1 . My family moved into our home nine years ago. We spent a lot of time and energy in the yard to get it looking like the way it does today. In front of the house, the rocks appear to be just thrown up onto the dirt as if someone were in a hurry to finish. We called this area our “rock garden”. Denise and I would also plant some flowers between the rocks, just to bring some color to the area.
Last summer I found, in the rock garden, a tiny little plant that I could not immediately identify. I knew I didn’t plant it and Denise said she didn’t either. We decided to let it continue growing until we could figure out what it was.
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the strange plant, it appeared to be a sunflower. It looked thin and tall with only one head on it. I decided to baby it along and weed(除杂草)around it. As I pulled rocks from the area to get to the weeds, I noticed something unusual. The sunflower had not started where I saw it begin. It actually had begun under a big rock and grown under and around it to reach the sun.
That’s when I realized that if a tiny little sunflower didn’t allow a big rock to stand in its way of developing, we too have the ability to do the same thing. Once we believe in ourselves like that little sunflower, we can attain the same nourishment(养分)for growth as well.
Stand tall like the sunflower and be proud of who and what we are, then the environment will begin to support us. We will find a way to go under or around any “rocks” in order to achieve our goals.
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?| A．The author finished building his house hurriedly. |
| B．The family has lived in this house for 9 years. |
| C．The author’s house is made of rocks. |
| D．The family don’t like gardening. |
| A．see how long it could live |
| B．see how big it could grow |
| C．find out what it actually was |
| D．know if his wife had planted it |
| A．the strange plant turned out to be the sunflower |
| B．the sunflower grew under and around a big rock |
| C．the sunflower had only one head on it |
| D．the sunflower was very thin and tall |
| A．Confident. | B．Devoted. | C．Delicate. | D．Modest. |
| A．rocks cannot prevent us from success |
| B．the sunflowers are able to grow everywhere |
| C．we should take good care of the rock gardens |
| D．we can get over difficulties if we trust ourselves |
2 . Daniel Lamplugh remembers going shopping with his dad on Black Friday. “Waking up at a. m. the day after Thanksgiving is what I grew up doing, ” says the University of New Orleans film student.
A lot has changed since those childhood days. Online retailers(零售商) have forced many chains out of business. Consumers are increasingly shopping with their smartphones. But a funny thing happened on the way to the future: Most shoppers are not going all-digital(全数码化的). Surveys show they’re eager for good experiences at retail stores.
This November and December, for the first time ever, retailer websites will get more traffic from mobile users than computer users, predicts Adobe Digital Insights. “We live our lives with a combination of the physical and the digital,” says Kit Yarrow, author of the book “Decoding the New Consumer Mind.” “Retailers have to understand it’s not question of either/or. It’s a question of combining the two. ”
Heather Howe, an MBA student, said, “Consumers like shopping on their phones and online because it’s more convenient and because there are more options. I went to the Vans store to try on shoes and then I actually purchased them online while I was in the store. ” While mobile sales are growing, the widest use of smartphones in stores is researching products or looking up product information (58 percent), closely followed by checking or comparing prices (54 percent), according to a survey.
“My phone plays a huge role in online shopping, because I am on the email list for all of my favorite brands, so I get many emails daily informing me of sales, says Rachel Lynch, who works at a Boston public-relations agency.” Also, a store has an app that allows me to chat with other users about the products, and read reviews. Online reviews are one of the first things I look at when I am about to buy a new product.”
“Electronics and kitchen equipment are definitely online purchases for me, since they’re heavy to get home on the subway and often cheaper online,” says Michael Miller-Ernest, a manager in Brooklyn, N. Y.
1. What did Daniel do when he was a kid?| A．He bought gifts for his dad. |
| B．He woke up quite early every day. |
| C．He went shopping on Thanksgiving. |
| D．He visited stores the day after Thanksgiving. |
| A．Do shopping all-digitally. |
| B．Use computers to do online shopping. |
| C．Do window shopping in shopping malls. |
| D．Go to physical stores with their smartphones. |
| A．Reaching both online and offline consumers. |
| B．Focusing on either the physical or the digital. |
| C．Encouraging consumers to use smartphones. |
| D．Providing more convenience for computer users. |
| A．They offer wider choices. |
| B．They sell high quality goods. |
| C．They will replace physical stores. |
| D．They are burning shoppers’ patience. |
| A．She buys heavy goods online. |
| B．She often writes users’ reviews. |
| C．She is fond of sending producers emails. |
| D．She tries to learn about other users’ experience. |
3 . Home party marketing originated in America in the early last century. At that time, direct selling had become a very common part of American life. Door-to-door salesmen would travel throughout the country selling anything from sewing machines to cure all medicines. In 1931, a man named Frank Stanley Beveridge who had dug enough gold by doing this selling started a company called Stanley Home Products. The company sold cleaning supplies to housewives.
Soon after Mr. Beveridge began his company, one of his salesmen began selling Stanley products at home parties. The salesman would organize a Stanley Party where he could give a cleaning demonstration(演示) to a room full of guests. It allowed him to sell Stanley products to many different customers at once, and it proved to be much more effective than standard door-to-door sales. The practice quickly became the main marketing strategy of Stanley Home Products.
Next, during the 1940s, many housewives started selling Stanley products to make extra money for their families. The job was perfect for housewives because Stanley sellers could work from home and set their own schedules. A single mother named Brownie Wise took full advantage of this opportunity and quickly became one of Stanley’s top sellers.
Not long after that, she started her own direct selling business called Tupperware Patio Parties, which focused on selling a new type of plastic food container, Tupperware, using the Stanley home party system. Wise had realized Tupperwvare was perfect for the home party system. She could show her customers its patented airtight seal, and she could also take away their anxiety about the safety of plastics -- a fairly new invention at the time. Wise’s company was very successful, and it was soon selling more Tupperware than department stores.
Today, many other companies have adopted home party marketing plans. So, next time you leave your friend’s party with a hundred dollars’ worth of new Tupperware or jewelry, you can thank Frank Stanley Beveridge and Brownie Wise for your unintended purchase.
1. When did home party marketing originate in America?| A．In the early 19th century. |
| B．In the late 19th century. |
| C．In the early 20th century. |
| D．In the late 20th century. |
| A．He was an inventor of many home products. |
| B．He was an experienced door-to-door salesman. |
| C．He was the president of Tupperware Patio Parties. |
| D．He was the first person to organize a Stanley Party. |
| A．They liked holding parties at their house. |
| B．They could make some money quickly. |
| C．They needed hardly any pre-job training. |
| D．They could work under a flexible schedule. |
| A．It was liked by party organizers. |
| B．It required a demonstration. |
| C．It sold badly in department stores. |
| D．It was especially made for the system. |
| A．time and events |
| B．comparison and contrast |
| C．cause and effect |
| D．argument and explanation |
4 . I was at a crowded grocery store not long ago. It was a weekday evening, cold and tense. People were carelessly
Things got
We’ ve all witnessed (目击)
I
Those are the balancing
| A．watching | B．blocking | C．finding | D．clearing |
| A．worried | B．greeted | C．quarreled | D．thought |
| A．quiet | B．worse | C．rarer | D．real |
| A．benefit | B．measure | C．charge | D．reason |
| A．carefully | B．differently | C．wrongly | D．suddenly |
| A．ignored | B．admired | C．called | D．met |
| A．customer | B．colleague | C．passenger | D．employer |
| A．touching | B．suitable | C．uncomfortable | D．silent |
| A．political | B．cultural | C．professional | D．financial |
| A．continue | B．choose | C．fail | D．remember |
| A．anger | B．pride | C．trust | D．fear |
| A．concept | B．moment | C．skill | D．system |
| A．competing | B．agreeing | C．comparing | D．starting |
| A．mentioned | B．persuaded | C．reached | D．saved |
| A．cool | B．bad | C．strange | D．confident |
| A．talked | B．waited | C．played | D．left |
| A．working | B．relaxing | C．learning | D．sleeping |
| A．development | B．recovery | C．study | D．journey |
| A．acts | B．tests | C．voices | D．tasks |
| A．job | B．place | C．show | D．way |
5 . One of my neighbors used to have a beautiful tree in her front yard. Her dad had planted it for her
When the two-day snowstorm struck our town, heavy snow
Still, it was a shock to drive by her house the other day and see
My wonderful neighbor had another plan,
Life by its very nature is a
| A．unless | B．when | C．until | D．because |
| A．circulate | B．chase | C．shoot | D．stand |
| A．wind | B．shade | C．quality | D．system |
| A．fell on | B．took apart | C．got through | D．broke down |
| A．top | B．middle | C．bottom | D．root |
| A．dancing | B．spreading | C．trembling | D．lying |
| A．abnormal | B．bare | C．sick | D．entire |
| A．Originally | B．Doubtfully | C．Thankfully | D．Particularly |
| A．replace | B．renew | C．replant | D．remove |
| A．everything | B．something | C．anything | D．nothing |
| A．falling | B．shaking | C．floating | D．shining |
| A．story | B．expectation | C．reminder | D．view |
| A．though | B．therefore | C．still | D．otherwise |
| A．rest | B．baby | C．date | D．dinner |
| A．see | B．solve | C．approach | D．realize |
| A．beat | B．smile | C．hurt | D．sink |
| A．mixed | B．changeable | C．separated | D．stable |
| A．sorrow | B．wealth | C．pleasure | D．wonder |
| A．split | B．pull | C．benefit | D．attach |
| A．connections | B．families | C．bodies | D．souls |
6 . The United States seems to have become extremely enthusiastic about competition. The famous Scripps National Spelling Bee—an annual spelling contest—now allows kids who last in regional competitions but whose parents agree to pay an entry fee (费用) along with their own food and accommodation to compete. And while some kids are working for what they call a spelling “career”, others are approaching chess competitions, dance competitions, cooking or other passions that previous generations developed somewhat later in life.
I’m disturbed by the phenomenon (现象), which seems to be getting worse and more intense.
My teacher always warned us that competition is a destructive quality; that the goal is never to beat anyone else. I think he’ll be cheered by author Peggy Noonan’s idea that a lot of us are running our own races, trying to rise to the occasion and beat some past and limited conception of ourselves by doing something great.
I heartily agree. Instead of paying attention to the accomplishments or possessions of others, we need to focus on our own potential, our own growth and take pleasure in our own particular set of circumstances. The battle for life is not against anyone else but against the darkness inside that tries to bring us down. I wish you only well. Your good doesn’t reduce mine. Your bad gives me no pleasure
Ms. Noonan also suggests that “you’re running your own race alongside others running theirs, and in the same direction. You’re doing something great together.” If we stop worrying about what our neighbor is earning or driving, the size of his house, the success of his marriage, the accomplishments of his children, we can sit back and enjoy our own lives. And if we all focus on what we each can achieve, regardless of anyone else, we have a chance of working as one, of actually being united.
Competition divides us. There are winners and losers. But that’s a very limited picture of reality. It may apply to spelling bees and soccer matches and even in some college classes, but life isn’t about triumphing (战胜) over someone else; it’s about triumphing over ourselves. The only acceptable competition is one where we encourage each other to be the best human being possible, and that’s the only game where “everyone is a winner”.
1. What does the author worry about?| A．Youth competition is fierce. | B．Youth competition is expensive. |
| C．Youth competition lacks fairness. | D．Youth competition lacks diversity. |
| A．She’s also a student of the author’s teacher’s. |
| B．She thinks competition is a destructive quality. |
| C．She taught the author how to understand competition. |
| D．She and the author’s teacher have similar views on competition. |
| A．Know our competitors well. | B．Leave everything to chance. |
| C．Get rid of the bad things inside us. | D．Learn from others’ successes and failures. |
| A．People take turns to lead the race. |
| B．People follow parallel paths to each other. |
| C．One man’s loss is another man’s gain. |
| D．No one goes in the same direction as anyone else. |
| A．Your Real Competition Is With Yourself |
| B．Everyone Is a Winner in the Battle for Life |
| C．Competition Is a Good Thing, But Not to the Youth |
| D．Through Competition, We Become Better Ourselves |
7 . Many sugar—sweetened beverages(饮料)have little to offer—no nutritional value and lots of calories, and their harmful health effects have been well—documented. Now, a study links drinking too many sugary beverages—and even 100% natural fruit juices—to an increased risk of early death. Specifically, drinking too much fruit juice could lead to an increased risk of early death ranging from 9% to 42%, according to a study.
Overall, the sugars found in orange juice, although naturally occurring, are pretty similar to the sugars added to soda and other sweetened beverages, the study suggests. “Sugary beverages, whether soft drinks or fruit juices, should be limited,” Jean Welsh, a co—author of the study said.
Seven US cities, including New York and most recently Philadelphia, have levied(征收)taxes on sweetened drinks with added sugar in an effort to reduce consumption. The new study defined “sugary beverages” as both sugar—sweetened drinks, like soda and fruit—flavored drinks, and 100% natural fruit juices that have no added sugar. So how does fruit juice compare to soda? “Previous research has shown that high consumption of sugars like those in soft drinks and fruit juices is linked to several cardiovascular(心血管的)disease risk factors,” Welsh explained.
People who consumed 10% or more of their daily calories as sugary beverages had a 44% greater risk of dying due to a heart disease and a 14% greater risk of an early death from any cause compared with people who consumed less than 5% of their daily calories as sugary beverages, the study showed. Each additional 12—ounce(盎司)serving of fruit juice per day was associated with a 24% higher risk of death from any cause, and each additional 12—ounce serving of sugary beverages per day was associated with an 11% higher risk.
This is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between sugary drinks, including 100% fruit juices, and early death, wrote Marta Guasch—Fere and Dr. Frank B. Hu in an editorial published alongside the new study. “Although fruit juices may not be as harmful as sugar—sweetened beverages, their consumption should be moderated in children and adults, especially for individuals who wish to control their body weight,” Guasch—Fere and Hu wrote.
Welsh said we need to consider both fruit juices and sugar—sweetened beverages when we think about how much sugar we consume each day. Between the two, she was in favor of fruit juices: “Given its vitamin and mineral content, fruit juice in small amounts may have a beneficial effect that isn’t seen with sodas and other sugar—sweetened beverages.”
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．Sugar—free drinks basically have no nutritional value. |
| B．Natural fruit juices are usually healthier than sugary beverages. |
| C．The negative effect of drinking too many beverages remains unknown. |
| D．Drinking too much fruit juice may not be a healthy option. |
| A．To increase the government’s income. |
| B．To let people buy less sweetened beverages. |
| C．To urge people to turn to sugar—free drinks. |
| D．To increase the consumption of natural juice. |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By giving advice. | D．By stating the facts. |
| A．Avoided. | B．Increased. | C．Reduced | D．Encouraged |
| A．sugar is a major cause of cardiovascular disease |
| B．the sugar in juice is different from the sugar in sweetened beverages |
| C．fruit juices are only recommended when consumed in small amounts |
| D．the amount of sugar we consume mainly lies in drinks with added sugar |
8 . Joshua williams was five years old when something came into his heart that would change his life and the lives of thousands of others. His journey began with a $20 birthday gift from his grandmother. She said he could use it any way he wanted.
On his way to the mall that morning, the five-year-old began thinking about all the things he could buy with the money. Then, looking out of the car window, Joshua noticed a homeless man standing on the street corner. That moment changed his life forever. Joshua instantly gave the man his $20 bill in the hope that it would make a small difference.
With this gesture, Joshua discovered his life’s calling to help the needy. At just five years old, Joshua knew he would need help in order to make his dream — to wipe out hunger — a reality. He enlisted his family, and soon they were delivering meals to the homeless every Saturday. Joshua began to realize, however, that he needed a “bigger, better and easier way to distribute food.” He and his family came up with the idea to have the homeless community come to a centralized distribution point. On their first distribution day, Joshua and his team of helpers provided more than 300 families with food. They continued distributing groceries this way every month for two years.
With the success of his work, Joshua eventually created the Joshua’s Heart Foundation to continue his mission of feeding the homeless. Now, several years later, his foundation continues to provide food and cooking classes for needy families.
Joshua and his team have helped feed over 20,000 people over the past eight years and they’re still working to increase that number. Each bag of groceries represents a brighter day in the lives of these individuals and families, and it all began with one young person who saw a need and decided to make a difference.
1. Joshua’s grandma gave him a $20 bill to let him ______.| A．buy food for the homeless | B．help some people in need |
| C．celebrate his fifth birthday | D．buy a birthday cake for her |
| A．used to help others | B．was sympathetic |
| C．had little pocket money | D．was indifferent |
| A．He persuaded his family to help him. |
| B．He asked his family for advice. |
| C．He was encouraged by his family. |
| D．He disagreed with his family. |
| A．was created by Joshua and his teacher |
| B．organizes the homeless community |
| C．mainly offers education to the homeless |
| D．mainly offers food to needy people |
| A．Joshua grew up in a rich family |
| B．Joshua started the foundation at the age of five |
| C．Joshua would help more people in the future |
| D．more than 20,000 homeless people have taken cooking classes |
9 . Best Four Washington, D.C. Museums
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
ADDRESS: 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, the USA
PHONE: +1202-633-1000
This museum is the most popular Washington, D.C. museum and is worth taking your parents and children to visit. And there are so many artifacts(手工艺品) that you can’t possibly see them all in one visit. The dinosaur exhibits are fascinating and great for kids.
Visiting Tips: Arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds. If you are visiting with kids, be sure to see the Discovery Room where there are lots of hands—on activities.
Newseum
ADDRESS: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, the USA
PHONE: +1202-292-6100
The six-level, high-tech and interactive attraction traces(追溯) the history of news reporting from the 16th century to the present day. Some favorite exhibits are the Pulitzer Prize Photo Gallery, Today’s Front Pages and the 9/11 Gallery. This is a fascinating attraction and well worth the entrance fee(费用).
National Gallery of Art
ADDRESS: Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565, the USA
PHONE: +1202-737-4215
This museum spans(跨越) two buildings, with an East and West Wing and countless priceless artworks from Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, John Singleton Copley, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and more famous artists. Check out the schedule of daily, free docent(讲解员)-led tours here.
The Phillips Collection
ADDRESS: 1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009, the USA
PHONE: +1202-387-2151
Dupont Circle’s The Phillips Collection is not to be missed for art lovers, with pieces by Paul C zanne, Edgar Degas, Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh. Tickets run from $8 to $12 per visitor, and visitors aged 18 and under are free. The first Thursday of every month is “Phillips after 5,” a popular event that runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
1. What do you know about Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History?| A．It is free to the public the whole year. |
| B．It is a museum that is suitable for all ages. |
| C．It is the most popular museum around the world. |
| D．It provides practical activities for kids to explore oceans. |
| A．is worth visiting |
| B．also functions as a television station |
| C．only collects fun and exciting news |
| D．has an advantageous geographical location |
| A．have to book tickets ahead of time |
| B．can create artworks with artists together |
| C．have the chance of taking a free docent—led tour |
| D．can enjoy the performances of famous artists |
| A．“Phillips after 5” is held every Thursday. |
| B．“Phillips after 5” features original creation. |
| C．The Phillips Collection’s opening hours are three hours. |
| D．Not all visitors need to buy tickets when visiting the Phillips Collection. |
a. They both have valuable pieces.
b. They are both suitable for art lovers.
c. They both provide free docent-led tours
d. They are both free for the public to visit.
e. They are both far away from the center of Washington.
| A．abc | B．ad | C．ab | D．bce |
10 . I have learned the French language over the past few years. I have found some
I don’t
Listening to the radio is a
I used to be one of those students who lacked
We should
| A．answers | B．difficulties | C．words | D．tricks |
| A．classical | B．useful | C．foreign | D．original |
| A．make up | B．rely on | C．think of | D．laugh at |
| A．hope | B．prove | C．tell | D．doubt |
| A．However | B．Therefore | C．Meanwhile | D．Also |
| A．remember | B．keep | C．start | D．quit |
| A．helpless | B．costly | C．great | D．familiar |
| A．invited | B．forced | C．expected | D．encouraged |
| A．Luckily | B．Certainly | C．Frequently | D．Gradually |
| A．made use of | B．made fun of | C．got used to | D．looked forward to |
| A．money | B．space | C．time | D．energy |
| A．happiness | B．experience | C．power | D．confidence |
| A．handwriting | B．pronunciation | C．grammar | D．expression |
| A．realized | B．checked | C．explained | D．mentioned |
| A．plan | B．design | C．improve | D．struggle |
| A．educated | B．kind | C．rich | D．native |
| A．learn | B．avoid | C．advocate | D．consider |
| A．course | B．goal | C．situation | D．part |
| A．unusually | B．rarely | C．regularly | D．suddenly |
| A．creating | B．underlining | C．correcting | D．recognizing |
