1 . I grew up in a house where the TV was seldom turned on and with one wall in my bedroom entirely lined with bookshelves, most of my childhood was spent on books I could get hold of. In fact, I grew up thinking of reading as natural as breathing and books unbelievably powerful in shaping perspectives (观点) by creating worlds we could step into, take part in and live in.
With this unshakable belief, I, at fourteen, decided to become a writer. Here too, reading became useful. Every writer starts off knowing that he has something to say, but being unable to find the right ways to say it. He has to find his own voice by reading widely and discovering which parts of the writers he agrees or disagrees with, or agrees with so strongly that it reshapes his own world. He cannot write without loving to read, because only through reading other people’s writing can one discover what works, what doesn’t and, in the end, together with lots of practice, what voice he has.
Now I am in college, and have come to realize how important it is to read fiction (文学作品)．As a law student, my reading is in fact limited to subject matter—the volume (量) of what I have to read for classes every week means there is little time to read anything else. Such reading made it all the clearer to me that I live in a very small part in this great place called life. Reading fiction reminds me that there is life beyond my own. It allows me to travel across the high seas and along the Silk Road, all from the comfort of my own armchair, to experience, though secondhand, exciting experiences that I wouldn't necessarily be able to have in my lifetime.
1. What can be inferred about the author as a child?

A．He never watched TV.

B．He read what he had to.

C．He found reading unbelievable.

D．He considered reading part of his life.

2. The underlined word "voice" in the second paragraph most probably means “      ”.

A．an idea

B．a sound quality

C．a way of writing

D．a world to write about

3. What effect does reading have on the author?

A．It helps him to realize his dream.

B．It opens up a wider world for him.

C．It makes his college life more interesting.

D．It increases his interest in worldwide travel.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of this text?

A．Why do I read?

B．How do I read?

C．What do I read?

D．When do I read?

2 . This is a part from US President Barack Obama’s speech on May 14 at Bamard College in New York.
… My last piece of advice – this is simple, but perhaps most important:____ Nothing worthwhile is easy. No one of achievement has avoided failure – sometimes catastrophic failures. But they keep at it. They learn from mistakes. They don’t ____
When I first arrived on this ____, I was with little money, fewer options. But it was here that I tried to find my place in this world. I knew I wanted to make a difference, but it was ____ how in fact I’d go about it. But I wanted to do my part to ____ a better world.
So even as I worked after graduation in a few ____ jobs here in New York, even as I went from motley (鱼龙混杂的)apartment to motley apartment, I ____
… And I wish I could say that this perseverance came from some innate (天生的)toughness in me. But the truth is, it was ____ I got it from ____ the people who raised me. I grew up as the son of a single mom who struggled to put herself through ____ and make ends meet. She had a marriage that fell apart; ____ went on food stamps at one point to help us ____ But she didn’t quit. And she earned her degree, and made sure that ____ scholarships and hard work, my sister and I earned ____
And ____, I met a woman who was assigned to advise me on my first summer job at a law firm. And she gave me such good advice that I married her. And Michelle and I gave everything we had to balance our careers and a ____ family. We made that marriage work.
… So ____ it’s starting a business, or running for office, or ____ an amazing family, remember that making your____ on the world is hard. It takes patience. It takes commitment. It comes with plenty of ____ and it comes with plenty of failures.1.

A．compete

B．persevere

C．struggle

D．preservation

2.

A．rest

B．decline

C．quit

D．regret

3.

A．campus

B．downtown

C．farm

D．country

4.

A．confident

B．uncertain

C．ambitious

D．proud

5.

A．shape

B．instruct

C．organize

D．lead

6.

A．amazing

B．disturbing

C．meaningful

D．unsatisfactory

7.

A．reached out

B．put out

C．gave out

D．made out

8.

A．presented

B．structured

C．learned

D．created

9.

A．copying

B．detecting

C．persuading

D．watching

10.

A．life

B．work

C．school

D．business

11.

A．yet

B．even

C．still

D．also

12.

A．get by

B．come by

C．get along

D．come along

13.

A．during

B．through

C．across

D．over

14.

A．mine

B．us

C．ours

D．hers

15.

A．for the time being

B．long before

C．up to now

D．later on

16.

A．young

B．poor

C．weak

D．strong

17.

A．as if

B．if

C．whether

D．unless

18.

A．rising

B．raising

C．arousing

D．arising

19.

A．view

B．stay

C．remark

D．mark

20.

A．goals

B．advantages

C．shortcomings

D．setbacks

3 . Long, long ago, there was a small village. This village had a (an) _______ tradition. At the beginning of every year, any boy who had reached the age of majority (成年) was given land and money to build a home. The boy had to _______ his home before winter. If his home failed to endure (忍耐) the cold weather in winter, the villagers could not _______   him in any way.

One _______, Paul and Marc reached their majority. They _______ their land and money and decided to search nearby villages for ideas on building their homes. In each village, they found the nicest _______ and talked to the owners. Each owner gladly offered _______.

After Marc saw several homes, he _______ the best ideas and went back to his own land. Paul, _______, continued collecting more ideas. Soon he had so many great ideas that he began to __________ some of them. But he always believed he could find even better ideas in the next village.

Marc began building his home. He had several false starts, __________ his home gradually rose from his land. By fall, Marc had finished his home. It wasn’t perfect, but it was strong and he could __________ it later. Paul enjoyed all the beautiful homes and __________ with home owners. The first snow came and Paul, realizing he was running out of time, __________ back to his land. He built the best home he could in the time he had, but it was __________. The first winter storm destroyed his home and he froze to __________. The villagers mourned (哀悼) for him.

Marc __________ the winter. Each year, Marc searched for other good ideas he could use to make his own home look better. He became a leader in the village, __________ a family, and lived a happy, content life.

We all build and improve our own mental homes. It’s __________ and fun for us to search for ideas from other mental home owners, but we only improve our own mental home if we actually __________ the best ideas.

1.

A．strange

B．hopeful

C．good

D．reasonable

2.

A．find

B．run

C．complete

D．buy

3.

A．help

B．encourage

C．scold

D．persuade

4.

A．winter

B．summer

C．autumn

D．spring

5.

A．exchanged

B．received

C．recognized

D．won

6.

A．girls

B．jobs

C．houses

D．presents

7.

A．rooms

B．drinks

C．attention

D．advice

8.

A．expected

B．gathered

C．created

D．understood

9.

A．similarly

B．finally

C．however

D．therefore

10.

A．forget

B．believe

C．replace

D．doubt

11.

A．because

B．although

C．but

D．so

12.

A．repair

B．rebuild

C．sell

D．improve

13.

A．conversations

B．achievements

C．struggles

D．arguments

14.

A．drove

B．rushed

C．flew

D．moved

15.

A．weak

B．funny

C．small

D．amazing

16.

A．blindness

B．death

C．sadness

D．disease

17.

A．experienced

B．hated

C．survived

D．spent

18.

A．brought

B．earned

C．contacted

D．raised

19.

A．slow

B．easy

C．dangerous

D．special

20.

A．realize

B．bring

C．collect

D．apply

4 . I recently overheard something that surprised me. I heard that people who win the lottery (彩票) are _______ for about 3 weeks. And then they go back to their _______ state of being before they won the money. I _______ that they would have been happy for a much longer time.

The reason for this is that _______ we try to change how we feel by using something outside of ourselves, like winning the lottery, or getting a new car or house, it never _______. The resulting feelings of happiness are often fleeting (飞逝的). We cannot _______ them for very long. In some way, it may be a good thing. It reminds us that happiness really does come from within and is _______ to us at any moment. True happiness has _______ to do with what is happening outside, it is an inside job. Happiness is a _______.

We can make the decision to be happy for one day, when we ________ in the morning, every morning. We can find something that brings us great ________, like sitting outside in the garden under an old tree and ________ the birds sing, or watching the dog or cat play, and just ________ the moment. It is our ________ state and we need only allow it in. At any moment, we can ________, take a deep breath, and remember who we really are, and why we came here, and that truly is to ________ joy and the aliveness of being.

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when run after, is always ________ our reach, but, if you will sit down ________, may fall upon you,” said Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist. So, today, no matter what is going on in your own ________, stop and take a few moments to breathe deeply and just ________ to be happy, whatever that means to you.

1.

A．clever

B．lucky

C．happy

D．cautious

2.

A．previous

B．unusual

C．constant

D．positive

3.

A．concluded

B．suspected

C．promised

D．thought

4.

A．anyhow

B．anytime

C．anywhere

D．anyway

5.

A．changes

B．forms

C．works

D．appears

6.

A．keep

B．control

C．blame

D．guide

7.

A．available

B．consistent

C．sensitive

D．similar

8.

A．much

B．little

C．some

D．enough

9.

A．choice

B．chance

C．result

D．reward

10.

A．wake up

B．look up

C．turn up

D．stand up

11.

A．success

B．surprise

C．pleasure

D．worry

12.

A．making

B．helping

C．listening to

D．calling on

13.

A．waste

B．spend

C．save

D．enjoy

14.

A．natural

B．common

C．accurate

D．special

15.

A．stay

B．stop

C．leave

D．arrive

16.

A．discover

B．present

C．experience

D．accept

17.

A．beyond

B．within

C．through

D．against

18.

A．noisily

B．silently

C．carefully

D．quietly

19.

A．mind

B．heart

C．life

D．body

20.

A．pretend

B．decide

C．agree

D．hesitate

5 . Who is your role model? Normally the answer to this question would be anyone around you who you find truly inspiring. It could also be someone like J. K. Rowling or Martin Luther King. Jr. , who have proven to be strong and intelligent people.
However, in today’s world, stars are regarded as role models along with the heroes listed above, despite their intentions or actions. Teens attempt to imitate their actions for two major reasons. Firstly, to be fashionable and accepted by popular culture, and secondly because stars’ actions are so well documented by the media that it seems to grab our attention and turns it to following stars’ lives. Much of the reports about stars is shocking and exhibits bad morals or lifestyles that aren’t right for teenagers. In addition, almost everything stars do is described beyond truth to make a shocking story by taking it to the next level.
However, teens must take responsibility for their actions. We can’t always blame stars for influencing us. Only you have control over yourself and only you choose to do something. Our bodies and actions are in the hands of no one else.
Now, whoever said stars are role models? Whether they choose to be or not, stars set examples as soon as they step into the spotlight. With reporters following and recording every move they make, it is impossible not to be watched and then be imitated. These people influence teens whether or not they want to. Why should someone who doesn’t want to be setting an example set one? So，should we look up to them or to people who are true and good role models? It’s our responsibility as teens to know right from wrong, and it’s time for us to take responsibility for our actions. In doing so，we will lean toward those inspiring people that want to be setting an example, and follow in their steps to be like them.
1. According to the first paragraph, _______ can usually be role models.

A．political leaders

B．wealthy writers

C．people inspiring others

D．people with great intelligence

2. What are the major reasons for the teens to imitate stars?

A．Interest in stars’ life and expectation of getting rich.

B．Motivation for being fashionable and inspiration from popular examples.

C．Intentions to gain acceptance and encouragement from stars’ lifestyle.

D．Desires to be stylish and great influence from the mass media.

3. The author writes the passage mainly to advise the teenagers to _______.

A．have a control over their own bodies and actions

B．be responsible for their own choices and behaviors

C．follow fashionable stars’ steps to be more popular

D．choose right role models according to different reports

4. It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A．stars have the responsibility for teenagers’ actions

B．not all famous stars choose to influence teenagers

C．teenagers choose those inspiring people as their role models

D．stars set examples immediately they stepped into the spotlight

6 . When I was a law professor, a student reported that I made an error in grading his exam by giving him too many points. He was _______, and after thanking him for his honesty, I changed the grade in my _______ His beaming (欢笑的) face turned to shock. “You’re _______ my grade?” he said angrily. “I would never have come in _______ ……”
He didn’t finish the _______, but it was obvious that his display of honesty was _______ He thought he’d have it all—praise and the higher grade.
Several colleagues thought I should have let the higher grade _______ because all I’d accomplished was to discourage him from being _______ in the future. And every time I tell this story some people agree with this _______
But I can’t see how I could give good reason for worsening my ________ in grading by undermining (损害) the honesty of all my grades by failing to ________ an error. The grade itself would be a dishonest ________ of his knowledge and it would have been ________to other students. How could I ________ give a student a gift of an unearned grade?
I know ________ reporting an error in one’s favor is unusual, but, like ________ too much change, it’s clearly the right thing to do. People of character, those with real honesty, hate to give up________as much as anyone else. The difference is that for them a good conscience and reputation is ________enough to give reason for the cost of doing the right thing.
Perhaps lowering the student’s grade did ________ him from being honest in the future, but bribing (贿赂) him to be honest so that he does the right thing when it’s cost-free would have ________
him even more. The duty to be honest is about right and wrong, not risks and rewards.1.

A．wise

B．right

C．grateful

D．upset

2.

A．files

B．books

C．records

D．notes

3.

A．lowering

B．correcting

C．changing

D．making

4.

A．though

B．why

C．where

D．if

5.

A．sentence

B．work

C．exam

D．lesson

6.

A．good

B．false

C．special

D．impressive

7.

A．remove

B．change

C．stand

D．add

8.

A．brave

B．adventurous

C．successful

D．honest

9.

A．remark

B．complaint

C．praise

D．achievement

10.

A．crime

B．mistake

C．doubt

D．guilty

11.

A．make

B．find

C．correct

D．avoid

12.

A．reaction

B．sense

C．sign

D．reflection

13.

A．unfair

B．cruel

C．tough

D．funny

14.

A．reluctantly

B．responsibly

C．impossibly

D．impatiently

15.

A．actively

B．secretly

C．voluntarily

D．curiously

16.

A．receiving

B．paying

C．earning

D．returning

17.

A．benefits

B．honors

C．awards

D．gifts

18.

A．pleasure

B．reward

C．content

D．honor

19.

A．protect

B．influence

C．discourage

D．separate

20.

A．improved

B．encouraged

C．blamed

D．ruined

7 . Why should I teach my children history? That sounds like a stupid question to even ask. But, as I hear different home schooling teachers discuss history, I get the idea that there may be different reasons for teaching history. Let me briefly explain             the three good reasons for studying history and two bad reasons for studying history.
The major reason I see for studying history is that we can learn from the past. I am convinced that the world would be a much better place if more people understood the successes and failures of the past and the things that made these successes and failures. However, as the unfortunately true statement goes “the one thing we seem to learn from history is that we don’t seem to learn from history. ”Perhaps at least in teaching history, to my children I can do a small part in changing this.
A second major reason for studying history is that it is hard to understand the current political climate in the absence of an understanding of its historical context. We can not even understand who we are and where we are without history, much less             try to figure out where we are going or how we should get where we want to be.
I teach my children history, for one more reason. I purchased a set of historical audio tapes for our children. My seven-year-old son listened to them over and over. It was my hope that he would become inspired by the accomplishments of people like             the Wright brothers to accomplish things by himself. I think that it is good that we celebrate the accomplishments of people like Martin Luther King Jr. In doing so, young people are called on to stand for the principles that he stood for and             accomplish what he accomplished. I also think that by studying people like Adolph Hitler, people can learn to stand against the things that he stood for.
1. What message can we get from the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2?

A．Many people aren’t clever enough to learn well from the past.

B．Many people fail to make good use of history and make the same mistakes.

C．Many people feel it hard to understand history.

D．Many people have no interest in studying history.

2. In Paragraph 3, the author shows that history is useful because

A．it makes the current political situation go smoothly

B．it helps us realize the importance of historical events

C．it helps us understand why things are the way they are

D．it helps people accept the present situation where they live

3. Some historical figures are mentioned in the last paragraph to show

A．people can be inspired to do good, while also learning to fight against evil

B．people may also learn from bad historical figures

C．more celebrations should be held to honor their achievements

D．today’s people can also achieve what they achieved

4. What uld be talked about in the following paragraph?

A．How to teach history effectively.

B．Some negative reasons for studying history.

C．How to get more people to study history.

D．Some bad historical figures.

8 . In a national spelling contest in America, an 11–year–old girl was asked to spell a certain word. But with her ____ voice the judges were not sure if she spelled the word with the letter A or E. They talked it over and ____ decided to simply ask her what she had said. By now, the girl knew she had ____ the word. But instead of lying, she told the truth that she had said the ____ letter — so she lost the contest.
As the girl walked off the ____, the entire audience stood to their feet clapping to applaud her ____ Later, dozens of newspaper reporters wrote about this 11– year–old girl’s honesty, even when it ____ her the contest. But the fact is that she ____ the biggest contest that day: the contest of her ____
Probably the biggest test of our character and honesty is what we would do if we knew we would never get ____ This young girl could easily have ____ and nobody would have known it but herself. But that’s just it: She would know she did wrong. It’s been said, “If you ____, you make yourself cheap.” This young girl was strong and smart enough to prize her own ____ and character more than the prize from a spelling ____ Her respect for herself was more important than any ____ others might give her for winning a contest. She knew she would have to live with herself and the ____ she made in that moment will have long–lasting influence.
It’s so true that the choices you make today____ what you are tomorrow. Our children will ____ our behavior much more than our advice. So if we want them to ____ to be honest, we must show them the way by being honest ourselves. Remember, our kids are ____ what we do and how we live even when we don’t think they see or know.1.

A．high

B．sweet

C．tough

D．soft

2.

A．finally

B．kindly

C．secretly

D．totally

3.

A．forgotten

B．mispronounced

C．misspelled

D．lost

4.

A．correct

B．wrong

C．different

D．same

5.

A．stage

B．studio

C．test

D．classroom

6.

A．bravery

B．honesty

C．courage

D．cleverness

7.

A．cancelled

B．cost

C．offered

D．wasted

8.

A．achieved

B．broke

C．won

D．defeated

9.

A．reputation

B．knowledge

C．life

D．character

10.

A．paid

B．awarded

C．caught

D．reported

11.

A．escaped

B．lied

C．changed

D．answered

12.

A．accept

B．fight

C．cheat

D．insist

13.

A．conscience

B．feeling

C．diligence

D．modesty

14.

A．contest

B．champion

C．judger

D．expert

15.

A．sense

B．pride

C．respect

D．awareness

16.

A．plan

B．conclusion

C．discovery

D．choice

17.

A．make

B．change

C．keep

D．create

18.

A．give

B．take

C．follow

D．set

19.

A．grow up

B．bring up

C．take up

D．come up

20.

A．recording

B．inspecting

C．correcting

D．watching

9 . It was graduation day at the university where I work and a beautiful day quite unlike the first graduation I attended as a young professor．On that cold day years ago, as we watched the students walking into the hall, one of my colleagues turned to me and said, "Graduation will be one of the happiest and one of the saddest time of your life．" At my inquiry, he answered, "Because the students you have gotten to know have to leave．"
As years went by, my previous confusion about my colleague's words no longer existed．When I came across naughty students, I have had to rethink why I chose to be a teacher．It obviously isn't the money．Once a former computer science student of mine called me, asking me if I wanted to have a change．He was working at Nintendo Corporation．His salary was higher than my current one, though I have more education and have worked for over a decade．With my programming skills, he said he could get me hired．I thanked him, but declined his kind offer．
A few days before this current graduation, while working on final grades, I found a note a student had slipped in with her homework．She thanked me for being her teacher and said the things she had learned in my class—not about math, but about life—would be things she would remember long after the math skills had faded away．As I finished reading, I remembered why I had become a teacher．
Now, on this sunny graduation day, as I again observed the sea of _________, I did so with renewed dedication （奉献） and a deeper sense of satisfaction—I will always be grateful that I am a teacher．
1. Hearing his colleague's description of graduation for the first time, the author __________．

A．quite agreed with his colleague

B．was very puzzled

C．thought it very funny

D．was very sad

2. The computer science student called up the author because he___________．

A．wanted to inform the author of his present job

B．tried to persuade the author to work with him

C．wanted the author to share his joy and satisfaction

D．thought the author wasn't fit to be a teacher

3. The underlined part “blue hats and gowns” refers to___________．

A．university colleagues	B．graduates' clothes
C．life memories	D．decorations in the hall

4. The author wrote this passage to __________．

A．express his devotion to being a teacher

B．compare two different graduation ceremonies

C．talk about the meaning of graduation

D．give advice on how to be a good teacher

10 . Texas——US President George W.Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to bridge their differences over a key arms control treaty last week, but that didn’t stop them from backslapping（喧闹的狂欢） as they ended a summit.

The two leaders also offered differing interpretations of the fate of nuclear warheads to be removed from missiles under arms reductions they each announced last week.Bush said he intended to destroy the warheads, but Putin said their fate should be negotiated.

The two men untied on the need for Northern Alliance forces——to allow for a broad based government that respects all parties there.

Bush and Putin had spent the night at Bush’s ranch.Despite the rain, the rural environment and friendly company appeared to have worked its magic.They slapped on the back and joked, at one point teasing each other about whether it is better to visit Texas in the heat of August or Siberia in winter.

Analysts say the dramatic warming in US-Russian relation could herald（预示） an era of pragmatism（务实的想法或做法） in global affairs as the two old rivals finally end decades of hostility and become friends.

“Washington and Moscow are no longer playing the ‘big game’ against each other, but with each other,” said Karl Heniz Kamp, an analyst at the Konrad Adenanaer Foundation，a German think tank.

1. It can be concluded that President Bush and President Putin__________.

A．didn’t agree on key arms control treaty

B．offered different explanations of the future of nuclear warheads under arms reductions

C．neither A or B

D．both A and B

2. The reason why the two men joined together is that.

A．they were needed by the Northern Alliance forces

B．they had taken the advice given by Karl Heniz Kamp, an analyst of German think tank.

C．they had already been partners

D．they had no different opinions on everything

3. The warming of US-Russian relations indicates that_______.

A．the two persons end hostility and become friends

B．US can benefit a lot from global affairs

C．there will be an end to all the armies of the world

D．it is a turning point to words being practical in global affairs

4. What the two men teased about shows that___________.

A．they appeared friendly but in fact they didn’t

B．they just made fun of each other

C．they are friendly and humorous

D．they invited each other to their countries in the bad weather