1 . If you have a thought in mind that you can achieve the same goal within less amount of time and hard work by cheating to achieve success, then you shall feel bad later in future. You may have achieved a goal but you choose a wrong path. So, always remember that the path you choose in your life chooses your destination and then you shall not have an option to change it.
It is good to fail though it may take you to terrible feelings of life but in return, you will learn many things that life offers. The struggle is true but after that, the sweet of the fruit will build up your confidence to face any kinds of problem in the future. But if you prefer cheating, then you shall always live in fright.
Honour is like a coat, which you can wear confidently. If you cheat to achieve a goal, then you cannot hide it. Billy was lazy in hard work and used to delay all his work. He always thought of taking a fake degree to enter a big company. When the company CEO asked him to write a program for a certain topic, then he was quite shocked as he was unable to do the work, because he had no knowledge on the programming language and had faked his certificate.
Honour teaches you how to be disciplined. Being well-educated people, we should know what is good for us. It is always good to fail because at the end of the day, you will learn something new that will help you grow much stronger rather than cheating to achieve success, which will make you regret sooner or later.
All in all, success can be achieved via shortcuts but honour can never be. It’s better to live everyday with honour than to cheat.
1. Which opinion does the author agree with?| A．No option can be changed. |
| B．You can’t achieve without cheating. |
| C．Your path determines your end. |
| D．With a thought in mind you can realize your dream. |
| A．Those things that hurt, instruct. |
| B．There is honour among thieves. |
| C．You’ll fail if you stop trying. |
| D．Face the problem and you’ll succeed. |
| A．To make you believe hiding is cheating. |
| B．To prove honour makes you feel confident. |
| C．To encourage you to wear a coat confidently. |
| D．To advise you to learn the programming language. |
| A．No pains, no gains. |
| B．Success and honour. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. |
| D．Honour is second to success. |
2 . As to psychological well-being, the comfort zone is frequently perceived as a haven, a familiar location where individuals feel calm and peaceful. Pushing beyond this psychological state might have benefits.
The comfort zone can be understood as a behavioral metaphor. Within a comfort zone, an individual takes on a state of minimal anxiety without a perception of risk, responding predictably to deliver a consistent level of performance. These include behaviors that people do commonly, find relaxing, or that take them away from high-stress situations. Engaging in the same manner over time leads to a predictable and familiar zone of comfort. As creatures of habit, we become dependent on these routines that we know we can complete well to feel secure. However, by stepping outside of our comfort zone, we learn about our ability to handle new situations and control risks, leading to greater self-confidence, and lower levels of anxiety.
One study found that individuals who are more secure in stepping out of their comfort zone are more likely to be excited by and look forward to new experiences, feeling greater confidence in their ability to take them on.
One behavior that demonstrates the benefits of stepping out of a comfort zone is learning to play a musical instrument. When we consider actions outside of our comfort zone, we must assess our desire to engage in that activity. By weighing the pros and cons, we evaluate how uncomfortable a situation may seem, and whether the danger of entering such an unknown situation will be worth the risk.
Music offers a safe way to step out of your initial comfort zone because you can begin by practicing in an isolated setting, which offers a casual, safe way to build a new skill set. By picking up and practicing a new instrument, you have proven to yourself that you are capable of meeting an unfamiliar objective, thus decreasing anxiety.
1. What does the underlined word “haven” in Paragraph 1 most probably mean?| A．Habitat. | B．Shelter. | C．Community. | D．Destination. |
| A．We recall the old experience. |
| B．We think whether it is worth the risk. |
| C．We evaluate our thirsty for the activity. |
| D．We weigh the strengths and weaknesses. |
| A．The definition of the comfort zone. |
| B．The importance of psychological well-being. |
| C．The process of learning a new musical instrument. |
| D．The benefits of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. |
| A．How to Identify Comfort Zone |
| B．Staying Inside Comfort Zone is Important |
| C．Stepping Outside Comfort Zone Promotes Learning |
| D．How to Take Yourself Away from High-stress Situations |
3 . Wouldn’t it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the headache of communicating in a different language?
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, technology policy expert Alec Ross argued that, within ten years or so, we would be able to communicate with one another through small earpieces with built-in microphones. That’s because technological progress is extremely fast. It’s only a matter of time. Such is the belief among certain parents that the technology is imminent and they’re wondering if their kids should learn a second language.
It’s true that an increase in the quantity and accuracy of the data loaded into computers will make them cleverer at translating “Noes Bueno dormer mucho” into “It’s not good to sleep too much”. Replacing a word with its equivalent (对等词) in the target language is actually the easy part of a translator’s job. But even this seems to be a difficult job for computers.
It’s so hard for computers because translation doesn’t — or shouldn’t — involve simply translating words, sentences or paragraphs. Rather, it’s about translating meaning. And in order to infer meaning from a specific expression, people need to understand a lot of information all at once. Think about all the related clues that help us understand what someone is trying to say: volume, gesture, situations, and even your culture. All are likely to convey as much meaning as the words you use.
Therefore, we should doubt a machine that can’t understand our world like we do. If people from different cultures can upset each other without realizing it, how can we expect a machine to do better? Unless engineers actually find a way to breathe a soul into a computer, undoubtedly when it comes to conveying and interpreting meaning using a natural language, a machine will never fully take our place.
1. What does the underlined word “imminent” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Ready. | B．Confusing. | C．Unpractical. | D．Coming. |
| A．The real meaning of words can vary. |
| B．Their data is not rich enough. |
| C．Their accuracy needs big improvement. |
| D．A man’s soul hasn’t been breathed in them. |
| A．Proper translation can be difficult for computers. |
| B．Slight differences doesn’t matter in translation. |
| C．Machines will translate our world properly. |
| D．Cultures need more attention than words used. |
| A．An Expert’s Prediction. | B．Travel without Headache. |
| C．The Pleasure of Translation. | D．Will the Language Barrier (障碍) Actually Fall? |
4 . In most cases, people pick the easiest way out: the path of least resistance. Yet, it is the hard choice — the path of most resistance-that is more beneficial and provides most success in the long run. How do these paths differ? What are the dangers of an easy life? What are the rewards for a hard life? How do you start taking the path of most resistance?
Taking the path of least resistance means choosing the easiest available option, with little regard for its long-term consequences. For example, you eat whatever you like, whenever you like, and in whatever amount you like. It may feel nice at first but all of them have a very steep price. In that case, it’s guaranteed obesity. Most people in modern world follow this path and this is why so many people struggle with a lack of self-discipline, good habits, etc.
The path of most resistance is about choosing the option that will lead to more personal growth, even if it means suffering in the early stage of the process. For example, it may cost you a lot to quit watching TV for hours on end. But over the long term, you’ll free up a lot of time that will lead to a more satisfying life than that of a couch potato. At first sight, this approach is unappealing. It requires effort and loss of pleasure, and leads to potential suffering. Yet, on the other side of all that lies a world of more confidence, self-discipline and mental resilience (恢复力). In the end, they more than make up for the fleeting superficial pleasures.
We’re lazy by nature. Some may point out that it was because of this tendency that we now enjoy so many wonders of technology that people in the past would kill to have. But ask the same individuals praising laziness if they would be happy living a life where everything is given to them the moment they think about it. They would have zero hardships, no objective in life and no obstacle to overcome and no wise human would want such an existence.
1. How does the author show the dangers of choosing the easy path?| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing data. |
| C．By making a comparison. | D．By asking questions. |
| A．Watching TV for hours. | B．Having many life struggles. |
| C．Getting superficial pleasures. | D．Choosing the path of most resistance. |
| A．Life is to be enjoyed, not endured. |
| B．Set your life goals as early as possible. |
| C．There should be some challenges in life. |
| D．Good habits provide short-term pleasures. |
| A．To tell us humans are lazy by nature. |
| B．To show the common lifestyles of young people. |
| C．To prove it’s laziness that leads to wonders. |
| D．To persuade us to challenge ourselves. |
5 . Communication is a problem for parents and children of all ages. If it’s hard for you to communicate with your parents, don’t worry about it. Here is some advice for you.
Don’t argue with your parents. Don’t try to talk about something with your parents when you are angry. Your parents probably won’t listen to you if you are shouting at them. Go somewhere else to cool off. Then think about what you want to say to your parents. If you think you can’t speak to them at the moment, try writing a letter to them.
Try to understand your parents. Your parents may think differently from you. Tell your parents what you think, what you care about and why. Perhaps you and your parents disagree on something. Put yourself in their shoes and you may find a better way out.
Michael’s mother didn’t agree with him about buying a motorcycle. They argued over it. But they finally came to an agreement. Michael bought the motorcycle, but only drove it on certain days.
It is also important to show your love to your parents. Try to do some small things at home, like making them a cup of tea, helping do some chores, and so on. It helps to keep your relationship closer. A good relationship with your parents can make you a better and happier person. It is worth having a try.
1. The passage mainly talks about the communication problem between ________.| A．parents and school teachers |
| B．school kids and their parents |
| C．teachers and their students |
| D．parents and children of all ages |
| A．show your love to them | B．often stay with them |
| C．speak to them politely | D．do chores for them |
| A．understand each other |
| B．stay away from your parents |
| C．argue with each other |
| D．disagree with your parents |
| A．you are happy | B．you love them | C．you like chores | D．you are relaxed |
| A．It’s certainly necessary to show your love to your parents. |
| B．It’s hard for all the teenagers to communicate with their parents. |
| C．Think it over before you want to talk to your parents about something. |
| D．Put yourself in your parents’ shoes and you may find some good ways to communicate with your parents. |
6 . The Oxford dictionary defines the word “success” as “an accomplishment of an aim” and “attaining fame, social status (地位) or wealth”. Is this how we measure success in life? If you are rich, you’ll have people say “you have everything” or “you’re already successful in life” or a similar statement that means you have money and are well settled. There are many people who feel this way, while there are many who feel that success is not just having a lot of money.
The thing is, your concept of success is connected to your beliefs and values, and if your values tell you that success in life means money, then there is nothing that will change your mind. On the other hand, if your value system says that having money, stability, peace, happiness and contentment in your life are equally important, then you have an entirely different idea of success in life. There are a lot of people in this world that are wealthy. However, they are unhappy. There are a lot of people who do not make a lot of money, but are happy with what they have.
There are different kinds of people in the world, and each one has a different view on what being successful really is about. Here are a few common opinions about success.
●Success in life means having money.
●Success in life means winning games or competitions.
●Success in life means achieving your goal.
●Success in life means getting the job you wanted.
●Success in life means owning a nice house, a good car and having all the costly comforts life has to offer.
●Success in life means being famous.
●Success in life means having influence, power and control.
●Success in life means being free from insecurities, fears and wants.
The one thing that is common to the statements above is that they include accomplishment, attainment and fulfillment (履行). Another thing is that it’s something you yearn for or that gives you an unspoken advantage over others.
1. Why is the definition of success in the Oxford dictionary mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．To make practical suggestions. |
| B．To lead in the topic for discussion. |
| C．To clarify the exact meaning of success. |
| D．To compare different ideas about success. |
| A．One’s value system matters a lot. |
| B．One should be grateful for what he has. |
| C．Success determines one’s beliefs and values. |
| D．Happy people are more likely to obtain success. |
| A．Choose. | B．Lack. | C．Desire. | D．Achieve. |
| A．What is the concept of success? |
| B．How can success be achieved in life? |
| C．Can success really bring money in life? |
| D．Does success in life mean having money? |
7 . If you think a high-factor sunscreen (防晒霜) keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be wrong. Research in this week's Nature shows that while factor 50 reduces the number of melanomas(黑瘤) and delays their occurrence, it can't prevent them. Melanomas are the most aggressive skin cancers. You have a higher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunburn easily, or if a close relative has had one. Melanomas are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the sun. Other skin cancers are increasingly likely with long-term exposure.
There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melanomas -- the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other types of skin cancer. A 2011 Australian study of 1,621 people found that people randomly selected to apply sunscreen daily had half the rate of melanomas of people who used cream as needed. A second study, comparing 1,167 people with melanomas to 1,101 who didn't have the cancer, found that using sunscreen routinely, alongside other protection such as hats, long sleeves or staying in the shade, did give some protection. This study said other forms of sun protection -- not sunscreen -- seemed most beneficial. The study relied on people remembering what they had done over each decade of their lives, so it's not entirely reliable. But it seems reasonable to think sunscreen gives people a false sense of security in the sun.
Many people also don't use sunscreen properly -- applying insufficient amounts, failing to reapply after a couple of hours and staying in the sun too long. It is sunburn that is most worrying. A recent research shows five episodes of sunburn in the teenage years increases the risk of all skin cancers.
The good news is that a combination of sunscreen and covering up can reduce melanoma rates, as shown by Australian figures from their slip-slop-slap campaign. So if there is a heat wave this summer, it would be best for us, too, to slip on a shirt, slop on (抹上) sunscreen and slap on a hat.
1. What is people's common expectation of a high-factor sunscreen?| A．It will delay the occurrence of skin cancer. |
| B．It will protect them from sunburn. |
| C．It will keep their skin smooth and fair. |
| D．It will work for people of any skin color. |
| A．It is ineffective in preventing melanomas. |
| B．It is ineffective in case of intense sunlight. |
| C．It is ineffective with long-term exposure. |
| D．It is ineffective for people with fair skin. |
| A．Sunscreen should be applied alongside other protection measures. |
| B．High-risk people benefit the most from the application of sunscreen. |
| C．Irregular application of sunscreen does women more harm than good. |
| D．Daily application of sunscreen helps reduce the incidence of melanomas. |
| A．It misleads people to rely on sunscreen for protection. |
| B．It helps people to select the most effective sunscreen. |
| C．It is not based on direct observation of the subjects. |
| D．It confirms the results of the first Australian study. |
| A．Using both covering up and sunscreen. |
| B．Staying in the shade whenever possible. |
| C．Using covering up instead of sunscreen. |
| D．Applying the right amount of sunscreen. |
8 . Taking care of yourself is not being selfish. By caring enough to
Believe in yourself and your ability. Make a list of
Seek out a friend or coworker who will make you feel comfortable.
Adopt eating and physical activity habits that can become part of your
Go on a
| A．see | B．take | C．use | D．treat |
| A．better | B．worse | C．bigger | D．smaller |
| A．successful | B．little | C．strange | D．few |
| A．optional | B．particular | C．dynamic | D．optimistic |
| A．Taking | B．Making | C．Sharing | D．Playing |
| A．create | B．ruin | C．benefit | D．forget |
| A．Reward | B．Pick | C．Pass | D．Instruct |
| A．introduce | B．gain | C．find | D．result |
| A．found | B．pass | C．build | D．keep |
| A．family | B．friendship | C．object | D．lifestyle |
| A．to | B．on | C．for | D．outside |
| A．out of | B．due to | C．away from | D．on to |
| A．trip | B．talk | C．story | D．meeting |
| A．and | B．but | C．because | D．so |
| A．study | B．accept | C．know | D．discuss |
9 . To me, Shakespeare is a bit of a touchy subject in the theatre industry. I believe Shakespeare’s plays to be the most challenging in terms of language. When you have challenging language, then understanding the plot and topics discussed becomes a challenge as well. It’s like a chain. If you don’t understand it from the start, it makes things hard later on and people tend to give up on it. Regardless of all of this, I believe Shakespeare’s plays are important in the sense that they are where true theatre started. William Shakespeare is a name everyone knows regardless of whether you enjoy his work or not.
Many high schools or colleges do at least one Shakespeare’s play every few years and I like that. I think it’s important to expose students to plays that are a bit more challenging than they’re used to. Of course, it’s not easy to understand these plays but then think about the people who act in those plays. When acting, you have to understand your character inside and out and not only that, but you need to completely know everything going on around you as well. So to understand the script is one thing, but then to take it to that next level in terms of acting in a Shakespeare’s play is a whole other thing. How about memorizing the lines? That’s one of the hardest things actors have said they had to get through. It is such heightened language that it’s almost like learning a foreign language. Shakespeare’s play is tough and that’s what I think I love about it the most. The challenge is understanding. Once you have that then you have room to play with it.
Therefore, if people walked into a Shakespeare’s play with more of an open mind, their experience would be so much better. There is an immense amount of exploration and discovery in his plays and the experience can be really satisfying. It’s hard stuff, but it’s fascinating and we should be embracing it.
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?| A．The characteristics of Shakespeare’s plays. |
| B．How to perform Shakespeare’s plays successfully. |
| C．The importance and way of enjoying Shakespeare’s plays. |
| D．How to understand the tough language of Shakespeare’s plays. |
| A．The plot and topics. |
| B．The challenging language. |
| C．Understanding the characters. |
| D．How to understand from the start. |
| A．Outstanding and lively. |
| B．Strange and mechanical. |
| C．Complicated and difficult. |
| D．High-leveled and interesting. |
| A．Act them out. |
| B．Remember the lines in them. |
| C．Learn Shakespeare’s language. |
| D．Enjoy them with an open mind. |
10 . Every country has its heroes. The heroes are the people the nation and especially the young people admire. If you get a list of the heroes of a nation, it will tell you the potential of that nation.
If today in America, you ask the high school students to list their heroes, their choice would probably fall into three groups. The first group of heroes would be the rock stars—the people connected with rock music. There is no doubt that such people do have talent but one wonders if one should hold up rock stars as a model. The rock stars too often are involved with drugs and their personal life is not all that good. The rock stars are rich and wear the latest fashion styles. However, one should seek more in a hero than such things as money and good clothes.
A second type of hero for the American youth is the sports star. Again you have a person who has a great ability in one area—SPORTS. However, too often the personal life of the sports star is a bit of a mess. Too frequently drugs and drinking are a part of life of the sports star.
A third type of hero is the TV or movie star. This person may have lots of acting talent and is quite handsome. However, the personal life of too many actors is quite sad and they should not be held up as a model for young people.
Today, the rock star, the athlete and the actor all have become the models of the youth in America. Really, do you hear a young person say that his hero is a doctor, a teacher, or a scientist? These people are not rich and do not wear fashionable clothes. However, they are talented people who work hard to make the world a better place for everyone.
What is really sad is that the young try to imitate their heroes. They like to wear the same clothes and follow their styles. If the heroes of today for the American youngsters are limited only to rock stars, athletes and actors, the future does not look too bright.
1. Why rock stars shouldn’t be regarded as a model according to this passage?| A．They cannot compose very good music. |
| B．Most of them are not honest persons. |
| C．They care more about themselves than others. |
| D．Often they don’t live a healthy and respectable life. |
| A．They are not clever but are good-looking. |
| B．They are rich but are strict with themselves. |
| C．They are talented in some area but lead a disordered life. |
| D．They are perfect in every way. |
| A．a university professor | B．a popular singer |
| C．a football player | D．a film actress |
| A．who are rich, famous and wear the latest fashionable clothes |
| B．Who are talented and do things that are beneficial to society. |
| C．who plays an important role in a play |
| D．who have a great ability in sports. |
| A．He is understanding. | B．He is critical. |
| C．He is neutral (中立的). | D．He is uninterested. |
