1 . Mom and Dad are two of the most important people in your life. Over your lifetime, they may influence you more than anyone else you will meet. So if your mom loves to read, you just might grow up carrying a book wherever you go, just as she does. But parents do a lot more than just pass on their hobbies. Moms and Dads need to care for their kids the minute their kids are born. Most parents will do this as long as they live.
Here are some ways you can stay close, get along well, and build a strong relationship(关系)with your parents.
Spend time together. Instead of playing computer games or watching TV, ask your mom and dad to play with you. Go outside together, or do some reading.
Be kind. Little things might mean a lot to your mom or dad. You can brighten a parent’s day with a hug(拥抱), a card, or a joke. It’s also lovely when a kid cleans up his or her room without being asked. And if you try not to fight with your brothers or sisters, your parents will be so happy!
Do your best at whatever you do. You don’t have to be perfect, but when you do your best, you make your parents proud. It makes them happy to see how you’re turning into a great kid. Why? Because it lets them know they’re doing a good job.
1. Who may influence you more than anyone else you will meet according to the passage?A.Teachers. | B.Friends. | C.Parents. | D.Grandparents. |
A.Spending time together. | B.Being kind. |
C.Doing your best at whatever you do. | D.Playing computer games or watching TV. |
A.clean up your room without being asked | B.fight with your brothers or sisters |
C.try your best to do something | D.give them a hug |
A.they make you become a good kid | B.they work hard |
C.they are perfect | D.they do well in their office work |
A.Two. | B.Three. | C.Four. | D.Five. |
2 .
Confucianism (儒家思想) has been followed by Chinese people for more than two thousand years.
To help people understand how to behave towards others, Confucianism teaches the Five Constants (五常). These are ren, yi, li, zhi and xin. They are general virtues (美德) around the world. The most important two are ren and li.
Ren is the feeling of care and love we should have for others. Confucius explained ren could best be understood as loving others. He is famous for teaching people “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others”. It is quite similar to what is known in the West as the Golden Rule (treat others as you wish to be treated).
While the meaning of ren is easy to understand, li is a little harder to express. It can be thought of as duty or even respect. Generally, li is the way we should connect with people in our everyday life. In Confucian writings, discussions about li include the proper way to drink tea and how to remember ancestors (祖先). While ren is mostly about our opinions and feelings, li is about how we express our opinions and feelings towards others and towards the world around us.
Perhaps the most well-known Confucian virtue is xiao. This is the duty children have to their parents. Xiao means loving, respecting, obeying and taking care of one’s parents in their old age. In Confucianism, xiao is important for a harmonious (和谐的) society: Without it, the whole world would fall into a mess.
1. Which are the most important of the Five Constants?A.Ren and yi. | B.Ren and li. | C.Li and xin. | D.Yi and zhi. |
A.博学于文,约之以礼。 | B.学而不思则罔,思而不学则殆。 |
C.己所不欲,勿施于人。 | D.君子和而不同,小人同而不和。 |
A.Building a peaceful society. | B.Taking care of one’s children. |
C.Obeying rules for drinking tea. | D.Learning all through one’s life. |
A.Its general virtues. | B.Its long history. |
C.Its new challenges. | D.Its golden rules. |
Imagine you are in a new city. You ask someone how to get to a bookstore. They tell you to go straight, turn left, and you will find it on your left. In fact, you can also find your way with a phone. Now imagine you are in an outdoor game. You only have a map and a compass, and instead of running down a city road, you may need to run around in the woods, climb over rocks and go up and down hills. Welcome to orienteering! In the game of orienteering, players use a map and a compass to find stations. These stations are called controls. A special flag, usually in bright colours, marks each control. Controls are not easy to find. They may be in front of a big rock or behind a tree. In most of the games, you’ll have to find controls in numbered order, but in some games you can change the order. At each control, players mark a card they carry with them and the card will be marked in different ways ( See Figure 1 ). The cards are very important because players must find all the controls to win. If someone misses a control, they won’t have that mark on their cards. They might cross the finish line first, but the next person to finish with a full card will win the game.
|
A.A map, a compass and a flag. | B.A flag, a compass and a card. |
C.A compass, a map and a card. | D.A phone, a compass and a map. |
A.You don’t need to mark the cards. |
B.You can’t miss any of the controls to win. |
C.You have to find controls in numbered order. |
D.You must be the first to pass the finish line to win. |
A.9. | B.10. | C.11. | D.12. |
4 . Progress means the act of going forward. Making any kind of progress can make us healthy and happy in life. By setting and actively working towards our goals, we can make progress in our life.
To make more progress in life, start looking at problems in a different way. Whatever happens, if we think positively, it can be useful and helpful. We need to know that problems are part of our life. After we solve problems one after another, we can make more progress and become stronger.
Having confidence (信心) is helpful for us to make progress. Confidence comes from different places, such as proper education, training or having good relationships. We should also stay with people who believe in our success and actively support us. These people can help push us towards progress.
Slow progress is still progress. Just as the old saying goes, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Progress usually comes a lot more slowly than we expect. Even if progress is slow, try not to be worried. One important thing is that we keep taking steps towards our goals, and another is that we clearly remember what our goals are all the time. The actual speed isn’t important.
The road to progress is not always smooth. Most progress often comes with setbacks along the way. Sometimes, maybe it feels like we’re taking one step forward and three steps back, but it won’t always be like that. Keep going towards our goals and we can much more easily make the progress we want.
Progress doesn’t always happen in a straight line. As long as we keep working, we will achieve higher levels.
1. What does progress make us do?A.Set lifelong goals. | B.Go forward easily. |
C.Live healthily and happily. | D.Think about new things. |
A.We should support different people. | B.Some people can push us to failure. |
C.Confidence helps us make progress. | D.Different schools expect the same progress. |
A.It often goes smoothly. | B.It still means progress. |
C.It sometimes stops progress. | D.It always gives us a clear mind. |
A.Prizes. | B.Advantages. | C.Excuses. | D.Difficulties. |
A.Ideas about Making Progress | B.Keys to Speeding up Progress |
C.Meanings of Having Confidence | D.Suggestions on Relationships |
5 . The Chinese pingfeng (folding screen) is an ancient invention and traditional Chinese furniture (家具). Its earliest common use dates from the Han Dynasty. The term pingfeng means protection from wind, showing its purpose at the very beginning.
As time passes, it has been made into different sizes with colourful paintings. On screens usually appears a dragon. It’s a symbol of light, growth and life-giving water. It also stands for nobility and power. The peacock, a beautiful bird, can be seen on screens, too. It’s a symbol of everlasting life. Beautiful flowers, which mean wealth and good luck, are also chosen as a popular design of the pingfeng. All the designs carry people’s beautiful wishes.
Behind the pingfeng lies an interesting story. In the past the unmarried daughter of a rich family was not supposed to see or be seen by men except her father, brothers or very close male cousins. When an admirer paid a visit however, she might take a secret look at him from a screen behind which she would be completely hidden. Her father would discuss poems with the young man and ask him to create one. If the daughter and her father were satisfied with the young man’s poem and his looks, she might agree to take him as a husband.
Today the pingfeng is back in fashion for its beauty and its practical (实际的) use as furniture. Acting as a moving wall or divider, it can be the perfect match (相配) for modern sofas and walls, which adds style to them.
The pingfeng is more than beautiful furniture.
1. What was the pingfeng used for at the very beginning?A.Protecting people from wind. | B.Dividing a room. |
C.Making a room beautiful. | D.Hiding a person. |
A.The dragon. | B.The peacock. | C.The water. | D.The flowers. |
A.By telling a story. | B.By giving examples. |
C.By comparing differences. | D.By explaining the result. |
A.The Practical Use of the Pingfeng |
B.A Beautiful Story of the Pingfeng |
C.Old Pingfeng in Modern Homes |
D.The Hidden Beauty of the Pingfeng |
6 . Presentation(展示)skills are important at school and in other areas of life. Some people don’t like giving presentations because they don’t know what to say or because they get nervous about public speaking. Here’s some advice to help you make presentations easier and more enjoyable.
1. Get organised
The best presentations are well planned and clearly organized. Think about topics(话题)and choose a proper one. In one topic, three or four main ideas will be fine. The beginning of your presentation should be interesting. For example, you can tell a short, funny story to make people laugh.
2. Use photos or videos
Try to use photos or videos. These things make your performance more exciting and help you remember what you’ re going to say. However, you shouldn’t use too many. The “star” of your presentation should be you, not your photos or videos.
3. Practice before your performance
You need to practice many times before the “big day”. Practice saying any unusual words. Then write the main ideas on small cards to help you remember. Practice in front of a mirror and time your presentation. Finally, you can record your performance or ask a friend to watch you and then make suggestions for improvements.
4. Connect with your audience(观众)
Always look at the audience when you speak. Stand up straight, but don’t stand still or move around much. Finally, be sure to thank your audience when you finish speaking. It’s a simple but good way to end any presentation.
1. How can you interest your listeners at the beginning?A.By listing your ideas. | B.By telling a funny story. |
C.By standing up straight. | D.By saying simple words. |
A.The day you prepare videos. | B.The day you get some advice. |
C.The day you visit your friends. | D.The day you make a presentation. |
A.To repeat topics. | B.To show thanks. |
C.To make suggestions. | D.To share main ideas. |
A.Did the writer try to teach us skills? |
B.Did the writer help us understand ideas? |
C.Did the writer invite us to attend a course? |
D.Did the writer ask us to be polite in public? |
7 . Tea and coffee are two of the most popular drinks in the world. However, people usually like one more than the other. These drinks also have very different uses.
Tea drinking started in China over 4,000 years ago. Tea is made from leaves. These days, some people drink tea for health, using it to help with stress(压力) or losing weight. However, most people in tea-drinking countries think of tea as more than just a healthy drink. In fact, tea drinking in some countries is a part of the culture. In Turkey(土耳其), tea is always there when people meet. Whether in someone’s home or a company, tea is always offered as a way of welcoming. In the UK, homes and offices usually have tea time. Tea and other dishes are served at tea time in the afternoon. It is a way of relaxing with friends or co-workers(同事).
Coffee came much later than tea, just over 1,000 years ago. Coffee is made from beans. Something in the coffee beans makes a person feel active. Most people do not drink coffee to relax. Instead, they drink coffee to get going. Many people drink coffee in the morning to help them wake up. Others will also drink coffee during short breaks in the afternoon to keep going through the working day. Some people may visit coffee shops just to meet and talk with friends. However, many people in coffee shops drink coffee while working on their computers.
Is tea or coffee more common in your country? Between the two, which do you like to drink more?
1. Where did tea drinking start?A.In Japan. | B.In China. | C.In Turkey. | D.In the UK. |
A.drink tea to get fat | B.offer tea to say goodbye |
C.think of tea as a bad drink | D.have tea to relax themselves |
A.Leaves. | B.Sugar. | C.Dishes. | D.Beans. |
A.Coffee came much earlier than tea. |
B.Many people drink coffee to wake up. |
C.Many people work on their computers in coffee shops. |
D.Some people meet and talk with friends in coffee shops. |
A.The Smells of Tea and Coffee | B.The Prices of Tea and Coffee |
C.The Different Cultures of Tea and Coffee | D.The Different Ways of Making Tea and Coffee |
8 . Why do We Yawn?
Do you yawn? There are about 20 reasons that scientists think are possible for yawning after research. They do not know exactly why yawning happens, but they do know many facts about yawning.
We know that everyone yawns in the same way. First you open your mouth slowly. Your mouth stays open for about five seconds. You take in a lot of air and then push it out. Then you quickly close your mouth. We also know that yawning is contagious. When you see someone yawn, you yawn, too.
Many people say they yawn because they are bored or tired. That might be true. People do often yawn before they sleep and after they wake up. However, we know that people also yawn when they are excited or nervous. Olympic runners, for example, often yawn before a race. Why is that? In 2007, scientists found that a yawn can help a warm brain cool down.
Some scientists believe that yawning makes you notice things more quickly. When you yawn, you breathe deeply. You also stretch (强化) the muscles (肌肉) in your face, mouth, and neck. Your eardrums stretch, too. Maybe this helps you to be quicker to notice things.
In some countries, people think yawning is not nice. People put their hands over their mouths to cover a yawn. In other countries, people think yawning is healthy. They think that opening the mouth very big can let good things in. When they breathe out, they think that bad things go out of the body with the air.
Scientists do not spend much time studying yawning. That is probably because yawning does not hurt. It is just something we do.
1. What does the underlined word “contagious” in Paragraph 2 mean?A.Able to spread quickly. | B.Able to breathe easily. |
C.Able to change easily. | D.Able to sleep quickly. |
A.They are too tired or too bored. |
B.A yawn can let good things in. |
C.A yawn can help a warm brain cool down. |
D.A yawn can stretch the muscles in their faces. |
A.Reasons for yawning. | B.Advantages of yawning. |
C.Disadvantages of yawning. | D.Different ideas about yawning. |
A.People use different ways to yawn. |
B.Scientists will do further research on yawning. |
C.It’s hard to notice things quickly while yawning. |
D.Some scientists think yawning is good for people. |
A. | B. | C. | D. |
The Horsetail Fall (瀑布) is one of Yosemite National Park’s most amazing views. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits the Horsetail Fall at just the right angle (角度) to light the upper parts of the waterfall. And when conditions are right, the Horsetail Fall becomes orange and red at sunset. It is like red-hot lava (熔岩) pouring down from the top of the El Capitan. So, it got the name “firefall”.
The firefall is a perfect match of the weather, the fall, the time and the watching place. It usually appears on dry, warm and cloudless days. There must be enough flowing water to make a firefall too. So there must be enough snow on the mountain top, and it turns into water on warm afternoons.
The sun goes to the best place before the fall in late February. And the best time to watch the fall is 5 to 15 minutes before the sunset. Only at this time can visitors see the firefall. The El Capitan Picnic Area is the best place to watch, because it is close to the fall and is perfect to set up cameras and tents.
Every year in February, thousands of photographers come to watch the firefall. Although the view may appear just minutes before sunset, many of them have to come hours earlier to get a right place to set their cameras in time. “I’m just saying that the Yosemite Firefall is something you don’t want to miss during the winter,” says Kate Moore, a traveller and the lead content creator for ParkedInParadise.com.
1. Paragraph 1 mainly tells us ________.A.how the firefall got its name | B.why it’s easy to see the firefall |
C.who was the first to find the firefall | D.on which day we can visit the frefall |
A.It lasts for half an hour before the sunset. |
B.It usually appears on wet, warm and cloudy days. |
C.Rivers provide enough flowing water to make a fall. |
D.Its best watching place is the El Capitan Picnic Area. |
A.the firefall is worth seeing | B.it’s dangerous to watch the firefall |
C.the firefall brings little surprise | D.it’s a waste of time to visit the firefall |
A.Art. | B.Nature. | C.Technology. | D.History. |
10 . Nobody wants to lose, but we must accept that losing is a part of life. After all, we can’t win all the time. However, we can learn something valuable from every failure(失败). This may help us succeed in the future. So we must know how to be a good loser.
We must not be afraid of losing. When we lose, just take it with a smile and look on the bright side of it. Failure can’t be avoided in our life. Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb(灯泡). When he was asked how he felt, he said that he hadn’t failed 10,000 times but had learned 10,000 things which didn’t work. We must know that history is full of examples of men and women who achieved success although they failed many times.
Losing is not very disgraceful. We must accept our failure and learn to take advantage of it. Remember that it can be helpful. Take action to walk out of it. When we lose, think about what we did and how we can improve. If someone else can help, we’ll be lucky enough. Maybe he or she has been through the same experience before. Many people enjoy helping others solve problems. This can save us a lot of time in learning how to avoid the same mistakes in the future.
We should face our failure when we lose. There is only one winner in every competition. Some win, while some lose. That is a usual way of life. If we offer our congratulations(祝贺)to the winners and share in their happiness, we won’t feel sorry for our failure.
In a word, being a good loser will help us to succeed in life. It might be painful at the beginning, but there are many advantages. Good losers set examples to us, and most importantly, they finally win.
1. What can we learn from every failure according to the text?A.A way of life. | B.A valuable thing. | C.A general rule. | D.A secret of success. |
A.He got help from others. | B.He happened to make it. |
C.He avoided possible mistakes. | D.He saw the bright side of losing. |
A.Bad. | B.Personal. | C.Dangerous. | D.Interesting. |
A.Express the regrets. | B.Forget the failure. |
C.Share in the winners’ enjoyment. | D.Join in another competition. |
A.Ideas about How to Avoid Mistakes | B.Experience in Dealing with Problems |
C.Advice on How to Be a Good Loser | D.Advantages of both Success and Failure |