1 . There are so many expressions in American English that sound good but actually are not.
“Face the music” is a good example. When someone says they have to face the music, it does not mean they are going to a musical show or a concert. To “face the music” means accepting the bad results of behavior.
Imagine a friend asks you to take care of her beautiful red sports car. She gives you the keys and says, “Thanks so much for watching my car while I’m away. But please do not drive it. It is a very fast car and you are not on the insurance (保险).” But you do not listen. You want to show it to some friends and pretend (假装) the car is yours. So, you drive it around town one night. As bad luck would have it, you lose control of the car and drive it into a stop sign. The damage is serious. When your friend returns, you must tell her what you have done and “face the music”. The “music” here is the result of your behavior. It could be losing her friendship or paying for repairs to her sports car or both. Whatever the “music” is, you must face it.
There are other American expressions that mean the same as “face the music”.
“Take your medicine” means accepting the results of something bad you have done. And if someone says, “You made your bed. Now lie in it.” He means you created a bad situation and now you will experience the results, or as we say in American spoken English, you must deal with it!
“Pay the piper” also means the same as “face the music”. But that expression has its own very interesting beginning. We will talk about that in the next Words and Their Stories.
1. What’s the main idea of this passage?| A．To invite a friend to go to a musical performance. |
| B．To tell people how to deal with a bad situation. |
| C．To give people a lesson on an action. |
| D．To introduce some expressions. |
| A．You broke the traffic rules and were liable to a fine. |
| B．You worked hard but failed in the exam. |
| C．You caught a cold and took some medicine. |
| D．You moved to a new city and lost touch with your old friends. |
| A．Face the music. | B．Take your medicine. |
| C．Make your bed. | D．Pay the piper. |
| A．other words and their stories | B．the beginning of “pay the piper” |
| C．the wider use of “face the music” | D．an example of “take your medicine” |
2 . 
Welcome back to school! Have you signed up for an after-school activity yet? Here are some of the activities you can try.
SPORTS TEAMS
Do you like sports? How about joining the football team? It has tryouts at 3:00 pm next Tuesday. Many of our best players have moved up to college. So now the team needs new players. For more information, meet our sports advisors, Ms. Matte or Mr. Stergis.
GOOD AT ART?
This year, your schoolmates in the school art club plan to paint a mural (壁画) on the wall by the office. So they need new members to help create it. Are you interested in drawing, painting or taking photographs? This club is for you. The first meeting of the school year is at 3:15 pm next Wednesday in room 221. Please see Ms. Greenway for more information.
NEW THIS YEAR
There are some new activities you can have a go at. Try the new after-school science club. It has plans to enter the national senior robotics competition this year. So if you want to try building a robot, this club is for you. See Mr. Larson in room 105 for more details. The club meets at 3:30 pm every Thursday.
Do you like acting? Are you good at singing? The school play this year is a musical — The Sound of Music. Come and try out for it at 3:10 pm next Monday in room 125.
For a list of all the after-school activities this year, click here, or pick up a membership form from the advisor’s office — room 107.
1. When are the tryouts for the football team?| A．At 3:10 pm next Monday. | B．At 3:00 pm next Tuesday. |
| C．At 3:15 pm next Wednesday. | D．At 3:30 pm every Thursday. |
| A．To paint a mural. | B．To put on a musical. |
| C．To offer photography courses. | D．To enter a national competition. |
| A．In room 221. | B．In room 125. | C．In room 107. | D．In room 105. |
3 . I waved goodbye to my senior high school life just six months ago and now I am a college freshman. However, my memory of high school life is so fresh that I feel as if it were only yesterday.
My senior high school is called Yantai No. 1 Middle School with a long history, which can date back to 1931. When I recall my memorable high school life, I feel blissful and impressed.
To be honest, my senior high school life was very tiring but I really enjoyed it. I was asked to put study in the first place all the time by both my parents and my teachers. At that time, I got up at 5:30 a.m. and went to bed late in order to have more study time to review what I had learned in the day. In addition to study, I also took part in some activities like English speech contests, calligraphy competitions and so on.
Our class was like a big family. I got along well with my classmates. We always discussed issues of all kinds after class. I made many friends in the family and we still keep in touch with each other after we graduated. Luckily, my teachers were also very enthusiastic and friendly. We were seen as their children. They not only taught us knowledge but told us how to do better.
What’s more, dormitory life is also worth mentioning. Living far away from my home, I became quite independent by the end of the first semester at senior high. My roommates and I worked as a team to do some cleaning every day. We had a good time living as a family together, and my social skills were gradually improved.
This is my high school life, busy but fulfilling. I will never forget it.
1. It seems that the author’s high school life is anything but ______.| A．memorable | B．impressive | C．tiring | D．bitter |
| A．The author was unhappy about what she was told to do by her parents and teachers. |
| B．The author was a hardworking student when at high school. |
| C．The author had no time for other hobbies other than study. |
| D．The author won a lot of prizes in competitions during high school. |
| A．She lived far from her home. | B．She learned to do things on her own. |
| C．She had a better understanding of teamwork. | D．She learned how to get along with others. |
| A．In a newspaper covering breaking news. | B．In a fashion magazine. |
| C．On a college composition website. | D．In a guidebook. |
4 . It has always been thought that alcohol causes people to put on weight because it contains a lot of sugar, but new research suggests a glass a day cold form part of a diet. Looking at past studies they found that, while heavy drinkers do put on weight; those who drink in moderation can actually lose weight.
A spokesman for the research team at Navarro University in Spain says, “Light to moderate alcohol intake, especially of wine, may be more likely to protect against, rather than promote, weight gain.” The International Scientific Forum on Alcohol research reviewed the findings and agreed with most of the conclusions, particularly that data do not clearly indicate if moderate drinking increases weight.
Boston University’s Dr. Harvey Finkel found that the biologic mechanisms (生物学机制) relating alcohol to changes in body weight are not properly understood. His team pointed out the strong protective effects of moderate drinking on the risk of getting conditions like diabetes (糖尿病), which relate to increasing obesity. Some studies suggest that even very obese people may be at lower risk of diabetes if they are moderate drinkers.
The group says alcohol provides calories that are quickly absorbed into the body and are not stored in fat, and that this process could explain the differences in its effects from those of other foods. They agree that future research should be directed towards assessing the roles of different types of alcoholic drinks, taking into consideration drinking patterns and including the past tendency of participants to gain weight.
For now there is little evidence that consuming small to moderate amounts of alcohol on a regular basis increases one’s risk of becoming obese. What’s more, a study three years ago suggested that resveratrol (白藜芦醇), a compound present in grapes and red wine destroys fat cells.
1. The passage is mainly for those ________.| A．who produce wine | B．who go on a diet |
| C．who are eager to lose weight | D．who have a drinking habit |
| A．properly | B．carefully | C．frequently | D．excitedly |
| A．Moderate drinking increases weight. |
| B．Resveratrol is proved to increase the risk of becoming fat. |
| C．Moderate drinking has a strong protective effect. |
| D．The specific roles of different types of alcoholic drinks are very clear. |
| A．How to do some easy experiments. |
| B．How to reduce the calories contained in wine. |
| C．How to make wine in a healthy way. |
| D．How to prove the finding mentioned in the last paragraph. |
5 . Last year my daughter started feeding a homeless cat that we named Miss Alice. Since then, things have
My daughter always treats them equally with care. The only one who seems
The thing that Miss Alice
| A．progressed | B．recovered | C．ended | D．worsened |
| A．forgiven | B．guided | C．fed | D．reminded |
| A．dogs | B．birds | C．kids | D．cats |
| A．resting | B．fighting | C．playing | D．eating |
| A．plants | B．animals | C．neighbours | D．classmates |
| A．unhappy | B．unfamiliar | C．content | D．honest |
| A．protecting | B．driving | C．choosing | D．escaping |
| A．carried | B．identified | C．loved | D．looked |
| A．petting | B．checking | C．catching | D．admiring |
| A．careful | B．effective | C．concerned | D．willing |
| A．hardly | B．fully | C．obviously | D．definitely |
| A．pick out | B．break down | C．apply for | D．give away |
| A．tough | B．passive | C．caring | D．humourous |
| A．complaining | B．sharing | C．struggling | D．cheating |
| A．achievements | B．arguments | C．comparisons | D．connections |
6 . There are many kinds of pollution, which can be classified by environment, including air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollution, such as noise pollution, light pollution and plastic pollution. Pollution of all kinds may not only have negative effects on the environment and wildlife, but also do harm to human health and well-being.
Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events such as forest fires and active volcanoes, use of the word “pollution” generally means that the wastes have an anthropocentric source — that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution has accompanied humankind ever since groups of people first congregated and remained for a long time in any one place. Indeed, ancient human settlements are frequently recognized by their wastes, Pollution was not a serious problem as long as there was enough space available for each individual or group. However, with the establishment of permanent settlements by great numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has remained one ever since.
By the middle of the 20th century, an awareness of the need to protect air, water, and land environments from pollution had developed among the general public. In particular, the
publication in 1962 of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring focused attention on environmental damage caused by improper use of pesticides(杀虫剂)such as DDT. In response, major pieces of environmental law and regulation were passed in many countries to control the environmental pollution.
Great efforts are made to limit the release of harmful substances into the environment. Unfortunately, attempts at pollution control are surpassed by the scale of the problem, especially in less-developed countries. Noxious levels of air pollution are common in large cities. To control the pollution completely, we still have a long way to go.
1. What does paragraph 1 mainly talk about?| A．The history of pollution. | B．The types of pollution. |
| C．The causes of pollution. | D．The effects of pollution. |
| A．Human activities. | B．Forest fires. | C．Volcanoes. | D．Natural disasters. |
| A．Natural events such as forest fires and active volcanoes can’t cause any environment pollution. |
| B．Pollution was a serious problem as long as there was enough space available. |
| C．Pollution of all kinds do no harm to human health and well-being. |
| D．permanent settlements by great numbers of people made pollution become problem ever since. |
| A．No measures have been taken by the government to control the problems of pollution. |
| B．The book Silent Spring helped to improve the awareness of protecting the environment. |
| C．Silent Spring concentrated on the improper use of plastic bags. |
| D．The pollution has been controlled in less-developed countries. |
7 . The effect of natural disasters and her fit and active husband David’s surprising heart attack at the age of 54 had all seen Leila reflect on appreciation — something she was drawing on heavily after she injured her knee.
After finishing her film, Leila and David planned a skiing vacation with their kids. It was on the first day of the holiday the family had dreamed of for years that the unthinkable thing happened. Leila injured her knee in a horrific accident and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.
Leila said, “I thought, after the last couple of years, it would be great to go on a big adventurous holiday, but on the first day I broke my knee. Before that day, I sent my mother messages asking her how she was. When I injured my own knee, I didn’t understand what she was going through and I was sorry for making my mother feel worried. Thankfully, I was still alive.”
After the surgery, there would be months before recovery. But while others might have fallen into a “why is me” slump (低潮期), Leila was determined to face each day with a “ can do” thought.
When she couldn’t carry her own glass of water, she slung (吊挂) a water bottle around her neck. When she couldn’t move quickly to keep up with the kids, she got a walker at home. She became so adept at using it that she would try to go for a run. “There were a lot of frustrating things in losing independence, but this would pass. The kids and David were magnificent in their care,” she added.
While the holiday didn’t turn out the way she had hoped, it did reaffirm her love for her family, as well as her appreciation for her own relative good health.
1. Which word can best describe Leila’s skiing vacation?| A．Interesting. | B．Moving. | C．Boring. | D．Disappointing. |
| A．Positive. | B．Unfriendly. | C．Critical. | D．Objective. |
| A．Shocked. | B．Angry. | C．Alarmed. | D．Skillful. |
| A．Become grateful for your life. |
| B．Make your dream come true. |
| C．Try to do what you want to do. |
| D．Love yourself before you love others. |
8 . As a nature photographer, I have to face the wind and the rain, but I still enjoy working outside in the wild. One of the best things about this job is that you can observe animals in their natural environment.
My favorite place to take photos is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is famous for the variety of its wildlife, but it is probably best known for its bears. These huge, strong animals can live for 30 years. Despite a weight of up to 300 kilograms, they can run at a speed of around 64 kilometers per hour and are also excellent swimmers.
Last spring in Yellowstone, I followed a path that took me through a dark forest. When I finally stepped out of the trees, the view was breathtaking. An eagle flew over the snow-capped mountains, which were reflected in the still lake below. While I was concentrating on photographing this amazing scene, I suddenly had a feeling that I was being watched. Slowly, and with the camera still held to my eye, I turned... and froze. Only meters away from me was a bear. With water falling off its thick, brown hair, the bear stared back at me. Time stood still as the bear and I both waited to see who would move first. My legs started shaking. Somehow, I forced my finger to press the button. A second later, the bear turned and ran back into the forest. When I recovered from the shock, I looked at my camera. My most frightening but magical experience was now captured forever in a single image.
From time to time I look at the photo as a reminder to show respect to all animals. It is after all we who are the visitors to their world.
1. What was the writer doing when he met with the bear?| A．Walking through a dark forest. | B．Observing an eagle flying in the sky. |
| C．Sheltering from the wind and the rain. | D．Taking photos of the beautiful scenery. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Relaxed. | C．Excited. | D．Sad. |
| A．Be a respectable photographer. | B．Stay away from dangerous animals. |
| C．Get in touch with nature more often. | D．Leave peaceful moments for wild animals. |
| A．An Excellent Photograph | B．An Encounter with Nature |
| C．A Bear with Thick, Brown Hair | D．A Beautiful Scene with a Flying Eagle |
9 . ★★★★★What an interesting movie
2 March, by Jane
The Princess Dairies is a movie about a teenager named Mia Thermopolis. Shortly before her sixteenth birthday, she is shocked by the life-changing news that she is the princess of a fictional kingdom called Genovia. Starring Anne Hathaway, it is definitely a movie you should not miss!
Mia, a socially awkward American girl, becomes princess of Genovia when her long-absent father, the Crown Prince, dies. She’ s taught how to behave perfectly. However, things get out of hand when the media gets hold of the story, putting Mia in the spotlight. On top of this, she must make a choice between continuing the normal life of a San Francisco teen and stepping up to the throne.
The movie explores the theme of responsibility in an intelligent and humorous way. The most memorable scene is towards the end of the movie when, during Mia s darkest moment of self-doubt, she is touched by a letter her father left her.“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”It’s one of the most unforgettable lines from the movie.
The Princess Diaries is an interesting movie. It’s about being and bettering yourself, and about knowing who your real friends are. Watch it now!
1. Who is the main character?| A．Anne Hathaway. | B．Mia’s father. |
| C．The king. | D．Jane. |
| A．Mia’s long-absent father dies. |
| B．Mia gets the news of being a princess. |
| C．Mia is taught how to behave perfectly. |
| D．Self-doubting Mia is touched by a letter from her father. |
| A．Horrible. | B．Boring. |
| C．Interesting. | D．Costly. |
| A．A book. | B．A movie review. |
| C．A diary. | D．A news report. |
10 . In Washington DC, there is an entrepreneurial (创业的) teen, who owns and
Born with a(n)
“I knew that I wanted to start a(n)
Stephanie Gerstenblith, one of his
It is Michael’s faith that everyone should take the
Michael believes his cupcakes inspire smiles, tears, amazement, joy, satisfaction,
| A．displays | B．increases | C．runs | D．evaluates |
| A．occasional | B．shocking | C．abnormal | D．unbelievable |
| A．interested | B．convinced | C．disappointed | D．tired |
| A．guided | B．limited | C．delayed | D．improved |
| A．baking | B．study | C．work | D．research |
| A．difficult | B．strange | C．special | D．ordinary |
| A．returns | B．shows | C．gives | D．lends |
| A．innovation | B．business | C．school | D．conversation |
| A．history | B．friends | C．money | D．mistakes |
| A．help | B．detect | C．teach | D．save |
| A．apparently | B．barely | C．potentially | D．constantly |
| A．simple | B．popular | C．official | D．meaningful |
| A．classmates | B．customers | C．relatives | D．colleagues |
| A．inspired | B．warned | C．forced | D．asked |
| A．Rather than | B．Such as | C．Due to | D．Apart from |
| A．make a fortune | B．make a living | C．make a difference | D．make a donation |
| A．decision | B．responsibility | C．consequence | D．conclusion |
| A．something | B．everything | C．freedom | D．security |
| A．misunderstood | B．doubted | C．controlled | D．forgotten |
| A．enthusiasm | B．intelligence | C．happiness | D．argument |
