1 . A star athlete at the college where I work recently stopped by my office. After committing a few unforced errors during a weekend match, she suffered severely by self-criticism.
This student, like many I teach, strongly believes she should be able to control the outcomes of her life by virtue of her hard work. In her mind, “Nothing can stop me but myself”. So when these students fall short of what they imagine they should accomplish, they are filled with self-blame, reasoning, “If my accomplishments are mine to control, my failures must be entirely my faults, too”, which makes it extremely difficult for them to move on.
We often owe young adults struggling with failure to their parents’ over protection of them from discomfort. But there is another factor at play—a message transmitted by indulging (纵容的) parents who have falsely promised them that they can achieve anything if they are willing to work for it. However, the cruel reality of life is that you can do everything in your power—and still fail.
Psychologists Luthar and Kumar urge parents and teachers to spend time helping students find purpose, or goals they genuinely love to pursue and that make an impact on the world, which may help them gain greater life satisfaction and become more psychologically mature. Besides, instead of allowing our kids to beat themselves up when things don’t go their way, we might all question a culture where one is considered lazy without full devotion. The point is to remind them that life has a way of sucker-punching (出其不意) us when we least expect it. It’s often the people who learn to say “stuff happens” who get up the fastest.
1. What does the underlined phrase “by virtue of” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．in addition to | B．in spite of |
| C．by means of | D．for fear of |
| A．they are not taught how to deal with difficulties |
| B．they are short of the ability to handle failure |
| C．they are under the protection of their parents |
| D．they are misled by their parents’ false message |
| A．But what is the reason for that? |
| B．Actually there are some findings. |
| C．Then what should be done to help? |
| D．So experts have their own concerns. |
| A．To teach students how to avoid faults. |
| B．To lead students to set their truly loved goals. |
| C．To help students to discover a path to success. |
| D．To allow kids to blame themselves. |
| A．Students don’t care about failure at all. |
| B．Students are sure to succeed if they try their best. |
| C．Students should bear all the failures on their own. |
| D．Students with positive attitudes can move on more easily. |
2 . U. S. Open Championships
The US Open has been in existence for almost 140 years. The first tournament was held in 1881 at the Newport Casino. It was called the US National Singles Championship. Entry was limited to only those clubs which were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association, and the competitors were all male, competing in both single and doubles. Richard Sears won the men’s championship and he went on to win the next six men’s singles championships.
The Wimbledon
In 1875, the All England Croquet Club was troubled financially due to declining membership. A new sport called lawn tennis was gaining fast in popularity and taking away the members. Two years later, a new roller was needed for maintaining its lawns so the club proposed to hold a tournament to raise money. Twenty-two players entered that first Wimbledon tournament which was won by Spencer Gore in straight sets over W. C. Marshall. Two hundred spectators each paid a shilling to watch the final game, enabling the club to buy the needed roller plus some extra cash.
The French Open
The very first French Championship was held way back in 1891, and the tournament has since grown into one of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments we know today. The first competition was a one-day national championship which was won by a British. The competition was poorly attended by world class players. It took 24 years before it became fully international and an accepted tennis grand slam event. After the First World War, French tennis was achieving stature（重要性）. Suzanne Lenglen was the predominant（卓越的）French player, winning the championships six times between 1920 and 1926.
The Australian Open
The very first tennis tournament ever played in Australia was held in January 1880, on the courts of the Melbourne Cricket Club. In 1905, the Australian Open was established as the Australasian Tennis Championship and was played at the Warehouseman’s Cricket Ground in Melbourne. It became the Australian Championship in 1927 and the Australian Open in 1969. Women’s events were added in 1922.
1. What do we know about the first U. S. Open?| A．It was sponsored and organized by a tennis club. |
| B．Only men were allowed to play in the game. |
| C．Richard Sears won six men’s championships. |
| D．It has remained the same through all these years. |
| A．raise some fund for a lawn roller |
| B．attract more people to play tennis |
| C．celebrate the renaming of the club |
| D．make the game more enjoyable |
| A．the tournament has been played in the same place all these years |
| B．twenty-two players played in the first tournament |
| C．few good tennis players took part in the first French Championship |
| D．the players played in singles and doubles in the tournament |
| A．they were all born in the same year |
| B．they have all experienced financial difficulties |
| C．they all had only male players at the beginning |
| D．they all have had a history of 130 years or more |
| A．how the four international tennis tournaments came into being |
| B．how long it took for women to play in the tennis tournaments |
| C．what the international tennis tournaments brought to the world |
| D．why the tennis tournaments are held in these four countries |
3 . Give yourself a test. Which way is the wind blowing? How many kinds of wildflowers can be seen from your front door? If your awareness is as sharp as it could be, you’ll have no trouble answering these questions.
Most of us observed much more as children than we do as adults. A child’s day is filled with fascination, newness and wonder. Curiosity gave us all a natural awareness. But distinctions that were sharp to us as children become unclear; we are numb(麻木的）to new stimulation(刺激), new ideas. Relearning the art of seeing the world around us is quite simple, although it takes practice and requires breaking some bad habits.
The first step in awakening senses is to stop predicting what we are going to see and feel before it occurs. This blocks awareness. One chilly night when I was hiking in the Rocky Mountains with some students, I mentioned that we were going to cross a mountain stream. The students began complaining about how cold it would be. We reached the stream, and they unwillingly walked ahead. They were almost knee-deep when they realized it was a hot spring. Later they all admitted they’d felt cold water at first.
Another block to awareness is the obsession(痴迷) many of us have with naming things. I saw bird watchers who spotted a bird, immediately looked it up in field guides, and said, a "ruby-crowned kinglet" and checked it off. They no longer paid attention to the bird and never learned what it was doing.
The pressures of "time" and "destination" are further blocks to awareness. I encountered many hikers who were headed to a distant camp-ground with just enough time to get there before dark. It seldom occurred to them to wander a bit, to take a moment to see what’s around them. I asked them what they’d seen. "Oh, a few birds," they said. They seemed bent on their destinations.
Nature seems to unfold to people who watch and wait. Next time you take a walk, no matter where it is, take in all the sights, sounds and sensations. Wander in this frame of mind and you will open a new dimension to your life.
1. According to Paragraph 2, compared with adults, children are more ________.| A．anxious to do wonders |
| B．sensitive to others’ feelings |
| C．likely to develop unpleasant habits |
| D．eager to explore the world around them |
| A．are very patient in their observation |
| B．are really fascinated by nature |
| C．care only about the names of birds |
| D．question the accuracy of the field guides |
| A．The natural beauty isn’t attractive to them. |
| B．They focus on arriving at the camp in time. |
| C．The forest in the dark is dangerous for them. |
| D．They are keen to see rare birds at the destination. |
| A．fill our senses to feel the wonders of the world |
| B．get rid of some bad habits in our daily life |
| C．open our mind to new things and ideas |
| D．try our best to protect nature |
HIGHFIELD COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SCHOOL REPORT Form Teacher: G. Baker Pupil’s Name: Simon Watkins Term: Summer 2015 Form: Ⅳ B
Basically satisfactory work and progress though he will now have realized, I hope, that in certain subject areas he needs to make speedy improvement. HEADMASTER I shall be keeping an eye on his progress in his weaker subjects though his success in the science is most pleasing. |
| A．becomes weak because he doesn’t exercise at all. | B．likes to work with his classmates |
| C．doesn’t exercise his body at the right time | D．is too talkative in the class |
| A．History and French. | B．Biology |
| C．English and Chemistry. | D．Physics and Physical Education. |
| A．He has made great progress in language classes. |
| B．His potential has been fully reflected in scientist. |
| C．He needs to improve his attitude on certain subjects. |
| D．His grade in maths makes him a born science and Maths. |
| A．Simon didn’t bother his teacher to revise French. | B．Basically, Simon did a good job in science. |
| C．Simon is a determined learner in English. | D．Simon is able to pay attention to history for long. |
5 . In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fairweather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities(品质) of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability(可靠).
Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how the other is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person' s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.
At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults(过错) in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me.
Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.
There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor(幽默), too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.
When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding, I know I've found a friend!
1. In the opinion of the writer, which of the following qualities is the most important in choosing a friend?| A．A sense of humor. | B．Honesty. |
| C．Reliability. | D．Understanding. |
| A．you will be refused when you get into trouble |
| B．they will give you all that they have when you need help |
| C．you will become rich |
| D．you can be sure that you get real friends |
| A．have money or luck | B．understand each other's feeling |
| C．be helped with money | D．always point out each other's mistakes |
| A．how to get along with friends | B．where to choose friends |
| C．the qualities of a friend | D．the importance of having a friend |
| A．Reliable. | B．Understanding. |
| C．Honest. | D．Intelligent. |
6 . In ancient Greek mythology, we learn about a young man named Narcissus. He was so beautiful that he fell in love with his own reflection. But soon he realized that what he loved was not real. As a result he became sad and died. In the place where he had stood appeared a yellow flower - a narcissus.
This is where the word “narcissism” came from. Unfortunately, narcissism is often used negatively - it is usually used to mean being self-centered and not caring about others.
However, part of the reason that narcissism carries these negative meanings is that many people admire themselves in an unhealthy way. But the truth is that good self-love is necessary for our mental health, scientists say.
A study published 10 years ago shows that low self-esteem is responsible for many social problems, and it can affect teenagers seriously. When they feel less confident and not as good as their classmates, teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression, according to the BBC.
The other reason that narcissism is considered an ugly thing is because we are taught that we should care more about others than ourselves and that it’s better to give than to receive.
Thinking about others is the right thing to do, without question. But psychologists say that the love of others is actually based on self-love --if you see yourself as an unpleasant stranger, how can you make friends with anyone else? After all, you are closer to yourself than anyone else. You can’t love another until you love yourself, and you can’t expect someone to love you if you don’t love yourself.
If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge, it is time to build a positive self- image and learn to love yourself. You’ll be surprised how nice it can be!
The best way to defeat a negative self-image is to step back and build your pride. Make a list if you need to, but record all of the great things you do every day. Think about how you are always there for your friends; how you help your classmates with their homework; how you manage to get good grades.
If you think you’re weak because you can’t finish a 1,500 m run, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you are not in fashion, buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it, it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The next time you look in the mirror, try to tell yourself that you are one of a kind. Pick out your best qualities and be proud of yourself.
1. Why does narcissism often have a negative meaning?| A．In ancient Greek mythology, Narcissus’s story is sad. |
| B．Narcissism is a habit in which people unhealthily admire themselves. |
| C．Narcissism is responsible for many social problems. |
| D．Narcissism harms one’s mental health. |
| A．Teenagers’ physical and mental health is negatively affected. |
| B．Teenagers who don’t like themselves are often ignored by teachers. |
| C．Teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression. |
| D．Teenagers often feel that they could have done better. |
| A．People cannot love themselves without loving others. |
| B．To love others is the right thing to do, while self-love is not. |
| C．Self-love is the basis of love for others. |
| D．To love yourself depends on whether others love you. |
| A．You can’t finish a 1,500 meter run. | B．You are not in style. |
| C．You are weak or dull. | D．You have a negative self-image. |
| A．To persuade people to stop being narcissistic. |
| B．To suggest that parents care about children’s self-image. |
| C．To advise people to look in the mirror and like themselves. |
| D．To encourage people to accept and love themselves. |
7 . The passengers on the bus watched with sympathy as Susan made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to
It has been a year since Susan became blind. As the result of an accident she was suddenly thrown into a world of
Finally, Susan felt ready to
For two weeks, Mark
At last, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work
“You know, every morning for the
Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks. She was so lucky for he had given her a gift more powerful than
| A．touch | B．grab | C．count | D．feel |
| A．weakness | B．sickness | C．darkness | D．sadness |
| A．run | B．sink | C．jump | D．step |
| A．inspired | B．determined | C．honored | D．pleased |
| A．return | B．adjust | C．contribute | D．stick |
| A．tired | B．astonished | C．depressed | D．frightened |
| A．volunteered | B．attempted | C．continued | D．struggled |
| A．when | B．as | C．until | D．after |
| A．drove | B．directed | C．accompanied | D．sent |
| A．feelings | B．organs | C．skills | D．senses |
| A．position | B．environment | C．status | D．role |
| A．on her own | B．in person | C．to her benefit | D．on foot |
| A．politely | B．calmly | C．briefly | D．tightly |
| A．opposite | B．separate | C．fixed | D．lonely |
| A．took charge of | B．took place of | C．took advantage of | D．took hold of |
| A．as usual | B．as a rule | C．as well | D．as a consequence |
| A．respect | B．envy | C．know | D．support |
| A．what | B．how | C．why | D．who |
| A．past | B．same | C． first | D．next |
| A．courage | B．will | C． sight | D．wisdom |
8 . While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt—why ears, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn’t it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch (强度) does change after a heavy meal.
We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva (唾液) dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.
Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly pinpoint the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50, 000 different scents (气味), which are strongly tied to the memories.
Pupils (瞳孔) do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can dilate (扩大) their pupils, change the focus and blur (使模糊) their vision. If you do not wear glasses or contact lens due to having a 6/6 vision, you are just among the one third of the human population. It is now statistically proved that only one third of the population has perfect vision, rest all are either wearing glasses or are trying to read with a compromised vision.
Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell is very subtle (微妙的) yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. A significant part of this phenomenon is guided by genetics but it is also changed by the environment, diet and personal hygiene. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person.
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that ________.| A．sensory organs’ functions can never be changed for their particular character |
| B．our hearing is as good as before we have a full meal |
| C．we feel and learn about the world around us through our eyes, ears, nose and tongue |
| D．all sensory organs are connected and can be exchanged |
| A．Your hearing pitch may decrease. |
| B．Your eyes become dim. |
| C．Your tongue may lose the function of taste. |
| D．You may feel energetic and fresh. |
| A．If your tongue is dried with a tissue paper, it may work as well as before. |
| B．Our tongues can’t be dried while eating something. |
| C．A tissue paper is the only thing that can be used to dry our tongues. |
| D．If your tongue is dried without any saliva on it, it will not work. |
| A．The number of sensory organs. |
| B．The particular smell of a person. |
| C．The style of one’s behavior. |
| D．The functions of sensory organs. |
| A．A newborn’s senses of the sensory organs. |
| B．The functions of sensory organs. |
| C．The connectivity of our tongue and ears. |
| D．The differences of senses between women and men. |
9 . During school, college and service I never participated in any group discussion or stage program. Therefore, I didn’t know what the stage
Our school has a weekly “Parents View”
After the call my whole body became feverish and I felt really
When my turn came and I started speaking, my legs started shaking and my heartbeat increased. After the speech, I met with the Principal and
Later on with the help of the Principal I
For around one month, I prepared and practiced for my presentation on Motivation. This time I felt easy. I gave the presentation and it was
I learn that everything is
| A．fear | B．performance | C．style | D．art |
| A．talk | B．magazine | C．program | D．lesson |
| A．fortunately | B．surprisingly | C．secretly | D．unluckily |
| A．listen | B．move | C．write | D．speak |
| A．nervous | B．joyful | C．satisfied | D．disappointed |
| A．foolish | B．useful | C．clever | D．negative |
| A．anger | B．regret | C．thanks | D．hope |
| A．courage | B．information | C．proof | D．advice |
| A．And | B．But | C．So | D．Or |
| A．explained | B．forgot | C．imagined | D．controlled |
| A．serious | B．special | C．strange | D．common |
| A．failed | B．started | C．mastered | D．finished |
| A．exhibited | B．refused | C．prepared | D．understood |
| A．worried | B．sad | C．curious | D．comfortable |
| A．met with | B．turned down | C．looked after | D．learnt from |
| A．trouble | B．mistake | C．fun | D．improvement |
| A．remind | B．invite | C．phone | D．reach |
| A．descried | B．studied | C．joked | D．appreciated |
| A．because | B．although | C．if | D．therefore |
| A．interesting | B．obvious | C．possible | D．right |
10 . Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life. This time took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened.
On an afternoon several years ago, my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's dress and picked out a beautiful skirt. “Jane bought this the first lime we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion.” He said. I guess this was the occasion: it was the funeral of my sister, after her unexpected death.
He took the skirl and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral. Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, “Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you are alive is a special occasion.”
I am thinking about his words, and they've changed the way I live my life. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less lime in committee meetings. Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer. “Someday” and “One of these days” are losing their importance on my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.
Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that, would add laughter and color to our lives. Every morning when I open my eyes, I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift. So cherish every day and find the true meaning of your life.
1. Why did Jane buy the beautiful skirt but didn't wear it?| A．She waited for a special occasion to wear it on. | B．She wanted to keep it for someone else. |
| C．She saved it until she grew up. | D．She would give it to herself as a gift someday. |
| A．Save | B．Waste | C．Own | D．Treasure |
| A．everybody can have a happy life through efforts |
| B．every day in our lives is worth cherishing |
| C．enjoying ourselves is the most important thing |
| D．everybody will have something left to do after death |
| A．To show how to make good use of every clay in life. |
| B．To explain the true meaning of his brother-in-taw's words. |
| C．To tell people to find the meaning of life and cherish every day. |
| D．To encourage people to waste time and enjoy themselves. |
| A．Every Day Is a Gift | B．My Sister Jane |
| C．What Is the Meaningful Life Like | D．The Most Important Time in Your life |
