team up by three points, I saw the focus and determination on his face, with no room for self-doubt. Nathan was able to tune out all the distractions and nail the free throw with such skill, as if he had done it a thousand times.
As I sat there, my heart bursting with pride, it dawned on me that I had taught him perseverance (毅力) in the face of adversity, and he had just taught me the same lesson. That brief moment of self-doubt and feeling sorry for myself was blown away by the actions of my son on the basketball court. He will play in the finals, but it doesn’t matter if he wins or loses. At this moment, we both won.
1. What did the author estimate his son’s team would be like at first?| A．The team would finally win. |
| B．The team would lose at away court. |
| C．The team would lose at home court. |
| D．The team would tie with the opponents. |
| A．Avoid. | B．Focus. | C．Create. | D．Receive. |
| A．My son would win in the finals and I would find a job soon. |
| B．I had once taught my son face to face that we should never give up. |
| C．It was my encouragement and help that made my son win the game. |
| D．I would become more confident about my future after this experience. |
| A．Life Goes Just Like Playing Basketball |
| B．It Matters Whether to Win or Lose |
| C．A Lesson in Life and Basketball |
| D．A Moment of Self-doubt |
【推荐2】I was in a strange city and I didn't know the city at all, and what is more, I could not speak a word of the language. After having spent my first day in the town-centre, I decided to lose my way on my second day, since I believed that this was the simplest way of getting to know the strange city, I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops, then got off it and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough. Then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived and even then I pronounced it badly. I stopped to ask a friendly-looking newspaper-seller. He smiled and handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person I asked was a policeman. The policeman listened to me carefully, smiled and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I thanked him politely and began walking in the direction he pointed. About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside. The only thing left for me to do was to find the nearest railway station.
1. The writer believed that if you wanted to get to know a strange city, ________.| A．you should go everywhere on foot |
| B．you should have a map |
| C．you should ask people the way |
| D．you should get lost |
| A．could understand what he said |
| B．didn't know what he said |
| C．laughed at him |
| D．didn't want to take the money |
| A．he couldn't speak the language |
| B．he followed the policeman's direction |
| C．he took the wrong bus |
| D．he left the town-centre |
| A．didn't help him |
| B．pointed at him |
| C．didn't understand what he really meant |
| D．didn't know the way |
【推荐3】I was 11 years old standing outside in just my underwear while I watched the house that I grew up in rapidly burn to the ground.
A few minutes earlier I had been in bed when a scream woke me up. My grandma’s bedroom was just next to mine and my brother’s. A fire had broken out there and awakened her. Hearing her, my brother jumped into action, running from room to room quickly waking everyone in the house. Before we could do anything the fire destroyed it. We all had just made it outside when the flames (火焰) took hold of every room.
I stood there shaking while the fire destroyed my books, clothes, and toys. I watched helplessly while my mom cried and my dad sighed. I wondered what was going to happen to us because we had lost all our things.
As I looked around, though, I realized something for the first time: The things that mattered were not things. I saw my brother running around to get help. I saw my grandma and dad wrapped in each other’s arms and my mom holding our little dog. I realized at that moment that we were all alive. Our lives would continue without the”stuff” that was burning. We would all live to love each other for many years to come. And that was all that mattered.
1. Who first found the house was on fire?| A．The author. | B．The brother. | C．The grandma. | D．The parents. |
| A．He was wondering how the fire got started. |
| B．He was worried about their life after the fire. |
| C．He was mad about losing his clothes and toys. |
| D．He felt lucky that they were saved by the firefighters. |
| A．That their life and family matter most. |
| B．That his family was lucky enough to escape. |
| C．That family and pets both meant a lot to him. |
| D．That the things burned in the fire didn’t matter at all. |
| A．“Keep calm and carry on.” —the Ministry of Information, UK |
| B．“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” —Friedrich Nietzsche |
| C．“You’ll be alive. That’s what matters. Enjoy what you have.” —Richelle Mead |
| D．“Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst.” —Marjorie Pay Hinckley |
【推荐1】Is there any truth behind the saying “You are what you eat”? We put this to the test by asking three people to open their fridge doors and talk about their lifestyles.
Jenny 31 Teacher
My husband and I avoid all products that come from animals. This means we don’t eat meat. We like cooking at home and make our meals from fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables. Cooking together gives us a chance to relax and catch up on each other’s days. If we have children, I want to bring them up just like us, but my husband says that everyone should be able to make their own lifestyle choices.
Ted 35 Construction worker
Each day at the construction site is more or less the same — tiring! When I get back home, there’s nothing more satisfying than a big meat dinner. I guess I’ve always been a big meat eater and in this house, no family meal is complete without some form of meat. I still don’t think that anything can beat my mum’s homemade sausages, though.
Mike 49 Chef
With five children, we’re one big family! My wife and I both work full-time, so life can get pretty busy! Like a lot of chefs I know, I don’t really do much cooking at home. Sometimes I bring home food from the restaurant where I work. Once a week, we do a big shop and buy a lot of frozen food. I know we should eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, but ready meals are so convenient.
1. What can we learn about Jenny?| A．She likes ready meals. | B．She has children to bring up. |
| C．She enjoys vegetable-free dinners. | D．She enjoys cooking together with her husband. |
| A．My fridge is filled with meat. |
| B．As a chef, I don’t need so much frozen food. |
| C．I provide fresh fruit and vegetables for my children. |
| D．It’s convenient to eat food brought from my workplace. |
| A．Interview notes. | B．A cooking guide. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．Product introductions. |
【推荐2】In 1997, Mary gave a present of $ 500, 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi. She wanted to help poor students. It was a very generous thing to do. But her friends and neighbors were surprised. Mary was a good woman. She went to church. She was always friendly and helpful. But everyone in her town knew that Mary was not rich. In fact, she was poor.
How did a poor 89-year-old woman have so much money? Mary was born in 1908 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She had to leave school when she was eight years old to help her family. She took a job washing clothes. She earned only a few dollars a day. She washed the clothes by hand. Then she hung the clothes to dry. She did this for nearly 80 years. In the 1960s, she bought an automatic washer and dryer. But she gave them away. She did not think they got the clothes clean enough！At that time, many people started to buy their own washers and dryers. Mary did not have much work, so she started to iron clothes instead.
Mary never married nor had children. Her life was very simple. She went to work and to church. She read her Bible. She had a black-and-white television. But she did not watch it very much. It had only one channel.
Mary saved money all her life and eventually had about $ 800, 000. When she was 89, a lawyer helped her make a will. She left the money to the church, her relatives and the university. Mary wanted to help others. She did not think she was a special person. But then people found out about her present to the university. She received many honors. She even flew in an airplane for the first time！Mary died in 1999. She was a shy and ordinary woman who became famous.
1. Mary gave $ 500, 000 to the University of Southern Mississippi___________.| A．to surprise her friends and neighbors | B．to prove she was a rich woman |
| C．to help the poor students | D．to show her generosity |
| A．Mary left school young to help support her family |
| B．Mary’s parents asked her to wash clothes for others |
| C．an automatic washer and dryer were too expensive for her |
| D．Mary started to iron clothes because she didn’t get other skills |
| A．She didn’t have much work to do. |
| B．She only had a black-and-white television with one channel. |
| C．She went to the church every day with friends. |
| D．She didn’t like others to buy an automatic washer.. |
| A．Rich and friendly. | B．Poor and silly. |
| C．Well-educated and special. | D．Hard-working and helpful. |
The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.“Sensei,” the boy finally said, “shouldn't I be learning more moves?”“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know,” the sensei replied.
Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy skillfully used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared
“No,” the sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?” “You won for two reasons,” the sensei answered. “First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.
1. we can infer from Paragraph 2 that the teacher__________.
| A．was unwilling to teach the boy |
| B．regarded mastering one move as extremely important. |
| C．worried about the boys ability |
| D．trained the boy to win judo tournaments |
| A．he feared to get hurt. |
| B．the teacher felt satisfied |
| C．he thought of giving up. |
| D．the judge stopped the game. |
| A．lose heart |
| B．lose patience |
| C．be defeated |
| D．be monitored |
| A．His opponent was too confident and careless. |
| B．The boy was experienced in playing the games. |
| C．His opponent didn't notice the boys left hand. |
| D．The boy made use of his judo skill and weakness. |
| A．To suggest we turn weakness into strength. |
| B．To encourage us to insist in a match. |
| C．To show us how to win a match luckily. |
| D．To tell us to choose an experienced teacher. |
【推荐1】What does it take to be a good neighbor? Over the years I have had all kinds of neighbors, ones that were enjoyable and others that were to be avoided at all costs.
One of the most important things in being a good neighbor is to respect a person’s privacy(隐私).When someone new moves into the neighborhood it is a good idea to watch them to see how friendly you should be. If you go rushing over as soon as they move in they may think you are going to be one of those neighbors that come over at all times of the day, not respecting their privacy.
It is a good idea always to be friendly to everyone in the neighborhood. This can not only put you on good terms with them, but will also be a form of protection for your family and home. If you wave as they drive by or offer a friendly hello while they are out in their yard this shows that you respect them. If you are friendly to them they are much more likely to watch out for any wrong doings going on around your home while you are out and let you know if anything happens.
Another way of being a good neighbor is to be helpful in times of need. If you see that they are in need of a helping hand doing something or in times of a disaster, it is good to offer your help. Even though you have never really talked to the people down the street, they are willing to take the time to help out a neighbor in need.
In conclusion, if you respect a person’s privacy, treat them kindly and be helpful when you see they are in need, you will be a great neighbor and anyone would be happy to have you next door!
1. When someone moves into your neighborhood you should_______.| A．visit them frequently | B．know their privacy |
| C．respect them always | D．avoid meeting them |
| A．keep your family safe | B．often visit their yard |
| C．make friends with them | D．have your own privacy |
| A．helpful, strong and kind | B．respectful, friendly and helpful |
| C．honest, active and friendly | D．polite, honest and kind |
| A．wide knowledge | B．scientific experiments |
| C．careful research | D．real experiences |
On Monday, the company announced that the newest movie to get the live-action treatment would be Mulan.
Based on the same Chinese legend as the 1998 animated movie, Mulan will follow in the footsteps of Cinderella, Maleficent, and several already-announced upcoming movies.
Since 2010, Disney has released three live-action adaptations of formerly animated movies: Alice In Wonderland, Maleficent, and Cinderella.
All three have proven to be financial successes, with Alice In Wonderland earning over $1 billion and Maleficent bringing in $758 million.
Even the most recent offering, Cinderella, has managed to earn over $330 million in its first three weeks of wide release.
Fans of live-action remakes will not have to wait for Mulan, since Disney has already planned four other adaptations to hit theatres first.
The Jungle Book is the next movie to get a live-action revival, planned for 2016。
A retelling of Beauty And The Beast - starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Audra McDonald - will begin production in May, with an expected release date of March 17, 2017.
Surprisingly, the other Disney cartoon getting an adaptation is 1941's Dumbo, the story of a flying elephant.
Tim Burton signed on to direct that tricky movie on March 10.
1. Mulan will get the live action treatment because__________
| A．it’s a famous Chinese legend. |
| B．it’s a trend to remake beloved animated films into live action ones |
| C．it earned over $330 million at the box office. |
| D．it’s better than Cinderella. |
| A．Dumbo | B．Cinderella |
| C．Alice In Wonderland | D．Maleficent |
a. Cinderella b. Beauty And The Beast
c. The Jungle Book d. Alice In Wonderland
| A．abcd | B．cdba | C．dacb | D．bdca |
| A．The present situation of the film market. |
| B．The introduction of some famous animated films. |
| C．The live action remakes of some animated films. |
| D．An advertisement of an animated film Mulan. |
【推荐3】Inspired by a 9-year-old cyclist, Lauren Turner, who can only use one hand, a group of University of Guelph students has won an international award for their invention－a bike brake lever (刹车手柄) that pulls both the front brake and the back brake at the same time.
Lauren Tuner was able to ride her bike, but not as confidently and quickly as her friends.
“She couldn’t use the front brake. She only used the back brake, but the front brake makes you stop twice as fast,” says Micha Wallace, who, with Katie Bell, Anina Sakaguchi and Andrew Morries won second prize in the James Dyson Award for their single-handed bike brake lever.
“Lauren Turner tried the device (装置) first and she used it all last summer. She had no problems. It helped her go faster because she felt more confident in her braking abilities. She felt safer.” says Wallace.
The invention was the fourth-year design project for the four students. They designed, tested and created a prototype (模型) within a four-month period.
When Wallace heard about the James Dyson Award on the news, she and her co-inventors entered their project in the U.K.-based contest, which rewards students designers who create products that improve the way we live. The students collected the runner-up prize－£2,000 for them and £500 for their school.
As well, they had a chance to meet James Dyson, a U.K. famous inventor. Praising the students for their invention, Dyson says the single-handed brake lever could improve safety for all cyclists. By using both brakes at once, you could prevent the possibility of flying over the handlebars and ending up with an injury.
The students hope to sell it to a major company. It may be used in other devices that require two hands for operation.
1. According to the passage, the James Dyson Award was named after__________.| A．a well-known place | B．a famous inventor |
| C．a famous university | D．a government leader |
| A．the second prize | B．the rich prize |
| C．the top prize | D．the prize for runners. |
| A．has already been widely used |
| B．can only serve the disabled cyclists |
| C．can protect you from any injuries |
| D．may have a wide market in the future |
【推荐1】Every time Tracy Mccreary, a young mother from London, put her baby daughter Sienna to bed，she and her husband were forced to perform a Mission Impossible style escape. Just walking out of her bedroom would wake her—the noise from their floorboards was so loud that little Sienna would hear it from any room in the house.
“It was really annoying, ” said Paul Lanzarotti, Sienna’s father. “We were exhausted and our house wasn’t fun to live in anymore,” Flooring experts told him that the only solution for the noise was to remove the floorboards and replace them at a cost of E5,000 .
Lanzarotti decided to take matters into his own hands and spent hours on the Internet for a solution. He learned that the noise was caused by friction, which could be stopped if properly lubricated (润滑). Lanzarotti also found out that a chemical compound found in Teflon was one of the world’s best lubricant components.
The determined father discovered that mixing the Teflon compound with an acrylic fluid(丙烯酸流体) could be used to spray the flooring and stop the noise. He then called a chemical company and asked its engineers to produce the spray which he called“Stop Creak”.
“I tested it at home and just couldn’t believe the result. I sprayed it in Sienna’ s room first and the floor was immediately silenced,” said Lanzarotti. “Eight months later, it was still silent. It felt like a huge relief. When Tracy saw the difference for the first time, her face just lit up. You can treat a couple of rooms in an hour.” he added. “It’ s a no-brainer for any parents with noisy floors, and it’ll be life-changing.”
1. What was the problem with Sienna?| A．She made a lot of noise at night. |
| B．She was too young to walk alone. |
| C．She was often woken from her sleep. |
| D．She was afraid of sleeping by herself. |
| A．Caring and creative. | B．Honest and generous. |
| C．Cautious and friendly. | D．Ambitious and sensitive. |
| A．Amazed. | B．Confused. |
| C．Frightened. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．A difficult decision. | B．An unusual effort. |
| C．A real headache. | D．An easy job. |
【推荐2】“If you don't behave, I'll call the police”is a lie that parents might use to get their young children to behave. A new psychological(心理学的) study led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore suggests that it is connected with harmful effects when the children become adults.
The research team asked 379 Singaporean young adults whether their parents lied to them when they were children, how much they lie to their parents as adults, and how well they respond adulthood challenges.
The first questionnaire asked these young adults to recall if their parents told them lies about eating, leaving or staying, spending money and so on. Some examples of such lies are “If you don't come with me now, I will leave you here by yourself”and“I don’t bring money with me today, we can come back another day”.The second questionnaire included questions that could show how often they lie to their parents as adults. Lastly, these young adults filled in two other questionnaires that asked them about their psychological problems and tendency (趋势)to behave selfishly and impulsively(冲动地).
Adults who reported being lied to more as children were more likely to report lying to their parents in their adulthood. They also said they faced greater difficulty in meeting psychological and social challenges.
Lead author Setoh Peipei from NTU Singapore's School of Social Sciences said, “Parenting by lying can seem to save time, especially when the real reasons behind why parents want children to do something are difficult to explain. When parents tell children that‘honesty is the best policy’，but display dishonesty by lying, such behavior can send negative messages to their children. Parents' dishonesty may finally erode trust and encourage dishonesty in children”
“Our research suggests that parenting by lying is a practice that has negative influence on children when they grow up. Parents should be aware of these possible risks and consider other ways to replace lying, such as knowing children's feelings, giving information so children know what to expect, offering choices and solving problems together, to encourage children to have good behavior, ”said lead author Setoh Peipei.
But the study has its limitations. Some limitations of the study include depending on what young adults report about their parents' lying. “Future research can explore using many informants(提供信息的人), such as parents, to report on the same thing”suggested Setoh.
1. What did the research team do during the study?| A．They turned to 379 Singaporean children |
| B．They looked for questionnaires on the Internet. |
| C．They collected answers to some sets of questions |
| D．They asked the young adults parents for information |
| A．build | B．enhance | C．destroy | D．recover |
| A．Parents can sometimes tell harmless lies to their kids |
| B．Parents had better explain to their kids why they’ve lied |
| C．Parents who like lying are more likely to behave selfishly |
| D．Parents should use positive ways instead of lying during parenting |
| A．Parents 'lying to children can influence them negatively |
| B．Parents lie to children to save themselves some trouble. |
| C．Children's behavior can be affected by their parents |
| D．Children may lie more if their parents often lie. |
【推荐3】Each country has its own secret to happiness. If “pyt”, which means “don’t worry about it and stuff happens”, explains the relaxed attitude of Danish people, “niksen” will reveal how Dutch people combat (对抗) stress and burnout (倦怠) in a fast-paced lifestyle.
The term “niksen” origins from the Dutch word “niks”, which refers to “nothing”. Mindfulness, another welcome subject to help people have a peaceful mind. But unlike mindfulness, niksen is not about concentrating on the present moment. It’s about letting yourself do nothing, and allowing your mind to run free without expectation.
In practice, this means “hanging around, looking at your surroundings, or listening to music as long as it’s without purpose,” according to Time Magazine.
Niksen sounds contrary (矛盾的) to the advice we were all given as kids. Nowadays, we’re constantly told to stay busy and work harder than everyone else. But niksen opposes that mentality (心态). It offers the chance to “deliciously do nothing”, as Carolien Hamming, a coach at CSR Centrum, an organization devoted to fighting stress and burnout in the Netherlands, told Time.
She thinks that niksen is essential (重要的) to staying healthy, since it’s a form of mental relaxation and healing (治愈). Just as a wild animal lies in wait for their prey (猎物), niksen seems to be a natural state of being.
For some people, niksen can mean more than just stress reduction. It’s also a way to imagine new ideas or plans. As an early adopter of niksen, Jenny Holden, a communications expert in the UK, adds it to her daily lunch breaks. “Within 10 minutes of doing nothing – just staring and listening to myself – my head began to clear and sort out my work and home to-do lists,” she told the MetroUK.
Above all, niksen is a suggestion for balancing work and rest. As Dutch-born writer Ogla Mecking wrote in US-based Whoolly Magazine, niksen is the “thorough enjoyment of life’s pauses”.
Everyone is encouraged to embrace your niksen moments. They revitalize (使恢复元气) you and give you the strength needed to face everyday challenges.
1. What does niksen means?| A．Living in the moment. |
| B．Being free and doing nothing. |
| C．Using your wildest imagination. |
| D．Leading a healthy lifestyle. |
| A．niksen can shorten the distance between people |
| B．how niksen improves one’s mental health |
| C．niksen is closely related to stress reduction |
| D．niksen helps people come up with new thoughts |
| A．long |
| B．full |
| C．unexpected |
| D．quiet |
| A．An introduction to the Dutch lifestyle. |
| B．Suggestions on how to balance work and rest. |
| C．The importance of allowing time to pause life. |
| D．An explanation of some Danish words about life attitudes. |
