1 . In an attempt to win back old customers, restaurants and companies often introduce new menu items or new flavors. Most of these are successful with customers because they have always been researched and tested by companies before they meet the public. However, there are still some that are so unpopular with customers and they fail so badly as a product that they become infamous.

One of the most well-known marketing failures happened in 1985 with New Coke, a soft drink created to replace the original Coca-Cola flavor. The Coca-Cola Company tested several new flavors and found that people always preferred a sweeter soda. As a result, the CEO decided that the sweeter soda would replace the original Coca-Cola drink.

Many customers, however, soon started to express their dissatisfaction with the new drink. The Coca-Cola Company received over 1,500 angry telephone calls every day. The Coca-Cola Company actually employed special experts to talk to customers because they were so angry and sad about the change. Some Americans were buying old Coca-Cola drinks from overseas where the new drink had not yet been introduced. And in some parts of America people were so angry that they emptied bottles of New Coke into the street.

So many people were unhappy with Coca-Cola’s new drink that the company decided only three months later to return to the old Coca-Cola drink. On July 10,1985, the Coca-Cola Company said that it would bring back the old Coke and rename the drink “Coca-Cola Classic” or “Coke Classic”. Thousands of customers phoned the company to express their support.

Even today, business experts are interested in this case. Even though the Coca-Cola Company had carefully tested and experimented with New Coke before introducing it to customers, the New drink was still very unpopular. So, what did Coca-Cola do wrong? It seems the company simply did not understand customers’ deep historical and emotional attachment to the drink.

1. Why do companies usually introduce new menu items?

A．To attract past customers.

B．To attract new customers.

C．To attract elderly customers.

D．To attract customers with special needs.

2. What is the difference between New Coke and the original one?

A．New Coke is sweeter.

B．New Coke is more acidic.

C．New Coke’s color is lighter.

D．New Coke’s bottle is bigger.

3. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Why New Coke failed in America.

B．The harm New Coke did to people’ s health.

C．How customers acted in answer to the introduction of New Coke.

D．The comparison between sales of New Coke and the original one.

4. When was New Coke put on the market?

A．In May 1985.	B．In April 1985.
C．In June 1985.	D．In July 1985.

5. What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A．The reasons why New Coke succeeded overseas.

B．The history of the Coca-Cola Company in the 1990s.

C．The difference between New Coke and Coke Classic.

D．The importance of people’s feelings about old products.

2 . What is one of the most boring and tiresome words ever? Like discipline, responsibility is one of those words you have probably heard so many times from authority figures that you have been a bit allergic to it. Still, it's one of the most important things to grow and to feel good about your life. Without it as a foundation nothing else in any personal development book really works.

It's been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying “It got lost” to “I lost it”. Indeed, being accountable, understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happen are important signs of emotional and moral maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main supports of good character.

Many people have been refusing to grow up and avoiding the burdens implied in being accountable. Yes, responsibility sometimes requires us to do things that are unpleasant or even frightening. It asks us to carry our own weight, prepare and set goals and exercise the discipline to reach our ambitions. But the benefits of accepting responsibility are far more important than the short-lived advantages of refusing to do so. No one makes his or her life better by avoiding responsibility. In fact, irresponsibility is a form of self-forced servitude (苦役)to circumstances and to other people.

George Bernard Shaw once said, “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.” “Man must stop owing his problems to his environment and learn again to exercise his will ---his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals,” said Albert Schweitzer.

The following incident shows blaming others and not taking full responsibility: Bernard L. Brow. Jr. once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital’s housekeeping group.

The nurse decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping group. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed. “It's not my response. “Well, it's not mine.” she said, “the puddle is too small.”

The angry patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. “Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?” he asked. It was, and that was the end of the argument.

So, responsibility is about our ability to respond to circumstances and to choose the attitudes, actions and reactions that shape our lives. It is a concept of power that puts us in the driver's seat. The grand sight of the potential of our lives can only be appreciated when we begin to be accountable and independent. If you want more control over your life and the pleasures, power of freedom and independence, all you have to do is be responsible. Responsible people not only depend on themselves, but show others that they can be depended on.

1. Those who escape from accepting responsibility________.

A．can't achieve their goals in a short time

B．can benefit from not growing up in the end

C．can miss the advantages of being a responsible person

D．can avoid the burdens of unpleasant or frightening things

2. What does the underlined part “get on” mean?

A．Succeed.	B．Struggle.
C．Serve.	D．Exist.

3. What does George Bernard Shaw's saying imply?

A．We shouldn't care what kind of situations we're in.

B．We shouldn't owe failure to the sense of responsibility.

C．We should bear responsibility regardless of situations.

D．We should first step out of our present circumstances.

4. Why was the patient quite angry, with the nurse and the housekeeper?

A．Because he had slipped on the water by chance.

B．Because he had to mop up the water by himself.

C．Because he didn't like the noise made in hospital.

D．Because he found them refusing their responsibility.

5. What is the author's understanding of responsibility in the last paragraph?

A．It shapes our lives with more opportunities.

B．It enables us to react with dependable attitude.

C．It encourages us to be more helpful and independent.

D．It strengthens our ability to fight against bad circumstances.

3 . Matilda
By Roald Dahl
Price: $ 10.25

Gifted and sweet, Matilda White goes largely unnoticed by her less-than-loving parents. Things only get worse when she goes to school. Luckily, her teacher, Miss Honey, helps Matilda discover how special she is and encourages her to create the life she dreams about.

Ivy & Bean
By Annie Barrows
Price: $4.59

When Ivy moves in across the street, Bean is sure they won’t be friends. They are just too different. However, when Ivy helps Bean get away from her sister, who is trying to get Bean in trouble, a friendship blossoms between the unlikely pair. Kids who enjoy this book can read the whole series over the summer.

Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed
By Emily Pearson
Price: $ 7.99

When Mary decides to give some fresh-picked wild blueberries to a neighbor, she starts a chain reaction of kindness. After Mrs. Bishop makes and shares newly-made cake, her recipients go on to spread kindness to others they meet. Mary might be a common little girl, but she learns that even children can help make the world a better place.

Frederick
By Leo Lionni
Price: $ 14.39

Frederick is a mouse who lives with his family in a large field. During the summer, all of the mice begin to store food to prepare for the cold winter months. All of the mice except Frederick, that is. Instead, Frederick collects things such as rays of sun, rainbows and words. Although the others think he is stupid, they come to learn that everyone’s contribution counts.

1. Who helps Matilda discover how special she is?

A．Her friend, Annie.	B．Her neighbor, Mary.
C．Her father, Mr. White.	D．Her teacher, Miss Honey.

2. Whose book is mainly about friendship?

A．Roald Dahl’s.	B．Leo Lionni’s.
C．Emily Pearson’s.	D．Annie Barrows’s.

3. What does Mary decide to give to her neighbor ?

A．Cakes.	B．Blueberries.
C．Books.	D．Flowers.

4. How much should you pay for a book of animals?

A．$4.59.	B．$7.99.
C．$14.39.	D．$10.25.

5. Where is the text most likely to have been taken from?

A．A story book.	B．A lesson plan.
C．A book review.	D．A kid’s magazine.

4 . The study of psychology is facing a crisis. The Research Excellence Framework (the Ref) has led to a research culture which is holding back attempts to stabilize psychology in particular, and science in general. The Ref encourages universities to push for groundbreaking innovative, and exciting research in the form of 4* papers, but it does not reward the efforts of those who replicate studies.

The point of replicating a study is to test whether a statistically significant result will appear again if the experiment is repeated. Of course, a similar result may not appear – casting into questions the validity of the results from the first experiment.

Last year, the Open Science Collaboration attempted to replicate 100 studies from highly ranked psychological journalists. While 97% of the original studies had a statistically significant result, just 36% of the replications had the same outcome. Equally worrying: when an effect did appear, it was often much smaller than previously thought.

Recent data calls into question some widely influential findings in psychological science. These problems are not confined to psychology however – many findings published in scientific literature may actually be false.

Science is supposed to be self-correcting and reproducible is a cornerstone of the scientific method. Yet, we simply aren't invested in replicating findings. We all want to be good researchers and understand more about how the world works. So why are we so reluctant to check our conclusions are valid?

Because no incentive is provided by the system we carry out our research in. In the UK, the Ref ranks the published works of researchers according to their originality (how innovative is the research?), significance (does it have practical or commercial importance?), and rigour (is the research technically right?). Outputs are then awarded one to four stars. 4* papers are considered world-leading. The cumulative total of 3* and 4* papers determines research funding allocation and has a knock-on effect on institutional position in league tables(排名表) and therefore attractiveness to students. Obviously, the more publications, the better.

Worrying, many academics admit to engaging in at least one questionable research practice in order to achieve publication. Examples of this include: coming up with a theory after data is collected, stopping collecting data when an effect appears in case it disappears later, or only reporting the significant effects from collected data. Others simply fabricate data-Dutch psychologist Diederik Stapel shockingly falsified data from more than 50 studies.

The Ref completely harms our efforts to produce a reliable body of knowledge. Why? The focus on originality – publications exploring new areas of research using new paradigms, and avoiding testing well-established theories – is the exact opposite of what science needs to be doing to solve the troubling replication crisis. According to Ref standards, replicating an already published piece of work is simply uninteresting.

With the next Ref submission just four years away, many researchers are effectively faced with a choice: be a good scientist, or be a successful academic who gets funding and a promotion.

1. What crisis is the study of psychology facing?

A．The Ref has led to a revolution in not only psychology but also science.

B．The universities are encouraged to generate more groundbreaking research.

C．The Ref’s indifference to replications of studies has led to worrying effects.

D．The Ref tends to set up a different standard for replications of studies.

2. What do the numbers in Para. 3 indicate?

A．Scientific studies may not prove scientific.

B．Science needs to be updated frequently.

C．Journals should be stricter with studies,

D．It is getting hard to count on scientists.

3. The Ref's focus on originality has brought about ___________.

A．a reliable body of knowledge

B．publications exploring new areas

C．tests of well-established theories

D．uninteresting replications of studies

4. We can infer from the passage that the Ref ____________.

A．is a system for assessing the quality of research in UK universities

B．provides UK researchers with funding and job opportunities

C．recognizes researchers' work and adds to their attractiveness to students

D．is planning to change its standard before the next Ref submission

5. What does the writer mean by saying ''be a good scientist''?

A．Reform the standards that have been set up by the Ref.

B．Avoid using false research practices to test old theories.

C．Give up possible funding and promotion given by universities.

D．Contribute to the solution to the replication crisis.

5 . I believe that my actions show my beliefs, not my words.

I wrote a letter to my kids a few years ago. It’s three pages long, and it sums up my life experience of four decades. By the time they reach adulthood, they will have heard most of their father’s advice in that letter: live in the moment, do not attach yourself to physical things, treat others the way you would like to be treated, etc. I sealed the letter in a white envelope, and wrote instructions that nobody should open it unless something horrible happened to me.

As a police officer, I have seen life disappear in an instant. I realize that could happen to me at any time. Yet knowing that letter is there in my locker makes me more comfortable with my own death.

Every day, when I open my locker, I see the letter. It makes me aware that I should be careful at work, and show my children and the people I have connection with that I try to practice everything I have written. If that day comes and my children finally read the letter, I hope that because of my actions, they will take my written beliefs to heart and improve upon my example.

But for me, it’s not enough to write down my beliefs. I try to be the best person I can be every day---even in very difficult circumstances. I am more successful some days than others, but sometimes I curse too much. Sometimes I am cynical, unwilling to believe that people have good and honest reasons for doing something. I also get stressed and upset, yelling at my kids sometimes, and sometimes I am not as loving or as sympathetic as I should be. In fact, I am far from perfect, but I hope my children will eventually realize that perfection is an illusion. What really matters is that, instead of just writing down our beliefs, we all take action to be the best humans we can be.

1. Which of the following can best describe the author?

A．Hardworking and humorous.	B．Courageous and sensitive.
C．Selfless.	D．Considerate.

2. Why did the author open the locker to see the letter every day?

A．He wanted to confirm his beliefs.

B．The letter served as a reminder.

C．He kept adding something new to it.

D．His kids asked him to check it.

3. What can we learn about the letter written by the author?

A．The author was in his forties when writing it.

B．The kids were too young to understand the tips in it.

C．The author was sure of its positive effects on his kids.

D．The author hoped it wouldn’t be opened until bad things occurred.

4. Which can replace the underlined word in the last paragraph?

A．Doubtful about others’ motivations.

B．Curious about everything around.

C．Particular about himself.

D．Unsatisfied about his profession.

5. What is the author’s understanding of life?

A．That fathers should take care of their children.

B．To become a perfect man.

C．To be better today than yesterday.

D．That bad guys deserve to be punished.

6 . A year ago, we bought our son a bike for his birthday. In this way he could stay more active. Plus, we didn't have to push a tricycle around the neighborhood.

I thought he even wanted to sleep with his bike. He got on, rode, and had a huge smile on his face. When we went out for a walk, he would ask me politely if he could ride his bike. I said yes. Then he would play for a long time and didn’t want to go home. He rode in every season: winter, spring, summer and fall.

This year, we had him join in a program called SprocKids started by our local mountain bike club. As you can imagine, my little mountain biker showed great interest in it. On the first night, he tried riding over the obstacles (障碍物), which made me worried and frightened. One obstacle was even taller than me, but he persisted.

Later, one day, he found an old bike in the storeroom. It was mine. He called me out and said, ''Mommy, will you go biking with me? '' I was surprised because I hadn’t biked since high school, but I decided to cycle with him.

I was highly rewarded for my efforts. On the one hand, I took part in an activity with my child. And I didn't have to do all the work by pushing or carrying him. It was an activity he loved and he told me about every path and every move excitedly. On the other hand, we developed a closer bond (关系).

In my opinion, it's very important for kids to stay active. And parents' encouragement is very important for them to stay active. But words of encouragement are not enough. It's better if parents can do a physical activity together with their kids.

1. Getting a bike for his birthday, the author's son ________.

A．loved it very much

B．wanted a better gift

C．just rode it for fun at times

D．spent much time learning to ride it

2. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．He never gave up.

B．He hardly succeeded.

C．He changed his mind.

D．He became frightened.

3. What do we learn about the author ?

A．She wasn't active in high school.

B．She hasn't ridden her bike for many years.

C．She bought a new bike to cycle with her son.

D．She once dreamed of becoming a mountain biker.

4. What does the author probably think of cycling with her son?

A．It takes her too much time.

B．It completely changes her.

C．It greatly benefits her.

D．It is very tiring.

5. What does the writer intend to tell us through this passage?

A．Kids love to spend time outdoors.

B．Encouragement is very important to kids.

C．Children should be encouraged to ride a bike.

D．Parents should do physical activities with their kids.

7 . Ten years ago, my mom gave me a strange but welcome gift-a blood pressure monitor(血压监测仪). My _______ had told me I had high blood pressure during a medical exam, so she wanted to _______ that I was keeping track of it.

It really _______ me to suffer from such disease in my early twenties. I had long been _______nameless anxiety and stress, and that ended up being ten years' long pain. Through lots of medical care, exercise, and diet improvement, I've slowly got _______, day by day.

I was _______ to say that I no longer needed my blood pressure monitor. My mom was healthy and didn't need it either. But I knew she _______ a lot of money back then even though she didn’t have much, so I _______ to put it up for sale online. A woman said she wanted to _______it after I posted it on the website.

The other day, I met up with the woman and her mother, who looked weak, in a coffee shop. Neither of them seemed in good financial (财务上的)conditions. The woman carefully took some money from her wallet to give me. It ________ me then and there. I could find no ________ to let her pay me. She really needed the thing and I just had the thing in hand. Thinking for a while, I took out the blood pressure monitor and said, ''Here, just take it.'' She was ________ and attempted to hand me the money again. I insisted that she should take it. She was excited and then expressed her ________. I wished them good health and a happy life. ________ I didn't repay my mom in cash, I was more than happy that I repaid her by passing on her gift to someone who really ________ it.

1.

A．mother

B．teacher

C．friend

D．doctor

2.

A．prove

B．remember

C．make sure

D．comment on

3.

A．shocked

B．ignored

C．controlled

D．encouraged

4.

A．recording

B．imagining

C．describing

D．experiencing

5.

A．tired

B．better

C．braver

D．hopeless

6.

A．angry

B．sorry

C．pleased

D．embarrassed

7.

A．spent

B．earned

C．lent

D．raised

8.

A．failed

B．decided

C．afforded

D．promised

9.

A．buy

B．share

C．donate

D．borrow

10.

A．hurt

B．touched

C．reminded

D．disappointed

11.

A．tools

B．chances

C．methods

D．excuses

12.

A．curious

B．confused

C．afraid

D．upset

13.

A．regret

B．anxiety

C．confidence

D．appreciation

14.

A．Unless

B．Before

C．Although

D．Because

15.

A．needed

B．valued

C．admired

D．respected

8 . Benjamin West, the father of American painting, showed his talent for art when he was only six years of age. But he did not know about brushes before a visitor told him he needed one. In those days, a brush was made from camel’s hair. There were no camels nearby. Benjamin decided that cat hair would work instead. He cut some fur from the family cat to make a brush.

The brush did not last long. Soon Benjamin needed more fur. Before long, the cat began to look ragged (蓬乱). His father said that the cat must be sick. Benjamin was forced to admit what he had been doing.

The cat’s lot was about to improve. That year, one of Benjamin’s cousins, Mr. Pennington, came to visit. He was impressed with Benjamin’s drawings. When he went home, he sent Benjamin a box of paint and some brushes. He also sent six engravings (版画) by an artist. These were the first pictures and first real paint and brushes Benjamin had ever seen.

In 1747, when Benjamin was nine years old, Mr. Pennington returned for another visit. He was amazed at what Benjamin had done with his gift. He asked Benjamin’s parents if he might take the boy back to Philadelphia for a visit.

In the city, Mr. Pennington gave Benjamin materials for creating oil paintings. The boy began a landscape (风景) painting. William Williams, a well-known painter, came to see him work. Williams was impressed with Benjamin and gave him two classic books on painting to take home. The books were long and dull. Benjamin could read only a little, having been a poor student. But he later said, “Those two books were my companions by day, and under my pillow at night.” While it is likely that he understood very little of the books, they were his introduction to classical paintings. The nine-year-old boy decided then that he would be an artist.

1. How did Benjamin get the brushes at first?

A．He cut a camel’s air.	B．He cut some fur from a cat.
C．He asked his father to buy them.	D．An artist offered a hand to him.

2. What does the underlined sentence in paragraph 3 suggest?

A．The cat would be closely watched.

B．Benjamin would leave his home shortly.

C．Benjamin would have real brushes soon.

D．The cat would get some medical care.

3. What did Pennington do to help Benjamin develop his talent?

A．He took him to see painting exhibitions.

B．He sent him to a school in Philadelphia.

C．He provided him with painting materials.

D．He taught him how to make engravings.

4. Williams’ two books helped Benjamin to ______.

A．make up his mind to be a painter

B．appreciate landscape paintings

C．get to know other painters

D．master the use of paints

5. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The friendship between Benjamin and Pennington.

B．The beginning of Benjamin’s life as an artist.

C．Williams’ influence on Benjamin.

D．Benjamin’s visit to Philadelphia.

9 . It happens from time to time that after a whole morning of studying, you are tired in the afternoon. It’s then that you might want to eat something sweet, perhaps a Coke or a chocolate bar,   to lift your mood. After all it’s popularly believed that a “sugar rush” gives us energy.

But a study published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews in April suggests that sugar can make us feel worse rather than boost our moods.

The German and UK researchers collected data from 31 studies involving nearly 1,300 adults. They studied the effect of sugar on various aspects of mood, including anger, alertness, depression and tiredness.

They found that people who have too much sugar become more tired and less alert within an hour and that these feelings become more intense over time.

According to the researchers, when people take in sugar their blood sugar levels rise rapidly, leading to a burst of energy and a short “feel good” period. However, as they begin to digest the sugar, their blood sugar levels decrease quickly leading to a bad feeling.

To remain on a “high” people are likely to eat more and more sugar until they become addicted to it. As with caffeine, this prevents the body from relaxing, leaving people feeling tired and less alert.

But the study findings needn’t make us think we must give up sweet food altogether. According to the World Health Organization, it is healthy to have the sugars found naturally in fruit, vegetables and milk so long as these make up less than 5 percent of daily total energy intake.

So the next time you feel tired and can’t concentrate, perhaps you should think twice before you bite into a chocolate bar. Maybe a spot of exercise at midday would be a better idea!

Tips for beating afternoon fatigue.

* Head outside and sit in the daylight for 10 minutes.

* Get into the routine of a mid-afternoon cup of tea.

* Plan group activities for midday.

* Add variety to your routine.

1. What does the underlined word “boost” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．harm

B．improve

C．control

D．change

2. How did the people feel after they had sugar in the study?

A．They felt more tired.	B．They felt relaxed.
C．They were more alert.	D．They felt energetic.

3. What do we learn from Paragraphs 5-6?

A．Our mood is connected to our blood sugar levels.

B．Taking in more sugar benefits mental health.

C．Getting caffeine is another way to relax.

D．Sugar and caffeine are all the same.

4. What would the author suggest people do when they are tired?

A．Give up sweet food.	B．Have a bar of chocolate.
C．Do an hour of exercise.	D．Eat foods with natural sugars.

10 . I sat on our sofa playing with my ring. I remembered ______ to put it on after Georgia cleaned it one day. At work, I kept ______ it with my thumb. I felt ______ without it.

I looked at Georgia’s ______ on the TV stand. I was _______. Our children were in their rooms, grieving (哀伤) in their own way. Her ring ______ in my left palm. I had a ______ to make. “When do I take mine off?” I asked no one.

I was ______. If I took it off, would it mean the love we ______ was gone? The band of gold stayed on my finger. When my thumb ______ it, my thoughts drifted to the past times and not to the future and the life we______. Then I asked myself again “When do I ______ it off?” It was with me from the day we’d ______ more than nineteen years earlier. It’d been on my finger ______ I changed my children’s diapers(尿布).

I reached behind my ______ and undid the clasp(扣子) of the gold chain. She’d given it to me on our first Christmas together. I threaded (穿过) her ______ onto it and started to put it back ______ my neck. I paused and put it ______. The fingers of my right hand reached for my ring a final time. I twirled (旋转) it around like ______ times and then slipped it off.

My hand felt empty without its comforting weight, but the ______ ring hanging around my neck comforted me — a reminder of our years together.

1.

A．refusing

B．forgetting

C．loving

D．hesitating

2.

A．searching for

B．playing with

C．moving about

D．sticking to

3.

A．excited

B．satisfied

C．thirsty

D．empty

4.

A．toys

B．pictures

C．clothes

D．flowers

5.

A．nervous

B．glad

C．alone

D．satisfied

6.

A．rested

B．stood

C．wandered

D．faded

7.

A．speech

B．decision

C．conversation

D．note

8.

A．surprised

B．afraid

C．moved

D．educated

9.

A．took

B．enjoyed

C．shared

D．expected

10.

A．touched

B．crossed

C．threw

D．covered

11.

A．experienced

B．valued

C．lost

D．planned

12.

A．take

B．keep

C．turn

D．rid

13.

A．lived

B．met

C．married

D．came

14.

A．since

B．when

C．if

D．because

15.

A．arm

B．finger

C．palm

D．neck

16.

A．ring

B．coat

C．thread

D．hair

17.

A．off

B．before

C．around

D．above

18.

A．away

B．down

C．up

D．out

19.

A．great

B．new

C．old

D．happy

20.

A．long

B．priceless

C．connected

D．combined