1 . I have dreamed of taking a trip to Hawaii since I graduated, but the best thing always needs waiting.
I took a trip with my friends to Haleakala National Park, which lies in Hawaii.
When we arrived at Haleakala National Park, we were advised to watch the early morning sunrise. I was lost in the sightseeing (观光) that afternoon, so I could hardly wait to see the sunrise. The next morning, we all got out of bed very early and got to the seaside at 3 o’clock. In the first half an hour, we imagined how wonderful it would be when the first light came out through the thick clouds and how soft it would be when the light touched our skin, so we waited and waited. However, another half an hour later, I gradually lost my patience since there was nothing but the chilly darkness, and I felt that I was frozen to death. (冻死) But my friends were still extremely cheerful.
Nearly another one hour later, “Amazing!” Judy burst out and we all shouted to welcome the light, which was really unbelievable. Until today, I dare say that it is the most impressive sunrise in my life. However, waiting in the morning darkness is also one memory I can’t forget forever.
Waiting sometimes is really a hard thing for most of us as it needs patience and strong-willed determination (决心) , but what about the result after that? It might turn out to be pleasing and unbelievable. So, it is really worth (值得的) waiting for the best.
1. What can we learn from the passage?A.he author’s friends and the author took a trip to China. |
B.Hawaii is a good place to enjoy the sunrise. |
C.Sometimes, it is worth waiting for the best. |
D.The author enjoyed the worst sunrise in his life. |
A.About 3 o’clock. | B.About 4 o’clock. |
C.About 5 o’clock. | D.About 6 o’clock. |
A.Total. | B.Cold. | C.Terrible. | D.Interesting. |
A.Excited all the time. | B.Afraid all the time. |
C.Firstly excited then afraid. | D.Firstly excited then impatient. |
2 . In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image. I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit — I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.
What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness. Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.
Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?A.The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself. |
B.The author agrees to overspend money on material things. |
C.The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels. |
D.The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends. |
A.people dislike those who love luxuries |
B.traveling changes a person’s identity greatly |
C.luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness |
D.experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries |
A.Be selective about designer labels. | B.Create your own personal unique style. |
C.Choose simple and fashionable styles. | D.Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s. |
A.prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life |
B.tell how to express yourself through appearances |
C.report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness |
D.persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries |
3 . Plastic straws (吸管) have been a major problem in global discussions of environmental damage. Maybe because of their small size, the production cost of straws is low. In many countries, straws are offered freely after buying soft drinks. Therefore, plastic straws are one of the most used plastics and pollutants in the world.
The plastic straw is light and small. Due to their small size, plastic straws are often eaten by sea animals. Environmentalists have shown that the death of many sea animals is caused by eating plastic straws. The other damaging characteristic of plastic straws is that they are made of materials which cannot degrade. That means the materials cannot be changed into small harmless (无害的) ones.
The most effective way of dealing with the environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is the reuse or banning (禁止) the use of plastic straws. Being plastics, the straws can be made new items. Many organizations around the world change used straws into new products. In Africa, local communities collect used plastic straws and use them to make mats and bags. Another way of dealing with environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is placing a ban on their production and use. Experts advise governments to ban using plastic straws to save the environment. A few countries in the world such as Rwanda, Macedonia, China, Kenya have already banned the use of plastic bags and are expected to include plastic straws and bottles. But it will be a long way to do this effectively.
There are few environmentally friendly and biodegradable productions to take the place of plastic straws. These productions include paper straws, bamboo straws. However, such straws are usually expensive as their production cost is high. It’s still a question whether they can entirely take the place of plastic straws.
1. Why can people be free to use plastic straws?A.They are very cheap. | B.They are light and small. |
C.They are dangerous. | D.They are easy to use. |
A.Cut up. | B.Because of. | C.Go on. | D.Break out. |
A.It’s not difficult to ban using plastic straws. |
B.Many countries have stopped using plastic straws. |
C.Experts advise people to stop producing plastic straws. |
D.Some Africans change plastic straws into new products. |
A.It is a must to use them. |
B.It’s not easy to reuse them. |
C.There are still some problems to be solved. |
D.There are some other kinds of cheaper straws. |
4 . Tea culture is varied in different countries by the way tea is made and drunk, and by the places for tea drinking. How to make tea may be different. According to the ways of making tea, tea is classified (分类) into white tea, green tea, black tea, etc. And how to prepare tea may be different, too. In Tibet, tea is commonly boiled with salt and butter. People may drink tea at home or in public, for example, at tea houses.
As part of culture, tea has a relationship with history, health, education, communication and so on. It is commonly used at social activities. For example, afternoon tea is a British custom. Families or friends can communicate with each other while having afternoon tea.
Tea has remained a way of daily life in China and drinking tea has a lot of advantages. It makes people less tired, clears heat in the human body and helps people lose weight.
Chinese people are good at using tea to make other things delicious. Tea, originally (最初) served as a medicine in ancient times, is now not just a kind of drink, but also excellent seasoning (调味品). Here are two delicious dishes made with tea:
Tea Eggs: You can find them cooked and sold in street markets in almost every city in China. Dragon Well Tea Shrimp (龙井虾仁). It’s one of the most well-known dishes in Hangzhou. Before you drink tea, please check the following tips:
♦ Drink tea hot.
♦ The best time to drink is in between meals. It is bad for your stomach if you drink tea just before meals, during meals or soon after meals.
♦ Do not drink too much strong tea.
1. Tea has no relationship with as part of culture according to the passage.A.history | B.health | C.education | D.sports |
A.way of communication | B.hobby |
C.game | D.weekend activity |
A.a medicine | B.a drink | C.seasoning | D.a dish |
A.just before meals | B.during meals | C.soon after meals | D.in between meals |
A.ways of making tea | B.places to drink tea |
C.tools for drinking tea | D.advantages of drinking tea |
5 . Lab work is fun but you must be careful. Listen carefully when your teacher reads and explains the rules before your first lab lesson.
LAB RULES | |
Throughout the lessons | * Do not enter the science lab without the teacher’s permission. * No food or drinks in the science lab. |
Before the Experiment | *Read all instructions carefully before every experiment. * Prepare all apparatus (仪器) and put them in right places so that you will not knock them over while doing the experiment. |
During the Experiment | * If you are unsure of how to use any apparatus or how to operate, ask your teacher for help. * Never smell or taste chemicals unless your teacher gives permission. |
After the Experiment | * Wash all apparatus after use and return them to the places where they were. * Throw waste materials into proper waste baskets. |
First Aid | * Report all accidents to your teacher immediately. * If you spill any chemicals onto your body or clothing, wash with plenty of water and report to your teacher. |
A.read all instructions carefully | B.take enough food and drinks |
C.smell chemicals immediately | D.talk with your classmates |
A.read the rules carefully |
B.try them again and again |
C.ask your teacher for help |
D.return all apparatus to the places where they were |
A.照射 | B.伤害 | C.掉下 | D.溅出 |
A.be careful in order to prevent injury |
B.listen carefully when your teacher explains the rules |
C.taste chemicals without the teacher’s permission |
D.throw waste materials into proper waste baskets |
6 . The other day, I told Connie that I’d rather take the bus to work than ride in my comfortable limousine (豪华轿车) because of the high cost of gasoline. But today, I discovered how wrong I was.
When I got into my limousine this morning, my driver told me that the motor didn’t sound like it was running well.
“Look,” I said, “I have an important meeting at 9:00. I have to be on time!”
About fifteen minutes later, the motor died.
“Sorry, Mr. Foster, I thought this might happen. But look! There’s the downtown bus. Maybe you should take it. So you won’t miss your meeting.”
“Well, I... I... Oh! I suppose I have to.”
I got on the bus and gave the driver my money.
“Mister, are you serious? We can’t make change for a $ 100 bill!”
“I AM CHARLES K. FOSTER. AND I ORDER THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE CHANGE!”
“Mister,” said the driver. “I don’t care who you are. You will have to get off the bus.”
Well, I was so mad when I got off that bus that I didn’t watch where I was going, and I was almost hit by a car! So now, all I have to say is this: My business may be killing me, but riding the bus certainly will.
1. Why did the writer take the bus?A.The bus would slop at the meeting room. |
B.The limousine completely broke down. |
C.The driver had an important meeting. |
D.The motor was not running very well. |
A.there were too many passengers | B.it was heading in the wrong direction |
C.the driver couldn’t change his money | D.he was rude to the bus driver |
A.Angry. | B.Uneasy. | C.Shameful. | D.Funny. |
A.The writer was doing well in his business. |
B.Connie would lose his job as the writer’s driver. |
C.The writer was sure that he would be killed by a bus. |
D.The writer wouldn’t take a bus to work after that. |
7 . My great-grandmother, Winifred Hastings, got rich in a mining (采矿) town out West. But her
In the early 1900’s, Winifred arrived in Silver City with her husband. But he caught a fever and died suddenly. With the little money she had, Winifred decided to open a restaurant to
The restaurant had only wooden boxes for tables, but business was very good
One time, Winifred had a small accident in the restaurant. A fire started in the kitchen and her customers put it out. The town mayor walked in
In 1905, Winifred got married again and moved out of town. On her
A.wealth | B.skill | C.family | D.health |
A.cost | B.entertain | C.warm | D.feed |
A.sometimes | B.anyway | C.somewhere | D.anywhere |
A.found out | B.looked through | C.came across | D.thought up |
A.but | B.and | C.since | D.although |
A.if | B.after | C.while | D.before |
A.cried | B.laughed | C.replied | D.followed |
A.best | B.worst | C.first | D.last |
A.he | B.she | C.it | D.one |
A.WITH | B.FOR | C.BY | D.FROM |
8 . Different countries and different people have different manners. We must find out their customs, so that they will not think us ill-mannered. Here are some examples of the things that a well-mannered person does or does not do.
If you visit a Chinese family you should knock at the door first. When the door opens, you’ll not move before the host says “Come in, please.” After you enter the room, you wouldn’t sit down until the host asks you to take a seat. When a cup of tea is put on a tea-table before you or sent to your hand, you’ll say “Thank you” and receive it with your two hands, not one hand, or they’ll think you are ill-mannered.
Before entering a house in Japan, it is good manners to take off your shoes. In European countries, even though shoes sometimes become very dirty, this is not done. In a Malay house, a guest never finishes the food on the table. He leaves a little to show that he has had enough. In England, a guest always finishes a drink or the food to show that he has enjoyed it. This will make the host, especially the hostess pleased.
1. We must find out what the different manners are in different countries so that ________.A.we can know what to do and what not to do when we go there |
B.they won’t think we are ill |
C.we won’t be thought in poor health |
D.we can give some examples |
A.you won’t leave | B.you won’t walk |
C.you won’t stand in front of him | D.you won’t get in |
A.before your visitor enters your house |
B.before you enter the host’s house |
C.before you visit a family |
D.before you sit down and receive a cup of tea |
A.you needn’t take off your shoes |
B.you must take off your dirty shoes |
C.you are not allowed to wear dirty shoes |
D.you should put on clean shoes |
A.he has enjoyed it |
B.he needs some drink |
C.he is not hungry at all |
D.he can’t have any more |
9 . Think back to a time in your life when you tried something new.
When I was a teenager I volunteered to pass out water at a local race. I was so excited to see all the different runners who passed by and quickly took a cup of water. Some ran past, some walked past and a few wheeled past.
I saw so many types of people doing it. I thought maybe I could do it too! The next year I decided to run for the race, but I had little running practice. I just wanted to finish.
On the day of the race, it was terribly hot. After running for about 5 miles, I was thinking, “I must be crazy. Why did I do this? What was I thinking?” And at one moment, I said to myself, “I am never doing this again!”
That first 10 km race was quite an experience. I jogged (慢跑), I walked, I jogged and walked. At times, I didn’t know if I could finish.
Near the end, a 70-year-old man ran past me, very fast, and I felt a little embarrassed (尴尬的) that I was more than 50 years younger than he and I couldn’t even keep up with him. But then I realized something. He was running his race and I was running mine. How often in life do we compare (比较) ourselves to others when we really shouldn’t? I decided that I would not give up on running races, and that one day I would be one of those 70-year-old men who were still running.
As I crossed the finishing line, I was proud of myself. I didn’t regret (后悔) having such an experience.
1. What did the writer do at a local race as a volunteer?A.He helped old runners. | B.He cheered up the runners. |
C.He passed out water to the runners. | D.He took back the cups from the runners. |
A.He just wanted to experience. | B.He was crazy about running. |
C.He had practiced running very hard. | D.He wanted very much to win a prize. |
① He regretted.
② He encouraged himself.
③ He felt a little embarrassed.
A.①-②-③ | B.②-①-③ | C.①-③-② | D.②-③-① |
A.embarrassed | B.disappointed | C.excited | D.surprised |
A.To be No. 1. | B.Let’s compare. |
C.A volunteering job. | D.Running your own race. |
10 . My wife and I moved into our home two years ago. We had a yard with a lot of
Last summer, I found a tiny little plant in the yard 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
Weeks passed and as I made my way back to the
That’s when I
We need to believe in ourselves knowing we have the
A.flower | B.insects | C.vegetables | D.rocks |
A.water | B.fertilizer | C.color | D.shape |
A.stop | B.continue | C.improve | D.escape |
A.weak | B.strange | C.lonely | D.pretty |
A.collect | B.tend | C.remove | D.watch |
A.unusual | B.wonderful | C.terrible | D.valuable |
A.passed | B.started | C.left | D.died |
A.air | B.top | C.sun | D.house |
A.hoped | B.realized | C.doubted | D.regretted |
A.fill in | B.put in | C.worry about | D.believe in |
A.forget | B.hate | C.aim | D.wait |
A.wish | B.plan | C.ability | D.idea |
A.faith | B.energy | C.virtue | D.courage |
A.aware | B.afraid | C.proud | D.tired |
A.forgive | B.support | C.upset | D.affect |