1 . Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”

The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”

“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.

“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”

1. What puzzled the grandson most was _________.

A．why he forgot what he read soon	B．whether it was useful to read books
C．what kind of book he could understand	D．how he could read books like his grandpa

2. Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?

A．To get him to realize the use of reading books.	B．To punish him for not reading carefully.
C．To clean the dirty basket in the river.	D．To train him to run faster.

3. What lesson can we learn from the story?

A．The old are always wiser than the young.	B．It is foolish to carry water with a basket.
C．You can’t expect to remember all you read.	D．Reading books can change a person gradually.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Grandpa and Grandson	B．Carrying Water in a Basket
C．Baskets and Books	D．Reading for Total Changing

2 . Finding the Real You
Psychometric testing—personality testing—has been very popular nowadays as studies show their results to be three times more accurate in predicting your job performance. These tests are now included in almost all graduate recruitment (招聘) and are widely used in the selection of managers.
The most popular of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It is based on the theory that we are born with a tendency to one personality type which stays more or less fixed throughout life. You answer 88 questions and are then given your “type”, such as Outgoing or Quiet, Feeling or Thinking.
Critics of personality testing raise doubts about “social engineering”. Psychologist Dr. Colin Gill warns that the “popular” personality traits (特性) have their disadvantages. “People who are extremely open to new experiences can be butterflies, going from one idea to the next without mastering any of them.” However, the psychometric test is here to stay, which may be why a whole sub-industry on cheating personality tests has sprung up. “It’s possible to cheat,” admits Gill, “but having to pretend to be the person you are at work will be tiring and unhappy and probably short-lived.”
So can we change our personality? “Your basic personality is fixed by the time you’re 21,”says Gill,“ but it can be affected by motivation and intelligence. If you didn’t have the personality type to be a doctor but desperately wanted to be one and were intelligent enough to master the skills, you could still go ahead. But trying to go too much against type for too long requires much energy and is actually to be suffered for long. I think it’s why we’re seeing this trend for downshifting—too many people trying to fit in to a type that they aren’t really suited for.”
Our interest in personality now exists in every part of our lives. If you ask an expert for advice on anything, you’ll probably be quizzed about your personality. But if personality tests have any value to us, perhaps it is to free us from the idea that all of us are full of potential, and remind us of what we are. As they say in one test when they ask for your age: pick the one you are, not the one you wish you were.
1. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on the belief that ______.

A．certain personality traits are common

B．personality is largely decided from birth

C．some personality types are better than others

D．personality traits are various from time to time

2. According to Dr. Gill, what is the problem with personality tests?

A．Employers often find the results unclear.

B．They may have a negative effect on takers.

C．People can easily lie about their true abilities.

D．The results could be opposite to what employers want.

3. In Dr. Gill’s view, how easy is it to change your personality?

A．It’s possible in your adult life.

B．It’s easy if you have great motivation.

C．It’s difficult before the age of 21.

D．It’s unlikely because it requires much energy.

4. What final conclusion does the author reach about the value of personality tests?

A．They are not really worth doing.

B．They may encourage greater realism.

C．They are of doubtful value to employers.

D．They can strengthen the idea we have of our abilities.

3 . The meaning of the word “volunteer ” may be a little different in different countries, but it usually means “one who offers his or her services.” There are many different ways in which people can volunteer, such as taking care of sick people, working in homes for homeless children, and picking up garbage(垃圾) from beaches and parks. Volunteers may work within their own countries or in other countries. They are often people with a strong wish to help those who are less fortunate than themselves. Volunteers don’t expect any kind of pay.
At the root of volunteering is the idea that one person may have the ability to offer services that can help other people. Tracy, a good friend of mine, however, recently came back from India with a ____ of what being a volunteer means. She worked for two and a half weeks in one of Mother Teresa’s homes in Calcutta. The following is her story.
“I first heard about Mother Teresa in my high school, we watched a video(录像) about her work in India and all over the world. I was so moved by her spirit to help others and her endless love for every human being that after I graduated from high school, I too wanted to try her kind of work. So with two friends I flew to Calcutta for a few weeks.”
“I was asked to work in a home for sick people. I helped wash clothes and sheets, and pass out lunch. I also fed the people who were too weak to feed themselves and tried to cheer the up. I felt it was better to share with them than to think that I have helped them. To be honest, I don’t think I was helping very much. It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help, but to learn about and experience another culture(文化) that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world.”
1. According to the text, a volunteer refers to a person who ______.

A．is willing to help those in need without pay	B．can afford to travel to different places
C．has a strong wish to be successful	D．has made a big fortune in life

2. Tracy started her work as a volunteer _______.

A．after she met Mother Teresa

B．after she finished high school

C．when she was touring Calcutta

D．when she was working in a hospital

3. Why did Tracy choose to be a volunteer?

A．She liked to work with Mother Teresa.

B．She had already had some experience.

C．She was asked by Mother Teresa’s example.

D．She wanted to follow Mother Teresa’s example.

4. What is Tracy’s “new idea” (Paragraph 2) of being a volunteer?

A．Going abroad to help the sick.

B．Working in Mother Teresa’s home.

C．Doing simple things to help the poor.

D．Improving oneself through helping others.

4 . Section B
Direction：Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished sattments. For each of them there are four choices markedA, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word “Poems” appeared in big, hot pink letters.
“Is it good?” I asked her.
“Yeah,” she answered. “There’s one I really like and you’ll like it, too.” I leaned forward.
“‘Patty Poem,’” she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began:
She never puts her toys away,

The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly:

And I’ll be sad.                           
A terrible sorrow washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock.
“It’s you, honey,” My mother said sadly.
To my mother, the poem revealed a parent’s affection when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the “she” in the poem was horror. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible I burst out crying.
“What’s wrong?” my mother asked.
“Oh Mama,” I cried. “I don’t want to grow up ever!”
She smiled. “Honey, it’s okay. You’re not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I’ll still love you, okay?”
“Okay,” I was still weeping. My panic has gone. But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After what seemed like a safe amount of time, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a puzzle. The language was simple, so simple I could plainly understand its meaning, yet it was still beautiful. I was now fascinated by the idea of poetry, words that had the power to make or break a person’s world.
I have since fallen in love with other poems, but “Patty Poem” remains my poem. After all, “Patty Poem” gave me my love for poetry not because it was the poem that lifted my spirits, but because it was the one that hurt me the most.
1. Why was the writer attracted by the book Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again?

A．It was a thick enough book.

B．Something on its cover caught her eye.

C．Her mother was reading it with interest.

D．It has a meaningful title.

2. After her mother read the poem to her, the writer felt ______ at first.

A．sad	B．excited
C．horrified	D．confused

3. The writer’s mother liked to read “Patty Poem” probably because______.

A．it reflected her own childhood

B．it was written in simple language

C．it was composed by a famous poet

D．it gave her a hint of what would happen

4. It can be concluded from the passage that“Patty Poem”leads the writer to _______.

A．discover the power of poetry

B．recognize her love for puzzles

C．find her eagerness to grow up

D．experience great homesickness

5 . A Race Against Death

It was a cold January in 1925 in Nome, Alaska. The town was cut off from the rest of the world due to heavy snow.

On the 20th of that month, Dr. Welch _______a sick boy, Billy, and knew he had diphtheria, a deadly infectious(传染的) disease mainly affecting children. The children of Nome would be _______if it struck the town. Dr. Welch needed medicine as soon as possible to stop other kids from getting sick. _______, the closest supply was over 1,000 miles away, in Anchorage.

How could the medicine get to Nome? The town’s _______was already full of ice, so it couldn’t come by ship. Cars and horses couldn’t travel on the _______roads. Jet airplanes and big trucks didn’t exist yet.

_______January 26, Billy and three other children had died. Twenty more were _______. Nome’s town officials came up with a(n)_______. They would have the medicine sent by _______from Anchorage to Nenana. From there, dogsled(狗拉雪橇) drivers — known as ＂mushers＂ — would __________it to Nome in a relay(接力).

The race began on January 27. The first musher, Shannon, picked up the medicine from the train at Nenana and rode all night. __________he handed the medicine to the next musher, Shannon’s face was black from the extreme cold.

On January 31, a musher named Seppala had to __________a frozen body of water called Norton Sound. It was the most __________part of the journey. Norton Sound was covered with ice, which could sometimes break up without warning. If that happened, Seppala might fall into the icy water below. He would __________, and so would the sick children of Nome. But Seppala made it across.

A huge snowstorm hit on February 1. A musher named Kaasen had to brave this storm. At one point, huge piles of snow blocked his__________. He had to leave the trail(雪橇痕迹) to get around them. Conditions were so bad that it was impossible for him to __________the trail again. The only hope was Balto, Kaasen’s lead dog. Balto put his nose to the ground, __________to find the smell of other dogs that had traveled on the trail. If Balto failed, it would mean disaster for Nome. The minutes passed by. Suddenly, Balto began to __________. He had found the trail.

At 5:30 am on February 2, Kaasen and his dogs __________in Nome. Within minutes, Dr. Welch had the medicine. He quickly gave it to the sick children. All of them recovered.

Nome had been __________.1.

A．examined

B．warned

C．interviewed

D．cured

2.

A．harmless

B．helpless

C．fearless

D．careless

3.

A．Moreover

B．Therefore

C．Otherwise

D．However

4.

A．airport

B．station

C．harbor

D．border

5.

A．narrow

B．snowy

C．busy

D．dirty

6.

A．From

B．On

C．By

D．After

7.

A．tired

B．upset

C．pale

D．sick

8.

A．plan

B．excuse

C．message

D．topic

9.

A．air

B．rail

C．sea

D．road

10.

A．carry

B．return

C．mail

D．give

11.

A．Though

B．Since

C．When

D．If

12.

A．enter

B．move

C．visit

D．cross

13.

A．shameful

B．boring

C．dangerous

D．foolish

14.

A．escape

B．bleed

C．swim

D．die

15.

A．memory

B．exit

C．way

D．destination

16.

A．find

B．fix

C．pass

D．change

17.

A．pretending

B．trying

C．asking

D．learning

18.

A．run

B．leave

C．bite

D．play

19.

A．gathered

B．stayed

C．camped

D．arrived

20.

A．controlled

B．saved

C．founded

D．developed

6 . 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Chinese female scientist Tu Youyou won the 2015 Nobel Prize in medicine on October 5 for her discoveries concerning a novel treatment against Malaria（疟疾）． This is the first Nobel Prize given to a Chinese scientist for work carried out within China．
Tu shared the prize with Irish-born William Campbell and Satoshi Omura of Japan, who were honored for their revolutionary anti-roundworm treatment． 84-year-old Tu is awarded this prize for her contribution to cutting the death rate of malaria, reducing patients’ suffering and promoting mankind’s health． Although she received several medical awards in the past, the 2015 Nobel Prize is definitely the most privilege reward that recognizes Tu’s dedication and perseverance in discovering artemisinin（青蒿素）, the key drug that battles malaria-friendly parasites（寄生虫）．
However, her route to the honor has been anything but traditional． She won the Nobel Prize for medicine, but she doesn’t have a medical degree or a Phd．In China, she is even being called the “three-noes” winner: no medical degree, no doctorate, and she’s never worked overseas． No wonder her success has stirred China’s national pride and helped promote confidence of native Chinese scientists．
The fact that Tu has none of these three backgrounds reminds us that science should be more accessible to all． One shall be able to become a scientist no matter what kind of background he or she comes from, as long as one dives into scientific research． There have been discussions on people who really love science but are never able to achieve much during their whole life． Their contributions can never be ignored．They work so hard to prove the wrong way so that the future researchers will be closer to the right one．
As the first Chinese mainland Nobel Prize Winner of natural science award, Tu’s record-breaking winning also serves as a reminder to those who are too eager for instant success． Science is never about instant success． Tu spent decades on scientific research before its value is officially acknowledged．There is no way to measure how much one devotes to science and compare it with how much reward he or she may get．
1. It can be concluded from the text that __________．

A．Tu worked home and abroad to conduct her research

B．Tu got the Nobel Prize for her anti-roundworm treatment

C．The Nobel Prize is the first award to recognize her work

D．Her discovery of artemisinin has helped to cut Malaria death rate

2. The author seems to agree that a person who is more likely to become a scientist is the one with__________．

A．a sense of national pride

B．relevant academic knowledge

C．a desire to achieve success

D．enthusiasm for scientific research

3. In writing the passage, the author intends to ___________．

A．inform readers of the news and make comments

B．discourage the pursuit of instant success in science

C．remind readers of the principles of scientific research

D．praise the award winner and encourage scientific research

7 . It is good to get in touch with your inner child from time to time，and obviously some people are willing to pay big money for the chance to do so in a proper environment．A Brooklyn-based adult preschool is charging customers between $333 and $999 for the chance to act like a kid again．

At Preschool Mastermind in New York adults get to participate in show—and—tell，arts—and—crafts such as finger paint，games like musical chairs and even take naps．The month-long course also has class picture day where the adults are expected to have a field trip and a parent day．

30-year-old Michelle Joni Lapidos，the brain behind the adult preschool，studied childhood education and has always wanted to be a preschool teacher．She’s always on the lookout for new ways to get people in touch with the freedom of childhood．A friend encouraged her to start the mastermind course instead．

According to Candice，her blogger friend，Preschool Mastermind gives adults a chance to relearn and master the things that they failed to understand as children．“I realized all the significances of what we learn in preschool，”said founder Michelle Joni，“People come here and get in touch with their inner child．It’s magical．We are bringing ourselves back to another place，another time with ourselves when we are more believing in ourselves，more confident and ready to take on the world.”

“One person’s here because they want to learn not to be so serious．”Michelle said．“Another's here to learn to be more confident.” She explained that most of the classes were planned．However，Joni added that while the planned activities were fun，it was often the spontaneous(自发的)moments that attracted students．“It’s the things you don’t plan for，the sharing between friends and learning from each other.’’

1. What is the purpose of Preschool Mastermind?

A．To give adults a chance to return to childhood．

B．To help parents understand their children better．

C．To provide practical training courses for teachers．

D．To introduce some ways of playing with children．

2. What is mainly discussed about Preschool Mastermind in Paragraph 2 ?

A．Its customers．	B．Its activities．
C．Its environment．	D．Its schedule.

3. According to Candice，people come to this program to________.

A．enjoy freedom of thinking	B．realize their childhood dreams
C．discover their inner abilities	D．figure out childhood puzzles

4. What do we know about Michelle Joni?

A．She used to be a preschool teacher．

B．She likes to make plans in advance．

C．She founded Preschool Mastermind．

D．She gained confidence by sharing．

8 . Look to many of history’s cultural symbols, and there you’ll find an ancestor of Frosty, the snowman in the movie Frozen. It appeared on some of the first postcards, starred in some of the earliest silent movies, and was the subject of a couple of the earliest photos, dating all the way back to the 1800s. I discovered even more about one of humanity’s earliest forms of life art during several years of research around the world.
For example, snowmen were a phenomenon in the Middle Ages, built with great skill and thought. At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky. It was a popular activity for couples to leisurely walk through town to view the temporary works of chilly art. Some were created by famous artists, including a 19-year-old Michelangelo, who in 1494 was appointed by the ruler of Florence, Italy, to build a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard.
The Miracle of 1511 took place during six freezing works called the Winter of Death. The city of Brussels was covered in snowmen—an impressive scene that told stories on every street corner. Some were political in nature, criticizing the church and government. Some were a reflection of people’s imagination. For the people of Brussels, this was a defining moment of defining freedom. At least until spring arrived, by which time they were dealing with damaging floods.
If you fear the heyday of the snowman has passed, don’t worry: I’ve learned that some explosive snowman history is still being made today. Every year since 1818, the people of Zurich, Switzerland, celebrate the beginning of spring by blowing up a snowman. On the third Monday of April, the holiday Sechselauten is kicked off when a cotton snowman called the Boogg is stuffed with explosive and paraded through town by bakers and other tradesmen who throw bread to the crowds. The parade ends with the Boogg being placed on a 40-foot pile of firewood. After the bells of the Church of St. Peter have rung six times, representing the passing of winter, the pile is lit. When the snowman explodes, winter is considered officially over—the quicker it is burnt down, the longer summer is said to be.
1. According to the passage, why did snowmen become a phenomenon in the Middle Ages?

A．People thought of snow as holy art supplies.

B．People longed to see masterpieces of snow.

C．Building snowmen was a way for people to express themselves.

D．Building snowmen helped people develop their skill and thought.

2. “The heyday of the snowman” （paragraph 4） means the time when___________.

A．snowmen were made mainly by artists

B．snowmen enjoyed great popularity

C．snowmen were politically criticized

D．snowmen caused damaging floods

3. In Zurich, the blowing up of the Boogg symbolizes__________________.

A．the start of the parade

B．the coming of a longer summer

C．the passing of the winter

D．the success of tradesmen

4. What can be concluded about snowmen from the passage?

A．They were appreciated in history

B．They have lost their value

C．They were related to movies

D．They vary in shape and size

9 . Mark Twain was a great writer. He was from the USA. He was born in 1835. He was also a famous speaker. He was famous for his sense of humour. Many people liked to listen to him talk because he liked to tell some interesting stories to make people laugh all the time.
One day Mark Twain was going to a small town because of his writing. Before he was going to leave, one of his friends said to him that there were always a lot of mosquitoes in the town and told him that he’d better not go there. Mark Twain waved his hand and said, “It doesn’t matter. The mosquitoes are no relatives of mine. I don’t think they will come to visit me.”
After he arrived at the town, Mark Twain stayed in a small hotel near the station. He went into his room, but when he was just about to have a rest, quite a few mosquitoes flew about him. The waiters felt very sorry about that. “I’m very sorry, Mr Mark Twain. There are too many mosquitoes in our town.” One of them said to him.
Mark Twain, however, made a joke, saying to the waiter, “The mosquitoes are very clever. They know my room number. They didn’t come into the wrong room.” What he said made all the people present laugh heartily.
But that night Mark Twain slept well. Do you know why? That was because all the waiters in the hotel were driving the mosquitoes away for him during the whole night.
1. That day Mark Twain went to the town _____.

A．to see one of his friends

B．because he wanted to do something there for his writing

C．because he was told there were a lot of mosquitoes there

D．to see one of his relatives

2. The waiters felt sorry because _____.

A．they did something wrong to Mark Twain

B．their hotel was too small

C．the room was not very clean

D．there were quite a few mosquitoes in Mark Twain’s room

3. All the people present laughed heartily because _____.

A．the mosquitoes were very clever and they didn’t come into the wrong room

B．the mosquitoes knew Mark Twain’s room number

C．Mark Twain gave the waiters some nice presents

D．Mark Twain made a joke

4. From e story we know _____.

A．no mosquitoes troubled Mark Twain in the night

B．the owner of the hotel told the waiters to look after Mark Twain well at night

C．Mark Twain didn’t have a good rest that night

D．there were not mosquitoes in the hotel any longer

10 . It's generally believed that people act the way they do because of their personalities and attitudes .They recycle their garbage because the care about the environment .They pay $5 for a caramel brulée latte because they like expensive coffee drinks.

It's undeniable that behavior comes from our inner dispositions (性情), but in many instances we also draw inferences about who we are, as suggested by the social psychologist Daryl Bem , by observing our own behavior .We can be strangers to ourselves .If we knew our own minds, why would we need to guess what our preferences are from our behavior? If our minds were an open book, we would know exactly how much we care about the environment or like lattes .Actually , we often need to look to our behavior to figure out who we are.

Moreover, we don't just use our behavior to learn about our particular types of character—we infer characters that weren't there before .Our behavior is often shaped by little pressures around us, which we fail to recognize .Maybe we recycle because our wives and neighbors would disapprove if we didn't .Maybe we buy lattes in order to impress the people around us .We should not mistakenly believe that we always behave as a result of some inner disposition.

Whatever pressures there can be or inferences one can make, people become what they do, though it may not be in compliance (符合) with their true desires .Therefore , we should all bear in mind Kurt Vonnegut's advice: “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”

1. According to the passage, personalities and attitudes are commonly believed to___.

A．determine one's behavior

B．reflect one's taste

C．influence one's surroundings

D．result from one's habits

2. Which of the following would Daryl Bem most probably agree with?__

A．The return of a wallet can indicate one's honesty.

B．A kind person will offer his seat to the old.

C．One recycles plastics to protect the environment.

D．One buys latte out of true love of coffee.

3. What can be inferred from the underlined sentence in the passage?___

A．We fail to realize our inner dispositions.

B．We can be influenced by outside pressures.

C．Our behavior is the result of our true desires.

D．Our characters can shape our social relationships.

4. What does the author mainly discuss in the passage?___

A．Personalities and attitudes.

B．Preferences and habits.

C．Behavior and personalities.

D．Attitudes and preferences.