Around four years ago, I received a call from the principal of our school as to the “Parents View” talk the next morning. He asked me to speak to the group. After the call, my whole body became feverish and panicky. The time from his call to the next morning seemed like years. The whole night, I could not sleep with many ominous apprehensions in mind. One of them was to call the principal with regret and tell him that I could not come. Finally, I gathered some courage. I thought, “If I miss this opportunity, surely the school will never invite me again to any of their programs.”
I reached the school in time. Before my turn came, my whole body was trembling. When my turn came and I started speaking, my heartbeat increased and my mouth went dry. I wasn’t even able to read the written speech properly. I was not aware of where I was standing and what I was reading. That was the day when I realized my biggest weakness, Public Speaking.
After my speech，I met with the principal and explained what happened to me. He told me that this happens to everyone. Even great speakers faced the same things when they started. He suggested that I come again next time.
Around one month later, I was invited to refer to a topic on Motivation. This time I was feeling comfortable. My speech was appreciated by the principal as well as the teachers, because I was able to get my idea across to them. They encouraged and praised my efforts.
After the successful delivering, I became more confident. I said to myself, “If I can speak in front of such a learned audience, like the principal who educates others, I can now speak in front of others too.”
I started delivering lectures in my plant, on various topics like Self-Motivation, Personality Development, Personal Excellence, Spoken English and Presentation Skills. This has become a passion for me. I learned that everything is possible if we have the courage to take the first step.
1. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?| A．Practice Makes a Man a Better Speaker. | B．Public Speaking Makes a Man Embarrassed. |
| C．Principal Provides the Best Chances. | D．Spoken English Develops in Speeches. |
| A．he disliked the principal | B．he had got a high fever before that |
| C．he regretted turning down another invitation | D．he feared he couldn’t perform it properly |
| A．Unlucky opportunities. | B．Negative ideas. | C．Curious colleagues. | D．Happy comments. |
| A．Nothing is to be got without pains but poverty. |
| B．Knowledge makes one humble, while ignorance makes one proud. |
| C．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. |
| D．Necessity is the mother of invention. |
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【推荐1】When I was 16 years old，I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn’t the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children，I learned French at school and I had often been to France，so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn’t understand English. But when I went to America I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language problems.
How wrong I was! The misunderstanding began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my friend Danny a ring and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking like being lost and asked if he could help me.
“Yes，” I said.“I want to give my friend a ring.”
“Well，that’s nice，” he said.“Are you getting married? But aren’t you a bit young？”
“Who is talking about marriage？” I replied.“I just want to give my friend a ring to tell her I’ve arrived. Can you tell me where there’s a phone box？”
“Oh！” he said.“There’s a phone downstairs.”
When at last we did meet up，Danny explained the misunderstanding to me.
“Don’t worry，” she said to me.“I had many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from us British. You’ll soon get used to all the funny things they say. But most of the time British and American people can understand each other！”
1. Where was the writer from?| A．He was from America. |
| B．He was from France. |
| C．He was from England. |
| D．He was from China. |
| A．to buy a ring for his friend |
| B．to make a call to his friend |
| C．to go to the telephone company |
| D．his friend to see him off |
| A．means the same in America as in England |
| B．means “call somebody” to the old man |
| C．means “be going to get married” |
| D．has different meanings in America and in England |
【推荐2】Some people are never right. They never have good luck. They usually do the wrong things and say the wrong things. And even if what they say and do is OK, they say it or do it at the wrong time. So these people always have problems. They often break glasses. They sometimes miss buses or trains.
Mr.Neff is different. He is always right. He is never wrong. He usually has good luck. He hardly has problems. He never misses buses and trains. Even though he really misses them, it is always the fault of the buses and the trains.
Mr. Neff knows almost everything. He doesn’t ask questions. He answers questions. He never says “I don’t know”．
I don’t know Mrs. Neff. It seems that not many people know her. I sometimes want to know about her. Is she always right? Or maybe she is always wrong? Does she often break glasses or miss buses and trains?
Does she have problems? I really want to know!
1. What kind of man is Mr.Neff?| A．He’s cleverer than other people. |
| B．He does everything better than his friends. |
| C．He’s the luckiest man in the world. |
| D．He is pleased with himself. |
| A．Mr.Neff is always right |
| B．Mr.Neff usually has good luck |
| C．Mr.Neff almost knows everything |
| D．it’s the fault of buses and trains when he misses them |
| A．She perhaps listens to her husband in everything. |
| B．She perhaps doesn’t agree with her husband. |
| C．She perhaps feels strange to be so lucky. |
| D．She is very happy to have a lucky husband. |
【推荐3】Hundreds of years ago, a Roman army came north from England to make war on Scotland. The Scots, a brave people, love their country. They fought hard to drive the enemy out of Scotland. But there were too many of the Romans. It looked as if the Romans would win.
One night, the leader of the Scots marched his soldiers to the top of a hill. “We will rest here tonight, my men.” he said, “Tomorrow we will fight one more battle. We must win, or we will die.”
They were all very tired. So they ate their supper quickly and fell asleep. There were four guards on duty, but they were very tired, too, and one by one, they fell asleep.
The Romans were not asleep. Quickly they gathered at the foot of the hill. Slowly they went up the hill. Closer they came to the sleeping Scots. They were almost at the top. A few minutes more the war would be over. Suddenly, one of them put his foot on a thistle (蓟). He cried out and his sudden cry woke the Scots. In a minute they were on their feet and ready for a battle. The fighting was hard, but it did not last long. The Scots wiped out the Romans and saved Scotland.
The thistle is not a beautiful plant. It has sharp needles all over it. Few people liked it. But the people of Scotland liked it so much that they made it their national flower.
1. Hundreds of years ago, the Romans ________.| A．came from the north through England to make war on Scotland |
| B．came to the north Scotland from England to make war on Scotland |
| C．came from the north of England to fight the Scots |
| D．came to the north from the south of Britain to fight the Scots |
| A．they were too tired to sleep well |
| B．one of the guards pretended to sleep |
| C．one of the Romans stepped on a thistle and let out a cry |
| D．the Romans got too close and they discovered them |
| A．get on their feet | B．at their feet |
| C．under their feet | D．back on their feet |
| A．is lovely, though not beautiful |
| B．gives them happiness |
| C．is a kind of useful plant |
| D．helped the Scots to win the battle against the Romans |
【推荐1】It was June 15, and in two days I would be turning thirty. I was insecure about entering a new decade of my life and feared that my best years were now behind me.
My daily routine included going to the gym for a workout before going to work. Every morning I would see my friend Nicholas at the gym. He was seventy-nine years old and in terrific shape. As I greeted Nicholas on this particular day, he noticed I wasn’t full of my usual vitality and asked if there was anything wrong. I told him I was feeling anxious about turning thirty. I wondered how I would look back on my life once I reached Nicholas’ sage, so I asked him, “What was the best time of your life?”
Without hesitation, Nicholas replied, “Well, Joe, this is my philosophical answer to your philosophical question.”
“When I was a child in Austria and everything was taken care of for me and I was nurtured by my parents, that was the best time of my life.”
“When I was going to school and learning the things I know today, that was the best time of my life.”
“When I got my first job and had responsibilities and got paid for my efforts, that was the best time of my life.”
“When I met my wife and fell in love, that was the best time of my life.”
“The Second World War came, and my wife and I had to flee Austria to save our lives. When we were together and safe on a ship bound for North America, that was the best time of my life.”
“When we came to Canada and started a family, that was the best time of my life.”
“When I was a young father, watching my children grow up, that was the best time of my life.”
“And now, Joe, I am seventy-nine years old. I have my health, I feel good and I am in love with my wife just as I was when we first met. This is the best time of my life.”
1. Why did the author feel anxious according to the article?| A．He would be 30 in two days. |
| B．He was worried about getting old. |
| C．He didn’t go to the gym to exercise. |
| D．Nicholas asked questions he didn’t want to answer. |
| A．He spent his childhood with his grandparents in Austria. |
| B．He dropped out of school, found a job and got paid. |
| C．He took part in the Second World War and met his wife. |
| D．He started a family and became a young father in Canada. |
| A．Casual. | B．Anxious. | C．Positive. | D．Negative. |
| A．Live a day at a time. | B．You get what you pay for. |
| C．Every man has his price. | D．Strike while the iron is hot. |
【推荐2】School had just started in August when Conner began throwing up for no reason. It wasn’t long before the boy also began suffering terrible headaches. In February a 1.7-inch tumor was found in his brain and Conner was set to begin to receive radiation (放射疗法) treatments. Before treatments start, technicians make a white plastic mask (面罩) to keep patients immovable and protect unaffected parts of the brain while radiation is directed at the tumor.
It’s an unpleasant experience and a frightening time. The doctor Cook decided that the masks could at least be made to look like something fun — maybe Batman or Mickey Mouse. “I started thinking these masks are white and not fun at all for kids,” she told The Greenville News. “I felt like if we could make it a little more fun for them, they might be a little more excited about coming in for the treatment. Because the kids are afraid. While the treatment itself isn’t physically painful, it can cause a lot of anxiety (焦虑). And the treatment is required daily for up to six weeks. “
And the masks really make a difference. “The kids really like them,” Cook said. “It makes what is, let’s face it, a terrible experience, a nice experience because they get to choose something themselves.”
When new children come in for the treatment, Cook finds out what their favorite movies or cartoon characters are. Then she sets about creating the mask by drawing the image she wants onto paper, sticking it with glue, and once it’s dry, she applies the colors using paints. Each child can take the mask home once the treatment ends.
“Coming to the doctor always means fear and pain. I wanted to make it fun,” she said. “The kids really love it. It’s something they enjoy and can relate to. And it fills an interest I have. I get great pleasure from it.”
1. Why was the plastic mask used according to Paragraph 1?| A．To check the patient’s brain. |
| B．To reduce the patient’s headache. |
| C．To prevent the patient from throwing up. |
| D．To protect the patient’s brain during the treatment. |
| A．It can be received at home. |
| B．It has to be finished in a month. |
| C．It may make the patients feel worried. |
| D．It will cause huge physical pain for patients. |
| A．Offer them some free masks as gifts. |
| B．Show them their favorite movies or TV shows. |
| C．Dress them up as cartoon characters. |
| D．Make the masks more interesting to kids. |
| A．Love can treat the terrible sickness. |
| B．Kindness can bring warmth and joy. |
| C．Health matters to everyone. |
| D．Creativity leads to success. |
【推荐3】A long time ago, there was an emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he liked, then the emperor would give him the area of land he would have covered.
Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much as possible.
Finally, the horseman was exhausted and dying. He asked himself, “Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I need only a very small area to bury myself.”
The story above is similar with the journey of our life. We push very hard everyday to make more money, to get power. We don’t pay attention to our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauties and the hobbies we love. One day when we look back, we will realize that we don’t really need that much.
Life is not only about making money, getting power. Life is definitely not only about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauties and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of work and play. Happiness is also the meaning and the purpose of life.
So, take it easy! Do what you want to do and appreciate nature. Life is fragile and short.
1. What did the emperor promise to the horseman?| A．He could ride his horse. |
| B．He could get much land. |
| C．He could ride as fast as he wanted. |
| D．He could get as much land as he had covered on the horse. |
| A．He got what he wanted. | B．He got a lot of land area. |
| C．He got nothing. | D．He got a very small area. |
| A．We should enjoy life. |
| B．We only should pay attention to the work. |
| C．We should not only work hard but also enjoy the life. |
| D．We should work hard to make much money and get much power. |
| A．Because work is necessary. |
| B．Because life is fragile and short. |
| C．Because we couldn’t get enough power. |
| D．Because we couldn’t get enough money. |
【推荐1】They started the school year as strangers and they are ending the year as family. I started this school year like a regular school year and Damien like a regular student, Finn Lanning said. "One day, he showed up and just said he wasn't going to be back anymore. And when I questioned him about that, he told me that he was going back to live in the hospital for his illness."
Damien has a kidney disorder called FSGS, which requires treatment for 12 hours each day. He is in great need of a new kidney. According to Lanning, the 13-year-old wasn't suitable for a transplant because he is homeless. "When you're living in the hospital, you’re not able to be on the transplant list because folks who don't have stable housing are considered high risk for them,“ Lanning said.
Damien ended up in the foster care system due to his medical needs. When a suitable home couldn't be found, he was forced to live in the hospital. During that time, he couldn't leave to attend school.
“As I learned more about his story and what he was facing and what his needs were, it just became really hard for me to look the other way；" Lanning said. Lanning decided to step in, and despite not having any children of his own, he offered to take Damien in.
"It's going good,“ said Damien. He has also been moved to the top of the waiting list for a new kidney. He is hoping he can have the transplant within the next two weeks. In addition to a second chance at life, he is also getting a second chance at having a family.
1. Why did Damien ask to leave the school?| A．He had to receive treatment. | B．He wasn't fond of so many strangers. |
| C．He needed a warm and rich family. | D．He was bored of teachers' questions. |
| A．Keeping a healthy diet | B．Having a suitable home |
| C．Taking special medicines | D．Living in the hospital for days |
| A．pay attention | B．look around | C．stand by | D．take part |
| A．Finding a House for a Sick Student. |
| B．Getting a Treatment from a Good Teacher. |
| C．Student leaving the School for a Transplant. |
| D．Teacher Helping Student by Offering Him a Home. |
【推荐2】Fishing is my favourite sport. I often fish for hours without catching anything. But this does not worry me. Some fishermen are unlucky. Instead of catching fish, they catch old boots and rubbish. I am even less lucky. I never catch anything -- not even old boots. After having spent whole mornings on the river, I always go home with an empty bag. 'You must give up fishing!' my friends say. 'It's a waste of time.' But they don't realize one important thing. I'm not really interested in fishing. I am only interested in sitting in a boat and doing nothing at all!
1. ________ is the author’s favourite sport?| A．Skating. | B．Fishing. |
| C．Catching old boots. | D．Sitting in a boat. |
| A．lucky | B．interested |
| C．happy | D．unlucky |
| A．Old boots and rubbish. | B．Fish. |
| C．An empty bag. | D．Nothing. |
| A．Because fishing is good for health. |
| B．Because he likes catching old boots. |
| C．Because it’s a waste of time. |
| D．Because he likes doing nothing at all. |
Well, I had nothing against feeling great and if Alex could jog every day, anyone could. So I took up jogging seriously and gave it a good two months of my life, and not a day more. Based on my experience, jogging is the most overvalued form of exercise around, and judging from the number of the people who left our neighborhood jogging army. I’m not alone in my opinion.
First of all, jogging is very hard on the body. Your legs and feet a real pounding（追击）ruining down a road for two or three miles. I developed foot, leg, and back problems. Then I read about a nationally famous jogger who died of a heart attack while jogging, and I had something else to worry about. Jogging doesn’t kill hundreds of people, but if you have any physical weaknesses, jogging will surely bring them out, as they did with me.
Secondly, I got no enjoyment out of jogging. Putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes isn’t my idea of fun. Jogging is also a lonely pastime. Some joggers say, “I love being out there with just my thoughts” Well, my thoughts began to bore me, and most of them were on how much my legs hurt.
And how could I enjoy something that brought me pain? And that wasn’t just the first week: it was practically every day for two months. I never got past the pain level, and pain isn’t fun. What a cruel way to do it! So many other exercises, including walking, lead to almost the same results painlessly, so why jog?
I don’t jog any more, and I don’t think I ever will. I’m walking two miles three times a week at a fast pace, and that feels good. I bicycle to work when the weather is good. I’m getting exercise, and I’m enjoying it at the same time. I could never say the same for jogging, and I’ve found a lot of better ways to stay in shape.
1. From the first paragraph, we learn that in the writer’s neighborhood ______.
| A．jogging became very popular |
| B．people jogged only during the daytime |
| C．Alex organized an army of joggers |
| D．jogging provided a chance to get together |
| A．heart attacks | B．Back problems | C．famous joggers | D．physical weaknesses |
| A．He felt it was worth a try. | B．He was very fond of it. |
| C．He was strongly against it. | D．He thought it must be painful. |
| A．He disliked doing exercise outside. |
| B．He found it neither healthy nor interesting. |
| C．He was afraid of having a heart attack. |
| D．He was worried about being left alone. |
| A．not everyone enjoys jogging |
| B．he is the only person who hates jogging |
| C．nothing other than jogging can help people keep fit |
| D．jogging makes people feel greater than any other sport. |
【推荐1】Pali Overnight Adventures offers children and teens exciting experiences this summer. From broadcasting to street art, these are just 4 of the 17 highly unique camps being offered.
Broadcasting Camp
Become the next star reporter
news writer, director or producer. While running every aspect of our own news station, kids and their fellow campers will create and host a broadcast airing each night at dinner for the entire camp. Every night it goes on the web, keeping parents and the world informed of the happenings at Pali.
Secret Agent Camp
In the movie Mission Impossible, Tom Cruise made being a secret agent seem like the coolest job ever. Campers who sign up for the 2-week secret agent camp can get to know about the life of real secret agents by learning strategies and military skills on the paintball field.
Culinary Camp
If your child enjoys being in the kitchen, then the culinary camp is definitely the right fit. Campers learn technical skills of roasting, frying and cutting, as well as some recipes that they can take home and share with their families.
Street Art Camp
This camp takes creative license to an entirely new level. Campers will share their colorful ideas and imagination with each other and work together to visualize, sketch and paint with non-traditional techniques to create the coolest mural which will be displayed in public for all to see.
1. Which camp will you choose if you are interested in survival skills?| A．Broadcasting Camp | B．Secret Agent |
| C．Camp Culinary Camp | D．Street Art Camp |
| A．An ad | B．A scientific magazine |
| C．A novel | D．A news report |
| A．To advertise 4 camps |
| B．To introduce Pali |
| C．To introduce Pali Overnight Adventures |
| D．To appeal to children and teens to sign up for the camps |
Movies in the theater get their recognition at awards ceremonies such as the Oscars. But how about movies for phones? They are getting their turn at MoFilm — the first mobile film festival.
The first MoFilm competition received 250 entries from more than 100 countries. Entries were restricted to films that were five minutes or less in length — ideal for viewing and sharing on mobile phones. An independent jury then selected a shortlist of five film-makers. The winner was chosen from the shortlist by an audience voting using their phones.
New Platforms
The awards highlight the increasing impact that mobile phones are making in the entertainment industry. Many grassroots filmmakers start out with short films. They are thwarted by the lack of opportunities to screen their work. Therefore, mobile phones are increasingly being seen as a new platform for these short works.
It is a good place for anyone who wants to express themselves and find a way to have that expression be seen by a wide audience. Just think about how many people have mobile phones in the world!
New Technology Advances
MoFilm is pioneering content for mobile and online services that is a world away from Hollywood. The majority of films made for mobiles are now short in length, taking into account the screen size. However this could be overcome as technology advances.
In the near future, longer films will likely be seen on the mobile phone. And there are mobile companies creating phones where users can watch movies at higher quality.
Wherever you see movies, one thing is certain: the quality of work, the simple ability at story telling and the thing that inspires someone to tell a story can really come from anywhere.
1. At the first MoFilm, ________.| A．movies in the theater got their recognition |
| B．more than 100 countries took part in the competition |
| C．ideal films were five minutes or less in length |
| D．the winner was chosen by experts’ voting |
| A．disappointed | B．surprised | C．frightened | D．encouraged |
| A．online services | B．the screen size |
| C．technology advances | D．the mobile phone |
【推荐3】If you want to help others and improve the world, you still can, without leaving the house. Many volunteer opportunities require only a computer or a phone. We’ve rounded up four websites offering a variety of choices.
Points of Light
Founded by President George Bush, this is the world’s biggest organization about volunteer service.
History and garden lovers can help make collections more available by copying historic documents or tagging (加标签) images of American gardens by plant type in its database.
Help research cold cases of missing and unidentified people for the Doe Network.
Volunteer Match
This is a huge database of more than one million virtual (虚拟的) volunteer listings.
Got a legal background? Lawyers can review online content for Illinois Legal Aid.
Retired business owner? There are many opportunities to instruct small business owners in sales and marketing, business planning and product development.
Create the Good
AARP, the membership group for people 50+, operates this volunteer opportunities database for the 50+ age group.
Offer career advice to high school students in poor families in fields from baking to handyman by email for Career Village.
Raise awareness about scams (诈骗), especially those aimed at older people, identified by AARP’s National Fraud Team.
United Nations Volunteers
This group lists organizations for peace and development all over the world. You can:
Research money and its sources for young people who start business in Asia and the Pacific.
Brainstorm ideas to collect plastic waste in Cameroon.
Want to get involved? Click here to become a member or send an email to membership @seniorplanet.org to learn about opportunities.
1. What do all the volunteer opportunities have in common?| A．They are difficult to acquire. |
| B．They require no related knowledge. |
| C．They allow one to provide help at home. |
| D．They’re aimed at excellent professionals. |
| A．Teach the elderly how to bake. |
| B．Raise money for poor families. |
| C．Provide job suggestions for poor students. |
| D．Train teenagers to run their own businesses. |
| A．Points of Light. | B．Volunteer Match. |
| C．Create the Good. | D．United Nations Volunteers. |
