2 . Some people express themselves through beautiful art; others are masters of the page and speak silently through writing. I, on the other hand, express myself with the greatest instrument I have, my voice.

Nothing gives me more satisfaction than public speaking. At age eight I started giving speeches in local competitions. Soon I was able to participate in (参加) state competitions. During March of eighth grade, I had the best opportunity ever to practice my speaking skills. I was chosen, out of all the students entered in New Hampshire, to write and read a four-minute speech on national television. My job was to introduce Elizabeth Dole, who at the time was interested in running for president.

I was notified the day before the event and so had only one night to write and memorize my speech. When I arrived the next morning in Belford, New Hampshire, I was greeted by photographers and newspaper reporters! Soon it was time for my speech. I had a feeling of complete excitement flowing through my body. When I finished, everyone stood up and clapped. Mrs. Dole surprised me by giving me a great hug and thanking me for my comments (评论) on the importance of education. But even after she finished speaking, the excitement was far from over.

Since then I have participated in different competition and events. My favorite by far was Young Chatqua, a wonderful summer program. In Chatqua I gave a speech on the life of Margaret Bourke-White, a pioneer photographer, in a 12-minute speech that took a month to research, prepare, and memorize. It was the most amazing experience of my life.

After Chatqua, I participated in my first play, Everybody’s Crazy, and I am now organizing a debate (辩论) team. I plan to continue competitions, do volunteer work, go to Chatqua next summer, and hopefully participate in the American Legion’s Oratorical Contest next year.

1. The author’s speech on TV ________.

A．was about students in New Hampshire

B．was her most amazing experience

C．happened when she was eight

D．proved to be successful

2. The underlined word “notified” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”.

A．prepared

B．told

C．tricked

D．refused

3. How did the author feel before giving the four-minutes speech?

A．Nervous.

B．Worried.

C．Excited.

D．Frightened.

4. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．the speech-giving experience on TV increased the author’s confidence

B．the 12-minutes speech about Margaret Bourke-White was the hardest

C．the author will probably give up Chataqua in the future

D．the author felt uncertain about her future life

5. The author writes the passage to mainly tell us about ________.

A．her unusual school life

B．her dream in childhood

C．her public speaking skills

D．her interest in public speaking

4 . Animals might not be able to speak or master advanced language techniques, but they certainly have other ways of communicating. Whale song, wolf howls, frog cries — even the fast dance of the honeybee or the friendly waves of a dog’s tail — are among so many ways animals pass on information to each other and to other living things of the animal kingdom.

When it comes to hearing communication, not every member of a species is just alike. Animals in different places have often been sounding off in different dialects. For example, one study shows that blue whales produce different types of sounds depending on where they are from. Some bird species are the same way. And what about those birds that live on the border between territories (领地) of different songbirds? They are often able to communicate in a way accepted by each of their groups of neighbors.

Communication between different species can play important roles as well. One study shows that iguanas (鬣蜥蜴) do not communicate by making sound, but their well-developed ears help them hear well the warning calls of the flycatcher (a type of small bird). The two species have nothing in common except for the fact that they share a general habitat and enemies. So when an iguana hears a bird make a signal of danger for other birds, it probably knows to be watchful for arriving enemies, too.

However, as noise pollution has become a serious problem all across the globe, many animals are now under fire. Increased shipping traffic over the last century has greatly affected the spread of whale song around the ocean basin. Studies have found that songbirds, too, suffer from noisy city surroundings. Some species have had to change their singing styles, producing songs that sound louder, in order to be heard above the noise. Their new voices usually lead to stranger and somewhat worse styles of singing that female birds find decidedly less sexy.

1. What does the author mainly tell us in Paragraph 2?

A．Various dialects can also happen to the same animals.

B．Animals communicate with each other in different ways.

C．Different animals have different ways of communicating.

D．Animals from different places may make the same sound.

2. What can we learn about iguanas?

A．They communicate by singing.

B．They are born with poor hearing.

C．They often bring bad luck to humans.

D．They get along well with flycatchers.

3. By saying “many animals are now under fire”, the author means ________.

A．they refuse to communicate with others

B．they cannot communicate effectively

C．they are now in danger of dying out

D．they don’t make a sound any more

4. Due to noise pollution, songbirds ________.

A．find it hard to attract the opposite sex

B．produce more songs that sound sad

C．begin to communicate by dancing

D．can not find food easily any more

5. The author develops the passage mainly ________.

A．by raising questions

B．by following time order

C．by providing examples

D．by analyzing the data

5 . Terry Evanshen was one of Canadian football’s greatest receivers. He played every down as if it was his last. Though he had made great achievements, Terry’s memories of his playing days have been completely lost.

It was in the summer of 1988 after he retired from playing that his career in sales was taking off. One day in July, Terry, on his way home from work, had a terrible car accident. He was knocked unconscious, and within minutes he was rushed to the nearby hospital.

Three weeks later, he woke up. However, it became obvious that Terry’s injuries were far more serious than whatever damage had been done to his body. A lifetime of memories had been completely wiped clean. He had been all but reduced to the level of a baby; everything from his ability to talk and walk to his understanding of what it meant to be a husband and a father was all gone.

At age 44, Terry Evanshen would be starting all over again. Luckily he had the support of his family, helped by small victories and a renewed bond between him and his three daughters, for example, when they taught him how to play football again.

In 1992, his recovery really began to pick up steam. It has taken years to rebuild his shattered life. But today, more than 20 years since his playing days, Terry is a popular public speaker. He tells his inspiring story of perseverance and courage. “Never forget, we’re all in this game of life together. We will get to the finish line, one day at a time, one moment at a time, but celebrate the journey. Seize today, because yesterday is gone and is never coming back.” As the subject of the most watched Canadian movie of 2005, The Man Who Lost Himself, Evanshen says his family has been his most important treasure. He refuses to be a victim, saying he is a survivor.

1. In 1988, Evanshen was ________.

A．a businessman	B．a public speaker
C．a football player	D．a father of two daughters

2. After the car accident happened, what was the worst thing for Evanshen?

A．He would never drive again.	B．He couldn’t stand up anymore.
C．He lost his memory and all his ability.	D．He suffered a serious physical injury.

3. According to the passage, what was the secret of Evanshen’s success in career and life?

A．His determination never to give up.	B．His gift for learning new things.
C．His good luck.	D．His fans’ love.

4. What can we learn about The Man Who Lost Himself?

A．It was lost in 1992.	B．It was a boring film.
C．It was directed by Evanshen.	D．It was based on the story of Evanshen.

5. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．A great football player	B．What’s a persevering person like?
C．The man who lost himself	D．Terry Evanshen’s life

6 . Live music fans all over the world are constantly on the lookout for live musical events and concerts. There are indeed a great number of festivals that take place all over the globe to cater to this great demand for music and entertainment. Among these events one of the more popular festivals is the UK Cardiff Big Weekend, which is famous for its featured talent that includes famous musical bands and artists and much revelry that has made a popular audience draw.

The event has taken place every year since 1995 and it is organized around by Cardiff Council. It is known as the country’s largest free music event, thus attracting hundreds of thousands of music lovers and enthusiasts. The celebrations go on for three days featuring different styles of live entertainment. What is more, the occasion also features a number of lively outdoor events that are celebrated around Cardiff’s Civic Centre. The participants can also look forward to the fireworks display every night that takes place during the closing of the performances.

It features not just budding talent, but also established artists as well as those who have made a name for themselves on the international entertainment scene. Generally, on Friday nights, the concert features Welsh Bands. For those who take part in the event, they can look forward not just to good music but also a fun-filled fairground atmosphere with all the attractions of a fair. Thus it is a popular spot for not just the young but also those who are young at heart looking to have a great time and hear a wide range of musical styles.

Festival participants can make use of the different hotel packages on offer from various UK hotels. Hotel chains such as Millennium & Copthorne Hotels UK have a number of attractive offers such as rooms with breakfast, long-stay packages and advance booking packages. Even if you are a last-minute planner, there are great deals not to be missed.

1. The underlined part “cater to” in the first paragraph can best replaced by “________”.

A．avoid

B．create

C．reduce

D．satisfy

2. What can we learn about the Cardiff Big Weekend from the second paragraph?

A．It lasts two days.	B．It is free of charge.
C．It is held every two years.	D．It has a history of 30 years.

3. During the Cardiff Big Weekend, people can ________.

A．meet some well-known artists	B．watch Welsh bands perform on Sunday
C．visit a local fair near Cardiff’s Civic Centre	D．watch fireworks when performances begin

4. The last paragraph mainly tells ________.

A．what we shouldn’t miss during the festival

B．what we should keep in mind when making plans

C．there are a lot of cheap hotels in the United Kingdom

D．good deals on hotels are available during the festival

5. Where does the passage probably come from?

A．A news story.

B．A research paper.

C．A music magazine.

D．A history book.

7 . Want to join the Three Sixty Journalism team?

We provide several opportunities for teens to explore journalism (新闻业), improve their writing and communication skills, and connect with other teens and professionals.

Intermediate (中级的) Journalism Camp

A two-week camp in June at the University of St. Thomas. Fifteen to eighteen teens live in the college dorms and work with other Minnesota teens and professional journalist advisers to produce a news article, a personal essay, photos and videos. This camp is designed for students completing 9th through 12th grade who have some journalism experience, want to build their skills and report issues that matter to them.

Introduction to Journalism Camp

A four-week camp in July at the University of St. Thomas. Fifteen to eighteen teens meet from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm to learn the basics of journalism, including interviewing, writing in journalistic style and photojournalism. In the newsroom, students will produce written and video reports. This camp is designed for those completing 8th through 11th grade who have no previous experience and like asking questions and telling stories.

Sports Reporting Camp

New in 2011, a five-day sports reporting camp in August at the University of St. Thomas. Fifteen to eighteen teens meet from Monday through Friday, to work with the best sports journalists. Students will learn how being a journalist differs from being a fan; see how today’s sports reporters use video, online and social media; interview players and coaches and write a sports story. This camp is designed for those completing 8th through 12th grade who have no previous experience and enjoy writing and sports.

News Team

An 8- to 10-week after-school class. It’s held twice a year in the Fall and Spring terms and meets at the University of St. Thomas. Six to twelve teens produce one news story while learning the basics of journalism, including interviewing, talking to everyone comfortably, writing briefly, spotting a good story and more. It is designed for students in 9th through 11th grade who want to check out what journalism is all about.

1. Who would most probably be admitted to the Introduction to Journalism Camp?

A．Linda, in 11th grade, having some journalism experience.

B．Marx, in 10th grade, having enough time in August.

C．Tom, in 12th grade, good at making up stories.

D．Nick, in 8th grade, eager to learn interviewing.

2. Students in the Sports Reporting Camp can ________.

A．work with Minnesota teens

B．meet with sports journalists

C．live in the college dorms

D．play games with coaches

3. What do we know about News Team?

A．It teaches how to use videos.

B．It is a newly-founded team.

C．It is held twice a year.

D．It lasts four weeks.

4. What do the four activities have in common?

A．They are held in the same place.

B．They accept the same number of teens.

C．They all take place in the summer vacation.

D．They all allow teens to take part after school.

5. For whom is the passage most probably written?

A．Professional journalists.

B．Camp organizers.

C．Journalism lovers.

D．Sports lovers.

8 . Last Friday I came home from work. And as I entered my home, I ________ that someone had been in the house. As I walked through the house assessing (评定) the damage, I found a very ________house. The house was not how I had left it that morning.

I immediately knew that my ________ had visited and cleaned my house for me. Of course, I was ________ － I knew what a sacrifice (牺牲) it was for her to do this, with three children, a business and a house of her own to ________.

Looking at all the deeds she had done, I was going around unconsciously moving things and putting them in their “proper order”. ________, I remembered some advice my mom gave me when I got married.

“If your husband helps you in the house doing anything, ________ go behind him and change it. When I was first ________, your daddy was willing to help me by making the beds, washing dishes or whatever. I never liked the ________ he did it, so I always went behind him and did it my way. Before long, he stopped helping me and never offered to help me with anything else. So, ________ it doesn’t meet your standards or is not done your way, ________ it as a gift or he will stop helping.”

I thought back, and realized that I had a ________ of changing or rearranging things to my way of doing or thinking. Had I made others feel ________ because I had to change them to my liking? As long as the job got done well, did it really ________ how it got done?

I sat down in my clean house ________, keeping everything just as my daughter had left it.

1.

A．heard

B．expected

C．forgot

D．realized

2.

A．big

B．empty

C．clean

D．modern

3.

A．daughter

B．mother

C．neighbor

D．friend

4.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．upset

D．grateful

5.

A．support

B．run

C．manage

D．buy

6.

A．Luckily

B．Suddenly

C．Surprisingly

D．Carelessly

7.

A．never

B．ever

C．always

D．sometimes

8.

A．injured

B．prepared

C．settled

D．married

9.

A．time

B．way

C．attitude

D．order

10.

A．now that

B．in case

C．even if

D．ever since

11.

A．remember

B．accept

C．mark

D．change

12.

A．plan

B．gift

C．habit

D．gift

13.

A．unimportant

B．shocked

C．puzzled

D．frightened

14.

A．matter

B．work

C．mind

D．care

15.

A．secretly

B．patiently

C．bravely

D．peacefully

9 . Africa is a large and varied continent containing some of the oldest civilizations on earth. It is home to a wide diversity of religions and cultures, and this colorful diversity is reflected in its diverse and colorful weddings traditions.

An African wedding is, more than anything, the bringing together of two people as a single family, or the combining of two families or even the mixture of two tribes into one family unit. The concept of family is one of the unifying ideas of the African continent. There are more than 1,000 cultural units in Africa and each culture, each tribe has its own wedding and marriage traditions, many of which can trace their origins back hundreds or even thousands of years. There are also many different religions represented in Africa. Many northern Africans, especially, have been influenced by Muslim traditions, while further south there are more Christian, Hindu, and even Jewish traditions with more ancient traditions. 

In many places in Africa young girls are trained to be good wives from an early age. They may even learn secret codes and secret languages that allow them to talk with other married women without their husbands understanding what is being said. 

Depending on which part of Africa you are in, wedding ceremonies can be extremely elaborate, some lasting many days. Often huge ceremonies are held during which many couples are united at the same time. 

In Sudan and in other areas along the Nile a man must pay his wife’s family in sheep or cattle for the loss of their daughter’s labor in support of the family. A wife may cost a man as many as 30 to 40 head of cattle. In Somalia a man is allowed to have as many as four wives if he can support them all, and it is not uncommon for a girl to be engaged before she is even born. 

Bright festive colors, song, dance, and music are vital elements of many African wedding ceremonies. Common to all wedding ceremonies is the concept of changing between childhood and adulthood. In many African cultures children are encouraged to marry as young as 13 to 15 years of age, as soon as they have reached physical adulthood.

1. When two young get married in Africa it means ________.

A．they will explore a wide diversity of religions

B．they will live together for the rest of their life

C．they will contribute to the union of African tribes

D．they will have a chance to enjoy their romance

2. What can we learn from the second paragraph?

A．All the tribes in Africa have the same belief.

B．Africa witnesses varieties of marriage traditions.

C．Most of Africans are believers in Islam.

D．People in South Africa are all Christians.

3. Young girls learn secret languages ________.

A．to have a good communication with their husbands

B．to give their children a good education in the future

C．to gain the ability to talk with other married women

D．to master the skills about having communication

4. What does the underlined word “elaborate” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Similar.

B．Familiar.

C．Difficult.

D．Different.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．wedding ceremonies are full of happiness

B．there are more men than women in Somalia

C．the cattle are well worth a lot of money

D．Africans prefer dancing to anything else

10 . Dear Dr. Science,

I couldn’t sleep at all last night. My sister says it was because I ate a bowl of really spicy chili (辣的辣椒) right before bedtime, but I think that’s impossible. Can spicy foods at bedtime really have an influence on one’s sleep?

－Sleepless

Dear Sleepless,

I know your feeling because I often eat spicy chili before lights out. I’ve also experienced sleep problems after eating a lot of spicy foods. What does science say?

Researchers in Australia did an experiment to find out the effects of spicy foods on how we sleep. They wanted to try to know the influence of spicy foods on the length or quality (质量) of sleep. They gave a group of people delicious late-night meals. Some nights, they got spicy meals. Other nights, their meals were mild (清淡的). It turns out that your sister is on to something. When the people taking part in the experiment ate spicy foods, their sleep patterns (模式) were changed. They took longer to fall asleep and they slept less, too. This was the kind of information the researchers were looking for to build a link (关联) between eating spicy foods and possible sleep problems.

Researchers aren’t sure exactly how spicy foods change sleep patterns, but they have some ideas on the subject. People’s sleep could be influenced because of stomachache caused by eating spicy foods. Also, they could be taking too long to fall asleep because of taking too long to digest (消化) the spicy foods. But they also guess that body temperature plays a role. Spicy foods include something that can raise the body’s temperature. Other studies have connected increased body temperature with poor sleep. So before you go to bed, leave the chilies alone and sleep well.

－Science

1. The questioner couldn’t sleep last night because ________.

A．he ate spicy foods

B．he went to bed too late

C．he was angry with his sister

D．he talked with Dr. Science for a long time

2. According to the passage, Dr. Science believes ________.

A．eating at bedtime is unhealthy

B．many Australians enjoy eating spicy foods

C．eating spicy foods can influence one’s sleep

D．spicy foods are more healthful than mild foods

3. The underlined sentence means what the questioner’s sister said is ________.

A．true

B．stupid

C．terrible

D．funny

4. According to the researchers, higher body temperatures can lead people to       ________.

A．sleep badly	B．go to bed early
C．like mild foods	D．eat lots of foods

5. How does Dr. Science reply to the questioner?

A．By sharing his personal experience.

B．By telling him about some research.

C．By interviewing him face to face.

D．By making experiments with him.